The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-07-16
MRS. HETTY GREEN At IS
TURNS TO THE CHURCH
Baptized by Episcopalian Rector
in Jersey City on
Saturday.
HER son WAS A WITNESS
Rich Woman Has Still to Be
Confirmed Before BecOm-
ing Member.

Mrs. Hetty Green, who Is In her
seventy eighth year. was baptized last
Saturday afternoon In the Episcopal
faith in order to prepare for conf1rma-
ton as a member of the church.
The ceremony was performed in Jer-
sey City by the Rev. Augustine Elmen-
dorf. rector Of Holy Cross Episcopal
Church. Arlington and Clarcmont ave-
nues, in the presence OF Col. Edward
Howland Robinson Green. on whose
shoulders have fallen much of his
mothers great business responsibilities
Father Elmendorf. as the Clergyman
is called By his parishioners. Is dis
tantly related to Mrs. Green ana for
five or six years he has been endeavor-
Ing to induce her to think less OF things
earthly. He kept his secret to himself
and labored diligently in his role OF
missionary by writing letters or carry
ing the message to her office in person.
Father Elmendorf went to the Trinity
Building. III broadway. where Mrs.
Green has her office. on Saturday. Al
though the great majority OF workers
in the financial district had taken ad-
vantage of the holiday Mrs Green was
still busy. but as soon as she had
Strengthened out everything she said
she was ready to go with the minister
Col. Green had his car In readiness
and the trio crossed the river to Jersey
City on their spiritual mission.
Several persons noticed Mrs. Green
as she alighted from the car and entered
the rectory, but nobody recognized her.
Even the sexton Of the church was
kept In Ignorance. The baptismal cere-
mony was conducted in the church
Owing to the advanced age Of Mrs
Green sponsors were not required. ac-
cording to the church laws, and Col.
Green merely acted as n witness. The
Greens returned TO New York after
the ceremony.
Mrs. Green will now prepare herself
for confirmation. a ceremony that will
be conducted by Bishop Edwin s. Lines
Of the Newark diocese.
According to the Rev. Robert +. L.au.
who IN acting as the rector Of st. Paui's
Episcopal Church Of Hoboken during
the absence OF ArchdeaCon William II.
Jenvey. a candidate for membership in
the Episcopal Church Is first baptized
unless he can show that he has already
been baptized. In the case OF young
folks It is then necessary for them TO
be able to recite from memory the Ten
Commandments and the Lords Prayer
and TO have an understanding of the
rest OF the catechism. IN the case of
older persons. however. he says. there
must be broader education in the
principles OF the church.
After the candidate has gone through
preparation for confirmation Ii re.
mains with the rector OF the church to
decide whether he or she Is fully pre-
pared and TO report the name to the
Bishop.
Bishop Lines. who Is at Green Pond
Newfoundland, y. j., said over the
phone last evening that he had no,
heard OF the baptiaing OF Mrs. Green.
Father Elmendorf has been stopping
at the home Of his sister Mrs II. II
Palmer. @33 Franklin Avenue, Ridge.
wood. He wasn't at home yesterday
having gone to Monroe. y. Y.
Please don't try to reach my brother,
said Mrs. Palmer. "and don't take the
trouble TO ask him II he baptized Mrs
Hetty Green. for he wouldn't tell you
whether he had or not. ! won't tell you
either"
1T was very sensible thing fol-
her 10 do. wasn't IT," a reporter sug
gested TO Mrs. Palmer over the tele.
/ phone.
Yes" replied Mrs. Palmer. but bs
good and don't say anything about It,"
/ Mrs. Green and her son declined tc
see reporter at their Office in the
Trinity Building. A message was sem
In TO Mrs. Green and a confidential
clerk came out with this reply:
! Mrs. Green wants me to tell you
that she was baptized In New Bedford
Mass. seventy-five years ago. Tha,
IL al. she vii! say
| Mrs, Green was born on November
/ p, 1884. and was the only daughter
of Edward Mott Robinson, who lait
the foundation for his fortune in the
whaling business She came from New
Bedford to New York in the winters
during her girlhood and was much seer
In society just before the civil war
She was chaperoned In New York h,
Moses u, Gr!nnell. to whom she was re-
lated on her mothers side. She mar
ried T.. II, Green, who made a fortune
In the China trade.
On her last birthday Mrs, Green sait
she belonged to II sect--the Quakers-
which preached peace ana good will e
people, She said that her success II
life was due TO the fact that she lived
simply. kept regular hours and nevel
ate anything that isn't wholesome. sh,
also confessed that she gave more ava,
in charity than people knew abou
and said that her favorite way a
spending a birthday was to keep bus.
| mud mako presents In FOLKS whom sh,