Systematic Benevolence
By James White
Is necessary, that our churches may be in readiness to help those preachers who labor with them, and also to meet the other wants of the cause. One of our most acceptable preachers, not long since, visited four of our largest churches in a circle of 200 miles, and in three weeks preached about fourteen times. A brother let him have the use of his team to perform the journey, worth $10,00, and putting the labors of such a man at $6,00 per week, (an amount necessary to meet his expenses,) with other traveling expenses, the whole amount needed to give the minister a chance to live, is $30,00 for such a tour. It is proper here to state that a few persons had shown liberality to this brother in past time, and are ready to help him again when they are prepared. But that all may see the need of a system by which all may help a little, and the church always be ready to sustain those who labor with them, we would say that from the hands of the scores, and we may say hundreds who listened with extreme interest to his sermons, he received in all $4,00!! The brother came home happy in God and the truth, and cheerfully engages in labor with his hands, preaching Sabbaths and First-days. Now remember, Nobody is blamed in all this. But is it not time that such evils were remedied among us? I think I hear the good brethren all say, Y ES. J. W.