New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-16
HISTORY OF AN OLD CHURCH.
Errcses at tic second Reformed Pres5yefaa CbsrcSernon
lk Atg. Darli GrelJ,

HISTORY OF AN OLD CHURCH.
Reformed Presostertaa Churc-Smo" b
lN Lea. Dartd Gregg,
The exercises Of the opening Of the new house
OF worship Of the Second Reformed Presbyterian Church
Of this city took place yesterday The building sub
stant1al brick structure West Th!rty-nntst near
seventh-aye formerly Jewish synagogue II has been
renshed and furnished with marked taste, and has an
unusually cheerful appearance. The history OF the
church was read by the Rev. r NJ SOmmervle, and Is
as follows: had its origin in praying society OF Two
families who became acquainted In $780, In December
1897 the congregation organized, and In the follow
ing August the Lords Supper was first administered
There we're twenty communicates. In 1901 the menu
beers on the roll had increased thirty and In July OF
that wear Alexander afterwards Dr. McLaOd) was in
stalled pastor Of the United Congregations Of Nw-fork
and Waikiki in Orange County. Three years later his
whole time was gwen in NswYOrk Lots were obtained
IN Cham0ers-st east OF Broadwiy, and frame building
was erected in when tho congregation wor-
shipped until 1873 The increased membership
then made necessary larger house; Cue
frame one was taken down and one of hrcG took lis
place. Great prosperity fO1 Ee ana Ia 1872 tlere were
eco members A number Of these resided 10 what WIS
then known Greenwich Village, ami for flelr accom-
mediation preaching was OcClslouaily heLI Ia Una,
neighbOrhOcd. building, owned DY tnc h.iOrtnfu
Dutch Church. wnich stood at tue corner OF what - now
Blocker and West Ten-s Was purchase ana lnnESi
Waverley-piace and Grove-7t ("ler IL SUI stdhl,
and in February, lS2S thls was opeh as - T
officiating. The des.gn was 90 FORM a. Hbo
charge, of which Dr. Mcleod shodIi Dc Tue
rate organization was soon desFeI Oy tne uPto"I i
church, but opposed by the OId cuurcn; GIe4t
bitterness and strife resulted IN tue midst OF Whc the
pastor went to Europe DaIIhR IIs aoIec ~ Ju nv,
1890 the PresbYtrry made gcugrapc ulNson Oh Tue
congregation. Upon the Rsv. Dr McLi0ds return, III
December following. eaeI church presented nun
call become its pastor. he decided % remain WIN
the cham 1ers street Church. DIring the Winter the
Rev Robert GIDsou called % tue uptown, or
Second church, and was installed in Nav, 1881 He Wa
time Of his settlement the churches Of the
Land were greatly agitated Dy what was
He was prominent m.mber of the OLD Sjnoi. AMI
while he advocated tia GstlncCye prlhtlp.es oI nc
Church practically main famed her testimony Tie New
Lgnt division place il August 1885, ani r GlosOn
upoa his return from we SJnoa, dola tS oidf ~
Now Lights and hostile To him. IaOse w1o remained
with nn retained tne cHurIa PROPERTY - ~, ,,d
and he sent 10 Ireland by the church, trge dcDe
was incurred in this and Q'n"r WAYS; MI GOsOl d21
s00n after hi ana the commercial disasters OF
1887 were very detrimental To tpe church. Ninety
members dis pDeared during the var ga tne I'm
Of November 1852 the present pastor the Nv AhiFc|
stevenson ordained and ins, 'liei Tue condition
OF az lrs was promising. He was without minis
house OF worship uncomfortable, and there was
ok OF all business IN Tue nnaocl HihaEement. Ddi
onrerafi0n met ne current demands without all
of begging papers, Two later the church bul
lgg was rejuO1eieI, ana sin6lS fdni was esLtbls
to pay the mortgage la lSi5 there were 5i9 meu-
her, and tue ruuseler hII Been driven from
the communiOn-sOncthing not easily Effected sobh
af,cr tus cerGln mc.nDeEs loIt lie CON HIJh q" ihc
cnurel aud obtained a. OF Incorporation, by when
the property held al tenpor4lle5 managed bv
Board Oi Trustees. over whom TIE session nal 10 al
rharfy Tey were ac OuItaDc to tie civil court alone.
