Mortgaging the Future.

Our churches have in recent years been drifting into doing business in benevolence on the instalment plan. Rich men have promised large sums of money to educational institutions conditioned on the raising of still larger sums, which the churches were not able to pay. Debts have been incurred by missionary societies which the churches could not lift at once and still continue to pay current expenses. It has become common for individuals, churches and local societies to pledge annual payments for a term of years. These promises are often counted as cash, and announcements are made with hallelujahs that large sums have been raised. This benevolence on the instalment plan is wasteful, disappointing, and elusive. We have known person to promise amounts in future payments on which they could not even pay the interest. We have known ministers to pledge their congregations to give annual sums for a term of years, and then to move away, leaving their people to repudiate the promises made in their name. We have known jubilee meetings to be held over debts paid or gifts made by promises when the money has afterwards had to be raised two or three times over. At the present time many churches have so mortgaged themselves to pay in coming years for work already done that they have no heart to take up work which imperatively calls on them. Future years will have their own demands in missionary enterprise. We have no right to mortgage our abilities in advance while we do not yet know what these demands will be. We can best do business for God on a cash basis. Better than twentieth century funds will be the twentieth century motto for the churches, "Pay as you go."

The Congregationalist.

Japan's Religious Dictator.

Japan has just enacted a new law to regulate all faiths and beliefs, the enforcement of which will be observed during the next few months with deep interest and no small degree of apprehension. Under this law all sects, whether pagan or Christian, are placed under the absolute control of a local governor. Detailed information in writing concerning the faith to be promulgated and the men who are to preach it must be furnished to this governor, and his consent obtained before a meeting can be held or a church opened. Church finances must also be accounted for, and when a church or temple is to be built, a statement must be made setting forth why such a building is necessary; the date when the building will be completed; the name of the building, where located, and all necessary information relating to the site and structure, and also the plan of the edifice; the name of the religion; its method of control and maintenance: when there is a chief preacher, his qualifications and the method of his election. When a sect is once licensed permission must be secured from the governor before even the slightest change can be made in its announced programme. On the face of it, this looks like a very menacing law to missionary effort in Japan. It is too early yet, however, to judge of its full scope, and it may prove less drastic than it now appears to be.—The Examiner (Baptist.)

Fear as a Restraint.

The controversy as to the use of fear as a saving agency is not yet ended, although it has received a good many strokes of argument in its vitals. Perhaps as forcible an opinion as has ever been expressed as to the ignoble character of the fear of future punishment and its general worthlessness as a saving agency appeared in the Independent some years ago. We isolated the extract at the time from its connection, but have never printed it. We give it following, and commend it to the attention of those who yet cling to the well-nigh obsolete theory of the restraining influence of a belief in a "hell fire."

"Theologians may theorize and good Christians may differ as to the extent, existence, and nature of future punishment; but the fact remains indisputably clear that, whether there be less or more of it, whether it be of this sort or that, fear of it is a base motive to appeal to, a false motive to act from, and a worthless motive to trust in. Perfect love does not know it; spiritual courage resents it; the true kingdom of heaven is not taken by its violence."
The Universalist Leader.

Pen Points.

Prosperity rarely brings out the best there is in a man. A man's adversities are often his most stimulating friends.

True charity consists not so much in what we give as in what we give up.

God makes our sunlight. We make our own clouds.

Sincerity is the foundation stone of character.

Strength always comes to the hand that serves.

Live to love, and you will love to live.

Christian Uplook (Methodist).