Year: 1876




mise; what Remains to be Done


At least taco thirds of the Presbyteries
have taken favorable action, looking to the
carrying out of the regulations Of the last
General Assembly; many of them with a
elm and will, indicating determination
to abate the evil of such large proportion
Of failures to solicit the contributions of the
people. From fOs Presbyteries we have no
information whether or not anything was
done. -Four of them seem to have acted
upon the mistaken suppOstiOn that the as
sessment plan, as proposed for examination
by the Assembly of 1874, was still before
the church. In several cases nothing was
done, because of the failure of the committees
of review appointed on the Minutes of the
Assembly, to call attention to the subject
A very few deferred action till spring. Only
two Presbyteries, so far as known, declined
to comply with the rules-on constitutional
grounds. But the large msjority having
conceded their constitutionality, these dis
senting Presbyeeries will of course waive
their scruples. And such as have not yet
acted, it may reasonably be expected, will
this spring take favorable action. This is as
good a result as could have been anticipated.
We thank God aud take courage. The
movement is onward, and the promise fair of
ultimate success, at no distant day.


Nevertheless much remains to be dOne.-
No rules sViU wOrk themselves. They must
be worked by those who feel an interest in
their success. We would therefore respect
fully suggest to every friend of Systematic
Bene6eence, who approves Of these rules, to
resolve that it shall not be his fault if his
Presbytery fails to give due attention to
them. We would also, with great Difference
and respect, suggest TO every stated Clerk
who may chance to read this, to enter upon
the docket of business for the spring meet
ing the matter of these rules, (see Minutes
of the last Assembly, page 4O9 to the end
that they may be duly observed, both as to-
wards the sessions of the churches, and as
concerns the report to be made to the Gene
raj Assembly.


We must not be discouraged if great re
suits do not appear 10 the reports this spring.
It is too soon. The great body of the
Church has not yet become cogoizaut of the
existence of these rules. Many Of the ses
siOns, consequently, will fail to send up the
required reports. Il will then devOlve upon
the Presbyteries to take steps to inform the
ignorant, and to rule delinquent sessions up
to the performance of what is required Of
them; always remembering that to secure
sir thousand additional collections will, in
money, be worth all the trouble it may cost; (;
besides the higher gain of educating the peO-
pie affected thereby in the grace of giving,
and training the VhOls Church to beautiful
and real systematic benz fcenee, in the duti-
ful worship of God with their substance.


But suppose ell the Peesbyteries to have
determined to carry out these reasonable and
necessary rules; it remains to guard one
point. which could not at the outset be pro-
vided for; because the ground could not
be broadly taken, th.4ko case of failure to
secure a collection can be justified. 1t is
only assumed that such failures need rarely
occur. The congregation to which the
writer ministers has not in now nearly twenty
years failed to take up any collection order
ed by the General Assembly, or by Presby-
terry. No matter what the pressure and ex-
igencies of its own expenses, it has regularly
contributed to all the Church's schemes, or,
dinsry and extraordinary. But acknOwl-
eiging, as the regulations in question do,
that there may occur justi6able cases of fail
ure to solicit contributions, it is obvious that
the door is thus left ajsr, and there is a
chance afforded for Aimsy and insufficient
excuses to gain admission. Just here, there,
fore, at this door, which cannot be absolutely
closed, it will be for the Presbyteries to sci
wise, watchful, and firm guard. If, fol
example, a session should report that they
judged the people to be too poor and straigh
tened to give much, or anything; or that they
feared so many collections would be unpOpu
lar, and might lesson the attendance upor
preaching; or that the congregation haC
some special matter on hand-the building
Of house of worship, or repairs; or tha
not being able to raise money enough fOl
their minister, they could not ask the peO
pie to give to other objects; and such ex
cuses be accepted as valid and sufficient
then the regulations will be largely emptieC