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 PRINCETON, N. J 
 
 BX 9211 .N5 U56 1896 
 University Place 
 
 Presbyterian Church, New 
 Services commemorative of 
 ^'"'V- the fiftieth anniversary o 
 
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON UNIVERSITY PLACE. 
 
1845-1805 
 
 ^ertJtces Commemorattbe 
 
 of 
 
 ^i)t dFiftietj) anni^er0ar^ 
 
 oftjje 
 
 ^ntbersttp ^lace ^resftptertan Ct)urc|) 
 
 
 jSobembcr 24-28, 1895 
 
uUUUUiii^4i4i*,iiUiUi4Wii,4Ui4i 
 
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 ^rcfatorp J^ote. 
 
 RELIGIOUS corporation under the 
 title of " The Presbyterian Church on 
 ^^i University Place, New York," was 
 formed March 15, 1844. October 26, 1845, it 
 was constituted a church by the first Presby- 
 tery of New York, and fully organized. 
 
 It consisted of one hundred and fifty-nine mem- 
 bers, m.ost of whom had been connected with the 
 Duane Street Church. 
 
 Rev. George Potts, D.D., was called to the 
 pastorate and installed November 26th of that 
 year. He continued as minister until his death, 
 September 15, 1864. 
 
 Rev. Alfred H. Kellogg, his successor, was in- 
 stalled on May 5, 1865, and continued in the 
 pastorate until April 24, 1870, when, at his own 
 request, he was released from the office. 
 
4 
 
 The whole number admitted to the cliurch dur- 
 ing this period was 781. 
 
 The Mercer Street Presbyterian Church was 
 organized October 25, 1835, with twenty -eight 
 members, received from six churches. 
 
 Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, D.D., the first pastor 
 of the church, was installed November 11, 1835, 
 and resigned his charge February i 7, 1 848. 
 
 Rev. Joseph C. Stiles, D.D., was installed June 
 18, 1848, and resigned October 15, 1850. 
 
 Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D., was installed 
 April 30, 185 I, and resigned May 3, 185S. 
 
 Rev. Walter Clarke, D.D., was installed Feb- 
 ruary 16, 1859, and resigned December 26, i860. 
 
 Rev. Robert R. Booth, D.D., was installed 
 March 6, i86i. 
 
 The whole number of members admitted to this 
 church was 2026, of whom 749 made profession 
 of faith, and 1277 were received by certificate. 
 
 On September 16, 1870. the Presbytery of New 
 York ratified an agreement by which the Presby- 
 terian Church on University Place and the Mercer 
 Street Church became one, and by the terms of 
 the union retained the corporate name " The Pres- 
 byterian Church on University Place." The 
 elders and deacons of the two former churches 
 became the elders and deacons of the new or- 
 ganization. 
 
 Rev. Robert R. Booth, D.D., who for nine 
 
years had ministered in the Mercer Street Church, 
 was called to the pastorate of the united church 
 on September 2 2d, and duly installed by the 
 Presbytery of New York, October 30, 1870. 
 
 He continued in the pastorate until May 28, 
 1883, when failure of health, which threatened to be 
 permanent, constrained him to resign his charge. 
 
 Rev. George Alexander was installed pastor 
 January 8, 1884. 
 
 The whole number of resident members in- 
 cluded in the united church at the time of the 
 union was 716. During the twenty-five years 
 that have elapsed since the union 2484 persons 
 have been admitted to the church on profession of 
 their faith, and 846 by letter from other churches. 
 
 It will be observed that the fiftieth anniversary 
 of the University Place Church coincides almost 
 exactly with the sixtieth anniversary of the Mer- 
 cer Street Church and with the twenty-fifth anni- 
 versary of the united church. This interesting 
 circumstance determined the character of the 
 celebration recorded in this volume and the order 
 of the programme. 
 
 Three Members of Session and the same num- 
 ber from the Board of Trustees were appointed a 
 joint committee to make all necessary arrange- 
 ments for the occasion. 
 
 The last week in October was thought to be 
 too early in the season to secure a general attend- 
 
6 
 
 ancc of the congregation, and for that reason it 
 was decided to postpone the exercises for one 
 month beyond the precise date of the anniversary. 
 
 The programme arranged by the committee was 
 carried out in every respect except that Rev. 
 David J. Burrell, D.D., was unable to attend and 
 address the Sunday-school meeting. His letter 
 of regret will be found in the appendix. 
 
 Sub-committees on church decoration, on mu- 
 sic, and on entertainment were appointed, and 
 cheerfully fulfilled the parts assigned to them. 
 The young men of the church performed excel- 
 lent service as ushers, and the ladies provided a 
 delightful entertainment at the close of the Tues- 
 day evening meeting. The weather proved to be 
 very stormy and prevented the attendance of many 
 who greatly desired to be there, but the large 
 audiences which gathered at the various services 
 bore testimony to the interest which the occasion 
 excited. The anniversary has for its permanent 
 memorial the beautiful and commodious Jubilee 
 Hall, erected during the previous summer by the 
 generous gifts of the church. 
 
C|)c Sn\)(tat(on 
 
 J 845- I 895 
 
 You are cordially invited to participate in the Exercises 
 commemorative of the 
 
 fiftietlj annitier^art 
 
 of t\)e 
 
 ^tt^h^tttim Cfjurcit) on Um\itt^it^ ^iatc 
 
 am t})c 
 
 oftl)« 
 
 Which are to be held in the Church Edifice, corner 
 of University Place and Tenth Street, New -York, 
 November 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th, 1895. 
 
 Thomas Denny, Chairman, 
 
 Geo. R. Lockwood, Mrs. Henry J. Raymond. 
 
 Frederick A. Burrall, M. D., Mrs. William G. Bull. 
 
 William Turnbull, Mrs. Anson G. Phelps, 
 
 Mrs. Willard Parker, Mrs. J. W. Wheeler, 
 
 Committee of SIntaitation. 
 
THE PROGRAMME 
 
 Sabbat!) iHormng. 
 
 NOVEMBER TWKNTV-FOUKTH, AT I I o'CLOCK. 
 
 Organ Prelude, . Andante in li flat . W'cly. 
 
 Anthem, Tc Dcuni Baumbach. 
 
 doxology. 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Reading of the Law and Choir ) 
 
 Response : Lord have mercy upon us \ 
 
 Hymn No. 138.^ 
 
 Old Testament Lesson. 
 
 Gloria in Excelsis. 
 
 New Testament Lesson. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 ( Tenor Solo — Jesus, > 
 Offertory, \ j . ., , } . Tours. 
 
 ( Lover oj my Soul S 
 
 Hymn No. 136. 
 
 Commemorative Sermon by the Pastor. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Hymn No. 948. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Postlude, . LLallelujali Chorus . Beethoven. 
 
 1 The hymns are all taken from " Laudcs Domini." 
 
AT 4 o'clock. 
 
 Celebration of the Lord's Supper 
 By present and former members of the Church ; 
 The Pastor and Rev. R. R. Booth, D.D., officiatinf 
 
 AT 8 o'clock. 
 
 C Jylznuet zn ) 
 
 Organ Prelude, < a n/r • \ Henry Smart. 
 I A Major ^ ^ 
 
 Anthem, . . . Agnus Dei . . . Tours. 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Hymn No. 294. 
 
 Scripture Reading. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 r\^^^^r^ S Alto Solo — O Rest It.. , , , 
 
 Offertory,^ . ,rr^,.. ,,> Mendelssohn. 
 
 ( intlieLord\hlijah) ) 
 
 Address by Rev. Howard Duffield, D.D., 
 
 Pastor of First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Hymn No. 919. 
 
 Address by Rev. W. R. Huntington, D.D., 
 
 Pector of Grace Church. 
 
 rA..^^ S Soprano and Alto — The > ^ 
 Uuet, { ^ > Greatorex 
 
 ( J^ord is my Ci hep herd > 
 
 Address by Rev. Edward Judson, D.D., 
 
 Pastor of Judson Metnorial Church. 
 
 Hymn No. 1004. 
 
 Prayer and Benediction. 
 
 Postlude, . March in F Major . Gounod. 
 
NOVEMBER TWENTY -FIFTH, AT 8 o'CLOCK. 
 
 SERVICE COMMEMORATIVE OF MERCER 
 STREET CHURCH. 
 
 Organ Prelude, . Andante in F Major . Wely 
 
 Anthem, . Cantate Do7ni7io in C Buck. 
 
 Hymn No. 952. 
 
 Scripture Reading. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Address by Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D, 
 
 f, c \ Glory to Thee, my } ^ , 
 
 Soprano Solo, < ^ -; , . ,^. , > Cjounod. 
 i God, this Night S 
 
 Address by Wm. Allen Butler, LL.D. 
 
 Hymn No. 326. 
 
 Address by Rev. Lyman Abbott, D.D. 
 
 i I'm a Pilgrim, ) 
 
 Anthem, < .^ vj i - Marston. 
 
 ( / m a Stranger ^ 
 
 Address by Rev. Erskine N. White, D.D. 
 
 Hymn No. 21 7. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Organ Postlude, March in D Major, Guilmant. 
 
Cuejsiiat Afternoon ♦ 
 
 NOVEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH, AT 3 o'CLOCK. 
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF THE WOMAN'S HOME 
 MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 AT THE CHURCH HOUSE. 
 
 Hymn. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Report of the Fifty Years' Work, 
 
 By the Recording Secretary. 
 
 Address by Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D. 
 Hymn. 
 
 tea served at four o'clock. 
 
AT 8 o'clock. 
 
 Organ ( Canzo7ietta ) . • , 
 
 r> • ^- / \\ m. Adrian Smith. 
 
 rRELUDE, I in G ) 
 
 Anthem, -^Vw^ Alleluia forth Buck. 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Hymn No. 1059. 
 
 Scripture Reading. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 _ ( Alto and Bass — ) 
 
 Duet, < -/v t ^ ■ r i4 i - Buck. 
 
 I 1 lie Lord IS my tig/it ) 
 
 THE FIRST QUARTER- CENTURY OF UNIVER- 
 SITY PLACE CHURCH. 
 
 Address by Rev. Arthur Potts, D.D. 
 Hymn No. 924. 
 
 THE UNITED CHURCH. 
 
 Address by Rev. Robert R. Booth, D.D. 
 
 Hymn No. 925. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Organ Postlvde, //a llelujal/ C/zorus . Handel. 
 
 reception and collation. 
 
NOVEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH, AT 8 o'CLOCK. 
 COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE. 
 
 By the Church Sabbath-school, with Deputations 
 from Emmanuel Chapel School and Bethlehem 
 Chapel School. 
 
 Hymn, Processional, 725. 
 
 Anthem, by the Choir, O co7ne, let us sing, Tours. 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Responsive Reading. 
 
 Hymn No. 308. 
 
 Remarks by the Superintendent of Church Sab- 
 bath-school. 
 
 Hymn No. 331. 
 
 Address, Origin and Growth of Emmanuel 
 Chapel School, by Mr. Otis W. Booth. 
 
 Address, Origin and Groivth of Bethlehem Chapel 
 School, by Rev. Herbert Ford. 
 
 Hymn No. 729. 
 
 Address by Rev. Thomas Marshall, D.D. 
 
 Address by Rev. David J. Burrell, D.D. 
 
 Hymn No. 1161. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 C ]\^arch tit ) 
 PosTLUDE, \ c M ' ( W"^- Adrian Smith. 
 
NOVEMBER 28, AT II o'CLOCK A.M. 
 NATIONAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE. 
 
 C Largo and Allegro ) 
 
 Organ Prelude, < ■ r- 7tr ■ ' / Haydn. 
 
 ( in C Major ') ^ 
 
 Anthem, Break fot'tJi into joy King. 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Hymn No. 142. 
 
 Scripture Reading. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Offerings for the Needy, dispensed fJirough 
 
 the Two Missions of t lie Church. 
 Anthem, . Harvest Hymn . Hafscom. 
 
 Hymn No. 123. 
 
 Sermon, dy the Pastor. 
 Anthem, . . O come, let us sing . . Tours. 
 Prayer. 
 
 Hymn No. i 161. 
 Benediction. 
 PosTLUDE, . . Alleg7'o ill B fiat . Haydn. 
 
Sunday, November 24TH. 
 
 ^ertice at ii a.tn» 
 
 Commemorative Sermon by the Pastor. 
 
 ^ertice at 4 p* n\. 
 
 Communion. 
 
 ^ertice at 8 p» m* 
 
 Addresses by 
 
 Rev. Howard Duffield, D.D., 
 
 Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Rev. W. R. Huntington, D.D., 
 
 Rector of Grace Church. 
 
 Rev. Edward Judson, D.D., 
 
 Pastor of the Judson Memorial Church. 
 
Sunday Morning. 
 3^b, (^corge ^[icranber, 2D» 2D., ^a^tot* 
 
 Remember them that had the rule over you, which spake unto 
 
 YOU THE word OF GOD ; AND CONSIDERING THE ISSUE OF THEIR 
 
 life, imitate their faith. 
 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and forever. 
 
 Hebrews xiii. 7-8. (Revised Version). 
 
 JHIS epistle has neither address nor sig- 
 nature. It is as difficult to fix the 
 precise date of its composition as to 
 determine its authorship. Internal evidences 
 point to the conclusion that it was intended for 
 the church at Jerusalem, the mother church of 
 Christendom, and that it was written shortly be- 
 fore the destruction of the Jewish capital. Nearly 
 half a century had passed since Pentecost. The 
 church was beginning to have a history. Christian 
 memories, Christian traditions, the unwritten biog- 
 
raphies of saints and martyrs were beginnings to 
 create a Christian atmosphere. 
 
 The migrhty spiritual impulse to wliich the 
 church owed its origin had spent something 
 of its energy. The gifts of the spirit had be- 
 come less extraordinary and startling. But a 
 new force was beginning to make itself felt; the 
 inspiring and restraining influence of those who, 
 being dead, are yet eloquent. What a list of 
 worthies that church at Jerusalem had on its 
 muster-rolls! It included the fathers and foun- 
 ders of the faith. Jesus himself had gathered its 
 charter members. The twelve were its first offi- 
 cers. Peter and John were its great preachers; 
 James its first president ; Stephen its proto-mar- 
 tyr. These fathers and founders had for the most 
 part fallen asleep, but the benediction of their 
 lives remained as a priceless legacy. 
 
 To the sentiment of veneration for the past, for 
 the service and example of the holy dead, the 
 writer of this epistle now appeals. He would 
 bring the church of the present under the spell of 
 her own history, that the examples of her de- 
 parted leaders and teachers might not only min- 
 ister to divine conservatism, but furnish incitement 
 to godly achievement. 
 
 Very significant is the confession of faith which 
 the apostle links with his pious exhortation : 
 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day 
 
19 
 
 and forever." "The fathers, where are they?" 
 "They are done with hfe below." On the 
 church visible, as on all things earthly, is im- 
 pressed the law of change. Even in the annals of 
 the saintly, "one generation goeth and another 
 Cometh"; but the Saviour, in whom they trusted 
 and in whom they lived, is "the same yesterday, 
 and to-day and forever." Our text thus indicates 
 the double source from which springs the glory 
 of the church and the pledge of its perpetuity — 
 the unchangeableness of her divine Lord and the 
 example of faithful lives brought to a glorious is- 
 sue through faith in Him. 
 
 The counsel given to the church at Jerusalem 
 deserves to be commended to every church whose 
 founders have gone to their reward. A church, 
 like an individual, is heir of all its past. The cor- 
 porate life of a religious community is shaped by 
 the character and work of its early leaders, and in 
 turn influences the life and work of every one 
 who shares its inspirations. 
 
 In the days just before us, we are to put our- 
 selves into communion with our spiritual ances- 
 tors. May the church of our affection, like the 
 body that touched the bones of Elisha, spring 
 into newness of life by virtue of contact with the 
 relics of its sires. 
 
 I must not intrude upon the province of those 
 who are to present its annals in orderly review. 
 
20 
 
 Let me simply weave together a few of those 
 scattered memorials which should especially pro- 
 voke us to emulate the faith of them tliat sleep. 
 
 We have a double ancestry. Two confluent 
 streams contribute to the sum of qualities which 
 constitute the genius of University Place Church. 
 To describe them is a delicate task to perform in 
 the presence of many whose memories run back 
 along these divergent lines of history, which are 
 to-day our common heritage. 
 
 Fifty years ago this stately edifice, which had 
 been completed during the previous summer, 
 stood on the northern verge of a rapidly expand- 
 ing city. It was almost immediately filled with a 
 compact congregation. Within a month after the 
 organization of the church, it numbered nearly 
 two hundred communicants, most of them for- 
 merly members of the church in Duane street, 
 now the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. The 
 Mercer Street Church, two or three blocks away, 
 was just completing the first decade of its exist- 
 ence with a membership roll that had increased 
 from twenty-eight to five hundred. These churches 
 were planted in the midst of a community unex- 
 celled in this or in any other city. Ihey were ot 
 a native stock, American through and through. 
 Some were New Yorkers by birth, some were 
 from the States farther south, but the predominant 
 element was of that New England type which in 
 
21 
 
 the first half of the century did so much to estab- 
 lish the commercial supremacy of this imperial 
 city. Dr. Prentiss has said that " the Mercer 
 Street Church then contained many members 
 whose names were known and honored the world 
 over, in spheres of business, professional life, lit- 
 erature, philanthropy, and religion." The same 
 might be said of the congregation that worshiped 
 here. Within an area of half a mile square was 
 an aggregation of people such as no American 
 city can hope to see again within the same com- 
 pass. The seventeen men who comprised the asso- 
 ciation which erected this edifice have all passed 
 away. Of those who, ten years earlier, planned 
 and executed the enterprise of building Mercer 
 Street Church, two survive, whose lives almost span 
 the century — Charles H. Booth, of Englewood, 
 and that Nestor of our civic life, Charles Butler. 
 I leave to others the task of naming and char- 
 acterizing the choice spirits who were the leaders 
 of these two bands. The list includes more than 
 half the founders of Union Seminary, and the 
 leading factors in a half score of other institutions 
 that have blessed the municipality, and extended 
 their influence to the bounds of the earth. Mer- 
 chant princes, whose commerce flioated on every 
 sea, bankers of international repute, governors 
 of the State, who adorned that high office, physi- 
 cians, jurists, journalists, who were leading the 
 
22 
 
 thought of their respective professions, — such 
 were the materials that entered into the struc- 
 ture of these households of faith. 
 
 Each of the two churches bejj^an its life under 
 the guidance of a minister peculiarly fitted, b\' 
 gifts and training, to direct the thinking and 
 Christian activity of such a community. George 
 Potts, the first pastor of University Place Church, 
 a man of northern birth and education, had been 
 called ten years previous from a Mississippi par- 
 ish to the Duane Street Church, where his pas- 
 toral experience had added to the power and 
 reputation which his broad scholarship, command- 
 ing form, superb voice, and courtly bearing had 
 previously established. An old -school Presby- 
 terian of moderate type, without narrowness or 
 acerbity, a man of profound convictions, of gener- 
 ous and tender sensibilities, an eloquent preacher, 
 wise and faithful in pastoral service, he put upon 
 the church, in his twenty years of service, a stamp 
 which his brilliant successor, in the comparatively 
 short ministry of five years, could not essentially 
 modify. Yonder mural tablet, which records the 
 veneration of his people, contains pathetic allu- 
 sion both to his labor and his sorrows: "In the 
 harvest thou shalt rest." " He that goeth forth 
 bearing precious seed and weeping shall doubtless 
 come again bringing his sheaves with him." 
 
 it may not be easy for the appointed historian 
 
23 
 
 of the University Place Church to speak of an- 
 other potent factor in the pastor's home and in the 
 spiritual life of his charge — a daughter, rare and 
 radiant, instinct with spiritual vitality, whose se- 
 raphic voice, pealing forth from the choir loft yon- 
 der, ministered to others what she so largely in- 
 herited herself, "the far-off increment of tears." 
 
 Thomas H. Skinner, the first pastor of Mercer 
 Street Church, was a man of different mould from 
 his neighbor on University Place. He was a 
 southern man by birth, called from a professor- 
 ship in a New England seminary, a new-school 
 theologian of moderate and irenic type, with splen- 
 did intellectual furnishing, and yet more richly 
 endowed with the graces of the spirit; a man 
 who, wrestling with God, and wrestling with 
 powers of darkness, issued from that struggle 
 transparent, childlike, holy. Horace Bushnell, 
 the most original theologian which this country 
 has produced, said of him: "I have never seen, 
 doubtless I shall never see, knowing him to be 
 such, so holy a man." While he challenged the 
 intellect of his cultured hearers, he captivated 
 their hearts with an unction from the Holy One. 
 The spirit of his ministry is expressed in a peti- 
 tion which one of his students has remembered 
 and preserved : " Oh, Lord, grant that every one 
 of us may save some souls before we die." His 
 face was that of a man who walked with God, 
 
24 
 
 and who pleaded with men. Lookinc:^ upon him 
 as he lay coffined, a choice spirit, who still aljides 
 with us, was constrained to say: 
 
 " Not now, as oft, do I his face behold, 
 The inan of gentle will and courtly mien, 
 The thoughtful student, earnest yet serene. 
 Or preacher, by whose lips God's truth was told, 
 And in such way with him our eyes have seen 
 Days like to that of Pentecost of old ! 
 I see him rather as a little child 
 Aglow with love, and crowned with simplest grace, 
 With faith that fear and doubt had not defiled, 
 And to his loving Lord so reconciled, 
 He dwelt within the smiling of His face. 
 I think in midst of us Christ gave him place. 
 To teach, as once before, that such as he 
 They must become who would his kingdom see." ' 
 
 An interval of only two or three years sepa- 
 rated his pastorate from that of a man of kindred 
 spirit, who will to-morrow night tell the story of 
 the church he served. It will scarcely be possible 
 for him to speak of those personal histories and 
 experiences which enabled him in the first year 
 of his ministry to put upon that church so lasting 
 an impress. The soil of a southern grave still 
 lay loosely upon the coffin of his only brother, 
 that brilliant and chivalric genius, S. S. Prentiss, 
 of whose oratory Daniel Webster once said, " No- 
 
 1 A, D. F. Randolph. 
 
25 
 
 body can equal that." In the pastor's own home, 
 that gifted author who has helped so many thou- 
 sands in their "stepping heavenward" was watch- 
 ing the ebbing of a young life, and schooling her 
 heart to say : 
 
 " Blest child ! dear child ! For thee is Jesus calling ; 
 And of our household thee — and only thee ! 
 Oh, hasten hence ! to His embraces hasten ! 
 Sweet shall thy rest and safe thy shelter be. 
 
 " Thou who unguarded ne'er has left our threshold, 
 Alone must venture now an unknown way; 
 Yet, fear not !• Footprints of an Infant Holy 
 Lie on thy path. Thou canst not go astray.'' 
 
 In such valleys of Baca are often found the 
 springs of abiding comfort and power. 
 
 But we must not linger over the record of those 
 who spoke the word of God to that vanishing 
 generation. We turn to note some of the fruits 
 and issues of their lives. 
 
 The ardor of their flame kindled many another 
 torch. Of the more than six thousand communi- 
 cants who have held membership in this church 
 and the two former churches during those sixty 
 years, upward of sixty have entered the gospel 
 ministry. Of these I might mention Rev. Lyman 
 Abbott, D.D., Pastor of Plymouth Church, Brook- 
 lyn; Rev. George D. Baker, D.D., Pastor of the 
 4 
 
26 
 
 First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia; Rev. 
 Charles H. Baldwin, D.I)., Pastor of the First 
 Presbyterian Church of Amsterdam ; Rev. David 
 J. Burrall, D.I)., Pastor of tlu- Collegiate Re- 
 formed Church of this city ; Rev. Lewis R. Foote, 
 D.D., Pastor of the Throop Avenue Presbyterian 
 Church of Brooklyn ; Rev. Hiram C. Haydn, 
 D.D., Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church 
 of Cleveland; Rev. James H. Taylor, D.D., Pastor 
 of the First Presbyterian Church of Rome ; Rev. 
 Erskine N. White, D.D., Secretary of the Board 
 of Church Erection, not to speak of others scarcely 
 less notable in character and service. 
 
 In midsummer of last year, a gentleman came 
 forward at the close of the morninpf service and 
 said: "I am a pilgrim and a stranger. I arrived 
 this morning by the steamer from Havre, and 
 have been sitting in the corner of the gallery 
 yonder, where I heard the last sermon before my 
 conversion, and the first sermon after my conver- 
 sion, both on the same day." It was Theodore 
 Monod, the leading spirit and best-known pastor 
 in the Reformed Church of France to-day. As 
 we passed into the chapel, he said : " There I 
 sat while Charlie Lloyd prayed so earnestly for 
 me." We knelt together in the consecrated spot, 
 then parted, and I saw his face no more. 
 
 Another evidence of evangelistic energy is fur- 
 nished by the history of the home missionary en- 
 
27 
 
 terprises which we, as a church, have inherited. 
 Before the University Place Church had been a 
 month in existence, its honorable women, not a 
 few, banded themselves together in a missionary 
 organization which has survived the vicissitudes 
 of a half century, and celebrates its jubilee with 
 undiminished vitality. A little later a mission 
 school was started, which under adverse circum- 
 stances, that would have extinguished any ordi- 
 nary enterprise, has by the sheer energy of pray- 
 erful and unconquerable purpose struggled forth 
 into a wealthy place. 
 
 Mercer Street Church started upon the same 
 line of effort about five years later, but the move- 
 ment when it came was mighty and significant. 
 Forty-four years ago to-morrow night, that church 
 assembled at the pastor's call to consider the 
 question, " What are our duties in relation to 
 the spiritual necessities of this city and vicinity?" 
 The conclusion reached, after several meetings, 
 was expressed in this resolution : " That it is our 
 duty as a church and congregation to adopt im- 
 mediate and efficient measures for carrying the 
 gospel to the destitute of our city." The charac- 
 ter of that conference may be inferred from the 
 fact that its presiding officer was a statesman who 
 had served in the Federal cabinet as head of the 
 Department of Justice, and afterward of the De- 
 partment of War. That magnificent body of men 
 
28 
 
 and women, whose names will be repeated during 
 these commemorative days, devised a compre- 
 hensive scheme of city evangelism, which marks 
 an era in the reliiifious activities of New York. 
 Its permanent result, so far as concerns the pres- 
 ent life of this church, is that crown jewel of our 
 realm, Emmanuel Chapel. 
 
 But "the field is the world." We glance for 
 a moment at the fruits of a wider evangelism. 
 Twelve or more from the membership of this 
 church have gone forth to foreign missionary 
 service, among the Indians of our own land, in 
 Syria, in Asia Minor, in India, Siam, China, and 
 South Africa. Some have finished their course 
 in faith, others are still enduring hardness as good 
 soldiers of the Cross. Let me cite one example 
 from each of the two former churches. Katharine 
 Parker, a daughter of the most eminent surgeon 
 in the land, enriched with all that wealth and cul- 
 ture and social privilege could bestow, freely sac- 
 rificed it all, and with her husband — also a mem- 
 ber of this church — plunged into the gloom of 
 the Dark Continent, consecrating her life to the 
 task of helping to relieve its awful savagery. 
 
 The other example I cull from the annals of 
 Mercer Street. George Bowen, reared in afflu- 
 ence, a litterateur, a philosopher, an infidel, was 
 converted with a mighty conversion, and became, 
 by God's grace, one of the most remarkable mis- 
 
29 
 
 sionaries of modern times. Of him, Dr. Hanna, 
 the eminent Scotch divine, has said: "He exhib- 
 ited a degree of self-sacrificing" devotion to which 
 there is perhaps no existing parallel in the whole 
 field of missionary labor." As unworldly as John 
 the Baptist, as fervent in spirit as Xavier, his sanc- 
 tity commanded the homage of the heathen in 
 the bazaars of Bombay. Even in his student 
 days he started in Union Seminary a wave of 
 missionary enthusiasm which is to-day breaking 
 on every heathen shore. 
 
 To later events and actors I may not refer, ex- 
 cept to indicate the origin of that spirit of charity 
 and forbearance and unity which has kept us as 
 a church peaceful and patient amid warring forces 
 and in troublous times. As I have indicated, 
 University Place Church was Old School, con- 
 servative ; Mercer Street Church was New School, 
 and liberal. Twenty-five years ago the surge 
 of city population had left both somewhat de- 
 pleted and threatened with removal or extinction. 
 It was a time when the turbulent passions of civil 
 strife had settled into a great calm, and the power 
 of the Holy Ghost was fusing into oneness the 
 hearts of theologians, whose heads never could 
 agree. God grant that such days may speedily 
 return. The two great denominations, which 
 had stood apart for a generation, touched by a 
 spirit of magnanimity and fraternal confidence, 
 
30 
 
 came together with great joy. Under the im- 
 pulse of that heavenly afflatus, University Place 
 Church and Mercer Street Church became one. 
 The story of their union will be told by the one 
 above all others fitted to tell it, the pastor of the 
 Mercer Street Church and of the united church, 
 who with rare skill welded the diverse elements 
 into an enduring fabric, and into whose labors it 
 has been my privilege to enter. 
 
 Brethren, the past at least is secure. We have 
 been communing — in these days of retrospect we 
 are yet to commune — with the heroic and the 
 holy. Thank God, they are our saints and heroes. 
 When our coward hearts fail us, and our half- con- 
 secrated lives put us to shame, let us remember 
 that their Saviour is our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the 
 same yesterday, to-day, and forever. New duties, 
 new opportunities, confront us. New grace will be 
 granted us from the fountain of grace. The spir- 
 its of the glorified incite and solicit us; "where- 
 fore, seeing we also are compassed about with so 
 great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every 
 weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, 
 and let us run with patience the race which is 
 set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and 
 finisher of our faith, — " and theirs. 
 
Sunday Evening. 
 
 9[Dtirc^^ tip tljc 
 
 HAT mighty dreamer, whose cell in Bed- 
 ford Jail became a second Patmos all 
 aglow with celestial visions, has pictured 
 the heaven-bound pilgrim at one stage of his jour- 
 ney as nearing the doorway of a beautiful man- 
 sion. The King had erected on the roadside this 
 house of rest for the refreshing of travelers to the 
 Celestial City. Beneath its roof-tree there was 
 the solace of genial companionship. Its board 
 was laden with appetizing and invigorating viands. 
 It contained an armory to panoply the traveler for 
 encounter with any who might challenge his ad- 
 vance. From its lofty towers there was an exhil- 
 arating prospect of the gleaming spires and bat- 
 tlements of the far-away city of the King. As 
 we gather to-night within the shelter of these 
 
hallowed walls, as our heart-strings vibrate with 
 praise, as our spirits are uplifted with prayer, as 
 our energies are quickened witli the touch of 
 Christian fellowship, allegory passes into reality, 
 and we seem to have met within the hospitable 
 enclosure of the House Beautiful. 
 
 It is a grateful task which I am charged this eve- 
 ning to perform. As your pastor has already sug- 
 gested, I come to you from the mother church o( 
 New York Presbyterianism, to give her hearty 
 greetings upon the completion of your fifty years of 
 noble service for the Master whom we love. We 
 are not bound to one another by the accident of 
 neighborhood merely. There is a closer than a 
 geographical tie between the " Old First" Church 
 and the Church on University Place. There are 
 fibers of kinship that are stirred when the story 
 of either church is related. There is a flow of the 
 same spiritual blood in our veins. The greeting 
 which I am commissioned to brino- vou to-nijrht 
 comes not only from the mother church of New 
 York Presbyterianism, but from the grandmother 
 church of the Church on University Place. For in 
 the bygone days, of the First Presbyterian Church 
 was begotten the Cedar Street Church, and of the 
 Cedar Street Church was begotten the Church on 
 University Place. It is therefore with peculiar 
 satisfaction that I come from the ancestral home 
 to bear to you our warmest congratulations, and 
 
33 
 
 to send you forward with sucli utterances of aus- 
 picious God-speed as it may be in our power to 
 bestow. 
 
 We congratulate you to-night upon the accu- 
 mulated memories of fifty years. Half a century 
 stores the coffers of a church with a spiritual 
 treasure of recollection passing all price. Half a 
 century of faithful laboring for Christ, of the plant- 
 ing of the seed, of the maturing of the fruit, and 
 of the garnering of the harvest, inscribes upon 
 the tablets of memory a chronicle of deathless in- 
 terest. I doubt not that, as you celebrate this 
 memorial service, to many of you the vanished past 
 becomes clothed with a reality that the actualities 
 of the present cannot possess. Doubtless you 
 are even now listening to the echo of voices that 
 have long since raised the psalm of triumph before 
 the throne. Doubtless, with a clearer vision than 
 that with which you perceive the bodily presence 
 of your friends, you are gazing with fond recollec- 
 tion on faces that are bright and glorious, from 
 having looked upon the unveiled countenance of 
 God. Simply to recall the fact that for the space 
 of fifty years companies of holy men have yearned 
 toward this building as their spiritual Mecca, — that 
 during fifty years a glorious cloud of witnesses 
 for Christ have made this church their worship- 
 place, have enriched its altar with the incense of 
 their prayers, and counted it all honor to expend 
 
 5 
 
34 
 
 in its service the energy of their lives, — is fit 
 cause for festival rejoicing. Into this edifice have 
 been builded spiritual graces and forces which 
 the symmetry of these arches and the strength 
 of these pillars can only typify. 
 
 It was said by them of the olden time, that he 
 who would leave behind him an enduring memo- 
 rial, should dig a well. To the Oriental mind, the 
 bringing of a cup of cold water to the relief of 
 thirsty lips was a more monumental achievement 
 than a blazon of imperishable bronze. History 
 being the witness, such are the memorials that 
 have defied time. The great lawgiver sleeps in 
 an unnoted grave, but the traveler through the 
 vale of Shechem may slake his thirst to-day at 
 the well of Jacob. The splendor of the temple 
 which crowned Zion's hill has departed, the de- 
 bris of the past has buried it, but the tourist can 
 still stand with reverent memory where the heal- 
 ing waters of Bethseda are gleaming in the sun- 
 light. And those who are to win immortality of 
 renown, in such a metropolitan mass of humanity 
 as that in which we are embedded, shall be those 
 who bequeath to the aftertime a memory of help- 
 fulness; not those eminent alone for intellectual 
 superiority, not those conspicuous merely for social 
 distinction, but those who, having transfused their 
 life into such an institution as this, have opened a 
 fountain of perennial relief for the thirst of the soul. 
 
35 
 
 We congratulate you to-night upon the lesson 
 which you have been teaching to the community 
 for these fifty years. It has been at no little cost 
 that you have founded and maintained at this 
 place a church enginery of this character. The 
 sum total of your altar-gift in dollars, expended 
 through this half century, is a large and command- 
 ing amount. It might raise, in this modern busi- 
 ness age, a question that is no new one, " Why 
 this waste ? " But it is a lesson never untimely, 
 and to our age, and in such a city, of special per- 
 tinence, that a free Gospel is a far different thing 
 from a cheap Gospel. It is no little matter, in the 
 way of municipal culture, for a company of people 
 to persistently invest money in the production of 
 noble and uplifting ideas, to devote hard cash to 
 the perpetuating of lofty sentiment. The very 
 closing in of business upon these down-town re- 
 gions gives to the church that comes to be cen- 
 tered in this maelstrom of materialism which 
 swirls through the metropolis, an opportunity to 
 proclaim with singular emphasis its witness to 
 the imperial worth of the human soul. The very 
 (act that over against the gateway of one of the 
 world's busiest money-markets towers the spire of 
 Old Trinity, affords to that parish an enviable van- 
 tage ground for eloquent testimony to the surpass- 
 ing value of eternal things. Sometimes we look 
 backward to the Old Testament day with an al- 
 
36 
 
 most pitying sympathy. Wc say, " How meager 
 were the opportunities of that elder time. How 
 cramped the horizon of spiritual view." Let us 
 remember that from the very heart of that era 
 there comes this throbbing watchword : " How- 
 shall I serve the Lord with that which doth cost 
 me nothing?" Remember the splendors of tab- 
 ernacle and of temple. Remember the fine-twined 
 linen, and the purple and the scarlet curtains, 
 broidered with gold. Remember the carved ivory 
 work, and the vestments crusted with jewels. 
 These things were not for the simple gratification 
 of the aesthetic sense. This people had beheld 
 the majesty of Jehovah when he strode in triumph 
 through the land of Egypt and made desolate 
 the temples of its gods. This people had looked 
 upon the splendor of Jehovah, as He led them 
 in triumph along the floor of a conquered sea. 
 This people had entered with Jehovah into his 
 council-chamber at Sinai, canopied with cloud 
 and paved with sapphire. They needed no visi- 
 ble tokens to shadow forth the divine glory. 
 They knew their King. They planned and toiled 
 to lay before His throne the choicest and costliest 
 outcome of their life. They brought the first 
 fruit of harvest, representing the painstaking care 
 of many months. They set aside for Him the 
 firstlings of the flock, that had become most en- 
 deared to the shepherd heart. They wrought 
 
Z7 
 
 into a sacrifice for Him the rarest thought of the 
 artist and the utmost cunning of the craftsman. 
 They were fain to make men see that the best 
 they had belonged to God. The passage of the 
 centuries have not rendered the exhibition of this 
 principle needless. Well may your hearts be 
 stirred within you as, remembering to-night that 
 for fifty years, in the face of a popular senti- 
 ment that has come to deify the dollar, and de- 
 fine all earthly success in terms of coin, you have 
 lavished of your wealth freely, generously, and 
 with increasing sacrifice, as the half century went 
 by, to make beautiful and glorious a sanctuary 
 where the Father and his children might hold 
 their tryst. 
 
