Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-08-06

AlAt lutD kAt1t tOAANc4CA VI -
Is true they were spoken by one WHO
knew little or nothing OF the circusn-
stances Of the Rev. Mr.. Fullcr-whc
indeed had never SO much as heard OF
that gentleman until an hour before
but their effect was none the less dis
astrous My father coughed. choked.
and aunt Gertrude asked me 10 oblise
her by passing the water.
81 suppose the collections in n place
like this are very trihing." said uncle /
Sam.
1--WE collected Is last Harvest /
Thanksgiving" answered the Rector. |
what became of the money!" asked /
my uncle.
An our collections are given away
IN charity The Is OF which spoke
the largest collection OF the year-was
paid over TO the Royal Agricultural
Benevolent Society"
"Oh. see" said uncle sam. Now
matter OF collections In churches
Is one OF the many things which we
manage better on the other side 4
the Atlantic. I am not thinking OF
Holdenhurst. for Of course there is
no money here 70 collect anyway: 1
am thinking OF New York and London.
Why. / remember when I was n boy
in England in some churches the col
iecting boxes were fixtures at each
side Of the door, Could anything have
been more absurd? Any effect which
the eloquent begging OF the preacher
had produced died away Ike the men,
ory OF a dream as one walked along
( the aisles. and the posts supporting
I the moncy-bOXes were passed as heed
/ lcssly rs the lamp-posts in the street
I After that. II I remember rightly. the
plan was 20 place n plateholder at
each side Of the door. This was better;
/ but the plan had two glaring defects:
nothing was easier than for the people
/ IN the middle Of the stream OF pass
+ ers-out 10 affect not 20 see the plates.
neither was there any check on the
doings Of the plate holders. The next
plan 20 be adopted. which 1 recollect.
was the passing OF 3 bag IN front OF
each person present in church This
plan. though an Improvement. was not
without a serious defect \ penny.
skillfully dropped into the bag. chinked
as loudly as half-a-erOwn or n SOW
ereign. and produced as good an effect
upon the other occupants OF a pew
as would have been produced by one
or other OF the more valuable coins.
After a while. plates were substituted
Tor bags. only partly removing this
objection. and this. I think. Is as far
as you have .-ot In England"
How are collections taken Ia Amer
Scan churchesf" inquired Mr.. Fuller.
with evident interest
by the envelope system. Two dea-
cons pass round the church. the first
carryia3t tray fuil OF envelopes and
a pcncE the second an empty tray.
Each contributor places his contribu-
ton 10 an envelope. seals IL. and writes
his name on tho outside. Deacon num-
Der two collects the filled envelopes.
and al the next service the name OF
each contributor. and the amount of
his contribution is publicly announced.
the river OF the largest amount first,
and go on When there are several
persons who give a like amount. their
names are announced in alphabetical
order. IL IS a perfect plan. and I have
unqualified admiration FOR the man
turc well. IL meets all requirements
and nothing in So can be objected 10
The man who wants 20 advertise him
self is invited. as IL were 10 assist ia,
. Church equally with the simple-mind
Cd glver-for / assume that the motiv,
for giving signifies nothing so long a.
: the dollars are scooped. Fraud Il
: checkmated. and II is impossible &,
eXaggerate the importance OF thai
for surely no one viii so abuse hi
intelligence as 10 deny that in ever,
congregation Anauias and Barabba
ind more imitators than any othe
Biblical characters"
There Is certainly = great deal O
7 vlllainy in the world" confessed Nj
Fuller sadly.
You would say so with greater err
:, phasis II you were a member or II
!, Stock Exchange" said uncle sam.
! Al this stage lay father made a con
mendabie but not very successful e.
fort 10 change the subject OF CONVEX
satiOn- Aunt Gertrude sat silent an
!, neglected, and every Body In the ROOF
except uncle Sam appeared IN at cas-
IS for myself. l was desperately III
comfortable. and desired nothing {
much as the termination OF this men
orable meal. My uncle. knew
! would not prOlong Il 10y one minute
that was not one OF HIS faults-b,
n the Rev. Mr.. Fuller. who was a mir
Gle OF slowness. had 20 be reckont
with; and that gentleman ate as lei
ureiy as be talked. which Is saving
great deal. After some skllfui fen