Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1883 — RAISING A CHURCH DEBT. [ARTICLE]

RAISING A CHURCH DEBT.

BY BEV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN.

The Methodist Church at New Albion bad long been struggling under a load of debt. Its edifice, built in the flush times following the war, was an ambitious piece of architecture—the church of the future beyond a doubt, since it was much larger than the congregation, and the pews were still vacant which the sanguine builders had expected to see filled by the men who were expected to pay oft’ the mortgages. The Rev. Mr. Thorpe, the pastor, had carried this debt now for two years. It had been the burden of his days and the nightmare of his dreams. At length he had brought his congregation to the point of attacking it. He had made several anxious pilgrimages to the rich Methodists in neighboring cities, but found small encouragement. It was evident that the Methodists of New Albion must shoulder their own load. Accordingly, the first Sunday of October was devoted to a carefullyplanned effort for the payment of the debt. Mr. Thorpe had concluded to dispense with the services of a “finangalist” and to direct his own forces. There was to be no regular service in the church, but the public were invited to meet at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, and, by the grace of God, the meeting would ’ not adjourn, Mr. Thorpe said, until the debt was paid. A collation was provided in the basement, so that the people might spend the day in the work. The debt amounted to $32,000, and when the meeting opened in the morning $17,000 were at once subscribed, this amount having been secured before and by private conference with the abler contributors. The excellent Start awakened great enthusiasm, and for a time subscriptions came in rapidly ; but long before the limit of the people’s ability seetoed tp lyivq been reached, and the - *list footed up only about $24,0®). Mr. Thorpe kept his forces well in hand, however* and showed no signs of wavering, Exhortations and appeals were interspersed with epiaging; a judicial and energetic committee did a great deal of personal, work with individuals; messengers were dispatched to labor ‘with absep-, tees. But it seemed evident that the large gift# had all been gathered in, and there was still a deficiency of. $7,000, that the small subscriptions yet to be Qlfljajned would by no .means pup-, ply As Mr. Franklin, of the Congregational Churclp. walked home after the service with his pastor, they passed the door of the Methodist Church. “Let’s look in a moment,” said the pastor, “and see how they are getting on.” They sat down im one of the back seats and watched the proceedings. From Mr. they saw that 2 though the moment assJsSfM® As they said: liitd “Making 1 "“Yes.” I■ Off IVPJ'-s■* I ''“But "“I don’t MM w.c “? £ f ’■ '*! ’“Ido. point, and “Pity!” afid -Mfi j Sluong,. dipntentiously. f* “ £... ' r After a Mr. Frank* Tin added, with a new interest: . “Is it lawful*'to ptill ydur fellowcreature out of a pit on the Sabbath day?” “I should say so, especially if he is trying to get out himself.” “Lawful to hitch up your horse to pull him out?” “Yes," laughed the minister. “Well, you go home and get your lunch and I’ll get mine and have Major put into the buggy. I’ll be around here before 1 o’clock, and we’ll see what we can do.” “All right.” It was not long before the good white horse came at a week-day pace to the door of the parsonage, and the friends were soon whirling away. “Now, we’ve got to be swift,” said the banker. “My first thought was to call only on some of our own people, but I am now inclined to give some of the rest a chance. The Episcopalians and the Free Baptists have a heavy debt of their own, and the Adventists are not able to help much. We must enlist the others. Brinsmade must call on the, First Church folks, Ellsworth on the Baptists, Thompson on the Universalists, and you and I will look out for our own. * They were stopping at Mr. Brinsmade’s door,, and the master of the house answered the bell. “We have set out,” said Mr. Franklin, “to give the Methodists a little lift in paying their church debt. Will you go and stand in the vestibule of your church and waylay as many as youyan of your strongest men, as they go into the afternoon service, and get subscrjp: tions from them? Start the paper yourself. Then ask Mr. Phelps to take up a collection before-the sermon for the same object. Get cash subscriptions, payable to-morrow at my bank. Report the amount to me at Mr. Strong’s house by 4 o’clock, sharps* Will you do it?” “What a steamboat you are!” said .Brinsmade, laughing. . •Will you do it?” said' Fr&nklin,'

strenuously. “No time for nonsense, old fellow.” •Yes, PH do it.” “All right. Good-by I” And the white horse was soon flying down the street. None of the other churches had afternoon services, and all that 6 could be done in them must be done by personal application to a few of the most prosEerottsr members. But Mr. Franklin ad selected the right man as canvasser in each society, and after they had lieen. Sat at work he and his pastor returned to their own parish, which they divided between them, contfriving before 4 o’clock to see a good proportion of its most generous members. At that hour they all met at the parsonage, as by agreement, bringing with them a much-larger sum than the most sanguine of them had hoped to get. “They came down handsomely,” said Brinsmade. “Three or four refused to give anything, but most of them had their names down before they knew it. It dropped on them so sudden-like that they hadn’t time to hunt up excuses. The old doctor warmed up to the business beautifully, and begged like a professional Didn’t suppose it was in him. They brought in nearly S4OO in the boxes, beside all I got from indi.viduals.” The others had much the same story to tell. Sympathy with the Methodists in their courageous efforts was universal, and it had found a generous expression. “Now each of you sit down and write a short letter," said Franklin, “explaining that the amount you have collected is from friends in your church, naming the amount and stating where it may be called for to-morrow, and we’ll go over at once and send the letters up to Brother Thorpe. I trust he is holding out yet, but it must be pretty tough for a man who doesn’t believe in the perseverance of the saints to hang on to such a poor promise.” It was about half-past 4 when Mr. Franklin and his friends entered the Methodist Church. The back seats were all occupied, so they stood in the space behind the pews and looked on. The church was pretty well filled, and Mr. Thorpe was still keeping up a lively fire of appeal and argument, but there were no responses, and it was plain that hope had departed from most of the solicitors. “Will you walk forward .and take seats,, gentlemen ?” said one of them. “No, thank you,” said Franklin, “we are only lobby members. HoW do you get on ?” “Slowly.” * - And the solicitor shook his head dolefully.” ’ “Ho'w'much-ha.ve you got?” ' “Only a little over twenty-five thou- * ♦’Si, y° U w here you “Then we lose everything. The

