“None of our successful managers have been flowery orators, nor have they been in the habit of wearying man and the Lord with long prayers.  If they speak, they are earnest and conservative.  They are men whom the banks would trust, whose recommendations are valuable, who know a counterfeit dollar or a worthless endorsement They read men at a glance, being trained in actual experience with all classes.  They have been the pillars of the church.  While some have been praying with religious phraseology that the stray calf might be sent home, these men have gone after him and brought him back.  They have faithfully done their part, and God has answered their earnest prayers for the rest.”

Dr. Peltz, for many years associate pastor of The Temple, in speaking of the business management of the affairs of the church, says: 

“Many persons imagine that the financial organization of Grace Baptist Church must be something out of the usual way, because the results have been so unusual.  There is nothing peculiar in the general plan of financial procedure, but great pains are taken to work the plan for all it is worth.  Special pains have been taken to secure consecrated and competent men for the Board of Trustees.  And the Trustees do this one thing, a rule of the church permitting a man to hold but one elective office.  Competent financiers, consecrated to this work, and doing it as carefully as they would do their own business, is the statement that tells the whole story.”

All these business matters are in the hands of the deacons and Trustees, the deacons, if any distinction in the work can be made, looking after the membership, the Board of Trustees attending to the financial matters.

[Illustration:  Photo by Gutehunst professor David D wood]

After a person has signified his intention to join the church, he meets the deacons, who explain to him the system by which members contribute to the support of the church.  If he desires to contribute by taking a sitting, he is assigned a seat according to the amount he wishes to pay, or he can pay the regular church dues, $1.20 a year for those under eighteen years of age, $3.00 for those over that age.  Those who take sittings find in their seats, on the first of every month, a small envelope made out in bill form on the face, stating the month and the amount due.  Into this they can place their money, seal it, and put it into the basket when the offering is taken.  The following Sunday a receipt is placed in their seat, a duplicate being kept in the office.  Envelopes are sent those who do not have sittings, and in these they can send in their dues any time within the year.

In addition to the little envelope for the seat rent, every Sunday envelopes are placed in each seat for the regular Sunday offering.  These envelopes read: 

  Special offering

  The Baptist temple