ALMSGIVING.

In a parish where there are many labourers, and few independent persons, it is extremely important that the Pastor should take pains to arrange the general demands upon christian benevolence in a simple manner; and that he should convey a clear notion to the people of the duty of almsgiving, and of the benefit which reacts upon those who impart of their substance upon right principles. As one mode of doing this the following is suggested. In order to form the groundwork of much private conversation in visiting amongst the people afterwards, a sermon was preached by a clergyman upon the occasion of a local charity; such as that on Acts xx. 5, a compendium of which (No. 10) was given in Vol. I. page 218. After this sermon the following address was distributed under the title of

"A Word from the Pastor to his Flock."

A collection was made last Sunday at the Church doors for the Friendly Help Society. The occasion afforded an opportunity to your Pastor, to lay before you the doctrine of the Word of God, concerning the duty of giving away something for the purpose of relieving those who are in want. The Sermon preached upon that occasion should be well considered.

The reasons why even the poor should endeavour to deny themselves, that they may be able to enjoy the blessing of giving, were explained in that sermon; and it was stated, that, while it did not seem advisable to press the poor individually to this duty, for fear of ensnaring them into deceit, yet the minister ought to explain the duty generally, and to afford proper occasions by which the people may cultivate a spirit of giving, if they are disposed to do so.

At the end of the Sermon three different steps in the exercise of this spirit where pointed out:-local charity-national charity-and universal charity.

Your Pastor is desirous of fulfiling what he considers to be his duty in this matter; and having explained to you the Scripture doctrine on the subject, he now draws your attention to the opportunities which are afforded you in this parish of exercising these three degrees of the spirit of love.

1. The Friendly Help Society is constantly engaged in searching out cases of distress or affliction amongst the parishioners, and affording such relief as the funds will allow. The money is raised by donations, by yearly subscriptions-and by a collection after a sermon. this object.

Besides this, the Sacrament money is given for

This is a local charity; and every person who is able ought to subcribe something yearly. If they do not like to place their names in the list of subscribers, they can put something, be it ever so little, in the plate after the Sermon; or give it as a donation without the name.

The Sacrament money is entirely employed for the benefit of those who are in want in the parish. The communicants should remember this when they are preparing to come to the Table of the Lord. At the same time it may be proper to take this opportunity of mentioning that no communicant is obliged to give anything at the Sacrament. It is to be feared that some poor persons may occasionally have kept away from the communion because they had nothing to give. This would be very wrong indeed and if ever this happens, it must be either through pride, or from superstition; and in every case it must be a device of Satan to hinder them from receiving a blessing.

II. Formerly there used to be a number of applications called briefs', sent round to all the parishes in England, to obtain help for different cases of want which occurred in different parts. This custom is now done away with; and, instead of a number of briefs, the Queen sends a letter once a year to the clergymen in every parish; bidding them call on their parishioners to give assistance in money to some charity which is for the good of the whole nation.

This is a national charity; and whenever your Pastor reads the Queen's letter to you in Church, you ought to do what you can to exercise the spirit of love in this way, by putting something in the plate, according as God has prospered you.

III. There are six hundred millions of people in the world who are perishing for want of knowing the Gospel. Missionaries are sent out to preach to these in many parts: and there only wants more money that more Missionaries may be sent out.

An opportunity is afforded to every one in the parish to exercise the spirit of universal charity, by giving something towards this great and glorious object. Several persons are ready to collect any sums, however small, which may be given for this purpose. Any one who wishes to subscribe yearly, may do So. Missionary information is occasionally given to the people, both concerning those who preach to the Heathen, and those who preach to the unhappy Jews. Every year a general meeting is held in the School-room, when many clergymen explain the subject to the people; and after this meeting, there is every

year a sermon, and a collection after it; so that those who do not wish to subscribe any fixed yearly sum, may put what they like into the plate, be it ever so little.

It has been shewn to you in the sermon that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and let no man in this parish say that he has not any opportunity of obtaining this blessing. Whether the spirit of charity leads him to give locally, nationally, or universally, the means are open before him. May God dispose all our hearts to do what we can in this matter, with good will, "not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. ix. 7.)

