Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-11-01

fHE DAY or sErrIEMENT AT HAND AND THE DIET
UspRogIDEp FoR-soME FxAMPLya or sAcHI-
FIoE FBoM THE MEMBERsnlF.
The thirty days allowed III which to cancel the
Indebtedness on the West Presbyterian church
has expired. Up to this morning between $1,000
and $4,000, OF the 0,500 required had been
subscribed, and the effort was continued to raise
the remainder. The success OF the effort will
be better known tonight
In their struggle to raise this money, the
membership of the West church have made many
sacrifices. their self-denials have been remark
able, and much OF their work has been OF the
heroic character. Had the question been asked
of anv member when the trouble first came
upon the church, How much meney can you
raise among yourselves to avert the sale ~ the
reply would probably have been "Nefy little, il
any. Aud this, We are informed, really did
seem to be the case, so great had been the
previous stress LAID upon the church. Many
sacrifices had been made, and many real bur-
dens had been assumed until it WAS believed
the limit had been reached and the member
ship was powerless to help itself
But with spirit OF trns herolsm the whole
church went to work. The men, women and
children each assumed their share of the labor,
and the result has exceeded all expectations. The
ladies' of the church have been especially zeal
ous, and many of them have been lncessant in
their efforts to liquidate the debt Men who it
was thought could not give single dollar have
made liberal contributions at great personal sac
riice. One laborlng man who was unable TO
give anything from his savings put mortgage
of $3.50. upon his house, worth $1,000, and
gave every cent Of it to the general fund. An.
other labonng man OF Scotch birth, gave an
English sovereign, birthday present from
his parents years ago before lie came across tho
sea. When the sacrifice became known Rev.
Mr. OGts's sabbath school class redeemed ii and
gave it back to the donor who again presented
it to the church, saving "he had consecrate1 it
to the Lord Another laboring man who had
$50 laid away for future necessities gave every
dollar of it, and going ont among his companions
at the shop brought in so more. Thi-
led to other collections in the working places
and more than S20O was brought i'll IN this way.
Other instances might be given, but these vii
chow the general character OF the work.
The children also have rendered efficient ser-
vice in behalf OF the church. A little boy three
| years OF age, went out and collected 50 81 An
| other OF seven brought i'll on his eub-cnptior
| book 80. 40; two other boys five and seven year
of age 30, another boy 81, and little girl al
| 90 made all Offering OF SO. in peunes which
she had begged to help pay eff the debt. Ono
| little fellow was 60 touched by sympathy that ht
| drew from ont the Savings Bank s30. which hC
had Oh interest there aud gave every cent of il
| to the church, Coius which had bO.3u given til,
children as toy pieces were generally hunted up
and many old heirlooms have in this way fount
| their way into the church treasury.
Yesterday s50G 81 was donated by tho Sunda,
| School, an amount which was far IN eecos
of what il wac believed To be capable o
raising Thus we might 20 on reciting in
stances OF unrestrained liberatv, but it Is VI.
necsAsary. The above will suffice TO show Tie
general character OF the work OF the ChnIc
within Itself III its efforts TO avert the sale. Suc
| examples OF sacrifice are without parallel iii tn
| church history of thia city of churches, and ar
| worthy OF remembrance ~ Illustrative of tn
! achievements which possible under grea
stress OF circumstances. Much help has beei
| given outside, of courne, for all of which tn
| West Church is thankful.