New-York tribune., 1909-04-10
REPLY TO ST. JOHNS
Rector of Trinity Says Pamphlet by
Chapel Is Misleading.

The Rev. DR. William T. Manning rector Of
Trinity Church sent out a letter yesterday to cor
porators of the parish denial Of assertions
made by st. Johns people in their public circular
OF last Monday. At the present time a temporary
injunction restraining Trinity from closing ST.
Johns Chapel is in force pending a decision by
Justice O'Gorman In the Supreme Court whether
it shall be made permanent not.
DR.. Manninss letter to the corporators follows:
pamphlet entitled The Case of St Johns
Chapel issued by those who opposing the
plans of the rector and vestry, which they seem
10 nave seriously misunderstood mas recently oeen
sent to the cOrpOratOrS Of our parish. | am ad-
vised by counsel that pending the temporary in
Junction obtained by these opponents N their su1t
against Trinity Church l should refrain from
but this little pamphlet contains such very grave
inaccuracies. and presents the case in 50 wrong
uRnotced ed 'a'''''' '''0" = - pass
1t states among other things C1D that the peo-
was to be closed without even intimation
that such action impending; 60 that the
action proposed by the vestry Will deprive the
people Of st John of their rights as corporators
81 that the plans proposed by the vestry will
"disperse the congregation. discontinue the ser
wees diSnahu ana dlsrupf the sunday scnool anu
Lie kuiluS ana orsailiZdtlo tlois OF tIle paT-Sh ana
discontinue the confirmation classes on the eve
or their confirmation. and that 80 the action
proposed is as despouc as ii is devoid Of Chris
At the fTst moment when with propriety I can
speak I shall show that there is no foundation
for any of these assertions and In the mean time.
Sem!nation of statements so seriously inaccurate
these are and trust that this carefully or
CanZed effort bring disCredit upon our parish.
which | have reason to believe is being directed
I'm large part by persons not connected with ST
Johns Chapel with Trinity parish, viii receive
at the hands Of our people the rebuke which II
Justly merits,
Dr. Manning would discuss the statement
otherwise than say that Trinity Church Itself
has never been useful III the downtown section
as +; has been during the last forty days Of Lent
He said:
Il cannot what / would like have said
long until this decision is announced l can
take pleasure IN showing those who would deny
the benefits which Trinity confers upon the masses
what unusual success the MONDAY Lenten services
there have had. The total attendance has been
almost thirty thousand-far more than before"
There have been thirty-three Lenton services in
Trinity Church since Ash Wednesday. The lowest
attendance was 336. rainy day and then grad
usy cTept up 10 thousand on Mauudy Thurs
day there we're eighteen hundred people in The
church, and at yesterdays Good Friday services
there were between 800 and i.CA The actual total
has been 29.-u- Services have been conducted By
DR.. Manning. Bishop Lawrence Of Massachusetts.
tho Rev. Or. Sattsry. Of Springfield, Mass. the Rev
Dr. q. r. Stetson. vicar of Trinity; the Right Rev
d.. Frederick J. Kinsman. Bishop Of Delaware. and
the Rev. 2. NJ. Waggett. of London. of the Society
OF St John the Evangelist.
DR.. Manning. Mr.. Wagsett and Dr. Stetson
preached at the Good Friday services which we're.
Morning prayer. at 10 O'Clock: the three-hour Pas
sion service. at = o'clock, and evening prayer.
a. o'clock