USA > New York > New York City > A history of St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church at Harlem, New York City, 1830-1880 : with some facts relating to the settlement of Harlem > Part 7
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From most, if not all of those who could not be present, responses were received, regretting their inability to participate in the interesting exercises of the occasion.
The day on which the exercises occurred was exceptionally beautiful and serene. The services were varied and deeply interesting. The audiences at each of the three services were large, appreciative and devotional.
It was truly delightful and profitable to listen to the remarks of those who spoke at the love feast in the afternoon, awakening reminiscences of the past and evoking gratitude to God for the great work he had wrought.
REV. JAMES M. KING, D.D.
٠
SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 97
#1880฿ -1830₽
JUBILEE. Q
ST. JAMES' METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
NEW YORK CITY,
December 19th, 1880.
REV. J. M. KING, D.D.,
- PASTOR.
.
" Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God."-1 PETER, 2:10.
"Every follower of Christ is obliged, by the very nature of the Christian institution, to be a member of some church."-JOHN WESLEY.
(13)
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
ORDER OF SERVICE.
MORNING.
HYMN No. 9. I. M.
1 Before Jehovah's awful throne, Ye nations bow with sacred joy; Know that the Lord is God alone, He can create, and he destroy.
2 His sovereign power, without our aid, Made us of clay, and formed ns men; And when like wandering sheep we strayed, He brought us to his fold again.
3 We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs, High as the heavens our voices raise; And earth, with her ten thousand tongnes, Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.
4 Wide as the world is thy command; Vast as eternity tby love; Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand, When rolling years shall cease to move.
ISAAC WATTS, alt. by J. WESLEY.
PRAYER.
VOLUNTARY.
RESPONSIVE
SERVICE.
The audience will please stand during reading.
LEADER .- Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary : praise him in the firmament of his power.
CONGREGATION .- Praise him for his mighty acts: praise liim according to his exeellent greatness.
L. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
C. Praise him with tbe timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
L. Praise him npon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals.
C. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord: praise ye the Lord.
L. O sing unto the Lord a new song : sing unto the Lord all the earth.
C. Sing nnto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his sal- vation from day to day.
L. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
C. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to . be feared above all gods.
L. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
C. Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanetuary.
L. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
C. Give unto the Lord the glory dne unto bis name: bring an offering and come into his courts.
L. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
C. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: because liis mercy endureth forever.
L. In this was manifested the love of God toward ns, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live tbrough him.
C. For God so loved the world, that be gave his only begot- ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
L. Bnt God commendeth his love toward ns, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
C. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon bim the form of a servant, and was made in tbe likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto deatlı, even the death of the eross.
L. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for bretbren to to dwell together in unity.
C. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall belicve on me through their word, that they all may be one: as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
L. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
C. Beloved, let us love one another : for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
L. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
C. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
L. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
C. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion : bless the Lord, O my soul.
ANTHEM.
HYMN No. 770.
1 I love thy kingdom, Lord, The house of thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With his own precious blood.
2 I love thy Church, O God ! Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye, And graven on thy hand.
S. M.
3 For her my tears shall fall. For her my prayers aseend;
To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
4 Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love aud praise.
TIMOTHY DWIGHT.
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS,
REV. W. B. SILBER, LL.D. -
HYMN No. 763.
C. M.
1 O where are kings and empires now, Of old that went and came? But, Lord, thy Church is praying yet, A thousand years the same.
3 For not like kingdoms of the world Thy holy Church, O God! Though earthquake shocks are threatening her, And tempests are abroad;
4 Unshaken as eternal hills, Immovable she stands, A mountain that shall fill the earth, A house not made hy hands. A . CLEVELAND COXE.
SERMON,
REV. J. M. BUCKLEY, D.D. -
HYMN No. 769.
C. M.
1 How lovely are thy dwellings, Lord, From noise aud trouble free! How heautiful the sweet accord Of souls that pray to thee !
3 They pass refreshed the thirsty vale, The dry and barren ground, As through a fruitful, watery dale, Where springs and showers abound.
2 Lord, God of Hosts, that reign'st on high ! They are the truly hlest Who only will on thee rely, In thee alone will rest.
4 They journey on from strength to strength, With joy and gladsome cheer, Till all before our God at length In Zion's courts appear. JOHN MILTON.
BENEDICTION.
AFTERNOON.
REUNION LOVE-FEAST
AT THREE O'CLOCK.
EVENING.
HYMN No. 776. 8, 7.
1 Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He, whose word cannot be broken, Formed thee for his own ahode; On the Rock of ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
3 See, the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Still supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river Ever flows our thirst to assuage? Grace, which, like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age.
3 Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear, For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near! He who gives us daily manna, He who listens when we cry, Let him hear the loud hosanna Rising to his throne on high.
JonN NEWTON.
PRAYER.
VOLUNTARY.
