New-York tribune., 1902-01-20
A CHURCH WITH A HISTORY.
LIFE OF THE FIFTH AVENUE SOCIETY
DATES BACK TO 1907.

The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church to the
pastorate OF which the Rev. DIR. J. Ross Steven
son. professor Of ecclesiastical history in the Nc
Cormick Theological Seminary, of Chicago. was
unanimously called is one of the oldest religious
organizations OF New-York. The origin OF the
church is reckoned in the official history from the
year 1907 when the Rev. Mr.. Mckenzie. from
Virginia preached the first sermon and baptized
child the house Of William Jackson. in Pearl-st..
near the Battery
The Rev. Mr., Anderson was the first Presby-
terian minister settle in New-York He came
in 176 and preached for three years in the City
Hall, but there church until 17l9. when one
erected in Wall-st From that time until 1907
there continued to be only Presbyterian church
in the city. although two additional places of wor
ship had been erected. one in Beekman-st. and
the other in Rutgers-st. The Introduction of
Wattss Psalms and Hymns" caused a rupture
In the congregation. end the dissatisfied members
established themselves in Cedar-st. with the Rev.
John Mason pastor.
A church was erected in Cedar-st., between Mas
sau and William SITS. in 1905 and when the pews
were sold at auction the realized exceeded the
cost of the house and ground, and the subscribers
repaid with interest
The Rev. John Br1adhead Romeyn, of Albany
was chosen pastor. and remained at the head of
the congregation until he died, in 1926, when he
was succeeded by Cyrus Mason. Property in the
lower part of the city rose in value to such an ex
tent the congregation felt justified in seeking
other and less valuable quarters, and several
changes were made. In April 1894 the trustees
purchased a plot Of land at Duane and Church sts.
where a church erected in 1895 But the
Duane-st church. which 1t hoped would meet
the demands of the uptown people,"
found to be far downtown. and in 1850 a plan
was adopted by which these people satisfied
Some of the members of the church who had
moved to the upper part Of the city had made
efforts to build a church for their accommodation.
The Duane-st. church people made proposition
to sell their church property and unite In the en-
terprse This plan adopted with unanimity
and measures were taken TO procure a site. The
purchase OF the property at Fifth-ave. and Nine
teenh-st gave rise to the change of the corporate
name. which since that time has been the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church. The church was
dedicated on December 49, ls52. Although II was
far beyond the business district and convenient TO
the best residence part of the city. the moving
days OF the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
over, and in April. 1872. 1t was decided 10
erect another and larger church building COM
mittee appointed, consisting of William Patton
r. L. Stuart Robert Bonner James Fraser. Har-
vey Fisk John A Stewart and Moses G. Baldwin
and 1t was under the direction of this committee
that the present church. Fifth-ave. and Fifty
fifth-st, completed.
At that time the Rev. DR.. John Hail. who had
been called from Dublin IN 1867, the pastor or
the church The opening services were held on
May g. 1875. After the pews had been sold debt
remained. which was paid in June, 1877.
Since the organization of the church the minis
ters have been John 3. Romeyn, Cyrus Mason
Rice, John Hall and George T. Purves. The Rev.
Ernest F. Hall is the assistant pastor.
The elders of the church are John Sinclair Will
lam CamDbelL Even Mcintyre. Sias b. Brownen.