Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-30
MYSTERIOUS RICH MAN
GIVES THOUSANDS TO
AID NEGRO CHURCH
Hides Identity and Prom
ises to Pay Off Debt and
Repair Building g in
Which "Black Billy Sun
day" Is Holding Revival.

A mysterious rich young man. who al
ready has given 5000 to the Rev sylvester
T. Corrothers. negro pastor OF the A. M.
f.. Zion Church, at 18th and Catharine
streets, and has promised to pay of the
entire debt OF the church and put it into
frst-class repair, is in this city under the
name OF wv. T. Austen Of Massa-
chusetts
Austen alnits frankly this name is
not his own lie says he has taken 1t
so that he will have time TO accomplish
his purpose in coming to Philadelphia. II
he made known his true name, he de-
ciares he would be kept busy answering
appeals for help from all corners of the
city. Three thousand letters were sent to
him asking for money in one day at san
Francisco. he declared.
The phllanthropst says he will an
nounce his real name next Thursday night
at the Varlck Temple, where the Rev.
Alexander Nillbanks is holding revival
for Negroes. Austen came to this city
last SUNDAY with Bishop Alexander Wal
ters, of New York, whom he says he has
helped in numerous church enterprises.
LIBERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
The stranger threw total of SIS into
the collection plate at various services
Sunday. handed the pastor check for
5000 and said he would pay for the repairs
to the church He also promised to give
the pastor one dollar for every dollar col
lected in the church within the next year.
Last night Austen stood at the foot
of the pulpit and took UP the collection
He got Mr.. Corrothers to announce
that he would cover" every dollar laid
down Then Austen" started the coll
Ian nit A Y,n6r
SO more on the plate A few contributions
came in, but they were not sufficiently
rapid to suit Austen" so he made his
donation sl5.
When the total was counted up Aus
ten presented the church officers with a
similar amount. The collection at the
pulpit was about $50. Before leaving the
church the mysterious philanthropist had
Mr. Corrothers announce that he would
be at the service next Thursday night
with his two brothers, that he would
make arrangements then to repair the
church and otherwise to help II.
Later, at a hotel, Austen" declared
he has made up his mind to pay or the
entire indebtedness of the Varick Temple.
This, with repairs, will cost him about
s50,0OO He also says this will not inter
fere with his plan to give the pastor a
dollar for every one collected.
TO FOUND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
out of the fund thus created is to be
founded a great institute for the Negroes.
The plan of Mr.. Corrothers to start
manual training. domestic science and
sewing classes at his church will be am
plifed and expanded. If sufficient funds
are forthcoming he will endeavor to start
what in time will be a school for Negroes
of all ages. in which they can study any
trade or profession and through which,
at the same time, they will be able to
get employment and be self-suppOrting.
The pastor hopes to make his institute the
+ greaest of his race in the north. Austen"
has promised to help
Austen" is about five feet seven
inches tall He has blue eyes and light
hair and would be taken for an English
man. He will not talk about himself
other than to say his method Is to spend
a minimum of 100000 year on church
work.
night, when Austen will tell his real
name and announce his plans to pay
Off the church debt. will be by ticket
only. These may be had from Mr.. Cor
rothers.
WILLBANKS' VIVID PICTURE.
The subject OF Willbanks' sermon last
night was THE Devils Hog Killing" He
told his hearers there are many twO-leg-
ged hogs In Philadelphia, and said the
devil is running excursion trips to hell.
For time he had his audience chuck
ling with other stories carrying out this
simile, but when he got into his real
description of he'll the laughter died down
and his hearers leaned forward i'm their
seats, tense and interested. Forty-two
''pike-strikers'' Responded to the evangel-
lists call for converts, and most of them
got religion" after being prayed over by
the congregation for short time.