THE TITHE
REV. E. B. STEWART
Pastor
Third United Presbyterian Church
Chicago, Ill.
FOURTH THOUSAND
INTRODUCTION BY LAYMAN
THE WINONA PUBLISHING CO.
CHICAGO, ILL. WINONA LAKE, IND.
COPYRIGHT, 1903
BY
THE WINONA PUBLISHING CO.
THE TITHE
PREFACE.
There has been no attempt in this brief work torecord every mention of the tithe that may befound in ancient writings. Some have called attentionto a large group of references which lie inthe era contemporaneous with the history ofIsrael. Items of history, for example, from 500to 800 B. C. are interesting, but would not addmaterially to the argument. In a way they mayhelp to solve the question as to the meaning ofterms used in the pre-Mosaic period. Many preferto be cautious about asserting that there wasa religious tithe in this remote period. Mr. Johnsin his valuable work, “Assyrian Deeds and Documents”Vol. III, says, for example, (pp. 347-349),that to translate a certain word “tithe” as somedo is to “assume that there was a tithe.” Headmits, however, that this view “agrees admirablywith that universally adopted custom amongSemitic peoples of paying a tithe to the government.”On the other hand Prof. Sayce positivelyasserts that there is a word which should be translatedtithe. The cautious ones say that he jumpsat conclusions. Some who do not jump standever still and reach no conclusions. Which is better,[vi]I do not undertake to say. It has been theaim of this work to take a broad view of tribute,not distinctly as paid to a priest, but to kings aswell. Rulers often assumed the function of apriest and appropriated the revenue to themselves.While the meaning of terms and the use of revenuemay be in a somewhat doubtful state, thereseems to be no question but that the proportionof the tenth prevailed as has been stated.
Acknowledgment is gratefully made of the kindhelp of Dr. R. F. Harper, Prof. of Assyriology,and Dr. J. H. Breasted, Professor of Egyptologyin the University of Chicago, for valuable directionas to books that might be read to advantage.I desire to express my appreciation of the adviceand encouragement of Mr. Thos. Kane and otherfriends who have urged me to present this studyto the public. I trust it may increase the tributeto the King of glory, the Head of the Church.
E. B. STEWART.
Chicago, August, 1903.
INTRODUCTION.
WHAT WE OWE, AND WHY WE DON’T PAY IT.
No one not an unreasoning optimist believesthat with our present methods of Church finance,it is possible that the World will be Christianizedduring the Twentieth Century. No one not anunreasoning pessimist belie