The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-05-06
REV YORK TRINITY CHURCH
BISHOP POTTER DELIVERS THE M
CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

Growth aud wOrk-Proeession of Clergy
on the Opening of the servloe-The Mayor
and Many Prominent Persons Were
Present.
New York, May sold Trinity cele-
brated to-day its bl-ceutennial anniVer-
sary, Exactly 200 years ago the organ
ization of the famous Episcopalian
church was accomplished, and a day
later, May 6, 1897, William III. of Eng
land set his seal upon the charter which
gave to the church its existence. While
the occasion has been one of rejoicing
and thanksgiving for the past week.
to-day was made the chief day In the
celebration, because 1t IS the 2Ooth an
niversary Of the day when the church
was really founded.
Always elaborate in the style OF It's
services, the service held this morning
in commemoration of the event was
notable for it's grandeur. The service
was as is customary, full choral ser
vice, with the music of particularly
high order, while In the line of process
sion as 1t marched into the church
We're bishops and priests, the best
known in the city and throughout the
country. The civic authorities were al
so well represented. Mayor Strong
was there with many of the city OIL
GERS, General Wesley Merritt was pres
ent with his staff, President Low OF
Columbia college and the chancellor OF
New York university were conspicuous,
while Commander Bunce and his stan
represented the navy. Then the con-
gregation as a whole was made up
of men and women prominent in this
city. The church was crowded in every
part by the ticket holders. ....
Trinity never looked more gorgeous
than it did this morning. -
Twelve vergers under the direction OF
Senator Brown, looked after the seating
of the congregati ton, while twenty po-
licement under Captain Westervelt of
the Third precinct were distributed
about the church and churchyard to
preserve order.
The celebration began at 10 o'clock
with a preliminary playing of Trinity
chimes.
The order of service was as follows:
Professional Hymn 194-"God of Our
Fathers"
Psalms SO. 100, 1875.
Jubilate.
Hymn 470-"Old Hundred"
Salutatory Address by Bishop Henry
c. Potter.
lie DGuI1l l.. . ouIllN hki
Recessional Hymn 1896.
After the singing of the hymn Bishop
Potter, wearing his red university hood,
came down from the chancel and as
cended the pulpit to deliver his adj
dress.
He began by referring to the environ
ment of the Old Trinity when it was
first built and characterized the emil
grants from Holland who then formed
so prominent a part of the city's popu'-
lation as people of repose, of steady
habits and God fearing, to whom the
new world owed debt which it has
never justly paid
''One's mind'' the bishop continued,
naturally goes back tosthe vicissitudes
which separate the New York of to-day
from that of 1897. How changed it all
is! Changes of every kind have occur
red The buildings have changed, the
city has changed, but especially the
customs and manners of the people
have changed. But In all this change
one thing has remain unchanged. /
speak of this church. 1T has withstood
the modern assaults without being
shaken, and now stands where it did
two hundred years ago. every bit as
great and powerful What was the
foundation of this church that 1t should
be able to resist so easily the vicissir
tudes which have occurred?''
Bishop Potter then went on to de-
scribe how the church was founded, and
then continued, saying:
Tin that way the church has become
more than a historical relic. Thanks
to the Godfearing and earnest men who
founded it, and who have since cared
for it, it is much more than that. 1t is
a mighty monument to the faith and
sincerity of those persons
"Our city, our home, is not perhaps
the greatest in things which strike the
eye but it stands foremost In the UNI
dercurrent of the stream which is
steadily determining the future of man.
kind. Here in the center of our great
city stands this church, and the strong
est,noblest and most influential church
es in this city have been fostered by
Trinity. Trinity is the mother; they
are the offspring. May they never for
get that she Is their mother.
"a prominent critic tells us that wher
the world shall have outgrown religion
society will be held together by com
mercial, intellectual and social life
That has never been true in the past
and it cannot be in the future. No so.
ciety which has not had the fear OF
God and the law of truth as it's basis
has ever survived.
"People tell me that 200 years is not 6
long time for an institution to have ex.
listed I am told that an English choI
house has existed for longer period
That is not the point. The point i:
that while fortunes have been made
and lost, regulations won and lost
families reared and disrupted, Trinity
church has stood out and still stands
serene. quiet and undisturbed. There
have been no mutations in it's existence
Three points appeal to me on this oc
CASTOR. The first is the story of the
financial administration of the church
The story Is one of especial significance
Its income, ever increasing through