, 1877-09-02
OAKLAND CHURCH.


Irs FINANCIAL CONDITION.,
10 The Editor Of Tie Tribune
CHICAGO, Aug. 31.-Gratuitous advertising is
an object greatly desired IL these times OF flnan-
cial stringency.
It matters little whether praise or nlzfounaed
abuse is bestowed, SO long as prominence before
the public is secured
The enemies Of Oakland Church arr evidently
determined it shall not die for lack OF notoricty.
presume smile will pass over the face of
every Consrcgattonalist when hc knows that
Francis Munson was the author of the article
headed - .'Ch,,rcn Debts ~ and signed "Justfce "
III your last Mondays issue.
lie las probably originated and participated
in more church rows than any other man in Chi
cago.
To appreciate his motive, your readers should
understand that he vas e1communicatcd from
this particular church on account Of an assault
iu open day, 2,aG Oh public street, upon the
person OF one Of the clcrgymen wllosc cause be
now SO yaliantly champions, and all because in
Sabbath sermon truths Of too pointed CHAR
actcr were promulgated
1t is true that there is mortgage OF $4,000
on Oakland Church. and there are arrears OF in
tcrest due. The property has been several
times rendered to The mortgage. but he be-
licyes the security is abundant, and prefers to
wait for the interest or for Il more oppoTtune
time to sell. ......
The same party has over $100, 900 loaned on
Chicago property, and his faith In the future OF
the city is SO great that no alarm is felt for the
safety Of the Investment.
This being his state OF mind, beyond the fact
thu: such mortgage on Oakland Church cx-
lists, tue public uccd not borrow unnecessary
anxiety upon the subject.
The mortgage has, however, under q consfd-
Grafton a proposition, which, il accepted, will
place Oakland Church in favorable position SO
far as its funded debt Is concerned, as COM
pared with sister churches:
It is fact that Amos Grannis had two con-
tracts with Oakland Church when in process OF
construction and repairs, amounting in the az az
gresate to about SG,0o0 The contracts were
awarded without competition, and it is pre-
sln,e.l yielded fair profit. The entire amount
except 1900 wis paid, and for this sum he has
never prcsseI the church. Knowing 1t had not
tho money to pay.
Wh.u the Rev. j. G, Whites connection with
tho church was terminated, his account was set
tied hy ii note, FRANCIS Munson being one of
the makers. II his deep sympathy induces him
to forward portion Of tho amount direct to
Mr.. White, it will doubtless be received with
gratitude. We are happy to say that Air. White
Is now engaged in ministerial labor 1t Cincln-
natl, and, while lie needs money, hls condition
is not so abiect as some would have It believed.
The church holds a receipt in full for the cost
OF the sngnyboolis purchased from Root O.
Tie Rev. j. ". Cracraft was not dismissed
from the church, but resigned. When the
separation took place, his family, who are pos
SCISSORS of considerable property, were absent
hc ceitt-
effects were stored In d vacant room III tue
church That hc did not hold possession till
his salary was paid is evidenced by the fact that
suit for tue balance due is now pending III the
Circuit Court. When it shall be adjudlcatei
what the value OF reading from a pulpit the
published sermons of Henry Ward Beecher and
Dewitt Talma5e US original ctfusions shall be,
he will become entitled to his share Of the assets
of the church..
Tie statement was made ut the meeting of
the GeucraI Association Of the Congregational
Church that the expense OF running Oakland
Church wGs $1,000 per nnnum. NO statement
Of actual receipts was given. 1tswould be inter-
csting to know the exact source from which Mr.
Muuson's Information CAME
So far as the Oakland Church is au example
of excessive dcnominationaf zeal and compet1-
tiun in tile city's suburbs, which has led to the
erection Of all etlitice and the incurrencc Of
debts iu ADVANCE OF the disposition OF the sur
rounding people to support, 1t is accountable,
and deserves to be held up as an example nna
warning for the public good.
Even to this View there are. extenuating CIR
cumstances. When thc editicc was planned 1t
WIS not forcseeu that the very men who nc@o-
tiated the loan and indorsed the notes would be
driven from the Church by the cxtravagant
management of its present assailant anu Ills
supporters. 1t was not calculated that young
hurricane would overthrow the stceplc anu
crush in the roof, thereby compelling All adol-
tiutal outlay of several thousand dollars.
The great fire, which annihlatca the resources
OF the stunchest men Of the Church, was not
counted upon. The prolonged panic, which has
greatly retarded the growth OF the section at
the southern extremity OF the city, was not III
tue original programme.
Tie s1nalt band of determined men who, III
spite of prolonged disaster. refused TO abandon
tic struggle, although it drew enormously upon
their resources, are worthy OF respect. Inc
gr,at bulk Ut the present membership is made
up Of those who have recently come on 10 help
rs best they can to resuscitatc the fortunes ot
the church, and it is this evidence OF growth
which cxti.cs such bitter untagonlsm
OF tho church, was formerly in SUCCESSFUL busi-
ness in this city, and is fayorabiy known BY
large number Of influential citizclis-
lie gave up i lucrative business connection
and devoted seven wears to eoics!ate = anu sen,-
ed tic call to Oakland Church at small salary,
aud continues tic work, notwithstanding re-
peated advantageous offers to return to con1-
mercal life.
Ii auv doubt his ministerial ability, they
can easily satisfy themselves by attending his
services at least once
Both his character and the work he is doing
eutlte bio church to protection against tile
abusive insinuations which have recently been
thrust at it. Fur several years the Oakland
Church was bcggar among the Congregation
al Churches here and elsewhere. The present
| management determined that this policy should
| cease and If there was no need OF the church IN
the community where it is located, nor dispos!
| tiou to sustain it, the doors should be closed.
During the past year the result has been that q
| larger number OF conversions anu accessloos
have taken place than in any recent year In the
history Of tile church. The active and working
membership has been trinled, the revenue from
| internal sources has more than doubled, ana tue
| congregation has largely increased. The three
last pastors of the church were paid In full Tor
! their services as would be the present pastor il
/ his connection with the church should terminate
During Mr.. Holbrook's pastorate I'LL amount
| Of money has been raised and paid out on the
| new and old Indebtedness Of the church equal
| to the running expenses, except the interest
| shout which there Is tue most explicit unuer-
| Standing.
The pcws are assessed upon q valuation cal
| culated to cover the entire running expenses o1
the church, aud the prizes range from ST te
$40 per alinum, placing the privilege OF wor
| snip within the reac, Of rich and Door alike.
Not dollar of the past indebtedness, the
/ mosr of which is very old has been repuliated