CHURCH COLLECTIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 365, 29 October 1932, Page 2

CHURCH COLLECTIONS

VIEWS^Ofs( ABOLfTION EMBARRASBMfeNT OviRCOME BY ENVELOPE SYSTEM. • YARIED OPINIONS. Varied views were,expressecl on the proposal' of Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, vicar of St. Luke's Chnrch, to dispense ■ with the collection in the church and to substitute hoxes at the church doors, hy Christchurch clergymen. Dean Julius thought it was ah ex- : cellent idea whefe it ' could be carried. ; put, but it was considered hy the Rev. T. W. Armour, of Knox/Presbyterian Chnrch, that the envelope system was a safeguard against any einharrassment people might feel about their donations. Archdeacon Taylpr based his proposal on the grouiid that many people were' seriously e'mbarrassed by th4' usual collectio'ri in the church when they had little or nothing] to contribute. Bags had been instituted instead of plates with a view to' lessehing this embarrassment, but h'e . thought it was desirable to make a further change and disp'ehse with the collection altogether. The vestry agreed that hoxes should be placed at the church doors so that wcrshippers might make their offerings there if and when they were able to do so. Then money thus given could be presfented at. the altar at the usual time, but people could attend, church as often as they liked without feeling any scruple if at .any time they w;ere unable to make a eqntribution. The hew system will dperafe from the first Sunday in November.

"It is a good thing in these times when people are - unahi e to make an ' offering and do not like to go to church because of it," said Dean Julius. "Under ".any conditions I thirik it is a very good thing. But I do not think the majority of churchgoers' make it an excuse for not supporting their church. I am sure clergymen will be in favour of it. I do not know about the church officefs, who have to consider the financial side of th'e matter." The Rev. ArmoUr remarked that it was purely local 'adjustment. "One is conscious that the sffpport of (the church these days calla for more of the spirit of sacrifice on .the part of many," he said. "I cannot say that I am aware of any being kept away from the church because of the financial requirements. Our main source of revenue is the weekly freewill offering system, wh'ereby a person undertakes voluntariiy to give a certain amount to the church. He puts it in an envelope provided for the purpose, and puts the envelope in the plate. In this way the mite of the widow is no more conspicuons than the larger amount of the well-to-do. Those who feel that eireumstances require it may alter the amount of their eontribution, and the only person who is privy to it is the envelope secretary. "I am persuaded that if Christian. giving is based on St. Paul's principle of giving as th'e Lord has prosp'ared us, there need be no dimeulty for anybody, even in theSe hard times." Clergymen of otber denominations were not prepared to offer any cominent. Theyi considered, as did Mr. Armour, . that it was purely a local arrangement, and that anything they might say might savour of unnecessary criticism of people who knew their own business best.