The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-14
III. E. CHURCH EXTENSION.
Unfounded Rumor Of DefalcatiOn-A Dis
turbance Raised on Technical Point

PHILADELPHIA. Nov. 13-At meeting of the
board of church extension of the N. E. Church,
to-day, the committee on foreign correspondence
reported that 1.-The committee had carefully con-
sidered the application for assistance from Ger
many and Switzerland. and from India, and re-
spectfully reports, first. that inasmuch as the
missionary society has heretofore made pro-
vision for the procurement of church property
in our foreign mission fields, any aid from this
country needed for such purposes should be
furnished, as heretofore, by the missionary
society as missionary authorities may de-
termine second, that inasmuch as our foreign
missions are organized under the same
provisions of discipline as in this
country, we recommend that this gen.
eral committee make the amount asked
for church extension, and the appropriations au
thorzed, equal to the same as in the case of some
other of the German conferences in this coun-
try, and that the board of church extension au-
thorize the various conference boards to issue
but such amounts as may be collected within
their own boards, in accordance with their Judg-
ment, reporting their action to the parent board
for recognition in the annual reports"
This report gave rise to extended discus
sion, and was finally laid or the table.
The following telegram was received by Rev.
Dr. Kynett, the corresponding secretary:
CINCINNATI, o., Nov. ID.
To A. j. Kynett, D. D.. Philadelphia:
The evening papers tell US of a sensational re-
port about defacation in your society. Better wire
as the exact conditions Immediately.
Dr. Kynett read the telegram to the general
committee and the following telegram was Or
dered to be sent. by unanimous vote:
Messrs. Cranston Stowe, Cincinnati, o.:
Reports concerning defalcation in the church
extension Office utterly unfounied The accounts
have been adudted and found correct
S. NJ. MERRILL, Chairman.
S. j. MCCONNELL, Secretery.
just before the adjournment. Secretary Nc
Council called the committees attention to the
fact that a communication from Thomas Price
had been referred to special committee yester-
day, and that the committee was now ready to
report
Bishop Harris called for the report. but
before it could be given, motion declaring
that it was ineXpedient to discuss the matter at
this time, was made
DR.. Kynett, the corresponding secretary, OPP
posed this, and said that the communication
contained some grave charges against him, and
that he was unwilling to rest under such lmpu-
tations. He wanted the matter discussed, but
finally agreed to postpone it for the present and
the motion declaring that discussion at the
present moment would be expedient prevailed.
Dr. Kynett requested the members of the
press not to make any reference to this commu-
nication, but Mr.. Price, after the adjournment.
distributed to the reporters printed copies OF his
communication. The following are the princi-
pal extracts
First, will direct your attention to facts in
regard to the German work. The large amounts re-
ceived from and donated to several of the German
conferences led me to inquire of some of your mem
bers for explanation. To my great surprise, |
learned that no money was from or donated
to the Germans; that the Germans were allowed to
collect and distribute their moneys without the inter
vention of your board; that when you claim,
part of your work the collection of $40 500 in
1883 from the Germans, you swell your receipts to
that amount beyond the truth and by 80 doing swell
your collections to $108, 433, when, in fact, you col
lected only 1888, BAL. In 1854, your claim of having
collected $108.759 must be reduced by deducting
$19,171, collected by the Germans, leaving your
tire collections but 500 $685. again. in report for
1888 you claim to have given to the Germans 800
693, making your total donations 1874. 54S when in
fact your donations were but $73, 800, as you had
nothing whatever to do with the $40 693 which the
Germans disposed of themselves.
Excuse me If suggest that this method of swelling
your accounts would not be thought honest in the
business world. Is it the province of great church
board to lower the standard of business moralsl Are
you not misleading the church to the magnitude of
your work. If you would not lose the confidence of
all thoughtful people, beg you in the future to omit
there
After calling attention to the heavy expenses
of the board and other matters, he mentions
several things which he regards violations of
the revised charter of the board and threatens
to call the attention of Governor Pattison to
them. He accuses the board of being careless
in its management, and refers in sarcastic terms
to that part of the boards report which states
that they have $40 900 in marketable securi-
ties" or, as he understands it. stocks.
At the afternoon session no action was taken
on Mr.. Prices communication. Dr. Kynett, who
has been for fifteen years the executive officer
of the society, said to night GAS the paper is
in the hands of the special committee, do not
care to discuss its merits, although the charges
can be easily disposed Of Mr. Price has been a
bitter enemy of the society from the beginning.
His paper is tissue of misrepresentation
which cannot for moment be sustained"