Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-16

[st. Louis Globe-Democrat.l

[St. Louis Globe Democrat
| Four months the de8cons and elders
| OF the Emmanuel cmnncipatod Baptist
| church OF Zion, Poinsett county, Arkan-
saw" had been planning their new
ediiice. 1t was all the religious portion
of the colorcd population talked about
begging went on right and left. Every
young buck who made n winning with
the homes felt obliged to contribute
"foh luck" The comber- visaged chief
elder asked no questions. The brown
faced bellies made their offerings, too
Everything of negotiable value was
checifully taken-pennles, due-bills
county scrip, commlssary punch
outs" shoats. saur-kraut and cast-of
clothing. The elders were supposed to
know how to reduce all the gifts to the
cash basis by barter and exchange. La
Dor enough was pledged to build
mile OF levec. the chance of lmpressing
II when needed being taken strictly on
faith. Across the color line cash or its
immediate equivalent WAS alone ex-
pected, that Is, money or building ma
terinl. curious lot of personally ac-
cuinulated on the church site. Variety,
rather than quantity. characterized
these donations. Ten railroad ties a
stick OF "cull' cypress piling, three or
-FOUR yards Of rough plank walk fished
out OF the Mississippi back water.
dozen pieces of iron pipe. all different
sizes and lengths, from n burned cot
ton gin, a few hundred brickbats that
had supported the GIN boiler. one small
wagon-load of rotten limestone from an
OLD railroad culvert, "A bundle of ragged
and rusty cotton tes-thus the sched-
ule ran. The doacons and elders
watched the growth of the pile with
honest pride. The accumulation of
fairly available building lumber pro-
ceded more slowly, but IL was charac-
terized by great variety, too. There
were two oak and more yellow pine
ana cypress flooring material; three
doors and seven windows. already
glazed. all OF different sizes, and all
second-hand oak and cypress shlngles
In equal quantities for about half the
roof. mad corrugated iron from an old
mlll-shed Tor the rest. And SO 1t went.
The nearest saw-mill firm was levied
on heavily for donations. and gave lib
orally from its yard at the negroes own
valuation But still more really mer-
charitable material was needed-"cull'
lumber being taken with innocent free
dom and without question. For the ad-
ditoinal stuff" cash or it's equivalent
mill labor orders-must be paid One
Saturday afternoon the deacons and
elders laid off to make the final and
largest payment for raw material. They
filod solemnly into the mill mans office
and took off their hats.
White folks, we has come to buy
de. lumbar fob ouah house of wor-
ship?"
IAN right elder how much do YOU
want? The mill Isn't running this after
noon because so many OF the men had
to help dig the church foundation. but
we can start In Mondav early and cut
err 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?"
Ia. H.. 80
this very proudly. I'VE thought you
would flyer up de pieces foh us"
We'll. i amt a carpenter. but may
ne l can fix you. How much do you
wish to pay?"
Then began an exploration of patched
nhu rugged apparel on the part of the
whole delegation. The mill man
thought he was going to get "A hundred
al least from each delegate. His eyes
began TO bulge-miid avarice illumni-
mated his entire visage. Up came the
iirst brown and horny fist. 1t clutched
three quarters and eight niclSels. Back
II went, and this time dug deep, Tho
net result was another nickel and II
coppers. The mill man looked less
avariclous now. The remainder OF the
delegation had meanwhile been con-
Quoting search on their own account.
In about half an hour the mobilized
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 with con- |
tempt in every line of his face.
And you want to get lumber enough |
for the church with thls?'
We'll. white folks. we kinder oh |
spectcd 1t would fin - nails, too. You |
keeps EN- In voh commissarv stoh,"
The mill man was from the North.
and he swore. That pile contained one |
single paper dollar. six silver dollars.
two labor orders for so cents ench. and
the remainder in halves, quarters,
dimes, nickels md pennies-sl44 Az ali
told, Neither of Its late custodlans
would have turned II over to his fell
low-committeemen for any reason.