The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-11-03

this looks as !. there was an unfortunate
state of feeling in the congregation, di-
viding IL into factions. Be iris the case or
not, we can testify that members are ex-
tremely cautious about using censorious
or ugly Language in regard to
each other, or even plainly betraying the
side they take on the vexed subject. The
two classes in the controversy are formed of
those on the one hand who approve and of
those on the other han who do not approve
of the action oftheir pastor, Father Guilfoyle,
in specializing in real estate in Newport and |
in Kansas. Ten or q dozen years ago
Father Guilfoyle commenced his
s SPeGbarH ~ his SO the story goes:
earnings with him, and he paid them a lib
eral interest. The money thus put in his
hands he used in erecting buildings. Many
of these he sold; others he raised money on
by mortgages, and went on building. The
houses were small and intended for the &C
commodation of poor families. Most of them
he sold on long time and small payments.
The panic of 1873 came. and after the strike
in Swift's rolling mill. Both causes
bore heavily on Father G1ilfoyle. Obliga-
ton were maturing and means to meet
them were more difficult than ever to obtain. |
Impatient creditors began to talk and to
sue. Rumor took up the subject and
wildly exaggerated it, and the congregation |
began to take sides according as they iusti- |
fed or excused their pastor. Oil was poured !
or tho water quieting it for a time, but
moving of the waves begun again. We
have already vold the developments of feel
ing to date.
THE ASSIGNMENT.
About the last of August, or the first of
September, 1874, Bishop Toebbe was visited
at night by Father Guilfoyle and his attor-
ney, Gen. Hodge, and taken over to New
port to become the assignee Of Father
Guilfoyle. 1t was urged that haste was of
the utmost Importance. in order TO prevent
the action of the bankrupt law operating
to the disadvantage Of the creditors
of Father Guilfoyls. Ed. Air, the
clerk of the courts, was taken to
the courtroom, and the assignment was
made to Bishop A. Toebbe, of Covington.
Among the assets were found lands in Kan
sas, Y houses, and 8, 900 front feet of vacant
lots in Newport, and about $4,000 worth of
mortgages in security for houses and lots
sold. II is estimated that the entire assets
amount to 1926, 900, while the liabilities
amount to 100000. But on this
subject testimony varies greatly, even
to the extent of t~ransposing the
above assets and debts. Father Guiifoyle's
accusers, so far as we have heard them
speak, do not charge him with any offenSe
bordering upon dishonesty. The most they
say is that he had a wild mania for s~pecula-
ton, and went into it until his business was
larger than he could manage. Many of them
$1,000 ~ 1-2A NaO ~ 00lN 1ACl
most grave charge we heard was that he
continued in bis speculation contrary to the
advice of Bishop Carroll more than four
years agO, and contrary to both the advice
and command of Bishop Toebbe, the success
sor of Bishop Carroll. MANY who censure
his conduct say that they believe he acted
as he did with a desire and an ex expectation
to do great things in realizing money fol
the church. A few are disposed to doubt
the validity of the figures that make Father
Guilfoyle's assets overbalance his liabilities
by $4,000.
STORY OF HI PRIESTS DEFENDERS.
Those who take Father Guilfoyle's part ex-
press entire confidence in the statement of
his assets, making them $3.50 0 more than
his liabilities, and feel that action tending to
make the difficulty public was hardly neces-
sary. He was labOriDg under less even than
the common embarrassment of business men
in these times. They have the most un-
bounded faith in his integrity of purpose.
and are moved by the tenderest affection
for him as a pastor. The suddenness of his
removal was calculated to intensity their
feeling and make them even more pro-
unCe than they seemed to us yesterday
in opposition to his accusers and to his sud-
den removal. Bishop Toebbe, we nave
been informed. has found the business of
managing real estate q sort of ele-
plant upon his hands, end de-
heard it limited that he is taking
measures to have the assignment transferred
to some business man who can devote his
entire time to the business. In Newport
and Covington, and in this city, the affair is
exciting much interest. Yesterdays events
have intensified the interest in Newport.
Time will reveal whether it has tended to
widen the d~issension in Father Guilfoyle's
late congregation. Time, too, will heal the
wounds and calm the troubled waters.