The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-23

A unique service was conducted at
the Penn Avenue Baptist church last
night. when the members of the church
returned the nickels distributed among
them on the last Sunday in 1900, each
coin having increased all the way from
ten to one thousand fold. From the
$50 distributed, about 1850 was real
ized Six hundred dollars was netted
by the ladies of the congregations
rummase sale, and the total sum, to-
gether with some outstanding personal
pledges, will give Il total of over $1,000
to the church.
The idea of this talents service was
prompted by the parable in Matthew
-. of the three men, who were given
five. two and one talents apiece. and
| at the end of the year brought them
| back to the Master. the first two with
their talents doubled. but the last with
| only the original sum. In December.
T.. :. Williams presented the church
with $50 one thousand bright new i've
| cent pieces, direct from the mint.
These were placed in envelopes and
| distributed throughout the congrega-
| tion, Rev. Or. Pierce narrating the
parable of Matthew and bidding his
| hearers see what results they could
| derive from their talents. Last nights
| contributions showed how the humble
| little nickels increased their dimen-
! sions, in some cases $50. $40, $50 and
| other large sums being acquired.
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.
| The services were begun about s
o'clock by the choir singing an anthem,
| after which Dr. Pierce read the par-
| able of the talents. He commented
upon the meaning of the Scripture, anu
| then discussed the local talent fund.
| He mentioned that $500 had been re-
allied at the rummage sale, and spoke
| in terms of the highest Commendation
| of the ladies whose earnest endeaNors
| made ii IA success.
| Prayer was offered during the SER
| vice by Deacons Hightield and Stellc,
and several hymns were sung. Dr.
| Pierce then announced that all pres
| ent should deposit their talent Offering
, in the envelopes especially provided
| and then file up the aisles and leave
| them upon a table in front of the pull
| pit. At given signal, everyone rose
| and then the long line of men. women
! and children filed down the center
| aisle. each placing an envelope upon
| the table. The board of trustees and
| Treasurer ]. W. Browning were left
| in the auditorium to count the contri-
| buttons, while all others adjourned to
| the church parlors, where a social time
| was enjoyed.
| A large number OF persons narrated
| their method of investing the talents,
| and the majority of these We're to say
| the least unique. They ranged all the
| way from economiZing ON street car
| fare to saving wood. and from selling
| lead pencils to making doughnuts
| Mrs. r. T.. Y. Pierce the wife of the
| pastor. proved the most successful
| worker, her efforts bringing in $50, the
| original talent thut increasing one
thousand fold. \ large amount was
realized by the sale Of home made
| cakes ana candles.
One youth ot very tender years. who
undoubtedly has the carnlaIks of fu-
ture Pierpont Morgan, invested his
nickel in five penny lead pencils, which
he sold at flve cents apiece. and then
purchased new stock. lie gradually
branched out and carried a supply of
pens also, as a result of which his tall
ent Offering amounted to $l2.
| \ young lady of tn" congregation
realized $3.50 by saving wood for her
parents. She foreStalled the man who
comes to the back door seeking and Sc
curing the contract, handed in the re-
suits as part of her talents contlibu-
| ton.
THIS MAN WALKED.
Cheers of approval greeted "A man who
stood up and declared that part of his
| contribution consisted of the nickels
which he had saved by baking the
street car company and walking to and
from his business place. one young
lady increased her talent over one hun
dred fold by utilizing her nickel to pur-
chase "a quantity of peanuts, These
she shelled, and salted and sold at a
generous profit. The results Of the
| first sale went towards the purchase
; of more peanuts, and $5l0 was the
| sum total which the small boys delight
brought in.
Another maiden invested in five
cents worth of sugar and by deft use
of the proper materials turned out
some toothsome confectionery, which
became so popular that an even s;
was realized. \ peculiarly tasty cooky
was turned out in great numbers by
one of the ladies of the congregation
and about $25 brought in.
Others bought cloth with their orig,
inal talents, and made and sold aprons
A partnership was formed by pretty