The Portland daily press., 1891-09-29
THERE WAS A THIEF IN THE CHURCH.
Pastors Resigned and Sought Nav
FIslds Because Of Him.
Deacons Said Hard Things and once
Came to Blows.
Finally They Found the Robbers Lair,
a Birds Nest of creenbacks.

NORTH PLAINS, Conn, September 28.-
While tearing away an ivy vine from the
side OF the Baptist church OF this place, Sat
urday, sparrow's nest was discovered that
was built almost completely Of bank notes Of
denominations ranging from 81 to IS. When
the bills had all been collected the nest was
found to be worth s52.
This discovery probably explains mys.
terry that has hung like a cloud upon the
church society for three years and which has
been the cause Of several splits In the con-
gregation and the withdrawal from that
pastorate OF three ministers. During that
time there have been several thefts by which
the church funds have severely suffertds
and though the money was taken under cir
cumstances that warranted the belief that
there was thief In the church society, ali
Efforts TO corner the guilty one failed.
In August, 1888, one OF the deacOns OF the
church set the box containing the collection
OF money that he had taken from the com
gregation on the altar near the pulpit stand.
~ was day for special contribution, and
the collection was unusually large. When
the money came TO be counted BY the treas
urer the amount was found to be five dollars
short OF the sum mentioned by the deacon,
who, upon examination, declared that lve
dollar note was missing. A careful watch
caught.
Two months later the same deacon did the
same thing, and this time so note disap-
peared. This mysterious vanishing OF
money was not pleasing TO the members OF
the society, and the pastor, In an unguarded
moment, kinted that he believed that
Deacon Hocomb knew more about the dis
appearance OF the money tnan he cared TO
tell. This remark preclpltated q church
row, and the congregation divided. The
factions came together again, when the
pastor finally resigned.
The next incumbent OF the parish was a
young man, without family, who loved the
things OF the world. One Sunday when a
one dollar note was missed from the cOntri-
button box old orthodox Deacon Traverse
promptly called the preacher "a sneak thief"
The worldly young minister didn't preach 10
the people Of North Plains again.
During the three years preceding the dis
covery OF the sparrows' nest bills now and
then would mysterlOusly disappear from the
contribution box OF the North Plains
church.
In the summer Of 1890 So note was miss
ed one Sunday, and two Of the deacons came
to blows over the matter In the church. This
resulted In the church dividing. and until
cold weather brought about a healing Of the
wound, one Of the factions held services In a
tent pitched on vacant lot, opposite the
church.
contribution box, and as consequence OF
the trouble and gossip that followed the pas
tor resigned, and there has been no regular
ly residing pastor there since.
The vine was being torn away TO enable
carpenters to make repairs on the outside Of
the church. 1t Is thought that the sparrow
hew into the windows OF the churcn when
they were open during the hot summer days,
and taking the bills unEoticed, wOve them
Into the walls OF its nest.