New-York tribune., 1922-04-10
Police Guard
Rockefeller .Jr.
In New Church
Detectives and Patrolmen
Escort Him Into Park Av.
Baptist Edifice, Scan All
There at Opening Service
Precaution Surprises Him
Protection Against Cranks
in Throng Furnished at
Request of the Trustees

petectives and patrolmen from the
r,s. Fifty-hrst Street police station
n,arded John D. Rockefeller jr., when
40 attended the first services held yes
.,rdav at the new Park Avenue Baptist
church. 500 Park Avenue. The new
difce serves the congregation former
lr known as the Fifth Avenue Baptist.
Whether acting on information that
led them to fear an attack on Mr.
Rockefeller. or merely from precaution-
,rv motives, detectives closely scru-
tinized every person entering the
shurch, remaining on duty from 9 a.
he latter hour. Mr. Rockefeller
thanked the detectives for their
guardianship, remarking that he had
no idea there was to be police detail.
II WAS q surprise to him, he said.
Standees Undergo Scrutiny
After the congregation was seated,
and during the church service and
Bible class meeting. detectives moved
Inside the structure and again care
fully looked over every person occupy
Inc q seat. Later they approached sew
srsl among those who were standing,
but apparently uiscoNeieu no uouptlu vi
characters.
No statement was made with regard
IN the police guard. but it became
Known that orders had been received
from "a high police authority" to "take
mo chances on cranks" in connection
vith the opening services at the new
church. 1t was said later that while
Mr. Rockefeller knew nothing of the
cpoyd in advance trustees of the
church had requested it.
Captain Wall. in charge of East
Fiity-frst Street station. said that the
rolice activity had been matter of
precaution because of possible crowd
ing and to prevent depredations by
lswless persons; that Mr.. Rockefel-
ler's presence had not been the inspir-
ing cause.
Mr.. Rockefeller. who founded the
Young Mems Bible Glass of the Fifth
Avenue Baptist Church. conducted yes
terday mornings services in the new
home of the class. The session was
helG in the basement of the edfice
which is an imposing Gothic pile of
limestone and granite at the south
east corner of Park Avenue and Fifty
fourth Street. Mr.. Rockefeller spoke
or the topic: $50 Run That Ye May
Attair'
A. tho conclusion OF the morning
se-rjcos large proportion of the con-
ertgation remained to inspect the
building. members of the board Of trus-
tee explaining the architecture. Mr.
Ro1te 70 Ter had left tn" building. but
detectives continued their espionage of
ths crowd. This gave rise to specula-
toH md questioning of the officers.
rto -ht toI +hot
cial grounds for unusual police activity
tther than wish to make certain that
there should rot occur any untoward
circumstance in connection with the
services
WIFE and Four Children With Him
NJ Rockefeller was accompanied to
the church by Mrs. Rockefeller and
four Of the Rockefeller children. Law
renee. David. Winthrop and Abbie.
When they alighted from their automo-
bile bodyguard of detectives formed
an escort that preceded and followed
them to their pew.
In illustrating to the Bible class how
members had been scattered all over
the world Mr.. Rockefeller told of his
recent visit to China. In the Philip
pines, he said, he had been presented
with an album containing photographs
OF the islands by a former member of
the class. Mr.. Rockefeller said in the
course of his remarks:
IF there is one thing above all
others for which / admire my father it
Is that in the great business he has
built up he applied the principle of
sticking to that business and building
1t up. He never attempted to 90 into
the thousand and one other undertak-
tngs IN which he has been offered at
tractlve opportunities
Big Auditorium Filled
During the church services the largo
auditorium was packed with a fashion
able throng. The congregation filed
the lower floor and both south and vest
balconies, overf1owing into the lobby
where many stood until the benediction
was pronounced
The Rev. DR.. Cornelius Woelfkin tho
pastor, left sick bed to preach thu
hrst sermon and to baptize thirteen
members. He dwelt on the history of
houses Of worship throughout the aees
and the part such structures have
played in the histories of nations and
men.