A local preacher was dissatisfied with the small amount of money in the collection plates each Sunday. Someone suggested that he might be able to hypnotize the congregation into giving more.

"And just how would I go about doing that?" he asked.

"It is very simple. First, you turn up the air conditioner so that the auditorium is warmer than usual. Then you preach in a monotone. Meanwhile, you dangle a watch on a chain and swing it in a slow arc above the lectern and suggest that people put $20 in the collection plate."

The following Sunday, the reverend did as suggested, and lo and behold, the plates were full of $20 bills. Now, the preacher did not want to take advantage of this technique each and every Sunday. Therefore, he waited a couple of weeks before trying his mass hypnosis again.

Just as the last of the congregation was becoming mesmerized, the chain on the watch broke and the watch hit the lectern with a loud thud; springs and parts flew everywhere.

"Crap!" exclaimed the pastor.

It took them a week to clean up the church.