AMUSING SCENE IN CHURCH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 45 (Supplement)

AMUSING SCENE IN CHURCH

In tiie churches for coloured people in some parts of the South m the United States, when a collection is to be taken, the box, instead of being oassed from pew to pew, is deposited imon a table in front of the pulpit, and the brethren and sisters are exhorted to come forward and put their contributions into it. A Avriter in a contemporary says:—“l had slipped into a back seat of a large African church at Columbia. S.C., one Sunday e\’ening, and Avas AAatching the taking of the offertory, Avhen one of the deacons. AAutli that tact AA'hich belongs to almost all the coloured race, came and politely offered to carry up for me any contribution Avhicli l cared to make. I handed him a tAventy-five cent piece, and, with inimitable pomposity, he marched doAA-n the long aisle, carrying the beggarly - coin so tnat everybody could see it. SuddenH lie turned on his heel, and started back. AA'hile the curious eyes of the croAA'd all turned to folloAV him. Arrived AA'ithin speaking distance, the good old man called out. in a Avhisper audible to ha.a the congregation. “Do you AA-ant any change?”