“And they that be wise shall ahine aa the brightness of the firmament;'
and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever."
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Entered at the Post-Office at Richmond, Va„ as Second-Claas Matter.
Vol. LIX.
MAY, 1909.
No. 11.
A BETTER SYSTEM OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR
MISSIONS.
These closing days of the Convention
year, these days of strain and anxiety,
hope and dread — hope that somehow, we
know not how, the needed means for the
work will yet come; dread, lest the new
year begin with a heavy debt — these day3
of waiting which follow a strenuous, nerve-
racking campaign, when we wonder if we
have really done all that could have been
done with the limit of human endurance —
theso days give tremendous emphasis to
the fact that we need a better and more
systematic plan of raising money for our
mission work. Our territory is so vast
and diverse, and we have so many men
of many minds that the question of a bet¬
ter system is as difllcult as It Is impor¬
tant. Still, it must be done. We all agree
on that point at least. We venture a few
suggestions that may help in the solution
of the problem.
First, let the Convention at Louisville
repeat what was done at Hot Springs, and
make a careful and prayerful estimate of
the amount needed for the year, including
all debts, if there be any, and the money
necessary for carrying on and enlarging
the work. Then let this entire sum be ap¬
portioned among the States, on the basis
of what might be reasonably expected from
each State. Let the State Boards or Con¬
ventions apportion these amounts among
the District Associations and let them di¬
vide It among the churches, care being
taken that no Association or church Is
asked to give less than is already being
given. Let the leaders in the States and
Associations strive earnestly to have each
church bear some part In the great work.
Then let the churches formally adopt the
apportionment and set to work deliberate¬
ly to raise it just as certainly as they raise
the amount necessary for current expenses
or any other work of the church.
Of course, there are objections and diffi¬
culties connected with this plan, but these
are less than those attached to any other
plan or to no plan, and they will grow
less all the while as the plan is worked.
On the other hand, there are many things
to commend it For one thing, it will ap¬
peal to our business men. They will see
at once that It is systematic and business¬
like.
In the second place, where the State
Conventions have adopted schedules of of¬
ferings, let the churches adhere rigidly to
the schedules, keeping always in mind the
apportionment for each object, striving to
secure at the appointed time the full
amount of the apportionment and sending
it forward at once for that object accord¬
ing to the schedule. The schedule plan
with a definite apportionment as a basis Is
good. Without the apportionment it is not
worth much, as It still leaves the amounts
to be raised a matter of uncertainty ac¬
cording to varying circumstances.
In the third- place, where the State Con¬
vention has no schedule, the best plan for
the individual church is a system of week¬
ly offerings for benevolence through en¬
velopes. But this weekly offering must be
based on an apportionment or budget
adopted by the church at the beginning of
the fiscal year. Otherwise it is almost cer¬
tain to be a “weakly” offering. With an
apportionment for the general work, com-
