The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-21
DIR. DAVIES TO LEAVE HERE
FOURTH AVENUE CHURCH'S PASTOR
GOING TO PM ADELPHLA.

He Accepts n Call to the Betbiehom PresbytO.
rim Church-IEiS Action Due Indirectly to
the DecIiRe or tho Fourth Avenue Presby.
terrain Church since DR.. Crosby's Time.
The Rev. John r. Davies, who succeeded
the late DR.. Howard Crosby as pastor of the
Fourth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Church five years
ago, has accepted n call to the pastorate Of tho
Bethlehem Presbyterian Church of Philadel-
phia. His decision was made known to the
trustees OF the Philadelphia church on Sunday.
and last night DR.. Davies returned to this city
to notify his trustees here. -
DR.. Davies's decision to leave tho Fourth
Avenue Presbyterian Church Is indirectly o re-
suit of its gradual decline. During the years
when Dr.. Crosby was pastor 1t grow to DO
one of tho strongest Presbyterian churches in
this city. During many years its location at
Twenty-second street and Fourth avenue was
in the centre of a fashionable locality. and its
congregation, comprising many men OF wealth
and position, lived close around it. But oven
before DIR. Crosby's death. the older and moro
wealthy Of the congregation moved uptownsinto
the now residential districts, and although
they continued their connection with the
church and came down to its services, 1t was
clearly only a matter of time whenaLhey would
seek churches nearer home. After DR..
Crosby's death this process of weakening the
church was fastened by q failure on the part
Of the trustees to secure O SUCCESSOR to him for
about two years. During this time the church
lost q large number of Its older members. by
death or withdrawal. and naturally did Into
s' II W Rsw at sH thIs tine IT tbRa to Be-. DAVE. was called
preached for i've years. sefors thatshe had been
Ho was young and full OF vigor, and during
the five years of his pastorato here, up to six
church. Although tho congregation was still
strong In numbers, the CHURCH vas growing
Il MI had m nnanfinsf two D ehapsls H besides IiesG The MAIN aiMS
church. These were HOPE Chapel, at $3.50 East
Fourth street and Grace Chapel, at 34o East
maintained. with the Rev. John b. Devins as
mlnlster,lb ut Grace Chapel waR closed two years
church Is said to have had as much to do with
this as the need OF economy.
q h heodso 9neoe of {sHTfs for eF fRe t9 cba sEGh'1 proP TsGsIvS a
party In the congregation which urged the sale.
1t was decided, however. not to SELL. The In:
come of the church has grown less and less. until
OF late it has not been equal to the, expenses.
effect upon the incumbency OF DR.. Davies, and
It is also asserted that no had no thought OF
Solicitation upon his part, a committee from
the bethlehem Presbyterian Church called
The members Of the committee saidthat they
had been appointed to find a pastor for their
church. and they thought they would like DR..
Davies. They asked him to come and preach
for them. This he did not do. and il. Is said no
had dismissed the ofrer from his mind. When
two weeks ago,tthe came here, heard
him preach and offered him the pulpit of their
church.
and on Sunday he preached there. He found
himself In a handsome new church Mt Broad
and Diamond streets, in a good rcsid entail dis
looked prosperous. 1t was a question, with
him. his friends, say. whether he should stay
ono which was on the upward turn, and 10
chose the latter.