The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-03-13
rnE .pREs1pENr,s eHUncu.n

THE "pREsrpENT's cHuncH."
True Statement About the New York Avenue
Il Presbyterian Church.
cSrspoadaw Of ne IatelItoaea.
YAsHISeros, p. O., March 1L-Beliey.
ing you would be glad to print the whole
truth with regard to President Cleveland
and the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church OF this city, / hasten, upon read
ing your issue Of the 10Th inst. to correct an
impression that you have doubtless re-
ceived from one or more Of our local
papers. The new President did show q
commendable delicacy by not appearing
as 'star" on his first Sabbath In Wash-
ington, or anywhere. But that the pastor
or any one in authority in the New York
Avenue church has at any time since the
election OF Mr.. Cleveland used the fact OF
his probable church connection with this
body as capital for an increase Of member
ship, or for the purpose Of augmenhng the
attendance, is as unjust as 1t Is absurd.
am neither member nor regular ct!
tendant of the New York Avenue church,
but have many friends who have their
church fellowship in that body and
besides 1t is well known fact
and am greatly surprised II II is
not known TO yourself and the many good
Presbyterians Of Wheeling who are in
the habit OF visiting our eity-that the
New York Avenue Church Is always
"packed" whenever It's doors are opened.
II was true when DR.. Paxton, the prede-
cessor Of DR.. Bartlett, was its pastor, and
It has been true ever since. II Is easy TO
account for the great popularity Of this
church above all other Presbyterian
churches in the city. In the first place
you must remember the situation Is the
most eligible Of any other church Of its
own denomination in the city. The mem.
bership represent the real solid moneyed
men and earnest Christian men and wo-
men OF the Presbyterian church OF this
city-and this means no disparagment to
the churches where the congregations are
not so large. And again, the people OF
New York Avenue Church are an intel
lectual and highly cultured people, and
their pastor Is always man OF marked
ability, man whose sermons would draw
q large crowd. -i.
The present |pastor Rev. DR.. Bartlett, is
pre-eminently q man Of learning, but q
scholar with heart that fills his whole
body. His sermons are full OF Holy Ghost
power, coupled with sound doctrine and
eminently practical teachings man who
is well and widely known, and who Of
himself could fill much larger edifce
than the church he occupies. | heard
from DR.. ,Bartlett's own lips shortly after
Mr.. Cleveland's election, that some friends
Of the new President had written to the
officers Of the church for the purpose Of
securing a pew. To which | replied:
"There will be no difficulty, suppose,
Dir. Bartlett, for Mr.. Cleyeland's friends
to secure pew?" "Why, yes,n he said,
I'VE have not pew in the church to lei"
80 / have understood, Doctor for someof
my friends, strangers in the city, have
been trying to obtain even sitting, but
have not succeeded" eve have not the
pews. don't believe there Is one sitting
in the whole church 10 he had, ! said DR..
B. "Wcll, you do not mean that the new
President will be told that he can't be
taken into your church?" l said. "Sonle
one may give up his own pew" said Dr..
Bartlett. "My pew Is always open, and
I'm glad to have 1t used, but Ican't speak
for others" At the same interview, DR..
Bartlett said that the Rev. Mr.. Cleveland,
brother to the President, was anold college
chum, aud would his guest at the in
augufation. He also spoke inyery' high
terms ofthe whole family connection, but
l did not get the impression that he was
very well acquainted with the President
himself. y7rx
The New York Avenue Church is deck-
ed with flowers every Sabbath; last Sab
bath was no exception, ,"thegeneral arrange
mentg hwere neither" on more liberal
scale for last Sunday, nor were they Of q
more "highly ornate order" Everything
in connection with the church worship
was on thattdayas always In perfect taste
as beatteth the lords sanctuary. The
.tafsiesp are always "paeked with camp.
chairs" when the weather is fine and
on any pleasant Sunday In tie whole year
people are "obliged TO stand for want Of
seats" 1 have known visitors from your
own city TO be compelled TO go to an
other church, on . eoldlSabbat6 during
the past winter, because seat could not
be obtained. There are no reserved
Seats" nor "proscenium boxes" Mr.. Fos-
ter, Mtnist0s- To Spain, with his family,
besides many Of our congressman and
other prominent official men with rthei.
families occupy lpews In the gallery be-
cause there Is never'a pew for sale or rent
below. Ihave heard On, PEASANT that, DR..
Bartlett has expressed Q wish that Preei+
dent Cleveland will locatelin one OF the
Presbyterian Churches whose congrega;
tions are small, and who need help.
also heard It said iby % member pf DIR,
Barlett'a church, hatthe crowds WHO go
To church TO see the President are oi.no
advantage in any phurohathe wear and
tear is great, but they lease little OF nqthI
ing behind 70 pay forit " 9 s.H.M.