The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-22
OLD TRINITY FEELS
HARD TIMES PINCH
Richest Protestant Church IN
World Has Larger Attend.
ance but Less Giving.
PEOPLE TURN TO RELIGION

II the social work or the New vorr
churches in danger of abandonment ,o-
lack OF money? There were indication,
yesterday that the strain upon the source,
of charity have become so great that ,be
everyday work OF the churches il i'm.
perlled. Mgr. Michael J. Lavelle o. s.
Patrick's Cathedral thought the mater
one in which public discussion Is unws.
DR.. Manning of old Trinity acknowledge
frankly the failing support OF churcn
charitable activities.
The announcement OF DR.. Leighton
Parks Of st. Bartholomew that he hal
been compelled to curtail charities o. th
church, printed in THE SrN yesterday, led
to inquiry OF other pastors
Trinity Church Is probably the riches,
Protestant congregation IN tho world
Therefore when Or. Manning says tina,
Trinity's widespread social enterprises ara
not getting normal support It seems Likely
that many less prosperous churches ara
in n serious plight with their oharitab.
work.
DR. Manning has noted a much greater
church attendance than usual. and thu
observation Is somewhat borne out By
other pastors The conclusion seem. :,
he that more people are going 10 church
than in a long time and are giving less TO
church work
I'VE have felt a distinct falling IN
IN gifts" said the rector of Trinity. 80
far we have not had TO shut down any o,
Trinitys social and religious enterprises.
which, as you know, are possibly the mos,
varied and extensive OF any one church
In the city.
II must say that the falling OF IN
money support 10 not so great rs eY.
pected Il would be. No, cannot a.. Any
signs yet Of things lettering.
Unusual Appeals for Help.
Much greater demands are made nov
on our charitable agencies, I mean thoss
OF our church, than Is usually the cas-.
Because our charities are besicEed with
appeals for help and are receiving L..
money than they normally do tho pinch
OF n bad season seems much harder than
1t otherwise would.
AT Trinity our own people are keep
ing up their scale Of contributions In 4
coura geous and admirable fashion, but
the support from those who are not mem.
bers OF the church but who attend mora
or less regularly and give a great deal n
our work-ths support has lesscned IN
a most marked degree.
"Still we manage. All OF our work
centring at the clergy house on Fulton
street Is maintained wholly by volun-
tary gifts and we have not had 10 drop
any OF It yet.
Church attendance shows remark
able increase. Anybody can see y, FL
many people have remarked upon 70 TO
me with surprise. But it does not sur
prise me. II 81 natural that In n time
OF heavy burdens people should turn 20
the church.
Il an ;,vp;ns thst 80 an,.! hc ~. :
keep every part OF our work Eoin: quite
as usual, but ! should Ike DR. Parks
favor closing some lines Of activity n
running In debt, when | did not know
where the money 10 pay was to CON.
from
Rabbi II. Pereira Mendes ~ the C0nrr.-
cation Shearith Israel. 100 Central Par,
West, replied from sickbcd TO questions
as follows:
THE general support OF tho "oug.'ra
| TONS social and charitable worl. shows
a considerable falling off, although re
Spouse to certain special appeal - 4
deeply moving character has been et
Semely generous.
THE situation is this ThCre ars -
| many extra demands upon charity N7'
the people cannot possibly meet them a.
SO far our congregation has Not had .
| discontinue any OF its meliora''ve actv!'
/ ties.
attendance at services (. slightly
! larger than usual
Mgr. Lavelle said "I have uo' heat
enough about the matter 10 form ~ opir
| ion as to present conditions u see7'
| to me. anyway. a very bad thlrc - d'
cuss I should think drawing attention 70
such a state OF affairs might do harm
That is a purely personal opinion
But might not mere publicity FOR cs
facts, IL they are serious rally supper
| to the churches
The rector laughed little Then NJ
replied:
Personally ! do not believe so. But
as I say. | am not sufficiently aoqua'nt'H
| with this to al scuss II
HAS ST. patrick's or the d!oces. rener-
ally had to abate its social worlt~'
Not noticeably," Mgr Lsvells ~
sponded.