New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-13

in 1895. FIVE churches entering into the
combination.
out Of 9oo churches in the greater
city. according 10 Or. Laldlaw, 30
churches arc recognized az members Of
the federation.
Dr. Laidlew refused yesterday 20
give list Of the churches which are
members OF his organisation. though
naming few OF the prominent
churches which are nomirsily repre-
sented On his board II directors. The
annual report OF the federation. just
issued. makes no mention or tho inj-
vdusl churches which participate IL
the workings OF the federation.
The complete domination OF DR.. Laid
law is shown by the last annual re-
yort pu 1lished in The Federation the
organizations journal. which makes no
mention whatever OF the finances. or OF
the deficit OF several thousand dollars
which the Organization faces, and
which are liabilities OF the sixtr-three
directors on DR.. Laidlsws board.
Arthur VI. Harris, the treasurer o,
the federation. Of the banking hrm OF
Harris, Forbes IL CO., No. 81 William
street. said lie knew nothing OF tho
finances. the entire matter being loft
10 Lai6aw and the financial secretary,
George L. Leonard.
Doubt About Church Ties.
The last annual report OF the fed
Grafton. submitted February 2, pre-
pared by DR.. Laidlaw. admits that 1t
is not an actual federation Of the
churches Of greater New York.
In January. 1908" the report reads.
Governor Hughes sent a message TO
the Legislature Of the State of New
York advocating the repeal OF legisia-
ton which protected bookmaking on
the racetracks The federation vas not
then. as it is not now, an actual fedora
ton Of all the churches Of greater New
York. but IT was sufficiently strong 10
inGuce Senator George r. Agnew, Wno
introduced the measures favored oN
Governor Hughes in the Senate, TO re-
quest the executive secretary Of the
federation to become the chairman OF
a statewide citizens committee, which
handled the -racetrack gambling
camps ign
The Federation of Churches has been
very little in the public eye since the
GAYS Of the anti-racetrack campaign.
Mystery Surrounds Work
Its chief activities have been con
nected with Population Research ?
Bureau" which has cost the fedora .
ton thousands of dollars. in salaries IN /
gathering statistics. ana which has re- :
suited in the publication Of large ,
atlas in two volumes. for which Dr. |
I.aidlaw charges the sum Of $500 the ,
proceeds of which are added to the H..
treasury Of the federation. /
Il is admitted that the churches do /
very little toward maintaining the !
federation The general object OF the /
federation says Or. Laidlaw in his !
last annual report, is TO assist the +
churches and church and civic organ I
izstions Of New York City for intelli- /
gent. aggressive cooperative work IN !
behalf Of the spiritual. physical educa
tional. economic and social interests Of |
its individual. family and community 7
life. but it needs larger
financial support from the churches
end citizens Of New York to translate
its philosophy into history.
BY recently adopted amendment to
The federation's constitution church
oreaniza lions may be added TO the fed
eration's membership without any ex-
r1ession Of the will of the church or
csnization as to whether or not II
desires 10 be in the organization. we
have arranged it," explained DR.. Laid
law. so that any church a member Of
which subscribes TO our work becomes I
automatically a member Of the feder-
alton" In the past it was necessary
for A church by IT., governing board
10 vote itself into membership of Dr..
Laidlaw's organization and TO agree To
nay yearly dues of $40. It is under
stood that many of the church organ
nations which have belonged TO the fed
grafton, have lapsed in their member
ship through lack Of interest or through
20 failure TO appreciate the value Of the
coY,-i9es
The present officers OF the federation
are: Lambeth ii. King, president
RAYMOND +. Fosdick vice president
Arthur NJ. Harris. treasurer; j. Lewis
Uartsock, recording secretary. the Rev
Walter I.aidlaw. executive secretary.
and George l.. Leonard. financial sec
rotary. In the board OF directors are
The following. The Rev. Arson +. At
tcrbulv. canon Chase. +. II. Main. the
Rev. Charles X. Scars. the Rev. ;.
Edward Young. the Rev. Howard Duff
field. Frank deK. Huyler. John Nicol-
son. Or. j. Gardiner Smith. the Rev.
!. Howard Mellish. the Rev. Ernest VI.
Stires. Burt 3. Farnsworth. the Rev.
Cornelius Woelfkin and the Rev. Nor
ris W. I.eibert. Bishop Of the Moravian
Church.
The federation under its conStitu-
ton is governed by its sixty three di-
rectors These directors are elected
y