AGED OR INFIRM BAPTIST MINISTERS' SOCIETY. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR, As the result of a letter in your October number in reference to this society, I have been pleased to receive and acknowledge several letters from ministerial brethren, asking for fuller information respecting the institution. From some of our esteemed pastors I have heard more than once on this matter, and the difficulty, as I before stated, is that where a desire is felt to become connected with the society, the entrance-money forms an obstacle and a check. One valued minister writes, "The entrymoney for one at the age of fifty and upwards amounts to a prohibition." Another says, (whose age however is nearly fifty-five), "I should, if admitted a member have to pay £26, which is an amount of money which I cannot command."

May I again suggest that where it is known, or can be discovered, that the pastor would be glad to become a beneficiary member of the society, some friend or friends might easily provide the £5, £10, £15, or £20 needed; and that, such aid, if kindly tendered, would prove not less acceptable than useful to the object of it.

I am, dear Sir,

Yours very truly, CHARLES DANIELL, Secretary

Melksham, Nov. 10, 1852.

ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-In reply to a piece in your Magazine for this month respecting the announcement of subscriptions, I offer the following:

1st. A man who gives, especially one who gives liberally, stirs up others to like liberality. The carpenter encourages the goldsmith; but how can this be done? How can the goldsmith improve and gild over the carpenter's work, if he is not to see it?

2nd. Another reason why names and addresses of subscribers ought to be brought out is, that a man who gives liberally holds out a most excellent example: it is a good light that ought to shine forth, and give light to all around: but how can this be done if it is to be put under a bushel? it is doing this good work secretly, whereas he is commanded to "let his light shine before men" that they seeing his good works may copy there

from, and so learn to glorify their Father who is in heaven in like manner; but how shall they see that which is kept out of sight? how shall they copy that which is not portrayed before them?

3rd. A man's example as a liberal man is useless, if the names and addresses of the subscribers are not brought out, because no one knows it. The apostle says, "Your zeal hath provoked very many," how could this be the case if it is not known to very many?

4th. The passage referred to by your correspondent, Matt. vi. 2, says, "Do not sound a trumpet before you," that is, do not like Jehu exclaim, "Here, see my zeal for the Lord," otherwise you have no reward of your heavenly Father. Such persons have their reward, viz., an ostentatious display of themselves. But surely we are to "provoke one another to good works," how is this to be done? How can we encourage and incite others to good works if we are to set them no example, or that example is to be hidden from them?

5th. We are obliged to observe the gospel rule, "Give no offence, that the gospel be not blamed." We cannot then go to an opulent professor, who gives it may be five shillings only to a good cause, and tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself; but the report which contains the names and addresses of the subscribers and their amount does administer this shame and correction to a man; he stands reproved when he sees others less wealthy who give two pounds and five pounds; and he feels ashamed, and is induced even of his own accord to increase his subscription. Thus the report conducted on a public principle, reproves, and exhorts, and does a world of good. The man who gives liberally sets a good example-an influential one. The niggardly man reads his own shame and reproof in silence. Thus the affair is conducted "decently and in order."

6th. It may be said that some are induced to give liberally merely to display themselves, and obtain a name. But this does not belong to us to notice.it is a matter strictly between the man and his God. We hope it is not so; and we have no right perhaps to singie out any one case and say it is so, for we do not know that; besides which a perfect act in any case can hardly be performed by man. We have to do with a right principle; and the question is, " Is the private or the public principle of conducting" a public institution or society proper? Now

all the best reports of all the most sterling charities are conducted upon the public principle, that is, of bringing out the names and addresses, and even the numbers of the houses of the respective subscribers as well as their amounts. Take for instance the annual reports of the London Hospital, the Westminister; and Middlesex Hospitals, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Chapel Building Society; and fifty others I could select. And besides which there is something so disgraceful, so disreputable, and so distasteful in conducting public subscriptions upon a private principle that is under a bushel, that one feels the sacred passage come home to one's mind with singular propriety on the occasion, "Come not nigh their secret, mine honour be not thou united." Every thing of this kind should be conducted above deck, that all may see and know what is doing, and who it is done by; and this is absolutely necessary in order to maintain a public society or institution in a healthy state. Besides, supposing that some do give in order to obtain a good name and repute only, this is no objection. If a man will be liberal and do good acts, he is entitled to have a good name. Who is there that does not admire and even love one that is liberal in giving to every good cause. To seek to deprive such an one of a good name is injustice. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." If a man does that which is wrong, if he becomes a bankrupt, takes the benefit of the insolvent act, or is brought before the magistrate for a fault, his name is published in all the daily newspapers. Is it too much then for a man that does that which is right, to have praise of the same?" He is an unjust character who seeks to deprive such an one of a good name under such circumstances. We are commanded to render "honour to whom honour is due." To give liberally causes a man to have a good report, which is of great value, even with Christian men. The apostle Paul in describing the qualities of a bishop, condescends to notice this qualification, "He must have a good report of them that are with out." I conclude by observing that if a man should live thirty years, and during that period be a liberal subscriber to all the public charities and religious institutions, and his name appears every year in the annual reports, no one can tell the amount of public good such a man does by his liberal example being held up to view. It is inconceivable, whereas no one can tell the amount of sin and wickedness, dishonour, and stealth, that is cloaked by and connected with a public society conducted upon the private principle. I am, dear Sir,

