New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-10
MR.. nODGE,S BENEYOLENCE.

Mr.. DODGE'S BENEVOLENCE.
The contributions of Mr. Dodge to religious, char
table and educational institutions were very ex-
tensve as were also his lesser gifts to individuals.
1t has been estimated that there have been years III
which his benefactions averaged $1,000 day
throughout the year while frequently the sum given
away by him amounted to $25O,OOO, and at no
time within several years did it fall below $780,
He became in early life member OF the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, when
the society supported by the Congregational,
Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch Churches. In
1857 he became a corporate member, and in 1864
he was elected vice-president. Although fres-
byterian by birth and education, he did not with
draw when the two schools of the Presbyterian
Church united in 1870 and left the American Board
The Office of vice-presdent of this board he held
until his death, being reelected for seventeen
years. His annual contributions to that board va
ried from So 900 TO $4,000 but this regular sub
scrption in no manner represented the amount
which he gave to the society. Special needs called
forth special contributions At the annual meeting
IN Portland, Me-. last spring the statement was
made that an additional subscription was needed
this year to take the place of a legacy that had
been expended. Mr.. Dodge rose on the platform
the next morning and said that he had been
troubled dunng the night because of this needed
money and IN order to raise il he offered to double
his annual subscription. In q moment another
man on the platform agreed to do the same, ana III
a few minutes the amount needed was subscribed.
Mr.. Dodge became director of the Presbyterian
Board of Foreign Missions soon after the reorgan-
ization in 1870 and gave large amounts to it. lie
took IN especial interest in Syrian missions,
and in 1872 while on visit to the East he laid the
cornerstone of the Syrian Protestant College at
Beyrut His son. the Rev. d. Stuart Dodge, was
later professor in the college The Rev. Dr. Henry
H. Jessup, for many years a missionary in Syria,
and the president of the college, married niece OF
Mr. Dodge. While in Syria in 1872 MIR. Dodge
visited Jerusalem and many mission fields lie was
trustee of the college in Beyrut and a principal
supporter of Robert College, in Consantinoplc, 10
which he gave considerable money. Liberia and
the Liberian University received a share of his
bcnevolence.
While great friend TO the foreign mission cause,
which received his money freely, Mr. Dodge also
believed in the charity which seeks TO build mp
ones own land The Union Theological
Seminary in this city, of which he
director since 1856 has been enriched by his gifts
He gave money for the library for the professor
ships, and for the new buildings now in process of
erection. Auburn Theological Seminary. at Auburn,
n Y. received a new library building from Colonel
Morgan and Mr.. Dodge. The presidents fund at
Williams College was established by Mr. Dodge.
At YALE Amherst, Hamilton, Middlebury Lafay-
ette GTlnnell, and other colleges Mr. Dodge found
ed professorships scholarships contributed in
some other way. In many OF the Eastern
colleges he had scholarships which he gave
to young men whom he considered worthy Of assist
ance. For long time he had ten such every
year in different colleges, and provided some of
them with money besides giving them free tut
ton. The president of Grinnell College, in Gun-
nell, Iowa. which was destroyed by tornado last
year. came to this city, received several thousand
dollars from Mr. Dodge, and letters from him to
other wealthy men by hich he was enabled to
raise the amount needed to rebuild the college.
The Rev. DR.. Bartlett, president of Maryville Col
Iege, in Tennessee came to tins city on a similar
errand. lie told Mr.. Dodge that his col
lege needed 100000, ana at
ceived a subscription Of $4,000 on con-
dtiOn that the rest was raised. With this
generous gift heading the list Of subscriptions DR..
Bartlett easily procured $4,000 more. Recently.
it is said, Mr.. Dodge Withdrew the restriction
under which he had given his subscription.
For many years Mr.. Dodge manifested deep
interest in the freedmen. The Slater Fund was
given only after several consultations with him,
and the committee having it in charge formed
in his library. He had intended to attend meet
ing of this committee in Atlanta Ca next month.
He was a trustee in Lincoln University for
colorcd young men in Pennsylvania. To
this institution he contributed largely.
He was also interested in Bddle University
another institution for colorcd youth and
both it and its students have been the recipients
of his generosity He had several students IN
Hampton Institute whose expenses he bore alone
The last addition to the list at tins school was a
little girl from Africa There were also colored
children III Atlanta who were dependent on Mr.
Dodges charity for their educatOng After he had
been an Indian Commissioner he decided 10 give
some Indian children an education and they are
now at Carlisle Institute in Pennsylvania. The
Colonization Cause had warm supporter in Mr.
Dodge. lie built many churches and schools in the
South and West. Home missions generally, aud es-
pecially those connected with his own denOmina-
ton, were of an earnest friend in him, and the
secretaries and missionaries never applied in
vain to him for aid The Sunday
school cause attracted his attention, before such
schools popular as now, and for twenty
years he was a superintendent. cOlportcur has
been employed by him for long time in the South
west IN tins cause. The whole expense of salary,
travel. books etc, Mr.. Dodge bore alone.
old, III Bozrahvilie Conn, and TO the time Of his
death was deeply interested III revival meetings.
lie was a member Of the committee which bore the
expense of the meetings held III this city by Moody
and Saukcy, and he attended may of the meetings
held by the cvangcsts. When he came TO New
York IN 1918, he united with the Laight Street
Presbyterian Church, of which the late Rev. DR..
Cox, his uncle, was the pastor Later
ne attended the Second Avenue Presbyterian
Church He afterward became founder and an
elder OF the Fourteenth Street Presbyterian Church
at Second-ave., oil which the Rev. DR.. Asa -. Smith
was pastor. DIR. Smith later became president of
Dartmouth College and Mr. Dodge united with the
Madison Square Church, where he was also an
elder under the pastOrate of the late President
Adams, of the Union Theological Semi
nary. He did not remain there very
long. He helped TO build the Church Of the Cow
enant at Park ave. and Thirty fifth-st with VIII ch
he united ia 1866. His religious life was never
weakened by his prosperity, and as he
became wealthy he associated HIM
self with more religious societies. The City
Mission, Phelps Mission In East Thlrty-ffth-st..
the Presbyterian Hospital, of which he was a trus-
tee, the Christian Home for Incorporate Men and