New-York tribune., 1906-06-17
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
First Presbyterian Church Celebrates
Eighty-f0mth Birthday.

The First Presbyterian Church is eighty-four
years old In honor OF its birthday, the pastor, the
Rev. Dr. L Mason Clarke, and one of the elders,
Richard D. Dodge, the secretary Of the Brooklyn
Sunday School Union and Of the Oldest officers
Of the church in point Of service, have published
history OF the organization. When the church was
organized there We're only four churches in Brook
!yn-the Reformed Dutch. which has since moved
from Joralemon street 10 Carroll street and Sew
euth avenue, ST. AIMS Protestant Episcopal
church the Sands Street Methodist Episcopal
Church. which has since been removed through the
erection OF the Brooklyn Bridge and newly or
Eanized Catholic church. which had no building,
and finally put up the Pro-CathedraI IN jay street.
The First Presbyterian Church grew out Of an or
Eanizauon known as the Brooklyn Sabbath Union.
The cornerstone of the first building occupied by
The First Presbyterian was laid on April 10, 1872
Tho building was removed in later years for the
erection Of plymouth Church, which now occupies
the site Of the old c3iHca The first pastor OF the
church was tho Rev. Joseph Sanford, who was
called April p 1893. four days after the dedi-
cation vi the building Ee served four years and
then left the church Tor pastorate in Philadel-
pha, whore he died in December, 1881. The church
began with tne hundred members. BY 1856 the
members numbered $50 On July 8 OF that wear
she cornerstone ~ The present building was laid,
structure was about E8Ua One OF the best known
pastors OF The church Was the Rev Dr.. Charles
when Ae went 70 Union TheologicaI Seminary he
was succeeded fy the present pastor, Dr.. Clarke.
IN Tho last nine years the membership of the
church has increased from jos to $40 The mem
bers liberal contributors the offerings last year
amounting go sl,5-@
a depression of an unusual nature for a speaker
al a Ie-gi.ls gathering was made Anniversary
Day hy Secretary shaw, OF tie National Treasury
Department, in lbs speech 1T the Lafayette Ave
nue. Presbyterian Church. Tie large auditorium
was packed with hundreds OF children from The
surrounding churches. Mr. shaw was the guest
Of L0acr lie led Tile programme His tonic was
az a
Thought He had not said fifty words before he
oroHged The original subject OF his address and
turned his attention 10 the newspaper men gath
cred IN front of the pulpit.
.I he newspapers have q habit Of nor rar,ortf,,,
me correctly Ee cried. "a short time ago ycban
spoke in this city the papers made NV speecb
simply tWada-e- 7 may talk twaad,a h,5t p.bo,,
you are reporting me UI Doe obliged TO Won if
sou do not quote me as delivering r,7ysel4 Cf
l"&a.-e of any lower grade than ] really am re-
an a.a 1ir Saw returned 10 lis talk to the chill
'i-tf ana informed them thar people rested ,l9,-7
old not think enough. | ''0' '"ey
The day on which more fa.ssr, is 10 he found :;
The llEher local courts than r,.u ann, ,,Ia 80 ~
Ne-1 IS divorce a5. EAcl! falls on TWO F7raa,.s -
,aeA month Divorce day is known in only one
- .l3l-ci oI The supreme Court and that is Special
-e-iA' "hAe the other parts have their divorce
cases al the un defended cases-and the vast ma.
@iis" II special Term. ANY
person who has held the idea that divorce ,,,a
--AuIy OF NJ rioh-as Justice Dickey said thar
il should be in Special Term a couple of vceels
a--N mat most OF the testimony is kept for
me ears Of a referee and court stenoprarta-
exclusively, would perhaps be unpleasantIv snr-
prlsed II he should happen 10 have business -
5s. 5te rear of the hall on the second floor of ,bo
-,ys-i--ty O11tl house O. rbese -
IylIIS II IS seldom The wealthy or even IKE
he44-lo-oo men and women of the cir, ~ lne @
10 be seen IN Special Term on diyorca' VINO ~ e
courtroom Is packed with represenfati,.es ne
81 c-asSeS mere are only three stories 80
.s 80 Soilpl4lnants bear-oEe coupled with a da
and T1o,,, m - chiefly on the part of thin