Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-09
BUILDING A CHURCH.
How Material and Contributions Were
Gathered in Arkansas.

Gathered in Arkansas.
Prom the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.)
For months the deacons and elders OF
the Emmanuel Emancipated Baptist
Church of Zion, Poinsett county, Arkan-
saw" had been planning their new edi-
flee. 1t was all the religious portion OF
the colored population talked about
Begging went on right and left. Every
young buck who made winning with
the "bones,'' felt obliged to contribute
'foh luck The sombre-visaged chief ell
der asked no questions. The brown
faced bellies made their offerings, too
Everything of negotiable value was
cheerfully taken-pennies, due bills
county scrip, commissary "punch-outs, ''
shotes, sauerkraut and cast-off clothing.
The elders were supposed to know how
TO reduce all the gifts to the cash basis
by barter and exchange. Labor enough
was pledged to build a mile of levee, the
chance of impressing it when needed
being taken strictly on faith. Across
the color line, cash or its immediate
equivalent was alone expected, that
is, money or building material A curl
GUS lot Of personally accumulated on the
church site. Variety rather than guam
tity characterized these donations. Ten
railroad ties, stick Of "culr' cypress
piling, three or four yards of rough
plank walk fished out of the Mississippi
backWater, a dozen pieces of iron pipe,
all different sizes and lengths, from a
burned cotton gin; a few hundred brick
bats that had supported the gin boiler,
one small wagon-load of rotten lime
stone from an old railroad cuIvert, a
bundle of ragged and rusty cotton ties
thus the schedule ran. The deacons
and elders watched the growth of the
pile with honest pride. The accumula-
ton of the fairly available building lum-
Der proceeded more slowly, but it was
characterized by great variety, too.
There were two oak and two gum siIls,
little oak and more yellow pine and
cypress flooring material, three doors
and seven windows, already glazed, all
of different sizes, and all secondhand;
oak and cypress shingles in equal guam
titles for about half the roof, and cor
rugated iron from an old mill-shed for
the rest. And so it went.
The nearest sawmill firm was levied
on heavily for donations, and gave lib
orally from its yard at the negro's own
valuation. But still more really mer-
chantable material was needed-"cull'
lumber being taken with innocent free
dom and without question For the ad-
mill labor orders-must be paid. One
Saturday afternoon TIE deacons and
elders all laid off to make the final and
largest payment for raw material. They
filed solenlnly into the mill mans office
and took off their hats
White folks, we has come to buy de
lumbah foh ouah house of worship
"All right, elder, how much do you
want? The mill isn't running this af-
ternoon because so many of the men
had to help dig the church foundation,
but we can start in Monday early and
cut 'er right through" and visions of a
weeks profitable run fitted through the
mill mans mind. He added: Have You
the bill of dimensions, made out?"
n No, sab; but we is. got the money!
this very proudly. 1--WE thought you
would fgger up de pieces fob u.s.
Well, | amt carpenter, but maybe
can fix you. How much do you wish
to pay?'
Then began an exploration of patched
and ragged apparel on the part of the
whole delegation. The mill mar thought
he was going to get at least q hundred
from each delegate. His eyes began to
bulge-hard avarice illuminated his en-
tire visage. Up came the first brown
and horny fist. 1t clutehed three quar-
ters and eight nickels Back it went,
and this time dug deep.
The net result was another nickel and
seventeen coppers. The mill man looked
less avaricious now. The remainder of the
delegation had meanwhile been conducting
searches on their own account. In about
half an hour the modified fund lay before
the sawyer. Count hit, boss" and his
every move was closely scanned until the
task was finished. Very soon the SAWYER
looked up, contempt in every line of his
face.
And you want to get lumber enough for
the church with this?'
well, white folks we kinder oh spected
It would fin de nails, too You keeps 'em
in yoh commissary stoh."
The mtM man was from the north, and he
sWore. That pile contained one single pa
per dollar, six silver dollars two labor
orders for so cents each, and the remainder
IN halves, quarters dimes, nickels and pen
n1es-Sl445 all told. Neither of its late
custodians would have turned it over to his
felloM-cOmmitteeman for anN reason