Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-06-14

THE CONTRIBUTIONS COX.
its Evolution from the Colonial Hat to tn
Pretty Basket.

ITS Evolution from the COLONIAL HAT 10 ths
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 ether
needs brought about the first change.
colonial hat was not considered just the
thing to collect the funds, and the brill
liant idea that tho old fashioned warming
pan would do better originated with
one OF the tlthing men. With this he
could stand,at the door Of tho square,
box-like pews and gather in all the
shelSels with ease. The coin dropping
into the brass warming pan somewhat
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
troduced. 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 yigilant
deacon could reached to the extreme
end OF tho pew. At first they were rot
lined In any way and tho dropping in
OF an old copper cent so far rs sound
went, gave the doner credit for a 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
extensively throughout the country
towns, and as the offertory Is usually
accompanied by selection by the
quartet the accompaniment OF jingling
coin adds greatly to the service.
There are several fine offertories that
are particularly effective il the congre-
cations can be depended on to keep the
Jingle sempre marcato This, for
instance; blessed (chink) be the
Olngle) man that (chlnk, chink) pro-
videth (thunp. silver dollar) for the
sick (chink) and needy (jingle) The
Lord (rustle. rustic that Is, belated
notice of bean supper In the vestry
Wednesday evening from $50 to 7:90
all welcome) shall deliver Qingle) 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 $40 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 1t is not so much the gift or
the receptacle as the spirit in which it
is given. --Greenlleld (Mass.) Gazette