The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1893-05-13
NEW YORK AVENUE CHURCH.

Not more than three assem- blies at any
rate have been more important, and pos
sibly but two-the one which organized
the church Immediately after the United
States became nation and that of 1870,
which completed the reunion of old
school and now school, which had been
separated about 33 years. At the COM
ing assembly an earnest attempt will be
made to give final settlement to certain
questions which have troubled the church
for several years, chief among them the
revision Of the confession of faith and
the famous-one might almost say noto
rious-Briggs case
The New York Avenue Presbyterian
church is one of the historic places Of
Washington. The name was taken in
1859, when the old F Street and Second
Presbyterian churches were united I'M
der the pastorate of Rev. DR.. Phineas D,
Gurley, who took the lead in building
the present edifce. In 1859 the old con-
gregation welcomed the general assem-
bly, Of that year. In the original con-
gregation, Presidents Andrew jackson,
John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce
were frequently present in their terms,
and the attendance Of the last named at
the prayer meetings was subject Of
frequent remark. James Buchanan oc-
cupied a pew there regularly, and Abra-
ham Lincoln made it his religious home
so far as he had any. Today it has a
very large proportion of eminent Off
cials among it's attendants.
Nevertheless when DR.. Bartlett was
called to the pastorate in 1882, the mem
bership was but a few over 500. Itrapid-
ly increased to 2000 and the original
church has founded two others, the
Church Of the Covenant and the Gurley
Memorial, and sustains two fourishing
missions. William Alvin Bartlett Was
born Dec. 4, 1889, in Binghamton, N.
Y, and was graduated from Hamilton
college in 1859, since which time his Ca
reer has been one of extraordinary &C
tivity. Among of his classmates and init
mates at college were the present Justice
Merwin Of the supreme bench Of New
York, Rev. Mr.. Cleveland, the presi-
dents brother, Charles Dudley Warner
and Professor Fisk Of Cornell, and
though Bartlett was the youngest (but
10 when he graduated) all the others
conceded him the honors Of the class,
and he has since worn the Phi Beta Kap-
pa badge on his watch chain.
While still minor he was made act
ing professor of Greek, Latin and elocu-
tion at the institution near Staunton,
Va A year later he entered Union
Theological seminary, New York, and
after graduating there with high honors
took course in Halle and Berlin, de-
voting special attention to what is now
called higher criticism. He has held
pastorate sat Owego, N. Y, Brooklyn,
Chicago and Indianapolis, and has done
;sn immense amount of outside work, such
as lecturing, writing and speaking in
support Of the war for the Union. He
had one brother, major, killed in the
last movement Of the Army Of the Po-
tomac, and another, General J. J. Bart
lett, was recently buried at Arlington as
IN honored veteran.
Rev. DIR. William G. Young of Ken.
lucky, who will preach the opening SER
mon, is also u man Of varied experience
and with an interesting history. He was
born April %, 1842, in Danville, KY,
his father being the Rev. DR.. John G.
Young, and his mother, Cornelia, a
daughter Of the eminent John J. Crit
ts1den. Center college at Danville had
been chartered by the legislature in 1919
and in 1880 DR.. John G. Young was
elected president. He died in 1857, having
been president ~ years, and 81 years lat
er the trustees elected his son, DR.. Will
liam, as president. Though he entered
on the duties late that year his forma:
inauguration was postponed to the seven
tieth anniversary Of the founding of the
college. Oct. 8, 1889, was indeed a proud
day in the history Of Danville and Cen
ter college.
After his graduation there in 1859 DR.
Young passed some years i'll teaching
and reading, then took q complete theo
logical course, Travelled some time in Pal
estine, filed pastorates in various places
-one being seven years. charge at Ful
lerton Avenue church, Chicago whence
he returned to his native state and wal
for eight years pastor Of the Central Pres
byterian church Of Louisville. Thence
he went to take charge Of his alma ma
tar. When the general assembly con