New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-12
PREACHERS WORTH HEARING
XVI.
THE REV. DIR THOMAS ARMITAGE. OF THE
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

No one would suppose from . street Wow OF tho
modest looking church building In West Forty
near Ffthave, that Is Of tho wealthest baptist
churches In America, n not In the world In Its
BOARD OF trustees are the presidents OF the Standard OIL
Company ana the Standard on Trust It's pastor. the
Rev Dr. Thomas Armitagc bears the distinction Of
being the oldest settled pastor In this CITY, The father
of us ans DS. Crosby said the other night. There is
not q pastor Of any denomination In the city to-day
who was an active pastor when DR.. Armliage came
here. HIS forticth anniversary pastor of tho Fifth
Avenue Baptist Church will In July AS this
will be AFTER tho majority Of the members of his church
have gone ay for the summer ID is proposed To have
memorial service In April and make this anniversary
occasion Of great rejoicing and fcstivity.
DR.. Areiiiags was born in England. August O.
1919, and cones Of pure Yorkshire stock. his birth
place being almost within tho sound of tho bells of
York Minstsr- He Is a direct descendant of Sir John
Armiaee, of Darnscy, England. who made a Baron
by Charles L. In 1910 Dr. Armitage's mother Was an
exceedingly plous woman, and a member of the wos
ley an Metboisi connection and 1t was her dying wish
old, "mieht DO converted and become good minister
OF the Gospel of Christi When no Was twelve years
we'll with thee p he was over~ bemed With sense Of
his san. teii ON his lnees and cried .eSd for mercy
fifteen ne licensed 70 cxhort IN the Methodist
RTay .sd s ss mSn a,e VIII ss nd
writing the sketch Of 4 while on his knees In PRAYER
IT was delivered on Nterclid Common, near Sheffield,
and impressive that several persons were con-
vertcd
CONVERTED TO THE BAPTIST FAITH.
DR. Armitage came to Ncw-York in 1898 and had
charge Of number of pastcrates 10 different parts OF
the country until 1879. when while In Brooklyn he
witnessed baptism by Immersion He was impressed
with consciousness of It's fidelity to the Gospel and
after long and bitter struggle with himself and after
careful investigation, ne came out thorough Baptist
in doctrine, practice and church government II was
in 1913 that this decision was reached. and imned-
aely obtaining an honorable dsmssion from the Meth.
odist Church. he baptized into the fellow ship OF
the Pearl Street baptist church OF Albany where he
ing It's Ideal and Inner Life" ard history of The
tees rom The beginning Of he Christian Era to The
present time This latter book he considers one Of
the chief works Of his busy and varied life. and II is
having large sale
when Dr. Armitagc called to tho FIFTH Avcnue
Church A FIRE soon swept away the church building
bn in a short time the eddce which sim stands on
NoIf0lkst., between Broome and Grand Sis. was
erected In ls6o the church proper was moved TO It's
ihsn Il ever was before rs benevoences are
far and wide The church Is free from debt; ana owns
sen,ed to The church by J. A. Bostwick
The officers of the church 1 Is3.s GGFh JON Gibson
J. r corney, l. NJ lawson. J. ~ Red ,i i9rSee W;
Fish and Mater P d A. GswcS I9 51
it's Walter " Wood. John f. Pummcr. David W Man
S eS em e he Ss snS are Jo" Mason
Charles A. Todd, DR.. wsrd bright, he Editor of " Tho
IT D. WEBSTER. william stahncckcr. oliver stahl
neckei. Edward adams. Robert Dowrcil; FIsoS
new. ]. II. Tcwpsend and Henry L sote G. Frosch
is The oreanst, dne choir IS CONFESSED of Miss
Albert l. King tenor, and Carl r. DuG'. baritone.
