USA > New York > The earliest churches of New York and its vicinity > Part 11
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Dr. Spring made a proposition to the Presbytery of New York that his congregation would subscribe fifty thousand dollars, provided the other churches would raise one hundred and fifty thousand, to purchase the " Old Briek," and let it remain for the use of strangers in the lower part of the city. This liberal offer, how- ever, did not succeed. The old church was taken down
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and its dead removed, and a magnificent stone edifice. devoted to business purposes, now occupies the memo- rable spot. Here our excellent Observer, with several other papers and periodicals, are published, where the Gospel so long sounded.
On the 31st of October, 1858, Dr. Spring delivered the dedicatory sermon of the New Brick Church, on Murray Hill, Fifth Avenue. His theme was the Sanctuary, and the text, "Ye shall reverence my sanctuary." -- Leviticus xix. 30. This was an auspicious day with the congregation -the removal of a church hallowed by such affecting asso- ciations as concentrated around the spot of their fathers' prayers and graves. After an absence of two years and a half, they assembled in this new and beautiful court of the Lord, and could joyfully exclaim : "Having ob- tained help of God, we continue to the present day." The edifice is large, costly, and noble, and was solemnly dedicated to Him to whose name and worship, we trust, it will ever be devoted. It cannot be styled a gorgeous edifice, and has no decorated walls or splendid magnifi- cence. "Strength and beauty" unitein this "sanctuary." Sacred place ! And here was the banner of salvation again set up in the name of the Lord.
Dr. Spring delivered another suitable sermon, " Re- demption God's greatest work," on the fiftieth anni- versary of his ordination and installation as pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church. This was his text : "That I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." -Isaiah i. 16. Referring to himself and God's good- ness, he remarked : " When I came among you I thought
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it doubtful if I should remain a single year ; but He has kept me here fifty years. . . . I can scarcely bring my- self to believe that the present discourse is the fiftieth anniversary service I have been permitted to enjoy among this people."
Not long after, on the 15th of October, 1800, a mect- ing was held by the congregation, " to present a memo- rial to their venerated pastor on the occasion of his settlement over them." On this occasion the new spa- cious edifice was crowded : Horace Holden occupied the chair, and Augustus Whitlock, with George De Forest Lord, were appointed Secretaries. The Rev. Dr. Phillips offered prayer, and very impressive addresses were made by Mr. Holden, Daniel Lord, and Mr. Corn- ing. The Rev. Dr. Krebs read an address from the Presbytery of New York, which was signed, on behalf of that body, by John M. Krebs, W. W. Phillips, R. McCartee, Ebenezer Platt, and Mr. Wm. Walker. The Rev. Samuel Spring, D. D., of Hartford, a beloved brother of the Doctor, sent an address, which was also read by Gardiner Spring, Jr .. on behalf of his uncle. The Rev. Dr. Rodgers, of Boundbrook, N. J., a grand- son of the earliest pastor of the church, also addressed the meeting, together with Dr. Humphrey, Dr. Murray. John G. Adams. M. D .. and Dr. Hoge. All their re- marks exhibited great respect and affection to Dr. Spring for his long-continued, successful labors in the church, with ardent wishes and fervent prayers that God would continue to bless his ministerial efforts.
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CHAPTER XIV.
CEDAR STREET CHURCH FOUNDED-DR. ROMEYN CALLED-CHURCH REMOVED TO DUANE STREET-REV. DR. POTTS-ASSOCIATIONS OF CEDAR STREET CHURCH - OLD MEMBERS - WILLIAM HALL, OF CLEVELAND, THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE ORIGINAL SUB- SCRIBERS TO THE CHURCH-PELETIAHI PERIT-DR. J. W. ALEXAN- DER INSTALLED-THE NEW CHURCH ON THE FIFTH AVENUE.
A COLONY from the Wall Street and Brick Presbyterian Churches, in 1807, founded the Cedar Street Church, Dr. Rodgers laying the corner-stone: and he delivered the opening sermon. A subscription towards the new un- dertaking had been commenced in sums from one hun- dred to twelve hundred dollars, and soon amounted to forty thousand, with which the lots were purchased and the edifice erected. It was deemed expedient to organize this congregation independent of the three other Collegiate Presbyterian Churches then in New York. The movement was. in fact, one of New Eng- land men. Elisha Coit and Selah Strong were the com- mittee, with the call for Dr. Romeyn to take charge of the newly formed Church. Mr. John Stontenborg also carried an invitation to the same gentleman, for him to accept the paspits of the Reformed Collegiate Dutch Churches ; but Dr. Romeyn accepted the Presbyterian. On the eighth of November, 1808, the congregation was organized, with twenty-eight members ; and on the same
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day the Rev. John B. Romeyn, D. D., was installed its pastor. A large society soon collected, and he contin- ued his labors until his death, February 22, 1825, in the forty-eighth year of his age.
