The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-03
wuAT AITrD TuF OHuRCH.

Every eve followed the motion of her
hand, as she pointed impresslvely toward
the staring windows, and, looking out, |
every one felt the force of her apt, if
somewhat uncharitable remark. The
poor old fence, struggling along zig-zag
fashion, propped here and there with a
broken rail, did indeed lean far out to-
ward the world, and the beams of cold
winter moon lent ghastliness to the
desolate picture.
GAS bowling wall shall We be, and as
a tottering fence, y murmured Grandma
Wallace, while Deacon Wallace stroked
his long beard and looked aroundin mild
surprise. Women didn't speak out in
meeting in Perry; Sister Susan Grace
thought it highly improper, and that set
tied the question with everybody except
Miss Sarah, who always would talk when
and where she pleased. However, this
was not exactly Sin meetingp the two or
three, gathered in the name of the Mas
ter, were lingering around the stove,
waiting perhaps, though unconsciously,
for the promised benediction that had
not fallen upon their hearts during the
hour of prayer. A fresh call for money
was being discussed, with but poor re-
suits, until Elder Grace proposed to
leave the matter in the hands of the
saving: 81 have done my last begging.
1t is impossible to raise the money
to meet our current expenses;
every month supply the deficiency out
of my own pocket
"And,n added Elder Grace, whenever
minister comes here to preach | pay
half this expense out of my pocket"
''Let the women manage it, then"
said Miss Sarah. All agreed and the lit
tie assembly dispersed.
Nine souls at prayer-meeting out OF a
membership of eighty-threel An impos-
ing church edifice whose lofty arches
echoed not with the sound of gospel in
vitation A people who must have a.
minister of fine abilities, but could not
raise money to employ such a one
Verify there was something wrong with
the church at Perry.
Years ago a little band of disciples
planted the gospel banner in this wilder
ness. The town grew, their needs in
creased, and when they were bent and
old they said to each other, Let us
build a temple for the worship of the
Almighty; we will make it far beyond
our simple needs, so that our children
unto successive generations may throng
its courts with praise and thanksgiving"
They did so, and left this enduring mem
oriai of their good works. But of late
Gods people here had passed through
great and peculiar trials and discourage
ments-trials from without and strites
and chickering's even among those who
were irrevocably pledged to watch over
each other in love, and to forgive,if need
be, until seventy times seven. They
couldn't keep a preacher. 1t had been
several months since the last one had
eli ca
members living out of town came to
church the Sabbath following, not know
ing he was gone, and group of discon-
ISOLATE members clustered round the
church-door and said, wouderingly, to
each other, what is the matter with the
church at PeTyP"
swell. about that money" said Miss
Sarah at the next society meeting.
''What money!" inquired Mrs Green,
CHANGING around,
twenty-five dollars for our mission
any," answered Miss Sarah.
81 never give to foreign missions" "
came the chilling reply.
''We must raise the money" calmly
continued Miss Sarah; show will we do
it?''
Charity begins at home" called out
sharp voice.
''We do need much at home" said
Mrs. Brown; ''the roof of the church
leaks, the fence is down and we must
have a parsonage"
"'And they all began with one consent
TO make excuse" pleasantly retorted
Miss Sarah.
81 think" timidly suggested Sister
Susan Grace, "that we can give literally
and not feel any poorer for II"
"'There is that scattereth abroad and
yet increaseth; and there is that with
holdeth more than is meet, but it tend
eth to poverty, y softly uttered grandma.
So they talked, sometimes one at a
time and sometimes all at once, until out
of the confusion was heard voice, "Let
Grandma Wallace decide. Come on with
your Scripture, Grandma"
Without hesitation she answered:
Go We into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature
"Does that mean foEeign missionsw
asked one.
sit is perhaps the last command of
our Saviour to his disciples" she con-
tinued; 'you may call it foreign mis-
siOns or anything else, and l think God
withholds his blessing from us because
we do not give enough. Honor the
Lord with thy substance and with the
first fruits of all thine increase oh, my
dear sisters, if we could only see our
selves as God sees us how different our
actions would be. 1t is woman's privi-
lege to be first in every good work; can
we not do something to lift this burden?
Let us make mighty effort, and begin
with our pockets We will give not
what we can spare, but that which costs
something to do without, consecrating
ourselves to the work by sacrifice and
prayer; and since it is not the custom
here for ladies to pray aloud, even among
themselves, let us kneel and silently in
yoke the divine blessing"
They knelt in silence and in tears, and
could that be sister Susan Grace, whose
opinions were like the laws of the Medes
and Persians, that altered not, actually
speaking out in meeting? Her prayer
was:
"Our fathers God, unto whom can we
go but unto thee. Thou art our refuge
and strength; very present help in
trouble. Forgive our selfishness, our
narrow-mindedness and our vain reach
ings after the things of this world. Con
secrate us now to thy service, and enable
us to give willingly to thee from the
abundance thou hast bestowed upon us
for all that we have is thine, and we
are thine, through Jesus Christ our
Lord"
"Amen," responded Grandma Wallace,
as they rose from their knees with the
light Of beautiful resolution upon every
face. Here are fifty cents" said Miss
Mary; "You know l am so foolish
must have my tea in a china cup; John
ME broke mine yesterday and cousin
gave me fifty cents to buy another.
have nothing of my own to give, but my
Lord may have the china cup, and the
tea, too, If necessary"
Tears sprang afresh to the eyes that
were already dim as this first gift, the
offering Of lonely and loveless old age,
was laid upon the altar of self-sacrifice.
Mrs. Green had started out of the door,
but she turned and nervously fingered
her pocket-book for a moment, then
handed five dollar bill to the treasurer,
saying:
~ had intended ordering some cut
flowers, but will do without; it is not
much Of a sacrifice, but give it freely"
"God bless YOU" said grandma, as the
siken drapery floated out of sight Miss
Sarah fell back with swell, I'm over
GOMEZ What next?'
"This," answered the school mistress,
drawing from an envelope a check of
fifteen dollars. 81 have been writing a
little for the press, but this is the first
money have received"
"But you are not able to give IL all, I"
gently demonstrated the treasurer.
''Shall give that which costs me
nothing?" she replied, with glistening
eyes. "It is the first fruits, and belongs
Of right to my Cod"