The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-01

the music upon this question of the separation Of
the government printing from the spoils and
plumber nongers Of the party press That will
be the Creates government reform of the last
half century.
THR TRINITY CHURCH CoNrEsr-WHo Is TO
SWALLOW THE OYSTER For the last few weeks
the Trinity Church corporation have been pub
fishing, through the medium Of our advertising
columns, eopious extracts from the testimony
taken in their favor before the Senate Committee.
The case against them has been 30 fully stated
that we think it but fair to give them the benefit
Of the points which they seek to establish by this
evidence In the first place, they deny that the
grants made by them were made in a partisan
spirit, or with reference to "high church" or
Glow church" opinions. In regard to the charge
that the stipends have been reduced, they maiu-
tain that the aggregate amount of stipends is as
large now as at any former time. The only
ground for the accusation is that the spends have
been reduced, and sometimes taken away from
richer congregations and given to the poorer. In
reply to the complaint that they have not made
the capital of the corporation available for the
founding, support and promotion of religious
charitable or educational institutions or pur-
poses, they say that it has been their constant
endeavor to do 30, and that as far as the reve-
nues of the church would 60 they think
they have succeeded. They deny that
the aid given to feeble churches was
extended reluctantly or Extensively, and they say
that, on the contrary, it always gave them the
greatest pleasure when they could respond favor
ably to any of the numerous applications made
to them. As regards the mortgages, they were
taken, not with view to the benefit of Trinity
Church alone, but to prevent the property thus
advanced being lost to the Episcopalian Church
at large Itehould be added, that against these
statements made by Vestrymen, we have the testi-
mony Of Mr.. John D. Wolfe himself an ex-V estry-
man, who states that almost all the grants made
during his time were made to churches known as
"high church." whilst the applications from
claimants representing the 'low church" were
almost universally declined. We have also in
evidence the opinions of the Rev. Jesse Pound;
the Rev. Stephen H. Tying, rector Of st. Georges
Church; the Rev. Sullivan II. Weston; the Rev.
II. Taylor, rector of Grace Church; The Rev.
Henry Anthem, late assistant minister Of Trinity
Church; Mr.. Luther Bradish, Mr.. Stephen Cam
brelling, and other eminent Episcopaliaus, that
the Vestry of Trinity Church had not employed
the capital at their disposal to the full intent and
benefit of the purposes specified in their trust
1t is not our purpose, however, to balance the
testimony taken before the Committee, Our oh.
jections to the corporation are not, as we have
already stated. founded merely on the mismanage-
ment OF the trust funds, or the partially with
which they are administered. 1t is against the
recognition Of such corporation ct all by the
State-it is against the principle Of allowing such
large accumulations Of property in the hands Of
ecclesiastical bodies, that we decidedly and ener
getically protest. We contend that all such
trusts and charters are unconstitutional and mi:
chievous in principle, and the Legislature will
commit great mistake If by any half measures
II seeks to compromise the real issues involved in
this question. Mr.. Spencer's bill is good so far
as it seeks to introduce an efficient system Of con-
troll by the Episcopalian body generally over the
administration of the trust funds but it does not
alter the character or neutralize the vicious ten
denotes of the corporation itself.
Instead of seeking to reform the organization
of the Trinity Church vestry by an enlargement
of the representative principle, as is proposed by
Mr.. Spe1cer's bill, we think the fairest and most
satisfactory mode of dealing with the capital Of
the trust would be to divide it impartially
amongst all the churches, low as well as high, Of
the Episcopalian denomination in the dioces
The public at large care nothing about the pro-
perty; and If this arrangement could be arrived
at, few, we believe, would be found to object to
II, beyond those Immediately Interested in main
tanning the present state Of things. There would
then be an end TO all suspicion Of Partially in
the appropriation Of the funds; for the congega-
ton of each church, exercising control over its
own portion through its vestry, could not be in
terfered with by the high or low church preju-
dices of Others This we believe TO be the only
rational mode Of disposing Of the question, and
the only one that will give any permanent salts
faction. II the interests and prejudices of ind-
viduals or the animosity of the two hostile par
ties in the church, should oppose such a settle
ment, then we have another to recommend,
which We think will put an end TO all further
controversy in the matter. Let the State, in the
impossibility Of reconciling the views of the con-
testants, initiate the example of the umpire cele-
brated by Esop, and swallow the oyster itself.
The property thus escheated to the general use
will be more bene6cially employed than by any
body of sectarians, no matter how pure their in
tentons and conduct
MANAGER STRAKoscH AND HIS RECENT ORR
Ratio SEASON AT THE AcApEMY.-Scveral Of the
minor journals Of this city have been extremely