New-York tribune., 1901-12-09
DR.. DTFFIELD'S DECEAAIAL.
FIRST SERVICE IN ITS CELEBRATION HELD
AT OLD FIRST CHURCH.

FIRST SERVICE IN ITS CELEBRa1IoN HILL
AT OLD FIRST CHURCH.
The decennfaI of the ministry OF the Rev. DR..
Howard Duffield at the Old First PRESBYTERIAN
church Fifth-ave. and Twelfth-st, was celenra'eo
Yesterday afternoon with service in the church
The Old First Church was founded IN III. IN
the minutes of the City Council August 4, OF that
year is the statement: The house known as
Nenoo's house situated at the eastern part of the
city is TO be the Publick Meeting House for the
Dissenting Protestants called Preshterians. The
first building owned by the church stood al the
northwest corner OF Wall and Nassau sts-. moving
10 the present situation on January II. 1886
DR. Dufield became pastor of the 'old First In
December. 1891. succeeding the Rev Richard D.
Harlan the son of the present Chief Justice
The services began at 2. m with the reading or
several letters Of regret One was from Bishop
Potter another from DIR. Burrel who regretted
that he had to preach in New-England, and others
were from DR.. Lyman Abbott, the Rev Dr. Ed
ward Judson. William F. Dodge and the ReF- Dr
Bradford OF Montclair. N J.
The first address delivered by the Rev
George II. Bottome. vicar of Grace Chapel who
represented the Rev. DR.. Huntington. OF Grace
Church who could not attend on account Of a
slight Illness. Mr.. Bottome spoke Of the oppor-
tunities of the downtown church. He said that
when he went Grace Chapel five years ago the
ropulation consisted largely of Germans but gradu
aIiy the Germans had moved uptown mostly into
The Bronx. and their places had been taken by
an alien and alien tongue
But this should make difference to the
church." he said. Whether Germans, Italians or
any other race, when they came into the district
they should find stable institution-the church
The cause of good government was won long be-
fore Election Day." he said in speaking OF the cleo
tion. Victory started in the work of the church
settlements and the necessity of the church set
Element has been amply shown in recent years
Ther. are two opportunities for the downtown
church. il to me-the opportunity OF neigh
boriiness and the opportunity of social service
The speaker the Rev. Dr George Alex
ander pastor of the Presbyterian Church. in mi
versty Place. He spoke on the problems OF the
downtown church.
II an glad that a modern man has come into the
district to rnoderTize II. he sald MOST OF lhe
pastors of downtown churches are no longer young:
DIR. Dufield is man of strong personality ana
high ideals and the Old First Church is fortunate
II having such q pastor
The Rev. Percy s Grant, rector of the Ascen-
sion Episcopal Church. said that the future of the
church was largely one of means. and that 1t
seemed to him that the only way TO proVlue the
means was by way of endowment.
The last speaker Morris K. Jesup- He be
3eved that changes in the character of the popula-
ZION in the eastern part of downtown Were due
used TO exist on the East Side had been moved up
In his opinion much Of the trouble with the
Fast Side was due to the removal OF these
'SThe downtown church has its mission. and it is
10 preach the Gospel in its simplicity and to keep
in touch with the needs of the people,, he de-
clared-
thirty years ffty-one churches had moved uptown
from below Fourteenth-st- and that the population
had increased from 5oe.09o 80 $4,000 .--,
After the service DIR. Dufield held an inrormai
reception in the church
The celebration will be continued tomorrow.
when musical festival will be held in the church.
On Wednesday service of "reminiscences and antici-
patton will be held in the chapel, at which IN
formal addresses will be delivered on behalf Of the
behalf of the congregation On Thursday there Will
be a reception by DR.. and Mrs Duf1eld at the