Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-12-15
THE CHURCH.DEBT RAISER.
A Map who Persuades Unwarred Con-
yr~gations to suddenly ray whit They
Ows-His Account of HIS Peculiar Reii-
gious Work. =

newspaper man, for do not desire to
come prominently before the public, ;,
said Mr.. Edward kimball to a reporter
Tor the Sun. Mr.. Kimball is the man
who has been teaching congregations
how to pay church debts, and whose
success in the Rev. DIR. Robinson's
church, in this city. was described in
the Sun last week. He Is over six feet
in height, with full beard and mus
tache, which, as well as his hair, are
tinged with gray He speaks in a low
voice and very slowly, except when he
talks on his favorite subject of church
debts. Then his face lights up and he
becomes eloquent In his own words,
| the history of his undertaking is rs fol-
lvTs: j.
fequently occupied pulpits as lay
preacher. am the travelling agent of
. Chicago firm, and man of very mod
crate means. Three years ago l first
visited the Pacific coast. At the second
visit became very much interested in
a little missiov church that was embar-
raised with debt, without a pastor, and
on the brink of ruin. 1t is the West
minister Presbyterian Church of San
Francisco. / worked there Sundays
and at evening prayer-meetings, and we
were blessed with such revival that
many new members were added to the
church, they were enabled to call and
pay pastor, and their prospects were
materially frightened. Overa year ago
l again visited San Francisco, and found
the church still comparatively prosper
Gus, but hardened with Il debt of Sc 800.
At this tine became interested in the
Third Congregational Church of
that city, and again We
had blessed revival. The pastors
of these churches were encouraged by
what had been done, but they felt deeply
the debts with which their churches
were burdened, and which seriously en-
barrassed them. This set me thinking,
and prayed that some method might
be shown me by which could extricate
these struggling churches ffona their
difficulties. | concentrated upon this
subject all my business knowledge and
my knowledge of men and things. Final
" hit upon the plan that l have since
adopted 1t was Saturday, and that
very evening called upon Mr.. Baker,
the Pastor of the Third Congregational
Church, and said to him, Tomorrow,
with Gods help, mean to clear away
the cloud of debt that hangs over your
church. He didn't seem to understand
me, and had to repeat it. 'You cant
do it, he said. When | explained
what | meant to do, I'VE
have all we can do TO pay the interest
of our debt, let alone the principal.
What with the depressed business and
the panic and a broken stock market. it
can't be done l said to him, We'll,
Mr. Baker. if you think l am going TO
fail irwhat have undertaken, you give
up your pulpit to me, and 90 yourself
over 10 Oakland and fill the vacant pull
pit at the Point tomorrow morning.
He promised to do so.
"The next morning 1 went to that
church, determined that before left it |
ii should be free from debt. As the |
and deacons came in / told |
them what proposed to do. They were
aghast, and begged and implored me
not to undertake it. we aren't pre-
pared, said one. Let us talk it over
said another. and 1T can't be DONE was
echoed on all sides. l said to them: 1T |
is now II O'Clock; you watch that clock,
and when its hands point to half-past Il
your church shall be Tree from debt.
Then 1 went into the pulpit and began
the service. When it came time for the
sermon said to the people, instead OF
hearing sermon from the pulpit you
are TO preach the sermon of this morn
ing, and it is to be an effective protest
against debt. You say that You have
heard too much about the church fin
ances from this pulpit, and that relig-
on and money have become too much
mixed Well, l propose this morning