1844-11-09-Hartford CT Times—A Rich Anecdote

A Rich Anecdote

Hartford Times, November 9, 1844, vXXVIII n1455, p. 1.

A Rich Anecdote.—The editor of the N. O. Picayune, who has been spending the summer at the North, occasionally writes home something rich. The following we have seen before, but not in so good a shape:

"A few days since, at New Bedford, one of the apostles sent forth to promulgate the faith of the Latter Day Saints advertised that he would give an evening lecture "free gratis for nothing," and earnestly called upon the good citizens to attend. he procured a suitable room, had it well lighted, and when the time came found himself surrounded with some thirty or forty listeners. After a somewhat lengthy harangue, in which he set forth the rise and progress and march of the true Mormon church, he finally finished; but just as the congregation were rising to depart he checked them for a moment with the remark that he hoped they would contribute enough to pay for the lighting of the room, which only amounted to a paltry sum of six dollars. A hat was carried around by an assistant apostle, and after circling round the room was returned with its contents of pics and pennies, to the follower of Joe Smith. Slowly he turned the hat over upon his desk and deliberately he counted the change. Two dollars and twenty-five cents was the entire sum. The apostle looked about him: 'My hearers,' said he, with a small earthquake of smothered indignation in his looks—'my hearers, the expenses of the room are six dollars—the entire receipts are two dollars and twenty-five cents, and not the first red cent more! Now, I told you in the first place that my services were gratuitous. I charge nothing for my preaching, and I'll see this generation eternally d__d before I'll find lights!"