New-York tribune., 1909-02-11
4 NEW TRINITY BILL
U0FrLD AMEND CHARTER.
grough Measure Not Expected To
Be Treated Lightly.
Isr 7.isrrsrh 70 The rribune. l


-tsor Feb 1o.-BecaUse of the general azita-
=. regarding affairs of Trinity Church arising
:. - the attempt 70 close ST Johns Chapel Sen
- ,s-oush OF New York, an f5piscopalian. intro
- = bill 70 amend Trinity's charter TO permit
- uea-holdsr and regular communicate OF that
,-.,-rb 70 have vote. His measure aims to re-
-. -be gozernment Of Trinity to the shape in
Ai.b Il was under its original charter. amended
= s.s -resent form in 1874 A similar measure was
-sca-nuended 10 the Legislature Of 1851 by
,--se OF the Senate which had made legislative
,sstisation. but that bill never got further than
the senste
zs.f,-e introducing this bill Senator Brough
.rnas with prominent EIdscopalians Of many
-.7,-,bes among them the Rev. Dr.. John P. Peters
s,+o- Of St Aiichael's; eK-surrosate Beckett and
f,hn Brooks Lezvitt- He found there was great
,-,,lsini On account Of the manner n which Trim
sv's news were rented. which shut out many said.
.bs greater portion of the congregations from
- FOR .rsrdens and vestryTnen- Pews were rented
!, was Sid from the Sunday after Easter to
r.stsr leaving hiatus Of week In that
,.st- m Easter, the election takes place.
senator Brougt's bill alters the Trinity charter.
section Of Chapter of the laws Of 1914. to read
as follows:
:. an age in communion Of the Protestant Episoo
Tsl Church in the State Of New York who shall
ssat s2o of3S isSopa cc6 n said city in union with
sps1l have pa-tsken Of the holy communion therein
T7fbin the year next preceding any election for
ne rector senior warden clerk Of the vestry Of
f1ch church. shsu be entltieo 70 vote At sli eec-
lions fa- church wardens and vestT.men Of this
oorporstion
NEW SECTION ADDED TO CHARTER
N. biz also adds new section TO the charter,
as follows:
The -est-y OF Trinity Church shall once in every
I'd oFporstion applying therefor printed state
nsnt Of the affairs OF the corporation. containing.
End estate. briefly described, with the estimated
,S held for 1t in trust BY any person persons or
CnTporstion and Of its annual income and expendi-
n respect to each OF its churches or chapeis to
which any such item aPpeIa&lns ms F s1e1 report orr ssi
sor what amounts, and how many remain, what
sbou: what bonds and mortgages held Of every
sort with the estimated change IN gross value OF
70 shall also be fun and correct list OF a! the
Easter election next then ensuing.
Afpsr this bill was introduced Senator Bruugh
discovered an error, and next week will have it
amended so e will apply only 20 those Episcopal
isus resident IN the city Of New York as consi-
t1ted in 1914 This measure is the first OF the
Trinity bills" which is IN the least formidable
Il comes from a Republican. a communicate Of
that faith, and undoubtedly viii have behind 1t
much strength II vii command weight also from
tbs fact that Il carries out the recommendations
Of 8 legislative investigating committee. The As
semhiv Ways and Means Committee informally
decided to-5Ay 70 overlook the Cuvfler resolution
attacking Trinity This Brough bill, though, is
not Of negligible character
SENATOR BRoUGHs STATEMENT.
Senator Brought tonight made public this state
rnent regarding his bill and the general conditions
which prompted its introduction:
IN February. 1856 select committee was ap-
-oiuted bv tie Senate to investigate the affairs Of
trinity Church That committee took much testi-
tested against the right of the Senate to call for
-75r ia -~F.-a fuFa its f1ir nd
authority Of the committee to prosecute the IN
ate in ls57 and showed that the right of the cor
pcrat1cn 20 the property now held pE 1Tlnhyg L1y
included The church s1d eer2efeTy net sotoinths ing Inc
gTsnt q D ne h1 IN 4 a. rVH t T,ef1ai ehsrter
The church vas forever separated and dedicated TO
sanIs y rom nj tas 10 time nhabiting and to in
habit The city of New York in communion with the
yatr OF New YORK in communion with that church
EsT. made bodT cornorsfa To manage the affairs
q the corporation two wardens and twenty Testry-
Inhabitants Of the parish In communion with the
church IN l70s the grant was connrmeo ny S.ueen IN
communion with the Church of England Until
gard 20 the affairs Of the church. but in 17s4 the
legislature passed an act making the charter of
ne state OF New York No material alterations
porstion in that act, but the preamble to Section
whereas, doubts have arisen OF those parts Of
the sad charter which speak of the Inhabitants in
communion Of said Church England; for removal
tossing themselves members OF the Episcopal
Church who shall either hold. occupy or enjoy a
pew seat IN said church and shall regularly pay
io the support OF said church. and such others as
shall in said church partake Of the holy sacrament
Of the Lords Supper at least once In every year,
seng Inhabitants OF the city and county OF Ne"
York, shall be entitled 10 ali the rights. etc
NAME OF CORPORATION CHANGED.
In T7sS the corporate name was changed TO The
5ector and Inns btants Of the City OF New YORK IN
Communion ef the Protestant Episcopal Church in
= nF Narv
The next jegislailon was in 1874 by which the
title Of the corporation changed TO The Rector,
church Neriens and Testryrnen of Trinity Church
ast i is enacted that all male persons OF run age
who for the space OF one year preceding any cleo
on shall have been members OF Trinity Churcn OF
s @ chapss. ana TEo snaiI noid ReN VI ndHe n Rs5 =
taken Of Holy Communion within the year shall oe
entitled 20 vote for the election OF vardens and
The complaint made in 1856 was that the act Of
iG4 cut OF the rights OF the large body ot innab-
Rants Of the city OF New YORK IN the coI.lI u14oa 3
hem Under the original charter from pertlclac-nS
7 the election Of wardens and vestryInen, ana
violated the principles laid down In the DsTt-
mouth College case by the Supreme CourI OF liie
The cSn1rnittee of the serate. among other
things reported as follows: First-That from 1917
,e lss al persons IN conn1nIon WIN ne ahe tSs ~
isnts OF the city OF New York were corporaIoTs
and entitled TO vote for wsrdens and vestrymen:
and under the act Of 17s4 peIholoers were ennueo
70 the same right until 1s1z
second-ThsE the act Of 1914 excludes 81 euCh
persons Unless they commandments or pew
holders IN the Church and Chapel of Trinity.
Ihiro-That the Episcopssisns at large IN me
-. OF New York have pre-existing rlghlS @ IN d dar
BE and acSs previous 1915. and the act OF
lE4 which assumed TO divest those rights without
vas contsnded by the counsel for Trinity Church