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Les diagrammes suivants Dlustrent la m*thode. rrata :o pelure. 3 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 B^piFigT cepEpiepi ONTARIO— CANADA. Systematic Beneficence, BY FINANCIAL SECRETARY. DUDLEY & BURNS, PRINTERS, TOKUNTO, 1879. PAPTIST CONVENTION, ONTARIO. -*^080'*- What it is. @Y SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE we mean : giving ^ to the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ according to a certain rule or system. Our beneficence may inchide con- tributions to th_ gospel at home and gbroad, education, the poor, and any other objects that are worthy, and require our pecuniary aid. So far as this Convention is concerned, the objects for which we solicit aid are limited, for the present, to three : Hi)me Missions, Foreign Missions, and Minis- terial Education. The system upon which a person gives may vary accord- ing to circumstances and kis convictions of duty. The Lord asks according to what a man has ; not according to what he has not : but He requires that each one be a faithful steward of all His gifts to him : of time, strengf^h, talents, wealth and opportunities. System in giving, however, implies at least three things : ist, a certain proportion of a person's income ; 2nd, regularity ; and 3rd, where possible, frequency. SVSTEMA TIC n/iXEFICENCE, The Measure of it. The ancient Jews, so long as they remained f^iithful, gave a certain proportion of their income ; they gave at regular intervals, and these were comparatively frequent. It has been estimated that they gave in tithes, offerings, glean- ings, and other ways, one-third of their entire income. Under the gospel we are required to lay by in store, on- the first day of the week, as the Lord has prospered us. This law embodies these three principles : a certain proportion regularity and frequency. -No law, stating the exact amount a believer should give, has been laid down by our Lord ; but we cannot suppose that those who have so much greater blessings to enjoy, and are under so much weightier obliga- tions, will conclude thnt they are, iherefore, privileged to give less than their brethren of the ancient commonwealth. The Lord leaves it to the enlightened judgment and con- science of His people, only requiring that they give as they have received, freely and abundantly. The motive is as important in God's sight, as the amount given, and even more so ; though this is very frequently as much in corres- pondence with the motive, as it is in proportion to our ability. The right motive will generally decide the due proportion. Objections to it. Some object to laying down any rule for giving to the Lord's cause, citing His words, " Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." But we need to guard against the deceitfulness of our own hearts, in using such a prohibi- tion as an excuse for withholding more than is meet from the treasury of God : for it is remarkable, as well as suspi- cious, that these words are used more frequently as a cloak to hide our neglect of duty, than to avoid ostentation in its performance. We should j^ive " with simplicity," but at the same time we should give with faithfulness. System in giv ing will be a guide to us. Only in this way, can we give to each object in the fair proportion of its claims upon us and our ability ; otherwise our giving will be fitful, uncertain, irregular. In a word, our benefactions, as all our other acts of worship, should be performed in such a way as to be a blessing to ourselves, as well as beneficial to the cause we de- sire to advance. The tirst and highest end, is blessing to the individual soul. " It is more blessed to give than to receive." It enlarges the heart, developcs the affections, strengthens the soul. God is always giving : He would have His children like unto Himself. But some will say : " It is impossible for a man to give a certain proportion of his income, when he does not know what that income will be— as the farmer and the merchant." Where there is a will there is a way. It is easy for the assessment commissioner to estimate the income of each citizen. A Christian man can be as honest with his God as he is with the tax-gatherer, and he has this advantage : the Lord will return him the over-plus, if there is any. Many of us, however, would have to send in at the end of the year, in the form of conscience-money, the balance due : In this way only, can we know when and how to respond to appeals for aid. As it is, the most earnest and persistent appeal receives, not only the largest, but a disproportionate share. Like the unjust judu^e, we give to get rid of the importunate pleader. Universal In Its Application. System ought to be applied to every department of our expenditure, to outlay for rent, for food, for clothing, for recreations, to our savings against sickness and old age. If professors were to keep a strict account of their outlay from year to year, many would find to their shame and condem- nation, that they spend more in amusements, refreshments, in dress, in vain display, in useless and even harmful