Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-03-01
Vanderbilt's Gifts.
Origin of the Church Of the
Strangers and Wander
bilt Uufversify.

South, VINO were by no means
rich in this worlds goods.
They met in some room, and all
they paid him was $40 each
SuD2ay for preaching. He had
to exc out his slender income
by writing for some publica-
tions. Mrs. Vanderbilt knew
DIR. Deems, and went TO hear
him preach and finally one day
persuaded Mr.. Vanderbilt to go
with her. He accompanied her
a few times, and became quite
interested in the doctor, who
was called a fine preacher. He
had him invited to his house,
and became more interested,
and then asked to have Mrs.
Deems call. She called, and he
was pleased with her also. One
day, after all had become ac-
quainted, ,and had become a little
more intimate, the Commodore
said to the doctor, "Why don't
you have church ?" The dec
tor told him that they could not,
that they were not able to have a
church ; that all his people were
too poor. why don't you hire
a hall?" "Well," said the doctor,
eve can't do 1T" and then be ex-
planned the poverty of his church,
Whereupon the Commodore told
him to go and hire q certain hall,
and, whatever the charge might
be, 10 send the bill to him and be
would pay it. Afterward, some
time after that, when the congre-
CATION had grown and Vanderbilt's
interest was still fresh, in an inter
view one day with DR.. Deems, he
said, .You 60 to a certain church.
1t is for sale, and know he par,
ties who controlit. IF you can get
it for $4,000, take it." "Wellg'
Dr.. Deems said, "where is the
money to come from r "Oh, you
just come back to me, said the
Commodore. So he went to the
parties in charge of the church;
out they would not let it go for
$50 600, but offered to sell it for
$4,000. The doctor went with
this answer to Vanderbilt, who
promptly said: Il will pay what
they ask; you take the building"
Aud he paid the sum forthwith.
That was the beginning of the
Church Of the Strangers; that is
the way the congregation got it.
Ia this connection another il.
lustration should be given of the
Commodore's liberality; and as,
before, it was his wife's friend
who drew out the charitable thou.
sands. There was a meeting of
the ministers of some Of the South
ern churchrs-a sort of conven-
tion--in New York. One of the
ministers was an old friend Of
Mrs Vanderbllt's family, and she
met him and invited him to 20
and make bis home with her dur
ing the sessions of the conven
tiOn. He was very attractive
old gentleman, and Immediately
won the Commodore's confidence
and friendship, and the old rail-
roader became quite interested in
him. After a while the Commo-
dore said to- him, "What is
this convention about, anyhow"
His guest told him it was for the
purpose of getting ministers in
terested ineth4 elevRting and con-
vertihg of the people Of the South,
and especially inE the religious
work for the freemen' and went
on to unfold these objects at some
length. The Commodore seemed
quite Interested, and asked to
know more about the sermons
and discussions of the conventions.
And then the old gentleman
told how he had suggested that
very day that a theological semi
nary should be founded down in
Tennessee; that Tennessee was
one of the most prosperous of the
S5uthern States, well situated,
healthy, aud; all that; sand that
he theugot a wonderlut amount
of gaod conld be,pccomplished if
they could only start such, o. the
illogical seminsrys.~there. And
.hen be went on to tell how bis
brother ministers had shaken their
heads, and said they were too poor
twas out of the question-they
couldn't think of such a thing
Vanderbilt took occasion TO in
ouire something mere about the
plan at second conversation,
and afterward, the day the old
gentleman was going to leave,
handed him an envelope. "What
is thisY' was the question OF