 We congratulate you upon the achievement of 
 a fifty years' ministry of help. The atmosphere 
 of a great city is ever quivering with the cry for 
 help. From the sin -sullied that have dragged 
 their garments in the mire, and are troubled when 
 they think of God; from the broken-hearted who 
 moisten their daily bread with tears, and from 
 whom the light of the sun is hid ; from slaves of 
 evil that, bound helplessly in habit's fetters, are 
 cursing themselves and defying their future; from 
 the despairing that have said good-by to hope ; 
 from little children that have been rifled of their 
 heritage, a good name, and have been sent into 
 the world branded with an iniquity not their own, 
 
38 
 
 there comes welling forth tliat ceaseless cr)' which 
 long ago went whispering across the waters of 
 the -^gean Sea, " Come and help us. Come, oh 
 come and help us ! " During all the vicissitude 
 of fifty years this doorway has been swung wide 
 open, beckoning the earth-burdened into the calm 
 and peace of heaven. And these vaulted roofs 
 have been the gracious symbol of the quiet and 
 the shelter that are beneath the "shadow of His 
 wing." And these buttressed walls have been 
 a hieroglyphic of that divine fortress into which 
 the beleaguered soul may flee and be safe. And 
 these aisles and pews have betokened that walking 
 and resting in the consciousness of God's pres- 
 ence which is the consummation of created being. 
 There is an indissoluble link between our earthly 
 and our heavenly experience. For many a day 
 has Moses rejoiced in the blessedness of the prom- 
 ised land of God. But never can he forget, 
 even upon the summits of the everlasting hills, 
 that bleak and solitary mountain slope, where the 
 acacia-bush burned with fire, and God spoke with 
 him, as a man talks with his friend. Samuel has 
 been long a dweller in the temple which is on 
 high, but never can Samuel forget that little sleep- 
 ing-closet in the curtained sanctuary at Shiloh, nor 
 that midnight hour when he heard his name spoken 
 by the Lord. Our Lord, by a friendly visit, made 
 the home-room of an humble Bethany family to be 
 
39 
 
 more hallowed than the courts of the temple, and 
 by a word he invested a simple platter of bread and 
 cup of wine with a mystic consecration such as 
 never hallowed the cherubim of gold that bowed 
 above the mercy-seat. Therefore, friends beloved, 
 we pray that the blessing of the divine presence 
 may here abide throughout long years to come. 
 May He who walked the paths of Eden in the cool 
 of the day tread these aisles with you and speak 
 with you in messages of thrilling invitation, of 
 solemn warning, and of stimulating encourage- 
 ment. May He who opened the Scriptures to 
 the perplexed hearts of the discouraged disciples 
 drive the shadows from your souls by the reveal- 
 ings of His truth. May the Holy One who mitered 
 with celestial fire the glorious company of the 
 Apostles for their world-work, baptize your hearts 
 with Pentecostal power. May this earthly home 
 of your souls come to more and more foretoken 
 that building divine, that House Beautiful, not 
 made with hands, where communion with God 
 shall be perfected. 
 
3Rc\j. 3M» ISi. J^umington, £D.D. 
 
 S you say, my dear brother, nothing is 
 more human than to be neighborly, and 
 unless the church has been mistaken all 
 along in its interpretation of one of the most fa- 
 miliar of the parables, nothing is more Christian 
 than neighborliness. Neighborhood lays on us 
 the obligation to "rejoice with them that do re- 
 joice." That is why I am here. We are too apt 
 to associate sympathy with suffering and trouble, 
 but really the duty of sympathy is just as strong 
 when our friends are happy, as when our friends 
 are sad. So I set it down, as I do so man)- other 
 things, to the credit of your pastor, that he not 
 only extended to me this cordial invitation to be 
 present, and asked me in, as it were, to help to 
 keep the feast, but that he realized how glad I 
 
41 
 
 should be to fall in with his suggestion, and to ac- 
 cept his hospitality. 
 
 This church, the Presbyterian Church on Uni- 
 versity Place, and Grace Church across the way, 
 are almost contemporary as regards the life of the 
 buildings in which they worship. Grace Church 
 antedates this church by many years, as an or- 
 ganization, but their edifices go back to almost the 
 same year, if not quite the same. So that we have 
 our semi-centennial on our hands, as you have 
 yours, only with this important difference — that 
 ours is only the anniversary of the edifice. Yours 
 is of that more important event, the genesis of the 
 spiritual house. 
 
 Fifty years ago two architects, one of them in 
 mature life, and at the zenith of his fame, the other 
 scarcely more than a boy, were busy in putting 
 the finishing touches to the two stately edifices 
 which translated their devout imaginings into 
 form. Richard Upjohn had chosen to build in 
 brownstone. John Renwick had preferred to 
 build in white. But the atmosphere in which 
 these two men lived and had their being were one 
 and the same. They both loved the Gothic lines. 
 They both believed that there was only one ar- 
 chitecture that could express ideas distinctively 
 Christian, and so although in a sense they were 
 doubtless competitors, yet in another sense they 
 made common cause. Since that day, the kindl}- 
 6 
 
42 
 
 hand ol time has softened the whiteness of Ren- 
 wick's church, and tlic chisel of the stone-cutter 
 has, on the other hand, given a lighter hue to Up- 
 john's church. So that there is no longer, between 
 the two edifices, the difference that there once 
 was. 
 
 Meanwhile, the spiritual house, the house yon- 
 der and this house, have, as your pastor has indi- 
 cated, been growing closer and closer in sym- 
 pathy. What have we in common ? We have 
 many things different. What have we in com- 
 mon ? We believe in one God, the Father, Maker 
 of heaven and earth. We acknowledge one Jesus 
 Christ, who for us men, and for our salvation, 
 came down from heaven. We supplicate the in- 
 breathing of one Holy Spirit, who is the giver 
 of life, whose goings forth are from everlasting. 
 Surely there is here a generous area where we, 
 like the early Christians, may feel that we have 
 in a deep and true sense all things in common. 
 
 But you have referred, Dr. Alexander, to an- 
 other bond of neighborly sympathy, and one 
 which deserves mention. During the eleven years 
 that you and I have been laboring in neighborly 
 fashion, just here in that portion of the city of 
 New York which has come to be known as "the 
 part of the city below Fourteenth street," many 
 souls have immigrated, and nian\' cinirches have 
 emigrated. We are here. God grant that we 
 
43 
 
 may stay here. I trust that the five or six churches 
 that occupy the Hne of defense — the crosstown 
 hne of defense — where you and I are stationed, 
 may stay here. Outward conditions may change. 
 Streets may take on a different look. Squares 
 may be scarcely recognizable. Nevertheless, what 
 remains? People remain — people. And it was 
 for people's sake that God sent his Son into the 
 world. I pray God that we may stay here. We 
 are set for the defense of the Gospel. It is singu- 
 lar that so many defenders of the Gospel seem to 
 think that their call is to another part of the town 
 than that in which they found themselves sur- 
 rounded by all the needs, and all the wants, of 
 which the human heart is capable. 
 
 We have our differences, dear neighbors — our 
 theological differences, our ecclesiastical differ- 
 ences. You have your methods and instrumen- 
 talities for work, and we have ours. But under- 
 neath it all there is that common ground of which 
 I spoke, which means the most. 
 
 You have referred in your remarks to the preju- 
 dices among the different denominations of Chris- 
 tians, but thank God for the march of religious 
 life in recent years. Presbyterianism represents 
 the Scottish interpretation and conception of Chris- 
 tianity. Anglicanism represents the English con- 
 ception and interpretation of Christianity. It 
 stands to reason that neither shadows forth all the 
 
44 
 
 truth, or covers all the facts. Even now the re- 
 ligious intelligence of America is feelini,'^ its way 
 to something better than either, and larger than 
 both. The greatness of England dates from the 
 day of the union of the crowns. It was when the 
 Scot and the Englishman struck hands, and ceased 
 striking swords, that Great Britain became a fact, 
 and Greater Britain loomed in sight. Great, 
 greater, greatest. When shall Greatest Britain 
 swing into our field of vision ? Only when what 
 is best in all the Churches shall have been cast 
 into the treasury of God, and the " United King- 
 dom " of heaven comes with power. 
 
\A^:k^^i^^^^ 
 
 
 
 Sbtirci^i^ lip tf)c 
 
 AM sorry to have broken in upon this 
 service. I could not come before. And 
 I am sorry that I shall have to go very 
 soon to another church, not sorry that I am going 
 to that church, but that I am going to leave this 
 place. I have heard what a glorious day you 
 have had. I am only sorry that I could not share 
 more of it with you. I always avail myself of 
 such an opportunity to meet brethren of other 
 communions than mine. It is when we come to- 
 gether, and see each other, and our hearts beat 
 in unison, that these denominational partitions 
 get very thin. It is when we don't know each 
 other, that we have to each other such an un- 
 favorable look. It is like the Englishman that I 
 heard of once, who was walking in a London fog, 
 
46 
 
 and saw an object approaching him that he 
 thought was a monster, but when he got close uj) 
 to it, he found that it was his brother John. And 
 so when we look at each other through these de- 
 nominational mists and fogs, we may appear ver) 
 monstrous to each other, but wiicn we come 
 close together, after all it is just our brother 
 John. It is the mist and the fog that caricature 
 us to each other, and that is why we feel some- 
 times so unkind. It is because we don't know 
 each other. You remember how sad those great 
 words of Tennyson's are, in which he describes 
 King Arthur's last battle : 
 
 Even on Arthur fell 
 Confusion ; since he saw not whom he fought, 
 For friend and foe were shadows in tlie mist, 
 And friend slew friend, not knowing whom he slew. 
 
 I want to congratulate this great, noble Church 
 upon its staying quality. What a splendid rec- 
 ord, that of fifty years ! I often think that what 
 Christians in New York, in this great town of 
 ours, need, is just that staying qualit) . I think 
 that the secret of success in any profession is 
 longevity, and good behavior. Just keep alive, 
 go into a gymnasium, eat well, sleep well, hold 
 yourself in hand, outlive your competitors. That 
 is what this town wants. And I am glad that 
 
47 
 
 this Church is here to stay, for it has stayed, and 
 it is going to stay, and I am glad that it is going 
 to stay down -town. 
 
 There is a great difference in fields. God 
 knows that it is hard enough for a church to 
 grow anywhere in New York. There are some 
 fields where the Church seems to grow of itself. 
 But, friends, we have to fight every inch here. 
 
 High deeds 
 Haunt not the fringy edges of the fight, 
 But the pell-mell of men. 
 
 Like Uriah of old, we find ourselves here 
 in the forefront of the hottest battle, and I am 
 glad of it. I am glad that you are banded to- 
 gether here for this good work, down in the 
 lower part of this town. There are many things 
 against us. A great number of people leave us, 
 and go up-town, to Brooklyn, that "City of 
 Churches," and to Jersey, and Yonkers, and all 
 about these beautiful suburbs. I don't wonder 
 that they go, but it makes it very hard for the 
 few of us who stay. And there come, in the place 
 of these dear people whom we lose, those who 
 are not friendly to us. We have much against 
 us. Many influences creep over the down-town 
 churches, as in dropsy the water, little by little, 
 creeps up until at last it reaches the vitals, and 
 
48 
 
 smothers out the life. So it is witli the ma- 
 terialistic and sacramentarian influences that are 
 submerging our city, unevangelical forces that 
 smother tlie life in us. We hnd ourselves in a 
 great social swamp. The people have a saloon on 
 every corner. \\' e catch their diseases. There is 
 no escape from them. We must subdue them, or 
 they will subdue us. One must be hammer or an- 
 vil. And so, dear friends, I am glad that you are 
 holding out here. I am glad that you have a Pas- 
 tor with a heart set steadfastly, and that you are 
 standing right by him. I rejoice in it. God 
 bless you, and cause his face ever to shine on you. 
 And then, too, I am delighted with the silent, 
 unostentatious character of the work you do. 
 Why, I was walking down Bleecker street the 
 other day, calling on this family and that, and I 
 came along to Bethlehem Chapel. I went up 
 and rang the bell, and they invited me in very 
 kindly. I looked about a little to see what you 
 are doing, and then I saw a little light through a 
 crack, and I said, "What is going on back there? " 
 And they said, "There is a Band of Hope back 
 there." And I counted one hundred and seventy- 
 five children there that afternoon, I'Vida)' after- 
 noon. They had an accomplished, scientific 
 teacher, who was just holding them under a spell. 
 teaching them of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I 
 thought. Grand old Church, what a work you are 
 
49 
 
 doing! The Lord bless you in it! Remember, 
 he himself bade us be silent sometimes about his 
 miracles. He did not boast. There was nothing- 
 sensational about his methods. Let us not boast 
 about our work. Let us love each other. Let 
 us join hands together, and so let us realize the 
 difficulty of our task, and how we may work for 
 our Lord, and have very little to show for it. 
 Let us love him, for he first loved us. 
 
 Say not the struggle naught availeth, 
 The labor and the wounds are vain, 
 
 The enemy faints not, nor faileth 
 
 And as things have been they remain. 
 
 If hopes are dupes, fears may be liars ; 
 
 It may be in yon smoke concealed, 
 Your comrades chase, e'en now, the fliers. 
 
 And, but for you, possess the field. 
 
 For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, 
 Seem here no painful inch to gain, 
 
 Far back, through creeks and inlets making, 
 Comes silent, flooding in, the main. 
 
 And not by eastern windows only. 
 
 When daylight comes, comes in the light; 
 
 In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly ; 
 But westward, look, the land is bright. 
 
I 
 
-1SM< 
 
 REV. THOMAS H. SKINNER. D.D 
 
Monday, November 25TH. 
 8:00 p.m. 
 
 SERVICE COMMEMORATIVE 
 OF MERCER STREET CHURCH. 
 
 Charles A. Davison, Presiding. 
 
 Addresses by 
 
 Rev. Geo. L. Prentiss, D.D. 
 Hon. Wm. Allen Butler. 
 Rev. Lyman Abbott, D.D. 
 Rev. Erskine N. White. 
 
f' "f ♦• •»■ Y •«• ♦• "»■ Y "»" "«" "*• "«■ ■«■ ■*■ ■«■ "f ■«■ •«• "«" ■ t" "«• ■»■ "J" •»• r '♦" ■*■ ■*• ■*■ ■» •«■ ■. * »■ 4 t t f i ^* 
 
 Monday Evening. 
 Charley %, SDa\ji3on, €0(1., prcsibing. 
 
 SbtircjBfB ftp tifte 
 l^ctj. (George IL* ^rntti?^, D.2>.' 
 
 THE MERCER STREET CHURCH FROM 1 835 TO 1 858. 
 
 HOST of grateful memories carry me 
 back to the Mercer Street Presbjterian 
 Church. The seven years between 1851 
 and 1858, during which I was its pastor, were 
 among the happiest as well as busiest of my life. 
 
 1 This address was read by the pastor of the churcli in consequence of 
 the enforced absence of Dr. Prentiss, as indicated in the following letter : 
 
 "New York, Nov. 24th, 1S95. 
 
 "My Dear Dr. Alexander: It is tome a keen disappointment that I 
 shall not be able in person to take part with you in the commemorative 
 exercises to-morrow evening. The occasion is sure to be full of interest, 
 and I had set my heart upon being present. But I shall be with you in 
 spirit and in devout good wishes. I send you also a paper, which you 
 will kindly accept in place of the historical .address I hoped to deliver. 
 
 " I cannot tell you how my heart has been touched and refreshed by the 
 recollections whiili the prc'])arntion of this paper has awakened. The very 
 
REV. GEORGE L. PRENTISS, D. D. 
 
53 
 
 In many ways it was a remarkable congregation. 
 I do not believe there was, at that time, another 
 in the country that surpassed it in intelligence, in 
 liberality, and weight of character; in the broad 
 catholic spirit which marked its piety, in the 
 strength and beauty of its family life, in rare types 
 of personal worth and loveliness, or in Christian 
 usefulness. The men who founded it, the motives 
 which animated them, the religious state and tem- 
 per of the times, all conspired to make it a shining- 
 light in the world. 
 
 The working of the voluntary principle in the 
 formation and growth of new congregations is one 
 of the striking features of our American religious 
 life. While a certain uniformity runs through 
 them all, their peculiar traits are apt to be as 
 varied as the faces of the men and women who 
 compose them. In no sphere have personal and 
 social forces fuller play. How the congregations 
 of New York, for example, differ in origin, in tone 
 
 invitation to participate in your exercises commemorative of the sixtieth 
 anniversary of the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church, set my thoughts 
 hurrying back into the old church, the old lecture-room and the old homes. 
 The names of Thomas Denny, Geo. R. Lockwood, Mrs. William G. Bull, 
 Mrs. Anson G. Phelps, and Mrs. J. W. Wheeler recall and are associated 
 with the most precious friendships of my pastoral life. 
 
 " Allow me, dear Dr. Alexander, to send a most affectionate greeting to 
 all those among you who were once members of my own flock ; to con- 
 gratulate your whole congregation upon the signal favor of heaven shown 
 to them in calling you to be their pastor, and to utter the fervent prayer 
 that the fruit of your joint labor in years to come may be even richer, more 
 abundant, and sweeter than they have ever been in the past. 
 " Ever faithfully yours, 
 
 " {Signed) Geo. L. Prentiss." 
 
54 
 
 and temper, in the moral and spiritual atmosphere 
 which envelops them, and in their whole individ- 
 uality! The organization of the disciples of Jesus 
 in the order, fellowship, and obedience of His 
 i4"ospel furnishes matter for endless study and 
 wonder. What a benediction and lasting power 
 for good the earnest, full -orbed disciple becomes 
 in such a Christian brotherhood ! Men of this 
 stamp joined in founding and building up the 
 Mercer Street Presbyterian Church. They were 
 mostly of ripe experience, of wide influence in the 
 community, and noted for wisdom and zeal in the 
 cause of God. Here is the record of their names 
 and of the first steps in the movement: 
 
 On the 8th day of October, 1835, the following 
 persons, namely, James Boorman, Eli Wainwright, 
 Alfred de Forest, Lowell Holbrook, John L. Ma- 
 son. Norman White, Roderick Curtis, Gordon 
 Burnham, Thomas S. Nelson, Joseph C. Hunting- 
 ton, George A, Bicknell, and Charles Butler, pre- 
 ferred a request to the Third Presbytery of New 
 York to be organized into a church, to be called 
 "The Mercer Street Presbyterian Church," and 
 taken under the care of said Presbytery. 
 
 The Presbytery granted the request, and the 
 Rev. Erskine Mason, Henry White, and Henr)- 
 G. Ludlow, ministers ; and Abijah Fisher, David 
 L. Lodge, and Rufus L. Nevins, elders, were 
 accordingly appointed a committee to organize 
 the church. 
 
55 
 
 The committee met in the lecture-room of the 
 University of New York, and organized the fol- 
 lowing persons into a church, namely: James 
 Boorman, Mary W., his wife ; Eli Wainwright, 
 Mary M,, his wife; Thomas S. Nelson, Mary, his 
 wife; George A. Bicknell, Emeline V. P., his 
 wife ; Gordon Burnham, Marcia, his wife ; and 
 Elizabeth Roff, from the Laight Street Church ; 
 Lowell Holbrook, and Angeline Nelson, his wife, 
 from the Second Avenue Church ; Alfred de Forest 
 from the Brick Presbyterian Church ; Norman 
 White, Mary Abiah, his wife, and Susan P. Dodge, 
 from the Bleecker-street Church ; John L. Mason, 
 and Amelia, his wife, from the North Church ; 
 Joseph C. Huntington, Julia S., his wife, from the 
 Bowery Church ; and Daniel L. D, Huntington 
 from the Third Free Church. 
 
 Lowell Holbrook, John L. Mason, and Norman 
 White were appointed elders. Lowell Holbrook 
 and John L. Mason were installed, and Norman 
 White was ordained and installed. 
 
 Around this original nucleus soon gathered and 
 crystallized others of like mind ; among them some 
 young men of mark who had felt the quickening 
 touch of the great revival of the period, and were 
 just entering upon noble careers in the service of 
 the divine Master. Under its chosen leader the 
 new church had hardly been organized when it 
 began to be a great spiritual power, not in New 
 York only, but throughout the country and round 
 
56 
 
 the world. This chosen leader was Thomas I lar- 
 vey Skinner. Born in North Carolina, then forty- 
 five years old, Dr. .Skinner was one of the fore- 
 most pulpit orators in the laiui. While yet a 
 theological stripling, as it were, he had been in- 
 stalled co-pastor with Dr. Janeway of the Second 
 Church in Philadelphia, at that time the strongest 
 and most influential Presbyterian church in the 
 United States. For a time his sermons made an 
 extraordinary sensation. The young, both men 
 and women, carried away by passionate love and 
 admiration for him, crowded the places of worship 
 whenever he preached. But many of the older 
 members of the congregation, leaders in society 
 and in business, regarded him as an enthusiast 
 and his methods as wild-fire. A bitter outcry 
 arose against him, and for years he was an object 
 of intense suspicion and hostility among the strong 
 conservatives of the day. It was most interesting, 
 a third of a century later, to hear from his own 
 lips the story of these fierce conflicts between the 
 old orthodoxy and the "new divinity" as it was 
 called. These conflicts were the school in which 
 some of the finest lessons of his piety were learned. 
 After years of most successful labor in a church 
 of his own in Philadelphia, including a brief pas- 
 torate in Boston, he went to Andover as Professor 
 of Sacred Rhetoric. This chair he filled with 
 rare abilit) ; but the pulpit was still his throne. 
 
57 
 
 Besides preaching in his turn in the chapel, he 
 preached often on Sunday evening to the two 
 Academies, in which were some four hundred 
 young persons of both sexes. His voice was fre- 
 quently heard, too, in the pulpits of Boston, New- 
 buryport, and other places. He was already well 
 known and greatly admired in New England, and 
 wherever he preached crowds came together to 
 hear him. It was the era of new measures, pro- 
 tracted meetings and revivals, and Dr. Skinner 
 acted on the maxim of proving all things and 
 holding fast that which is good. His own account 
 of a ''protracted meeting" at Newburyport, at 
 which he preached, is very striking : 
 
 " Newburyport (Whitefield's monument was 
 here) was full of God's special presence. The meet- 
 ing- ended on a Sabbath eveningr. I have not seen 
 a parallel occasion. Male attendants occupied the 
 pews ; females sat in the gallery. I never saw so 
 interesting a mass of men. They were of middle 
 age, very vigorous, healthful, masculine, intelli- 
 gent, as closely packed as possible, not less in 
 number, it was supposed, than a thousand. The 
 large gallery contained nearly as many women. 
 All the ministers, Presbyterians, and Orthodox 
 Congregationalists, were present." 
 
 He then, after consultation with the ministers, 
 made an address to the assembly, urging immedi- 
 ate acceptance of Christ, and signifying it by 
 
53 
 
 standing; up, l>y themselves, when the prayer was 
 offered. When the usual "Let us pray" was 
 spoken, some five hundred men, and nearly as 
 many women, were instantly on their feet. The 
 scene was imposing beyond expression. It was 
 estimated that as the fruit of this protracted meet- 
 ing, about one thousand persons were received 
 into the churches of Newburyport and that neigh- 
 borhood. Thus were his labors in New England, 
 both as professor and evangelist, preparing him 
 for the crowninij work of his life. 
 
 He came to New York in 1835; on October 
 25th of that year the church was organized, and 
 on the 8th of November he was installed as its 
 pastor. At his funeral Dr. Henry B. Smith spoke 
 of "the ardent and pungent evangelism, the flam- 
 ing logic, of his memorable service in the Mercer 
 Street church, built by and for him." The words 
 happily describe one quality of this service. But 
 it was memorable for other features not less note- 
 worthy than "the flaming logic" that marked his 
 preaching. The Mercer Street church was called 
 of God to act a very important part beyond its 
 own pale, and I doubt if any other man then liv- 
 ing could have taken Or. Skinner's place, and 
 done his special work in this city. The great 
 schism in the Presbyterian body was soon to oc- 
 cur. The Union Theological Seminary was about 
 to be founded. Dr. Skinner's history, the wei^rht 
 
59 
 
 of his personal and ministerial character, his close 
 intimacy and sympathy with Albert Barnes, Ly- 
 man Beecher, Nathaniel W. Taylor, and other 
 leading divines in New England and the Middle 
 States, and his position as pastor of one of the 
 strongest metropolitan churches gave him an al- 
 most unequalled influence throughout the New 
 School body, and also in organizing and shaping 
 the policy of the Union Theological Seminary, as 
 well as sustaining it in its early trials. 
 
 And now what motives guided him and his 
 people in their work? He himself answered this 
 question in a very impressive sermon preached at 
 the opening of the new church edifice. His text 
 was that beautiful passage in the LXVII. Psalm: 
 " God be merciful unto us and bless us, and cause 
 His face to shine upon us ; that Thy way may be 
 known upon earth, Thy saving health among 
 all nations." This sermon may serve as a key to 
 whatever was best and most characteristic in Dr. 
 Skinner's ministry : 
 
 " The present times [he begins] are in many of 
 their appearances and prognostics different from 
 all preceding ones, and from nearly all, in this, 
 that the Church has undertaken to evangelize the 
 world. . . . Christians, to a wide and constantly 
 enlarging extent, are becoming awake to the fact 
 that evangelizing the world is a work which their 
 Saviour has required them to attempt, and one 
 
6o. 
 
 which, by His aid, will be accomplished. It has 
 accordingly been systematically entered upon. 
 The jjrocess of planting Christian churches and 
 institutions amon<r the unevanorelized millions ol 
 mankind, with the declared purpose never to cease 
 from the undertaking until it is gone through with, 
 has begun, and is now going on. And it is going 
 on under the advantajje of recent inventions and 
 improvements in philosophy and the arts. The 
 printing-press is exerting its surprising powers on 
 a vast scale, to give the Scriptures and other veh- 
 icles of Christian knowledge free circulation in all 
 the tongues and dialects of man. Christian edu- 
 cation also is patiently insinuating its quiet but 
 resistless influences into the great mass of human 
 ignorance. The apostles and first evangelists 
 seem, as it were, to have risen from the dead in 
 some of our missionaries. The character, like- 
 wise, of preaching and pastoral labor, in many 
 parts of Christendom is undergoing an important 
 change. . . . The general piety of the Church is 
 gradually becoming more and more like that of 
 the primitive Christians. In appropriate and effi- 
 cient methods the private members of the churches 
 are cooperating with their pastors in self-denying 
 labors to bring the human mind universally under 
 the power of the Gospel. . . . Christians in greater 
 numbers and more abundantly than at any former 
 period, excepting the first, consecrate their wealth 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
6i 
 
 to carry benevolent plans into effect in the far dis- 
 tant isles, and in the uttermost ends of the earth ; 
 and we have specimens of munificence which 
 would not have done dishonor to the Apostolic 
 age itself It is a privilege of the infant church 
 which takes possession, for the first time to-day, 
 of the place in which its future worship is to be 
 paid to the Most High, that it has had its birth, 
 and it is to develop its powers, and to grow to 
 maturity and take shape and complexion, if it 
 please, under the benign and ennobling influences 
 of this most auspicious period. How great must 
 become its usefulness and felicity, if it fall in with 
 these influences and avail itself fully of them, in 
 seeking the appropriate end of its calling and its 
 existence as a Church of Jesus Christ ! The prin- 
 cipal design for which all Christians, whether as 
 individuals or as associated in churches, should 
 live and move and have their being in the world, 
 is not selfish but benevolent, not private but pub- 
 lic, not the advancement of their own interest 
 separately, but of the great interest of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; in a word, the spread and triumph 
 of Christianity among mankind." 
 
 What could be more prophetic of the future of 
 " the infant church " — its future alike before and 
 after its union with the University Place Church 
 — than these stirring and pregnant words ! How 
 heartily it did fall in with the blessed influences 
 
62 
 
 of the new era ! How fully it availed itself of 
 them in seeking the appropriate end of its callini^ 
 and its existence as a Church of Jesus Christ ! 
 Takini;, then, for granted that to evangelize the 
 world is the great object of pursuit to all Chris- 
 tians, he proceeded to state the following prin- 
 ciples by which their efforts in prosecuting this 
 object should be regulated, namely : 
 
 1. That they should seek to propagate substan- 
 tial Christianity rather than any sectarian form 
 of it. 
 
 2. That they should lay their plans of evan- 
 gelism so as to admit the coalition of all Christians. 
 
 3. That they should so conduct their proceedings 
 as to evade as far as possible opposition from the 
 world. 
 
 4. That, nevertheless, the utmost zeal and reso- 
 lution are indispensable to carrying the work 
 forward ; but, after all, 
 
 5. That they should depend for success, not on 
 their own exertions, however unexceptionable, 
 but on the cooperation of the divine power. 
 
 Each of these principles is unfolded in a very 
 lucid way and asserted with the "flaming logic" 
 of deep conviction. I will cite a few sentences in 
 regard to the first point : 
 
 " What Christians agree in is what makes them 
 Christians; what they differ in is what has given 
 rise to other names, names which will not be 
 
63 
 
 known in heaven. This thought I would fain in- 
 delibly impress on every mind : that it is the faith 
 all Christians hold in common in which salvation 
 lies. It does not lie in points of sectarian con- 
 troversy, but in those great fundamentals which 
 unite all Christians together, and make them one 
 brotherhood, one indissoluble body, the body of 
 Christ. Let me state this truth strongly, for so I 
 think it should be stated. Presbyterians are not 
 saved by their Presbyterian peculiarities, nor 
 Episcopalians by theirs, nor Congregationalists 
 by theirs ; but all are saved by what all hold in 
 common, by what makes them Christians, not 
 what makes them sectarians. A man may be a 
 sectarian without being a Christian, and he may 
 be a Christian without being a sectarian ; and if 
 he is but a Christian, he is a child of God and an 
 heir to the kingdom of heaven, though every sect 
 on earth should deny him its distinctive name. 
 
 "Shall I conceal it [he says in concluding his 
 sermon] that it is my heart's desire and prayer to 
 God for this church, that it may be a church in 
 which the spirit of the gospel may predominate 
 over the spirit of sect, and bring forth fruits after 
 its own heavenly and anti-sectarian kind ; that it 
 may live too much in the temper of the church 
 above, too nigh to the throne and mercy-seat of 
 God, and too much in communion with its blessed 
 Head and Lord, and have too much love for souls. 
 
and ton much zeal for the <j;^eneral cause of Christ, 
 to be incHned to take i)art in tliose strifes of 
 words and doubtful disputations and jiart) move- 
 ments and contrivances, by which the face of the 
 times, especially in this country, is beginning to 
 be overcast. Ought I to refrain from expressing 
 this as the most fervent of my wishes in behalf 
 of this church ? " 
 
 But it was no light task U) carr\' out anti j)ut in 
 practice this high ideal. Had not such a man as 
 Dr. Skinner been its first pastor, and Norman 
 White, John L. Mason, Francis Markoe, James 
 Boorman, Eli Wainwright, Charles Butler, and 
 others like them been elders and pillars in the 
 congregation, the ideal would never have been 
 even partially realized. 
 
 No sooner was the new sanctuary completed 
 than large numbers crowded into it from all parts 
 of the city, and were at once received into its fel- 
 lowship and took part in administering its affairs. 
 They had little previous acquaintance with each 
 other, had been trained in various schools of re- 
 ligious thought, and differed very decidedly in 
 their opinions and sympathies about burning 
 questions of the day. On the tenth anniversary 
 of the church Dr. Skinner preached a sermon of 
 thanksgiving, in which he thus alluded to this 
 point : 
 
 "We entered upon life as a cliurch under auspi- 
 
65 
 
 cious circumstances. But there were causes of 
 peril in the midst of us. We increased rapidly 
 in numbers ; the accessions were from a great 
 many other churches, strangers to one another 
 and to us, and of widely differing views and 
 tastes ; and for the most part they were persons 
 of mature life, and confirmed by time and ex- 
 perience in their respective peculiarities. The 
 church, of course, was composed of heterogeneous 
 members, not easy to be solidly compacted and 
 cemented together. There was no small diver- 
 sity amongst us on several subjects peculiarly 
 exciting, and which have occasioned much agita- 
 tion in the community — subjects pertaining es- 
 pecially to denominational proceedings of an 
 unusual character, and to the operations and doc- 
 trines of those voluntary societies which have 
 taken hostile positions towards one another, or 
 have not been acceptable to all. In our infancy 
 and unacquaintance with one another, we were 
 certainly in danger from these internal contrarie- 
 ties and disagreements. Slight mistakes in those 
 who had the oversight and direction of the church 
 might have led to serious consequences. Still, 
 though no negative mode of proceeding has been 
 pursued in government and discipline, our differ- 
 ences have not led to the formation of parties in 
 the church or to the disturbance of its peace. 
 And the character of the church has been gradu- 
 
66 
 
 ally working itself into consistency and strength. 
 Some, on discovering that they were not of us, 
 speedily went out from us, and their places grad- 
 ually were filled by others, sympathizing with us 
 better in our preferences and spirit. The mass 
 of members, meanwhile, have been coming nearer 
 together. Time, a common teaching, and inter- 
 communion in holy privileges and labor, have 
 assimilated them in sympathies and spirit, and 
 they are now probably as 'like-minded, having 
 the same love, being of one accord, of one mind,' 
 as the generality of the older churches. We have 
 been steadily increasing. The whole number ad- 
 mitted to the church is 785. We have erased 
 from our register, and dismissed to join other 
 churches, about 250. Two have been excommu- 
 nicated. Nineteen, a number surprisingly small, 
 have died, leaving in full communion at present 
 about 514. Adding to these the children of the 
 church, of whom 230 have been baptized by my- 
 self, the entire number associated in church cove- 
 nant is not far from 780." 
 
 The dismissal of some 250 members in the first 
 decade shows that the process of incessant change 
 going on in our New York congregations is no 
 new thing. I do not refer to the changes wrought 
 by death, for these are peculiar to no time or 
 place ; but to those which grow out of the condi- 
 tions of society, of business, and of religious life 
 
67 
 
 in this city. My impression is, that the changes 
 are two or three times as great and rapid as they 
 were fifty years ago. Half the people you meet 
 with seem like birds sitting upon a twig, looking 
 in every direction, and ready to fly away on the 
 slightest impulse. They never continue in one 
 stay. But the changes even half a century ago 
 were so great and rapid as to create a sort of 
 whirlpool, in which many a strong church, built 
 of the most solid materials, and destined, appa- 
 rently, to live on for a thousand years, suffered 
 wreck and disappeared in a single generation. 
 
 The larger number of Dr. Skinner's most effi- 
 cient helpers and fellow-laborers in the Mercer 
 Street Church were still there when I became its 
 pastor, but some had removed from the city or 
 passed within the veil. I knew them chiefly by 
 report, and by the good names they had left be- 
 hind. Among those who had removed from the 
 city was Richard T. Haines, so prominent for 
 nearly half a century in the councils of the Ameri- 
 can Tract Society, and as a founder and for 
 many years President of the Board of Directors 
 of the Union Theological Seminary. He was a 
 man of calm, penetrating judgment, unassuming 
 in all his ways, and a model of pious wisdom. 
 Another parishioner and friend of this class was 
 S. V. S. Wilder, a Christian merchant and phil- 
 anthropist, well known at that time on both sides 
 
68 
 
 of the Atlantic. He was a very interesting man, 
 unique in some of his characteristic traits, of a 
 princely temper, hospitable, and full of zoal for 
 the cause of evangelical religion both at home 
 and abroad. 
 
