, 1876-02-01
RELIGIOUS.
Financial Condition Of the Mich
igan Avenue Baptists.
Tho Church to Strengthen Itself by
Becoming 0pen.Communion.
ministerial Mcetiilgs...A Conference Of
Bishops.

THE MICHIGAN AVENUE eAPT'sTs.
PROPOSED CuAHOE FRnX CLosa 10 OPEN CON-
MCxIoS.
Tie Michigan Avenue Bapsiss Church is under
a cloud. II IL struggling With heavy debit On
which it cannot pay the interest," Tho paBtnr.
the Rev. DR.. Ellis. teudcred his resignation
short tlmn since. It has aot yet baen FORMALLY
accepted by tho congregation. lilo church o~ea
him about $4,000 on account OF lila salarS.
Tlcro ia no money iu tho church Golfers. The
row.ho1dcrs arc slow topay up. Ilhra tines and
t1ulness In trade arc naalgued az tho renson.
Some time ago the Trastees sold the alto OF
tho old place Of worelip ut tho corn6r OF Wabaah
ayonue aud Eighteenth street. Thoy got e3s' ooo
in cash for 1t. There was mortgage OF 500. 0oo
On tho pronetty. This lien still Btauds. Tho
Trustees promised 10 look after its payment. I:
hns not been pnd. and intorsst Is accuNnulatinE.
Tho Trustees will hago to eventually pay II ai's
principal and interest," -....-....
Tho present church edijcs, near the corner q
mortsagod for $4,000. There ia intotost duo
Which tho church IL not In u condition 10 pRs.
The tota. liabilities Of tho church aso 10 iho
| vicinity OF $50, 900. Previous to the panic tue
Chased block Of 100 acres in Hyde Park. Thls
tract waB subdividol into suburban residence lois
and p}nced OIL tho market. A. largo nt1nlbor OF
thpso lots uerc sold. aud, had tha panic not put
iii oil appearance. LILO ulAuhHa1s VI tto oeIutVo
| would i,ayo probably male nice little
sun % to 20 tho credit aide Of tho profit
aud loss account Of the church. How
ever, tho finaneial Oppression Of Tho
! mast tro yeara Rnnul!od the most OF thu trades.
aud tho bulx OF tho property reyerted to tho
TruBtees There WAS mortgage on tho prop
crty for aomo iO, ,03U, Oh witch interest was NJ
cn.nu1ating. DR.. B1ono waa appealed to, anu
ha generously responded. 1lo took tho wholo
| c,,non1 fin nny1uDDt of Tho mortgage.
| How to cyolvp plan tlat will succeed II
vipiug out tho so 00O Indebtedness untlcr whici
tho church now ggoans il lLa p.oblsn1 VIII
which the Trustocy and prominent members ZIG
| at present wteBtling.
In Bomo quarto1B it hus becn snResn'e1 tbs
tho ouly remedy lott ia fur tito church 10 dopat
from ono Of tho lanl-marks oil the Bsl:ist do
nomination. Tint is to ano'.5:, "c'osa &c CON -,
approve Of tho idea. 1t L. believed That BY !, 7
! doing llyoiy interest Will be undoubtedl.
created In tho welfare Of t!1o church. II 's OK
pccted that such actlon sill 10 productive o.
largo incrcaso in tho church membership thn
thjg tucrpAso will DO composed OF paying neu4
bcrg who will contribute largely.
! Should tho congregation resolve to e1ubark Il
!! tho "opcn-commnnlon boat, 1t Is confldonti
expected that sevcral prominent monbers Of tht
church will At ouca proceed 10 porfcct tho meaul
for placing tho finances OF tho church on bet
; Ter baais-one which. it IL hoped, will 10 ahor
time tttno 1etluco tho Indebtedness. and tfercb
! lossly cating up tue rovcnuo OF III
institution, This result IL dependent Q
tho nc,ion Of tho chnrrh members. Ancat
Ito promoters Of the Bcllaine hayo Their "stft
ceao turned towards thu ncr. DR., Dahrens {
. EIeyolanu, a protntnont "opon. .romnunton
Clergyman, who, III tito svoat OK tie rsa'lzasio
i OF tHe proposed change in the church poitl
!. may DO induced to scccpt call to become Il
It pastor. .;,,,,. .4.,,
| in a f1w wcGkH,