New-York tribune., 1899-03-26
TNION or CHURCHES LIkELI.
THE FOURTH AVENUE AND THIRTEENTH
STREET PRESBYTERGAN CONGRtGA-
TIoNS TALK OF CONSULTATIONS

REGARDING the reports Of action by the Fourth
Ayenue and the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian
churches looking 70 the uniting OF the TWO.
i. may be- authortatively stated that no formal
action by either church has been taken. Ihere
have been informal conferences by the officers OF
the two churches for an interchange or IDEAS on
the problems confronting each congregation
For a number Of years Tumor has had it that the
Fourth Avenue church. IN consequence OF the re-
uoyaI OF large numbers OF its older families up
town WAS going TO dispose of its valuable sue a'
Twonty-sccond-st and float mp with the tide 80
far from this heing the purpose a prominent mem
Der Informed q Tribinc reporter last night. 1t IL
sought to establish a strongly endowed peoples :
CHURCH II not the present sire. At least III the
immediate neighborhood Looking to the consum-
nation Of this PLAN It has seemed 10 a nunper OF
the congregation that IL would be advisable To In
,lte enc or perhaps more Of he other Presbyterian
churches near 10y to Join with them IN fuF'herln8
the undertaking.
Should This be done. il Is pointed out that by
selling the present properties Of those concerned
a sum mourning up to between flVOcp ana N'''"-
90 could be secured with this sum a suitable
site could be- obtained and church be built ana
an endowment Of such strength would be LEFT as
would secure 10 Presbyterianism a powerful DOWN
town church I'm perpetulty.
Now It happens that this same purpose mas
actuated the people OF the Thirteenth street
church for they have realized. their olde;
minishcd that nothing could save them except a
heavy endowment. And TO attain this the ohY
way open has seemed to be to unite with some
other church.
As 10 the talk that his church, by leaving
Thirieenth-st would be- deserving lower New
York DR. Buchanan. the pastor believes, after
carefully studying the situation. that there are
already too many Protestant churches In that sec
/ ton From Christopher to Twenty-thrd ST. west
Of Fifth-avc. there are between twenty-five and
! thirty Protestant churches Of various denomlna-
tions working among only 20 per cent of the popu-
aton the remaining 80 per cent being either Ro-
man Catholic or jewish and not susceptible 10
Protestant Influences. At least thre" OF these
/ churches. being richly endowed. are enabled 10
send forth large corps of workers. VINO cover
the entire field. The result Is that their less Iess
fortunate ncighbors unable TO compete with
them. are gradually being forced TO the wall 80
n is felt that II the Thirteenth street Church
should move II would not he 10 me detrlineht or
Protestant Christianity in lower New-lor
The first step necessary TO the CONSERVATION must
/ come from the Fourth Avenue thurch IN me
shape Of an invitation TO Join with 1t; ana acton
looking toward this end will probably be taken
/ at the next meeting Of the congregation. whlch
has been called for "Wednesday evening next As
soon as the invitation is extended ms VIII prom
| ably he done shortly. a meeting Of the Thirteenth
| street congregation will be called to consider the
! advisahill OF accepting or declining.
! However, tho general understanding Detweon the
two churches H. such that II may he safely pre-
dctod that before the year Is out the Fourth Ave
latter carving with It its pastor who will become
nastOT of the strengthened Fourth Avenue church.
rho lattDr thus gets pastor, Its pulpit now being
! vacant and the former a new home