After some two years' vacancy, during which the Rev. Dr. Payson and the Rev. Dr. Sprague were called, but declining, the Rev. Cyrus Mason was ordained pastor, in December, 1826. Resigning his charge, in 1835 he be- came a professor or the principal of the Grammar School in the New York University.
During his ministry this congregation removed its place of worship to the new, elegant marble church on Duane street. The old lots were sold for seventy-five thousand dollars, in 1834, the congregation worshipping in the lecture-room of the Brick Church until their new edifice was finished, in 1835. This cost about forty thou- sand dollars, without the lot ; and here the congregation removed on the first Sabbath of the new year, 1836, assuming the name of the "Duane Street Church." During the ensuing month of May, the Rev. George Potts became its pastor.
There are many delightful associations connected with the "Old Cedar Street Church." Perhaps no congre- gation in the city contained more useful and zealous members. Zechariah Lewis, so long connected with the Commercial Advertiser, and William Cleveland, were its first ruling elders ; and later, Elisha Coit, William Hall, Solomon Williams, - -- Wilson, with Rufus Nevins, were deacons. We find, also, the names of Jonathan Little, Ives, Fitch. J. E. Caldwell, and Divie Bethune, Markog, Masters, Hugh Anchineloss, and Cyrenius Beers,
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among the elders. Few churches exhibited so many ven- erable faces in its aisles and pews as Old Cedar Street presented. General Ebenezer Stevens, with a family of six sons, Colonel Loomis, Colonel Varick, Archibald Gra- cie, Mr. Walcott, afterwards the governor of Connecticut, Benjamin Strong, Amasa Jackson, James and William Lovett, William Codman, Darling, Irvings, Griswolds, Robert Halliday, Stephen Whitney, John B. Murray, William Halsted, Hubbard. Gordon Buck, Levi Coit, that most excellent and useful citizen, Mr. Aspinwall, &c. There was quite a party for calling Mr. Holley, after- wards a distinguished preacher among the Unitarians. Dr. Romeyn manifested a great interest in the spiritual welfare of children, and secured their affection by his familiar manner of calling them all by name. His cate- chetical exercises were esteemed among his most useful. often nearly two hundred attending the classes, from five and six years of age to eighteen. In hearing the recitations, he would be assisted by the elders, then adding such explanations and remarks as were profitable to all. Dr. Romeyn's ministry was owned and blessed by the great Head of the Church, and many heads of families among our prominent citizens professed faith in Christ during his Christian labors. For a long time, from twelve to sixteen persons were added to the congregation every communion day. Many came by letters from other churches; and among such the ex- cellent and pious Mrs. Isabella Graham. Divie Bethune and wife, and Colonel Richard Varick, &e. Of the sixty- seven persons who united originally in the subscriptions for building the Colar Street Church, only one is known
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to be living. This is the estecmed and venerable Wil- liam Hall, now in his eightieth year, and residing at Cleveland, Ohio. He has been greatly blessed in his earthly pilgrimage, having two sons in the sacred office, and one daughter the wife of a minister. Of the twenty- eight who founded this church. only two were living a few months ago-Peletiah Perit and Mr. Hall ; but the former, that excellent citizen and faithful Christian, has recently gone to his heavenly mansion and rewards, and the venerable Mr. Hall alone is left. In speaking of this fact himself, he says: "Our fathers, where are they ? and the prophets, do they live forever ?"
Mr. Potts was succeeded in Duane street by the Rev. James W. Alexander, D. D., installed October, 1844, the members soon numbering four hundred. This church was also taken down. Splendid marble stores now occupy the spot ; and the congregation removed to their noble and beautiful new edifice on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Nineteenth street. Here Dr. Alexander continued his Gospel labors until released from them to obtain the promises of the heavenly world. Precious is his memory, yea, more precious than gold, and dear as raptured thrills of joy !
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CHAPTER XV.
SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BUILT-REV. JOHN MASON -- IIIS SON, JOIIN M. MASON, D. D., SUCCEEDS HIM-THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES ESTABLISHED-DR. MASON IN THE PULPIT AND AS A WRITER -- IIIS WORK ON " CATHOLIC COMMUNION'-PRESIDENT OF CARLISLE COL .- LEGE-REV. MESSRS. SNODGRASS AND MCAULEY SUCCEED INIM IN THE MURRAY STREET CHURCH-CHURCHI SOLD AND CONGREGATION REMOVE TO ASTOR PLACE-ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI -- EARLIEST CHURCHES -- FOREIGN HISTORY -- REV. JAMES PROUDFIT ARRIVES IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH OTHER MINISTERS --- NEW UNION FORMED, AND ITS LEADERS REV. THOMAS CLARK, ROBERT ANNAN, DR. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT-SETTLEMENT OF IRISH PRESBYTERIANS IN ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK, UNDER AUSPICES OF COL. CLIN- TON-ANOTHER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
IN the year 1768, the "Scotch Presbyterian Church," a fine stone substantial house of worship, sixty-five by fifty-four feet, was erected on Cedar street near Broad- way. In June, 1761, the Rev. John Mason, of Scotland, arrived in New York, and now became its pastor, and his influence greatly promoted the union between the Associate and Reformed Churches. After the union, this congregation became " The First Associate Reformed Church in New York."
Dr. John Mason was one of the most accomplished preachers and pastors of his day. His scholarship was rare-at the early age of twenty speaking the Latin lan- guage, on all the higher subjects of science, with as much ease as his mother tongue ; and he was equally familiar
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with the Hebrew. His lectures were in Latin, and at the age of twenty-four he taught logic and moral phi- losophy in the Seminary at Abernethy. As a preacher, he was very diligent and instructive, and few ministers ever lived in New York more esteemed, and, when dying, so generally lamented.
In connection with Governor Livingston, of New Jer- sey, Dr. Mason wrote, it is thought, some powerful po- litical papers before the Revolution, and was banished from the city. For thirty years he ministered in this old Scot's church, and died in the year 1792.
After the death of Dr. John Mason, his son, John M., then studying theology at Edinburgh, was invited to succeed his father in the pulpit, and he accepted. Re- signing the pastorship of the Scotch Cedar Street Church in 1810, with some of its members, a new congregation was organized, and, in 1812, they completed the elegant stone edifice on Murray street, then opposite Columbia College. Here Dr. Mason continued to officiate until elected Professor of Theology in the college at Car- lisle.
In the year 1800 it was resolved to establish a theo- logical seminary, as the only means to supply the in- creasing demand for ministers of the Associate Reformed Church. Dr. Mason was sent to England, in 1802. for the purpose of obtaining funds towards the object. and secured six thousand dollars, the greatest part of which was expended for the purchase of a valuable library. Five Scottish ministers returned with him to the United States. During the fall of 1804. the seminary com- meneed its sessions at New York, and was the first of
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the kind established in the United States. For many years it was our most famous theological school. The honor of its origin and admirable plan of study belong to Dr. Mason. At this period, the Doctor also had some connection with old and honored Columbia College, lecturing to the Senior Class on Greek and Latin criti- cism. Many graduates remember these rich, eloquent, and learned dissertations.
We must also speak of his unrivalled pulpit elo- quence and immense popularity. He was one of the very few American preachers whose fame was as great in England as in the United States.
Dr. Mason's writings rank high in our theological literature. His earliest work was upon Frequent Com- munion. For many years the Scottish churches had been accustomed to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper not more than twice a year, and sometimes only once. Besides the usual preparation sermon, the sacra- mental Sabbath invariably was preceded by a fast on the previous Thursday, and succeeded by a thanks- giving day upon the following Monday. This, the Doc- tor believed, was palpably opposed to the spirit of the " Directory," which declares that " the Lord's Supper is frequently to be observed." Some, however, had be- come so wedded to the set " days," as to imagine that it was almost a profanation to celebrate the solemn ordi- nance without them. These additions to the New Tes- tament Passover Dr. Mason opposed, and his " Letters" to the " Associate Reformed Church" produced the de- sired change in many congregations.
His great work, however, is a masterly treatise on
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"Catholic Communion," published in 1816. Previous to its appearance, the Associate Reformed congregations, in common with other branches of the Scottish Church in our land, had been exclusive in their communion. Strange illustration how an orthodox Church may plainly contradict her own standards of faith! In the days of the Westminster Assembly exclusive communion was condemned, whilst the Confession of the Scottish Church declares, in the plainest terms, the duty of communion with all, in every place, who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. At an early period, however, of the Scottish secession, a spirit of sectarian exclusiveness manifested itself in new terms of communion. These virtually unchurched all other Christian denominations. The Doctor's great aim was to defend the doctrine of the Church on this subject, and to bring the practice of the Church into harmony with her own authorized stand- ards. This work gave great offence to many, who could not or would not agree with the author's views ; but still it produced a catholic change in the administration of the Lord's Supper in a considerable portion of the Church of which its author was a member.
