SUSTENTATION FUND

Evening Star, Issue 14531, 6 December 1910, Page 6

SUSTENTATION FUND

AND PENALTIES OF SUNSHINE. AN LVTERE.STING DISCUSSION. It would seem that ;i delightful clima'.o carries some penalties. The Dum/i::i Presbytery this morning discu.s.~cd the Suaientation Einul ami the failure of some eongrt'salions to comply with \\w regit la ti'f.n of the Church. The lie.,. 11. I!. M. Sutherland brought, the'matter up for consideration, aud atKT refening lo the Gcner.ii Assembly's inMMillion about the need of dealing with tle.s,' congregations who did not comply with t;,-' regulations, suggested t!i;u the Lev. It. t.. Davie.s nnd lie 'be appoint, d a depulali.il to wait, ujuMl " defaulting" congregations in the Taieri. 'The Lev. Mr Kinmoni explained that th* present was the worst pissible time to eo out and smld the people in the Taieri. The drought, was threatening to play up with everything. It would be ridiculous lo «<iM the people. Tilings were looking as blaek as ever he had scon them in the Taieri. The Rev. D. Rorrio said that the qucstion was a very serious one. During the next two or three months was tho worst time to visit congregations. He suggested that the .Sustentalioa Fund CommitUu bring up a statement. .Mr W. H. Adams seconded the motion. He explained the detrimental e fleet of scolding congregations, and spoke of how First Church had just reached high-water mark in the matter of contributions .to tiefund, when a deputation arrived and. fiedded tho congregation. They weie just getting over it, ajid if another deputation came, and the same performance gone over. First Church would go further back. He of what ho knew. 'The regulations were moat unfair. The membership of First Church was about half of Knox Chuteh, yet had to contribute more to the fund than the latter had, simply because they paid a larger stipend to their minister, jt would be a calamitous result if congregations took to reducing the stipends paid to their ministers. A better scheme was required. The Rev. J. Kilpafrick eaid there was no occasion for dolefulness. Tho fund last year was in a letter position than if had been for the Last twenty vears. The equal dividend this ye,ar was £212 17s 6d, as against £197 live years ago. 'There uas. jc<isou for great rejoicing. The Kev. Mr Kinmoni challenged the wisdom of using the word " defaultin.'.'' There was no law about the matter. The regulation was no moro than a pious wish. The Rev. Mr Sutherland pointed out that congregation-* were " bound in loyalty" Lo contribute to tho fund. 'The Rev. 11. E. Davis expressed his opinion that the matter should not be placed before congregations as a compulsory duty. The whole system of the Church was basc-0 upon voluntaiy principle. 'The amendment was carried.