To pledge or not to pledge—
That is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in a man
To take the Gospel free
And let another foot the bill,
Or sign a pledge and pay toward
Church expense!
To give, to pay—aye, there's the rub
To pay—
When on the free-pew plan a man
May have
A sitting free and take the Gospel, too
As though he paid, and none be aught
The wiser
Save the church committee who—
Most honorable men—can keep a secret!
“To err is human,” and human, too, to buy
At cheapest rate. I'll take the Gospel so!
For others do the same—a common rule!
I'm wise; I'll wait, not work—
I'll pray, not pay,
And let the other fellow foot the bills,
And so I'll get the Gospel free,