New-York tribune., 1908-12-17
ST. JOHNS TO CLOSE
VESTRY GIVES REASONS.
President, Mr Root and Mayor
Among Signers of Memorial.


Trinity Corporation gave out statement last
night which announces and explains the final de-
cision of the rector. wardens and vestryrnen OF
Trinity Church close old St Johns Chapel, in
Narick street This action which is the result Of
the fol1r-hour meeting last Monday night. is taken
after the consideration Of a memorial Of protest
signed by President Roosevelt Secretary Root
Mayor Mcclellan and twenty-sx other prominent
citizens of the United States and two separate Pc
utions from the people of the chapel. besides
poem by Richard Watson Glider
The memorial which is unusual account or
the number of well known names assembled for the
nrst time in the OF church. was made pub
lie by its sfgners at the time that the an
nouncement signed by the Rev. Dr. William T.
Manning. the rector, and Colonel William jay. clerk
Of the corporation revealed the Anal decision
The statement from Trinity follows:
The subject OF the closing of St Johns Chapel
more advantageous for 1t has long been cnder ols
Cussion and consideration II has been recognized
or later be taken It should be kept clearly in
nd MI that at IN closing this chapel Trinity parish Is
ing the people of one of the poorer regions Of tins
Of the ChuTch he Her pupose ' whch the rector
and vestry have had before them during al the
been 10 minister more effectively to the people
1t is the belief of the vestry. based on their long
y s1oay OF the matter that. in view Of the move move
for for this gegion must be done om centre aear to
and Christopher streets and they believe that the
work can be done more strongly and effectively
which has been done at St Johns can, all of it, be
1arLle9 on at 81 Luke $ together with nucn oLher
ti9ns cannot well be done from ST. Johns.
had with h fe f " ~oFk % al gt 81 bS S0hn ne a @ evers
rector OF r-ini+I, na-is1 s15 81 af+aT ore sb-1k
ing from it. he at last believed the facts to be
and presented 10 the vestry the resolution in
cordance with which the action Of the vestry has
So 50 fsr are the vestry from, any intention, or
dated voTJ Sr,s1 gaer, e ~ 80 o. +te Relieve
1t viii a new and substantial group OF church
buildings. in which shall be carried the work
row being done both at ST. Johns and ST. Luke's
70 the future disposition of the church buil ding
This statement from the corpora ton is merely
reiteration Of the arguments which presented
70 the St Johns people when the announce cement
was first made The declaration that Trinity may
build a new group Of buildings the site Of ST
Luke's IS the only new phase OF the question.
The memorial, which was among the documents
read at Monday nights meeting follows:
To the Rector Church wardens and vestrymen
Gentlemen. The recent announcement Of the
Johns Chapel Narick street. viii be abandoned,
church building viii be demolished. come as
the hearts of those who reverence the ancient
monuments q our city and believe in the uplift-
ence OF 6ignifed and beatf9,7a i arc3i u
Since this action was taken many questions
have been publicly raised as to the adequacy of
the reasons for a step of such grave Importance
seftiag more deeply perhaps than had been
civic pride in a building which. by common con-
sent ranks second only 70 St Pauls Chapel
ceTa ON ST,-tfi3a~ tCoI9f+f ,I7 rIoIo r''' re-
CeIy7 Eo-iI ILlItT ItIousIIl!uI ConsIueratlon
charged with the care of our national monuments.
in this case, double responsibility, responsi-
htlitT which we believe you fully appreciate and
viii wisely discharge.
George ? Nrt-1erIsn " -z-Ior Pv,.
+, F5lt?n cutting. EiTsrd v sReldor
g-I9 - NJ ~,t+t- y2Ih HgeoT.,
Tossnb 5I yfa = e16a1e NissTn Ian Psa2 F2'alls
= ? soafhmaTd Thsodore r Fo,seTsi,
John 2 Parsons, CharTes F McKfm.
j Pterpont Morgan, Edward Patterson,
Anson Phelps Stokes Gustav H Schwab.
charles Brown, Pobert " de Fores-.
Thomas Hastings Elthu Roof.
fobn : Ksnnedv sn'
Mayor Mcclellan said yesterday that while no
one had the right 70 prevent thu action o. Trim
itv Corporation. he considered its intentions un-
warranted.
IT is unouestionablv city shame that the old
church should be torn down he said "As an ex-
ample Of the best Cregoran architecture Of which
the city Hall is another instance the building is
an adornment tie city should be proud Of an
more than sorry 10 think that II may De de-
stroved
Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes the architect. has
interested himself in St johns since the announce
nent was first made that services would be dis
continued February / He present a. the
meeting Of the congregation when the petition,
which signed by six hundred members was
read. and has attended services there for two
weeks
Members Of 81. Johns congregation have been
talking this week about the generous offe~ OF z
woman of the Roman Catholic faith who lives n
Desbrosses street. and her offer OF contribution
OF 800 toward q relief fund for St Johns
Father Peter Gretn, Of St. Alphonsus's Roman
Catholic Church, at West Broadway and Canal
street. said last night that he knew Of one in
his congregation rich enough help Trinity sup
port St Johns. vas reported OF some one whose