Year: 1870

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE IN FAVOR OF THE


PLAN


Mr.. Editor,-In answer to your call for
information in regard to the working of the
plan of weekly collections, permit me to
submit the following:


This system was inaugurated in the united
congregations of Bethesda and Hermon three
years ago, and has commended itself thus
far to our entire confidence, as the best plan
of systematic benefcence.


1. We think that more is given than could
be obtained by any other plan, in the pres
ent circumstances of the people.


2. The congregation is in the country,
and one of those to which this plan is by
some supposed to be not so well suited as to
town churches, where there is a more uni
form circulation of change; yet the collec-
tions have been remarkably uniform through
all seasons, in proportion to the size of the
audiences. People in the country who
handle money at all, can generally, if they
will, manage to husband the necessary
change, in larger or smaller amounts.


8. One great advantage of the system is
that it makes it perfectly practicable and
easy to contribute VithOut fail eoery gear to
every one Of Our schemes. If all our churches
could be induced to adopt the plan of max
ing their benevolent contributions in this
way, it would result at once in realizing
''solid columns" in our statistical reports.
Even congregations that meet but once a
month can have two collections at least for
each of the five objects


4. The elasticity of the plan commends it
to our appreciation and convenience. 1t is
easily adapted to any and every emergency,
admitting special appeals for enlarged gifts
when necessary, or for the occasional intro
duction of extra objects,


5. We have not found the thing wearing
out. The contributions have kept up, though
the ability of our people has been on the de-
crease. 1t cultivates and strengthens the
habit of giving, we think, better than any
other plan.


There is one danger to which the plan is
exposed-that when the people have fallen
into the habit of giving at certain rate per
Sabbath, if there are Interruptions in the
services, from bad weather, or the absence
of the minister for time, or if absent at any
time themselves, they will not remember to
make up for this proportionally larger con-
tributicns when they come again together.
The people need to be more educated to
give inteligently on principle. Some among
us do practice this habit of making up for
Interruptions or absence.


On the plan of quarterly collections, if
the collection appointed should entirely fail
from stormy Sabbath, another trial can be
made. But where the failure is only par
tial, from having thin audience, there is
commonly no remedy. But where there are
weekly collections. e., a collection every
Sabbath of public service-there are always
opportunities for making up for failure
And when the people become educated to
make up for absences on succeeding Sab
baths, one or two stormy Sabbaths during a
collection for any given object will work no
diminution in the amount given.


We make up our Presbyterial assessment,
and what is needed for contingent Church
expenses also in this way. We give Janu.
ary and February to SuStentation, March to
Publication, April, to Presbyterial Assess
ment, May and June to Foreign Missions,
July to Contingent Expenses, August to the
Widows and Orphans Fund, September and
October to the Bible Society, and any extra
object that may claim attention, November
to Education, and December again to Con-
tingent Expenses,


Bethesda and Hermon the present year
are to have preaching but half the time,
Cub Greek, which follows the same plan.
taking the other half; and it remains to be
seen how far the habit of making up for
Sabbaths when the people have no services,
by enlarged contributions on the Sabbaths
when they do meet, will be adopted. To
give on principle evidently requires this, and
we hope to see no great diminution of gifts,
in the aggregate amount. Il. A. b