Yours respectfully,
C. VINES.

28, Canonbury Square, Islington.
1st Nov. 1852.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.

MY DEAR SIR,-May I be allowed a brief space in reply to your correspondent "R. B." The question he proposes is one that is scarcely touched by the passage to which he refers in Matt. vi. 2-4. There the Saviour is denouncing an ostentatious parade. of our own benevolence, whilst in the public announcements of subscriptions and collections, two parties are concerned--those who make the announcement, and those of whom it is made. The former do not violate the Saviour's precept, for they proclaim the alms of others, and not their own; the latter do not, for it is others who proclaim their alms and not themselves.

This, however, may seem only an evasion of the real question, and the inquiry returns Is it not wrong on the one hand to make public the alms of others; and on the other, to allow our own to be published? In reply to the former query, we unhesitatingly say it cannot, in every case, be wrong. What is a large portion of scripture but a record of the virtues, acts, and even alms of good men? Not to insist upon Old Testament examples

has not the Saviour declared that the costly offering of the woman who anointed him shall be spoken of wherever his gospel is made known. Are we not told that Cornelius "gave much alms to the people," of one Joses, "who, having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' fect," of Dorcas, that "she was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did;"

and finally has not the apostle Paul recorded his own labours and sacrifices in his Master's service? We further think these examples furnish a satisfactory reply to the second query, and are sufficient to prove that when the publication of our alms is calculated to subserve some useful end, not only would it be right to allow others to make them known, but in certain cases we ourselves (though by no means in a spirit of vain self-glory, which alone the Saviour condemns) should be the first to publish them.

It

We conceive then that the practice to which "R. B." refers is not expressly condemned by scripture, and its allowability must rest upon the merits of each individual case. may be wrong;-it may be right. Doubtless, in many cases, the practice is injurious, and ought to be abandoned in others, with all due deference to "R. B.," we think it unobjectionable and useful. If, as we believe, often is the case, the practice is adopted simply as a matter of order, or of business, on the part of those who make the announcements; for the purpose of giving an account of their treasurership, and to guard their conduct against the least shadow of suspicion, and on the part of those who sanction the announcements for the purpose of individual and public satisfaction, we can see to it

no objection. It is right that those who receive public money should publicly account for it; and that those who give money should see it duly appropriated to its intended object; and we conceive that there is often no simpler or more efficacious method of attaining these ends than by public announcement. When, however, it can plead no claim to utility, and is, as your correspondent alleges, a mere waste of time, &c., it is unscriptural, and ought to be abandoned.

We cannot conclude, without expressing a deep conviction, that there is a strong tendency in the present day to over-estimate the importance and evil of practices like that now under discussion. If the public announcement of every paltry subscription be adopted to awaken vanity and pride, it displays among us a lamentable amount of folly and of weakness. If our generous donors to religious and other institutions do reflect with self-complacency upon the public announcement of their subscriptions, the bulk of them may be assured they sadly miscalculate. They stand alone in the appreciation of their own benevolence; and we strongly suspect, the impression produced by such announcements, could it be known, would furnish them with food for any thing rather than their vanity.

But if it really be so-if the piety of the present day be so delicate that it sickens and pines at the least exposure to the anticipated applause of a country meeting, assuredly we need some more vigorous remedy than is to be found in ceasing to give publicity to our alms. Such piety needs to be exercised rather than fondled and nursed, it needs more strength rather than less conflict; and, indeed, sir, we are convinced that whatever evils may be connected with this and similar usages, they arise chiefly from our own sickly and dwarfish piety. In a healthy state of the church they would scarcely exist; and the only effectual remedy is to be found in the diligent cultivation of a more manly and vigorous piety-a piety that will see in the announcement of all we have yet given the publication of our shame and not our glorya ground not of boasting but humiliation—a passing notice, not of what we have done, but the much we have left undone.