 Among those who had passed away from the 
 earth were Alfred De Forest, Arthur Bronson, 
 James Roosevelt, and Francis Markoe ; all men of 
 weight. Mr. Roosevelt was the grandfather of 
 the late Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, I).l)., 
 Archbishop of Baltimore. A legacy from him, 
 originally intended for this grandson, endowed 
 and gave his name to a chair in Union Seminary. 
 Between Francis Markoe and Dr. Skinner there 
 subsisted a friendship of the highest type. Mr. 
 Markoe was one of a thousand. No more at- 
 tractive character, whether viewed on the natural 
 or the spiritual side, was to be found, I suppose, 
 in all the churches of New York. In a funeral 
 discourse Dr. Skinner drew a delightful picture 
 of his religious life. Here is a closing passage: 
 
 " The removal of this man, his vacant place in 
 the church, in our room for conference and social 
 prayer, at the Bible class, and in the families of 
 this cono-reo^ation ; the ceasinor of his charminof 
 voice to sound in our ears, the disappearance of 
 his form, one of the pleasantest in all respects we 
 have ever seen; the ending of his prayers and la- 
 bors for the salvation of the world — all the beau- 
 
69 
 
 tiful manifestations of his zeal for the cause of our 
 God and Saviour, are suited to make upon us no 
 common impression. ... It gives a taste of 
 heaven to hold communion with the idea of this 
 most peculiar, Christlike character. I am unwill- 
 ing to let it be long out of my thought; it has 
 not been long away from it, by day or by night. 
 I have found it very refreshing and sweet to me 
 to make this discourse upon it." 
 
 Of Dr. Skinner's thirteen years in the pastorate 
 of the Mercer Street Church I shall say nothing 
 further. My friends, Mr. Butler, Dr. Abbott, and 
 Dr. White, were members of his flock, and can 
 speak on the subject from their own recollections. 
 It is enough for me to express the opinion that 
 to him, far more than to any other man, were due 
 the high character of the church and those pre- 
 cious fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus 
 Christ to the praise and glory of God, that made 
 it such a light in the world. 
 
 In February, 1848, Dr. Skinner, having ac- 
 cepted a call to Union Theological Seminary, re- 
 signed his charge, and was succeeded in June of 
 the same year by the Rev. Joseph C. Stiles, D.D. 
 Dr. Stiles was a native of Savannah, Ga., and a 
 graduate of Yale College. He studied law at 
 Litchfield, Conn., and entered upon a professional 
 career that promised to be brilliant and success- 
 ful. But abandoning the law, he studied theology 
 
at Andover, and tlicn devoted himself for nearly 
 a score of years to evangelistic labors in Florida, 
 Georgia, and Kentucky. He was a splendid 
 specimen of Christian manhood, whole-souled, 
 courageous, unselfish, of indomitable energy, yet 
 gentle, tender-hearted, and full of loving sym- 
 pathies. As a popular preacher and evangelist 
 he stood in the front rank. At times the effect 
 of his eloquence was marvellous ; for it combined 
 in an uncommon degree intellectual power, im- 
 passioned feeling, and that spiritual unction \vhich 
 comes of intimate communion with God and a 
 deep personal experience of His saving grace and 
 love in Jesus Christ. In consequence of failing 
 health he resigned in October, 1850, and on the 
 30th of April, 1 85 1, I was installed as his successor. 
 My pastorate lasted just seven years, so that it 
 embraced one whole year of Christian Sabbaths. 
 I remember how at its close this thought startled 
 me: "A whole year of Sabbaths, and so little 
 fruitage ! " I used, indeed, to feel exceedingly 
 dissatisfied with myself and my work. It seemed 
 to me that with such a people, and inheriting such 
 examples of ministerial fidelity and zeal, I ought 
 to have done far more than I did in honor of the 
 adorable Master and for the souls under my care. 
 But, notwithstanding all this, I can never cease 
 to thank God for those seven years in the Mercer 
 Street Church. When I received the letter from 
 
71 
 
 my old friend, Mr. Davison, asking me, in your 
 name and that of your committee, to address you 
 to-night, I was delighted. Instantly my thoughts 
 rushed back to the Mercer Street Church as I 
 first knew it in the spring of 185 1. How vividly 
 I at once recalled the names and faces and pecu- 
 liar ways and manners of the elders and deacons 
 and trustees who welcomed me to New York ! 
 Mr. Chester's infant class ; Mr. John Culyer, that 
 pattern of a good sexton ; the pews, and those 
 who sat in them ; the houses and streets in which 
 the people dwelt, with all their environment, came 
 back to me in a flash. I used often to wonder, 
 and the wonder now returns again, whether any 
 other man in the wide world was more highly 
 favored of Providence than I was during those 
 happy years between 1851 and 1858. 
 
 It was an eventful period in both the civil and 
 the religious sphere. The fierce struggle about 
 the Fugitive Slave Law and Mr. Webster's famous 
 speech upon it on the 7th of March, and over the 
 repeal of the Missouri Compromise, was raging in 
 the North and South, in the East and West. The 
 great secession and the war for the Union were 
 casting their dread shadows before. In the reli- 
 gious sphere the schism between the Old-School 
 and New-School body was still unhealed. Sharp 
 differences respecting home missionary policy be- 
 tween the New-School Presbyterians and their 
 
Congregational brethren, and more or less among 
 themselves, troubled both denominations. But 
 neither the political nor ecclesiastical conflicts 
 broke the harmony of the Mercer Street congre- 
 gation. Wisdom and prudence and a large- 
 minded temper saved them from this calamity. 
 If there was ever any harsh feeling or factious ac- 
 tion in regard to these questions, I have utterly 
 forgotten it. No doubt one cause of this un- 
 broken harmony and brotherl)- love was devotion 
 to Christian work. On Sunday, the 23rd of No- 
 vember, 1 85 1, I called a meeting of the congrega- 
 tion to be held on Tuesday evening, the 25th, in 
 the lecture room of the church for the purpose of 
 "considering our duties in relation to the spiritual 
 necessities of this city and vicinity." After a free 
 and friendly interchange of views it was resolved 
 that " it is our duty as a church and congregation 
 to adopt immediate and efficient measures to carry 
 the Gospel to the destitute of our city." The 
 meeting then adjourned to the following Sunday 
 evening for further conference. Benjamin F. 
 Butler, the eminent lawyer and statesman, led the 
 discussion. He was followed by Norman White, 
 Roe Lock wood, and James Boorman. Gorham 
 D. Abbott and Dr. Skinner also took part in the 
 meeting. An adjournment was then had to De- 
 cember 7, 1 85 I, when the City Mission Associa- 
 tion connected with the Mercer Street Presbyter- 
 
1Z 
 
 ian Church was formed, and John L. Mason, 
 Joseph B. Sheffield, Lewis Atterbury, Jr., Roe 
 Lockwood, Benjamin F. Buder, John W. Ouincy, 
 Ludier Jackson, WilHam M. BHss, Anson G. 
 Phelps, Jr., William L. King, Thomas Bond, Jr., 
 and George Manning Tracy, were unanimously 
 elected to act as its " Executive Committee." 
 
 This association was one of the first, if not the 
 very first, of its kind in New York. In forming 
 it the Mercer Street people decided to make city 
 mission-work a vital part of their local church or- 
 ganization and business. It was to them the be- 
 ginning of a new dispensation of Christian benev- 
 olence. No event of greater importance to itself, 
 or fuller of blessing to others, both as an example 
 and a testimony, had occurred in the history of 
 the Church. 
 
 The annual meeting of the Missionary Associa- 
 tion was one of the events of the year to the whole 
 congregation, especially in the latter part of my 
 pastorate. The children from Avenue D and 
 other mission stations marched, on a Sabbath af- 
 ternoon, to the mother-church, where the anniver- 
 sary was celebrated. The meeting was always 
 full of pleasurable excitement and good cheer. 
 On one such occasion Col. James B. Murray 
 brought with him Franklin Pierce, then President 
 of the United States, who was evidently captivated 
 by the beautiful scene. I had a keen dislike to 
 
 lO 
 
74 
 
 President Pierce's politics, but his genial manner 
 and friendly words at this time, I remember, quite 
 won my heart. How these annual meetings up- 
 held and refreshed me ! Here is a simple record 
 of the last one while I was pastor. It is dated 
 November 22, 1857: 
 
 "Anniversary of our own and our mission Sun- 
 day-schools this afternoon. A most interesting 
 and touching scene ! The house was filled with 
 children. It is a noble and Christlike work. May 
 God bless the teachers and the children ! " 
 
 I find also brief records, about the same time, 
 of my joy and comfort in attending the boys' 
 temperance meeting at Avenue D, the German 
 Sunday-school with their Christmas tree, and the 
 infant class of nearly eighty at Avenue A, then 
 under the care of a dear young friend, who was 
 afterwards known far and wide as a nurse in 
 Union Army hospitals, and in later years has 
 been known throughout Connecticut as a most 
 energetic and successful worker in the great field 
 of public charity. 
 
 Dr. Alexander has kindly sent me the minutes 
 of the Missionary Association. They were wholly 
 new to me, and I have read them with deep emo- 
 tion. They recall pastoral scenes which had quite 
 faded from my memory, and yet at the time ab- 
 sorbed all my thought and feeling. They recall 
 a score of names, each of which is not only that 
 
75 
 
 of an old parishioner, but also of an old friend, 
 with whom, forty years ago, I took sweet counsel 
 concerning things unseen and eternal. To one 
 who holds the key in his hand many passages in 
 this record have a strange interest. Under the 
 date of April 24, 1857, for example — it was just 
 after the great revival of that year — I find this 
 entry : 
 
 "An informal meeting was held after the Friday 
 evening prayer meeting. Present: B. F. Butler, 
 Wm. Allen Butler, L. Atterbury, T. Bond. Mr. 
 Wm. A. Butler was appointed Secretary. It was 
 resolved that Mr. Otis W. Booth be requested to 
 attend the Wednesday evening meeting at 118 
 Avenue D, and assist Mr. Loomis by keeping 
 order." 
 
 That is one of the grains of mustard-seed to 
 which the kingdom of heaven is like. On Wednes- 
 day evening next Mr. Booth himself will tell the 
 story of the growth of this grain of mustard-seed 
 into a tree in whose branches the birds of the 
 heaven come and lodge, singing praises unto Jesus 
 Christ. If the Mercer Street Church had no other 
 monument, this alone is enough to show how 
 faithful was its stewardship, and with what pre- 
 cious fruits of righteousness it enriched the Mas- 
 ter's vineyard. 
 
 On entering the Mercer Street pulpit for the 
 first time my eye was arrested instantly by the 
 
76 
 
 sight of little childrtMi filling the gallery on my 
 left haiul. IMiey were the children of the Half- 
 Orphan Asylum, and 1 soon came to regard them 
 as lambs of m\- own tlcjck. Their presence was 
 full of tender and kindly suggestion. What a pa- 
 thetic story lay hidden behind the faces of those 
 fatherless or motherless boys and girls ! The 
 Half-Orphan Asylum initiated me at once into a 
 study of the charitable and humane institutions 
 of New York. And as I acquainted myself with 
 their work, I generally found myself in close con- 
 tact with men and women of my own charge. 
 The Protestant Half-Orphan Asylum, indeed, was 
 at first almost a Mercer Street Society. It was 
 organized at the house of Mr. Eli Wainwright, a 
 most lovable old man, on the i6th of December, 
 1835, a bitterly cold day and memorable for the 
 fire which commenced in the evening and laid the 
 greater portion of the business part of the city in 
 ashes. 
 
 The shock of this calamity led to serious 
 thoughts of abandoning the project. It was de- 
 cided, however, to go on, and soon a basement 
 room in White street was rented and a matron 
 engaged, who took charge of four children. On 
 the first of the following May a house was hired 
 in Twelfth street, and the number of children in- 
 creased to forty-nine. On the 27th of April, 1837, 
 an act was passed by the Legislature incorporat- 
 
ing " The Society for the ReHef of Half- Orphan 
 and Destitute Children in the City of New York." 
 The names of James Boorman, Charles Butler, 
 Eli Wainwright, and William A, Tomlinson are 
 the first on the first Board of Trustees ; Mrs. Tom- 
 linson was First Directress ; Mrs. Boorman, Sec- 
 ond Directress ; Mrs. Wheeler, Secretary ; and 
 Mrs. Littlefield, Treasurer, all members, I think, 
 of the Mercer Street Church. Later, these well- 
 known Mercer-street names appear among the 
 officers and managers of this society, namely ; 
 Mrs. William G. Bull, Mrs. William W. Chester, 
 Mrs. D. D. Lord, Mrs. Charles Butler, Mrs. John 
 N. Bradley, Mrs. Anson G. Phelps, Emily O. But- 
 ler, Matilda Bleecker, Maria Skinner. James 
 Boorman was its first President, and at his death 
 in 1866 he was succeeded by Charles Butler. 
 
 I have alluded to Dr. Skinner's great influence 
 in the establishment and support of the Union 
 Theological Seminary. In this he had the warm 
 sympathy and cooperation of his people. I doubt 
 if the Seminary would have survived its early 
 struggles for existence but for him and the Mercer 
 Street Church. It so happened that the annual 
 collection in behalf of the institution occurred not 
 long after my installation. My dear friend, Henry 
 B. Smith, had recently been called to its Chair 
 of Church History, and I urged him to accept the 
 appointment. I urged him to do so in the inter- 
 
7« 
 
 est of theological education and learning. When, 
 therefore, I followed him to New York, and had 
 the ear of a cultivated and wealthy congregation 
 in hearty sympathy with Union Seminary, I seized 
 the earliest opportunity to make an appeal for its 
 immediate endowment. My people listened with 
 the utmost attention ; and in a few weeks a meeting 
 of the friends of liberal theological training was 
 held at the house of Mr, Charles Butler, at which 
 it was resolved to raise forthwith $100,000 as the 
 beginning of a full endowment. This amount was 
 soon subscribed, and in no very long time twice 
 as much more ; a third, at least, of the whole sum 
 coming from the Mercer Street Church. Just now 
 it may, indeed, be thought by some that the money, 
 after all, was not wisely spent ; but that, I feel 
 sure, will not be the judgment of reasonable and 
 good men a few years hence, when the present 
 " unpleasantness" shall have passed away. Here 
 are passages from my sermon, my first "begging 
 sermon " in Mercer Street ; and I must be allowed 
 to say that they still express my opinion about 
 Union Seminary : 
 
 "The sum and substance of what I have to say 
 can be uttered in a few words; and you will ex- 
 cuse me, I am sure, if they are spoken plainly, and 
 with the emphasis of a strong conviction, — a con- 
 viction formed long before I became your pastor. 
 This institution of sacred learning ought to be 
 
79 
 
 endowed ; generously, permanently, and without 
 delay. Its character, position, wants, and capa- 
 bilities all entitle it to this service from the Chris- 
 tian community. The character of Union Semi- 
 nary is eminently catholic in the true sense of the 
 word ; it is at once liberal and conservative. There 
 is nothing that I am aware of in its history, nothing 
 in its associations, nothing in its general policy, 
 nothing in its temper, which should make this in- 
 stitution cleave inordinately to the past or to the 
 future, which should render it unstable in the 
 ways of old truth or unwilling to greet new truths 
 with a friendly welcome, nothing which commits 
 it to any party, or prevents its cordial relations 
 with all parties who love the Gospel and Christian 
 union. It stands in special connection with our 
 own branch of the great Presbyterian family ; but 
 it numbers on its Board of Directors and among 
 its warmest friends influential members of the 
 other branch, while it seeks its professors and at- 
 tracts its students as readily from the old Puritan 
 body of New England as if its predilections were 
 all Congregational. If you will have an institution 
 occupying as catholic a ground as the distracted 
 state of the Church in our day seems to permit, I 
 do not know how you can well come nearer to 
 such a plan than have the founders of Union Sem- 
 inary. Its main advantages are as accessible and 
 useful to a Baptist, a Methodist, an Episcopalian, 
 
8o 
 
 or a Congregationalist, as to a Presbyterian ; and 
 students of all these and of other denominations 
 have availed themselves of them. Let it be un- 
 derstood that in what I have said, or may say, I 
 cast no reflection upon any other seminary. All 
 honor to Princeton, and Lane, and Auburn, and 
 Andover, and Bang^or, and New Haven, and others, 
 of whatever name, that arc doing the Master's 
 work ! . . . 
 
 "As the seat of a liberal and profound theological 
 culture, New York ought to stand foremost in the 
 land. She ought, for her own sake. There is, 
 perhaps, no other power, after the Word preached, 
 which would do more to preserve her Christian 
 influence, wealth, and enterprise from falling a 
 prey to the show, self-aggrandizement, and other 
 vices incident to the predominance of a commercial 
 spirit. She ought, for the sake of our country 
 and the world. Let a wise, tolerant, Christian 
 theology flourish here, and it would diffuse a 
 beneficent radiance over the land, and even among 
 pagan nations. The position, then, of the Union 
 Seminary is unsurpassed, both for the training of 
 ministers and the cultivation of sacred learning. 
 For this reason its founders planted it in the city 
 of New York. 
 
 " Let me now speak of its wants. These are 
 many, important, most reasonable, and. in ni)- 
 judgment, challenge the immediate attention of its 
 
friends. It wants, first of all, to be assured of its 
 own existence ; // wants an endowment. It is not 
 seemly ; it is a reproach and dishonor to the Chris- 
 tian community that such an institution, where the 
 pious young men of the Church are training to be- 
 come her pastors, her divines, and her missionaries 
 to the heathen, should be begging its bread, 
 should subsist on her precarious charities. No 
 denomination that has any genuine self-respect 
 will allow such an anomaly long to exist if there 
 be the means of preventing it. Permanent insti- 
 tutions like this ought to be exempt from com- 
 mercial revulsions and the fluctuations of trade. 
 If we cannot give them an assured and independ- 
 ent existence on any other terms, we had better 
 do it even by mortgaging our church edifices. 
 The tree is far more important than its fruit, the 
 fountain than its passing streams. I repeat, the 
 Union Seminary wants to be assured of its exist- 
 ence ; but it wants a great deal more — it wants 
 the means of making that existence honorable, 
 vigorous, efficient, commensurate with the work 
 it is called to do ; worthy of, not a practical satire 
 upon, the Christian liberality of this great and 
 opulent city. . . . 
 
 " I have the clearest conviction that the Union 
 
 Seminary is capable of doing a great work for 
 
 Christ and the Church. It has already done 
 
 much ; not a few of the most useful ministers in 
 
 1 1 
 
82 
 
 tlic land, not a few of our best missionaries among 
 the heathen, are its alumni. Already, too, has it 
 made invaluable contributions to the higher theo- 
 logical literature of the age. But I trust it has a 
 still nobler career in the future. I look forward 
 to the time when young men of piety and gener- 
 ous endowments shall flock to it in thousands 
 from all quarters of the Republic, from California 
 and Oregon, and the islands of the sea, even ; 
 when its library shall be the resort of Christian 
 scholars from neighboring towns and cities ; when 
 its professorships shall be multiplied so as to em- 
 brace one for each great branch of sacred lore ; 
 when it shall be the pride and glory of our 
 churches, and its treasury be continually enriched 
 by the princely donations of the living and the 
 dying ; when, in a word, it shall be such a nursery 
 of men of God, and such a citadel of holy faith, as 
 the voice of Providence commands us to build up 
 in this emporium of the New World." 
 
 But I need not enlarge on this part of my sub- 
 ject. A few sentences from my farewell sermon 
 will suffice to indicate better than any present 
 description what was the spirit and main business 
 of this Church during my pastorate : 
 
 " It is my ardent hope that in the future, as in 
 the past, this Church will be distinguished by a 
 generous and far-sighted zeal for Home Missions, 
 Foreign Missions, the Bible Society, Christian 
 
83 
 
 colleges, and the other great agencies of religious 
 benevolence and learning. Continue, I entreat 
 you, in particular, to be friendly and liberal to the 
 Union Theological Seminary. It is a most im- 
 portant institution, vitally connected with the 
 cause of Christ at home and abroad. It owes 
 you a vast debt of gratitude. I trust you will 
 delight to make that debt larger and larger. Let 
 your own Missionary Association still be dear to 
 you. I rejoice to think that this Association was 
 formed under my ministry, was one of the first, 
 if not the first, of the kind in the city, and that 
 both by example and by its mission schools, boys' 
 meetings, and the like, it has done already ines- 
 timable good. What a joy and solace it has been 
 to see so many of you, old and young, engaged 
 personally in this blessed work ! I commend to 
 your special favor that portion of it lying among 
 the large German population. Its importance 
 cannot be overestimated." 
 
 And now, before closing, allow me to add, 
 largely to please myself, a few personal notices 
 and recollections. Old men, whose faculties and 
 interest in life are still fresh and unimpaired, 
 have always greatly attracted me. There were 
 a good many of them in the Mercer Street Church. 
 Francis Markoe and S. V. S. Wilder were such 
 men in Dr. Skinner's day ; Stephen Allen, James 
 Boorman, Anson G. Phelps, William G. Bull, 
 
S4 
 
 Uriah Rogers Scribncr. and Tliomas H. Skinner, 
 were such in my day. 
 
 Stephen Allen had been Mayor of New York, 
 and was one of its most eminent Democratic citi- 
 zens. Me was a self-made man, upright in ail 
 things, of strong common-sense, and a unique 
 personality. I at once took a liking to him, and 
 I think he liked me. He had been affected a 
 good deal by both Quaker and Unitarian influ- 
 ences, but gave every indication of being a true 
 disciple of Jesus. I said to him one day : " Mr. 
 Allen, why do you not join the Church?" "I 
 would gladly do so," he replied, with a character- 
 istic smile, "but I cannot assent to some points 
 in your long creed. I believe in the atonement 
 and saving grace of Christ as Redeemer of the 
 world, but I am a little heretical on your doctrine 
 of His supreme deity." "Well, suppose, then, 
 that on this point I substitute the article in the 
 Apostles' Creed, and ask your assent to that 
 only ? " " Then I should be ready to join the 
 Church without delay." I reported the case at 
 the next meeting of the Session, and to my de- 
 light, as also somewhat to my surprise — for 
 several of the elders were old-fashioned Calvin- 
 ists — it was voted unanimously that I might 
 omit the clause in our local creed, and say, in- 
 stead, " Do you believe in God the Father Al- 
 mighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus 
 
85 
 
 Christ, His only Son ? " Without having met 
 the Session, the aged man stood up alone at the 
 next communion in the midst of the great con- 
 ofreofation and confessed Christ as his Saviour. 
 It was an unspeakably touching and impressive 
 scene. Before the return of another commun- 
 ion, Mr. Allen lost his life at the burning of the 
 steamer Hejiry Clay on the Hudson River. 
 
 James Boorman was an old man of another 
 type; equally strong-minded, but more orthodox 
 and broader in his aims and sympathies. He 
 was a native of Kent, England. He came to 
 this country when a boy of twelve years, and 
 was apprenticed to Davie Bethune, father of that 
 noble man, George W. Bethune, the celebrated 
 pulpit orator. Before many years had passed, 
 he established a firm of his own, and was recog- 
 nized as one of the leading merchants of New 
 York. He founded the Bank of Commerce, and 
 for many years was a ruling spirit in the Chamber 
 of Commerce. But his greatest achievement was 
 in the planning and construction of the Hudson 
 River Railroad. He was a member of the Laight- 
 street congregation while it was under the care 
 of Rev. Dr. S. H. Cox. Dr. Cox once gave me a 
 most interesting account of Mr. Boorman's con- 
 version. His whole subsequent course showed 
 how sincerely and thoroughly he gave himself 
 up to the service of God. Accustomed to take 
 
86 
 
 large views in the sphere of l)usincss and worldly 
 affairs, he carried the same habit of mind into re- 
 ligion. His charities embraced the principal or- 
 ganizations of benevolence, both in the city and 
 country; they were numerous, constant, discrim 
 inating, and often on a very liberal scale. He 
 had, perhaps, more to do with the founding of 
 the Mercer Street Church, and bringing Dr. 
 Skinner from Andover to take charije of the 
 movement, than any other man. Its successive 
 pastors were sustained and cheered by his friend- 
 ship, his wise counsels, and his unfailing gener- 
 osity. He was very conservative in his senti- 
 ments, both theological and political — more so, 
 at times, than his pastor — but he respected an 
 honest difference of opinion, and was a parish- 
 ioner to be trusted and leaned upon without mis- 
 giving. The so-called '* Southern Aid Society " 
 was largely supported by his liberality, and no 
 sooner was the Civil War over than his charities 
 began again to flow South. He took special de- 
 light in the Half-Orphan Asylum, of which he was 
 one of the founders and the first President; and 
 it was worth a long journey just to see his happy 
 face at the anniversaries of that excellent society. 
 I am rejoiced to pay this tribute to his memory. 
 
 Anson G. Phelps differed not a little from both 
 Stephen Allen and James Hoorman. He, too, 
 was a man of very strong, original, and marked 
 
87 
 
 character. He brought with him from Connecti- 
 cut, his native State, the best New England qual- 
 ities. On coming to New York he joined the 
 Brick Church, of which he was for many years 
 an efficient elder. He filled the same office in 
 the Mercer Street Church. Self-reliance, an iron 
 will, solid judgment, a sagacious power of com- 
 bination and forecast, indomitable perseverance, 
 shrewd common-sense, a physical constitution 
 capable of immense labor and endurance — these 
 were among his leading traits. But there were 
 others of a gentler nature, and all of them were 
 tempered and restrained by earnest religious 
 principles. He was a genuine Christian philan- 
 thropist of the most catholic type. The inter- 
 ests of the colored race, both in this country and 
 in Africa, were especially near his heart. He 
 used to thank God for the privilege of living in 
 such a glorious day. He was the first and head 
 of a wide family circle whose benefactions en- 
 riched the cause of piety and learning, and en- 
 rich it still to the third and fourth generations. 
 
 William G. Bull was another of the old men 
 who welcomed me to New York, and whose name 
 I can never recall without very grateful feelings. 
 "What was Mr. Bull's office in the Church?" I 
 was asked the other day. " His office in the 
 Church during my pastorate," I replied, "seemed 
 to be that of a special providence to take care of 
 
88 
 
 me and my family." He received me, with my 
 wife and children, into his hospitable home when 
 I first came to the city ; he hired a house for me, 
 had it refitted, and saw me and mine safely settled 
 in it ; he entertained us at his seaside cottage 
 season after season ; he kept an eye upon all my 
 interests; and when my liealth broke; down and 
 I resigned my charge, he went round among the 
 people and obtained generous subscriptions that 
 carried me and my family to Europe and pur- 
 chased our rest there for more than two years. 
 What Mr. Bull was to me he was to many others, 
 a most kind and caretaking friend. Not a little 
 of his time was spent in varied forms and acts of 
 charity. He had traveled, had passed years on 
 the other side of the globe, and was every inch a 
 Christian gentleman of the old school, without 
 pretension and without guile. 
 
 Uriah Rosters Scribner was the father of 
 Charles Scribner, founder of the eminent publish- 
 ing house of Charles Scribner's Sons. I knew 
 him chief!)- in his last days, when lying on a sick 
 and dying bed. It was my privilege at that time 
 to talk to him concerning the way of salvation, 
 and to cheer him with the exceeding great and 
 precious promises of the Gospel. With what 
 childlike simplicity he trusted in his Redeemer! 
 I shall not easily forget the hour when 1 l)aptized 
 him, and then, in company with his household 
 
89 
 
 and elders of the Church, administered to him the 
 holy sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. 
 It was a most touching scene. 
 
 I have already given my impression of Dr. 
 Skinner as a pastor and teacher. Let me now 
 say a word about him as I knew him in private. 
 In his character nature and grace were united in 
 the finest proportions. Old age often borders 
 upon second childhood ; in his case it bordered 
 close upon first childhood, the fresh, sweet dawn 
 of the bright morning of existence mingling with 
 and beautifying its sober evening. He seemed 
 as unconscious of his own virtues as if it had 
 never crossed his mind that he could possess 
 them. A more transparent, unsophisticated, guile- 
 less, and single-eyed human being I never saw. 
 How unsuspicious, how frank and trustful, and 
 magnanimous, he was ! How untainted by the 
 vanities and ambitions of the world! How he 
 hated all sorts of double-dealing and selfish ma- 
 nipulation, political or ecclesiastical ! What shall 
 I say of his freedom from envy, jealousy, and like 
 passions, which, alas ! sometimes steal even into 
 the hearts of ministers of the Gospel. Mrs. Gill- 
 man once told me, that during the nearly twenty 
 years which Coleridge passed at Highgate she 
 never heard him utter an angry word against 
 the literary enemies who wrote malicious things 
 about him ; and such was his happy faculty of 
 
 12 
 
90 
 
 not seeing the faults, and of magnifying the vir- 
 tues, of his friends, that anybody he really loved 
 was sure of his unbounded admiration. It was 
 somewhat so with Dr. Skinner. Tlicre may have 
 been a touch of weakness in it, but great and 
 good men are apt to have just such weaknesses. 
 He was a model hearer. I never saw another 
 quite like him. 1 Ic drank in the simplest Chris- 
 tian truths as if they had been uttered by a man 
 inspired. When I became pastor of the Mercer 
 Street Church I was afraid of him among my 
 hearers. There was not a man, woman, or child 
 in the congregation of whom I might not as well 
 have been afraid. As a disciple of Jesus he at- 
 tained heights seldom trodden in our day. Grace 
 had permeated every part and the lowest depths 
 of his being. He had made the long circuit of 
 the Christian life, and was thus brought back 
 again, enriched with the treasures of a great ex- 
 perience, to the unquestioning, childlike trust and 
 simplicity of its lowly beginning. One of his old 
 and most intimate friends testified, on hearing of 
 his death : " I thank God on every remembrance 
 of him, as the holiest man I have ever known." 
 His last days were among his best and happiest. 
 " Age " (to borrow the words of Dr. William 
 Adams spoken at his funeral), "age had impaired 
 none of his faculties, only imparted additional 
 serenity to his countenance, sweetness to his 
 
91 
 
 manners, and beauty to his character, as the disk 
 of the setting sun seems to be larger, and its 
 luster to be softer, than when in its meridian. 
 How calmly has he been sitting in his stall in the 
 cathedral of life, with the banner of Christ's love 
 over his head, waiting for the service to be over, 
 that he might say with all his heart, Amen." Dr. 
 Charles Hodge, on hearing of his death, wrote to 
 the Faculty of Union Seminary : " For more than 
 fifty-five years I knew, loved, and honored him, 
 and was loved and trusted by him. I cannot 
 forbear entering my claim to be counted among 
 the oldest and most devoted of his friends. He 
 was a man by himself The union of high gifts 
 with the most transparent, childlike simplicity of 
 character, gave him a peculiar position in the 
 love and admiration of his friends." 
 
 At the time of his conversion Dr. Skinner was 
 much aided by the counsels of a pious slave, 
 named Eden. Eden had been offered his free- 
 dom, but refused to accept it. I think it would 
 be hard to find in the annals of Christian friend- 
 ship anything finer in its kind than the love to 
 each other of these two men. Eden died in 1859. 
 Soon after. Dr. Skinner made a journey to North 
 Carolina and preached a memorial discourse upon 
 him. "I was happy," he wrote, "in my friend- 
 ship with this humble man. Distance did not 
 diminish it. We took pains to cherish and con- 
 
92 
 
 firm it. Hy agreement, we dail)- remembered 
 each other, particularly in prayer. 1 wice he trav- 
 eled several hundred miles by sea to visit me, 
 and the anticipated pleasure of seeing him was 
 always among the motives of my annual journey 
 to the South. Rather to be chosen than great 
 riches and great distinction in the world was the 
 interest I had in my friend Eden's prayers, of low 
 estate though he was." 
 
 Dr. Skinner died on the ist of February, 1871, 
 in the eightieth year of his age. He was ver)- 
 warmly attached to my wife, both for her father's 
 sake and her own, and she cherished an almost 
 filial reverence and affection for him. It was her 
 privilege to spend some hours by his dying bed, 
 and to listen, awe-struck, as he "broke forth " (to 
 use her own words) " into the most wonderful 
 expressions of love to his Saviour," closing with 
 several stanzas from the hymn of Watts beginning: 
 
 Lord, when I quit this earthly stage, 
 Where shall I fly but to Thy breast ? 
 
 For I have sought no other home ; 
 For I have learned no other rest. 
 
 She could not repress her wonder that Provi- 
 dence should have allowed her to witness a scene 
 so radiant with the light of Heaven. 
 
 While speaking of old men of that period how 
 can I help thinking of the venerable patriarch, 
 
93 
 
 who, surviving not them only, but the great ma- 
 jority of the next generation also, yet lives on to 
 bless his friends and the world ! How can I help 
 thinking of Charles Butler and thanking God 
 that he is still with us ! Charles Butler's name is 
 one of the first among the founders of the Mercer 
 Street Church, among the founders of the Union 
 Theological Seminary, among the founders of 
 the Protestant Half-Orphan Asylum, among the 
 founders of the University of the City of New 
 York, among the founders of the Union League 
 Club, and I know not how many other institu- 
 tions. May it please God to spare him to see 
 with undimmed eyes the dawn of the twentieth 
 century ! 
 
 Did time permit, I would gladly speak of Sam- 
 uel R. Betts, the learned jurist and for more than 
 forty years United States District Judge ; of 
 James R. Gibson, R. Sedgwick, Col, J. J. Van 
 Alen, Col. James B. Murray, David Magie, and 
 others who were far along in life in 1858. Of 
 the men belonging rather to the next generation 
 and of those still younger, my recollections are 
 still vivid, and I could talk about them for hours 
 — such men as Judge John L. Mason, James 
 Wright, R. Bigelow, William Shaw, Norman 
 White, Benjamin F. Butler, Joseph B. Sheffield, 
 Edgcumbe H. Blatchford, John G. Nelson, James 
 Stokes, I. N. Phelps, Henry Calhoun, A. Averill, 
 
94 
 
 Rev. Dr. Badi^rer. Rev. \V. H. Ridwcll. C. W. 
 How. Dr. Metcalfe. W. 1'. Wainwright. C. S. 
 Wainuriglu, D. Geer, Rufus I\ Nevins, Cor- 
 nelius Smitli, Samuel Leed.s, Dr. IVTarkoe, Dr. 
 lilakeman, Dr. Peaslee, Professor John Torrey, 
 Marshall O. Roberts, O. Bushnell, H. M. Schief- 
 felin, 1 1. v. Peet, J. H. Wheeler, John W. Quincy, 
 Thomas Bond, Marshall S. Bid well, J. B. X^arnum, 
 William C. Noyes, John Vanderbilt, A. J. Snyder, 
 Isaac Meeker, G. I. Leeds, Justus E. Earle. An- 
 drew Thompson, Mr. Wardwell, Dr. Warren, 
 Henry Abell, Dr. H. M. Bulkley, David P. Hall, 
 George R. Lockwood, Charles M. Earle, William 
 H. Osborn, M. Allison, Anson G. Phelps, Jr., 
 James A. Tilford, Rufus Park, John Lowery, Gen. 
 Bowen, G. L. Isham, William L. King, M. M. 
 Vail, Dr. Batcheldor, William G. Rule, Charles 
 Miles, William M. Bliss, C. A. Davison, J. F. 
 Worth, Theodore McCurdy, H. V. Butler, T. B. 
 Bronson, A. H. Van Vechten, Horace Gray, Jr., 
 William B. Greene, J. George, C. S. Benson, 
 Otis W. Booth, Albert Storer, Anson P. Stokes, 
 James Stokes, Ogden Butler, E. N. White, C. B. 
 F'arnsworth, P. H. Vernon, H. H. Anderson, Geo. 
 V. Root, W. Atwell, Lyman Abbott, R. M. Buch- 
 anan, D. C. Porter, Albert Buck, and a score 
 more, "good men and true," several of them men 
 of great mark and wide influence ; all of them 
 men to whom 1 was warml)- attached, some of 
 
95 
 
 them very dear personal friends, whose names I 
 still carry in my heart. How closely are not a 
 few of these names identified with some of the 
 tenderest memories of my Mercer- street pastor- 
 ate ! The names, for example, of Edgcumbe H. 
 Blatchford, Anson G. Phelps, Jr., and Benjamin 
 F. Butler. 
 
 Mr. Blatchford was an uncle of the late Justice 
 Blatchford, of the United States Supreme Court, 
 and not inferior, I think, to that very able jurist 
 in natural endowments or in legal attainment. 
 He had greatly endeared himself to the Church, 
 to his brothers of the Session, and to all who 
 knew him. Various circumstances brought me 
 at once into very close, affectionate pastoral rela- 
 tions to him. He furnished a bright example of 
 the way in which Christ may be honored in the 
 chamber of lingering sickness and death. He 
 was a man of signal excellence, clear and dis- 
 criminating in judgment, of uncommon energy 
 and force of will, decided in his convictions, faith- 
 ful and laborious in his calling, a patriotic citizen, 
 and every way worthy of the universal respect 
 and esteem with which he was regarded. His 
 domestic affections were singularly tender and 
 fervent. He was indeed a model Christian man. 
 It is very pleasant to me, after more than forty 
 years, to pay this passing tribute to his memory. 
 
