Middletown transcript., 1870-10-29


The first mission-school organized, was
Grace Mission, Nov. 2Sth. 1865. under
the leadership of Mr.. Wells and the late
and lamented r. J. Pardee. At the first
session DR.. Crosby, Mr.. Pardee and thir-
ty-six teachers were present but not a
scholar. 1t was turned into prayer
meeting. Six scholars only were present
at the next session. In the language of
Mr.. j. Bennett Tyler, an elder, and the
efficient New York Secretary of the Amer
ican Sunday School Union, "hootings and
derisive shouts, brickbats and broken win
dows, and dirty water thrown from upper
windows on teachers glossy hats, were in
the ordinary programme. 1t was fully
nine months before all the teachers were
supplied with classes.
Our readers must recollect that the
present and model chapel of this mission
is situated near the East river, on First
avenue, corner of east 22nd street, in the
heart of the degraded and notorious Mack
erelville, less than a block away from
where the first shot was fred in the July
riots. On this very corner negro was
hung from the lamp-post by the infuriated
thieves and rowdes who represented the
tenement-house population of this city,
aggregating 600,000 souls.
Mr.. Ralph Wells, the Superintendent,
has formed "Class of Honor" now num-
bering over one hundred members. The
conditions of membership are severe, and
rigidly enforced-six months Dunct,tal at
tendance morning and afternoon, sickness,
or oh fba ID
Perfect lessons, proofs of unexceptional de-
pertinent, at home, in day school, or at
service, are required. The name is strick-
en- from the roll if the requirements are
dishonored after admission. Extra priv
ileges, such as admission to the morning
prayer meeting, and an annual invitation
to Mr.. Wells country-seat, upon the Hud-
son, are allowed the Glass of Honor. This
school has been particularly described be-
cause it is the first one of the four. The
three remaining mission schools are con-
Quoted on the same plan, and are success
fully carried on by carefully selected and
experienced uperintendents.
According to the " Ministers of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church" the total membership of all the
Sunday Schools connected with this church
amount to ,466. Before the consolida-
ton of the new and old school branches of
tho Presbyterian church, one church
in the new school branch in the United
States had more Sabbath school scholars
than the Fourth Avenue Church Since
the combination, our church is third on
the list as regards Sunday schools, and
fifth, comparing it with other leading
Presbyterian churches in the different
cities, in its miscellaneous gifts to oharita-
BILE objects.
Before leaving this subject, q glance at
the social characteristics of the church is
apropos. In the new chapel. built last
year, is handsome parlor situated in
front of the audience room, and separated
by sliding glass doors; it has smaller
rooms connected with it, for a Sunday
School Library, and other uses, such as
the Church Bible Glass, Infant Class, and
Young Mems and Young Ladies' Bible
Glasses, etc.
On the second Monday of each month,
from October to July, social gathering
of the old and young comes off, and then
the audience room and parlor are made
one by the withdrawal of the glaas doors.
This is under the auspices of the Young
Peoples Christian Association, with the
Pastor at its head. The COMMITTEE on
Introduction and Visitation" see that all
are made welcome, and introduced to each
other This is a prominent feature of this
church, which with the building of the
New York Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation, occupies the whole block, and is
called by DIR. Crosby the Christian Block
Rev. Arthur Crosby, nephew of Rev.
DIR. Howard Crosby, has just been elected
associate pastor of Fourth Avenue Church,
with the understanding that his labors are
to be confined to Grace Mission Chapel,
with its 120 communicants. Mr.. Crosby
is learned young man and fluent speaker,
and undoubtedly will satisfy the hopes Of
his friends.
In concluding this hastily written and
imperfect sketch of this acorking church,
we would remark that the ushers are COM
posed of young men of the congregation,
and are always ready to seat all strangers
just as soon as the opening anthem is con-
cluded, both at the morning and evening
services. b. S. 7.
Ncw York, October, 1870
COOKING FooD FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
I feel that | cannot better serve the in