The Montgomery tribune., 1910-02-25
FRIENDS OF ILLlNoIsAN, CON.
vicTED OF CONTEMPLATING,
WILL APPEAL TO TAFT.
HAD PLANNED CHURCH MEDALS
Rev. James r. Kaye Experlmented with
Coins, but Passed None of them
--Moulds Found In His Yard
Leads to an Inquiry.

| o'oohiihs Iou, ll.-dardly had the
INK dried on the order of commit
ment to the Peoria workhouse on q
charge OF counterfeiting when friends
OF Rev. James r. Kaye, the Presby
terian minister, who was found guilty
started movement to secure the in
tercession Of President Taft, and the
executive will be appealed to by in.
huential religious and political person.
ages to pardon the central Illinois de.
vine. A wave Of sympathy swept over
central Illinois when the sentence was
passed, and friends Of the clergyman
hastened to start a movement to pro-
cure his release at the earliest pos.
sible moment.
To be taken from the pulpit and
from activity in religious circles and
transferred to the repeliant surround.
ings of municipal prison is an ex.
perience that would completely crush
the ordinary man, but Rev. Kaye sub
mitted to his fate with extraordinary
fortitude, and his patient resignation
Intensified the efforts of his supporters
to secure his freedom.
Noted as Lecturer.
Rev. Kaye has wife, son and
daughter, now residing in Oak Park,
suburb Of Chicago. The clergyman
Is "A years of age. He decided early
In life to become a preacher Of the
gospel and graduated brilliantly in
theology. His scholarship along phil
osophical lines has been recognized by
prominent educators, while his trea-
tise on Theories of Conscience in
Modern Thought" found its way into
many colleges. He has travelled ex-
tensively abroad, paying especial at
tention to sacred sites and archaeolo.
gical researches, and became some
what noted through a series of Illus
trated lectures upon his discoveries
and reflections.
After occupying various eastern
charges, DR.. Kaye was called, in 1892,
to the pastorate Of the Presbyterian
church at Lincoln, thirty miles south
of here. He was especially interested
N the work among children, and Ia
bored to interest them in church and
Sunday school attendance. He con-
,eived the idea of stimulating interest
oy Offering prizes for the most regular
attendance, and decided that a series
II medals Of varying size and final
'eward Of bible would be the most
satisfactory and most successful selec-
Ion. Inquiry as to the cost Of these
Medals developed the fact that the |
expense would be greater than the
lender treasury Of the Sunday school
ould afford. Rev. Kaye thereupon de-
ided to experiment and see If he
ould not make them himself. His first
fort was to make suitable mold.
Ie decided to make the medals in four
ICES, corresponding to the dime,
uarter, half dollar and dollar.
Before going to the expense Of OBJ
aiming dies made Of the impressions
D appear upon the medals, and having
othing else to experiment with, he
sed the silver coins of the United
tates mint and also pennies. In his
pare moments he carried on his ex-
eriments, telling his friends and men,
ers of his congregation what he was
ding and asking for suggestions.
After working for some weeks, he
,und that his efforts were a failure
ecause of the brittleness Of the
lolds. Finally he gave up the entire
cries Of experiments in disgust and
rev the molds and pieces of metal
ito the back yard. Here the abandon
] molds were found and the states
ttorney informed. The clergyman
as soon charged with counterfeiting.
g freely told of his experiments and
, evidence was furnished by the pro-
'cuting attorney that he had ever
ade coin or passed one, or even at
mpted to do so. In no vital particu-
r was his testimony disputed. Mem
,rs Of his church testified earnestly
his behalf, but dispite the defense.
jury found him guilty and he was
ntenced to two years imprisonment. ,