 Anson ^G. Phelps, Jr., died very suddenly just 
 
96 
 
 before I went abroad. I lovctl liiin like a brother, 
 and my love. I know, was full)- returned. Almost 
 my last sermon was in memory of him. Here 
 are a few sentences from it. and after seven and 
 thirty years I would not change a word : 
 
 " None knew him but to honor and to love 
 him, while those who knew him best loved and 
 honored him with an uncommon affection. They 
 were themselves scarcely aware of its great depth 
 and fervor, until it [)ursued him across the im- 
 mense chasm of death. He was one of those 
 rare beings whose existence is a constant bene- 
 diction, but who move on through life with such 
 noiseless steps, who speak and act in a way so 
 unpretending that when they are gone the world 
 is astonished to find out what a treasure it pos- 
 sessed in them. He 'put a strange face on his 
 own perfection.' Nobody thought so little of him 
 as he did of himself. He shrank from mere pub- 
 licity, as the sensitive plant shrinks from the rude 
 touch. He avoided observation as eagerly as 
 most men run after it. At the voice of friendly 
 praise and affection, I have seen his countenance 
 tinged with that delicate, pleased, half-blushing 
 expression which delights one in the face of a 
 simple-hearted girl. 
 
 " Hardly another man of his age in this city or 
 in this wliole land was so identified witli some of 
 our most important Christian interests at home 
 
and abroad, and yet it would have been next to 
 impossible to make him believe it. Hardly an- 
 other man of his age among us gave to religious 
 and philanthropic objects with so princely a hand, 
 and yet I do not suppose he prided himself upon 
 his charities one iota more than the poor widow, 
 who, all unaware that the Son of God was look- 
 ing on, cast into the treasury her two mites, 
 which make a farthing. ... At his death he was 
 still a young man. Less than two score years 
 inclosed his mortal existence, and little more 
 than ten years sufficed him to run his brilliant 
 course of Christian usefulness. . . . His home, 
 especially his rural home, was the place where 
 alone all the finer traits of his character were to 
 be seen. There his cultivated taste, his gentle 
 domestic virtues, his love of nature, and the 
 whole ideality of the man shone in all their lus- 
 ter. His passion for the country was like that of 
 an artist or a poet. He would sit by the hour 
 in some favorite spot, overlooking the splendid 
 scenery of the Hudson, and seem to absorb into 
 his very soul the glories of creation. There alone, 
 or hand in hand with his almost inseparable com- 
 panion, he would wander over his wide acres, sit 
 down under the old trees, and muse in wonder 
 upon the things which are unseen and eternal." 
 Benjamin F. Butler went abroad with his two 
 youngest daughters in October, 1858, and died 
 
 13 
 
98 
 
 suddcnK- at Paris, early in Xovcrnhf-r. I bad 
 hoped to meet him there and to pass several 
 weeks in his company and that of his daughters. 
 He was one of the most honored and beloved, as 
 well as useful, members of the Mercer Street 
 Church, a man of singular purity and refinement, 
 of the sweetest domestic affections, an enthusias- 
 tic lover of good books and good learning, dis- 
 tinguished equally as a law^yer, jurist, and patriotic 
 citizen, and to crown the whole, an humble, de- 
 vout Christian. In those days party feeling and 
 prejudice ran very high, and as Mr. Butler was 
 for some time a member of President Jackson's 
 Cabinet and a warm personal friend of the old 
 hero of the Hermitage, as also of Mr. Van Buren, 
 he did not escape either the misrepresentations 
 or the calumny which are so apt to be the por- 
 tion of even the best public men. But no one 
 could know him as I did without admiring and 
 lovinir him. If I were asked to mention uncom- 
 mon examples of fidelity and highmindedness, 
 both in the secular and religious sphere, which 
 during a long life have arrested my own special 
 attention, Mr. Butler's name would spring to my 
 lips among the very first. It was these noble 
 qualities, quite as truly as his legal ability and 
 what Judge Kent called his "matchless assidu- 
 ity," which placed him. in his twcnt)-ninth year, 
 by the side of John Duer and John C. Spencer 
 
99 
 
 as a reviser of the Statutes of the State of New 
 York. One of his favorite books was Dean Mil- 
 man's splendid edition of the works of Horace. 
 Upon my return from Europe, in the autumn of 
 i860, his daughters presented me with the beau- 
 tiful volume, and I cherish it still as a very fitting 
 memento at once of their father's scholarly tastes 
 and culture, and of their own goodwill. On one 
 of its fly-leaves I find this inscription: " Donum 
 (mihi per gratum) filii mei dilecti, Gulielmi — die 
 primo Januarii. MDCCCLI. B. F. B." Mr. But- 
 ler's eloquence at the bar and on the platform 
 was of a very high order, while his familiar talks 
 at the weekly prayer-meeting and in conference 
 with his brethren were charming. What edify- 
 ing and delightful services I recall, when he and 
 Judge Mason and Roe Lockwood and J. B. Shef- 
 field and others not less spiritually gifted, along 
 with Dr. Skinner and Henry B, Smith, were the 
 speakers ! 
 
 In enumerating members of the Mercer-street 
 congregation between 1851 and 1858, I have pur- 
 posely omitted the names of Thomas Denny, Roe 
 Lockwood, John P. Crosby, William Allen Butler, 
 Benjamin F. Butler, Jr., Gurdon Buck, Charles 
 H. Leonard, Charles White, Frederick G. Burn- 
 ham, J. J. Townsend, John H. Sprague, George 
 B, DeForest, Charles W. Woolsey, Rev. Gorham 
 D. Abbott, H. B. Washburn, George F. Betts, 
 
lOO 
 
 Edwin Curtis. Horace Kiinhall. H. D. Lord, W. 
 O. Curtis. Rolx rt II. McCurdy, and T. H. Wool- 
 scy ; fur these along witli Dr. .Skinner, Professor 
 Henry !>. Smith and Cluirles Butler, were the 
 orii^^inal nucleus ami leadin*^ founders of the 
 Church of the Covenant. This Church may 
 almost be said to have been a colony, or branch. 
 of the Mercer Street Church. I^efore 1 went 
 abroad, the subject of starting^ a new congrega- 
 tion somewhere in the neighborhood of Murray 
 Hill was under earnest discussion. I find this 
 record under date of December 17, 1857: "Ses- 
 sion meeting about starting a new church up 
 town." The early execution of the plan was 
 prevented by my resignation. But it was re- 
 vived and carried out after my return from Eu- 
 rope in the autumn of i860; and I may here add 
 that if the new church did good work for Christ 
 and His cause durinijf its short existence — and 
 I think it did — some of its best lessons in the 
 blessed art were learned under the teaching and 
 influence of Dr. Skinner and the Mercer Street 
 Church. 
 
 I have spoken thus far chiefly of the men of 
 the concrregfation ; but how mea<»^er would have 
 been the fruit of their labor, had they not been 
 sustained and inspired continually by devout 
 women ; l)y such women, for example, as Mrs. 
 John L. Mason, Mrs. Eli W'ainwright, Mrs. Tom- 
 
lOI 
 
 linson, and Mrs. James Stokes, not to mention 
 others like them. These noble women, each in 
 her own way and sphere, were so many veritable 
 institutions of Christian work and charity and 
 loving kindness. Nor was their loving kindness 
 before the public alone. How well in the case 
 of two of them I remember it stealing, like a 
 strong angel of light, into my own darkened 
 home and pouring itself forth upon my poor, 
 agonized wife and our dying "Robbie"! 
 
 I had intended, before closing, to speak of the 
 homes of the Mercer Street Church, as also of the 
 influences which rendered many of them almost 
 faultless patterns of all that is most excellent in 
 Christian family life; but I have no time to do 
 it. Nor, if I had, would the task be easy ; for it 
 would involve a faithful description of not a few 
 of the best and loveliest women I ever knew. It 
 was in the atmosphere of these homes that the 
 "Little Susy" books, "Henry and Bessie; or. 
 What They Did in the Country," "The Flower 
 of the Family," and " More Love to Thee, O 
 Christ," were written. An old Hebrew proverb 
 says that "the glory of children is their fathers." 
 This is a true saying ; but it is no less true that 
 the glory of children, oftentimes the greater glory 
 by far, is their mothers. What a different six- 
 tieth anniversary this would be if the foundations 
 of the Mercer Street Church had not been laid 
 
I02 
 
 in a wholesome, pure, and godly family life. The 
 women of the congregation were not less re- 
 markable for the sweet household virtues which 
 adorned so many of its homes, than the men for 
 those sturdier, more public virtues that made so 
 many of them pillars in Church and State. In 
 order to depict these homes, as I remember them 
 forty years ago, my pencil would have to be 
 dipped in fairer colors than those of earth. There 
 was around them 
 
 . . . such a dawn 
 Of light ne'er seen before, 
 As fancy never could have drawn, 
 And never can restore. 
 
 The mothers, wives and daughters, whose 
 presence transfigured them, were fashioned by 
 the Eternal Spirit ; they followed Christ as their 
 example, and learned their lessons of household 
 wisdom and goodness at His feet. Some of 
 them still live to cheer and bless the world ; but 
 by far the greater number long ago were joined 
 to the more congenial fellowship of saints and 
 angels in the better country, a country of their 
 own, and there may we be so happy as to see 
 them again, face to face. 
 

 ,>^^?it- ?>'^.' r**^. r'*^'^ ?+'^- w ?4'r;*?4'^'^i'^^'^i'^ vi'^vi^^ ^i"^ '?i'^ ^■i'i vi*^ v^^- f -f! $K 
 
 91tibrc^^ ftp 
 HMmmn ^\\m Butler. 
 
 HEN my friend and professional brother, 
 Mr. Davison, called on me with the kind 
 invitation of the Church to participate 
 in these commemorative exercises, I was on the 
 eve of an excursion to the coast of Norway. In 
 that romantic region the traveler finds himself 
 withdrawn from the wind-swept waves of the 
 outer ocean, and conveyed on the tranquil waters 
 of some mighty fjord, between towering, snow- 
 capped cliffs, through scenes of unsurpassed 
 beauty and sublimity, far inland, until his vessel 
 anchors by a remote hamlet, girt about with sol- 
 emn peaks, refreshed by perennial streams, bright 
 with the verdure of summer and over-arched by 
 a cloudless sky. 
 
 103 
 
104 
 
 Somewhat kindred to this has seemed to me 
 our experience to-night. While listening to Doc- 
 tor Prentiss's most interesting paper, we have been 
 withdrawn from the agitation and unrest of our 
 daily strivings and activities and borne on the 
 smooth current of reminiscence and retrospection 
 to a distant and sacred spot where we have lin- 
 gered among memories and associations of the 
 past, radiant with the beaut)- of benignant lives, 
 bright with pure examples, and croAvned witli the 
 benediction of heaven. 
 
 In our Presbyterian, non-prelatical, non-litur- 
 gical system, the personality of the pastor is apt 
 to be the measure of the vitality, the prosperity, 
 and the power of the Church to which he minis- 
 ters. In the absence of a prescribed order of 
 worship or form of words for the administration 
 of the sacraments or the solemnization of mar- 
 riage or the burial of the dead, the minister, with 
 such aid as the Church Session over which he 
 presides may afford, is, m fact, what the Porm 
 of Government makes him by designation, a 
 bishop whose diocese is his particular Church. 
 
 When the Mercer Street Church came into ex- 
 istence in 1835, and called as its pastor Doctor 
 Thomas 1 1. Skinner from his chair as a professor 
 at Andover Theological Seminar)-, he at once 
 impressed upon the organization his own unicjue 
 individuality. 
 
I05 
 
 True, he was aided by strong men, elders, dea- 
 cons, trustees, who were representative of what- 
 ever was best in the social, civic, professional and 
 commercial life of New York, and by a church 
 membership of corresponding strength. We 
 should not be here to-night to commemorate the 
 founding of that religious society if its founders 
 had not been noteworthy. But when we sum- 
 mon from the shadowy past the forms of that 
 goodly fellowship, the one foremost and most 
 conspicuous is the saintly figure of the chiefest 
 among them who was their minister, without 
 stole, or sleeves of lawn, or jeweled ring, or cro- 
 zier, but none the less an apostolic bishop, a wor- 
 thy successor, in the true spiritual line, of Leighton 
 and Jeremy Taylor, of Fenelon and Augustine. 
 
 The Mercer Street Church, in its relation to 
 Presbyterianism, was in accord with the advanced 
 movement which placed the so-called " New 
 School " upon the vantage ground of a closer 
 sympathy with human freedom and a more toler- 
 ant theology than had been possible under the 
 old organization, while as an individual Church it 
 sought to establish in this metropolitan and com- 
 mercial center a religious society whose distinct 
 and distinguishing feature should be the personal 
 unworldliness of its members and their fidelity to 
 a life of piety. 
 
 This was attempted largely through a system 
 14 
 
io6 
 
 of clnircli services which, under the ministry of 
 Doctor Skinner, formed what, in tlie retrospect, 
 must be re<:arded as a remarkable instance of re- 
 lii^ious regulation. 
 
 More than half a century ago one of the most 
 brilliant of English essayists, in the pages of 
 the " Edinburgh Review," pointed out the resem- 
 blance between the "Spiritual Exercises" of Ig- 
 natius de Loyola, the founder of the order of the 
 Jesuits, and the "Rise and Progress" of Philip 
 Doddridge, a work published two centuries later, 
 of which he says " the ' Spiritual Exercises ' might 
 have afforded the model, so many are the points 
 of contact between those who, ranging themselves 
 round the great objects of Christianity as their 
 common center, occupy the most opposite posi- 
 tions in that expanded circle." Both the Jesuit 
 Loyola and the Protestant Doddridge attempted 
 to excite, control and regulate spiritual sensibili- 
 ties by initiating and carrying on a regular suc- 
 cession of devotional acts and experiences ; and in 
 the Mercer Street Church there was a striking 
 correspondence with the extremes of Loyola and 
 Doddridge, with either of whom in intensity of 
 earnestness and fervor of zeal Doctor Skinner 
 may well be compared. 
 
 This was strikingly exhibited in the services 
 of the Church on the weekly Day of Rest. They 
 began with the morning session of the Sunday 
 
lo; 
 
 School from 9 to half-past 10, followed by the 
 morning service, at which the sermon occupied 
 an hour and sometimes more ; an afternoon ses- 
 sion of the Sunday School from 2 to 3 o'clock, 
 followed by the second service of the Church 
 with a sermon of from forty-five minutes to an 
 hour, supplemented by an evening prayer meet- 
 ing, at which a full attendance was expected, 
 where Doctor Skinner, entering from his adjoin- 
 ing house, in slippered feet, would add to the ex- 
 hortations of the elders an extemporaneous se- 
 quel to the sermons of the day, often rising to a 
 height of eloquence, but always under the stress 
 and strain of his sacred day of overwork. Besides 
 these Sunday services, there were two weekly 
 meetings ; a teachers' meeting ; and other ser- 
 vices, with occasional special and continuing ser- 
 vices and Fast days. 
 
 Far be it from me to institute any comparison, 
 favorable or adverse, between the methods to 
 which I have referred and those which obtain to- 
 day. To do so would be to venture on ground 
 from which laymen are warned off and on which, 
 so far as I know, they have no disposition to tres- 
 pass. What I am emphasizing is simply the fact 
 of the existence in the Mercer Street Church of a 
 condition of things all of which I saw and part 
 of which I was, widely differing in many respects 
 from our present modes of Church life, and it is. 
 
io8 
 
 • 
 
 perhaps, due to ourselves to recall for a moment 
 the different state of things which made possible 
 that earlier religious regime and round of duties. 
 One thing seems to be established — that this ap- 
 parently excessive amount of Sunday and week- 
 day religious work was not injurious to the phys- 
 ical wellbeintr of the Church members. A total 
 of nineteen deaths in ten years out of a Church 
 membership of between seven hundred and eight 
 hundred, as shown by Doctor Skinner's Thanks- 
 giving sermon of 1845, certainly exhibits a re- 
 markably healthy condition. 
 
 At the time of which I have been speaking 
 New York was a city of less than 250,000 in- 
 habitants. There were still residences of lead- 
 ing citizens on Bowling Green, on lower Broad- 
 way, Park Place, St. John's Square and Bleecker 
 street. The population in the new neighborhood 
 of the Mercer Street Church included very many 
 of the best citizens who made up its congregation 
 and carried on its work. In those days it took 
 three or four weeks to cross the Atlantic and to 
 get the news even from England ; foreign travel 
 was the privilege of a few ; railroad construction 
 was in its infancy ; the telegraph had not been 
 invented ; the photograph and the stereopticon 
 were not dreamed of; the tidal wave of modern 
 fiction had not submerged the landmarks of the 
 more serious and classic English literature ; the 
 
I09 
 
 theater was under a justly prescriptive ban ; en- 
 tertainments available to members of the Mercer 
 Street Church were very few and the teaching of 
 the Church was in aid and enforcement of the 
 strictest religious life. The line of demarcation 
 between the Church and the World was closely 
 drawn. The secular press was not in touch, as 
 now, with the religious movements of the day, 
 and in respect to them the denominational news- 
 papers were the almost exclusive sources of in- 
 formation. The broad humanitarian field upon 
 which all Christians now unite was then almost 
 an undiscovered country, and it was in what now 
 seems to us a narrow and restricted sphere that 
 there was opportunity for a far more rigid con- 
 formity to religious rule than would be possible 
 to-day. 
 
 Doctor Skinner was preeminently a man of 
 saintly character and life, whose whole aim was 
 the bringing home the truths of the Gospel to 
 the minds and hearts of men. 
 
 As a very marked instance of his sincerity and 
 singleness of purpose must be noted his willing- 
 ness to surrender his pulpit to the special minis- 
 trations of men, certainly not his equals in in- 
 tellectual ability, but possessed of special gifts as 
 evangelists. One of these was Doctor Edward 
 Beecher, whose death, at the age of ninety years, 
 occurred during the past summer, and who, when 
 
I lO 
 
 in his prime, carried on a series of revival ser- 
 vices in the Mercer Street Church, Doctor Skinner 
 rehnquishing to him the charge of the Siinthu 
 services and weekly meetings and almost literall) 
 sitting at his feet as St. Paul sat at the feet of 
 Gamaliel. 
 
 Another of these was Doctor Edward N. Kirk, 
 who, on repeated occasions, was virtually installed 
 in the Mercer Street Church and became a domi- 
 nant factor in its religious life and work. Doctor 
 Kirk was a man of rare endowments and a pecu- 
 liar personal charm ; a man also of the highest 
 character and the most entire devotion to his 
 work. In voice and gesture and power of vivid 
 illustration, his attractiveness in the pulpit was 
 most remarkable, especially to young people. 
 One striking peculiarity and source of power was 
 the way in which, from the opening of the service 
 to its close, he gave to each succeeding part of it 
 an increasing solemnity and spirituality; as in the 
 ascending Songs of Degrees on the steps of the 
 Temple, he seemed to gain at every stage a 
 higher point of religious elevation and a nearer 
 approach to the divine presence. 
 
 No review of the work of the Mercer Street 
 Church would be complete without a grateful 
 recognition of the labors of Doctor Kirk, and 
 doubtless there are those present here who will 
 share my feeling of satisfaction thai the oppor- 
 
1 1 1 
 
 tunity is given for this passing tribute to the 
 memory of one of the most faithful of the Master's 
 servants. 
 
 Doctor Skinner delighted in the work of these 
 co-laborers with himself, and gave them an un- 
 stinted welcome and unselfish support. He drew 
 a distinction between association with the tem- 
 porary evangelist and the permanent co-pastor. 
 **The associate pastorate," he once said to me, 
 " is an invention of the devil." 
 
 Doctor Skinner's own sermons were no excep- 
 tion to what, according to my observation, is the 
 safe rule with Presbyterian clergymen, of keeping 
 the sermon up to the standard of the best in- 
 tellects in the congregation. Thoroughly im- 
 bued with the spirit of the Pauline theology, his 
 preaching was largely devoted to its distinctive 
 doctrines; the divine love as the foundation of the 
 divine law ; the exceeding sinfulness of sin as the 
 transgression of the law ; the alienation of man 
 from his Maker ; redemption and reconciliation 
 through the divine-human Saviour ; the new cre- 
 ation and the spiritual life. These were his 
 favorite themes. In fact, he was somewhat im- 
 patient of preaching which did not specifically 
 set forth the Gospel warnings and invitations. 
 On one occasion, coming with him from a church 
 where we had listened to one of Horace Bush- 
 nell's vivid and incisive sermons, tinctured with 
 
I I 
 
 an all-pervadin«^ humanity, I ventured a word ex- 
 pressive of my admiration of the discourse. 
 Doctor Skinner's praise and censure were both 
 condensed in his terse response, " it might have 
 been preached by Epictetus." 
 
 Certainly his sermons were amenable to the 
 criticism of the worthy Methodist sister, that 
 " Presbyterian ministers always preached as if 
 they were trying to prove something." He was 
 nothing if not logical. If his discourses were apt 
 to give a too attentive hearer a headache, there 
 was always enough to appeal to the heart, and 
 none who were in the habit of hearing him can 
 forget the earnest impressiveness with which, at 
 the close of his sermon, with spectacles removed 
 and manuscript abandoned, he would put all his 
 power of persuasion into an earnest appeal for 
 the immediate acceptance of the Gospel-offers. 
 
 Only in one direction was Doctor Skinner 
 conspicuous for utter incapacity, and that was in 
 his inability to address the little ones of his flock. 
 This was not from want of love of the children, 
 but for want of a vocabulary within their com- 
 prehension. Like Addison, who illustrated his 
 contrasted want of capacity for conversation with 
 the power of his pen, by saying that he could 
 draw on his banker for a thousand pounds, but 
 never had sixpence in his pocket, Doctor Skinner, 
 who could have instructed a council of theolo- 
 
113 
 
 gians, was an absolute failure before an infant 
 class. It was among the traditions of Mercer 
 Street that he once felt impelled to add to his 
 ministrations a Saturday afternoon catechetical 
 class for the children, which he opened by telling 
 them that the " Catechism was a compendium of 
 divine truth," and then continued, "perhaps, chil- 
 dren, you do not know the meaning of that word. 
 Compendium is synonymous with synopsis." 
 
 Not a word has been said in eulogy of Thomas 
 H. Skinner, heretofore or here, which has not 
 been in strict accordance with the truth. His is 
 the exceptional case in which "praise," as Lord 
 Bacon says, "is the reflection of virtue." 
 
 Of the men who were the chief co-workers with 
 Doctor Skinner, I have time to speak of only 
 one, the venerable Francis Markoe, a rare type 
 of that peculiar saintliness of character which we 
 are now only too often and too truthfully com- 
 pelled to associate with the past ; a man beloved 
 by all, and especially by that large body of young 
 women who from one Lord's Day to another, 
 year after year, were taught in his Bible Class, 
 where the lessons of Scripture-truth were con- 
 veyed with a paternal tenderness and affection 
 which are still attested by many who were privi- 
 leged to hear them. 
 
 A brief mention only can be made of the pas- 
 torate of Dr. Prentiss. Coming as he did to 
 
 i5 
 
114 
 
 the Church as a stran^^cr and never having heard 
 Dr. Skinner preach, it was remarkable to note 
 how speedily and thoroug^hly he commanded 
 the respect, the confidence and the affection of 
 the people. Those of them who had been closest 
 in attachment and cooperation with the first pas- 
 tor were most devoted and loyal to Doctor Pren- 
 tiss, and from no one did he receive a warmer or 
 more undeviating support than from 1 )r. Skinner 
 himself, who, having accepted a Professorship in 
 the Union Theological Seminary, now sat under 
 the ministration of his successor, listening with 
 rapt attention, and not infrequently with emphatic 
 gestures of assent, to wise and profound teach- 
 ings, illuminated by a clear insight into the Gospel 
 mysteries and the problems of faith and doctrine 
 and destiny. 
 
 Dr. Prentiss has alluded to the formation at 
 an early stage of his pastorate of the Missionary 
 Association, which was one of the pioneer efforts 
 in City missions, and has been blessed with ample 
 results for good. Another marked success was 
 the movement, which he mainly initiated, on be- 
 half of the Union Theological Seminary for secur- 
 ing its first endowment. I well remember the 
 stirring appeal which he made in aid of that in- 
 stitution, to which, at the close of his pastorate in 
 the Church of the Covenant, he, too, was called ; 
 not into as calm a haven of rest as perhaps he 
 
115 
 
 hoped, for, as we all know, the Seminary has been 
 sailing of late on rough waters, but so far not 
 showing any signals of distress. And let me 
 say, in passing, that whatever may be our views 
 (and we may differ widely with one another as to 
 its present unfortunate conflict with the General 
 Assembly), one thing is certain, that conscientious 
 resistance to constituted authority is such an emi- 
 nently Presbyterian trait that no orthodox, true, 
 not to say blue, Presbyterian would be willing to 
 part with it for fear of losing the family likeness. 
 
 Dr. Clark, who succeeded Dr. Prentiss, and 
 who was the last pastor during the time of 
 my connection with the Church, was an earnest 
 and able man ; the recent placing of a memorial 
 window in the church at Buffalo where he com- 
 pleted his ministerial work is a just and grateful 
 tribute to his worth as a man and a pastor. 
 
 But we are concerned to-night more imme- 
 diately with the by-gone, formative days of the 
 old Church of sixty years ago. Standing at this 
 distance of time and looking back through two 
 generations to the scenes and the actors we have 
 reviewed, a two-fold source of encouragement and 
 inspiration is disclosed. In one aspect, as we 
 put the departed in our places and measure the 
 difference between them and ourselves by the ad- 
 vance which has been made in these later years, 
 we cannot but feel that in the progress of Chris- 
 
I i6 
 
 tian civilization wc are carrying forward, on ad- 
 vanced lines ami iiiulcr far more promising aus- 
 pices, the work which they had chiefly at heart. 
 The workmen have passed away, but the work 
 remains, and while we have a broader horizon, a 
 wider outlook and a vastly expanded field, we are 
 simpl)- fulfilling the divine word that other men 
 have labored and we have entered into their 
 labors. In another aspect, as we put ourselves in 
 th('ir places there comes to us the admonition and 
 example of their fidelity and singleness of pur- 
 pose, perhaps as a rebuke, certainly as a call to 
 duty: 
 
 Only the actions of the just 
 
 Smell sweet and blossom in the dust, 
 
 and to-night the air about us is full of the per- 
 fume wafted from that distant and yet fragrant 
 "garden of the Lord." 
 
 In recalling these consecrated scenes and mem- 
 ories we are not revisiting a mausoleum, or the 
 monumental cloisters or aisles of some old cathe- 
 dral, but rather an ancestral home, full of tender 
 recollections of the ministries of love. Within 
 those hallowed walls, which we people with the 
 forms of the departed, some of us uttered the 
 vows of allegiance to the Saviour we have sought 
 to follow ; there the last tributes of affection and 
 reverence were paid to those we most loved and 
 
117 
 
 honored : there our children were consecrated in 
 baptism to the God of the Covenant ; and there, 
 wherever else the standard of Christian faith may 
 have been held with falterincr hands or feeble 
 grasp, it was upheld with loyal and unswerving 
 fidelity. All honor to those who, having kept the 
 faith and fought the fight and finished their course, 
 have gained the fadeless crown. May we not say 
 of them as of the good knights of old : 
 
 Their bones are dust, 
 
 Their swords are rust. 
 
 Their souls are with the saints, we trust. 
 
J^iT.yT*y€.'/r.yT.-/r*tr.yi .yr ,AfJ. ^\*. '\*. *<• ^s". *<. >A. i\. f^.-fs : 
 
 : >*. '.M. -.^ t •: 1 -^ 1 -."■ I -^ I '^ <^ •> 1 •^•;*' ^ <i-» 'v-* 'v* 'V* '♦* '•'♦* ' v^ ' v* ' : 
 
 Vf'f 
 
 3Sit\}. %mm\ Abbott, D.D. 
 
 ■ SHALL not take courage, from Mr. 
 S Butler's address, to talk to you an hour 
 I and a half. I think I could more easily 
 find ten ministers who are equal to preaching an 
 hour and a half than as many congregations 
 equal to listening an hour and a half There are 
 two attractions which have brought me here to- 
 night. The first grows out of the past. The 
 second grows out of the present. The Mercer 
 Street Church was the gate through which I 
 entered into the Christian pilgrimage. And I 
 have never been sorry that I so entered. It was 
 my first Church home, and I look back to it with 
 love and reverence. Ur. Prentiss was my first 
 pastor. In one respect, I do not agree with Mr. 
 Butler. He said it was wonderful that Dr. Pren- 
 
 xi8 
 
119 
 
 tiss so soon won the love of his congregation. 
 It was no wonder at all. I used to think, and I 
 think now, that he was the St. John of the New 
 York pulpit. His love was the secret of his 
 power. I remember, when I was about seventeen 
 years of age, how he smoothed the way for me. 
 I remember how I trembled before that awful 
 Board of Elders. They do not seem to me quite 
 so awful now as they did then. And I remember 
 how easy he made it for me, and I have thanked 
 him many a time since. 
 
 I love the church, because it was my first home ; 
 because it was the place where I first stood up to 
 make public confession of Christ, whom, ever since 
 I can remember, I had timidly tried to follow. 
 It was the church where my father worshiped, 
 and where my uncle worshiped. My memories 
 of it are sweet and sacred. And so I come here 
 to-night, simply to say this word of love to the 
 old church, this word of love to the old home. 
 
 But there is another attraction which has 
 brought me here. It seems to me that there is 
 something analogous in the position of this church 
 and of the church of which I have the honor to be 
 pastor, and I want to turn from the past a mo- 
 ment to the present and the future. I turn from 
 it the more readily, because I have not been 
 present at your previous services, and have not 
 heard the remarks that have been made, and the 
 
I 20 
 
 more readily, too, ])ccausc I am sure tliat even 
 if I were to attempt to heljj in this review I 
 should be traveling over an old field, where there 
 is no need to travel, and leading your thoughts 
 where they do not need to linger. I want to say 
 one word of the present and future, for a down- 
 town church is not a mission church, and a mis- 
 sion church does not and cannot fill the place of 
 the downtown church. We have seen the process 
 of transformation of the home cluircli into the 
 mission church go on, over and over again : busi- 
 ness coming in, a new and different population 
 coming in, the church moving uptown, and then 
 afterwards sending down and establishing a mis- 
 sion in the neighborhood from which it has gone. 
 And I want to say from this platform that a 
 Christian church never ought to move away from 
 a population which needs Christ. Of course, if 
 there are only warehouses in the vicinity, and the 
 population is all gone, follow it, but if there is a 
 population that needs Christ, there the Christian 
 church ouorht to remain. It is said. "You cannot 
 run a church in the neighborhood of Jews." I 
 wonder why Christ preached in Jerusalem. They 
 were all Jews there, and yet a Christian church 
 was established in Jerusalem. Suppose the neigh- 
 borhood is full of Roman Catholics, Why did 
 Paul go to Rome? Would a church in a neigh- 
 borhood of Roman Catholics be any more difficult 
 
121 
 
 to carry on than a church in pagan Rome? Has 
 Christianity come to such a pass that it must pull 
 down the flag before Judaism, before Roman- 
 ism, before unbelief? If so, we need a new con- 
 version and a new baptism, and a restoration of 
 the old, primitive Christianity. What a strange 
 irony this, the doctrine that we cannot maintain 
 a Christian church in a poor ward in this city, but 
 that we ought to send missionaries to fight, single- 
 handed, paganism in Calcutta. I think I have a 
 right to say this, because I have the honor to be 
 the pastor of a downtown church. Not one quar- 
 ter of the members and pewholders of Plymouth 
 Church live within three quarters of a mile of the 
 church. The great majority of them live one, 
 two, three or more miles away. It takes them 
 from fifteen minutes to an hour to get from their 
 homes to that church. It is a common feeling 
 that people ought to go to the nearest church. 
 But it is not so. The camp ought to be in the 
 midst of the enemy, the station ought to be where 
 the work is to be done. 
 
 And you cannot do this work by hiring some 
 one to do it for you. What is a church ? Not 
 fluted columns. Not vaulted roofs. A church is 
 living men and women, Christian men and women 
 bound together in a household of faith. Do I 
 not know the difference ? I preach on Sunday 
 morning to Plymouth Church. I preach on 
 i6 
 
122 
 
 Sunday night to a conj^reg^ation of strangers 
 gatherctl in I^lymoutli Meeting;- 1 louse. And 
 there is a great deal of difference between the 
 two. On Sunday morning I preach to a congre- 
 gation of Christian people. I know them. They 
 know me. They help me with their prayers, and 
 by their lives. They might almost go without a 
 sermon. I sometimes think they would be better 
 without it. Hut in the evening I do not know 
 whose faces I am looking into. They do not 
 know me. I do not know them. I am preaching 
 in a mission-house; I am not preaching in a 
 church, though the room is the same. 
 
 I have come here to-night, then, to urge you to 
 maintain with faith and courage this downtown 
 church. ]\Ir. Beecher once said to me that he 
 was like a town-pump. Any one who worked 
 the handle could get a drink. I am not like a 
 town-pump; I am like a sponge. Squeezed once, 
 twice, and a third time in twenty-four hours, I 
 become very dry. That is the case with me to- 
 night. I preached Sunday morning and Sunday 
 night. Monday morning I spent in my editorial 
 sanctum, writing editorials. Then I spoke at 
 another Church meeting before I came here, and 
 there is not much virtue left in me. J-Jut I came 
 because I could not refuse the opportunity to come 
 and give the right hand of fellowship to Dr. Alex- 
 nder, and to say that I hope that this building 
 
123 
 
 will never come down, and that as long as there 
 are houses and people in this quarter of the city, 
 so long this Gospel flag will float, so long this 
 Gospel ministry will be continued. I thank you 
 for the opportunity of saying these few, simple, 
 humble words. 
 

 'R. CHAIRMAN, and dear friends: — 
 After the very eloquent and interesting 
 
 i words to which we have been Hstening, 
 I shall detain you at this late hour but a very few 
 minutes, and that simply to say how the Mercer 
 Street Church appeared to one who was a child 
 in that Church. We have very ancient and clas- 
 sic authority for smiling good-naturedly and pat- 
 ronizingly at the ''Laudator temporis acti,'" the 
 man who praises the past ; and yet I suppose 
 there is scarcely any one of us who would like to 
 lose out of his life that habit of looking tenderly 
 at the days of his childhood, and thinking that 
 the circumstances which surrounded him then 
 were a little brighter and a little better, in some 
 respects, than those of the days in which he now 
 
125 
 
 finds himself. At any rate, I am free to confess 
 that, as I look back to my childhood, there seem 
 to me some things connected with the Mercer 
 Street Church which, if not better, were a little 
 different from anything that I have known in 
 churches since that date. 
 
 My earliest recollections of the Mercer Street 
 Church extend as far back as my memory goes. 
 My father lived in Eighth street, at No. 14 Clin- 
 ton place. Next door to us, upon the one side, 
 lived Gordon Burnham ; on the other side, Thomas 
 S. Nelson ; directly opposite Thomas Denny, with 
 whose sons, Thomas and John, I often played in 
 what was then a quiet uptown street; a few doors 
 away, Asa Bigelow ; and in like proximity many 
 others, whose names have been mentioned this 
 evening. The yard of our house (yards were 
 larger than they are now) extended back to the 
 yard of the Mercer Street Church, and as a boy I 
 used to climb up on the grape trellis (they used 
 to grow fruit in the back -yards of New York 
 houses in those days) and look over into the 
 churchyard with a great deal of interest. We 
 all know that Mercer Street Church is even now 
 a comely and dignified building, but then it 
 seemed to me to be a very cathedral, with its 
 turrets and its lofty tower. Its interior was or- 
 nate and imposing. I remember well sitting in 
 my father's pew, and looking up with awe at that 
 
I 26 
 
 maq^nificent pulpit, witli its elaborate Elizabethan 
 architecture. It seemed to me to have a reach 
 and extent that were perfectly immense. I often 
 used to wish 1 could go up and explore the 
 depths of those mysterious recesses ; but when, 
 years after, as a young minister, I had an oppor- 
 tunity of doing so, I was surprised to find how 
 their proportions had dwindled. The church was 
 earl)' a noted one, and attracted visitors from 
 afar. Among my earliest recollections is that of 
 seeing there the majestic form of Daniel Web- 
 ster, arrayed in the traditional blue coat with 
 brass buttons. 
 
