Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-04
THE CHURCH DEBT.

THE CHURCH DEBT.
The Methodist Church Of New Al
bion had long been staggering under
load Of debt. IT. cdilIcc. built i'm the
lush times following the war. was an
ambitious piece Of architecture
church Of the future. beyond doubt.
since II was much larger than the
needs Of il congregation and the
pcws were still vacant which the san
guinc builders had expected tn see filed
by the men who were To pay of the
mortgages.
Rev. Mr. Thorpe. the pastor. had car
ricd this debt now for two years; il had
been the burden 1T his days and the
nightmare Of his dreams; NJ length he
hal brought his congregation To the
point uf attacking IT, He had made
several anxious pilgrimagcs To rich
McthOdists In ncighhOring cities, but
found small encouragement; il was
evident that the MCthOdists in New
Albion must shoulder their own load.
Accordingly. the first sunday in DC
tOber was devoted to q Carcfully-planned
effort for the payment Of the debt. MIR.
Thorpe had concluded 10 dispense with
the services If ''iinangclst" and 10
direct his own forces. There was To be
no regular service in the church, but the
public were invited 10 meet at ten
clock in the forenoon, and, by the
grace of God, the meeting would not
adjourn. Mr.. Thorpe said. until the debt
was paid. \ collation. was provided i'm
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 40 once subscribed this amount
having been secured beforehand bv
private conference with the ADLER CON
trihut0rs.
This excellent start awakened great
enthusiasm, and. for q time. suhscrip-
tions camc in rapidly; but long before
noon the limit of the peoples ability
seemed o. have been reached. and the
list only footed UP about twenty-four
thousand dollars.
Mr. Thorpe kept his forces well i'm
hand. however. and showed mo- sipns of
wavcring. EVhortaiions and appeals
were interpreted with singing:
iudicious and energetic committee did
good deal Of personal work with indi-
Niduals; messengers WERE dispatched Ia
labor with ab-cutceS. But IL seemed
evident that the large gifts had ali been
gathered In. and there was still n de-
iiciCucy uf moro than seven thousand
dollars that the small subscriptions vet
To be- obtained would by NO means sup
ply.
As Mr.. Franklin. IT the Conrrcpn-
tiunal Charch. walked home after the
morning service. with his pastor. they
passed the door 1T the Methodist Church.
Let "a, look in for moment" said
The pars1un, and see how they are get
ting on"
They sat down in one Of the back
seats and watched the proceedings.
Prom Mr.. Thorpc's occasional remarks
they learned the situation IF affairs and
saw that the case was probably hope
less, though the rcsolutc leader did not
Tor n mumtnt assent Ia such n conclu-
sion.
As they walked along. Mr.. Franklin
said:
Yes.
But they will not take the fortp"
II don't know"
II do; they've got to the sticking
point. and they will not get past IL. =
Fity.' said Nc. Strong. scntcn-
tiously.
After n moments thought, Mr..
Franklin sail. with new interest:
l. u lawful To pull Your fellow crca-
lures out If pit ON the Sabbath day?"
. should say so. especially IL he i
trying To get out himself"
Lawful to hitch up your horse and
pull him oiaP'
Yes laughed the minister.
"Wcll, YOU 90 home and ret vour
lunch and I'll get mine and have Major
put into the buggy. I'll be around be-
fore ono o'clock. aud well see what we
can do"
"All righty'
II was not long before the good white
horse came nc week day pace to the
door of the parsonage. aud the friends
were soon whirling away.
Now. we've got To be swift said
the banker. "My first thought was to
call ON some Of our own people. but /
am inclined tO give some Of the rest n
chance. The Episcopalians and the
Free Baptists have a heavy debt of
their own; the Adventists are NOT able
90 help much;w we must enlist the Others.
Brinsmade must call ON the First Church
folks, Ellsworth on the Baptists. Thomp-
son on the Univcrsalsts. YOU and / will
look after our own
They were stopping at Mr.. Brins-
made's door and the master of the house
answered the bell.
eve have set out" said Mr. Frank
lin, Ito give the MethOdists a little Iift
In paying their church debt. Will Won
go and stand in the ycstibule OF your
church and waylay rs many as YOU can
OF your strongest men as they Ro into
the afternoon service. and get subscrip-
uons from them? Start the papcr your- |
sell Then ask Dr. Phelps TO take A
collection before the sermon for the |
same object. Get cash subscriptions.
payable tomorrow nc my bank. Re- |
port the amount TO me at MFR. Strong's |
house !, by four o'clock sharp. Will You
What a steamboat you arePp said
Brinsmado, laughing.
"Will you do ftp" said Fr.,Li,..
obi fellowr' "V'''eiSe'
eyes. III do it,
''All right. Good-byer'
And the white horse was soon av,r1
down the street. 's
Mono Of the other churches had after