The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-27
onUaoH roo rBARs orr.
me yirut Reforuea PRESBYTERIAN church Gel
sbrntes pts Centennial.

'NANN ~
The First Reformed Presbyterian Church was
100 years old yesterday, n voncrablcrogo in this
country, and consequently there was an olabo-
rate celebration OF the event. The interior Of
the odince, on Twelfth street, near Sixth ave.
nue., was decorated with flags, palms, and potted
plants. Prof. David Steele, D.. d., of Philadcl-
phia. father of the pastor, preached tho morning
sermon. In tho evening the Rev. James Dallas
Steele, Pr. d.. who has been pastor of the church
since 1901, made an interesting address.
In 1889 the Rev. James Reid, Commissioner
from the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland,
came to this country and preached in the house
OF John Agnew at o Peck slip. There Mr.. Ag.
news two children, William and Mary Ann
taftorward the wife of tho Rev. Alexander Nc.
Leod, tho first pastor of the church,. were bap.
tized. Agnew was an Irish covenanter, who
had been driven from his home in Belfast be.
cause of his sympathy with tho struggling col.
onies in America. He was n moving spirit
in the society which was formed at
his house in 1890. Other recruits from
Ireland and Scotland arrived. and on Dec.
&c, 1897, the First Reformed Presbyterian
Church was organized with fifteen members.
The first communion was celebrated in August.
1908. in n schoolroom on Cedar street. The Rov.
Alexander Mcleod. ID. D., was installed as tho
FIRST pastor on July q, 1901. He hesitated about
accepting the call of the church because there
were shareholders among the members. Tho
church considered the matter. and decided to
purge the rolls of those Shareholders already ad.
mitted to membership and forever after to ,ex-
clude others from the congregation. This was O
radical movement at such an early period of the
anti.slavery movement.
The meetings Of the new church were FIRST held
In Cedar street. but later q franc building was
erected on Chambers street on the site now oc-
cupied by tho American News Company's build
ing. In 1878 a larger and more commodious
brick structure was built on the same site. Dur
ing the war of 1872 Pastor Mcleod. who was a
true patriot and an ELOQUENT preacher. nd:
maintaining the. independence and dig.
a second congregation for uptown mem.
bers was established, but there came q
division in the church in 1888 over the civil
government Of the organization. There was
the Chambers street edifce. During this
trouble the Union Presbyterian Church build
ing, at Prince and Marion streets, wus pur-
chased and used by the members Of the original
On Jan. ii. 1888, the Rev. John Neil Mcleod
was called to the pastornto after the death Of
his father. He continued in this relation until
1874. Since then the church has had two pas
tors, the Roy. William Wylic. 1s74-lSs5, and
tho Rev. John NJ. Stephens, lsS7-1SS9. besides
the Rev. Mr.. Steele, the present incumbent.
The removal to the Twelfth street building took
place in ls49 to meet the demands of the up.
town members. and the church is contemplating
another move still further north. The largest
membership has been between four and Ave
hundred.
The centennial celebration will be continued
on each evening this week until, Thursday. and
will include. a guests night" a missionary
meeting, and an entertainment by tho young
people of the society.