The New York herald., 1876-02-01
GIFT OF A CHURCH.
MERCY.

THE FIFTH AVENUE AND NINETEENTH STREET
PRESBYTERIAN EDIFIcE TO GO UP TOWN.
The religious services connected with the transfer OF
the church ednce the of Fifth avenue and
Nineteenth street by the Fifh Avenue Presby yteran
church TO the Central Presbyterian church took place
yesterday afternoon at the former house OF worship.
Almost every pew filed and the trustees of both
churches seated the pulpit The opening
prayer was made by the Rev. Wendell Prime of New
York when after the singing OF hymn and the read
ing CT the Scriptures, the Rev. James d. Wilson, pas
tor OF the Central Presbyterian church. addressed the
assemblage He said that the occasion was OF pc
cular interest and soemnty. This house quarter of
century ago had been consecrated TO the worship OF
God, and upon each recurring Sabbath worshipplng
congregations had gathered within its walls But
the last religious service TO be
held and the circumstances surrounding IL seemed
almost without precedent Never before in the his
tory OF New York churches had such royal gift as
these edifces a sister church been made Some
months since the Central Presbyterian church was
without place OF worship, and It occurred TO some
that these buildings could be secured and removed to
Fityseventh street. Broadway, where the church
owns grounds II was soon ascertained that they
could be obtained and that the Fifth avenue church.
by trustees would make the transfer free gift
Ii great mark of Christian sympathy and kind
ness on the part OF one congregation to another OF the
faith. II is proposed TO take down the build
ings and erect them the new site IN q substantial
manner, and with bat few changes.
After another hymn the Rev. John Hall, d. d., pas
tor of the Firth Avenue church. was introduced. He
said that the meeting for praise and prayer The
congregation with which he was connected was thank
full to Almighty God for the unanimty that caused
them to take the necessary steps to SO 10 another To-
cality and for the which had attended the
moval of their church further up the He also
felt thankful for the unanmity with which the people
OF his church had fit transfer those buildings
sister congregation 1t source of great satisac-
that the edice would stll continue be devoted
the high object which had called it into existence;
that the simple gospel Of Jesus Christ to be
preached within its walls He had confidence in his
brother that such would be the case, and nothing but
the gospel Of the King would ever be heard within it,
The Rev. NJ s. Hutton, ID. D., pastor of the Wash
ington square Reformed church; Rev. S. l. Prime,
d. d., Rev DR.. William NJ Paxton, pastor OF the First
Presbyterian church, and the Rev. William Adams,
ID. d., President OF Union Theological Seminary, and
formerly pastor of the Central Presbyterian church.
also made addresses Each were Of the most interest
ing character and repete with "reminiscences OF Presby
terrain worship IN the city of New York. DR. Paxton
referred TO the well known magnetism that existed in
the Fifth avenue church, but he had hardly expected
such magnetism would drag stones and mortar up
town. Dr. Adams felt that the first thoughts that
found utterance in the church were that Jesus
Christ into the world TO sinners 1t should
be the last and dwelt for few moments upon this sub
lime theme. The doxology and benediction closed the
services The removal Of the buildings Will begin to-
day