New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-30
IN THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY.
MINoRITY's FIGHT AGAINST CONSOLIDATION OF
THIRTEENTH STREET AND FOURTH AVE
CHURCHES

NUE. CHURCHES.
Street Presbyterian Church will be consolidated
with the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church Is
still hanging fire. Although the congregation or
the former church at a meeting held on April
decided on consolidation by the close vote OF loo
to 49, and the congregation Of the latter church
gave voice to the same opinion a short time be-
fore by a vote OF q to 80. active steps hi We
yet been taken to effect the union. Committees
on consolidation have been appointed by both
churches but the will Of the majority has not yet
been carried out This is because the minority IN
the Thirteenth Street Church have been fighting
the scheme since they were defeated ana
have sent the matter to the Presbytery Those VINO
were dissatisfied with the decision got up petit
ton signed with about 100 names and presented
this to the annual meeting of the Presbytery,
which was held on April r. They asked that 'he
Presbytery refuse to sanction the consolidation on
the ground Of right and wrong, and this oooy APP
pointed an investigating committee, consisting Oh
the Rev Dr. F. II. Marling. the Rev. DR.. C. "A.
stoddard Elder Brush. OF the Harlem Presby-
terrain Church, and Elder Morris. of the Church OF
the Puritans. This committee will report to the
Presbytery at it's meeting on May 8. and then the
question will be settled. The anti-consoHdation-
lists are hopeful OF victory, but they say mat
II the Presbytery rejects their petition and ratnes
the consolidation they will appeal to the Synod
courts OF the State
Those who favor consolidation have been car
ryng on as active a campaign as their opponents
and bitter dssension is the result In the Thr-
tenth Street Church When Dr. Buchanan. the
pastor OF this church, heard Of the petition, ne
sent the following letter to all who we're with him
for consolidation: -
My Dear Friend BY majority vote OF our con- on
gregation have settled upon union WIN tne
have since signed a paper to that emece, 90 d la
SO and are on record for union Presbytery will
doubtless give It's consent II is our privilege now;
against union to come in with us, which will be in
keeping with the great American prneipe OF or tne
which applies to the Church as well State.
Our constant attendance on all the services on
vote OF the majority as nearly unaniomus as pos
sibe will I believe. bring about the best results
have heard that another paper Is being vigor.
to urge you from this time on to sign, no paper
cns matters as your pasoP
'"'' ''-'''' w D. BUCHANAN.
This letter, as we'll other dolngs of the
solidationists subsequent to the meeting Of April
4 has caused much wrath among the minority
They are incensed over the action OF the Sunday
school superintendent in refusing to allow three
young women OF the church to substitute one Sun
day for friends OF theirs in the teaching OF Sunday
school classes. The would-be substitutes belong to
the superin tendent who is for consolidation, as
basely partisan and harmful to the interests OF the
church They also condemn the majority for turn
ing down old officers OF the church IN the annual
meeting held on. April r. simply because these
officers did not favor consolidation The officers
turned down were two elders. Of whom one was
clerk of the Session; two were trustees, including
the treasurer OF the church. and three were
deacons.
The minority are geefu over the alleged admis-
sion OF Dr. Buchanan that he set on foot himself
the plan for consolidation and that It did not
originate in the Fourth Avenue Church. as was
at first represented. They also point with pleasure
TO the following statement OF their pastor, which
appeared In Church Life" In May 1897. and which,
they say contradicts his principal argument for
consolidaton-that the Thirteenth Street Church
has for some time been losing ground In its present
situation:
THE year through which have passed
has been OF great encouragement While souls
have been saved and the history OF these months
records many accessions 10 our ranks II has been
conspicuously time OF upbuding and soidifying
Despite the large number OF removals that must
necessarily be expected In downtown church life
we have closed our year for the first time In many
years with a clean lance-sheet and with the
property free from all encumbrance Whatsoever
We have abundant cause to thank God and take