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April 10, 1912 ] THE !
who is able to maintain his family, would allow
his neighbors to furnish subsistence to his
wife and children or even to himself; and it is
almost incredible that any one able to help
would consent to receive all the accommodations
afforded by the church without contributing
to the fund. But if there be such a man,
the remedy is not by a threat to turn him out
of his pew. That man specially needs the Gos
pel. Keep liim in his place, therefore, hoping
that by the grace of God he may yet be brought
to appreciate his duty and privilege in this respect.
In the meanwhile, others ought to make
up the deficiency with the same spirit which
induces them to send the Gospel to idolaters
and other benighted people.
1 have heard of a society of simple-minded
Christians in one of the West India Islands,
who, it seems to me, hit upon the true plan
for raising the expenses of true religious services.
They adppted three rules, as follows: 1.
We will give cheerfully; 2. We will give
promptly; 3. We will give as the Lord has
blessed us. It is related that on one occasion,
when the officers of the church had met to receive
the offerings of the people, a comparatively
rich member of the flock put down a
very small sum as his contribution. The
i J U\T. 1 it- -
ciiuuiuaii sttiu: rNu, uromer, we can t take
that." "Why, not??" asked the other. "Because,"
was the reply, "you have not complied
with the 3rd rule." The member took up his
money and trudged off. Presently he returned
and putting down a larger sum said huftlshly:
"Take that." "No," said the other,
"we cannot take it. You have not complied
with the 1st rule." The contributor retired
again with his money, but finally returned, and
with a changed manner begged that as a favor
to him it might be received. "Yes, with pleasure,"
said the chairman, "now you have complied
with all the rules." This story illustrates
the true principle of Christian beneficience and
me umiiuer 111 wnicn me people may be educated
with reference to it. The Lord does not need
the gifts of any of His creatures. He, however,
condescends to accept the free will offerings
of his people. lie does not want enforced
presents, and the church should not receive*
them. But the church should enlighten the
people and exhort and rebuke in respect to
the duty and privilege.
*
Frequent reports of the financial condition
of the church should be made, not by announcements
from the pulpit, but by means of
printed statements placed in the pews. Every
individual attending the church should be kept
a informed in regard to these affairs. All are
equally interested, and every proper means
should be used to excite the interest and call
forth the liberality of the members.
There will, of course, be some members of the
congregation unable to contribute; or at least
to promise any sum they may think worth
subscribing. Christ said: "The poor ye have
always with you," and as long as such are in
the community, God grant that a reasonable
proportion of them may be in our church, and
cherished and accommodated as well as the
richest. In fixing the amounts of their contributions,
the comparatively wealthy must
have reference to the fact that some of the
brethren are able to do very little. We will
not say that any are able to do nothing. And
oniniicHt gins may De more in tne estimation
of God than the largest. The widow who
oast two mites into" the treasury of the temP'e,
Christ himself, said "cast in more than
they all."
In oui> common conversation we speak of
living to the church, or to religious objeots,
PB1?BYTSKIAK OF THE S 4
and many people pay every claim upon them
in preference to church dues. The latter are,
however, Debts of the first dignity, higher
than "debts of honor," and are entitled to be
first discharged.
A word in conclusion in regard to the collection
of church revenues. Church officers
serve without pay, and certainly not for their
own enjoyment. They have become our serv
ants tor Christ's sake. When they present to
us the collection baskets during public worship,
or elsewhere call upon us for money, it is
to save us trouble."
UNION WITH UNITED PRESBYTERIANS.
Two years ago, Rev. S. L. Morris received
communications from several members of the
A. R. Presbyterian Church and one from a U.
P. minister, inquiring whether the time had
not arrived for a union of these conservative
churches and the Presbyterian Church, U. S.
These brethren expressed the opinion that
there was a sentiment in their respective
churches in favor of such union, and requested
that the matter be brought to the attention
of our Assembly.
Accordingly an overture was presented to
the Assembly at Lewisburg, W. Va., on the
subject; and in response lieverends It. C. iteed
and iS. L. Morris, were appointed a committee
to confer with the A. It. P. Church, provided
they appointed a similar committee. As there
was no dehnite request from the U. P. Church
on the subject, our Assembly expressed a willingness
to appoint a Committee of Conference
with this church, as soon as our Assembly had
information that it would be agreeable to the
U. P. Church.
In the meantime the United Presbyterian
Church appointed a general Committee on
Church Relations, to confer with any ecclesiastical
body desiring to confer. It was suggestnfhiM
onmrt A A1 -* 1 x
muvi oumG uuiicspuuucuue Liuti as urs.
