The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-09

An Event in the Protestant Church.
The magnificent new Presbyterian church
over which the Rev. DR., Hall presides with so
much acceptabiity will be dedicated to-day.
Those who have watched the steady advance
of New York in architectural beauty have not
failed to notice the slow, majestic growth, the
eloquent and almost poetic value of the build
ing which has been gradually taking shape on
Fifth avenue, within the shadow of our
Central Park. 1t is not so much the edifce,
however, as the fact that it represents the
progress in this community of one of the
most important branches Of the Christian
faith. The Rev. DR.. Hall has for a long time
been recognized as the head of the Presby-
terrain denomination In the city of New York.
In our advance to metropolitan greatness
there naturally has grown up all denomina-
tons of the Christian faith. Although Pres
byterianism has not taken the same hold as
Catholicism and perhaps other faiths, still it
has always maintained o representative Ca
pacity. Its strength is not 30 much in the
number or wealth of its congregations as in the
character of the men who have accepted its
doctrines In the multitude of sects
and natonalities which combine to form
this Republic Presbyterianism has taken
large and prominent part. 1t goes
back to the time when Calvin pro-
tested against the Episcopal and Catholic
principle which three hundred years ago
controlled Europe. 1t represents the genius
of Knox, who, o few years after his great
master, planted the seeds of the sturdy faith
on the hard soil of Scotland. In England we
find this growth in the Lollards Of the four
teenth and fifteenth as well as In the Puritans
of the sixteenth century. Not more than
three centuries have elapsed since it became
formal denomination within the Christian
churches Of England, and yet its influence
to-day is second only to that of the Estab-
lished Church.
The Presbyterian denomination in America
represents more than any other influence that
Of Scotland and Scottish ideas. For long
time it was feared that the liberalism of the
American Republic, spreading, as it did, in the
growth of those States, would be unfriendly
to the establishment Of any strict Presbyterian
system. 1t is to the honor of the members of
this Church that during the probationary
years of our Republic, when we were uncer-
tain as TO the proper principles ofgovernment,
the Presbyterians were true to lib
erty, temperance and justice. There
we're, of course, a large number of
Presbyterians, who were willing to accept
the government as il was, without regard to
slavery and temperance but it was in the
few Christian denominations which regarded
slavery as crime and was willing to testify
its devotion to Calvin's ideas by debarring
from its communion table all who would not
accept in its truest and most absolute sense
those maxims of the Gospel which prescribed
purity Of character, liberty of conscience and
absolute freedom to all, without distinction
Of color, caste or race.
The dedication of this church Of DR.. Hall
Is, therefore, the celebration Of more than
mere local event. 1t is not alone that we
have built beautiful church on Fifth ave-
nue., nor that we have given an almost royal
home to powerful and respected denomina-
ton. 1t is the foundation in this great city
of another evidence of the spirit Of Presby.
terianism in this country. Although some of
us may be disposed to question all the stern
DEGREES Of Calvin and regret the theology
which in some respects is so harsh and un-
bending, and to hope for religion which
gave more consideration and hope to the
weakness and temptations Of human nature,
still we respect in the Presbyterian Church
the possession of those high and noble quail
ties with which civil liberty would be prob
lem and free government impossible.