USA > New York > New York City > The history of the Broadway tabernacle church, from its organization in 1840 to the close of 1900, including factors influencing its formation > Part 11
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When the rising tide of business began to sweep up toward Fourteenth Street and to force New York citizens to seek resi- dences farther north, the downtown churches speedily fol- lowed their members and supporters. In 1857 Dr. Thompson * Manual of the Broadway Tabernacle Church, &c., 1855.
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enumerated twenty-two churches that had removed from be- low the Tabernacle, from Broadway, Exchange Place, Beek- man, Cedar, Chambers, Gold, Frankfort, Franklin, Fulton, Murray, Nassau, Pine, Wall, and Warren Streets to points higher up town .* But the Tabernacle Church was not ready at first to follow. The Christian public had a lien on the build- ing and would have detained the church longer. Christian merchants were glad to have their employees, living in down- town boarding-houses, welcomed to so hospitable a church home. Some of its old traditions as a free church still hung about it; its preacher took an open, manly stand against slavery, and so, many who had been trained piously and who sought to build up homes and fortunes in a free republic- English, Scotch, Scotch-Irish, knocked for admission almost as soon as they landed in America, and were never denied; but old residents moved away and were swallowed up in their neighboring churches. The Tabernacle Church membership was continually fluctuating; from 1840 to 1857, sixty were removed by death, and more than ten times as many by dis- mission.
The church did not yield to the current without a struggle. When, in 1850, the effort was made to raise money to pay the debt and to purchase the fee of the Broadway entrance, an appeal was made to the Christian public for aid to retain " this great house of worship," used by the Church at large, for the public benefit. The response was not encouraging. Only $800 was subscribed outside the society, and that mainly upon personal grounds, while nearly $10,000 was raised by the society.
Four years later another attempt was made to interest the public in preserving the Tabernacle. It was proposed to di- vide the Tabernacle property into stock, to alter the building so that it might bring in as large a revenue as possible, but to reserve from the stock company the Sunday use of the build- ing for church purposes. The plan included the erection of a new house of worship for the church nearer the residences . Last Sabbath in Broadway Tabernacle, 1857.
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of its members; the church assuming the responsibility and expense of supplying the pulpit of the old Tabernacle. This stock it was supposed would yield a seven per cent. return; but so little interest was shown in the scheme that no one out- side the Tabernacle was ready to subscribe.
The pastor made up his mind that money and a preacher could not alone sustain a church. Christian families so near to the place of worship that they could attend its various ser- vices and keep up social intercourse as fellow-members of one Church of Christ were essential in order that the church might become the salt of the region in which it was placed. This he maintained with vigor. There were too few Christian fam- ilies settled near the Tabernacle to support its services, and with might and main he urged and planned for removal until the inertia of the church was overcome.
At a meeting of the society, held June 13, 1855, it was voted to change the location of the place of worship; and at meet- ings held in the following November the trustees were au- thorized to provide a site for a new church edifice in the upper part of the city, to purchase the church then building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty-sixth Street if satisfactory terms could be had, or to secure lots on the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty-eighth Street if that seemed more desirable. A Building Committee of three from the so- ciety was appointed to be associated with the trustees, and permission was granted to the trustees to issue bonds, secured by mortgage if necessary, to an amount not exceeding $30,000, to pay for this, the amount to be refunded within three years by the sale of pews in the new church. The pastor also was given authority to devote half his Sabbath services to the new enterprise, provided a competent assistant could be secured.
In 1853 the church property had been offered for sale at $150,000, and the subject of removal and a new site was dis- cussed and referred to committees from time to time until February, 1857, when the Tabernacle property was sold to Mr. J. J. Phelps for $122,000. The question of a site then be-
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came pressing. Tenth Street, near Broadway, was considered favorably by many, but another Congregational body, the Church of the Puritans, under the charge of Dr. George B. Cheever, worshipped on Union Square, and it seemed wiser to remove still farther from the old location. A committee appointed by the Board of Trustees, consisting of Messrs. Thomas Ritter, Israel Minor, and the pastor, recommended a position either on the southwest corner of Madison Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street or the present site. The trustees voted in favor of the latter, and their decision met with the approval of the society, April 6, 1857. This site, at the inter- section of Broadway, Sixth Avenue, and Thirty-fourth Street, nearly three miles north of the old location, was purchased, eight lots from Messrs. Randolph and Skidmore, for $62,500, and two lots on Thirty-fourth Street from C. W. Thomas for $16,000. The northern portion of the lot on Sixth Avenue they sold, later, for $33,000.
