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الماكرراء
Gc 974.702 N422cl 1271374
GENEALOA COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01126 3974
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofchurcho00clar 0
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Church of Zion and St. Timothy.
HISTORY OF THE
CHURCH C OF ZION AND ST. TIMOTHY
OF NEW YORK +
1797-1894
With Illustrations
David Clarkson
2
PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION
NEW YORK & LONDON G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
Printed and Bound by The knickerbocker press, Rew Dork G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
1271374 TO THE PARISHIONERS OF THE CHURCH OF ZION AND ST. TIMOTHY, NEW YORK.
A FEW words by way of introduction may properly precede this compendium. In 1890, when Zion Church was consolidated with St. Timothy's Church, the writer, being the custodian of all the books of record and documents belonging to the older corporation, and subsequently being kindly offered the use of the records of the younger parish, was induced, as both parishes had thus lost their individuality, to rescue their respective histories from possible oblivion by putting them in printed form, together with a short sketch of the parish which is the outgrowth of the union.
In performing this labor of research, much time has necessarily been spent, in the intervals of an active business life, in the collection of historical and statistical data. The writer is not unaware of the fact that in historical sketches of parishes the incidents of their origin and growth, and the biographical portraitures of their principal actors, have no particular interest except to those long attached to such parishes, to the descendants of former parishioners, and to
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iv
INTRODUCTION.
those that come after. Yet an acquaintance with the history of one's parish, even when connection with it be short, may deepen interest in it.
In this compilation the writer's first inquiries were di- rected toward the books of record and original manuscripts of the respective parishes in his possession. Further historical incidents and facts have been gleaned from The Churchman, Church Fournal, Diocesan, and other journals, histories of New York, secular newspapers, Hall of Records, and such other sources as are noted.
The writer has also been aided in completing this volume by his own recollections of the older parish which extend over twenty-nine years.
DAVID CLARKSON.
NEW YORK, Fune, 1894.
CONTENTS.
LUTHERAN CHURCH
PAGE I
Arrival of Exiled Palatinates, 1710-Trinity Lutheran Church in Broadway Built-Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Organized- Old Brewery in Cliff Street Occupied, 1749-Stone Church Built in William Street, 1767-Trinity Lutheran Church Destroyed by Fire, 1776-Union of the Lutheran Corporations-Their Site on Broadway sold-The First Edifice of Grace Church Built-An English Lutheran Church Incorporated, 1797-Rev. George Strebeck, Pastor-Action of Consistory-A Frame Church in Pearl Street Built-Stone Church in Mott Street Built, 1801-Known as the English Lutheran Church Zion -Adjoining Land Purchased-Parsonage and School-house Built- Burial Plot in Astor Place Bought-Resignation of the Rev. Mr. Stre- beck-Ordained Deacon-Elected Rector of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church in New York-Consolidation Proposed by St. Stephen's Church-Rev. Ralph Williston became Pastor in 1805-In 18IO Pastor and Congregation Joined the Episcopal Church and Founded Zion Church.
ZION CHURCH .
I2
Incorporated March 13, 1810-Mr. Ralph Williston ordained Deacon -In Temporary Charge-Certificate of Incorporation-Deed of the English Lutheran Church to Zion Church-Communion Service- Zion Church Consecrated-First Vestry-Stipend from Trinity Church.
REV. RALPH WILLISTON, FIRST RECTOR . . Election-Ordained Priest-Church Burnt-Efforts to Rebuild- Appeals for Help-Gift of Trinity Church-Corporation Embarrassed -Rector Resigns-Church Advertised for Sale-Sold under Fore-
21
vi
CONTENTS.
closure Proceedings-Recovered by Six Members of the Congregation -Loan from Trinity Church-Church Completed-Sale of Cemetery in Astor Place-Church Consecrated-The Rector's Subsequent Pas- toral Relations and his Death.
REV. THOMAS BREINTNALL, 1819-1837
33
Letter of Acceptance-Ordination-Improvement of the Locality Since the Fire-Large Sunday-School-The Superintendent, W. R. Whittingham-Mr. Whittingham, upon His Ordination, Preaches in Zion Church-Gift of $20,000 from Trinity Church-Missionary So- cieties-Organ Purchased-Copy of Parochial Register During In- cumbency-Rector Resigns-Action of the Vestry-His Death.
