The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-09-25
A UNIQUE WAY IN WHICH A
CITY CHURCH IS SUPPORTED.

ing and mating and eXhAusting all
their resources in the way of festivals,
fairs and markets. had begun to realize
that these obligations were the worst
crosses they had to bear. And we must
remember the care does not all rest on
the congregation, and this is probably
why Rev. Wagner ''felt it had been a
long time to live with his friends and
enemies" 1t was here that Rev. Wag-
ner's mind wandered back to the half
dozen colonies OF bees. which he says
| he liked as his left hand, but was
obliged to part with when he started
to college, but his love for them had
followed him through all these years.
Ho no doubt had found. as Mr.. Critch
field, Secretary of Agriculture, remarks,
that when properly cared for they have
never violated the confidence of their
friends, and as these were the kind OF
friends he was in need Of, he conceived
the idea of putting colony Of bees in
the belfry to keep the pu pit sweet"
He tried it and says it worked like a
charm. His interest and colonies grew
until the tower would not hold them,
so he moved them to a small vacant
space by the side of the church. He
soon had more honey than he could use
and when some of his deacons got
little sour he would present him with
jar Of honey and he would have no more
'sour jars" with that integral part of
his congregation. Two years after the
colony of bees was put in the belfry, we
find the church with new carpet. new
coat of paint and a 5000 debt lifted from
their shoulders. This is undoubtedly the
first colony of bees to have the honor of
enlisting so directly into church work.
Imagine these little solicitors starting
out, we will say In the morning when
the heavy dew or rain has washed all
the nectar from the flowers. or through
the middle of the day when the ex-
treme heat of the sun is evaporating
the nectar as fast as it is secreted, we
see them go to u kitchen door or win
dow to ask for little preserve or jelly
to satisfy their hunger until it is more
favorable for nectar secretion, but they
find the door screened against the flies.
and when they stop to hum their little
story to the housewife, she gives them
slap with her apron Then they tart
to take in" the fruit stands, thinking
possibly some bruised or punctured
fruit might be wasting some juice that
would do for them to subsist on or to
feed their young that they might have
more honey to place at the disposal OF
the church, but they nd the fruit COW
cred with the netting to protect it from
the flies and possibly for fear some poor
mel vous person who would travel TWO
miles and lose half a nights sleep for
little excitement, might accidentally
pick up some fruit with bee on it and
be so frightened they would never come
back. Their keen scent is not long To-
eating candy factory. but the proprie-
tor says, Go on, you nuisance, or will
enforce the ordinance" BY this time
conditions are more favorable for the
secretion of nectar and their instinct
directs them to the fields, where every |
little flower is ready with its tiny drop !
of nectar and all they ask of the little
bees in exchange is that they will take
some Of the pollen which they have to
spare, and after leaving a portion with
each sister flower visited, they take the
remainder home to Use as bread. when
their little bees get 10 he five or six
day old and like little bread with
their honey
When We recall ro mind what Mr..
Critchfield has said Of these little
solicitors. who are willing to work with
pntiring energy for all who are willing
Ia provide them with good homes, and
who make no greater demand for pay.
ment for the service they rel der than
that they may retain for their own use
enough OF the wealth they accumulate
to provide for their own subsistence
and comfort and that ON every hand,
in forest apd field, in valley
and upon mountain top. the BEN
evOlenL hand Of nature is holding out |
these supplies and inviting all who will |
to send OUT ready workers to gather
them In. Beginning with the arbutus
and maple in the early spring and end
Ing with the asters and golden rod in
the late autumn, constant variety OF |
flowers yield their sweet treasures to |
the cheerful laborers, who never tire
while there is work to do and weather
fair In which it may be done. We ask
ourselves the question, "Since Nature
mas made 1t necessary to have churches
why not let her support them?" II any
one wishes, l will suggest plan by
which this may be done