The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-05-03
FOUNDED 200 YEARS AGO
HISTORIC TRINITY OF NEW YORK OBSERVING ITS BI-CENTENNIAL.

The Old Church Crowded to the Doors
 Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix Preached an His
 torical Sermon-An Answer to the Critics
 of tho Work of the Trinity Corporation
 Solemn Communion Services.
 New York, May 2.-In Trinity church, which for many years has stood on Broadway facing Wall street, overlook ing that center of trade and commerce, began to-day the celebration of the bi- centennial of the foundation of the Trinity Protestant Episcopal church. The celebration will continue through out the week. The old edifice was en- larged in 1737 and destroyed by fire in 1776. It was not rebuilt until twelve years later, and was torn down in 1859 to give place to the present edif1ce, which was consecrated on May 21, 1S46. Trinity to-day includes nine chapels, in addition to a parish church, large number of industrial schools, a hospi- tai, a number of guilds, clubs and par ish associations.
 The old church was crowded to the doors to-day. The celebration began at 7.30 o'clock, the usual Sabbath morning services being performed. At 10 o'clock the rector, Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix, preached an historical sermon. He said, in part:
 we have reached the end of term of two hundred years. That would not be considered long in Europe, but here, it is, for us, long time Manhattan is- land was seen by Hendrick Hudson in 1909; it was settled by the Dutch in 1914; it was taken from them by the English in 1864. So, then, it is but 2S3 years since this city was founded and 233 years since it became an English town; and for 200 of those years our parish church has stood where it now stands, and still longer; for 223 years have the services of our religion been celebrated in this place.
 For us this constitutes a worthy age, and we do well to keep our two hun dredth birthday. We belong to the place and the soil and our history runs nearly as far back as that of the city. Think of that distant day! Two hun dred years ago the wall by which the town was defended ran along the line where now the great business street of this continent opens to the view Near the city wall the first Trinity church was built, on the extreme northerly edge of the town. At that time there were enemies and adversaries in abun- dance ready and desirious to frustrate work; violent opponents of Episcopacy; fanatical seceders from the Anglican communion; jealous members of other religious bodies.
 "The founding of a church and par ish of the English type in New York was due to a little group of staunch and intelligent men, who styled them selves the managers of the Church of England,' and to the firmness of the governor, Benjamin Fletcher, in resist ing and defeating a scheme to settle a dissenting minister over the inhabi- tants of the place. The year 1898 saw a modest but sufficient edifice erected on this very spot, and charter was duly signed by which the parish came into legal existence. The bishop of London was named in that charter as our first rector but at once, and with his con- sent the office devolved upon William Vesey, who for forty-nine years ruled 1x,ft on
 Dr. Dix then told in detail the early history of the church. He spoke of the nine rectors the parish had, saying that the names of Vesey, Auchmuty, Inglis and Hobart might perhaps be regarded as standing with especial prominence. He went into detail regarding the Trim ity corporation saying there was a great difference of opinion about the parish of Trinity church in the city of New York" and that there are those who praise it and those who defame He declared that a system so variously appreciated and so differently esteemed must have much in 1t to draw and hold attention. Strong characters only re- ceive strong compliment of intense dis like and hatred
 He claimed that at first as now it stood for the system which may be his- torically described as Anglo Cal tholic Christianity and then went into the creed and customs.
 He spoke of the parish system, say ing: '"The great revival of the last two hundred years, designated by the title of Oxford movement was the new making, the uplifting of the church That movement was felt here, and we in this parish, have gathered its best fruit
 He told of the trials incident to the position of the church, saying: 'We have had to do battle not once, nor twice, but often with those who aimed to do us mischief; battles have been fought for life, for rights, for property, our church wards and our land"
 The solemn communion services were then conducted while the grand organ played one of Beethoven's symphonies The recessional hymn, Sing With All the Sons of Glory closed the service.
 Struck by Freight Train and Killed.