12. I ^f 
 
 LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Purchased by the 
 Mrs. Robert Lenox Kennedy Church History Fund. 
 
 Division..^..^^...^... 
 
 BX 9211 .N49 W42 1906 
 Webster, George Sidney, 185 
 
 Forty years of Covenant | 
 - Mt mercies 
 
CHURCH OF THE COVENANT, 
 306-330 East42d Street. 
 
/^ ^ 
 
 I 1 "-^'M 
 
 Jf ortp |9ears of Cobenant Jflercies 
 
 A Description of Historic Memorials in the 
 
 Church of the Covenant, 
 
 New York City 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE SIDNEY VVEBSTER, D.D., Pastor 
 
 AND 
 
 Addresses Delivered January 28th, 1906 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM ROGERS RICHARDS, D.D. 
 
 AND 
 
 J. CLEVELAND CADY, LLD. 
 
 Printed for Private Distribution 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 MCMVI 
 
Jforetoorb 
 
 RECIOUS memories of persons and events are 
 associated with the Church of the Covenant 
 building and many of its furnishings. They 
 indicate something of the evolution of a 
 Family Church among the busy toilers of the East 
 Side in New York, through the steps of Mission, 
 Chapel, Collegiate Church, and now Affiliated Church, 
 which ranks in numbers and efficiency with the aver- 
 age of the Presbyterian churches in the city. These 
 memorials are an eloquent testimony to the conse- 
 crated wisdom and loyalty of the faithful men and 
 women who have tried to build up a Church that is 
 exemplifying its motto inscribed over the pulpit, 
 "Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a Perpetual 
 Covenant." 
 
 George S. Webster. 
 
 Church of the Covenant Study. 
 May I, 1906. 
 
Cijurcl) of tfje Covenant 
 
 T a service held in the chapel of the Home 
 of the Friendless, Twenty-ninth Street near 
 Madison Avenue, on November 25th. i860, 
 the Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D., preached 
 a sermon in which he said : "We inaugurate to-day a 
 new Christian service. We do it in the hope that out 
 of this humble beginning may spring up in due time 
 another sanctuary in honor of our blessed Master; 
 and that into that new sanctuary may be gathered a 
 congregation of faithful people, who shall worship the 
 Lord in the beauty of holiness." The preaching serv- 
 ices continued for about a year in the Home of the 
 Friendless, when the place of worship was changed to 
 Dodworth's Hall, on the southwest corner of Fifth 
 Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street. Here on February 
 23d, 1862, it was determined to organize a church 
 under the pastoral care of Dr. Prentiss. The church 
 was organized March 21st, 1862, with eighty-three 
 members. Dr. Prentiss was elected pastor March 
 30th, 1862. The name "Church of the Covenant" was 
 adopted April 4th, and the pastor was installed May 
 nth, 1862. The corner stone of the Church at the 
 northwest corner of Thirty-fifth Street and Park Ave- 
 nue, was laid November 5th, 1863. The following 
 hymn was written for this occasion by the pastor's 
 wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss. 
 
Ctje Corner=^tone 
 
 "A temple, Lord, we raise ; 
 Let all the walls be praise 
 
 To Thee alone. 
 Draw near, O Christ, we pray, 
 To lead us on our way. 
 And be Thou now and aye 
 
 Our Corner-stone. 
 
 In humble faith arrayed 
 We these foundations laid 
 
 In war's dark day ; 
 Oppression's reign o'erthrown. 
 Sweet peace once more our own. 
 Do Thou the topmost stone 
 
 Securely lay. 
 
 And when each earth-built wall, 
 Crumbling to dust, shall fall, 
 
 Our work still own ; 
 Be to each faithful heart 
 That here hath wrought its part 
 What in Thy Church Thou art— 
 
 A Corner-stone." 
 
 The first services were held in the Chapel which was 
 completed May 22d, 1864. The Church was dedicated 
 April 30th, 1865. The parsonage adjoining the 
 Church on Thirty-fifth Street was completed two years 
 later. The entire cost of Church and parsonage was 
 $160,000. The last services were held in this Church 
 Sunday, February nth, 1894, and Wednesday eve- 
 ning, February 14th, 1894. This Church was con- 
 solidated with the Brick Presbyterian Church April 
 I2th, 1894. The property was sold for $315,000, of 
 which $290,000 became a part of the endowment fund 
 of the consolidated churches. The pictures of this 
 Church are from photographs taken by Mr. Alfred R. 
 Kimball in 1887 and 1889. 
 
GEORGE LEWIS PRENTISS, D.D. 
 
Rev, George L. Prentiss, D.D. 
 
 In 1858 the seven years pastorate of the Rev. Dr. 
 Prentiss, at the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church, 
 New York, came to an end by his resignation on 
 account of his health. He returned from Europe in 
 i860, and his friends persuaded him to preach to them. 
 As a result the Church of the Covenant was organized, 
 and he was installed pastor May nth, 1862. This 
 position he filled with distinguished ability until 
 February 12th, 1873, when he resigned to accept the 
 "Skinner and McAlpin Professorship of Pastoral 
 Theology, Church Polity, and Mission Work," in the 
 Union Theological Seminary of New York. He con- 
 tinued in active service in the Seminary until his re- 
 tirement, as Professor Emeritus, January 12th, 1897. 
 But through his writings and personal wise counsel 
 he gave invaluable assistance to this institution until 
 his death on March i8th, 1903. During the last years 
 of his life Dr. Prentiss was most lovingly interested 
 in the work of this Church, which was begun during 
 his pastorate. His portrait in the middle parlor was 
 presented by a former member of his session, Mr. 
 William H. Helme Moore, on April 19th, 1903, when 
 the entire day was devoted to services in honor of his 
 memory, A full report of these services, including 
 the addresses of the Rev. Charles A. Stoddard, D.D., 
 and of Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, were published in the 
 New York Observer, April 23d, 1903, to whose cour- 
 tesy we are indebted for the accompanying picture of 
 the first pastor and always the loving friend of the two 
 Churches of the Covenant. 
 
Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. 
 
 The second pastor, the Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, 
 D.D., was installed May 8th, 1873. With splendid 
 scholarly pulpit ability and loving pastoral efficiency 
 he served the Church until November, 1887, when he 
 resigned to become the "Baldwin Professor of Sacred 
 Literature" in the Union Theological Seminary, New 
 York, a position which he is now filling with distinc- 
 tion and honor. Sunday morning, January 27th, 
 1 90 1, Dr. Vincent preached the Thirty-fifth Anni- 
 versary sermon from the text Genesis 32 :g, 10. In 
 this sermon he said: "It is nearly thirty years since I 
 came to the Church of the Covenant. It is thirteen 
 years since I laid down its pastorate. The fifteen 
 years of my stay and labor there are crowded with 
 delightful memories. It is all behind me now, but 
 there is one consolation for every faithful workman 
 in Christ's vineyard, that his work is not lost, however 
 his immediate associations may be broken up; that it 
 reproduces itself in other forms, and in other years." 
 The portrait of Dr. Vincent, in our middle parlor, 
 was the gift of friends who were members of the 
 Church of the Covenant during his pastorate, and was 
 presented to us December, 1903. 
 
 Rev. James Hall McIlvaine, D.D. 
 
 On December 17th, 1888, Dr. McIlvaine was in- 
 stalled pastor and continued in this relationship until 
 the consolidation of the Church of the Covenant with 
 the Brick Church, April 12th, 1894, when, with the 
 Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D., he became co-ordinate 
 pastor of the Brick Church. During his pastorate 
 there was inaugurated the collegiate system in the 
 Church by the regular call through the Presbytery 
 
CHURCH OF THE COVEXAXT, 18S"J, 
 Park Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street. 
 
of Rev. George S. Webster as associate pastor to have 
 charge of the congregation worshipping at Covenant 
 Chapel. This was an important step in the develop- 
 ment of the present Church. It recognized the desire 
 of the people worshipping in the Mission Chapel for 
 more permanent Church organization. It also gave 
 their pastor a better standing in the Presbytery and 
 in the city. By this plan there was held to the Church 
 several families who had determined to unite with 
 other churches unless the Mission system was changed. 
 They became a valuable nucleus for the effective pres- 
 ent organization. Dr. Mcllvaine endeared himself to 
 both congregations of the one Church of the Covenant 
 by his wise administration, his eloquent and practical 
 preaching and his faithful pastoral oversight. His 
 portrait, in the middle parlor, was the gift of his 
 friends in the first Church of the Covenant. Dr. 
 Mcllvaine is now the Rector of Calvary Protestant 
 Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, Pa. 
 
