New-York tribune., 1896-01-20
A CAUSE FOR THANKSGIVING
JOY IN THE NEw-YORK PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.
ITS OVERWHELMING DEBT REDUCED ABOUT
s5oooO-sPECIAL SERVICES YEsTERDAY-DR.

ITS INTEREsT-BEARING DEBT REDUCED ABOUT
s5ooo-sPECIAI. SERVICES YEsTERDAY-DR.
| THoMPsON's HARD WORK AS PASTOR
| The New-York Presbyterian Church. Of which
the Rev DIR. Charles s. Robinson is the pastor
he'd special services OF Thanksgiving yesterday
over a reduction OF $4,000 in the Understanding
| debt OF the church. The promised reiet IN 'he
financial affairs OF the church had been so otteh
deferred that preparations for the services ia'
been made until Saturday when the payment OH
the mortgage actually took place. 20 that few per-
| sons except the trustees knew OF any intended
change in the ordinary services The church owns
| a large and handsome structure on the northeast
| corner OF Seventh-ave. and One-hundreu-aho-
nyeighth-st. In the heart Of the inest resnehce
district of Harlem. A debt OF $oo.W was ihcurreu
| in the building OF the church and chapel and
| mortgage for that amount on the church property
| has been held by the Bowery savings baih'
The payment OF the interest on the mortgage
| was found TO exceed the financial ability or the
church. The pastor the Rev W. W. rage re-
signed his position and the church re'ha1heu WIN
| out a pastor until November. lss2, wheh 'he rev
DR.. Charles s. Robinson was chosen as pastor
The reduction of the inerest-bearing deo' mas
bsen the object of constant effort since that uWe
| The New-York Presbytery was appeared 10 pS H.
| Robinson, and II was more thah cree |o'e" ~
| raise the money by selling or mortgaginS properly
| belonging to the Presbytery and occupied py '"1
ket ste The Sea and Land Church occupied
valuable niece OF property. but the congregation
had almost entirely disappeared IN the CROWN VI
the city northward. The action taken was Tese'nu-
ed and again taken. and the depaIes y" ''''
subject IN the New-York Presbytery nave pre
| marked with much bitterness Inc MAJ 'o''o"
taken has resulted in the resignation OF one VI
tho trustees Of tho Presbytery and In some uh-
friendly feeling among members OF the Presoy'erY'
which has as yet scarcely died out - "oi's"s'
of $50 600 on the Sea and Land Church WIS P,o
cured q fow weeks ago by the trustees OF the
Presbyiery through Colonel ~ T. hetehu""' t!e'
! counsel and on last Saturday payment " ''V,
| ooo and some accrued interest was made throush
Colonel Kctchum to the BoweTy Ha'n'ss Dam
The trustees Of the Presbytery received iro'" ''e
| New-York church mortgage to cover '"e AMIN
| advanced. but this Is without interest ana y
| not payable 50 long as the church Is oo'"70'
with the Presby ,eran denomination
| Tho announcement Of tho final payment OF the
sum OF $1,000 was made to the church at the NOR
ing service yesterday by James T. davenport "''
Of the trustees or the church wno .Se onenina
ey,rrlses Ue tod OF the action OF ne truSte.s
OF the church an Presbyery ana Sa ntsrest rS, or
tha remaining $1,000 might be reduced so .hat W., o,,s
church woId nn sa interest charse an amount
which tho trustees believed could be- pald rom w ,ie
cIdinaty rcEe, t he ,pusteeq 10 the Rev. Dr. Robin
son "a co'onel Ketchum and TO others VINO ha1
| -. ire
w. ,r"-,gago held by the Bowory savings iahm.
';r Thn '1 Rey DR. Robinson spoke with much feellnE
81, H. ro,ief afforded To the churcn IN KS "oih
he IA. nayment made by the Preshytery ne 80 Tr
,;,,,,.d fcr ths sermon which he had preparei lOi
roiycrv an address, OF thanksgiving tor e-a, .no az,
comnlishment OF the work of reducing 'he interest,"
bearing debt. 81, - 90 ,o, now no more
ond,nr fanlt with members CT the rresoy a bi
mum. s,on At cnce We have nothln9 now w.
nsod ,oeng for all Thanksgiving for our present
| e.. ~ hone for the future. . ,.. ror
| I,r Robinson spoke Warmly o, ~ n.oS,,n ~, "
| ,1 1T ,Se church by Colonel A.. T. ketcnun;. - az.
Tsa "venlng service at the chureh was a'So o"'
! Of Thanksgiving. -, s.,,-o,- Dob,nson has been
Tn',sry,er'an clergyman for hfty years; re -
n ,or seventecn OF the Mauls2n -
pastor ior In his city. and had formerly been
s,o~ ~ Brooklyn church iie was a'so honsi ,o IN
| pn1 ,.,rs I'm charge of the Amerluan "pp,i,oc
p,ris Ie is well known az me edI!or r oi for ,bo
, ~ sacred hymns especially SonsI1 1,I ,o nor
ons :" spiritual songs and %mSf' hroaS mann
NJ ,t,,s re IL n pulpit orator or great Lo'T e., re
| eli'on-' hos done much editorial "otk ~ IT,
nSiom~ lie has until the present year Sceas
~ f>n s"r ,n axe any payment for ms ssrVhoes
r'iuse' " IN" Ncw-York church. though nc ,ine
lase.nd a, unusual amount OF energy anu "''
| -, 80 ,rork In Harlem.