The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-03
THE kNICkERBACKER HOME.
A Suggestion Made by Episcopal
Since the Bishops Death.

Since the Bishops Death.
The most cherished plan of the late
Bishop Knickerbacker was to have home
for aged women and children who were
left destitute. The founding of such a
home was uppermost in the good Bishops
heart, and not very long after he became
the head of the Episcopal Church in In
diana he began to work for it. He talked,
wrote and interested the people of the
State. He made it a part of the duty of
every diocese in the State to give something
for the home. Children in the Sunday
schools were urged to bring their pennies
1t was not the big contributions which made
the laying of the foundation stone posi-
bility, There were very few large sums
given. Mrs. B. f. Tuttle gave 5000, and
for time 1t was thought that the home
should be named the Tuttle Home, as that
was the largest sum given by any one per-
son. There was no endowment, and so the
name was abandoned. The Bishop was not
daunted with the slowness or mites which
came in, but he kept manfully on. AS soon
as he found that he had sufficient funds
lot was bought adjoining the church school
on Central avenue. The lot was vacant a
long time. Money for the foundation stones
and placing them in position was in sight
and the foundation was put in and the COR
ner-stone was laid with due ceremony by
the Bishop, assisted by the clergy of the
Episcopal Church of the city. The plans
for the church home were drawn and
many suggestions were made by the Bishop.
it had been something entirely part of
himself, as 1t was in a degree. The plans
We're kept ON his desk in his library, where
he was always to be found when at home,
When the dreams of the home began to
cornerstone Were laid, the Bishop renewed
his efforts for funds. Every church was
that the amount was made a burden to the
congregations but in the measure of their
ability every church gave. Some part of the
Bishop took hold Of a few Of the I members ers
who helped him, but in the main the en-
tire work of raising the money was done
stone, the frames, the windows and doors
and all the various parts rose gradually in
some and plain structure. which should be
the pride of every churchman in Indiana,
heart was full of the work, has brought it
SO far toward completion.
The rumor, Went over the country that
any one collecting one million postage
stamps could sell them Many believed the
report but many more did not. The Bishop
made inquiry and found that there were
several firms that would purchase Cancelled
stamps. The amount to be received for the
million stamps would not be much, but
nothing was too little to add to the fund.
The Bishop let his people know that he
wanted stamps, and not only people of the
tons in every part of the Union heard of it
and sent them in by the hundreds and by
the thousands. Small trouble was taken
by some of the collectors to count the
stamps and put them in good shape, and
they came pouring in ON the Bishop in all
shapes and sizes. The mail every day
brought stamps. The Bishop delighted
to get them, and it also gave him great
amusement. Week after week went by and
month after month. 1t took many thou
sands to make up the desired number.
Many another person would have become
respondent at the long time before anything
could be realized on the collection. At last
the Bishop could see that he was tar on
the road to the last quarter of a. million and
his spirits began to rise. He knew how
many he had but he did not discuss it
much with others The amount of patience
the Bishop had was written in his face. He
could stand and wait. if that was his duty
When the full million had arrived he sent
them to New York and received in return
check for 1914. This money. which had
taken so much labor for hundreds of per-
sons, was turned into the fund This is
only an instance of what the Bishop was
willing to do to accomplish an end.
The building is we'll towards completion
1t is not furnished and it will take much
more to do this The home has not been
named, and it has been suggested by many
of the friends and admirers of the man that
the home should be called the Knicker-
hacker Home. This would be but a small
token of the appreciation of the people for
the immense amount of labor undertaken
and carried on almost alone by the Bishop