New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
TALK ABOUT THE MARTIN BALL.
DIVISION OF OPINION AS TO THE WISDOM
OF DIR. TRANSPORTS EXPRESSIONS

DIVISION OF OPINION AS TO THE WISDOM
OF DIR. TRANSPORTS EXPRESSIONS
The protest Of the Rev. DR.. William s. Rains
ford rector Of ST. Georges Church. against osten-
tatous displays Of wealth in general especially In
hard times like these. and inferentlaiIy against
tho elaborate fancy dress ball TO be given py Mrs
Bradley Martin at the Waldorf on February IT,
hoe aroused much comment and criticism in many
ouarters II has been known for some time that
tho BRADLEY Martin ball was to be an exceedingly
elaborate and costly affair, involving great eN-
pense in many lines The invitations. which nave
been out some days are about fifteen hundred III
number . ,,., a..
The comment upon DR.. Rainsfords op)ecuoh 10
epch functions at the present dime, at least has
been various Many persons sustain the rector Vi
Ct Georges saying that his IDEA mat such us
,,ye NJ wealth whether they arc primarily merely
o,splays or whether that is Incidental are Marin
~, IN the webeing Of society. Is perfectly correct
Others say that the rector has accomplished 'he
very evil he protests against in ealing such puonc
.,n,ior IN the sumptuous ball he has mentioned
c,u others say that TO such great expense rs APP
noars 10 be contemplated by Mt ana MIS- h'au
lev-Nartin can be made WITHOUT p'"e"'i'iS INV
community by setting so much money III o''"'"
ton. They argue that DIR. haihsiofo S'''''',s
,h, mt will be Of no benefit 10 the poor. because
49,, -, so extended goes 20 the pockets OF
,~odoe-,on already wc-to-do. does not hoio "H.e''
No great expense by private ihd'V'uu''S "a" IA" W
,as, ,ho ,uhlic at large they say. IN other
no" rn,,ch Of the money is bound to find wide
distribution. - r.,o,, pr.s
The Rev. DR. Henry Van Dyke. OF the bf'cN re-,
n,,.r,ar Church. would comment Only III So"o'"'
49,, u,on the matter. lie thought that every man
had legal right 20 spend his money as ne sa" H.
h4 tbat m. spendor would be- held strictly - ac
oSn, FOR The use he made Of II by divine u'pu"a'
1 DS RnV n David H. Greer. OF 81. Bariholomew
,hat he rich and the poor were now pens set a. ~,
Zach other He thought the talk cohce'I,'is ~
masses and the classes was about slate VI am"a'
,pat dd not exist The rich and the poor were al
wavs 10 exist he said. but that the poor rs d mass
wefe envious OF the rich he did not believe ,
The Rev Dr. George r. Van De Water rector o.
81 Andrews Episcopa, Church. was inclined 10 'dHe
argued that Dr. Ransfords opportunities for oosei
Walton among the wealthy ard me poor % VIZ ~ 80
great as 10 give weight 10 what ne sald bu' e nc
fhought thai the people whom the rector OF -
Georges did not know thoroughly were the great SO
called middle class well-:odo people adding that
II he did know these people better ne wou!a ho' pe
81 fearful for the safety OF society
The Rev. Dr.. Robert s. Macarthur. pastor OF "a
vary Baptist Church. was Inclined 10 agree VIVA ~
Ransford that In these times. when the envy OF te
,ich bv The poor had been greatly ausmehtru ~!
,,nscrluu Gus demagogues. especially in the recent
noU cal campaign. the useless and vulgar display OF
wealth ought to be checked. The idle rich ne sad
'f1rm an anarchis;ic class Their sclnshness pre-,
vents the double benefit OF public bene.acIion ana
private charity The present tendency must 10
checked" , r,.
Tnanu-Fl said that he Intended to give lecture
upon the very questions raised by DR.. Ralnsford.