New-York tribune., 1909-04-25

I Church
rrRsONAI. RECORDS OF THE BRICK PRES
'BYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE CITY OIL
XEN YORK Edited bv Shepherd Knapp. Svo
NJ a. Published by the trustees of the Bricl
Presbyterian Church
r-esbvteriauism in New York had its begin
,-gs IN 1896 with the gathering of a few wor
ai,rq-s in private houses. In January Of tn,
,-,oaf-g year the Rev. Francis Mackenzie. @,
. - gay from Virginia to Boston, preached a
se home Of one William jackson. in Pear
.--eet. Lord Cornbury, being a devoted church
ma wicked highfying governor" one OF
.sa dissenters called hirn-assured Mr.. Mackenzie
mai he would not be allowed TO spread his per
lrd forthwith clapped up the preacher for Z
-,rfae Of months BY the year 1920 a steadily
growing number Of inhabitants whose Ian
7lage would not allow them to Join with the
pgteh or French churches. and whose con-
science weuld not allow them TO join in the ser
,iee Of the English Church SAN the necessity
ar a Presbyterian meeting house stone
.rrch was built on the north side Of Wall
snet between Nassau street and Broadway.
nd when, in 1861, the growth Of the society de-
handed increased facilities brick church was
If up the triangular plot bounded 10y Mas
1 81
According 70 the law of the province no char
- Of Incorporation could be obtained by a
.r-es1rterian organization Owing largely to
he determined opposition of the vestrY Of old
rrfaity. who were reluctant to share with
a.bers the privileges enjoyed by the Established
q7ur,h. repeated attempts to secure privileges
er Incorporation were for half a century un-
.g4lng. When the new church was planned
--nergeG effort was made TO secure 4 charter.
h March I76G the officers addressed a petition
s-a King George The matter was referred to
.,he Board Of Trade. and the request might have
rel granted but for the activity of the Bishop
London. who appeared twice before the board
opposition 10 il. The Beekman street prop
~ was therefore vested in private persons.
-smbers OF officers OF the church until the
Var Of Independence having been won. the New
=yrk legislature came TO the rescue In later
-a-s Trinity vestry handsomely atoned for its
81 offences St Georges and st PauIs
apels were placed It The disposal of the Pres
,srians for some months while their own
re Of worship was being restored after its
. az a prison hospital by the British In
~ 1877. the Corporation OF Trinity Church
It's own free VIII and entir-ly unsolicited.
areyed 10 the Presbyterian body q piece Of
f-and now known as Nos. 3 and = Park Place
2 he purpose OF providing site for the par
gsage OF the senior minister Il WAS never
4 TO this use. but the income thcrefrom be
ne part Of the pastors salary. In 1903 the
-esbyterian trustees made a release in fee 10
liam Whyttan III r"rpetuity, with rent re-
--Fed Of $50 q year, to be paid 10 the senior /
8 +Sbyteri2n pastor. 1t might be gratifying to /
Use trustees, by whatever shores they now /!
ny to learn that the present minister regu-
ry receives the $50 4 reminder not only Of /
3 Trinity generous impulse put also of that .
-xbyteran Unworldiness which has made
--ry rioh-
he story Of the early days is outlined by Mr..
lzpp necessary introduction TO his az
INT Of the hundred years career Of the Brick
sssbyterian Church Until 1909 there was. he
Us single Presbyterian society in the
t.. Under collegiate system it used the
aa street and Beekman street edfices For
- forty years the congregations had been
-zasr the pastoral care Of the Rev. John
aigerS In The first year OF its Independent
1sence the Brick church in Beekman street
ase as its minister a young man named Card
2 Spring, who had just completed his training
q Tale College and Andover Theological Semi
~ Dr.. Springs ministry extended over sixty
az so that more than a century was covered
q he two pastorates.
I Is rugged worthy that Mr.. Knapp lets US
F IN his portrait OF this doctor of the old
za0Ol Coming frorn New England, the young :
1ster was not above suspicion as 10 his the .
g. His trial sermon before the Presbytery ,
q what he called "a frank avowal of my SEN {