The Central Presbyterian

THE OCTOBER OFFERINGS.

According to the scheme of our Assembly our churches contribute to Foreign Missions in May and October. The letter of the Nashville Committee is a direct and earnest statement and appeal to us all. It is impressive in the force with which it comes signed by every member of the committee as with personal conviction and solicitude. We have an abiding faith in the devotion of our people to the great work of saving the world unto Christ. They have not failed, and they will not fail, to respond now in such way as to gladden the hearts of the Nashville brethren, sustain our foreign work, and show their love to Christ and the world for which he died.

We submit to pastors, sessions, deacons, superintendents and treasurers, the suggestion that first they see that every dollar, contributed or promised to the other causes be sent forward without delay.

Our Synodical Committee of Evangelization, of which Dr. Fleming is chairman, and Mr. J. F. Kinnier, Lynchburg, Va., is treasurer, is in anxious extremity for what may now belong to its use.

Our Assembly's Evangelistic Work of which Dr. Craig is the secretary, and W. A. Powell, Atlanta, is treasurer, has looked to the churches for their contributions in September, for the extensive mission work in the South and Southwest.

Our Education Committee under Dr. E. M. Richardson, with G. W. Macrae, Memphis, Tenn., treasurer, has now its year's work upon its hands, and a great company of young candidates looking for aid at the beginning of the educational year.

Whatever belongs to these funds, should be forwarded without a day's delay. So will the way be opened for the duty now before us in October.

Pastors and church officers are the divinely appointed leaders of the people, and upon them depends largely the working of all methods of church work and finance. If our ordained leaders will now speak to the people, lay earnestly and lovingly upon them the responsibility and privilege of a universal offering to Christ for the extension of His kingdom, the heart of Christ's followers will be touched as with a rod in the hands of his servants, and surely the waters of love and devotion and generous offering will flow out to refresh the world and bless the Church, and honor Christ. It will be a revival of religion so to give, and when the tithes are once more brought in, God will "open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing

Two things there are we may not despise. It is a mistake to neglect attention to details of method. Our Lord failed not in regarding the details of service for himself and for his disciples. Your envelope system, is it in working order? Does it reach every member of your flock? Dr. Chester's office, with helpful care, sends you the envelopes for Foreign Missions. See that they are in every hand. Confer with the superintendent of the school, attend the October meetings of all the societies, send envelopes to absent members, leave no stone unturned, neglect no detail that may secure attention, awaken interest, and obtain the offerings. And pray God for a rich blessing on the efforts and on the giver and on the offerings! It is a vast mistake also to despise "the day of small things!" Not only are the gatherings of the weaker churches needful to swell largely the stream of offerings; not only are such contributions needful to the spiritual life of all weak churches, and of all of God's own poor, but in God's esteem their value is measured not in figures, but in weights of faith and love and self-denial, and his power and blessing are added accordingly.