The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-01

NEW YORK. Jan Fashionable So
ciety as we'll as the parishioners Of St
Thomas Ell ;scopal Church. at Fifth Ave
nue. and Fifty third Street. is much inter
ested in the question as TO who will sue
coed the late Dr.. John Wesley Brown as
its rector. It is very probable that Rev
Alexander Mackay-Smith, rector Of ST.
Johns Church, Washington. will be called
4 prominent member Of St Thomas
Church says that the sentiment OF the
congregation leaned very strongly toward
the choice of DR.. Mackay-Smith, to whom
they had become attached during his ser
vice as DR.. Browns assistant. which place
he left 10 become rector in Washington.
From its foundation. seventy-seven
years ago, st. Thomas Church has been
the place OF worship for families of the
highest social prominence and Of great
wealth William 3. Aston and John Duer
were among its founders, and members of
the Aston and Duer families have been
active in its support ever since. Mrs. As
tor, the acknowledged leader of the most
exclusive circles. is a pewholder- Samuel
Spencer. President Of the Southern Rail-
way is another. The list of regular at
PENDANTS includes D. O. Mills, Levi P
Morton, George Croker. J. Edward Sim
mons, John H. Watson. James c. Fargo.
w Seward Webb, H. C. Fahnestock, H.
Nick Twombly and several of the Rhine
lander and other families whose individ-
uaI possessions are counted in the mil
lions. Coils P Huntington. ex-Mayor
Strong, Judge Henry Hilton. and former
Governor Roswell p. Flower were num-
bered among its pewholders in their life
time.
It costs about 10000 . year to operate
the church and chapel for current eX-
penses and salaries. an equal sum is con-
tributed by the parish 10 the work OF
Bishop Potter's diocese, while as much
again is given TO the poor b. various Sc
cieties connected with the church A
day nursery, erected at a cost Of $25,GCO,
IS among the charities which It supports.
Still more widely spread is the fame of
St. Thomas Church as the place NEST
favored by society for the celebration OF
wedding ceremonies 1t has been Csti-
mated that the fees from this source
have added from $4,000 TO $4,000 annu-
ally to the income of the rector The par
ish statistics show an average Of sixty
weddings a year. St Thomas has Ger
tainly witnessed more weddings OF nation
al and international Importance than am
other church in the country. Among those
in recent years may be mentioned those
Of Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt TO the Duke
OF Marlborough. Miss Whitney to Colonel
Paget. and OF ex-President Harrison 70
Mrs. Dimmick. There is 4 local belief
that brides of St Thomas are happy
ever afterward' and never get into di-
yorce court.
The beautiful church building Is situa-
ted in the heart of the fashionable Fifth
Avenue residential section, where IL was
built in 1865. Bishop Potter laying the
cornerstone. One OF it's imposing feat
Ures is = gigantic cross with an alto
relieve of angels BY Augustus st. eau
dens IL the background of the chancel.
On either side are panels in oil of the
Resurrection There is Z beautiful altar,
designed by J. J Lamb. erected at q
cost of SO zoe. as memorial to DR.. ".
r. Morgan for thirty years rector;
*S.ee0 chime OF bells. given by Thomas
y. Walter, in memory OF his parents
and other treasures Of art