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57 Cents - The
True Story
 A sobbing little girl
stood near a small church from which she had been turn away because
it "was too crowed."
"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 happy that they found room for
her, 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.
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 dividend.
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 Scholars,
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. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of
Diamonds" A true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD, CAN DO WITH 57
cents.
Please send this back.
You'll see why. St. Theresa Prayer (cannot be deleted) REMEMBER to
make a wish before you read the prayer. That's all you have to do.
There is nothing attached. This is a powerful novena. Just send this
to four people and let me know what happens on the fourth day....
Do not break this,
please. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no
cost but a lot of reward. (This is true) (Did you make a wish?) If
you don't make a wish, it won't come true Last chance to Make a Wish
May today there be peace within May you trust your highest power
that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget
the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts
that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to
you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this
presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to
sing, and dance, It is there for each and every one of you.
Hattie May
Wiatt story
 Here is the true story as
told by the pastor himself from the pulpit in 1912. A first-hand
account of it is in a sermon delivered December 1, 1912 by Russell
H. Conwell, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Rev.
Conwell said the little girl's name was Hattie May Wiatt. She lived
near a church where the Sunday School was very crowded and he told
her that one day they would have buildings big enough to allow every
one to attend who wanted to. Later, Hattie May Wiatt became sick and
died. Rev.
Conwell was asked to do the funeral and the girl's mother
told him that Hattie May had been saving money to help build a
bigger church and gave him the little purse in which she had saved
57 cents. Rev.
Conwell had the 57 cents turned into 57 pennies, told
the congregation the story of little Hattie May and sold the pennies
for a return of about $250. In addition, 54 of the original 57
pennies were returned to Rev.
Conwell and he later put them up on
display. This was in 1886 when 57 cents was no small savings account
for a little girl from a poor family.
Some of the members of the
church formed what they called the Wiatt Mite Society which was
dedicated to making Hattie May's 57 cents grow as much as possible
and to buy the property for the Primary Department of the Sunday
school.
A house nearby was purchased with the $250 that Hattie May's
57 cents had produced and the rest is history.
The first classes of
Temple College, later Temple University, were held in that house. It
was later sold to allow Temple College to move and the growth of
Temple, along with the founding of the Good Samaritan Hospital (Now
the Temple University Hospital) have been powerful testimonies to
Hattie May Wiatt's dream. |
