The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-28
BIG THANKSGIVING GIFTS.
Rich Men Give Generously IN Aid of
Church Work.

Rich Men Give Generously IN Aid of
Church Work.
New York Correspondence in Philadelphia Press.
The example set by that unknown bene-
factor who sent to BISHOP Potter q sub
of st. John the Divine has been followed
by another wealthy churchman who in
sists upon keeping his identity con-
cealed. A few days ago the Rev. DR..
Greer. who is pastor of ST. Bartholo-
news Church, was visited by a men,
Der of his parish who brought with him q
Thanksgiving offering. He said that be
proposed to give o tract of $50 acres of land
In q very salubrious town not very far
from New York. In addition to this he
would erect upon it cottages, dormitories
and in other ways tit 1t up SO that it would
be attractive for the purpose he had in
mind. Furthermore, he would bind him.
self to pay every dollar of the yearly ex-
penses for maintaining this enterprise.
The gift involves q good many thousand
dollars. precisely how many the donor
himsalf could not estimate, nor was he
very particular about the amount of his
donation. The land itself is worth, or Will
be worth in the course of q few years, $780,
600, and if it had been turned over To O real.
estate syndicate to devol0pe 1t would prob
ably be made to yield In the course OF O
few years q much larger sum than that.
The benefactor had in mind the establish
ment of q place where the worthy poor, and
especially those who have received assist
ance from the st. Bartholomew Parish
Home. can be sent for q outing.
Two or three hundred persons can be- en-
tertalned at this place at a time. and the
probabilities are that il will be ready early
in June. and will be kept open until the
end of the summer season..
Another parishioner of DR.. Greers, who
had some inkliDg of this gift. promised to
give hfty acres OF land, and to put up five
cottages for q similar purpose. These Two
fresh-air benefactions will be likely to
furnish an outdoor treat to two or three
thousand persons during the summer. DR..
Greer Is bound for the present at least TO
conceal the names of those who ave made
these gifts. Probably every one who hears
of these benefactions will associate Mr..
Cornelius Vanderbilt with them, partly be-
cause he 10 one of the active working men,
bers of DIR. Greer's church, who has al
ready contributed several hundred thou
sand dollars for mission and other church
WORK. But there are other very rich men,
bers of this church who are large-hearted
men and 10 and there Is some reason
to think that this gift is not Mr.. Wander
bilt's, but comes from one less we'll known
than he.
family attend the Church of the Heavenly
Rest. which is also the church home of
Chauncey M. Depew. Walter Webb. and a
number OF men who are prominent in rail-
wsy and financial affairs. When Dr.. Nor
gan took charge of this church it was a
question whether 1t would not be crushed
beneath the weight of q mighty indebted
ness, almost $500. 900. DIR. Morgan had some
reason for Thanksgiving service when on
the morning Of that day In figuring up he
found that the indebtedness had been re-
ducsd to less than $4,000. and that two
subscriptions, one Of $4,000 and another
for n smaller sum. had been received.
He also was told that If he would continue
his work at church. debt-lifting until he
was satisfied that his congregation had
done all it could. a certain gentleman vas
ready to give his check for the balance
needed to clear Oft the debt. Some things
point to some of the members of the an
derbilt family as the persons who have
made this offer.