A history of the Brick Presbyterian Church in the city of New York, Part 1

Author: Knapp, Shepherd, 1873-
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Trustees of the Brick Presbyterian Church
Number of Pages: 704


USA > New York > New York City > A history of the Brick Presbyterian Church in the city of New York > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38



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A HISTORY OF THE BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


THE BRICK CHURCH ON BEEKMAN STREET From an oil painting in the possession of the church


A HISTORY


OF THE


BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH


IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


BY


SHEPHERD KNAPP


"Inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers. Shall not they teach thee and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?"-JOB 8 : 8, 10.


"The Brick Presbyterian Church has, from its origin, occupied a position sufficienty prominent to justify, even in the eyes of the men of the world, some historical notices, which may per- haps be viewed with interest by others as well as ourselves." -GARDINER SPRING, 1856, Brick Church Memorial, p. 7.


1


NEW YORK PUBLISHED BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH


1909


COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY THE CORPORATION OF THE BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


1314640


MY MOTHER AND FATHER, TO WHOM I OWE MY HERITAGE IN THE OLD BRICK CHURCH, AND ALL MY LARGEST OPPORTUNITIES AND WORTHIEST AMBITIONS,


IN


LOVING MEMORY


I DEDICATE THIS BOOK.


PREFACE


THIS history has been prepared, at the request of the trustees of the Brick Church, in the hope that it will interest the large number of people who are bound to the church by ties of the past or of the present, and those, also, whose interest in the history of the Christian Church at large will incline them to an examination of any important chapter of it.


The author wishes, especially, that the volume might come into the hands of some of the young men who are about to choose among the various professions for their life-work, for it seems to him that a history like that of the Brick Church sets forth in an emphatic way the great opportunity which the Christian ministry offers in our time. The author has himself been so much impressed, as the facts of the history have unfolded before him, by the variety of interests with which he has been called upon to deal, the breadth of scope which the history has pre- sented, and the close relation which it has disclosed, especially in the record of later years, between the specific work of the minister and some of the prob- lems which most perplex our time and whose solu- tion will most profoundly affect the future of our country and of the world, that he cannot doubt but others will be impressed in the same way.


: A word should be said by way of explaining the


vii


viii


PREFACE


very brief account, given in the following pages, of the early years of Presbyterianism in New York City. Although technically the Brick Church rep- resents, not an offshoot from the original Presbyterian Church of New York, but an integral part of it as it existed until the division in 1809, so that the whole history from 1706, in full detail, might without im- propriety be included in the present work, it has seemed proper to take as a beginning the building of the first "Brick Church," and to leave the history of the earlier years to be recorded more fully by some future historian of "The Old First Church," which, at the division, was created out of the congregation worshipping in the older edifice on Wall Street.


It will be noticed by the reader as he proceeds, that there are many quotations for which no refer- ences are given. These are drawn from the manu- script minutes of the church, and it has seemed un- necessary to burden the pages with references to sources not accessible to the public, especially as the date of the event or declaration will serve to mark its place in the records almost as well as would an indi- cation of the volume and the page.


A key to the abbreviated titles of the works most frequently quoted in the notes will be found at the beginning of the Bibliography .* A Chronology is given in an Appendix .; The personal records of the church from 1809 to the present, including marriages, baptisms, members, etc .- some ten thou- sand entries in all-are published in alphabetical order in a companion volume.


* Page 497.


t Appendix A, p. 513.


ix


PREFACE


The author is glad of this opportunity to acknowl- edge the invariable kindness of the persons to whom he has turned for help in the preparation of this vol- ume, and especially of Mr. Charles H. Olmstead, clerk of session of the Old First Church, for cour- teous permission to use the ancient records in his custody; of Mr. Daniel Parish, Jr., the Rev. G. McPherson Hunter, the Rev. Theo. F. Burnham and Mr. Austin B. Keep, all of whom have opened to the author valuable sources of information; of the officers of the New York Historical Society for per- mission to copy documents and pictures; of the Rev. George S. Webster, D.D., for placing at the author's disposal a large amount of material col- lected during many years, relating to the old and new churches of the Covenant; of Mrs. Samuel B. Jones, whose love for the Brick Church has led her to save for many years every allusion to it in the magazines and the daily press, and whose kindness in giving her whole collection to be incorporated into the Brick Church Historical Scrap-book has provided many important side-lights upon the events of the last three pastorates; and of the present clerk of the session, Mr. Hamilton Odell, who placed in the author's hands the notes made some years ago with a view to preparing a historical sketch of the church, and whose monumental service in keeping, with the ut- most accuracy, and in his own exquisite hand, the session records for almost forty-five years, places not only the present author but the whole church under a great obligation. Nor ought gratitude to remain unexpressed for the services performed by those who now rest from their labors. Among the men who,