51 REV. WILLIAM RICHMOND, 1837-1845 .
His Biography-Dickens' Description of Zion's Territory, 1841- Failure to Make Zion a Free Church-Resigns-Missionary to Oregon, 1851-His Death-Tribute to His Memory from the Bishop of New York.
REV. RICHARD COX, 1845-1859 .
His Institution-Biography-The Condition of the Neighborhood compels a Change of Location-Ten Lots of Land on Madison Avenue given by the Heirs of Susan Ogden-Brick Chapel Built in Thirty-Eighth Street-Mott Street Church Advertised for Sale-Meet- ing of Clergy and Laity to Secure Zion Church-Failure of the Project -Sale of the Church-The Church Journal's Criticism-Will of Mary Welsh-Laying of the Corner-Stone of the New Edifice-Rector's Address upon the Significance of Church Architecture-Consecration of the Church-Extracts from the Sermon Preached by Bishop Doane-Death of Bishop Wainwright-Description of the Church- Memorial Windows and Tablets-Removal of the Dead from Mott Street Burial-Place-Land owned Opposite the Church Leased- Rector Accepts a Call from a Church in Santa Cruz-Resigns-Fare- well Address-Resolution of the Vestry-His Death-Funeral- Memorial Tablet.
RT. REV. HORATIO SOUTHGATE, D.D., 1859-1872 . 105
. His Biography-Letter Resigning Episcopal Jurisdiction-His Publications-Extract from Inaugural Sermon-Mission Chapel Organized-Copy of Sermon Preached May, 1861-Peal of Bells- Interior of Church Improved-Organ Purchased-Zion Chapel-Sale
56
vii
CONTENTS.
PAGE
of the Land Opposite the Church-Rectory Built-Rev. James Murray Memorial Service-Churches Built within Parochial Limits of Zion Church-Change of Choir-Encounters Opposition and Causes Litigation-Zion Chapel Abandoned-Parish Church Suffers-Rector Vacates the Rectorship-Vestry's Expression of Regret-Assistant Ministers-Rev. C. T. Woodruff in Charge-Bishop Southgate Retires to Astoria-His Death-His Funeral.
REV. JOHN N. GALLEHER, D.D., 1873-1880 150
His Biography-Extract from Patten's Lives of Clergy (1874)-Con- dition of the Parish Presented no Terrors to the Rector-elect-His Successful Labors-Outlook Altogether Promising-Financial Crisis of 1873-Further Crowding of Churches Around Zion-Rector Elected Bishop of Louisiana-Resigns-Minute of the Vestry-His Consecration-Address at the Funeral of Jefferson Davis-Bishop Galleher's Death-Funeral-Tribute to His Memory by the Clergy of the Diocese of Louisiana-Burial.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE ATONEMENT IN MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, AND ITS CONSOLIDATION WITH ZION CHURCH . 164
EARLY HISTORY OF THE SITE PURCHASED BY THE CHURCH OF THE ATONEMENT IN MADISON AVENUE I73
I76 REV. C. C. TIFFANY, D.D., 1880-1890 . .
His Biography-Inaugural Service-Sale of the Church of the Atone- ment-Debt of Zion's Church Reduced-Revenues Increased-Chapel of the Atonement Adopted as Zion Chapel-Memorial Gifts of Chancel Window-Brass Lectern-Brass Pulpit-Extensive Interior Improvements of Church-Legacy from Samuel Hawk-Mortgage Debt on Church Paid Excepting only that Held by Trinity Church- Parish Societies-St. Cuthbert's Club-Assistant Ministers-Report of Committee on Changing Location of Church-Change of Choir- Appeal to Parishioners-Gift of an Organ-Report of Vestry Meet- tings Regarding the Future of Zion Church-St. Timothy's Church Destroyed by Fire-Rector's Proposition for Zion to Unite with St. Timothy's Church-Conference Committees Appointed-Preliminary Agreement Formulated-Vestries Meet-Corporators Meet-Final Action-Consolidation-Copy of Last Sermon Preached in Zion
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
Church by the Rector-Copy of Letter from Late Members of the Vestry to Dr. Tiffany-Reply of Dr. Tiffany-Closing Services in Zion Church-Sermon Preached by the Bishop of New York- Parish Register from 1810-1890-Necrology-Parochial Report, 1889.
