The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-06-26
Presbyterian Church Crowded
Sunday As Ingathering
Totals S9,S73.70
Project Here Believed First
Application of Biblical
Parable of Talents

III 1d11h1at stewardship was dStIOn~
strated by the Bluffton Presbyter-
ian church Sunday morning when
it brought to a successful culmina-
ton a talent" project modelled
after accounts as narrated in the
scriptures.
The church which distributed "tal-
ents" of $4,000 in $40 bills 90
weeks ago received a return of $9,-
873.70 at "ingathering" day last
Sunday.
After paying the $4,000 of bor-
rowed money used to set up the
program the church realized net
balance of $7,s73.70. All of this
amount was in cash with exception
of $421 representing estimates from
those with uncompleted projects
such as raising farm crops and live
stock for which a final accounting
will be made later.
Reports not yet received from a
handful of parish members are GER
tain to push the project we'll over
the goal of $4,000, it was stated by
Ropp Triplett, chairman of the
finance committee.
ADVENTURE IN FAITH
'@It was a wonderful adventure in
faith" was the comment of the pas
tor, Rev. Ernest n. Bigelow who
pointed out that results of the pro-
gram rested solely upon the con-
science of the individual.
Return of talents and their in
crease was entirely anonymous with
the currency enclosed in plain en-
yelopes and no one had any way of
knowing what anyone else gave.
The largest amount returned II any
envelope was $500.
With the churchsa ztlsweek talent
program representing the first ef.
| tort I'd demonstrate lsa elE e4tiVeness
Of the parable IN modern times, sue
cessful elimination of the campaign
captured widespread public interest
In the crowded church auditorium
for the ingathering Sunday wert
newspaper photographers, together
with interested visitors from points
as far away as Racine, Wis, Colum'
bus, and cities in this area including
st. Marys, who joined the congrega.
tion to hear the final accounting re-
port.
PHOTOGRAPHERS HERE
| As members of the church passed
in single file to deposit their tai
ents in plain unmarked envelopes
on a large tray in front of the pull
pit newspaper camera bulbs flashed
as pictures were taken by repre-
sentative of the Associated Press
assigned here to cover the ingather
ing and also make photographs o.
principal talent projects.
Pictorial coverage of the event fol
other newspapers was made by Cliff
Elliott, of Bluffton, who served a.
official photographer for the talen
program altho he is not a membe
of the church.
Newspapers and magazines, at
tracted by the unusual aspects o
the application of the parable, wires
for details of the iSgathering, an'
full coverage Of the event are ap
pearing in many of the nation
leading publications.
START INAUsPIcIoUs
When the program was launchet
early in February there was littl
thought that it would create an
more than local interest Member
of the congregation were surprise
at that time when following a ser
mon on the parable of the talent
by Rev. Bigelow, ushers distribute
$40 bills to members of the congre
cation who were told to go out an
multiply them.
The unusual aspect of the pre-
gram attracted national news dis
tributing agencies which have close
ly followed its progress and aske
for flash reports Sunday as soon a
results of the project were ar
: nounced at the close of the mornin
service.
! Following the announcement an
: eheckup by the finance committee /
charge, the money was receive
= by E. c. Romey, caschier of tn
Citizens National bank and place
for safekeeping in the banks vau
Sunday noon.
COMMUNITY PROJECT
Although the Presbyterian chure
: is only one of nine in Bluffton, tt
entire community cooperated in nal
n ing the program a success. One {
1 the principal features of the taller
: drive was a successful eommunit
auction, which attracted a larl
e crowd here more than a month ag
Proceeds will be used in repairin
the church organ, providing ne