On Sunday, April 26th, the church was opened for divine service for the last time. It was a memorable occasion. Former attendants and members of the church came back for the day to attend the reunions, of the Pitts Bible Class at nine o'clock in the morning, of Sunday-school and mission-schools in the afternoon. The afternoon service had been discontinued since 1855. Even the choir called in its old members, and, in the evening, more than a hundred voices joined in the anthems, one of which had been composed for the occasion by Mr. William B. Bradbury, one of the four choristers who, during the seventeen years since the founding of the church, had directed its music. Three of the four were present and took turns in leading the service of song. During the morn- ing exercises children were presented for baptism, new mem- bers admitted to the church, and the communion administered. The pastor's morning text must have found a responsive echo in the hearts of his people: " If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." In the evening Dr. Thompson gave an historical discourse, preserved in the little book entitled, " The Last Sabbath in Broadway Tabernacle." Four thou-
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sand people remained in attentive, almost breathless, silence during the two hours and a half that the services continued. Hundreds went away unable to gain admission. After the closing anthem the vast audience arose as the organist began the tune of Old Hundred and joined in the Doxology (117th Psalm), "From all who dwell below the skies."
" Even when the choir had sung its last song of praise and the organ had pealed its last note, the people seemed loth to leave for the last time this place where they had so often assembled in the great congregation." *
During the two years that intervened between the giving up of the old house of worship and the completion of the new, the church held its services in the city assembly rooms, Hope Chapel on Broadway, the Chapel of the Home for the Friend- less on East Twenty-ninth Street - familiarly called the " Home Chapel "-and in the chapel of the new building on Thirty-fourth Street. It was arranged that the prayer-meet- ing and lecture should be held on alternate Friday evenings in the chapel of the New York University, and a study was secured for Dr. Thompson in the same building. It was his task to keep the church from disintegration, to hold together those members who could be persuaded to cast in their lot with the new enterprise, and to draw together a congregation from the neighborhood, so that when the building was ready for occupancy, the house might be full. Notwithstanding its migrations, the church, which had dwindled from a member- ship of four hundred and nine in 1848 to two hundred and seventy in 1857, began at once to gain, and, March 1, 1859, nearly two months before the dedication of the new house of worship, the church numbered three hundred and thirty-six members. From that time on, the increase was steady and rapid. Ten years later there were five hundred and fifty-five names on the church roll.
There had been changes suggested from time to time in the Confession of Faith, the Covenant, the Form of Admission to the Church, and its Standing Rules, all of which were in the * Last Sabbath in the Broadway Tabernacle.
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line of greater simplicity and less severity. There was one solemn warning used for years when new members were re- ceived into the church, "Wo, wo to the person who offends a whole church," that must have been a veritable stumbling-block in the way of such pilgrims as must " go softly," like Mr. Fear- ing, Mr. Despondency and his daughter Much Afraid. This anathema was retained for several years after the question of its omission had been referred to the Church Committee. Some changes, however, were made before the printing of every manual, that of 1846, 1855, 1860, until 1866; but from that date the forms and rules remained almost intact not only dur- ing the after years of Dr. Thompson's ministry, but throughout the whole of Dr. Taylor's pastorate. It was not until Dr. Stim- son began his ministry that Permanent Rule 7, that discrimi- nated against women, denying them voice or vote in settling questions that concerned the church, was so altered as to give the right to both sexes by substituting the word adult for male. Other changes that first appeared in the year-book of 1893 were the revival of the Absentee Roll, Permanent Rule 6, and some enrichment of the service of admission to the church, notably, the recognition of the work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating the heart, and of the duty of members of the church to con- tribute their share toward its support.
