Evening journal., 1899-12-11
RECORD BROKEN
At EPWORTH
Over $1,000 Collected BY Rev
+. B. Short at That Church
in One Night.
PEOPLE WERE TURNED AWAY

TRIBUTIoNs WE'RE TO BE ASK
ED FoR-MONEY FAIRLY FLOW
ED TOWARD THE POPULAR
YOUNG PASTOR.
[Republished by request, from the
Evening Journal Of Monday, Decem-
Der 4, 1891
The congregation of Epworth NJ. +.
Church, assisted by the pastor, Rev
Francis Burgette Short, last night con-
tributed over $2.70O in cash and over
$500 in subscriptions to clear away
floating debts and reduce the $1,000
mortgage on the church.
For many weeks the pastor, at every
service, morning and evening, inform
ed the audience that on the evening of
the first Sunday in December he was
going to ask the congregation for
money-and lots of it. Notwithstand-
ing this certainty, last night people had
to be turned away because there was no
room in the house for them.
This church has the finest choir and
the best music of any church in the
city, in the judgment of the congrega-
ton, and visitors always enjoy the
singing as an unusual treat. There are
not too many frills and trills about It;
but the music is delightful, and as wor-
shippers can understand the words sung,
they can participate in the devotion of
the hymns.
Last night the choir sang the an
them Shout Aloud, Hosannai" and
had they been on an opera stage would
have been recalled again and again by
applause denied them by convention in
the church.
Miss Florence Walton, Of Philadel-
phia, sang Save Me. Oh Lord" after
the anthem, and at the close of the
evenings exercises "The Holy City"
This time church conventions were dis
regarded, and the soloist was applauded
from every corner Of the house. Miss
Walton has fine voice and her singing
is both artistic and sweet
SAVED THE CHURCH.
After the music the pastor said that
he was sorry to see that people had to
go home without finding seats. 1t was
q surprising thing to see q great room
like that filled with people after posi-
tive notice to them that they would be
asked and expected to give money
and lots of il. He added that two
here, there was a mortgage of over S13,-
500 on the church. He then had to
ask the holders of the mortgage for
thirty days indulgence before the
church was sold, to give him an oppor-
tunity to raise some of the money.
Friends responded-friends of the
church. although not members-that
they would keep the church afloat, Sc
far as the expense of the mortgage was
concerned, for twelve months. and give
the members a chance to see what
they could accomplish for themselves;
and they had saved the church. The
mortgage will now be reduced to $4,000
He called all of the men and women
holding official positions in the church
to the chancel rail and there called
their names. They responded, naming
the amount contributed and passing
the money to the clerks, who sat within
the railing Mr. Short contributed $10I
himself before calling upon anyone
else.
The officials being dismlsseu. th'
pastor called FIVE members of thu
church to the front and sent then
among the pews, appealing to each in
dividual as they progressed. Nobod,
appeared to decline to contribute. Thl
udllt VI AAAI AOnAAAnuNeA eNAA III
amount was called by the solicitor, re
peated by the pastor and recorded b.
the clerks. Many declined to Civ
their names, and the amount was re
corded as cash" The pastor talkei
continually--always asking for money
always talking pleasantly; always keep
ing the people amused and in good hu
NOR.
When the sums collected aggregate
s1,505. Mr. Short called the collector
in and said: "All stand up; everybod
sing the long meter doxology." tn
audience aDplauded vigorously, stoo
up and sang the doxology heartily
The Sunday school classes made thei
contributions and were applauded wit
enthusiasm that warmed ones heart {
witness. These contributions range
all the way from s1.62 to s62, an
brought the collections up to T,9l
When the amount reached S2,001 thel
was more applause and again the dol
ology. Then came a check for 500
which brought more applause and rep'
titiOn of the doxology.
Mr.. Short then went through h
pockets and brought out $50, contril
uted by friends who were not able
attend. Then. reading the list of h
Sunday school class, he turned oy'
Sl40 contributed by the class He for
another envelope in his pockets an
it contained 500 cash from absel
friends This was repeated sever
times. the sums found varying. A
the time that this was going on Il
collectors were busy collecting sma
sums. Finally the baskets were passe
and this collection brought the total l
to s2,700.
Now l want $780, said Mr.. Shol
1--WE want this in subscriptions, to
paid by the first Of April. My Sund'
school class will give $50" This he i
creased to $40, and in a few minut
the subscriptions aggregated S505.5
making the total raised during q
evening something over SS,2OO. TIL
establishes a new record in churl
debt-paying in Wilmington.