New-York tribune., 1902-08-18
STRONG EFFORT TO SAVE CHURCH
OF THE EPIPHANY. BROOK
I.YN. MUST RAISE INTEREST ON MORT
GAGE BEFORE NEXT MONDAY.
r NEXT MONDAY.

The parish Of the Epiphany. Electromagnetic and
Tompkins-ave Brooklyn. is making most deter
mined and energetic effort its handsome
church from foreclosure next Monday. on account
Of having failed to pay its May interest OF $50 and
Sl94 insurance. The time of the year is disad-
yartagcous for the effort. most Of the people
including the two wardens out of town
Yesterday morning. after the services. Il meeting
Of the pariShiourrs held by the call OF the
rector the Rev Dr. Dean Richmond Babbitt After
A sermon on The Religion OF Doing" Dr. Babhitt
asked the members of the congregation stih In the
CITY 10 proceed now In the great emergency Of the
uarish 10 do all they could by subscriptions and
pledges at that meeting to prevent judgment IN
foreclosure being taken next Monday He read a
series OF resolutions prepared by vestrymen and
sent to Bishop Burgess stating that the vestry was
bound by a vote OF May I. 1902 to see the rector
loyalty through in his efforts to raise the mortgage
debt: that the absent congregation must be pro-
tected from loss OF their church: that the rector
was entitled by every principle of churchly honor
in the vestry and diocese which had called him TO
save church. protection in so doing that the
next fve months would be the most propitious for
raising the mortgage; that the corporate rights OF
the parish should be respected, and the Bishop
should throw his great influence In favor of raising
funds. The resolutions hinted that probably the
diocese would want - attempt TO settle the
floating debt if the mortgage was forec!osed: but
if the mortgage was lifted and the church saved it
would he easy TO care floating Indebtedness.
DR. Babbitt followed the reading Of the resolu-
Ions with strong. earnest and persuasive appeal,
and had the vestrymen present pass subscription
books with the result that $2J3 30 subscribed.
some paid in and the rest to be paid next Sunday,
Several hundred dollars also was raised conditioned
on paying off the whole mortgage of 500 by Jan
uary l. 1893 toward which now about $500 has
been raised with the same condition. The people
at the meeting responded in good spirit and showed
intense interest. many taking subscription books
away with them. to be used this week. This week
and next Sunday will mark the final result-a sue
cess or failure-in saving the church from fore
closure
Among the contributors yesterday were one
Presbyterian and Baptist. y prominent Con-
gregationalist has pledged $50 conditionaly for
the mortgage A Presbyterian has suggested that
collections be taken next Sunday in the various
churches of Brooklyn for their sister church of the
Epiphany and all Protestant churches asked by
DIT Babbitt do Sunday, sending their
contributions either to MIN at the church
W. H. Brdeman. No. l!' Macon-st.. by Sunday
night 10 O'Clock.
William O Low. brother Mayor Low. has sent
a substantial check for the interest. DR., Hunting
ton. of Grace Church. has given a pledge
ditioncd on raising the entire mortgage. More than
$500 toward interest to prevent judgment in
foreclosure next Monday must be raised this week.
John s MOWny, clerk of the vestry Of the Church
of the Epiphany. in letter to the Brooklyn press
speaks highly of DR.. Babbitt the rector and leader
in this strong effort to save the church He says:
For a rector to be at the head of a struggling
He is apt e put under fire. When DR.. Bah
bitt anne to the Epiphany there large floating
debt Some it has been paid. some not, and
some debts. by stress of the interest account OF
81 $40 a wear have accrued. The parish and will
nav ali its debts, if relieved of the interest by
pa wing off the mortgage placed ii by the diocese
IS 10 DR. Ba bbitt'S Sensitiveness to the parish
ohliga tons. l personally know that he has ad-
vanced out of his pocket. in times of parish
financial pressure. $500 pay bills. which he
IS gradually getting back He supported dea-
conness and parish visitor when he first came to
the parish. and later. Curate, out of his own
means AS to his character and standing, in
Vestry there are copies of letters file from such
men as United states Associate Justice Stanley
Matthews. OF Ohio, given when DR.. Babbtt came
to New-York City to practice law. to Judge Noah
States Attorney General Alphonso Taft to William
NJ E,varts. and later from Judge Noah Davis TO
Samuel j., Ttlden These letters | have myself
and standing OF Dean Richmond IN on b, Babbitt.
clan. Dean Richmond; former president OF the
derbnt. He IS graduate Ta Of Haryard and of the
dipiomas has been a member of the standing com
Toittee in two dioceses, IS a member OF Acanthus
lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and cleared
his former parish of large debt before coming
here.
sta nd loyaly by him the last. They feel that he
will save with the aid of its friends, the Epiphany