The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-30
VISITS TO OLD ST. PAUES.
THE QUIET CHURCH ~ THE MIDST
or DOWN-TOWN BUSTLB,

George washinR,on's Pcw-thairs n Hum
dred Nenrs OF Age. aud Ancient COmmun-
ion Utensils GrnVeynrd Curlosities.
From the windows of the Aston House.
on the vesey street side OF that hotel. watch
the play OF the gas light shining through the
Ciristmas green's and the stained glass Of the
rgc modern panes In the windows Of old st.
Paul's Church every Sunday and holy d ny even
Ing. The Christmas green's hang In the old
churoh from Christmas I've until the beginning
OF Lent.
How large a congregation Ia assembled In
the church on Sunday evenings :" inquired on
Sunday evening OF an old habitu6 OF tho Aston
and one who used to be an assistant usher In
st. paul's Church.
mot more than three hundred persons" was
the reply, "even In pleasant weather. Tonight
there are not probably two hundred"
Prompted by curiosity, went over TO see tie
congregation. Entering the old church, was
surprised to ind that the interior was sineulariy
modern, with few signs OF the great age Of the
building cropping out here aud there. The
pews are low and modern. The walls are light
and cheerful In their decoration. The pill
lars fine specimens OF mighty ornate
CoIinthian architecture, with beautifully To-
tar. pulpit. and reading desk are charming
In their white blue, aud gold traceres, and
rich, frescOed ornaments; while tho old me.
mortal tablets on the walls, surmounted by fu-
nereai urns ~ classic shape, and tn" old coats
New York In colonial times, give an undoubted
air Of antiquity to he interior. But II Is not In
keeping. When the church has completed It's
second centennial the anachronisni may be over
looked. hut at the present day II Jars ON the
nerves Of a lover Of the fitness Of things in art
and architecture
low CHURCH CONGREGATION.
took nv seat In one Of the low-backed, cush-
Toned, modern news. near the front entrance.
and waited for the congregation. They came In
slowly, and were mostly men. Earnest orderly.
and respectful I'm their department. they took
their seats after kneehng "a lew minutes IN
prayer upon entering the pews. Tbey made
no genunexions toward the altar. nor did
they make the sign Of the cross In he manner
81 the ritualistic churches. Thev were not fash
ionable gentlemen they did not look like club
men or like men about town. They had not
they part their hair In the middle, nor wear
laultlessly lifting gloves nor elegant overcoats,
nor fashionah le trousers. | had cXpected to see
some curiosity hunters among them Ike my
self. but to my surprise they had NIL come TO
worship. There were about one hundred men
those In the galleries. with the exception Of
two persons girl and Young man, they were
all accustomed to the services OF the EpiscOpm
Church. for they drew their PRAYER books from
their pockets and followed the whi'c surplccd
minister az he read (he aid not intonc) the even
M service. ne young girl aud the young man
were evidently strtn-er- and they were a. evil
IDENTITY lover for they whispered through the
who compose thit congreg,tion." I inq iired
OF the old hlhituc ~ tie As'Or wheL | re-
turned 20 the hotel after the services were over.
lie replied:
They come from the downtown hotels and
n Few from BruulVn. Some are fhe iAnlfurs of
these large buildings In his part ~ the city who
live with their tmilies in the upper parts ~ the
buildings rhev are many uf them strict and
consc entiOus church men. and bring M their
families very rrhgiously. Some are from East
broadway. and some Narcs street aud The neigh
accustomed u W r.hiuius here, and tney stil
come When used to hand round the plates
there Il have heen member u the congrcgt-
! non M cen N.Asl TIER" was me reg ilhr attend
ant from Columbia college, a professor there .
an old gentleman; anot ler old gentleman and
his family came from above Fiftietu street. and
another from brooklyn. We used 60 ,t la the
oid hlIn.u ch.d pfM,, tnat we 'nnid , iu.t see
how or other we enj wed our worship there
better efore they put the costly Improvement
| on the inside than we do now
The sExroN's STORY.
