The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-16
THE STORY OF TWO CENTS.

Thirty years ago told this story in
one Of my letters. A generation has
passed by, and Irepeat It, for the moral
of i is quite as timely as it was then:
My first settlement was in Ballston
Spa, N. Y, where a congregation had
been recently organized, and was wor-
shipping God in the County Court
House. When Presbytery met for my
ordination, Rev. DIR. Kirk, then OF
Albany, afterwards of Boston, preach
ing the sermon, it was commended to
all its churches that they should take
collections to assist this new congrega-
ton TO build a church. / was furnished
with a copy Of this resolution, and was
advised omake a pilgrimage from place
; TO place, till l had presented the claims
OF the infant organization, and received
contributions. Our people then assem-
bled, and first tried to see how much
they could raise among themselves.
There was not Tich man. as we count
money now, among them. The richest
man was an old bachelor farmer, and
burdened with bodily infrmity. He
subscribed three hundred dollars, and
no one else gave more than two hun
dred dollars, but the donations were so
many that one-half the required sum
was pledged on the spot.
Now was the time for me TO 90 forth
and raise the remainder by appealing to
the neighboring churches. With great
care l prepared q sermon showing by
undeniable facts and arguments that
our cause was the most Important that
ever sought the aid of good people; that
a church was imperatively demanded
at this point that other denominations
were rapidly growing up in the village,
that our people had done all they pos
sibly could afford TO do, and unless help
came speedily from outside the thing
would be failure, disgraceful and dis.
astrons. This was followed by an ap-
peal that was meant to stir the heart
under the ribs of the stingiest, and to
make the gold and silver leap out of the
pocket into the plate. Having armed
myself with this " "eloquent" discourse,
/ selected the church in Johnstown,
Montgomery County, N. Y, as the |
largest and wealthiest rural congrega-
ton In our connection. Il was some |
thirty miles away, and 1 had TO drive
the whole distance on Saturday across
the country. Elder Mix entertained me
with great kindness, and told me many
pleasant things of old DR.. Mairs, the
former pastor.
The congregation was large and solid
looking. They were chiefly farmers
and their families, and the sight Of them
was refreshing. l preached my first
sermon in view Of collection; / do
not call It begging sermon, for II was
addressed to the judgment Of the peo-
pie, with drive ut their feelings In the
end Of IT. When it was over, was
very anxious for the result. The pull
pit being Of the old tub pattern, / could
sit at the side and, resting head on
hand, look down and see the streams Of
benevolence flow into the plates as they
were passed into the pews. In the slip
in front Of the pulpit sat stout and
wel-conditioned father OF family with
him, and opening his hand over the
plate, he dropped upon IL large cop
per cent, one Of the old-time coins not
7et wholly extinct It fell like lump
dice on my glowing heart The plate
was passed 10 the next pew, where sat
another well-to-do Christian citizen,
boxing as II he were rich, increased in
FOODS and had need Of nothing. He put {
'orth his hand and with painful re- -,
rs II he hated TO part with G
Ifs earthly treasures. dropped into the v
date Q hugh copper cent, which lay by p
ado Of Che first, both coppers star, a