A NECESSARY REFORM.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2271, 28 June 1880, Page 2

A NECESSARY REFORM.

As snowing the need of an important reform, that of allowing members of a congregation when the collection plate comes round taking change from the plate when necessary, the “ New York Times” makes the following interesting observations : —Had the practice of taking change out of the plate been permitted in tiic Black Pun Church, the unpleasant incident which occurred a few Sundays ago would have been avoided. Black Pun, as any map may fail to show, is situated in the Colorado mining district, and the Baptist church is presided over by an able and athletic preacher. On the fourth Sunday in Eeb. last a collection was made for the Franz Josef Land Mission, and the plate was passed around by one of the deacons. There was present a miner from Eed Gulch, who was anxious, as he phrased it, to “ put up ” for Franz Josef heathen but who had no coin smaller than 20dol. gold piece. When the plate reached him, he inquired in a low tone, “ How much is the ante p” The deacon told him that he could contribute whatever he choose. “ Then,” replied the ingenious minor, “I’ll chip in a dollar,” and thereupon he put in his 20dol. gold piece, and undertook to withdraw PJdols. This the deacon objected to, on the ground that no change was given at that establishment. A struggle ensued

in the course of which the plate was upset, and the entire congregation rushed to pick up the scattered money. Had it not been for - the presence of mind' of the presiding minister, the entire amount already collected would have been absorbed by reckless persons eager to “jump the deacon’s claim” as the local papers subsequently expressed it. The minister, fortunately happened to be an old Californian who thorough!}' understood the true way of dealing with a Colorado assembly. Drawing a heavy revolver, and leaning it on the edge of the pulpit, he demanded “order” in a Stentorian voice. “The brethren,” he remarked, “ will please take notice that 'l’ve got the drop on them, and any brother w.ho .declines to go to his seat, or who touches any of that money will have a funeral at his house to-morrow at 2 o’clock p.m. Our mining friend from lied Gulch will please let go the deacon’s necktie or he is a dead man.” This address, together with the minister’s known reputation as a pistol shot, instantly restored order, and the deacon, picking up the scattered money, including the 20-dollar gold piece, resumed the collection, and the service proceeded without further interruption. Ministers with so much presence of mind are, however, rare, and in almost any other church a disturbance like that which was so promptly quelled at Black Run would entail the loss of a good deal of money, and perhaps a deacon or two. Were it to be understood that change could be always taken from the plate, no such difficulty would ever occur. It is this reform which is now earnestly advocated by many intelligent men, especial]}' in our Eastern States. Were it to be adopted, it is quite possible that there would be a perceptible increase in tbc average amount of a clmrcb collection, since there would no longer be any temptation for a frugal man with nothing smaller than a dollar bill in Ids pocket to refuse to contribute anything, and to sully bis integrity by feigning to have left bis purse in his other pair of trousers.