The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-21
Giving Of Tithes; This
System Is Endorsed
From Mondays Daily,


Systematic Beneficence" was the
topic discussed at the service in the
Presbyterian church last night w.
A. Sanborn and w. ID. Willard, mem
bers of the church, discussed the
subject, Mr.. Sanborn talking on the
way church members should give,
and Mr.. Willard on how much they
should give.
Mr. Sanborn said: THE highest
form of spirituality is the spirituality
of living. A rich church may not
be spiritual one, but a spiritual
one is one whose pocketbooks have
been converted. During last year
the one and one-third million mem
bers of the Presbyterian church gave
an average of $19.5S for the support
of the church and missions. The
members of the First Presbyterian
church of Mankato gave an average
of S14.33 for the work
Proper and systematic giving Is
the fundamental principal of the sue
cessful church. This is an age of
system, system in business in educa-
! ton, in recreation and even in re-
ligion. We pray Systematically, we
attend church Systematically, we
hear sermons Systematically, then
why not give Systematically. Every
thing in Gods universe is done sys,
tematically, the seasons, the move
ment of the earth and the growth of
things. Then why not the giving?
Budget System Is Used.
"The buget system is used in the
Presbyterian church. There are two
funds, the current and the benevo-
lent. Each year the session prepares
the budget, including the amounts
which the church ought to give to
each board, and the trustees prepare
the budget for current expenses. There
should then be an every member
canvass. After the subscriptions are
received they should be paid system
atically. Last year the Presbyterian
church of this country gave $3.50, 900
to foreign missions and sent out 1884
missionaries to the foreign fields. Be
sides these they paid 2340 foreign
helpers in the missions fields. This
year the church hopes to send 100
more missionaries.
ut is often said that the cost of
administration is so great that much
of the money of the church goes for
that, but last year the cost of adj
mfnistration cost just three and one.
nalf per cent of the amount handled. y
Giving of Tithes.
Mr.. Willard then spoke on the Civ
ing of tithes He read the Scriptural
lesson dealing with tithing and then
said: "Tithe giving is an act of wor-
ship which is necessary for the full
spiritual development of the individ-
ual. And only as we approach that
basis in our church can we hope for
the best spiritual life. Failure to do
this is either due to ignorance or to
the thought that Gods work does not
need our help, or the feeling that our
money is our own to do with as we
desire, or through fear that God will
not keep his promise and provide.
'The law of God are not arbitrary
laws, but they have definite pur-
pose. They are a part of Gods plan
to work out perfection in men. Tith.
ing involves giving One-tenth of our
incomes. 1t is not proper to deduct
our personal expenses nor our invest
ments. None of this should be used
Obedience to this law brings a bless
ing, a spiritual and a material bless
ing. This is one of Gods laws for
our spiritual and material wellbeing.
you say that this method of CIV
ing lacks sponteneity and love of
giving. Is there more sponteneity in
crossing Gods laws than in following
them. Tithing is taking God in as
a partner in your business, a part
ner whose share of the profits of the
business is one-tenth. Looking at it
in this way will keep us from wrong
doing in our business, too. The hap
hazard way we have had of giving
takes much of the pleasure from it..
The talents of the churchmen which
are used for driving the dollars from
the reluctant pockets should be used
in the better administration of the
church.
Last year the church here gave
$1,000 to foreign missions. One-fourth
of this amount was given by three
members Of this church who give
the required one-tenth of their in
come. The income of these three
people is about one-twentieth of the
income of the members of this
church. The budget of this church
is about $4,000 annually and this is
about one-fiftieth of the income of
the church members, average each
members income at $500.