New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-07
DEDICITyG A PRESBYTERIIy CHURCH,
SERVICES At THE CENTRAL CHURCH-FREE or
DEBT AFTER FIVE YEARS.

| SERVICES At THE CENTRAL CHURCH-FREE or
DEBT AFTER FIVE YEARS.
Dedication services were held in the Central
Presbyterian Church. in seventh-st, Broad
way, yesterday morning, afternoon and evening The
church completed and occupied October 3D. 1873.
At that time the debt amounted to 100000 and 1t
! decided to defer the services OF dedication until
+, the whole Of it had been paid. That result was
finally achieved few days ago, 10 the
great Joy of the pastor and congregation The property
is valued at $22jO00
The Central Presbyterian Church organized ut No.
1872 Elm St. January 1921 1t then consisted OF ouly
four MEMBERS Thomas Donaldson, John Proctor, Mrs.
Mary Patton aud Mrs Elizabeth Donald son. The first
church edihce in which the congregation wor-
shipped was situated the north side
Of BrOome-st between Marion and Elm sts.
II destroyed by fire August o. 1884, and rebuilt
in 1855. The congregation removed from BrOOne
500 and wogshipped for while at Palace Hail. at
Broadway and FOrty-seyenth-st. and aferwarl in
wooden building in Fftlahst EiyIth-iye In 1889.
lots purchased in Fy-seycnthst. near Broadway
running through to FiftysiXthst chapel was built on
tue Fif.y-sixth-st front and opened November IA,
1863 The present church originally stood in
Fifth-ave. at Nincfecnth-st The work OF
removal was begun in 1876. and the re-eractiOA
was completed in 1878. Since its organization tho
church has had five pastors The present pastor the
RcY. Dr. James p. Wilson, has held that post since
January 1863 He preached at the morning service yes
tcray a1l said Every church opened fJr the prelch
OF the Gospel gives addition strength 10 tho state
set In operation forces tendency Is to make
EVERYONE safer every heart purer In these days when
social problems coming TO the surface and
pcrplnxing the public mind, II il well remember
that science culture bus the truth proclaimed
enough to hold society TO its present moprings and pre-
went the utter wreck OF law, Justice, aud liberty"
The Rev. DR.. Irenrus Prime, excused himself on the
PF 5 o! ie b anew rS snnce aa low y5ur pr @
Z smoke
but that You Would gladly have made this house more
neirly paricct-more beautiful II had more millions
of dollars than have been O. within the last wees In tits
ciy ana could devote it all TO church Improvements,
wOuld add anything 10 the adOmcnt Of this bcauti
rIl house. How decent Wise and comey II Il have
stood in pit whose floor and whose walls were built OK
solid precious stones ty those which
jewels upon the neckS and in the ear Of the far and yet
% more becoming, IL was no more acceptable 10
God was no more use nj 70 the people than tuIs comey,
and convenient building"
In the afternoon there was JOINT service OF the church
Sabba->chOOland Mzpah Chapel HundlySchOo presided
over 10y Eli Benedict superintendent te church school
~ the evening snort tl were hiil' ~ Tue
Rev DR.. John Hail. the Rev. DIR. samuel Hamilton, tne
the Row q. r. srnhriige, Dr. Hans addre7. wa' an
urgent appeal to CATION 10 hcp its minister oy
their presence Ar church, by talking about him and
DR. Hamilton said that the real element Of churc1s
strength consists in the numlcr Of its cOn3ecratcd de-
vote men and men, am tn decree in len their
Christian gra cs become known and recognized In tue
ings, the wealth OF It's congregation and the g1tat
OF money distributed for charitable pur-
CATION that hat its chnrch was out - Of debt
Dr. Wilson spoke OF the pleasure it him 10 rave
the pastors OF sister churches Of his and other
denominations with him at the dcdratory services.
lie said: Wien cOngGc cation does IL, work faithfully
well tits OF benefit TO all tue churches IN It's ghbUr
hood. have faith enough TO believe that New
York Will be regcneraed and that in spite of the attempts
lately made to tear away from MS thi- holy sabbath"
Dr. Macarthur, said g am here to extend 10 your
pastor the fIatcTnal courtesy which extended by
him To mcsome years ago | remember that when the
70 ndatons of tins church were Id used TO loo@ on
with curiosity at this frontier movement But have
ourselves been pushed 10 Fifty-sevenfh- and come
also to tell yOu that have raised 100000 and
ready dedicate church. and I want your
pastor to and hepus a few Sundays later on"
The Rev. q. H. SrObridge the last speaker lie
said: This occasion T. illustration Of the success OF
our gOIiOus Professionalism. A hundred years ago IL
would have stirred thtOO gica tempest To haze allowed
Methodist preacher to have the Last wOri any word
in "A Presbyterian church IL would have sinai en- the
walls of Calvauism To their foundations to nave an
Armnian stand top ~ them aud blow "a blast OF rec
grhce" Elliot T. Shepard. VINO announced to speak
letter reT'tting his absence which was due To
sickness IN his I; ally.