 The Sunday-School Mr. Butler has spoken of, 
 and has referred to the two sessions then held. 
 1 remember them well, beginning as I did in the 
 infant class. I have not heard any reference 
 made to Mr. William W. Chester, who from my 
 earliest recollection had charge of the infant class, 
 — a man of portly form and benevolent face, — 
 who used to take the greatest interest in all those 
 little children, gathered in the concentric rows of 
 seats, rising up one above another, so steep that 
 very often some urchin would come tumbling 
 down, as he attempted to respond to Mr. Ches- 
 ter's call. After I was graduated from Mr. Ches- 
 ter's care, I was at one time in the class of my 
 friend, Thomas Bond, then Thomas Bond, Junior. 
 1 afterwards was in the class of the distinguished 
 
127 
 
 Benjamin F. Butler, father of our friend who has 
 spoken to us to-night, and of whom mention has 
 already been made. At a later date, as I grew 
 older, I had a class of my own, in which were 
 some boys who have become well known since. 
 I recall Frank Crosby, son of John P. Crosby, 
 and nephew of Dr. Howard Crosby. He was 
 afterwards killed in battle, fighting for the Union. 
 I remember, also, Charles M. Earle, now hardly 
 recognizable in the somewhat venerable Elder 
 who read the Scriptures to-night. 
 
 I had some little share in the early beginnings 
 of that magnificent work that has grown from the 
 Sunday-School in Avenue D, and a reminiscence 
 came back to me as Dr. Alexander read, from Dr. 
 Prentiss's narrative, of the session meeting where 
 it was resolved that Mr. Otis W. Booth be re- 
 quested to go over and help Mr. Loomis keep 
 order. Mr. Loomis, to whom reference was thus 
 made, was a classmate of mine in the Theological 
 Seminary, although a man much older than the 
 rest of us. He was from Missouri, — a short, thick- 
 set, athletic man of middle age, who used to re- 
 late interestinof stories about his adventures with 
 border ruffians when a missionary on the frontier. 
 I remember his telling me that upon one occa- 
 sion, at the Dry Dock Mission (when, I fear, Mr. 
 Otis W. Booth was not present and the police- 
 man not on hand), he had an unusually hard time 
 
128 
 
 in keepinrr the hoys in order. They would not 
 behave themselves, and he said that finally, losing 
 patience, and remembering his Western experi- 
 ence, he seized the first boy, laid him across his 
 knee, and gave him a sound thrashing, and fol- 
 lowed in like manner with the next boy, and so 
 on. He said that by the time he got through 
 with the nearest bench there was a dead silence 
 all over the room. They supposed he was com- 
 ing down, seriatim, through the entire building in 
 tliat way. And so he had order there, for that 
 evening at least. 
 
 Dr. Skinner I remember in my childhood with 
 awe. My knowledge of him and my love came 
 at a later date. While I was a student in the 
 Seminary, Dr. Skinner attended the Mercer Street 
 Church, and he let us students see very plainly 
 that he was a great admirer of his successor in 
 that pulpit, the honored and beloved brother to 
 whose history of the Church we have listened 
 this evenincr. Dr. Skinner masked his references 
 in that direction in a way that he manifestly con- 
 sidered very wily and effective, but which was 
 really too childlike in its transparent simplicity 
 to deceive us for a moment. He would say that 
 the very best preacher in New York, to whom we 
 would better listen, if we wished to be edified, was 
 in a church which he would not mention, but 
 which he frequently attended — a churcli. in fact, 
 
129 
 
 a very little way from where the Seminary stood. 
 On one occasion we plucked up courage enough 
 to ask him if he would not give us the name of 
 the preacher. He replied that he dared not do 
 so, for '*a little bird might carry the news that he 
 had made such a remark." We were not much 
 in doubt as to whom, he referred. 
 
 Reference has been made to Dr. Skinner's 
 preaching as being somewhat abstruse. I re- 
 member once, when speaking to me in his de- 
 lightful and affectionate way of his experience 
 in preaching, he said that he delivered a sermon 
 once from the text, " The Lamb slain from the 
 foundation of the world," and attempted to show, 
 in a logical way, the necessity for such eternal 
 predestination; and then he added, with great sim- 
 plicity, " But, my dear brother, I never preached 
 that sermon again. I found my congregation did 
 not follow me." Dr. Stiles, who succeeded him, 
 could not bear the strain of a city pastorate, but 
 in his earlier ministry he was sometimes truly 
 eloquent. I remember well one of his first ser- 
 mons as pastor, from the text, ''Christ in you, the 
 hope of glory r His first words were, "We have 
 here the root and the fruit of the Christian life." 
 
 A word or two ought to be said of the choir 
 in Mercer Street Church in those early days. It 
 was long under the charge of George F. Root, 
 afterwards so distinguished as a writer of those 
 
 17 
 
I30 
 
 stirring battle-songs " 7V^?;;//, Tramp, Tramp, the 
 Boys arc Afarc/iiui^,"' ''Rally Round the Flaa;, 
 Boys,'' and many others. I remember when Mr. 
 Root first came there. The choir in his day, aside 
 from members of his own family, was almost en- 
 tirely voluntary, and the influence of that singing, 
 and the beauty and simplicity of it, as led by Mr. 
 Root, were truly remarkable. Let me add, in 
 passing, that the reminiscences of his life, which 
 Mr. Root published a year or two before his 
 death, contain many references to Mercer Street 
 Church that would be delightful to those who 
 remember the church as it was of old. 
 
 I think the most vivid impressions, perhaps, 
 left upon my mind, in regard to the spiritual in- 
 fluence of the Mercer Street Church, are con- 
 nected with the prayer-meeting. The prayer- 
 meeting was held on Friday night, if I remember 
 rightly, and the lecture was given on Tuesday 
 evening, there being two weekly meetings. The 
 prayer-meeting, held in the Sunday-School room, 
 was always conducted by one of the Elders. You 
 have heard the names of these Elders, and you 
 can imagine how interesting men of their char- 
 acter, of their intellectual ability, and of their 
 consecration, devoted to their work, would make 
 these meetings. A relative of mine, who had 
 been in the Presbyterian ministry, afterwards em- 
 braced the Episcopal faith, and some one once 
 said to him : " Don't you miss the prayer-meet- 
 
131 
 
 ings now that you are in the Episcopal Church?" 
 Said he, " If the prayer-meetings could be as 
 they were in the dear old Mercer Street Church, 
 I should miss them more than I can tell. But, 
 unfortunately, such prayer-meetings as those are 
 not to be found now." 
 
 I am sure, my dear friends, that with all the 
 power that there was in Dr. Skinner, and in his 
 noble successors, the glory of the Mercer Street 
 Church was in the consecrated laity that upheld 
 and strengthened their hands. The Session of 
 my early recollection were John L. Mason, Geo. 
 P. Shipman, Anson G. Phelps, Jas. R. Gibson, 
 Thos. S. Nelson, Francis Markoe, Levi Coit, 
 Gustavus U. Richards, and my own dear father. 
 I remember dear Mr. Markoe, to whom reference 
 has been made more than once this evening. 
 His appearance seemed to me that of a saint, 
 with the halo already around his head ; and the 
 influence that he exerted through that Church 
 was of the sweetest and most enduring character. 
 Upon the hearts of many of those present at the 
 Mercer Street prayer-meetings it rests as a bene- 
 diction even unto the present day. 
 
 I congratulate you, my dear brethren, upon be- 
 ing successors of those men who then labored 
 and prayed, and I doubt not that you will, as 
 Dr. Abbott has said, hold up the banner in this 
 neighborhood so long as God shall grant to you 
 life and strength. 
 
Tuesday, November 26. 
 
 ^erbtce at 3 p, m, 
 
 Semi-Centennial of the Women's Home Mis- 
 sionary Society. 
 
 ^erbice at 8 p» m. 
 
 Commemoration of University Place 
 Church. 
 
 THE FIRST QUARTER CENTURY OF 
 UNIVERSITY PLACE CHURCH. 
 
 Historical Address by 
 Rev. Arthur Potts, D.D. 
 
 THE UNITED CHURCH. 
 
 Historical Address by 
 Rev. Robert Russell Booth, D.D. 
 
 Reception and Collation. 
 
/fTTtrrrr 
 
 Tuesday Afternoon. 
 
 nni^fnitcnnial l\cporr of t\]c 
 
 ^SUcnnnf^f ^onic jHi^?ionnn.i Society. 
 
 r has been said that " a reverent look 
 backward is good preparation for anoint- 
 ing to go forward." With the hope 
 of receiving inspiration for the future, we turn 
 back to "remember all the way which the Lord 
 our God hath led us " these fifty years. 
 
 In 1845, November 12th, this Society was or- 
 ganized with a membership of eighty, of whom 
 fifty-three were present at the first meeting. The 
 name given to the Society was " The Ladies' 
 Charitable Society of the Church on University 
 Place," and its objects were " to provide garments 
 for the needy in the Mission School and else- 
 where, and to collect money for the Bible, Tract, 
 and Missionary Societies, and for the Theological 
 Seminary at Princeton." After a few years the 
 
 «34 
 
135 
 
 donations to the benevolent societies were made 
 with few exceptions at the time of the regular 
 church collections. " During the first winter 
 $175 was expended, 376 garments were dis- 
 tributed, 25 shirts sent to students at Princeton, 
 and 60 families were visited and relieved." The 
 Society from its beginning has sent boxes of 
 clothing to Western missionaries. For the first 
 ten years it sent a box yearly to Rev. Cyrus 
 Nichols, of Caledonia, Wisconsin. "In 1855, 
 350 garments and 100 pairs of shoes were dis- 
 tributed among the children of the mission schools 
 in Laurens street and Thirteenth street, and 50 
 shirts were sent to Princeton, — double the number 
 sent the first year." About this time $400 was 
 subscribed to Carroll College, in Wisconsin, se- 
 curing a perpetual free scholarship for one stu- 
 dent, which was named, for the pastor of the 
 church "The George Potts scholarship." 
 
 In the fall of 1861 the sympathy of the Society 
 was turned toward our sick soldiers in the hospi- 
 tals, and 666 garments and 250 books were sent 
 to the Sanitary Commission; also, to Port Royal, 
 4 packages of books and papers. In addition to 
 our gifts to the soldiers, 392 garments were made 
 and distributed to our own school, to Cottage 
 Place School, and to the colored school. Besides 
 all this, two boxes of clothing, instead of one, 
 were sent to the West. 
 
136 
 
 Our interest was first awakened in the cause 
 of the Freedmen by an appeal from tlic " T^reed- 
 men's Relief Association " in the fall of 1863, and 
 264 garments were sent to Mississijjpi Contra- 
 bands. 
 
 Ever ready to lend a liclping hand to Prince- 
 ton, in the winter of 1865- 1866 the Society fur- 
 nished two rooms in Brown Hall at $150 each, 
 and seven others were furnished by individual 
 members. 
 
 In 1867, employment was furnished for seven- 
 teen poor women. Special subscriptions were 
 received for this purpose of $5, $10, or $15, 
 which amounts enabled the Society to give each 
 applicant some little assistance for ten weeks. 
 As it was the desire of the Society to teach the 
 poor to help themselves, and not to be depend- 
 ent, after due deliberation it was thought best to 
 discontinue supplying garments to the children 
 of the schools. 
 
 Of the period from 1 869-1 879 no records of 
 the Society have been found, but from \v\\i\t has 
 been gleaned from members at that time, its life 
 was very uneventful, and its work carried on in 
 the same channels as before, with the exception 
 of discontinuing the supply of shirts to Princeton 
 students. 
 
 In 1870 the Society received new strength by 
 the union of the two churches, and from the 
 
137 
 
 warm interest manifested in its work by Dr. and 
 Mrs. Booth. 
 
 Pleasant mention is made in 1879 of some of 
 the members of " The Young Ladies' Missionary 
 Association " meeting, at their request, to sew 
 with the Society for Home Mission famihes. 
 Some of these are efficient members of the So- 
 ciety to-day. The serenity of the Society was 
 somewhat disturbed, December 27, 1881, by find- 
 ing that "thieves had entered by the end window 
 of the Chapel and taken some of our contribu- 
 tions, a piece of sheeting, and a fur-trimmed 
 cloak, defacing our pastor's gown." The zeal 
 and diligence of the Society in those days are 
 shown by its being recorded that on January 23, 
 
 1883, a day "clear, very cold, thermometer at 
 zero," fourteen ladies were present; and that in 
 
 1884, having already sent four boxes, it finished 
 its work in January. 
 
 In 1882, the General Assembly committed to 
 the women of the Church, under the name of 
 " The Woman's Executive Committee of Home 
 Missions," the Christian education of the excep- 
 tional population of our country. 
 
 In 1885, Mrs. Allen, of the Freedmen's Board, 
 addressed our Society on the needs and claims 
 of the Freedmen, and our interest was so aroused 
 in this race that, through the efforts of one of our 
 members, money was raised for the salary of a 
 18 
 
teacher in Texas, which salary we still continue 
 to pay. \Vc also, through special gifts, support 
 a teacher in both Alaska and Utah. Since, owing 
 to an emj)ty treasury, we hear of schools closed 
 and children, eager for the Bread of Life, turned 
 away unfed, our Society feels the great import- 
 ance of advance in this branch of its work, and 
 calls this year for an increase of $ioo for the 
 school work. 
 
 In the fall of 1887 the Society left the Chapel, 
 where it had carried on its work for so many 
 years, and took up its present quarters in the 
 parlors of the Church House. In November, 
 1886, its name had been changed from "The 
 Ladies' Charitable Society of the Church on 
 University Place" to "The Women's Home Mis- 
 sionary Society of the Church on University 
 Place." At the same time a change was made in 
 the constitution in order to better adapt it to the 
 needs of the Society. It was decided at this time 
 to hold a monthly meeting on the last Tuesday 
 of the month, afterwards changed to the first 
 Tuesday, at which reports and missionary letters 
 should be read. In March, 1889, the annual 
 meeting was changed to the spring instead of 
 the fall. A nominating committee was also ap- 
 pointed to present the names of officers to the 
 Society for election. In 1889 an agent w^as ap- 
 pointed to solicit subscriptions for the " Home 
 
139 
 
 Mission Monthly," which duty was transferred to 
 a Secretary of Literature in 1894. In 1893 a 
 Corresponding Secretary was added to the list 
 of officers. 
 
 The Society, feeling that it could not plan for 
 the year's work, satisfactorily, without knowing 
 how much money it could depend upon, adopted 
 the plan, last fall, of sending out envelopes for 
 contributions, to be called for by collectors. By 
 this means the amount contributed was much in- 
 creased, and the number of contributors more 
 than doubled. As any person contributing, no 
 matter how small an amount, is considered a 
 member of our society, we were able to report 
 last year 172 members, a larger membership than 
 any other society in the Presbytery. 
 
 In the fall of 1887, desiring to relieve the la- 
 borers at Emmanuel and Bethlehem Missions from 
 the burden of collecting funds for the sewing 
 schools and Helping Hand, the Society resolved 
 to raise the necessary money. From that time 
 we have contributed annually $225 to Emmanuel 
 Chapel Industrial School, and $275 to Bethlehem 
 Chapel. In 1890, $200 of the latter was appro- 
 priated to furnishing the new building at that 
 mission, and this sum has since been given for 
 general mission work at Bethlehem, and $175 
 to the sewing school there. 
 
 The Society in these fifty years has sent boxes 
 
140 
 
 to missionaries all o\(T iIk; land, to our own mis- 
 sion schools, and to .schools in Alaska, New Mex- 
 ico, Utah, and among the Indians, I^Veedmen, and 
 Mountain Whites. The Society has been more 
 than repaid by the letters of grateful appreciation 
 it has received, and the Christian fellowship with 
 our fellow-laborers has been very helpful. It is 
 pleasant to mention here that every box sent 
 while .Mrs. James Brown anti Miss Lawson were 
 connected with the Society contained a suit of 
 clothes for the missionary from Mrs. Brown and 
 a box of candy from Miss Lawson. In these 
 years w^e have also had a share in furnishing the 
 school buildings at Mt. Pleasant, Utah ; Santa 
 Fe, New Mexico; and the Normal Institute, Ashe- 
 ville, North Carolina, besides contributing to the 
 school work at Howe Pasture, Virginia, as well 
 as among the Freedmen, Indians, and Mountain 
 Whites. 
 
 The Society has been blessed in the band of 
 noble women who have devoted their best ener- 
 gies to carrying on its work. Among these "the 
 pure and gentle character of Mrs. James Brown 
 is of precious memory." She was for more than 
 forty years closely connected with the Society, 
 and for many years its efficient first directress. 
 The Society was sadly bereaved in 1890 by the 
 death of its treasurer, Miss Catharine Lawson, 
 who lor twenty-seven years had "honorably and 
 
HI 
 
 faithfully " discharged the duties of her office, and 
 " whose uniform courtesy and kindness had en- 
 deared her to all." In the following year, the 
 Society was again called to mourn the loss of its 
 treasurer in the death of Miss Harriet T. Hub- 
 bard, who had, in the one year in which she served 
 the Society, "by her faithful stewardship, good 
 judgment, and uniform kindness won the esteem 
 of all." Among those who have faithfully served 
 the Society as officers are the names of Mrs. 
 Willard Parker, Mrs. Robert Russell Booth, Mrs. 
 J. W. Wheeler, and Mrs. Albert B. Storer, not to 
 mention many others. Some of these have gone 
 to their reward, while others are with us to this 
 day, who by their benefactions and devotion 
 have enabled the Society so successfully to carry 
 on its work. 
 
 We have been very much interested and in- 
 structed by hearing at our monthly meetings from 
 our missionaries of their work, and, also, by words 
 from the Secretaries of our Home Board, and the 
 ladies of the Woman's Executive Committee. 
 The Society is very grateful to Dr. Alexander 
 for devoting to it so much of his valuable time, 
 and it feels that it has been greatly helped and 
 strengthened by the sympathy and encourage- 
 ment he has always given it. 
 
 Two years ago, earnestly desiring the presence 
 and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all our Church 
 
REV. GEORGE POTTS, D. D. 
 

 
 Tuesday Evening. 
 
 FIRST QUARTER-CENTURY OF THE UNIVERSITY 
 PLACE CHURCH. 
 
 HIS hour is one of joyful congratulations 
 for the University Place Church. You 
 do not have to boast of a descent which 
 would be reason for regret, but, on the other 
 hand, can point to a record of constant develop- 
 ment and progress, bearing witness to an inner 
 life and vigor, which reflect credit on both the 
 leaders and people composing this church and 
 congregation. It does not seem appropriate to 
 say of you "fifty years old," but rather, "fifty 
 years young." A church building may grow old, 
 but the church of souls need never become infirm 
 
144 
 
 ihroiii^h age. Each generation is new and young, 
 I)ut each in turn has huilt on ihr. foundations hiid 
 l)y a past generation. 
 
 You need not be ashamed to claim, In' the law 
 of heredity, some of those qualities which led our 
 fathers to lay the substantial foundations of a pros- 
 perous Church. 
 
 The men who were banded together in this 
 enterprise fifty years ago, and the pastor they 
 chose to instruct and guide them, gave a character 
 to their work from the beginning. 
 
 Whatever growth and progress has been made 
 lias never been away from a pure gospel, but 
 rather a development along the lines of that gos- 
 pel. It was the law of affinity which attracted 
 these godly and cultured founders to their pastor, 
 and held them together, and both the culture and 
 the godliness still abound. 
 
 I do not believe in "looking mournfully into 
 the past" in theory, yet practically I have felt 
 much like one walking through a graveyard, 
 reading the inscriptions on tombstones, so many 
 were the sad reminiscences suggested by the 
 names on the roll, and in the records from which 
 I had to gather my material. 
 
 In order that this hour may not be saddened 
 by personal reminiscences, I will deal largely in 
 the achievements of our fathers. 
 
 It is my pleasant privilege to-night to give a 
 
145 
 
 brief sketch (gathered from exceedingly brief 
 records) of the origin and growth of the Univer- 
 sity Place Church. In doing this I will avail my- 
 self of both written and unwritten history. 
 
 The first document appears in a small subscrip- 
 tion-book. 
 
 A few gentlemen, residents in the upper part 
 of the city of New York, met at the house of 
 George Griswold (on Washington Square), and 
 entered into the following agreement : 
 
 It is proposed and agreed by the subscribers to 
 purchase the ground at the corner of Wooster and 
 Fourth streets, or some other> and build a church 
 to be placed under the care of Geo. Potts, D.D., 
 and the Presbytery of New York on the follow- 
 ing plan : — 
 
 The subscribers to be called together when the 
 subscription amounts to $60,000, and they shall 
 then proceed to determine the site and plan, ap- 
 point a building committee of three, one of whom 
 shall be treasurer, and fix on the time for organ- 
 izing the church and congregation and settling 
 the pastor. A majority in amount shall settle the 
 site and the plan. 
 
 It shall be so arranged that the purchase money 
 for ground shall not be called for until the pews 
 are sold ; the other part of the subscription shall 
 be paid when called for by the building committee. 
 
 When all expenses of building are paid, the 
 subscribers shall receive back their money in such 
 proportion as the sale of pews may yield, but each 
 
 19 
 
146 
 
 subscriber may buy pews and pay for them at the 
 settlement to be made on account of liis subscrij)- 
 tion ; and the whole cost of the church shall not 
 exceed sixty thousand dollars. 
 
 George Griswoi.d $6000 
 
 Gardiner G. Howland 6000 
 
 Rev. Cyrus Mason 6000 
 
 John C. Green 6000 
 
 Wm. M. Halsted, $3000 if below 8th 
 
 street, if above 6000 
 
 Wm. H. Smith, if above 8th street . . 6000 
 
 Wm. Curtis Noyes 2000 
 
 Henry S. Mulligan, if not below 
 
 Bleecker nor above iith 2000 
 
 Edmund Coffin 2000 
 
 John Gibson 3000 
 
 James Brown 5000 
 
 Silas Brown 1000 
 
 Henry Coit 1000 
 
 Nathaniel G. Griswold 1000 
 
 John W. R. Leavitt 1000 
 
 Cyrus Mason, for friends, $500 Olcott, 
 
 $500 Chauncey 1000 
 
 M. Morgan 500 
 
 Benjamin Swan 1000 
 
 S. Strang 250 
 
 $56,750 
 
 On the 2 1 St of February, 1844, ground was 
 purchased at the corner of University Place and 
 Tenth Street. 
 
H7 
 
 A second agreement appears in the same book, 
 /. e. : 
 
 A Religious Corporation having been organized 
 in the city of New York, under the act entitled 
 "An act to provide for the incorporation of re- 
 ligious societies," passed April 5, 18 13, by the 
 name of the Presbyterian Church on University 
 Place, which corporation has purchased a site for 
 a church, and intends erecting a church edifice 
 thereon, and which said church is designed to be 
 placed under the care of the Rev. George Potts, 
 D.D. We, the undersigned, in consideration of 
 the premises, and that the said corporation shall 
 proceed to procure the legal title to the said site, 
 and to erect a church edifice thereon, promise 
 and agree to pay to said corporation the sums 
 set opposite to our names respectively, in such 
 amounts, and at such times as the same may be 
 required by the building committee, upon notice 
 of the Treasurer of said corporation, for the pur- 
 pose of building the said church, and paying for 
 the said site. 
 
 It is expressly understood that when the church 
 shall be completed, the pews are to be sold at 
 auction, or otherwise, as soon as purchasers can 
 be found, and at prices to be fixed by the Trus- 
 tees, and as fast as the proceeds can be realized, 
 they shall be distributed among the subscribers 
 hereto, in the ratio of the subscription. 
 
 It is also understood and agreed that if the 
 pews do not eventually sell for a sufficient sum to 
 pay for the site and the building, each subscriber 
 hereto is to bear his proportion of the loss, so that 
 
.4iS 
 
 wlien the accounts sliall be finally adjusted, the 
 said corporation shall be free from debt. 
 
 It is also understood that the whole cost of the 
 site and buildin^r shall not exceed sixty-five thou- 
 sand dollars. 
 
 To this agreement the following names are attached — in autograph — 
 with an increase in the subscriptions. 
 
 John C. Green $7000 
 
 G. G. HowLAND 7000 
 
 George Grisvvold 7000 
 
 James Brown 7000 
 
 Wm. M. Halsted 7000 
 
 Wm. H. Smith 6000 
 
 Silas Brown 1500 
 
 Edmund Coffin 2500 
 
 Henry S. Mulligan 2500 
 
 Wm. Curtis Noyes 2500 
 
 John R. Leavitt 1000 
 
 John Gibson 4000 
 
 Nathaniel G. Griswold 1000 
 
 Benjamin J. Swan 1000 
 
 Cyrus Mason 6000 
 
 Dr. Horace Green 250 
 
 T. Strang 250 
 
 $63,500 
 
 To this second agreement another and third is 
 added at a later date which explains itself 
 
 third agreement. 
 
 The subscribers to the preceding agreement, 
 having been informed by the building committee, 
 
149 
 
 that in order to finish the church building in a 
 proper manner, so as to include gas fixtures, car- 
 pets, cushions for the pews, an organ, and other 
 things necessary to make the same complete, it 
 may be necessary to increase the cost to seventy- 
 five thousand dollars, in consideration thereof, do 
 hereby consent, that the whole cost of the site 
 and building, with the matters above mentioned, 
 and all other expenditures of every kind, may be 
 increased to, but shall not exceed, seventy-five 
 thousand ($75,000) dollars, instead of the sum 
 formerly fixed upon ; and for the like considera- 
 tion, we do also consent and agree that new sub- 
 scribers to the fund for building said Church may 
 be obtained, with the privilege of receiving re- 
 payment of such subscriptions in pews therein.' 
 
 In the month of March, 1844, this building was 
 commenced, and on the 12th day of June, 1845, 
 was opened and dedicated to the worship of God. 
 
 During the progress of this structure those 
 who had engaged in the enterprise resolved to 
 invite the Rev. George Potts, pastor of the Du- 
 ane Street Presbyterian Church to take charge of 
 the organization of the contemplated church and 
 congregation, and for this purpose obtained the 
 large chapel in the New York University. 
 
 Consenting to this Dr. Potts resigned the 
 charge he then held, and divine worship was 
 commenced in the University Chapel on Sabbath, 
 
 1 Here the original subscribers' names are signed. 
 
• 
 the 15th day of September, 1844, and continued 
 regularly, with increasing congregations, until the 
 new edifice was completed June 12th, 1845. ^^ 
 the dedication of the church Dr. Potts preached 
 from Acts xix. 15, "Jesus I know, and Paul I 
 know, but who are ye?" 
 
 On tlic following October the 15th, the accom- 
 panying petition was addressed to the New York 
 Presbyter)' — then in session — signed by 158 
 members. 
 
 PETITION. 
 
 We the undersigned members of various Chris- 
 tian Churches in this city (and elsewhere) repre- 
 sent to the Presbytery of New York that it is our 
 earnest desire to unite with one another and with 
 the Presbytery, and be formed into a new Church 
 relation. 
 
 The greater part of our number have for a year 
 past worshiped together under the ministration 
 of the Rev. George Potts, D.D., in the large 
 chapel of the New York University, and latterly, 
 — since the twelfth of June last — in a new edi- 
 fice at the corner of University Place and Tenth 
 Street. 
 
 We have deemed it expedient to postpone this 
 request for a formal organization until the present 
 time, and do accordingly solicit the consideration 
 of the Presbytery under whose care and in whose 
 fellowship we hope to flourish as a Christian com- 
 munity. We hereby declare our sincere attach- 
 
151 
 
 ment to the doctrines and government of the 
 Christian Church as maintained by the Presbytery. 
 We trust that our great motive in this solemn 
 undertaking has been, and is, the glory of the 
 Head of the Church ; for this reason we hope and 
 believe that the same divine goodness which has 
 brought us together, and provided for us a suit- 
 able place of worship free from incumbrance, will 
 continue to smile upon us, our friends and chil- 
 dren, and that the spirit of Christ will consecrate 
 our union, and enable us to receive for ourselves, 
 and dispense to others, the blessings of the gos- 
 pel. With respectful salutations the undersigned 
 submit their request to Presbytery. 
 
 New York, Oct. 7th, 1845. 
 
 Wm. M. Halsted, 
 Sarah J. Halsted, 
 E. W. J. Halsted, 
 Robert Halsted, 
 James Brown, 
 Eliza M. Brown, 
 N. L. Griswold, 
 Anna B. Griswold, 
 Jane Graham, 
 Benjamin J. Swan, 
 Mary C. Swan, 
 Sarah H. Green, 
 Louisa M. Howland, 
 Maria Louisa Brown, 
 J. W. Leavitt, 
 Cecelia K. Leavitt, 
 Cecelia K. Leavitt, Jr., 
 Eliza S. Leavitt, 
 
 Henry W. Olcott, 
 Emily Olcott, 
 John Wurts, 
 Martha P. Wurts, 
 J. Salisbury Brown, 
 Caleb O. Halsted, 
 Caroline Halsted, 
 LuciNETTA Halsted, 
 Edwin J. Brown, 
 Sarah Brown, 
 Barzillai Deming, 
 Hannah Deming, 
 Jeremiah Wilbur, 
 Sarah R. Wilbur, 
 Mary Ann Maxwell, 
 Samuel A. Beekman, 
 Ann Henry, 
 Nathaniel Wilson, 
 
I«i2 
 
 John A. C. Gray, 
 Susan M. Gray, 
 Henry S. Mulligan, 
 Sarah C. Mulligan, 
 Wakkman Burritt, 
 Grace Burritt, 
 Grace E. Burritt, 
 Catherine S. Goddard, 
 Julia T. Goddard, 
 Frances S. Comstock, 
 RUFUS Leavitt, 
 Anabella Leavitt, 
 Almy T. Hicks, 
 Henry K. Bull, 
 Eliza A. Bull, 
 Winifred Post, 
 Mary Post, 
 Frederick Somers, 
 Margaret Somers, 
 Jane McKenzie, 
 U. B. Brewster, 
 SoPHRONiA Brewster, 
 Charlotte Gillette, 
 Mary Gillette, 
 Martha Gillette, 
 Addison Hotchkiss, 
 Horace Green, M.D., 
 Harriet Green, 
 Jonathan H. Douglass, 
 Harriet Douglass, 
 Amos Johnson, M.D., 
 Alfred M. Coffin, 
 Lydia M. Coffin, 
 1^:mily Robb, 
 Matilda R. Potts, 
 Sarah A. Potts, 
 
 Sarah Ann Wilson, 
 William Curtis Noyes. 
 Cornelia Johnson, 
 Nancy Holmes, 
 Charles N. Fearing, 
 Mary F"earing, 
 Mrs. Sarah H. Coffin, 
 Catherine H. Lam den, 
 Jacob H. Patton, 
 Antoinette L. Chis- 
 
 holm, 
 Eliza Taylor, 
 Mandlebert Canfield, 
 Anna W. Canfield, 
 Elizabeth H. Miller, 
 Abiel Crosby, 
 Elizabeth Crosby, 
 Horace Cogswell, 
 Catherine Cogswell, 
 George McKenzie, 
 Julia Ann Chauncey, 
 William Murray, 
 John B. Marvin, 
 James H. McWilliams, 
 Charles C. Darling, 
 Adeline E. Darling, 
 John Van Dorax, 
 Parmelia W. Van Doran, 
 O. S. Bartles, M.D., 
 Marietta Bartles, 
 Charles Bartles, 
 Lucinda Starkweather. 
 Marvin McNulty, 
 Theodore Dwight, Jr.. 
 Ellen Boyd Dwic.nr. 
 A. W. Upham, 
 
153 
 
 Anna R. Hickock, 
 Rachel W. Lamden, 
 William Hoople, 
 Melvin a. Southworth, 
 Henry W. Porter, 
 Lucy P. Trowbridge, 
 William Chauncey, 
 Mary Furman, 
 Sarah Furman, 
 M. C. Dickinson, 
 Edgar M. Brown, 
 Jane Brown, 
 Wm. Sherwood, 
 Lydia a. Sherwood, 
 Mary F. Sherwood, 
 Matthew P. Read, 
 Catherine Read, 
 WiLLARD Parker, M.D., 
 Mary A. Parker, 
 Artemesia C. Burt, 
 Alexander McKenzie, 
 Mrs. N. S. Smith, 
 Nancy Sistare, 
 Frances E. Ball, 
 Jacqueline Hoxie, 
 Alex. R. Rogers, 
 
 Mary Deming, 
 Mary Rogers, 
 Elizabeth Deming, 
 Samuel T. Bull, 
 Wm. H. Smith, 
 Charlotte Smith, 
 Joseph M. Ely, 
 JULiETTA M. Ely, 
 Olivia Brown, 
 Sarah B. Mease, 
 Matilda Parsons, 
 O. P. Woodford, 
 Elizabeth A. Ruton, 
 Mary Requa, 
 E. A. Johnson, 
 Mary V. Johnson, 
 Thomas P. Stanton, 
 Martha Stanton, 
 Elizabeth B. Woodford, 
 Sarah Taylor, 
 John S. Kelly, 
 Anna A. Masters, 
 Lewis W. Seaver, 
 Henry J. Raymond. 
 Juliette Raymond, 
 
 The New York Presbytery granted this pe- 
 tition, appointing the 26th day of October for 
 the purpose of organizing the Church by the 
 election and ordination of Elders. 
 
 On that occasion a sermon was preached by 
 the Moderator, Dr. James W. Alexander, pastor 
 of the Duane Street Presbyterian Church, from 
 20 
 
154 
 
 Matthew xviii. 2n, " Wlicn- two or three are 
 gathered together in my name, there am I." 
 The following officers were then elected : 
 
 Elders. Deacons. 
 
 Wm. M. Halsted, Edwin J. Brown, 
 
 Henry W. Olcott, IIf.nkv K. IUll. 
 
 Horace Green. 
 
 The Rev- Edward D. Smith, pastor of the 
 Chelsea Presbyterian Church, then delivered a 
 charge to these newly-elected officers, and the 
 Rev. William Snodgrass the charge to the people, 
 after which the elders were ordained. 
 
 Agreeably to a resolution passed at a joint 
 meeting of the Elders and Trustees, and after 
 legal notice given in the congregation, a meeting 
 of the congregation was held on the evening of 
 November lo, 1845, in the chapel of the cluircli, 
 for the purpose of electing a pastor. 
 
 Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D., pastor of the 
 " Brick Church " (Presbyterian), acts as moderator 
 of this meeting, and William Curtis Noyes is 
 elected secretary. On motion ofWm. M. Halsted 
 Dr. George Potts is nominated, and on a full 
 vote of those present, elected Pastor, on a salary 
 of $4000. 
 
 Messrs. Wm. M. Halsted and H. W. Olcott 
 are appointed a committee to draft the call, sign 
 
155 
 
 it for the congregation, and prosecute the same 
 before the Presbytery at their next meeting. 
 (Signed) Gardiner Spring, 
 
 Moderator. 
 
 At a meeting of the New York Presbytery, 
 held November 19, 1845, this call (in usual form) 
 was laid before the Presbytery, and being found 
 in order, was placed in the hands of the Rev. 
 George Potts, and having been accepted by him, 
 the Presbytery appointed Wednesday evening, 
 November 26, 1845, ^^"^ his installation as Pastor 
 of the Presbyterian Church on University Place. 
 (Attested) John M. Krebs, 
 
 Stated Clerk. 
 
 On the occasion of the installation, November 
 26th, the Rev. Philip Milldollar, D.D., preached 
 the sermon, and the Rev. James W. Alexander 
 charged the Pastor, the Rev. M. W. Jacobus 
 charging the people. It was just fifty years ago 
 to-night that the first pastor was formally installed. 
 
 We might imagine from the above records that 
 the gentlemen who signed the first agreement 
 had no relation to each other or Dr. Potts previ- 
 ous to the agreement ; whereas eighty, or more 
 than half, of those signing the petition to Presby- 
 tery were previously members of the Duane 
 Street church, of which Dr. Potts was pastor. 
 
 Only a year before he became the pastor of this 
 
156 
 
 church, it had \)(i(in driven from its twenty-eight 
 years' home in the old Cedar Street church. 1)\- the 
 commercial growth of the city, wliicli had natu- 
 rally and from the first been pushing the dwellings 
 to the north, and with them the churches. 
 
 Dr. Potts had been settled in this new church 
 less than eight years when again the pioneers in 
 the uptown movement began to urge the neces- 
 sity for another change. Their residences now 
 being situate between Washington Square and 
 Fourteenth-street, and the surroundings of the 
 church becoming worse every year, were the 
 strong arguments they urged for the change ; 
 they were being tempted out and driven out. 
 
 But a large majority of the congregation still 
 had their homes south of the church, in the then 
 fashionable neighborhood of Barclay, Warren, 
 and Chambers streets, and they naturally looked 
 on their church as still uptown. These were well 
 content to stay where they w^ere. So our foun- 
 ders were obliged to leave their church home be- 
 hind them when they resolved to embark in their 
 new enterprise. 
 
