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A sobbing little girl stood near
a small church from which she had
been turned away because it was "too crowded."
"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as
he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed
the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and
found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child
was so happy that they
found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking
of the
children who have no place to worship Jesus. |
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Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor
tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted
pastor
who had befriended their daughter to handle the final
arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled
red
purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some
trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish
handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little
church
bigger so more children can go to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love.
When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly
what he
would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook
to the
pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and
devotion.
He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money
for the larger building.
But the story does not end there...
A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was
read by a
wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many
thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered
to sell
it to the little church for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from far
and wide.
Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to
$250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the
century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple
Baptist
Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to
visit
Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a
Sunday
School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children,
built
so that no child in the area will ever need to be left
outside
during Sunday School time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture
of the
sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so
sacrificially
saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a
portrait
of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the
book,
"Acres of Diamonds"
