The evening world., 1894-03-14
MRS.. ARNOLD A CATHOLIC.
Father AdamS'S and Father JOhnSOn'S
Wealthy RitualiStiC Patron Enters
the Mother Fold.
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER MOURNS.
This Victory, Too, Is Father Van Rensselaer's
Her Old Parish Loses Prestige
and Financial Aid.

Mrs. william Arnold has been converted
to the Roman Catholic faith. 1t Is so
great n victory that Father Van Rens-
selaer Is more than repaid for the
trouble which the conversion of the
Rev. Henry A. Adams. the former ritu-
alistic rector of the Church of the Re
deemer, caused him.
Mrs. William Arnold. born Cameron, Is
said to he worth $3,OOO,000 at a moderate
estimate, and with her change of faith.
II Is also said the promise of the 5000
parish hou!e for the Church OF the
Redeemer and the 100000 which she was
to give to pay of the debt Of the church
and create an endowment FUND van
ishes.
When Father" Adams announced last
summer that h, had left the Episcopal
Church, 1t VA almost a %foregone con-
clusion that Mr.. Arnold wuul soon fol-
low him.. but the rector. the Rev. w. Il.
johnson. did the best he could to keep
her. 1t was thought that he had sue
ceeded, for when he started the soup
kitchen. at No. 1872 Third avenue. for
the poor of the ncighborhood. nobody
was more enthusiastic in the work than
Mrs. Arnold. She paid the rent: she
lpotei muiy OI tle Diils, SI' NIslttl inc
needy: she distributed clothing tickets:
she helped to provide work for women
out of work by setting them to making
clothes, she was industry itself. Father
Johnson and she were seen together so
much that 1t was the talk of the parish
that the two would be married after
Easter. and the parish was by no means
displeased thercat.
Blu about four weeks ago
1t was observed that an ever-increasing
number of Catholics were beneiiciarics
of the soup-kitchep and clothes dis
pensary. Not hat there was any OBJ
lection to that, for 1t was Il non-sec-
tartan affair. But Mrs. Arnold began to
laud the music and ritual at the Cathe-
dral and 81. Francis Narier's. Then the
women of the congregation OF the
Churcn Of the ltedeemer looked at each
other wisely. remembering certain
things.
Finally, three weeks AGO. she took two
ladies' OF the parish INTO her commence
and told them that she was going 10 be
received into the l,oman church by
Father Van Rensselaer,.
Three weeks ago tonight, In her fine
home at ruin avenue and EiShty-third
street, she was conditionally re- baptized
by Father ' AN kensselacr, and the next
morning she made her ilrst communion
III ~ W y 'IuItlH
Mrs. Arnold was at her ZONE last
night at No. 1920 I'ifth avenue. Yes, |
was baptized Feb. Is, she said. IL would
prefer not to tell the names OF my
iirst opportunity"
'Wiii you leave or the work at the
soup Kitchen. which the Church of the
Rcueeiner has siarted?"
ION. no. | will go on with that as
Usual. There Is no distinction made as
to the faith, Of those who benefit by
this charity"
Was not your adoption OF the Catho-
lie faith rather sudden"
Not TO me-. | have been thinking the
matter oyer for two or three years. |
year ago. 1t Is Il matter which | do not
feel like saying a great deal about. |
am very happy In my new religious
The Rev. Father johnson. of the
Church of the Ruieemcr. had very little
TO say about Mrs. ArnOld's conversion.
he seemed to bear II with more philos-
Apply than he dfI the secession of his
colleague last year. He said that he
knew nothing about the details OF Mrs.
Arnold,s change of faith.
Members of the congregation who
heard Father johnson preach a week
ago Sunday night remember that In his
sermon. was just one sentence which
sounded the first note of encouragement
this work does not succeed" said he.
speaking of the establishment of ritual
istic worship in the parish, ut may be
because God Is not pleased with us for
iidence in self or lack of faith in him."
When Henry A. Adams took charge
or the Church OF the Redeemer his re-
He was remarkably eloquent. and a
strong ritualist. He drew immense
audiences, Mrs Arnold who. with the
Trinity Chapel, happened in one rainy
night and heard him preach. She was
fascinated with him. and in a little
while 1t was announced that a wealthy
person was about to give the parish
100000 to pay of its debt and establish
an endowment fund, besides building
a parish house to cost $4,000. The
built a beautiful country house out at
Great Neck, l.. l., with a chapel in 1t. at
whose altar Mr., Adams was to say re-
S Snssm mas sonl. for Tbe the place rspo wa, Of to her sr
called THE Chantry." Also for the pur-
pose OF letting Mr.. Adams study and to
free MIN from parochial cares, he was TO
Then came Mr.. Adams's conversion.
IT Is said that Father Van Rensselaer,
ana Mr.. Adams together wrote a fare
well letter. Mr.. Adams took it home
harshly criticised, both by Episcopalians
and Catholics. Father Van Rensselaer,
was called to account for having let his
convert get away from him. and was
sent to Baltimore as a penance. and Mr..
Adams was put under probation for a
year. He has not complied with the
terms of probation.
He was promptly deposed by Bishop
Potter within three days after he an
nounced his conversion. Since then he
has made most strenuous efforts to get
BACK. but he could only do so by being
put on probation. and this he was not
willing to accept. So he is now be-
twi&t and between
He sailed Feb. - for the Isle OF
Wight, there to do literary work. His
wife and children did not accompany
him. They went to Mrs. Adams's
fathers home i'm New Jersey, and 1t il
said that the family will not be reunited.
Mr.. Adams Is still getting 5000 a year
from Mrs. Arnold, besides what he
makes by writing plays. Richard Mans
held has accepted one from him.
The Sunday UOrid's Easter
Number-nert sunday. Don't CaH
Ia .