The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1910-02-24
CHARITY THAT IS
GOING A-bECG|NG
One Lone Minister Profits in Sol.
itary Grandeur by Woman's
Rich Bequest
MYSTERY OF FUNDS FAILURE
Remarkable Story About the Splendid
Estate Which Mrs. Jane Mercer Of
Amber, Pa, Left to Support In.
digent Presbyterian Ministers.

A remarkable story OF charity 60
ing begging is to be found in the fail.
ure of fund that for the last TWEEN.
ty-five years has appealed in vain TO
ministers of the Presbyterian faith.
The story begins quarter of n cen
tury ago, when Mrs. Anne Jane Mer-
Ger, of Amber, Pa, died. She had be.
queathed her fortune with her fnc
house and grounds at that place for
the use of infirm ministers of the
Presbyterian Church. 1t was splen-
did property, and the will was read
amid the despairing comments OF re.
latives who had hoped that different
disposition would be made Of the
Mercer wealth.
The house and grounds were ideal
for an institution such as the woman
contemplated. The mansion was
commodious and the park in which it
stood large tract in one of the most
picturesque and healthful spots in
that part of the Keystone State. As
the amount in cash to be used for the
maintenance of the institution was
100000, it looked as # the legatee
had done all she could to insure com.
fort for the declining lives of good.
ly number of Presbyterian ministers.
But after twenty-five years the fine
home willed by Mrs. Mercer. houses
only one lone occupant, and despite
all the efforts of the trustees and
directors no more infirm Presbyterian
clergymen can be induced to spend the
winter of their lives within its hospi-
table walls.
This much has come to light
through the attempt of the trustees to
have the courts make some other dis
position of the Mercer money, IN
stead of permitting it longer to re-
main dormant, appealing without re-
suit to ministers who simply will not
be supported from this fund
Some light is shed on the mystery
of this unsuccessful charity by the
items in the bill praying for relief
from the terms Of the will and for
some other project for the expend.-
ture of the Mercer fortune. 1t is as
serted in this bill that only thirty-iive
ministers have made application for
admission to the home in all the TWEEN.
ty-fiye years that its doors have re-
mained open to the applicants who
could qualify. Twelve were found to
be ineligible fifteen were taken in and
the rest were not heard from again.
or the lucky fifteen ten went away
for various reasons, four Of the re-
mainder 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 min
listers from availing themselves of the
opportunity to end their days in COM
fort, but there appears to be none, ex-
cept, possibly. that forbidding the use
OF tobacco. 1t Is not easy to imagine
that in the case of ministers of the
Gospel this clause would prove an in
surmountable obstacle. What, then,
is the reason that this charity has 50
signally failed?
The lone survivor of the fifteen was
asked this question, but could give no
Vanu reason Tor the failure other than
that the home was too lonesome. 1t
cannot be denied that it is lonesome
for him, this ancient minister, eating,
living and sleeping in a great house,
with none to speak to but the ser
wants who wait on him, and no object
in life except to make as great in
roads 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 1t.
There are four of them, three big men
and one woman. With only one in.
mate to wait upon. it may be under.
stood that time hangs rather heavily
on their hands.