New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
THE JUBILEE OF DIR. WELLS
A WEEK TO CELEBRATE THE COMPILE
TON OF FIFTY YEARS AS PASTOR.
SEVERAL, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES IN MAN
HAITIAN AND BROOKLYN OWE THEIR
FXIsTFNCE 10 HIS INITIATIVE.

SEVERAL PRFSBHTERlAN CHURCHES IN Man
HAITIAN AND BROOKLYN OWE THEIR
EXISTENCE TO HIS INITIATIVE.
The members OF South Third Street Presbyterian
Church are now engaged in planning an elaborate
celebration TO mark the close OF the hftieth year
Of the services Of their pastor, the Rev DR. John
D. Wells known in the Eastern District as the
Father Of the Presbytery." No date has been
AGED authoratlvely for the affair, but as Dr. Wells
was ordained and installed pastor in January.
1880 the celebration will take place some time next
month. The jubilee will last week. Dr. WeIis
long experience in the church and his VIDE range
OF knowledge have been so well known that many
young men starting out on ministerial career
have come TO him for advice, and Dr. Wells mas
rtven them fatherly and wise inJunctions that have
borne fruit.
Dr. Wells was born in Whtesboro. Oneida county
on October 25 1915. He remained there until ne pe-
gan his studies in the Cambridge Academy. In
1895 he was graduated from Union college ana SIX
wears later from the Princeton Theological sem
,,or, lie next went 10 New Hamburg. where he
sunnlied the pulpit in the private chapel OF James
Ienox He was ambitious, and thought ne "ouiu
come TO New-York where he started In missionary
work Through his iabors he build up prosper
Gus missionary branch in Twenty-nlnth-st' OF
which the Madison Avenue Presbyterian church
was an outgrowth. In 1876, owing to III health
caused bv his untiring efforts In the church, ne
vas compeIled 10 retire for two years. At the END
OF this time with health fully recovered ne went
with the enthusiasm OF young preacher INTO the
work OF the parish school connected with 'he iIrst
PRESBYTERIAN Church. OF Brooklyn curing th's
Tina tho congregation OF the Third Presbyterian
,hurcb which had been organized IN Isii' was
uorsbinpnC in the district school building. suose-
ouently known as the Eastern District Library al
Driegs-aye and South Third-st, which Is no" useu
90 the Eastern District High School In 1850 Dr'
wells was called to take charge OF the work OF TINS
congregation and on Sunday evening January ~
$50 ne was ordained and installed WIN an aru a
h0rn ~ love OF the work he began 10 Duiu UP tIie
~, and in this he highly successful.
After establishing his church firmly ne
srnar Marty and sent Il out 10 form the OASIS OF
nn,r cburch In 1854 the home mission Work pore
yr,,i, ard eighteen members OF ms c0hBIesatlJ{h
esta bshed the Ainsie Street Prespy teriah en-.
II uss difficult time then 10 raise money 10 puy
tha sround and erect house OF worship; Dul tle
sa,,b TbIrd street Church contributed SS,vV' aho
,bs ranainder necessary was given DE sono
~ ths members OF the new congrega uoh. WIN the
srccsssfui Termination OF this work anotnen c0ohy
ros or9anized and In 1852, after many uiinGyuiues,
81. rrhrnor Avenue Church vas organized II was
civ tue Years later that twenty-seven nenpers OF
49, rsrer. church and dozen members OF other
the combined and formed the nucleus OF the
ons.ar, aoss street Presbyterian Church
rsS,asr zoe rs ago DR.. Wells felt the necessity OF
having an assistant TO carry on the WORK OF me
nhrrnS IJs son the Rev NeweH Nolsey Nells'
.L h..,as associated with him. Dr. wells mas
enc,rtad The parsonage In South Ihirdst, next
49, 20 .be church building ever since its cohple
' .hnr, time after the erection OF the church