New-York tribune., 1903-01-02
GIFTS TO DIR. RAINSFORD.
Rector Celebrates T5centieth 1nni-
Ueryar-y at st. Georges.

4 recentjon was given yesterday afternoon for
the Rev. DIR. W s. Rainsford rector OF St George 3
Church By the wardens and vestrynen- Yester-
day marked the completion Of twenty years ser
vice bv DR. Rainsford as rector of the church.
Among those present at the reception were Mr.
and Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan, Mr.. and Mrs. Seth
Low Bishop and Mrs. Potter Mrs L1rfllard Spen-
GER and Mrs Rudolph Schirrner. The members of
the vestry are J. Pierpont Morgan, r. Fulton Cut
ting Frederic H. Belts, William Jay Schiefeiin.
Mayor Low John Seely Ward, jr., William Foulke.
Henry ". Muuroe. II. H. Pike and DR.. James "
Markoe. r. Fulton Cutting was not present being
of the city.
a desk was given 10 DR. Rainsford by the as
sfstant clergy of the church lamp from the Mems
Club. an edition of Shakespeare from the Girls
Friendly Society. and complete edition of Haw-
thorne from the Young Married Women's Society
DR.. Ransford born ffty-two years ago in
Dublin. At an early age he obliged to leave
school because of i'll health. He stin a youth
when in 1861. he went TO Canada with eight hun
dred immigrants. sent out from the East End Of
London by his brother-in-Iaw. Herbert Watney
After travelling in Canada and the United States
he returned England two years later, entirely
restored health.
He was graduated from st. Johns College, Cam
bridge. England. in 1873; ordained deacon
In 1874 and became a priest year later DR..
Rainsford was curate at St Giies's Church, Nor
wich for some time.
TWO years beginning with 1876, he devoted TO
evangelical work in this country, in which he
preached in many large cities. He was connected
with Holy Trinity Church at the same time
From 1878 until January l. 1885. when he
called 70 St. Georges, Dr. Rainsford was assistant
pastor of the Cathedral of St. James in Toronto.
Since Dir. Rainsford became rector OF St,
Georges the growth of the parish has been large.
When he was called movement had been started
10 sell the property in Stuyvesant Square and TO
build further up town, whittier most of the parish
toner's had moved. DR.. Rainsford accepted the
call on the condition that the church remain
where it was. that he receive $4,000 annually for
three years. TO use he thought best in building
up the parish and that the church be made free.
When he took charge there only fourteen
families represented in the church; there
nearly 900 families represented. Where twenty
years ago stood little chapel next TO the church
is now the memorial House. built in 1888. in honor
of a vestrvman and his wife Mr.. and Mrs Charles
Tracy.
The St Georges Trade School No. sos East
Sixteenth-st the outgrowth of boys club started
by Dr. RainsfoTd in the early part OF his ministry;
the Deaconesses' House and the summer home
at Far Rockaway all due 70 the work of DR..
Rainsford.
The St Georges Battalion. which furnished
fifty recruits for the Spanish American War. has
been highly praised by State officers for its
discipline. It drills in the basement of the
Memorial House where there rifle ranges
Last year there raised in the church sS7,-
SIC 7s This includes the income from the en-
dowment fund