SAINT TIMOTHY'S CHURCH, FOUNDED BY THE REV. JAMES COLE TRACEY, 1853-1855 · 217
Centre of Missionary Work under Auspices of the Rev. Thomas M. Peters-School-house in Fifty-First Street-First Parochial Report- Certificate of Incorporation-First Vestry-Elected Rector-His Biography-Rector's Published Appeal-Editorially Noticed in The Churchman-Bishop Horatio Potter's First Celebration of the Order of Confirmation-Rector's Impaired Health-His Death-Tribute to His Memory from the Church Journal, the Vestry, and the Bishop of New York-His Funeral.
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REV. GEORGE JARVIS GEER, D.D., 1855-1885 . · Then Assistant Minister of the Church of the Holy Apostles-Assumes Charge of St. Timothy's Church-Parochial Report-Election to the Rectorship, Retaining His Relation to the Church of the Holy Apostles-Bishop Potter's Visitation-Rev. Richard Clarence Hall Elected Assistant Minister-Offer from Rev. Robert S. Howland- The Superintendent of the Sunday-School Elevated to the Episcopate -Rev. William Tatlock Succeeds the Rev. Mr. Hall-Site Purchased in Fifty-Fourth Street-Frame Church Built-Memorial Window -- Font-Parish without Debt-Site Again Changed-Present Site Pur- chased-Rector Severs His Connection with Church of the Holy Apostles-His Biography-Extract from Patten's Lives of Clergy (1874)-Rectory Hired-Brick Chapel Erected-Organ Purchased- Site on Fifty-Fourth Street Sold-Chapel Opened-Stipend from Trinity Church-Rectory Built-Cost of-Debt of Corporation-Be- quest under Will of Amelia M. Collard-Leave of Absence to Rector -Illness-His Death-Funeral-Action of the Vestry-Minutes of the Clergy of the Diocese-Tribute to His Memory from the Bishop of New York-Sale of the Rectory-Debt Reduced-Memorial Service.
REV. E. SPRUILLE BURFORD, M.A., 1886-1887 . . 254
His Biography-Letter of Acceptance-Resigned after a Rectorate of about One Year-The Vestry Formally Expresses its Estimate of
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
the Acceptable Ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Burford-Subsequent Pastoral Relations-His Death-His Funeral-Copy of Resolutions Adopted by the Vestry of St. Timothy's Church, Church of the Intercession, Calvary Church, Memphis, and at a Meeting of the Bishop of New York and the Clergy of the Diocese Attending the Funeral.
REV. HENRY LUBECK, M.A., LL.B., 1887-1890 . 262
His Biography-Letter of Acceptance-Inaugural Service-Estimate as a Preacher-Large Accessions to the Congregation-Munificent Gifts toward a New Edifice-Parish a Legatee for over $60,000- Copy of Clause in will of George P. Clapp-Rev. C. H. S. Hartman Elected Assistant Minister-Guild of the Parish-Guild-Room Hired -Congregational Singing-Stipend from Trinity Church Discontinued -Brick Chapel Destroyed by Fire-Meeting of the Vestry-Architect Appointed-Proposition from Zion Church-Purchase of the Gore Lot on Fifty-Sixth Street-Consolidation with Zion Church-Parochial Report, 1889-Parish Register, 1853-1890-Review of its History- Necrology.
