A HIDDEN LIGHT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 498, 3 November 1871, Page 1 (Supplement)

A HIDDEN LIGHT.

TV p have a fi lend wlio was never a church member, but was, and is a millionaire—a generous, benevolent m.llionairo, who once went about doing good by stealth, but with a natural preference for doing it at his office One day he took it in o his thoughtful noddle that he won d like to assist in the erection of a new church edifice, to replace the inadequate and shabby structure in which a certain suia 1 congregation in his town then worshiped. So he drew up a subscription paper, modestly headed the list with Christian, $3,000, and started oneofthe Deacons around with it. In a few days the Deacon came back to him, like the d n ve 10 the ark, saying be had succeeded in procuring a few names, but the press bt bis private business was sindi that be had telt compelled to entrust the paper to I ’eucou Smith. Next, day the document was presented to onr friend, as nearly blank as when it left bis hands brother Sini'h explained that, he (Smith) had started this thing, aad "a brother cdling himself “ Christian, " whose name he was not at liberty to di-dose, had ‘put down $2,000. Would ourjfriend aid them with an equal amount? Onr friend took the piper and wrote “ Philantrophist, $1,00",” and Brother mith went away. In about a, week Brother Jones put in an appearance with the subscription paper. Bv extraordinary exertions brother Jones —thinking a handsome new church would be an ornament to the town and increase the value of real estate had got, two brethren, who desired to vemaip incoj., to subscribe : Christian, $2,0b0 and 4 1’hilanthrophist’ sl,ooo* Wop Id our friend k nelly help along a struggling congregation? On- friend would; 1m w-ote “ Gifz >n, ” SSOO. pledging Brother Jones, as ho* had pledged the others, not to reveal his cam 0 -until it was time to pay. Some weeks afterwards, a minister stepped into our friend’s counting room, and after smilingly introducing himself, produced that identic il subscription list.

“ Mr. K.” said he, “ I hope you will pardon the liberty, but we have set on foot a little scheme to erect* a new church for our congregation, and three of the brethren have subscribed handsomely. Won’d you mnd doing soniching to help along the good work 1 !”

Our friend glanced over his spectacles at the proffered paper. He rose in his wrath! He towered! Seizing a loaded pen he dashed at that fair sheet and scrambled thereon in raging char c f ers : “ Impenitent Sinned— Not one cent, hj G —/" After a briefexp'anatory conference ike minister thoughtfully went his wav. I hat struggling congregation still worships devoutly in its original: unpretending temp'e. «