Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-17

n membership Tic tOtCSe0AAt ScNi
4 this city and vicinity. is plannii
p~etitive method, which is undermine
religious organization, b will endea
e-ncroachment of commercialism.
In New York city the consolidation
or elimination, of nan noted parishes
in the commercial zone have beer
forced, recently, by the rapid invasion
of commercialism. and the changes
thus far made, or in contemplation
win total an expenditure of $780, 00, 900
Some six Presbyterian, four Baptist
two Reformed, two Episcopal and two
Disciple churches have been compelled
TO consider a consolidation movement,
or a removal from their present loca-
ton.
The Fifth Avenue Baptist Church,
which is situated in the theatre zone,
will be forced to vacate, and a noted
Episcopal parish, which has been To-
Gated in the vicinity of Times Square
for over seventy years, has decided to
sell out.
The Madison Square Church. OF
which Rev. DR.. Charles #.
is pastor, has just forced a Presby-
terrain competitor to quit it's field by
acquiring title to its property hold
ings. and a Presbyterian Church, east
of Central Park, has tackled a flor
SALE card on its doors. 1t has also
been learned that two churches of the
Disciples of Christ consolidated on a
recent Sabbath.
1t is believed that Newark, in the
not very distant future, will be facing
the problem that has caused such a
costly evietive shake-up among the
churches in Manhattan.
Among the local parishes that are
beginning to feel the invasion of
are the Central Methodist
Church, In Market street; the North
Reformed Church, in North Broad
street; the Church of the Redeemer, at
Broad and Hill streets; the Third
Presbyterian Church, opposite City
Hall; the Halsey Street Methodist
Church, opposite New street; the
North Baptist Church, at Orange and
High streets; the First Presbyterian
Church, at Broad and Mechanic
streets; the German Methodist Church,
ut Mulberry and Walnut streets; the
Franklin Street Methodist Church, OPP
posite City Hall; the German Evan
gelical Church, in Mulberry street,
neal Centre Market, and the House of
Prayer, Episcopal, at Broad and State
streets.
The market value of the above de-
sirable sites for commercial purposes
would figure, approximately, over
So, 900, 900, and if devoted to modern
business structure would represent
a taxable valuation of at least two
million dollars more.
1t is this condition of affairs that
makes the work of the Church FEEDER
alton somewhat complicated and ex-
Tend beyond its formal purposes, ito
bring the Christian bodies of the vari-
Gus Protestant creeds into united serv-
ice for Christ"
In fact, the gradual exodus of
churches from the business section
in the vicinity of the -Four Corners
has begun, and as a prominent busi-
ness man predicted a few days age,
lin another decade II the present re-
markable mercantile progress is Main
tanned, you will find few, if any,
churches located on Broad street"
Within the past two years two down.
own churches vacated their former
sites, the First Methodist Protestant
congregation, for many years located
in Fiji street, near Broad, and st.
Johns Lutheran flock, who for over a
half century worshipped in Halsey
street. A "for sale" notice now adorns
the front Of the German Methodist
Church. at Mulberry and Walnut
streets. The North Baptist Church, at
Orange n High streets, has been on
the market seeking a purchaser for
at least two years.
It is now generally known hat the
Third Presbyterian flock, now located
in Broad street, opposite the City
Hall, is making an effort to move to a
new site in Forest Hill, and hat the
Franklin Street Methodist Church, OPP
posite City Hall annex, which is being
crowded somewhat by an influx of
manufacturing plants, can secure an
attractive sum for it's holdings at any
time. 1t is also understood that the
conditions that surround the Central
Methodist Church, in Market street.
near Mulberry, Are not as desirable
as many of the prominent members of
the congregation would wish, and 1t
would not surprise the local church
constituency to see the Central flock
seek a new uptown location within
the next few years.