The New York herald., 1871-02-08
HISTORICAL. SOCIETY.

Ecclesiastical "Reminiscences Of Old New
York. Former .hnr- hes md Ministers of
This City.
Rev. DIR. Vernilyea, or the Reformed Dutch
church, read an interesting paper last evening be-
fsre the Historical Society, giving his recolectons
Of former churches and ministers Of New York.
He gave brief sketch or the city as Il existed In
his boyhood days. when Frank,srt street was the
northeastern limit and Chambers street tts vest
ern, when the ''Celect" ran from the s.swampu
through centre and Canal streets 10 Hudson, and
beyond IL were farms with dairies and dccks and
herds. and orchards and gardens The New York
of his boybood days was peculiarly Protestant. There
was but one Roman Catholic and one Jewish church
then in the city. Columbia College.was lhen EN-.
bow cred among trees ana flowers in PARK mace.
and the battery was the great promenade ground
ior tne peiles M an ana neanMs OF New York. But we
these, though we may say modesly ttiat they were
not worse Cherry street on the east side and Hud.
son street as far as st Johns church on the west
were the most fashionable streets. A stage ran
thr ee times DAY from Nassau and Wall streets to
where the present Custom House sta nds,
ana there Washington. was inaugurated, and
Of ofs nerIoomsWone of ''sy Which mas enaI couple
said to be that on which George Washington sat on
tnat 5 interesting occasion a, on HoSoksn Jersey City
markets OF New York then with meat, vegetables,
fruits, &C., and the only means Of communicating
with those suburbs was by means Ct rowboats or
TO the Dutch belongs the honor OF introducing
Christianity to this continent, Plymouth Rock to
the contrary notwithstanding and their descend
ants have done their share rear this republic,
and their monuments are all around. They lost
good deal of honest fame because they did not care
to sing their own praises The Doctor then described
the old Dutch-~cnurches IN Nassau, William,
esng personal "reminiscences of the pastors of those
churches. The Epscopa!lans, churches and minis.
ters were similarly presented. bishop Hobart and
DR.. Miner were specially singled for description
and praise for their purify and simplicity or life
end abilty IN preaching. How ST. Marks church
ever became Episcopal he could net I'M
dersanG. When old Trinity had splre
erected the Jews OF this city contributed
f5 12s. Sd. the Pfesbytcrans began to exist here
first in 1907, and their first service was held In
private house, and kev. Mr.. McKenny, Their pastor,
was arrested for preaching without a license from
Lord Cornwall Dr. Rodgers has been Justly styled
the Father OF American Preshyteriansm. lie was
pastor Of ''the brick church IN the meadows,t Of
which DR.. Gardner Spring afterwards became
pastor, and which was removed from Beekmaa anu
Park row to Fifth avenue and Thlrty-seventh street
about fifteen years ago. Among the Baptists Or.
Parkinson was prominently mentioned and among
the Methodists Rev. John Summerfleld DR.. yer-
mtlyea's description OF Summerneld as ne saw first
saw him at an anniversary meeting in the Old
City Assembly Rooms was grandly enthusiastic.
The Lutherans, Jews, Friends and other denonna-
t0ns not SO numerous half century ago rs they arc
now were also bre1y noticed. Excelsior, said the
speaker is the motto Of New YORK; but TO attain 10
greater heights we must have the spirit OF simplicity
ana problty which animated our early f0reiathers.
Wealth must not corrupt u.s. and the iust OF wealth
must not carry us away from honesty aud upright