 They did not leave a dilapidated church build- 
 ing, but, on the contrary, perhaps one of the finest 
 structures for church purposes then in the city, 
 having a large seating capacity, and being fin- 
 ished in A?Herica?i Grecian style, with white 
 marble Corinthian columns ak^ng its fine front. 
 
157 
 
 It was built before the days of the "Church 
 House," and consequently the only thing which 
 could stand for that modern improvement was a 
 roomy, low-ceilinged, damp basement, containing 
 a lecture-room, Sunday-School room, and a pas- 
 tor's study, where pastor, teachers, and scholars 
 alike became saturated with rheumatism, and 
 some were more than ever convinced of the wis- 
 dom of the change they proposed. 
 
 But it was a large and pleasant church home 
 our founders were leaving, and they were not 
 able to sell for seventy-five thousand dollars as in 
 the case of Cedar Street church, and rebuild for 
 fifty thousand dollars as in the case of Duane 
 Street. 
 
 They turned themselves out homeless, for they 
 left behind them a large and wealthy church, well 
 able to take care of itself, and recover without 
 much effort from the loss of eighty members with 
 their families. But in leaving so strong an organ- 
 ization they were obliged to leave their building 
 also. 
 
 They left such men as Hugh Auchincloss, Wm. 
 Beers, and Wm. Walker, and many others who 
 had the grace to call such a cultured Christian 
 leader as Dr. James W. Alexander for their pas- 
 tor. So that after the exodus, the Church was 
 still one of the strongest in the city. 
 
 The few men who composed the " financial 
 
•58 
 
 motor " of tliis t.'iiterprise were thorough busi- 
 ness men, who knew where the)' were going, and 
 knew the way. They may be said to have car- 
 ried thai Cliurch in their pockets on this occasion. 
 
 The movement was in the line of church ex- 
 tension, but brought about by the providence of 
 God, rather than man's intention. 
 
 So far from the call to Dr. Potts being a sec- 
 ond thouo^ht, it was understood from the first that 
 he was to gather the Church and be its pastor. 
 
 In finances, it was not so much a question of 
 how much money they could raise, as how much 
 would be needed to accomplish their object. 
 
 At the first meeting of a few of the leading 
 spirits, nineteen men subscribed about the sum 
 of fifty-seven thousand dollars; on a closer esti- 
 mate they extend the cost of the building to 
 sixty-five thousand dollars, and on a second re- 
 port from their committee they add ten thousand 
 more. It seemed simply a question of how much 
 was needed. 
 
 There was nothing little about the methods of 
 raising the money. It was just giving. 
 
 These church builders were men of finance and 
 business, whose brains made their money, and 
 who were accustomed to command hands to exe- 
 cute, and they carried the same [)rinciple into 
 their church work. They worked by giving. 
 
 Everything was done in a business-like and 
 simple way. 
 
159 
 
 Did they want an architect? The man who 
 designed Trinity Church would do, so they se- 
 lected Mr. Upjohn without competition — and he 
 was afterward accustomed to say that this church 
 was one of his best pieces of work. The builder 
 was selected in the same way ; to Mr. Pugsley 
 the contract was awarded, and his work when 
 completed was pronounced "Well done." 
 
 On this spot where the church now stands was 
 a hill called " Green Hill," dear to the memory 
 of boys as a place for coasting in winter, and the 
 place used to ring with their boyish voices and 
 merry laughter. 
 
 Mr. Upjohn intended to give our fathers a beau- 
 tiful church. And they had not the asceticism 
 of St. Pachomius, who, on entering a new church 
 he had designed, and being conscious of his great 
 pride and delight in its beauty, ordered the work- 
 men to pull the columns out of perpendicular, so 
 as to humble his pride. Our founders believed 
 in beautifying the House of God, and they made 
 it beautiful. 
 
 Mr. Upjohn had provided a place for a bell, 
 but the absence of a bell was not the result of 
 any economical motive so much as a courtesy to 
 residents in the immediate neighborhood. 
 
 But the completion of this building was but the 
 beginning of the Church, which has been build- 
 ing with living stones all through the past fifty 
 years. 
 
i6o 
 
 In those days seventy-five thousand dollars 
 was a large sum to expend on a cluircli huildin*^, 
 but so far from exhausting them, it seemed rather 
 to be the key-note of their contributions to the 
 Boards of the Church, which increased rather 
 than diminished in amount. 
 
 Besides these regular contributions, they main- 
 tained during these early years several mission 
 schools, among which were those of Sixth Ave- 
 nue. Eleventh and Laurens streets. At least one 
 of these missions became a mission cluirch. 
 
 The Rev. Edward Payson and Mr. Marvin 
 Briggs had charge of these missions at different 
 times. 
 
 The Church Sabbath School was not the least 
 of the means of grace to this Church in its early 
 days, for out of the congregation all of the schools 
 were well supplied with faithful superintendents 
 and teachers. It was a member of this Church, 
 who, as an instrument in God's hand, suggested 
 and urired the formation of the Younsf Men's 
 Christian Association in New York City. 
 
 The association had its conception in a small 
 prayer-meeting of seven Christian young men, 
 four of whom were Presbyterians and members 
 of this Church. This meeting-, after increasino- 
 its members, took all the preliminary steps ne- 
 cessary to make the great meeting held in the 
 Lecture Room of the Mercer Street church, a 
 
i6i 
 
 complete success. It was owing to the thor- 
 oughly catholic views of Dr. Potts, that the per- 
 sons selected to preside and take charge of the 
 first public meeting were men who gave this 
 meeting an entirely unsectarian character. 
 
 The proverb "Blessed are the people who have 
 no annals " may well be applied to this Church. 
 Its life has been an era of peace. It has always 
 been happy in selecting men to take charge of 
 both its spiritual and temporal matters who were 
 actuated by a spirit of harmony. That spirit has 
 been a blessed inheritance to the Church. 
 
 The prayer of their leader was answered when 
 he died in the harness after more than forty years 
 of constant pastoral work. 
 
 His life was so much the life of the Church 
 that it seems fitting to place in this record the 
 following tribute from his people: 
 
 Memorial of the Rev. George Potts, D.D. Ex- 
 tract f^'oin the Sessional Record of the Presby- 
 terian Church on University Place, New York. 
 
 It having pleased God to remove by death the 
 Rev. George Potts, D.D., pastor of the University 
 Place Church, the session deem it proper to place 
 on their minutes, in expression of their high es- 
 timate and grateful recollection of him, a brief 
 memorial of his life and character. 
 
 Dr. George Potts was born in Philadelphia, 
 March 15th, 1802, of parents who were prepared 
 21 
 
i6: 
 
 hy their high religious character to fill toward 
 liini tlie office of Christian <jiiidcs and instructors. 
 
 His father was the pastor of a Presbyterian 
 Church in that city, and much esteemed for his 
 piety and usefulness. 
 
 The son was accordin<^ly trained in the know- 
 ledge and fear of God, and while yet a youth be- 
 came the subject of the renewing power of the 
 Holy Spirit, and made a public profession of his 
 faith in Christ. 
 
 He entered the University of Pennsylvania in 
 his fourteenth year in the Sophomore class, grad- 
 uating at the age of seventeen, and immediately 
 entering the Theological Seminary at Princeton, 
 N. J., then under the care of Dr. Archibald Alex- 
 ander. 
 
 Earl)- in his twenty-first year he was graduated 
 from his theological course, and was licensed to 
 preach the same year. 
 
 Early in his twenty-second year Dr. Archibald 
 Alexander sent him to the Presbyterian Church 
 at Natchez, Miss., in answer to their request for 
 a pastor, when they immediately placed a call in 
 his hands. 
 
 He remained in charge of this church for about 
 thirteen years, during which period his powers 
 were matured, his manners as a preacher formed, 
 and his rank and influence as a gifted and faithful 
 minister of the word established. 
 
 At the beginning of his thirty-sixth year he 
 was called to the pastorate of the Duanc Street 
 church in this city, where he continued with 
 great acceptableness and usefulness until 1845, 
 
1 63 
 
 when the removal of many of the families of the 
 Duane Street congregation to the neighborhood 
 of Washington Square led them and others to 
 unite in the organization of a separate Church 
 and the erection of the University Place edifice, 
 in which they have continued to worship. 
 
 His installation as pastor of the Church took 
 place in November, 1846. 
 
 This has been the scene of his most energetic 
 and effective labors. A large congregation being 
 soon formed, eminently united in their doctrinal 
 views, harmonious in their social relations, and 
 warmly attached to their pastor, a season of great 
 prosperity followed. 
 
 The audiences were large, many additions were 
 made to the Church, and the whole attitude of the 
 pastor, the Church, and the congregation, in their 
 several spheres, was highly gratifying and en- 
 couraging. 
 
 As Dr. Potts enjoyed for a considerable period 
 uninterrupted health, he performed the duties of 
 his ministry, in the pulpit and in the congre- 
 gation, with but little aid from others. 
 
 He here found a sphere suited to his eminent 
 talents, his large culture, his pleasure in his pulpit 
 work, his appreciation of the affection of his peo- 
 ple, and his sympathy with them in their enjoy- 
 ments and their sorrows. 
 
 He held a high rank as a preacher, was of a 
 commanding presence, had a full, rich voice, and 
 a distinct, emphatic, and earnest elocution ; he 
 held the attention and swayed the affections of 
 his hearers with ease and power. 
 
164 
 
 His discourses were always on subjects that 
 are proper to the Christian preaclicr, and of 
 variety in their themes, enil)racing- the great 
 doctrines of the Bible, the duties it enjoins, its 
 consolations, its warnings, its promises, and its 
 revelations of the future, couched in a style sim- 
 ple, clear, and exact, embodying fresh and glow- 
 ing thoughts and apt illustrations. It was a high 
 privilege to listen to his faithful instructions and 
 awe-inspiring appeals and admonitions. 
 
 Who could fail to be impressed with the suit- 
 ableness, the truthfulness, and the beauty of his 
 delineations of the attributes and rights of God, 
 and the fidelity and earnestness of the effect with 
 which he unfolded and proclaimed Christ's work 
 for the redemption of men ? 
 
 From whose heart can the impressions ever 
 fLide that were made by the unrivaled freshness, 
 variety, copiousness, and fervor of his confessions, 
 his prayers, his thanksgivings, and the whole cir- 
 cle of his devotional utterances? In whom can 
 the memory ever die of the elevation and pathos 
 that characterized his addresses on Sacramental 
 occasions ? Who can forget his faithfulness, and 
 prudence, his delicacy and tenderness, at the bed- 
 side of the sick and at the obsequies of the dead ? 
 Happy were they who enjoyed his ministry dur- 
 ing that vigorous and fervid period. 
 
 After a long, laborious, and prosperous course, 
 impaired health began occasionally to withhold 
 him from the pulpit; but it was not until the win- 
 ter of the present year that his disease assumed 
 a threatening form. He preached his last dis- 
 
i65 
 
 course at the commemoration of Christ's death in 
 May; and having — at his request — been released 
 for a period from the cares of his office, that he 
 might seek restoration, in a letter which was read 
 from the pulpit he bade his loved people an affec- 
 tionate and impressive farewell for the season. 
 
 How little was it then thought that that was 
 the last act of his ministry. 
 
 Instead, however, of finding relief in the re- 
 mission of labor, his illness gradually took a more 
 discourao^ing- form, and at lengrth terminated in 
 death on Thursday, the fifteenth of September, 
 eighteen hundred and sixty-four, in the sixty- 
 third year of his age. 
 
 His obsequies took place on Monday, the nine- 
 teenth instant, and his burial at Greenwood on 
 the following morning. 
 
 His departure casts a shadow on our hearts. 
 We grieve that we are to see his face no more, 
 that we are not again to hear the cheering and 
 persuasive accents of his voice. 
 
 Blessed be God for the assurance that when 
 our summons from this vale of sorrows comes we 
 shall meet his greeting at the threshold of heaven, 
 and share with him the joys and glories of an im- 
 mortal life. 
 
 In testimony of our deep sympathy with the 
 family of the deceased, we present them a copy 
 of this memorial. 
 
 Signed, 
 
 Dr. David N. Lord, 
 Horace Green, 
 C. C. Darling. 
 
1 66 
 
 December 8th, 1864, at a meeting of the con- 
 gregation, a call was unanimously extended to the 
 Rev. Joseph T. Duryea. Mr. Duryea could not 
 see his way clear to accept the call, and on 
 April 6th, 1865, a call was extended to Rev. 
 .Alfred H. Kellogg, of Easton, Pa. 
 
 Presbytery appointed May 3, 1865, for his 
 installation, appointing Rev. Joseph Greenleaf 
 moderator. 
 
 The sermon was assigned to Rev. Lyman H. 
 Atwater, D.D., of Princeton; 
 
 The charge to the pastor to the Rev. William 
 Henry Green, D.D., of Princeton; and 
 
 The charge to the people to the Rev. John 
 Thompson, D.D., of N. Y. 
 
 Mr. Kellogg began his pastorate on the seventh 
 of May, 1865. 
 
 I may mention here an interesting episode in 
 Mr. Kellogg's ministry. 
 
 Soon after his installation Mr. Kellogg was 
 sent by Presbytery to ordain the Rev. Arthur 
 Potts, who was successfully gathering a congrega- 
 tion in the Twenty-third Ward (Morrisania). On 
 his return to his Church (at a prayer-meeting) he 
 called their attention to the needs of this young 
 Church, and recommended them to remove the 
 debt of the Church and make it a memorial to 
 their late pastor, instead of erecting an expensive 
 and useless monument in Greenwood. 
 
167 
 
 In response to this suggestion they raised nine 
 thousand dollars, which placed the Church out 
 of debt. 
 
 The record of this transaction is to be found on 
 the minutes of the Presbytery of Westchester, 
 which recognized the Church under its legal title, 
 "The Potts Memorial." 
 
 But a faithful pastor s memorial cannot be 
 built in wood, or brick, or stone. It is written in 
 lives, in impressions made on the fleshly tablets 
 of human hearts, in the blessed dead who die in 
 the Lord, in the living who hold fast their faith. 
 
 Who can look unmoved on the passage of 
 time, whether we mark it off in centuries, or 
 years, or days ? 
 
 Fifty years! — of precious hours, of days, of 
 opportunities. 
 
 The minutes run like sands in an hour-glass, 
 more precious than silver or gold or diamonds. 
 
 But the past is not only to be subdivided into 
 sections of time, but the years just ended stand for 
 fifty years of many human lives. What hopes 
 and fears ; what agonies and groans ; what joys 
 and sorrows ; what records of disaster and sudden 
 calamity ; what achievements and defeats ; how 
 many births and deaths ; how many souls won 
 for Christ ; how many gone out in darkness ! 
 
 In the land of the dead an hour-glass has 
 been placed as a symbol that the sands of a life 
 
1 68 
 
 have run out. l)iit it is far better to place such a 
 glass in living hands reminding tlicm of the rapid 
 passage of time. 
 
 We have looked back on the past years, and 
 now \vc turn the glass, and the running minutes 
 hcgiyi to incasicre out the fift)- years to come. 
 Past achievements must not limit the horizon 
 of purpose. 
 
 When Spain once thought she stood on the 
 western boundary of the world, and her Gibraltar 
 was the gateway to that world, she stamped her 
 coin with the "Pillars of Hercules" and the leg- 
 end, " Ne plus ultra," but after the faith and per- 
 severance of Columbus had dispelled that false 
 impression and opened a new world, she altered 
 the legend to "plus ultra," 
 
 Let this be our inspiration to-night; let the past 
 only nerve us for still greater achievements. 
 
REV. ROBERT RUSSELL BOOTH, D. D.. LL. D. 
 
fi^ ^-V ^ ^h. 
 
 r'S^> /-^^,'^ /—>,•/-> «^T/';Y 
 
 d^ ^i^ f^i^ ^1^ ^ ^ ^ip. ^b 
 
 ^ vT^ ^^ ^T^ ^T^ ^T^ ^T^ ^T^ vT^ .^ \T^ ^T/ %^ vT^ ^T- ^T/ vT/ vT. ;?. .fJ 
 
 3^b- 3^obcrt iiuBj^dl Boort), 2D.2D., HH.SD. 
 
 Z>r. Alexander and DeaT- Friends of the United 
 Church : 
 
 AM greatly gratified and honored by 
 being permitted to be present with you 
 to-night and to attempt the recital of 
 some of those events which were connected with 
 the establishment of this Church, in whose past, 
 as well as in whose present, so many are inter- 
 ested. I have with me here to-night many inter- 
 esting memoranda in connection with the years 
 that are past. These will be at your service when 
 the annals of this great celebration shall be writ- 
 ten, and, if not included in those records, may 
 be kept as a memorial in the archives of the 
 Church. It was a pleasure to me in the olden 
 
 2 2 169 
 
I70 
 
 time to make these records, and they were pre- 
 served. I shall not attempt to read them here 
 to-ni(;ht, nor will I read that which I have writ- 
 ten of the records of the united Church, for the 
 reason that the time is now far spent, and that 
 we have in anticipation a collation and a social 
 "fatherinof, which will be a feature of essential in- 
 terest in the service of this evening-. Of these 
 records of the past I might say as tlie Apostle 
 John says in the closing verse of his Gospel : that 
 the "world would scarce contain the books that 
 might be written." Certainly I might say that all 
 the hours of this evening would not suffice to 
 tell the story of this Church. It must of necessity 
 be greatly condensed and only the main features 
 presented. I remember some one in Washing- 
 ton, in connection with the editorial work of a 
 certain newspaper, proposed a prize for whoever 
 would present for publication a history of the 
 Continent of America in relation to the United 
 States, within the space of a hundred words. An 
 individual whose name is not given won this 
 prize. I have his composition in my possession 
 now, and have read it in five and forty seconds, 
 and it fairly comprehended the essential features 
 of this amazing history. Such condensation is 
 possible and is impressive, and yet we desire, 
 concerning matters in which we are interested, 
 ampler details. It is recorded of Napoleon Bona- 
 
171 
 
 parte that, in his prison at St. Helena, he busied 
 himself in contemplating the magnitude of the 
 place which he would occupy for years to come. 
 "Now," he said, "the world is almost filled with 
 the fame of my doings ; in a little while a volume 
 will suffice to describe them ; in a little while a 
 page will be adequate, and again in a little while 
 my name alone will stand, even as now the name 
 of Charlemagne scarcely attracts the attention of 
 the reader." So the memories of the past as we 
 consider them in such a scene as this are moving 
 and stimulating, and they are most precious, yet 
 we know that they will be transient, and many of 
 them, with the impressions of the evening, will 
 quickly pass away. It is well, therefore, that we 
 should pause, on such occasions, and, as far as 
 possible, should seal those memories afresh on 
 our hearts as we draw them from the recesses 
 of the past. 
 
 It is now five and thirty years since my rela- 
 tions to this part of our city were first established, 
 or rather just at the beginning of the year 1861. 
 It is essential to the truth of history that I should 
 give some account of the events occurring at that 
 time and subsequently, in order that an impres- 
 sion which was created by the utterances of last 
 evening may be corrected. It is cause for con- 
 gratulation that the history of that Church did 
 not conclude with the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. 
 
172 
 
 • 
 
 Clarke. After that time there were many years 
 of service and not a few achievements which have 
 left their fruit, and yet at the outset the work was 
 not one of promise. When I came to the Mercer 
 Street Church to begin my labors as pastor, I had 
 much reason for discouragement. I found all the 
 evidences of a preparation for removal. The at- 
 tractions of that distant part of our city known as 
 " Murray Hill " (near Thirty-fifth street) had se- 
 duced the affections of not a few of the people. 
 They were making ready to depart, and some had 
 already gone. At the first meeting of the Ses- 
 sion which I attended we dismissed one hundred 
 and four of the old members of the Mercer Street 
 Church, many of them persons who had taken 
 part in its great and glorious history. Some of 
 those whose names were inscribed upon my call 
 were already pledged to go, and I well remember 
 that I had a heavy heart as I stood up that night 
 to take upon me the promises which our Rules 
 of Discipline require, and enter upon a service 
 which seemed to offer so little prospect of suc- 
 cess. It seemed an ominous event that, in the 
 midst of the proceedings, all the lights went out. 
 Yet this event was not really symbolical of that 
 which was to come, for it was my great fortune to 
 have around me at that very time some men who 
 well illustrated the old saying of John Selden, 
 that "Wisdom is a different thing from learning. 
 
173 
 
 and that all the learning in the world will not 
 make men wise." If there were lacking some 
 who had been distinguished in the past for great 
 things, there were still not a few wise men who 
 remained. They were like the men described in 
 Scripture who knew how to sling with the right 
 hand and the left; men who had the courage that 
 was adequate to the conditions, and who were re- 
 solute to carry on that work under God's bless- 
 ing. Surrounded by these men, some of whom I 
 see here to-night, we undertook that work. It 
 was begun amid the thunders of the cannon that 
 saluted the election of Abraham Lincoln, and 
 though we knew it not, proclaimed the oncoming 
 of the war. It was in the midst of these saluta- 
 tions that we plunged into the serious question 
 whether the Mercer Street Church, which had 
 been heretofore the home of so much that was in 
 sympathy with Southern life and Southern evan- 
 gelism, should take its stand for the Union, or 
 should hold its peace in that great exigency. 
 Now it is not much, speaking of a time so far 
 gone by, to say that the stand that was taken by 
 the pastor and sustained in the end by the signa- 
 ture of every man in all that congregation, settled 
 matters for the cause of right, so far as the Fif- 
 teenth Ward was concerned, and speedily re- 
 sulted in filling the Church with adherents who 
 chose to be where there was no question concern- 
 
174 
 
 ing the supremacy of our flag and the mainten- 
 ance of our National Union. 
 
 The years that followed were blessed years in- 
 deed. What a company of men were gathered 
 around me ; what support and comfort and un- 
 faltering fidelity they rendered. Some of them 
 are here to-night, among whom )ou find your 
 most efficient helpers. Some men of that con- 
 gregation have crossed from the distant shores 
 of Jersey to be present with us; some are in the 
 glory of the other world. I take pride and pleas- 
 ure (since he is not here to-night) in laying the 
 hand of recognition and of blessing on the head 
 of Thomas Bond, now called the " Father" of this 
 Session, who never failed nor flinched nor lacked 
 in cheer and comfort, and who, on the whole, came 
 nearer to the pastor in the ministries of sympa- 
 thy than any other man. Yet, joined with him 
 and such as he, there was a company of great 
 and noble men whose names live in ni)- mem- 
 ory, though I will not attempt to cite them here 
 to-night. 
 
 And now I will give, as briefly as I can, the 
 record of that method by which, in the provi- 
 dence of God, that old church was perpetuated 
 and joined in the spiritual union with this other 
 church in which we are now assembled, whose 
 records and achievements have been so clearly 
 presented to you by our brother, Ur. Potts, to- 
 
175 
 
 night. How shall we get at this story ? Well, 
 we will begin with the greater interest that af- 
 fected the location of the churches. I should say 
 that the changes which were in progress in the 
 neighborhood had already begun to be apparent 
 early after the closing of the war. At one time 
 the Mercer Street Church had thirty families in 
 Clinton Place and twice as many more in the 
 immediate neighborhood, but the changes of resi- 
 dence were continually diminishing these num- 
 bers, and in proportion as they resided at a dis- 
 tance their attendance became more uncertain. 
 In view of these conditions it seemed wise, in the 
 latter portion of this decade, that the Church 
 should seek to change its locality. And here the 
 hand of God was shown in its overruling and di- 
 recting power, as it is so often shown when men 
 seek simply to do their duty. At that juncture it 
 was a withholding and a hindering hand. Some 
 of you remember, brethren, how hard we tried to 
 get away from this locality and establish ourselves 
 up town, but could not go. We traveled far and 
 wide, looking for a site. On one occasion Mr. 
 R. H. L. Townsend loaned his horses and car- 
 riage, and, after a long exploration, we came to 
 the corner of Forty-fifth street and Madison ave- 
 nue, and there were met by a gentleman who has 
 since obtained some prominence in the great or- 
 ganization that has since controlled our city, and 
 
176 
 
 he offered to let us liave those lots, excavated and 
 ready for l)uildini;. for fifty thousand dollars. We 
 declined the offer because the site was not al- 
 together suitable or attractive, and yet it was 
 the site on which St. P>artholomew's Church now 
 stands. In fact, our eyes were blinded because 
 we had other work to do. Then we strove to ob- 
 tain a lease of land under the ownership of Col- 
 umbia College, but after a time tliat offer was 
 declined because the corporation did not desire a 
 church upon its land. So we were left to "dree 
 our weird " and bear our burden as best we could. 
 And things ran along still in the expectation (as 
 our brother Bond said) that sooner or later the 
 cloud would lift, as it did before in the pathway 
 of old Israel, and God would show us what to 
 do. Meanwhile the reunion of the two branches 
 of the Presbyterian Church had been effected, the 
 Old and New School had come together in one 
 organization. It was agreed that this union 
 could be accomplished upon the following basis : 
 "The union shall be effected on the doctrinal 
 and ecclesiastical basis of our common standards. 
 The Scripture of the Old and New Testaments 
 shall be acknowledged to be the inspired word of 
 God and the only infallible rule of faith and prac- 
 tice. The Confession of Faith shall continue to 
 be sincerely received and adopted as containing 
 the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scrip- 
 
177 
 
 ture, and the government and discipline of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States shall 
 be approved as containing the principles and 
 rules of our policy." After this reunion had been 
 effected, in Pittsburg, on the 12th of November, 
 1869, a union meeting of Presbyterians residing 
 in this neio^hborhood was held in this church to 
 commemorate this great event, and on Thanks- 
 giving Day of the following week, by invitation 
 of the pastor and session of the University Place 
 Church, the two congregations united in this 
 place in worship and thanksgiving to Almighty 
 God. Doubtless the effect of these acts of inter- 
 course was perceptible in the subsequent results. 
 I well remember that at that Thanksgiving ser- 
 vice I was asked by Pastor Kellogg to read from 
 the chapter in Nehemiah which contains the word 
 "Booth" something like twenty times, and each 
 time it is indicated as a blessing. 
 
 At this point I desire to say a word in refer- 
 ence to our brother the Rev. A. H. Kellogg, then 
 pastor of the University Place Church. Full jus- 
 tice has never been done to that eloquent and 
 godly minister, in that relation which we are now 
 considering, namely, as to the process by which 
 these two Churches came to be united. It was 
 not from any sense of failure on his part nor from 
 any reason of spiritual discouragement, but in or- 
 der that the union of the two churches might be 
 
 23 
 
178 
 
 effected, that he relinquished this \(:ry attractive 
 Churcli and went from tlicin to another field of 
 labor, leaving behind him the earnest exhortation 
 to the brethren that they should not long delay 
 this consolidation. As a result of these influ- 
 ences, I was invited during that winter, or early 
 in the spring, to call upon Mr. John C. Green, 
 accompanied by Mr. James Brown, my friend, and 
 there we talked the matter over. I remember 
 that I proposed to resign and leave the position 
 for some one else who might be called by the 
 united Church. Again the matter waited for 
 awhile, and finally a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 Green, Mr. Brown, and Mr. David M. Lord, were 
 appointed to confer with myself and my Session 
 to determine the methods by which the union 
 could be effected if agreeable to both. The con- 
 gregation of the Mercer Street Church carefully 
 considered the proposition and decided to accept 
 it, relinquishing their own church building and 
 entering into a union with the congregation of 
 this church. The basis of the union, as finally 
 agreed upon, was that the two Churches should 
 be consolidated by the Presbytery of New York ; 
 that the two Sessions and the two Boards of 
 Deacons should be united, and that the Board of 
 Trustees of the University Place Church should 
 be continued in their office, vacancies to be filled 
 by the new congregation as from time to time 
 
179 
 
 they occurred ; and all the property of the Mer- 
 cer Street Church to be vested in this Board. It 
 was also provided that the seats in the Univer- 
 sity Place Church which were not owned by in- 
 dividuals should be sold and payment made for 
 them in scrip, which had been assigned to the pew- 
 owners in the Mercer Street Church, this scrip 
 being given for the proportionate part of the sum 
 paid for that church by Commodore Vanderbilt, 
 who had bought it for the use of the Church of 
 the Strangers, then enjoying the ministry of the 
 Rev. Dr. Deems. It was also provided that the 
 hymn-book to be used by the new Church should 
 be chosen by the United Session. These mat- 
 ters are mentioned to indicate the nature of the 
 preliminary arrangements, and it must be acknow- 
 ledged that time, care, and patience, were required 
 for their adjustment. It is noticeable that noth- 
 ing was provided in regard to the doctrinal basis 
 of the new organization, it being well understood 
 that the basis so clearly laid down in the plan of 
 union of the two Assemblies was a sufficient and 
 honorable guarantee. These preliminaries hav- 
 ing been settled, the next step (and a painful one 
 it was) was the closing of Presbyterian worship 
 in the venerable and beloved Mercer Street 
 Church. On the closing Sabbath of July, 1870, 
 the last services were held in that building, and 
 I, as pastor, preached from the text: "Peace be 
 
i8o 
 
 within til)- walls ; prosperity within thy palaces." 
 Psalm cxxii, 7, 8. Tlie following extract may be 
 cited as bearin^,'^ upon the occasion : 
 
 " We are brought to-chi)-, by the good provi- 
 dence of God, into a position in which these 
 thoughts concerning the true peace and pros- 
 perity of tlie Church of Christ have a peculiar 
 relation to our past history and to our future 
 prospects. We come for the last time to worship 
 together as a Church in this house of God. It is 
 now thirty-five years since a little company of 
 twenty-six persons was organized by the Ihird 
 Presbytery of New York, and began to assemble 
 for worship under the name of the Mercer Street 
 Church. A few months after, they took posses- 
 sion of this building, in which from year to year 
 the ordinances of the Gospel have been adminis- 
 tered and the blessings of a covenant-keeping 
 God have been enjoyed. 
 
 " It is not my purpose to enter at this time 
 into any details of the long, and varied, and deep- 
 ly-interesting history of these years. Had the 
 season in which we hold these closing services 
 favored the assembling of the congregation, now 
 in great part so widely scattered, it might have 
 been wise for us to signalize the event by placing 
 a special emphasis upon the historic memories 
 which cluster here, by reviving with minuteness 
 the incidents of spiritual life, the toils and hopes 
 and joys which have marked our past career, and 
 by passing in review, as was done a few years 
 ago, the dear and honored names of many who 
 
I«I 
 
 have gone from this scene of labor to the rewards 
 of Heaven. 
 
 " But while I purpose no such extended history 
 in the present circumstances, the occasion calls for 
 some recognition of the fact that we are passing, 
 as a Church, from our birthplace and our early 
 home into new and greatly changed relations ; 
 and, while the change is one which we accept 
 with approving judgments, we cannot but feel a 
 sense of sadness at the inevitable parting from 
 scenes which we have the strongest reason to 
 hold dear. 
 
 " In looking backward over the years during 
 which our Church has worshiped here, it is per- 
 mitted to us to recognize a steadfast adherence 
 to the principles of its profession, and a large 
 measure of success in securing the ends for which 
 it was established. It has been, with scarce any 
 qualification, a devoted, liberal, successful, peace- 
 ful, and prosperous Church." 
 
 The preacher referred to a former historical 
 discourse, and reiterated the traits then specified, 
 viz. : 
 
 ^^ First. The harmonious spirit which has per- 
 vaded its life from the beginning ; 
 
 " Second. The constant presence of the Holy 
 Spirit in his renewing and sanctifying work ; 
 
 " Third. The prominence of doctrinal truth in 
 the ministrations of its successive pastors, espe- 
 cially of those doctrines which involve the free 
 grace of the glorious Gospel ; 
 
l82 
 
 ''Fourth. The large measure of primitive, apos- 
 tolic piety which has marked many of its members; 
 
 ''Fifth. This Church has been signally favored 
 of God in the possession of a large number of 
 Christians who have been eminent for their natu- 
 ral and spiritual gifts, and who have been burn- 
 ing and shining lights in the world. 
 
 "It is, no doubt, to many of us, one of the sad 
 features of the exodus we are now making that 
 we are compelled to leave the scenes which, by so 
 many sweet and hallowed associations, bring up 
 before us such names as those of Mason, Phelps, 
 Markoe, Tomlinson, Butler, Bull, Sedgwick, Ches- 
 ter, Magie, Wainwright, Sprague, Boorman, and 
 a hundred others, who were not only eminent for 
 piety and usefulness, but also filled conspicuous 
 places in this community. Here they lived and 
 labored, and the sweet fragrance of their virtues 
 lingers still within these hallowed walls." 
 
 The preacher next referred to the large degree 
 of Christian liberality which has ever marked this 
 people, and which has had much to do with the 
 building up of what was, until lately, our branch 
 of the Presbyterian Church, and with the pro- 
 gress of the Redeemer's kingdom on the earth. 
 During the thirty-five years under review, the 
 plate collections have amounted to $300,000.00.^ 
 
 This Church was foremost in the w^ork of city 
 evangelization, which has now assumed such large 
 proportions. Commenced among us under the 
 
 1 One of the elders of this church who lins looked over its records as- 
 sures us that the aggregate of its contributions exceeds a million of dollars ! 
 
i83 
 
 influence of Judge Mason, that work has been a 
 grand success, and its extent and faithfulness have 
 not diminished even to the present time. This 
 Church has wrought out a noble record on this 
 ground, and all who love it can look upon the 
 past with thanksgiving and rejoicing. The agen- 
 cies and influences which have been sent forth 
 from this center have no limit in time, and I 
 doubt not will be directly connected with the 
 final triumph of the Gospel. 
 
 A numerical statement of the growth and pres- 
 ent condition of the Church cannot in the present 
 circumstances be given with accuracy, but it will 
 approximate these figures : 
 
 Additions on profession 900 
 
 By certificate from other Churches . 1,400 
 
 Total, about 2,300 
 
 There are about 600 on the rolls of the Church 
 at present, and 450 in active fellowship. 
 
 The speaker, in conclusion, reminded his hear- 
 ers, some of whom could scarcely restrain their 
 feelings during portions of the discourse, of the 
 broad difference of the Church of Christ as a 
 living organism, a body called and quickened by 
 the Holy Spirit and united with the Lord in faith- 
 ful fellowship, and the building in which such a 
 body meets for work and worship. 
 
 " To give light and to save life," was the inscrip- 
 tion on the base of the Eddystone Lighthouse. 
 
1 84 
 
 The Church of Christ must fmd its liij^dicst ends 
 and fullest joy not in clinging to old walls and long 
 familiar seats, however dear they may be, but in 
 adapting itself to those conditions which extend its 
 usefulness, perpetuate its life, augment its power, 
 and accomplish its Divine work. It is of far more 
 importance to this Church of ours to live, to con- 
 tinue to put forth its energies, and, if God's bless- 
 ing be upon it, to make a lasting impression upon 
 this neighborhood, than it is for us to indulge the 
 natural attachment which binds us to this revered 
 place. The problem which has occupied our 
 thoughts for the past two years has been solved 
 by a higher wisdom than our own. We all feel 
 it to be so, and the arranorements into which we 
 are about to enter are in the highest degree ac- 
 ceptable and auspicious. While we remain upon 
 this field where we have so long labored, and 
 which for many reasons I regard as one full of 
 promise for the future, we are to find a new 
 home in an attractive sanctuary, among Christian 
 brethren who have already won our confidence 
 and love, and with whom we anticipate the peace 
 and prosperity of which our text has told us. 
 The union of these two Churches will, we confi- 
 dently hope, be real, and vital, and affectionate, 
 standing forth among the Churches of the city as 
 a visible symbol of the reality and power of that 
 denominational reunion which has now been so 
 happily accomplished in our land. 
 
 " Nor should it be left out of the account that 
 in this change we do not forsake our sanctuary to 
 turn it over to unhallowed or to common uses. 
 
i85 
 
 It is to be a sanctuary still, and our best wishes 
 and our prayers will follow those who, under the 
 guidance of an eminent and godly pastor, come 
 after us to take possession here, and to continue 
 to cultivate the field around it. That all that has 
 been prosperous and peaceful in our occupation 
 may be realized by them, and more a hundred- 
 fold under God's blessing, will surely be the uni- 
 ted aspiration of each one of us. 
 
 ** It is in this spirit then, dear brethren, that we 
 would say farewell to-day to this dear old sanc- 
 tuary home, where so many of our fathers have 
 labored and entered into rest; where so many of 
 our children have been baptized and brought in- 
 to the fold of Christ ; where so many Christian 
 works have been begun, continued, and ended, in 
 the Lord ; where so many strangers have found 
 a friendly shelter, and so many prodigals have re- 
 turned to their Father's house. It is dear to us 
 by a thousand precious associations, and we shall 
 always love its name and hold the memory of it 
 in our hearts. 
 