After two years' residence at Carlisle College, Dr. Mason's health entirely failing, he returned to New York, where he finished his course in the year 1829.
The Rev. William D. Snodgrass succeeded Dr. Mason in the Murray Street Church. September 22, 1823, re- maining pastor until September 22, 1832. when he removed to the Second Street Church. Troy. Dr. Thomas Me Auley, of Philadelphia, and formerly the pastor in the Rutgers Street Church, succeeded Dr.
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Snodgrass, January 31, 1833. This sacred edifice heavily in debt, and many of the congregation removed, after eight years' ministerial labors of Dr. McAuley, - they obtained another location. The property had be- come very valuable, and was sold. Noble stores now occupy the once sacred spot. A commanding site was obtained on Eighth street at Astor Place, and the old church, taken down, was removed, and here rebuilt in 1842. It was, known as the "Eighth Street," or the Church on Astor Place, its corporate name, however. remaining the " Third Associate Reformed Church." In November, 1845, Dr. McAuley resigned his pastoral relations.
We find no very authentic accounts of the earliest Scot's Presbyterian Churches in this country, with the exception of a few once in South Carolina. There is much religious romance in their history. As early as the year 1680, Lord Cardon commenced a colony at Port Royal, as a refuge to his persecuted Presbyterian breth- ren, and their minister was the Rev. Dr. Dunlop, after- wards the Principal of the University of Glasgow. The Spanish invasion, with the English Revolution of 1688, led the exiles to abandon this religious settlement and return to their native land. Numbers of private per- sons, however, remaining in Carolina, formed congrega- tions under a presbytery, which existed until the close of the last century. Of these early churches. a few years ago only one remained-the " Old Scot's of Charles- ton."
During 1660 to 1688, that dark period of Scottish his- tory, numbers of Presbyterians, transported to the
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American plantations, were sold as slaves .* Yes! we have had on our continent white slaves as well as black ! Wodrow, an early historian, estimates their number at three thousand ; and they were sent mostly to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. To a congregation of these exiles in New Jersey, a Reverend Mr. Frazer preached for some years-then removed to New Eng- land-thence returned to Scotland. As the history of these earliest Scottish Churches is connected with that of the American Presbyterian, it is much to be regretted that the accounts of them are so exceedingly scanty.
In the year 1736, the Associate Presbytery in Scot- land received a letter from a number of persons in Lon- donderry, Chester County, Pennsylvania, soliciting an ordained minister or a probationary, and promising to pay the expenses of his mission. The demand, how- ever, for laborers at home was so great, that only a friendly letter was returned.+ The Rev. Alexander Gellatly was the first minister sent to America by the Secession Church, who arrived in the year 1751, and, after a laborious ministry of eight years, completed his earthly mission at Octorara, Pennsylvania. In 1751, the Covenanters, or Reformed Presbyterians, commissioned the Rev. Mr. Cuthbertson, and he was followed, in 1774, by the Rev. Messrs. Lind and Dobbin. The As- sociate Reformed Churches in our land arising from these denominations in Scotland, this very brief notico of them will not be out of place.
* Dr. John Forsyth, in Rapp's Religions Denominations. MeKonow's Hist. Secess, 1. 230.
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During the year 1751, Messrs James Hames and John Jamieson came over, as Missionaries, and in 1752 Messrs. Gellatly and Arnot arrived. They were espe- cially charged, by the Synod, to constitute themselves into a Presbytery, which they did, under the name of the "Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania." In the year 1153, the Rev. James Proudfit arrived, and after laboring as an itinerant for some years he settled at Pequa, Pennsylvania. The American Presbytery was strengthened in 1758 by the arrival of the Rev. Matthew Henderson, and in 1781. the Rev. Messrs. John Mason, Robert Annan, with John Smart; in 1762, the Rev. William Marshall arrived. John Roger and John Smith came over in 1770. During that year, Thomas Clark, with most of his congregation, from Bally bay, Ireland, emigrated to America, and settled the town of Salem, Washington County, New York. He was fol- lowed by the Rev. Messrs. Telfair and Kinloch, the latter becoming the minister of the Burgher Congrega- tions, Shipper street, Philadelphia : Kinloch ultimately returned to Scotland, settling at Paisley.
The American Revolution aided the union of the Associate Reformed Churches in America, which took place in October, 1782, under the name of the " Asso- ciate Reformed Synod of North America." They adopt- ed " the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Catechism, the Directory for Worship, and Propositions Concern- ing Church Government." A small minority declined to enter this association, and from it have sprung, in our land, the "Covenanter" Church, and the " Asso- ciate."
