The Red Cloud chief., 1883-06-01
THE CHURCH DEBT.

He'll win af last
Nary f. Tor, fg Idrsgs W6dJy-
81
THE CHURCH DEBT.
The Methodist Church Of New Al
bion had hs,g been staggering under q
load Of debt. Its cdificc. built in the
flush times following the war. was an
ambitious piece Of architccture-thc
church 81 the future. beyond n doubt.
since ii IN much larger than the
needs Of its congrcgation-and the
pews were still vacant which the SAN
guine builders had expected to see filed
toy the men who were Ia pay off the
mortgages.
Rev. Mr.. Taorpc. the pastor. had car
ried tbisslcbt now for two years; il had
been the burden Of his DAYS and the
nightmare Of his dreams; nj length lac
had brought his congregation TO the
point of attacking it. He had made
saycral anxious piigrimages To rich
Mnshodisfs in nefehboring cities, but
found small encouragement: il was
evident that the MethOdists in New
Albion must shoulder their own load.
Accordingly, fhc first Sunday in De-
tobcr was devoted Ia "A carefully planned
effort for the payment Of the debt. Mr..
Thorpe had concluded to dispense with
the services Of a ..finangelisln- and to
direct his owe forces. There was 10 be
no regular service in the church, but the
public were invited Ia meet mt ten
O'Clock in the forenoon. and. by the
grace Of God. the meeting would not
adlsIrIi, MIR. Thorpe said. until the debt
was paid. A collation. was provided ia
the basement. SO the people might spend
the day in the work.
The debt amounted to thirty-two
thousand dollars. and when the meet
ing opened seventeen thousand dollars
was at once subscribed this amount
having been secured beforehand by
private conference with the ADLER con-
This excellent start awakened great
enthusiasm srd, for a time, subscrip-
tions calne IN rapidly; bssts long before
noon the limit Of the peoples ability
seemed to have been reached. and the
list only footed mp about tw~enty-four
thousand dollars. :
Mr.. Thorpe kept his forces well in
hand. however. and showed no signs Of
wavering. Exhortations and appeals
were l~nterspersed with singing: a
jsdicioas and energetic committee did a
good deal of personal work with indi-
viduals: messengers were dispatched Ia
lalwr with absentees. But il. seemed
evident that the large gifts had all been
gathered in, and there WAS still a de-
fcicncypf more than seven thousand
dollars that the small subscriptions vet
10 be obtained would 10y no means sup
ply.
As MIR. Franklin. Of the Congrega-
tipnal Church. walked home after the
morning service, with his pastor, thew
passed the door of the Methodist Church.
LET us look in for u moment said
the parson, land see how they are get
ting on"
Theyssat down in one If the back
seats and watched the proceedings.
EGsm Mr.. Thorpe's occasional remarks
they learned the situation Of affairs and
SAN that the case was probably hope
less. though the resolute leader did not
forza moment assent to such a conclu-
sion. -
Ashley wslked along, Mr.. franklin
said:
sMakinga strong fight. aren't they?"
..Yea sS,zgg -s~ss
:" But they will not take the fort?"
IL don't know"
Il de-; they've got 10 the stickin.
point, and they will not get past it,
Pity" said Mr.. Strong, senten-
tiously.
After a moments thought, Mr..
Franklin said. with a new interest: Il
"ls il lawful to pull your fellow crea-
lures out of q pit on the Sabbath day?"
Il should say so. especially il he is !
trying 10 get out HIMSELF - !
Lawful to hitch mp your horse and
pun him oui?s
YES" laughed the minister.
well, You 60 home and get your
lunch and I'll get mine and have Major |
put into the buggy. Ill be around be- |
fore one o'clock, and we'n see what we
can do 2 = ~ = II
IAN rightr'
1t was not long before the good white
horse came at 3 week day pace to the
door Of the parsonage, and the friends
Were soon whirling away.
snow. we've got to be swift" said
the banker. my first thought was to
call on some Of our own people, but /
am inclined 10 give some Of the rest u
chance. The Episcopalians and the
Free Baptists have a heavy debt of
their own; the Adyentists are not able
Ia help much; We must enlist the others.
Brinsmade must call on the First Church
folks, Ellsworth ON the Baptists, Thomp-
SON on the Universalists. you and l will
look after our own"
They were stopping at Mr.. Brins-
made's door and the master Of the house
answered the bell.
I'VE have set out, !" said Mr.. Frank
lin. Ito give the Methodists 3 little lift
in paying their church debt. VIII you
90 and stand in the vestibule Of your
church and waylay as many ~ you can
Of your strongest men as they 60 iu1o1
the afternoon service, and get subscnp-
tons from them? Start the paper your
SELF. Then ask DIR. Phelps to take al
collection before the sermon for the
same object. Get cash subscriptions
payable tomorrow at my bank. Re
Post the amount to me at Nj. Strongs
hooae by four O'Clock sharp. Will you
do it?r
What . steamboat You area" sid
Brinsmsde, laughing.
win yoa do ifr' said Franklin.
stEenuously. NO time for nonsense.
old fellowt'
'sYes. III do It."
IAN right Good-byer'
ne white horse was soon fyin4
J. Nops Of The otsSF