In selecting an architect for the new structure the choice of the Building Committee lay between Mr. Upjohn, the architect of Trinity Church, New York, and of Dr. Storrs's Church, in Brooklyn, and Mr. Leopold Eidlitz; their final decision was in favor of the latter, and Mr. Eidlitz's plans and estimates were accepted by the society, July 17, 1857, on condition that the church could be built for $73,000; the building and architect fees not to exceed $75,000. The corner-stone was laid on the following Christmas Day, at two o'clock, by the pastor. The assisting clergymen were the Reverend Drs. Cheever, Burchard, Vermilye, Budington, Rufus W. Clark, and Badger. The music was led by Mr. F. H. Nash. In the corner-stone, according to the society records, Dr. Thompson deposited a leaden box con- taining copies of the Holy Bible, Church Psalmist, the church
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manuals, reports of the various benevolent societies, the various religious and secular papers of the city, the discourse of Dr. Thompson commemorative of "the late Dr. Lansing," and a copy of " The Last Sabbath in the Broadway Tabernacle," and a copper plate containing the following inscription :
The Broadway Tabernacle Church and Society, Organized July 6, 1840, after the Congregational order of New England, erect this their second house of worship
A.D. 1857-8. LEOPOLD EIDLITZ-Architect.
BUILDING COMMITTEE:
Myron J. Frisbie, Chairman,
William G. West,
Israel Minor, Treasurer, Thomas Ritter,
Samuel Holmes, Secretary,
John Gray,
James Smith.
Corner-stone laid December 25, 1857. Officers of church and society, 1857-8, Rev'd Joseph P. Thompson, D.D., pastor.
DEACONS :
Henry Whittlesey,
Isaac Minor,
George Walker,
Matthew W. Stone, Jr.
CHURCH CLERK : William W. Fessenden.
TRUSTEES OF SOCIETY :
John Gray, Chairman, Thomas Ritter,
Samuel Holmes, Secretary,
William G. West,
Israel Minor, James Smith.
An Historical Sketch of the Society and other documents were added to the box, which, after being lowered to its place,
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was covered by the stone, the pastor using a silver trowel pre- sented by the architect and builders. The services concluded with the singing of the doxology.
The Tabernacle was built upon a lot measuring a hundred feet on Sixth Avenue by a hundred and fifty on Thirty-fourth Street, the building being eighty-nine feet six inches front and one hundred and fifty deep, including the chapel in the rear, under the same roof. The main audience-room is sev- enty-six feet wide by ninety feet in depth, exclusive of the recess for the pulpit. The great organ, back of the pulpit, was built by Messrs. Ferris & Co. The building stone was Little Falls rubble, the dimension stone and porches being of cream-colored New Brunswick stone. The style chosen for the building, architecturally, was perpendicular Gothic, and on either side of the nave, supporting the pointed arches of the clear-story, were three large pillars of cream-colored stone, which have since been removed. The house seats about 1,600 persons; the chapel, twenty-eight feet by eighty-five, seats nearly five hundred.
For the pastor's use, on the north side of the church, was built a reception-room on the lower floor, and, above, a study with book-shelves and closets and an additional library with accommodations for books, drawers, and maps, all most con- veniently planned for Dr. Thompson's Oriental and geograph- ical studies.
The building was erected by Mr. Marc Eidlitz, mason, and Mr. Thomas Wilson, carpenter, and, after its completion, the society gave a special vote of thanks to Deacon Israel Minor not only for many years of helpful service and efficient and frequent aid in pecuniary difficulties, but especially for the time and attention given by him to the building of the new church edifice.
