The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-24
VOL. XLvl.--N0. Jag.
KlMBALL, TIE DEBT RAISER,
4ESTITiING IN THE LIWStIT AGAINST
ME. TILMIGE'N IBERNICLE

0ursiIon or UIs Mcth"d oT Raising sub
.c,trti ms Pastor TnImHsc's ENtraordI.
mary Correspondence with His Nephew.
Thruia " the suit of eX- Trustee William
I Gei.ton against the trustees of the Brooklyn
Tabernacle for 81 .3i2 money advanced when
he va, treasurer of the Tai crnacle was con-
unuci in the Brooklyn City Court yesterday
before Judge Ncson. A larger throng ut
tondcd than has appeared in that room since
the Same Judge presided in the trial OF the suit
Of Tinon against Bcochcr. The plaintiff.
young Wall street broker. WIS surrounded 10y
The trustees who seeded from the church at
nc uuo % their quarrel with T. Dewitt Tai
mage over the retention OF Organst George W.
Morgan. Peter Talmago was present He
seemed to have been on another eNplor
ing expedition. for his bair was unkempt
and his pantaloOns were mud covered almost
up 10 his knoce. When he lowered him
sclf into bis chair be seemed to 90 down by
SECTIONS. and sinking far down in his scat. he
shrank ont Of sight OF the ordinary spectator
Gu the same floor level.
The testimony for the defonce was devoted TO
showing that the debt OF s72 900. which was an
nounecd rs the debit Of the church by Mr. Kim
bail Feh. II. 1873. had heon raised 10y valid sub
scriptou The trustees answer to the suit sets
up a sui scripton OF 81 900 made by MIR. Gelston
toward the debt Of the church on Feb. II. 1878.
whom Kml an was employed 10y the church TO
ra.se the debt. Mr.. Gelston's answer 10 this
cl.m b.. that the amount subscribed was
pledged IN the condition that it was not
b. he paid unless every dollar OF the
debt was rails "a. and that the subscrp-
lions might run six months without inter-
est before payment III claims that he was de-
ccivel by the suppression of important facts.
concealed hy the pastor. and led 70 verbally
promise $1,000; that whore the pastor an
nounced that Henry s. Elmore tnow e1commu-
nicatel from the Tabernacle for immoraliticsl
had given $1,000. the truth was that Mr. e.
more hal made the subscription on the condi-
ton that lac should have three years to pay 1t
in that wherc Dlr. Kimuall. believing the aver
mcnts Of I. Dewitt T0lmage. announced that
the whole debt did not exceed s72jOO the truth
was there was an indebtedness then Of
t97 SOS O3 that az the time Of jubilee over the
debt which it was claimed. had been raised.
there were valid and subsisting mortgages on
the very building in which the scene was enact
ed amounting 10 $4,000 and that there are
now due and unpaid debts Of the Tabernacle
amounting 10 eos OOO The plaintiff denies that
his subscription is a legal debt.
Sandford II. Frankenberg. treasurer OF the
Sunday school. testified that the Sunday school
classes had paid t775l0 more than the amount
they subscribed. The plaintiffs counsel sought
10 show that tho Sunday school purchased two
1900 mortgage bonds on the church from per-
sons who held them at much less than par. and
turned them into the church at their face value
The Court ruled out the question. saying that
the church had q right 10 the benefit Of the
transaction.
Nelson Hambln. the treasurer OF the church.
eaid that he had offered TO strike balance be-
tween the claim Gelston had against the Taber-
~ a..
elined this. saying. You pay me my claim and
Twill tel you what will do He said that he
did not repudiate his pledge 20 the church. and
that he had never made pledge ne did not in
tend 10 iulnl.
Edward Kimball. the church debt raiser was
he next witness. H. Is n tall. pleasaut-tcaturel
man with the air Of n college professor. H.
wears full beard and keeps his long. black.
glossy hair brushed back in graceful curves.
He talks ike q minister and is often mistaken
Tor one.
Il live in Chicago " he said. and was pres
ent in the Brooklyn Tabernacle on Feb II
ISIS and solicited subscriptions 10 nay the debt
o. the church. The conditions as near as can
remember them were. that tho subscriptions
taken during the continuance Of the effort then
iuaugur.tal should cover the amount which
VS. tlen stated rs being th" indeltedness oi the
cnurch. ] urged the congregation 10 prepare
touake the payment Of their subscriptions IN
siN months II any OF tne larger subscribers
sired " longer mo than thai, the subscribers
could M lnuhtedly arrnuse Il, and rccpm-
nrntci that they seek to DO so with the ofii GERS
of fthr church, who had the care ol its finances
fYrsucA longer tire a. might he convenient 60
tlem. said iurthrrm0re that Undoubtedly
tley would find tlat :le officers OF the
church would he ready up0n be-. .ng responslbly
h-Sur"t tuut the subscription had been made
IN good faith. anl would hr paid for the object
specified 10 arrange with them somewhat ac-
cordlug O. their convenience. and that all sub
tfrrinh- should be paid in s!x months and
should D.. without any interest
DO YOU rrm"mh"r at what time IN thr
cours' ~ the suts rlptious this statement OF the
conditions WIS made
Mr. Kin haIl-Mv impression is that I stated
II after the subscriIt ons had been begun, and
after number Of larger subscriptions had been
made b.t that under the cireumsihnc"s OF
opening thn subs 0rlp'lons part OF these con-
dituns gl been overlooked by me, and II was
either ly my recollection thnt had omitted
Something that might be essential. or that WAS
reminlrd OF it-l am not sure whch-thnt l
brought i In NJ n later stage than the opening.
Was anything SAID in reference 10 who
should le the Judge Of these subscriptions ut
me Tine ih.y were made or alter
sponsibl" for the chur'h's affairs. Theirs was
T. be- the estimate a. the value 10 the object
aimed at # the subscrlpuOns made. They
were g. Judge oi the validity OF the suDscrp-
hQns'
edncss as proclaimed on the morning you So
III remember Alright It was 500 800. and
that also there was some money which possibly
might in equity become due. should the prop
ertY Of the Lay COllege-not in the conten-
plated sale-reaize the full amount Of the mort
gage. | received tho amount OF the debt from
lhe pastor Of the church in company with Mr.
Corwin or from Mr.. Corwin in company with
the pastor think Jointly
Did You solicit special subscriptions
mean by that from men. women and children,
Or the sun lay schoOlT
! suEg sted that the associated forms Of
Christian work and endeayor in the church
should also be associated 10 share in the work,
ana suggested that II they had a WORKING ladies'
pssgciauon, or II the sunday school was IN the
habit Of working associatedly, as was told they
We're upon all the interests Of the church. that
they nuke subscriptions. | also encouraged
various people in the congregation 10 associate
themselves together and devise liberal things
among themselves. Also encouraged indlYldp-
MS 70 -uhs ,rihe. and asked for associated sub
Berlptlons from ladies' and classes. Ny expert
e4He IN the collection OF church debts is some
what large. extending over two years"
what Is your experience in two years OF
raising church debts as 10 the value and safety
Df subscriItlons male by Sunday school
olasses f fHulod outl
on cross-eXamination Mr. Kmbal said that
he dld not know Of any condition attached to
tho subscriptions other dian those announced
shg tha, when Pastor Talmaee made his sub
bcrlpuon no terms wero stated Mr.. Barnard
In aTHuiun a TgIuf pnIlnI Mr. Kimbull tlp Roy