The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-25
hI.NB.IIL ~ RONDOJY.
Trying 10 Complete Mr.. smiths Task Of Rails
Ing II Big Prcsbs terinn Church Debt.

RoNDoUr. March 2i-Thc PRESBYTERIAN
church. the oldest here. with debt Of si3.OOJ.
was the place Of Mr.. Edward Kimball's labor
to-day. The church was erected in 1874. at
cost of 5000. Tho architect was Walk Of Now
York. who designed the Rev. Dr. Scuddor's
church. and the two interiors are almost exactly
similar with n scm-cir,ular arrangement Of
rising seats. Tho pastor. the Rcv. Isaac Clark.
asked Mr.. Kimball for help. but the famous
debt raiser could not 60 at that time. lie in
d1ccd , Mr Boswell Smith publisher 9i SS,
consented, and on March occupied MIR. Clnrks
pulpit The weather was stormy and the CON
evils of church dcbts, but made no effort to
raise money. in the evening. however, tho at
mcnts. A condition was that tho whole amount
should be promised bcf9re May l. Mr.. Walter
ssOOp has been subscribed, leaving 80 900 Of
the debt for Mr.. Kimhnll to deal with.
1t was II complete surprise TO the congreea-
tion when. after the opening hymn this morn
ing. Mr. Clark introduced. Mr.. Kimball. Tho
weather was cold and stormy and the church
Mr.. kmbHll worked with his usual energy
During nm hour he talked Of his previous labors
in drbt-buricned churches. Of tho despair and
discouragcmcnt OF their congregations. and Of
their JOY when the debts were raised He told OF
his own struggles before he could make up his
mind to appear before congregation and beg
for money. lie appointed Brothers Abbey
Stebbins. Crosby Brodhcnd. Hnshrouck and
Preston canvassers. and Brother Webster re-
clrdcr. and then called for subscriptions Of
$500 each. The first response Was by Mrs. A. \.
OF 81 loo was renewed. AItcrthis. Mr. Kimball
WAS obliged To- call for smaller sums. which
came in slowly until H. o'clock. when nearly
slOOO had boon raised. md the congregation
WIS dismissed until evening.
Al the meeting Tonight there was larger at
tendance than in tle morning. Mr.. kimball. in
his opening remarks dwclt particularly on the
fat that two weeks from to-day IL the day on
which the church ought to be dedicated and
that this cannot be done unless the debt is
pledged. In response to calls for subscriptions
mt s5po. one was presented from the Cornell
Transportation Company. After this there
WIS long lull, during which people looked
al each other and ut Mr.. Kimball. as
though expecting TINT by some miracle with
which they hnd nothing to do the money
mands gradually fell to .25 and SO. and APP
par"ntly very little money was 10 be raised
suddenly, just as people were preparing to
leave the house, oifors OF $50, 800, $780, and
$500 began To- pour in. and Tor n time much
enthusiasm wis manifested. In the midst Of IL
and walked out. At the door he was found
very angry. bcrauS' IA he said. There
ar" men in thnre subscribing sums Of
from $50 to $2nO who have owed me
small bills for ycafs and have plea led pgy-
criy Whenever have tried 10 collect them. It's
too bad Tho forticth thousand was raised In
SUITS ripiion@ oi 80 cn'h, given by parents for
their llitln .rlS. At lu's O'Clock the work WIS
siplpei AMI the congregation dismissed. lrav-
ing Siplln 81 their debt pledged, After the
@,mrrcl the church to dry sponge. said.
Wei. kimhall ~ smarter man than took
him t. hr. He's squeezed more than 5000
DROPS out oi what | took to be "a dry sponge"