New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
MIR. BEECHERS NEW CHURCH.
WHY IT WAS NEVER BUILT.
PASTOR AND TRUSTEES DISAGREED, THE WA

WHY II WAS NEVER
PASTOR AND TRUSTEES DISAGREED, THE WAR
BEGAN, AND THE PROJECT WAS DROPPED.
The building of fine new church for DR.. Talmage
upca the HILL the portion Of the city where 1t Is
TO stand is called brings TO mind project entertained
thirty years ago OF building large and beanti-
ful church for Henry Ward Beechcr on the Heights
The present Plymouth Church was built for him IN
1s49. the old First Presbyterian Church. in which he
began to preach in Brooklyn two years before. having
been destroyed by fire early in that year. That
edfce stood where the present lecure-room OF Pym-
outh stands. fronting in Cranberry st. II had been
built In 1923. and the society owned the lots running
through 10 Ofange-st After the Presbyterian Society
had built its present structure In Henry-st and mad
moved into it. the old was sold for $4,000 and
Congregational society organized to occupy 1t.
Among the names proposed for 1t we're the Cranberry
Street Church. the Wicklife Church. and Plymouth
Church. and the last one was finally selected When
the building was burned 1t was decided TO rebuild
on the Orange-st. front, and to place the lecture
at the Of the church. fronting on CTanberrT
ST. During the year in which the church was With
out home Of its own. services held IN a ten
porary tabernacle in Pierepont-st. The cost of the
new church was about $4,000. and it was opened
in January, 1850. 1t was thought at the time by
many that 1t entirely too large and could never
be hled but within ten years IL was oVercrowdcd
and second gallery and aisle chairs were put in.
GROWTH OF THE CONGREGATION.
In 1898 a notable revival occurred and 442 per-
sons Joined Plymouth Church, swelling the number
Of members to 1,241. Mr.. Beecher was then at the
height Of his fame a pulpit orator He drew
crowds 10 hear him whose size was only limited by
the capacity OF his church. and the demand for pews
exceeded the supply despite the large sums bid for
them. The 81 900 bid in 1858 increased TO Sl1,773
in 1852 Mr.. Beecber's liberal theological views the
indication Of which his having baptistry placed
under his pulpit in 1857. despite the opposition Of
some Of the trustees his ringing appeals for the
freedom Of the slave and the exciting scenes in his
church when it thrown open to Wendell Phillips
when other place could be secured for him to speak
in, and the need Of police protection when gang of
NewYork roughs threatened to clean out the -
Abolition nest in Plymouth Church. all combined to
make the church the centre Of intense interest In
the latter part of 1858 meeting was held to take
measures either for the enlargement OF the church
or to build a new one with seating
capacity Of 5000. The result was de-
cision TO build at once, and committee was
appointed to site.
The committee reported that the amount Of money
to be raised should first be decided upon. and that
at least $4,000 would be needed. At tile first
meeting to raise subscriptions, S41 ,419 secured.
After this had been considerably increased site
bought in Montague-st, west OF Hicks-st and
running through TO Remsenst. 1t was 100 by 200
feet and cost $4,000 Plans advertised for for
edilce to contain 5000 sittngs, with one or two
galleries running around the entire auditorium pre-
MUM of $500 for the best plan was offered, and
score were submitted. on June l, 1859, plan was
adopted and proposals for building the church were
advertised for.
PASTOR AND THE TRUSTEES DISAGREE.
All this time the work of raising funds going
on and the old church was advertised for sale. But
while the new project going forward with every
sign Of success a sudden setback occurred When
Mr.. Beecher out of town lecturng trip In the
winter of 1860 Wendell Phillips sought to secure the
of the church for his lecture upon I" The De-
structon Of the Union" The trustees however, fear
ing that the effect might be TO stop the subscriptions
to the building fund.- declined TO let him have 1t.
When Mr.. Beecher returned and found out the facts,
he lost time in rebukng the action OF his trustees
in a sermon upon Moral Courage Among business
Among other things he said that as the church had
been freely let at 500 night for lectures and con
Certs, 20 deny IL 10 Mr. Phillips because OF lear that
his using it would have injurious effect on the
raising of money for the new church, was shameful
the extreme and added I" / Will tell you one
thing: II you expect by any such prudent course as
that to get money to build church / do not want
Of making men hold their tongues. shall be free.
and every one who has anything TO do with me shall
the augmentation Of our church. you mean that there
shall be crcumscrpuon Of the liberty OF speech you
viii not have my cooperation in the putting up OF
The result Of this in conjunction with the unsettled
state OF business affairs IN the year before the war
money At the annual meeting in January. 1861, IL
was reported that $4,000 had been subscribed. and
700 had been offered for the old church. The es-
tmated cost of the new edlce and its site was
1925 900, leaving S115 900 TO be raised II not
deemed wise 70 assume so large debt as $4,000
still remained unpaid upon the scrip issued for the old
church. and the plan Of building was reluctantly
abandoned. The site sold for 81 900 less than
il cost, and the subscriptions were cancelled. The
loss from all the expenses Of the undertaking was
about 100000 Mr.. Bcecher continued TO preach in
the old Plymouth Church until his death. The build
ing with the lecture and sunday school han ad
Joining. are practically the that they forty
years ago II Is now proposed 10 add to the
vcnlences needed for modern church work by putting
up a building in a convenient spot for a pastors
Office church parOrs guild rooms. and general head
quarters for the societies connected with the church
BY recent cement, one Of the three ministers
connected with the church. DR.. Abbott Mr. Bliss or
Mr.. Bosworh is at the church an hour every morning
for consultation.