X


PREFACE


in the past, have patiently kept those records, with- out which no detailed history of the Brick Church could have been written, ought to be mentioned Mr. Daniel J. Holden, who acted as clerk of the trustees for nearly twenty years, and Mr. Thomas Egleston, who served in the same capacity for full that time, while old Mr. Horace Holden, faithful in all he under- took, was clerk of session for almost twice as long.


The author takes a peculiar pleasure in recording that his mother, who lived to read only the first few pages of this history, collected for him some of the most interesting material included in the two chap- ters which deal with the period immediately before and during the Revolutionary War.


SHEPHERD KNAPP.


NEW YORK, March 16th, 1908.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


PART ONE: IN THE OLDEN TIME


CHAPTER I


PAGE


WALL STREET PRESBYTERIANS: 1706-1765 . 3


The New Minister .- Early History of the Presbyterian Church in New York City .- Condition in 1765 .- John Rodgers .- His Youth .- His Early Ministry .- Call to New York .- A Revival Follows .- The Wall Street Church Inadequate.


CHAPTER II


THE NEW CHURCH: 1765-1767 17


Petition for Land .- New York in 1765 .- "The Angular Lot." -The Grant .- Raising the Building Fund .- Appearance of the New Church .- Its [Name .- Right of Incorporation Denied .- The Collegiate Arrangement .- The New Church Congregation.


CHAPTER III


COLONIAL DAYS: 1768-1774 33


Dedication Service .- The Church's Debt to Mr. Rodgers .- His Fitness for Leadership .- His Doctor's Degree .- The Church Prospers .- Departments of Work .- The Pastor: Public Worship and Visitation .- The Session: Discipline. -The Deacons and the Parish Poor .- The Church's Early Maturity.


CHAPTER IV


"THE PRESBYTERIAN JUNTO": 1752-1775


43


Contemporary Political Affairs .- Seldom Alluded to in Session Minutes .- Attitude of New York Presbyterians .- Of Dr. Rodgers .- Revolutionary Record of the Members to be Included in the Church's History .- Presbyterians in the Whig Club, 1752 .- "The Triumvirate": Livingston, Smith, and Scott .- Alexander McDougal .- Presbyterian Leaders in the "Sons of Liberty."-Events on the Com- mon, 1765-1770 .- McDougal's Arrest .- Presbyterians Out- voted in the Committee of Fifty-one, 1774.


xi


xii


CONTENTS


CHAPTER V


IN THE REVOLUTION: 1775-1783


News of Lexington .- Presbyterians to the Fore .- Scott Backs up Marinus Willett .- Pastoral Letter of the General As- sembly, May, 1775 .- Military Operations .- Colonel Lasher. -Scott Describes the City in November .- Church Life Broken Up .- Dr. Rodgers Meets General Washington, April, 1776 .- The Exodus .- Chaplain Rodgers .- Military and Civil Service of the New York Presbyterians during the War .- The Church in the Hands of the British .- Used as a Hospital .- Described, 1777 .- Proposal to Restore it to Religious Uses, 1780 .- Its Condition at the End of the War.


PAGE 58


CHAPTER VI


RESTORATION AND PROGRESS: 1783-1808


73


Pastor and People Return, November, 1783 .- Courteous Offer of Old Trinity .- Dr. Rodgers' Thanksgiving Sermon in St. George's .- The Church Restored and Opened, 1784 .- Its Appearance in 1787 .- Ground Rent Reduced .- Gifts .- Associate Pastors: Wilson, McKnight, and Miller .- Rutgers Street Church Founded, 1798 .- Care of the Parish Poor .- Other Benevolences .- Support of the Church .- The Charity School .- Dr. Miller on the Plague of 1798.


CHAPTER VII


THE SENIOR PASTOR 95


Controlling Influence of Dr. Rodgers .- His Appearance and Manners .- His Character .- His Preaching .- His Industry as a Pastor .- His Old Age.


