An Unintentional Gift.
Once a funny thing happened in Louisville, Ky. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church there needed a new tin roof, and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, whose figures were $160.
The vestrymen of St. Andrew's Church went away for the summer. The contractor, ignorant of the exact location of his task, sent his laborers to the Calvary Episcopal Church, whose vestrymen also were away for the summer. The laborers readily obtained entrance, put a new roof on the Calvary Church, neatly painted it, and went their way.
All was well until, one day, it began to rain, and it was found that the roof of St. Andrew's Church, supposedly new, still leaked. The vestrymen went to the contractor, who declared that he had done his work and done it properly; to prove which he took them to Calvary Church! He had to put a second roof on St. Andrew's.
Now, of course, I might draw a moral for careless workmen, but I confess that, as I tell the story, I am not thinking of the contractor.
I am thinking how jolly it would be if churches played those little tricks on one another a-purpose.
If some little Methodist church, for instance, whose roof needs a new coat of shingles, should perceive some Sunday that during the week a new roof had been given them by their Presbyterian brethren.
If some little Presbyterian church, behind $200 in their pastor's salary, should receive in their collection some Sunday that precise sum, with a note saying that it was sent with the love of the Methodist church.
These things are done between Christians; why not between Christian churches?
And they will be done, some day.