New-York tribune., 1903-01-05
PRAISE FOR DIR. RAINsFORD.
Bishop Doane and R. Fulton Cutting Speak
at Service in St. Georges.

The Rev. DR.. William S. Rainsford yesterday con-
tinued the celebration of the twentieth anniversary
of his installation rector of St George Episco-
pal Church A great crowd gathered at the chureh'
There was not room enough to hold all those VINO
wanted to get in. Among the first arrivals were d.
Pierpont Morgan and Mayor Low
When the first hymn had been sung Bishop VIII
lam c. Doane of Albany. went into the pulpit ne
confined his remarks largely to the teaching OF o,-
Mark He said between the records OF D. MAI n
and ST Luke there might be differences but not
discrepancies preachers would nave he,
believe. declared that the heart was barren anu
dry without belief in Jesus and the Gospel
az am absolutely staggered" he said. at the mis-
apprehension of the Gospel. | hope in the near
future il will be more thoroughly understood.
The Bishop then reviewed some of the things done
by DR. Ransford since his installation as rector Oh
the church The Bishop lauded him in the strongest
I terms.
DIR Rainsford occupied the pulpit just three MIL
utes after Bishop Doane left it. He spoke OF the
work OF the past and of the work to be done III 'e
future. -,
..Tbe success of the church under my guidance
he said was immensely due to O soild Dahu oi men
who gave me their backing. Just because we ''e
successful now It need not be said we DO not heeu
backing On the contrary. we need II just 90 utH
to-day as Yesterday. When | first came 10 tiie
church r. Fulton Cutting the first to write me
oo.-,ne bis sunnort in saving the church from an
almost inevitable fate. | going to ask MIN 10
come up here and talk to you
Mr. Cutting then went to the pulpit
..Twentv wears ago. Mr. Cutting said, when we
sent for DR. Ransford and asked him 10 take
charge Of the church things were in pretty PAD
shane We were almost at our wits end Trying 10
get some one to save the church. Many VI 'ne
churches were moving uptown. ano there was an
effort made to have our chllrch moVeu'
we were able to stay in Stuyvesant flace' we SUI
ceeded in getting Dr. Ransford to take charge ana
brilliant and prosperous growth followed.
1.-THE rector of St Georges had genius and conr-
age to work among the people ana orlils tneih ~
ee+her He taught them what was good in life he
worked on and created tool shops ana schooie i'i
h,,s md girls He worked other things, ana got
them. He provided for men and women thnss o'nel
than saloons and dance halls. he worked ioi 'ie
betterment of society and. as we all KNOW eoCiely
cannot he bettered or saved without '"e '"'' "
God. ;r 20
..D- Ra,nsfords experience has been a lesson 10
men and women and children. lesson 10 every
soldier lesson to every business man. anu
lesson to every citizen of the state l.,
Or Rainsford then preached a short sermon III
which he said:
church give greater proportion OF their Re means means
than one would imagine If the Lcn d gaTe e as much
esster want to say few things about my Wprk M
here want t. to 6e try o Importance Then
am going to commend myself 10 go't C t ,ait for
men to come to church. We are here to catch catch
and not here to build te t9 sln come We
Simply have to go after and catch them . .
The church is an organization OF men tHlns 10
reanb Jesus christ There IS use putting up
bronze doors putting silver plates on the Pews;
With family names engraved upon them. mat
won't do at all. We not going TO nave any
family religion here. This church Is for every one
and the pews are open to all who come -.
7 thank God / have had very wise Vestry that
didn't let go too far in the expenoiture m +h 6a
money I cannot thank the vestry enough nor the
choir nor the ministers under me, nor the con con
ereration 7 should like to be able to. but can
not ! cannot thank enough Mr. Morgan MI
Stearps Mr. Low, Mr.. Cutting and score OF
others for all they have done in helping me 10 &C
conplish all ! did accomplish
Dr. Rainsford stopped to brush away some tears
before utterng his closing words,
On Friday dinner given by Dr. and Mrs.
Rainsford, at the Memorial House for the Vestfy
and the thirty clergymen associated with LIT
Rainsford's pastorate some of whom came from
as far west as Colorado Springs to attend TO
DR.. Rainsford was presented a silver loving cup.