New-York tribune., 1901-05-05

X.
courtesy OF the shepherds OF the various nocks
which make this city their home This view of
,he ordinary lie OF the people OF the rnetropolis
Of United States is one that is perhaps too sell
dom presented TO her citizens the usual reflection
from the canvas being OF the opposite and darker
sort having for its foreground some suggestion of
awful wickedness in the Empire City
II was with the object of changing the picture
on the screen that The Tribune a few days ago ad-
dressed a communication TO all of the pastors In
me boroughs OF Manhattan and The Bronx ask
ing them TO favor this paper with some statistics
conoerning the several congregations under their
care This circular letter. dated April ~ follows:
Dear Sir: WIN you kindly ask some official
6er "e f ySgT Church 10 Ill in the inelosed
Our object Is solely TO give the public fairly
sburch in New-York and we shall Appreciate snV
help that you may give us toward making it COM
The inclosed blank contained spaces for the de-
nomination OF the church. its individual name the
street in which Il is situated the attendance on
April 2s the average attendance and for any COM
ment upon parish Conditions which the pastor
wished TO make.
ont 10 the pastors Of every creed having fits place
Of worship in the boroughs named. Although
the responses TO the letters OF inquiry were
not so general desired. still a suf-
fcient number OF replies have been received TO
form fairly accurate estimate OF the census OF
churchgOers last Sunday. In the OF the Hebrew
congregations whose Sabbath is observed
Saturday. the preceding day. April g. furnished
the basis OF the rabbis returns.
Answers 10 The Trfbunes letters which were re-
ceved in time to have a place in this article
bered about one hundred and fifty. 20 per OF
the total number sent out, a proportion large
enough base a trustworthy estimate of the
tire churchgoing people upon. The accuracy OF the
estimate viii also Le beyond question for the Of
scsl enumerators of this Sunday have been
either the pastors themselves officers OF
the churches appointed by them.
Responses received from representatives OF
the following religious bodies: The Armenian Ma
tional Church, the Baptist Church, the Congrega-
uonal Church, the Catholic Apostolic (Gernan).
the Disciples OF Christ the Friends. the German
Evangelical. the Hebrew. the Lutheran. the Meth
odst Episcopal, the Presbyterian. the Protestant
Episcopal, the Reformed, the Reformed Church
Dutch in the United States. the Roman Catholic.
the Unitarian and the United Presbyterian.
IT would seem. from the tenor Of the scores OF
replies received. that the church congregations in
Manhattan and The Bronx are prosperous. gener
ally. and that the capacities OF the majority OF the
various houses OF worship none too great for
the people IN attendance upon the services. There
only a single instance named in which services
has been discontinued because OF financial troubles.
that being the Baptist Church OF Beth Eden, at
onehundred- nd-eig -seventh-st. and Lorillard
Place which was recently sold under foreclosure.
As general rule. the service at which the census
was taken was the principal one OF the day, at
Il a. m. and consideration has been taken Of any
other service in Protestant churches. In some in
stances however. notably IN the case OF the Roman
Catholic churches. the houses Of worship. large as
they are are too small 10 accommodate their vast
membership at one time, and many opportunities
on Sunday 10 be given 10 the members Of the
congregations for their devotons In these cases IL
has seemed only just to present the total attend
snce Of the day the proper TO be Considered.
Few persons. il is believed have even an approx
innate estimate Of the number Of attendants upon
the different masses in the more prominent Roman
Catholic churches in this city. In the Church OF
81. Paul the Apostle. in Columbus-aYe-. between
Ffty-ninth and Sixtieth SITS, there celebrated
no less than eight masses. beginning at a. m
These masses attended Dy s.262 worshippers,
follows: 8. m, 562; a m, 4So a m, loo,
q. m $50: a. m, 1870; 10 a. 1850; II a. m.
1900 and childrens mass. 1.zoo. There was nothing
unusual in the services of last Sunday TO attract
especial attendance and the Paulist Fathers. whose
church II is say that the figures just mentioned are
only the ordinary totals OF the regular masses
In S.. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, at Sixth
ave and washington Place, one OF the Oldest and
largest Of the downtown churches OF the Roman
Catholic communion. seven morning services ana
extra evening service, for men, were held, with
total attendance OF 1851. The evening service at
tracted congregation OF 1.o4s, which nearly hlied
the seating capacity of the church, l.l50.
Another downtown Roman Catholic church. which
Is in part OF city seldom visited by the middle
and uptown population is ST. Jarnes's Church, IN
d
1900 Its six masses last Sunday were attended
by no less than 5000 persons. and the average at
tendance there IS $500.
The Church Of ST. Francis Xavier the home or
the Jesuit Fathers. in West Sixteenth-st. near
sxth-ave which has I'm its membership some OF
the richest Catholic families in the city, had
n attendance last Sunday Of $3.50 at the eleven
services IN the morning. one in the afternoon and
in the evening. II has 2.SoO sittngs. and its
average attendance IS 1900.
Gao 1hf
is situated IN crowded part OF the upper East
sde. in Ninetieth-st.. between Second and Third
Rves, has an average attendance OF e"p, This
church was consecrated last Sunday.
According 10 the reports received, 81. George $
Protestant Episcopal Church. I'm Stuyvesant Square,
Is the most largely attended any church Of that
faith in this city 1t has 1880 sittings and the
average attendance reaches Loo. Frequently there
Is not room there for those who apply for seats
ST. Michaers Church. at Amsterdam-ave. and
Naety-n'nth-st., the largest Episcopal parish In
the upper West Side district. has an average at
tendance Of LAB. Last Sunday there were LUIS
people the morning service at II o'clock
St Bartholomew's Episcopal Church at Madi-
son-ave. and FOrty-fourth-st, one OF the foremost
churches in Manhattan. has a seating capacity OF
100 Last Sunday there were but two sittings va
cant. and its usual attendance taxes fits seating
capacity to the utmost. St. Bartholomews has an
afternoon service also. which is ATTENDED by nearly
one thousand people.
Among the Presbyterian churches in this city
whose statistics are al hand the Fifth Avenue
Church. for many years under the care or the late
Rev. DR.. John Hail. has the largest attendance.
The congregation last Sunday numbered l@Oo'
which is the average attendance. Its seating ca
pacity is l.so0.
The West End Church at Amsterdam-ave and
Northumberland -ffth-st. is another large church
OF the Presbyterian denomination, with morning
Congregation Of 1850.
The total number OF sittings in the churches the
asatsra hxy