The Benevolent Work of the Church, and the Report of the Committee of Twenty-One [pp. 246-272]

256 THE BENEVOLENT WORK OF THE cHURcH. [April,
erating as earnest men concerned about immediate practical
measures for home and foreign evangelizing, and Who can
doubt that, with the Divine blessing, the effect Would be most
happy upon a large ~egiOn about their place of meeting, upon
the harmony, zeal and efficiency of tile Commissioners, and
upon our entire Church, in its benevoleiit work? With what
beneficial results, also, would these representative brethren
return to their respective Synods and Presbyteries to represent and carry out the measures agreed upon!
Dr. Craven, of New Jersey, in an able article on this subject, in a late number of the New York Observer, urges,
"That such a General Commission would be of inca~culable value to
the church. It was remarked, [he says], on the floor of the Assembly,
that whilst the church is strong in the character of ber ministers and
members, she is flnancia1[~ weak. Without doubt, our failure to contribute as God has prospered us springs, in great measure, from ignorance.
The great mass of our people have no idea of the aggregate amount that
should be raised in the different sections. What is needed in the church
is forecast, forecast that cannot be exercised by any single individuaL
The Commission would be a body admirably fitted to supply this need.
Th every section, every need, every ability of the church would be represented. It would be a body large enough for complete representation,
small enough for calm, thorough deliberation. Tentatively at first, bnt
from year to year with ever-i ~~reasing accuracy, it would guage theability of the church, and the2roportio~ate ability of the different sections thereof; it could determine the proportionate needs of the different
schemes of benevolence-then, utilizing in reference to benevolence our
adniirable ecclesiastical machinery, bring the entire work of the church
before each particular congregation, and before each individual of every
congregation. Acting in the ~ight of such a Commission every giver
would act inteffigenfly."
Ours is one Church. All its interests are in common. All
its members owe it to themselves, and to the Master, to act
together. Therefore the church work should be determiued
in a conference, where the views, customs and preferences of
all sections can be fairly considered, and methods adopted,
so far as may be, to suit all. Dr. Craven adds
"The most plausible objection that has been brought against the appointment of such a body is, that it would interfere with the right of the
individual to give according to his own judgment. Not so. Its funetions would be simply a(1visory. It is to be presumed that every man