 Corner=^tone 
 
 The only visible memorial of the walls of the 
 Church of the Covenant at Thirty-fifth Street and Park 
 Avenue is the cornerstone which is placed in the west 
 wall of the vestibule. This was first laid November 
 5th, 1863. It was transferred to this Church Decem- 
 ber 1 6th, 1894. It contains the original historical 
 matter which was deposited in it when first laid, and 
 subsequent historical matter relating both to the 
 Church and Covenant Chapel down to the date of its 
 transference. Originally it was a rough stone with- 
 out inscription, and we are indebted for it to the 
 watchful care of Mr. Charles R. Culyer, sexton of the 
 Church during its entire history. The present inscrip- 
 
tion was a labor of love wrought by the hands of 
 Mr. John A. Lang, a Deacon of this Church. The 
 stone was set in its present niche by Mr. Daniel Keller, 
 one of the early converts of the work and who is now 
 Deacon of this Church. Mr. Charles Butler, LL.D., 
 President of the Board of Trustees of the Church 
 during its entire history, in their behalf presented this 
 cornerstone to the Trustees of this Church, who were 
 represented by their President, Mr. J. Cleveland Cady. 
 Dr. Butler, then in the 93d year of his age, closed his 
 address with these words : 
 
 " In conclusion, remember that, as this corner-stone was laid 
 in the foundation of the first Church, so let it be a symbol in its 
 new position, of that true spiritual Corner-stone on which all 
 Christian Life, corporate or individual, must rest. And further, 
 as this new Church of the Covenant was in its germ one of the 
 first and sweetest fruits of the parent Church, and from its begin- 
 ning has been richly crowned with the favor and blessing of the 
 Master, now that it has for its inheritance embodied in its Corner- 
 stone the full record of its ancestry, may that record in its future 
 be made brighter and brighter, ever reflecting the light and the 
 glory of Him for whose service and glory it was founded." 
 
 Jfaitf) Cablet 
 
 On the north wall of the auditorium, near the en- 
 trance, is the marble bas-relief "Faith," the work of 
 the famous sculptor E. D. Palmer. It was purchased in 
 1858 by Mr. Wm. Curtis Noyes, one of the founders 
 of the Church of the Covenant. Placed in his library 
 it expressed the motto of his life till he "fell asleep" 
 December 25th, 1864. In 1865 it was placed in the 
 Church of the Covenant, north wall, under the gallery, 
 where it remained till the Church was demolished. 
 The family desired that it be given to this Church. 
 The present frame was designed by Mr. J. C. Cady. 
 The tablet was unveiled December i6th, 1894. Mr. 
 
 10 
 

Noyes was a famous lawyer, who declined the honor 
 of being a Chief Justice of the United States, and who 
 was an esteemed and valued friend of many of the 
 leading men of the nation. His personal character 
 was thus described by his pastor. Dr. Prentiss : "He 
 was an humble follower of Christ, and for a long period 
 an active and consecrated member of the Church. He 
 loved the House of God, and was a regular attendant 
 upon and participant in its weekly meetings. He was 
 a priest in his household, leading with earnest delight 
 the devotions of his family, and was engaged even 
 beyond the knowledge of any but the most intimate 
 friends in contributing of his substance to the ad- 
 vancement of the cause of Christ both in this and in 
 foreign lands." 
 
 Pajptisfmal Jfont 
 
 Our Baptismal Font was presented to the Church 
 of the Covenant by Elders Benjamin F. Butler and 
 Robert Gordon. It was used for the first time on 
 the afternoon of Sunday, April 2d, 1876, at the Com- 
 munion Service. On this occasion there were received 
 on profession of their faith three sons of Elder Butler, 
 viz., Benjamin F. Butler, Jr., Robert Gordon Butler, 
 and Allan Macy Butler; also their cousin, Elizabeth 
 B. Crosby, daughter of Elder John P. Crosby, and 
 William Gordon, the oldest son of Elder Robert Gor- 
 don; also Charles R. Culyer, and Samantha Culyer, 
 his wife, who was the first person baptized from the 
 font. In 1894, after the consolidation of the Church 
 of the Covenant and the Brick Church, the font was 
 given to this Church. Its motto, "One Lord, one 
 Faith, one Baptism," fittingly memorializes that union. 
 
 11 
 
Covenant iWiMon 
 
 VER a stable at 206 East Fortieth Street on 
 January 28th, 1866, was held the first session 
 of the Sunday School, out of which has 
 grown this Church. The following officers 
 and teachers were present : Henry A. Backus, J. Cleve- 
 land Cady, Henry A. Crosby, William O. Curtis, John 
 C. Eastman, Edward C. Miles, Miss Isabel N. Miles, 
 Miss Annie L. Prentiss (Mrs. Henry), William Allen 
 Smith, Miss Mallville M. W. Smith (Mrs. McClellan), 
 William R. Sheffield, and Charles Woolsey. Mr. 
 Woolsey was the first Superintendent, but held the 
 office for only a few months when he was succeeded 
 by Mr. Cady, who has been in continuous service till 
 the present time. 
 
 Upon the walls of our Infant Class Room upstairs 
 are six framed water-colors, the work of Superin- 
 tendent Cady, to illustrate the Sunday School les- 
 sons and to point the way for our present lithographic 
 pictures. These once adorned the walls of the Cov- 
 enant Mission. They are entitled "The End of the 
 Flood," "Abraham and Isaac," "The Finding of 
 Moses," "Moses Receiving the Ten Commandments," 
 "Samuel and Eli," and "David and Goliath." 
 
 iWemorial ©ablet 
 
 On the south wall of the Auditorium near the 
 Library door is a tablet erected as "A loving tribute 
 from her fellow teachers" to the memory of Mrs. Julia 
 B. Cady, whose work was connected entirely with the 
 Mission in Fortieth Street, where this tablet was first 
 placed. One of our most precious inheritances from 
 the Covenant Mission is the collection of Hymns for 
 
 12 
 
use in the Sunday School, which has been preserved 
 on banners prepared by Dr. Charles O. Kimball or 
 members of his family. 
 
 The composition of words and music of our 214 
 hymns has many sources and represents much earnest 
 thought and many hours of valuable time. We give 
 one, the words and music of which was written for 
 the School in the Mission at Fortieth Street. It was 
 sung at the dedication of this building, and is still in 
 use in our Sunday School. 
 
 tEfje #uilre, Jf rienb anb Wiap 
 
 By Julia B. Cady 
 
 There is a tender Shepherd 
 
 Who watches o'er His sheep, 
 And they need fear no evil, 
 
 Who in His pastures keep ; 
 Christ Jesus is that Shepherd, 
 
 Oh ! grant, dear Lord, that we 
 Within Thy living Pastures 
 
 May, safe and happy be. 
 
 There is a Friend most loving, 
 
 A Friend that's ever near ; 
 To all our wants and sorrows 
 
 He bows a listening ear. 
 That Friend is Christ, our Saviour, 
 
 His heart is full of love ; 
 Dear Jesus, may we prize Thee, 
 
 All other friends above. 
 
 O blessed, holy Jesus, 
 
 Thou Shepherd kind and strong, 
 Thou Friend so true and loving, 
 
 May we to Thee belong ; 
 Our only hope of Heaven, 
 
 The Life, the Truth, the Way, 
 May we with sins forgiven. 
 
 Praise Thee in endless day. 
 
 13 
 
Covenant Cfjapel 
 
 HIS Church building is an evidence of the 
 success of the work of the Covenant Mission 
 which outgrew its quarters in Fortieth Street. 
 In the Session Records of February 5th. 
 1870, is found the following minute: "A Committee 
 from the Mission School, consisting of Messrs. Lovell, 
 Cady, Farnsworth, and Storrs, appeared and made a 
 written statement showing the need which exists for 
 providing the Mission School with better accommo- 
 dations and giving details of a plan for erecting a 
 suitable building. The statement was received and 
 ordered on file, and its subject matter fully discussed. 
 Dr. Post offered the following resolution: "That in 
 the judgment of the session it is expedient to make 
 an effort at the present time to raise the money neces- 
 sary to carry into effect the plan proposed for building 
 a mission chapel. The sum being $35,000, the build- 
 ing to be called the Memorial Chapel of the Church 
 of the Covenant." 
 
 This name, Memorial Chapel, links our building 
 with one of the greatest events in the history of the 
 Presbyterian Church. In May, 1869, the new School 
 Presbyterian Assembly met in the Church of the Cov- 
 enant, and at the same time the old School Presby- 
 terian Assembly met in the Brick Church in this city. 
 At these meetings the union between the old and the 
 new schools was determined upon. This re-union of 
 the two great branches of the Presbyterian Church, 
 that had been separated for thirty-two years, was the 
 occasion of great rejoicing. Among other tokens of 
 that joy was the raising of a memorial fund for ex- 
 tending Christ's Kingdom. Covenant Chapel was 
 named Memorial in honor of that great event. 
 
 14 
 
3 — 
 ^ X 
 
The lots and building cost about $50,000. The 
 plans were drawn by Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, it being 
 the first Church he designed for New York City. His 
 heart being in the work to be done in this building, 
 the architect gave his best thought to the plans that 
 would care for the work. He departed from the con- 
 ventional seating, introducing the social grouping and 
 the reversible pews for Sunday School classes. Dr. 
 Prentiss called it "One of the architectural gems of the 
 city." It was for some time a model for other 
 churches. On Sunday, December 24th, 1871, the dedi- 
 cation services were held. Dr. Prentiss preached the 
 sermon and the Hon. Wm. E. Dodge made an ad- 
 dress. From that day to the present the building has 
 been under the watchful eye of its architect, the results 
 of which are seen in its tasteful decorations and fur- 
 nishings. Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, a celebrated writer, 
 the wife of the pastor and teacher of an adult class in 
 the Sunday School, composed the following hymn for 
 the dedication: 
 
 ©ebicatton ^pmn 
 
 By Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss 
 
 " Thankfully, O Lord, we come 
 To this new and happy home : 
 Wilt Thou not from Heaven descend. 
 Here to dwell as friend with friend, 
 Granting us the wondrous grace 
 To behold Thee face to face ? 
 
