New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-14
have not thought 1t worth while to accommodate them
thus far
WIPED OUT BY THE BRIDGE.
ANOTHER CHURCH DEMOLISHED
THE WASHINGTON STREET METHODIST EPlS'
CnpAL srKuCTuRE TORN DOWN.

THE WARRINGTON hfIHVDioi III ~
CoPAL STRUCTURE TORN DOWN.
The Bridge is fast wpIng out the landmarks Of old
brooklyn. The latest to 60 Is the Oldest church
structure In the CITY, that Of the Third, Washington
street. Methodist Episcopal Church society," dating
back to 1882 when the city had not yet appeared as
an evolution Of the village bearing the same name
The town Of Brooklyn Incorporated In 1888. soon
after prosperity had begun to be restored IN e era
following the Revolutionary period. In lolo the
village was Incorporated aud board OF trustees took
charge OF it's affairs. II not until 1884 that civ
charter secured All the early churches clus-
tered about the business and residence region which
grew up within easy walking distance OF the ferry,
save the First Reformed Dutch Church. which ante
dated the Others more than 100 years, and was built
in the midst of the little primitive settlement mile
from the river where Fulton and Hoyt sts now meet
When the first Protestant Episcopal church was
built in 1873 1t placed in Westinghouse near
Sandsst where the Bridge entrance now stands, ana
as Mrs. Ann sands gave the site. 1t was named st.
AIMS In her honor. Half dozen years later the
first Methodist Episcopal church erected in Sands
ST. near Washingon-st where It's fourth successor
was recently demolished and the site will form part
of the plaza to be opened adjoining the new BrldGe
terminal station. When the first Roman Catholic
church erected in 1922 it was placed In JaySt.'
near Sandsst. The first Presby teran church was
built In CranbcTy-st. near Iienry-s In 1o2''' ana
was the first church built what Is now the Heights
Plymouth Church now occupies the site with its
lecture room. In the same year the first baptist
church built in Nassau-st near Futon-st. III
1896 there enough Epscopalians to start second
church. and st. Johns was organized aud structure
was erected In Johnson-st., near Westinghouse
where the Inflated Brooklyn Theatre aferward STOOD
and which Is now occupied by the new Eagle Guild
Ing
The Mehodists started their second church the
Same year and erected n binding at York ana uolu
ts the site being still occupied. but by later DUN"
ing When I'm 1882 third Methodist society was
formed as an ofshoot from the First Church IN oiuS
st.. IL was decided not to ~ far away anu 'io '
chosen was at Washington and I1llary sh' ~ mum
bcr Of fine residences had been erected In Wasmhg-
tonst. at that time and IL was one OF inc c"oio'
streets Of the rapidly growing village. 1t was DC
clded TO put up n substantial and ornamental build
Ing and the soldity Of the walls recently torn oo""
showed how we'll It had been built sixty wears ago.
The building was OF the conventional type OF ohurc"
architecture OF that day. II stood with gaoie W
the street and broad portco In Grecian STYLE sup
ported by ionic columns Browns0ne was useo VII"
pressed brick In the front and the building was made
rs nearly freproof rs possible The sunday
nom adjoining was constructed OF brick also. and III
design II rescmbled the church The interior oi VI.
latter OF tho ordinary type gallery ran hroiiu
three sides OF H. and tho pews had straight hichS AN"
high kneclng benches. In tho course OF the siA"
tied several times
The church ranked as one OF the most Important
I'm tho Methodist denomination In the city FOR many
years. but the growth Of newer and larger churc"''
further uptown and the gradual removal OF Popuh''
lion I'm the samo direction eft 1t stranded ana ior "o
last quarter Of century It had been declining nh''
only n handful OF members were left. But the prop
crty had steadily advanced In value year hi"r ,o' az
the members dwindlcd.
,ha chi VA OCciIDlp1
~. ar thirty ministers under the rules Of the dcnon-
,naton I'm the sixty years OF It's history. Among them
were Robert Seney, father of George ]. seney, the
millionaire banker; Drs. James Floy. long secretary
~ the New York East Conference Daniel curry,
Editor o, title Christian Advocate and "Iho
Methodist Review In his later years X. NJ haI
field and Moses L. scndder +. ). ID" llaas ana DIS
Wilbur r. Watkins who aftcrward entered the Prot-
os,eu, Episcopal Church and was rcrtor VI Holy
Trinity New-Yorb; Albert =. Hunt. secretary OF the
American bible society: John T.. ~narlcs, father Vi
John f. scnrles jr. the millionaire sugar relncr ana
Daniel A. Goodsell. now Bishop OF the Methodist
Church. The last pastor was the Rev Dr. Johh ~
Roche one OF the veteran ministers OF the CITY, In
Ie54 and again In io0d the New York East con-
ference held its animal session In the church, ana
number 81 other notable gatherings were heu "''h"
its walls when the Rev. Charles W. Miiieh WIS
pss,or five wears ago "A scandal arose which seriously
Injured the church and resulted In his expulsion from
the ministry. The society had "a incur NucO''Ho''
for ia current expenses for IA number OF years and to
exc out lts income the sunday school room WIS
rented for several years for business purposes ana the
Sunday school met in the gallery Of the church
When Il WIS decided by the Bridge Trustees To eN-
tend the storage tracks from Concord ST. TO laFy
ST. u became necessary TO demolsh All th" ouii"
inrs on the Washington side OF the block. ana the
nrooklyn Institute. which erected In 1877, ana
the Washington Street Church, antciatlng IL by I'VE
wears I'm nge had TO be- sacrificed. The sum OF Sl3o
OoO was secured for the church property, ana the
members voted to dissolve tho society ana 10 turn
over the money! after nil debts we're paid, 10 tne
I,ronklyn Church society 10 be Known hs the ""en
Incton street Church Fund. and 10 De- USED IN Dullu
lug "A new downtown church when Declined b.st u
srit 10 secure n portion Of the money TO reimburse
him Tor The EXPENSES OF the Mcn trial. drought by
ono Of the active members of the church NJ that ume
Is pending before a referee. ~ e.,.,
Il Is probable that the Brooklyn Church society
will take steps within year 10 establish pcopes
church I'm the REGION which extends north OF Fulton ST.
ana Myrtleavc.. where are now two struggling
Methodist societies the York street aud johnson
street churches. They attempted few years ago 10
consolidate with the Washington street Church, but an
agreement could not be- reached. The Johnson
street Church /, I'm such condition that It's early as
Washington street church who left have scattered
among various nrigborng churches ana the name OF
,ir old society win soon become mere matter OF
history Tho rumble Of Bridge trains VIII arse
where prayer and preaching were 30 long heart ana
an iron super,tructure VIII stand over me si,' Di
H,n ci,y /, So old rs the which the iconoclaStc
Bridge has Just wiped out