Middletown transcript., 1870-10-29
@riaiMal Artitlts.
For the Middleto,cn Transcript.
A MODEL WORKING-CHURCH.

The written history of any church is al
ways interesting to those who believe that
associations of this character are planted
on earth for the best interests of man, but
particularly prosperous one situated in
the great cosmopolitan mart of the West
ern world, to which the writer is ,privi-
legged to belong, deserves more than a
passing notice, shedding, as it does, its
light over large portion of our wicked
city.
The Fourth Ave. Presbyterian Church,
formely the Bleecker Street Presbyterian
Church, Rev. Howard Crosby, d. D. pas
tor, is situated on the north west corner of
Fourth Avenue and east Twenty second
street, adjoining the new and elegant
building of the New York Young Mems
Christian Association, and opposite the
rich and costly white marble St Paul's
Methodist Church-the latter being one
of the finest Methodist churches in the
United States, costing over two hundred
thousand dollars before the war.
The first house of worship in Bleecker
street was dedicated to God, May IA,
1926 Rev. Matthias Bruen, a favorite
pupil of the celebrated DIR. John NJ Ma
son, was its first pastor, and preached
with success until his death in 1929. On
June 29th, 1880, Rev Erskine Mason,
d. D. son of DR.. John M. Mason, was in
stalled pastor, and for twenty-one years,
until his death, "he drew around him,
and bound fast to him, men of disciplined
and thoughtful minds, whom he fed not
with milk, Cor milk and water) but with
meat" He died May 14th, 1851. Here
the giant form and massive head of the
great expounder, Hon. Daniel Webster,
was often seen when in our city, the guest
of his old Wing friend, Richard NJ Blatch-
ford, Esq, now living. During DIR. Ma
sons pastorate the membership increased
from forty-six to over three hundred.
Rev. Joel Parker, d. d. was installed
the third pastor in April. 1852, and re-
signed in 1868. DIR. Parker, when he
entered upon his pastorate, was minister
of large experience and wide fame. He
was past fifty years of age, and esteemed
by the Presbyterian church as one of its
wisest rulers and councillors. He had in
former years been a favorite pulpit-orator
in this city, in the Dey Street Church,
and in the old Broadway Tabernacle, and
an active supporter of all the leading
causes of religious philanthropy During
his pastorate the new and present church
edifce was built on Fourth avenue, and
dedicated April 9th, 1855. Nearly three
hundred members were added to the com.
munion in the eleven years of DIR. Parker's
pastorate.
On the 1st of March, 1868, Rev. How.
ard Crosby, D. D. the bold and popular
preacher of the Empire city, was installed
the fourth pastor, and is now preaching tc
crowded audiences, dealing right and lef
into Satan's strongholds. The whole
number of communcants belonging to thi,
church when he began his pastorate wal
two hundred and eighty-fve !; the number
now is between eight and nine hundred
that much work has been accomplished
under the guidance of Him who doeth al
things we'll. The motto of this church i,
inscribed in Greek upon the tablet in thu
vestibule (Which used to occupy space il
the front wall of the old edi6ce) =" TIL,
Lamb is the light thereof"
At the opening of the new chapel ad
joining the church edifce, in 1863, DIR
Crosby presided, and remarked that hi
church had several useful and importan
satellites revolving around it, viz: TIL,
Home Sabbath School, Grace Mission
Hope Mission, Faith Mission, Gospel Mis-
sion, Young Peoples Christian Association
and Ladies' Auxiliary Society; the latte
association for the support of Bible read
er-Miss Robinson.
Soon after the settlement of DR.. Crosby
Ralph Wells, Esq. the well-known and re
nowned worker in the Sunday schoo
cause, was appealed to, while laboring a
DIR. Hutton's Reformed Church, Washing
ton Square, and he at once transferred hi
church relationship to the scene of hi
| Lahore fba Eourtb Ayon,o ph,uaL -,