New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
T1INITY'S PARISH WORK
UNsELFIsH LADORs OF IT'S PRIESTS AND
SISTERS


The day begins early for the priests and sisters
of Trinity Church. The first echoes Of business
lust beginning TO rise around the stately Old edihcs
and the sun has not long been looking at the
awakening city. when the solemn sound OF the
priests voice in the opening words OF morning
prayer first rings out In the venerable and historic
church OF old New-York. The congregation Is nat.
uraly small but IT makes UP in interest what It
lacks in size An odd little group. surely IN the
once fashionable house Of worship. The golden
light OF the high windows in the nave fall on types
that are gathered. not from the rich homes that
formerly sent their inmates ththcr but from the
parish OF Trinity proper. from the Bo"ery and Its
adjacent streets
In one corner kneels an old woman seemingly
too blind TO see the figure OF the priest 10 hear
his voice but none the less soothcd by the mere
fact OF being there. Not far from her Is boy.
an addressed, Woodworking fellow OF the neigh
borhood. but his face is the face OF an ascetic.
Shafts OF colored light fall on the stone floor the
carved white railing is ghostly line; high above
the altar the eyes OF the lion OF St. Mark CLEAN
with an almost uncanny brightness; the boy Is
longer I'm tho heart OF "A busy money making, un-
aesthetic city: filed with the fervor OF some medi-
aeval monk he is thrilled by the charm and beauty
Of II all. The group that gathers for early
prayers in any church is interesting. but especially
so in old Trinity The contrast between the place
and It's surroundings. its historic associations. Its
beauty and It's stately ritual. all give II charm
that Is unique and TO the New-Yorker, at least,
Irresistible
Thus begins the busy day Of the parish OF Trinity
Church. There Is no lack OF work 10 be done and
there are many willing hands do IT, The work
OF the priests the sisters and their associates is In
much of the poorest and most densely populated
portions OF the city, and extends up the Bowery
and the East Side beyond Grand-st The homes
that these workers visit are well enough known by
description. Every reader IS familiar with tales OF
rear easements back alleys flied with pools Of
stagnant water. and treachorous starways; but u
takes daily contact with these places 10 realize
fully the tragedy OF It all Then too it Is famil-
larity that teaches the pathos Of the life that Is
sustained only by constant. grinding work that
leaves no time for enjoyment OF any sort. This
life is what meets the workers OF Trinity every
day. this is what they try 10 benefit and cheer.
MEETINGS OF THE GUILDS.
But It Is not all sadness by any means in the
homes Of tho poor There is Just rs much love OF
FUN. just as much appreciation OF humor in the
tenement In the home OF the rich. The Sisters
OF ST. Mary realize this and provide amuse-
ment for the parshioners especially at Christmas
time. when the children are royalty RECALLED There
are visitors in plenty at the Trinity Mission House
who eagerly seek admlttance Into the many guilds.
The programme for the week Is varied and shows
how comprehensive IL the work. on Monday there
is n meeting OF the St Ambrose Guild. for boys
from six TO ten a choir practice and a meeting OF
the cooking class. on Tuesday the German Branch
of ST. Monica's Guild for women; the Guild OF st.
Ursula for young girls. and ST. Marys Guild for
young women, meet. On Wednesday the Ladies'
Employment Society meets which gives sewing 10
women recommended by the Sisters. giving assist
ance without paupcrzing and the Guild OF the Good
Shepherd FOR little girls from SIX 10 eleven years OF
age ON Thursday there is the English Branch OF
ST. Monica 5 Guild. the kindergarten, and the Guild
Of St. John the Evangelist, for working boys under
sixteen. On Friday there is a meeting OF the Guild
OF the Holy Cross, FOR boys from ten TO fourteen,
and choral even song On Saturday the Guild OF
St Agnes for girls eleven. meets. Some OF
these guilds have a membership OF over seventy or
eighty Their work is. OF course. chiefly religious.
but the things OF this life also receive attention.
This formidable list would TO offer oppor-
,unities enough to satisfy the soul OF the most
enthusiastic church worker. but there is plenty OF
other work TO be done. There are mothers meet
ngs and Bible classes, entertainments and lectures
galore In connection with the Mission House Is
dispensary where medical advice and medicine may
he had at a nominal fee. he scene about noon 10
full Of interest. and in the hot summer months u
was sad to see the undue proportion OF babies
among those that were brought to the physician.
The names that science gives to the ailments OF
these poor mites OF humanity are III most cases but
s,nonymes for ignorance and poverty Besides ths
work there are parties Of children TO be taken on
fresh air excursions or 10 the Trinity Seaside home
at Islip which receives about five hundred season
THE SISTERS HOME.
The home of the Sisters OF St Mary is just what
the Mission House of Trinity should be-large. per-
feet in It's ecclesiastical architecture and beautiful
yet simple In its ornamentaton. The door Is opened
By one OF the little inmates OF the house. neat,
bright little girl In red dress and spotless apron
She is one of the children who live NJ the Mission
House and are carefully trained by the sisters un-
I'll they competent house-serVants. when situa.
tons are found for them. The polished stairway
is lighted by a stained-gass memorial window. on
which under the figure OF beautiful girl. appears
the Inscription: Il sleep, but my heart waketh''
A long passageway, wide and OF polished wood. IKE
the stairway, leads to the CHEEKY recepton-room-
Everything above it suggests hospitality ana inc
with their surroundings The rooms for the kinder-
gaeH the keheng9Ten and dhe extremely aItractss
The little tables, chairs and brooms IN ne kitchen-
Child The floors all uncarpeted and polished:
the floor OF the great Guild SO tempts the feet
Guild receptions the young people are allowed TO
ne q the he most mos dshffu facts about the
House is that its atmosphere is so free from any
Whole souled chaerfulness that ones spirits rise the
moment enters its quaint walls. sense OF rest
So suS.esRy tue
and nS e b tn MAKE OF the peo Feel
this house is here for them they do not b sue.
Trinity Church gives pensions to its aged parish
pSrs St Sa Home for poo aged men
and women. which is conducted In way that must
pendent and ''set in their ways" Each person has
n room OF his own, with small cooking stove. rent
is OF course. given them. and their pensions supply
them with all other necessities
The sick OF Trinity Parish are cared for at their
hospital. at No. 20 Narick-st. There patients are
cared for free OF charge, gaining much beside
physical strength from the daily contact with their
nurses. Vacations In the country often follow for
them and many q grateful soul looks back 10 the
time when he entered Trinity Hospital as the turn.
SO the week-days pass in Trinity Parish. When
the days duties are over and there Is an end OF WORK
i'm the Mission House. little group gathers In the
beautiful chapel and the day closes with the noble
old words OF the Prayer Book, Just as IL tesan with
them more than fourteen hours before.
IN vEN-u1 ~