New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-30
FIGHT FOR ST. JOHNS
PETITION By MEMBERS.
Congregation to ASK Trinity Corpo-
ration TO Change Decision.

e. Johns Chapel. in Varick street whore
vices been held for the last one hundred years
will not submit discontinuancs Of work and
Worship and the efracement Of the historic building
without loud protest TO its mother. the Corpora
ton of Trinity Church. Five hundred members Of
the congregation are signing petition to the
Trinity vestry asking that their fate be rcconsid-
cred
This request for another chance to prove St
Johns independent usefulness in the great parish
will be handed the rector. the Rev DIT William
T. Manning. within DAYS. and will come be
fore the regular meeting Of Trinity Corporation a
week from Tomorrow
The petition ain contain statement OF facts in
regard to the work AT St. Johns which its signers
declare will sstonish DR. Manning and the vestry.
and show that the old chapel has taken new lease
life and is far from being the low ebb Of at
tendance and activity explained TO them the Tea-
son for the closing. st. Johns workers intend 10
show that their membership has doubled within the
last year and that several societies have been
organized.
Lewis W. Smith. secretary Of the Sunday school.
said yesterday AZ the close Of the morning service
that DR.. Manning and the corporation were ig-
norant of the facts. and that if they would pay
visit to the old chapel they would be surprised at
their decision. The records show that in 1901
sixty girls enrolled in the Sunday school and
thirty was the average attendance. This year the
enrolment is sixty-seven and the average attend
ffty-three. The boys in the Sunday school
and Bible class show even greater Improvement
Chapel since he succeeded Dr. Morgan Dix as rec
of Trinity complained some OF the members.
1T isn't fair TO Us to Judge without seeing or at
least knowing what doing have done and
can do"
That's true" said another. And If Dr. Dix
were alive this wouldn't have happened. He
always had the interests of st. Johns at heart"
Herman CUSTOM. Of the old attendants at the
chapel. who goes faithfully to service every Sun
day morning from his home in 1s0th street. said
that Trinty's action in closing st. Johns
injustice. There plenty Of people here" he
said, who come great distances TO services be
| cause they love the old church and interested
| in IT."
John Burke. who has been member OF the
chapel for than fifty years and also lives in
| The Bronx. attends services regularly He said
| there less this year to close St Johns
than there had been for half a century.
| The spirit of dissatisfaction is almost universal
| in the congregation. it is said, Although Dr.
| Manning has informed the Ct. Johns congregation
| that it will be amply provided for at St Iuke's
| chapel. at Hudson and Grove streets. twelve
| minutes walk from st. Johns. many OF the mem
| bers have declared that they will desert Trinity
| Parish altogether rather than submit to this.
Dr. Manning when seen az Trinity Rectory. No
q West 18th street said that in spite of the dis
satisfaction of the people, he did not believe Trim
ity corporation would change its decision. 1T is
! practical business proposition he said The
| work at St Johns can be fully taken care OF at
| St Luke's and Trinity Church cannot afford 10
! maintain ST. Johns at such loss. We fully sym
pathize with the people there. and would be willing
| for sentimental reasons do they ask but
! church work can't be sentiment, and We
| have to be practical"
In letter to Lewis ". Smith, received on Sat
| urday, DR. Manning makes the statement
| and expresses hope that the young people Of ST.
Johns will quietly establish themselves at St
1 IIuke's