New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-22
THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN BUILDING.

THE. NEW PRESBfTERlAN Isl Ii>plN'.
An OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING 1T W Or
" c. ROBERTS. or THE HOME MISSION BOARD
p,,,sburg May Il (SpeciaD-Dr. ". G Roberts.
one OF the corresponding secretaries OF the board
y, Home Missions. distributed pamphlet to-day IN
rep,v 10 the one from Thomas Mcpougnll OF en-
ct,,ou attacking the boards Of Home arl Foreign
Missions for erecting the nne building nj fifhave
and Tweniieth-si. Ncw-YOrk. and the protest OF
Miss Rachel L. Kennedy. one 81 the l"noH heirS.
against tho sale Of the present mission property
AT Flfth-avc and Twelith-st. Or Roberts sad In
part:
/, was hoped tina, a full report OF the facts re-
lating TO the new PRESBYTERIAN i'uildng would be
mI,trr but the state OF his health is such a. to
forbid his undertaking anything that demands
With the history OF the subject. beg enve 10 fur
nl.h the Assembly with wnat seems to be neces.
attempt to do more than 10 give the barr facts
connected with the enterprise IN ther Logical ori,r
No argument Will be attempted 10 JUSTIFY the
boards in what they have done. because they nave
been acting ,onscenoT5 an ARE ,g mainly ,he.e
The property now occupied ~ me boards on Ihr
erhi wears ago for s25oc just any other piece
of property would have been. $1,000 OF III" sum
paid for {; came from the proceeds OF The sale OF
property and other sources and flovO from the
ienox family. or IN" latter sum. 500. the ID, be-
quest 10 the Board Of Home Missions Of Miss Hen
retta I.cnox without condition or tn. possibliity
OF knowing that 1t would ever be used FOR the pur-
chase OF the Lcnox mansion was; az me rsiuest
of the family, used. The remaining <9Vo was
an out and out gift Of Mr.. Robert I"nox Kennedy
during his lifetime. not only without CONDITIONS.
hui Without the shadow OF an understanding that
the property bought was TO be NE permanent home
Of the boards. The members Of The boards imne.
diatey concerned In that transaction declar" mat
,hcy would not have purchased the property AZ all
If il had been accompanied with any conditions.
The new building was not put up on M, me corner np
demand as We, for Office accommodations at that
point. The corner Of Ffh-aye and Iwcntl"th,
mon OF the city TO be very near the great uptown
centre Of business Though but eight squares. or
r. is vastly more valuable for such purposes az
contepl,ted by me Go%d nur or an ave
make a very great difference In the value OF prop
erty for business uses.
After referring TO the approval by the last Cen
eral Assembly Of the erection OF the new building
and Miss Kcnnedy's letter expressing the hope that
her protest made that body had not injured the
cause Of missions. DR.. Roberts continued:
Soon after the adjournment OF the Assembly.
for It's erection given TO Trustworthy parties Inc
at which such work had been done IN many
Though PLAIN and deyod q, meuse p
garded az OF the most tasteful ana substantial
a. wS It's attractions are believed to be such
will secure as soon as fn,sned yery Prostaoe
terrain House and in the desirability OF the boards
would be sufficiently large to pay all the expenses s%
Expressed to her counsel and executors wish that
a large amount OF her bcqnes should be put IN a
permanent funh. ana nave va III
condition OF her bequest had she not been dis
suaded from II by assurance that her wishes
woud be carried out without restrictions that
might prove detrimental to the interests which she
sought to advance Consequenuy, she , ie1' ner
judgment OF the boards The best jndsment, OF the
pressed by her they making the wsest arrange
nent possible for the interest OF missions They
do mot believe when the money was committed to
their discretion and control. that they arc vio-
atnp The conditions of the Will by using II for the
benefit OF missions In the way suggested by the
generous tesatrlN. . A.. $500, f.
ba Interest maid on money borrowed before any iev
enue accrued from rents, $1,000 was donated 70
meet that .xlgency by John s. Kennedy and N3 go
was received az rent and bonus for the cancel.a-
lion OF lease By tenants In possession Thus. enough
nnncv vas nroylded beforehand to ray ,he interest
on IN. whole 100000 for two years In case the
building should be long In the course OF erection