The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-16
Cburcbgoing in New York.

Churchg0ing In New YORK.
A report made to the New York Prcsby-
terry last Monday represents the downtown
congregations rs being In bad way. III
accordingly advises that the property OF
one Presbyterian Church in Henry street
be sold, and that the congregation OF an
other decaying church in Greene street DO
induced to dissolve its organization. so that
the money expended by them may be used
in removing tho Indebtedness OF uptown
churches" where the contest against sin
may he waged under more favorable con-
ditons.
Throughout the great and prosperous
east side of the town an equally dcplorapie
state OF things is reported. Among tho
enormous "heathen" population. 1t Is
said, among whom churchgoing Is not
felt as an obligation. the minlstratlons
of Presbytcrians are in small ana di-
minishing demand. Even the western OF
native American wards of New York. when
have been for many years the rnllvlng
ground for evangelical Professionalism. Il
condition OF affairs very little better is de-
scribcd. The Protestant population. tho
report tells us. "is disappearing from the
Eighth. Ninth. Fifteenth. and Sixteenth
wards" or that portion OF the city lying
between Canal street and Twenty-sixth
street, Broadway and the North River. Tho
greater part OF what remains OF it has be-
come FLOATING" or lives in boarding
houses or apartments. Further up town.
ON the west side. Italians and colored peo-
plc threaten to drive out. in great part, the
sturdy Protestant element
This is certainly a discouraSing state or
things, not merely on account OF the de-
cline of attendance in the Presbyterian
churches. which the report discloses. butalso
because it implies a general decndence or
tho churchgoing spirit and an undue in
crease in the number of "hcathen dear
to religious appeals OF any kind and to any
spiritual allegiance whatsoever.
But do the facts Of the case. palpable to
every intelligent observer. justify the
gloomy conclusions of the committee otthe
Prcsbytery? We think not. There has
been no decline in church attendance in
New York. There has been an increase.
healthy. genuine. and generally diifused.
The truth is. though it does not seem to be
a truth which impresses Itself readily or
naturally upon many Jealous persons. that
the population Of the city Of New York.
which is growing at the rate OF 10000 year.
and making even more rapid strides in
progress than in numbers. is shifting
steadily. In consequence of these changes.
church congregations are compelled to lind
new places of worship. For instance. what
sound argument TO show the dcca-
dence OF the churchgoing spirit could be
founded on the undeniable fact that
whereas many years ago Trinity Church
was the centre Of an extensive neighbour
ing population. it is now confronted with
banks and business institutions on the ono
side and cmiGrants' and mariners tcnc-
ments on the other? So il is with ST. Paul's.
st. Johns $. ard many others. Tie presence
in Mott street of large Mongolian popnla-
ton is no proof of the failure Of the Catholic
Church Of the TRANSPORTATION to accepta-
bly, minister to the spiritual requirements
of its thriving parish. Times change and
church sites change with them. and if the
Presbyterian Church has not kept abreast
with the increase in New York city. the
reason for it may be sought elsewhere than
in the alleged decline OF churchgonS in
this city.
Evangelical churches. it ie true. are fewer
on the east side than was the case some
years ago: many have been RACED or Sold
but synagogucs have replaced the churches
of Christian worship. just as on the west
side Catholic churches have become moro
numerous in response to the pressing de-
mand for the greater accommodations OF Il
CONSTANT increasing number OF attendants.
Up town there has been a healthy growth
OF all churches corresponding to the growth
of church membership and attendance.
Tho conditions which exist in Il great city
are not altogether favorable to the eytcn-
sion Of religion. and as city grows these
difficulties become greater: but it is n fact
that cannot be disputed that as compared
with the city Of London. with which great
English-speaking city comparison is more
natural. tho proportionato number of
churchgocrs is greater in New York. and it
appears to BIO increasing here in almost us
great ratio as it is declining there.