New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-08
GREAT SPIRITUAL NEEDS.
THE pREsBYTERIANs TO MEET THEM
A REPORT RECOMMENDING THE GIVING Ut OF

A REPORT RECOMMENDING THE GIVING Ut OF
TWO DOWNTOWN CHURCHES.
The New-York Preshytcry Will discuss tomorrow
among other things tie report OF a committee ap
pointed to- "investigate the spiritual eds OF the
several portions of city. to ascertain the duty OF
Presbytery and OF the Presbyte terrain chdrches IN re-
lation to them" The committee appointed last
March consisted OF DR.. Charles A. soddard. Editor
of "Tle Observer; DR.. George Alexander, OF the
University Place Church; DR.. Robert Russell Booth
of the Rutgers Riverside Church. Dr. Joseph X. Kerr
OF the Fourth Church; Walter Carter, John Sloane
and Professor John j. Stevenson. elders. The report
deals exhaustively with the several dstnctS mo
which the city Is divided.
There is no Presbyterian Church or mission south
Of Canal-st. and from the Eowery ana Catharhe
st. and tie committee decides that none is needed
there. Concerning the opposite side OF the bo"ery
from Cenal-st. to Forteth-st, 1t Is said that the
greater part Of the Protestant element remaining
has become floating. living In clearinghouse or
apartments. The statement is made that "the
Protestant churches below Twenty thirdst. can seat
almost the whole adult population ana the Roman
Catholics in that portion OF the area have even greater
accommodations" The city between Fourteenth ana
Fortieth SIS east of Broadway and SiXth-ave.. has
too many churches on the western side ana IN une
centre according to the committee. and not enough
ON the eastern side. The region on the East Sdc
between Fortieth and Eightys sixth ss., east OF Cen
trail Park is similar to the one just described west
Of the Park and north of 1t and the entire northern
part of the island presents general cohuiueh vi
prosperity. and "Presby teranisin IL IS saiu seelS
to be gathering new life in the upper part OF the
isand whittier much OF sturdy population has be-
taken itself From Presbyterian standpoint the
Twelfth Ward the northern part OF the lsahu' Is 'e
most needy district in the city, ana IL Is asserted
that ..f PresbytcrianiSm is 10 be power Tor eoou
IN this city, the churches In that ward must De put
on their feet at once; otherwise there Will be ht'e
taft with uh icl IN
lower wards after dozen years. II we Tree the
uptown churches they will repay the investment III
many ways" The report continues:
Your committee feels that the most ugent calls for old
arc those coming tho LenoX and the New-fork me
former newly organized. needs only its house ana wise
management large the West End for The
locality is imptant. The OF the New-fork church
has been before the Presoytery more than once and
not ALWAYS avorably the condition IA different now
It's propertv hes appreciated greatly in value 50 that the
ground is worth about much as the amount q the
mortgage and comparatively small amount is heeueo 20 10
change the building as TO it what is should be.
The other churches the Twelfth Ward need AID IS hai-
Gated but their burdens not 90 pressing as those
mentioned though they are pressing that they shoud
receive aid as rs possible.
Next in Importance the Northern District is un-
ouesonably East Side of the city from One-hunoredtn'
st. TO Fourt,,nth-st lying within the Fifth and Fourth
districts OF this report great reorganization must De
made here distant time. The churches In u's area
were built for the part 20 be supported by more
than weltoao people are in Fourth and Park aves
three are in Mad sonave two in Fifthave and one be-
tween Fifth aud Sixth ayes. There are TOO many
churches this type since the conditions have chans 70
the extent already mentioned. one or more OF heH
sbous seek new location; but 60 uptown is now cut
Of the question unless 1t be TO consolidate with some con-
creation already formed. as to remove the ueot anu "
Mace the organization In position 20 DO some WORK bt
there Is .oom there need for thorough "orh oeN'u
Th,rdsve at more than locality AMID vast popna
ton containing very many Enghsh'spe1hihg P.oP'o "
moderate means. who with an energeuc l''Hr couia
tain modest sefsupporting church were 'ney ''S pV
yided with building. ,,--
The nobem in th. great Southeast District Is unlike
that in any other localg except the eastern strip OF c
unner Nineteenth and lower Twelfth wards Inc iosio"
With its third OF million OF mostly foreign popn'oh y
senuiney foreign missionary ground, where me'ous wen
d.d or even moderately successful in other localities
are likely TO prove of little service Petty missions or
snnsndages in which to work on surplus energies VI
congregations will mob suffice There must De corps VI
competent sef-sacnpchs "oiNe'9' "''90 @
Is the work Itself .,o .,o,s.
tstTbat the property occupied by the Church OF the
Sea and Land sold, and that the pfoceus 10 u'eu o
work in the upper part OF the city,
second-That Prcsbyery every proper means 10 III
duce the congregation OF the Canal street 'hureh 70 %
solve It's Organization and TO place the property IN '
hands OF the Presbytery " Dc use1 III i'io'e ~
ness OF uptown churches -.
Third-That in every case congregations Receiving "l
from Prespytery any Of its committees De fequ"ou ~
aka rn,vment at such time and such sums as may De
found possible that the money given u pace "1" "
working condition nav be returned in their prosperity
within a reasonable time. be used IN o>'i>uhg o'nc'
concrepaons in the critical period OF their existence
Fourth-That In view Of the great nefH OF lhcic"sV1
., -, tho Fast side OF the city beyond Thirc-aVe ana
between Fourteenth and One-hundrdth sts' commute
ha apnointed consisting Of the pastors OF Phhps' f'"'
Avenue Madison Avenue, Brick AMI Covenant churches
with an elder from each Of those sessions anu ro" ''
-, y, tho Fourth Avenue Church ~ consider whether
r not the best interests Of work viii DO served by
the sale Of one or OF the church buildings represented
io the connIttee money obtained therefor 70 Do USED
g. o,,,blnr church or churches within the area east