New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-16
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
THE REV. MR.. HALLIDAY'S NEW CHURCH..
WHAT He Is DOING AID WHAT HE NEEDS OVER
ON OCEAN HILL.
/ a u 81 L. q 4

WHAT He Is DOING AND WHAT HE NEEDS OVER
ON OCEAN HILL.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir six or years since the destitution OF
churches what is known Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, III
duced a y1ung man to institute religious meetings aud
sunday -schoOl in store in Fulton-st, where con-
sdcrablo company congrcglted After short period
q council composed Of about equal numbers Of the
Manhattan and the NewYork and Brooklyn aSsocia
tons was called. and the result was the organization OF
Congregational church. The young man who had
started the enterprise continued 10 conduct the services
Some time subsequent u the action OF the coahcH INC
American Home Missionary Society commissioned a
clergyman to labor among tIem. but years passed
by and there were no such favorable results as would
seem TO make il desirable to continue the work. DR..
Meredith and Dr. Roberts had gone over the held TO-
geer and after canvassng all tie circumstances were
compelled TO conclude that the enterprise should D'
abandoned.
Having BEEN on the council which had advised the
organization of the church. had kept up partial
acquaintance with its affairs. and in the latter part OF
1883, knowing the straits in which they were, offered
my services, purp0sng to spend two years "itA lhem
without compensation. Ny services were codluV
accepted and when the formal call came 10 me *3OO
named as q salary. II has since been raised IN
5000. For four months continued to worship III
the store. which most contracted, incohVe"ich'
and uncomfortable place. Iy the latter part OF Apfh
| had secured contributions amounting To %-,1Oo'
Advancing the same amount, plot Of ground loUN
100 was bought and paid for. and on this land
rough temporary structure costing 900 was ercccd
that made most comfortable meeting room III which
We wOrshippcd for eighteen months.
ON the first Of last May the building IN which we ip
now wOrshpping vas begun, and We took possession
In OCtohcr. five months from the beginning
of the building. The building. though without orha
mcntatOu, !, very connections and beautiful. Con.
grccatOns good, and several time, We nave hdu
special occasions audiences that required the u" oi
three four hundred chair, In addition to the regular
seats. The sunday school register includes 900
pupils and there have been more than 100 pN'chc
M % time. No children have been sent away Tor
want Of room. and the buiding with II, several ro'in
i, 80 arranged that We can accommodate l.Oul
scholars. and welcome all, Young and Old, To all
our privileges II il free church.
The property Of the church, including ground.
building and cost Of the temporary building, an
furniture, fixtures, stained Windows, libraries. etc. was
S1J.OOO. OF this >UW slJ.O0O ht, been paid. Thor
l. a mortgage al $1,000 and floating DEBT 81 Tl,p0o
The church and society are composed III persons
whose income, limited. their earning but t' more
tlgn enough for comfortable support OF their families
The current expenses ~ the church are pad punctualy
from the weekly offerings Of the people"
II j, very important that the mort gage ~hould hc
cancelled at the earliest moment possible, a. me III
forest upon H. added 70 the current cApHu~cs. VIII MAKO
the tax on the people hurlcu~omc. Mr.. He''hcr 10y
her persistent aud successful effort, for the church has
p,alv cndearcd herself to all the people" who have
most cordial appreciation Of her love toward them.
I,roollyu Feb -, 1891. :. l.. HALLIDAY.