New-York tribune., 1919-03-10
DIR. Fosdick's Language and
Logic Stir Members of
First Presbyterian Church
Is Product of New School
Lack of Emotionalism in
Contrast to Colleagues;
Deals With World Facts

This is the first Of series of Mon-
day morning articles describing the
pulpit methods of the famous
preachers of Ne10 York. The ques-
tions hare been asked: "Where are
the great preachers? Does Ne0
York kno,o ats oaOn pulpits or has
the tradition been lost?"
These articles aciU aim to present
the preachers as they present Them
seIves. They ,cilL not voice any con-
clusion as to Who are the great
preachers. Readers must do that for
themselves.
Nert Mondays subject aUiu be the
Rev. Herbert Shipman, rector of the
Church Of the Heavenly Rest, apho
has Just returned to this country
after SERVING acith the American Er-
peditionary Forces as senior chap
lain Of the First Army.
THERE is no empty pew problem
l. in the Old First Presbyterian
Church, at Fifth Avenue, between
Eleventh and Twelfth streets. After
the first prayer there are no available
sittings. Yesterday was typical. In
tho driving rain hundreds came-they
were not parishioners in the strict
sense of the word. They came from
all parts of the city; they came in
automobiles, by subway and surface
car and elevated trains; they came
on foot.
When the service began there was
great congestion in the entrances to
the church, for it is a rule that those
without pew holdings cannot be seated
until it is reasonably certain that the
regular occupants will not attend.
But, at the proper time, the ushers
took the vlsiuors IN hand and found
places for them. IL required a good
deal of skill to seat every one, for
every bit of pew space was soon taken.
Contrasts Former Conditions
The contrast of the crowded condi
tion of the church with the congrega-
tions of few months ago was marked.
One thought of the consolidation of
churches that had been effected to
make possible the new Old First Pres
byterian Church.
The University Place Church. where
DR.. George Alexander preached so
long; the Madison Square Presbyte rii.n
church, where even the dynamic DR..
Charles H. Parkhurst lost his magic
OF attraction-these two editices were
called to mind as well.
1t was seen at once that it had been
an exercise of rare statesmanship on
the part of the three Presbyterian so
cieties that had caused the pooling of
their interests and the erecting. upon
the consolidated foundations, of one
strong church where three weak ones
had been.
Seated on the pulpit platform was
", alexander, now the pastor Of the
Old FIRST Pres sbyterian' Church, and
DR.; Harry Fosdick, associate pastor
DR.. Alexander is venerable and
benign. Dr.. Fosdick is young and
nervously energetic. The contrasting
hgures were of themselves a dramatic
note. One represented the old day;
the other typifed the new. DR.. Alex
ander has been retained as the pastor
IN the truer implications of the word.
Dr. fosdick is the preacher; his func-
tlons are not in any sense pastoral.
ones memory went back to few
pref months ago, when the consoli-
GATED churches extended call to the
Rev DR.. John Timothy Stone; of Chi
ccago to assume the pastorate. DR..
stone IS a brilliant preacher and has
made a great reputation as an organ
lzer: 1t was felt that his touch was
needed. But DR.. Stone, after survey
ing the field here, decided to remain in
tnlcago. Then the official board Of
the consolidated churches invited DR..
Alexander to become pastor, with the
understanding that the preaching
should be done by another.
DR.. Fosdick Still a BAPTIST
SIDE by side DR.. Alexander and DR.
.losoick sat, one seventy-six years old,
the intimate friend, the pastor of one