New-York tribune., 1909-01-17
ST. JOHNS FINAL PLEA
ET.S PETITION TO TRINITY.
.Asks That Chapel Be Turned O0er
TO the Congregation

-, g. 7ob,,s Chanel made public yes
e.-dsy the petition which they aooi .idera-
20 Trinity corporation asking for p-at-,,-
tion CO the decision 20 close the chapei '
arr ! The petition says:
=, m o+bar way can we hope to get the facts
before you The request accolnpaaL: b,S the mem
Sre ~ q Tohn's Chapel be granted nearing; near q
has beer ignored. We have no rep. p.+TTrnen were
members Of St Johns Chapel but owing 10 tTe
eFesnt nc s seems nov TO be largely selected from
members the chapel OF 81 agnes, es,,-esentation
Rshop Potter friend of St. johns Chspe, 5srIJ, T
the late rector. the Rev Or, Dlnd d our beloved
vicar who has mnistered TO us Tor NOR Ig.r " "i
thirty rs Sg a9sgn} has G been in the city of New
York a few years. during Which peIiog &c 1r h.
ieTe he Il has not had OCCASION become ailiar nj ia
with conditions existing in the nen rector We have
rof seen him al any Of the services OF 81 JohLl m
SaTe rece,ye5 t from him was the notice which was
closed
After reciting that II was the hope OF the con-
srezation that the vestry would reconsider lIs
resolution land permit US TO continue 20 worship
at St Johns as members OF Trinity parish, the
petition ssys:
have addressed to you this our petite. IN
the hope that You may reconsldeI your s In.s
members Of Trinity parish But in the - event o.
II pray that you give your immediate consideration
and action to the following proposition; -
gregation Of St JONAS Chapel become incorporated
@ St Johns a cn%Th and that o@t xSm
in fee simple right tite and interest in and to
81 Je te SanP 69ShE bnes sG gpounds
that furtner support be asked from GH for Inc
RgaRoSe TDTR' Oi continuing ''s 'iu''H So. anu
tain express provisions authorizing you 10 act IN
The foregoing proposition is made in good faith.
believe that SUFFICIENT nnanciai support 10
continue the good work which Is now being e aoIH
ton. ''
The petition that three facts demand atten-
sson-that the work S.. Johns Will be needed
more and more, that the chapel is beginning a
period OF greater usefulness, and that the work
cannot be conducted If the chapel is closed A
sermon preached by the Rev Dr. William S.
Rainsford in Trinity Church on May l. 1897. TO
show The need OF such work as that which is being
done ST. Johns is quoted Dr.. Rainsford said:
Our great parish churches our beautiful build
those Who need them most. it is the poor. the
sn hold Ourselves to be trustees @ nor FOR
bound in. bound down BY, environment sordid
and debasins-it is these that need church wor-
the gracious ACCESSORIES Of life which their strait
ensd means oeny them .,,.,,-o s,,.,,. -,.o
among the needy and the toiling people The
s3if things abound The 'is best preaching the most
Them rise let them sound iet them be seen where
HE is most weary and oyerpressed
In the fifteen years in which it has been my
fortunate lot 10 live in this city and minister 10
of its people 1 have over hundred
and thousand people move into the town be-
meath 1iti street. and have seen nineteen Protes
change in any abatement Of this 7 Inovement
movement which 1 beg to think all thoughtful
Christian can agree IN denouncing the
ignorant. u2-Christian and fatal retreat of the
churches from the poor. the leaving of the poor,
follow the weii-to-do II Is a sin against the
community, IL is danger. IL is folly well
= Wickedness OF that day ]
that ali will be convinced.
But what is TO be done meanwhile? How shall
arrange forces til that better day dawn,
when the Christian intelligence of the community
viii be aroused that wise and godly will
arrange the Church's forces that the strongest
regiments and the best equipped organizations
shall be set TO attempt the most difficult tasks
VII that day dawn. l say. what shall do? An
Choir fast the churches that have got where
they
In regard 10 carrying OF the work of st. Johns
ct ST. Luke's tie petitioners say:
in the statement which you mailed US by way OF
answer former petition. II is said: