Monday, Jun. 23, 1924

In the Bouwerie

A touch of green, rising from lawn to treetop beneath a little pink spire, where three high roads cross, marks the spot where English begins to be spoken as one walks west from the lower East side of Manhattan: St. Mark's-in-the-Bouwerie.

Thither, last Easter, went A. Van Horne Stuyvesant, as the Stuyvesants have always gone, to assure themselves that the grave of their ancestor, Peter Stuyvesant, was in good keeping. But this year, Mr. Stuyvesant and his family left the churchyard without leaving their individual checks for $900 at the church. That was the beginning of the end of the classic dances instituted by Dr. William N. Guthrie which brought upon him the Episcopal admonition of William T. Manning, Father in Christ.

It was later learned that Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Fish sent an Easter donation, but an unusually small one; that all of Dr. Guthrie's assistants have resigned; that all contributions have fallen off. It was finally announced that the dances would not be held next year. Dr. Guthrie's resignation was momentarily expected.

Friendship for the Bishop, rather than disapproval of the Rector, is given as the reason for the defection of the congregation.

Meanwhile the Bishop continued his cathedral-building (St. John the Divine), the item of the week being a picturesque passing of the hat among ex-convicts.