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Let us add a brief notice of the leaders who effected this union. The Rev. Thomas Clark was one, and no minister of his day, it is said, was " in labors more abun- dant." He was somewhat eccentric, and usually large crowds went to hear him. But he was eminently given to prayer, laborious and zealous, having many seals to his ministry. Thus making full proof of his Gospel mission, he died suddenly, after a most laborious life of thirty years, spent for the salvation of souls, at Long Cane, South Carolina, in 1796. Mr. Clark was the founder and the first minister of the Church at Salem, New York.
We have spoken of the Rev. Dr. John Mason, another founder of the Associate Reformed Church, in a previous chapter.
The Rev. Robert Annan had been a fellow-student with Dr. Mason, and coming to this country about the same period, embraced the same views of church polity. During the early part of the American Revolution, he zealously advocated the Whig cause, and about its close took charge of the newly formed Scot's Church, Bos- ton. Unable to enforce the discipline of the Presbyte- rian Church, he removed to Philadelphia. ministering to the Spruce Street Church. Then he accepted a call from a congregation in Baltimore, and. after six years' services, was succeeded by Dr. John M. Duncan.
Mr. Annan was a man of eloquence, an able and se- vere controversialist. He wrote a short. excellent expo- sition of the Westminster Confession- a narrative of the steps which led to the Union-a tract on Universalism, one on Civil Government, and engaged with Dr. Rush
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in a discussion on capital punishment. Mr. Annan died in the year 1818.
The Rev. James Proudfit, another Unionist, also re- ceived his ministerial education at Abernethy, and his first settlement was at Pequa, Pennsylvania. Here, laboring upwards of twenty years, he settled at Salem, where he remained until his death, in 1802. The Rev. Dr. Alexander Proudfit was associated with him in the pastoral charge for some years before his death. Dr. Proudfit was one of the earliest Presbyterian ministers settled north of Troy, and abundant in labors for many years. He founded many congregations about Wash- ington County. So great was his knowledge of the Bible, as often to be called the Concordance. Of the other Covenanting Ministers, Messrs. Dobbin, Lind, and Cuthbertson, we have been unable to obtain any authen- tic information.
As early as the year 1734, a settlement of Irish Pres- byterians was made in Orange County, New York, under the auspices of Colonel Clinton, the founder of the Clinton family. Another colony went to Washing- ton County with Dr. Clark, about 1780, and from these have arisen the various Associate Churches in this region.
We have nothing to do with the Theological ques- tions carly dividing the religions denominations of our city, but briefly to notice the history of each. The old Associate Church in New York commenced about the year 1751, by the separation of the Scottish members from the Wall Street, in consequence of changes in the forms of worship .* There arose a difference about * Dr. Cleland and J. P. Mille :.
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psalmody, those dissenting from the majority quietly withdrawing and establishing a new congregation with the name of the "Scotch Presbyterian Church," and placing themselves under the care of the Associated Presbytery of Pennsylvania.
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CHAPTER XVI.
COLONEL RUTGERS PRESENTS A LOT FOR A NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-DR. MILLEDOLER CALLED-DRS. MCCLELLAN, MCAULEY, AND KREBS HIS SUCCESSORS --- REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OR- GANIZED-WILLIAM OGNEK-REV. MR. MCKINNEY'S ARRIVAL-FIRST SACRAMENT -ALEXANDER MCLEOD INSTALLED - IIIS SERMON ON NEGRO SLAVERY-CHURCH ERECTED ON CHAMBERS STREET-RE- BUILT, AND THEN REMOVED TO GREENWICH VILLAGE-DR. MCLEOD'S LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE IN THE PULPIT-HIS LABORS-LEADING MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH, MESSRS. AGNEW, GIFFORD, NELSON -- REV. JOHN N. MCLEOD SUCCEEDS HIS FATHER-CHURCHI REMOVED TO PRINCE STREET.
NEW YORK now extending her borders towards its eastern section, a Presbyterian church was wanted there, when Colonel Rutgers presented a lot for the purpose, on the street named after himself. During the summer of 1797 the desired work was commeneed. and the spacious frame building, sixty-four by eighty-six feet in dimen- sions, opened for the Lord's worship May 13, 1798. Although Wall, the Brick, and Rutgers Churches were now a collegiate charge, still it was believed that soon each of them would stand alone. So, when the Rev. Dr. Phillip Milledoler was installed a colleague with Drs. Rodgers, MeKnight, and Miller, in November, 1805, the Rutgers street congregation was given to his more par- ticular care. When a separation of these churches should take place, he was to be considered its sole pas-
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