A Princely Gift.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 36, 4 September 1902, Page 29

A Princely Gift.

The sum of $4, 000,000, to be held in trust for the relief of worthy persons who are temporarily unable to support themselves, is the princely gift of John M. Burke, a retlired millionaire merchant of New York city. Ex-Mayor Abram S. Hewitt, William Hubbard White, Edward M. Sheahard, and John M. Burke mot by agreement .recently in New York, and in the presence of the rest, Mr. Burke conveyed to a corporation composed of the four and of Frank' K. Stungis, property to the value of $4,000,000 for the purpose mentioned. The corporation he has formed with this object an view he has named the Winifred Masterson Burke Relief Foundation, after his mother, who died thirty years ago. Desiring to see the project started in his lifetime, he has conveyed the property to the corporation. The income, however, less the current expenses of administration, is reserved to him, for his lifetime. After his death tho whole income will be devoted to the! purposes of the foundation. Mr. Burko, as his name indicates, is of Irish descent — his father having been born in the Emerald Isle. He is a devout Catholic. He is in his 81st year and in the evening of a useful and well-spent life. Mr. Burke was born in the house which formerly stood at No. 1 William street. He inherited a fortune from his father, who was an Irishman, who emigrated to the United States about the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who prospered with the growing business of the city. The future philanthropist made his great wealth in the West Indian trade, and by careful and judicious investments in New York real estate and m stocks and bonds that paid well He never married and is to-day without a near relative in the world. Until recently Mr. Burke has been quite active for a man of his age, although he lived a very retired life and has been scarcely heard of publicly since he entirely withdrew from, business twenty >ears ago His principal pleasures ha"vo been his meetings with his old friends and his religious devotions, which took him often to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Fifth Avenue. Although he is a de\out Catholic, Mr. Burkes benefaction will 1)C open to all worthy applicants irrespective of creed.