The Portland daily press., 1896-08-18
THE CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE MEETING
DIR. Simpson and Miss Sheppard Says That
No Lady Asked the Return of Her
Watch and If She Had 1t Would Not
Have Been Refused.
To the Editor of the Press:

To the Editor Of the Press:
The following item is clipped from the
Portland PRESS of the 18th inst, cop
led from the Biddsford journal:
| Dr.. Simpson and his chief Christian
Alliance workers have departed from Ola
orchard, taking with them the proceeds
OF the reoord-breaking missionary oollec-
ti"n and leaving behind traces OF their
stay that only the coming of another
| convention and similar collection will
serve to efface.
In the afternoon of the great day OF
giving. comes a story that Is of interest
as showing the remarkable influence ex-
erted upon some susceptible ones present
at the nesting. One of the ladies who
occupied seat in tho middle foreground
OF the Immense amphitheatre under the
| trees was observed to rise in the midst
of the general rush to deliver up money,
lewelry and pledges at the altar, and
during q lull In the talking her voice
was finally heard.
She was offering up her watch, saying
that il was an old family heirloom given
her by her mother, who Ia nova dead.
Following up the thought advanced by
Rev. d. W. LeLacheur when he urged
the people to give unto the Lord what
they had in their houses she said: II
am poor woman and without money,
but have thia watch. 1t was given me
by my mother and is all that I have In
my house." Some one on the platform
shouted hallelujah and the watch was
passed up, while the woman sank back
to her seat.
A few hours later, when the immediate
excitement of the meeting was over.
sober second Thought convinced the wom-
an that she hal been too hasty in surren-
der'ng the family heirloom, aud she set
about taking steps to recover 1t.
She went to Miss Shepard. who WAS
the custodian of the watches and jewelry
and stating that she had been carried
away by the fervor of the moment, asked
for there turn of the time piece.
The request was refused.
1t is understood that 1t is rule OF
the Alliance not to return any OF the
gifts made, and 1t was following out this
rule that the request for a return of the
time piece was refused.
Last year, the close Of the Alliance
meeting was followed by general kick
from boarding houses keepers who COM
planned that their guests gave up all their
money to the A lliance, and did not have
the where withal to pay for their board
and lodging. Whether or not there Is
the same cause for complaint this year,
is not known.
Will you kindly. help to make the COR
rections as public as the error? wrote to
DR.. Simpson enclosing the clipping and
asked him to tell me how much truth
there was In the item. The tw letters
which follow are replies to that inquiry
The PRESS also reported that had
contributed $4,000 for a steam launch
for missionary use on one Of the Chinese
rivers. Ten per cent of that was true
II should have read $3.50 for a "house-
boat'', not steam launch. The contri-
button was made not for newspaper no.
tioe but as it got into the papers, oan-
not accept the credit of larger generosi-
ty than possess. and ask you to kind
ly assist in correcting the errors.
Sincerely yours,
J. r. LIBBY.
Christian Alliance Foreign Missionary
Weekly, editorial office,
New York, August IA, 1896.
Mr.. j. r. Libby:
Dear Sir-A6 Mr.. Simpsons request
and referring to your letter and news
paper clipping sent TO him August IL,
desire to say that no lady came to me at
Old Orchard to ask the return of her
watch, nor would I have refused it If
anyone had so desired. We wish every
gift to be perfectly voluntary and this
has always been the case.
Yours in Him,
LOUISE SHEPHERD.
Office of the International Missionary
Alliance. 62 Eight ave.,
New York, August Is, 1896.
My Dear Brother-Your kind letter is
received. The story referred to is an I'M
qualified falsehood. Miss Shepherds let
ter, hereto annexed, is sufficient denial.
Aa to unpaid hoard at Old Orchard, I
shall be much obliged if any person will
furnish tho name Of any authorized AL
linnce Worker, who has left an unpaid
bill of any kind Mt Old Orchard.
Thanking you for your kind interest in
this matter and trueting you to "nail''
these lies, Yours m st truly in Him.
A. B. SIMPSON.