BY THE LATE REV. D. MACFARLANE, DINGWALL.
TO enforce the duty of the people to continue their liberality, I may relate what I read about a converted heathen who afterwards became a missionary. Having gathered a congregation, he resolved to build a church, and he appealed to the people for contributions to meet the cost, and appointed a day on which they were to give their contributions. He laid down three rules, according to which they should give:—(1) Every one should give something; (2) every one should give according to ability; and (3) every one should give cheerfully and ungrudgingly. These were Scriptural rules. On the appointed day the congregation gathered, and the missionary stood at the plate, and saw what was put into it. He knew the circumstances of the people, and was satisfied with their givings till a wealthy chief came forward, who put a very small piece of gold into the plate. The missionary said to him—”I will not accept of that small contribution from you, who are a wealthy man. You have given according to the first rule, but not according to the second—that every one should give according to ability. Take it back.” The chief took it back and then, in an angry way, threw a large piece of gold into the plate. “I will not take that either,” said the missionary, “for it is not given according to the third rule—that every one should give cheerfully.” The chief lifted his contribution and then placed it on the plate with a smiling face. “I am satisfied now,” said the missionary, “you have conformed to the three rules—you have given something; you have given according to your ability; and, you have given cheerfully.” Now, what I would like is that our people would contribute to the funds of the Church according to the three rules laid down by the missionary.