New-York tribune., 1905-08-09

through the fire without INJURY, thoush heaFiy
everything else In that part OF the church was
destroyed including fine bust Of the Rev Dr.
Brown. finely carved altar CROSS also escaped
fniurv. The statue of Saint Thomas. which
stood IN a niche on the 5th-ave front of the
church was partially destroyed, but the head
and bust were unin njured. All of the stained glass
windows most OF which were memorials, were
quickly ruined
The church Will keenly feel the loss of the
10000 organ which was given by Henry H
Cook, OF No. ! East 5sth-st-, of the vestry-
men, as q memorial To his deceased wife. The
altar decoratio0s OF exceptional value. including
the paintings The Resurrection" and Christ
Healing the Sick" by John La Fargo and bass
relief THE Adora ion of the Cross" by Au-
gustus St Gaudens. We're utterly destroyed A
fine marble baptismal fount, at which the chill
dren of many prominent families have been
christened, was ruined. Fine pilasters at the
angles of the chancel. superbly decorated with
bits of pearly shell. were destroyed. This work
was done by La Fargo in 1877. and many con-
slider it his best work.
Fire Chief Croker was again dissatisfied with
the police He said: "If the people who are
supposed to be on the street and discover night
and early morning fires would stay the
streets and turn In alarms we would not have
had such big fire TO cope with to-day. We
can't be expected TO put out a fire when it has
entire possession OF building"
lie declared that he satisfied with the
way IN which the engines and trucks responded
TO the ALARM but insisted that there were en-
tireIy too few hydrants in 5th-ave to cope with
serious fires.
Owing to lack OF water" said the chief
'Inree engines had to be sent back to their
quarters from this fire One of the largest mains
in the city along 5th-ave, and there is
enough water to deluge that part of the city, il
only had fire plugs. Some people may not
believe it. but 5th-ave. needs just many fire
plugs as 10th-ave and just much pressure" 4"
HISTORY OF ST. THOMAs's.
The foundation of st. Thomass parish was
laid on Sunday evening, October 12 1923 in
rooms temporarily opened at Broadway and
Broome-st- The service was attended by most of
the Protestant Episcopal clergymen in the city.
the Rev. DR.. Cornelius R. Dufie preaching the
first sermon
In the spring of 1924 a site for the church.
consisting Of eight lots at Broadway and Hous-
ton-sL, was purchased by the vestry The Rev.
Mr.. McVicker of Columbia College. submitted a
design for the edifce which accepted, and
the cornerstone finally laid on July q. 1924,
in the presence of Bishops White. Kemp. Croes
anu bfOWHeIl anu q large representation OF Inc
various orders of the ministry.
The church gothic structure, with a
rectory adjoining. and the site, difficult as 1t Is
realize it at the present time. then a
rural suburb of the city. All the marks of
country life were visible about the church site,
and many smiled at the credulity of the builders
of the first St Thomas's. They said: Here is
a church but 1t is as useless as Melrose Abbey.
Where is the congregation to iN it?"
The Rev. DR.. DUTIES ministration continued
until his death, when he was succeeded by the
Rev. George Uphold, who later became Bishop
Of Indiana. Three years later began the memo
rable ministry Of the Rev. Francis l. Hawks,
which continued for twelve years He gathered
about him a remarkable congregation of we'll
known men. attracted by his eloquence and the
charm OF lis clarion voice.
Even before rr. Hawkes. retirement the
march of oonlrnercialisra was unmistakable and
it was evident that st Thornas's would eventu-
ally have TO move. The Rev. Henry John White
house, who later became Bishop Of Illinois, sue
ceeded DR.. Hawks, beginning his ministry at
Easter. 1919. Du,irG Tic latter part OF his
rectorship the church vas destroyed by fire. but
after much discussion the congregation rebuilt
the ruined walls
The Rev. DR. Edmund Neville a most eloquent
minister, tried for four years TO stem the tide of
Ni6i oIAOilp Win DuI IiltlS success. Nhen the
Rev. DR.. William f. Morgan took charge the
parish was we'll nigh moribund- He advocated
following the tide of population and finally pre-
vailed or the rectory to close the old church.
The closing service held on April 90 1866,
and communion celebrated The congrega-
lon Joined with Grace Church for year, DIR.
Morgan officiating in the absence of the rector
OF Grace Church.
In 1867 the present site, at 53d-st. and 9Th
ave. was bought and work on the church which
NQGr rd1N hnyYl A
porary chapel was erected, which opened
with appropriate services on Easter Sunday.
April Il, 1861 year later the cornerstone OF
the church was laid with customary ceremonials
and when the church walls overshadowed the
temporary chapel it was abandoned, and the
congregation went to the Church of the Resur-
rection, Madison-ave. and ATHEIST, where 1t wor-
shipped for eighteen months
PRESENT BUILDING DEDICATED.
The church which burned yesterday was
dedicated October 6. 1870. There had been
grave fears that the acoustic properties of the
building would prove imperfect, and the open
ing services were awaited with solictude. The
Rev. DR.. Francis Vinton. then OF Trinity, began
the service and he announced his
text the congregation knew that the acoustics
were satisfactory He preached from the text:
The Lord is in his holy temple. let all the
earth keep silence before him"
The opening address of DR.. Morgan was a
recdpltulauon OF the par1sh history, and a
pledge that the past conservatism, devotion and
zeal OF st. ThomaS's should be exceeded by its
future abounding in the work of the Lord.
he continued as the leader until his death on
May 49, 1883.
DR.. Morgan was succeeded by the Rev Dr.
John w. Brown, and under the twelve years of
his rectorate the church grew rapidly in prom
inence and became notable for militant we'd
dings. In 1901, on the death of DR.. Brown, the
Rev. DR.. Ernest NJ. Sdres was called from Grace
Church, Chicago, and under him the parish has
continued to prosper.
ST. Thomas's has of the largest incomes