There is still one point to be mentioned. It has been shewn you that charitable gifts are not measured by God according to the value of the things themselves; and it is a common proverb, that " every little helps." It is astonishing how much may be done by a careful and constant remembrance of the blessedness of giving. There are many odd half-pence, which now and then are wasted and squandered because they are "odd money." These might be applied in charity, and would in a year, amount to a good sum. Many a pint of beer is drank unnecessarily, which might bring a blessing if applied, for the love of Christ, to the relief of some distress. Many a foolish trifle is bought which is of no use, but only it strikes the fancy at the time; and the money would be of infinite service, both to the giver, and the receiver, if properly applied in charity. God often sends providential mercies-some prosperous event happens to us-something which the unbelieving world calls a peice of good luck. A christian receives these providences as calls from God to impart some blessing of the same kind to others who are in want. The heart, renewed by the Spirit of Christ, desires upon such occasions, to give vent to such feelings, by doing something to relieve our fellow sinners. The members of the church have an opportunity of doing this every month at the communion; but unfortunately, there are many persons in this parish who altogether withdraw themselves from communion with the church; and, the opportunity after all, is only once a month.

One of the laws or canons of the church supplies a remedy for this, and affords an opportunity at all times, for the gathering up of odd money,-and the employment of money saved by self-denial-and the receiving of the thank-offering-and the expression of devout humility in charity. This law commands that every church shall be provided with "a strong chest with a hole in the upper part thereof;" "which chest shall be set and fastened in the most convenient place, to the intent that the

parishioners may put into it their alms for their poor neighbours." This is still the law, although it has been for many years entirely neglected and forgotten in most parishes. It is however your Pastor's intention to act upon it in this parish; and to provide two such chests or boxes as those spoken of in the Canon or law. One of these shall be called " THE POOR NEIGHBOURS' Box," and the other THE MISSIONARY Box." They shall be placed in the Church, on each side of the door, and thus every person may at all times have an opportunity of giving what he can, be it much, or be it little. The people shall be informed what money is found in these boxes.

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May God send his blessing upon this arrangement! May many hearts be stirred up to a christian liberality, so that much distress may be relieved and may every one who puts the smallest sum into these boxes find the truth of the words of the Lord Jesus, that "It is more blessed to give, than to receive."

In order to assist in the application of the system referred to in this article, the following are suggested as rules which have been found useful, in the management of parochial charitable funds.

THE FRIENDLY HELP SOCIETY.

RULES.

1. The object of this Society is to afford timely assistance to the deserving poor of the parish, during sickness or other afflictions, and in the infirmities of old age.

2. Subscriptions and donations shall be solicited for this. Society; and all persons who subscribe annually seven shillings or upwards, shall be members of the committee.

3. The Society shall be managed and conducted by the committee, with the Rector as their chairman.

4. Such members of the committee as are willing to assist the Society, by visiting the poor, and are able to afford the time, shall put their names upon a list for that purpose; and the members on this list shall take their turns in visiting the different districts of the parish, for the purpose of the Society.

5. The committee shall meet once a month, when the visitors shall make their reports the turns of visiting shall be arrangedand the other business of the Society shall be transacted.

6. A charity sermon shall be preached once a year, and a collection made after it, for the benefit of the Society.

7. The duty of the Society's visitors shall be to visit the poor in the district assigned to each, for the purpose of ascertaining any case of real distress-to acquaint the Rector and the committee of any extraordinary case that requires greater attention and relief.

8. In fulfilling this duty, the power of relief to a certain amount shall be at the disposal of each visitor, to be given in certain articles to the sick or afflicted, and aged; and they shall submit, at the next committee, any recommendation they may think proper to make, for relief in money for any particular purpose.

THE CHURCH-OFFERING FUND.

This fund will consist principally of the money received at the offertory, upon the celebration of the Holy Communion.

To this will be added the sums found in the Alms' box at the Church door; and also such donations as may be made to the Rector for the purpose.

The Rector contributes all the surplice fees; and recommends to such of the parishioners, as may be able, to increase the fund by occasional gifts.

The whole fund is expended in articles of comfort, distributed to the poor in seasons of sickness and infirmity.

The parish is divided into six districts; and one lady undertakes the distribution in each, under the direction of the Rector.

On the 1st of each Month, the distributor will state the anticipated cases of need; according to which the money in hand is divided to the several districts. At the end of the month an account is rendered of what has actually been expended; and any excess in the previous estimate is paid before the division is made for the next month.

THE HEALTH UNION.

THE following plan has been found to work well in its application, in a parish where the people have been induced to provide themselves with the means of medical assistance in times of sickness.

RULES.

1. The object of this Union is to secure the advantage of medical assistance in sickness to all its members. Any persons dwelling in the parish may become members; except those who themselves earn twenty shillings a week by their work or trade, or the earnings of whose family (including the children under eighteen years of age) amount to thirty shillings a week.