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Yacht suit rocks congregationYACHT FOR SALE The Rev. Frederick Drummond ollatedly hod Mo iyi on flu 'El Prestoswte' — o Iwwry yocfit wfth an OOOMOO prlca tat, according to on# court document. His congregation was apparontty unawaro of MsBy BILL ALNOft Sunday Times Staff WriterCONCORD — In late December 1964 through January 1966, the Rev. Frederick Drummond, pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, went to Florida to pray for the Lord** leading for hi* church in the new year.Said one former member who lecently left the church: When he came lwcfc hie told us he locked Massif in a hot si room praying and farting for us for days. He said he didn't want to come back ui ilea* he was absolutely sure of the Lord** leading for the church.While the Daily Time* ha* not been able to determine the amount of time Drum* mond spent praying during the tri p, court document* reveal that Drummond spent some time in the Fort Lauderdale area meditating over which erpenaw oceangoing yacht he wanted to boy.According to a court document the controversial pastor was apparently enchanted by a $810,000 yacht called the El Presidents,” which was given the name after President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Harry llVuman occasionally used the vessel to hold top secret meetings aboard her. Numerous heads of state and large corporation heads have been guests aboard the El Presidents.When numerous former members were asked if Drummond ever told them he was in Florida on a yacht-buying trip, all of them said said they weren't A number of former members who have left the controversial church in the past eight months were surprised — and angry — when told about a lawsuit filed against Drummond in connection with the $810,000 yachtTape recordings of worship services during thrtaame time period reveal that pastors who took over the pulpit told the congregation that they weren't sure when Drammond would come back to lead them. Drummond didn’t feel right about coming back yet, they said. He had to stay in Florida to pray for the Lord'sleading, they tohl the people.In a recent interview, Drummond denied there had been a lawsuit filed ■gahwt him wMMMnim » yAt Later the Daily Times called Drummond's residence and left a message that the newspaper had a copy of the lawsuit and was seeking his response.Drummond did not return the phone call.The suit, which was filed on Aug. 5, 1986 in Chester County Court by Gerald Slakoff, a marine surveyor and consultant from Ft Lauderdale, alleges that Drummond and his wife Lorraine, were in Florida in late December 1984 and early January 1966 considering purchasing the lavish, 96-foot yachtSlakoff alleged in the suit that Drum* mond hired him to examine the boat and report to him concerning the soundness of his purchase. Slakoff alleged that after he completed the report Drummond ignored numerous attempts to pay his bill of$1,125 phis interest Because the work performed by Slakoff saved Defendants from a horrible financial mistake and perhaps even resulted in saving Defendants and their guests’ lives, the suit demands judgment in excess of $29,000 exclusive of * interest and costs.Accompanying the lawsuit was a copy of Slakoffa 25-page report on the yacht which contained numerous photographs of the vessel. The report notes the yacht contained three color televisions (two Sony Trinitrons), a clothes washer and dryer, dishwasher, iufrigerator-freeser, various pieces of stereo equipment, and numerous other luxury items.According to a brochure advertising the El Preidente,” the yacht was used in the filming of the movie Rough Cut with Burt Reynolds, David Niven and Leslie Ann Downs and for Harry and Son” starring Paul Newman and Robby Benson.Filed with the suit is Drummond's answer to Slakoff* allegations. Drummond denied that any money is due because of the failure of the toperform.” Drummond also charged Slakoffs opinion and appraisal were unreliable since he changed his mind on the value and sea-worthinees of the vessel without justification.(In a telephone interview Slakoff said the suit was settled when Drummond recently paid him in fiilL)Drummond's attorney defending the suit was John T. Tolbert of Chester. Tolbert, who has also served as the attorney for the church until leaving about seven months sgo, has reftiaed comment cm the suit Tolbert and his wife, Beverly, have recently denounced Drummond as a master deceiver and said they were brainwashed** while members of the church.But Tolbert did say that Drummond loved yachts.
Newspaper Details
Upper Darby Sunday Times
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, US
Sun, Jul 20, 1986
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Kaeli B.
NA, 10 Mar 2025
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Upper Darby Sunday Times
