The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-06
TRINITY TO USE
MODERN POLICY
Old Business Methods Will
Be Replaced by Up to
Date Ones.
YOUNG MEN IN CHARGE
Property Will Be Made to Pay
w. II. WheelOck to Be
Comptroller.

In the near future-possibly within
ths month--the vestry Of Trinity Church
VII announce on behalf Of New York's
usat landlord, Trinity Corporation,
owner Of 365 houses. valued at $16.0Oo,-
~. one OF the most significant and i'm
portant changes Of policy to be decided
on in the more than two centuries Of
Trinity's history.
The announcement will mean, however
automatically or laconicslly phrased,
that the vigorous. forward striding
yeung men Of the vestry and OF the
board of the corporation have decided
y substitute for the obsolete, archaic
business methods OF the historic churchly
landlord a system OF business manage
msnt that would meet with the instant
approval Of Charles NJ. Schwab Of the
Bethlehem Steel Company, say. or of
Frank A. Vanderlip. head of the Ma
ttenal City Bank.
II will signify nothing less than that
ths thoughtful. active young men of the
church have realized their ambition of
rsscuing the corporation which houses
~ families from the inept business GUS
toms and business practices that were
wax candles, snuff, powdered hair and
knee breeches and endowing 1t with the
smooth. scientific. precise and just busi-
ness practices that obtain to-day in sue
osssful American corporations.
Young Men to Act.
With no reflection or criticism what
ever upon or as regards the acts or poll
ciss favored In the past, the vestry will
soon put In charge of Trinity's vast real
egtats holdings young. brisk successful
nsn, young business experts In tone with
IL spirit Of the twentieth century-men
who are expected to mako the corpora
TONS productive properties pay what
they should pay and never have paid in
the past recent or remote. For Trinity.
rich as 1t is. must constantly spread over
an ever increasing field its charities and
philanthropies, and q fair and reasonable
way had to be found for "the rich church
d the poor" as Rector Manning once
called II, to increase the scope Of Its be-
nsvoence.
Trinity needs more money every year.
and the young men Of the vestry and Of
the board have made up their minds and
have convinced their elders that modern
business methods will not only solve the
financial problem but will be of inesti-
mable benefit to Trinity's tenants.
The first concrete expression OF the
new policy will be the selection of WILL
lam II. Wheelock. vice-president of the
Douglas Robinson, Charles S. Brown
real estate company. to administer the
real estate. to be the living symbol Of the
great legal ecclesiastical entity known as
Trinity in dealing with the thousands
that contribute in rent and otherwise
through business to Trinity's money
chest
May BE Comptroller.
To Mr.. wheelock may or may not be
given the title of comptroller. That Is
merely a detail of the revolutionary
change OF policy. But he will have COM
plste direction of the real estate, which
forms the corporations business almost
entirely Hitherto. and for many years
the comptroller has been Hermann H
Cammann, a great name in Trinity's ar
fairs; but 1t is the purpose Of the vestry
to III, much heavy responsibility from
Mr. Cammann's overburdened shoulders
and transfer 1t to a young man.
Though assuming new duties. Mr.
Wheelock will continue actively In the
affairs of the Douglas Robinson, Charles
S. Brown Company.
Mr.. Wheelock's Forthcoming appoint
ment Is regarded with satisfaction fol
variety Of reasons. both material anc
sentimental. Recognized as one Of ths
very front rank OF real estate experts II
New York. Mr.. Wheelock has to his
credit In the way of large accomplish
ment the assembling Of real estate sites
that make up the Pennsylvania Railroad
Terminal In Manhattan. a S15.000,0 ,00C
undertaking.
For some years Mr.. Wheelock has hat
charge OF the Presbyterian Hospital rea
estate interests. of the John S. Kenned!
estate interests and OF other large prop
critics. and one Of his recent achieve
ments was the sale of the New Yorl
American League Baseball Clubs for
mer home for about 100000. Senti
mentally the selection is interesting II
that Mr.. Wheelock married a daughte
OF the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix. who wa
rector of Trinity for fifty-one years ant
who was the Rev. DR.. william T. Man
n'nss immediate predecessor.
New Methods Urged.
In several recent meetings the vestry
men have discussed with growing favo
the suggestion put forward by young as
sociates that Trinity Corporation mus
wake up-must adjust itself to the eff
Gent economical demands and necessi
ties OF the times and wrench loose from
holt VI leSs
even neglectful methods that had com
down from the days of the charte
granted by William and Mary towar'
me close Of the seventeenth century.
was no easy victory-that won b.
me young men-because Trinity. swaye
oy Its elder statesmen, was very set Il
ts ways, not at all convinced that othe
umes mean other customs. 1t require
much argument. much persuasion befor
the trend OF vestry opinion set In 70
real business reforms. but the young me
won, Just as they won the victory 70
publicity some years ago and just a
they accomplished necessary reform 1
uhe maintenance Of tenement houses.
On the best OF authority THE SUI
learns that the business reform decide
upon will be made public In the form Q
statement In the near future. N
member OF the vestry or of the officer
OF the corporation would permit himse
70 be quoted because Of certain ethics
considerations. mainly that the chang
mas not been formally announced, bl
me facts remain as stated and are espt
elally interesting in that they presage
considerable increase Of social and phi
ianthropical work by the church. Or
Sestryman familiar with Trinity's aim
said
'"Th. refcrm win have been brcagl
about because Of the investigation
several OF the younger members Of u
vestry who convinced themselves that Il
real estate was not being administered
Cowtssssd on ssvsnts Psss.