The sun., 1916-10-30
OLD N. Y. CHURCHES
HOLD CELEBRATIONS
st. Paul's Chapel and John
Street ME-. Observe 15Oth
Anniversaries.
SERMONS on PATRIOTISM
Scotch Presbyterian Has Spc-
cial Service on Its 16Oth
Birthday.
SERMONS on PATRIOTISM

Three New York churches which ante
Date the birth Of the United States as a
nation celebrated the passing Of notable
miiestones yesterday. st. Paui's Chapel
and the Old John Street Methodist
Church are $50 years old this week. and
the Scotch Presbyterian Church at Nine
ty.sixth street and Central Park West.
10 100 years old.
Imposing ceremonies were held in all
these houses of worship. marked In the
downtown edifices by ermons which
commented pointedly upon Americas
passiyity in the face OF the world conflict.
In historic st. Paul's. where cluster
memories OF Washington. Lafayette and
other heroes Of the Revolution. the Rev.
Or. William Montague Geer expressed
the belief that the Father Of His Country
would be ashamed Of a nation which
stood by and saw innocent women and
children sunk to h bottom Of the sea
while 1t continued on friendly terms with
the murderers.
Wilson Declines Invitation.
The pew Washington used to occupy
when he worshipped at 81. Paul's was
decorated with American flags. II had
WIN y Nv "oo'A
bring the twenty-eighth President Of the
United States TO sit in the first Presi-
dents place. But Mr.. Wilson sent word
from Shadow Lawn that he could not be
present at a service to be held to-day
and that Col. +. NJ. HOUSE will sit amid
the dags and beneath the coat Of arms
on the wall as his representative.
The Rev. DIR. s. Parkes Cadman. pas
tor Of he Central Congregational Church
In Brooklyn. preached in the Old John
Street Church and expressed his sympa-
thies for the Allies. Bishop Samuel
Dwight Chown. general superintendent OF
the Methodist Church in Canada, pleaded
the cause Of the Allies and compared
their spirit to that OF the colonists In
l776.
What Would washington DOT
DR.. Geer. after recalling some OF the
notable occasions that were celebrated
In St. Paul's, including the service that
Washington attended IN the day OF his
inaugural. the meeting Of the Society OF
Cincinnati. the Independence Day cele'
bration In 1890. the funeral Of Gen
Richard Montgomery. who fell before
Quebec. the great Lafayette oratorio Of
1874 and the funeral service for Presi'
dent Monroe. said with a note Of In
dignation:
Recalling George Washington at this
time makes me think OF some question.
We should like to put to him We woult
like to know II we shall meet him proud
or ashamed OF our record from 1914 Il
1915.
1T means a great dea, to many OF
us. and that. too. free and clear Of an.
political consideration, what would b
his opinion regarding the murdered
women and children on the Lusitan!s
and our action In that matter. wha'
about the starving Serbs. Poles and Ar
menians while this country goes on Pill.
Ing up its millions. with full Inner pals
and at perfect peace with the world
Either from fear. or self-interest, thi,
country is dumb.
Let us ask Washington and Lincoln
/, 10 pray for us. They were the kind o.
men who would not stand by and Sc,
Innocent women and children sunk I,
the bottom Of the sea while they con
tlnued on friendly terms with their muir
derers."
Struggle for Risht and Justice.
Over In the Old John Street Church
Or. Cadman did not go into the subjec'
al such length. but moved by the fra,
,ernal greeting extended by Bishop
Samuel Dwight Chown. general super
!ntendent Of the Methodist Church II
Canada. said with great feeling:
Il know where my sympathies lie AM
where they will always lie. The strug
Gle for right and Justice now going OF
across the sea makes our AFFAIR OF l77'
sink into insign!icance by comparison"
Bishop Chown. who preached in IN,
morning service, compared Kaiser vii
helm with George III, inc the English
and Canadian troops OF the French
trenches with the Americans of the Rev
olu,ion.