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.'
'Yes, sir. Please deposit twenty-five cents.'
'Central, would I be calling collect if I had plenty of change on me? Get them on the line and tell them who I am. Reverend Alexander Hergensheimer, Deputy Executive Director.'
'Please wait on the line.'
So I waited again. And waited.
'Reverend? The party in Kansas City says to tell you that they do not accept-,collect calls from - I am quoting exactly - Jesus: Christ Himself.'
'That's no way to talk on the telephone. Or anywhere.'
'I quite agree. There was more. This person said to tell you that he had never heard of you.'
'Why, that -'I shut up, as I had no way to express myself within the dignity of the cloth.
'Yes, indeed. I tried to get his name. He hung up on me.'
'Young man? Old man? Bass, tenor, baritone?'
'Boy soprano. I gathered an impression that it was the office boy, answering the phone during the lunch hour.'
'I see. Well, thank you for your efforts. Above and beyond the call of duty, in my opinion.'
'A pleasure, Reverend.'
I left there, kicking myself. I did not explain to Margrethe until we were clear of the building. 'Hoist by my own petard, dear one. I wrote that "No Collect Calls" order myself. An analysis of the telephone log proved to me beyond any possible doubt that collect calls to our office were never for the benefit of the association. Nine out of ten are begging calls... and Churches United for Decency is not a charity
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