New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
SEMI-CENTENNIAL or 4 Oh URCH.
FIFTY YEARS OF THE FRANKLIN AVENUE PRES
BYTERIAN SOCIETY.

FIFTY YEARS OF TIE FRANKLIN AVENUE PlstsS'
BYTERIAN SOCIETY,"
The Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church will be-
Gin the celebration its semicentennal anniversary
today The beginning Of Presbytcranlsm In Brooh'
Ign I'm S22, when the First Church was louiu'u
and its first building was erected on the slte 10"
occupied by Plymouth Church. II now occupies hhe
.tructure I'm IIenry-st The next oldest existing
church Of the denomination IN the city. several other
early ones having passed out Of existence, Is the one
row half Il century old. 1t was originally known as
the Walabout Presbyterian Church and was designed
10 afford n religious home for the residents OF the
region bordering upon Nallabout Bay, where the
original settlement WAS made within tie pres NJ
limits OF Brooklyn, by WaOon Immigrants from
France and where tGc first white child was born
upon the western end OF Long Island. At the time
It was Organized there were less than dozen churches
n the city. and the population was only 10000. Now
,he PrcsbytcIians alone have tlIyOne churches and
.or the 100000 inhabitants there are about 400
churches.
The first permanent pastor OF the Wallabout Church.,
which removed TO It's present site in Frankliaye.,
near Myrtleavc., I'm 1o4j, was the Rev. Jonathan
Grccnlca; who gave the ste for the church structure.
The building begun In 1874 and dedicated In
1910 1t cost exclusive Of furnishing, $4,000 For
he time It regarded fine structure and II Is
It'll comfortable and commodlous building. The
Rev. Mr. Grecnlcaf continued pastor Of the church for
nor" IMAM score OF years. Altcr MS u'Itn III lcpO
Il handsome memorial tablet was erected in his honor
in the church. lie was succeeded By the Rev. william
\. Ferguson. In loC5 the Rev Samuel p. Halsey
became pastor ana served until l6-3. The Rev. j.
Miller liasman was the next pastor, and 1t was In
the Of his that the prcsbytery In this
church and tried the Rev. Mr. saunders for cruel
treatment Of his wife. Mr.. Iageman left the church
last year and has since Joined tho Episcopal Church
The Rev Charles Edward became pastor few months
The church has $50 members and sunday
school OF 30. The church property IS valued at
$4,000 and the Indebtedness is 81 900. The church
will seat 7jo. and the sunday the base
ment will accommodate $50. The building was re-
fitted and rclurnlshed last spring Mt cost OF about
$1,000. y new organ was put IN back OF the pulpit.
where choir gallery was also provided Class rooms
and social parors constructed Lder the Old choir
gallery and the latter lifted up with pcws.
In the celebration Of the golden jubilee OF the
church the Rev, DR.. Theodore l.. Cuylcr will preach
til, morning and the Rev. Or. Charles Cuthbert Hall
this evening Tomorrow evening will he devoted to
iny Years OF "Reminiscences" and among the speakers
will be- two grandsons Of the Rev. jonathan Green
leaf the first pastor one Of them bears hi, name and
preachc, In liawlcy, Penn and the other Is the Rev
Jonathan :. Young, OF Garfield " J. 4 number OF
the pastors Of ncighbrng churches will also speak,
ON wednesday evening the choir will give a jubilt-,
concert.
There VIII be exercises FOR the redodlcaon OF th,
church and tie remuneration OF members on Friday
night ANA the Key. Charlie, Edwards. pastor, Will
l." assisted by se"crul ministers. a week from today
tie Rev. Dr. james Chambers OF Ne,y- Norl, will
pr each, and IN the evening the SUNDAY -,cho i viii
hnNr a Jubilee. at which children from the Howard
orphan Asy lum viii sing.