BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Ixi 



sympathies and of keen appreciation of the real virtues of^ 

 life. When differences are essential to a people's welfare he 

 believed in retaining them, for all people cannot be in all re 

 spects alike. Where differences stand in the way of growth 

 and development and are in truth but superficial prejudices or 

 jealousies based upon misunderstanding and ignorance they 

 should be abolished with charitable tact. He himself con- 

 tributed much in this direction. He believed that if people, ^ 

 however diverse in origin and tradition, be brought to know \ 

 each other by association in a common cause, they will not | 

 only soon reach a mutual understanding and appreciation, i 

 but a broad and sympathetic toleration of each other's differ- i 

 ences. Such was the spirit and aim of his labors among the^' 

 immigrant people of America. 



His efforts were not limited to the Slavic people in this 

 country. His assistance and counsel was just as readily given 

 to the Syrian Catholi£3. He helped them to purchase the 

 property for their Church in Washington Street and was 

 their constant advisor. At the time of the dedication of their 

 Church of St. Joachim he brought a holy stone from Jerusalem 

 for the occasion. Mrs. Shipman presented them their altar. | 

 His interest was also extended to the Italian Greek Catholics.; 

 In fact his zeal took a wide range and no one ever called upon '. 

 him for aid or counsel that it was not freely and readily 

 given. 



When the late Bishop Ortynsky, the first bishop of the Greek 

 Rite in this country, came to the United States in 1897, Mr. 

 Shipman became his advisor. He drew up the charter for 

 St. Basil's Orphanage in New York and conducted all the 

 legal and legislative business connected with it. 



He took a special interest in St. George's Church in East 

 Seventh Street. In a sense he was the soul of St. George's 

 congregation and made a special provision for the church in 

 his will. He devoted himself in the development of the cele- 

 brated Ukrainian (Ruthenian) choir of St. George's, consist- 

 ing of 120 members, and brought it to public notice by having 

 it give several concerts. How much he accomplished in all 

 his activities for the Slavic and Greek peoples in this country 

 will never be known, and would require a much more ex- 

 tended elaboration than can be given in this brief sketch. 



His activities extended not only to promoting the religious 