 Teach us here to praise and pray, 
 How to live from day to day, 
 Teach us who and what Thou art. 
 Write Thy name on every heart. 
 Make us pure, and clean, and white. 
 Blessed Jesus in Thy sight. 
 
 IS 
 
May the weary here find rest 
 On the tender Shepherd's breast, 
 May the erring cease to stray, 
 Learning here the perfect way, 
 And the mourner find that here 
 Jesus wipes away the tear. 
 
 And when life's short day is o'er, 
 And we hither come no more, 
 Father, Saviour, loving Friend, 
 Guide us to our journey's end, 
 Thankful that we often came 
 Here to learn Thy blessed name." 
 
 Rev. Howard A. Talbot. 
 
 In 1867 Mr. Benjamin F. McNeil, a Union Theo- 
 logical Seminary Student, was engaged to assist in 
 the work of the Sunday School and prayer meetings 
 of the Covenant Mission. He was succeeded by Mr. 
 George E. Northrup, who bore the title of Chapel Mis- 
 sionary 1868-9. Mr. George S. Payson, Mr. J. Henry 
 House, Mr. Edgar A. Hamilton, Mr. William Plested, 
 and Mr. William H. Ford followed as Chapel Mis- 
 sionaries until May 4th, 1875, when the Rev. Howard 
 A. Talbot was ordained and began as Chapel Pastor. 
 In October, 1875, Mr. Talbot requested that the Lord's 
 Supper be celebrated at the Chapel. The first session 
 meeting was held here November 8th, 1875, R^v. 
 Mr. Talbot, and Elders Dr. Alfred C. Post and Mr. 
 W. H. Helme Moore were present. At this meeting 
 thirteen members were received, of whom five were 
 upon confession of their faith. Before this date seventy 
 persons belonging to the Chapel congregation had 
 united with the Church, making the nucleus of the 
 present Church of the Covenant eighty-three members, 
 being the same in numbers as the charter members of 
 the Church of the Covenant that was organized thir- 
 
 16 
 
teen years before. Mr. Talbot gave six and one-half 
 years of most devoted service, resigning in October, 
 
 1 88 1, on account of ill-health. From 1 881-1889 he 
 was pastor at Merrill, Wis., and in 1889 he became 
 pastor of the Presbyterian Church at DePere, Wis., 
 where he is much beloved and very successful. The 
 portraits of the Chapel Pastors, Talbot, McEwen, and 
 Rogers, are the gift of friends in this Church. 
 
 Rev. Henry T. McEwen. 
 
 On November 17th, 1881, the Rev. Henry T. 
 McEwen of the class of 1881 of the Union Theologi- 
 cal Seminary, was ordained by the Presbytery of New 
 York, and began work as minister at Covenant Chapel, 
 immediately succeeding the Rev. Howard A. Talbot. 
 He labored most successfully till July, 1887, when he 
 resigned to accept the call of the Fourteenth Street 
 Presbyterian Church of New York. During his min- 
 istry there was secured the services of lady visitors, 
 one of whom. Miss Anna M. Juppe, began March ist, 
 
 1882, and has continued until the present time, a 
 most valuable help in the administration of benevo- 
 lences and in pastoral and Sunday School work. Mr. 
 McEwen laid good foundations for the development 
 of the Church that has since grown up here. During 
 his ministry 212 members were added to the Church 
 roll. Dr. McEwen is now the pastor of the Second 
 Presbyterian Church, Amsterdam, N. Y. 
 
 Rev. Edwin E. Rogers. 
 
 The ministry of the Rev. Edwin E. Rogers began 
 November, 1887, and continued until October, 1889. 
 He was a fine preacher and did good work, but a 
 severe affliction in the accidental death of an only 
 
 17 
 
child, and a call to a Church in Zanesville, Ohio, made 
 his ministry of brief duration. In 1891 he sent this 
 message to us : 
 
 "I feel a familiar interest in Covenant Chapel and in the 
 people who worship there. How well do I recall the experiences 
 in many homes near that place. As I think of my short work 
 there I seem to see my experiences and the experiences of many 
 others mingling. We bowed in the awful presence of the Great 
 God together. I look forward to a time when in another place 
 we may all join with the loved ones who have been taken over 
 before us in such hallelujahs as the redeemed will sing before 
 the great white throne. Our tears will be wiped away then. I 
 shall never cease to pray for Covenant Chapel, for those who 
 worship there, and for those who give care, labor, money and 
 their prayers to its work," 
 
 Dr. Rogers is now pastor of the Presbyterian 
 Church, Bowling Green, Ohio. 
 
 Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D., LL.D. 
 
 One of the most important events in the history of 
 this Church grew out of the consolidation of the 
 Church of the Covenant at Thirty-fifth Street and Park 
 Avenue with the Brick Church at Thirty-seventh • 
 Street and Fifth Avenue, which was effected April 
 1 2th. 1894. 
 
 The relation of the Brick Church to this Church 
 was expressed officially in the articles of consolidation 
 as follows: "The work heretofore carried on at the 
 Covenant Chapel in East Forty-second Street is to 
 receive from the Brick Church that cordial sympathy 
 and financial support which it has heretofore had from 
 the Church of the Covenant." This covenant has 
 been more than fulfilled by the generous support of the 
 members of the Brick Church led by their pastors, 
 who have been most cordial, loving and loyal in their 
 sympathies and interest in the work. The pastor of 
 
 18 
 
the Brick Church who suggested the happy name 
 of "affihation" for this relationship was Dr. van Dyke, 
 whose portrait, in our middle parlor, was given us by 
 friends in the Brick Church. From the many pleasant 
 things that might be said attesting his loving help to 
 this Church we select the correspondence that was had 
 upon the occasion of his resignation. 
 
 New York, January 6, 1900. 
 To THE Rkv. Henry van Dyke, D.D. LL.D. : 
 
 Dear Dr. van Dyke— We hereby express to you, in behalf of 
 the Church of the Covenant, our grateful appreciation of your 
 cordial sympathy, loyal interest and generous support, which has 
 cheered, comforted and strengthened us in our work during the 
 past six years. 
 
 The plan of affiliation, which you inaugurated, and under 
 which we have been associated with the Brick Presbyterian Church , 
 was a most happy solution of a difficult problem, and has been 
 blessed of God to the furtherance of the Gospel of His Son in 
 this city. 
 
 We deeply regret the severing of the personal relations that 
 
 have inspired us and blessed our Church, and we shall follow you 
 
 with affectionate regard and with earnest prayer for the richest 
 
 Divine blessing to ever abide in your home and upon your work. 
 
 Cordially yours, 
 
 Geo. Sidney Webster, Pastor. 
 
 Geo. H. Yewell, Daniel H. Wiesner, 
 
 Chas. S. McKay, Lloyd W. Fisher, 
 
 Elders. 
 
 Chas. W. Pack, Jas. W. Walker, 
 
 Geo. W. Elkins, J. Eaton Jessup, 
 
 Jos. B. Adsit, Emile J. De Lherbe, 
 
 Deacons. 
 
 J. Cleveland Cady, Chairman Board Trustees, 
 
 Sunday-School Stiperintendent . 
 
 Chas. O. Kimball, Assistant Sunday-School 
 
 Superintendent . 
 Alfred R. Kimball, Treasurer, 
 
 A. R. Ledoux, D. J. Holden, Trustees. 
 
 Anna M. Juppe, Visitor. 
 
 19 
 
Stanworth, Princeton, N. J. 
 
 My Dear Friend : 
 
 To you, and to the Church of the Covenant, my love and 
 hearty thanks for your letter. It came to me on a day of pain and 
 brought real comfort. For the providence that brought me into 
 relations with the Church of the Covenant I shall ever be grateful. 
 You have done me good and not evil, all the years that we have 
 been together. From you I have learned much and received true 
 help. God bless you all in your work for the Master, and keep 
 us always good friends in the fellowship of service. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 Henry van Dyke. 
 January 15, 1900. 
 
 To Rev. George S. Webster and the Church of the Covenant, 
 men, women and little children in the unity of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock, D.D. 
 
 Dr. Babcock began his service in the Brick Church 
 as pastor-elect, Sunday January 14th, 1900, and was 
 installed pastor February 27th, 1900. During his brief 
 pastorate, which ended with his death at Naples, Italy, 
 May 1 8th, 1901, he was the affectionate and interested 
 friend of this Church. On Sunday evening, March 
 nth, 1900, at an Anniversary service in this Church, 
 he gave a most thrilling address, of which the follow- 
 ing is a brief report : 
 
 a greeting and a prophecy. 
 
