New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-25

and the building has been open each day from
sunrise 10 sunset for private worship. During
these years priests and Sisters have laoored
constantly among the poor Of Hoboken' MIN
istering TO their spiritual and material needs.
On Thursday OF this week, being the feast OF the
Holy Innocents, the twenty-hfth Anniversary
Of the conservation OF the church will be cele-
brated and at a service in the evening the
Rev Dr. Alfred G.. Mortimer. rector OF st.
Marks. Philadelphia, will preach an historical
sermon
The Church OF the Holy InLocents owes its
beginning 10 @ memorial trust given by the late
Mrs Martha Bayard Stevens, after the death
Of her daughter, Julia Augusta Stevens at
Rome, Italy on December 26, 1870. Mrs. Stevens
was visiting at Rome at the time. and she con-
suited with the Rev. DR.. Nevin to the erec-
ton Of n suitable memorial. 1t decided to
erect a church in Hoboken. and Eugene Potter,
the we'll known architect. was selected to make
the plans for the Church of the Holy Innocents
The church was consecrated by the Right Rev.
William Henry Odenheimer on August 24 1874
At that time only a part dhe nave) OF the
church was built and the intention was to en-
large It upon an elaborate scale. which has since
been done. on the occasion Of the conservation
there were present the presiding Bishop of the
who at that time lived in Hoboken. and took
deep interest in the work: the Right Rev Horatio
Potter. then Bishop OF New-York. and forty-slx
clergymen The sermon was preached by the
Rev. Dr. J. r. Nevin. who is the rector Of
the American Chapel Church OF st. PauD at
Rome.
THE WORK BEGUN IN AN UPPER ROOM
The work in its original inception a parish
was undertaken as a mission In upper room
- a frame house In Grand and Newark SITS.
under the care Of the Rev. II. F. Hartman. The
first service was held April IL. 1872, and the
work Of this energetic priest fruitful OF
good results and the congregation and Sunday
school increased rapidly that It was necessary
to remove the services to the large room OF the
Martha Institute in Park-ave. and Slxth-st.
The cornerstone Of the present church was
laid by Bishop Odenheimer on August II, 1872.
The work was continued in the Martha Insti-
tute for about two years, and until the conse-
Grafton OF the church Just before this the
Rev Mr. Hartman resigned his charge. and
went abroad for an extended trip In Europe.
The Rev. C. c. Parsons was elected as his
successor. Mr.. Parsons was installed as rector
OF the parish Holy Innocents Day 1874, by
the Right Rev. Dr. Tozer, who was the mis-
sionary Bishop Of the Church OF England to
Central Africa, and who oftclated at the
quest Of the Standing Committee OF the diocese
in the absence OF Bishop Odenheimer.
On account of severe family aficton Mr.
Parsons withdrew from the rectorsbip OF the
parish and went to live in Memphis, Tenn,
where he. while devotlng himself with untiring
energy to the sufferers from yellow fever was
stricken by the plague and shortly afterward
died.
The Rev. John Sword, who had acted for some
time precentor and lay reader. was chosen
as the successor OF Mr.. Parsons. Father Sword
after a rectorship OF eight years resigned to
accept call 10 another work. His place was
soon afterward filled by the Rev G. II. Mof-
felt. who, after a work OF seven years accepted
unanimous call to the rectorship OF ST. Glenn
ents Church. Philadelphia. The Rev f. ~
Weber then followed and upon his retirement
from the work the Rev G. Ernest Magill the
present rector. entered upon his duties on Feb
ruary l. 1896
For great many years parish school has
been maintained as a part OF the work, with
religious instruction TO the children and every
effort has been made to give them an excellent
secular education. The children who have usu-
ally attended the parish school have been for
the greater part those whose parents have not
been DESTROYS OF sending them to the public
schools In the city.
MRS sTEvENs's GIFTS
Mrs. Stevens and her family have been gener
Gus benefactors OF the Church of the Holy limo
cents. not only In their liberal gifts for the relief
OF the sick and the poor. but also in the beauti-
tying Of the church edlnce A short time before
her death Mrs Martha g. Stevens presented IN
the parish magnificent work OF tapestrv which
was made by the noted Mime. Torres OF Munich
ana when represents Christ blessing little chill
dren; This work OF art hangs on the west wall
or the church. lust above the font Another