Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-12-02
THE Ill RICH DEBT.
now IT WAS PAID.
Washington GLADDEN. in the ''Century'' for
December.

The Methodist church. of New Albion.
had long been staggering under Il load of
debt. It's edihce. built iii the flush
times following the war. was an ambi-
| tious piece Of architecttue-the church
of the future, beyond doubt, since it
was much larger than the needs of its
congregation-and the pcws were still
vacant which the sanglline builders had
expected to see filled by the men who
were to pay off the mortgages. The
Rev. Mr.. Thorpe, the pastor, had carried
this debt now for two wears; it had been
the burden of his days and the night
mare of his dreams; at length he had
brought his congregation to the point of
attacking it, He had made several anx-
ious pil4imagcs to rich Nethodists in
neighboring cities. but found small en-
couragement: ii was evident that the
| MethodistS III New Albion must shoulder
heir own load.
Accordingly, the first Sunday III Octo-
ber was devoted to n carefully planned
effort for the payment of the debt. Mr..
Thorpe had concluded to dispense with
he services Of ''finangelist" and to di-
rect his own forces There was to he no
regular service III the church, but the
people We're invited to meet mt ten o clock
III the forenoon. and. 10y the grace OF
God, the meeting would not adjourn,
Mr.. Thorpe said, until the debt was paid.
\ collation. was provided in the basement,
50 that the people might spend the day
III the work.
The debt amounted to thirtv-two
thousand dollars, and when the meeting
opened in the morning, seventeen thou
sand dollars were at once subscribed
| this amount having been secured before
hand hv private conference with the ADLER
cncd great enthusiasm. and. for a time.
subscriptions came III rapidly; but long
before noon the limit OF the peoples
ability seemed to- have been reached, and
the list only footed up about twenty-four
thousand dollars Mr. Thorpe kept his
forces wei III hand, however, and showed
no signs of wavering. Exhortations and
appeals were iuterposod with singing; Il
! iudicious and energetic committee did a
great deal of personal work with individ-
uals messengers were dispatched to labor
with absentees. Bui 1t seemed evident
that the large gifts had all been gathered
il, and there was still deficiency of more
than seven thousand dollars that the
small subscriptions yet to be obtained
would by no means supply.
As Mr.. Franklin, OF the Congregational
church. walked home, after the morning
service, with his pastor, they passed the
door of the Methodist church.
Let us look IN Il moment" said the
parson. "and see how they are getting on. :
They sat down i'll one Of the back seats
and watched the proceedings. From Mr..
| Thorpe's occasional remarks they learned
the situation of affairs, and saw that the
case was probably hopeless. though the
resolute leader did not for moment as
sent to such conclusion.
As they walked away, Mr. Franklin
said:
Making a strong fight, aren't they o.
Yes
But they will not take the fort
Il don't know.
II do; they've got to the sticking
point, and they will not get past it. =
PITY = said Mr.. Strong, senten-
tiously.
After moments thought he added.
with a new int rest:
is it lawful to pull your fcllow-crea-
turr out OF pit on the Sabbath day."
II should say 50, especially if hc is
trying to got ont himself
Lawful to hitch up 4our horse to pull
him ont =
Yes. laughed the minister.
well, you 80 home and get you
lunch, and I'll get mine and have Maio,
put into the buggy. I'll he around there
before one o'clock and we'll see what We
can do.
"All ripht.
It was not long before the good white
horse csznc at q weekday pace to the
door of the parsonage and the friend.
were soon whirling away.
"Now, we've got to be swift. said the
banker. Ny first thought WIS to cal
only on some of our own people, hut
am now inclined to give some Of the resi-
a chance The Episcopalians and the
Free Baptists have a heavy debt Of then
own the Adventists are not able to hell
much; we must enlist the others
Brinsmade must call on the First Churcl
folks, Ellsworth ON the Baptsts, Thomp
son on the Universalists, you and I vii
look out for ouT own.
f They were stopping at Mr.. Brins
made's door, and the master of the house
answered the bell.
sTyVa have sot ont - said Mr. Isra,,I I-I;,,