New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-06
GRACE CHURCH.
GROWTH OF THE PARISH.

THE CHAPEIs MISSIONS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER
MEANS OF UsEFULNEss-DR PoTrER's AIMS.
Nearly forty years ago the parish of Grace Church
occu pied a plain unpretending edfce on the south
corner of Broadway and RectOr-st., shoulder to
shoulder with Trinity Church. There Garcia
Malibran most fascinating of women and
wonderful of singers, sang the cantoles and
anthems of the church services The removal of
The parish TO its present site at the angle where
Broadway makes its first departure toward the
west. marked the beginning of the great uptown
movement which, with accelerated pace still pushes
toward the Harlem River. Union Square at that
time was only partly built up, and society " re-
NAMED undisturbed in the neighborhood of st.
Johns Square, Bowling Green, IN the cross streets
from Barclay to Chambers; while Bond, Great
Jones and Bleecker also the abodes of upper
tendomr For nearly generation the parish, re-
naming under one rectOrshp, was identified with
fashionable life, and memorable functionary
seemed invested with the indispensable open
sesame TO its distinctions. The musical prestige of
the old church followed the new and Julia North
all held her place among the people as almost
second Malibran, while Mt. King the organist in
his prescriptions for quartet use from the melo-
dious romantic composers abroad, gave currency
TO what for a long time was known as the Grace
Church School of Music.
1t was q very close corporation, socially; and Its
influence scarcely reached beyond its own pew
holders About twenty years ago the Rev. DR.. Pot
ter succeeded TO the Tectorship. bringing in new
views new principles, and new methods of pro-
cedure together with a quiet, administrative
energy of purpose, which is thoroughly converting
The parish into one of the most earnest, aggressive
md industrious parishes the city. Evidently no
further uptown movement Is contemplated, and the
parish is gathering up its resources TO accept and
meet the local emergencies developing all around
It, much as Trinity Church has long since done, at
the lower end of the island. Endowment funds are
being invested in anticipation of the time not very
far distant when quite different class of worship
pers shall fall within its minlsrations. Very large
amounts have already been laid out in the ex-
qusite chantTy, which is a costly miniature church
in itself, for weekday services and ministrations
in the spacious and elegant Grace House, which.
fronting Oh Broadway and connecting the series OF
buildings, reaches through TO Fourth-ave in an
imposing and beautifully propOrtioned facade
Evidently the rector has no purpose of putting off
the coming generation with dilapidated and I'M
slightly church, for new and beautiful stained win
dows are steadily replacing the garish and
signify glass put up at the building and the organs
under MIR. Roosevelts reconstruction provide q
rarely excellent accompaniment to the services.
Ii is evident that Dr. Potter contempates the social
problems unfolding all about him with painful in
terest; that he dstrusts the regeneraing power of
tloquence and scholarly culture alone; that he
recognizes a tremendous work waiting at his hands;
that he has iOpe and faith in the exercise of inte
gent, clear-Sighted Christian philanthropy, and
that he has the gift of kindlng those Immediately
about him with his own enthusiasm and determine
ton The new Grace Church is certainly notable
and unlooked-for Outgrowth of the old. There is
no dantiness engaging sentimentality visible;
no brlc-abrc or aesthetic religion. Work is busily
and quietly going everywhere. and sound
financial habit of administration sustains and pro-
tects it