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422
A BU
PROPOSED FOI
By R. E
Next in importance to
is the development of tl
ship, and indeed so intin
that a church cannot ma
orderly and balanced de
th? church life.
A Per
iut; pruuiem oi securin
church and bearing a fu
denomination of which th
endless perplexity to tho
tunities for aggressive wc
each newly opened door
for the raising of addition
facing the Southern Pres
as obligations by our leat
for funds to conduct "F
rapidly that they are con
calls for funds have not
needs, nor have amounts
of our membership.
A Lack
There has been, howev
and orderly plan for pres
of our Assembly so the 1
her could see, at one v
unified whole. Such a i
each church may deliber
definite share in the lan
proceed to enlist every n
tematic and sustained e
discharge every obligatioi
ent system, (or lack of s
no business enterprise v
upon a basis as uncertai
Committees and agencies
Present Assembl
* Under the present Assi
immediately after organ
Standing Committees sel
commissioners. To the r
is referred the annual rei
with such overtures as n
the Executive Committee
pered by a lack of famili;
Agency and by a lack ol
gent consideration of wt
hand, and reports to th
recommendation as to the
to give for this one cause
terest involved has probal
tion at the hands of the
tion of the work to the
scarcely received a thouj
of a report of a Standing
apparently in order to hav
of "points of order" and "aj
0,1^ wuiiiiiiciiueu ior uieir
their work and are aut
twice or three times la
or that any one expects
offered as to how the ft
mittees are turned loose
has degenerated into an
stead of a co-operative el
Lord.
A Coi
The Synods and Presby
they add their scheme of
ing them to the Assemb:
faithful hoard of officers,
Junctions of all the Su]
membership the followini
January?Assembly's H
THE PRESBYTERIAN
DGET PLAN
* CHURCH FINANCES.
. Magill, Secretary.
the spiritual work of the Church
le grace of giving in the memberlately
related are the two activities
ke real progress unless there is an
veiopraent in both departments of
plexing Problem.
g an adequate support for the local
11 share In the larger work of the
e church is a unit, is one that gives
se charged with leadership. Opporirk
confront every denomination, and
becomes an obligation which calls
al funds. The enlarged opportunities
byterian Church have been accepted
lers, and calls upon the membership
'orward Movements" have come so
fusing to the average member. The
been too numerous in view of the
t asked for been beyond the ability
of an Orderly Plan.
er, a notable lack of a well digested
enting all the benevolent enterprises
ocal church and the individual memlew,
the work of our Church as a
>resentation is needed in order that
ately accept its responsibility for a
;er work of the Assembly, and then
lember of the congregation in a sysffort
to make an offering that will
1 of the individual church. The pressystem),
is fundamentally wrong and
vould project a policy of expansion
n as that upon which the Executive
l of the Aasemhlv nnw Havana
y Methods Need Reforming.
embly rules, the Moderator appoints,
ization of the Assembly, a list of
ected at random from the body of
nore important Standing Committees
>ot of an Executive Committee, along
lay seem related to the activities of
The Standing Committee is hamarity
with the work of the Executive
f time, but it gives the most intellilich
it is capable to the matters in
e Assembly its conclusions, with a
s amount the churches shall be asked
during the coming year. The great in)ly
not had over two hours' considera
i standing Committee and the relaother
activities of the Assembly has
jht. The Assembly usually disposes
Committee in about twenty minutes
re more time to give to the discussion
jpeal cases." The Executive Agencies
faithfulness and directed to enlarge
;horized to raise an amount about
rger than they have ever received
them to get. Not a suggestion is
inds are to be raised and the Comi
on the Church to engage in what
unseemly competition for funds, inffort,
to advance the kingdom of our
nfusing Schedule.
tpri^a miiet nrcvMn fnr IaooI
Benevolences without properly relatly's
schedule, with the result that a
which undertakes to follow the inferior
Courts, must present to the
g schedule of Benevolent Offerings:
lome Missions.
I OF THE SOUTH.
February?Synodical or Presby
March?Sabbath School Extensi
April?Ministerial Education.
May?Foreign Missions.
