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Show A CHURCH DEDICATION. 175 Another gentleman, with a pleasant, benign countenance, and a ministerial air, said, " I will tell you of A CHURCH DEDICATION. "It was 'way up'-in the clouds, not far from Lead-ville. There were six church members of the denomination which had undertaken the building of the first house of worship. , It has been often remarked that church people seldom 'strike it rich' in Colorado, and these six men were no exception to the rule; they were pious, but poor. "The building had cost something over a $1,000, of which $530 remained to be provided for on the day of the dedication. The Presiding Elder of the district came to assist the pastor in the duties of the day. He canvassed the financial situation very carefully, and it must be admitted with very little outcome of enthusiasm as a result. Indeed, the undertaking before the brethren seemed to him a hopeless one, but he was wise enough to keep all imaginings to himself, and declare for success beforehand. " The occasion was of sufficient importance to draw out all the well-disposed people of the camp, and like pioneers in the cause did they listen to the morning sermon and respond to the -appeal that followed. Liberal beyond expectation, and in some instances beyond ability, the morning audience reduced the debt to little more than one-half. It appeared, however, as if all had been raised that could be, and the outlook for the dedication was dolefully unpropitious. But the mining superintendent, the editor, the Justice, and some of the lawyers had become interested in the effort, and when the evening congregation gathered, there were some faces as new to such scenes, almost, as the place of assembly was new to them-not |