New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-15
STRANGERS ar ST. ~rHouAys CHURCH.
WHAT THE vEsTRYMrY SAY ABOUT THEM

THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
story was published yesterday 70 the effect that
b. W. Williams, superintendent Of the business Affairs
of st. Thomass Church. In Fifth ave, had said that
strangers wanted az the services Of tho church
1t alleged that he had declared that there no
room there for people who did not pay for their seats,
and that It his business not to find seats for heH
but to keep them out they were not asked TO come 10
the church and were not wanted there lie was also
quoted as saying that sometimes they had to tell
strangers plainly get up and Get out. when they had
GUIDED those whose it waste watch them, and thai
they made them do IT,
Mr. Williams, when seen by Tribune reporter yes
teIday at his real estate office Fiith-ave and Forty
axth-st.' was unwilling to say much for publication
lie said however that he had been misunderstood as to
the expression OF his Views. When asked the publ
cation was untrue, he replied that such an assertion
might be too broad and too emphatic perhaps. He
was unwilling, however, to explain what he had said,
and said that he preferred not to discuss tho subject
any more
Daniel T. HoaG, the senior warden, said he was
sstonished to learn that Mr. Williams had any such
views had been declared. If Mr.. Williams was
correctly reported, he had done himself, the vestry and
the parish great injustice. " have been vesry-
man and warden in the church, said Mr. Hoag foT
more than twenty years and thce has never been but
sentiment In the vestry and parish so far as
know, In regard to the hospitable treatment OF
strangers &C nave, cOufeH, Scdcd our OWL ptopio
FIST but there is an entire absence OF exclusiveness
The Rev. Dr. John ". Brown. rector Of 81
Thomass Church, called at Mr. Hoag's home, No.
IL West Thirty ninth-st, in the OF the inter
Wow and cordially Endorsed MIR. Hoag's statements
He said that ST. Thomas's Church wanted to be IN
touch with all that Humanitarian and TO maKe
no distinction Of class or condition Mr.. Williams was
simply an employe OF the church, who waS however,
entitled to his opinion. Dr. Brown spoke with en-
thusiasn of the chapel IN sixtethst and the house
No 900 East Fifty ninth-st, which a beehive Of
industry and supported by St. Thomass Church. The
rector hoped to impress his active work on tho parish
10 receive his proposals. Tho whole parish was alive
and full of interest and strangers were always vel
come. . . 49,.
remarks attributed 10 Mr.. Williams not IN Keep
ing with the feeling of the vestry They had always
greatly desired the presence Of strangers IN he
church. The members meant to treat strangers WIN
hospitality and Dr. Otis did not think that any one
fin the church would refuse 10 recognize the rights
OF HOSPITALITY IL possible that some persons
might have rritated MIR win ans and made him Say
what he would not otherwise have said
James c. Fargo vcstIyman for twenty years, ana
TREASURER. said that stranger were always welcome
70 attend the services. He thought that Mr.. Williams
II he had made the remarks attributed 10 him, would
get into trouble Mr.. Fargo said that, 30 far AS he
Mas concerned II Mr. Williams held any such views he
would not DC allowed 10 stay sixty minutes IN the
church. .
Jobn H. Watson also a vcstryman. said that what
Mr. Williams was declared 10 have said was IN no
sense a reflection of the sentiment Of the vcsuy. MI
Watson denied that be had said, as declared IN an
afternoon paper that & possible that harsh means
had used to get strangers out oi pe"s Wicn thy
had seated themselves but sometimes It was absolutely