Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10

AmOuB Its OtQef FEATURES 3d. SreOfRo B udS -
national reputation as free church, and al
| though DIR. Rainsford himself said some time
ago that 1t took great amount Of grace to run
| free church, it has been supposed that the ex-
pertinent in this case was brilliant success and
| q sufficient refutation Of the plea that q church
| must rent pews TO meet its bills. In DR.. Rains
ford's report, however, for the year, he says
| that although the total offerings for the year
reached very nearly s100, 900, there is. to quote
| his own words "Oue weak spot in this record,
and that is the altogether insufficient sum given
by those crowds who come TO the church more
| or less regularly, and do not give through our
envelope system" He estimates that not over
81, 1000 is contributed to the support Of the
church by those who make up the bulk of its
weekly congregations. The disagreeable fact
| sticks out that in the one church in the United
States where the free seat system is supposed
to be a notable success the contributions from
| the crowd would not begin to pay the bare ex-
penses of the clergy and other stated expenses
of the church. st. Georges is supported, not
by the masses, but by group of rich men. of
whom John Pierpont Morgan is the central
spirit, who simply put their hands down into
their capacious pockets to any depth that the
crisis may require During the past year, for
| instance, the deficit thus raised was $50, 600.
DR.. Rainsfords own way out of the dilemma is
an endowed church, and he Ia directing his
great energies in that direction.
Turning now to other features Of the subject,
It will be interesting to many Of your readers
to know something Of the life of this great
parish. According to the statistics given in the
report the rector and his six assistants made
and received 1912 visits. conducted 702 public
services in the church and memorial house and
celebrated the communion 160 times. The
present approximate number Of communicates
on the church's books and parish books is
z, 45S-an increase for the year of 361. Space
would fail to describe the various ramifications
OF this active parish. ! will just give a cata-
logue: There is the Memorial House itself, a
very remarkable and complicated Institution,
comprising dozen or fifteen different institu-
tions; the choir Of st. Georges, the Chapter of
the Brotherhood of st. Andrews, the mems
club, the athletic club, various missionary So
cieties the relief department. including an en-
ployment society: the seaside cottage. the in
dustrial school, the kitchen garden class. three
or four city missions. of which the one in ave-
nue. A is the most important. and SO on, down
through q long list, making total of about
forty distinct Organizations, all working in
harmony under a central force.
WHO wANTs FIFTH AVENUE CHURCH?
Turning from a very prosperous church to
the opposite one may notice as he walks on 5th
avenue very curious sign. On church that
has for years been a landmark Of the avenue
and one Of the leading houses Of worship in the
city is now an immense sign reading: This
Cnurcn LOT SAFE or 10 let. inquire OF -.
This sign produces a rather singular effect on
the mind Of the contemplative beholder. Any
one who wishes to invest in a good 5th avenue
church, somewhat shopworn and now rather
damaged by fire, can obtain good article ut
bargain. don't know whether the congrega-
ton goes with it or not: that perhaps might,
however, be made matter of negotiation, and
submit the whole matter to the alert and keen
good judgment of the Washington real estate
world.
FIGHTING FOR FAYERwEATHER's MILLIONS.
The Fayerweather will contest keeps sprout-
ing out new sensational leaves. and it evil entity
will stand as one Of the most remarkable cases
in testamentary law. At present the trustees
are under a very omirous cloud. Mrs. Fayer-
weather will produce evidence from his clergy
man that he was unable to get access to the
bedside of the dying man, because of the de-
termination Of the trustees to surround him
and to be alone with him to the end. She will
buttress this testimony by evidence from the
family doctor that Mr.. Fayerweather was in
articulo morris when the famous codicil. which
virtually gives the whole fortune to the trus-
tees, was added to the will, and. that the
testator at that time was in no condition
to distribute his effects. With regard to
the effect Of the litigation ON the pub
lie, learn from a competent source that
Mrs. Fayerweather intends to respect to the
letter all her late husbands wishes with regard
to colleges hospitals, &c. In fact it is now said
that unless the will is broken the colleges will
be cut of. At any rate If the will stands they
Will have to depend just as absolutely upon the
friendly feeling Of the trustees as upon the
original owner Of the millions for it is entirely
within their discretion under the codicil
whether they give anybody a cent or not. The
whole case is invested with strange atmos-
phere OF mystery and intrigue and public SYM
patty strongly sets with the widow, not only
because under the will she ia cut off with gen
teel poverty, but also because it looks to out
siders very much as if, in the most respectable
way in the world, dying millionaire 8 property
was diverted into the pockets Of a group of
intimate friends.
DEMOCRATS TRYING ON KvARTs' SHOES.
The democrats are in very chaotic state of
mind over their Senator. Very possibly Gov.
Hill knows what he is driving at, but very few
other people do, though many would like to
find out. 1t is about settled that he will not
try for the prize himself but even this NAV be
subject to modification at the last moment. OF
course, what the governor wants is a few years
residence at the more western end Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue. The candidacy of Dana is not
taken seriously and the reform element in the
party Is probably strong enough to veto the
ambition of Smith NJ. Weed, even if the gov
ernor does not quietly turn a political kries
under his ribs while blandly asking, "Isitw well
with thee. my friend?' 1t is an excellent op-
portunity on the whole for a dark horse.
NOT EXCITED YET FOR '93.
Secretary WINDOWS circular reciting the
conditions under which goods may be imported
for the Chicago fair of S3 has thus far fallen on
dull ears, so far as the New York importers
are concerned. No doubt as the time ap-
proaches interest In this matter will quicken
very much, but at present it cannot be said to
exist at all Importers. on being questioned as
to their purposes say in perfunctory strain
that they suppose something will be done, but
they have no idea what. A little more general
interest in the whole affair has been aroused by
the judicious stroke Of policy made by the COM
mittee In Offering the management Of the art
department 10 MI. Henry Marquand, the presi-
dent Of the Metropolitan Museum Of Art This
tribute TO the superiority Of the metropolis in
the art life of the country has somewhat molli-
fed the pique Of New York. and il Mr. Mar
quand accepts, as he very likely will, the exhi-
bition will gain the help of one of the most dis
interested and capable patrons Of art and
organizers Of ert shows in the world.
GAINING TWO DAYS IN NEWS
We expect great things from the new ocean
postal service. With the rapid extension of
post Office business between this country and
Europe the handling Of the mail has become
very serious problem. To distribute a thou
sand bags of matter without delay that excites
angry complaint is a task that taxes the best
managed post Office This congestion is now
to be relieved by the simple expedient Of ap-
plying to steamships the system OF sorting mat
ter in transit already in universal use on rail-
roads. The practical effect Of the step will be
TO shorten the business interval between us and
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