June, First Sunday?Synodical 01
June, Third Sunday?Synod's S
July?Ministerial Relief.
August?Synodical or Presbyter
Spnfpmhpr Thirst Snrulav?Aqcp
September, Third Sunday?Asst
October, First Sunday?Foreign
October, Third Sunday?Bible (
November, First Sunday?Minis
November, Third Sunday?Kndc
December, First Sunday?Color
December, Fourth Sunday?Ass
If the Synod or Presbytery is ei
or three extra causes will be add
ably have one or two local projt
result that the congregation will
schedule calling for about twent
IV,V- tlUUO |JCI J Cttl .
A Burden to t
No suggestion comes down frori
these multitudinous calls are t
restrictions are placed on the a
The result is that the average
up his pulpit to a special ager
about twice a month he is expe
a benevolent offering. The offeri
any benevolent cause is, therefor
gence and enthusiasm of the pres
and the further contingency of 1
permit the attendance of a go<
the offering is taken. It is smi
feel that an undue portion of th
a collecting agent, and a lack ol
of discouragement, is generated
ment of a seemingly endless II
present system is unsatisfactory i
daily in volume and force, is a r?
easier to point out defects than tc
A Better Syste
The placing of all the Assembly
one Committee is probably ide
America has yet demonstrated th
It is evident that something bet
must be found if our Church is t<
ing opportunities, and make an i
mensurate with her growing men
No method can be suggested tl
gregations, but a plan should be
ciples applicable to all conditior
operation to meet the needs of
size or location. The plan shou
tation of all the Benevolent Cai
Courts, and the individual chu
claims as a unit and make as 1
apportionment for Benevolences
salary and incidental expenses,
tested in other denominations?
Church and the United Presbyte
our Presbyteries and churches?a
ticability and workability.
A Permanent Committee on
The plan is known as "The Apj
System," and it is worthy of a
certain almost any plan would 1
nroconf ovofo?-? m1? 4
Bjsvcui. me Assemniy
Committee on Systematic Benefic
This Committee should consist <
of approved judgment, and it she
bly's date to consider the repor
mittees for the past year. Af
record of all the Assembly's Agen
be prepared covering the needs
ensuing year. This Budget shot
April 6, 19io.
terial Home Missions,
ion and Publication.
Presbyterial Home Missions,
lehools and Colleges.
ial Home Missions,
mbly's Home Missions,
jmbly's Schools and Colleges.
l Missions.
^ause.
terial Education,
iwment Ministerial Relief,
ed Evangelization.
pmhlv's Hnme and Sr>hr?r\T
iterprising, it is probable two
ed, and the church will prob;cts
to support, with the net
be faced with a benevolent
y to twenty-four special colhe
Pastor.
n the higher courts as to how
o be met, and no effective
gents of the various causes,
pastor is requested to give
it about once a month, and
icted to make an appeal for
ng in the average church for
e, dependent upon the intellisentation
made by the pastor,
favorable weather which will
od congregation on the day
all wonder that the churches
eir pastor's time is taken as
f interest, if not of a feeling
by the perfunctory announce
1st of collections. That the
and that protests are growing
scognized fact; but it is much
> suggest an adequate remedy,
m Possible.
's Benevolent activities under
al, but no denomination in
iat such a plan is practicable,
ter than our present system'
o meet the challenge of growncrease
in her offerings comlbership
and enlarged wealth,
iat will exactly suit all conadopted
which contains prints
and flexible enough in its
! all churches?regardless of
ild provide for a full presenises
endorsed by the Church
rch should consider all the
'Ull Drovisinn fnr mootlnf its
as is made for the pastor's
Such a system has been
notably the Congregational
rian Church, and in a few of
nd has demonstrated its pracSystematic
Beneficence.
lortionment Plan", or "Budget
test in our Church for it is
be an improvement upon the
should make of our Standing
ence a Permanent Committee.
>f from five to nine members
tuld meet prior to the Assemts
of all the Executive Comter
a careful reveiw of the
cies, a financial Budget should
of each Committee for the
rtd have in view a legitimate