The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-10
FINANCES OF A CHURCH
REV. FREDERIC e. DEwHURsT
CONGRATULATE HIS PEOPLE.
He Speaks EncOuraginGIy of the
Church Debt-The Sermon at the
Fourth Presbyterinn.

|
day were of a congratulatory character.
the church having during the last week re-
funded it's debt on such advantageous terms
as to save it considerable interest in the flu
ture, and at the same time providing a
method by which fair amount of the prin-
cipal will be liquidated annually The pastor
of the church. Rev. Frederic e. Dewhurst,
not only marked the occasion by the de-
livery of a special sermon, which he termed
IAN annual message" but he also caused a
handsomely printed New Years greeting to
be distributed among the members on one
page of which is letter in which he says
Il trust it is not too late to wish you all
a happy new year This year. 1898, has in
at least one particular a happy and auspi-
cious beginning for Plymouth Church. 1t is
an occasion of real gratitude and rejoicing
that the bonded debt of the church, which
fell due on the first day of this year, has
been refunded in such way as to make it
possible for US now to retire several hundred
dollars each year. and thus eventually ex-
tinguish the debt"
The bonded debt Of the church is about
$4,000 1t was incurred fifteen years ago.
when the present edifce was erected, and
while no part of this original bonded debt
has been reduced the church paid off float
ing indebtedness of about $4,000 six or seven
years ago. The interest on the bonded debt
has always been met promptly, and the
financial credit of the church has conse-
quently been excellent. An evidence of this
is found in the fact that the bonds have
practically foated at par. BY the new ar
rangement the old bonds, which bore an
interest OF per cent, will be taken up and
per cent. bonds issued in their place. One
financial institution in the East has taken
600 of this new issue and the balance
of $1,000 has been subscribed for by members
of the church. The interest saved by the
operation, together with some special do
nations, will so into a sinking fund, which
VIII be used to take up as fast as possible
the $4,000 of bonds carried by church men,
bers. DIR. Dewhurst says that this plan will
enable the church to liquidate $500 of it's debt
year.
RENTS OFFSETTTNG INTEREST.
THE church." says he, lis in a sound
financial condition. Its revenue in the way
of rent for offices and for the auditorium
has paid more than half of the interest
charge, even in the recent years of depres-
sion With better times the rent obtained
for the auditorium will be much increased.
| think that within ten years the rents will
offset the interest charge on the debt
DR.. Dewhurst made the material condition
OF the church the basis for his sermon in
the morning. After congratulating the mem
bers on this score he said that a church
was an expensive luxury unless it had
spiritual SuperStructure to put on the top
of its material fundation
. just IN the Degree" continued he, that
the church becomes free and ernancipated
to that degree does it become more essential
TO human life, and, for my own part / feel
That as the merely traditional meaning of
the cnurch loses its interest for me the
more find myself standing by the church
as real and permanent verify" DR. Dew
hurst then made reference to the will of
Henry M. Taber, Of New York, an account
OF which recently appeared in the papers.
Identified with many humanitarian projects
and among other positions he held was that
of president of the board of trustees of the
First Presbyterian Church of New York In
MS VIII Mr.. Taber declared that the church
was sham, and that all religions, including
Christianity, were mere Superstitions Con-
sIdering the positions held by this man."
SAID Or. DeWhurst, his declarations in his
Will are most astonishing. The most re-
markable thing, however, is that q man of
lnlelngencel and culture and breadth of mind
living at the close of the nineteenth CEN
turys should not be able to separate the
should be able to discuss the essential and
permanent value in the church and not iden-
tify the superficial and traditional things
with the Kernel of truth that the church
contains: The church is an eternal fact
nothing has ever taken its place or can take
its place. When we allow ourselves to be-
come Indifferent to 1t, when intellectual in
terests are permitted to crowd out our in
terest In 1t, we do ourselves and our fellow
men hurt for which ii is hard to find a
healing"
DR.. Dewhurst closed by calling the atten-
ton of the congregation to the different or
CARNATIONS within Plymouth Church and
urged every one to take an interest in some
one branch of the church's many activities