The New York herald., 1879-12-04

CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE SALE OF ST.
ANTHoNYs, OF GREENPoINT, L. I.-wREcKED
FORTUNES TO BE RETRIEVED.
The Catholic community OF Greenpoint. L. l., is
greatly agitated the fact that st. Anthony's
Roman Catholic Church. the largest and finest edfce
on Gospel Hill," has been sold public auction
under foreclosure of mortgage. Not only the
church but oil the real property Of the parsh-the
parsonage. the parochial schoolhouse and the old
church building well-have also been knocked
down to the highest bidder and the parishoners
inquiring. .'How shall get our money back p
for large numbers of them hold larger smaller
certificates Of Indebtedness bonds Of the former
pastor to amount said to be equal in the aggregate
to the mortgages. The parish Of st. Anthony has
been established over twenty years. and was con-
sidered hourishing one up to q recent date For
some time it occupied modest frame structure in
Kent street. But early in 1872. when every thing
looked prosperous and before the fall In real estate
commenced. Rev. William Lane. q talented aud elo-
Quent priest, was placed In charge. The young man
achieved instant popularity among his parishoners
and soon became imbued with the idea that the old
house was not good enough for himself and them
His people rallied round him. and at last he pur-
chased large piece OF ground at very high price
from tho agent OF Mr.. Samuel j. Tilden.
AN AUsPIcIoUs BEGINNING.
The land is located on Manhattan avenue. near
Greenpoint avenue at the highest point OF elevation
churches erected on it. Contracts were made and
signed and tho church erected ut extravagan figures
$4,000. For strip of land connecting the church
with tho back street 5000 paid. The
sr0wa ,samsd IN value and
outlay. and as his incxpericnce led him to
carry on the work personally there was no board OF
priest to his measures; hence the difficulties
which finally overwhelmed his administration of the
temporal Affairs Of st. Anthony's Church. Pecu-
MARY aid volunteered by his people who NC
ceptcd of or bonds for the in
dvdual amounts bearing interest at seven per cent.
Merchants and dealers accepted the In settle
ment Of accounts. and things went on swimmingly
for q time. Then cane the downfall in values. and
the pastor with horror saw the abyss that yawned
before him. But the matter had then gone too far;
he thought IL WAS better to keep in the hope of
saving all than to lose everythin by forced retreat.
The work was therefore pushed forward, and ON
Sunday. June H. 1876. the building was dedicated
with imposing ceremonies Then programme was
laid down for wiping out the Indebtedness. Some
$4,000 In mortgages and about 100000 in certih-
Gates were outstanding. which there was
nual interest of $l0 500 to be paid. The plasterer
n poor member of the church, who'had mortgaged
his little house to supply tho material to COM
plote his work-was clamoring for $500 due him.
Lumber dealers. brickmakers and others to whom
the church owed thousands each, demanded an early
settlement 1t was decided. therefore. as fast
money came In to settle with the most clamorous
and let other claims and tho current interest go
paid. Affairs, instead of growing better, became
worse. for many charged favoritism in the settle.
ment of claims. Suits were brought under the
mortgages for default of interest and judgment
obtained and the legal expenses added still further
to the burdens OF the pastor.
TERMS OF SETTLEMENT
few weeks ago the Manhattan Life Insurance
Company advertised the property for sale and Mr..
Murphy. Of Bockaway, being installed his place.
The church's burden of debts was then $165, 600.
The sale advertised, and on Wednesday last the
edihce was sold at public auction in the city of
Brooklyn, the insurance company buying IL ON ono
Of the mortgages f0rseossd for $4,000 The insur.