New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-13
REASONS FOR THE CHANdE.
PRESBYTERIANS EXPLAIN JUST VIII
THEY WILL MOVE UPTOWN.

THE OLD MISSION HOUSE INADEQUATE TO THEIR
NEEDS AND A SOURCE OF FINANCIAL LOSS
"A DECLARATION THAT NO AGhEE-
MENT WITH THE LENoX HEIRS
HAS BEEN BROKEN.
The Boards Of Home and Foreign MISSIONS Oh
tho preshvter,an Church issued yesterday their
statement In regard to the sale Oh 'hc i<e"o~
property at Fifth-ave. and Tweitth-sI' anu u'e
building Of the eleven-story presbyterian MIS-
sion House at Fifth-ave and Twenueth-s' AS
told I'm The Tribune. a number OF the i7ehus anu
relatives OF the Lenox family strongly oppose ana
disapprove the sale insisting that II was agreed at
the time of the sale that the property was 10
remain the headquarters OF the Presbyterian Cnurch
work and that the boards are morally pouhu not
to part with It. Presbyterans have become deeply
interested in the question. and the rePy vi the
boards has been eagerly watched for
In explana ton Of the long delay in the appearance
of the statement Mr. Dulles. treasurer or the
Board of Foreign Missions. said that the state
ment before being made public had 10 Dc sud
mitted TO the boards and Building Committee ana
as these included a large number OF persons ana
many had suggestions to offer. the delay had oeeh
unavoidable.
WHY THE NEW BUILDING is NECESSARY.
Here is the statement which Is signed by DR..
W. c. Roberts D. J. Mcmillan o. +. Boyd and
O u Eaton for the Home Board. and the Rev.
Dr. F. F. Elnwood, John Gillespie. r. F.. Speer.
BENJAMIN Labaree and William Dulles, jr., for the
Foreign Board:
1t is announced that the Boards of Home and
erty purchased last spring on the corner or
Twenteth-st. and Fifth,ave. a large building Tor
tons which will be rented to suitable tenants
This project represents the result OF careful oqs
consideration Of the whole problem OF once
accommodation. and while on n large scale, mas
been considered in every detail with , view TO
entered upon its work in this city in the year ls5i
using as an Office part Of room IN tne 6f acS
two rooms were taken on the third floor OF build.
on was rented IN CITY Ha
sequenty. through the liberality OF some prVante
time adequate for the work was procured at the
corner of Centre and Reade SITS. long known as
For many years this was the headquarters of all
the boards of the Presbyterian Church New
OF more room, the Board of Home Missions was
obliged to seek quarters for Itself elsewhere ana
: and Chambers-st. In 1887 the boards moved to
u present building at welth-st ana az til I'm we
sisters. whose large gifts to the boards for many
are s snd hs to- the
for s25oOo), price less than rs actual value. Inc
snex p1a De miss legacy Of
900 to the Home Board, $4,000. proceeds of the
fas of h the ny
funds OF the two boards.
THE THREE PRINCIPAL REASONS
1t hoped that this would provide commodious
quarters for the boards for many years to come.
but the growth of the work has been so great and
so rapid that a change has become imperative Tor
the following reasons:
First-The need of more room for the ever-grow-
ing work OF the boards of the church and the two
great departments OF womans work occupying the
present building; also for the various missionary
gatherings which centre there. The house. having
been built as a private dwelling. is III adapted for
Office
comfort with necessary lack OF highest efficiency
The question Of alteration has arisen from time TO
time but the present building Is so constructed
not To admit OF change on any wise ana com,
prehensive plan. Meanwhile. the unoccupied ground
is entirely unremunerative and the plot as whole
can only be economically utilized by he removal
of the presen: structure and the erection OF en-
secondThis step is IN the Interests Of economy o
which rule in New-York. it Is waste to occupy
m1sn land as M boards ar 0Sn To rena
The Bible and Tract societies and the Methodist
Church have for years acted upon this prin-
cipe The Episcopal Church has recently erected
a building with the same design The Tract 80
a office building. In the present quarters; with
SO much unavailable space inside and outside the
In this part OF the city. the boards living at
an extravagant rental which cannot be justified on
a change Alterations in the present property would
merely increase present expenses WIN no adequate
Third-When this question was pending: the death
Mrs Robert y ( stuart brought %s e io ths RnoT
| that Mrs. Stuart would have approved the OF
her gifts in providing suitable accommodation for
the work of the two boards. and desired a large
| portion 10 be retained in permanent investment:
| work. and the remainder has been availed Of In
part payment for the property corner Twenteth-st
| and Fifth-ave.
| BUSINESS EXPEDIENcY.
In selecting this location rather than rebuilding on
the present SITE the boards acted through special
| committees and after consultation with the best
real estate experts in the city. who pronounced the
property Twentieth-st and Fffth-ave. or excep-
tional value for rental purposes. and likely to pro
| duce larger revenue for many years than the prop
erty corner Of Twelfth-st. A special committee OF
| both cards. with Mr.. John s. Kennedy as chair
man. has in charge the development Of the details
| but as vet definite plans have been adopted
| The board desires 1t to be distinctly understood
the missionary work OF the boards Will be diverted
for in connection with this project. The neces
| sary funds will be provided from the legacies o
| Mrs. Stuart from endowment funds or the boarI'
which must be permanently invested. ana from IN,
iwelfth-st and Fifth-ave. any balance above these
amounts which may be needed will be secured py
mortgage on the properly upon Which me punaihe
| is TO be erected The rentals Will provide the nee
essary interest and sinking in1d to , eMtn rssT
revenue which will help to meet the expenses o.
The proposed new home OF the boards. providing
ample facilities for efficient and economical work
will hereafter be associated with the names Of
Lenox and Stuart. The generous gifts TO the boards
from members Of these two families have. In {
| measure. maze possible tTS new enter prise
| and in some proper way their names should be as
| ISOLATED permanently with the proposed building
NO AGREEMENT VIOLATED.
| After the statement had been given out, DIR
| Roberts and DR.. Elllnwood were asked by a Trlb
une reporter II they would say something concern
ing the verbal implied agreement which thu
! Ienox heirs declare made and we'll understood
at the time OF the purchase OF the property Speak
ing for both, Dr. Roberts said: I'm addition to th
statement you may confidently affirm that there Il
| not the slightest ground for ntmating that thu
boards have violated faith with donors, set aside
an understanding. even disregarded an expressed
wish OF a single party interested"
PRESBYTERIANS VOTE ON TEMPERANCE
SOCIAL DRINKING CUSTOMS TO BE DISCOURAGED