The American Missionary — Volume 36, No. 1, January, 1882Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 36, No. 1, January, 1882
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
* * * * *
OUR annual meeting discouraged, for the present at least, a
movement for the establishment of a mission in China, under the
auspices of this Association, and in this it accorded with the
recommendations of the Executive Committee. But something may
ultimately be done in this direction, and that our friends may know
more at length the facts in the case we publish in this MISSIONARY,
Brother Pond’s earnest plea in its behalf.
* * * * *
A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.
A few months since, the cause of this Association was presented
to a church in Central New York, after which the minister in
charge addressed the congregation substantially as follows: “Every
family belonging to this church must wish to give, according to
its ability, to the cause which has been so clearly and ably
presented. In order that this may be brought about, I have placed
a slip of paper in each pew, and desire that each family present
subscribe the amount it will give, and state when the money will
be ready. At the close of the service I will gather the slips,
and compare them with the church-roll. If any families have not
responded, I will take a carriage, if need be, and, before the
close of the week, call on those whose names have not been handed
in, so no one shall fail to have an opportunity for assisting in
the great work of advancing the Redeemer’s Kingdom.” The result
was a cheerful and liberal donation, made up probably from all the
families in the church. The clergyman who adopted this thorough and
self-denying plan was a pastor from Nebraska, on an exchange for a
few months with an Eastern brother. It fell out that he had trained
his Western church in the method described above, until all its
members cheerfully rejoiced in it, and put it into practice on all
occasions when money was to be raised for either home or foreign
objects. So that, although his church numbered but eighty-five,
its contributions to benevolent objects exceeded those of any
other Congregational church in the State. Moreover, this was not
brought about by neglect of things needful at home. A new organ was
purchased at a cost of $1,000, the money being raised by the same
method. The blessing of Heaven was not withheld; seasons of revival
strengthened the church, and its membership at present is over
a hundred. The perseverance and fidelity of the pastor were not
overlooked. Where every one was schooled to give, it was an easy
matter to gather what was wanted to purchase a beautiful gold watch
as a Christmas present for the minister. The appreciation of pastor
and people was mutual—so much so that the church was able to retain
its minister, though he was repeatedly called to other places,
where a larger salary was offered.
We commend the example of this clergyman and his people to the
large number of devoted pastors who are always prayerfully seeking
for—“A good way to do it.”
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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