New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-07
SPLIT IN CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS.
THOSE WHO OBJECT TO MOVING FAR UPTOWN
FORM A PRAYER-MEETING ASSOCIATION.

THOSE WHO OBJECT TO MOVING FAR UPTOWN
FORM A PRAYER MEETING ASSOCIATION.
A announced In The Tribune at the time. the
Church OF the Strangers moved few months ago
from It's old home. in Mercerst. to Fifty-seventh-
st. and Seventh~ave. When the move was mace
there were mary who regretted that the church
founded by DR.. Charles F. Deems quarter OF
century ago should stand no more IN It's old loca-
ton but il has only just become known 10 out
siders that n good many Of the congregation were
strongly opposed to the removal OF the church up
town. and have. since that came TO pass. met TOT
worship In the parlor Of the West Twelfth Street
Reformed Presbyterian Church. Those who have
seeded from the Church OF the Strangers have
united und,r the name OF the Charles F. Deems
Prayer Meeting Association. and will. 1t Is ex-
pected form n new congregation. ana perhaps
some day build another church in the old neigh
borhood.
When Dr. Deems died, about four years ago the
Rev Daniel A. Blackburn succeeded him. and had
been fully In accord with the congregation until II
is declared he threw his influence into the scale
with those who wished TO move uptown
One OF those who opposed him and who have
since formed separate congregation told IT'D
une reporter yesterday that he could not under
stand why the move had been made as the con-
gregaton had been assured that the new church
should be below Thirty-fourth-st. Mr. Blackburn,
he added, had said tina. everybody was moving up
town. and that business buildings were quickly sup
nIanting the private homes in the neighborhood Of
the old church But. said the seceder. there was
large tenement-house population near Mercer-st.
and II was 70 work for them that the church had
been founded There were nine places OF worship
near the new Church Of the Strangers, and he
did not think new church needed there.
The chairman Of the Provisional Committee Of
the new Twelfth-st association is Alvin Summers.
Of No 205 West Twentieth-st Mr.. Summers said
that many of the members OF the old church felt
that they could 60 10 the services uptown.
and decided there nothing to be done but
keep together and carry as far as possible, the
work begun by DR.. Deems
Several months before the change was decided
on" added Mr. Summers. "a movement was begun
looking 10 procuring n new location for the church |
as It stood on leased ground and the lease will |
expire in May OF this year. meeting was called |
for December IS and II was then determined 10 go |
uptown by a vote OF something like 40 to a against.
Many OF US felt that could not go far uptown. |
and on January 20 circular was sent out. which |
read as follows:
Dear Friends Desiring 10 perpetuate the mem
DRY OF Dr. Deems in the immediate vicinity OF the
his grand Network and Of his activity In spreading |
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. and believing that the
swee; and tender influence which his ife has pro
duced upon those who were associated with him Is
still live active force the undersigned have or
ganized for that purpose, and have arranged for
evening Of 9nss weef 70 ;, Dc sn9Wn
parlor Of the Twelfth Street Church west Of Sixth
ave. every Thursday evening at i;S o'clock This
organization. is undenoninatona and ron-sectari-
in Its character
This was signed by thirty members Of the
followed. ITp to now the meetings nave been weil |
attended. about eighty-fve being the average num-
Der present i