greater £hare of thp, .heavy subscriptions- aracbnditionar upon tlto Raising of the whole debt.” “ yotrn subscribers make them , unepndiCional?*' j ‘ 4 '’ i• We’ve*•begged'/- them to-but fbero^bsttpate.’^„ i ; o i' ' j Pity, isn t it? . * “Yes sir. It will* be a hard bltpv - ' if , welaUnfiw,” , The discouraged•gentleman walked away,-, t ,(, .. u ., t ‘f»j> it’.i Mr. Franklin’s .air had been so indifferent that he had not ventured to ©sk him for anyMng^,..... “Send up letter, Brinsmade,” whispered Franklin, “Get that-small boy to take it up.” The small boy toddled up the aisle and handed the envelope to th# paSflfof. Mr. Thorpe tore it open eagerly. ’* ' ’ “Hallelujah shouted the listen to Mns? Church of to we a at 12 o’cßrck pbw3to^O|f|di^higsFi r st on Rl|a Wurcfflftgfctogf Am. Brinsmade.” M The flkdiiwZmSV enei v was fqHmral h all thwwiaT gn. the mjffiak? of up thl"4JWl l * <1- sang w'’vdth “ Wail Brlther Brinsmade come far-" scouted MrT? Thorpes'. befdre he fiad time to ifisist on ‘this a little girl was mounting the pulpit with another envelope, which the pastor received. with trembling hands. This letter started that $515, the gift of a few friends in the Uniyersalist Church, would be on deposit -the next day, at the same hour and place. Over this the furore was redoubled, one enthusiastic brother mounting a seat, and calling for “the second verse of the Doxology.” , “Better not protract the agony, ” said Franklin to Ellsworth. “Let us send up our notes together.” The minister, who had now for six hours been under a continuous nervous strain, in whose heart confidence had given way to anxiety, and anxiety was beginning to change to discouragement, was so completely overcome by the contents of the other two envelopes that he sat down in his chair and could not speak for a moment; but at length he arose and half sobbed out: “Two more, brethren. One from friends in the Baptist Church, with a pledge of $925, and one from friends in the Second Congregational Church, with a promise of $l,BlO. God bless them, every one!” This time they were too excited to sing r but there was a volley of amens in response to the last ejaculation, and men and women all over the house were laughing and crying like children. “Give us the footing now, Brother Harrison,” sgdd the niinister at length to the Treasurer, who was' keeping ac- . count of the subscriptions. “Thirty thousand, one hundred and fifty-five dollars,” was th© answer. 4 j“Less than $2,000 more are wanted,” said Mr. Thorpe. “What do you say to thaff” ’ “Two hundred dollars more for me!” was the Response from oue.pf the heav-’ iest of the subscribers; and then the supplementary subscriptions, large and .small, came pouring in for ten minutes faster than the Treasurer ceuld record

them. As soon as there was a short pause he summed up the amount again, and rising to Ims feet, quietly mid: “Thirty-two thousand, four hundred and sixty dollars—s46o for shrinkage!” , The scene that followed can only be . imagined by those who know what an inoubus a church debt is to a devoted congregation, and who are familiar with the ways in which Methodists are wont to express their feelings. “I preceive,” said Mr. Thorpe, rising to his feet, after the tempest had subsided, “that all these pledges are to be paid to-mqrrow, at noon, at the First National Bank. It is easy to guess who jaaAtbe bottom °I ness, jmd I see him now, ntaiHmfr near thedjpir." ' “No scenes forme,” whispered the banker to his ministeu, ~“Bm going. Make toy excuses.” . And he. slipped out- of wie door and walkedSfjuickly awayX-’ “WaSwer Franklinfit teaman,” continued the parson, “and he is leaving the house this moment. Will some one bring him back ?” But that was a vain suggestion. Mr. Franklin, as everybody knew, would not be brought back. “Mr. Franklin’s pastor must answer for him then,said the minister; and Mr. Strong walked up the aisle amid great cheering. In a few graceful words he told the congregation that Mr. Thorpe was right in his conjecture; that the plan of aiding them in their difficult undertaking was conceived and set in motion by Mr. Franklin, who had, nevertheless, been supported in the heartiest manner by the gentlemen on whom he had called; that the whole scheme was the inspiration of a moment, and the fruit of a few hours’ work; and that he trusted that the result of it would be, not only the emancipation of the Methodist Church from the bondage of debt, but the strengthening of the bonds of fellowship among tire churches of New Albion. To that wish there werejnany fervent responses, and after a prayer of thanksgiving by the pastor and singing of “Blest be the Tie that Binds,” the congregation broke up. The day will never be forgotten by any who had part in its doings, and the fruit of the seed then sowed will be reaped in the increasing charity* of many generations. — The Century.