The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-15

for that very reason hls utterly false asser
ton was all the more inexcusable. and By
opposing TO IL the truth concerning the
cathedral property the EuopOelist has dis
played n high sense Of fairness and honol
that justifcs its Christian professions.
A detailed history Of the acquisition Of
the property has been obtained by the
| ErdrOelist from Mr. HENRY r. BEEKMAN
| formerly Corporation Counsel. From this
| IL appears that the cathedral site was part
Of the common lands belonging to the city,
| which we're laid out In blocks as long ago as
| 1916 In 1893 the block where the cathedral
is was conveyed by the city to ROBERT
| LYLBURN for tho sum OF f405. and
perpetual quit rent OF -four bushels
Of good, merchantable wheat. or the
value thereof in gold or silver" After
several subsequent transfers, 1t was sold
at public auction. In 1923. under fore
closure proceedings. to FRANCIS COOPER,
and in the next year he conveyed the prop
erty to the trustees OF st. Patricks Cathe-
dral for $3.50 The city Of New York had
parted with its title thirty years before.
and the property was acquired by the ca
thcdral trustees for n substantial consid-
Grafton. representing the value Of the land
W lie tlIllc. III lSOk tne 'llN tACHhhSC'
with them strip Of land belonging to 1t on
the northerly side of Flftleth street for
strip OF the cathedral's property on
Fifty-first street. This was an abso-
lutely fair bargain, advantageous to
both Sides for by IL each secured a
frontage on n street from which 1t had
been excluded, and IL was one Of many
like exchanges sought by the city. Sub
scquently the city adopted the policy OF
committing such quit rents as that which
went with this land, inasmuch as they In
terfered with the subdivision and sale OF
property the improvement OF which was
necessary to tho growth OF the town. The
quit rent OF four bushels OF wheat was cap
italized at 1882. and that sum was paid to
the city by the cathedral trustees. No dis
elimination in favor OF them was made.
the capitalization having been calculated In
strict accordance with a general rule fol-
lowed In all such cases.
These are facts ofrecord, and they are In
dlsputable. The cathedral property was ac-
quired by fair purchase at fair valuation,
yet for many years the false story that it
was substantially stolen from the city has
been in circulation. 1t was bought with the
magnificent edifce erected on 1t was paid
for with such offerings slowly accumulated
during long series Of years. The cathe-
dral was built by sclf-sacrifcing Roman
Catholic devotion. Not a cent expended on
1t was money plundered from the city"
As eSMayor ELY has said. Tho ground
was paid for, and the cathedral erected, in
the same honest manner in which the
church OF which DR.. BURRELL Is pastor
was constructed"
The charge made by DIR. BURRELL at the
meeting OF the Presbyterian Union was.
therefore, rank falsehood. It was absc-
lutely baselcss. and as tho facts OF the case
were accessible in the public records. DR..
BuRRELL had no excuse for uttcring such n
lie In order to damage fellow Christians in
the eyes OF the people. BY obtaining
these facts and publishing them In justice
to the Roman Catholics. the Presbyte-
rian Evangelist has made an atonement for
the outrage which will gain for 1t the honor
Of all men. 1t has performed Christian
duty in a noble spirit OF Christian mag
and by doing this it has COM
plctcy exploded a Islander. long In circula-
ton. though utterly baseless. The Rev
DR.. FIELD. the distinguished editor OF tho
has proved himself to be entitled
10 the great measure OF respect. affection,
and confidence which he enjoyo in this
as a Christian gentleman and
4 Christian minister.