Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1895 — WITH A RESERVATION. [ARTICLE]

WITH A RESERVATION.

Perplexity in a Colored Conßregation Over an Unexpected Donation. Recently a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church returned from a tour of the South and made his headquarters at one of the big hotels up town. To those who called upon him at the hotel he told a funny story about his experience among the negroes of the South. He went down with a party to one of the fashionable winter resorts along the coast. One Sunday he was told of a service that was to be held at a colored Methodist Church several miles inland. It was suggested that the party attend these services, and accordingly carriages were ordered and the drive was made. The rest of the story is best told in his own language. He said: “When we arrived at the church we found that it was to be a sort of special service to raise money to pay off a church debt They had recently erected a new church, and it was only partly paid for. The local bishop had been summoned and a great effort was being made to get the money. When we had taken our seats a colored brother came around and asked us if we would not go to the front, but we declined. “In the course of his remarks the bishop dwelt upon the good work that had been done in the name of the Redeemer, and called upon everyone present to contribute something toward paying off the great debt that the church had assumed in building a new house of worship. He said that the debt was $142.35, and that it must be met. His eloquent plea reached our hearts, and we made up a little purse among ourselves and raised SIOO. The money was handed to me, and I, when the plate was passed around, laid a crisp SIOO bill on the plate. While the money was being counted a song service was held. It was plainly evident to us that something unusual was going on, and there was a subdued air of excitement among those counting the money. Finally the bishop stepped to the front and raised his hand. The music ceased at once. He began to speak very gravely, and imanglne our astonishment when he said: “ ‘Brethren, we have met with remarkable success in our efforts to-day. We have received enough money to pay off the debt and a surplus of $14.12 that is, providin’ th’ bill which the gentleman from the North gave us is genuine.’ ’’—New York Tribune.