CHAPTER VIII


THE SEPARATION: 1809 103


End of the Collegiate Arrangement Foreshadowed, 1784 .- The Change Firmly Opposed .- Favored by Associate Pastors. -Significant Action regarding Rutgers Street Church, 1805 .- A Fourth Presbyterian Church Created Indepen- dent, 1807 .- Effect of the Object Lesson .- Steps toward Separation .- Plan Proposed .- Dr. McKnight Angry: Re- signs .- Plan of Separation Adopted, 1809 .- First Brick Church Session .- The Deacons .- The Board of Trustees.


xiii


CONTENTS


PART TWO: THE LONG PASTORATE


CHAPTER IX


THE CALL OF GARDINER SPRING: 1809-1810 .


Discouraging State of the Church .- Vain Attempts to Secure a Pastor .- A Humble Appeal for Help .- Mr. Spring Heard .- He Preaches in the Brick Church .- Immediately Called .- Accepts .- Presbytery Doubts His Orthodoxy .- He is Installed, 1810 .- His Ancestry .- His Boyhood .- At Yale College .- Studies Law .- In Bermuda .- His Mar- riage .- Is Admitted to the Bar .- Decides to Become a Preacher of the Gospel .- At Andover .- To New York.


PAGE 117


CHAPTER X


THE TEMPORALITIES: 1810-1850


131


History of the Forty Years to be Told in Five Chapters .- First, An Account of Lands, Buildings, and Finances .- The Church .- Interior .- Pulpit .- Pews .- "Holiness to the Lord."-Lighting and Heating .- Exterior .- The Neigh- borhood .- Fence .- Steeple .- Fire of 1811 .- The Lecture- room, 1810 .- The New Chapel, 1832 .- Churchyard .- Cemetery on Houston Street .- The Church's Income .- Purchase and Rental of Pews .- Treasurer's Reports .- Pew- rents Raised, 1817 .- Pastor's Salary Increased, 1819 .- Pro- posal to Reduce it Again, 1824 .- Crisis in Board of Trus- tees, 1825 .- Financial Condition in 1826 .- In 1839 .- Subscription for Paying Church Debt, 1841 .- Treasurer again Reports a Balance, 1850.


CHAPTER XI


PASTOR AND THEOLOGIAN: 1810-1850


148


Study of Church's Inner Life .- Gardiner Spring Sole Pastor throughout the Period .- Death of Dr. Rodgers, 1811 .- Mr. Spring's Studies .- His Habits of Industry .- Methods of Sermon-writing .- His Love of the Work .- His Lofty Purpose. - Depression. - Ill Health. - Presbytery Still


Doubts His Orthodoxy .- Material


for Dispute .- Mr.


Spring's Attitude Toward Hopkinsianism and Its Repre- sentatives .- His Freedom from Intolerance .- But Es- pecially within the Limits of Calvinism .- Essays, 1813 .- Their Practical Character .- Sermons in Series .- First Visit to Europe, 1822 .- Cholera Epidemic, 1832 .- Second Visit to Europe, 1835 .- Farewell Letter from the Church. -His Attitude in the New School Controversy, 1837 .- His Publications.


xiv


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XII


RELIGION AND MORALS: 1810-1850


Difficulty of Ascertaining Spiritual Conditions in a Past Age .- Services and Meetings .- In the Old White Lecture-room. -The Lecture .- The Prayer-meeting .- The Inquiry Meet- ing .- The Quarterly Meeting .- Admission to Membership. -Sunday Services .- Sacraments .- Music .- The Chorister. -- Singing - school .- Musical Society .- Concerts .- Begin- ning of a Choir, 1822 .- "The Asaph Association."-In- strumental Music .- Periods of Religious Awakening .- Summer of 1815 .- "Something must be Done."-Revival Methods .- Visitation by Pastor and Elders .- Discipline .- Method of Procedure .- Penalties Imposed .- Offences: against Religion; against Morals .- Amusements .- Value of Discipline .- The Good and Faithful Members .- Mem- orable Individuals.


PAGE 170


CHAPTER XIII


THE SCHOOLS: 1810-1850


203


Sale of the Charity School Building .- Seabury Ely Employed. -The Lessons .- Support of the School .- State Aid .- The Lot on Augustus Street .- It is Forfeited .- Condition o School in 1814 .- Rules .- Children Sent to Free School, 1816 .- Ryan Legacy, 1829 .- Secularizing of Schools in New York .- Brick Church Abandons Secular Education. -- Sunday-schools .- Their Early History in New York .- Brick Church Opens Two Schools, 1816 .- Their Purpose. -First Sixteen Years .- In 1832 .- The Teachers .- Con- stitution of 1833 .- Character of Schools from this Time .- Sessions .- Lessons .- Library .- Anniversary .- An Outing Proposed .- The Session of the Church Assumes the Man- agement, 1840 .- Success of the Change .- Old Method Resumed by 1846 .- Rewards .- Bringing in the Poor Chil- dren Once More .- Benevolences .- The Banner from Illinois.


