Collection Plate

A story on the news tonight reminded me of this in my past. I was a Deacon in the Reform Church in my home town for several years. On Sundays the four Deacon's took up the collection. We would pass the colection plate back and forth across each row, starting in the front row where the plates were kept near there on a table.
This one Sunday the local Postmaster, whom I worked for & was a wonderful man sat in the very back row, which was his usual spot. He was generous, great to work for, a good friend of my Dad & could be a joker at times.
Anyway the particular sunday, I was to recieve the plate when it came across the last row on my side. When it came to him in my amazement he took all the money out and put it in his suit pocket. I couldn't believe it & I had to walk up front for prayers & thank you from the Minister with an empty plate. Nothing was said, but I was red in the face I'm sure.
After Church was getting ready to close for the morning, he walked up front and dumped his pockets out and put a good amount out of his wallett with that money. Everybody got a good laugh out of it, when they realized what had happened.
Another memory of that time the minister was accused of having an affair & was asked to leave the church, which he finally did. Thru the weeks of all the hearings on this with the members & church board, I stuck up for him & said he should have another chance, but the majority didn't agree. He left the Church and got a teaching job in a city school teaching English. I was maybe wrong, but felt everybody deserved a second chance in life.