New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-23
PROPOSED CHURCH CONSOLIDATION
WHAT MAY BE REALIZED IN THE AUTUMN.
WILL THE FIRST AND THE UNIVERSITY PLACE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES BE UNITEDf

WHAT MAY BE REALIZED IN THE AUTUMN.
WILL THE FIRST AND THE UNIVERSITY PLACE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES BE UNITEDf
prominent pew-hoder In the First Presbyterian
Church conversed with TRIBUNE reporter yester
day IN regard to rumors that there was PROSPER
of that church and the University Pace fresDy-
terrain Church being consolidated.
why 1t has simply been suggested here ,f and
there by few saa
IL and not the first step toward it, The idea
suggested by the fact that both churches are VIVID
out pastors we having lost the Rev. DIR. John x.
Paxton who is now In Europe, and the other church
having lost the Rev. DR.. Robert X. Booth. who re-
signed recently. 1t was thought by some members.
suppose that one church could do the work OF
both in the negbborhood and that If the other
chose it could take ITS property and move uptown,
Are both of the churches strong numerically ana
financially"
"Yes. believe that both are free from debt and
have valuable property besides mum Der of wealthy
members to rely on Our church has 400 WORK
ing members and the Unlvers1y race Jhu st he
difficulty about the churches coming together. De,
cause of the property, and the different modes ana
characteristics which are peculiar to every chutci
For instance think our church would be much
averse to giving up its property in Flfth-ave. Inen
the First Church. beng the Oldest Presbyterlan
church in the city, has some old Id as, and some OF
its old Scotch believers could not be moved ont OF
their rut by anything. They Will have no organ OF
trained choir, and DR.. Paxton bad 10 laOor
bard to get them to exchange their hymn
ago Tor a modern hymnal."
"The church was situated originally at Wall and
Nassau sts., and it has made several moves. "A
great many of the old wealthy Presbyterians who
seemed TO flock around Washington Square nave
died or moved uptown or into the country WHY
there used TO be nearly dozen Presbyterian
churches each within rifle shot of any, OF the the
Others right III that neighborhood. But
the tide of population is going uptown,
and there are not maDv, nor Is there need of so
many Presbyterian churches IN that part OF inc
city. True, the population IL as great or greater
owing 10 APARTMENT houses; but the wealthy Pres
pytefians like James LenoI. for instance, are gone
think il would DC good plan for tho congregations
10 consolidate the two churches, aud use the income
that would be saved by 1t IN dong church work III
some o:ber locality. Neither church has yet got
"A suitable pastor III prospect, although several men
have been invited To preach
The Kew Dr. Robert X. Booth, who had just re,
turned the city with his family, said that he had
seen member OF the University Place Church
only a few hOuIs before and IN CONVEX
satun in regard to this matter he had
sid that definite action would DC
ger. As TO ms own opinion of the probabilities OF
an agreement between the two cnurchs, Dr. Bootn
said: o., -,
reached an expression of their feeling on the sub
iec Boil churches have wealthy and large interests,
and both own considerable property. My cnuIcn,
or what wasmy church, hasaways had ago0datteud-
ance. Both the First Churcn and the University
Place Church need new pastors. Each wants
a man OF iue capacity who can talk To and interest
the members year M and out three times OF sun
day ami on all other OCCASIONS. lie must treat
with sound thought and III "a religious spirit the
topics that may arise. IL will be difficult Tor either
cIurch to get suited and their mu ual wants viii
lead them consider more carefully the PROJECT Oh
consoldatIoni( The most snSing disadvantage
that would result from the consolidation of the
churches would be the loss of one church TO the
CITY But this may be cJmDensa tcd by the seec
ton of a new site for "A church further up town"