The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-12
THE RICHEST CLERGYMAN.
HE Is REV. Y. A. HOFFMAN,, DEAN
OF UNION SEMINARY.

clubs for WorIsingmen-Iiis Work
Among Those in the Lower Wake
of Life.
New York. June AT 10 the Rev. Eu-
gene Augustus Hoffman,. d. D., multi
millionaire and richest clergyman il
America, if not in the world is a busy
shrewd. clever man. AS dean of the
Union Theological Seminary in New York
he is at the head of the chief divinity
school of the Protestant Episcopal Church
aud "A the twenty years he has filed this
post he has exercised tremendous for
NATIVE influence upon the Episcopal clergy
of the country, a very large proportion
of whom have been trained under his eye
Attired in non-distiuctive dress Dean
Aloffmanns appearance would suggest all
most any station in life save that of the
olosical teacher. Perhaps he would more
closely resemble an opulent, self-made
banker than any other type, one, how
ever, who was born with gentlemanly in
stincts. and who by dint of keeping his
eyes constantly about him, mas developed
into an alert and courteous man of the
world albeit there is much blum hearii-
ness in has courtesy. His figure is tan
and rotund. his strong features are deeply
scanned and his hair and fun beard are
griZzled. His voice is by no means I'M
pleasant, but by no means melodious; it
Suggests the voice of a veteran admiral
who has sailed over many seas and fought
many a desperate fight.
Where He Got His wealth.
Dean Hoffman, is sixth in descent from
Alartnus Hoffman,, who came 10 America
in 1910, and son of the late Samuel Yer
factor in the social commercial and po-
litical life of New York city for two and
a half centuries. The dean was born just
east of Broadway, in White street, when
that now downtown thoroughfare was an
aristocradc residence center After
courses of study at Columbia. Rutgers and
Harvard, ne sighed for adventure, and
was allowed to join an expedition formed
by Prof Agassiz TO explore the region
north of Lake Superior. Some months of
rough experiences on that expedition were
quite enough for a life time and he re-
turned to civilization and studied theology
at the seminary of which he is now the
head, and Ia 1851 when only o. began
the life of a clergyman, only to lay II
down for the broader work in which he
is still active.
Conservative capitalists estimate the
present value of the Hoffman, estate at
from $4,000 600 TO go 100000, but no one
not even the dean himself can appraise il
with certain accuracy. II was founded
before the republic was born, and under
the never faulty Hoffman, management
has beeen growing year by year and dec
ade by decade, almost without intermis-
sion, ever since. 1t now takes in row on
row of downtown structures and block aft
er block uptown. The Hoffman, House,
itself worth more than million, with its
world-famed bar is part of the property,
which was divided by inheritance a few
years ago between the dean and his broth
er, also an Episcopal clergyman, by far
the larger share falling to the dean.
Dean Hoffman, has been very lavish Of
his wealth in che seminary's behalf. Since
he assumed its headship the two or three
almost shabby gray buildings at Twen-
tfeth street and Ninth avenue. in which
the institution was then housed. have
been increased 10 a noble cluster of struc-
lures surrounding a beautiful quadrangle,
and the school Itself has advanced to the
very first place. Throughout his service
to date his salary has been allowed 20
accumulate and in time viii be added to
the endowment fund. Just how large his
various benefactions have been no one
knows but himself, and he won't tell.
From sources that should be reliable. the
writer is informed that the total is GER
tainly more than a million. His gifts 10
the seminary include the beautiful dean
cry. and have been supplemented by the
chapel of the Good Shepherd, erected by
his mother In memory of her husband. The
deans outside benefactions comprise
churches, chapels and endowments in va
rious parts of the country, a theological
seminary for colored students in Tennes-
see being among them.
Founded First American working
mems Club.
From the beginning of his career to the
present time, Dean Hoffman,, rich, cul-
tured courted by society has been a friend
OF the workingman. He has no sympathy
with the gradual desertion by the
churches of those city regions which are
crowded with industrial population. He
believes the entire downtown church,
problem comparatively simple and easy Of
solution along lines long since found out
in Philadelphia where he established the
first workingman's club ever organized In
America That was just three decades
ago, in 1869, the first year of his service
as rector Of ST. Marks, one Of the most
fashionable churches in the City
OF Brotherly Love. Socially considered,
the roll of 400 communicates was
irreproachable The congregation includ-
ed many of the most prominent Dersonages
in the town. Most rectors would have
mann officiated before every Sunday an
Ideal one. But from his viewpoint there
was something lacking. Few or no working
persons were ever TO be seen IN the pews
OF ST. Marks, despite the fact that the
neiehborhood supported a large industrial
population.
The founding of the st. Marks Work
ingmen's Club was DR.. Honmann's first
move toward interesting the toilers in St
Marks Church. Some members of the
church disapproved the organization, bun
the labor went ahead just the same.
I'VE got the worklngmen's club notion
from printed descriptions of English
worlSingmens clubs" said Dean Hoff-
mann TO the writer recently, but condi-
tons in Philadelphia being not exactly
like chose obtaining in England, we haa
TO work out plan OF our own The first
thing We did was to take quarters over
market place. Our conversation room
was fitted up comfortably with chairs and
Al 4