New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01
NEARLY SUCKED DOWN.
ONE LONE BENEFICI1RY.
Minister Profits in Solitary Grandeur
by Charitable Request.
-L'Illustration.

A remarkable story of charity going begging
is to be found in the failure of fund that for
the last twenty-five years has appealed in vain
to ministers of the Presbyterian faith. The
story begins q quarter of century ago. when
Mrs. Anne Jane Mercer of Amber. Penn.
died. She had beQueathed her fortune with her
fine house and grounds at that place for the
use of infirm ministers of the Presbyterian
Church 1t was splendid property. and the
will was read amid the despairing comments Of
relatives who had hoped that different dispose
ton would be made of the Mercer wealth.
The house and grounds were ideal for in-
stitution such as the woman contemplated. The
mansion was commodious and the park in which
II stood large tract in one of the most pictu-
rescue and healthful spots in that part OF the
keystone State. AS the amount in cash TO be
used for the maintenance of the institution
100000. it looked if the legatee had done all
she could to insure comfort for the declining
lives of a goodly number Of Presbyterian min
listers. But after twenty-five years the fine
home wiled by Mrs. Mercer houses only one
lone occupant, and despite all the efforts of the
trustees and directors no more nfirm Presby-
terrain cIergymon can be induced TO spend the
winter of their lives within its hosDitable walls
This much has come to light through the at
tempt of the trustees to have the courts make
some other disposition of the Mercer money. in
stead of permitting it longer to remain dormant.
appealing without result to ministers who SIM
ply will not be supported from this fund.
Some light Is shed the mystery of this un-
successful charity by the items in the bill pray
ing for relief from the terms of the will and for
some other project for the expenditure of the
Mercer fortune. It is asserted in this bill chat
only thirty-fvc ministers have made application
for admission to the home in all the twenty-five
years that its doors have remained open 10 the
applicants who could qualify. Twelve were
found to be ineligible. fifteen were taken in and
the rest were not heard from again. Of the
lucky fifteen ten went away for various rea-
sons, four of the remainder died, and that left
one who is now the sole beneficiary under the
will.
1t might be supposed that some Joker in the
will deferred the ministers from availinS them
selves of the opportunity to end their days in
comfort but there appears to be none, except,
possibly. that forbidding the of tobacco. 1t
is not easy to imagine that in the case of min
listers of the Gospel this clause would prove
insurmountable obstacle. What then, is the
reason that this charity has so signaIly failed?
The lone survivor of the fifteen asked this
question, but could give no valid reason for tho
failure other than that the home too Lone
some. 1t cannot be denied that it is lonesome
for him. this ancient minister, eating, living and
sleeping in great house, with none TO speak to
but the servants who wait on him. and no object
in life except to make as great inroads on the
charity as he can. 1t would not be lonesome if
he had the company of hundred or so of old
ministers like himself
The help have an easy time of it. There ara
four of them. three big men and one woman.
With only one inmate to wait upon il may 10
understood that time hangs rather heavily on
their hands.