CHURCH OF ZION AND ST. TIMOTHY, CONSOLIDATED APRIL 25, 1890, REV. HENRY LUBECK, LL.D., RECTOR . . First Vestry-Election of Rector-Rector Emeritus-Assistant Minister-Organist-Sexton-Appointment of an Architect-Building Committee-Place of Worship-Sale of Zion Church-Purchaser- Adoption of Zion Chapel-Building of a Church Edifice and Parish House Commenced-Removal of Dead from Crypt of Zion Church- Title of Endowment Fund-Amount of the Fund-Rev. Carl Schwartz Succeeds the Rev. Mr. Hartman-Laying of Corner-Stone-Address of Rev. Dr. Satterlee-Letter from Rector Emeritus-List of Clergy Present-Second Place of Worship-Parish House Completed ; Evening Service held there-Church Edifice Finished-First Service in the Church-Copy of the Sermon Preached by the Rector-Church Consecrated-Report of the Services-Clergy Present-Sermon by the Bishop of Nebraska-Instrument of Donation-Description of the Church Memorial and other Gifts-Organ-Cost of the Buildings and Furnishing-Resolution of the Vestry Thanking Building Com- mittee-Commemorative Tablet-Rev. Dr. Tiffany as Rector Emeri-
279
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
tus -- Summary of Four Years' History-Organist and Choir Members -Sunday-Schools-Parish Guild-The Brotherhood of St. Andrew -Knights of Temperance-Band of Young Crusaders-Chapel of Zion and St. Timothy-Bible Classes-St. Cuthbert's Club-Indus- trial School-Report on Temporal Interests-Present Vestry-Death of Mr. George Montague.
APPENDIX
· 331
A . · . 33I
List of Parishioners attached to Zion Church, 1810-18II.
B.
335 List of Parishioners attached to Zion Church in 1890.
· C.
· 340 List of Wardens and Vestrymen of Zion Church from IS10-1890, and the Period of their Continuance in Office, also of the Treasurers and the Clerks.
D · · 347 Copy of the Abstract of the History of Zion Church Deposited in Corner-Stone in 1853.
E.
· 35I
List of Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Timothy's Church from 1854-1890, and the Period of their Continuance in Office, also of the Treasurers and the Clerks.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHURCH OF ZION AND ST. TIMOTHY .
·
Frontispiece
ZION CHURCH, MOTT AND PARK STREETS
FACING PAGE
30
REV. THOMAS BREINTNALL · 32
REV. WILLIAM RICHMOND .
50
REV. RICHARD COX .
56
ZION CHURCH, MADISON AVENUE AND 38TH STREET
88
RT. REV. HORATIO SOUTHGATE, D.D.
104
.
RT. REV. JOHN N. GALLEHER, D.D.
150
REV. CHARLES C. TIFFANY, D.D.
176
INTERIOR OF ZION CHURCH, MADISON AVENUE
192
ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH, 5IST STREET
216
REV. JAMES COLE TRACEY
222
ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH, 54TH STREET
236
REV. GEORGE JARVIS GEER, D.D.
240
ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH, 56TH STREET
242
.
INTERIOR OF ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH, 56TH STREET
244
.
REV. E. SPRUILLE BURFORD, M.A.
254
.
REV. HENRY LUBECK, M.A., LL.B.
.
262
INTERIOR OF CHURCH OF ZION AND ST. TIMOTHY
·
314
REREDOS AND ALTAR, CHURCH OF ZION AND ST. TIMOTHY,
316
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ZION CHURCH.
Z ION Protestant Episcopal Church of New York was incorporated March 13, 1810. The interesting circum- stances which led up to its formation are traceable to as remote a period as 1710, when, under a decree of Louis XIV., several thousand Germans of the Rhenish Palatinate were driven from their land, and besought the English Gov- ernment to give them homes in the New World. Ten thousand pounds sterling were appropriated by Parliament to defray the expenses of these unfortunate exiles. This was about the first recorded immigration of Germans to the United States.
A portion of these new-comers remained in New York- some of them belonged to the Lutheran body, and it was chiefly through their efforts that the Lutheran Church was rebuilt.
The first church of this denomination on Manhattan Island was established in 1664, by Hollanders, and stood in front of Fort Amsterdam, near the Bowling Green.
In 1673, under an edict of the Governor, this church, and
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ZION CHURCH.
other buildings interfering with the Fort repelling attacks were levelled. Another site was assigned the Lutherans on the southwest corner of Broadway and Rector Street, where, during the following year, a frame church and par- sonage were erected. Early in the eighteenth century these newly arrived Palatinates aided in building, on the same spot, a large and solid church of stone, which, upon comple- tion, was dedicated as "Trinity Lutheran Church." The services were conducted in the Dutch language exclusively, pursuant to a contract between the Dominie and the few older Dutch families.
