Daily globe., 1878-03-17
Raising u Church Debt.

MOI long ago BfOLleT hlmUall 1Ounu d
small church in Central Iowa that was
staggering along under a comfortable
debt, and it looked to him as though it
would Just be recreation for him to lift
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 was
clear of incumberance.
Then, be fore the benidiction was 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 ana
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
paid 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-
gregation, 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 groaned, slid his arm
out of the coat sleeve, headed the SUBJ
scription 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 ac-
complished.
But the choristter called out that he
would like their dear Brother Kimball to
remain and assist them in an effort to
paw for the hymn -books,and also for hav-
ing the organ tuned. The "dear broth
er" groaned, 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 we'll for them to re-
member that the sexton had not beer
paid anything since 1874, and that The
interest was running up on his back pa,
all the time. So Mr.. Kimball haltet
> once more, and struggled along until tn
= sexton was made happy.
Then he got to the door, but some on
had locked it, and while he was hunting
J, for the key good sister arose and state'
that the baptismal robes had never beer
paid for, and the woman who made then
i, wanted her money. Inquiry on this sui
: ject revealed the startling fact that tn
- robes had all been loaned to neighborin
! churches and lost, long ago, but they ha
:. :. to be paid for all the same.
: The money was raised, and Mr.. Kin
> :. ball was trying to climb out ola windo
=, - when he was pulled back and informe
y that there was an old tax-title on the L
= when they bought it, that had never bee
cleared off.
y Mr.. Kimball got this little flaw cleare
up with neatness and dispatch, and WI
running briskly down the aisle when
was collared by Trustee, and informe
% that the man who grained the pulpit al
kalsomined the ceiling, last winter, W
le there and wanted his money.
4. He was paid, and good Brother Kir