Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-05-14

GOOD SUBSCRIPTIONS AT THE uNIvERs
ALIsT SUPPER FOR THE PURPOSE.

With what little was already on hand
and the pledges from all sources, includ
ing promise Of $500 from Andrew
Carnegie, the fund for pipe organ In
the Uuiversalist church showed . tota
OF about 1880 90 when the program wat
concluded at the supper last Tuesday
evening.
As readers of the Democrat and doubt
less some who do not read 1t have been
made aware, q grand organ demonstra'
ton banquet was scheduled to be held al
Good Cheer Hall last Tuesday evening,
its purpose being to raise money for the
purchase Of pipe organ for the Univers.
alist church.
The result of the advance sale of tick.
cts was to bring to the banquet crowd
| much larger than most of the promoters
had at first anticipated. On few occa-
sious have as many ever sat down to the
tables at once under one roof In this
place. The general committee in charge
of the banquet, and their various sub
committees and helpers, did their work
we'll, and the preparations and the actual
number present Tailed TO nicely.
Tables were set up and plates laid In
Good Cheer Hall. including the stage,
for some over 200. The vestry on the
next floor was also filed with tables,
and up still another flight the ladies'
parlor had another full complement OF
tables. Except the church auditorium
and two or three corners used as closets,
the entire building was given up to ban
quet purposes.
Just about sharp on time at Z O'Clock
the doors were opened and the people
seated as rapidly as possible, and after
grace by Rev. Chester Gore Miller, the
pastor, the banquet proceeded.
After all had flushed, and all who de-
sired-only a small part of the whole
number-had gone, the tables 10 the
rear of Good Cheer Hall we're cleared
away, and chairs placed for those who
wished to come down from the other
floors Of the building and be seated.
Subsequent proceedings we're In charge
of Mr.. Miller, the pastor, who outlined
his plan at the outset. He referred only
briefly to the need Of an organ for the
church, which was evidently the one
thing most to be desired in Its equip
meut. His correspondence with Mr..
Carnegie was detailed, and the letter re-
ceived from Mr.. Carnegie's secretary was
read. In this the offer was made that
Mr.. Carnegie would pay the last half of
the price of an organ, to the amount OF
$500. Mr.. Miller reported that there
was now in the bank an organ fund
amounting to little over $3.50 90, and
the not proceeds of the banquet and a
few contributions which had come in
from other sources would make the
amount available, including Mr.. Carne-
gie's contribution, little over 500 90.
He then put to popular vote the ques.
ton of the price which should be paid
for an organ, and not without some
evidence Of Encouragement on the part
Of the chairman and others, the suggest
ed sums of $1,000 and $500 were passed
rapidly over, and it was voted to make
an endeavor to secure a $4,000 organ.
Pledge cards were then distributed to
everybody in the audience, bearing a
pledge to pay the amount filled in on or
before the first of September. Accord
ing to Mr.. Millsr's arrangement, these
cards, after being filled out, were collect.
ed, face downward, and Mr.. Miller took
them and read aloud the amounts, not
the names. These amounts were taken
down on black board by the treasurer,
A. L. Holmes, and added. 1t is under
stood that only those two men, who
must necessarily know, are to know the
amounts paid by the several subscribers,
and that neither of them is to be ques.
toned as to who contributed, or how
much.
After the figuring was completed, Mr..
Miller announced that the total sum
shown for the fund was now little over
s13O5. 90.
The number of pledge cards filled on,
and returned was an even hundred, and
the amounts ranged from twenty-five
cents to one hundred dollars.
A second distribution and collection oil
pledge cards was then made, and fifteen
more cards were returned. These made
total of seventy-fiye dollars more, and
brought the fund up to S13S000 Ia
round numbers. The amount actually
subscribed at the supper was little less
than 500.
Nothing more remaining on the even
ing's program, the people sang the
doxology and dispersed.