New-York tribune., 1907-12-23
DIR. AKED RAISES $1,000,
HITS FROM SHOULDER.
UouId Retire Rather Than Stomach
Chwcks System of Finance.

want Sf,Pp from You before Won leave this
church this morning. said the Rev Dr. c. T.
sked. pastor of the Fifth Avenue Raptist
Church, addressing the congregation at the
morning service yesterday ito paw off a deficit
on the current account. I do not like the sys-
,era of finance in this church / would not con-
template a permanent ministry in this church
were such financial system to continue here
II isn't fair 10 me You have no right to put 4
man in charge of a church when you won't
support him 1t is not fair to the church"
Cards were distributed among the congrega-
ton which. DR.. Aked said. could be used to
write contributions payable within two weeks
hy those who did have enough loose
money" with them to put upon the collection
plates MIR. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller and
Mr. and Mrs John D. Rockefeller jr occupied
their pew. 1t at the close of the service
that DIR. Aked plunged into the subject of the
finances of the church. Preceding his money
plea by thanking the church on behalf of HIM
self and Mrs. -Aked for the uniform Kindness
courtesy and consideration shown them since
his taking charge of the pastorate he then re-
marked:
while I acknowledge your kindness l ask
you complete it this morning by retiring me
from a position L find distastefuI- You know
that every year there has been deficit in the
current account to this church. l want $1,000
from you before you leave this church this
morning
This is inheritance from the past have
nothing TO do with this debt. 1t has been the
custom for the last forty years to settle the
deficit of the current account at the end Of each
wear ] don't like this system Pew rents are
not sufficient TO pay this account though all
hut half dozen good pews are rented. The
income cannot be made larger from that source
,l,o
template a permanent ministry in this church
were the financial system now in force to be
continued
1T has been said that every Englishman is an
island. surrounded by good body Of water. be
fore you get TO him: well, hope you will get
very close to this morning by crossing that
body OF water with your contributions. While
] am grateful to the large givers who have done
much for the church, I'll not be the least shy
Of larger sums Yet to come. We labor under
the disadvantages of our advantages. We have
the advantage Of having persons associated with
this church who have large amounts of money,
and others say go TO them for money as it is
much of an effort for who haven't so
much money.
1T is not fair; it IS spirit. 1t has
raised I'D q crowd Of stingy souls who won't
support the church.
1T isn't fair 80 You have right to
put a man In charge Of that church when you
won't support him 1t isn't fair to the church.
/ am tired of hearing this church called Mr.
Smiths. Mr. Browns or Mr.. Robinson's church.
i want seven thousand dollars before you leave
the church. The finances must be reorganized
SO that nothing Of this kind can happen
aeain-
Il never want to ask you again for money as
long as live; not IL should be your minister
for twenty years. until ask you for money with
which 70 build the church
You in the congregation who suppose be-
your father is going to give a large sum
viii relieve you of giving must also contribute
your share. When the trustees gave me a list
OF those who had given for this debt last year
and 1 saw the names thereon Of those who
gave what they gave. and the names of those
who should have given. but did not, / won't
tell you what I said. If you give more than
$1,000 II will be credited the coming year
There are many things that wish to do in this
church for which money is needed II more
is given than asked for ii viii be used for the
many things want to DO for the church"
The congregation seemed surprised. Then Dr.
Aked added: II hope you will take this matter
seriously. If the amount is raised 1 will an
nounce il before the congregation DEPARTS
after the choir had finished singing and the
collection baskets had gathered in the money
exclusive of the cards, there was a wait OF fVe
minutes, and then. no report Of the amount
having reached MI Aked, he arose and said he
would announce the amount collected when the
evening service began. Just then a young
man approached the pulpit and whispered that
the money had been raised Then Mr.. Aked in
11Rmed the congregation
in his sermon DR.. Aked said that business,
finance the claims of society and the life OF
the world received too much attention and
Christianity too little
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