The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-08
GIVE SERVICE, SAYS
ST. THOMAS RECTOR
Urges Laymen Of Fifth Avenue
Church to Broaden Field
Of Effort.
A S2.000.000 ENDOWMENT

The Rev Dr. Ernest VI Stirsq a..
nounced from the pulpit Of ST. Thomass
Church, Fifth avenue and Frtv.thIrF
street, yesterday that he wanted tie
church made q community and clty -
vice centre IN a broader way than in ,f.
past. He said that ten years had been
given to the building OF the new church
the old one having burned In 1905. lr,
that az II was finished the parish olrr
to give thought to larger Christian use.
fulness.
There Is extra ordinarv need" said
he. FOR the participation OF men To- ef.
forts to solve those problems which are
tho peculiar responsibilities OF Chris.
tian citlzenship. I am appealing to men
Of 81. Thomas to form an association fer
the purpose OF considering our larger
obligations In this city"
The rector suggested a committee W
laymen to act In a helpful way with
the Police and Fire departments aud
other committees TO give service .u ja.Is
and warehouses, In the admiuistruIu.
OF streets and parks, in the study ~
unemployment and strikes, poverty and
vice. crime and disease. and huaIt
egislation. The parish already has
committee of men to look after the
needs OF ST Thomas's chapel on tie
East Side. and this committee the r,.'..
would continue as part Of tho larger
plan.
Problems OF Churcb, Says Rector.
These problems will he found TO t,
full OF interest and importance TO-
real men," said the rector "Al vU.
understand them cannot doubt that they
are the problems OF Christ and His
Church When the ability Of tho mon
OF ST Thomas parish makes comrnou.
surate response the city viii confess
that the parish has greater claim 10
is respect than that based on the BEAUTY
OF its church"
To preserve the parish in it, present
place forever an appeal was made for
an endowment OF 100000, with me
statement that more than $500. GOO had
been written into Wills for this fund
Memorials OF the new church an-
nounced included an aims box IN
memory OF Lansdale BOardman. given
by his children a chantry vestibuie ~
memory OF John Wallace. by his sisters
lectern. given by the friends OF the
late Mrs r @. Dun a baptismal font Of
rare beauty, given by the MADDEN fam
lily. and an altar rail, given by the
family OF the late W. Gayer Domnick
in his memory. The old font was burned
In 1905. only some small bits NJ stone
remaining. These bits were carved in
the form OF flowers and inserted in the
new font.
According to a report made YESTERDAY
st. Thomass parish has a membership
OF 1000. a gain OF more than 1000 IN a
few years. This number includes ST
Thomas's Chapel, hut the gain was made
chiefly in the Fifth avenue church, no.
tho East Side chapel.
Gifts During Year s254.OO0.
Money gifts last year reached a tottr
6: eos; .occ, sho":SS : falling *" a:r
TO the war conditions in this country
and tho financial strain OF n building
fund that exceeded $1,000. OOO. or 'u"
s254, 900, 100000 was given to Others
while about $4,000 was spent In the
Fifth avenue church, where the glvers
worship. This. II was said was record
made year in and year out by no other
church in America
So many fashionable WEDDINGS take
place in ST. Thomas's that brides
door" Is provided expressly for weldiu-
parties. II is the small door on Fifth
avenue south OF the main entrance 90
the church. Many have wondered about
its purpose. Entering through It bridal
parties escape the crush often found ar
the main door, and are able to reach
the chancel of either chapel or church
without being seen by the guests until
such time as they desire 10 be seen. II Ia
the only New York church with
brides door" but 1t was said yesterdaE
that the new St Bartholomew church
10 be erected In Park avenue, will have
similar door. This new 81. Bartholo-
news Is to rival st. Thomas's in ca
pense and beauty.