New-York tribune., 1908-12-18

long as the work warranted. and II not adequate
provision would be made for the congregation
elsewhere.
This attitude the part OF Dr. Dix was made
clearer and more emphatic in his letter Of Noven-
Der IT, 1907, 10 Mr.. Gomph, which he ordered reau
70 the congregation. It says in part Il feel deep
interest in St Johns Chapel, and hope and pray
that it may long continue q centre Of large
work for Christ and a landmark of religion IN the
region in which it has been so long situated
Following this expression Of interest in St Jonn 3
Dr. DIX visited the chapel and preached there three
Sunday mornings IN the six months that remained
OF his life. each time expressing himself as more
and more pleased with the evident signs Of revving
life among the people On the occasion Of his last
visit palm Sunday morning, 1ens) he said TO the
clergy after the service:
You have done well here. and St. Johns has a
most beautiful service, dearer 10 me than almost
any other in the parish, and I hope that It may
always continue So.
On November 9. 1905 Just one year after the rec
tor and chapel had been put probation the
vestry voted to discontinue the work at St Jonn 5
and with the work the services Of the entire STAFF
CT clergy and workers and 10 close the chapel on
February l. 1909. inviting the people TO attend St
Luke s-three-quarters of a mile away in Hudson
street-after that date
SOME MEMBERS REVOLT.
Many members of St. Johns Chapel will not 60
10 ST. Lule's. arranged by Trinity Church YES
try. They say that II they cannot attend St.
Johns they will go to some other church. and it
will not be one within the control OF Trinity Cor
poration.
1T Is The poor people around in this part Of the
city that will suffer" said one member Of the con-
zregation yesterday when he heard the announce
naent from Trinity that their decision would not be
changed. They will certainly not go to St Dukes
first because they are disguised with Trinity and
get away from its money grabbing policies
and second because ST. Luke's is too inadequate
and too far away
The point that interests US" said the mother OF
children, rs not the architecture Of the build
ing and what Is Of it. It Is the good OF
the children. There two hundred boys and girls
in the Sunday school and they feel such an afec-
ton for their present situation and for the Rev
Mr Gomph the vicar that It viii be real tragedy
for them give it all p and II may mean that
they will lose interest H. going 70 any church az al
What Is TO become of them then? What viii keep
them of the streets Ny children cried when they
heard about IT, It viii be impossible for them to
20 anywhere else. They will have to give up Sun
day school, suppose
ROMAN CATHOLICS INTERESTED.
According T. members Of other churches notably
g. Alnhonsrs's Roman Catholic Church at Vest
Broadway and Canal street St Johns has been
the upbutlding Of Greenwich Village as II is called
Roman Catholic said yesterday:
1T is seldom that you see Roman Catholics and
FpiscopaIians working in such close harmony and
confidence Il IS due to the vicar, the Rev. Charles
T c,cnoph Who for five years has given himself
hear, and soul 10 the work He has gone among
the people and won their affection. Now he is like
a broken man. His people lose a valuable friend
and he loses the work ne loved
There is no other church and certainly no other
Fntscopal church that can fulfil the exact needs
Of this neighborhood as ST. Johns does. II is ab-
s,Ird 70 say that St Llke's Is near enough Why,
it is as inaccessible 10 these people as the Mosque
Of Santa Sophia They can't and they won't 90
there and I don blame them
Among the communications recently addressed to
the vestry Of Trinity Church was a letter from
Robert ". de Forest transmitting copy Of the
following resolution adopted ct a meeting Of the
Art Commission Of the city ot New York:
Resolved. That the members Of the Art Conln1is-
tor church wardens and estry OF Trinity CALrch
further TO consider whether IN the public interest
ST John : Chapel, 4 landmark or the early re
gious and social life of the city and as a Work OF
art, may not be permanently preserved ana main
tanned as a place OF worship.
Last Monday at its meeting the Fine Arts Fed
Grafton passed the following resolution
The Fine Arts Federation of New York hears
with the greatest regret OF the proposed dlsco1-
tinuance Of the work Of st. Johns Chapel. NariCk
street New York and Of the possibility, in Couse-
Quence Of the destruction Of the historic building
itself.
From the architectural and aesthetic point Of
view this would be, in the opinion Of this council,
loss Of THIS city. deeply 10 be deplored- there
few monuments Of this quality and dssOciau ton,
and the Fine Arts Federation Of New York vent
Lres to address your body respectfully urging upon
view TO the preservation OF this building