New-York tribune., 1908-01-18


tie annual statements just made by some OF the
great churches Of this country. and some OF the
leaders are saying that the figures just maoe puplc
hv these wealthy congregations hear out the opinion
which many hold that, while the sons of rich men
DO not do much personal work in churches, wealthy
men and women do maintain and even advance
their money gifts.
This advance il wholly for the purpose OF
building magnificent churches as the increase IN
church building expenses just about keeps pace
with the increased cost Of building generally; nor
in extravagant furnishings or elaborate music
II is IN gifts designed for other people than the
sive-s. and in forms which cannot possibly be OF
advantage 10 these who make the gifts
Specific Illustrations of this advance are found in
the snnual statements OF St Bartholomews and St
Tnonass Episcopal churches, OF New York. which
have sust been made public. Probably above all
other churches of the country these two contain
wealth and social strength. Their worshippers
were able 70 pay last year in pew rents S4.t" and
s55 eaa respectively. although in most cases the
pexholders used their sittings for only service
on Sundays. and that for more than six months
IN the year, for the New York residence Of these
people enos in April in most cases, and does not
often begin before November.
When the announcement made a few years
ego that one OF these churches had contributed x
other people for each s. it spent on its own "or-
ship leaders in al churches and the public in gen.
eral were astonished. Within the last nve years,
however this proportion has increased by leaps and
bounds. Nothing in the business world has grown
faster. For example, it cost maintain St Bar
eholomew's Church last year s42,ea This sum went
for salaries music. heat, light and incidenTals OF
the service at which the givers worshiPped
To hospitals of New York. TO summer homes and
fresh air work, 10 the maintenance Of the vast
social work the East Side. and TO mission work
Of all sorts all over the world. ST Bartholomew s
CONGREGATION last year gave S21ooo 81 to others
for each 81 spent themselves II is believed that
this record has been equaled in America. and
II is doubtful if equalle in any other city OF
the world. 1t is enormous growth. and one that
hss taken place during change IN rectors
The showing made by ST. Thonas's Church does
ot equal that Of St. Barthoornew's, but il is suf-
fcenfly uota bIe TO warrant the statement that It
ouranks practically every other congregation II
America. Its showing last year was $4,000 spent
at the church itself and S2l4,764 given 10 outside
causes or almost s. to others TO each 81 itself.
- Thomas is soon church. 70 cost
ssao ooa to replace the one burned two years ago,
hut no part Of the foregoing sums included money
contributed for rebuilding. The S55@0 given for
rev rents for the occupancy OF peTs in z tenn
porary frame structure plainly furnished, and huilt
within the walls Of the burned structure
Three well known Protestant Episcopal churches
ct New York together expended last year for up
lift work outside the churches themselves SS. .esa
They are St. Thomas's, Grace and Ascension
Grace Church spent on itself $4,000: Ascension,
s7as There was expended TO maintain the three
churches named Sl25.ote-
Grace Church's gifts 10 others amounted last
year 10 $4,000. There is being put into Grace
Chautry new organ, and there has just been put
INTO Grace Chapel an organ in memory of Mrs
Margaret Bottone, who was the founder OF the
Kings Daughters organization and whose son has
been vicar in charge for twenty years.
Ascension Church faced the problem some years
ego OF getting raising endowment Of
-2aeaa II took up the latter task and has secured
- date N2Eaea II added si0abl 10 the fund last
z7ear
The spiritual work CT these parishes IS stated to
keep pace with the material. The means ot rapid
transit the suburbs causes steady outflow from
Manhattan parishes Practically al suffer. In
spite Of this fact St Thomas's St Bartholornew's.
Grace Asceasion and other churches located in the
OF districts that affected by the encroach-
uent Of business grow constantly. During the last
few years the growth OF these parishes, with the
possible exception OF Grace. has been phenomenal
During the year both ST. Thoulass and st. Bar
thclcme-'s passed the three thousand membership
mark, number un6reanned CT few years ago.
a compilation of the foreign missionary statistics
FOR the world made by the Rev. DR.. D. L. Leonard,
shows that the total contributions Of the mission
cry societies Of the world foreign missions
amounted last year 70 SO z5es80, increase
the previous year Of almost s. l2e0 0 OF the total
named, American boards and societies gave s94S5,-
6S2. British societies gave se1S6, various German
societies gave 6S5 81 most of the remainder
from European organizations. although some
comparatively small sums were given by Asiatic
organizations.
II contributions the Methodist Episcopal Church
heads the American list. with total of 81 $685.
The Presbyterian Church North is second with
s&7,T8, while the American board CCongresa-
tionaD, with gifts aggegating s978s76 is third Just
preceding the Baptist Missionary Union. which ex-
pended s97Se12.
Presbvterians have the largest number OF or-
Gained missionaries IN the foreign field their total
being d, but the Methodists. with 7,750 native
helpers. are far in advance Of others in this par
dculsr. The leading British organization is the
Church Missionary Society tChurch Of England,
and In contributions this society leads the world