Article March 14, 1901 Issue

Religious Items

Rev. Everett D. Burr, pastor of the first Baptist Church of Newton Centre, Mass., has declined to accept a call from the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, New York City, of which President Faunce of Brown University was formerly pastor. The Fifth Avenue church is known as Rockefeller's church because the Rockefellers contribute largely to its support. It is what has come to be known as an institutional church, carrying on benevolent and educational work among the poor in addition to the usual church activities. It is understood that the Rev. Mr. Burr was offered a salary of ten thousand a year. He was well fitted by experience to take charge of the varied interests of the Fifth Avenue church, for until about one year ago, he was the pastor of the Ruggles Street Baptist Church of Boston, which, under the princely patronage of Editor Ford of the Youth's Companion and other benevolent persons, contributed to the well being of thousands of poor people in Boston for years, and which continues the work; the liberal provisions of Mr. Ford's will insuring it a large income.

Among its news items the Boston Herala recently published the following: "The Rev. Dr. William C. Winslow of this city, vice—president of the Egypt Exploration Fund, yesterday announced the discovery of a valuable trophy among the large number of papyri recently received by him for distribution among several universities. It is the oldest fragment of the gospels in the world.

"Dr. Winslow states that papyrus contains a large part of the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. It was found at Oxyrhynchus, forty miles south of Cairo, near the famous 'Logia,' or 'Sayings of Jesus,' and its date is placed by some experts at 150 A.D., and by the editors of the society's publications at fifty or sixty years later. On an important doctrinal point it declares in common the exact language: 'Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.' It is to be noted, too, that the most ancient piece of St. Paul's epistles is in Boston."

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