New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-18
nFRGYMAN ATTENDS
SECRET SESSION
HE Financial Affairs Discussed
by Church TrusteeS-Will
Not Resign.

:; assistant. the Rev Roland Stafford
dawson. presided and appealed TO the
r.nbers 10 rally around their pastor
After the PRAYER meeting the dca.
rms Of the church made famous by
Rsecber had secret meeting. Official
y Only routine business was to be con.
,i5sred. and reporters were barred.
The reason assigned for Dr. Hillis's
absence from the prayer meeting was
hat he was TOO tired TO serve after the
meeting Of the trustees. When he lef;
this meeting. held in the New York
County Lawyers Association rooms
hs vas surrounded by bodvguard
which kept the reporters at a distance.
How heavily DR.. Hills is involved
and 10 what extent # anv members Of
his church are affected BY his opera
tons Is carefully withheld. An idea of
The magnitude Of mis- operations, large
II. IL not wholly. in numbering promo
tons. NAV be gathered from the fact
that Frank L. Ferguson, formerly his
financial manager. asserted not long
sso that he had handled $l,000,000 of
Hills money in five wears.
A Resignation Withdrawn.
Frederick W. Starr, who became act
inr chairman Of the board Of trustees
last April. following the resignation Of
Frsnk l. Ferguson. and who also re-
signed recently, withdrew his resiCna-
tion at the trustees meeting yesterday.
His action had quietinC influence on
the suspense in the church.
This was somewhat counteracted,
however, by the failure Of Dr.. Hills 20
appear at the prayer meeting DR..
Dawson announced that DR.. Hills
would preach at the morning service
tomorrow.
The meeting at the Lawyers AssO-
cation was held behind closed doors.
Il lasted about three hours. None Of
the trustees or governors Of the Ar
buckle Institute present would discuss
what had been done. All inquiries
were referred 20 Frederick W Hin
riehs. personal counsel 10 the minister.
Dr. Hills left the meeting Aanked by
the trustees and all effort TO question
him was frustrated by his companions.
Says DR.. Hills Will Not Resign.
NJ. Hlnrichs emphatically denied
that there was any possibility OF DR..
Hills resigning q pastor Of the church.
he declared that his financial affairs
we're better now than they had been.
and intimated that plan had been for
mulsted TO relieve his present embar-
rassment He said there would be no
need Of calling another meeting to dis
euss the pastors affairs. Further han
that he would not discuss the matter.
Or. Hills will preside over the
PRAYER meeting tonight" said Mr.. Hin
llehs," and preach as usual on Sunday.
ne will enter upon his work at Old
Plymouth for another year. The meet
ing to-day was prompted because of
comment, inquiry and some discomfort
In the church over Dr.. Hillis's affairs.
He has lectured throughout the sum
mer, as has been his wont. Since ne
has been back ] have conferred with
him repeatedly. ! am well aware OF
The talk in the church and outside
u about some Of his affairs. | have
been collecting the facts, a very diff
heult matter in this case. II seemed
ngsi 70 ne, and | so suggested 10 Dr.
h.llis and others in the church, that
should set before them, al this time
We results Of my activities and the
Eostance of my advice. ! could not
al the great church together, MOI
sssld ] 90 over the story with every
one who has approached me. 50
adopted the middle course e asking
score or more 70 meet me-"
Some OF the talk in the church has
seen 70 the effect that Ir Hills hac
invested heavily in timber and Goa
amos in the Northwest, and that his
business ventures had turned out
eaoly. He was reported 10 have bor-
ioSed 100000 20 make good the losses
sustained in the lumber business by
Wo nephews One Of the nephews in
sgnAnily denied the report. and salC
shai whatever money the pastor hsC
e0ifoWed had been for the purpose oI
neehng his own losses. Asked, yester
..11y' II DR.. Hills had lost none!
.amngh backing his nephews in busi
"sss' Ml. Hlnrichs said he could no
'os~er the question.
Has Aided Friends in Business.
~ IS understood that Dr.. Hills hai
roted a good deal OF his money dur
~ recent years-and his income il
AZ 70 have been comparatively larg,
smg mat time-tOward assisting hi
SNaes IN business. IL is believed h'
had 20 make good many note
eh, besides taking a serious loss OF
v"n Investments. He extended hi
sa lecture tour this summer, II wa
~ order 70 raise money 10 NEE
NsVVO note on which suit wa
1s'Vught against him in Portland. Ore
a. member Of the board of trustees
T.gr sT, 70 the meeting yesterday, said:
=. ne trouble is that, while Or. Hilli
S.'s wonderful preacher, he Is a won
I.uiy bad business man. A ministe
10 right 70 90 :nto business. Will
A. mas been preaching the moral Law
bs.as nas overlooked the legal phase o
fs,aness ~ matters. lie has an abiding
sn IN IN mankind"
"a. me resignation Of Frank l.. Fergu
Vh as chairman Of the board of trus
~ss came last April after a reporte
spllt with DR.. Hills over the latter
,lsAi ,ls .Ai affairs. Mr.. Ferguson said a
IA me that during the five year. tina
s,,, 1sa looked after the pastors fnan
N nnasirs nSnsirs he had taken in more thai
bnvYV,VVO and put il all out again i
sss,i.S ventures that failed. Tn
esa,s. OF disquietude grew in IN
Ar Nhen the assistant pastor, Will
bmAssa AaTfenee y % Tenney, resigned, Sep
maas.ooaneed Thursday, seemed to brin
.1s1Iefs 70 q climax.