The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-26
" M. c. A. WORK.
NE. Jordan of Bangor Tells Something
about How Buildings are Built

The following paper was read frlday
at the Interstate Y. NJ. @. A. meeting
at Manchester N. H., by r.. A. JORDAN
nf Bangor Me. Mr.. Jordan's subject
WAS aHow we Secured our Building and
Endowmsnt Fund" He commenced by
saving they had building in Bangor
costing ss5, 500, all paid for and an en-
dowment of over s11, 600, of which 81, 900
was contributed during the past year.
"The question I am given to answer is
how we got our building and endow-
ment fund. presume the question has
been asked not so much that you may
know how we got ours as how others may
get building, and my answer to the
question will be along this line.
Before we said anything about build
ing we commenced to make the quality
of work of such a character that the COM
MUMMY would feel we deserved build
Ing. Too much emphasis cannot be put
on this point. I would put quality of
work as one of the foundation stones in
securing building. Let this matter OF
quality run into every department. Of the
work. Let the educational classes, sooie-
ties, lectures, care of the rooms be of the
very best kind, especially remembering
tho religious work and business manage
ment. A few solid cases in our religious
work each year who stick and are known
in the community are worth more than
report than several hundred have been
converted, when all the. pastors or people
ever know of it, is what they read in the
report. Let the business management be
of the best, even if you are not spending
more than $1,000 year. Know where every
cent comes from and when; know where
1t all goes too: know your income and live
within 1t; do good WORK and you will
soon see God meant what he said. when
things will make him ruler over many
THINGS And this matter of quantity is
the second important matter. Do a
good work, do a good lot of 1t. Let the
people. know it. To do this you must
have the help'of newspapers and they
are always ready to help deserving
pause. Get the help OF pastors. With
the help of pastors and papers every one
will soon know the quality and quantity
Df work being done. Having the quality
suoh that people will feel you deserve a
building and the quantity such that you
heed one. commence to plan for the can
vass for funds and building. Know what
you want, size, oost etc. Know, how
yon expect to get it. Estimate how many
will give $4,000, how many $1,000, how
many $500, and how many 500, and 30
ON down the list. Know why you want
1t. You are going to level headed bust
ness men and women and they will ask
you these questions. Much will depend
upon your answer. Get good building
committee comprised of prominent men
who are interested. A desirable man
can be interested by getting him out for
subscriptions. Get a good chairman.
Get a good secretary and treasurer.
vass. Many will give that you least think
of. Keep it all the time In the papers.
Have them publish an amount to be
reached before certain date. Push TO
get it there. Have the pastors refer to it
incidentally and often. Get the ladies'
interested. Our ladies' auxiliary as an
organization gave 1880, and with their
Individual contributions they put over
$40, 900 into the enterprise. We got our
fire department interested, and the diff
erant hose companies came to the rescue
with liberal contri buttons. Thus far I
have not referred to the help that cometh
from above. OF course 10 Christian man
should think of any enterprise without
first going to God. Accept Christ's word
for it that without him you can do moth
ing, and also believe with the whole
heart the words of Paul, 4 can do all
things through Christ which strength
eneth me- With the help of God and an
interested public there can be but one
issue-namely, the building. Now with
it-doing all you have promised. in it,
you can asK for an endowment as the
other benevolent institutions have In
your city. The matter Of endowment of
course, as the building canvass. must be
kept before. the public but not in the
same way, always. Many opportunities
for calling attention to it privately will
occur, where the secretary or friends
Gan men ton the need TO those who have
means
ME- Jor Ian gave many interesting in
cidents in conneotion with the canvass
For misunderstanding to see sick man
at the almshouse he gave the pauper a
ollRr. The pauper insisted in giving it
back to Mr.. Jordan for the building
fund. The incident found its way into
che papers and a former Bangor man
read it in California and sent $500 for
the building fund.
Off For the West.
Hon. W. W. Thomas, Jr., leaves this
for ha Wast To 10 hon