The New York herald., 1877-12-17
A BIG UNDERTAKING.
TIE NEW WAY TO PAY OFF CHURCH DEBTS
ADOPTED IN HOLY TRINITY YESTERDAY
WHAT WAS DONE TOWARD RAISING TWO

part of the country lately by prevailing upon the con-
ercgaions Of various heavily burdened churches to
nay on their Indebtedness by grand cxcrton. was
hard at work all day yesterday, in the Church OF the
Holy Trinity. corner OF Madison avenue and Forty
second street. Only week ago This enthusiastic gen.
tieman won q great victory In ono OF tho Oldest
churches In America, at Cambi idge, Mass,
where an enormous debt removed at
single church session, lasting eight hours
His achievement In tho Memorial Presby-
terian Church, within the past month, whcn
$4,000 raised on two Sundays, is still fresh IN
the memory OF our church gong people. festefaay'
however. Mr.. K,mbali undertook still more gigantic
task that Of raising $25o,oco The regular Episcopal
services we're begun the Church Of the Holy Trinity
1t hafpast ten o'clock Rev. Dr. Tyns. Jr, officiating.
When these werc concluded instead OF the customary
sermon DR.. Tying addressed the congregation on tho
subject Of It's debt. This, he said, amounted 10
1896 0O0 which, with the accumulated interest, would
roou roach $3.50 600 By the old plau-that hereto
fore employ ed--spccia collections. entertainments
and hrs own personal solicitations. would take ten
years to reduce the debt to 500, 0o0 Tint would
never do, and effort now about to bo made to
remove the incubus by ono great effort In ntroduc.
ing Mr. Kimball he made an earnest and eloquent APP
nal 70 his people to stand by him nd that the
work accomplished.
KENDALL TAXES HOLD.
Mr. KimbalL who Is y tall, largo man, with dark
hair slightly turning TO gray, mustache and iull
beard, then rosc and addressed the congregation.
Speaking of his success In other churches, and ex-
planning his plans Tor the present Ho began by So
curing the services Of eighteen canvassers 10 work on
the main floor of tho church. whe six others went
the rounds Of The gallery. A secretary was also
selected to record subscriptions rs they were
brought In Mr.. Kimbal then called for ten contr!-
buttons $40 900 each, 10 be podged on the cond-
tho ol0
months These in gradually, Mr. Klmball
p,cdgng three OF them himself from fund which
be Was authorized 10 draw upon. Tho 1rst $4,000
subscription carried to Mr. Kimball by bright
eyed little boy. Three moro wero pledged. and tho
amount In little than two hours had reached
$7ooUO. Throughout this time Mr. Kimball, Dr.. Tying
and Mr. Roswe-Smth, OF tho Memorial Church,
addressed tho congregation, dong their utmost 10
facilitate tho progress OF the undertaking. At about
ono O'Clock Dr. Tying made earnest prayer for tho
divine blessing upon the work in hand.
rHE ENTHUSIASM GROWING.
Mr. Kmball next asked tor pledges Of So, QUO each,
which would be received while the remaining three
$4,000 subscriptions were comingn or the $4,000
pledges he wanted twelve, promising to provide tho
eleventh and twelfth himself lhrcc moro were
reported, and there tho work seemed TO stop Many
persons mad lett the churcn, and the number remain
ing was reduced aooa ~ s~o 10 na p
homes OF those who desired 10 remain 10 let tho
family know the reason OF their absence. Two tables
bad spread III the basement OF the church tor
those Who cared 10 crafty tho demands OF
appetite. and many persons persons ,s ayailed .hem.
the body Of tho church stood
In ttlo groups discussing the work and the prospects
OF success Tho canvassers were untiring In their
Efforts moved backward aud forward thro ugh tho
congregation I'LL i seemed as II every source had
been exhausted Mr. kimba said that The question
OF failure not TO be considered. lie had
doubt that would crown their efforts than he
bad that the present day would close
md "A
amounts ranging from SIG 900 10 $4,000 in At least
twenty ave churches seventeen o. me number being
told him It would bc impossible to rance the money
required, by any eiort-tne attempt would drive one.