 "Nothing could be pleasanter or easier to bring you than a 
 greeting this evening. Greetings are some of the most delightful 
 things in life. I confess I cannot pass a dog without whistling to 
 him, or a cat without wanting to pat it, or a child without a smile. 
 I more than greet you to-night — I felicitate you, I more than 
 felicitate you, I congratulate you. I rejoice with you in what 
 God has done for you and through you in these years that have 
 passed. 
 
 "But prophesying is another matter. Of the two kinds of 
 prophesying, fore-telling and forth-telling, the only one that I dare 
 venture upon is the latter, the practical kind, the forth-telling. 
 
 20 
 
That was the principal business of the prophets of old times, 
 who did not so much tell God's people minute events that would 
 happen in the future, but announce, trumpet forth, forth-tell the 
 consequence that would come upon them in obeying or disobey- 
 ing God's great laws. 
 
 " The weather bureau does not guess the future, but watches 
 conditions all over the country, and from the disposition of the 
 winds, the rise and fall of temperature, the air pressure and the 
 like, calculates along the lines of God's working laws, the ten- 
 dencies and consequences of visible and immediate conditions. 
 Let me then tell you, forth-tell you, and may I not make it fore- 
 telling, that if you are loyal to your pastor, encouraging him in 
 every way ; if you are faithful as church members in your meeting 
 and greeting of strangers as they come to this church, inviting 
 non-church goers to make a church-home with you ; and best of 
 all, if in your daily life you show what God can do through the 
 Spirit of Jesus Christ and His Church and His ministry to make 
 you good, useful, joyful Christians, the future of this church will 
 be brighter and brighter, and its last ten years be but a bud to 
 unfold in new beauty and fragrance and fruitage in the years to 
 come." 
 
 Dr. Babcock's portrait, in the middle parlor, is the 
 gift of the Babcock Sunshine Circle, a band of girls 
 in this Church organized in his memory and who are 
 trying to live the sunny Christian life for which he 
 was so famous. 
 
 Cijurcj) jFurnisJfjingsf 
 
 The organ was built in 1887 by George S. Hutch- 
 ings, of Boston, after plans prepared by Mr. J. Cleve- 
 land Cady. It costs $1,670, and was the result of 
 much self-sacrifice on the part of the congregation and 
 their friends who raised the money under the leadership 
 of Pastor McEwen. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 
 1905 by Kastengren and Peterson, of New York, at a 
 cost of $600. The plans were prepared by our organ- 
 ist, Mr. Reginald L. McAll, and approved by Mr. S. 
 Archer Gibson, the Brick Church organist, and by Mr. 
 J. Cleveland Cady. 
 
 21 
 
The Communion Table was designed especially for 
 this Church by Mr, J. Cleveland Cady, and was the 
 gift, in 1 89 1, of ten families of the Covenant Chapel 
 congregation who contributed $45 for this memorial 
 to their "loved and lost awhile." 
 
 The silver communion service was presented to the 
 Church March 7th, 1892, by our Assistant Sunday 
 School Superintendent, Dr. Charles O. Kimball, and 
 our Treasurer, Mr. Alfred R. Kimball, as a memorial 
 to members of their own family. It was used for the 
 first time April loth, 1892, on the occasion of the or- 
 dination and installation of Dr. Daniel H. Wiesner, 
 as Elder, and of Mr. Charles W. Pack, as Deacon. 
 The communion was served by Elders Charles O. 
 Kimball, Alfred E. Marling, Henry D. Noyes, and 
 Daniel H. Wiesner. 
 
 The women of the Covenant Chapel congregation 
 raised $600 in November, 1892, for the new pews, 
 which were used for the first time February 19th, 
 1893. The women also raised the money for the piano 
 in the parlor and for the cushions and carpet. The 
 pulpit, designed by J. Cleveland Cady, valued at $qo. 
 was made and presented by a member of the congre- 
 gation, Mr. A. Grieshaber, in the Autumn of 1892. 
 
 The tablet containing the Lord's Prayer, in the front 
 parlor, was designed and carved by Mr. Nicholas Fred- 
 erick Loi, who united with the Church at Covenant 
 Chapel, June 13th, 1886, and was a most faithful and 
 loyal member until his death in the Home for Incur- 
 ables, February 5th, 1905. The tablet was presented 
 to Pastor Webster, February 12th, 1894, and by him 
 given to the Church. 
 
 22 
 
FRANCIS HKNRY MARLING, D.l). 
 
®f)e iWarling iWemorial parlor 
 
 UL 
 
 T the Thirty-fifth Anniversary service, held 
 Sunday morning January 27th, 1901, the 
 sermon was preached by the Rev. Marvin 
 R. Vincent, D.D., the Scriptures were read 
 by the Rev. Wallace W. Atterbury, D.D., prayer of- 
 fered by the Rev. Professor Francis Brown, D.D., 
 LL.D., and the benediction pronounced by the Rev. 
 Francis H. Marling, D.D. As Dr. Marling came into 
 the pulpit for this service the sun shone upon his face, 
 lighting it up with a heavenly radiance, which was re- 
 marked by many who saw him. Those words of bless- 
 ing, prompted by his loving interest in this Church 
 for many years, were the last pulpit utterances of this 
 noble man of God. The next Sunday morning as he 
 was walking from the manse to the Presbyterian 
 Church at Port Chester, N. Y., to deliver a memorial 
 address upon the Queen of England, he was suddenly 
 called home. From 1875 to 1887 Dr. Marling was 
 the beloved pastor of the Fourteenth Street Presby- 
 terian Church, New York. His successor, the Rev. 
 Henry T. McEwen, was called there from Covenant 
 Chapel. Members of his family belonged to the 
 Church of the Covenant and taught in the Covenant 
 Chapel Sunday School. He was one of a great host 
 of loving friends, who were not directly and intimately 
 associated in the work here, but who aided it occasion- 
 ally, and who took an affectionate and loyal interest 
 in it. His son, Mr. Alfred E. Marling, was for sev- 
 eral years the teacher of the Young Ladies' Bible Class. 
 He has furnished the South Parlor, our Young Ladies' 
 Bible Class Room, with pictures as a memorial to his 
 father and our friend. Three of them are copies of 
 famous paintings, "Christ in the Temple," Hofmann, 
 
 23 
 
"Christ Stilling the Storm" and "The Good Shepherd," 
 Dietrich. The remaining pictures are enlargements 
 of kodak photographs taken in the Spring of 1901 
 during a trip to Egypt and Palestine, and are illus- 
 trative of the Scripture texts with which they are 
 labeled. "Gethsemane, the Kedron Valley and the 
 Walls of Jerusalem," Luke 19 :37, was taken by the 
 Rev. Dr. Maltbie D. Babcock from the western slope 
 of the Mount of Olives. The remaining pictures were 
 taken by the Rev. George S. Webster. "Water Wheel 
 on the Nile," Psalm 65:9; "Plain of Sharon," "Naz- 
 areth Oven," Luke 12:28; "Plowing at Bedrashen, 
 Egypt," Luke 9:62; "The Wilderness of Judea," 
 Matthew 3:3; "Samos," Acts 20:15; "Syrian Shep- 
 herd Calling His Flock," John 10:14; "Libyan Desert 
 at Thebes, Egypt," Isaiah 32 :2 ; "Olive Tree in Geth- 
 semane," Matthew 26 :36 ; "Galilean Fishermen Mend- 
 ing Their Nets," Mark I :iq; "Dr. Babcock at the East 
 Gate Damascus," Acts 9:11; "Glacier and Mountains, 
 Switzerland," Psalm 72 :3 ; "Bethlehem Sheep Mar- 
 ket," Luke 2:15; "Virgin's Fountain, Nazareth." 
 Luke 2:51. 
 
 24 
 
iatfiliateb Cfjutcljeg 
 
 Sermon by Rev. William R. Richards, D.D. 
 
 Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church 
 
 Sunday Evening, January 28th, 1906. 
 
 " In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet 
 resort ye thither unto us." Nehemiah, 4: 20. 
 
 HEY were building the wall of Jerusalem; and 
 the wall was long while these Jews were few. 
 At some unexpected point their enemies 
 might break in and destroy their work. There- 
 fore Nehemiah arranged this signal of the trumpet. 
 He shows thereby the instincts of a great soldier, for 
 the captain who can most promptly mass his forces at 
 the point of collision is likely to win the battle. 
 
 You have asked me to speak at this Anniversary, 
 and to say how the work of the Church of the 
 Covenant looks from my point of view. The serious 
 problem before all the Christian people of New York, 
 from my point of view, is the comparative inefficiency 
 of the church in our great cities. In the country at 
 large the church is gaining on the population. In 
 1850 there was one church for 614 inhabitants; in 
 1870, one for 611 ; in 1880, one for 438. Later statis- 
 tics would probably show a similar gain. But for the 
 principal cities the figures are, 1850, one church for 
 3,680 inhabitants; in 1870, one for 5,104; in 1880, one 
 for 5,375, a steady loss. The most distressing circum- 
 stance is, that in the worst parts of the cities, we find 
 the conditions growing steadily more and more un- 
 favorable. For the few churches left in such a neigh- 
 borhood find it increasingly difficult to maintain them- 
 selves ; and therefore are always tending to move away 
 to some more religious and congenial environment. 
 
