The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-05
BAPTISTS SCORED AS STINGY.
WON'T BUILD NEW CHURCHES,
SAYS DIR. BOVILLE.
Why, Bequest Of 81. 900 Would Stir tho
Denomination Throughout the Island
Wants Epiphany Church to Lead .
Movement ITO Regain self-Respect."

Why y ucQuoot OI Dk1pUOO WOWu 0tAr NAo
Denomination Throughout the Island
Wants Epiphany Church to Lead .
Movement ito Regain self-Respeot."
People who attended service at the Bap-
fist Church CT the Epiphany, Madison
avenue and Sixty-fourth street, yesterday
morning, heard some strong remarks by
the Rev. DR.. r. S. Boville, secretary OF
the Baptist mission. and by the pastor,
the Rev DR.. Howard l.. Jones, about New
York Baptists generally, and particularly
about the part they have taken In the ef-
forts to reform the city.
The Rev. DR.. Boville said that New York
Baptists have become so small, 80 low
and so stingy that a common, ordinary be-
quest Of 81, 900 for a church in The Bronx
would create sensation In the Church
from one end of the island to the other.
He asserted that while the Roman Catholic
Church owns $50 acres of land in The Bronx,
the Baptist church owns one, and that isn't
paid for. Some Baptists up there, he said
have been worshipping for year In a
grocery store because they can't get Bap-
fists in tn Q city to give enough money
to build church. DR.. Boville called on
the members Of the Church Of the Epiphany
to lead a movement through which the
Baptists might regain their self-respect
Pastor Jones jumped up the minute DR..
Bovile had finished. He said that no de-
nomination In the city has done less in
recent years for the regeneration OF New
York than the Baptists.
I'VE have sold more churches than We
have built" he said. More interests
have died than have been born. we are
E,,t ,hnt Gath 1aft
Here are the remarks Of the Rev. DR..
Boville in part:
Regeneration is the cure for Tam many
Hall and all other halls; regeneration is the
cure for the Tenderoin and the Red Light
district for the sweat shops, the pawnshops
and the drink shops. for greed and for graft.
The thought of regeneration is our peculiar
tn be Of ar ss II Is
do not mean the mere name Baptist.
for Is the name Il ne But
regeneration and the leadership Of Christ
in human affairs; take it to mean the Church
which has led all churches IN the missionary
campaign; the church which is the training
school for the finest freshest individuality
the church that denies the leadership OF
red tape.
Yet / am sorely perplexed and ask you for
help in solving mystery here in New York.
How is it that in late years churches OF wagner
principles have furnished in the pulpit greater
greater generosity? How is it that In the
past five years not a single gift of 500. 900
has been announced to further the cause Of
the church here? How is it, that in The Bronx
the Roman Catholic Church owns $50 acres
and we a scanty one, and that only half paid
for2 How is it that for the last three years
Baptist church in The Bronx has been left
to worship in an old grocery store? How 10
it that when $4,000 or $4,000 would buy q
lot we cant find the money--not one who
is willing to back his creed. character or
belief to this extent7 l am amazed and per.
plexed. | don't know whether you will
II so turned out that tomorrow the fact
should be published that a gift Of 900 or
sl2,ooO had been received for Baptist church
in The Bronx, there would be a sensation In
Baptist circles. We have become so small.
so low, so stingy, that a common. ordinary
beduest Of $4,000 for a little church would
create a sensation, would stir Baptists from
one end of this island to the other
Pastor Jones, after declaring that In re-
cent years more Baptist churches have been
sold than built, that more interests have
died than been born. threw out ray Of
hope in the remark that In his opinion
things recently had begun to look little
better.