The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
OF M'CABE
Methodist Bishop'sW Way of Rails.
ing Great Funds.
HOW 1E OENsURED A PREACHER.

Poor Churchea.
While assistant secretary of the
Methodist Church Extension fund the
late Bishop Charles G. McCabe of the
Methodist Episcopal church built more
than 1000 churches. AS secretary OF
the Missionary society he added half a
million dollars to its annual income
chiefly through his personal attractive
ness, says the Philadelphia North
American.
An amusing commentary on the con-
tagion of his enthusiasm for church
work is in the following story Of a
campaign in the rural districts.
The bishop, who came to be known
a. chaplain" on account of his labors
tor Union soldiers In the civil war, was
making a visit with a couple Of good
Methodists who, In response to his rep
resentation of the needs Of the church,
had given literally Of their worldly
goods. On the morning Of his depart
ure the wife Of n parishioner called
him aside and, handing him a roll Of
banknotes, said: chaplain, John and I
have given all that we think we ought
for the church, but here is some money
I have saved. John knows nothing
about 1t. l want to be represented in.
dividually as a helper along Of so good
a cause. But you must promise me not
to say anything to john"
DR.. McCabe promised. A few mo-
ments later he was mysteriously beck
oned out by "John." who led him be-
hind the barn. Delving into his ~"jeans"
he drew up a fat roll Of bills. It repre-
sented a private store of wealth not
known to his wife. In almost the same
words he begged the chaplain to accept
this personal offering, but on mo ac-
count to tell Mary"
DR.. McCabe was never SO happy al
when he was working to aid a poor
church OF mission, and because he
loved to give from his own funds he
met unequaled success in inducing 9TH
ers to donate money to the cause.
The bishops system of making his
appeal to great congregations for mon
ey was characteristic. He was one Of
the few men in the church who could
bring out q crowded audience when he
visited a church with the avowed in
tention of asking for money. He had
an unlimited fund of "reminiscences,
both humorous and pathetic, and hts
way Of telling them was his great
drawing card.
When he had placed his audience in
good humor after a mastery sermon,
he called attention to the need Of their
W or Of some church for money.
Then he told of a lawyer in Jackson.
Mich. who subscribed 5000 to help free
a church from debt and then, when the
full amount had not been raised, mort
gagged his home In order to increase his
, subscription. This act moved the peo-
pie to greater effort, and In a few min
utes not only the remainder of the
amount needed was subscribed, but
enough more had been given to pay OF
, the mortgage.
+. 1t was almost the last duty of Bish-
op McCabe a few months & to adj
minister Il reprimand to a member Of
the Delaware conference, Il body com.
posed Of negro ministers, says a Dover
! Del.) dispatch to the Philadelphia
Public Ledger. The offending preacher
condemned by his brethren was tho
Rev. ]. II. Hartman.
"What's the charge against this
mann" asked the white haired author
Of life In Libby Prison."
It was shown that Mr.. Hartman in
a church financial operation had writ
ton tho ,,or,o ne thu in1crcnu ,,~o,, Aha
note, but the bank people We're con.
vinced that it was done through ig-
torrance
"You want him ~reprimanded. do
you" asked the bishop.
1--WE think So"
"Well. here's the way: I'll reprimand
you," retorted the bishop, drawing a
wallet from his pocket and asking how
much the minister needed for his
church.
Fifty dollars" said one Of the min
listers.
Swell, here you are. Take it from
me" And Bishop McCabe counted out
Ave ten dollar bills.
Bishop McCabe related the following
story about an incident in which he
participated, says the Northwestern
Christian Advocate:
"Once upon a time l was in a rail-
road accident. 1t was u Of the only
two l have ever experienced, and !
have Travelled more than 10000 miles
on trains and steamers.
"A broken wheel threw the train of
the track. The car l was in was shat
tered very much. Seated just ahead
Of me was an elderly m who was
suffering from rheumatism. It was
necessary to change cars. l helped
her of the car, carried her valise and
gave her the support OF my arm. Be
hind us came a noble looking English
woman with her husband by her side.
"She was scolding him we'll for start
ing on their journey on Friday. I told
you, James, she said. that something
would happen il we should start or