Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-12
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

The World of Society--Thc Madison Ave-
nue. Congregational Church Quarrel
MIR. Bcechcr and the Plymouth
Pcoplc--tiossip of the Great
Metropolis.
NEW YORK, Dec ), lSSi
There has been a lull in the gaycty of
society life in the Big City, which we all
know usually precedes the seasons whirl.
Receptions and teas are announced in
great number The approach of the
Christmas and New Years holidays is
signalcd by increased activity in business,
and the dealers feel that in these times
they must make the most of the holiday
trade. The theatres and other places of
amusement are presenting extraordinary
attractions, and the managers are calcu-
latng upon reaping II rich harvest of
shekels Let us hope that there will he
indeed a Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year for all the people, both great
and small.
The new Cotton Exchange building
which is being erected in this city is fast
approaching completion. Although it is
not more than half as large as the new
Produce Exchange, it is Il much finer
specimen OF architecture. Thr cotton
brokers certainly have good reasons to he
proud of their grand temple of trade
Ii begins to look as if the Madison Ave
nue. Congregational church, where Gen
eral Grant worships when he is in the city,
would he closed very soon. Rev. DR..
Newman, the pastor, who went to Cali
fornia, as was supposed on visit while Il
quarrel was i'll progress between the truS-
tees and the congregation has not yet re
turned. There are rumOrS that he will re-
main in the Land Of the Setting sun and
that he will take charge OF Il church either
i'll san Francisco or SACRAMENTO Key.
DR.. Hepworth, who preached in the Madi-
son Avenue Congregational church and
made great name ten years ago, is now
ministering to Il small congregation in Il
neighboring city of New Jersey.
There are rumors that the dissatisfaction
in Plymouth church Will really lead to
the secession Of II large number of the
members and regular attendants. 1t is
said that even Mr. Beecher himself is
much alarmed. Deacon White, who has
for many years taken an active part in the
management of the church. says that he
fears that Old Plymouth has seen her best
days. In conversation with n friend Mr.
White said:
Il am afraid that when the time comes
for the next renting of pews there will not
he such an active bidding for
choice seats as we have had in former
years. The great majority of the Ply
mouth church people are Republicans and
it was natural that they should be dis
plea ed with Mr.. Beecher's course in the
recent Presidential election They blame
him very much for his friendship to
Cleveland-and they are all the more bit
ter because they think that Blaine could
have carried the State of New York if he
had not been opposed by Plymouths pas
tor.
But Beecher has the consolation of
knowing that Plymouth church without
its Henry would be like the play of Ham
LEI" with Hamlet left out, and he is Ger
tain that he cannot be displaced by anoth-
er preacher AS long as there is anything
remaining of the church
none of the great institutions of the
metropolis is the New York Press club.
This club has nearly five hundred MEM
bers. 1t has been in existence thirteen
years, and on its roll are the names Of
many of the most distinguished journ-
alists in the United States.
The headquarters of the club comprise
four stories of Il large building on Nassau
street, and the rooms are finely fitted up.
Out-of-town journalists visiting the city
are always welcomed at the headuuar-
tiers.
ELECTRICITY as Il motive power on ele-
waited railroads in this city will certainly
be adopted" said Mr. Cyrus W. Field to
your correspondent one day this week.
The only delay he added, will be for
the purpose of perfecting the system and
selecting the best of the different inven-
lions for the application OF electricity for
running of locomotives The new system
of operating the road"
| further learned from Mr.. Field that
the taking off of old steam locomotives will
necessitate general discharge of the en-.
gineers and tiremen, who at present draw
good salaries, which are ii heavy item
in the running expenses of the elevated
railroads.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard presents ;