Direct Giving.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XVII, Issue 5, 1 November 1926, Page 7

Direct Giving.

For all Church and Philanthropic -purposes. Through the Duplex System of Church Finance.

'.(By Captain T. F. Watson, Founder . of the Movement).

- On the eve of, my „ departure for : lyew^Zealand, I should like to use this '.opportunity of thanking most warmly

the bishops and others of the Australian Church for their great kindness m organising nearly 200 conferences at which I have been privileged to give addresses on the aim and purpose of tlje Duplex Movement. I have been amazed at the distance some of the. clergy arid laity have travelled, and the sacrifice of time and. money they have made m order to be present at some of these conferences, sometimes involving three or four days and travelling close upon 250 miles m two directions. Some results of the progress of the movement have already come to hand, one from a country parish which has already received promises of more than double the amount formerly contributed for foreign _ missions, and 60 per cent, increase m the home income. .; The cathedral church at Bathurst reports the result of its first effort from voluntary promises as over 200 members whose promises for maintenance average £3 ,4s 7Jd per head per annum and for extension, «i.e M -foreign missions £1 6s 6 Jd, whilst the children have promised 12s per head per annum for maintenance, and 5s 9id per head per annum for extension. Such averages show what may be obtained on the basis of a budget all inclusive and representing a generous offering for the maintenance of the Kingdom ; whilst individuals are left free to promise "as God hath prospered" for its extension. , Clergy and Church councillors desirous of adopting* the Duplex Movement are sincerely urged to keep m mind the principle for which it stands, i.e., money the equivalent of service to enable the whole church, i.e., men, women and children to share m the whole work of the whole Kingdom. The maintenance portion includes parochial, diocesan, and home funds generally, such as hospitals, homes and other charities and philanthropic institutions, the extension portion is exclusively for the foreign missions of the Church. Where this division is strictly observed by far the, best results are obtained, because, it : appears to bring the human will into line with the divine ,will, m .fly way and for His purpose, by the, command /Seek ye first the Kingdom of Gtod " . as applying to carrying the message to those who have not yet received it thus making possible the fulfilment of the, divine promise' "all these tnings; shall, be added " represented by the all; inclusive budget.. Some clergy and Church officials have expressed the opinion that "Duplex" is too intricate to work m country distrcits, and that too much labor 'is involved m starting it and 'in book-keeping. This only appearsto be the case because the system! presents absolution of the finance problem so very different from our pre-sent-day methods of dealing with it.

Parishes that have actually had the experience >£ using the Duplex , Sj»r tern m both large and small parishei m either town or country have' expressed themselves m fay or of it, not only because of the wonderful material and spiritual results obtained, but because of the simplicity with which it is started and carried oil. Specimen literature giving details for introducing the system together with various items of equipment' may be obtained from Church Stores, Daking House, Bawson Place, Sydney; whilst membership leaflets upon which the parochial budget is. printed will be supplied by Messrs D. S. Ford; print* ers, 50 itseservoir street, Sydney/^ ("Church Standard"). * i;