The sun., 1908-12-20
CHURCHHgBDREDTE YEARS OLD
FIFTH AVE. PRESBYTERIAN TO
CELEBRATE THIS WEEK.

4 century ago yesterday the society of
what is now the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain Church was organized. and to-day
and half of this week will be given over 10
celebrating the centennial. There will be
special sermons and special music. devo-
tionaI exercises, a review Of the mission
ary activities in which the church has
been interested and a reception at which
the visitors will have chance to hear of
all the charitable enterprises in which the
church has been engaged.
The movement OF the congregation from
its first place of worship. on Cedar street,
uptown to Duane street. then TO Nine
,eenth street at Fifth avenue. and lastly
TO its presen. building, at Fifty fifth
street, traces the growth of New York
from provincial town to the city as we
know it, i...
presbyterianism came to Colonial New
York in the person of the Rev. Mr..
Mckenzie, a Virgnian, who wandered
north in the year 1907 He preached the
frst sermon and baptized a child in the
house Of William Jackson in Pearl street
near the Battery, His residence here
was only temporary, owing doubtless to
the unkind reception which New Workers
accorded TO his teaching. The Estab-
Hshed Church proceeded against him and
he was arrested at the instance of the
Colonial Governor, Lord Cornbury, a
cousin to Queen Anne
Nine years after the hard experience OF
Mr.. Mckenzie, however, a Presbyterian
minister came to New York and settled.
His treatment was far different from that
given to his predecessor The records
have il that he held services in the City
Hall for the space of three years.
In 1919 Presbyterians in Scotland and
in the nearby colony OF Connecticut hear
ing that their brethren we're unhoused
save through the charity OF the town
government, made contributions which
enabled the New York Presbyterians
10 build a church Of their own in Wall
street. From that time to the year 1901
there was but one Presbyterian church,
in New York. though this church had
erected two additional places Of worship,
one in Beekman street and another in
Rutgers street. and maintained three CO.
pastors.
But dissatisfaction had crept in among
the church people and dissensions grew
to the breaking point, The hymns of
Isaac Watts were regarded as grievous
Innovations and the difference of opin-
ion concerning their fitness as parts of
church worship, together with political
controversies among the members. led
TO the establishment of church in.Cedar
street. Y .-
The part which politics played in the
separation is thus described by one famil-
ar with the event.: ~!
In the year 1907 the political contests
ct this country had become. very animated :,
AT indeed very heated The non Inter
course and embargo laws of the Demo-
ratio party. then in power, had greatly
utensed those who were ranged under the
Federal banpefs The First Church, then
vorshipping in Wall street, was composed
ri PERSONS OF much prominence and infiu-
crcc IN society. who We're greatly divided
On political questions. II was generally
,nderst ,od that the political opinions and
references OF many OF the members OF
that congra CATION had much to do with
the plan of starting new church enter
Prise. which resulted in the establishment
Of the Cedar street church. ~
The Cedsfesyfesa church was built by
subscription the plan being TO reimburse
the subscribers from the proceeds OF the
sale of sittings. 1t Is noteworthy that
the subscribers received not only the
am amount which they had ID put up but the
The site which was chosen was in Cedar
street between Nassau and William pm
the plot of ground now occupied by the
Mutual Life Building. True to their
aversion 20 the Watts hymns, the church
fathers determined that there should be
no organ In the new structure. But
eoualiyltfiie-t0t the uses of the time. there
was a gallery set apart for-the slaves. 1t
is said that the blacks were the frequent
oiuse of distress to the pastor sand the
elders by reason of their inability to regu-
late their conduct according to the die
tates Of the moral law, But apparently
an equally great source OF annoyance
was the sound sof passing Marriages in
the streets. Tos avoid interruption OF
that character 1t became customary 70
rope OF Cedar tstTeet on the Sabbath
day
The Rev. John Broadhead Romeyn OF
Albany was. the first. pastor. In the time
Of his successor. the Rev. DR.. Cyrus
Mason, the congregation had to seek
new quarters because OF the widening
Of Ceda. street. A site ten blocks further
IN town was selected, at Duane and Church
streets Here the congregation wor-
shipped until 1852. y -
1t was in 1874 that the Rev. DR.. James
W. Alexander became pastor OF the church,
In his journal are found notes upon the
questions agitated at the time OF his
pastorate My mind works necessarily
Says he, upon such themes as these: |
The waste OF church energy, on the rich
cdness eaUI n,,r hov noopIatian our 4 0oo