CHURCH COLLECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2606, 14 August 1882, Page 3

CHURCH COLLECTIONS.

To the Editor of the Globe.

Em, —The pews cannot quarrel with the pulpit on a Sunday. Whatever the pulpit plesses to say, the pews dare not attempt to gainsay. lam sorry such is the state of the Church.

Will you allow me, Mr Editor, as ona of the pews in the Wesleyan Durham street Churoh to soy my soy through the Globr, the blessing whereof we enjoy daily ? The el* cuit stewards of that Church have issued circulars requesting five different grades of the congregation to contribute per week, 4s, 2s, Is, 6d, and 3d respectively. I hove heard it proclaimed from that pulpit that the prietta were entitled to oneton th of your annual Income, and these stewards ask us to lay in store npon the first day of the week as God has prospered us. The former statement is absurd, the latter undefinable.

The sum of 4s per week, Mr Editor, as I understand the Levitioal tything, would reaoh a man worth £606 a year, and so in proportion downwards to 3s. According to the Levitical tything. the eleven brethren who 'took Levi's share of the land returned to him in Hen thereof yeorly twelve marks per centum, and half a mark by way of profit on tenants rights, and also two and a half marks, whioh covered all claims for church purposes, which together made up one tenth. According to this ratio (speaking of our own times) a man worth £IOOO a year should contribute £l6 13s 4i a year; £9OO should contribute £ls a year ; £BOO Bhould contribute £l3 6s 8d a year ; £7OO Bhould contribute £ll 13s 4d a year s and £603 should contribute £lO 8s a yeer, or 4s a week. Now, Mr Editor, the gentlemen of the Wesleyan congregation are not asked to contribute on their incomes, ranging from £606 to £ICO3 a year, but only up to £606 ; while the poor man, boy servant, child, or whoever they may bo who are earning £4O a year, are asked by these stewards to contribute 3i per week. Let the clergy think ont this subjeot, and in order not to farther trespass further npon your space, I leave the pews ranging from £606 down to *£loo a year to tythe themselves, in rotlo at herein before set forth. Yours, &c, W. PARKER. 12th August, 18S2.