The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-18
IN NEMORIAM
The Tribute of Gratitude to a Noble
Bishop.
MR.. CORCORAN'S GIFT.
Ascension Church to 30 Relieved
from Debt and Dedicated to Bishop
Pinkney.



The CONGREGATION OF the Protestant Episco-
pal Church OF the Ascension are making every
EFFORT 10 comply with the terms OF an arrange
ment under which the church debt can be
wiped out and the church dedicated on Janu.
airy frtt, as a memorial TO the late Bishop
Pinkney, assuming the name OF the Plnkney
Memorial Church and being consecrated with
appropriate ceremonies at the opening OF tho
new year. There Is at present every indlca-
ton that this result can be attained through
the enotts Of the congregation and the bonen-
cent gitt OF $4,000 by Mr.. W. W. Corcoran
toward the contamination OF the object.
The rector REV. Or. Bartlett, devoted his
sermon on Sunday morning TO the necessity
for immediate action by all friends and ad.
mirers Of the late Bishop to avail themselves
OF MIR. Corcoran's offer, which continues in CT.
feet until January first.
In reference to Mr.. Oorcoran's action DR..
Elliott entd:
"Thero is one frlend OF Bishop Plnkuey to
whom must do Justice. Whom the tidings
came that tho Bishop had fallen In tho midst
Ot the battle for Christi he, like many OF you,
could say, 81 am distressed for thee; very
pleasant hast thou been 10 me. Thy love TO
me was wonderful passing the love love, o.
which bore the fallen Bishop from the spot
where he fell TO this church, and from this
church TO his resting place. At once
he began 10 prepare costly monument and
but for delays, which no foresight could pre-
vent the form OF bis beloved friend, sculp-
tured In the land which is the homo OF art,
would stand to-day beneath tho forest boughs
OF the beautiful city OF the dead as no stood
here beneath the arches OF his own chancel
ana bid the throngs who come and go romem-
Der MarylGnd's best loved Bishop. At once he
gave these tokens Of his love. But not content
with these he came to you and eaid, "Friends
and lovers OF tho Bishop, let us make this
church In the beautiful city of tho living a
common memorial OF our common friend and
Bishop" He offered as his Gift nearly one
third the cost, and now that the valuo OF the
rcctory Is added you are asked to provide not
quite one half tho cost, and am here to tell
you that since that friend proposed to you this
common Offering year has passed, and that
his ofer Is held out to you only until the
here 10 Gsk you, old friends and comrades OF
the Bishop, can you AFFORD to let this friend OF
the Bishop appeal toyou In vain2
"You should regard me rs your friend tor
seeking 10 rouse you from the absorbing cares
OF daily life; seeking 10 make YOU realize the
position into which you may be betrayed. Do
you wish 1t to be said In this city that such an
ofrer as this was mado and that there was not
the enterprise and the enorgy--they will not
say there was rot the wealth; they Will not
accuse you OF poverty-that there was not the
enterprise 10 meet II? DO you wish II TO DO
said that one friond OF the Bishop, beside his
own costly offeringe, asked his friends here to
ION him IN one common and loving gift and
that they held back and failed TO do It? Do
you wish TO have It said that an urgent appeal
was made to you TO keep his memory fresh,
who, living, gave you his labors and his love,
but 1t was found that the good which men do
Is inferred with their bones and that gratitude
and love had been laid with him beneath the
sod7 You do not wish these things to DO said.
But they Will be said, unless you are reused to
do your duty and to do It quickly. VIII YOU not
rouse yourselyesr Have you not already re-
solved: Neverl never shall these reproaches
BIO cast upon usl This hand, which often felt
the loving pressure of the Bishops hand,
shall place glad Offering Into the common
hand Of the congregation. II | forget him
forget to be foremost In honoring his memory
let this right hand forget its cunning"
The proposition referred to ia as follows;
Mr.. WV. Corcoran has offered to give $10,-
700 toward paying on tho debt upon the
Ascension p. L. Church on condition that tho
vestry and congregation will give tho balance
on or before January ], 1885. Tho balance
to BIO thus provided for is about 1880.
provided for without the sale OF the rectory.
The rector has written letter TO the vcstry,
in which he says that he Will .cheerfully give
his consent to the sale, whenever the balance
above described lees tho market value of tho
rectory, shall have been secured by good sub
ecriptions.
II is presumed that the consent of the other
parties necessary will also be given. Tho
$4,000. This, taken from S21, 500, leaves
$4,000 TO be provided for by tho vestry and
congregation.
subscribed the sum OF about $1,000, OF which,
however, one subscription OF 5000 is condl-
tlonal. Subtract this sum from $4,000, and
the amount stu to be provided by the vestry
and congregation Is about SS,000
OF this whole debt OF S3l 900 the sum OF
$4,000 is provided without any personal cost
TO the yestry and congregation, and
personal subscriptions have been received
thus far from only a portion Of the congrega.
ton. 1t is now asked of tho congregation to
make provision for tho $4,000, OF which
$1,000 has been already provided, and
let the church DO ready by the dawn OF an
other. year for conservation to the service of
Almighty God In memory OF William Plnkney.