New-York tribune., 1905-04-18
DR.. RAINSFORD BETTER.
Parishioners Deny that He VIII Re
sign from st. Georges Church.

Vestrymen of st. Georges Protestant Episco-
pal Church, who include such men as Seth Low.
J. Pierponr Morgan. R. Fulton Cutting. H. H.
Pike, William Jay Schieffelin. William Foulke
and J. Noble Stearns, took occasion to deny
yesterday rumors that continued i'll health would
bring about the early resignation of the Rev.
DR.. w. s. Rainsford 1t was last fall that this
popular pastors health suddenly broke down.
and on the advice of his physician. DR.. j. W.
Markoe of No. - West 55th-st., he hastened
to Europe. He has been there ever since, and
is not expected to return to New-YOrk until
fall.
For several weeks rumors have been current
among the parishioners Of st. Georges that DIR.
Rainsford would probably never be strong
enough to take up the active work Of so large
and active parish the one in which wealthy
men and Stuyvesant Square. tenement dwellers
have adjoining pews. There were many who
said that his resignation would be forthcoming
in few weeks
Speaking for the vestrymen yesterday r. Full
ton Cutting said to Tribune reporter:
do not believe that there is any truth in the
reports Of DIR. Rainsfords condition becoE1ing
worse. l have heard from him within a week:
He IS at Rome with Mrs. Ratnsford and one or
his sons, and his health is improving as rapidly
as could be expected under the circumstances
His powers Of concentration are returning fulys
and with a little more rest he will be able to
return TO us Wen anu StEOnS eB1A4i-
When Dr. Rainsford went TO Europe no one
would say much about his physical troubles. His
sickness was generally described as break
down due to hard work. When Mr.. Cutting
was asked about this yesterday he said:
Some years ago DR.. Rainsford broke blood
vessel in his brain. He was compelled to take
a years vacation and absolute rest. He was
told then that he would have to be careful OF or
there would be a return OF the trouble. While
he went to Europe last year for his usual vaca-
ton, he was taken sick soon after he reached
the other side and remained Ill during his whole
vacation period Then instead Of taking rest
| as he should have done he hurried back TO New
York and threw himself into the work 1t was
not long before the breakdown came and he was
compelled TO give up.
Another of the vestrymen said that DR.. Rains
ford would be back at work in St. Georges by
the end of summer. He declared that there
nothing in the rumor of a resignation This Of
fetal thought that one Of the strongest assur-
ances that DR.. Rainsford would soon return
strong and we'll that he had Mrs. Rains
ford with him. She is most devoted wife. and
in every way a capable woman. She came into
the public eye in New-York in February, 1895
when she was elected school trustee
In January. 1903, st. Georges celebrated the
twentieth anniversary of Or. Rainsford's ser
vices as rector. There were reception by the
vestrymen and an impressive service in the
church. to which admission was by ticket, ow-
ing to the crowds which wished to 60 The
work at ST. Georges is distinctive in many ways
Most wealthy churches have chapels and mis-
sion houses on the East Side and the rich and
poor do not worship together to any extent. At
| St Georges it is different; the seats are free
and fully one-haIf Of the congregation walk to
the church from the East Side tenement houses
which they call home.
The success Of the church has been largely
dina tO TOr skill and exeCIIfiva hill.
! ty When he took charge the congregation rep
resented only fourteen families. AT the present
! time nineteen hundred are represented The
other activities of the church are a0memoral
! house. a trade school, deaconesses' house and
/ a summer home Long Island for the poorer
/ members of the congregation.