The evening world., 1891-06-20
DID He GIVE $95,OOO I?
NObody'S Business What Rev. Simp-
son Got, Says Aged Mr.. Battin.
In the Berachah Home, but Denies
He Is a Faith Curist.
Ills Children Say Ho Is Being
Wheedled Out of His Fortune.

Joseph Batttn, q stalwart old man OF eighty
| one years, whose head is thatched with snow
white hair, Is stopping at the Berachah Home,
FOrty-fOurth street and Eighth avenue.
His children claim that the old gentleman IL
being wheedled out OF the fortune that he has
amassed during an active life by the influence
Of the Christian Alliance people, who conduct
the home.
1t is said that recently Mr.. Battin decided TO
Rev. Albert b. Simpson, President OF the
Christian Alliance and pastor of the Gospel
Tabernacle, plot OF ground In Elizabeth
N. j., worth $4,000, on which "A tabernacle
is to be erected 1t Is said, also, that the oc-
togenarian has given the leader Of the ALI
ance in New York $4,000 besides; that he
has been led into the fold OF the faith curists
and believes that he can cure the sick by the
laying on OF hands.
The Berachah Home is nve-stOry brick
building, with frontage OF nifty feet 1t IS
connected with the Gospel Tabernacle just
around the corner in Eighth avenue and the
theological college adjoining.
An EVENING WORLD reporter, calling Mt the
Berachah Home this morning, met Joseph
Battin in the lobby. The whitc-haircd old
gentleman carried a fleXible-COvcred " Teach
ers' Bible" in his hand. lie had been leading
the usual morning prayers, and a score OF
elderly and middle-aged people were leaving
the house.
Mr.. Battin peered at the reporter through
gold-rimmed spectacles and said:
at Is true that little more than year
| ago ] resigned from the Presidency OF the
| Elizabeth Water Company, sold my interest,
| retired from business activity and decided 10
| devote the balance OF my life to religious and
| charitable works.
al was O civil engineer. ! prOspered, but
| decided years ago TO leave nothing when
died beyond enough to bury me decently.
| whether gave so much property to the
| Rev. Mr.. simpson or not is nObOdyS business
| l provided amply for my six children, but
| whether they think SO or not Is OF no cOnse-
quenoe to me. Each OF them Is trustee OF
| fund set aside for them, but won't tell you
how large that fund Is. 1t is enough that
| considered 1t SUFFICIENT. II is not true, so far
| as | know, that they are grieved or that they
| are unfriendly to me.
"My children are s. S. and James NJ Bat
| tin, or Newark; Henry Battin, Of Scranton |;
| Lambert Rattin and the widow Mrs II. L.
Barrows, Of Elizabeth, and Mary O., the wife
| OF John W. French, OF Brooklyn.
"Now, do not believe that l can cure by
the laying on OF hands, but ! do believe-I
| knOw-that was cured of varicOse veins by
my own faith In the Divine Healer without
| the intervention OF medicine or treatment by
| Humankind
~ was a Baptist. ] am a Baptist yet
| Faith cure is not taught here, and only yes
| terday in meeting Rev. Mr. Simpson, who is
| now In Chicago In attendance on the Chris
| tian Alliance Convention, repudiated the
faith-curists or Christian Scientists IN his SER
mon at the Tabernacle. Further than this
will not tell you thing"
Miss Warren, middle-aged woman Of pleas
ing manner, said: "You are OF the impression
| that the Christian Alliance prospcrs In the
same manner as did Ann O'Dclia Dias Debar
| IN getting Luthen r. Marsh's property away
| from him, and you are simply cOnfOunding
the Christian Alliance with the Christian
Scientists.
"The Christian Alliance is simply a non
| sectarian church organization with branches
all over the country and missionaries In all
| parts OF the world.
&" The Berachah Home is an abiding place
| for all Chrirtlans, who choose to avail them
selves OF its hospitality. There IS no stated
| or even nothing at all If 100 poor 10 AFFORD IL.
alt is home available for two weeks on
these elastic terms. but when It Is not
crowded one may stay longer. Mr.. Battin has
| been here q month. We have had people here
all Winter long without money and without
price. We have about forty guests at pres
| ent-
| 1.-The Alliance breaches simply that the
rule OF faith is TO be found In the Bible alone.
AS to faith cure, II We're sick ] might tnd
assurance from the Holy Spirit that would
| be cured without human help or might not,
| but no laying on OF hands would help me-"
Around the corner In Eighth avenue the re-
| porter fOund U. s. Schultz, assistant TO Pas
| tors A. b. simpson and A. L. Funk at the Tab
| ernacle and College
| Mr.. Schultz said: Our congregation and
membership is made up or Christians Of all de-
| nominations. our Tabernacle holds cOngre-
| CATION or 700 to 800 every sunday and nearly
| as many at the prayer meetings.
| "Our rule OF faith Is the Holy Bible, and the
| only text book used In the college is the
BiOle. Tuition Is free, and we had 100
students during the term just closed, inClud-
| ing both men and women. They are provided
| with board at % and 80 4 week.
The Church Is free. 1t is supported by
| voluntary contributions. ! know nothing
about Mr.. Battin'S gifts but II he has given
and Mr.. simpson has received the sums you
| have named can see no reason why 1t would
be more improper for the Alliance to receive
the gifts, han for DR.. Talmadgc'S church or
| the Union Theological Seminary TO receive
| like gifts from adoring wOrsh!ppcrS Of the
| Great Healer
"As to receiving such large gifts from one
so advanced In age, that Is matter for the
| conscience"
| MIR. Schultz also denied that the doctrine OF
faith cure was taught by the Alliance.
| He endeavOred to show that the belief
| taught by the Alliance that the Divine
Healer could heal the body, as the Bible said
he could heal the soul, was quite different
| from the doctrine OF the Christian Scientists.
| Old Joseph Battin has long been known as
| an eccentric citizen OF Elizabeth. He gave 10
that city It's beautiful High school bulldog
| and has been famous fDv his charities. HIS
and hEWNR tFF4Lf