indulgences, or in some favorite pursuit, than they contribute for the support of the church to which they belong, for the spread ot the gospel at home and abroad, and to the poor. Need such wonder at coldness, and the loss of all joy and peace in God : that they have a name to live, but are dead? There is hardly anything that requires to be more earnestly and persistently presented to the people, than their duty in reference to the use they make of the means God has given them. In no one thing are ministers, as a rule, more un- faithful, than in teaching the duty, the method, and the blessedness of giving. Some Calculations. Estimating the membership of our churches in Ontario to be, in- round numbers, 20,000, and allowing one-half of this number for persons without any income, as wives of mem- bers, children without employment, and the very poor, we ha\ e remaining, 10,000 able to contribute more or less to the cause of Christ. Supposing the average income of these 10,000 members to be $300 per annum, we have a total income of $3,000,000 : one-tenth of which would give us $300,000. Allowi g $150,000 for the support of the 200 ministers in Ontario, they would receive an average income of $750. Allowing $50,000 more for the po .r, and $50,- 000 for church building, repairs, and non-denominational benefactions, we should still have remaining the handsome sum of $50,000 for our great denomJnational enterprises. This would give $1 5,000 each to Home and Foreign Missions, $7,500 to Ministerial Education, $5,000 each to Grande »>4 J. Ligne Mission and Church Edifice Society, and leave $j,5CX) to Superannuated Ministers' Society : nearly three times as much as we now contribute to these objects. Supposing that each otte of our 20,000 members were to contribute one cent per week each to Home and Foreign Missions and Ministerial Education, and one-third of one cent per week each towards the Grande Ligne Mission, Church Edifice Society and Superannuated Ministers' So- ciety, we should have $10,000 for each of the three first named, and $3,333 for each of the remaining three — br, in all, $40,000. One cent a day^ for each working day, would give us $60,000. Five cents per week, for two years, from ten thousand members, would give >is the endowment of $50,000 asked for Woodstock Institute ! Why is it that all our societies are appealing, and in some cases in vain, for aid ? 15ecause we do not give, on an aver- age, four cents per week towards these great departments of service for Him, who gave His life for us. Dangers to be Avoided. Some will say : " Well, we will give that sum and then we shall have done our share." Systematic beneficence is not intended as a means for any one doing less than he ought ; but to afford an opportunity for all, however poor, to give as they receive and as they spend — week by week, or month by month. There are many who will fail of their duty, if they do not give many times four cents per week. Very few will do their duty, unless they give, at least, that amount. It must also be remembered, that there are many whose names are on our church rolls, who are absent from the churches to which they belong— members on fur- lough. There are others sleeping at their posts — heeding no call of duty. Others in the hospital - requiring attention rather than giving help. And others who at the roll-call cannot be accounted for at all— deserters, or prisoners in the camp of the enemy— missing. The force of all arms ready for service, is seldom much more than one-half the numbers on paper. There are many little better than camp followers. It is therefore unsafe to calculate our duty, by counting our- selves one of the whoU number and giving in that propor- tion. The sad truth is, that the giving of the church, like the work of the church, must be done by the faithful few. Let each one, after allowing for all these deductions, esti- mate his duty, and according to the utmost of his ability 'gwQX.oxXiQ best of causes diwdiX^Q best of Mastp:rs. What Has Been Done By it. John Wesley, when asked to what he attributed the great success of Methodism, replied, " To the Grace of God and a penny a week." Not long since, Bloomsbury Chapel, London, England, required extensive repairs and some additions, involving an outlay of five or six thousand pounds. The whole amount was raised by weekly offerings ranging from one penny upwards, and the place was re-opened free. The Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, London, besides paying current expenses by means of pew rents, and carry- ing on many vast enterprises, gives by means of weekly offerings upw^ards of /i,8oo per year. A box is placed at each door, and on it are the words, "The Pastor's College. Each person worshipping in this place is requested to give at least one penny T Nearly $10,000 from one congre- gation, for one denominational object, by Systematic Bene- ficence ! SYSTEM A TIC BENETICENCE. Analogies are to be found everywhere. The vast opera- tions of our post office de^ ..itmcnt, with its mail service by- land and water, its letter carriers, clerks, post masters and inspectors, are sustained