Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-26
A CHURCH SOCIETY FAILURE.
Attachments Against the Augustinian
Society of Lawrence, Mass-HaIf Mil
lion Due DepOsitOrs-What the Clergy


lion Due DepOsitOrs-Whatt the Clergy
Say.
LAWRENCE, MASS, Feb. 24.-Seven
suits have been instituted against the
Augustinian Society, Roman Catholic or
/ ganizatiOn formed here in 1870 to receive
deposits of the parishiOners of the
church. Attachments have been issued
/ for $4,000 and more are
likely TO follow, The society was
formed by priests and subsequently
chartered by the Legislature, with author
| lty to hold property not exceeding $780,
| 900. Large amounts of real estate, in
Guiding church property, have been con-
| Veyed to the society from time to time
| since 1881, when Father Regan took
charge of its affairs. The depOsitOrs have
had difficulty in securing their de-
/ posits, and several claims have
been entered against it. 1t
has been selling real estate
for some time past, and has been a large
borrower of money from the banks. AT a
meeting of the depositOrs the latter were
notified that no money was left, but that
the society would endeavOr to pay them
at the rate of $24, 900 per year. The indebt-
edness is placed at $500, 900 to depositors
and 100000 to mortgage holders. The
being poor female mill operatives. 1t is
generally believed that this is the culmi-
nation of several years of a gradual de-
probation of the affairs of the society.
Father O'DOnnell, one of its first
controllers, invested largely in rail
road stock, resulting in heavy
losses. In addition to the poorer de-
positOrs there are several heavy depositors
from $4,000 down to $1,000. Much eX-
citement exists, and a statement of the
sOciety's condition will probably be made
at meeting of prominent Catholics on
Sunday. Anxious depOsitOrs continue
to pour in attachments.
Four additional attachments were
placed to-day on the property of the
Augustinian Society, making fourteen in
all. Further investigations show that the
misfOrtunes of the society are due largely
to the injudiciOuS development and i'm
provement Ofchurch property. In the face
of an Indebtedness of 100000, the con-
structiOn of the Church of st. Mary was
begun, costing about 100000, for which
but $S4, 900 was collected.
BOSTON, Feb. 24.-The Herald says of
the Augustinian Society that its actual
debt is, i'll round numbers, $540, 900. De-
ducting mortgages to the amount of $110,-
600, there remains due to depositOrs $429,-
900.
LAWRENCE, MASS, Feb. 25.-'rhe
Roman Catholic churches under control
Of the Augustinian Fathers were crowded
at each service to-day. At St. Mary's
Church, Rev. f. C. McEvery, Superior of
the American branch of the Augustinian
Order, said it was proposed to soon give
a detailed statement of the church's
financial condition. The society
would leave nothing undone to
meet their obligations. He considered
the mortgages on the church property a
comparatively slight inconvenience. The
only matter for serious consideration was
the interests of the depositors. The socie-
ty's Indebtedness was between 100000
and $780, 900. but, with the receipts from the
orders in three churches and two
chapels in Lawrence and Wethuen,
with extraordinary efforts, he
hoped to meet all financial obligations in
a few years. He expressed the utmost
confidence that the Catholics of Lawrence
would subscribe according to their means
to free the church from Indebtedness. Two
years ago he collected in New York, Penn
syvania and Boston $11, 900, which he ap-
piled to the decrease of the debt. The
society would use every effort to meet
pressing demands and there would not be
any immediate suffering. He urged his
hearers to be patient and the society
would pay them ALL
Rev. Father McCarr, of the Church of
une Immaculate COnceptlOn, told his peO-
pie that the society would not repudiate
its debt, but would pay dollar for dollar
If they had patience and would contribute
as Catholics, they would get their money
in a short time.
Rev. Mr.. Ryan, Of the st. Lawrence
Church, gave the same advice. There
would be dividend paid to the depositors
yearly, and perhaps Oftener. The debt
was not incurred by the present heads of
parishes, but the responsibilities would
be met.