 25 
 
South of Fourteenth Street there were in 1888 two 
 hundred thousand more people than there had been 
 twenty years earlier, but there were fourteen less 
 Protestant churches. Very lately we have heard of 
 one church from the neighborhood of Thirtieth 
 Street West moving up to Washington Heights; and 
 the old First Church itself must appeal for help from 
 outside that it may not be forced to a similar migra- 
 tion. So in the city the prospects of the church seem 
 to be bad now, and constantly tending to grow worse. 
 The trouble seems to be that there is no common man- 
 agement such as might combine their various resources 
 into one efficient army. Each little church is left to 
 defend its own short section of the wall unaided. We 
 have no Nehemiah's trumpet, and therefore our ene- 
 mies get together more promptly than we. Yet the 
 city possesses some immense advantages. With re- 
 gard to many human interests we look to it for the 
 most encouraging progress. "In the city democracy 
 is organizing. It is becoming conscious of its powers. 
 There the industrial issues will first be worked out," 
 and there was a time when the Christian church also 
 made its best showing in the cities. It was in those 
 early centuries when Christianity was making its first 
 conquest of the ancient world. In the New Testa- 
 ment itself, all the great churches that we read of are 
 in great cities, such as Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, 
 Rome. Indeed, these centers of population became 
 Christianized so rapidly that the word "pagan," or 
 countryman came to mean "heathen." 
 
 Now, if we ask for the explanation of that rapid 
 progress of the ancient church at the very point where 
 we suffer the most discouraging defeat, we find that 
 in those days they had just what we lack, namely a 
 unity of management for the entire church of every 
 great city. I will quote from a letter written some 
 
 26 
 
1,650 years ago from Rome to Antioch, in which the 
 Bishop of the former city speaks of the rich and varied 
 resources of his own church : "Forty-six presbyters, 
 seven deacons, seven sub-deacons, forty-two clerks; 
 readers, janitors, in all, fifty-two; widows and other 
 needy more than fifteen hundred ; an innumerable mul- 
 titude of people, some of them wealthy" ; all in one 
 church organization, all following the one plan of 
 campaign. No wonder in those days such a church 
 moved forward like a mighty army, and made great 
 progress against the enemy. 
 
 It may seem almost too much to expect that all 
 the many different kinds of Christians in our immense 
 metropolis should be thus combined in the near future 
 into one single army; although the recent Conference 
 of the Church Federation marked a most hopeful step 
 toward that end. But it is not too much to hope that 
 some of our churches might accomplish this sort of 
 unity on a smaller scale. That, from my point of 
 view, is the most interesting fact connected with the 
 history of this church, whose anniversary we are cele- 
 brating. From the first beginning, forty years ago, 
 you had been growing up in peculiar relations of af- 
 fectionate fellowship with the old Church of the Cov- 
 enant, whose honored name you have now inherited. 
 This long-continued experience had been training you 
 to join in a similar fellowship and co-operation, when 
 Providence so appointed, with the Brick Church in the 
 middle of the Island, and with Christ Church far over 
 toward the West. And so it is that we of these three 
 churches now find ourselves set in this central strip 
 of this great city, reaching from river to river, not 
 as three rival armies, but one army, with one plan of 
 campaign, able to respond promptly to the one trumpet 
 signal, and to pour in our resources of men or money 
 wherever they are needed most. The very thing the 
 
 27 
 
city church has generally lacked we possess. And 
 this relationship was most happily designated by a 
 former Brick Church pastor, Dr. van Dyke, as an 
 "affiliation," so that we call them not "Missions" or 
 "Branches," but "Affiliated Churches." I believe that 
 God has made it possible for us to prove that under 
 such unity of management, the church, like the fire 
 department, or any other agency of human betterment, 
 may show the greatest efficiency and success in the 
 heart of a great city. I believe that through these 
 forty years God has been preparing you of the Church 
 of the Covenant to do a large share in the rendering 
 of this immense service to the whole City of New 
 York. Speaking of the fire department, I happen to 
 live on the same street with an engine house ; and any 
 night in the year I am likely to be roused by the sound 
 of that ingenious mechanism of salvation rushing past 
 my door toward some more or less remote building, 
 which has been threatened by this remorseless enemy. 
 Before falling asleep again, a languid sense of thank- 
 fulness passes through my heart that the city has or- 
 ganized so efficiently its army of defence against fire. 
 But what it all means was forced more vividly upon 
 me a few evenings ago when, just as we were starting 
 down for dinner, there came a thundering signal at 
 our door; and as we threw it open we found the en- 
 gines halting before our house; and the dense clouds 
 of smoke pouring from the windows next door; and 
 if the fire department had not been organized for the 
 promptest service at any point of need our own house 
 might have been in ashes. That is the kind of prompt 
 service against the spiritual enemy that our three 
 Churches must be rendering in this part of New York. 
 And that brings to my mind one other thought of 
 God's providential guidance. A man who has been 
 married happily is apt to let his mind run over the 
 
 28 
 
past sometimes and think of the strange ways by 
 which God has brought together himself and that one 
 woman of all the world who was made for him. To 
 me this reflection may be peculiarly interesting since 
 I myself was born in Boston, and my wife in Shanghai. 
 So I have often thought of the different men now 
 serving as ministers of these three churches ; and from 
 my point of view I cannot refrain from thanking God 
 for those ways of His Providence by which He brought 
 together just these men who now find such joy in 
 doing our work side by side, and hand in hand. So 
 long as He may spare us to work on here together, 
 I believe that our close association with each other 
 will add immensely not only to the pleasure but also 
 to the efficiency of our work. At least that is the way 
 it looks from my point of view. 
 
 And as to these three churches, I do firmly believe 
 that the value of the service either of us can hope 
 to render will grow very largely out of the bond that 
 binds us all together. God lays upon us the responsi- 
 bility of showing how successful a fight can be waged 
 against all the powers of unrighteousness even in a 
 great city, when His people are thus bound together 
 into one army of Jesus Christ. 
 
 29 
 
jf ortp gears of Covenant jWerctes! 
 
 Address by J. Cleveland Cady, LL.D. 
 Sunday Morning, January 28, 1906. 
 
 m 
 
 OMETHING less than fifty years ago, many 
 families in New York were gladdened by the 
 return of a beloved clergyman — a former 
 pastor — from a temporary sojourn in Eur- 
 ope, where he had gone for his health some two 
 years before. 
 
 The feeling manifested was quite remarkable — it 
 was as though some good fortune had come to pass — 
 and confident hopes were expressed that he would 
 resume his ministry in some field "up town." 
 
 There was good reason for all of these manifesta- 
 tions of interest — for the Rev. Dr. George Lewis 
 Prentiss, whose return was greeted with such satisfac- 
 tion, was remarkable, both in intellect and character. 
 \yhen a young man, barely past his majority, he 
 visited England and Germany, and with suitable let- 
 ters of introduction, not only met the literary men of 
 the time — such men as Newman, Coleridge, Faber, 
 Carlyle, Wordsworth, Baron Bunsen, Prof. Tholuck, 
 and others — but formed an acquaintance with many of 
 them that was long and cordially maintained. He 
 must have been a very remarkable young man to have 
 interested and held the attention of men of such emin- 
 ence. The same qualities made a deep impression on 
 the best minds and hearts in New York during his 
 seven years of Pastorate of the Mercer Street Presby- 
 terian Church, and his return to the city was looked 
 upon as a great addition to its spiritual forces and in- 
 fluence. 
 
 I hardly need tell you that this welcome return led 
 to the founding of the Church of the Covenant, and 
 
 30 
 
J. CLEVELAND CAUY, LL.U. 
 
later the erection of its buildings on the beautiful Park 
 Avenue site — and to his installation as its first pastor. 
 The people who gathered to his leadership were those 
 who had much in common with himself — people of 
 unusual intellectual qualities, of refinement, and the 
 gentleness we associate with loveliest character, and 
 with all, intense devotion to the right, as well as to 
 Christian service. The influence and ministration of 
 such a pastor, and the environment of such a people 
 had great effect upon the young growing up in the 
 church. They caught the spiritual tone; they met 
 together for prayer, and encouraged each other in the 
 Christian life. On one Sabbath afternoon in each 
 month, the young men of the church, some thirty in 
 number, gathered in a prayer meeting of delightful 
 character. It was generally participated in, unconven- 
 tional, earnest and affectionate, and an admirable 
 preparation for future service, as the devoted Christian 
 lives of many of them afterward proved. 
 
 Such gatherings for prayer and experience among 
 the young are invaluable. They are a commitment 
 to the service of Christ; they encourage and develop 
 Christian life, and are nurseries for training and 
 bringing forward those who are to uphold the stan- 
 dards, when the present generation has passed. More- 
 over, the freshness and enthusiasm of such young 
 Christians is a contagious and remarkable force, 
 capable of much that seems quite beyond the reach of 
 the "Fathers and Elders." 
 
