Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-23
CALLS FLOCK ST|NGY
RockefeIIer's Pastor Rebukes His
 k, Congregation.
DIR. AKED HINTS HE'S TIRED.
Wanted $7,oo0 to Pay Deficit In Cur rent Account of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and Gets It After Threat to Quit.


 rent Account of the Fifth Avenue
 Baptist Church and Gets It After
 Threat to Quit.
 New York, Dec. 23.-Denouncing the stinginess of many of the wealthy members of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, the Rev. Dr. c. F. Aked at the close of the morning service de- manded that the congregation contrib ute $7,000 to the church before the men and women left their seats. The money, he said, was needed to-pay the deficit in the current account, and he warned the members that he would not occupy the pulpit of the church permanently unless there was radical change in the financial system.
 John D. Rockefeller and his wife and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and his wife were among those who heard the de- mand, and they wrote their names on cards which were passed around and on which those who had no "loose change" with them were told to desig- nate what they would contribute.
 The church of which Dr. Aked is pastor is one of the wealthiest in the city. From the remarks of the clergy man it was evident, however, that many of the members when contribu- tions were sought from them had re- fused to give money on the ground that the Rockefellers and the other multimillionaires in the church could better afford to give it. Dr. Aked made it plain he was tired of the con tinual haggling about finances that was going on in the church, and so strong was his plea for $7,000 that after the collection baskets had been emptied of their contents he announce ed that the desired amount had been obtained.
 Before the collection was taken Dr. Aked thanked the members of the church for their uniform kindness to him and to Mrs. Aked, and then he said:
 "While I acknowledge your kindness I ask you to complete it by retiring me from a position which I find dis tasteful. You know that every year account of this church. I want $7,000 from you, therefore, before you leave this church. I would not contemplate a permanent ministry in this church if the financial system now in force here was to be continued. sr, .s,--s. E., -s7., ,r--t
 It has been said that every Eng lishman is an island surrounded by a body of water. We'll, hope you will get very close to me this morning by crossing that body of water with your contributions. While am grateful to the large givers, who have done so much for the church, I'll not be the least bit shy of larger amounts yet to come. We labor under the disadvan- tage of our advantages. We have the advantage of having persons associat- ed with this church who have large amounts of money and the disadvan- tage of others saying Go to them for money, as it is too much of an effort for us, who haven't so much, to give it.,
 Tt is not fair. It is a mean spirit It has raised up a crowd of stingy souls who will not support the church. It isn't fair to me. You have no right to put man in charge of this church when you will not support him. It isn't fair to the church. I am tired of hearing this church called Mir. Smiths. Mir. Browns or Mir. Robinson's church. I want $T,OO0 before you leave here. The finances must be reorganized so that nothing of this kind can ever hap pen again. I never want to ask you again for money as long as I live, un- less it is to ask you for money with which to build the new church.
 "When the trustees gave me the list of those who gave for this debt last year and I saw the names of those who gave. what they gave and the names of those who should have given. but did not, I won't tell you what said. If you give more than SI.OOO it will be credited on the coming year."
 Most of the members looked sur prised when they heard the clergy mans appeal for funds, and they seemed relieved when it was announc- ed the desired amount had been con- tributed.
 Bank Note Expert Passes Away.
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