The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-14
THE CONTRIBUTION BOX.
It's Evolution from the Colonial Hat to the
Pretty Basket.

It's Evolution from the Colonial Hat TO the
Pretty Basket.
The radical changes that have taken
place in the construction of the church
contribution box are worthy OF some
what extended notice. In the print
tive times of the church history of this
country. no contributions were taken
up. but the support of the minister and
his family depended upon the gifts OF
the people. Cordwood, potatoes.
squashes. pumpkins, fresh pork. dried
apples. etc, were given in sufficient
abundance to keep the preacher from
season to season, and what he lacked
in variety of edibles he made in the
way by which he was reverenced and
obeyed in spiritual matters, also in that
he could compel his listeners to sit for
two hours to listen to his sermons, which
used to be wholly doctrinal.
As the church advanced there grew
to be demands to which bucOlic contri-
buttons would not apply in settlement
The subject OF missionaries and other
needs brought about the first change.
and it was voted to ''pass the hat" The
colonial hat was not considered just the
thing to collect the funds, and the brill
liant idea that the Old-fashiOned warming
pan would do better originated with
one of the tithing men. With this he
could stand at the door of the square,
box-like pews and gather In all the
shekels with ease. The coin dropping
gagged the generosity of the giver. but
as time advanced it was considered a
little noisy, and an Improvement was
demanded. The supply was equal to
the demand. and cOrn-hopper was in
PRODUCED, and the wide meshes served
to deaden the sound. and this was used
until art demanded that something
more esthetic be furnished; so in its
place appeared the long-handled.
square boxes, with which the vigilant
deacon could reached to the extreme
end of the pew. At first they were rot
lined in any way, and the dropping in
of an old copper cent so far as sound
went, gave the doner credit for silver
dollar. Shortly after the boxes were
lined with some soft material, the
Methodists and Baptists generally using
flannel and the Presbyterians and Con-
gregationalists preferring velvet. TO
the present day these boxes are used
extensively throughout the country
towns, and as the offertory is usually
accompanied by a selection by the
quartet the accompaniment of juggling
coin adds greatly to the service.
There are several fine offertories that
are particularly effective if the congre-
cations can be depended On to keep the
Jingle sempre marcato. This. for
instance: BLESSED (chink) be the
Gingle) man that (chink, chink) pro-
videth (thump, silver dollar) for the
sick (chink) and needy Gingle). The
Lord (rustle, rustle-that is, belated
notice of bean supper in the vestry
Wednesday evening from $3.50 to 1870
all welcome) shall deliver Oingle) him
in time (chink, chink) Of trouble" If
the deacon's boots squeak and he has
good idea of time he can add to the
service by keeping step to the musical
rhythm.
In the city churches have gone one
step farther. and in place of the long
handled boxes some have substituted
handsome baskets lined with satin and
pushes on which the SO gold-piece OF
the Ex-Governor and the 10-cent piece
of the plumbers little boy fall with
equal noise. Others prefer silver or
handsomely carved wooden plate with
quilted lining.
After all it is not so much the Gift or
the receptacle as the spirit in which it
is given. -Greenfeld (Mass.) Gazette.