The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-15
Raising n Church Debt.

a small church in Iowa that was stag
gering along under n comfortable debt,
and it looked to him as though it would
just be recreation for him to lift n coun-
try church out of the depths, after his
experience and success with the big
| churches in the great cities, with their
overwhelming indebtedness. So he
tackled the quiet little rustic Ebenezer,
and shook il out of all the debt he knew
of in about ten hours, and the building
was clear of all incumbrance.
Then, before the benediction was pro-
nounccd, the senior deacon arose and
stated that there had never been but one
payment made on the organ, and that
the accrued interest Oh the deferred
payments now amounted TO about dou-
BILE the principal.
Well, they raised this amount. and
Brother Kimball was OH the point Of
picking up his hat, when the sexton
rose and remarked that the man was
around last week, and said if the fur
mace wasn't paid for, the notice having
run year over their time, he would
take II out before next Sunday.
Mr.. Kimball laid down his hat, took
of his coat and the furnace debt was
lifted.
lie got one arm into his coat sleeve,
and nodded TO the pastor to dismiss
the congregation, when the president
of the Woman's Aid Society said she
wished to remark that the society had
been unable to fulfill their pledge to
pay for their pew cushions, and the mp
holstcrer had served notice on them
and she believed suit would be com
mcnced next week.
Brother Kimball groaned, slid his
arm out of his coat sleeve, headed the
subscription in the usual generous man.
ner and soon cleared the cushions,
throwing his coat over his arm and STRAIT
ing for the door on the run as soon as
this was accomplished. But the chorister
called out that he would like their dear
Brother Kimball to remain and assist
them i'll an effort to pay for the hymn
books, and also for having the organ
tuned. The 'dear brother eroaned.
stopped and assisted.
Once more he started for the door.
But Deacon Ophiltree said he believed,
while they were trying to clear off the
church debt, it would be well for them
to remember that the sexton had not
been paid anything since 1874, and that
the interest was running on his back
pay all the time. So Mr.. Kimba.l hal
ted once more and struggled along
until the sexton was made happy.
linen he got to the door, but some
one had locked it, and while he was
hunting for the key good sister arose
ana stated that the baptismal robes had
never been paid for, and the woman
VINO made them wanted the money.
inquiry OH this subject revealed the
startling fact that the robes had been
loaned TO neighboring churches, and
lost long ago, but they had to be paid
for, all the same.
Inc money was raised, and Mr.. KIM
ball WIS trying to climb out of the win
dow when he was pulled back and in
formed that there was an old tax title
on the lot when they bought it-that it
had never been cleared off.
Mr.. himball got this little flaw
cleared up with neatness and dispatch,
and was running brislily down the aisle
when he was collared by trustee and
informed that the man who had grained
the pulpit and kalsomincd the ceiling
last winter was there and wanted his
money