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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 touched that she went
to bed that night thinking of the
children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the
poor tenement buildings and the 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 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 Realtor who
offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When
told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it
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
Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a
Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday
school children, 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. Russell H. Conwell,
author of the book, Acres of Diamonds. |