 "But we would go out with confidence that 
 God leads us on for good to come. I seem to 
 realize an application of the prophet's promise to 
 this experience of ours to-day : ' Ye shall go out 
 with joy and be led forth with peace ; the moun- 
 tains and the hills shall break forth before you 
 into singing, and all the trees of the field shall 
 clap their hands.' " 
 
 The University Place Church was re-opened to 
 receive its new congregation on the eighteenth 
 24 
 
i86 
 
 of September. The text for tlie occasion was : 
 "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The 
 Sabbath-school of the Mercer Street Church came 
 from its room in a procession and joined itself to 
 the Sabbath-school which was gathered here. By 
 action of the Presbytery, the two Churches had 
 been united on the sixteenth of September previ- 
 ously, and on the twenty-second of September a 
 call was extended by the united congregation to 
 the Rev. Dr. Robert R. Booth to become the 
 pastor. On October ninth the first communion 
 was celebrated with an attendance that filled the 
 house. On the thirtieth of October I was in- 
 stalled, the Rev. Dr. Adams preaching the ser- 
 mon, and the Rev. Doctors Paxton, Prentiss, 
 Hutton, and Murray taking part in the services. 
 The number of members of the united Church at 
 that time was 716. Thus the work was accom- 
 plished, not without some trial and, possibly, at 
 some points, little friction, but with evident to- 
 kens of the Divine approval. From that time on 
 the union was real. The fellowship was com- 
 plete. We became one in the Lord. The seamy 
 side was turned under, and we never saw it again 
 or heard of it. There never was a quarrel, there 
 never was confusion, there was never a difference 
 in the Session for all those thirteen years. It was 
 a scene of harmony and fellowship where brethren 
 dwelt together in the love of Christ. The con- 
 
i87 
 
 gregation settled down into the new conditions 
 with evident desire to seek the things which 
 make for peace. The Church was full to over- 
 flowing and the financial interests were managed 
 without the slightest difficulty. The chapel at- 
 tendance was especially gratifying. Seats were 
 needed in the aisles of the somewhat limited 
 room. The vacant places of the Board of Trus- 
 tees were progressively filled without reference to 
 any previous division of interests. The memory 
 of that work is clear and delightful to me now, 
 notwithstanding the sense of personal effort which 
 was connected with it. I ought to remark at this 
 point that the first action taken by the Session of 
 the united Church was to decide that we would 
 take part in the raising of a fund for the erec- 
 tion of a chapel for the Avenue D Mission, or the 
 Dry Dock Mission, as it was sometimes called. 
 This resolution had its influence in the success 
 that was afterward attained, which may be more 
 properly referred to later on in the history. 
 
 And now it would seem that I am just at the 
 beginning of my subject, and I can only, in the 
 limited time that remains, give you the points 
 that characterize the history of this united Church 
 as I ministered to it for the succeeding thirteen 
 years. 
 
 First of all I may mention the steady ingather- 
 ing of souls from the world into the Kingdom of 
 
1 88 
 
 Christ. During that period 1095 united with this 
 Church and with its missions on confession of faith ; 
 346 united by letter. When I left the Church the 
 membership w^as 1226. 
 
 Secondly. I would speak of the erection of Em- 
 manuel Chapel and of its mission work. As it 
 had been already determined that a fund should 
 be raised for this purpose, it was further decided 
 that our offering to the Memorial or "Five Million 
 Fund," which was designed to commemorate the 
 reunion of the two branches of the Church, should 
 take the form of the erection of a building on the 
 East side, as a home for the Dry Dock Mission. 
 The previous history of this mission reads like a 
 romance. One of the strongest longings of the 
 Mercer Street Church had been that it might 
 have a permanent home. The conclusion of this 
 purpose was carried out in the united Church with 
 noble subscriptions from Messrs. Greene, Brown, 
 Denny, Parker, Bliss, with offerings from the con- 
 gregation and the people of the mission itself, 
 until, on the fifteenth of February, 1874, the 
 beautiful chapel was opened and dedicated for its 
 blessed work. The history of this undertaking 
 will be presented to you at a later period in this 
 celebration by my honored relative, Mr. Otis W. 
 Booth, and I need only say, concerning it, at this 
 point, that it well illustrated a wise saying of our 
 brother Bond that "wherever there is in this 
 
1 89 
 
 world a seed of good sown in die proper spirit, 
 there a harvest may be expected as surely in the 
 spiritual as in the natural world." 
 
 The Bethlehem Mission should also be men- 
 tioned as an object of care of the united con- 
 gregation — first located in the Sixth Avenue 
 building, and afterward in the Wooster Street 
 Public School, and now happily established in 
 its Bleeker Street home. 
 
 Thirdly. I might properly call attention to the 
 personal character of the united congregation. 
 This was remarkable. Prominent representative 
 men were numerous, — noble and illustrious men, 
 — who filled these pews and cooperated with us 
 in the ministry of the Gospel. To individual- 
 ize their names might be invidious. They were 
 indeed a goodly company of friends and fellow- 
 workers for the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 Fourthly. It is proper that I should also mention 
 the beginning of that great work of women for 
 Foreign Missions which was centered here about 
 that time. Under the guidance and inspiration of 
 Mrs. James Lorimer Graham, with a feeble be- 
 ginning in the New Mexico, Colorado, and Ari- 
 zona societies, that work has progressed until it is 
 now the glory of our Church and spreads its in- 
 fluence over every land. As a direct result, this 
 undertaking led to the establishment of that other 
 work for Home Missions which is no less a bless- 
 
ing to our country. It was among the ladies of 
 this con^^regation that this conception of their re- 
 sponsibiHty and power originated. Here this so- 
 ciety held its first anniversary ; here it was rocked 
 in the infancy of its cradle, and from that time on 
 it has been developing, until now its influence is 
 felt throughout the world. 
 
 Fifthly. An important feature of those years 
 of labor was the successful effort to pay the debts 
 resting upon the New York churches. In the 
 year 1878, when it was learned that very many 
 of the churches of New York were under heavy 
 mortgage, Mrs. John C. Green initiated the un- 
 dertaking of lifting those burdens, giving from 
 the estate of her late husband one hundred and 
 forty thousand dollars, on condition that the sev- 
 eral congregations which were thus burdened 
 should raise the money which was needed to free 
 them from their debts. The aggregate amount 
 of money which was raised exceeded seven hun- 
 dred thousand dollars, and when that work was 
 concluded the Presbyterian churches of New York 
 were practically free of debt. 
 
 Sixthly. I should not fail to mention the partici- 
 pation of the Church in those years in the w^ork 
 of Christian reform and evangelical enterprise in 
 this city ; in the assistance and sympathy that 
 were extended to the enterprises conducted by 
 Jerry McAuley, Michael Dunn, and others, who 
 
191 
 
 were engaged in lifting the degraded, this Church 
 was conspicuous. Mr. McAuley once said to me: 
 " Dr. Booth, there is no Church in this city that 
 has so comforted me and helped me in my heav- 
 enward path as yours has." Other things remain, 
 but I must pass them by for lack of time. Thus 
 the fruitful years have passed, but their record is 
 on high, and the successive harvests of the seed 
 thus sown continually increase under new work- 
 ers working- ever in the old love and zeal. 
 
 Dr. Alexander and kind friends, when, by rea- 
 son of impaired health, broken down as I supposed, 
 I went away from this fair field in the year 1883, 
 believing firmly in the power of prayer, I prayed 
 each day to my Heavenly Father, during that in- 
 terval when you were without a pastor, that He 
 would save this Church from disintegration and 
 removal, and send to it a faithful man who could 
 hold it up on his strong, loving heart, and thus 
 perpetuate the work which had been continued 
 from the ancient past. And here to-night, con- 
 cluding what I have said so imperfectly, and I 
 fear at too great length, I publicly and gratefully 
 recognize God's blessing on your ministry, dear 
 brother. 
 
Wednesday, November 27TH. 
 ^ccbicc at 8 p* m* 
 
 Sunday-School Commemoration. 
 
 Historical Sketch of Emmanuel Sunday- 
 School, BY Mr. Otis W. Booth. 
 
 Historical Sketch of Bethlehem Sunday- 
 School, BY Rev. Herbert Ford. 
 
 Address by Rev. Thomas Marshall, D.D. 
 Cburcb Scbool. 
 
 University Place and Tenth Street. 
 
 Sabbath Morning, 9.45 o'clock. 
 
 Mr. Robert Lenox Belknap, Superintendent. 
 
 Dr. William H. Park, Assistant Superintendent. 
 
 Bmmanucl Cbapcl Scbool. JSetblebcm Cbapel Scbool. 
 
 727-737 Sixth Street. 196 Bleecker Street. 
 Sabbath Afternoon, 2.30 o'clock. Sabbath Afternoon, 2.30 o'clock. 
 Mr. Otis W. Booth, Superintend- Rev. Herbert Ford, Superintend- 
 ent, ent. 
 Mr. Thomas Denny, Assistant Mr. Alexander Barclay, Assist- 
 Superintendent. ant Superintendent. 
 
 25 
 
3ff «* ^^. * « * * ^'^ * Sf *.^'^ * ^^. « « « * ^- 
 
 0lv, l\0tjcrt JLcnor JJcUiitap. 
 
 HE next thing on the programme is 
 stated to be "remarks by the superin- 
 tendent of the home school." I do not 
 think you want to hear from me, certainly not 
 at any length. The church school has been a 
 growing school. It has been an earnest school, 
 and one which has exercised a lasting influence 
 upon the hearts of many who have passed through 
 its portals. We cannot expect the school at this 
 place to be a large one. But we can expect it, 
 and we do expect it, to be one equipped with a 
 corps of teachers devoted to their work, and with 
 a corps of scholars anxious to learn. I can bear 
 testimony to the qualifications and the devoted- 
 ness of the teachers, and the earnestness and at- 
 tention of the scholars. 
 
 »94 
 
195 
 
 Some years ago, we scarcely touched elbows 
 in the lecture-room. A day that we had a hun- 
 dred in number was a red-letter day. Now, it 
 is not even a "blue Monday." We had to en- 
 large. The first enlargement came with the pur- 
 chase of the Church House and its use for the 
 Bible-classes and primary class. The next en- 
 largement has just been made by joining the lec- 
 ture-room to the Church House, so as to utilize 
 all the space. I hope on next Sabbath to in- 
 crease the number of classes by four, so that we 
 may be fitted for more efficient work than we 
 have yet been able to carry on. 
 
 Now one word to those of our friends from the 
 chapels who, in coming here, have not realized 
 the fact that they were coming home. We look 
 upon you all, members of Emmanuel Chapel and 
 of Bethlehem Chapel, as being of our flesh and 
 bone. As the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in 
 the schools, as souls are brought into the king- 
 dom in the days of their youth, so will the Church 
 increase and prosper. We have seen all sorts of 
 methods employed for the purpose of gathering 
 people into the Sunday-school. I think I am safe 
 in saying that there has been only one thing used 
 in any of the schools of this church, and that is 
 the invitation, " Come thou with us, and we will 
 do thee good." 
 
 It is certainly very gratifying to the officers and 
 
196 
 
 members of ihis Church, who are in the habit of 
 worshiping in this building, to welcome here so 
 fine a delegation from Emmanuel Chapel. We 
 all know that if the whole school had come there 
 would have been no room for the rest of us. I 
 am very glad that so many of you have accepted 
 our invitation, and only sorry that the church is 
 not large enough to hold you all. 
 
 To our friends from Bethlehem Chapel we ex- 
 tend also our hearty welcome. You are nearer 
 us in point of distance, and we trust that you will 
 come here, and let us see you face to face, more 
 frequently. 
 
EMMANUEL CHAPEL. 
 
Tfffffff ft rt f r T"T T^TT't ? r r tf t f t ft ft t1 rfrm f t tft^r f t f tT ff t rrrnr ?1 tt rt ft T'TTtr-T ftrf i*< 
 
 i^torical ^hctcl) of Cmmanucl ^unbap; 
 ^cDod tjp illr. (j^tija '5i2a^ 3Soott). 
 
 jORTY-FOUR years ago, on the even- 
 ing of November 25, 185 1, in accord- 
 ance with a notice given from the pulpit 
 of the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church on the 
 preceding Sabbath, a meeting of the congrega- 
 tion was held in the lecture-room of the church, 
 at which the following resolution was adopted, 
 namely : 
 
 ''Resolvedy That it is our duty as a church and 
 congregation to adopt immediate and efficient 
 measures to carry the Gospel to the destitute 
 of our city. " 
 
 In order that this action might be more care- 
 fully considered and discussed, this resolution was 
 reconsidered at a subsequent meeting held on 
 
 197 
 
198 
 
 Sunday evening', November 30, 1S51, and then 
 re ad op ted. 
 
 A little later committees were appointed to 
 consider the needs of different sections of the 
 city, and on the recommendation of one of these 
 committees, in the early spring of 1852, it was 
 decided to commence a mission in the Eleventh 
 Ward. Rooms were secured in the building No. 
 1 18 Avenue D, between Eighth and Ninth streets. 
 The lot on which the building stands is 23 feet 
 front by 80 feet in depth. In the second story 
 of this building, on Sunday, March 28, 1852, 
 Sunday-school and preaching services were com- 
 menced. 
 
 It appears from the records of the Mercer Street 
 Presbyterian Church that quite an extensive re- 
 vival of religion had been experienced by that 
 Church just before the action taken toward the 
 establishment of this mission, and that this work 
 was begun under a deep sense of the obligation 
 resting upon the Church, and as a thank-offering 
 to God for the great blessing He had bestowed 
 in gathering so many into its communion from 
 the families connected with the Church. 
 
 Thus, in the spring of 1852, the leaven was 
 placed in the three measures of meal. The mis- 
 sion at first was known as "The Avenue D Mis- 
 sion," but later as "The Dry Dock Mission," and 
 the building thus opened for religious work was 
 
199 
 
 so occupied without interruption until the third 
 Sunday in February, 1874. 
 
 The Eleventh Ward, in the early days of the 
 mission, had quite a large native-born adult pop- 
 ulation, and many of its houses were occupied only 
 by the owners' families. The river front was given 
 up to ship-building and kindred industries, and 
 many of the finest clipper-ships of the world were 
 built within the ward. There were then, and 
 there have been ever since, very many honest, 
 faithful mechanics living in the ward, — men ever 
 ready to give in return for their wages good and 
 honest labor, — men who faithfully tried to lead 
 respectable lives, and to make their homes com- 
 fortable and happy, and to bring up their children 
 to be useful and respectable. 
 
 But it was not from this class alone that the 
 children of the Sunday-school of the Avenue D 
 Mission were gathered. All classes contributed 
 a portion. During the winter months the warm, 
 comfortable rooms of the mission, often open in 
 the week-day evenings as well as on the Sab- 
 baths, were very attractive to the rougher and 
 more unruly boys of the ward. Years passed be- 
 fore it was certain that a Sunday-school service 
 or evening prayer-meeting could be conducted in 
 an orderly. Christian way ; but patience and per- 
 severance, under the blessing of our Lord, grad- 
 ually gained control of those who came to the 
 
200 
 
 services. For many years the Sunday-school at- 
 tendance averaged between two and three hun- 
 dred. Gradually the numbers increased; but, bet- 
 ter yet, the religious spirit and interest of the 
 people increased, until it became apparent that 
 largfer and more suitable accommodations were 
 needed, and would be profitably used if provided. 
 
 In 1873 ground was purchased in Sixth Street, 
 and the erection of what was thought to be an 
 amply commodious building for the mission was 
 commenced. 
 
 On the third Sunday in February, 1874, the 
 Sunday-school of the Dry Dock Mission left its 
 much-loved rooms at 118 Avenue D, and in a 
 body some 600 strong marched to its new home 
 in its new building on Sixth Street. This build- 
 ing was dedicated to the worship and service of 
 God under one of the most expressive names of 
 the Son of God — " Emmanuel" — and ever since 
 has been known as Emmanuel Chapel. A few 
 years later this large chapel was outgrown by its 
 Sunday-school, and in 1880 an additional build- 
 ing was erected on its westerly side, to be used 
 for its infant class. A couple of years later an- 
 other building, to be known as the " Memorial 
 Room," adjoining the chapel, and on the rear of 
 the infant class building, was finished. Emman- 
 uel Chapel to-day, including its parsonage, infant 
 class, and memorial buildings, covers ground 135 
 
20I 
 
 feet front on Sixth Street, by 90 feet 10 inches in 
 depth. 
 
 It is a matter of record that in its beginning 
 and early history this work was planned and 
 carried forward, so far as human instrumentality 
 was concerned, by men eminent both in the sec- 
 ular and religious life of our city. They took a 
 deep, unselfish, active interest in it. They gave 
 their time and their money to its welfare. They 
 have given the account of their stewardship, and 
 He who knew from the beginning what would be 
 the results of their faithfulness has already ex- 
 tended to them the greeting, "Well done, good 
 and faithful servant." And their works do follow 
 them in this, at least, that when they fell asleep 
 in Jesus, members of their families took up the 
 cord where it was broken, and in some cases, at 
 least, have contributed their offerings, and, we 
 trust, their prayers, to the perpetuation and suc- 
 cess of Emmanuel Chapel to the present hour. 
 Generous contributions come in from these fami- 
 lies whenever an appeal is made for Emmanuel 
 Chapel. May God bless them richly ! 
 
 Many, very many loving Christian friends have 
 taken a lively interest in this work since its be- 
 ginning. Some have given cheerfully of their 
 time and talents to the work ; some have given 
 freely of their possessions. Many who have been 
 interested in the work are no longer with us. 
 26 
 
Changes of circumstances or of residence have 
 removed some; death has claimed many; but it 
 is doubtful if any sincere Christian has ever re- 
 gretted an act or a gift for the welfare of Em- 
 manuel Chapel or its people. 
 
 Great changes have taken place in the people 
 living in the ward. To-day there are few, if any, 
 houses occupied by a single family, and very 
 many families, the adult members of which were 
 foreign-born, have replaced the native-born of 
 earlier days. 
 
 The work of the Sunday-school, too, has un- 
 dergone great changes during these years. The 
 numbers have increased, and the spirit and re- 
 ligious interest of its scholars have been undergo- 
 ing a gradual but decided change for the better. 
 Earnest and persistent prayer has been offered 
 that He who came to Joshua as Captain of the 
 hosts of the Lord, and who promised His disci- 
 ples as He sent them forth into the world to 
 make known His Gospel that He would be with 
 them alway — that He would take entire charge 
 of His work at Emmanuel Chapel, and guide and 
 direct His servants in the ways pleasing to Him- 
 self. And it is apparent that He has heard and 
 answered. The gathering of the children is His; 
 the instruction given is His; the winning of souls is 
 His ; the labors of His servants are for Him; and, 
 thanks be to His name, the glory is all His own. 
 
203 
 
 The Sunday-school assembles in four divisions: 
 The Adult Bible Classes, generally scholars of 1 7 
 years or over; the Junior Classes, generally schol- 
 ars of 13 to 17 years; the Intermediate Class, al- 
 most without exception scholars between 10 and 
 13 years; and the Primary Class, scholars under 
 10 years of age. 
 
 Never in the history of the school has a more 
 faithful and efficient band of teachers been en- 
 gaged in the work than at present. Forty-eight 
 teachers are required to teach the classes. The 
 Teachers' meetings are held on Saturday even- 
 ings, and all the teachers living on the east side, 
 and some from up-town, and some from Brooklyn, 
 attend as regularly as they can. 
 
 The number of scholars now on the roll of the 
 school is over 2200, and the average attendance 
 for the current month has been 1350. A great 
 blessing has rested for years past upon this Sun- 
 day-school. To-day almost all of the older schol- 
 ars are professing Christians, and many of the 
 younger scholars are coming into close Church 
 relations. This is especially true of the children 
 of the Intermediate Class. 
 
 The Bible Readers connected with the Chapel 
 do most persistent and efficient service. They 
 are always welcomed in the homes of the children, 
 and as they learn so much of the home surround- 
 ings of the scholars and of the peculiarities and 
 
204 
 
 temptations of tlie children, they are exceedingly 
 well fitted to counsel and sympathize with them. 
 The Bible Readers' influence in our school is very 
 great, and, so far, has been wisely exerted. For 
 many years it has been the custom of the school 
 to have Bible Class No. i, for young men, taught 
 by the pastor of the church, thus bringing him 
 into the closest touch with the school. This class 
 has now an excellent teacher, is well attended, 
 and is in a prosperous condition. 
 
 In looking back over the years of the life of 
 this work, a few facts appear to stand out very 
 prominently : 
 
 1st. A Sunday-school of large numbers can be 
 gathered without offering any inducements or re- 
 wards to scholars to attend other than the simple 
 teaching of Gospel truth by warm-hearted, earn- 
 est Christian teachers, bearing in mind the words 
 of Jesus, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, 
 will draw all men unto Me." 
 
 2nd. The simple, earnest teaching of God's 
 Word, without outside attractions, under the bless- 
 ing of our Lord, has yielded abundant harvest, as 
 is shown in the winning of souls and in the de- 
 velopment of Christian character. 
 
 3rd. The services of well-chosen Bible Readers 
 in connection with such a school are of the great- 
 est value. They carry the Gospel acceptably into 
 the homes of the scholars, and greatly assist the 
 
205 
 
 scholars in their efforts to win for Jesus the mem- 
 bers of their famihes. 
 
 4th. The experience of these years has shown 
 that although the great mass of adult population 
 living around Emmanuel Chapel need the Gos- 
 pel, and we know the Gospel is exactly adapted 
 to their need, very few, except as they come 
 through the Sunday-school, ever hear it in the 
 church. There are thousands of men living in 
 the Eleventh Ward, good and honest clerks and 
 mechanics, leading respectable lives in the com- 
 munity, many of them sending their children 
 regularly to some Sunday-school and endeavor- 
 ing to bring them up to be good and faithful in 
 their lives, who have not the least inclination to 
 attend a church service, and this is not because 
 the preaching of the Gospel is poor. 
 
 The glory and honor of whatever success has 
 attended this work is due entirely to our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. His blessing has ever been upon 
 it. It was He who led His faithful ones to plant 
 the work where they did. It has been His hand 
 that has guided it all through these years. He 
 has inclined his people to sustain it by supplying 
 the necessary funds, so that after more than forty 
 years of life all debts are paid, and it is reason- 
 ably sure that this year will end, as others have, 
 with a small balance in the treasury. He, too, it 
 was who gave to this work the bright example 
 
2o6 
 
 of a humble, sincere, unselfish, consecrated, and 
 Christ-like life, in that of its Pastor, who for 
 twenty-seven years preached the Gospel by his 
 life far more effectively than words could express 
 it. The blessed memory of that Pastor's life is 
 to-day loving^ly cherished in very many homes of 
 the poor, and is a constant example to all who 
 sincerely desire to excel in the graces of a true 
 Christian character. When the first home of the 
 mission was outgrown and larger and more suit- 
 able buildings were needed, He, our Lord Iim- 
 manuel, brought about the changes which secured 
 the needed funds, and He had at hand a faithful 
 servant of His own peculiarly adapted to interest 
 those able to give and to guide in the planning 
 of the work and in the collections of money, so 
 that the buildings so peculiarly adapted to the 
 need were erected, furnished, and equipped with- 
 out leaving a dollar of debt. Most wondrously 
 has He provided for the Dry Dock Mission and 
 Emmanuel Chapel in giving to them consecrated, 
 faithful, and unselfish pastors, Sunday-school 
 teachers, Bible readers, and warm-hearted, gen- 
 erous friends. Our most sincere gratitude to- 
 night should be poured out and find expression 
 in tender love and faith and obedience to Him 
 whose wonderful name our Chapel bears. 
 
 May our Lord "Emmanuel" ever bless Em- 
 manuel Chapel. 
 
208 
 
 the workers in tlic mission I have said that there 
 have been many godly men and women, but Beth- 
 lehem has been fostered most of all by godly 
 women. Of these there is a long list. One, how- 
 ever, should be particularly mentioned. 
 
 Bethlehem owes its continuation above all oth- 
 ers to one godly woman, Mrs. Antoinette L. Chis- 
 holm. now at rest. Through cloud and sunshine, 
 both temporal and spiritual, Mrs. Chisholm was 
 to be found in her place from the time the work 
 was first started. When God called her to lay 
 down her work, He also called her daughter to 
 take it up, so that one name has been associated 
 with Bethlehem for the whole period of its exist- 
 ence, almost 49 years. A parallel case will be 
 hard to find. 
 
 The data concerning the history of Bethlehem 
 have been gathered partly from our Church rec- 
 ords and partly from the memories of those en- 
 gaged in this work — mostly from memories. 
 
 The work now prosecuted in Bethlehem Chapel 
 results from the union of three distinct mission 
 enterprises. 
 
 Shortly after the Church that first assembled 
 in this building was well under way, the pastor, 
 the Rev. George Potts, D.D., desired to find some 
 field for the activity of his people. 
 
 Inquiries were made, and a Sabbath-school was 
 started in the public-school building on Thir- 
 
209 
 
 teenth Street, near Sixth Avenue, February 5, 
 1847. The young people called it familiarly the 
 U. P. C. Mission. It began with small numbers, 
 but in about two years there were about 150 
 scholars and about 15 teachers. The teachers 
 faithfully visited their scholars, and in 1857 the 
 school had grown to nearly 300. The first super- 
 intendent was Mr. Henry K. Bull, then a deacon 
 in this Church. 
 
 Soon after the school was started, prayer-meet- 
 ings were held in the Sabbath-school rooms on 
 Sunday evenings. Besides these the teachers used 
 to have prayer-meetings in various houses. An 
 interesting result of one of these is told by an 
 eye-witness. It occurred in 1857, when Mr. H. C. 
 Haydn, now the Rev. Dr. Haydn, was connected 
 with the mission. This particular meeting was 
 held at the house of Dr. Potts. Theodore Monod 
 was there — then a skeptic — but now the Evan- 
 gelical Pastor in Paris, France. He could have 
 steeled himself against arguments, but the deep 
 feeling manifested by a new confessor, whom Mr. 
 Haydn had induced to speak, made such an im- 
 pression on him that he could not shake it off; 
 he gave up all resistance afterward when touched 
 with the fervent prayer of Mr. Charles Lloyd, 
 another prominent worker in the mission. 
 
 The work was prosecuted with such earnest- 
 ness that in 1858 the trustees decided to lease a 
 27 
 
2IO 
 
 portion of the building 140 Sixth Avenue, for- 
 jnerly used by the Half Orphan Asylum. This 
 was fitted up through the generosity of the late 
 Mr. John C. Green, and in June of the same year 
 tlie mission moved into its new quarters. The 
 building was then placed under the supervision 
 of the Session, who recorded their hope "That 
 at some future time they might see the regular 
 preaching of the Gospel also established there un- 
 der the auspices of the University Place Church." 
 
 Elders C. C. Darling and David N. Lord were 
 then appointed as a committee in charge of the 
 work. 
 
 This hope was soon realized. So interesting 
 had the work become that on October 4, 1858, 
 the Session advised Dr. Potts to lay before the 
 congregation the matter of preaching at the mis- 
 sion, and on November 5, 1858. it was decided to 
 call the Rev. Charles H. Payson as Missionary 
 Superintendent of the new rooms. His defined 
 duties were "to take charge of the school and 
 to preach the Gospel as opportunity may be af- 
 forded, and to perform any other duties pertain- 
 ing to that post." As soon as the school was 
 transferred to Sixth Avenue, the neighborhood 
 was divided into districts by the teachers, who 
 visited from house to house to leather scholars 
 and to invite people to the preaching services. 
 While in Sixth Avenue the school had a session 
 
211 
 
 both morning and afternoon. The classes had 
 names. Among others one was called the " Sen- 
 tinels," and another, a class of colored women, 
 bore the name " Roses of Sharon." 
 
 Mr. Payson was very successful. Ten years 
 after, his pastorate was spoken of as the " Red- 
 letter " period of the mission. He resigned in 
 i860 and went to take chargre of the Adams Me- 
 morial Chapel. 
 
 It is an interestinof and blessed fact that the 
 period 1857-58, when the desire was expressed 
 to commence regular preaching services at the 
 mission, was a time of great religious awakening. 
 
 Shortly after the establishment of the mission 
 in Sixth Avenue, the great war between the North 
 and the South began, and Bethlehem was repre- 
 sented in that struggle. 
 
 One of the teachers, a Mr. Kruger, went to 
 the war with a German regiment, in Col. Miles's 
 division, and was at the first battle of Bull Run. 
 He afterward became a clergyman. Mr. Benton, 
 a superintendent in the early fifties, was in the 
 battle of Newbern, North Carolina, and lost his 
 life there. 
 
 At this point it is proper to speak of the sec- 
 ond missionary enterprise incorporated in Beth- 
 lehem. In 1853 Dr. Potts proposed to Mr. Cha- 
 pin, now the Rev. Henry B. Chapin, D. D., who 
 had just been licensed, that he should take up 
 
2 1 2 
 
 city mission work in connection with University 
 Place Church. Mr. Chapin consented, and in Jan- 
 uary, 1854, a hall was rented in a two-story frame 
 building on Laurens Street (now West Broad- 
 way), between Prince and Houston streets, with 
 a seating capacity of about 200 persons. 
 
 The services at this Mission consisted of a 
 Sunday-school session at 9 a. m. and 2:30 i'. m.. 
 a boys' meeting at 4 o'clock every Sunday after- 
 noon, and a preaching service at 7:30 o'clock 
 every Sunday evening. The boys' meeting was 
 designed for the rougher class of street boys who 
 could not be attracted into the Sabbath-school. 
 
 Neighborhood prayer-meetings w^ere held in 
 tenement houses during the week. 
 
 The teachers were largely drawn from Univer- 
 sity Place. Among the workers were Mr. John 
 Crosby Brown, Mr. Otis D. Swan, Miss Kathar- 
 ine Parker, and Miss Cornelia Stone. 
 
 Early in 1858 the school had to leave the build- 
 ing, it being used for other purposes. It was then 
 decided to unite the Sabbath-school with the mis- 
 sion on Thirteenth Street, just a few months be- 
 fore it moved to Sixth Avenue. All the scholars, 
 however, could not be induced to go up to the 
 Thirteenth Street Mission, and Mr. C. Loring 
 Brace, of the Children's Aid Society, was asked 
 to organize a school from the remnants of this 
 Laurens Street Mission, which resulted in the for- 
 
213 
 
 mation of a branch of the Children's Aid Society 
 in Cottage Place, and now in the handsome build- 
 ing in Sullivan Street. This fact will be referred 
 to a little later on. 
 
 At this Laurens Street Mission, in about 1856, 
 the girls had been taught to sew, and this work 
 was continued in Sixth Avenue. It is thus nearly 
 certain that the Sewing-school at Bethlehem is 
 about the oldest one connected with church-work 
 in the city — although it has not always been in 
 continuous operation. 
 
 I have said that the Rev. C. H. Payson re- 
 signed in i860. He was succeeded by Mr. Mar- 
 vin Briggs from Princeton Seminary, who, after 
 doing good work, resigned in 1862. 
 
 The period from November, 1862, to February, 
 1867, was a time of hard struggle. The mission 
 had become considerably weakened for a number 
 of reasons. It was debated as to whether the 
 work should continue. There were no regular 
 preaching services during that time, yet there 
 was earnest work done. The teachers kept up a 
 regular prayer-meeting. The spirit in the school 
 was such that on March 11, 1864, Mr. John C. 
 Brown, the Superintendent, gave the session an 
 encouraging report. From 1864 to 1868 the 
 school had a faithful Superintendent in Mr. Lati- 
 mer Bailey. Toward the end of 1866 it was de- 
 cided to recommence the regular preaching ser- 
 
214 
 
 vices. September 17, 1866, "It was resolved 
 that, in the jud^mient of the Session, the contin- 
 uance ot the Mission of the Church in Sixth 
 Avenue is highly important to the prosperity of 
 the school, the useful culture and activity of the 
 teachers, and the well-being of the congrega- 
 tion." Accordingly in February, 1867, the Rev. 
 Joseph M. Green was engaged as missionary. 
 Mr. Green resigned on March 27, 1868, and be- 
 came a missionary bishop in Mexico. A com- 
 mittee was appointed by the Session to inquire 
 "Whether the mission work now prosecuted might 
 not be more productive in some other portion of 
 the city in the vicinity of University Place Church." 
 On January 29, 1869, the committee reported: 
 "The locality of the mission-school at 140 Sixth 
 Avenue, and its various advantages, from the large 
 population in its neighborhood, its moderateness 
 of expense, the largeness, energy, and success of 
 its labors," entitled the Mission to be continued 
 and fostered. The report was accepted and printed, 
 and distributed among the congregation. 
 
 April 29, 1868, the committee having the over- 
 sight of the school had its powers enlarged. For- 
 merly it had merely charge of the building. The 
 whole work of the mission was now placed under 
 its supervision, subject to the review of the Ses- 
 sion. This was beneficial, for the next month the 
 committee reported the "encouraging posture of 
 
215 
 
 the Mission." Mr. C. B. Whitcombe, of Union 
 Seminary, was appointed as Superintendent, and 
 for a few years things went well. Mr. Whitcombe 
 was succeeded by Mr. F. B. D. Garretson, who 
 after a few months was succeeded by Mr. David 
 J. Burrell, now the Rev. Dr. Burrell, of the Col- 
 legiate Church. Mr. Burrell was the pastor at 
 the time of the union of the Mercer Street and 
 the University Place Churches in 1870. 
 
 After the union of the Mercer Street and Uni- 
 versity Place Churches an important feature was 
 introduced into the government of the Mission. 
 A General Committee was appointed to look after 
 the missions on both Avenue D and Sixth Avenue. 
 This consisted of 3 elders and 2 teachers, or per- 
 sons who were connected with each of the two 
 chapels, so that both were represented by those 
 who were specially interested in them. The 
 elders were Messrs. James Brown, Otis D. Swan, 
 and Chas. P. Hartt, and those representing the 
 Sixth Avenue Mission were Messrs. D. M. Devoe 
 and Wm. B. Jaudon. 
 
 In 1 87 1 Mr. Burrell was succeeded by Mr. Lewis 
 J. Foote, now the Rev. Dr. Foote, of Throop Ave- 
 nue Church, Brooklyn. Under two such men the 
 work advanced greatly, but it was uphill work. 
 Mr. Foote's pastorate deserves special mention. 
 May 21, 1872, Mr. Foote was ordained in the 
 Mission chapel as an evangelist, and May 26, 1872, 
 
2l6 
 
 the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was adminis- 
 tered for the first time in the Mission, with elders 
 Geo. R. Lockwood and ¥. C. Jones to serve. 
 
 Still another most interesting event took place 
 in Mr. F'oote's pastorate. October 2, 1873, ^-^''• 
 R. R. Booth reported to the Session that the 
 Mission at 140 Sixth Avenue desired to adopt 
 the name of *' Bethlehem." It was accordingly 
 resolved that the mission of this Church at 140 
 Sixth Avenue be hereafter known and designated 
 as Bethlehem Mission. At the age of 25 this 
 child asked for its own name ! Bethlehem has 
 been true to the meaning of its name — "House 
 of Bread." Many have come there with starving 
 souls and have been fed on the "Bread of Life." 
 In many hearts Christ has been born. 
 
 Mr. Foote resigned in 1873, going directly to 
 the church of which he is now pastor. He was 
 succeeded by Mr. Geo. Ford, now the Rev. Dr. 
 Ford, of Syria. 
 
 The following year this mission was again in 
 trouble. Various causes greatly weakened it and 
 so affected its prospects that the rooms were given 
 up and the work was narrowed down to the Sun- 
 day-school. April 26, 1874, the Sacrament was 
 celebrated for the last time at 140 Sixth Avenue, 
 and was not again celebrated in special connec- 
 tion with the Mission until 1894. For a few 
 months the Mission found shelter in rooms con- 
 
217 
 
 nected with the Presbyterian Church near by on 
 Eleventh Street. 
 
 When the chapel was given up, although the 
 Sunday-school was continued in Wooster Street, 
 the Sabbath evening and weekly prayer-meetings 
 in direct connection with the Mission were sus- 
 pended. Sometime before this, however, meet- 
 ings had been held in private rooms in Thompson 
 Street, which many of the workers of the chapel 
 had attended. 
 