2 We mark her goodly hattlements, And her foundations strong; We hear within the solemn voice Of her unending song.
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
RESPONSIVE SERVICE.
LEADER .- From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
CONGREGATION .- Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
L. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.
C. To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.
L. Behold, bless ye the Lord; all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
C. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
L. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.
C. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
L. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
C. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
L. When the even was come. they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils:
C. And he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.
I .. Abide with ns; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.
C. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
L. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
C. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.
L. This is the law of the burnt-offering. It is the burnt- offering because of the burning npon the altar all night unto the morning.
C. The fire shall ever he burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
L. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you np, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
C. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
L. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
C. And there shall be no night there.
L. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt- offerings, and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
C. God be merciful nnto us, and bless us.
L. The Lord that made heaven and earth, bless thec out of Zion.
HYMN No. 797.
S. M.
1 Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
3 This glorions hope revives Our courage by the way; While each in expectation lives, And longs to see the day.
3 Before our Father's thronc, We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one. Our comforts and our cares.
4 From Sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free: And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity. JOHN FAWCETT.
ADDRESS,
REV. W. R. DAVIS.
ANTHEM.
ADDRESS,
REV. J. M. REID, D.D.
HYMN No. 772.
S. M.
1 Who in the Lord confide, And feel his sprinkled blood, In storms and hurricanes abide Firm as the monnt of God: Steadfast, and fixed, and sure, His Zion cannot move; His faithful people stand secure In Jesus' guardian love.
2 As round Jerusalem The hilly bulwarks rise, So God protects and covers them From all their enemies: On every side he stands, And for his Israel cares; And safe in his al mighty hands Their souls forever bears.
CHARLES WESLEY.
ADDRESS,
REV. J. M. KING, D.D.
BENEDICTION.
101
SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The New York Times of December 20, contained the following:
" Methodism in Harlem ; commemorating the half century of its establishment.
"Three spceial services were held yesterday (December 19th) in St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church, at Madison Avenue and 126th Street, in eommemoration of the first suceessful efforts to establish Methodism in Harlem half a century ago. Handsomely printed programmes, containing the hymns especially selected for the oeeasion were distributed in the pews, but the ehureh was entirely devoid of floral embellishments
" A large congregation attended the morning service, among those present being Rev. Drs. Curry and Reid, and other clergymen. The Rev. Dr. J. M. King, Pastor of St. James'; the Rev. Dr. J. M. Buekley, Editor of the Christian Advocate ; the Rev. W. B. Silber, LL.D., and the Rev. Mr. Washburn, a former pastor of the ehureh, oeeupied the pulpit seats.
" After an opening invocation, by Mr. Washburn, the congregation united with the ehoir in singing the first hymn on the programme, begin- ning with the line, 'Before Jehovah's awful throne.' A responsive service was then held, after which the anthem, 'I love thy kingdom, Lord,' was sung.
Professor Silber read an elaborate historieal address, in which, after briefly reviewing the history of Methodism in America, he deseribed with considerable minuteness the cireumstanees attending the establishment of the Harlem Mission in 1830. At that time, he remarked, Harlem was inhabited by not more than 90 or 100 families, or an average of 500 persons. Most of the houses stood on 3d Avenue, between 109th Street and the bridge. The streets were not paved, and the only mode of eonveyanee to and from the city was a post coach, the fare on which was two shillings.
" In 1830, the New York . Methodist Episcopal Conference embraced New York, New Haven, Rhinebeck, the Hudson River towns, and Platts- burg. The population of the eity was 202,589, and the membership of the Methodist Church 3,955, ineluding 69 colored persons. Aeeording to the minutes of the Conference, the first minister assigned to the Harlem Mission was the Rev. Ira Ferris, whose field of labor extended from 20th Street to
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
King's Bridge. He sometimes preached on tavern steps, and not infre- quently addressed assemblages while seated on the back of his horse. When engaged in holding services in a building known as the Academy, on Rose Hill, he also performed the duties of sexton, being obliged to make a fire in the hall, and to ring the bell for service. The next minister assigned to the mission was the Rev. Richard Seaman, who held services for the benefit of a small congregation at the house of John James, in 125th Street, between 3d and Lexington Avenues; also, in the Harlem school, known as the Academy, which was leased at the rate of 25 cents per evening. In 1832 steps were taken to erect a meeting-house for the Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem, as the society then styled itself. A Board of Trustees having been appointed, eight lots were purchased from Daniel P. Ingraham, in 125th Street, between 3d and 4th Avenues. A meeting-house, 45 by 60 feet, was built thereon, and dedicated on December 12, 1833. The society subsequently became known as the St. James' Church, whose present edifice was erected in 1870.
" The Rev. Dr. Buckley, to whom fell the task of preaching the anni- versary sermon, selected as a text Psalm 44:1: 'We have heard with our ears, O God: our fathers have told us what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.'
