The New York herald., 1875-08-30

u
nobility and without hierarchy. Hail, happy landi
A land Of liberty, science and religion. Here an in
disputed freedom IN worship forms the hrs principle
which OF our rulers dare call In question
troll Here seat Is legally preferred with exclusive
prerogatves; the Chief Magistrate worships private
citizen and legislators by their influential example NOT
by penal laws proving nursing fathers to the Church
OF Christ In this happy and elevated situation the
ruins Of temples and all have sustained appeai
a price too small 20 mention. We are more than com
pensated have forgiven and forgotten past inures
God has abundantly made up for all our former grefs
THE CHURCH SOLD To THE UNITED STATES
There nothing at all remarkable in the history OF
the building during the succeeding fifty years. The
cemetery received the remains OF old and honored cit-
devouL But the business Of the city had increased
SO much about the edce that almost every family for
considerable distance had moved away. In consequence
the Consistory TO the conclusion that IL
longer expedient TO occupy the church. The United
states at this juncture required building for Post
Office and negotiations having been entered into they
ended in the purchase OF the building for 500 900 uu
der an unexpred lease On the Sunday evening august
H. lo44 before its final by the congregation
the old edihce after occupancy Of lis years was
thronged to its utmost capacity by those anxious TO
take leave of the relic of olen times The exer-
cses conducted in the Dutch and English languages
| by Rev Doctors De Witt and Knox. A discourse was
delivered by the latter clergyman During his remarks
he said:"There Is not spot in this great city per
haps not in our land, around which many fond and
hallowed associations cluster as the spot which
| are assembled. The building has stood through
successive ages and Is at present the oldest church
edIdce in the city Here, from generation genera
tion fathers worshipped in the great congregation
Among them the founders of the cy's greatness
high in intellect high in civil and social station,
devoted in heart and venerable all that adorns the
character of man At length this large and
commodious edace, formerly constantly crowded with
worshppers, became almost deserted, and the con-
vicon forced upon ALL with scarcely exception
that duty longer required the endeavor to maintain
the public ordinances within its walls"
Between 1857 and 1860 the remains of those inferred
in the cemetery surrounding the edhce were removed
by surviving friends to Greenwood Trinity and other
cemeteries The building up this period retained its
old exterior appearance but the increase OF business in
the Post ONCE required additional accommodation Ac-
uUlv fha n IN
and extensions had to be made on Liberty street.
The upper part Of the tower which had become unsae
was removed about two years ago.
MIDDLE CHURCH BELL
The bell that used in the Middle church for over
hundred years has curious history and its sounds
be heard in the city ut the present time II was
presented to the church by Colonel Abraham De
Peyser, who died in 172S, while the edifce was in
OF erection He directed in his will that bell
should be procured at his expense from Holland IL
cast in Amsterdam in 1871, and II Is said that
number OF citizens OF that place threw in quantities of
silver coin in the preparation of the metal The father
Of the late John oothout OF TINS city, when usL,
in the Revolutionary War, obtained permission from
Lord Howe take down the bell, which he hid away
in and secret place, where it remained fol
years after the British army evacuated the city When
the church repaired and reopened he brought forth
the bell and restored 1t TO its rightfu position Upon
the transformation Of the edce into the general Post
Office, in 1874 il removed to the Dutch reformed
church. Ninth street and Broadway, where it remained
until 1855 when the building changed hands, when the
bell removed to the church on Lafayette place. 1t
is AT present in the tower OF the church at Fifth avenue
and Forty eighth For its size and clear sound
ing tones II was for many years called the Fremans
bel II became general favorite with them as they
sprang to their important work and duty at its well
known signal OF alarm 1t Is fancifuy gilt and bears
the inscription
$Me fecerunt De Trave ct N. Muller Amsterdam,
1871.
$Abraham De Peyster geboren den July, 1861, ges$
torven den Augustus, 1728
$Een legaat aan de Nederduytsche Kerke Nieuw$
In 1775 the Post Office kept in the house Of the
Postmaster, TheodOrus Bailey corner William and Gar
den Exchange place. streets In room about thirty
five feet Deep with windows fronting the latter
narrow thoroughare, and little vestibule on William
containing about 100 boxes An extension was
afterward added Garden street. II remained on this
spot until 1927, when it removed to the basement
of the Exchange (the present Custom House) on
Wall street Seventeen years later transferred to
| the location Nassau street. now abandoned In
1775 in consequence OF the high measures OF
the royal authorities threatening notice was sent by
citizen through the Post Office to the Governor. This
caused considerable excitement and led TO the estab
hshment of post office under colonial supervision,
with Holt publisher OF the New York Gazette, as Col
| onal Postmaster Holt was High Churchman, but an
ardent and uncompromising whig His printing press
at Norfolk Va, had been time previously broken
4 up and destroyed by Lord Dunmore. Sebastian Bau-
was the first Postmaster of this city subsequent to
the Revolution, and was appointed to the Office by
Washington. He resided with Bailey above men,
| toned.
| THE FUTURE OF THE SITE.
As stated above the Middle Dutch church trans-
ferred the United States in 1874 under unexpired
lease, for 500 000 In 1850 II became necessary
obtain a clear title to the property and the sum OF
$50 900 required for this purpose Congress was
not in session at the time, and the Chamber Of Com
merce being interested in the ground (which the mem
bers OF thas body satisfied would later be
renquished by the Post Office authorities for more
suitable quarters) site for new building gave
bond the trustees for $50 000 The trustees had to
| this sum, and finally compromised by
accepting $36 600 in full for the indebtedness IL un
derstood that the Chamber of Commerce is willing to
pay $500 900 for the lot and expect that Congress at its
session will authorize its sale to them at that
lower figure. In the event of purchase being effected
| it is contemplated to erect an imposing and elegant
building to be used Merchants Exchange, with
every convenience for members There also to be
a library and commodous apartments for the
Court of Arbitration The necessary funds for the
terprise will be forthcoming at the proper time