SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.
By Editor
THERE is receipted in last week's Review over two hundred and fifty dollars systematic benevolence money for the Association. The churches, who have made these donations, have reserved, we presume, something in the treasury for the benefit of preachers who may labor among them. The Battle Creek church donated one hundred dollars for this purpose a few weeks since, and now has about seventy dollars on hand for any worthy objects which may present themselves. There are about ninety names on our s. b. book. These can give the one hundred dollars for the Association this year, and be able also to meet all other just demands. Suppose ten thousand Seventh-day Adventists do as much for the Association in proportion as the B. C. church has done (and no one can show why they cannot or should not), the sum raised for the Association for the year 1861 would be more than eleven thousand dollars. This is a greater sum than has been called for to meet all the wants of the Association. We make the above statement partly to show how complete is systematic benevolence to supply all the wants of the cause, as far as means are concerned, without burdening any one, and partly to encourage all to faithfully enter into it. On the first first-day of each month our treasurer passes around with his hand-trunk, to wait upon all who have their names, with the amount of their weekly donation, on his book. All expect him, and all get ready for him, and meet him with open hands and benevolent feelings, and in a few hours he collects about twenty-five dollars. No one feels poorer, but all feel happier after casting their small sums into the treasury. Those who live scattered require a monthly meeting for this, and other business of the church. But let this work be purely systematic benevolence, and not systematic compulsion, as in the Roman Catholic church. If it be true benevolence, then by it is accomplished one of the highest and best objects, viz., united action of all the members of the body. It will then be a living, weekly test of the liberality of the church, drawing all its members together in united action. By this system also all the wants of the cause can be supplied without burdening any. We are gratified to see a general waking up upon the subject. And we would here suggest that all our brethren who can spare (after supplying the more urgent wants of the cause) a good donation for the Association, send it along in this time of need.