The house was opened for public worship April 24, 1859. Dr. Badger, Secretary of the Home Missionary Society, of- fered prayer; the congregation sang William Cullen Bryant's dedicatory hymn,
" O Thou whose own vast temple stands,"
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and Professor Edwards A. Park, of Andover Theological Seminary, preached the sermon. The pastor then made an historical statement which closed as follows:
" This house which is founded throughout upon the native rock, is built of the best materials and in the most substantial manner. During all the progress of the work, the Trustees and Building Committee having availed themselves of the best professional skill, have given to it their active and patient superintendence, and with conscientious fidelity have discharged the responsibility committed to them. The church and society have in all proper ways co-operated in the work, and everyone has contributed a part; the Ladies' Circle with the fruits of their pleasant toil, have provided the furniture of this pulpit and its platform, as well as that of the social rooms in the chapel. The house now furnished for the worship of God in every particular except the organ has been completed without accident to life or limb.
" It does not accord with our views of worship under the Christian dispensation nor with the usages of our body to attach sanctity to a material structure. But it does accord with the inmost sense of pro- priety and with the devout sentiment of Christian gratitude, and it has also the warrant of Scripture, that we should set apart with due solem- nity the place in which we and our children shall worship God, and should hallow it in our thoughts and associations. Now therefore, O ye people, blessed of the Lord, I would call upon you to arise and join with me in offering this new temple to the service of the Triune God -the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We bring to God with reverence and gratitude this house of prayer and praise, beseeching him to hallow it with his presence in our assemblies and his blessing upon our worship. We dedicate these walls to the uses of a church of Christ. We dedicate these seats for the solemn and joyful convocations of God's people in the reverent worship of his name and the devout hear- ing of his Word. We dedicate this choir to the service of song in the house of the Lord. We dedicate this pulpit to the preaching of Christ and him crucified; and this table of communion to that high and sacred service whereby we do show forth the Lord's death till he come. May he whose glory fills the heavens, condescend to meet his people in this house. May Christ here build in his temple new and living stones. May the Holy Spirit here bless the Word unto sanctification and eternal life. May our children and our children's children here worship in the beauty of holiness, when we shall slumber in the dust. And when our earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved may we enter upon a purer, nobler worship in that city where the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen."
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The prayer of dedication was then offered by the pastor, after which an anthem, the words of which had been arranged by Dr. Thompson and the music composed by Mr. William B. Bradbury, was sung by a select choir. The service was concluded with the doxology and benediction. There was also an afternoon service at which the Rev. Dr. Storrs, of Brooklyn, preached on the topic, "The Assembly of Chris- tians, the Temple of God," and the usual evening service, con- ducted by the pastor, whose subject was "Preaching the Gos- pel the Grand Function of the Minister." These discourses were published together in a book issued soon after the dedica- tion of the church.
At the completion of the new Tabernacle there was a debt upon the building of $65,000; but, instead of selling the pews as had at first been proposed, it was resolved that there should be no private ownership in the building, so the pews were rented at auction and the trustees decided to carry the debt until arrangements could be made for removing it. The rec- ords of the Church Committee state that the committee " met February 13, 1863," and by vote authorized a collection to be taken on the next Sabbath toward the debt of the society, and Dr. Thompson was requested " to beg handsomely in his usual way for the same." Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised by this effort, and the following year, by a renewed subscription consummated on the second Sabbath in May, they raised the remaining sum of $40,000 and cancelled every claim upon the property. Besides this the running expenses of the church had been liberally provided for, and by 1864, through a gradual increase, the pastor's salary had been raised to $5,000.
One remarkable addition to the church took place in 1861. The Church of the Puritans, under the ministerial charge of that abolition war-horse, Dr. George B. Cheever, used severe measures with certain of its deacons and members who dis- approved of their pastor's methods. They were dismissed to other churches, without recommendation, and the aggrieved members called an ex parte council which gave them such
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redress as was in its power. This was in 1859. Two years later another council was called by seventy-six members, a much larger number than before, who were in like condem- nation, and had other serious matters of complaint. This council recommended the churches to withdraw fellowship from the Church of the Puritans, as its acts were uncongrega- tional, and recognized those calling this ex parte council as worthy members of the Church of Christ. About forty of their number united with the Broadway Tabernacle. Dr. Cheever, with his church, joined the Presbyterian body.
