The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-10
ST. JOHNS GUILDS SHOWING.
THE CIsE SET FoRTH IN THE GUILDS
LIWIERs OWN LINGUIGE
What Trinity Church Might DO with Its Vast
Ecsources-A Fear that Human Nature
Might Rise uppermoSt In the state Board,

what Trinity Church Might DO with its Vast
| Rcsourees-A Fear that Human Nature
Might Rise Uppermcs In the state Board.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: 1t is but
justice to st. JOINS Guild, an institution which
has so long stood high in popular regard.
that its present attitude toward the State u ard
of Charities should be thoroughly Understood
So many people jump to II conclusion in form
ing an opinion without weighing at all the cir
cumstances which surround the subject that
unless the facts which induced st. Johns Guild
to decline examination are plainly and distinctly
set forth a preudics may be aroused which will
| be- greatly detrimental TO its interest
| In the first place. ~. Johns Guild is thorough
! ~ unscctarian. Among its trustees and MEM
| bers, who arc entirely in accord and actuatsd
| by the purcst motives OF philanthropy, are
! Catholics Hebrews and Pedestrians. No ques-
! ton is ever raised. upon an application for
charity what religious faith the applicant has
adopted. or whether he II attached to a church
or not nor does the nationality of tho sufferer
become Il question Of discussion The friends
| Of 1T. Johns Guild believe that ground 70 be tho
only basis OF true ohHrty.
But there are people who think differently.
and il would NOT hr 10 the interest of those peO-
/ pile that charity money should puss through
/ other hands than theirs. A. an Illustration.
/ Trinity Church. with a It's vast resources. does
not tllse carc even Of ~ poor COMMITMENTS,
| and st. John tdild has been obliged to lend
! them its aid jnpuosiiunahfy. should Trinity
! Church regain the control OF St Johns Guild
| lost hy the unanimous vote ot It's members in
deposlns DR.; DiN and installing Mr.. Wiswall
cnrc " is poor-hut then other poor I'm the city
might hc losers 10y the exchange.
! With full knowledg" better than outsiders
| can possibly have that jealousy existed against
! it, ST. Johns Guild reviewed the situation be-
| fore concluding to decline the invitation Of the
| STAT" Board OF Charities to examine it, Upon
| careful inquiry they learned that one OF that
| board had. without any afunl knowlodge Of the
manner in which NJ. Johns Guild cOnducted ts
! affairs at different times expressed himself in
imicul to 1t. and that another was Il leading
m"mbcr Of another institution. which. though
one 81 the best in the state. might not bc
entirely in accord with thoroughly unsecta-
rian views. These two constituted a majority
| of the board and while they did not for "a mo-
mcnt believe that either Of these gentlemen
| would willingly lend themselves 10 any at OF
/ injustice, they could not -, entirely sure how
/ far their human nature might he unconsrlousy
| influenced 10y powerful surroundings and pre-
formed opinion.
That public examination Of the affairs Of ST.
John > Guild was desirable when II had been AT
tackled. and that no better opportunity could be
given 10 II TO lay before the public the details 81
liz workings. and thus prove that II was worthy
| of public confidence. werc III" sentiments Of all
friends Of the Guild. aud they started imnc-
| datcly Ia perfect that plan. They selected fivc
| gentlemen OF unlinprachHhle position and rep
| uidtlun b. at ar referees. immediately il WIS
! minated hy it, nS-iliants that 81. johns Guild
was about Ia investigate itself and had ap.
| pointed liz own trustees rs referees. This had
The desired effect and these gentlemen immc.
| tn fh.j,, Iy thn Guiid
| dust nj TINS tim. aubn.ruae were served upon
I som. nf The officers oi ~ Johns Guild by the
7 STATE Board IT Chnrtics. aud they were called
/ h.. sn,. und'r the circumstances la nnr, lie
OuiId in IL hands Although satisfied that the
ur hud nu lairul ripht tn iuV.stinntn the ttu ia
u m. unnnnr tI,,y rrot.--e th,, ou..stnu cam
up whether a refusal uuou tine uart ol the Guild
10 i., tened hv them mirhi NOT hr turned
I od To- believe that It's refusal Was simply the re-,
/ suit of fear Of an examination
n wa. doom, ad ,vtan tn submit 10 the ,xnminn-
| tinn and thus defeat tnnt aim provided II
| could loo, don, with any decent urot.,,fion t. the
/ Guild | recommended tl'e Off .r- h-ior. the
State Board and willingly nssrntud 10 wiiiN,.
IA ar lack of authority ii they would consent to
permit tn Guild tn. riaht through cpun- a 20
clu---rNHmina w4tn.--e~ prlslu frd against the
GullD and would give. u ia, right to introduce
/ witness. to r.fl'e ANY testimony which might
/ hs brought against tie Guild This was i.ls,-
must reserve it, rieht to do s IA cross xanf ma
| ton as they thought advisable. aud Ia accept
| such witnesses w. they thought n"rssSsary-al-
| lowing TO Mr.. Niswall personally the priVil"g e
OF submitting any ~, -tion he desired To- have
asked TO them. 10 be asked or not ~ they
| deemed proper, Oh course, under the rir'un-
stances. could npt hdNlSr IN trustees l., lih'%
The Guild IN any such position. aud ihrt
anonymously agreed WAN H. ul"l IL Wvuiu hol
sac. -.,.,.- ..
. ih,, Su1u num- vl, - 'vui : ny u - - n
.ill II I''ii" 'lllIH ~ h'N' surl' t'' n y ~
l'H' anu iI'h Nha' haN Wv 1ti'' '"-"'ii7l II u
- m"Si Emporium !" II. ihr.i'-t am l"i inc
goo pan,~ i ~ 'n', rust anu a. ''iS 60,
" ~ ~ ,Hs ~ US" i ~ :. .
IL ir7 IN n"u.i sr"tu NJ i na, q, W. -
I can II h.. unseillr that ANY one who IL not