New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-06
AGAINST THE PRESBYTERY.
DIR. PARKHURsT CHARGES BREACH OF
FAITH.
HE DECLARES THAT THE ACTION IN REGARD TO
THB CHURCH OF THE SEA AND LAND
WAS CoLD-BLooDED VIOLATION
OF SOLEMN CONTRACT.

Regarding the determination OF the New-York
Presbytery to sell the Church of the Sea and Land.
at Market and Henry SITS. and use the proceeds to
pay off the mortgage on the New-Yofk Presbyterian
Church. az Onehundred- and w enty- eighth-st and
Seventh-ave.. the Rev. DR.. Charles II. Parkhurst,
pastor OF the Madison Square Presbyterian Church.
said to Tribune reporter last night:
The Presbytery and the Madison Square Chur:h
last year entered into agreement tnat the Mao
ison SQUARE Church should associate Itself with the
Church Of Sea and Land for evangelical work We
unwilling to make this aGreenent except WIN a.,
the definite and expressed understanding mat IN
case our efforts during the year from October Ies
TO October ]. 1895. were successful. drialis IT,
should be made for longer term OF co-o2ea , I
the Presbytery and embodied in the wriueh i cor
The action for the sale of the church was taken
without the slightest conierenc' "I,iiharate cold
bloded violation of solemn contract; wI'ch, thougn
1t TO he pr:ty G"'T ' wa an n ac: when
had it been committed in NAL StFegI prs rery
w,,h What they would have considered juicy ma
teral for hometical exploitation r months .4t.r
th. beginning Of the year. and, therefore. eight
months prior the date al which the probationary
The Session OF Madison square Church with dis
regard OF solemn Christian pledge such as no mo-
ured to practise upon an individual member OF the
Had we been approached with that consideration
and courtesy which Christian gentlemen have
right to expect from other Christian genicmGn we
courteous as themselves. and would. ! believe have
teen able in cooperation with them 10 devise some
means by which all the requiem ents OF the case
we had knowledge of their action until after 1t
had been taken go
1t looks some of Us to be a little pusilanimous
convert church property in the poorer ana more
helpless portions of the city into cash for the puT-
pose OF endowing churches uptown. 1t Is great
deal easier to put church on castors ana Wne"i
Il northward at a rate TO keep pace with mgrator!
Christians han II Is TO hold Il stationary ana CON
vert into Christians the unevanSelZed materlal by
which IL may chance TO be surrounded CnrlstlanlN
began it's history by establishing itself IN the con
fdence and sympathy of the poor ana oppicSs,su,
by being the poor mans Gospel. by demonstrating
It's ability TO the allegiance OF those VINO III
their religious predictions were .antagon!suc 10
H. and there IL scarcely any confession OF more
Illuminating character possible 70 be made by 'hrls-
tians than that a church OF Jesus Christ is sur
rounded by a population OF such character that mere
IS no further for Il In that locality. ana td hr
best thing do = 10 transfer Itself TO anothrr
region where difficulties reduced 10 mlhnluH
and the population is doc'rinaly more 'oHscii''
and traCtabe. - ,r,o,
My brethren IN the Presbytery as vas dsnQm,
strated at meeting OF the fresp! &
Union were very willing 10 commend me Ioi Hsht.
ing crookedness In TEnmany Hall ana they mus
not show themselves to be inConsistent by wlinhol
ing their approval II consider Il 10 be my duty -
contend with Tammanysm wherever u occurs. even
though Il be the inside Of an ecresiaStca' III
-,ivat i'm