The National tribune., 1882-11-09
A Story win a Moral.


One of the oldest Methodist Churches in
America is Dumbarton Church in George
town, d. C. For one hundred years it has
been the bulwark of AIcthodism in the
District of Columbia Around it cluster the
sacred memories of three generations of COM
municants. The burial ground is whitened
over with marble tablets concentrating
the virtues of its membership. 1t is one of
those landmarks in the religious life Of the
country that endears itself to every lover Of
the holy cause represented at its altar with
ever increasing fervOr as the corroding
tooth Of time eats away the faded cushions
and leaves his impress upon the time-honored
structure. "The dying flame Of day" has
for many long year through the chancel
shot its ray" and the Old-time brightness
was dimmcd by constant wear. The carpet,
worn by the tramp, tramp, tramp of gen
Grafton Of feet, was torn TO tatters.
Dumbarton Church had become more of a
memory than a hope It's members still
chung to its sacred traditions and piously bent
their way thitherward at the hour Of prayer,
but when their more fashionable friends
came to spend the Sabbath, took them to
more modern places of Sunday resort.
Suddenly the spirit of improvement seized
the congregation, and it was determined to
restore the weather-stained walls to their
| pristine freshness To suggest was to acs
with this enterprising people, and soon the
| old church threw Off the moss that had
clustered upon its outer walls and dOnned
new dress OF glistening paint. A new carpet
and new cushions added their fresh color to
/ the newly-painted pews and frescoed cell
! ings, and so Dumbarton was itself again
| Then there came day when the cOngrega-
ton met for the first time after months of
! exile and congratulated each other upon the
! home coming; but the financial secretary
and treasurer came also. He enumerated
the imprOyementsand estimated the expense
One thousand dollars were needed to place
the old church on footing of independence
| The pastor called for contributions. One
after another the members arose and respond
ed. al have been a member Of Dunbarton all
my life, said one, and love it more to-day
than ever. Put me down for fifty dollars"
"DumbartOn is my home; charge me twenty
five dollars" said another "This is the
sacredest place in all the world to me" said
another, " 1 will pay twenty-five dollars"
"Who will give twenty dolIars?" said the
pastor. Up went the hands and down went
the names One thousand and thirty dollars
was the result of this outburst of sentiment.
That is ala simple incident, and one
that has its parallel almost every Sunday in
some one or other of the churches whose
steeples point heayenward throughout this
bread Christian land. "DumbartOn is my
home-charge me twenty-five dollars" is a
mixture Of refined sentiment and business
that cheers the heart. 1t reminds us of the
closing of thousands of letters that come to
rs weekly" TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE il
the soldiers paper; enclosed hand you five
dollars for five new subscribers" ave can
not get along without TIE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, and my neighbor is ashamed of
borrowing mine any longer so l send you
his subscription" These are pleasant let
tcrs to read. Sometimes we open one, like
that of Thomas II. Victor, aud out drops
postal order for twenty dollars, the re-
suit OF warm friends work, which he
sends with kindly greeting. Let the good
work go on until the veterans, if they can
not he regenerated as were the moss-grown
walls of old Dumbarton, may feel that
grateful country holds them in fond re-
membrane, and their youth is renewed by
the consciousness that the scars left by rebel
bullets are but so many decorations en-
titling them to a Nations love-