New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-12
AN OLD CHURCH.

The new Presbyterian church which Is build
Ing at Fifty and Fifthave for the congregation
| ut present worshping at Nneteenth-st and FnthAve
IA rapidly approaching completion and VIII be occupied
early In May The church occupied by the congre
cation viii be sold auction April 20. The principal
cause that induced the TO build another and
larger church that the present church could no longer
contain the hrongs that 10 attend the minstratons
of the RevDr John Hail. Each Sunday the church Is ed
aud though every available spot where campstool can
be placed used sometimes hundreds are obliged to 60
| away because they cannot find seats. The whole Of
| the adjacent ground IL built upon, so that an en-
largement OF the present edifce Is out OF the
| question. The second reason Is commercial
one That portion OF the city situated on the
triangle yfngbetween Ffhave Broadway, Seventeenth
| and Twenty -third-sts Is becoming the commercial
center OF uptown NewYork and it is believed that, at
no distant time, this church w like the old Wall Street
church, ind itself in the midst OF purely busn,s re
gon When the congregation felt compelled to move they
sought place the Central Park, which, it was
thought, would always remanfree from commercial
eroachnents The cost OF the church is estimated
az 100000 Several OF the church members say that
no increase OF population wealth In other sections
dwarf Its Importance and that will always be matter
for pride for the Presbyterian denomination evil
dence OF the enterprise and public spirit of Its members.
The old church Is built upon plot OF ground 81 feet
wide on Ffthave and $50 feet deep Ninetee nthst
The building consists OF the church proper, GO feet
inches wide and lis feet deep, and OF ectreroom ~
feet wide and SO feet deep The ectureroom is in the
| rear OF tho church, and ia provided with
| separate entrance. The main audienceroOm OF the
church, exclusive Of the tower, vestbule, stairways
and deep or the pulpit and organ, is Go feet
inches wide and so feet deep in the clear and contains
l56 pews on the ground floor, AZ in the side gal
cres and IL pews the gallery the front vestbule
seating comfortably 1920 persons The lecture room is
divided into two stories, the lower one being used for
| Sabbath+choo
The church built in 1852, mainly Of Bellville
! stone; 1t stands to-day substantial building. The
main foundations placed between II and feet below
the curbstone and contain within them dry and commo
dious cellar well provided with ample heating apparatus
The flank walls Of the building carried up about
AZ feet in hight the gable walls about IS feet HIGH
and the tower TO the top OF the fnal measures about
220 feet above the sidewalk. The building is covered
with an open timber roof supported the interior by
| ten posts five on each side These posts also sustain
the galleries. All the roofs covered with slate. To
build church of the kind and quality at the pres
ent state Of the market for materials and labor, and to
furnish In the same way would il is estimated, cost
| no less than $4,000. The materials composing the
building Of such character, and in such thor
Ough repair that they could be removed, desired and
| the church reballt elsewhere.
The organzaon outgrowth OF the old Cedarst con-
grcgIton, with which many OF the cid and prominent
! merchants of New-York connected. Previous to
the year 1903 the date OF the organization OF this church.
there only three Presbyterian churches in this city
the Wall Street Church. the Rutgers street Church. and
| the Red B.icA Church These collegiate churches
and 1t resolved TO organize Independent eongre-
CATION. The Rev John Romeyn, its first pastor, who
considered OF tie most brilliant preachers OF the
time, the OF the Rev Drick Romeyn, and was
born at Marbletown, Ulster County n Y, on
Nov. 8, 1777 When be was years OF age,
! lis father, who was pastor OF the Reformed
Dutch Church congregations Of Hackcnsack and schra-
! ~ itaa
denomination schenectady, where young Romeyn be-
gan his classical studies His faculties rapidly de-
veloped and II he joined the Senior Glass OF Columbia
College, NcwYork and was graduated in 1913. Heeom-
peted his under his fathers supervision at Sche
nccady in company with John Blair Linn. In June, 1898,
he licensed 20 preach by the Chassis Of Albany, being
then only 20 years OF age HIS hrst appearance III tne
pulpit awakened great interest, and several regaOns
manently but account Of his fra health he
| hesitated for whole year before he accepted
By the Chassis OF POughkeepsie with reference 10 ori-
nation and was soon after appointed pastor " the Dutch
Here lie stad til 1908, when he accepted call from
schenectady, and in November OF the following year he
| Church in Albany This, at that tme was the only
Presbyterian Church at Albany, and was attended by a
| large number OF prominent persons and by many
strangers during tae sessions Of the legislature.
established, Mr. Romeyn's great popularity led
| the infant congregation to invite him TO accept
and, from letter among his papers il appears that he az
first discouraged the call but at length accepted It. be
cause he knew that the congregation were aware Of the
poor state OF his health and that the change might be Of
service In 500 when he 80 years OF age. the Col
Of Divinity In 1913 the condition of his health made il
advisable for him 10 undertake Journey to Europe He
sailed for Lisbon and spent the Winter on the Continent
The next Spring le Travelled in England and Holland,
| where he collected number OF rare works for his
library This trip improved his health and he returned
his abOrs TINS city the following Autumn. He was
pastor OF the Cedar street Church until his DEATH IN Feb
ruary 1925 He had married Harriet, daughter OF john
Bleecker OF Albany They had only one son, VINO died
DR.. Romeyn was succeeded IN the pastorate
| Of the church by the Rev Cyrus Mason, in 1926,
fessor in the University Of New-York. IN 1894,
the previous 10 his resignation the OF
for $4,000, and new one was built at Duane and
Church-sts This known as the Duane Street Church
In May, 1886, the Rev DR. George Potts, who had been
In charge OF the Presbyterian Church. in Nachez Mss
was installed pastor OF the Duane street Church He re-
manned there until 1874 when lie started new church,
at Universy-place and TentbSt Of which the Rev Dr.
Rev Dr. James W. Alexander, under whose pastoral
charge the church attained To almost s present pros
peIity Dr. Alexander the Of Archibald Aexan
der Princeton. N j., and grandson OF the celebrated
blind preacher DIR. James Waddel OF Virginia He was
graduated at Princeton College in 1870, and from the
TheologicaI Seminary at Princeton in 1924. IN May,
1926. he was appointed pastor of the Presbyterian
Church in Charlotte County. Virginia where he remained
until s2s when he called to the passionate OF the
Presbyterian Church in Trenton, NewJersey. Here ho
remained until 1892 when he became editor or The Pres
byeiaa, then started in Philadelphia He was suDse-
auenty elected Professor OF Rhetoric and Bellies Letres
In Princeton College. From there he called TO take
charge OF the Duane street Church lie resgnedn i9t To
take aprOessorshlpa the theological seminary attrhce
ton The patOrte Of the Duane Street Church renamed
vacant during the remainder OF the year and in the io-
lowing year the eongrc CATION recalled Dr. AeXander
and proposed To him 10 build new church uptown Tor
the very which had induced them 10 aban-
don the Street Church. namely the encroachments
business. He returned and the building OF the pres
ent church mt Fifth-ave and Nneteenh-st WAS begun
He Europe where he stayed until September and
his return to New York he and his congregation held
divine service in the Chapel OF the University OF New
York. the Duane Street Church had been already sold
The new church at Fifth-aye and Nneeenth.st.' was
dedicated Dee % 1852, which occasion the Rev
DR. Potts preached IN the morning, and the Kew Dr'
tinued in charge OF this church until his DEATH which
took place July 81 1859 His earnest and eloquent
preaching and pointed arguments attracted large gather
fncs he ranllY increased both In numbers