New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06

at the same time there uses OF a church that
not served by worship.
After ALL a real purpose OF worship e to get the
energy 20 bring souls into the kingdom. and with
this in view the worship must not be neglected for
the activities OF what Is called the institutional
church. which the risk OF becoming toc
mechanical"
When the business building plan was preached TO
the Rev f.. r. Morse assistant pastor OF the Cat
vary Baptist Church. in Fifty-seventh-st-. near
Sixth-ave, he called attention to the efforts OF tho
church raise a large endowment fund. the sum
in hand being about 10000. Pressed TO say
whether he would adopt that plan II ii neces-
sary 10 choose between that and removal to
cheaper site. he gave an emphatic affirmative. DIR.
Morse thought that the old Tabernacle. at Thirty
fourth-st and Sixth-ave-. should have erected an
office building. using part of it for worship. II 1t
had to do that or move away
That a church should stand at that corner Is the
view OF the Rev. DR.. William s. Ransf0rd. rector
OF ST. Georges Episcopal Church. In stuyvesant
Square. also. Speaking recently before the Young
Womens Christian Association OF this city. Dr.
Rainsford said: That is the greatest church site
In the country with all the hotels and theatres
about Have people in the hotels and boarding
houses no souls? Where do we want the Gospel OF
God preached II not In these pacesr' DR.. Morse
referred to the fremont Temple. In Boston. which,
having property worth some 5000 occupied part
OF its building for worship. renting the rest as
Offices A good rental Is yielded and the society
carries out it's desire to preserve and perpetuate
the property. besides providing. in the business
centre Of Boston. great place for religious gath
erings
TT is the same old question" declared the Rev.
Arthur Jameson. the pastor OF the Eighteenth
Street Methodist Episcopal Church why not sell
this and give the money TO the poor? Mysticism
is the very essence OF Christianity. Suppose we
did tear down a church and erect an Office or apart
nent building on its site. Would not we be trying
to sanctify an act Of vandalism II we used Tor
charity the additional income thus obtained2 Trim
ity Church, with its sentiment and its historical
associations, represents the best in our common
Christianity. The Episcopal Church has done
great thing BY refusing TO sell its buildings. Meth
odsm has been too ready TO give them up and so
has PresoyterianIsm. No; unless more money Is
given Professionalism on Manhattan Island viii
have a doubtful tomorrow. There should be much
moro money given the churches by both the rich
and the middle classes
The Rev. DR.. David H. Greer former rector OF st.
Bartholomew's recently consecrated Bishop-Coad-
tutor Of New-York. declined to comment on the
proposition I'm detail quote me as saying merely
that the most effective way for church TO win
support is to do its work thoroughly then 1t
will deserve support" st. Bartholomew maintains
an elaborate system of institutional work. its build
ing in East Forty-second-st costing $4,000 year.
IT might rent the top floor OF my house for bust
purposes. declared the rev III Ernest NJ
Stires rector OF St Thomas's Church, but by so
doing would destroy the beauty and privacy OF my
family life The sanctity that that family life now
has is worth much to me than the additional
income would obtain AS in church, so with the
people affected by the church. you must not do any
thing to destroy the spiritual idea The architecture
Of church building the churchyard and many
similar things connected with worship give certain
very tangible spiritual benefits TO the people. and
by letting business eliminate any OF those benefits
far more would be lost than any financial gain
could make up for. Sentiment Is the strongest
thing I'm existence Love patriotism and other feel
inRs that are dear to are, viewed in certain
aspects sentiments. Religion itself when you look
at IL IN a certain light. is sentiment. As things
ara to-day the arguments against the suggestion OF
an Office building church are far weghtier than
anything that could be said in its favor.
LET us assume a church that Is hard up Sup
pose that order to get IL should let fruit
ysndsrs occupy space at its church doors Would tt