In 1749 the German element, preponderating nearly eight to one, made strenuous efforts to have each alternate sermon delivered in German. Being unsuccessful, they separated the same year, and established " Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church." They purchased and remodelled the old Benson brewery on Cliff Street, and here the congregation wor- shipped until 1767, when a stone church was built at the northeast corner of Frankfort and William Streets, and was consecrated the same year. It was commonly known as the " Old Swamp Church," and its queer oval windows and gable roof were familiar sights until 1850. The Lutheran Church on Broadway was destroyed by a fire September 21, 1776, which swept over the western part of the city, and destroyed nearly one-fourth of it, including the first church building erected on the site of Trinity Church. The con- gregation soon afterwards united with the Old Swamp Church, the only Lutheran Church in the city. They built
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EARLY HISTORY.
upon the Broadway site, near the ruins, an inexpensive hotel, and leased it in 1790 for twenty-one years.
Although the following fact has no immediate connection with our subject, it is historically interesting to learn that this site came into the possession of Trinity Church Cor- poration before the lease expired. In 1804 a committee of that Vestry was appointed to select a suitable location below St. Paul's Church for a new edifice.
The committee finally reported, that the trustees of the Old Swamp Church had made an offer to give a perpetual lease of the site on Broadway, having a frontage of 82 feet, 66 feet in the rear, 97 feet on Rector Street, and 88 feet on the southerly side, on which the ruins of the church and the hotel building stood, for $1000 per annum.
During the next year, the lease of the hotel was purchased by Trinity Church Corporation, and a reversion in fee of the site obtained for $15,000, or its equivalent, as we notice that the Lutherans at this time acquired a large plot in Carmine Street, originally owned by Trinity Church, and there for many years they buried their dead.
This purchase was made by Trinity Church in trust for a Protestant Episcopal Church to be thereafter instituted. The trustees appointed were Matthew Clarkson, Herman Le Roy, Peter Schermerhorn, Henry Rogers, and Julian Ludlow. By deed dated January 31, 1809, the aforenamed trustees having been thereto required, conveyed to Grace Church the said described property for, and in considera- tion of, one dollar, and of a church having been erected
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ZION CHURCH.
thereon, and the congregation having been incorporated. This structure, of brick, was consecrated the same month. The land in the rear was afterwards bought by Trinity Church, upon which the rectory of Grace Church was built. To return from our digression to "Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church." The Rev. Dr. John Christopher Kunze, born in Saxony, 1744, and son-in-law of the patri- arch of the Lutheran Church in America, the Rev. Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, was the pastor from 1774 until his death in 1807. He also occupied the chair of Oriental Languages and Literature in Columbia College 1784-1787, and again in 1792-1797. His ability as a Hebrew and Arabic scholar was recognized outside of his church, and even by Jewish Rabbis, who came to him for information. This divine, as well as his eminent successor, the Rev. Dr. F. W. Geissenhainer, preached only in his native tongue.
In 1794 some of the younger members of the congrega- tion, chiefly the English-speaking descendants of the Ger- man Lutherans, who were without facilities for acquiring a knowledge of German, besought the trustees to have ser- mons occasionally delivered in a language understood by them. Failing in this endeavor, they invited the Rev. Dr. Strebeck to officiate for them, but did not at that time venture to set up a separate organization. On June 25, 1797, however, they were duly incorporated under the title of " The Trustees for the English Lutheran Church in the City of New York." The trustees were Alexander Fink, Jr., Lewis Hartman, Adam Hartell, Jacob Varian, Robert
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EARLY HISTORY.
Seaman, Lawrence Hyer, Cornelius King, and Godfrey Kant. This certificate was executed before Richard Varick, Mayor of the city.
