SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE IN ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
BY REV. HORACE BUMSTEAD.
During a portion of the past school-year a plan of systematic beneficence has been in operation among the scholars and teachers of Atlanta University. It was undertaken largely as an experiment, and with many misgivings as to the results. Its success has been so gratifying as to suggest the possibility that other schools and churches in this missionary field might like to introduce it, if made acquainted with its practical workings.
The Plan.—This is set forth in the following recommendations, drawn up by a committee of teachers and scholars, and adopted by a unanimous vote of the school:—
“1. That we recognize more fully the duty and privilege of systematic giving.
“2. That during the remainder of the school-year we make twenty-five weekly offerings of money at the Friday afternoon meeting, to aid in paying the debt of the A. M. A.
“3. That all persons connected with the school be invited to hand in on slips of paper, to be provided, a statement of the amount which they will endeavor to give weekly.
“4. That all persons handing in these statements be provided with envelopes in which to deposit the weekly amount; and that envelopes be furnished also to any who may desire to give as they are able, without stating beforehand a definite amount.
“5. That any persons who prefer to devote their offerings to any other benevolent object than the one already suggested, be allowed to do so by giving timely notice of their desire.
“6. That arrangements be made for furnishing cents in exchange for larger coins, so that all may be enabled to give as small sums as they wish.
“7. That an account be kept with each holder of an envelope showing the amount given by each.
“8. That some person be appointed by the president to superintend the execution of this plan.”
Its Object.—We desired not so much to raise a large sum of money as to cultivate the habit of giving with thoughtfulness and regularity. The value of this habit we sought to impress upon our scholars in several prayer-meeting talks when the subject was under consideration. If each one gave only one cent a week, the habit of giving would be acquired, and this would be worth acquiring. We wished also to encourage the idea that benevolent giving is a fitting act of Divine worship. Our offerings were made at the weekly school prayer-meeting on Friday afternoon, and were always preceded by a short prayer of consecration from the president.
Its Freedom.—So far as possible the word “pledge” was avoided in presenting the matter to the school. Each person was asked to consider carefully how much he was able and willing to give. The handing in of a statement of his resolve to give so much per week was designed chiefly to secure a thoughtful decision on the part of each one. If any preferred not to do this they could still receive an envelope and give what they liked from week to week. The keeping of the record was not for the purpose of dunning delinquents; this was never done. Undoubtedly, however, the mere fact that the record was kept proved a stimulus to regularity in making the offerings, and made it possible to tell any donor at any time how much he had paid or had yet to pay. If any one desired to change the amount of his offering, or to discontinue it altogether, he was met with no remonstrance. While it was suggested that the offerings be devoted to the debt of the A. M. A., full opportunity was given to each one to contribute to any other object that he might select. The scholars were especially urged not to be ashamed to give a small sum if they could not give more. In a word, the whole management of the plan was designed to be helpful rather than dictatorial or inquisitive.
Its Details.—These may be skipped by those not specially interested. One thousand strong Manilla envelopes, of the size represented below, were bought for eighty-five cents, and five hundred of them were printed, with the dates of the twenty-five weekly offerings, at an expense of one dollar. A blank cash book, with stiff covers, was bought for twenty-five cents, and a conductor’s punch for a dollar and a quarter. Thus, the cost of the outfit was but $3.35, and we have the book and punch for indefinite use, and envelopes enough for another year or more.
There being no cents in general circulation in Atlanta, several dollars’ worth were procured from the Post Office. Every Friday morning, for half an hour before school, the “money-changer” sat at his table in one of the school halls and gave pennies in exchange for nickels and dimes. The sight of him, by the way, proved a very serviceable reminder to the scholars that the day of the offering had come.
Each person was provided with only one envelope, to be used over and over again. In case of loss a new one was cheerfully given. On the envelope, between the columns of printed dates, are written his name, the number of the name in the record book, and the page where found, and a letter indicating the school-room or department to which he belongs. On the inside of the flap is written the number of cents he is to give weekly, or an interrogative mark if no definite sum has been stated. When the holder of the envelope receives it again, he finds a little hole punched opposite the date which his last payment has covered; this constitutes his receipt, and the unpunched dates show how many more offerings he has to make.
George Brown, for example, has made ten offerings, and has fifteen yet to make. His name is numbered “46” on page “8” of the record book, and he is to receive his envelope back in the Middle (“M”) school-room, where he studies.
The envelopes as they are emptied of their contents are separated into two piles, the first consisting of those which contain exactly the stipulated weekly offering, and the second of those which do not, as for example, when the donor wishes to make two or more offerings at once. Care is taken to mark on each envelope of the second pile, opposite the proper date, the amount which has been found in it. Each of these piles is now assorted, so as to bring together all the envelopes whose names occur on the same page of the record book, for convenience in entering the amounts. Much time is saved by having a second person read the name-numbers and amounts to the person who enters them, reading of course, the figures on the flaps of the first pile, and those opposite the given date on the second. The envelopes are then properly punched, and afterwards assorted according to the school-rooms, and given to the respective teachers to distribute to the scholars. To save loss, this distribution is deferred till the day before the offering.
The record book is long and narrow, so as to get as many names as possible on a page. The account of each donor requires but one line running across two opposite pages, which are ruled vertically for twenty-five entries. The amount given each week, even when more or less than the stipulated amount, is entered under the date of that week, thus bringing all the offerings of the same week in the same column.
The handling of the money is facilitated by using small cotton bags large enough to hold a hundred cents, or several dollars in nickels.
Its Results.—Envelopes were issued to two hundred and nine persons. Only ten of these preferred not to state how much they would give each week. Sixty-nine, or about one-third, offered to give one cent a week; forty-three, or about one-fifth, offered two cents; fifty-one, or about one-quarter, five cents. Only fifteen out of the two hundred and nine offered more than five cents a week. Among the scholars, the amounts ranged from one to ten cents; among the teachers, from five cents to one dollar.
Out of the one hundred and ninety-nine who offered definite amounts, sixty-three paid exactly what they had stated at the outset; thirty-four (all scholars) paid more—in some cases double and over; while one hundred and two (of whom a good many had left school) paid less. Thus very nearly half paid in full or over. Many of the others were deficient only a few cents, and these, in many cases, unavoidably so. Little notes like this would sometimes come in with the offerings: “This is all that I can pay; I have done the best I could.” The record shows that many who fell behind for a time afterwards made up the deficiency.
The offerings of the ten scholars who did not state what they would pay weekly, averaged a little over one cent a week; of the remaining one hundred and eighty-five scholars, a little over two cents a week; of the fourteen teachers, a little over twenty-one cents a week.
The scholars paid in all $102.02; the teachers, $73.00; making in the aggregate, $175.02. This was a little more than eighty-seven and a half percent. of all that was offered at the start. Excluding the teachers, all of whom paid in full, the scholars redeemed eighty percent. of the amount they set out to pay; and this percentage would have been larger but for the scholars who left school before the close of the year.
Finally, the best result of all is, that we have learned something of the happiness of Christian giving, when practised thoughtfully, conscientiously and willingly.