New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
RELIGION AND BUSINESS.
METHODS OF THE CHRISTIAN BUREAU.
SIX PER CENT OFFERED ON INVESTMENTS. AND
HINTS OF TEN THOUSAND PER CENT.

Public attention has been called in the last few
days to the Christian Business Bureau. in the
American Tract Society Building There probably
before such tumble of Scripture texts
and percentages its little pamphlet Best In
vestment Securities" To the everyday business
man firm of brokers or promoters going into
business with such indistinguishable mixture
of religious precepts and business propositions
might absurd But the projectors OF the
Christian Business Bureau profess panied sur
prise that anybody can Go business IN any other
way than theirs.
reporter of The Tribune called at the bureau
yesterday learn what he could about it, and he
there Brother William F. Davis and Brother
Gavin Houston pronounced Hoostonl. who seem
to compose it, Brother Houston confesses TO being
the general secretary but such is Brother Davis's
adherence of titles that it little difficult for
him place himself accurately in the organization
In reply the reporters question to whether
he was the president. or what he said that he
might be called the bureaus field agent or ''re
sponsibe representative" Brother Houston ap-
proved both these designations. preferrng the
former The reporter preferred the latter as being
a trffe less vague.
Il did not get thy name said Brother Davis TO
the reporter
Possibly that was because did not mention it,
the reporter answered handing his card
"Ah, yes said Brother Davis. thy name comes
very home to me. Friend -. took young
man of thy name into my home in Michigan many
years ago. but thou canst not be the same"
The reporter was not the same.
Both Brother Davis and Brother Houston had
flowing boards and soft voices. and they were as
benevolent looking men dealt in securities.
Brother Davis did the most of the talking, and
the reporter sat with them he learned much OF the
business methods Of the bureau and accumulated
much literature. He paid five cents for the PAM
phet already mentioned inscribed without Riches
That Bless-Best Investment Securittes-True
the Bible" All the were presents. There
leafet setting forth the purposes and principles
Of ba buraa Lot need n facsimile.
from a Brooklyn clergyman. indOrsing II; sermon
by Brother Davis. entitled Christianity. Not Sec
tarianism Gods Order for the Church; small
tract entitled What did God make to damn
forever for?' being a dialogue between Brother
Davis and a lumberman named Culhane: another
tract by Brother Davis. entitled Words. and
notice of a house and some lots in the Thousand
Islands for sale.
The leahet referred TO contains this summary con-
corning the bureau:
This bureau Cd is a buying and selling agency on
strictly cash basis; ( places Investments in the
just rates: S) refers it's patrons TO
e9c6 9ts sGienshc and business f a. aets as
bureau of information for true inGurers in the
Information will be answered if accompanied by 81;
the country. which are continually increasing in
number and influence; 90 proves. before approving,
We ought. profess what we are''-Christians.
The pamphlet Best Investment securties' Is
made up chiefly of passages of Scripture. with
few other hints such
Any one. every one. who implicitly Obeys these
directions will most surely receive in tAS present
life 10000 per cent his sacrifice investment. OF
temporal good things. with prosecutions and in tho
world come life eternal
How does this bureau guarantee such profits a.
those?'' the reporter asked
Read the next three paragraphs Brother Davis
answered: thou wilt find the answer there
The next three paragraphs were;
Then Peter began 10 say unto him. 10. have
left all and have followed thee.
And Jesus answered and said, Verify say unto
Won There is no that hath left house.
or children or lands. for my sake. and the Gospels
But he shall receive an hundredTold now IN TINS
and brethren. and sisters, ana moth
ers and children and lands. with prosecutions: and
in the world TO come eternal hfe.-tMark x, $50
lis not an hundredfold 10000 per cent? Brother
Davis asked The reporter could not deny It. but
the two ways OF putting II sounded different Ihss
Is Gods promise, ours said Brother DAVIS
In short. set forth that IT any proven
Christian wished 10 deposit money Win the bureau
land IL would receive IL from no other1 the bureau
would guarantee per cent and no more. though
II had hitherto been It's custom 10 give occaslonal
bonuses In addition -. :.
Brother Davis.
Brother Davis objected to the designation OF
CLERGYMAN II have been preaching Tor forty
years" he said II was put in Charlestown jail
ive times for preaching on Boston common AFTER
that they gave permits 10 ANYBODY VINO asked Tor
them I never asked for one but went on preach
ing wherever i chose"