New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-16

Or Talmasc has taken n rcSoluie STAND
against n renewal of the financial emparrdSS
ments under which he has been hDorlnS lor
many wears He has declared that all me dep's
Of the Brooklyn Tabernacle must be iiquldateu
and at least S2SOOOO secured before ne VIII
cntcr into another church-buildinE enterprise
This decision may involve the disDandh'h' "'
his large congregation. but II Is cr'dltapI' 10
his business sagacity and good sense. Inc IT,
buIlding Of the Tabernacle on the present size
with another debt Of S2O0,VD would be dun
der almost criminal for experience has SHOWN
that while he il a popular preacher capable "t
drawing about him great audiences, lie cannot
depend upon them for the financial support re-
onlrcd 10 pay for costly structures largely Dull'
ON credit Himself possessing business shr'Wu-
ness and practical ability in no ordinary ne
cree. he has expended the best years OF his ne
IN miuistcring 10 u congregation which was
hoprlcssy involved in debt lie cannot be CEN
sur.d If he refuses TO 60 through another cam
paign Of this harassing and dcmoraliZlhg
nature.
TN, burdens OF church Indebtedness nave
cricyously oppressed nearly all religious com
munIops in large cities during recent years.
| 4 large portion Of the twenty-five years during
which DR.. Littlciohn has been Bishop of Long
Island passed without any increase in III" mum
her Of churches in Brooklyn The cty's growth
was very rapid. and new wards were constantly
added: but the Episcopal Church with all its
resources Of wealth could not keep abreast with
| the population The reason was practical one.
When he was consecrntcd Bishop nearly all the
churches were heavily in debt, and there was
no money to spare for building new churches
/ liz i,.ta
population 1t has only been within few years
| Thar This Indebtedness has been in the main
paid of. and that new churches have sprung
| M I'm all directions During a large part of The
cpscopate. which Is commemorated with special
services this week. the progress Of the Church
has been hampercd. If not paralyzcd by an ex-
| hausting struggle over church debts.
Othcr religious bodies have had similar eX-
pcrlencc In I'LL large cities. Splendid structures
have been reared, but have been plastcred from
roof TO basement with mortgages. large por
| ton Of the income Of many congregations Is re-
| auired for the payment Of interest on old debts
| incurred by one generation and saddlcd upon
| another This is policy which has exhausted
| the resources OF churches, concentrated theG
| efforts upon their own maintenance, ana dlmn
ished the efficiency of mission work nj nome
! and abroad. OftcntlmcS lHc 'oSlil 'h"i N"''
have ceased 10 be- effective working agencies
before the mortgages upon them have been paid
| There have been radical changes in the sections
| ~ cities where they stand, the congregations
have moved away from them, and they have
| bccn surrounded either with business blocks ol
with tencments. Then again, there are mort
| goged churches which have been built under
the influence of popular preachers and thel
| abandoned 10 successors OF inferior drawing
| mower who have been unable to make head
way against the original indebtedness. The evi
consequences Of church debts which are too
heavy 10 be easily carried are recognized among
ou religious denominations. The necessity fol
= reform in bodybuilding enterprises Is Too
Obvious to require argument or explanation
There will be better religion in the world. ant
moro Of II. when the business affairs 81
churches are conducted more prudently, ant
whom new structures far in advance of the re-
ouIrcments Of those worshipplng In them arr
not built and then left heavily encountered Will
dcbt The true interests OF rel gOn will he pro
NOTED whenever strong reaction sells II
against reckless banking upon the future ant
wanton improvdence in running heavily INT
debt for the sake OF having ornate archl
lecture and spacious interiors. There are al
ready signs Of such reaction and DR.. TAI
IMAGES recent experience In Brooklyn Is warn