A More Excellent Way

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 20, 1882

A More Excellent Way.

A CORRESPONDENT in an exchange mentions the following incident, which seems to him to show that there is "a more excellent way" of helping to defray church debts than by fairs and festivals. The case is that of a Virginia church, which had for many years been in the habit of holding a week's fair in June, for benevolent purposes. He says:—

"It was a time much dreaded by the ladies who managed it, but each year they bravely put their shoulders to the wheel, and all day, and half the night, from Sunday till Saturday, they left their home-ships to flounder along without the gentle pilot, the husbands dutifully restraining (let us hope) their inclination to swear, and the little ones—ah, that was a trial. The result was handsome, about a thousand dollars generally, and the fair was looked upon as a necessity.

"One bright Sunday, the pastor set all his people agape by telling them, after the sermon, that he had resolved to ask them to give up their fair this year, and try a plan of his proposing, to effect their object. He knew, he said, that it would not be generally approved, but was sure his people would agree that it deserved a trial, after which, of course, they would use their own discretion. He then asked that each household should have a family council, and decide how much they would be likely to give to the fair this year. The housemistress was to say how many cakes, how much ice-cream, etc., she would have contributed, and then carefully count the cost of these articles. To these valuations the father was to add the sum he had intended to divide among his family to spend at the fair, and the children were to be asked to bring their pennies without getting goodies in return; because it was for Jesus. Also, if the family was able, all were not he knew, they might throw in an equivalent for the week's hard work. And the sum of these offerings was to be put in a white envelope, endorsed with their names, and carried to church the following Sunday. That Sunday brought a crowd; the white envelopes were collected, and the minister stated that to all who cared to wait, he would announce the result as soon after the benediction as the money could be counted. The Sunday dinners that were not already cold, got so, while the congregation waited in eager expectation. When the pastor ascended the pulpit steps, he felt obliged to quiet the excitement by saying very gravely that he hoped each one would utter a silent thanksgiving to God for the spirit of true Christian giving, now first shown among them—for the offering exceeded fourteen hundred dollars. And each June sees that prosperous church rejoicing in having found 'a more excellent way.'"—Messiah's Herald.