New-York tribune., 1911-12-02
.CH|JRCH AND RELIGIOUS NEWS NOTES
Sims of Prosperity Among Downtown Manhattan Congre-
cations

Tie downtown Protestant churches on
Manhattan Island. whose problem is acute
will Tomorrow have another demohsua-
tiou of how some at least have beeh
eayed I'm the celebration of the old First
presbvtarign Church, Fifth avenue ana
totb street II will observe tomorrow
the twentieth anniversary of the pastorate
NJ the Rev. Dr. Howard Dufield, and the
occurring OF an endowment during that
pas,orafo sufficient to insure the historic
foundation remaining where it is FOR all
time. The term downtown on Manhattan
! Island now includes Harlem. almost WASH
ippton Heights. and so practically every
Protestant church is considering endoW q
ment. = possible change I'm its building
and method OF work, or else removal TO
the suburbs.
The Old First will have a sermon
| at If O'Clock by the pastor. an anniver-
| sarv organ recital next Monday evening
/ and congregational reception next Tues
dav night Tomorrow evening the Rev.
Or Henry Mottet. Of the Episcopal Church
| OF the Holy Communion, another down
! town parish, will preach. 1t is unusual
! FOR an Episcopal rector TO preach the reg
/ ular sermon IN a Presbyterian church, but
! the Holy Communion rector breaks no law
/ OF his own church. and he does have the
precedent Of success achieved in the same
| field as the old First, and on the same
lines The action is an evidence of the
new spirit Of Christian unity.
| ST Georges. Calvary, Holy Apostles and
| St. Peters Episcopal churches, all down
town neighbors of the Old First Presby-
| tcriau. and all successfully weathering
downtown conditions, have just celebrated
anniversaries, and one has announced new
endowments. The Old First has secured
( 500. 600 and will soon undertake improve
mcnts TO lis auditorium that will cost
/ $4,000. During the twenty years covered
| bv the present pastorate. conditions in this
| mother parish Of Presbyterianism have
wholly changed 1t has become an insti-
tuu0nai church. with many organizations
five regular assistants. including instructors
and visitors. and great number Of vol
unteer workers. II is following success
! fully the approved plans OF others, and
nuchorirg itself both in financial support
and I'm work
The Madison Avenue Baptist Church. at
! 3lst street. is doing for it's denomination
/ what the Old First and others are doing
| for thei5s. The pastor. the Rev. Dr
! Charles i. Eaton. coming to New York
| from Cleveland three wears ago, has com
pletely changed this historic Baptist
church from "A place Of worship of a few
| wC-rp-do families into one of the most
active institutional churches in Manhat-
| tan. An endowIuent of $500, 900 has been
! secured, ana some progress has been made
on third 100000. Efforts are being
made 60 secure "A total Of 100000. There
arc about thirty organizations, besides
which the new parish building is the
! headquarters FOR number Of Baptist city
| organizations. Congregations on Sundays
have increased to such size that they are
larger than during any period of the
| clurchs former best days. The question
! Of remaining downtown has been solve,
| atiirmatiycly, and now ventures are under
/ discussion in othor directions. the Mad
ison avenue church to be the centre.
! Meeting che same Manhattan problem
! although a. 10th street and West Ent
avenue. the Bloomingdale Reformed Church
! this week agreed to the unusual course ot
Transferring its property, worth 5000
! 30 the New York Chassis I'm return for =
! loan Of $4,000. the same being made solel,
| 10 provide Tor running expenses. The money
! is furnished. SO il Is reported. by the Col.
! legiaie Reformed Church. and i'm install.
! tm'ute of $1,000 a year. The new pastor
the i.t Nillirn Wallace Ketchum, who
comes rom tIr presbytery of New York
! VIII iC installed At once The Blooming
/ dale church was formerly at Broadway am
/ Goth stree but IL fine new plant in Yves,
/ End Avenue remained closed for many
/ months this summer pending some sucf
| arran, ement as has now been effected.