CHAPTER XIV


MISSIONS AND BENEVOLENCE: 1810-1850 .


Collections for Poor and for Charity School .- Effect of Business Depression .- Annual Missionary Collection .- Occasional Offerings Recommence, 1818 .- Greatly Increase .- Multi- plicity of Appeals .- Systematic Benevolence Substituted, 1838 .- Five Annual Collections .- Success of the Change .- Part Played by Brick Church in Benevolent Organizations. -American Bible Society .- Movement for Sunday Observ- ance .- Young Men's Missionary Societies .- American Home Missionary Society .- Relation of Dr. Spring to the American Board .- The Presbyterian Boards: Brick Church Transfers Allegiance to Them.


231


XV


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XV


PAGE


THE LAST YEARS ON BEEKMAN STREET: 1850-1856 251


Changed Character of Neighborhood .- In 1828 .- In 1839 .- Removal then Contemplated .- Second Attempt, 1847 .- Crisis, 1850 .- Meetings not Supported .- Lecture Moved Uptown .- Condition in 1856 .- Meanwhile Colleague- Church Uptown Proposed, 1852 .- Difficulties in Selling .- Restrictions in the Grant .- Rights of Vault- and Pew- owners .- Supreme Court Order Obtained, 1853 .- Pro- posal of Auction by Church and City .- Attempt to Sell to United States, 1854-1855 .- Offers from Individuals .- The Sale: Subject to Auction, 1856 .- Church Held To- gether by Devotion to Dr. Spring .- His Salary Raised, 1854 .- Last Downtown Service.


CHAPTER XVI


THE MOVE TO MURRAY HILL: 1855-1858 . 277


New York in 1855 .- Brick Church almost Buys on Thirtieth Street .- Twenty-third Street Considered .- A Few Urge Murray Hill .- Present Property Bought .- Its Former Occupant .- Condition of the Neighborhood .- Plans for Building .- Points of Agreement .- Points in Dispute .- The Finished Church .- Exterior .- Interior .- Reminders of the Downtown Building .- Pew-rights Adjusted .- The Dedication.


CHAPTER XVII


WORK RESUMED: THE CIVIL WAR: 1858-1863 293


Sunday-school had Been Reestablished in 1856 .- Neighbor- hood Visited .- Need of Ministerial Assistance .- Dr. Spring's Proposal, 1855 .- Dr. Hoge Called, 1859 .- His Difficult Position .- His Reception .- His Popularity .- The Church Prospers .- Increased Benevolence .- Young Men's Association, 1860 .- The Eve of the War .- Dr. Hoge's Politics .- His Trying Situation .- Feelings of the Congregation .- Dr. Hoge's Plan of Action .- Causes of its Failure .- Prayers for the Confederate States .- Dr. Hoge Resigns, 1861 .- Hard Feeling .- Later Views .- His Fare- well Sermon .- His Return to Virginia and His Death .- Dr. Spring's Attitude toward the South .- Regards Seces- sion as a Crime .- "The Spring Resolutions," 1861 .- The Church's Loyalty .- Generous Sentiments .- Dr. Shedd Called, 1862 .- Dr. Spring Failing .- Regard for Dr. Shedd. -He Resigns, 1863.


xvi


CONTENTS


PART THREE: THE MODERN PERIOD


CHAPTER XVIII


"THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH": 1864-1875


James O. Murray Called, 1864 .- Dr. Spring is Retired from Active Service .- His Part in the Reunion of Old and New Schools, 1869 .- His Closing Years .- His Death, 1873 .- Mr. Murray's Early Life .- At Andover .- His Character and Attainments .- His Interest in the Church Music .- A Quartette Introduced, 1866 .- "The Sacrifice of Praise," 1869 .- Other Changes in Worship .- In Number of Serv- ices .- The Employment Society: Its Programme and Achievements .- The Children's Society .- Benevolences Reorganized .- Weekly Giving Tried, 1871 .- The Spirit of the Church's Benevolence .- Statistics.