third OF tho pewholders IRON the church forever But
he had succocded, nevertheless In another church
the trustees objected strenuousy to hts undertaking
oppose him publicly, and in two hoors ho
bad raised dcbt OF .weive years standing.
what they could IRON the pulpit the canvasscrs sYfe
Quietly ~ work set'l.g pledges ior smaller amounts
gradually returning and the bcr present.
which had once been very much reducad, increased
VINO had come in at tho conclusion OF his own church
services, addressed the congregation number OF
from Mr.. William Dodgc, ST., Who though Pres
byterian and not connected with the church 10 any
way, promised 10 give the two hundred and nit'esa
and last thousand dollars toward paying on ts debt
cnsritable institution sent In a subscription OF $500
through ts superintendent.
TIE PAsroR's Plea
shortly after tour O'Clock Dr. Tying again ad-
dressed the congregation. He said no had been
connected with the Holy Trinity Church Tor tnir-
teen years. and had never ieit such encouragement
and support as at the present day II was at no.
tual sacrifice OF all that sacred hts olncc
that be had spent his time energies in
the purely secular work OF tho Church-he effort to
ray on Us debt His appearance IN m once Gown
town, q parlor uptown, was too apt TO be
nectcd with the thought OF money. He did moi wish
to labor Tor money but Tor tho salvation OF mems
souls. III, said he, .you mean to mold the ministry
IN us secular bondage you viii withhold yonr sub
scrptons now If you wish 10 release IT, to elevate II,
nvt aE0h fba irh hpuo hNn
gun gun S AA' ''''' " ''' "''A "'''" ''' -'' -
Mr. Kmball remarked that some OF the canvassers
said they didn't like TO go to the samo person more
than six times for subscription which he had refused
Gil along to make. "wny my dear rienos," said he,
impcpitent sinner / have known men 10 yield tho |
eighth time, when they had shakcn Their heads an
sftcrn oon weuty.four LADIES' had pledged hemscIves
TO collect $50 each, and 70 try TO got l76 more ados
TO DO the same A. naipas, nvs alter an nnne,
$4,000 had been pledged, ths congregation dis |
pcrscd, after prayer and tho singing of hymns to
turn ugain at balf-past seven.
EVENING.
Nearly every scat was filled when DR.. Tying opened
the cvoning services Ho began BY saying that it had
been determined TO postpone the DISCOURSE previously
announced for the purpose Of continuing IN the grand
gentleman Congratulated the congregation upon the
work OF tho morning., and hoped that tho
~ar,,ono, ~0u,a s~enca 70 $io1voo. AZ .
main their seats He alluded to the fact
that The church had mover before called Tor help from
those who were accustomed 10 come here and wor
ship aud who OF tho regular congregation.
Hitherto the iatter had borne all the burdens and no
now appealed TO ALTO tho Church universal. lie |
sincerely hoped that next Sunday, WHOM Bishop Pot
ter came TO administer the right Of confirmation, hc
could show HIM such an exhibit as would reflect un.
dying credit ou the iah and generosity OF the wor-
shippers at the Church OF the Holy Trinity. .And
now," concluded Dr. Tying, Il take pleasure in call
ing upon Mr.. kimbalLn
Nr Kimbal, who had occupied n seat near the roc
tor while Dr. Tying was speaking, here arose. An was
silence "My Christian iriends,n he began. s.ict mo
ask your attention Tor while uat read IRON the
thirty NTH chapter Of the Book OF Exodus. And
Moses gathered together The Cnildren OF lsrncl.u
Mr.. kimball read low verses and made some apuro.
prialc comments. Then he continued the reading and
again broke of into comments Thus far hrs
plan OF operations WIS doubt. After come
ten minutes oil alternate reading and speaK King he
closed The Bble and said, Eve will now proceed TO
the work OF cxingush'ng the debt Of the church,
and hrst M regards chnrcn dcbts Hero the speaker
lsuncncd of into rehearsal OF the difficulties under
which q church In debt labors at the conclusion OF
which he directed tho canvasscrs who had acted IN