I have a friend who was never a church member, but was, and is, a
millionaire-a generous benevolent millionaire-who once went about
doing good by stealth, but with a natural preference for doing it at
his office. One day he took it into his thoughtful noddle that he
would like to assist in the erection of a new church edifice, to
replace the inadequate and shabby structure in which a certain small
congregation in his town then worshipped. So he drew up a
subscription paper, modestly headed the list with "Christian, 2000
dollars," and started one of the Deacons about with it. In a few
days the Deacon came back to him, like the dove to the ark, saying
he had succeeded in procuring a few names, but the press of his
private business was such that he had felt compelled to intrust the
paper to Deacon Smith.

Next day the document was presented to my friend, as nearly blank as
when it left his hands. Brother Smith explained that he (Smith) had
started this thing, and a brother calling himself "Christian," whose
name he was not at liberty to disclose, had put down 2000 dollars.
Would our friend aid them with an equal amount? Our friend took the
paper and wrote "Philanthropist, 1000 dollars," and Brother Smith
went away.

In about a week Brother Jones put in an appearance with the
subscription paper. By extraordinary exertions Brother
Jones-thinking a handsome new church would be an ornament to the
town and increase the value of real estate-had got two brethren, who
desired to remain incog., to subscribe: "Christian" 2000 dollars,
and "Philanthropist" 1000 dollars. Would my friend kindly help along
a struggling congregation? My friend would. He wrote "Citizen, 500