New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-23
INCIDENTS IN HARLEM.
TIE ST. JAMES'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH-OUTINGS AND ENTER
TAINNFNTS

One hundred andtwenty SXth-st has always attracted
great deal OF attention by the beauty of its archi-
lecture and the general air OF respectable old age
about IT. The recent efforts to unite the consre1a-
ton Of this church with that Of st. paus Methodist
Episcopal Church has brcIght the church into more
than usual prominence Whether not the union Of
these two churches is brought about st. JamesS VIII
always hold prominent place in the eyes Of the pub
lie. 1t IS church which has had remarkable
having been established more than half CEN
tury ago when Harlem "A struggling village At
that time, 1-4O the New York Conference embraced
the following districts New-Yort, New-llaven,
Rhinebeck. Troy, Saratoga. Hudson River Champaign
and Platsburg. while the population OF NewlOrk city
at that time trifc over 200 600
The members OF the Methodist denomination In this
city numbered Just 1000 including sxynine negroes
The whole city was then one circuit with the Rev.
Daniel Osrandor presiding elder. At that time the
following Methodist Episcopal churches were I'm the
city: John street Duane street, Allen Street, For
svth Street, Willct Street, Seventh Street and
Bedford street. Three services were held in
these churches every Sunday, and It was customary
for the ministers TO rotate, preaching in different
churches on the sunday and each succeeding
sunday Harlem at the time the ST. James's Church
was established village with only single church
and IA little scloohouse.
The Harlem Mission established In 1890 and
II mnlsered to the needs OF many who were only
temporarily living there and generally without
church services. The mission included the north
part OF New FORK iI.ind embracing all above Upper
Greenwich and DOwery village rs they were then
called. Bishop Hodding at the session OF the New
York Conf, renee, held May g. 1890. assigned the
Rev. Ira Ferris to this mission. Mr.. Ferris per-
Termed his duties cho,rfr.lly exploring his charge
sometimes horseback and other dimes on foot,
rreacldng at various points wherever he could
gather Il congregation. tavern stoops and often
preaching from horseback TO the people who at times
rcSortcd TO the unsettled parts Of the Island Tor
Sunday carorsing.
Mr.. Ferris said "Whcn came to this mission
found class consisting Of twentysix members,
and although for time matters seemed quite dis
couraring since the oIcning OF the spring the
prospects have become much better. have admitted
on twcnty-six members by certificate, and by
rcadmision sixteen, that now We have three classes
embracing sixty eight men hers. IL the mission be
continued. as ! think II ought TO be-. have no doubt
hut that much good n.Ig b. DONE In 1872 the
trustees OF the Harlem Mission bought eight lots Of
ground with the house and outhuldIngs on them to
erect meeting house. one thousand dollars was
subscribe for this purpose and the trustees announced
tirir intention Of binding possible. At
this time the membership OF the church numbered
eighty five. and by 1885 the membership had
increased to l0l members. There were three Sunday
schools. six supcntcndons. twenty-five eachers and
$40 pupils the average Attendance being $50. tn"
Building bought by the trustees at the northeast
corner OF TLIrdavc. and Onc-hundred and-twcnty-
nfth-st. II was ordinary dwelling. Before moving
into the One-hundrcd-and-twenty fftl-st. house the
congrr cation IN the building called the Academy
or Harlem school. IN Onchundrcdand- twentieth-st
between second and Third aveS. Tn" church nscd
the upper room on sunday and Tuesday evenings
for year.
The congregation wor,hlppcd in the building In One
hundred and twenty hfth st. many years but in 1870.
It decided to build another church and the
property AT Madison and Onc-hundrcd and twenty
siXtl-sl bought, and the present handsome
l-ovnsone building erected on 1t. The original
structure had hsh stccplc. but in fTW years 1t
was found 10 be unsafe and II taken down. The
dedication 81 the new building took place May II,
io7i. bishop Japcs preached in the morning. the
Rev f. /. Ives In the afternoon. and the present
Bishop Newman IN the evening Bishop James con
ductcd the 'dcatpry service. Dr. Ives managed the
collection. and the Rev. 5 d. Brown. the Rev. DR..
Crooks and the Rev. George II. Corey took part in
the services.
The entire cost Of the property was slo3ooo, Of
which 40 90 had been paid and 10000 was secured
on q mortgage. The audience called on for sub
,crlpilon, Ia that amount. Large the was.
The whole amount raised NJ tho morning service.
subscription, added in the afternoon and even
ing Increasing the collections for the day 10 $4,000.
h. congregation of It Jam,ss Church has attracted
The better cducat,d and many Of the fashionable class
Of people 81 Harlem. Som" Of the pastors Of tho
Luckcy. Daniel De Vlnnc, James rloy John Gran
Vile Tickabrrv sylvester Hale Clark Elbrr osborn.
samuel T. Fisher. samuel seaman Gcorg" Taylor. VI.
r. WILING -a.nucl I. Ferguson. Jane, W. Freeman. |
Enm, G. Iurncy. Thomas Eaiubrdcc. J. G. WaShburn
and Jacob f.. Price. the present pastor.
\ highly interesting game Of baseball will be played
on saturday between a nine selected by the Hamilton
Club Of Harlem. No. 2II West pnc-hundrcd and |
thrticth..t and the Independence Club Of seventh |
ave- AID one hundred md W., nty-scventh st. Both of
thr,.. club, Republican In politics and hav" been
exceedingly active In tie political work Of the
NNNlIlth Assembly District. The challenge was
offered by the independence club. ana +. J. Symmc,
81 the Hamilton club. will manage the affair. Mr.
>ymmc IN, the distinction Of having carried the first
baseball challenge from Yale College to Harvard In |
lsCG. The betting N present Is somewhat IN favor |
81 the Independence club rs It I, composed Of young
men fun O m" ard enthusiasm. and the general opinion
Is that they will bat ia" llamlionian, around the |
field In The ivcliost Llrd Of fashion. There some
good player, among The Hamilton Republicans. how
ever and they are going To make the best possible
howinc The game will b, played In the Little |
Polo Grounds AT >"ycnthave and one hundrcddnd- /
seventeenth II. Most Of IN" members Of the two
club, lc,idcs many Of their friend, will probably be
in attendance TO watch the mighty struggle"
The Bradhurst Republican Club, Of West Harlem,
la, taken steps for giving outing this season The
affair will tab" pac" Thursday at Cosmopolitan
Park. Onchundrcd and sixty ninth ST. Many OF the
prominent Republicans Of Harlem, besides we'll known
political leaders from other parts of the city and
brooklyn, expected 10 be- present. Nearly all the
Republican organizations In Harlem have been invited.
and will send large DELEGATIONS to represent them ut
the picnic. II Is expected that the occasion will be
made Informal conference Of Republicans In the
northern part Of Manhattan Island 80 that they can
discuss. In general way. plans for carrying on the
campaign In the fall. Many nlcfchangcs Of opinion
will take place, and by ia" time the fall campaign
opens Kcpublloaus IN Harlem will be In II pretty
good condition for wagjne n good fight. The head
quarters Of the BradhnrSt Republican club are In West
hundred ana fort fifth ST.. where tickets for the
outing may b. had Tor - cents. besides the general
features Of the outing. interesting programme
been provided for the amusement of tlOS" attend
iug If.