In temporal and spiritual affairs and in many good works the church was prosperous. But that which marked Dr. Thompson's pastorate most notably, and brought the Broad- way Tabernacle prominently before the country at large, was the heroic stand taken by him and his people with him against slavery and in support of the Union. Dr. Thompson, with all his mental and social culture and refinement, was in hearty sympathy with the masses. One ringing sentence from the last sermon preached in the old Tabernacle shows his attitude definitely :
" The location we have chosen is central for all classes and I pray God daily that this church and Society may be preserved from that unchristian and suicidal policy that excludes the poor from the house of God, that gauges men in the church by their pew-rates; and that makes the income of the pews a test of the principles that should be uttered from the pulpit, . . I trust never to meet this church in a so-called house of God where no place is found for the poor and no prayer is heard for the slave."
The italics are his own.
Though not in the ranks of so-called Abolitionists, Dr. Thompson was no laggard in anti-slavery activities. He took part in them from religious principle, and his editorial posi- tion gave him a coign of vantage from which to influence Christian men, and the ministry especially, as he labored to bring the churches up to his standard of opposition to slavery on moral grounds. More than once he invited a colored min-
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ister to preach, in his pulpit, against slavery, heedless of de- murring conservatives. He became especially conspicuous in this movement by his opposition to the Fugitive Slave Law. He asserted that such a law could not be binding on the con- science, and therefore had no valid authority over the fugi- tive. Both press and pulpit rushed into violent controversy with him, but he had the courage of his convictions and his spirit kindled with discussion. He was not to be intimidated by opposition, but declared that whatever the consequences the fugitive should be sheltered, fed, and aided in his flight in the name of humanity and of God, and his people sup- ported him and shared in his reproach. Anti-slavery meet- ings in the church were broken up by angry mobs, and once, during the war, he was shot at, in his pulpit, by a half-crazed fanatic. The site of the church became known as "Liberty Corner."
When Fort Sumter was fired on and war broke out, his patriotism blazed afresh. During the war it was the key- note of his discourses that the duty of citizens was to pro- claim and establish political liberty throughout the land with- out distinction of color, and to prosecute vigorously the war that had been forced upon them. He would discuss such topics as "How to build a nation," "Revolution against a free government not a right, but a crime," on Sunday even- ings in his effort to develop patriotic citizenship, making use of flags and a band of music to draw in the people; but when some fervid utterance called forth applause he would stay the demonstration with the uplifted hand, reminding his hearers that they were in the house of God. When Lincoln was assas- sinated he delivered a notable eulogy before the Union League Club. This club and the Loyal Publication Society issued sev- eral of his addresses, during the war, for general circulation.
In the historical sermon preached at the close of his long pastorate, Dr. Thompson gives a thrilling account of those days of strife and turmoil, and quotes a few of those pulpit prophecies :
" Slavery must go down; but this nation, like Rome, may first go
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down in the struggle " (1856). " It will be no marvel if our children see a prostrate commerce, a servile insurrection or a civil war " (1854),
and, as early as 1851 :
" Either Slavery must go down voluntarily, speedily, peaceably, under the moral influence of the gospel, or Slavery or Liberty will one day go down in blood."
Dr. Thompson said further of the Tabernacle, during the civil war:
"This church was behind no other body, religious or secular, in patriotic zeal and sacrifice for the defence of the nation. From its congregation five-and-twenty enlisted in the army: five of these died in the service, of whom two were brought home to be buried lovingly from the bosom of the Church. The Sanitary, Union, and Christian Commissions had its constant and energetic support; the great Fairs were largely officered and equipped from the women of this congrega- tion. By solemn vote and prayer you sent your pastor to minister in your name upon the battle-fields of Tennessee; and you greeted his return with fresh outpourings of your bounty for the soldiers; again and again you draped organ and pulpit with flags and made this a rallying-ground for Liberty and Union under the uplifted banner of the cross; and when all was over you held within these walls a majestic requiem for three hundred thousand dead.
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