New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-23
4 FoRTY YEARS. Passionate.
THE REV. DR. ARMrTAGEs ANNIVERSARY
HIS LONG SERVICE In THE FIFTH AVENUE BAr-

,ra YONG SERVICE IN THE FIFTH AVENUE BAP.
TIsT CHURCH-SKETCHING HIS OWN CAREER
The Fifth Avenue Baptist Church commemorated
I'm three we'll attended services yesterday the foreth
anniversary OF the coming Of the Rev. Dr. Thomas
Afmitage TO be their pastor. This is probably the
foremost Baptist church in the country both In re-
spect TO the cminence OF It's pastor and the number
of wealthy and influential In its membership.
Among the pewholders william Rockefeller, John
d. Rockefeller, A. Dostwick, Charles L Colby John
F. Plummer, Joel w. Mason, d. W. Manwarfng, L. NJ.
Lawson and Drs. Bryant and Ayres. Many promi'
nent clcrgymen and aynon sat with DIR. Armltage at
the various services yesterday, on large temporary
platform, banked In with palms. callas and rhododen-
drons Ton young Of tho church acted as ushcrs'
The morning service was opened with Scripture
reading by the Rev. DE- J. B. simmons, the kcv' Dr'
Edward Bright following In prayer OF Thanksgiving
and of entreay that tho life Of the pastor might DC
long spared and his influence extended stu fufther.
Then DR.. Armitage, with word of apology Tor tho
apparent egotsm that unavoidable from the nat
ure Of the subject delivered his historical sermon.
His text was Thus jesse the son Of David reigned
over all Israel And the time that no relgned over
Israel forty years. DIT. Armitage said In part;
As Christian minister the only things claim In com
mon with this great monarch are. as lowly oirth Is
long service Of years and great debt OF love TOT .he
times that have gone over me- To begin at the begin
ming your pastor born Pontefract Yorkshire Eng
land a town OF great antiquity, on August lslp MY
nOtl u
buried In the Pontefracs churchyard. MY memory OF her
ia only indistinct she has been through LIE my
guardian angel and shield against tempauon' MY
fathers family poor as they were proud. Ihey
sprans from John Armitane, whom Charles l. maze
haron MY mothers parents friends Of the Wesleys
and often took to Wesleyan meetings When my
moher lay dying she called for me- and laying her hands
upon my head abe soemny consecrted me to the service
o. God preached FIRST sermon at fifteen, In little
iaee near Sheeld and the only survivor OF that audi
ence OF twenty thirty wrote me the other Gay from
Massachusetts, ~
continuing Dr. Armltage said that John Mofatt,
Lvingstones fathernlaw, urged him to 60 to Africa
az n missionary. but his heart was set ON America,
and in July 1898. he sailed for New-York He LANDED
almost destitute but soon secured charge, and for
ten wears preached in Methodist churches In 1s4o,
while preaching In Albany he became Baptist ana
at once received calls from three churches OF that
denomination. He came to New.York and preached
three sermons to his present congregation, then
worshipping in Norfolkst. They soon gave him call,
which he accepted although this was the poorest OF
the three churchks that had invited him. His salary
was II POO The church had been burned meanwhile
and new building, costing $4,000, was built In
Norfolk.st near Grand. So many members OK tho
oourree cation went uptown between 1880 and 1861
that in 1850 room was hired Mt Broadway ana
Thirty fourthst. In which DR.. ArmItage preached On
Sunday afternoon to his uptown members
For many years he continued to preach three ser
sIte was chosen three lots in Fifthave., and two
around the corner In Forty sixthst, being bought
for SGT 600, a price which many consldereu e4uaVa
CANT awe were denounced as vislonarios for golns
so far into the country,' said Dr. Armitage was
written down as Insane for leading them and every
Baptist crank In the city sssalod me: But ! never
paid any attention to such talk he told now no
insisted upon the wisdom Of the choice from pus-
ness point OF view. and said tho properly now was
worth nearly 100000 ..-,.,- A.,
He drew a strong sketch Of thu difficulties In tho
way of establishing the now church, the poverty OF
the congregation. the breaking out OF the war wn,cn
Illness and consequent voyage to Europe, MS dsap
pontnent at finding upon his return that the three
lots In Fifth ave. had been sold and the protest OF
his people as they saw tho nelgheorhood filling UP
with wealthy people" You cont make Baptiss out
of rich people'-to which ho replied that he believed
in trying 10 save rich men.
Finally The church built and was dedicated on
June 49, 1865 It's has been one OF success and
OF $4,000. aflcrwsrd removed, chiefly through the
efforts of william Rockefeller and J. A Bostwick
Dr. Armtage closed by reading some sixty names
Of men identified With the church during his pastorato
men falls 20 the lot Of church to share'
J. A. Bostwick presided I'm the afternoon, and thore
addresses of congratulson by the Rev. Drs. Ed
ward ,,; Judscn r. $ Mac Arthur Howard Sros,Sy,
feature Of the exercises was the presentation by Mr.
and Mrs. l. NJ. lawson OF large bronze bust OF the
pastor, Miss Louise lawson being tho sculptor John
r. Plummer presided in the evening, in place Of VIM
lam Rockefeller, who was Ill Among the speakers
were L. NJ Lawson, John d. Rockefeller, Charles L.
Colby and D W MsnTaIing. TIE Rev pr: D Henry
pastor, also eulogized him.
morrow night thore is TO be a reception in the
church, at which the following clergymon will mako
addresses the Rev. Drs. John Hall. G. f. Deems,
samuel Cooke. On Saturday DIT. Armitage will sail
the Umbna for vacation Of several months.