Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-13

slogan OF the Othcr IS, NO sooner SAID than
done -
| can never make up my mind which
makes the fewer mistakes in the long run !;
those who act slowly for fear Of missing
something or those who act quickly. | was
impressed today. however, with the luck or
wisdom, or both Of set of men who have
acted rather cautiously. or at all events who
have seemed 10 some of the women folks to
have been rather "sow on the uptake."
A GOOD many years ago there stood on
~ the corner of Twelfth and Walnut
streets fine old Presbyterian church. which
had for its most eminent pnStor n much
loved man bv the name Of Boardman. To
this church most Of the important and rich
CalvinistS of sixty years ago used 70 flock
from the scdatc aud handsome old houses in
the then fashionable residential part of the
city below Brond street and between Chest
nut and Spruce. But as the stores and
Offices began to creep ur those streets and
the boarding houses began to creep down.
the congregation crossed Broad and settled
west on Spruce street. selling the Twelfth
street property to the EpiScopalans, who
built on the Walnut street front of the lot
n big. hnndsom" Office building, which they
called "Thr Church House,
II contained a large auditorium. pleasant
and commodious Offices for two bishops and
their secretaries. various board rooms and
then. rs ono progressed upward largo and
diocesan activities. The ground floor rooms
were first used for diocesan purposes and
later rented out to business firms. Grndu
ally the rooms and offices upstairs. that had
nt first seemed adequate for tho varied nc
tivties of Episcopal work hero in the town
and its cnvrons. wcrc outgrown; gradually
tho fnCt that the corner Of Twelfth and Wal.
nnt Is ono Of the noisiest in town made the
use Of the auditorium for religious meetings
moro and moro impractical.
Tho taxes wCrc enormous, yet the leases
Of the Storcs on the ground floor were long
ones. II III" entire bnilding had been used
for church PURPOSES it would hardly have
given all tn" activities that should have bcep
gathered there scope for their work. vet the
most convenient part Of the building was
used for secular purposes, (which raised the
taxes without really paying for the raise.
In word, tho business of the diocese had
OuiCrOwn the building SO far rs Office room
was concerned, and the noise OF tho traffic
h"d made its large and noble rooms un-
suitable for devotional services.
GO TIE Church House was sold and the
- question Of where to 60 next became n
vital ono. And just here those who wished
to act nt once and those who wished TO wait
and look about for suitable quarters were
most iuCOmnr"hcnsiblc to one another.
\ sort of compromise was effected that
actually pleased no one. j was decided
that. pCnding the buving Of suitable quarters
in n central spot. tho present home Of the
bishop on Twenty second street should be
changed into n temporary church Office
house and thor quarters found for him.
But that house, COmmodiouS aS il was.
could not hc made to accommodate all the
organizations that belonged in n diocesan
house. Most Of the women activities were
prrforcc left ont of the plans; very rcluc.
tantly on tho part Of tho committee Of men.
but none the loss inevitably.
II was here that the women felt that moro
action and lcss caution would have been
preferable. And MANY n tall and wide
building in tn" heart Of III" city, notably the
Episcopal Academy building. wns urged
upon IN" reluctant committee. Rut the
question of the initial cost and the immo-
date rcmudolng. rs wcll aS of tho noSSb"
change In valucs--in fact. dozen pros and
cons halted action on tn" part Of those in
authority.
NIEANTTME. the new owners Of tho for
1Vl mor Church House wished possession
on Nav |. 50 it looked like the bishops
house on Twenty second street for nS many
church societies as could be squeezed into
it and n tramp existence for the others. when
on" fine day some one thought Of the Cas-
satt house next to tho Church Of the Holy
Trinity on Rttrnhous" square and every
one was pleased.
The ta>SattS. who v""v handsomely lot
II go nr reasonable price hcrauS" Of the
uso to which it was to b" rrt and in tho
memory Of their mothers father. who was
clergy nHu. were graCiou~lv pleased: the
women "f III" various committees wcrc de-
Lighted, because. with the gnrag" and the
nearby Parish house Of T." church and the
rooms the house itself win afford for them.
they can really focus thcir administrative
work In on" convenient Uonliv.
The pnrishionors Of Holy Trinity Church
ar" GENEROUSLY glad, because it will mean
'hni ia" hospitality that tlCy have always
I., Al. -
the church aud of tn" nariNh building. The
bishops and church officials who will have
offices there are approving. hcCnuSc of the
Vui"tnrsS and pleasant outlook Of the site.
The committee which i negotiating for the
building i sanGuinc. because the investment
l. II good one from u real estate point of
WITH the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad station
w probably out in West Philadplphia and
the boulevard nearing completion in the next
few years, RittcnhOuSC SQuar" property il
~ present n very "safc buy the experts
tell them, for organization headquarters. rc-
isIous. phianthropic. political or social.
T., nearnPSs to the shopping district. its
easy noint Of vantage on the street car lines
and thr beauty and dignity Of its surround
iugs make it an 0t,rariiv" goal from every
point Of view. TL"so interested in tho
transaction now uu doubt congratulate
Themselves that lhr committee in charge
moved slowly IN spit" Of prods and digs
from the quick thinkers.
~ ali events. while the affair waits on
tUr frw lcCni step, necessary for completing
the purchase. confirmation bv the convcn-
riou, otc.. on" 'hcarS rncomiums for the
wise and rautIuus trustees who waited until
they got what they "nn'cd.
THE Episropal Church wa, pioneer in
l the matter Of parish organization some
twenty five years ago, and during the last