Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-23

saints and Sinners,

The sinners, who attend upon the
ministrations of brother j. l.. Brown,
leader OF the colored Methodist flock
here, having boosted, much to the dis
comfort of the saints of the same flock,
that they 1.-THE sinners) were more lib
eral than the saints in their contribu-
tions for the support of the Church,
brother Brown determined to test the
matter, seeing in it, doubtless, a good
chance to gather in few shekels. He
hit upon plan unique and noyel and
admirably calculated to test the Iiber-
atty and fire the zeal of the contending
parties. Accordingly he organized the
saints into ban d which he designated
as the Host of Joshua" placing them
under command Of Jim Callander and
Tom James. The sinners he marshaled
under the able leadership of Jim Early
Alfred Pryor and Will Lacy, and these
were to be known as the Host of Gid
con-" AT the Church last Sunday morn
ing brother Brown arranged contest,
which would put saint and sinner upon
his metal, and, as he shrewdly surmised
incidently replenish the Golfers of the
Church. On one side of the altar he
placed a table, upon which the contri-
buttons of the Host of Joshua" were
to be placed and publicly counted and
on the other side similar table for the
offerings of the Host of Gideon. ~
After few preliminary remarks, IN
which the pastor urged the Importance
of liberal giving, and reminded saint
and sinner of the love of the Lord for
the cheerful giyer, the contest opened
with lively interest, particularly no.
ticeble among the saints. Purses were
opened and examined with eager solicit
tude, pockets were explored to their
very depths and soon the nickels, dimes,
quarters, halt. dollars, with here and
there saucy looking silver dollar were
poured upon the table Of the saints
with boundless prodigality that made
the good PASTORS eye glisten and his
cOuntenance beam with infinite pride
satisfaction. The aim Of the Joshuaites
seemed to be to crush the pretensiOns
of the Gideonites at the very outside of
the contest, so they poured out their
shekels with reckless liberality regard
less CT all consequences, hard times, the
exhausted conditions of their larders
or any such consideration. The Gid
eonites were dazed and retired in dis
comfiture, their table showing only one
dollar, whilst the - Host of joshua
had piled up before the astonished eyes
of their beloved pastor the large sum of
ten dollars.
But the contest was not to be so easily
won by this bold dash of the saints
At the night meeting the sinners rallied
gathered themselves together for an.
other effort and soon had their table
grooming under burden of fifteen dol.
lars, made up Of ali denominations OF
Uncle Sam g coins. And now the saints
in turn, were discOmforted, fairly par.
alyized, indeed, by this splendid showing
of the sinners, and their humiliation
was well nigh complete when, with al
their pleading and exhorting, they coult
raise only six dollars and 35 cents more
Fortunately for them the energies OF
the sinners were now expended and
their pockets empty, 30 that this 81
cents was sufficient to give the Joshua
ties the victory, though by very mar
row margin. Result-$S2.35. a flush
treasury and a smiling parson.