New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-19

DOWNTOWN PRESBYTERIAN Cit RICHES
The Rev. H. IT, Jo,ent At ne SprtHg FresbytrIn rhurrh
I'm the Springs street Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning the Rev Alfred II Moment preached
upon "The Downtown Presbyterian ChurcLcs; their
Condition and their Claims" His text in "a Cor
inthians VETO, Poor, yet making many rich"
There are two kinds Of minds, said the speaker the
canna mind, which appreciates only cunndi things,
gold, fashion, scholarship and fame; the other
kind il the spiritual mind, which values
as the highest good the grace OF God Pan says that he
poor yet he adds tha he has in him the o. max
ing many rich In the light which Paul estimated his
own worth wish to look at the condition Of four OF the
downtOw Prcsbyte churches hcse theScvcnth
Street Church. at BrOome and Ridgess the Church Of
the and Land in Market St.: the Allen street Church.
and the Spring Street Church Paul would call ali Of these
poor churches Our buildings not OF great value and
he amount Of money raised is small ia comparison with
that contributed 10y churches uptown But nave these
churches been financially strongf Look az tins
church for moment. From 1928 Till 1913 the building
was crowded AT one communion service mere were
500 communicates and yet the expenses Of the church
these twenty years were sca cey met In 1893 propO-
sion was made to sell the chuTch properly because It's
wealthy patrons were leaving the nclghbOrhOod Within
the last five years more money has been subscribed than
in the same length OF time for the last quarter oi cen
uary, with single exception. The financial
condition is as good as at any time since 1873. ,,
The Allen street Church was founded In ISL In 1884
il raised $1,000 Prom that tlIne nth nve years ago me
annual amount raised varied from $1,000 10 $4,000.
The congregation ia dong as wen now, better III TACT
than IL has d0nefor thirty years
the four have named but Ia vcry weak; yet
in collection last spring $1,000 was raised there
Tho Church OF the Sea and Land formerly strong
sadly in need Of money Its pastor poorly paid and
the hafpainted walls and worn carpets speak only too
plainly its present condition
The hope OF the prosperity and future Of the kingdom
Of Christ in this city and in the land rests entirely
proper education O the children It is evident that
religious tcac ling of the children Of nOnchurcli-
going parents must be done by Chris
tians. The Seventh Street Church has GOO
children in s Sunday school the Allen lee Church
equal number the Church OF the Scd ana Land nearly
many aud our church about 800 scholars. We have
Chinese Mission school with fifty scholars In faith
full attendance. In these four churches there over
1000 persons engaged teachers AID scholars. The
prayer meeting IN "a church shows it's true condition,
and the prayer meeting attendance In these churches
larger than at present. and the sunday con
gregitiOns ndmbeF over 5000 persona The downtown
also train workers for other fields Of usefulness
by n spapCr article published last week, that part
OF the city vest OF Broadway, between ST. johns Park
and Jane-st has been grossly magned. The iuhabi-
taDts have been insulted, described "swarthy
skinned and Giving in lded dirt dismal gaIety"
and the churches said To be but little better than
missions" This last statement is far roTn the TRUTH
there being only mission In the entire district the
Alexander Mission in Kng-st, under the care of DR..
John HALLS Church. and this mission has "a congregation
OF 45O persons.