 These meetings were now the means of hold- 
 ing the people together. Many of the teachers 
 attended, and the good accomplished cannot be 
 valued. These were started first in 1869 by Mrs. 
 Morgan, the missionary at the chapel, in the attic 
 of the rear house 206 Thompson Street, in a room 
 of a Mrs. Scott. At this period they were held in 
 the room of a good woman whose name is still 
 remembered with affection — Mrs. Elizabeth Men- 
 zies. Mrs. Menzies did washing for a living, but 
 was glad to give the few hours each week neces- 
 sary to get the room in readiness. The meetings 
 were held here until May, 1884, when Mrs. Men- 
 zies died. Meanwhile the Sunday-school had 
 been steadily growing and was now in a flourish- 
 ing condition, and it had been felt for some time 
 that there should be public services in the district 
 to follow up the work of the school. After some 
 delay a room was secured at 222 Thompson 
 28 
 
2l8 
 
 • 
 
 Street, and the opening service was held June i6, 
 1884. In September, 1884, Mr. John Hutchinson 
 was engaged to take charge of the services held 
 on Friday and Sunday evenings. Those meet- 
 ings were greatly blessed. Many workers at- 
 tended them faithfully. Among others we re- 
 member particularly Mr. Daniel Devoe, to whom 
 Bethlehem was very dear. 
 
 In October, 1874, the Sunday-school moved to 
 the Public School building 180 Wooster Street, 
 with Mr. John H. Dey, of the New York "Evan- 
 gelist," as Superintendent. 
 
 Here Bethlehem joined hands with another mis- 
 sion, the third of the three missions of which the 
 present Bethlehem is constituted. This mission 
 also began in Laurens Street, a few doors below 
 Amity Street (now West Third). It was started in 
 a basement in 1858, the year the other Laurens 
 Street mission moved up to Thirteenth Street. A 
 benevolent lady living there, seeing so many boys 
 on the street on Sundays, invited them to her 
 basement to give them religious instruction. 
 Soon they were gathered into a hall just oppo- 
 site the Public School on Wooster Street, below 
 Bleecker. Among the teachers were Mr. Anson 
 Phelps Stokes, Mr. Robert Hoe, Junior, and Mr. 
 Robert L. Belknap. For a time Mr. Theodore 
 Roosevelt, the father of the present Police Com- 
 
219 
 
 missioner, was the Superintendent. For about 
 seven years Dr. Benjamin Lord held that office. 
 At one time there were about 30 classes, with 2 
 infant classes, with a total attendance of about 300. 
 
 Prayer-meetings were held in the basement 
 of the Presbyterian Church, corner of Thompson 
 and Houston — the same Church that moved to 
 Eleventh Street and sheltered Bethlehem in 1874. 
 For some time this Mission had a semi-connec- 
 tion with the Church of the Ascension, the Rev. 
 John Cotton Smith, D. D., being rector at the 
 time. When Bethlehem united with it in 1874 it 
 was under the care of no Church, but a Mr. Car- 
 penter, a warden of St. Clement, was Superinten- 
 dent. Mr. Carpenter became assistant-superin- 
 tendent under Mr. Dey. The whole school now 
 numbered about 100, but grew rapidly. The 
 teachers found they had all they could do to keep 
 order. Those coming to the school were of the 
 roughest kind. Under the wise management of 
 Mr. Dey order was gradually obtained. There 
 was every kind of religious belief there, and the 
 teachers wisely forgot for the time their particular 
 denomination. In 1880 Mr. Dey was succeeded 
 by Rev. B. F. Millard, who resigned in 1881, to 
 be succeeded by Mr. Sturges, who was soon fol- 
 lowed by Mr. James B. Murray. 
 
 In June, 1882, a most important and beneficial 
 
2 20 
 
 provision was nuulc regarding the committee in 
 charge. Previously there had been one commit- 
 tee for the two missions, with representatives 
 from both. Bethlehem had now a special com- 
 mittee appointed to look after its welfare. This 
 committee consisted of Mr. Moses W. Dodd, Mr. 
 Daniel M. Devoe, and Mr. James B. Murray. 
 
 In May, 1885, another important feature was 
 introduced into the committee in char*re of Beth- 
 lehem. Previously there had been one treasurer 
 for the whole mission work of the Church. The 
 funds raised for the mission work of the Church 
 was now placed in the hands of the Treasurer 
 of the Session, who then turned over to the treas- 
 urers of the two missions their proper apportion- 
 ment. This arrangement added greatly to the 
 efficiency of Bethlehem. 
 
 From 1884 to 1886 many societies were organ- 
 ized — viz., The Bethlehem Band, the Helping 
 Hand, a Women's Meeting, a Band of Hope for 
 Children, and a Mutual Improvement Club for 
 Boys, from which in due time sprang a Young 
 Men's Society. All of these did good work. 
 Some of them remain. The rest have been 
 merged into other organizations. In 1884 the 
 Sewing-school was recommenced. In 1886 the 
 Mission was gaining ground so rapidly that it 
 was proposed to purchase a site, but the mat- 
 ter was postponed. 
 
221 
 
 In 1886, after faithful service, Mr. James B. 
 Murray resigned the superintendency of the Sab- 
 bath-school to Mr. Edward S. Simmons, who re- 
 signed in 1889. 
 
 In 1889 a further step was taken in securing a 
 missionary who should be constantly on the field. 
 This was Dr. Christopher Humble. His labor 
 of faith and love will long be a tender memory in 
 the hearts of all his people. 
 
 In 1889 the trustees of the Public School for- 
 bade the use of their building for religious in- 
 struction, and Bethlehem was "put out." And 
 now, when it was again homeless, the Children's 
 Aid Society on Cottage Place, the sister of the old 
 Laurens Street Mission, absorbed into the Thir- 
 teenth Street Mission 31 years before, opened its 
 arms and gave Bethlehem shelter. 
 
 Then, after Bethlehem had wandered about the 
 wilderness 40 years, meeting with all the foes 
 expected in a wilderness, it came to pass that a 
 way was opened into the land of promise, 196 
 Bleecker Street. We have come to recent his- 
 tory. We remember that the funds necessary 
 for the erection of the present chapel came with- 
 out special solicitation, that the building was not 
 only erected, but partially endowed. 
 
 In 1890 a Christian Endeavor Society was or- 
 ganized. 
 
 In 1893 Dr. Humble resigned, and the Session 
 
222 
 
 requested me to assume the pastorate. On the 
 lirst Sunday in 1894 the Sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper was observed, the first time since 1874; 
 a period of twenty years. It is now observed 
 regularly four times a year. 
 
 What are our present statistics ? Bethlehem 
 touches in one way or another about 1500 people. 
 Public services are held every Thursday and Sun- 
 day evening. The chapel seats comfortably 150 
 people. The attendance on Sunday evening is 
 about 100, and 50 on Thursday. The Sabbath - 
 school has an enrollment of 300, with an average 
 attendance of 200. The church membership is 
 
 138. 
 
 There are various societies and meetings at 
 Bethlehem, such as the Bethlehem Band for girls, 
 the Christian Endeavor Society (these two have 
 just united), a meeting for mothers, a meeting for 
 children, and a Sewing-school. Besides these, a 
 Kindergarten meets every morning (except Sat- 
 urday) in the building. 
 
 What then shall be said concerning the past ? 
 Bethlehem has not been able to grow in propor- 
 tion to her years because of her many removals 
 and severe losses, but she has blessed many lives 
 as she has journeyed about — many have been 
 born into the kingdom. The lesson of the past 
 is that of faith and courage to all who shall here- 
 after labor in this mission. Bethlehem is in a 
 
223 
 
 hard field. She rejoices that this is so. Her his- 
 tory has fitted Bethlehem to fight a hard and 
 prolonged battle with the Prince of this world. 
 
 If the workers at Bethlehem falter it will be 
 from failure to learn the lessons of the past. God 
 forbid that the labor of those gone before should 
 be in vain ! 
 
 What, then, of the future ? Our heritage is 
 great, our opportunities are large. We pray that 
 we may be found faithful, and when in years to 
 come others shall read our history they shall say, 
 " These men and women also labored for the com- 
 ing of the kingdom; their lives also were inspired 
 by the love of Christ." 
 

 |E have with us to-nig^ht Rev. Thomas 
 Marshall, of Chicago, Field Secretary 
 of the Board of Foreign Missions. In 
 the early days he was a worker in connection 
 with Emmanuel Chapel. We are, therefore, very 
 glad to have him come to us with his greeting, 
 on this jubilee occasion. 
 
 Dr. Marshall spoke in part as follows : 
 
 Afr. Chairman and Dear Friends : 
 
 Those were bright and happy days that I spent 
 with you as your missionary for two years, in 
 what was then Dry Dock Mission, now Emman- 
 uel Chapel. Those years were my first in the 
 active ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
 
 At this very busy season, leaving behind many 
 pressing business cares, a long distance have I 
 
225 
 
 come simply to say : "The grace of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ be with you all " in this blessed 
 work that you, as successors in that mission, are 
 permitted to do. 
 
 The history of Emmanuel Mission, in its origin 
 and growth, is only another illustration of the 
 source and progress of that wonderful river in 
 the prophet Ezekiel's vision. That stream first 
 appeared as a living spring at the right side 
 of the altar, at the threshold of God's house. 
 There is where every true Church of Jesus Christ 
 must have its beginning. From that living spring- 
 flowed what was, at the end of a thousand cubits, 
 but a tiny stream, only ankle deep. A child 
 could toy with it, yet onward it flowed, gathering- 
 volume in its progress, and when the measure is 
 applied at the end of another thousand cubits, it 
 is knee deep. Still onward it flows toward the 
 rising sun another thousand cubits, when it is 
 no longer the tiny stream, nor yet the babbling 
 brook, for it has swollen in depth, and now it 
 measures to the loins. Again it is measured, and 
 the living spring that first appeared beside the 
 altar of the house of God has become broadened 
 and deepened until it enriches .every land and 
 beautifies and blesses every clime. Like that 
 spring this mission had its origin at the begin- 
 ning, and like that river this mission is a bene- 
 diction to the wide world to-day. Such are the 
 29 
 
226 
 
 characteristics that should preeminently mark 
 every Church of Jesus Christ in the world. It is 
 only a step from a state of suspended animation 
 to the grave. "Forward" is the watchword that 
 must evermore be written on the banners of every 
 living Church in this living age. 
 
 The types of the Old Testament and the para- 
 bles of the New all teach one and the same thing 
 — the steady growth and progress of the King- 
 dom of God in the world, until it overshadows or 
 conquers all. To-day it is the babbling brook ; 
 to-morrow it is the mighty river. Now it is the 
 smallest of seeds sown in the earth ; when it is 
 grown, it is the greatest among herbs. Is it the 
 leaven hid in the meal? Its destiny is to work 
 until the whole is leavened. 
 
 Did Jesus Christ say, "I am the vine"? He 
 also said, "Ye are the branches." The fruitless 
 branch He plucks off and casts it into the fire. 
 Does the branch bear fruit? "He purgeth it 
 that it may bring forth more fruit," for " Herein," 
 says the Son of God, " is my Father glorified, that 
 ye bear much fruit." This fruit-bearing spirit is 
 the spirit of missions. It is the life of the Church, 
 and that Church that does not manifest this 
 spirit may well be called dead. From the dear 
 old Home Church we must ever be pressing to 
 gain by conquest for the Master " the regions 
 beyond." The Holy Ghost has said, " Strengthen 
 
227 
 
 your stakes." He also has said, "Lengthen your 
 cords." While we seek to make the Home 
 Church as beautiful and strong as costly temples, 
 and lavished wealth, and souls redeemed can 
 make it, we cannot expect God's blessing except 
 we seek to make it strong for one purpose — that 
 we may run our lines out " to the utmost part of 
 the earth." The service that we render to our 
 God must have less of the priest and far more 
 of the Samaritan. Our watch-towers are not for 
 defense merely, but we build them aloft that our 
 light may shine out to the ends of the earth. 
 God has planted his Church in the world for 
 salvation, and for nothing else. Multiplication, 
 growth, expansion for salvation, are the life of 
 every Church of Jesus Christ. And that life will 
 manifest itself as the Church reaches out and takes 
 hold of the perishing nations. This, by way of 
 eminence, is "the chief end of man." God has 
 placed us in this world and made it our greatest 
 care to "seek first the Kingdom of Heaven" for 
 ourselves, and then He has laid us under obliga- 
 tion to reach out, far and wide, and lay hold of 
 the perishing everywhere. An analysis of our 
 daily life ought to teach us a profitable lesson. 
 Let us examine a single day of time. In it there 
 are just twenty-four hours. What are we doing 
 during those twenty-four hours? Twelve hours 
 of the day we spend in eating, and drinking, and 
 
228 
 
 • 
 
 sleeping, A man who lias lived the allotted three 
 score years and ten, has spent thirty five \cars 
 of that time in eating, and drinking, and in bed. 
 He dies if he does ; and he dies if he doesn't. 
 What are we doing during the remaining twelve 
 hours of the day? With all seriousness we ask 
 the question. We are digging until we dig our 
 fingers off. We are digging until our hair turns 
 white and falls from our head. We are digging 
 until our eyes are blind and our ears are deaf 
 We are toiling and moiling until, wrinkled, and 
 gnarled, and bowed down with the cares, and 
 burdens, and sorrows of life, we totter with very 
 age and fall into a grave. And for what? That 
 we may have something to eat and a bed to sleep 
 in. That is all. Nothing else in this world can 
 any man do for himself The richest can do no 
 more. The poorest can do no less. God gives 
 us our board and clothes that we may work for 
 Him. We may pile up silver and gold by the 
 millions, and yet, in God's sight, never live at all. 
 God has given us powers of body and mind, and 
 filled our hands with material substance for one 
 thing only — that we may reap these fields for Him. 
 
 A man once wrote the epitaph he wished to 
 have graven on his tombstone. It was this : 
 
 " What I spent, I had. 
 
 " What I left, I lost. 
 
 " What I gave awa)', 1 sent on before." 
 
229 
 
 We would be wise, if daily we would reckon 
 with ourselves as stewards of God's husbandry. 
 
 It not infrequently troubles the newspaper edi- 
 tor properly to write the obituary of many a man. 
 It often runs like the following: "There died in 
 
 our city, last night, Mr. A B , one of our 
 
 oldest and best-known citizens. He came to our 
 town more than fifty years ago, a poor boy. By 
 his industry and economy he accumulated rapidly 
 until, at the time of his death, he was reckoned 
 among our millionaires." Right here all that the 
 editor is able to do more is to put a period, with- 
 out he runs the risk of putting on an embellish- 
 ment very much out of harmony with the life he 
 would fain wish to commend. This experiment 
 an editor in one of our cities attempted last sum- 
 mer, when he made the following record: "On 
 
 last Sunday, J H , as he was engaged in 
 
 an exciting game of baseball, fell dead on the 
 play-ground." It did seem to the editor that for 
 the comfort of friends something more ought to 
 be said, so he added to the brief obituary: " He 
 was a very exemplary young man." 
 
 The man of this world died and left his vast 
 estates. His whole existence here, so far as real 
 life was concerned, was a series of lost opportuni- 
 ties. He died and was buried. From the same 
 town on that same night another man died. He 
 was not rich in this world's goods. The editor 
 
230 
 
 was paid for the two lines that told of his depar- 
 ture. He lived in an obscure part of the town. 
 The humble cottage that sheltered him was worth 
 scarcely enough, if sold, to defray the expense of 
 a decent burial. He lived. He toiled hard. He 
 stored up well, but it was treasure laid up in 
 heaven. He was the friend of the friendless. He 
 was the poor man's benefactor. With eyes moist- 
 ened with tears, many a lost soul he piloted safely 
 home. Nor was this all. Out of his hard earn- 
 ings he counted it a privilege to make an offering 
 unto the Lord for lost souls in lands to which he 
 fain would, but could not, go. He did what he 
 could to tell the story of the Cross in many lands 
 beyond the sea. Of his death the community 
 where he lived took little note. But his depar- 
 ture was up the shining way. Angels attended 
 him in his upward flight. It was a princely train 
 that swept through the pearly gates, and all 
 Heaven rose up to welcome him who brought new 
 jewels for the crown of his Lord and King. 
 
 For nothing else did God make us than to use 
 the means and the energies He has given us in 
 reaping these broad fields for the kingdom ol 
 Heaven. It is our mission to begin at this, our 
 Jerusalem, and to go forth, and by all the powers 
 God has given us, to witness for Christ "unto the 
 uttermost part of the earth," 
 
 One thing more would I say before I close. 
 
231 
 
 Open to me your hearts that I may thereon write 
 words that I would wish you never to forget : 
 Live with your time ; live with your talents ; live 
 with the means that God has given you, as you 
 will wish you had lived when others see your 
 face, as you have seen the faces of the fathers, 
 beneath the coffin-lid. And may God be gra- 
 cious unto you. 
 
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APPENDIX. 
 
 30 
 
LETTERS FROM FORMER MEMBERS. 
 
 Philadelphia, November i8th, 1895. 
 
 My dear Mr. Denny : 
 
 I regret that it will be impossible for me to be pres- 
 ent at the fiftieth anniversary of the University Place 
 Church, of which for a brief time I was myself a member. 
 
 The Church has had a beautiful life and has done a 
 beautiful work ; and never, it seems to me, was the life 
 more beautiful and the work more Christ-like than to- 
 day. My own father's and mother's connection with 
 the Church makes it sacred and dear to me in a peculiar 
 manner. 
 
 With heartfelt salutations to pastor and to people, be- 
 lieve me. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Geo. D. Baker. 
 
 Amsterdam, N. Y., November 23rd, 1895. 
 
 Rev. Geo. Alexander, D. D, 
 
 Dear Brother : I am in receipt of an invitation to the 
 sixtieth anniversary of the old Mercer Street Church, 
 of which, during my seminary course, I was a member. 
 
 I suppose my name will be found on the old list, since 
 
23$ 
 
 I was licensed while a member. I have recollection of 
 Mr. Thomas Denny, whom I knew hut slij^htly ; besides 
 him, I doubt if I shoidd know any of the members now. 
 I rejoice in the vigorous life which has characterized 
 the united Church, and in the <^rand work that it is now 
 doinj^. I wish very much that I could participate in the 
 cominij celebration, but it will be impossible, and I can 
 only send my pleasant memories, my hearty greetings, 
 and my earnest prayer for its continued prosperity. 
 Fraternally yours, 
 
 Chas. H. Baldwin. 
 
 The Collegiate Reformed Church, 
 Fhth Avenue and 29TH Street. 
 
 November 27th, 1895. 
 My dear Dr. Alexander : 
 
 You know why I cannot attend your service to-night, 
 but you cannot measure my disappointment. The two 
 years at the Sixth Avenue Mission were among the best 
 of my ministry. I suppose I was a little " fresh " at the 
 outset, as most theologues are (though they don't think 
 it). I remember that within a month of my taking the 
 school I had a tussle with a stalwart youth in which I 
 lost my collar, my temper, my dignity ; and was pretty 
 badly mussed. But the boy was of a forgiving disposi- 
 tion, and afterwards became my warm friend. 
 
 Of the University Place people I remember some 
 whose ministrations of sympathy were invaluable to the 
 young missionary. There was Mr. Lord, the treasurer, 
 whose monthly visits were always anticipated thirty 
 days and lamented thirty more. The Pastor of the 
 University Place Church at that time made for himself 
 a home in my heart which he has occupied until now . I 
 
wonder if Dr. Booth knows how affectionately I regard 
 him. And what a corps of teachers we had in the Sixth 
 Avenue Mission. The names crowd fast upon my mem- 
 ory ; but if I were to begin I must call the entire roll. 
 Two of them, however, stand out before all. There was 
 Mrs. Chrisholm, teacher of our infant class ; so kind and 
 motherly, so jealous for her brood, and so successful be- 
 yond all the Froebelites I have met before or since. 
 And the other was a lass of fourteen. One Sunday she 
 came into the crowded room with three boys, whom she 
 had persuaded (as I afterwards learned) at half- a- dollar 
 each. All the classes were full and I had no place for 
 the new recruits ; nor had I a teacher. A board was 
 placed in one corner, and a box before it. "My dear," 
 I said, " sit down now and tell these boys why you love 
 the Saviour." If I had asked her to teach them, she 
 would have declined — for the boys were older than her- 
 self — but she could n't refuse my request. The next 
 Sunday she was there again with more recruits — and 
 the next, and so on. She became their teacher without 
 knowing how; always telling them substantially the same 
 old story, always holding her large class, with heads bent 
 over her in close interest; on the whole, the most success- 
 ful teacher I have ever known. She was there when I 
 came away. I wonder whether she is still telling the 
 story. 
 
 But you do not want too much of lang syne. I am 
 very proud to speak of those early years of my ministry. 
 On leaving New York I went to Chicago, where I began 
 a new work — with a boy and a bell. It was under the 
 supervision of the Third Presbyterian Church, of which 
 Dr. Abbott E. Kittredge was pastor. It became West- 
 minster Church before I left it. 
 
 My experience in this sort of work inclines me to a 
 warm sympathy with those who are engaged in it. 
 They meet with difficulties which the " home church " 
 
238 
 
 does not always apjircciatc. They are entitled to a 
 most cordial and i^rencrous support. 
 
 Allow me, my dear Dr. Alexander, to add my word 
 of conijratulation. Happy pastor, happy people! God 
 bless and prosper you. 
 
 Sincerely and fraternally yours, 
 
 David Jas. Burrell. 
 
 LowviLLE, N. Y., November 22nd, 1895. 
 Dear Mr. Denny: 
 
 It would afford me very great pleasure to participate 
 in the exercises commemorative of the fiftieth anniver- 
 sary of the University Place Presbyterian Church, if my 
 duties permitted my attendance, which, unfortunately, 
 they will not. 
 
 I bear very precious memories of worship, nurture, 
 fellowship, and work in University Place Church and its 
 missions, ^md my heart will be at your festival. 
 
 May God bless the dear old Church more and more, 
 and continue its wonderful history for centuries to come. 
 
 Most truly yours, 
 
 J. Westbv Earnshaw. 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y., November 14th, 1895. 
 The Rev. Geo. Alexander, D. D. 
 
 Dear Brother: I have receivetl the program of the 
 Semi-Centennial of your Church, with its cordial invita- 
 tion to be present. I hope I may attend some of the 
 exercises. 
 
 I was connected with Bethlehem Mission over four 
 years. My wife taught there for five years or more. I 
 believe I have the honor of giving the name " Bethle- 
 hem" to the Mission, which was previously known as the 
 Sixth A\enue Mission, located then, and all the time I 
 
239 
 
 was connected with it, at 140 Sixth Avenue. I officiated 
 in my last service, at the communion service which we 
 used to hold in the evening and which occurred Novem- 
 ber 9, twenty-two years last Saturday. 
 
 I was called here from there, and my year here com- 
 mences with November i — i. e., I was put on the pay- 
 roll of this Church for November i, but I appeared in 
 the pulpit November 23, 1873. I have just preached my 
 twenty-second annual sermon as pastor here. 
 
 I was connected with the Mission as visitor from my 
 entrance to the Seminary, in the autumn of 1869, until 
 the autumn of 1871, when I was made the minister. 
 Immediately after my -graduation from the Seminary, in 
 May, 1872, I was ordained as an evangelist in the Mis- 
 sion, and with me began the observance of the Lord's 
 Supper there. I continued to labor at Bethlehem until 
 called here, as I have mentioned. I first met my wife 
 there, the best gift of God to me next to my Saviour. 
 My wife is not very strong just now, but, if possible, we 
 shall come over Wednesday evening. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 L. R. FOOTE. 
 
 Cleveland, Ohio, November 15, 1895. 
 To Thomas Denny, Chairman. 
 
 Dear Sir : I congratulate the Committee and the pas- 
 tor of the University Place Presbyterian Church upon 
 reaching the fiftieth anniversary of the useful life of this 
 Church, on the site it has held so long against all per- 
 suasive influence to go elsewhere. 
 
 During my Seminary course this was my church for 
 two years, and the Sixth Avenue Mission my field of 
 labor, with a goodly array of fellow-workers. Dr. Potts 
 was then in his prime, and his accomplished daughter, 
 
240 
 
 Mary Kn^cll Potts, in the iiicridian of her sint,ailar and 
 beautiful influence. 
 
 As pastor of a " down-town " Church which has held 
 on its way for seventy-five years, and has just celebrated 
 its three-quarter century anniversary and be^un its next 
 quarter of a century in the same place, I congratulate 
 both Church and pastor. That your strength is still un- 
 abated and your courage equal to your work and its 
 needs is matter for felicitation. Churches so situated 
 and intending to hold the fort may, with good reason 
 and much profit, draw together. 
 
 Thanks for an invitation, which I cannot accept. 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Hiram C. Hayden, 
 
 First Presbyterian Church. 
 
MINISTER. 
 Rev. GEORGE ALEXANDER, D. D. 
 
 ASSISTANT MINISTER. 
 Rev. HERBERT FORD. 
 
 RULING ELDERS. 
 
 Thomas Bond, Clerk. Frederick A. Booth. 
 
 George Calder. Charles A. Davison. 
 
 Moses W. Dodd. Charles M. Earle. 
 
 S. Beach Jones, M. D. George R. Lockwood, Treas. 
 
 DEACONS. 
 Fred. A. Burrall, M. D., Chm. Charles H. Clark. 
 William M. Dodd. Edward H. Evans. 
 
 George Roe Lockwood, M. D. Wm. Hallock Park, M. D. 
 H. Henry Rader, Clerk. Marcus E. Tully, M. D., 
 
 Treas. 
 
 ^^c Corporation. 
 
 Robert Lenox Belknap, Pres. Jonathan H. Crane, Sec. 
 Frederick A. Booth, Treas. 
 
 TRUSTEES. 
 Robert Lenox Belknap.* William F. Havemeyer. 
 
 Jonathan H. Crane. William S. Opdyke. 
 
 Charles A. Davison. George B. Post. 
 
 Thomas Denny. Randolph W. Townsend. 
 
 Henry S. Wilson. 
 
 ' Died, March 13, 1896. 
 
 (©rganigt ano ConDuctor of Spustc. 
 
 William Adrian Smith. 
 
 Mrs. F. a. Brower, Soprano. Miss E. Boyer, Contralto. 
 Mr. Arthur Yule, Tenor. Mr. Edward L. Peck, Bass. 
 
 31 
 
MERCER STREET CHURCH. 
 
 Thomas H. Skinner 1835 to 1848 
 
 Joseph C. Stiles 1848 to 1850 
 
 George L. Prentiss 185 1 to 1858 
 
 Walter Clarke 1859 to i860 
 
 Robert Russell Booth 1861 to 1870 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON UNIVERSITY PLACE. 
 
 George Potts 1845 to 1864 
 
 Alfred H. Kellogg 1865 to 1870 
 
 Robert Russell Booth 1870 to 1883 
 
 George Alexander 1884 
 
 ^ucccj0f^ion of Clticrs. 
 
 MERCER STREET CHURCH. 
 
 Lowell Holbrook 1835 to 1838 
 
 John L Mason 1835 to i860 
 
 Norman White 1835 to i860 
 
 Simeon Hyde 1836 to 1838 
 
 James R. Gibson 1836 to 1856 
 
 Anson G. Phelps 1836 to 1853 
 
 Thomas S. Nelson 1836 to 1844 
 
 George P. Shipman 1836 to 1841 
 
 Francis Markoe 1838 to 1848 
 
 Levi Coit 1838 to 1846 
 
 GusTAVus M. Richards 1838 to 1846 
 
 Charles Butler 1842 to 1857 
 
 Edgcumbe H. Blatchford 1842 to 1853 
 
 Roe Lockwood 1842 to i860 
 
 Joseph B. Sheffield 1850 to i860 
 
 042 
 
243 
 
 Lewis Atterbury 1850 to 1870 
 
 William Shaw 1850 to 1854 
 
 James Wright 1850 to 1856 
 
 John G. Nelson 1856 to 1863 
 
 John H. Sprague 1856 to 1868 
 
 John P. Crosby 1856 to 1864 
 
 Thomas Bond 1856 to 1870 
 
 Charles A. Davison 1856 to 1870 
 
 Marshall S. Bidwell 1862 to 1870 
 
 William L. King 1862 to 1865 
 
 George R. Lockwood 1862 to 1870 
 
 John W. Quincy 1865 to 1870 
 
 Charles P. Hartt 1865 to 1870 
 
 Frederick C. Jones 1865 to 1870 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON UNIVERSITY PLACE. 
 
 William M. Halsted 1845 to 1863 
 
 Henry W. Olcott 1845 to 1849 
 
 Horace Green, M. D 1845 to 1866 
 
 Seth p. Staples 185 1 to 1862 
 
 David N. Lord 1856 to 1880 
 
 Robert M. Brown 1856 to i860 
 
 Charles C. Darling 1856 to 1867 
 
 Latimer Bailey 1866 to 1868 
 
 James Brown 1867 to 1877 
 
 William W. Stone 1867 to 1875 
 
 Theodosius Strang 1867 to 1875 
 
 Alexander R, Rodgers 1867 to 1874 
 
 Otis D, Swan 1 867 to 1878 
 
 William H. Beadleston 1867 to 187 1 
 
 Lewis Atterbury, Jr 1870 to 1884 
 
 Thomas Bond, Jr 1870 
 
 Charles A. Davison 1870 
 
 George R. Lockwood 1870 
 
 John W. Quincy 1870 to 1883 
 
 Charles P. Hartt 1870 to 1872 
 
 Frederick C. Jones 1870 to 1885 
 
 Richard Brown 1873 to 1876 
 
 John H. Dey 1873 to 1882 
 
 William T. Booth 1873 to 1886 
 
 Charles M. Earle 1873 
 
 James T. Smith 1878 to 1892 
 
244 
 
 Edward C. Chapin 1878 to 1883 
 
 Georce B. Hickok 1878 to 1886 
 
 Francis Sylvester Wvnkoop 1881 to 1883 
 
 iMosEs Woodruff Dodd 1881 
 
 Henry S. Sterling 1881 to 1881 
 
 George Calder 1881 
 
 Frederick A. Booth 1885 
 
 Bradford L. Gii.hert 1885 to 1888 
 
 ^iifccBBion of ^m^tcc^, 
 
 mf:rcer street church. 
 
 James Boorman 1836 to 1842 
 
 Eli Wainwright 1836 to 1843 
 
 Alfred Deforest 1836 to 1840 
 
 Gordon Burnham 1836 to 1839 
 
 Thomas F. Nelson 1836 to 1839 
 
 Charles Butler 1836 to 1839 
 
 Asa Bigelow, Jr 1836 to 1840 
 
 Roderick Curtis 1836 to 1838 
 
 John L. Mason 1836 to 1842 
 
 George A. Bickwell 1837 to 1840 
 
 Thomas Denny 1838 to 1841 
 
 Lambert Suydam 1838 to 1841 
 
 David Codwise 1838 to 1841 
 
 Charles H. Booth 1839 to 1842 
 
 Richard Haines 1840 to 1843 
 
 Benjamin F. Butler 1840 to 1843 
 
 William W. Chester 1841 to 1844 
 
 Augustus Averill 1841 to 1844 
 
 Norman White 1842 to 1845 
 
 JosiAH W. Wheeler 1842 to 1844 
 
 Henry M. Scheiffelin 1842 to 1845 
 
 Robert H. McCurdy 1842 to 1844 
 
 John Lowerv 1843 to 1846 
 
 George D. Phelps 1843 to 1846 
 
 Edgcumbe H. Blatchford 1843 to 1846 
 
 William Shaw 1844 to 1847 
 
 Isaac N. Phelps 1844 to 1847 
 
 John P. Crosby 1 844 to 1865 
 
 Joseph B. Sheffield 1844 to 1848 
 
245 
 
 w. r. scribner 
 
 Cornelius Smith 
 
 Roe Lockwood 
 
 Marshall O. Roberts 
 
 Lewis Atterbury, Jr 
 
 Orsamus Bushnell 
 
 John G. Nelson 
 
 John W. Quincy 
 
 Richard Bigelow 
 
 Richard H. Winslow 
 
 Thomas Bond, Jr 
 
 Anson G. Phelps 
 
 Henry Ivison, Jr 
 
 William M. Bliss 
 
 George Gifford 
 
 Orsamus Bushnell 
 
 James Wright 
 
 William L. King 
 
 William Allen Butler. . . 
 
 Cornelius Smith 
 
 George B. De Forest 
 
 John H. Sprague 
 
 George F. Betts 
 
 Abraham V. Van Vechten 
 
 George R. Lockwood 
 
 Charles Miles 
 
 Jacob J. Griffen 
 
 RuFUS Park 
 
 Francis S. Wynkoop 
 
 Francis P. Furnald 
 
 John N. Bradley 
 
 James Buell 
 
 Thomas Denny, Jr 
 
 R. H. L. Townsend 
 
 Otis W. Booth 
 
 Henry C. Southworth .... 
 Justin A. Bliss 
 
 1845 to 
 
 1848 
 
 1845 to 
 
 1848 
 
 1846 to 
 
 1849 
 
 1846 to 
 
 1849 
 
 1846 to 
 
 1852 
 
 1847 to 
 
 1850 
 
 1847 to 
 
 1853 
 
 1847 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1848 to 
 
 I85I 
 
 1848 to 
 
 I85I 
 
 1848 to 
 
 1857 
 
 1849 to 
 
 1852 
 
 1849 to 
 
 1852 
 
 1850 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1851 to 
 
 1854 
 
 185 1 to 
 
 1857 
 
 1852 to 
 
 1855 
 
 1852 to 
 
 1863 
 
 1853 to 
 
 1862 
 
 1853 to 
 
 1856 
 
 1854 to 
 
 1857 
 
 1856 to 
 
 1865 
 
 1857 to 
 
 i860 
 
 1857 to 
 
 i860 
 
 1858 to 
 
 1870 
 
 x86o to 
 
 1863 
 
 i860 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1862 to 
 
 1868 
 
 1863 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1863 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1865 to 
 
 1868 
 
 1865 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1868 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1868 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1869 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1869 to 
 
 1870 
 
 1870 to 
 
 1870 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON UNIVERSITY PLACE. 
 
 James Brown 1844 to 1877 
 
 Gardiner G. Howland 1844 to 1851 
 
 John C. Green 1844 to 1875 
 
 William Curtis Noyes 1844 to 1862 
 
246 
 
 Henry S. Mulligan 
 
 William H. Smith 
 
 Silas Brown 
 
 Edmund Coffin 
 
 William M. Halstead. . . . 
 
 Caleb O. Halsted 
 
 Edwin D. Morgan 
 
 George C. Goddard . . 
 
 Edgar M. Brown 
 
 Oliver P. Woodford 
 
 William H. Smith 
 
 Caleb O. Halsted 
 
 David H. Nevins 
 
 William W. Stone 
 
 George Griswold 
 
 Otis D. Swan 
 
 Ezra White 
 
 Charles N. Fearing 
 
 JACK.SON Bolton 
 
 George Bliss 
 
 Meredith Howland .... 
 
 John B. Hall 
 
 Willard Parker , 
 
 John W. Quincy 
 
 Francis P. Furnald 
 
 Thomas Denny, Jr 
 
 Charles P. Hartt 
 
 James Buell 
 
 R. H. L. Townsend 
 
 John Baird 
 
 Henry S. Wilson 
 
 William Turnbull 
 
 John B. Hall 
 
 Frank F. Van Derveer . 
 Randolph W. Townsend 
 Robert Lenox Belknap. 
 
 Charles A. Davison 
 
 George B, Post 
 
 Stephen A. Walker .... 
 
 Henry S. Wilson 
 
 Thomas Denny 
 
 Jonathan H. Crane 
 
 William F. Havemeyer . 
 William S. Opdyke 
 
 1844 to 
 
 1846 
 
 1844 to 
 
 1850 
 
 1844 to 
 
 i860 
 
 1844 to 
 
 1849 
 
 1844 to 
 
 1850 
 
 1847 to 
 
 1850 
 
 1849 to 
 
 1867 
 
 1850 to 
 
 ■853 
 
 1850 to 
 
 1862 
 
 1850 to 
 
 1856 
 
 1852 to 
 
 1855 
 
 1853 to 
 
 i860 
 
 1856 to 
 
 i860 
 
 1856 to 
 
 1871 
 
 i860 to 
 
 1 87 1 
 
 i860 to 
 
 1873 
 
 1861 to 
 
 1862 
 
 1862 to 
 
 I87I 
 
 1862 to 
 
 1862 
 
 1863 to 
 
 1882 
 
 1864 to 
 
 1864 
 
 1865 to 
 
 1876 
 
 1867 to 
 
 1884 
 
 1871 to 
 
 1883 
 
 1871 to 
 
 1877 
 
 1871 to 
 
 1874 
 
 1872 to 
 
 1872 
 
 1872 to 
 
 1882 
 
 1874 to 
 
 1884 
 
 1876 to 
 
 1884 
 
 1876 to 
 
 1879 
 
 1877 to 
 
 •893 
 
 1878 to 
 
 1889 
 
 1880 to 
 
 1891 
 
 1882 
 
 
 1882 to 
 
 1896 
 
 1883 
 
 
 1884 
 
 
 1884 to 
 
 1893 
 
 1885 
 
 
 1889 
 
 
 I89I 
 
 
 '893 
 
 
 1895 
 
 
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