Sincerely apologizing for the length of this communication, I am, yours, &c.,

IOTA.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR, I am one of those who have contributed to "the practice," said to be injurious, by your correspondent "R. B.," of reading at every annual missionary meeting the names of the subscribers and collectors, and the several sums received from them. I think it is useful, as a guarantee for the

:

At

transmission of the whole amount received to the general treasurers, and as furnishing a basis for the verification of their accounts. Uses of some importance at all times, especially in these querulous and captious days. I have therefore some pleasure in learning that" the practice" "is becoming very general," a pleasure very minutely alloyed by any misgivings as to its being "unscriptural," or what is the same thing "opposed to the spirit of Christianity." R. B thinks it cannot be reconciled with Matt. vi. 2-4. the risk of being set down as "no ordinary interpreter of scripture," I venture to remark that in this passage, the giving of alms "before men," is not in all cases forbidden, but the giving them anyhow "to be seen of them,” -the making the praise of men the end of the deed. Thus understood it harmonizes with, that chap. v. 16, "Let your light so shine fefore men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Further alms given to individuals or families and contributions to a missionary society are not exactly parallel cases. The one does not need any publication, the other may. If the names of persons sending boxes, collecting or subscribing small sums, ought not to be published at an annual meeting, the only publication they can have, neither ought the names of those who subscribe-ten shillings and upwards to be published in the Herald and Annual Report. Would this be a right principle on which to manage the affairs of a public institution? Again: the prohibition in the passage quoted is against the ostentatious performance and publication of a man's good works by himself: there is not a word against the commendatory publication of a good work by a second person. Jesus is in harmony with Solomon,-"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth." Now, it is not the subscribers and collectors who stand up and declare their own doings, but, usually, The treasurer reads their names and the sums they have brought in. It is not necessary to admit that the publication is intended to be commendatory, it may be justified on other grounds, as I have shown; but supposing that it is, it is a proceeding by no means inconsistent with "the true spirit of Christianity" as manifested by the apostle Paul. In the sixteenth of Romans he commends eight members of the church at Rome, and one of the church in Corinth for various good works. What he says of Priscilla and Aquila is worthy of particular notice in reference to this question. He speaks of them as his helpers in Christ Jesus who had for his life laid down their own necks, "unto whom," says he," not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the gentiles." What a cataract of thanks! The thanks of the great-hearted prince of the apostles, and of all the churches of the gentiles, poured on a woman and a man of like

Magazine the information which they seek; but when this is done he is often quite unable to write by post, or take any formal notice of their letters.

Our number for January will contain an excellent Portrait of Samuel Morton Peto, Esq., M.P., taken from an exquisite miniature belonging to Mrs. Peto, kindly lent to us for the purpose. In our number for February, a beautiful likeness of the late Joseph Fletcher, Esq., Treasurer of the Baptist Building Fund, may be expected.

A meeting for the distribution of the profits of our work among the widows of Baptist ministers will probably be held in the begin ning of January, and Forms of Application may be obtained for widows who desire to partake of the fund, by letter addressed to the Treasurer, 33, Moorgate Street.

Our brethren the pastors of churches, if they believe that the Magazine is adapted to do good and that the extension of its sale would be a public blessing, will perhaps take an early opportunity to say so in the pulpit, remembering that at the end of the year it is common for readers to make new arrangements respecting their periodicals. Many have done so in former Decembers, and have had the pleasure to learn that their efforts have been successful; but as death is continually reducing the number of old subscribers, and the competition among periodicals of every kind has of late years greatly increased, it is important that ministers who approve of the Magazine should do all that they can to promote its circulation. Of its merits it does not become us to speak; and it is only on its merits that we think it necessary or proper that an appeal in its favour should be based.

EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT.

Among the innumerable communications of one kind or other which the Editor has received in the last few weeks, very many have been letters of sympathy and condolence. For these he is thankful; and it would have afforded him pleasure to acknowledge to the writers individually his sense of their kindness, but it has been quite impossible to do so without neglecting urgent duties. trusts, therefore, that a considerate regard for public interests committed to his charge, will cause his friends to impute apparent neglect, not to ingratitude, but to inability. With regard to private correspondence generally, he is painfully sensible of his need of the forbearance and candour of many who write to him requesting replies. He avails himself of their suggestions when they appear to him to be feasible, and sometimes gives in the

from Ministers and Members of various Evangelical The Christian Treasury; containing Contributions Denominations. November, 1852. Edinburgh: 8vo, pp. 47. Price 5d.

Evangelical Christendom; its State and Prospects. A Monthly Journal, established and conducted by Members of the British Organization in connection with the Evangelical Alliance. October, 185. London Partridge and Oakley, 8vo. pp. 30.