Part 35 (1/2)
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BENEFICENCE.
”A liberal donor, in enclosing $100 to a sister inst.i.tution, but strictly withholding his name, says, 'When I began business, it was with the intention and hope to become rich. A year afterward I became, as I trust, a Christian, and about the same time met with 'Cobb's Resolutions,' which I adopted. Some four or five years later, I read 'Normand Smith's Memoir,' and also Wesley's 'Sermon on the use of Money,' which led me to devote all my gains to benevolent uses, reserving to myself $5,000 while I remained unmarried, part of which I have bequeathed to relatives, and the remainder to benevolent societies.
Up to this time--about sixteen years--by the grace of G.o.d--nothing else--I have given about $24,500 to benevolent purposes, and lent about $500 to those in need, which has not been returned; making in all about $25,000.”
COMMENDABLE EXAMPLES.
The Methodist Missionary Society mention one of their donors who, for twenty years, has used the power given him of getting wealth, for his Lord, in which time he has been enabled to appropriate to benevolent purposes _more than thirty thousand dollars_, while operating with a capital of but five thousand dollars. Another business man of that denomination in Boston, during fifteen years, has appropriated _thirty-nine thousand dollars_.
SYSTEM IN GIVING.
A correspondent of the American Tract Society says, ”It was their publications which induced me to appropriate statedly one-tenth of my income to the cause of the Lord. After acting upon that scale nearly two years, and finding that although _my donations greatly exceeded those of former years_, my affairs were not thereby involved in any embarra.s.sment; but that, on the contrary, with increasing contributions to the leading objects of Christian benevolence and to general charity, came an _increased store and enlarging resources_, I concluded, with a heart throbbing with grateful emotions to my Creator, in view of his great love and kindness toward me, that I would increase the proportion.”
LENDING TO THE LORD.
”A poor man, some of whose family were sick, lived near Deacon Murray, (referred to in the tract, 'Worth of a Dollar,') and occasionally called at his house for a supply of milk. One morning he came while the family were at breakfast. Mrs. Murray rose to wait upon him, but the deacon said to her, 'Wait till after breakfast.' She did so, and meanwhile the deacon made some inquiries of the man about his family and circ.u.mstances.
”After family wors.h.i.+p the deacon invited him to go out to the barn with him. When they got into the yard, the deacon, pointing to one of the cows, exclaimed, 'There, take that cow, and drive her home.' The man thanked him heartily for the cow, and started for home; but the deacon was observed to stand in the att.i.tude of deep thought until the man had gone some rods. He then looked up, and called out, 'Hey, bring that cow back.' The man looked around, and the deacon added, 'Let that cow come back, and you come back too.' He did so; and when he came into the yard again, the deacon said, 'There, now, take your pick out of the cows; _I a'n't going to lend to the Lord the poorest cow I've got_.'”
A STEWARD OF HIS LORD'S BOUNTY.
An aged benevolent friend in a western city, states some interesting facts respecting his own experience in giving systematically as the Lord prospered him. He says, ”Our country and professors of religion in it have become 'rich and increased in goods,' but I fear that a due proportion is not returned to the Giver of every good.
”I commenced business in 1809 with $600, and united with the 'Northern Missionary Society No. 2,' which met monthly for prayer, and required the payment of two dollars a year from each member. That year I married, and the next united with the Christian church. No definite system of giving 'as the Lord had prospered' me, was fully made until the close of the year 1841. The previous fourteen years had been a.s.siduously devoted to the interests of Sabbath-schools and the temperance enterprise, when I found both my physical and pecuniary energies diminished, the latter being less than $30,000.
”After days and nights of close examination into my affairs, with meditation and prayer, I promised the Lord of all, I would try at the close of every year to see what was the value of my property, and the one-quarter of the increase I would return to him in such way as my judgment, aided by his word and providence, might direct.
”For more than fifteen years I have lived up to this resolve, and though most of the time I have been unable to attend to active business, the investments I have made have more than quadrupled the value of my property, and in that time enabled me to return to Him 'from whom all blessings flow,' $11,739.61.”
THE FIVE-DOLLAR GOLD PIECE.
”'A friend,' says a venerable clergyman, Rev. Mr. H----, 'at a time when gold was scarce, made me a present of a five-dollar gold piece. I resolved not to spend it, and for a long time carried it in my pocket as a token of friends.h.i.+p. In riding about the country, I one day fell in with an acquaintance, who presented a subscription-book for the erection of a church in a dest.i.tute place.
”'I can do nothing for you, Mr. B----,' said I; 'my heart is in this good undertaking, but my pocket is entirely empty; having no money, you must excuse me.'
”'Oh, certainly,' said he; 'all right, sir. We know you always give when it is in your power.'
”We parted; and after I had proceeded some distance, I bethought me of the piece of gold in my vest pocket. 'What,' said I to myself, 'I told that man I had no money, when I had by me all the time this gold pocket-piece. This was an untruth, and I have done wrong.' I kept reproaching myself in this way until I stopped, and took from my pocket the five-dollar piece.
”'Of what use,' said I, 'is this piece of money, stowed away so nicely in my pocket?' I made up my mind to turn back, and rode as fast as I could until I overtook Mr. B----, to whom I gave the coin, and resumed my journey.
”A few days after, I stopped at the house of a lady, who treated me very hospitably, for which I could make no return, except in thanks and Christian counsel. When I took leave, she slipped into my vest pocket a little folded paper, which she told me to give to my wife. I supposed it was some trifle for the children, and thought no more of it until I reached home. I handed it to my wife, who opened it, and to my astonishment _it was a five-dollar gold piece, the identical pocket-piece I had parted with but a few days before_. I knew it was the same, for I had made a mark upon it; how this had been brought about was a mystery, but that the hand of the Lord was in it I could not doubt.