The New York herald., 1870-03-14
MIuDle cclLEcIA1e ourcs R:Fo,w;c CHURCH.

Its Wealth und Beanty-Gne of the oldest
Church ORGANIZATIONS in the City-sermnn
by Rev. Ter. Dewiti-Its Prominent 1Ien,-
bersiip.
Snow and hail ana sleet Whisng winds Hear
the tolling OF the bells They to say In solemn
tones "Come, come p But Mr.. Drygoods CLERK
wont ''come'' Peeping from behind the curtain OF
his chamber window he cast a glance OF he
widerment mingled with despair at tho
aspect OF things outside. No patent feathers
yesterday. Gorgeous attire viii have 10
be laid aside for brighter Sunday.
Those even who possessed carriages OF their own.
in a majority OF cases, pleaded ''dsagreeaplc
weatner'' as an excuse FOR non-atendance Bleak
as the weather was, dinicult AS II was to surmount
their dislike to being exposed to It, YET those who
considered duty as OF paramount consequence flied,
as usual, their accustomed seats In church yesler-
day. Among this class were those VINO attended
the Middle Collegiate Dutch Reformed church In
Lafayette place yesterday morning.
Tbis church belongs to the same organization AZ
The Old North Reformed Dutch church on the corner
OF william and Fulton streets, which was dedicated
May rs, 1884, Belonging as II does, with one single
exception to the oldest chuttn organization the
island, the Middle Church, as II u more commonly
called, represents in ts congregation members from
our Oldest aud most respectable families. 1t was
built 10 ls44. II is made Of light colored
granite. and Is OF the largest and one
OF the most substantially made churches IN
the city. 1t Is OF the Dorlc order, the columns
nuted the number in 'front.' eight. Behind these
four others. all being made OF one solid piece OF
granite, and cost S. 900 each. There Is cemetery
Contiguous to rne church containing vaults owned
by members OF the congregation. The interior or
the church is very plain, yet chaste being painted
puresI wnlte marble, imported from Italy where it
was made expressly S0r this church. The base OF
the pulpit and the 1acings OF the sides are all OF
white marble The cushion Is Of crimson velvet The
organ Is not modern, but still very effective IN
tone. 1t has three banks Of keys and forty-slx
The swell stops are not divided, but run entirely
through. There are three 1xteen-feet pedal stops
does not abound IN fancy solo stops but neverine-
less IS very 1ne for orchestral enect The number OF
81 5 Is nH Iss Rs
Thomas Jeremiah, Eocrezer Monroe, CANA
Sturges Henry Van Arsdals and VIM. Wood. Its
oeacons are Mcssrs. c. O. Dsmarcsa, Robert, Dorset
| William II. Dunning, John Graham, WIN. p. Howell,
! John II. Johnson Alexis A. Julian, Gavin Il. Knox
Frederick I. Locke, Ebert b. Monroe, Edward A.
Morrison and Henry Snyder Its MINISTERS are Rev.
| Rev. Dr. Verlniye who y at present Ill Europe
| The board OF trustees Is tie same as that oi The
| North church and also tha, OF the church IN Fifth
l avenue, corner Of Forty Nghth street, the three
churches forming organization. The attendance
at Middle church yesterday was large considering
| the state OF the weather. me sermon given
! tenporaneOusly by Rev. pr. De witt, and was on
tine preparatvn for death. me text Was rom ne
"And II II seem eyil nnts you ~ serve the Lord,
+! choose You rms day whtm yo Will serve whether
the gods which your fathers served mat were The
other eide or the mood orthe gods oi The Amorltes
! Ia whose land We dwey but for aud my
house, we VIII serve the 4ord y
The reverend gentlemn eShorted his hearers not
70 put Off tue preparation for death unt the future,
for the future was not heirs. IL was, the text
said "choose you this ay," not when Is too late.
We are all liable TO dit at any moment. Ii we are
\ not prepared we are lot Delay hardens the neart.
! There ~ a time when iod's spirit 10 strive
with Let US haste,, then. ana prepare Tor that
which Is inevitable. his be done only by q re.
| no,lncemcnt or our foiner mode or life. We must
come ont before the wirld and acknowledge Christ.
| 1t Is on the hand Christ, on tue otner hand
MamuOn. We cannO serve both. Let us then
serve Him who died foIns.
| The singing at this ctrch Is very fne the choir
| being composed OF Mis- Lizzie FitZ soprano; Mrs.
| Cooley, contralto; Nj. William Woodward tenor;
| Mr. George Z. Rexfor, Dzsso. Among the prom
| nent members OF the congregation are Mr.. Anthony,
! Mr.. Jonn Mason Kn~, son OF the late DIR. John
! Knox; Mr.. oliver n. Abeei, Mr.. Charles Van
Wyck, editor Of tt Chrisifan Inteutgencey;
| the Ou.hOut family Mir. John Dorset Mr.
| William Van Anterp Mr.. William Van
! Arsdaie, MIR. w. BroN, Mr. Labau, ar. Matthew
| Julien, Mr.. Hyde, MI. ohm Van Arsdale, Mr. Walker
| Among the young laos noted FOR beauty are Miss
| Lille Allen, Miss Amea Davis, Miss Halstead MISS
| Nevers, Miss MalcomMiss Lowe, The Misses Abbott,
the Misses Forester, 40 Misses Rudd, Miss Dorset
| Miss Demorest The fganist Of the church Is the
| celebrated Mr. J. NJ. Hng, noted for the sweetness
| anc sentiment OF ID musical compositions. The
Monarch Of the Aissp 10 Mr. E. DE witt Dunsbee.