New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-08
Old Baptist Congregations De-
eide to Combine, with Dr..
Cornelius W0eIfkin
as Pastor.
TO SELL ONE EDIFICE
Dr.. Charles F. Aked Resigned
from the Fifth Ave. Charge
a Few Years Ago Owing
to Friction with His
Congregation.

4 definite decision was reached last
msht to consolidate the Calvary Bap-
dst Church. in West 57th street. near
Sixth avenue, and the Fifth Avenue
Baptist church. at Nos. and 5 West
10th street, with which John d. Rocka-
feller was so long associated.
Dr Cornelius Woelfllin, pastor Of the
Fifth avenue church. will bc the minis
ter Of the combined congregations. TIE
Calvary Church. which is the larger
will probably be the home Of the two
congregations. The Fifth avenue church
expects to sell it's site and add the
money realized 10 the endowment OF
the home of the joint congregation.
Real estate men say that the church
and the parsonage at 10. West f6th
street would bring about $4,000 The
site Of the church is s. by 1908 feet
The name Calvary Baptist Church
will probably be preserved. The nego-
tiations for the consolidation Of the
two congregations have been going on
for more than year In fact. i'm the
early months of 1912, when both
churches were without pastors it APP
peared TO he almost certain that the
merger would take place.
Plan Once Abandoned.
With the coming of Dr. Woelfkin 10
the Fifth Avenue Church the plan
seemed 10 have been abandoned. In
fact, only a few months ago Or. Woelf-
kin made a vigorous denial of the re-
port that the consolidation was to take
place.
Although no reasons have been an
nOuhced Yet for the merger. il is prob
able that a combination Of circum-
stances has caused il 10 be a con-
sumation desired by both congrega-
tfons. First and foremost is the un-
pleasant publicity which the Fifth Ave-
nue. Church received at the time Of
DR.. Charles f. Aked's resignation.
DR.. Robert ;. Macarthur. who was
pastor Of Calvary Church at that
time. i'm commenting on the state Of
affairs said: Il think it is an extremely
unfortunate thing that the Fifth Ave-
nue. Church is so severely disintegrated.
1t will take years to repair the wrong.
II is now divided into classes and
schisms.'
Baptist leaders undoubtedly think
that with the change in location and
the probable change in name the years
mentioned by Dr. Macarthur may be
considerably lessened. Another reason
which has made the consolidation pos
.sible is the resignation Of DR.. Mac
Arthur after pastoratc of fOrty-one
years in Calvary Church. His place
has not been filled. Still another reason
may be found in the fact that Cal
vary Church is capable Of seating 2,1OO
persons. while the Fifth Avenue Church
is comparatively small.
Fifth Avenue Church Too Small
The size Of the church was one OF
the reasons for the memorable split
between Dr. Akcd and the congrega-
ton Of the Fifth Avenue Church. y
trustee said that Dr. Akcd considered
himself on orator and was not satisfied
TO talk 10 small groups Of people IN
the old-fashioned way. lie wants at
least two thousand people he said,
and he would much rather have five
thousand"
At one time a plan was put under
way to build new church for Dr.
Aked which was to cost $JOO.GoO. The
difference between the pastor and his
Continued ON third page. fourth column.