The herald., 1893-10-01

the congregation grew rapidly, aud 1t
soon became necessary to build new
church, and all OF the above-named
brethren and others who had come In
gave notes of from $500 to $4,000 to
be deposited in a bank TO be drawn on
as the work OF building progressed. My
note was for $500 which now have in
my ecrap book. When the church wae
finished, the building committee had
run the church in debt $4,000, more than
the trustees calculated on, and most Of
the members said they had given all
they could afford and refused TO give
more, and it was feared that it would
be failure and the church would be
lost.
The preacher, Rev. Mr.. Hickey, aud
myself talked the matter over, and
told him to aek first for $1,000 subscrip-
tions. and that would respond for that
amount, which he did.
Whom l made the announcement that
| would give $1,000, the affect ran
through the very large congregation like
electricity, and as tie minister dropped
to 5000, several responded then at $500,
quite q number responded; then he
dropped to 5000, then to 500. At this
figure several who never gave dollar
before to Protestant church responded.
] have the list IN my scrap book, but
recollect two of this class, to-wit: Ex-
Mavor Prudent Beaudry and f. p. f.
Tenn ,le. When it fell to $50 and $20,
subscription came in thick and fast, and
during the day and evening services the
entire $4,000 was pledged and the church
was saved and the future OF Methodism
was ensured in Southern California.
But there came another dark time
a stringency in money matter. some
thing like the present time, in which
lost everything, not before had paid my
$1,000. Many who pledged money at the
dedication failed, and could not and did
not pay their subscription, and the
church had to be mortgaged for the
money. The mortgage was secured by
Judge r. M. Widney, who pledged that
he would keep up the interest, which be
did for eeveral years out of his own
pocket and the church was recolverted
and saved again.
In the language OF the immortal Lin
coin, it is no disparagement to those
who were not here, or to those who did
all they could, according to their means,
to say that from 1859 to 1878 did more
than any other person with my money
dDu my lulluCACS W Out2Q up uAOtHoN-
lem and Professionalism in Southern Cal
ifornia.
In the early days the ministers of the
NJ. E. church, M. e. church south and
Baptists would call on me to close the
services by prayer, and the two former
to take up collections, and when the
services were over was as much in de-
mand as guest as any of the ministers.
But times have changed since then,
and now, when 1 need sympathy and
help, they have all forsaken me and
fled, or nearly all. went to the great
First NJ L. church (whose foundation l
laid) last SUNDAY, and when the SER
vices were over l took my stand on the
sidewalk and stood there until all had
passed by on the other eide, and no one
said: ''Go with me to dine" So |
went to restaurant and got q l0-cent
dinner. Such treatment, whether In
territorial or through neglect, is whit is
causing many hardworking con toll
to think they are not welcome in car
peted churches. | was an hungered and
you gave me no meat. thirsty and you
gave me no drink, sick and in prison
and you visited me not. ]. w. PoTrs.