 At length this strong religious interest among the 
 young people led to a general desire for a field of 
 labor, especially their own, and they appointed a com- 
 mittee to seek for some hall, or place where they could 
 start a Mission Sunday School. After much search, 
 the room of an industrial school in East 40th Street 
 was hired for Sabbath uses, and it was here that there 
 
 31 
 
seemed to be an inversion of the Scriptural words, 
 "The harvest truly i^ plenteous, but the laborers are 
 few." On the first Sabbath, January 28, 1866, there 
 were twelve enthusiastic "laborers," but only one pupil 
 to suggest the harvest. 
 
 After a little time the "laborers" were settled in 
 their quarters. Their devoted personal efforts made 
 the place look a little more tidy and home like. Sup- 
 pose we take a glimpse at it as it appeared in those 
 days. We pass up a rickety flight of stairs, and along 
 a dark narrow hall until we come to a large low 
 room, seated with settees. This is the home of the 
 Covenant Mission. 
 
 The wide boards of the bare floor spring under our 
 feet, owing to a too economic construction, but they 
 are scrupulously neat, for the young "laborers," how- 
 ever limited their means, will not have filth for an 
 environment. The plastered ceiling is badly cracked, 
 and rough with many a rude patching. A piano, a 
 little lectern for the Superintendent, a blackboard, and 
 a "banner case," constituted the furniture. This ban- 
 ner case, of stained pine, with its banners, was of 
 home manufacture, and a marvel of ingenuity and 
 boring, its chief decoration being a perforated strip, 
 formed by the judicious use of the auger. On the 
 walls are some large, brightly colored Scriptural 
 Scenes, also of home manufacture. These alleged 
 "water colors" have been produced monthly — for the 
 education and edification of the children. Near by is 
 the infant class room, about fifteen by twenty-five feet 
 (seated with little seats), which three of the male 
 leaders have made a marvelous sensation, by painting 
 in red, white and blue. They spent several nights in 
 accomplishing the result, and perhaps never completed 
 a more patriotic work. The bane of the whole place, 
 however, is that it is over a stable, the fumes of 
 
 32 
 
which, at times are disquieting, to say the least. Said 
 a teacher of that period, "The rythmn of the singing 
 was punctuated by the hoof-beats of the horses." 
 
 It was not the first time, however, that there was 
 a noble birth in humble surroundings, in the close 
 proximity to stalls and cattle. 
 
 In this case, the inferior shelter was in great con- 
 trast to the superior teachers who gathered there. 
 Many of them in after years became leaders in work 
 of importance elsewhere. Leander Lovell as Super- 
 intendent of the Sunday School of the Crescent 
 Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield, N. J., with 
 a son on the Foreign Mission field; Farnsworth. and 
 Coit in effective service, the one in Minneapolis, and 
 the other at Grand Rapids ; Miss Grace Rankin Ward, 
 spending a life-time as a missionary in India; Miss 
 Adelaide Beers, afterwards Mrs. House, doing a sim- 
 ilar life-long service in Turkey, in co-operation with 
 her husband, who had been, for a short time, a pas- 
 tor at the Covenant. Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, famous 
 by her writings, had a large adult class, which she 
 held with such interest that they never considered the 
 drawback of meeting at 9:15 on Sabbath mornings. 
 In passing, it may be mentioned that this class was 
 organized partly for strategic reasons. It would evi- 
 dently be embarrassing for young people to say they 
 were too old to come to Sunday School, when a large 
 class of the fathers and mothers were in plain view. 
 Time will not permit the pleasant task of mentioning 
 in detail the fine self-sacrificing work of such teachers 
 as Sheffield, Curtis, Will Smith, Miles, Crosby, 
 Greves, Schaff, Yewell, Hooker, Backus, Woolsey, 
 Eastman; the Misses Low, Smith, Prentiss, Grant, 
 Miles, Denny, Backus, Hooker, Averill, Mrs. Cady, 
 and others of that day ; they and their work will never 
 be forgotten. To three who have remained in the 
 
 33 
 
"Covenant" from that early time, I must allude a 
 little more particularly, on account of the great value 
 of their services. The brothers, Charles and Alfred 
 Kimball, in devoted and unselfish service, have been 
 sources of strength all the way — the one a spiritual 
 and practical force, whose fine abilities were all, and 
 always, at hand, wherever needed ; the other a master 
 of finance (in fullest sympathy with the work), who 
 carried his charge safely through times of stress and 
 danger, who was never discouraged; and had the fac- 
 ulty of imparting his healthy optimism to others. An- 
 other name should be mentioned, that of Charles S. 
 McKay, who was converted in the school not long 
 after it commenced, and has served it year after year 
 in general service, and as Secretary, with rare and 
 unvarying loyalty born of deepest affection. 
 
 Mention has been made of prayerfulness as a char- 
 acteristic of the young people from whose life the 
 Covenant Mission sprang. It never ceased, however, 
 to be a marked feature of this work. In its early 
 days, when the teachers were not widely separated, as 
 Sabbath evening came on, they would informally, by 
 twos and threes, drop into the house of the Superin- 
 tendent, and after discussing their several experiences, 
 engage in prayer, so naturally and informally, that 
 prayer seemed very real, and heaven very near. A 
 week evening prayer meeting was conducted at the 
 Mission, and when it was well established, three 
 "neighborhood meetings" were commenced in dif- 
 ferent parts of the field where humble homes were 
 open to them. Three teachers were assigned to each 
 gathering, and they proved to be highly interesting 
 and successful. The intimacy that obtained in them, 
 so much greater than in a more formal service, seemed 
 to prepare the hearts of those present, to receive the 
 Holy Spirit. There were many conversions, as well 
 
 34 
 
as a deepening of the religious life of those in charge. 
 Of the converts, many remained in the work, devoted 
 and valued helpers; some died in the blessed "assur- 
 ance of Hope" — and some, in time, moved from New 
 York to other localities. 
 
 A family, whom we will call Nesworth, sent three 
 lovely little girls to the Sabbath School. An acquaint- 
 ance with them revealed the fact that they were Amer- 
 icans; the mother a woman of unusual refinement, 
 and the father a ("front brick layer") man of good 
 intelligence and integrity. 
 
 There was, however, one heavy shadow upon this 
 attractive family, the father had begun to be the vic- 
 tim of strong drink, owing to the influence and pres- 
 sure of his companions in work. It had not yet gone 
 far enough to injure his capacity for service, or to be 
 realized by those who met him casually, but his wife 
 and daughters grieved over it, and felt that it meant 
 ruin for him and their family life. Then the leaders 
 at the Covenant became bent on his entire reclama- 
 tion. They urged him to submit his life to Christ, 
 and insisted that the first step should be the abandon- 
 ment of drink. At length both steps were taken, and 
 the friends that had urged them, stood by him in the 
 dreadful struggle, which followed for nearly a year. 
 When tormented by a burning appetite, or tempted by 
 drinking companions, he surely would have fallen, had 
 it not been for the frequent companionship, the com- 
 fort, and courage that these brethren in Christ gave 
 him. In time he was thoroughly established in his 
 new life and habits; everything connected with him 
 gave evidence of improvement, and more and more he 
 was becoming a useful member of the church which 
 had been so much to him. One day the startling news 
 came that this beloved and valued family was to re- 
 move to the vicinity of Chicago! That his wife's 
 
 35 
 
father, who had a large business as market gardener 
 and florist, reahzing that he was growing old, and 
 having now a strong confidence in this son-in-law, had 
 invited him to come on and take charge of his busi- 
 ness! It was clear that it meant a great deal to the 
 Nesworths, but the rejoicing was tempered by the 
 sense of the loss to the Covenant! The family, how- 
 ever, went to their new home, improved its oppor- 
 tunities, and rose in position and influence. One of 
 their first efforts was to start a Church and Sunday 
 School in their neighborhood, which they made as 
 close a copy as possible of the one they had left in New 
 York. When last heard from, Mr. N. was an active 
 supporter, and Elder in the new church, which was 
 rapidly becoming an influence of importance in a 
 growing community. Then the serious question arose 
 in the minds of those who had so regretted his de- 
 parture, whether, after all, it was not often best that 
 converts now — as in apostolic times — should be "scat- 
 tered abroad" going "everywhere preaching the 
 word." 
 
 In time the Church of the Covenant, on Park Ave- 
 nue, became fully alive to the importance and needs 
 of its work on the East Side. As may be supposed. 
 Dr. Prentiss had been most active in his quiet but ef- 
 fective way, in arousing his church to their duty. At 
 length land was secured and the present building 
 erected and dedicated December 24, 1871. 
 
