The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-24
BIG SLICE
CutFronn Debt
At Pilgrim.
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
Rev. DR.. Lewis Praise Ser
mon To Practitioners.

Ihefe was Soul-Stirring scene at
Pilgrim Church yesterday morning,
when the entire congregation, which
completely thronged the auditorium
and galleries, rose and sang the dox
ology, after DR.. Alexander Lewis, the
pastor, made the announcement that
over $4,000 had been raised in the can
collation. of the church debt of $4,000,
when the original intention had been
to secure but $4,000. Dr. Lewis has
added to his reputation as one of the
most successful preachers in the city
Dr. Lewis preached a. sermon appro-
pirate to the event. He reviewed the
work which had been done in connec-
ton with the effort to lessen the church
debt. The most sanguine of his Off
GERS did not expect that he would raise
more than $4,000 at The outside, and
their surprise and delight were both
apparent when he announced that he
had $4,000 beyond that mark.
DR.. Lewis chose for his subject
Praise We the Lord and spoke in out
line as follows: 1T is not necessary
for me to tell you that success has
crowned our efforts and that our most
sanguine expectations have been real
lied. The subject and the text reveal
this fact to you. Four weeks ago we
started out to raise $4,000. But before
the canvass was completed, this
amount was pledged; SO then we set
our mark for the half of the whole or
a grand total of $31, 900.
When the movement was first
preached, any such sum as the above
would have seemed impossible of at
tainment. But through the liberal re-
sponse of our people, we have been able
to secure pledges for little more than
even $3l, 900 In view of this splendid
and unexpected result, it is fitting that
the subject of our mornings discourse
should be keyed to the thought of
praise. There is too little praise in our
service, and especially in the prayer of
today. Listen to any public prayer and
you will find that it is two-thirds petit
ton and one-third praise. These fig
ures should be reversed and when God
has showered blessing upon his people
as He has upon this church. the whole
service, not excluding the sermon,
should be filled with thanksgiving and
gratitude.
First, we should give praise to God
that we have been able to carry out
this work, after His plan. The gifts
were to be willing We have followed
this principle. The pastor has urged no
one to give. He has simply presented
his cause and then gratefully accepted
what was offered. In no case has your
pastor gone the second time to any
one.
Second, much that has been given
toward the debt of this church has
come through self-denial.
1t would be easy to fill small book
with the stories of sacrifice. In some
few cases | have felt 1t my duty to ex-
ercSe restraint.
We have sought to make this a
movement of the people. When I say
a peoples movement, of course mean
a movement of the people of Pilgrim
Church. 1t was not my intention to call
upon any one outside of the church for
aid. This rule has been followed with
but two exceptions. In one case a men,
Der of Piedmont Church came to me
and said that he wanted to help in the
noble effort we were making. When l
was told that certain member of
Plymouth Church said that he would
be willing to give something, I felt at
liberty to call upon him. With these two
exceptions. every dollar raised has
come from the members and attend
ants at this church.
Since launching this enterprise four
weeks ago, the pastor has taken but one
days rest, and with the exception of
parts of two or three days has called
from nine o'clock in the morning until
nine O'Clock in the evening. Three hun
dred separate house calls have been
made. This does not include the persons
whom ] have met on the street or at
the church and talked with here. Fifty
personal letters have been written. AS
nearly as I can calculate, 1 have
walked at least 100 miles during the
month, and ridden my bicycle or driven
100 more. Four hundred and ninety-nine
different persons have pledged toward
the church debt / have not had a fiat
refusal from any one, though of course
have found some who could not
give. The largest one pledge received is
$780, There have been two others of
$1,000. and three more of $1,000 each,
making six pledges of $1,000 or over.
Two hundred and thirty eight persons
have pledged so cents or under, week.
Surely this is peoples movement.
No revival ever brought a people
more closely together and more thor
ougi1ly cemented the hearts of pastor
and people than has this effort. I have
been delighted to note the loyalty of
our absent members Not one of our
officers thought it possible that we
could secure our $25, 900 All of our
church people were good enough to try
and not discourage the effort, but shook
their heads or walked quietly away
when the amount to be secured was
mentioned
DR. Lewis then read the following
itemized report of the pledges received:
THIRD AND FOURTH WEEKS WORK