" The history of the beginning of the Methodist Episcopal Church and its vast results, he said, had taken their place in the records of human progress. While the doctrines of the fathers of Methodism differed somewhat from those of the other religious bodies, they believed in the general principles of Christianity, and were thoroughly orthodox in contradistinction to the so-called liberal Christianity of the day. They repudiated the Calvanistic idea of future punishment, and in that respect differed from the Presby- terians. Their doctrines differed from those of the Baptists, yet they attached a peculiar importance to the rite of baptism. 3 They could not affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church because of its exclusiveness ; yet they were disposed to allow the use of a liturgy, but would not make it compulsory.
"Believing that every man could be a Christian, if he would, they
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
emphasized the doctrine of personal responsibility. No men that ever lived hated vice more than they, or denounced it with greater earnestness, while, singularly enough, no men ever felt more sympathy for sinners, or invited them with so much tenderness to partake of the waters of life. The fact that they practiced self-denial was manifest in the simplicity of their dress, in the absence of jewelry from their persons, and in their general tonc and manner. In the early days of the Church, Methodists were not only known by their dress, but by their constant disapproval of the vain and sinful tendencies of the times. Another peculiarity of the Methodist fathers was their love for each other, which came of the persecution to which they were subjected. Emphasizing work as well as faith, the philosophy of their means of grace was that every thing in this world should be used to express religious life. The love feasts they established were intended to be occasions for expressing brotherly love, and a form of religious life which had great convincing power. Class-meetings were to afford opportunities for growth in grace, and watch-night services were the means to be employed in cultivating an awful sense of the flight of time. Methodists of the present day had to a great extent lost that awful sense and substituted a spurious cheerfulness. Ministers had affected a levity which would have disgusted the fathers of the Church. Dr. Buckley believes that the Methodist Church has lost a great deal of its individuality, and that many of its members have no special love for its traditions, or veneration for the memories of its founders."
The Christian Advocate of Jan. 13, 1881, thus refers to the celebration : " A great day at St. James':
" The Harlem mission having been established in 1830, and December 19, 1833*, having witnessed the solemn services connected with the dedi- of the 'meeting-house,' December 19, 1880, witnessed a memorable celebration of the above mentioned facts. Then there were less than 4,000 Methodists in New York City, which was sparsely inhabited above 18th Street; now there are about 20,000. Then the population of the city
* Since the celebration, as before stated, ascertained to have occurred December 12th, 1833.
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
was 202,589; now 1,206,590. Then the whole city was included in one circuit; now there are fifty-one churches. Then the Methodist Episcopal Church had, in the United States, 400,000 members ; now 1,700,000; and the total membership of the Methodist Episcopal Churches in the United States is 3,437,000. Then we worshiped in barn-like structures; now we have churches, at least comely in architecture.
"The beautifully arranged programme, containing not only the order of service, but the hymns and responsive Scripture readings, printed in gold and blue, had upon the first page the following quotations: ‘Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God,' (1 Peter 2:10.) 'Every follower of Christ is obliged, by the very nature of the Christian institution, to be a member of some Church,' (Wesley.)
" In the morning the Rev. W. B. Silber, LL.D., (the Church historian) gave an elaborate and intensely interesting historical address.
"He was followed by the Rev. J. M. Buckley, D.D., who, although limited in time, gave a most remarkable discourse upon the distinctive features of genuine Methodism-a discourse which ought to be read or heard by the entire Church.
" At 3 o'clock P.M., there was a reunion love feast, led by the Rev. J. M. Reid, D.D., the Rev. M. S. Terry, D.D., assisting. It lasted for two hours, was largely attended, and thrilling in interest. Many testimonies from Methodists of fifty years' experience were given. Of the sixteen living pastors of the mission or church, all but one were either heard from by letter or were present to report for themselves. In the evening another crowded audience assembled. The Rev. J. M. Reid, D.D., and the Rev. W. R. Davis, former Pastor, and the Rev. J. M. King, D.D., the present Pastor, delivered addresses.
"St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church is the outgrowth of the Harlem Mission, and has, to-day, about one-sixth as many members as all New York Methodism had in 1830. It also has a beautiful structure in the most central and choice location, with the most complete and modern church appliances, and the largest and most intelligent audience on the northern part of Manhattan Island,
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
"The future of Methodism in Harlem, and in New York City as a whole, is assured, so long as it adheres to Methodist methods. It depends not upon endowments, nor hereditary aristocratic power, but upon Scrip- tural sanction and honest work."
The task assigned to the writer of the HISTORY OF ST. JAMES' is accomplished. He sends forth the book in the hope that it may prove a pleasant reminder of the past and serve as a stimulus and encouragement to effort in extending Christ's kingdom on earth, and that too, in places which may appear unpromising and even forbidding.
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