 It was an earnest effort to make the House of God 
 the brightest, cheeriest, and most attractive place its 
 worshipers could find in all the week, and to great 
 numbers as the years passed, it became a "home" 
 never to be forgotten. In this new "Covenant Chapel" 
 building one would have seen a very considerable 
 change in the faces of "laborers" and scholars, many 
 of whom had gone elsewhere to live, and their places 
 
 36 
 
were filled by others. Fortunately the high quality was 
 fully maintained by such able and devoted men as 
 Samuel J. Storrs, Theron G. Strong, Alfred E. Mar- 
 ling, Payson Merrill, Richard C. Morse, Lucius H. 
 Beers, Joseph R. Skidmore, George F. Bentley, Noah 
 C. Rogers, Benjamin Comstock, Norman Dodge, 
 Douglass Moore, William \V. Ellsworth, and a quin- 
 tette of beloved physicians — Alfred Post, Lucius Bulk- 
 ley, Daniel Wiesner, Andrew Currier, and George 
 Woolsey. More than this, there were "noble women not 
 a few." Notable for long and fine service among the 
 latter have been : Miss Anna M. Juppe, church visitor 
 and head of the infant school; Miss Mary W. Kim- 
 ball, of the Intermediate Department ; Miss Mary Pren- 
 tiss and Miss H. L. Keeler, in the main school. 
 
 For nearly thirty years a teachers' meeting was 
 maintained, which had the effect of concentrating the 
 work of teachers and officers, and by prayer and fel- 
 lowship, greatly inspiring it. 
 
 The fact that this work was begun and continued 
 in prayer, has doubtless been a reason for the har- 
 mony and unity that has existed, without exception, 
 through the forty years. The fact, also that the em- 
 phasis was placed decidedly on the religious side of the 
 work, had a strong influence to this end. Said our 
 Treasurer on one occasion, "You will notice that it is 
 when the stress is on the secular side of work, and 
 the doings connected with purely social matters and 
 efforts are absorbing, that people fall out, not when it 
 is upon those that concern vital religion." While sec- 
 ular, social and entertaining features must have 
 their place, the important thing is that they be sub- 
 ordinated to the religious interest, and dominated by 
 it. The harmony of teachers and officers has naturally 
 been reflected in the spirit of the school; and their 
 reverent attitude toward sacred things, times, and 
 
 37 
 
places, has (unconsciously to the scholars) led them 
 to respectful order and quiet. Probably no more 
 humor-loving and witf ul young people were ever gath- 
 ered than those who founded the Covenant Sunday 
 School, unless we except those who have continued in 
 it, but seriousness of purpose has always restrained 
 levity and trifling in connection with the exercises 
 of the school. This reverent attitude has strongly 
 conduced to good order and quiet, so that different 
 conduct would have seemed strangely out of place. 
 Occasionally scholars have come to us from schools 
 where disorder was common, and in some cases where 
 they were leaders in it, but the atmosphere of the 
 Covenant has speedily toned this down, it was one in 
 which such growths were stifled. 
 
 While the grading of classes prevailed, in some 
 cases teachers have carried the children along to ma- 
 turity and to great advantage. Our Assistant Super- 
 intendent has thus brought up three successive classes 
 from childhood to young manhood, forming character 
 and life-long friendships. Gaining the affection of 
 the scholars has been one of the strongest aids to suc- 
 cess; that object secured, they seem completely in the 
 teachers' hands. Some years ago a large class of boys 
 had arrived at the trying age just previous to man- 
 hood, and were becoming a puzzling source of trouble. 
 Just at that time one of our old teachers came in town 
 for the winter and volunteered to take charge of them. 
 Soon there was a surprising change in their conduct 
 and ere long they became the model class of the school. 
 Questioning the teacher as to how the change had 
 been affected it was learned that he had found an 
 opportunity to do some kindness to nearly every one 
 of them. One was completely at odds with his 
 parents, and he brought about a happy reconciliation. 
 Another was about losing his situation through mis- 
 
 38 
 
behavior, but he saved it for him, and saved the boy. 
 To every one he had given occasion for gratitude and 
 had won their hearts completely, he was absolutely 
 their ruler, by love. In the following spring all of 
 those boys united with the church. Boys at this period 
 need special attention, as the dangers that beset them 
 are great, and they are peculiarly susceptible, but it 
 is worth while. It is well worth extraordinary pains 
 to hunt such game. We have a fine class of this age 
 at the present time under the devoted care of our 
 pastor's wife. The hour on Sabbath morning she 
 found would not suffice for their needs — so as a 
 "Boys' Loyalty Band" they and others meet at her 
 house on a week day evening, a gathering full of in- 
 terest and value. It means a sacrifice of time and 
 effort — but the gain. The loyal affection and friend- 
 ship of such young hearts who can now be moulded 
 for all time, who can value it ? Surely love is the key 
 to the heart, in Sunday School as elsewhere. 
 
 But to go back — with the occupation of the new 
 building the church organization and services began 
 to grow in importance. Before that time the students 
 connected with the Union Seminary had cared for the 
 ministerial part of the work, and the pulpit was 
 served in turn by the Revs. B. F. McNeil, George E. 
 Northrup, George S. Payson, J. H. House, Edgar A. 
 Hamilton, William Plested, and William H. Ford. 
 
 May I, 187.^, the latter was succeeded by the Rev. 
 Howard A. Talbot, a devoted minister, and especially 
 patient and untiring in work upon individual cases. 
 After over six years he was called to a Western 
 church. The Covenant was again fortunate in a suc- 
 cessor (to whom Mr. Talbot called attention), the 
 Rev. H. T. McEwen, who was ordained and began 
 ministry November 17, 1881. His service was so 
 vigorous and earnest that the church was largely in- 
 
 39 
 
creased in numbers and strength, and was replete with 
 active interest. After a service of six years he re- 
 ceived an imperative call to the important field of the 
 Fourteenth Street Presbyterian Church. The parting 
 was a most reluctant one on the part of both pastor 
 and people. He also assisted in securing a successor — 
 the Rev. Mr. Rogers, a man of spiritual mind and 
 most kind and tender feeling. He was greatly be- 
 loved. He was followed by our present pastor, whose 
 sixteen years in the pastorate have been sixteen years 
 of blessing to his flock: who have been shepherded, 
 instructed, encouraged, and uplifted, through dark 
 days and bright; in sorrow and rejoicing; in trial and 
 victory, and in a steady growth of love to God and 
 man, that has united it strongly in affectionate unity, 
 and has made it a "home," the spirit of which im- 
 presses all comers as a rare Christian brotherhood. 
 When he came to this charge, the parent church de- 
 creed that it should no longer be a Mission, but an 
 independent church with its own boards of officers, 
 and its independent relations to the Presbytery only 
 receiving from its Alma Mater, friendship and aid as 
 it needed. When the latter united with the Brick 
 Church, not only were these relations continued, but 
 the same step was taken in regard to Christ Church 
 on the "West Side"; and Dr. Henry Van Dyke in- 
 vented and applied the singularly felicitous designa- 
 tion to the Brick Church and its two branches of "The 
 Affiliated Churches." It is delightful to realize that 
 this affiliation has been growing stronger and more 
 and more intimate every year, fully justifying Dr. 
 Richards' recent expression that "it is a bond of Chris- 
 tian fellowship across Manhattan Island." 
 
 From this resume it will be seen that the present 
 Church of the Covenant, its Sunday School and var- 
 ious agencies for usefulness had their inception and 
 
 40 
 
growth in the Christian interest of a little band of 
 young people, whose aim was to serve Jesus Christ 
 and exhalt his religion. This aim has never changed 
 through the changing years, and the varying factors 
 of the growing work; and while the value of whole- 
 some entertainment, and social and industrial features 
 have been recognized and availed of, they have always 
 been made subordinate to the important purpose in 
 view. The constant effort being to develop the re- 
 ligious features as fully as possible, to make them 
 interesting and impressive. Scripture, the most in- 
 spired Hymns, and the choicest music have been 
 availed of for this purpose. Much of it has been 
 doubtless beyond the full appreciation of the children, 
 but it was so excellent that it would bear frequent 
 repetition to advantage, and in this process, became 
 so rooted in the young minds as to be irradicable, and 
 thus a treasury of good things for the future. It 
 seems a serious mistake in Sunday School effort to fill 
 such minds with trifling and transient matter when so 
 much that is of highest value might be stored for all 
 time. One day when one of our visitors had ascended 
 many stairs to call upon a family whose children at- 
 tended the Sunday School, as she mounted the last 
 flight she heard a child's voice sweetly singing a 
 familiar strain — 
 
 "Who trusts in God's unchanging love 
 "Builds on a rock that ne'er can move." 
 
 It was George Neumark's noble hymn, beginning 
 "If thou but suffer God to guide thee," sung to the 
 "Pilgrim Chorus" from "Tannahauser," and as she en- 
 tered she saw a little girl holding her chubby baby 
 brother in her arms, singing him asleep to the grand 
 hymn and music she had so often sang in Sunday 
 School. It had indeed become a household word, had 
 
 41 
 
entered into the duties of daily life, and was there to 
 remain ! 
 
