Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-14
Wealth of Trinity Church, New York.

Correspondence Rochester Democrat.l
The archeves and records of Trinity church
are among the most interesting oil the anuqui-
| ties of this city; but unfortunately Tor all an
| tiuuities they arc kept secluded from the public
| eve Al the corner of Church and Fulton
| streets at the end ofSt Paul church'yard, stands
| n small building devoted to the officers of this
| CORPORATION. Here is long array of volumes
| some of which are modern but Others are of
ancient date; and at last, after tracking his way
| back to the days of Queen Anne, one may
reach the first record Of the grandest estate in
| America. In these books are different maps of
| the farm as IT gradually reached improvement,
until in place of swails and sand-hills it OK
hibits an unbroken range of buildings Some
of these lots bring as an annual rent more than
the whole farm was worth at the time
of its acquisition. A few clerks of a
confidential character are employed in
old in the service. They are very
queer set and would figure well in
q novel. They seem to have but one
class OF literature, and that refers to Trinity
church. On Sunday it is the book of common
prayer, and on week days it is the rent roll
which may be styled the book of uncommon
prayer-a prayer for wealth that always sue
ceedS, Tor every time lease is renewed the terms
are advanced. The leases are given for twenty
one years each, the valuation to be renewed at
the same time, and each tenant is bound to pay
all taxes and assessments on the property, so
that all that Trinity receives is clean money.
The leases contain covenant for purchasing i'm
provements at a valuation at the end of the
third renewal; but inasmuch as the system of
renewal is kept up indefinitely these purchases
are seldom made. A lease with three renewals
will generally receive as many more as may
be desired.
This is not easily discovered, for Trinity cor
poration keeps all its maps from the public eve.
The tax books of the city afford no guide, for
there the property is set down to leaSe-hOlders.
The only correct method of aScertaining the ex-
tent of the estate would be to examine the title
OF every lot in the first, second third, fifth and
eighth wards in this city, which are to a large
degree owned by the church. This search would
give view of an ecclesiastical money power
such as can hardly be paralleled on the globe,
and it may be reckoned one of the chief misfor-
tunes ola community that such a land monopo-
" is identified with a religious corporation.
The magnitude of the evil must increase. When
the grant was given by Lord Cornbury it was
accompanied by stipulation that the church
income was not to exceed $500 per year. 1t is
now said to be over million, and is constantly
on the increase. No one except members of
Trinity corporation knows what is done with
this immense sum. The most iudcious church.
men OF the city have fear that there isIa
vast amount of peculation here; but there is no
opportunity of investigation given, and hence
there is room for great suspicion. About two
years ago the Sun charged the members of
Trinity corporation with using these funds in
order to speculate in Wall street. 1t would be
a matter of surprise if this were not the case.
These men are not above the ordinary weak
nesses of humanity, and though they are rich
and respectable, yet they are not beyond
temptation. The clerical head of Trinity parish
is Morgan Dix, who is, in a financial aspect,
the most fortunate clergyman in this country
He has a large array of assistants and hence
need not subject himself TO a painful degree of
labor while his salary, though nominally S10,-
900, is really whatever he may ask additionally.
Such mOneyed concern will not stand on
triftes with favorite, especially when the ring
pickings are so handsome. The corporation
spend money freely in maintaining worship;
but they do little for the welfare of the
poor, and beneath the very shadow of Trinity
spre some of the most degraded of our popula-
ton may be found. No system of evangelical
ton is practiced among this class, and this is
claimed by many to be perversion of the orig
inal grant. Prayers are read every morning
and fine show is made on special occasions.
Dropping in shortly after Ascension day, saw
several fine bouquets of flowers one of which
cost $40. The present church was planned at
the time the court Of errors affirmed the title,
and was finished in 1874. The previous struc-
ture was condemned as unsafe, though it had
only stood about fifty years. Having given this
sketch for the benefit of the heirs of Anneke
Jams, will now add my opinion, that the only
way in which they may receive any benefit from
the estate they demand will be to enter the SER
vice of Trinity. Let them get fat berths in this
great moneyed oligarchy and thus enjoy the
rights Of which cruel statute deprves them.