St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-05-05
THE CHURCH DEBT.

The Methodist Church of New Al
bion had long been staggering under
load of debt. Its edifice, built in the
flush times following the war, was an
ambitious piece Of architecture-the
church of the future, beyond doubt,
since it was much larger than the
needs of its congregation-and the
pews were still vacant which the san,
guine builders had expected to see tllled
BY the men who were to pay OH the
mortgages.
Rev. Mr.. Thorpe, the pastor, had car
ried this debt now for two years; it had
been the burden of his days and the
nightmare Of his dreams; at length he
had brought his congregation to the
point of attacking it. He had made
several anxious pilgrimages to rich
Methodists in neighboring cities, but
found small encouragement; it was
evident that the Methodists in New
Albion must shoulder their own load:
Accordingly, the first Sunday in DC
tober was devoted to carefully
effort for the payment of the debt. Mr..
Thorpe had concluded to dispense with
the services of s.fnangelist'' and to
direct his own forces. There was to be
no regular service in the church. but the
public were invited to meet at ten
O'Clock in the forenoon, and. BY the
grace of God, the meeting would not
adjourn, Mr.. Thorpe said, until the debt
was paid. A collation. was provided in
the basement, 50 the people might spend
the day in the work.
The debt amounted to thirty-tw
thousand dollars, and when the meet
inc opened seventeen thousand dollars
was at once subscribed this amount
having been secured beforehand by
private conference with the ADLER con-
tributors.sG
This excellent start awakened great
enthusiasm, and, for time, subscrlp-
lions came in 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 well in
hand, however, and showed no signs Of
wavering. Exhortations and appeals
were interspersed with singing; q
iudicious and energetic committee did
good deal Of personal work with indi-
yiduals; messengers were dispatched to
labor with absentees. But it seemed
evident that the large gifts had all been
gathered in, and there was still q de.
ficiencv of more than seven thousand
dollars that the small subscriptions YET
to be obtained would by no means sup
ply.
tionaI Church, walked home after the
morning service, with his pastor, they
passed the door Of the Methodist Church
ssLet us look in for moment, = sale
the parson, and see how they are get
ting on. "
they sat down in one of the bacl
seats and watched the proceedings
From Mr.. Thorpe's occasional remark
they learned the situation of affairs AMI
saw that the case was probably hope
less, though the resolute leader did no
for moment assent to such a conclu
sion. & sss
", As they walked along, Mr.. Franklil
said: :,
!. Making strong fight, aren't theyP'
"Yes.n
"But they will not take the fort?'
.sI don't know. = &.
III II do; they've got to the stickin1
4 point, and they will not get past it. =
..Pity," said Mr.. Strong, senten
tiously.
After a moments thought, MI
Franklin said, with new interest:
rs it lawful to pull your fellow cres
lures out Of d pit on the Sabbath day.
II should say so. especially It ne
irving to get out himself. =
Lawful to hitch up your horse an
null him out?