The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-06

IItbDyIoTlAD CnuFCn IN NOW YORK. DeRgtnR
him not TO give up his most at this j%uncturs.
when there nre so many churches OF the de-
nomination in the city either without pastors
dition such that It is felt that their continued
work FOL, good. az any rate in. their present To-
eattons. IL not wholly assured.
Or. Atterbury spoke in a vein similar to that
followed hy the others. When the speakers
Of S' the P Urgency oT the ihEeo need T. thai InSi Dr. s'TS ss DyEs
stay here IS the y peopple hunted the floor ylg.
was pnmistaEably the unanimous voice OF the
A COPY OF the resolutions was taken at once
UPON the adjournment OF the meeting to DIR.
AT the, afternoon service DR. Van Dyke an
nounced his determination to remain Will the
church, saying that, II had been made clear to
he held his usual reception aud many OF the
CHURCH people went up TO shake his hand, DR..
a letter. as follows:
10 he Session and ConayrodtDn Of IL, Byick cltrcl.
DEAF FRIENDS; Your. action, at your meet
and so kind in spirit that | must thank YOU Tor
1t, a man should always be grateful to those
who help him to read his duty clear. If you say
there is still some pocessary work for me TO do
for the cause OF Christ here IN New York do
tninly God has set before the Brick Church
o large opportunity in the service OF religion
II thus great city 70 stand firm rs a church for
tides OF fashion and popularity may cbb or
flow: T.. DO u generous and, many-sided work
IN Christ,s name for the good of the city. reach
ing, out from the central avenue through our
AFFILIATED churches from river To river, and
sending gifts ana infOt nation and workers as
far as we can in ali directiOns; to prove that
historic Presbyterianism, IS still, II broad and
deep and true ehannol for vital and practical
plain. Ole. fnsRion!sSdT creed sta mfN'f for gu" a
clean living and wise giving: to use
inspiration to a revcrent. cheerful. Harmonious
HE; to show our LOYALTY to the past ~ an an
present as a living c~hurch-this is surely a
noble future, for the Brick, Church. ] believe
time l can do a little to help to make this
II still believe that a man may serve God
preaching, | still wish and hope to be able TO
DO, some, honest work IN literature. But the
many reasons. must be resprrtfiEiiivv IecIinn Vi
To-day's duty lies here.
GU certainly oyervqlue my service as your
pastor. But II you still need il at this time |
will do the best | can. with the Masters help.
to advance the hopes that We have in view .for
this great city. Faithfully yours.
1t is not doubted among mENf Dr, VA Van pI bIEc,s
friends. that he would prefer to accept the uni
T,ersity's cal hut many OF his friends hoped
viii! the church Il the congregation should, nut
the facts regarding the chprch's, needs to him
In the right light. It may be said. too. that, al
though his personal desires might tend to the
literary life exclusively. yet in the present state
Of Presbyterian affairs in New York there is
the not unalluring prospect before DR.. Van
Dyke OF becoming practically the head or tho
leading character in the ministry OF that
church in this city. The church organiza-
ton IL to some extent disrupted. there is
no conspicuous leader about whom straGglerS
can rally. and with a commanding figure in the
pulpit OF a wealthy and conservative yet not rx-
cruciatingly orthodox church a centre for such
would be supplied. ID. Van Dykes letter. too,
seems to furnish, . hint that there l. some as
Brick Church to widen the sphere OF Its in
fuonce and to become more popular in its
work il not less exclusive In its home. The re-
cent accession to its membership OF persons
who have in the past done much to further the
wide reaching endeavOrs of the Fifth Avenue
Church imports the potentiality Tor such a
departure and If that were done it would In
~evitahly make the church 4 leader in the de-
nomination.