The trustees rented land on Magazine (now Pearl) Street, opposite to City Hall Place, and erected a frame church, about fifty feet in width, with galleries. Soon after a committee, consisting of Messrs. Henry Heiser, elder, Lucas Van Buskirk, deacon, and Lewis Hartman, trustee, was appointed to inform the Evangelical Ministerium about to convene in Rhinebeck of the recent action of the trus- tees of the English Lutheran Church. The trustees in their communication dwelt at length upon the reasons which had impelled their incorporation, and received in reply thereto the following extract from the Minutes of the Lutheran Consistory, dated September 1, 1797 :
" Upon reading a letter from New York signed by Henry Heiser, Lucas Van Buskirk, and L. Hartman, representing that they have erected an English Lutheran Church, on account of the inability of their children to understand the German Language :
"Resolved-That it is never the practice in an Evangelical Consistory to sanction any kind of Schism ; that if the per- sons who signed the Letter wish to continue their children in the Lutheran Church connection in New York, they earnestly recommend them the use of the German School, and in case there is no probability of any Success in this particular, they herewith declare, that they do not look upon persons, who are not yet communicants of a Lutheran
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ZION CHURCH.
Church, as apostates, in case they join an English Episco- palian Church, regularly established and not created by an authorized Secession from a former Church Connection.
"Resolved, 2d .- That on account of an intimate connection subsisting between the English Episcopal Church and the Lutheran Church and the identity of their doctrine and near alliance of their Church discipline-this Consistory will never acknowledge a new erected Lutheran Church merely English, in places where the members may partake of the services of the said Episcopal Church."
Coincident with this action of the Consistory, we notice in Bishop Perry's History of the American Episcopal Church, that the Rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany, com- municated to the State Convention "that some Lutheran clergymen had, in the name, and on behalf of the Consistory of the Lutheran Church in the State of New York, intimated to him a desire to have it proposed to this Convention, that their Church might be united with the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State, and that their ministers might receive Episcopal ordination." A committee, of which the Rev. Benjamin Moore was chairman, was appointed, "to meet such gentlemen of the Lutheran Church as may be duly ap- pointed by their ecclesiastical authority, to confer with them on the subject." Unfortunately for this scheme of comprehension, the meeting of the General Convention was deferred until 1799, in consequence of the prevalence of yellow fever, and no State Convention was held until 1801, when the sudden resignation of Bishop Provoost occupied its attention.
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EARLY HISTORY.
On September 13, 1797, at a meeting of " The Trustees of the English Lutheran Church " the letter of the committee to the Synod and the resolutions adopted by it were read. It seems that the following resolution was the only action taken at this meeting :
" That the Rev. Mr. Strebeck have a certificate signed by the Board, specifying his regular induction as minister of the English Lutheran Church."
The success of this movement, originating with but a few members of the church, far exceeded the expectations of its most sanguine projectors, so that within four years much larger accommodations became necessary. The trustees bought a plot of ground 83 feet by 85 feet on the corner of Mott and Cross (now Park) Streets, and erected thereon a large, commodious, and substantial stone church, 55 feet in width and 76 feet in length, walls 30 inches in thickness, with galleries, at a cost of about $15,000. The elevation of the site suggested a change in the name (not of the corporate title) to the "English Lutheran Church Zion."
In 1802, Nos. 33, 35, and 37, Mott Street were purchased, having a frontage of 57 feet and a depth of 88 feet, on which were built a frame parsonage and a school-house.
The frame church on Magazine Street, together with the lease of the land, were sold to the Society of the United Christian Friends, and afterwards became a Baptist Church for colored people. Upon the day of the dedication of this new edifice, the Rev. Dr. Kunze delivered the sermon, of which 1000 copies were ordered printed.
8
ZION CHURCH.
In 1804, the pastor, the Rev. George Strebeck, decided to apply for admission, as a candidate for Holy Orders, in the Protestant Episcopal Church. Upon his ordination by Bishop Moore, he endeavored to induce his people to con- form to the worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and at one time seemed to have succeeded, for a resolution to that effect is recorded under date June, 1804. It was ratified at a subsequent meeting in July. Measures in accordance therewith had been taken, and a certificate obtained for a new charter, but before it was recorded, the trustees were advised that the Rev. Mr. Strebeck had submitted to the re-baptism of his children at Trinity Church. This act, in their opinion, threw doubt on the validity of the Lutheran ordinance, in accordance with which they and their children had been baptized, and to which they still adhered. Therefore it was resolved and declared that the church remain, as heretofore, an " English Lutheran Church," and that the certificate of the new charter be not recorded. Upon this resolve the Rev. Mr. Strebeck resigned the pastorate.
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