The Mode of Raising Funds for Church Work [pp. 330-351]

334 FINANCES OF THE CHURCH. [April,
results accomplished. He who does not see this clearly and
acknowledge it thankfully, does not deserve to be heard, and
will not be heard ill the Church.
But these evidences of vitality and power should not lead
its servants to be satisfied with what it has attained, or to
fail, with loving yet with imp arh at serutiny, to endeavor to
point out whatever may lessen its strength and efficiency, or
mar its beauty. If in any part it is weak; if there are important respects in which it fails to appreciate and call into
fu~l operation its resources; if for these or any other reasons
it falls below its ability and duty, every one of its servants
should, earnestly and prayerfully, seek to bring these defects
into view, that if possible they may be removed.
It is under the pron~~tings of these considerations that the
facts and suggestions which follow ale presented.
It is obvious to all who are attentively considering the
present position of the Presbyterian Church, that when, in
its case, all the other conditions of a great aggressive movemeut are fulfilled, it is held back and crippled by the want of
an adequate supply of funds, and by the irregular manner in
which what is contributed comes into its treasury. While
the outflow demanded by its great work is even, not greatly
diffeAng from week to week, the inflow is affected by long
and embarrassing intermissions, and in the end proves, now
on one part, and now on another of its woA~, insufficient.
The statements by which these assertions are proved are
taken from the official documents of the Church.
"Out of four thousand~ two hundred and fifty mimsters in
our body, only two thouswad, seven hundred, at the utmost,
are in charge of churches, and only sixteen hundred are pastors. About one thousand are stated supplies."
"Of this namber, six hundred and seventy-six stated supplies, and three hundred and forty-eight pastors, receive less
than one thousand and down to five hundred dollars a year."
A part, perhaps a third, of the remaining fifteen hundred
and fifty, are engaged in teaching. Some are presidents and
professors in seminaries and colleges, and editors of imp ortant religions papers, but the majority, even of those who teach,