Evening journal., 1913-03-04
BETHESDA IS
FREE OF DEBT
MiddIetOwn MethOdiStS See
Burned Last Of Notes
Against Church

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
MIDDLErOWN. Dell March "A
service of more than ordinary inter-
est was held at Bethesda Methodist
Episcopal Church, on Sunday II was
the regular communion Sunday Pre-
ceding the sermon twelve persons
were received into membership.
eleven by letter and one on probation.
The sacramental sermon was
preached by the pastor the Rev
Vaughan S. Collins from Matt Y,
1916, the theme being. "The Chris
tian as salt and light"
Then followed the administration OF
the Lords Supper, and by far more
partook of the communion than at any
eimilar service since the Individual
cup was adopted four years ago.
every cup prepared but one hoing re
Quired for the service. The remain
ing part Of the mornings program
was made possible by the liberality Of
Jesse l. Shepherd Five weeks ago.
when the treasurer of Bethesda, A.
G. Cox, was making his usual annual
talk on year-end finances, Mr. Shep-
herd asked him TO include the balance
on church improvements and an old
debt OF some years standing. amount
Ing to $3.50, in the budget, and he
would take the last 5000 of the extra
amount If It was paid in cash within
thirty days The treasurer hesitated
TO accept the friendly challenge, lest
it should interfere with his plans for
closing up the regular current ex-
pense account The pastor. however.
set at once about the task, and on the
day had the cash In bank with which
60 accept the offer of Mr.. Shepherd.
Sunday was the time the pastor had
selected TO make his report, and to
cremate the obligations Calling
within the chancel the aged treasurer
and Martin b. Burris, who was Sc
lected -four years ago as the chairman
Of tbe building committee, and whose
work In this behalf during all the.
work has been so much appreciated
/ by pastor and people. the pastor re-
ported cash sufficient to pay off the
entire Indebtedness; enough to pay.
for the completion of contract on the
front fence, amounting to $4,000:
enough 20 pay for the contemplated
painting of the roofs of the church
and horse shed, $1,000; (checks for
the last named amounts he passed to'
Treasurer Cox and balance Of
| S27306 yet remaining IN his hands.
Mrs. Jesse l.. shepherd moved that
as the Ladies' Mite Society hade,, -
tributed more than 500 to the church
improvement fund, and as the society
very much needs funds 10 make thc
parsonage more comfortable, that the
pastor be authorized to turn over the
balance remaining In his hands for
the Ladies' Mite Society The mo.
ton was seconded. and unanimously
passed.
Or. C. A. Ritchie. Of Wilmington.
who still holds his membership at
Bethesda. and who was the first one
to respond to the appeal to accept Mr.
/ Shepherds offer. together with Min.
E ors Banning and Enoch c. Alice, th'
q next two on the list OF contributors
who We're present, were called int
. The chancel TO hold the silver platte
= which should be the pyre of the can
celod note. The pastor passed th
> note TO Chairman Burris. who with
r smile of satisfaction quietly passed
t Il to Mr. Cox for cremation Mr.. Cox
J, however, In whose eighty-one-yeal
4 old veins still burns the impetuoul
Z spirit of youth. could not allow Tho
opportunity 10 slip to say "a few
words as the spirit was so strongly
moving him, and took occasion Ia
pronounce an apostrophe TO the note
In which he spoke OF the inconven.
+ ience OF all notes and Of this one In
J particular and then applied the
I match AS the flames consumed this
last evidence of indebtedness all join
ed In singing Praise God from whom
, an blessings flow" Thus passes
away the last cent of obligation for
the church improvements made three
years ago costing S726729 together
T with an old balance on current cx-
ponses. and a substantial necleus
turned over TO the Mite Society for
I needed improvements at tho parson-
age