The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-01
GIFTS UPON THE ALTAR.

GIFTS UPON THE ALTAR.
The Rector Of Christ Church, Will
liamsburg, New York, is a sadder and
wiser man. He has learned more
about human nature from a single re-
cent experience than he learned in
forty years by reading the Common
tares and porting over Jeremy Tay
lors Holy Living" He may not
have as high opinion of his partshion-
ers now as he had when his View of
them was tempered by holy inward
meditation rather than by outward OBJ
servation; but he will certainly know
hereafter how to go about taking UP
collection
1t seems that the Rector WAS wor-
rying over a debt of some $500 which
his parish had been carrying for a
long time. No great effort had been
made to raise money to pay the debt
| and the rector felt that its nonpay-
| ment was a reflection on the generos-
ity of a noble parish. So he decided
| that he would raise the money by n
unique method, appealing alike to the
religious sense of his community and
to their thrift, He announced that
the rich people of his church had a
great deal Of Jewelry. much of which
Il they did no. use. He wanted every
one to bring the ornaments they were
willing TO give to the work of the
/ Lord and place them on the altar the
! following Sunday. Tho sacrifice to
the individual glvers would not be
great, but the mass Of jewelry, he said.
| If sold to second hand dealer, would
easily net sl.5OO.
The more or less good people of the
parish did as they We're requested, and
came, week ago to-day, with a great
number of packages. Amid psalms Of
rejoicing, these We're placed on a table
before the altar, until they made great
was overjoyed, He saw visions OF
burning the troublesome notes; he had
dreams of q church able to do new
charity with larger resources; he pic
| tured a consecrated people sacrihcing
| their. precious articles of personal
adornment tor the glory of God.
The awakening was awful When
| the rector, with the pawn broker who
was to bid on the collection, opened
the packages and passed on the value
of the gifts. they found such mass
of junk as would have appalled, any
Baxter Street merchant. There were
rings that did not Elisten, and watches
that did not run; bracelets that had
lost their gold. tableware from which
the plate had vanished, and coin that
could not be passed even in the dark
Only after long pleading with the
pawn broker could the rector get Sl0(
for the whole tawdry mass.
1T is safe to say that the preacher
will not try to exhort his hearers t.
secret giving in the future, He has
learned his lesson-a sad one, a hui
initiating one, to be sure--but a val.
liable one; and he viii probably stand
within the chancel and ask his par
ishioners to give their contributions IN
certified checks delivered to the treas
uror and publicly announced by tina
officer. He Will not forget the Scrip
tural warning that all men should no
let their right hands know what the
left hands do, hut he will rememhe
that flesh is weak and that man vii
give 80 cents, If he think nobod,
knows the difference. where he woul
give a dollar II he had to stand an
deliver in the presence Of the peo
pie.
:, The rector did not know, apparently
q that many men. perhaps most mer
give not for the pleasure It gives then
!, and not for the good they can dc
b but for the effect their giving vii
q have upon their standing In the eye
- of their fellow men. No scrupuIou
regard for the letter of the la,
h prompts them to 1.-THE mint and anis
/, and cummin. much less the create
!. things of life. but merely regard TO
q their reputation as Just men. givln
Il freely of their substance. leads then
70 place their gifts upon the altar.
j. The true gift is not the great elf
e 1t is not the gift given from an abun
/, dance. IT Is not the gift Of what on
y does not need. 1t Is the gift prompts
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