Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-08-26

Was &Ad0Ay dCCSpOc0 GuQ 80 promptly
responded to that very soon the whole
sum raised was $19 $500 Of which
only $235,00 was contributed by per-
sons outside of the congregation.
Of this sum 18,515.75 has been col
lected and disbursed in bringing the
building to its present stage of pro-
gress.
As soon as the above subscriptions
had been made the building committee
instructed Mr.. Andrewartha architect
of Louisville to prepare a plan which
should be practicable within $4,000.
He prepared one and came to Clarks-
vile to superintend the excavation &C.,
and to put out the contracts. After
two efforts to do SO it was found that
at the lowest bidding the building
could not be put up for less than $27, :
600 including inside finish, pews &c.
But the excavations and foundations
had now been made and it was too late
to seek new plan without wasting
the money so expended.
Under these circumstances the
building committee called meeting of
the congregation and laid the whole
matter before them, it was agreed that
the money should be raised and the
church built on that estimate.
The next trouble was that three of
the contracting parties threw up their
contracts after the work had advanced
to considerable extent and the secu
rity they gave having been found
worthless, the church lost over 81 600
In round numbers therefore the
money required is
Losses by failure of contract..-.....- 7,0O(
84.OO(
Money already collected and used 1850
l5,5O(
1t was to devise ways and means
therefore of raising this $15,5OO that
the meeting was called.
The chairman now made his appeal
to the congregation. He very forcibly
put it to them that the congregation
could not stop where it was, that more
than 5000 over receipts had already
been spent, and that to stop where they
were would be to become a congrega
ton withouta church, besides their In
ability to pay their just debts. Tht
treasurer had insisted that the only
course was for members to look thu
matter in the face and every man t.
put his hand in his pocket and sub
scribe to the utmost of his ability
and the chairman now called upon the
congregation to carry out this plat
form. He then made individual ap
peals to members.of the church, five
of whom responded by subscribing
81 900 piece and many others smaller
sums. In the end the subscriptions
taken up at the meeting amounted tc
$40, 10000.
We cannot refrain from giving oul
admiration to the conscientious liber,
atty of the members of this commun.
ion. Very few indeed of the members
can be considered rich, and the great
body of them have nothing but mod
est competency for themselves and
their families. And of those who con-
tributed their 81 600 and $500 and 500
subscriptions most, are we'll known to
be only able to do so by actual sacri-
fees of comforts and indulgences by
themselves and their families. But
the idea is sedulously cultivated in
that congregation that the cost of main
tanning religion is a religious obliga-
ton to be encountered in the spirit OF
self-sacrifice only. They are consci-
entiously opposed even to the.indirect
modes of raising money in vogue such
as concerts and other entertainments;
and we have seen how small an amount
has been supplied them out side of the
congregation. The progress they have
made therefore in erecting one of the
most beautiful buildings in the State,
and in raising the present munificent
subscription for its completion entities
them to the admiration and sympathy
of the whole community, and we think
we are only expressing the universal
sentiment of this whole people. when
we wish them success according to
to their hearts desire.