The sun., 1901-02-18
EPWORTH'SBIG
COLLECTION
Pastor Short Obtains $2,l75 in
Cash, and Subscriptions,
OF ALMOST EQUAL AMOUNT
Largest in History of Church---D
Mr.. Shorts Charge Debt Has
Been Reduced From $16,600
to About $1,000.

Yesterday was the annual jubilee col
lection day at Epworth M. q. Church
and the Rev. +. Burgetts Short, pastor
Of the church, succeeded by hard work,
in not only raising the largest amount
ever raised at one time in Epworth
Church, but it was also probably the
largest collection ever taken in any
church in this city. Everybody had
money and everybody gave money and
the result was that, when Mr.. Short
left the church last night nearly $4,000
had been raised.
1t came from all sources, the Sunday
School classes, infant classes, Ladies'
Aid Society, junior and senior choirs,
official board, congregation, friends Of
the church and the pastor himself The
most gratifying part of it all was that
the people not only seemed eager and
pleased to give the cash last night but
a great many also promised to give as
much more before next Christmas.
The idea of the collection was to re-
duce the debt of the church and in this
the effort was successful beyond all
expectations. or the amount raised
last night s2,175 was in cash and the
remainder was by subscription to be
paid by Christmas next. During the
service excellent music was rendered by
the choir and Miss Agnes u. Snyder, Of
Philadelphia, sang several selections.
The Rev. Mr.. Short started the col
lection by giving 500. All of the Off
cial board was then called up before the
altar and all responded generously. The
pastor then appointed committee oi
the official board to wait on the con
gregation personally and take their Of
ferings. The committee was so success
full that it was necessary to appoint
two gentlemen and a woman to act al
clerks in recording the collections ant
giving credit to the giver.
This was kept up for at least half al
hour and the clerks were CONSTANT.
busy writing down the names ant
amounts. All of this time the Rev. Mr.
Short was busy finding pockets enoug
to hold the mon Y. Many imagined
their pastor was made of money o
something Of that sort, as he had note
stuffed in all of his pockets and ever
| few minutes would pull one out and dro
it in the contribution box.
There is an end to most everything
t however, and so there was an end t
, the collection at Epworth Church las
night after over $1,000 had been collect
ed in cash. Among the largest contri
, butors were: The Rev. r. Burgett
) Short and wife, 500; Thomas Melvin
e 5000; the Misses Hyde, $100; Ladies' AL
Society s1OO, and Mrs. John Gees clas!
i 500. There was also numerous contr
n buttons of $50 and $25. After the cas-
!. collection was completed the Rev. MI
+ Shorts next move was to see how muc
!. could be raised by subscription to
@ paid by the time as stated. The col
n gregation was equally as liberal in thu
way as with their cash and nearly $2,0l
:. was raised in subscriptions.
n When Mr.. Short became pastor of El
worth Church four years ago the amour
!. Of the church debt was $16,500 He ht
r. from time to time succeeded in reducir
Il THAT debt. The Indebtedness when Il
collection was started last night WI
n $S,4Oo. The s2,175 in cash reduces it
\ nearly $4,000 and it is expected that
r. the first of next year the total debt
l. the church will not be more than $500
Mr.. Short is one of the most populi
q pastors in Wilmington and is especial
o. popular with his own congregation. I
and the members of the church we
IN much pleased and thankful for Il
70 generous collection last night. Tl
"a members of the congregation were loi
in their praise of him and say that ]
to other minister in Wilmington could raj
70 such an amount by himself as lie
=. | Short did