Religion: Parable in Bluffton

The kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a jar country, "who called his own servants. . . . And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. . . . After a long time the lord of those servants cometh. . . . And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents. . . . He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord . . . behold, I have gained two other talents. . . . His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant. . . . He which had received the one talent came and said, Lord . . . I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. . . . His lord answered, Thou wicked and slothful servant. . . . Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Because it seems to encourage free enterprise, the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) has long been a favorite text at businessmen's luncheons. In need of money for repairs, the First Presbyterian Church of Bluffton, Ohio thought up a more specific use for the parable. One way to collect the repair money, suggested Layman Eugene Benroth, might be by re-enacting the parable. One day last February, after borrowing 200 ten-dollar "talents," the Rev. E. N. Bigelow distributed them among his congregation.

Last week in Bluffton, the day came for ingathering of talents. It was a smashing success. The Business Men's Association, enthusiastic about the idea from the first, had helped by endorsing a community auction and turning over all commissions to the talent drive. The four Warrens had used their talents to buy a heifer, which produced a calf for sale. Norman Triplett and Betty Caris had made and sold neckties. Larry Zimmerly had done wonders with his talent by raising rabbits. Altogether, the $2,000 in talents had multiplied to $9,573.

Even though 20 First Presbyterian talents had not yet been heard from (and might perhaps be hidden in the earth), there was no weeping or gnashing of teeth in Bluffton; the Rev. Mr. Bigelow, less stern than the Biblical lord, had asked that the returns be made anonymously.