Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-22
SWINDLED A CHURCH.
DR.. Littell, Of the Second U. p, Pub
fishes a Strong Card About
AN IMPOsTOR WHO COULD NOT LIE.
He Claimed to be q Convert From the He
brew Faith and
MADE A NICE LIVING OUT OF HIS PIETY

The people connected with the Second
United Presbyterian Church, Sixth avenue,
are somewhat perturbed in spirit. 1t is
even said that some o. them mourn the loss
of q goodly number of dollars, although
they have an equivalent in experience.
A little over year ago George j. Lind
ner, protesting to be from Yonkers, N. Y,
called upon Rev. DR.. D. S. Littell, pastor
of the Second Church. Mr.. Lindner stated
that be was q Hebrew convert to the doc
trines of the United Presbyterian Church.
He was desirous OF entering the ministry
that he might show the Jewish people into
what grievous errors they had fallen. Piteous
were the tales he told of the privations he
had undergone since he had forsaken the
Hebrew faith, and had been thrust out of his
home by his father.
Lindner was we'll educated fellow,
splendid Hebrew scholar. and of such good
address that the members OF the Second
Church are inclined to the belief that he
would have taken in and done up an angel
had the opportunity presented itself. With
all his deep learning,
LINDNER WAS NOT HANDSOME.
He was below the medium height, lisped
slightly, wore glasses and fringe OF reddlsh
whisker, which called forth from those
given to levity divers vulgar remarks In re-
gard to whiskers on the moon, etc.
Shortly after his appearance here Mr..
Lindner was taken into the church as men,
ber. In order to support himself he can
vassed the congregation for the sale of sew
eral religious books. To assist him, Rev.Dr.
Littell furnished him with letters of intro
duction andr ecommendation.
The v0nnO convert WAS VerV enthueialt
on the subject OF Hebrew Christian mis-
sion. He obtained permission to hold meet
ings in the church on Saturdays, with this
end in view. He solicited subscriptions to
help the cause, and had an immense amount
of literature printed for gratuitous distri-
button among the Hebrews of the city. DR..
Littell took q deep interest in the work of the
mission, but soon found that he was doing
the work, while Mr.. Lindner attended to
the pleasing duty of gathering in the funds
for the support Of the mission.
WANTED THEIR MONEY.
Soon complaints were showering upon the
church people-confding landladies, print
ers and liverymen began to clamor for the
cash to liquidate accounts contracted by Mr..
Lindner, who had introduced himself as the
associate pastor of the Second q. P.
Church" The elders of the church called
the young mans attention to the matter,
and ne promised to settle.
Lindner soon left the Second Church,
and was next heard of as a convert attache
of the Bethany Home, the church of the
disciples of the Faith Cure. While here he
was taken sick and sent to the Homeopathic
Hospital, several charitable persons defray-
ing his expenses while there. Upon his re-
covery he Immediately returned to his
former pursuits. Not meeting with much
success, he left the city and went to New
York State, where he is now operating.
DIR. Littell, when seen by a DISPATCH
reporter last night, said:
MAKING UP LOST TIME.
ST regret to say that we were badly fooled
by the young man. AS soon as heard of
his contracting bills in the name of our
church L demanded the return OF the letters
of recommendation 1 had given him.
He assured me that he had de-
stroved them. From letters of in
quiry have lately received,
1 am led to believe that he still has them
and is putting them to a wrongful use.
Lindner was remarkably bright fellow, but
he was too much given to a contemplation
of the scriptural command. "Consider the
lilies, which toll not, neither co
they spin.' Upon being admitted into the
of our church, he assured me
he had never told q lie. From my ac-
quaintance with him, I believe him to be
making up lost time"
Mr.. Littell is out in a card in this weeks
issue of the United Presbyterian, warning
the brethren to have nothing to do with the |
impostor.