CHURCH NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 June 1901, Page 4

CHURCH NOTES.

The New Century Fund.

By Amicus

Since tlve dawn of the Twentieth. Century the churches have k awakened to the fitting opportunity of soliciting aid for the establishment of a thanksgiving fund as a mark of gratitude to God for the blessings of the past century. For some time past nearly every branch of the Christian Church has formulated colossal schemes, of which the proceeds will be devoted to the development of church Organisation. Debts are to be paid off, struggling parishes receive assistance, new churches erected and endowment funds estabashed. The greatest amount to be raised by one denomination is that of £1,000,000 by the Wesleyan Church in England. Towards that amount over £IOO,OOO has been subscribed, and before the end of the year this great achievement will be accomplished. To everyone who has a zealous care for the work of God these significant signs will be a delight and source of encouragement. The world is rapidly recognising the worth of Christianity, and is giving its aid to the agents and ministers of Christ’s Gospel. The giving church is the living church —’not only the giving of money, but the dedication of all powers and energy posssssed by the members of a church.

One of the special features that prompts Christians to support the “ New Century Fund” is that of gratitude. The past century was the grandest of the Christian era. It witnessed a large number of members brought into the Church, the organisation of racial bands to deal With the fallen, a clearer insight into scrip turnl teaching and a marvellous development "in the work of missions to the heathen. History will record the introduction of numerous denominations with their men of worth, their method of extension and their progress through years of persecution and trial. The advantages for a cultured ministry, the harmony of science with the revealed Word of God, the cessation of atheistic teaching and the glorious freedom for gospel teaching all afford a never ending topic for comment. Small wonder that Christian men and women feel grateful, but smaller wonder still that any one should resent or demur at the efforts being made to commemorate the termination Of so grand a p -riod of time. In order to raise the necessary amount stipulated by different denominations each church has set apart its agent to visit the people, and make known to them the duty of giving. Perhaps no person could have a more unthankful position. To one of a sensitive nature the ordeal is very trying, In general people have not learned the art of giving, and we fear the tendency to parsimony is increasing. There are those who are ever ready to make a sagacious comment, and when asked for a donation take the wise precaution to remind the agent that “ money is the root of all evil.” That text is often misquoted so when the victim of mammonism makes his rejoinder. St Pau' never makes such an absurd statement. Ho denounces not money, but the love of it—a very different thing and the Revised Verson makes the text more explicit by saying it is a root—not the root of all kinds of evil., There are few truths so obvious as this, and to no one is it demonstrated more clearly than to the one who from a sense of duty goes forth to canvass on behalf of a thanksgiving fund. The man who worships money is a pitiable victim of society as the life is crushed out of him by the money lie gains. The old sage has said 11 the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” Still, as of old, Man by himself is priced ; For thirty pieces Judas sold Himself, not Christ. The chief safeguard against such a ruin is the possession of a higher passion. Men of the brightest intellect and most promising career have proved themselves impregnable to the seductions of any mercenary motive. Faraday rejected a fortune as an analyst, and devoted himself to investigation. Agassiz, when offered largo sums of money for his lectures, replied that ho had no time to waste in making money. Wesley made £50,000 from his writings, but declared that if he left behind him more than £lO after his debts were paid he was to be regarded as a thief and robber. If men of science can prove strong against the temptation of money can wo admit that devotion to Christ is less powerful. For Christian Churches to discuss this topic involves the condemnation of heterodoxy. Giving was one of the main duties of the early Christians, and hi the twentieth century the need is mofo essential. Yesterday at Holy Trinity Church, Archdeacon Grace preached stirring discourses on behalf of the *’ Twentieth Century Thank Offering Fund.” The amount asked for is £sooo' from the diocese of Nelson. Sums of any amount will be received in regular instalments for five years. The congregation in Qreymouth will no doubt feel its responsibility in giving its assistance and without in any way minimising their present contributions towards the support of the Church. They should easily raise £IOOO during the next five years.