almost entirely by receipts from pos/ai^e stamps of the value of one cent and upwards. One of our most prosperous daily journals, with a circulation of about twenty thousand, requii'inga staff of trained workmen, reporters, correspondents and editors, is sold at one cent per copy. One cent a day from each of the twenty thousand subscribers, with the advertisements, supplies the sinews of war for this vast establishment. How to Work it. First, let it be adopted by the church, so that it may have the weight of its solemn sanction. Next, let some person of good practical business habits be appointed to superintend this department. After a sermon or an address, let each member be supplied with a contribution card, to be filled and returned by a certain date. When all the cards have been handed in, assort them so that the whole may be divided into sets corresponding to the residences of the contributors. Enter their names according to their districts, numbering the whole frcm one upwards, with the sums they propose to give placed opposite. If the plan of collectors calling weekly, or monthly, is adopted, select one or two collectors for each district which ought not to be very large— and give them a collector's book with the names of the contributors and amounts promised per week written therein. Tn some cases, where many of the members reside in the country, it may not be convenient for collectors to call ; or there may be other objections to the collecting system. Under these circumstances, envelopes of a certain color. distinctly printed with the names of the months, and num- bered from one upwards, may be used. The co or and the pnntmg will obviate confusion, even where the weelh offenng system ,s in operation for pastoral support and cur- rent expenses. Each method has its special' advantage but space will not permit stating them. It is very important-. st. That ea.h person have a sub- t he chooses. Consecrated common sense will suggen the best way to approach each person. 2nd. That no ';« b! allowed to fall into arrears for any U.n<.th of time U much easier to make up one mont'h's .^ar thanfou ;: IX months^ 3rd. That when any collector remo es,o "i^: up the work, another be appointed to fill the vacancy 2 That every new member have a contribution card placed n his hand, so that the contributions may be ke^t u^to . e full amount to the end of the year : otherwise, on accoun of £ e':;rrn?'r .t" ^^"=^'' ''^^ ^^'^"^^^ ^^^ less each month. 5th. That returns be made promptly everv month to the Treasurer or Financial Secretary. 6th Thit "e^f t'hJT^' " "'^" "''"°"' '"' '" '"^ — they Jha reap f they famt not. It is a service that will pay abun aan ly m the advance of God's kingdom. 7th That th» whole work be done ,„ „„..7/.. Z..rf, esteeming it nola^ erv,ce to do anything towards training His people "n sTste" matic g,vmg to His cause, and a high bono, 'thus to help t, in ones own humble sphere the great works of the Lord Ihose who stayed behind with the stuff, received as much saria Tl " " "'" "^"' '" '"^ ''^"'^- ^he commis al M '"'' " ''" ""P°"^"' ^'"'^ artillery or the cav- alry. Many a campaign has been lost through insufficient supplies ; and victory has been turned into defeat bfcause tae ammunition has not been sent on. because yT^ SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. II The Material Required. Cards of which the accompanying will serve as an example : ;Paptist J:onvention of Pntario. SYSTKMATiG^ Beneficence. Home Missions Cents, Foreign Missions [\,\[ Ministerial Education Name Address current tt How TO BE Paid (Please state whether weeWv "monthly, or quarterly.) ' ' (Rkverse.) 20,000 Members. 20,000 Dollars. Dear Friend :~ ^e require this year about 6,666 dollars each for Home Mis Z7rfr7''\ ^''''""' """"^ Ministerial Education, from the Baptist Churches awl Sabbath Schools of Ontario. This sum can be raised easily, proz'ided each one gives, at last, ONE CENT PER WEEK. SoME, hou^evcr, may not give el '17 '' ''^'"7T ''-'' ""'' ^'' ^'^' '' ^-- --' -^-'^-^ to carry on successfully these great departments of service for Christ, mil you not, for the sake of our country, of the heathen and of our rurng ministry, give to these object, as the lord hI; PROSPERED YOU? . «0,000 jflembcrs. 30,000 Dollaii^. 12 SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. If collectors are deemed best, books, of which the follow- ing is a sample page : M (^ B D hi Hi Si eg S Total. 1 - — — — • > ^ • 1 ^ ^* • ffi IS fx^ • 1 1^ <5 ^' K No. w c^ ro Tt- lO 'O !->. IB-* • • - • • • ^ -5 ^ ^ J flj !U S-< S ^ ^ ^ • • 1 1- o 1 It S YSTEMA TIC J EFICENCE. 13 w- ' !- oj to • • • < 5 Smith. . rt Brown, y Jones. . am White Davin. . Williams 1 Hamiltoi 1 niitting' stat he totals a a-j . . c 4) t/Ji 'A Jame Robe Henr Willi Niool Mary Saral ^ ill re only t 1— H a Hom Forei Mins 14 SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. Envelopes, if they are preferred, printed after the manner of the subjoined : Baptist Convention OF ONTARIO. 355rO. 1. Systematic Beneficence JANUARY. Baptist Convention OF ONTARIO. ISTO. 1. Systematic Beneficence. FEBRUARY. Blank Notices :