The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
new YORK AVENUE
CHURCH TO REMAIN
Congregation Will Continue
i'll Present Location.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS EXPLAIN
Influenced by Action of Washington
Heights Congregation in Refusing
to Unite with downtown Church
Because of Differences Regarding
Pastors-Property StuI or Market.

Plans for the removal OF the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church from the
present site. al the intersection Of New
York avenue and H street northwest,
have for the present been dropped. It
IS unlikely that any action viii be taken
toward procuring new site for months.
at least.
Statements made last night by John B.
Larner and Walter 9. Clephsne. members
of the committee appointed to select the
site for a rev house Of worship. are au-
thority for the announcement that plans
for removal have been abandoned
That the church may later seek site
farther from the business section Is not
denied, and It is said the church prep
erty Is still on the market.
Decided UPon Removal.
At a meeting Of the congregation about
the middle Of January. it was decided
that the best interests OF the church de-
manded z removal from the present site
The question Of q new location was
broached. and officers OF the church, in
charge OF selecting 9 new site. said the
Washington Heights section Of the city.
| in their estimation. was the best place
for the proposed new edifice. The choice
Of lots narrowed down TO the Truesdell
triangular lot. al Nineteenth street and
Columbia road. and the Iot az Wyoming
and Connecticut avenues.
/ Overtures 10 obtain options on these
I properties were made The choice prac-
/ ticsIIy narrowed down TO the Truesdell lo'
and the New York avenue property was
/ placed on the market
/ Members Of the congregation say II i
I probable the ground would have beer
/ bought had not an unexpected complica-
! ton arisen in the shape of objections OF
the part Of the Washington Heights
/ church TO consolidating with the New
/ York avenue congregation.
/ In order 70 move 10 Washington
\ Heights. Il Was found necessary for th'
/ two congregations TO consolidate over
/ lures were made 70 the Washington
I Heights congregation. and arrangement
we're practically completed, when the up
/ town congregation announced is deter
uinati0n 70 stand alone. IN giving thi'
f! decision the congregation said ii was don'
1 because Of ''the arbitrary actions Of Rev
Wallace Radcliffe. pastor Of the New
F, York avenue church
Each Wanted It's Pastor.
Each congregation wished Its presen
pastor 70 be az the head OF the new
/ church. No compromise could be effected
and ;he washington Heights eongrega
uOn withdrew from the practically ef
( fected alliance
At the time OF the rupture members o.
the New York avenue church would MAKE
no statement OF their future plans Rev
Wallace Radcliffe said a statement wouI,
be given later
when questioned last night. John B
] Iarner said the congregation had prac
ticaIly abandoned the idea % moving. a
least for the present. What action nigh
be taken IN the future. he said he cOul'
not surmISe He said Il was doubtful
whether the matter would be mentioned
) at the next meeting Of the church officers
n Walter c. CIephsne said the project o
no-luE had not entirely fallen through
but was simply hanging FIRE He sal,
the church property is still on the mar
ket. hut denied that any site was beinl
definitely considered.
Nothing IL Being Done.
For the present said Mr. CIephane
nothing is being done When the con
soidation with the Washington Height
congregation fell through, active steps t
scare a new site practically stopped. Tn
committee Is now resting on its oars
Il IS probable the church viii move to
more suitable location in the future bu
. when OF where 7 cannot say"
4 Other members oF the congregation n-o
fesssd their ignorance Of any definit
! plans for selecting an uptown site Sev
eTaI men said they understood the entir
project had been rejected. and that III
congregation would continue to worshi
| IN the old edlfce that has sheltered Abrs
8 ham Lincoln and other famous men.