There much dissatisfaction WltA inns poncI, ana IN
year or twO an attempt at chalSe w's mao oy Wmch
III, ut Of the temperatures Tee trustees were deter
mined that no such change should be made,
aud the mortgage considered by tne!n
a tower Of strength. T1ey transferred it TO one
who, promised not to receive any payment
Iie aye Cnsns use s ~ y!, ' b,e raid
ins of the CONGREGATION THere was Trns ,ee, dn an
mt Trustee Marty the whole m tier was LAID before
the synod In spring o. 1871 by the pastor and the
synod decided against the trustees Iue trustees r.
sisted and fldly sold the property at auction, and 1t
was boug IN by the mortgages. lac money reiAan-
Ing after tn payment OF dents was divided between the
two factions. TIE congregation received ABOUT 5000
T Tha tnird c1prch was then formed aud wor-
= med in the Oh bmldsg, the congregation Of
the second church going to TIE Pre,o, GerIan Church
aT WIverlcy-plAce aaa nnoai-s. Is2 members mad
~, 70 form ne new cburcn aud there remained only
IA Lots were purchased IN West Etventh-,t ana
mortar on NE walls and were boards with
OIL. backs. THIS church was opened III OotJDer 1873
organized. Gradually tue members moved further up
ton and it was decided to sell cIurch bIIilnI,
and Ia Juy 1873 tie second cODgrc CATION we're iuYlted
TO worship the tnrt church, WINE the former were
preparing their new building
Tsrre are no only Two OF the original members who
c.ne from Chanber.-st. and took part IN ihe OrginH
ton. Only eleven remain VINO welcomed the present
uastor IS years ago. Since It's organization, llO2 MEN,
beers have been united by the session 10 lu comm.
mon. the average yearly increase has been -, anu
there are 80 names on the Roll Thirty elders nave
cxercised Office Twenty-Five deacons have been Or
dHtned sinc 1ss four of whom have been elected
edership The report closes as follows Ilat the pas
should he spared IS years. and SUI enjoys IN 50
great degree the respect sympathy. love- and sIp1'Tt
OF those VINO have grown up around lin l. h!es,ing
be- tOwed few pastors anh ~ congregations. LIST
Te reading OF the report was followed with
ny the Rev. David Gregg. DE took the text, Marx ye
well her buwarksp-P'aim XIV. lJ-tnI s2oKe Oh tne
or he "a
pTessiOn of Gods care over ZOn IN " walking ABOUT
ana marking The strong towers Of the church. ne found
Ihe purity, the Divine Ordolip, ant etcrLty OF
Christ the first source OF strength. he IL plIe; ana
pure character has power IN toe %oII ana an VOICES
said the preacher, wrote IN his LAST BOOK mat religion
could not have made better c1oice OF hc1d lie Is
strong IN His suffering. which Is the greatest power
over mankind, and He determined through II to draw
US unto Him 1t had brought Hin unto U.s. Christ saw
from the beginning what IL taken for man to
See taat the was tbs power through which the
dominion over the world should be attained Another
source of strength Is in the dvineiy appointed
services OF preaching praise and
tween the pulpit and the press wholly and said
whole cry of to-day that which renders the ac-
claim of honor TO the press The press has It's sphere
and It's power DO not decry those. but We do say
that this for which 1t Is not respOsble Is the false
aIsrmery Of the archehemy TO induce the
of LION to forsake Of their
cure. We do fear any COMPARISON between the put
DIT and press For Is Idle 10 deoy that there
10 er in personality; there Is power In the human
voice; there is power In the human conntenance
throueh souls congregated as we are today and
this belongs 10 the pulpit and not TO the
The speaker urged the people that te pure gospel
only shall be preached IN the pulpit You may think
sucn an exhotacu strange. said he but it Is noe The
ministry are IN the keeping OF the people. Lake people
IKE priest tie old adtge confirmed ny time We have
noticed tIa minister unconsciousy strives 10 meet
the demands of his people. We uOtced Ia al
nominations similarity between the PASTOR AMI cou-
crcgation; that where tue congregation demand a
serycc of superneated slang they 1t In super
abundance where they demand seotnentai,sm tney
receive IL In Its sckesf fO.m; where they demand a
flow OF they draw them men VINO eau make
sensation to order regardless OF all sIered ieeiias
where they demand the arts or clown, "A man MLer
their ascends pulpit aud responds to their
applause While have noticed THIS We have noticed
that when the people rise I'D their might aud VIII