Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-02-27


ofOne Organization-Assisted by
the Secret Societies.
The Benwood M. E. church is MAX
ing remarkable progress in pay
ing off of its church debt. It's record
in this effort is rarely excelled by any
other church congregation, considering
the circumstances and difficulties that
are encouraged. The Benwood
church has no wealthy members in it's
congregation, being made UP princi-
pally Of workingmen and their fami-
lies. In the payment of the heavy
debt hanging over the church, the
members have shown rare sacrifice
AS an evidence of the earnest effort
made to get clear of debt the fact that
since last September the church has
paid about $785 principal and $13S in
terest' is itself fitting testimonial.
Last September Mr.. John Leach, Sec
rotary Of the board of trustees, con-
ceived the plan to invite the various
secret orders of Benwood TO assist in
the payment Of the debt against the
church. Two secret orders, the Daugh-
tiers of Rebekah and the Daughters OF
POcahOntas, also the G. a. r. post, re-
sponded literally to the invitation and
were loyalty joined by the various Or
CARNATIONS of the church, which have
worked faithfully to the same end.
The money which these societies have
given for this purpose has been earn
ed by giving entertainments, concerts,
etc. So successful has this plan been
that in the comparatively shore time
mentioned over $500 has been
turned in and used to pay off portion
of the principal and interest of the
church debt. Of this amount S565.05
was given by the Daughters of Rebe-
kah, who head the list: the Daughters
of Pocahontas s12580; Epworth Lea
que, 1920; Junior Epworth League,
$3.50; G. A. R. post, $3.50; Sabbath
school, $27.40
The snug sum of $505.G5 was form
ally given to the board of trustees by
the Daughters of Rebekah on last
Thursday evening, and was a grand
occasion for this lodge. Mrs. Estep,
noble grand, introduced Mrs. Thomas
Shepard, the treasurer of the lodge.
Mrs. Shepard formally tender"A the
money to the board. The president,
Squire A. l.. Policy, and the pastor,
Rev. ]. S. Robinson, made appropriate
responses, thanking the ladies of the
lodge on behalf of the church. At the
same slime Miss Annie Policy and Miss
Rosetta Lindsey appeared as repre-
sentatives of the junior Epworth
League and presented the sum of
$3.50. which was earned by a recent
cantata given by the members of the
society at the city hall. Secretary
John Leach made the response to the
Junior League and after this enjoya-
able incident those present sat down
to a splendid banquet, which was
given by the board of trustees in honor
of the Daughters of Rabekah.
In addition to the money raised by
these societies the church for the past
three years has had a sinking fund
established for the same purpose.
Every member of the church pays a
certain amount into this sinking fund,
according to the number of shares at
10 cents each, which he has agreed TO
pay for The town is divided into dis
tricts and every two weeks the collec-
tors make the rounds of their districts
and collect their money. This brings
into the church treasury about $50o
annually, which is also applied to-
wards the payment of the debt.
The church has debt now of less
than $4,000. When the present struc-
ture was built in 1898 the congregation
had a debt of about $4,000 altogether.
With the exception Of about $4,000
this has been wiped out by much sac
rifice on the part of the members and
pastor and by much hard work. Many
people also outside of the church have
assisted literally. Another project has
been devised by Mr. Leacn TO ralse
money for the church. 1t has been de-
cided to send circulars to every Ep-
worth League organization of the Uni
ted States and ask them for dona-
ton The circulars sent out every
where will have the endorsement of the
State and district presidents Of the Ep-
IN Il N al