TnE DESTRUCTION or JHRrshLEM
The sermon yesterday morning was on The DeStruc-
ton of jerusalem being of interesting series on
the predictions of the Saviour. The text was St. Luke,
XIX, 4l44 and the sermon was Substantially a. iol-
lows:
Josephus Who was Of the Jewish priesthood and
was with the Roman Army the destruction Of Jei usslem
n us D
dliion Of that time IN perfect keeping with
mat dawn IN the New Testament The substance OF
his account gathered various In his writ
ngs presents his In this dep'orable con-
dition The people and the chief priests
were prongae wretcLes who had purchased their places
BY brides by acts Of iniquity. and who maintained
,ar m aeouircd authority by the flag tious and
.hominable crimes The subordinate and Inferior MEN,
beers OF the infected with the corruption OF
the head; the priests and those who possessed any
shadow Of authority become dissoute and abandoned
10 the high degree while the multitude urged ON oy
these corrupt examples headong into every sort OF
wckedncss; and by their endless sed lions robbefies
and extortions aimed against themselves both the
Justice OF God and the vengeance OF men. Eighteen
hu years later Rabbi Lcrsc OF our own country
sent forth most touching wall over Israel a. ne
existed the iii OF Jerusalem , =,
Christ prophesed the destruction OF Jerusalem De
and forty years before came to pass
md Matthew had them in his Gospel about nfeen
before they cane IN ,sinrs pass when ,o'S ms
Uttered them there ths sihehtes' human proba
,nity that they would ever De 'esseo and ,ns,e ws
40 reason why thev should attack city "n'en tney
already possessed They would not dcs0ste county
whier they were already masters; Hls'u"s ms ~
was directly contrary the established military pohcy
o. Rome destroy the valuable cities ~hlch 'ney con
euered or interfere at al with their social s"s VI
religion But despite all the impobablitlcs our Lofo
predicted approaching fate 81 Jerusalem IN az u
exactness particularly Of history ltseu An I IN,
ns-,IIeIed panorama noated before Hts vision as He
sszed upon the city through His tears for there
usd before entire spectacle which sboulo meet
The historian within forty years scene OF horror
and d SISTER invasion, blockade, bloodshed ana 80 re-
BEFORE Him reposcd the Holy City. the metropolis .
ioxord lsnd where the prophets had spoken and inc
seers had lived where kings had rcisheo IA s"r' "a
nriess had sent up suppcations where holy men mao
ttorne Wines 10 eternal and His own haowed
tearhings had resounded through us streets ,,r,,
F0RFsEEING THE DOWNFALL OF THE CITY.
s,snaine before that CITY OF His ancestors He saw
tho sarrcd Temple looming above eveiything else inc
ssrblv nome Of His Eternal Father where HIS ehoien
"a o,Sh,n,a for centuries and Ills glory hal d~ei.
20 guide them and foresIhefs lie was not aDs'' o
az as aiscples In the pomp OF Its architecture The
800, 81 ,s yates or the strength Of its walls But
oog.g down the vista Of the coming forty years INC
curtain lifted before his eyes, ana lie "a" "a haI,r,
.~,v ,,or the West embazOned With banner ana hehcr
-tb h,easrla,e and sword marching upon the city Of
the Great King. All before the proud cry was
and earnare A trench east up Vi esiI"oI
ON the yeTy spot where lie then Stood oattering ram"
Numbered at and ramparts 70 levei 'ne "
slay her people, and tranple her into runs a
nisea,s was RAMPANT IN the councils Of her own chill
dren faction making them eowards anu uA Aa '.
,oyal sous ana daught-ra forsssw stronghold
fail after another, until Tho Ienpe Oh ooa was
tin the blood Of It's priests mingled with the o,'oa OF
ha acr,sces upon it's psvemens The banners Of Rome
eaunted themselves In the face OF Goa AFFAIRS ana e
flames from pinnacle 10 p'n"Nio w -
~ famine paisy the limbs of covenanteo people ana
wate the bodies Of eaunt men until tine iestte Va '
.vas sink Into the wolhsh stare OF dsa anu Tue wy
,enndaiions Of the city were razed Inc mounea','s
.ound about Jerusalem trembled ss ii the
- tnasr CRESTED heights lost the hrmness OF leH
defence the invader. ,,. ...los % him
Ana when snperhuman foresight 1 ~ CON-
this chain OF disasters His heart was e .unlsts
nassion and He Into tears Sorrow eo' eV"'p
control Of His royal soul, His frame quiNeeo anu ~ 80
rushed through the channels Of HIS heart ~ xis,on
,he annali.e visions u his eyes On wh@t vs., Vs.,
was mis- Of crime, and execraton ana feuicuuon a, $50
.n.nog love novs forth with this bitter gan "i Hopo
sssuess this mourRful calm OF deSpcr IacS 80
The te,Is OF the spotcss patriot the dstressea
oyar rebcilious nstioa Inc HsNsA - Nv