The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-28

- GETS ITS SUPPLIES.
A correspondent of the St. Louis Republican
tells this remarkable story: ..... ..i
being Introduced into. the religious world, none
perhaps is more interesting in its principles and
practical operation than society formed few
months since ct shurtlef College, Upper Alton.
This college is under the management of the Bap-
tist denomination, and IL known throughout the
northwest having been In existence for the last
thirty years. and now numbering seventy students.
The society alluded 10 Il called The Band OF
Faith - and the materials for the brief notice We
are about TO give are derived mainly from small
pamphlet entitled "a record Of Gods dealings
With the Band Of Faith, in Shurtef College, with
an introduction by d. Reed" Having had some
difficulty in obtaining our copy of this pamphlet,
we have reason to believe that 1t has never en-
loved the extensive circulation its merits deserve.
1.-THE Band Of Faith Is composed Of theology
cal students whose pecunisry means and oppor-
tunities for remuDerstive employment are so ex-
ceedingy lmied as frequently TO reduce them 70
the soreet straits for the commonest necessaries
of life The society itself originated in the mind
of one individual. who, two years ago, found him
self so impoverished that he was on the verge OF
abandoning his ministerial studies. He resolved
10 bring the subject directly before the Almighty
through the medium OF pray or, in the words of
Mr.. Reed, "He asked God for definite sum OF
money for the term Of the college session."
Shortly after the first term commenced this brother
distance away. and went. There he collected q
few dollars and from the parents OF dissipated
youth whom he reformed be was also favored with
benefactions In short, the plan succeeded, and
desire to follow his example on q large scale
spread among the students. A number met to-
Qether and decided 70 form the society. house
and q matron were needed, and as one of them
fortunately had both these articles he was asked
TO cooperate. His reply was, 81 will talk to the
Lord and my wife about it." The response being
a.. hor and haan aon uad
up to the present tune. The band consists OF
about twenty-five members, having common
table and q common purse Dox Tor oonulDu-
tons placed in the dining room, which the treas.
urer opens every day, and keeps record OF the
receipts and expenditures This officer also keeps
a journal one or two extracts from which we
give: A,
October l5-Bro ]. brought rs load Of coal
worth Sc; Bro. D.. pumpkins worth So;
"October 1871 in the box. We shall need
about t6 before O'Clock this evening, to pay our
servants, etc. We have only half that sum, bat
we trust the kind Master will provide the neces.
sary amount before the time is up.
"November give received $40 to be used by
the Band provided none of our members used
tobacco. On inquiry we are pleased to learn that
all are free from this habit. This amount Is a
very timely relief, etc., etc.
"December SIN the afternoon Bro. B. brought
us a bushel of beans worth So so; about the same
time Some one else sent us q ham worth 81 IS
Now notice how kind the Lord Is; the beans
would have been less agreeable for present use
without meat to cook with them. and so he put Il
into the heart Of another individual to send US the
ham
The steward likewise keeps journal. which
il even more curious than the treasurer's. We
append few extracts:
| >" October z7-rhis morning the Lord sent Us
girl TO help in the house, direct answer Il
prayer, as il is very difficult to get help.
November 10-For Q number of days We havs
| been asking the Lord for wood. and just befor'
we went out il came. o, that men would prals'
the Lord
November Is-God has provided barrel o
| -four five pounds of brown -four, two bushels o
| turnips box containing coffee, sugar. bread AM
| cakes, valued at IS. We are out of corn meal
| also 81 needed 10 pay the help to morrow. hav'
| told about II.
November 25-Upon going to the postoflce
| found letter containing bill OF shipment OF
| barrel of moasses from Iowa, which came iron
1 an old debt, but none the less from the Lord. w
/ are sllfond of molasses, and have felt for som
/ time thatit was not an economical way Of buyin
by the gallon. and have asked the Lord to provid
i Il in larger quantities
| "The social creed of The Band Of Faith is en-
braced In three shirt sentences:
| "l. To ask no one but God for their supplies.
l az. Never to contract debts for their supplies
"3 To be content with what God gives then
"Its membership comprises nearly half {
the students of Shurtlef College, and the prospe'
ia that before the termination of another year, a
will be gathered into the fold OF religious societ
| which is certainly as remarkable IN It's machiner
| and management as anything OF the kind that az
ever come under our observation, 10 or out {
books.n