The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-26
WHY THE CHURCH CLOSED.
DIX. CHAMBERS EXPLAINS IN MS
FAREWELL SERMON.

cause 1t Was Located in n District Where
ItCould Not Find Support-A Word About
the BriEga and Other Controversies.
The Rev. Dr. James Chamb ers preached his
farewell sermon In the Calvary Presbyterian
Church in West 10th street yesterday morn
ing. Negotiations for the sale OF the church
building to the Temple Sinai Congregation.
new Reformed Jewish organization. are in
progress. The entire service yesterday morn
ing was farewell and an explanation.
DR.. Chambers said that he would suggest
few practical reasons for the closing OF Calvary
Church. the first of which was the opposition
to the very common law requiring that wis
dom. forethought and knowledge be exercised
In founding any institution. especially a re-
liRious one. Disasters" he said. have fol-
lowed and are to follow misplaced churches.
This church ought never to have been COM
PEELED to locate here. as 1t was. In the face OF
the protests OF its minister and officers. Their
protests have been justified by the sequel. This
matter OF location OF churches is one OF the
troubles OF the New York Presbytery. This Ia
not the only one which must cease to exist IL
the present system Of planting churches is adj
hered to- Another institution must 60 soon. A
pastor came to me not long ago and said.
with tears running down his cheeks that It was
difficult to endure the strain any longer 1t Ia
my deliberate judgment that what we are now
passing through need not occur II this church
had been placed where It was wanted to place
1t. We ought to adopt the parish system. and
parish ought to be assisted II it cannot sup
port itself. The Presbytery ought to raise an
endowment fund OF $5OO.000. 1t should be adj
ministered impartialiy and solely for the adj
vance OF the cause. and should be in the hands
OF men OF financial ability and OF Presbyterian
sympathy"
He said there was an insufficient source OF
material for Presbyterian church In the To-
cality. which. 1t had been correctly stated in
the newspapers. was largely In the possession
OF another race He added that about ten
other congregations had applied for use of the
church building since 1t had been known that
1t was to be vacant.
Let me add to the editorial In The SUM-"
he said. that another Jewish rabbi has said
to me that II no had the money he could buy
fifteen or twenty churches between 10th and
125th streets. and that this was one OF the best
locations in the city for his people. BY the
way. some one who is not member OF this
church took it upon herself to protest the
truth OF the way in which have been quoted.
which was, however. correct"
>, Or. Chant ers then said that some might ask
The q the bs s56 be
was in the hands Of board. and that L jew
supported. He maintained that there was no
better band OF Pres byterians in the city than
said he did not admit that Presbyterianism
TO do so It must 90 where the people were and
stay there with support. ,,
the S e hs eS Ri ss
which amounts to cruelty. which repeats the
strS% vas PEOPLE ana tSes
compelled to go hither and thither and yon to
them"
upon the entire Presbyterian Church Of the
dsenssions centring in and about the Bible;
always stood for of thought and nres
visions. An educated and trained ministry
erandest defences Of tho truth the World has has
ever known. and she has always been ac-
word Of God. the only infalilble rule Of faith
General Hssemby The ootieoE o for Pressy 1t
and promising. but in this city am not SO
The eIty has be been A.. the storm centre for
not know that the discussions which have been
SO freely INDUCED in with reference to the
try to persuade ourselves that the faith OF the
dr. iS %So
have hitherto had reverence at least for the
ieschingsNhas been undermined and a torpid
lpdiffssrense has snsceeded and eopse9uently
eed hs
1t is true. perhaps. that this applies to all
denominations. but ours has been the occasion
slow 70 note the fundame entail character Of the
whether the Bible shall be carefully studied
both BY higher and lower criticism. Tor Presby-
searching the Scriptures. but the que tion is.
shall we permit this sort OF analysis to settle
fer the rh san Question HsYe e ne f Hos
shall We handle the Bible: b%t. Hays Ee any.
which, Is binding on the conscience and con-
straining human action ? In other words. is
thoritativ basis in book that is super
natural productl I need not point ont to you
S dSnis stb to the very OF
q 9ses to from
eomm9n confidence in the origin and authority
possible. These discussions have been Juggling
and is II any wonder that progress has been
you say the Sqsops have always
propagated. and l reply yes. but not within
the Church itself. Infdelity has ever been en-
aeayoring to destroy faith founded upon the
for and try to meet but when Church has TO
fight It's own self. or within Itself. in order to
maintain its own principles, the case is dif-
vided against itself cannot stand, and l am
persuaded that much Of tho unfortunate con-
ditlon of Presbyterianism in this city is due to
q disposition on the part Of many Of the house
hold to tolerate an attitude toward the Bible
which p neither Presbyterian nor yet evan
Relcal."