PAGE 315


CHAPTER XIX


A WIDER HORIZON: 1857-1875 . 338


Origin of the West Side Mission, 1857 .- Beginnings of the Mis- sion Church, 1859 .- Support of the Work .- Expansion .- The Brick Church Assumes Control, 1862 .- The Lord's Supper at the Mission, 1865 .- Subscriptions for a Building, 1866 .- Chapel Dedicated, 1867 .- Christmas Festival .-- Mr. Lampe .- Work of Mr. John E. Parsons .- Dr. Murray Resigns, 1875 .- Earlier Appreciation of His Ministry .- Reasons for His Departure .- Letter from the Children .- Lasting Results of His Pastorate.


CHAPTER XX


A MINISTER FROM ABROAD: 1876-1882


356


The Parsonage, 1876 .- Llewelyn D. Bevan called, 1876 .- His Career in London .- His Expectations .- American Clergy- men in Public Affairs .- Miscalculations .- Pastoral Letter of 1878 .- Work Among the Children .- The Young Men's Society .- The Second Sunday Service .- Pastoral Letter of 1879 .- Debt-raising .- Growth of the Mission .- Prog- ress toward Self-support .- Dr. Bevan Resigns, 1882 .- Subsequent Relations.


CHAPTER : XXI


REJUVENATED: 1882-1893


Call of Henry van Dyke, 1882 .- His Early Life .- Condition of the Church .- Revising the Roll .- Making the Church At- tractive .- The Preacher .- The Music .- Renovation of the Church Projected .- Death of Governor Morgan, 1883 .- The Interior of the Church Transformed, 1883 .- The Church


375


xvii


CONTENTS


Renews its Youth .- Fear of Losing Dr. van Dyke, 1885 .- His Conception of the Church's Mission .- " Affectionate and Unanimous" Letter of the Session .- A Second Resig- nation Averted, 1893 .- Emphatic Resolutions .- Simulta- neous Enterprises: Evangelistic and Financial, 1885 .- Stated Services of the Church .- Sermons .- Worship .- Hospitality to Strangers .- The Wednesday Evening Serv- ice .- Practical Activities .- The Sunday-school .- Added Organizations .- Benevolence .- The Sick Children's Aid Society and the Young People's Guild .- The Pastor's Aid Society .- Independence of the Chapel Desired .- Prob- lems Involved .- Christ Church Organized, 1888 .- Wider Influence of the Brick Church Pastor .- His Ideal Realized. -Need of Endowment.


PAGE


CHAPTER XXII


THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT: 1862-1894 . 405


The Beginning, 1860 .- War Time .- The Church Organized, 1862 .- The Building Erected, 1864-1865 .- Character of the Church .- The Mission Sunday-school Opened, 1866 .- Its First Quarters .- Its Spirit and Methods .- It is Pro- vided with a Building, 1871 .- Dr. Prentiss Resigns, 1873. -His Character and Ministry .- Dr. Vincent Succeeds .- The Congregation in His Time .- The First Chapel Pastor, 1875 .- The Ideal of Self-support .- Dr. McIlvaine Called, 1888 .- Chapel Pastor Made Associate, 1890 .- Success of this Arrangement .- Affairs of the Church .- The Prayer- meetings .- Other Activities .- Strength and Weakness .- The Problem .- Moving Population of New York .- A Pos- sible Expedient .- A Better Plan Provided .- Contemporary Situation in the Brick Church .- Union Proposed, 1893 .- " A Corn of Wheat."


CHAPTER XXIII


UNION AND AFFILIATION: 1893-1900


The Covenant's Proposal, 1893 .- Chapel Becomes a Church, 1893 .- Legislative Action Required .- The Agreement, 1894 .- Legislature and Presbytery Act, 1894 .- Success of the Union .- Double Pastorate Unsatisfactory .- Dr. Mc- Ilvaine Withdraws, 1896 .- The Affiliated Churches .- Prosperity of the Covenant .- A Home Church .- Troubles of Christ Church .- Better Times .- The Sunday-school .- Social and Industrial Work .- The Boys' Club .- Mr. Farr, 1897 .- The Church House, 1898 .- Prosperity of the Brick Church .- Benevolence .- Congregations .- Young Men .- Devotion to Dr. van Dyke .- He Accepts a Call to Prince- ton .- Aids in Finding His Successor .- The Debt of the Church to Him.


432


xviii


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XXIV


PAGE


A GOLDEN YEAR: 1900-1901 455


Dr. Babcock Called, 1899 .- Reasons for His Acceptance .- His Early Life .- In Baltimore .- First Sunday in New York, 1900 .- First Impressions .- His Message .- In the Pulpit .- The Man .- Personal Service .- A Busy Day .- Plans for Christ Church .- Relation to Affiliated Churches .- Mr. Farr at Christ Church, 1901 .- The Men's Association .- Close of the Year .- Journey to Palestine .- Letters and Remembrances .- Dr. Babcock's Death .- Its Effect .- Memorial Gift .- The Session Minute.


