More Siller and less Manners Wanted.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 33

More Siller and less Manners Wanted.

It is the duty of a churchwarden to promote, as far as lies in his power, the liberality of the congregation. But not many would have the courage of one who, when a notably rich man put a penny in the plate, immediately returned ifc to tho owner, saying, " Thank you, sir ; but we can manage to do without this." Ifc might bave been expected that the giver would have been alienated by tuch action ; the story, however, goes that eventually he requested the churchwarden to be his trustee, since, if He looked sfter the church's interests so well, he could safely trust him with his own. • . Not uulike this wfts the reply of an elder in Scotland to Lady BeWy Cunningham. This lady bad refused to contribute to his plate because the minister had offended her ia sjme trifling parish matter. Accordingly, when the plate was reached ju&t inside the church door, she simply made a profouud bow and passed on. The elder at finst was puzzled to understand this display of politeness, but recollecting immediately after the cause of her reseuhnent. he followed her up tbe aisle and said audibly, " Gio us less o' yer manner?, my lady, and mair o' yer siller." , Dr Chalmer?, it is taid, was fond or repeating this story. On one occasion, when d>nitig at a lordly house, he happened to relate it, and ab the conclusion the host interposed aud said : "-Dr Chimera, perhaps you are not aware tbat Lady Betty Cunniugham ia a relative of mine!" " Indeed, your Lordship, I was not," was the doctor's reply; " bub with your permission I will mention the fact next time.