The next "wednesday morning wont over to
see the sexton. There used to he services in
tue church on Wednesdays and Fndays ;
/ back door Of the church il open on
those days I found Mr.. Weld IN the ofIice
/ # TRINITY vestry' a,small building at Cnurcn and
/ Fulton streets. The old gentleman SCENE /
! v0ry wiling 20 talk about the I'D church Of
which he has been the sexton for the last TWEEN
/ ty-scycn wears. lie said that the interior ~ the
! church WAS not materially changed when thu
| impfo vcmcnis were made four YEAR ago. The
! only alterations were IN the pews. the ass IN
/ the Windows. and the painting oi the waiiA Tue
C'iinthlan pill rs were those tn were in tue
pews were ~ pine stained to represent black
walnut. They were wy high backed, ana htd
] hlgn door. also. ! H'hcd Dir. W ella Whrfhtr he
knew the legend ~ history Z tho two antique
paintings that hang over the large square pew
on each side OF the ch-Icn. The old man
Yes, think had the trre story Of them
SAID he. ." IL was told me by an Old gem lem N,
who uied some time ago Oh staten Island. lie
was "a Dutch reformed Gle gyman. HIS name
wts-was-itw Will come to me directly. Rot he
was living. a boy OF ABOUT ten or twelve, when
the first Congress met Ia the old state Houre IA
W II street immedilteh after the nfress
met and Gen Washington was inaugurIt-d they
adjourned 10 attend divine services IN -. Pauls
Chapel. This very church. this large square
new then a tfgh backed enclosed pew. with
seats all around, was occupied by Gen. wash
llgt on and his It II, and the one opposite on
the Fulton street sid by Coy. Clinton aud his
charge of the church. After the service was
over Congress returned to the state House, and
the first resolution they passed was one order
ing the two pictures. The one over Gen. Wash
ington's pew IL tue first coat OF arms OF the
Uni!ed states ever presented. me other Is the
New York. when finished they were placed
atout as YOU SEQ them now. so at least was
told 10y Dr. Van Pelt. lhat was the olu Clergy
mans name. | knew It would come to me
TWO VERY OLD PICTURES.
"Dut." salt I, "thcse pictures look yer,
fresh, although quaint aud old-fashioned In de
"On why of course they do said the old
gentleman. "They were found after tool
charge here under uile Of rubbish IN the I'D
vestry room under the steeple. They were den
tilted. cleaned, aud res, orel as far possible tC
their 81 ginal condition, and when the new pewi
were put up hung them M as you now see
them. The panes Of glass that used 10 be ir
those windows were little triangular Things SKI
in size | hated TO see them ken out, and
the stained glass tut in You see this church
was built after the model OF that celebrated OLD
church 81. Martin-n the-Fied, London, and
thought they ought 10 have kept II a. much Tx,
the model ~ possible. Another old attendant nj
this church VINO died not long ago, and who tOlt
me she had often seen Gen. Washington CONT
into church here was Mrs De Mile"
- Are any Of the descendants Of the origina
pew owners stlll worshippers nereT l asked.
Yes; few was the reply, " not m 10y ar,
pewholdrrs or owners though. Charley Clayton
Is one, Charles \. COntpit mother, aud John y
Jones, George L. Strong, and Mrs. Terhune. Mrs
| Thorne Is Il descendant Of one Of the old pew
| holders, but she Il not n pewhOlder. Prof
| Drassler OF Columbia College il another. Qua
congregations are SIN II, but they have grown
| larger since the Improvements were made IN th'
| church"
Al the back part Of the church are four old
wooden pre-reyOiutiOnary chairs. MIR. Weld II
sure that these chairs are more than one nun
dTed years old and their shapes and the styl'
OF workmanship attest the truth Of his story
The first BsnOp's cnair that was made for thu
diocese Is INST. Pauis Church II stands In th'
Epistle side 81 the sanctuary. without the alta
rails-a quaint, hiRh-backed square, uncOm
Portable looking seat, upholstered with old anC
faded red plush. In the sacrsty are two NOR
| old fashioned upholstered chairs, which th'
sexton asserts are also pre-revoluuonary, and
sofa IN the same STYLE. .