The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-04-23
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
g" A Little Anyhow.

history OF our Church 2lere been greater neeu
Of generouS - contribution to this
cause. And Il a ieS>[lESss6s hence it could be
said of "aU the brethren and " all the sisters
and all the children of our Zlon-as of the breth-
rem, sisters and acquaintance of job" erery man
also gave piece of money and eUe'y one an ear
ring of gold, this pressing need would be fully
met and there would be great joy both at home and
abroad.
Some facts have just come to my knowledge in
connection with the work at one Of our mission
stations, Volos, Thessaly, that [ think may prove
suggestive and helpful - at such time as this
csived this week from my sister. Miss Leyburn
and it is due to all parties to state that the letter
was private one, was written without the slight
est idea of publication and was not intended in any
sense as an appeal"
In 1877, DR.. Kalopothakes obtained from kind
friends in England aud Scotland some funds for
building school house and church at VOloS and
during the last twelve months lot has been pur-
chased and building erected large enough for
school and preaching purposes, having also some
apartments for the use Of the boarders in the boys
school there. The letter may tell the rest.
"A few months ago when the accounts were
made up, it was found that Mr.. NJ. had gone
somewhat over the amount appropriated for the
building. This Indebtedness Dr. K met by 8
loan, but with the money word came that that
was ALL and the strict injunction given that no
further debt must be incurred. So there was moth.
ing to do but to shut up the building, when 800
| more would fit it for use, and $3.50 or 5000 would
complete it. It was too bad to have the 'Volotes'
pointing the fager of scorn and saying, These
Evaugelicals began to build but we're not able to
flush I We felt, l think, somewhat as Moses
did when he prayed to the Lord not to destroy the
Israelites, and pleaded as an argument That the
Egyptians shall hear it, e.. and they will tell it
to the inhabitants of this land Mr. Sampson
(who was then in Volosl and held some long
consultations over it. We both felt willing to
make almost any sacrifice if We could only see the
building finished, and especially if we could get the
| Greeks themselves to lay hold aud help. Up to
that time they had not given anything towards the
building-though to our regular Sabbath oolec-
tons, as you know, they give and for their means
right literally.
Several plans were proposed and discussed but
could not be carried out, and sometimes We were
almost ready to give up all hope Of success At
last however we secured 80 Turkish Liras 1915 or
$l4O-a Lra or Turkish pound being at 81 35),
| II of these were given aud the other Is advanced
By one of u.s. With this amount the church is so
far completed that it can be used for preaching,
but there are still some things sadly needed, e. g.,
they came to me the other day saying that the
wiudow.sashes would have to be put 10 without
any paint This would have been shame and a
pity, as in this climate wood soon Injuries if not
painted. The cost of the paint would be Lira
and 10 or Is francs Ia franc is about 20 cents more
for the work told them would give the Ira
for the material aud zoe could do the work our
selves; this seemed to please them very much.
And to-day we begin the painting. These boys Of
the school, l ought to. say, have already worked
like Turks for US and they have all gUen their work.
But then the question came, shall We try to raise
few ras more and plaster it inside or leave it as
it isl In its present condition there is only lattice
work between the church and the boys's apart
ment, and altogether it has very uncouth look
within. So Mercuros (Mr. Antoniades) made
this suggestion. that as we had forty francs on
hand from our Sunday collections, he and | should
each loan TO the boz 80 francs making in all 100
francs with which the lime, &c., could be bought,
and then write to the Athens brethren, tell them
what we had done, aud ask them if they could not
send US another 100 francs with which to put the
mortar on. If they do not We will keep the mate
rails and preach in the house as it is. So matters
stand at present.
These last three months | think the native
brethren here have done well the II Ira have
been given from three families whose average sal
aries are $500 each, with as many as seven per-
sons to each family. am delighted and encour.
aged that these Greeks themselves have at last
reused up and are doing something to help for
ward the work; they are already beginning to feel
more of personal and property interest in the
building, as if part oXsers by their contributions
And even if it be butOttle they have given, God
will, we may hope bless it to them aud to the work.
We are getting littls too sven from outsiders ;
one of the carpenters is to make US present of
the work on the pulpit The same man headed a
subscription for paint brush this evening, and in
few moments the amount was made ~ aud the
brush bought Me-. Rega 1.-THE man who suffered
with them last summer,) though not church
member, has stood by us in all our troubles he
has never received anything from US, except some
work to do, and yet be has lost all for cus cause
and now subsists by fishing, and buying aud selling
wood for building purposes. He has given nice
look for the front door, and he and | we're the
principal painters this afternoon. The children
too in my family have been very anxious to give
something. So l let them gather wild salad,
which buy from them and to sick one ! gave
half franc FOR taxing medicine SO we'll, which she
will give. Even poor Dodo IA servant woman)
said she would give all she had, if she only had it,
and told me to-day she was going to gire little
anvho,o. She is working only for the support of
herself and her two children, a. e., receives NO
wages beside the support Of her family and all told
has not more than S. worth of worldly goods"
If all our people were animated by this same
spirit. our Committee would soon have epQgga if
not "enough and to spsre." And if eYery reader
(noue are poorer than she) will do as this poor
Greek servant hes done, give little anyhow, to
the cause of Foreign Missions, the object OF this
article will be accomplished. 1t. u. l.,