CHAPTER XXV


'HIE CHURCH OF THE PRESENT: 1902-1908 474


A Friend in Need .- Call of Dr. Richards, 1902 .- His Work in Plainfield .- He Accepts the Call .- Likeness to His Prede- cessors. - Individuality. - His Preaching. - The Open Church .- New Services .- Success of these Experiments .- The Music .- Work for Children .- In the Sunday-school .-- In the Church of the Covenant .- At Christ Church .- New Buildings Planned .- Corner-stone Laid, 1904 .- Buildings Opened, 1905 .- Description of Them .- Effect upon the Work .- The Jesup Legacy .- A Review of the History .- Changes Without .- " Is the Church Alive?"-Comparison of 1767 with 1908 .- The Result a Ground for Thankfulness and Hope.


BIBLIOGRAPHY


I. KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS OF TITLES 497


II. GENERAL AUTHORITIES 497


III. BOOKS RELATING TO THE BRICK CHURCH 499


IV. PAMPHLETS RELATING TO THE BRICK CHURCH 502


V. MANUSCRIPT SOURCES 509


APPENDICES


A. CHRONOLOGY 513


B. MINISTERS 516


C. ELDERS 517


D. CLERKS OF SESSION 519 .


E. DEACONS- 520 .


xix


CONTENTS


PAGE


F. TRUSTEES 522


G. PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 524


H. TREASURERS . 525


I. CLERKS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 526


J. SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL 527


K. SEXTONS 528


L. MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 529


M. ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 530


N. DEACONS OF THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT


531


O. TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 532


P. ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 533


Q. MINISTERS OF BRICK CHURCH MISSION AND CHRIST CHURCH 535


R. MINISTERS OF COVENANT CHAPEL AND THE PRESENT CHURCH OF THE COVENANT 536


S. PEW-OWNERS OF 1853 . 537


T. FORM FOR ADMISSION OF MEMBERS, 1829 539


U. ORDER OF BAPTISMAL SERVICE, 1866 . 542


V. ORDER OF COMMUNION SERVICE, 1875 543


W. CONSTITUTION OF SUNDAY-SCHOOL, 1833


545


X. SUPREME COURT ORDER, REGARDING SALE OF BEEKMAN STREET PROPERTY 547


Y.


RULES FOR GOVERNMENT OF CHRIST CHURCH ME-


MORIAL BUILDINGS, 1905


548


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


The Brick Church on Beekman Street


Frontispiece


OPPOSITE PAGE


The old Wall Street Church


10


Plan of New York City, 1767


20


The Brick Church from the north-east in 1800, and view from same point in 1908 26


Brick Church relics


36


Ground-plan of the Brick Church on Beekman Street


76


John Rodgers


98


Fac-simile of a letter of Dr. Rodgers


102


Fac-simile of the Call of Gardiner Spring


122


Ground-plan of Brick Church, 1822


132


" Holiness to the Lord," and interior of Brick Church on Beek-


man Street, 1856


134


The Brick Church and Chapel on Beekman Street .


140


Gardiner Spring in his youth


148


Gardiner Spring in his old age .


166


Plan of burial vaults on Beekman Street .


262


The Brick Church on Murray Hill


278


Interior of the present Brick Church, 1858


286


William J. Hoge


296


William G. T. Shedd 310


Last New School Assembly, outside of the Church of the Covenant 316


James O. Murray .


320


The Brick Church Mission Chapel


348


Llewelyn D. Bevan


358


xxi


xxii


ILLUSTRATIONS


OPPOSITE PAGE


Henry van Dyke, 1892 378 Redecorated interior of the church 382 East end of the interior, 1883 384 The sewing school in the S. S. Hall on West Thirty-fifth Street . 394 George L. Prentiss . 406 The Church of the Covenant 408


Interior of the Covenant Chapel 414


Marvin R. Vincent 416


Interior of the old Church of the Covenant


James H. McIlvaine .


424


George S. Webster 434


The present Church of the Covenant 444


The Murray Kindergarten and the Lincoln Cadets 450


Henry van Dyke


452


Present interior of the Brick Church 454


Maltbie D. Babcock 458


James M. Farr 466


Classes in basket-weaving and carpentry 470


Classes in kitchen garden and cooking 472




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