Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-20
NEWELL DWIGHT HILLS
CONFESSES IN PULPIT
Famous Pastor OF Plymouth Church
Admits Speculation Puts Him on
Brink of Bankruptcy.
BAREs SOUL BEFORE HIS FLOCK
Members of Congregation Weep as
Beloved Pastor Tells of Deeds, AMI
Then All Join in Remarkable DEM
onstrntion of Trust and Affection.
Especial TO The r!mes-Dispatch. ]

Especial 20 The Times Dispatchl
NEW YORK September l?.-Rcv
Newell DwiEh, Hills. u. d. famous
greEational Church. in BROOKLYN, in his
pulpit to-day confessed to n congreea-
I ton that wept while he spoke. that no
had speculated and was now on the
brink OF bankruptcy He confessed
that lie had loved position too much.
and that nc had cherished his own in
terests while he neglected the sick,
the poor. the friendlcss and the boys
and girls OF hungry minds
DR.. Hills fervently deplored the eff
feet that his example might have had
| on the minds OF Young men studying
FOR the Christian ministry, and humbly
confessed that he was ashamed TO state
how much ne made rs a lecturer and
writer I'm view Of the little wages OF
working people and the poor
Not since DIR. HiiliS'S iliustrious pre-
deco sor-Ncnry Ward Beechcr-in the
same pulpit sold the humble slave girl
:ifty-fve years ago has New York
clergyman so barred his soul before his
flock. Not in all the years of DR..
, Hiiliss brilliant career as clergyman
and lecturer has he SO arisen in elo
quence or fervor. Simply. slowly. and
briefly he confessed his failure. and
said he would soon start life anew
without property and without debts.
HEARERS SWAY FORWARD
As PASTOR SPEAKS
Ills hearers swayed forward as he
spoke. Men made no effort 10 cloak
their feelings. Like the women beside
them, they permitted tears to now over
their cheeks, and when IL was all over
they thronged to the pulpit. wrung the
hands of their beloved pastor. and told
him his sorrows We're their sorrows,
his woes their woes, and his burdens
theirs also.
He scared above all that he had
planned for this his first sermon after
the summer months; he threw aside his
studied address, discourse on The
Slowness Of the Universe. Its swift
ness Also as the Ground OF Hope and
Optimism" and launched forth upon
simple but eloquent talk on The Fas-
cination OF Jesus.
Just before the sermon Dr. Hills
made his remarkable confession. He
began calmly ana almost dispassion-
ately. as the humblest man in Brook
Ign might have confessed 10 his failure
OF life He had few notes before
him. Evidently he had prepared
clear exposition of an ugly fact
Eut as he looked steadily before him
and saw the dearest friends he has in
all the world weeping with him, he
left the little yellow paper to nutter
10 the floor ana spoke as brother 10
his family.
And when it was over the throne
poured down upon the old pulpit and
paid the most remarkable tribute Of
t'ust and confidence that DR.. Hills has
ever received. Every man, woman and
child in the big auditorium grasped
his hand. Each told him they believed
in him and would always. Some told
him without hesitanCy that they loved
hi.u-that their very lives were his
DIR. Hills CROPPED his way back to
his study with tears binding his eyes,
DEBTS AMOUNT no MORE
THAN SUM OF SIO0,OGO
DR. Hillis's debts amount TO more
than 500, 600. How much more, neither
he nor his counsel. Frederick w. Him
richs, Wall say. He has. during the
last ten years, seen about Sl,S50.00
pour in and out OF the various enter
prses that lie believed would make him
a wealthy man, which toppled over.
buryinG him beneath the wreckage.
This is shown In the official reports of
his business dealings now in the hands
of his former business mentor, Fred
erick L. Ferguson.
lie intends selling his splendid
home, No - Monroe Place. and start
ing life anew in modest house or in
moderate priced apartment. The
house. for which he paid $4,000. is
mortgagcd for two-thirds of It's value.
All that he has is TO be turned over
to a committee OF his creditors who
will operate what is left Of the wreck,
hoping that within year DR.. Hillis's
slate will he clean.
Mr.. Hnrichs declared to-day that the
Monroe Place house was to go and
all the noted clergyman wonderous
library and paintings with it.