Reed and Morris would be in Pittsburg at
the Council of Reformed Churches, it migiit be
desirable to have an informal conference with
this committee of the U. P. Church.
Such conference was accordingly held, a
large number of leading men in the U. P.
Church being present; and there were the sincerest
expressions of mutual confidence, agreement
as to doctrine, etc., on the part of the
representatives of these two churches of like
faith and order. A resolution was unanimously
adopted to be submitted to each Assembly in
May, to appoint committees to ascertain
whether a basis of union could be found.
The United Presbyterian, the esteemed weekly
organ of the Church, has this cordial notice
of the informal and delightful conference.
44 I r? nnr?n n/if 4- V? 4-V? ? A^
au wuugbuuu mm luc uicctiug ui tue council
of the Reformed Churches in America,
holding the Presbyterian system, which was
held in Pittsburg last week, an informal conference
was held between two of the representatives
of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States, better known perhaps as the
Southern Presbyterian Church, and a majority
of the members of the Committee on Church
Relations appointed by our own General Assembly.
The conference was held at the request
of our brethren of the South, the Rev.
S. L. Morris, D. D., Secretary of the Executive
Committee of Home Missions, and the Rev. R.
C. Reed, D. D., of Columbia, S. C. These
brethren constitute a committee of their Gen
eral Assembly on union with another denomination,
but were not appointed with reference
to ours. They explained that they had asked
for the informal conference because of the
unanimous desire on the part of the entire
membership of their church for closer relations
with the United Presbyterian Church. They
1UTH (423) II
atao stated that action would undoubtedly be
taken at their next General Assembly looking
toward closer relations with our body.
Of course no official action was or could be
taken by this conference, which was entirely
informal, but it was agreed that upon the
ground of unity of doctrine a closer relation
between the two bodies is desirabie, and that
it would be proper for each Assembly to appoint
a committee of conference with the other
in order to ascertain whether a basis of union
is practicable, and if so, to report said
basis to their respective assemblies for tuen
consideration and action thereon, it was also
the unanimous opinion of those who met
in conference that whether a basis of union
is found to be practicable or not, these two
conservative and orthodox bodies should seek
to know more of each other, should exchange
fraternal messages through appomted delegates,
and should try to stand as close together
as possible in the interest of the things that
are precious to us both."
?? e i eciproeaie an uieir Kind expressions of
brotherly love and confidence, and trust that
this is the beginning of the union of conservative
forces of Presbyterianisin on this Continent.
God speed the day! g ^ Morris.
Perhaps every author, if called to account for
his getting into book making, would tell a story
different from all the rest. Here is an engaging
account of how the Presbyterian pastor-writer
of romance and adventure in the Canadian
Northwest, -came to pen the series of heart-stirring
and uplifting stories, the first of which was
"Black Rock."
"My break into literature was accidental as
well as providential for me. I had lived to be
thirty-eight no thought of ever getting into
print had ever entered my head. I had been pas
tor of the Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg for
about four years, and was deeply interested in
missions, especially at the mining and lumber
camps of the Canadian North-West. The apathy
shown by the people of my own denomination
got on my nerves, and the small size of the
appropriation made by the Committee on Missions
for my district so exasperated me that I
went to the Editor of a religious weekly published
at Toronto and told him what 1 thought
of the matter. X asked him to wage a campaign
for mission funds through his columns, and he
gave me permission to ventilate myself. " 'Put
it in the form of a story,' he advised, 'or no
one will read it.' It was an untried proposition,
but it seemed possible. 1 had lived among people
I wanted to help so long that 1 knew them
and their condition, and had but to tell the
truth to make an interesting story. 1 sat right
down in that office and wrote a sketch?what
is now the first chapter of 'Black Rock.' I
was not willing that my name should appear in
connection with the story, for it might have put
me on bad terms with the Mission Board.
Ralph Connor' was the invention of my Westminster
friend. I never heard of Ralph until
I saw his name at the end of my story."
A LETTER TO THE MEMBERS
(Continued from page 1.)
Lord for a wide-spread outpouring of regenerative
and sanctifying grace?
And now, may we say, "Peace" be to you
"and love with faith, from God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ."
Your brethren,
Thos. C. Johnson,
Theron H. Rice,
John M. Walker,
B. R. Lacy, Jr.,
Graham Gilmer.