The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-11
rHE SOCIETY o. sz. JOHN
a nssA cAwreh Order Of Ceisbeey q. Bssesa-
A Husy PariaA.

represents the extreme OF the High Church ele-
ment Tho services hold there are conducted
with tho utmost attention to pomp and cere-
mony. They are all choral the choir consist
ing Of about sixty men and boys. who are sur
pliced. The music IL noted as being the finest
In the city The parish IL not now one hav-
ing been founded in 1874 by the Rev. William
Croswell. the godfather OF the present Bishop
OF Albany. The first services were held In an
upper room at IS Merrimac street on Advent
Sunday. Dec. 1. 1874 After short time the
congregation moved to hall on the corner Of
Lowell and Causeway streets; then building
on Green street was occupied. Nov. rs. 1847.
Some time after this an old meeting house on
Bowdoin street was purchased. which has boon
occupied ever since. DR.. Croswell died In 1851.
aud was succeeded by tho Right Rev. H. South
gate ID. d.. who remained until August, 1883.
The Rov. DR.. BoAcs was rector from June 1853.
to April. 1870 Tho Rev. M. p. Stickney was
connected with tho parish for many years.
Since 1870 the mission priests Of ~. John the
Evangelist have had charge Of the parish. the
nev. q. @. Grafton being rector since 1872
Tho Rev. Charles @. Grafton is u native Of
Boston. and u member OF one OF lis old and .
wcnlthy families. He was educated at Har-
ward and studied law but afterwnrd became
clergyman. holding the most advanced High
Church views. He has passed much time In
England. During visit there in 1865 he con-
ceived the idea OF a religious society. following
tho example Of tho Apostles. living In COM
munity. and having all things in common. He
associated with himself two English Iriests
the Row. Mr. Benson and the Rev. Mr.. O'Niei
and organized the Society OF st. John the
Evangelist" with the Rev. Mr.. Benson As Su-
perior, and having tho mother house at Cow
Icy near Oxford. England. The members Of
tho society nro priests OF the English or
American Church. who take life VOWS Of
poverty. chastity. and obedience" Thev
are called Father" Dencons are ad-
mittod a. "Brothers." and lnymsn can
become associates by observing certain
rules. No constitution. by-laws. or other writ
ten rules were adopted. their consideration no
lug deferred until some future time. The ne
cessity Of such has been much felt. and the
lack has proved great hindrance to the ma
terial growth OF tho society. us by the absence
OF written laws Father Benson. the Superior.
became. to all practical purposes. An absolute
ruler. with nothing to check or guide him OK
cept his own will. The original agreement WINS
that at the expiration OF a certain time. or
when the embership attained u fixed number
the society was to divide those in America to
form a provincial and affiliated society. to be
entirely independent Of the parent sooiety.
Father Grafton. IL was expected. would be tho
Superior Of the American society.
Tho society now numbers nearly twenty
members. who have given up all family ties
and devoted themselves entirely to religious
work. Their members may be found. actively
engaged. in England. America. and India In
tho lati IL country they are established at
MagaGon. near bombay. and ut Indoors in the
diocese OF Calcutta. They were especially in
vi,sd to work In India 10y the late Metropolitan
and tho Bishop oi bombay
Their principal work in this country has been
mt ~. Clements Church. Philadelphia where
they also have collegiate school for boys: and
mt tbs Church Of the Advent. loston. Besides
the schools and parishes under their chnrge
rary missions They also pubsl! 2 monthly
III 1870 they took clarg. y N" Parish Of tho
Advent. Boston. and in 1872 Father Grafton be:
r sne s Which sasy rs sal he has heed
con,mnnican,s NUMBERED hardly more than
fSer e. Hail. 'a IT,. S2S' s hsr sawsr
whom %er" Enslisn' and The Rev. J, y. Hii i.
now NJ Trinity , Church: New York wa; was precen,
parish Increased in numbers and usefulness
until it fairly ontgrew. the old meeting house.
ind s Tor hsch hn WAS oaS ON
S S st. " BeneaS Mnrch s Iof ss ami u"f ssr
forward rs fnst ns the funds were furnished, 1t
being one OF the most stringent rules of this
church not to run into debt.
Tnroush the courtesy Of DIR. George c. Shat
tuck, the senior warden. = house in Stamford
sirrIt was placed a The disposal OF the clergy;
their service. to the church freely, asking in
return enlS tho Scripture wnges Of food and
live in community. and the necessary work OF
the house is done By lay brothers and men
servants, no women being admitted, cxcept
own apartment. The library is ' tho common Y %s
81 SaH Sor as in hs sonny ef b.si
tie house. is Of the, simplest description no
eonSnod around tho waist with grid 81 siii
wear they have q largo round crowned broad
br!mmed iclt hat. and. during cold weather. .
10 asslst in the work Of the parish some years
age the Sisters LISTER OF " MaGrSaret having their
nvsS Sc sete in Bcs.Sn and ssSsns
did SO. and founded . sisterliood Independent
Of an inc parent one. 6nt having the same name
S@y for ths Rsi thu as SEX ID IN:
se the, 90 smbro
derry. making specially Of church work.
large a; II. ss as. ds s .rse wSs
them aSP 4nd they removed 70 u B9wd%n street.
and Inst spring they purchased and moved to
y wSr. rr sss nome on ioTi;6ars s1Tars
three facing !Ogisburg square am, one on
Pinckncy street. Ono OF the buildings IL devoted
70 u hospitni Tor women Hare. under the
charge Of Sister Maria. the patients receive the
best OF care. For the use OF the Sisterhood.
they are building n new chapel. which. Il 10
said. will b. the nnest private chapel In this
country. They aisO have charge Of childrens
hospital on tho back hay. supported by the
UnttariaRs; an orphanage At lowell, and .
school for yOuAg ladies' On Chestnut street
Boston. Thay work 90 quietly thaa few know
how much they do.
For tho past two years . growing dissstisfac-
ton he. hsnn felt among many II the mem.
hers Of th~ S0ciety III IT. John tho EvAageiiat
ut the tack Of written laws. which left them
entirely under tho autocratic rule OF Father
Bsnson and as the tia,s had nov como for a
divison OF the socssty rceouting to the agree
mont u was proposcd that tho socisty 6s
divtdcI. but 70 this Father Benson would not
e.'asens, allsgirx that there Was no ono who
posed oifshOot. The friends Of Father Grafton
saw no lack 81 capacity IN him. and would have
American order. This feeling Increased to