The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-03-21
Raising q Church Debt.

Not long ago Brother Kimball found u
small church in Central Iowa that was
staggering along under a comfortable
debt, and it looked to him as though il
would just be recreation for him to If,
a little country church out Of the depths,
after his experience and success with the
big churches in the the great cities, with
their overwhelming indebtedness. So he
tackled the quiet little rustic Ebenzer,
and shook it out OF the debt he knew of,
in about ten hours, and the building ives
clear of incumberance.
Then, before the benidiction w*s pro-
nounced, the senior deacon arose and
stated that there had been only one pay
ment made on the organ, and that the
accrued interest on the deferred payments
now amounted to about double the prin-
cipal.
Well, they raised this amount AMI
Brother Kimball was on the point OF
picking up his hat when the sexton rose
and remarked that the man was around
last week and said if the furnace wasn't
pal! for, the notes having run year over
time, he would take it out before next
Sunday.
Mr.. Kimball laid down his hat, took
off his coat, and the furnace debt was
lifted.
He got one arm into his coat sleeve and
nodded TO the pastor to dismiss the con-
Eregati0n, 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 the pew
cushions, and the upholsterer had, several
times during the past year, served notice
on them, and she believed suit would be
commenced next week.
Brother Kimball groancd, slid his arm
out Of the coat sleeve, headed the sub
cription in his usually generous manner,
and soon cleared the cushions, throwing
his coat over his arm and starting for the
door on the run as soon as this was &C.
complished.
But the choristter called out that he
would like t}ieir dear Brother Kimball to
remain and assist them in an effort to
pay for the hymn books, and also for hav-
ing the organ tuned. The "dear broth
or" groaned, stopped and assisted.
Deacon Ophiltree said he believed, while
they were trying to clear off the church
debt, it would be we'll for them to re-
member that the sexton had not been
paid anything since 1874, and that the
interest was running up on his back pay
all the time. s. Mr.. Kimball halted
once more, and struggled along until the
sexton was made happy.
Then he got to the door, but some one
had locked it, and while he was hunting
for the key good sister arose and stated
that the baptismal robes had never been
paid for, and the woman who made them
wanted her money. Inquiry on this sub
ject revealed the startling fact that the
robes had all been loaned to neiehl,oring
churches and lost, long ago, but they had
to be paid for all the same.
The money was raised, and Mr. Kim
ball was trying to climb out ofa window
when he was pulled back and informed
! that there was an old tax-title on the lot
when they bought it, that had never been
| cleared off.
Mr.. Kimball got this little flaw cleared
up with neatness and dispatch, and was
! running briskly down the aisle when he
was collared by Trustee, and informed
that the man who grained the pulpit and
kalsomined the ceiling, last winter, was
there and wanted his money.
He was paid, and good Brother Kim
ball was half way out Of the door before