The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-11


ANOTHER ABOLITION MovEMENT.-That veneer
able edifce, the Dutch Reformed church in
Muket street, will soon be defunct, thatis-if the
Rev DR.. Cu,ler can succeed in abolshing it.
Abolition is the reverend doctors hobby, as all
the world knows; and if the world does not know
it, then certainly it is not his fault. Failing to
abolish negro slavery at the South, he would
fain try his hand at something more sacred
nearer home. The Rev. DR.. Cheever, who for
some years past has been engaged in battle
with slavery abroad and his congregation at
home, had hard fight, but reaped glorious
notoriety in his endeavor to get rid Of one-half
Of bis congregation; but the ambitious DR..
Cuyier, spurning to do things BY halves, wants
to make short work of it by kicking out his
whole congregation at once. Excessive bold
ness, like excessive impudence Is pretty sure to
command success, and sometimes admiration.
Now, be it understood that the Dutch Reformed
church in Market street is no languishing,
sickly concern; on the contrary it is in full life
and spiritual vigor. Had the seats been empty
instead of regularly filed with wcrshippers, had
the church been in debt instead of free from it
and in easy circumstances, there would have
been something commonplace and vulgar in the
reverend doctors movement; but, taking all the
circumstances Of the case into consideration this
ecclesiastical coup d'td may be pronounced origi-
nal brilliant, disinterested, and void of ambition
We have often heard of clergymen desiring to get
rid of sickly congregations; but here is one who
tells thriving and prosperous people, in well
populated locality, to 60 to the dogs, so far as
their spiritual interests are concerned, to sell
their noble church and grounds, and place the
proceeds thereof at his disposition in order that
he may build another ediGce, in distant part Of
the city, probably in some gentecler Locality,
where the Gospel is more needed than among
the residents Of the Seventh ward.
About the year 1920 the Market street church
was built on ground donated for the purpose by
Colonel Henry Rutgers. 1t was upon the then
outskirts of New York. The principal land
owners OF the vicinity, such as the Crosbys,
Remsens, Beekmans, Benens and Col. Willet,
Joined in the effort, and erected what was then
considered one Of the finest and most SUBJ
stantial edifces in the city. The Rev. DR..
William McMurray was the first pastor,
and continued so for over fifteen years,
till his death, leaving venerated me-
moIy and large and prosperous con-
gregation to his successor, the Rev. Dr..
Ferris. About four years ago the Rev. DIR.
Cuyler became pastor of the congregation. The
history of the church, from the time of its found
ing to the present moment, has been one of con-
tinued success, and at no period have its pros.
poets been fairer than at the present moment.
1t is true that from year to year there have been
outgoings as well as incomings. The people of
the Seventh ward, and Of the surrounding neigh
borhood, once they get well to do in the world,
and have manageable daughters to dispose Of,
after spending the first half Of their lives in that
respectable locality, frugally and sensibly not
unfrequently set up in the Fifth avenue for
tashionables, and SO often make fools of them
selves DR.. Cuyler being progressive man, is
in this instance somewhat ahead Of his people,
inasmuch as he forgets that if he takes the church
away the larger portion of his congregation may
not be in position to follow. There are, in fact
a considerable number who say that the church
shall not 60, and among them is the venerable
Colonel Crosby, from whose family the church
property was obtained by deed of gift. Colonel
Crosby has never been seduced by the blandish
ments Of the Fifth avenue, being of opinion that
the Seventh ward is respectable enough for him
and his family. Having worshipped in the
Market street church for nearly forty years, it is
said that he does not concur in the propriety of
DR.. Cuyler's abolishing it, and consequently in
tends to put legal veto upon the procedure