The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-23
TABERNACLE FUNDS SHORT.
INVESTIGATION or THE ACCOUNTS OF
F1.TREISURER JOHN WOOD

$4,000, and Espert Accountant David
a., VIII swear it I. over SCI ,oOo-An
AppesI 90 the PubIie by the Trustees
what Russell sage says About the Matter
r,srybody who IL interested in Brooklyn's
largest church knows that year or so ago
"a. was a series OF lawsuits brought
.e.Inst the Brooklyn Tabernacle by A. Il
Tong and other tradesmen for the pay
n.ut OF certain notes given By John
wood as treasurer OF the Tabernacle. In pay
msnt for work done on the new building.
Tyerybody knows too. that last October the
.nuual election resulted In the election OF j.
" BIrEett for treasurer in place OF Mr..
wood. and OF Board OF eight trustees. OF
vhom only two. Messra Birkett and ]. H.
Carson, had been mem bers OF the old Board.
But only those on tho inside have known
that these sweeping changes In the Official
roll Of the church we're in any way the result
n Investigations begun when the lawsuits
we're brought
The a1idayits presented by Messra Tong
and Wood were carefully examined by the
various officers OF tho church. particularly by
Msssrs {. 5. DurllnR. Birkett, and W. u. Mead,
who constituted the Auditing Committee. and.
according to Mr.. Blrkett and several others,
twas found that n number OF the bills had
been paid TWICE. Itst with cash ana nltcrWaru
with notes This information being placed be-
fore the old Board OF Trustees. consisting OF
Messrs. T. II. Branch. J. II. Ferguson. W. Il.
Mead f. NJ. Lawrence Joseph f Carson, ].
W Birkott. c, $. Durling. and C. ID. Peurce. It
was decided to employ an expert accountant
10 20 over Mr.. Woods books. and Arno David
son OF 2U0 Macon street was chosen for this
duty.
He presented his report some tlmc ago to
the new Board. which consists OF +. q.
Matthews, I. u. Dimon. T. pitbladdo,
A. + Coates. A. W. Hendricks. J. W.
Btrkett, J. + Carson. and John Hanscom.
He found. he says. many things indicating
VA bs onnI sIso no aJJs thar ,hr 'cT
more than S2l.UOO which had unm istakably
been appropriated to his own use by Mr.. Wood.
Aa result o; these investigations which
had not at that tino boon com peted, MIR. Wood
vas invited II OCTOBER last to appear before
an explanation. lie is said to have
admitted the shortage in his accounts
careless in his method Of bookkeeping and
would refund the amount he owed as soon as
4 could lie learned. lie has not refunded 1t so
Mr. Birkett said last evening that since this
inquiry tegan MIR. Wood has made over to his
dealer at 900 Fulton street and his bus
mess cred have brought suit against his
vile ior this real csttte. so that Il is now
church to recover the money owed them. MIR.
Brkett said that 1t was matter for tho Grand
jury, and that Il would undoubtedly come be-
fore them In the near future.
Mr.. Leonard Moody. to whom this story was
taken before Mr.: Birkett was seen. was averse
Vas unfortunately true.
. We were told" said Mr.. Moody. whom We
that the finances OF the church were in good
condition. and that Mr.. Sage would not trouble
Us for the interest on his little hill OF Sl25UO0
Hahela lack a bart Of the principal to meet
him for interest and he wants it, / do
not blame him for wanting It,. but 1
% blame the former trustee for rep
more nourishing condition than they are. Be-
s aides the G debts due Mr sage there Is
has judgments against us in these amounts
that must be met.
WILL ~ % not 70! want to sss ANYTHING against Mr.
time. the facts must come out soon"
"A gentleman who, Is not member Of the
euAinted with the finances OF the church, is
tqthority for the statement that Mr..
. sSSs To' casS for e9 sbs to
.tshs IKE sStfSsl he ct slut a and l0c sisi
treasurer has TWO, Of the trustees s' al.
Ways present when he receives and counts
ss s S s1c Rsaet M %on5 , to al.
ssppaTent earelessness in financial matters. |
sst Dr, Talmage would never listen. He al;
Na!ousies. Suspicion was first awakened Ia |
'IW5G n FIN In connection with the Tong suits
twelve iU1G tb saq made AFFIDAVIT that he had
~. numbered 2sS 0 to 566 iae aS PONDS
ultimate f friend sGns e r wo %9o p %ri
hsr pew rent on ono occasion with coupons |
slipbed from the bonds which Mr., Tong swore |
MAT time made ,alfidayit that Mr. Tong held |
zen bonds which did not belong to him..
Mood and long, According to this seniIenan.
sna 1 N0N SG9nehed for by both lAiessrs Eirkett
A reference to the check book OF Mr.. Wood
t eessL shows that hG paid the same bill
IA third queer ind by tho examiners OF
t SS SO made by Alfred + Tong Ss'' to
S me-. word treasurer'', after Mr.. Woods
SoIS: and Tho word painting" after the
sTSs ni Sa see9nnt" but according e Tn,
0.hh'ing Were written with u different kind
WhsI TN XII ne rest Of the receipt,
snsstm uueed 20 make an affidavit that the
s ,eeA Was not for church work at all bur WINS
M HAe matter between Mr. Wood and him
.w wlesn Mr. Wood was confronted with this
Ss..sN Ne broke down. and admitted that IL
MIpnNate check, lie offered 10 pay M for
Ia, ATS SAID blythe same authority that bill
III, Wspleol paint presented by Mr.. Tong Ia
di..SOoi was $1,000 out OF the way to the
BIrts, image Of the church. According to Mr.
over III M Msi Woods shortages may foot up
last Az trustees held a meeting at the church
susssS- a@ and the case OF Mr., Wood was dis
dlssSs.!Lt ssslgnation Of DIR. Talmage was also
thatIItl aud II was the general sentiment
be piasass financial affairs OF the church could
be indnssSStn hrm basis Dir, Talmage could
drasn ppeal to the citizens OF Brooklyn was
LeeomnIis.tr setting forth the great work
Of tTsDts H ga By the pastor during his service
pls al Py'nfs years. and asking the peo-
could tosooAiYn 10 contribute whatever they
tHOO60 HTd paying OF the entire debt OF
HlD Inc trustees present subscribed
MOOD soorSEd the whole amount aud Mr.
give 81 6s s.a that he knew OF many who would
wy be raised Va 'O"''''On 'h@' 'ho WINS
hs ofscasee was seen during the afternoon at
tVsd net st broadway. lie said he had re-
lIels w mug from hts loan to the TabeT-
Wan ~, he was OF the Impression that
Va IN M, Ialmags realized that he
h which ~ sIIe responsible Tor the position
N0uld iHa,hiSs church found itself. and that il
lelgnibS aul e 10 ruin ~ lie persisted in
toRabJiS x ne would reconsider mis- determine
NSh' out until all was paid.