 Twenty-five years ago a strong dissatisfaction was 
 felt with the ordinary Christmas Festival, which was 
 usually made up of addresses and "entertainment" of 
 some kind. The addresses were a bore to the impa- 
 tient children, anxiously awaiting amusement and 
 possible presents; the presents gave rise to jealousies, 
 and the "entertainment" did not seem a worthy way 
 of celebrating the birth of Christ. About that time 
 some account appeared in the religious press of the re- 
 markable work of Pastor Harms and Immanual 
 Wichern in Germany, where the people (whole com- 
 munities) made their religious exercises and services 
 so delightful that they became their keenest interest, 
 This suggested the idea of making the Christmas Fes- 
 tival such a function, and a scheme was adopted 
 which has been followed ever since with great satisfac- 
 tion. It involves the preparation of a service composed 
 of carefully selected Scripture, interspersed with the 
 finest hymns and carols : these arranged with effective 
 contrasts and working gradually to a climax. The 
 whole is committed to memory by the classes who 
 have had the several portions assigned them. The 
 music is made familiar by much practice. By a mutual 
 understanding, the whole moves automatically; no 
 one is called upon to do anything; no directions are 
 given or speeches made, and it is entirely an affair of 
 the scholars. The eliminating as far as possible, the 
 uninspired human element, gives great impressiveness, 
 it is a Divine message that is given. This service is 
 the gift of the pupils to their parents and friends, and 
 not only that, but at the close, they bring forward 
 envelopes, with money that they have been saving for 
 weeks, as a Christmas offering for some worthy cause. 
 It has been for the care of a crippled child in a hos- 
 
 42 
 
pital; a horse for a Sunday School Missionary in the 
 South; a model cottage for Berea College, Kentucky, 
 help and a "Christmas" for a poor struggling Sunday 
 School on the "East Side." 
 
 Thus the whole service belongs to the school, which, 
 on this day, like its Master, is a giver. Its prepara- 
 tion involves no small amount of labor, in the learning 
 of Scripture, and the patient practice of music for 
 weeks previous, but this effort is all in line with the 
 great end in view, and in the process, minds are being 
 filled with that which is worth retaining. They are 
 not, however, to go without an "Entertainment" full 
 of merriment and amusement. When the last re- 
 hearsal of music has taken place, they are rewarded 
 by one which gives great delight, but the Birth of 
 Christ is to be celebrated in a more worthy and suit- 
 able manner. A long experience in these services has 
 led to a strong sense of the value of appropriateness in 
 musical selections of any kind ; by this virtue, a subject 
 or sermon may be greatly intensified in point or force ; 
 whereas a witless, hapless selection may undo the best 
 and most earnest efforts. The music of the church 
 should never be an end unto itself, or for the mere ad- 
 dition of a certain amount of musical pleasure. It 
 should rather be to illuminate the theme of the occa- 
 sion, or to glorify the worship and be from first to 
 last, "the handmaid of religion." Again, the study of 
 Scripture with regard to its effectiveness may be pro- 
 ductive of most impressive results. In the Christmas 
 and other services, "Christ's humility contrasted with 
 His ascended glory ;" "His life absorbed in doing good" 
 in contrast with the scornful, and cruel treatment He 
 received ; "The needs of each heart and the power and 
 will of Jesus to satisfy them," are examples. One 
 portion of Scripture is often a fine response or climax 
 to another, the impressiveness being wonderfully in- 
 creased by the apposition. 
 
 43 
 
The changeable character of the population in our 
 great cities has often been felt to be a serious draw- 
 back to religious work. No sooner have excellent 
 conditions been attained — with great labor — than 
 there is a distressing exodus of those from whose 
 important help much was expected. It is a constant 
 crushing out of hope and expectation. Yet experi- 
 ence shows another and very different side to the mat- 
 ter. In the Sunday School and later in this Church 
 of the Covenant a fine family of brothers and sisters 
 had grown up, with careful training and unusual ca- 
 pacity for usefulness. For a long time they were 
 hopefully regarded as having great future value to 
 the church. Imagine the disappointment when one 
 morning it was announced that they were soon to 
 move out of town to a home in the country. It really 
 seemed as though Providence had made a serious mis- 
 take, but when later one of the young men returned 
 to the Pastor and Superintendent seeking advice in 
 regard to the starting of a "Christian Endeavor So- 
 ciety," and a Sunday School (for there was nothing 
 of the kind in their region), the doubts about the wis- 
 dom of their removal were less positive, and as now 
 and then we heard of the good work they accomplished 
 the wisdom of Providence was clearly manifest. From 
 time to time old teachers and scholars, who have moved 
 away, have written for information as to the best 
 means of reproducing features that they had loved 
 in their old Church or Sunday School, until it has 
 been clear that if so many were to pass under this in- 
 fluence, and afterward to other localities, it was a great 
 opportunity, while they were with us, for a seed-sow- 
 ing that should mean a far wider harvesting ; and that 
 a work that was in many cases to be regarded as a 
 model, and carefully copied, should be conducted upon 
 the highest lines possible, that it might be an inspira- 
 
 44 
 
tion and guide to those who, for a time, came under 
 its influence. It certainly is a splendid incentive to the 
 highest and best effort. One young fellow upon whom 
 his teacher spent much pains for three or four years 
 is to-day the head of a Y. M. C. A. in the suburbs of 
 Philadelphia. Two have gone to the far West, and 
 in new communities are repeating the work of the 
 Covenant. A young woman, for a time in the Bible 
 Class, and at length in the fellowship of the Church, 
 had been led by some strange Providence to a family 
 and community without religious life or interest. She 
 had been quietly faithful; at length calamity visited 
 the place, and she found her opportunity by kindness 
 and love to bring Christ to the hearts of those about 
 her. These are only a few examples from the history 
 of those who have been "scattered." There is cer- 
 tainly great encouragement in work among changing 
 populations. The field of influence is infinitely wid- 
 ened and the prospects of the harvest multiplied a 
 hundred fold. 
 
 To-day as we commemorate the fortieth anniversary 
 of this work the memories, yes, the very faces of 
 those who have been connected with it, whether as 
 teachers or scholars, seem to rise distinctly before us! 
 How we delight to linger in the gallery of memory, 
 recalling the past hallowed by so many tender affec- 
 tions, and above all the Presence of the Divine Spirit 
 in our midst, working in us and for us. How much 
 it all means, we can only dimly see, it is for the future 
 to reveal it, but we count it a most blessed thing to 
 have had a part in such a service and such a field. And 
 so we thank God for giving us a share in it, esteeming 
 it as one of the greatest of the blessings with which 
 He has blessed our lives. 
 
 45 
 
Church of the Covenant, 35th Street and Park Avenue. 
 
 Nov. 25, 1860. First Service in Home of the Friendless. 
 
 Mar. 21, 1862. Church organized with 83 members. 
 
 April 4, 1862. Name " Church of the Covenant " adopted. 
 
 May 11, 1862. Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D. installed pastor. 
 
 Nov. 5, 1863. Church Corner Stone laid. 
 
 May 22, 1864. First Service in Church Chapel. 
 
 April 30, 1865. Church dedicated. 
 
 May, 1869. Last New School Presbjrterian General Assembly. 
 
 Feb. 12, 1873. Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D. resigned. 
 
 May 8, 1873. Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. installed pastor. 
 
 Nov., 1887. Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. resigned. 
 
 Dec. 17, 1888. Rev. J. Hall Mcllvaine, D.D. installed pastor. 
 
 Feb. 26, 1890. Rev. George S. Webster called to be associate 
 
 pastor. 
 
 Feb. 11, 1894. Last service held in the Church. 
 
 Feb. 14, 1894. Last Prayer Meeting held in the Chapel. 
 
 April 12, 1894. Consolidated with the Brick Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Covenant Memorial Chapel, 306-310 East 42d Street. 
 
 Jan. 28, 1866. Sunday School organized, at 206 East 40th Street. 
 
 April 11, 1867. First Church members received. 
 
 Dec. 24, 1871. Chapel building dedicated. 
 
 May 4, 1875. Rev. Howard A. Talbot ordained and began 
 
 ministry. 
 
 Nov. 14, 1875. First Communion Service held. 
 
 Oct., 1881. Rev. Howard A. Talbot resigned. 
 
 Nov. 17, 1881. Rev. Henry T. McEwen ordained and began 
 
 ministry. 
 
 Mar. 1, 1882. Miss Anna M. Juppe began work as visitor. 
 
 July, 1887. Rev. Henry T. McEwen resigned. 
 
 Nov., 1887. Rev. Edwin E. Rogers began ministry. 
 
 Oct., 1889. Rev. Edwin E. Rogers resigned. 
 
 Mar. 19, 1890. Rev. George S. Webster installed pastor. 
 
 Nov. 8, 1891. Quarter Century Anniversary. 
 
 Church of the Covenant, 306-310 East 42d Street. 
 
 Nov. 30, 1893. Church organized with 266 members. 
 
 Jan. 2, 1894. Rev. George S. Webster installed pastor. 
 
 Dec. 16, 1894. "Faith" Tablet and Corner Stone of old Church 
 received. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1897. Quarter Century Anniversary of Church dedi- 
 cation. 
 
 Jan. 27, 1901. Thirty-fifth Anniversary. 
 
 Jan. 28, 1906. Fortieth Anniversary. 
 
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