New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-05
DIR. RAINSFORD RESIGNS
Continued from first page.

days are by any means over" said another we'll
known vestryman. Il do not think however,
that he will ever be able TO resume charge or
such a parish as ST. Georges Twenty years
ago a small blood vessel burst in DIR. Rainsfords
brain. I understand that the same trouble now
threatens on a larger scale. There is no mys-
terry about the matter.
Another vestryrnan diagnosed DIR. Rainsford
airnent as general nervous breakdown alIlous"
his phvsicaI health, he thought. was excellent
II IS understood that Mr.. Birckhead distrusts
his ability adequately 10 succeed Dr. Ralnsiord'
DIR. TRANSPORTS CAREER.
The life of DIR. Rainsford makes an interesting
story Born in Dublin ffty-hve years ago. ne
was obliged by i'll health TO withdraw from
school at an early age and TO spend two years
in travel on the Continent. His father was the
Rev Marcus Rainsford. for many years incum-
bent of St Johns Protestant Episcopal Church.
London It was youth Of seventeen years
of age who had begun already to study the con-
dftions of life in London, that he came IN $780,
with Henry Watney, his brother-in-laW' 10 es-
tablish 800 emigrants from the East End of
London in the Dominion. Having finished this
work the two undertook shooting expedition in
the Rocky Mountains.
The hard work life was the making of the
young man. for he returned TO England in COM
plete good health. He entered St Johns Col
lege Cambridge. England. being graduated IN
1878 and being ordained deacon the following
year In 1875 he made priest He &C
cepted the curacy Of a church in Norwich. where
he Iabored hard in a subordinate capacity. He
apparently loved the work, refusing several Of
fers Of appointments TO more lucrative Hvings.
To his training and experience in Norwich
DR. Rainsford largely owed his success as rector
of St Georges. 1t was in 1876 that he resigned
his curacy and came 10 New-York He devoted
two years TO evangelistic work, preaching in
Philadelphia Richmond. Va: Baltimore. New
Orleans Louisville, Sandusky. Ohio; Boston.
New-York and the cities of Canada At the
same time he was connected with Holy Trinity
Church In 1873 he was called to be assistant
rector of the Cathedral of St. James in Toronto.
where he remained until January 1. 1883. when
he was called TO St Georges. 10 succeed DR..
Williams
WORK AT ST. GEORGES.
At DIR. Rainsford's coming the fortunes of ST.
Georges were at low ebb. A movement had
been started to sell the property in Stuyvesant
Square and to build further up town. whittier
most OF the parishioners had moved The COM
ing OF DR.. Rainsford changed all this. Indeed.
the new rector would accept the call only on
condition that the old congregation remain. that
$4,000 a year for three years be placed in his
hands TO do with as he deemed best and that
pews In the church be made free Within year
there marked change in the church and
its congregation. When DIR. Rainsford took
charge there were only fourteen families rep
resented In the church. AT present there are
nearly two thousand. Where twenty years ago
stood little chapel next TO the church. now
stands the Memorial Church, built in honor
of Charles Tracy, a Vestryman. and Mrs. Tracy
DIR. Rainsford an exponent OF muscular
Christianity. His views often shocked many
At Cooper Union. in 1893 DR. Rainsford de-
clared that the present methods of dealing with
drunkards sometimes misdirected and al
ways inadequate. There are enough sins in the
Dr. Rainsford. Some men want beer. and IT'S
no more sin for man to drink beer than it Is
for a man to drink coffee"
In 1892 DR.. Rainsford came out openly for
Grover Cleveland for President. making speeches
in his behalf in the teeth of the criticism OF his
fellow clergymen.
DR. Rainsford never hesitated TO denOuncs
what he considered shams hypocricies
IF the tone OF New-York society Is vulgar"
he said once, society alone is responsible
HIS INSTITUTIONAL. WORK
DIR. Rainsford has favored the kindergarten
system among the children of the poor The St
Georges Trade School. at No. 500 East 16th-st
the outgrowth OF boys club started early in