^7' 
 
 
 
 . % 
 
 Historical Discourse. 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 RELATING TO THE 
 
 1 
 
 iHAii \niii 
 
 OlLiaiC IIOIUIIIIOI 
 
 OF NEW YORK, 
 
 BY 
 
 M. S. HUTTON, S. T. D. 
 
 ^> 
 
 BX95n 
 .5.N5 
 W3H9 
 
 1877. 
 
 -0* 
 
Historical Discourse. 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 RELATING TO THE 
 
 SI 
 
 • n I hiinohn^ 
 
 OF NEW YORK, 
 
 M. S. HUTTON, S. T. D. 
 
 NETV YORK. 
 
 1811. 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THP: PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSTSTORY OF 
 THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH OF THE 
 CITY OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Drcrnihi'v llh, iSTTi. 
 
 Hesolved : TIkU (he Eev. D]i. Hutton he reqvci^ted, at. his 
 convenience, to prepare and deliver in one <,r more of ovr chiirrhex, 
 a discourse respecting the history of his recent charqe in 
 Washington Square, going liact to the jirsf organization of the 
 Garden St. Church as a separate orgau hat ion. 
 
 [EXTRACT FROM MINUTES.] GEO. S. STITT 
 
 Clfvk. 
 
 New J'c)?/', Miu 7///, 1S77. 
 REY. DR. HUTTON: , 
 
 My Dear Sir: — / am directed Ijy our (:onsi.^l<n-y to reijuest 
 from yon, for pubticatiov, a copy of your historical sermon (.n 
 the old Garden Street Church and the Washington Square Church, 
 recently delivered. 
 
 Bespectfully Yours, 
 
 GEO. S. STITT, 
 
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 
 
 Zechakiah, iv : 6. — "Not by might, nor by i)ower 
 but by my spirit, saith the Lord." 
 
 The device of the corporate seal of the church on 
 Washmgton Square is a stand, representing the golden 
 candlestick of the Jewish Tabernacle. Instead, how- 
 ever, of the seven branches, it supports a bowl on the 
 rim of which are seven lamps. On each side of the 
 stand is a tree whose branches interlock, and over- 
 shadow the bowl. Underneath are the words selected 
 as my text, " By my spirit, saith the Lord." 
 
 No words can better describe this seal and show its 
 import, than those of the inspired record. " I looked," 
 — says the prophet, — " and, behold, a candlestick 
 all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his 
 seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven 
 lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and two olive 
 trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and 
 the other upon the left side thereof." To the ques- 
 tion, " what are these ? " the answer is, — " this is the 
 word of the Lord * * saying, ' Not by might, nor 
 by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.' " 
 
 The primary and immediate design of the vision, 
 was to induce the ancient church to rebuild Jerusalem 
 and the temple, which had been destroyed by the Ba- 
 bylonians. But, like many of the ancient prophecies, 
 its grandest, if not its most important, fulfilment is 
 found in the Christian church, and was intended to 
 
(3 
 
 point out the true wuree of its success and triumph. 
 The silent and gentle influence of divine grace was 
 sj'inhoHscd ])y the two oli\'e ti'ees. which wei'c so 
 fruitfid that, witliout any pressure of their I'ruit. the 
 howl should he su])plied with the needed oil, and the 
 lamps Ik' tluis kept hui-ning brightly. Botli in its 
 piiniary and its moi'e extended sense, therefore, it ad- 
 mits ofa sti'ikiiig application to the success and history 
 hoth of the (rai'(len Street and the Washington Square 
 (Miui'ches. This is the reason why I have selected 
 these words as my text on this occasion. For as truly 
 as in the history of the ellbrt here referred to by Ze- 
 chai'iah, so to the same divine source nuist be traced 
 the success and usefidness of these two churches. To 
 God be all the glory ! It was "Not by might, nor by 
 powei", but l)y my spirit, saith the Lord."" 
 
 Much might be found in the eai'lier history of our 
 denomination in New York, in illustration of the text, 
 ibit, ;is the recpiest in compliance with which this ser- 
 mon was prepared, refers only to these two churches, 
 1 would merely remark that the first Grovernor of the 
 (-'ity in l(J2(i brought with him a religious instructor 
 and teach^er. and that during the next sixty-seven 
 years, two church eiUhces had been erected by the 
 (*ivil authorities on the lower end of the island. But 
 ill 1 (i'.K) the popuhition hail so increased, that more 
 <*inn-('li acconunodation was dt.'sirable. and at that date 
 (harden Street (-hurch lii'st ai)})('ai's. It was resolved 
 by the jjcople^ to erect a buihhng in what was then 
 known as (xarden Alley, — afterwards (larden Sti'eet, 
 — and now calliMl l<]xcha,nge Phice. This location was 
 objected to hy some, as being too far out of town. The 
 chui'cdi an<l eemetery occu})ied the centre oi" the bloek, 
 on the noilh side of llie way, between William and 
 Iboad Streets. The building was octagonal, with a 
 
tower, or steeple, in the centre of the roof. In 1776 
 the edifice was enlarged and repaired. 
 
 In the mean time, however, the city had continued 
 to grow rapidly, — as it has ever done, — and in 
 1729 another house of worship was erected, on the 
 corner of Nassau and Cedar Streets, and called for the 
 time the " New " Church. This is still standing, and 
 has been known to the present generation as the Post- 
 Office. On the 2nd of July, 1767, the corner-stone 
 of a third church was laid, on the corner of Fulton 
 and Wilham Streets, and styled the "North'' Dutch 
 Church, In consequence of this, the name of the 
 "New " Church was changed to the "Middle "' Dutch 
 Cluirch, and the Garden Street Church received the 
 title of the " South '' Dutch Church, — a name which 
 it still retains, although it has taken two great leaps: 
 first to the corner of Church and Murray Streets, and 
 then to the corner of Twenty-First Street and Fifth 
 Avenue, where it still stands. 
 
 This growtli of the city, and the erection of two 
 other churches, naturally lessened the attendance on 
 the ministrations at the South Church in Garden 
 Street. It is said that the last sermon ever preached 
 in it, was delivered to fourteen hearers. It was con- 
 sequently closed for some time. But the ground upon 
 which it stood had been consecrated to church pur- 
 poses, and was considered too sacred to be finally given 
 up to secular uses. It was also supposed, that if a 
 more attractive building were erected, it would again 
 be filled, and therefore the venerable fathers of the 
 Consistory decided that a church must remain where 
 a church had always been. Accordingly, in 1807 it 
 was taken down and rebuilt. The new building was 
 sixty-six feet long, and fifty feet wide, with a circular 
 end. It remained, for a short time, one of the Colle- 
 
8 
 
 giate churches, but the Coiusistory were much disap- 
 pointed in the result. When the pews were offered 
 for sale there were only sixty purchased, and it was 
 soon perceived that the church was actually too far 
 down town. Even those who were most strenuous 
 to have it rebuilt, had their pews in the Middle and 
 Nortli Cliurches, and asked wliy they should go to the 
 South Church, where they had the same ministers as 
 in the others. Consequently the question began to 
 be mooted, whether an independent church, with its 
 own individual pastor, would not be more successful 
 and profitable, than to continue under the Collegiate 
 charge. 
 
 But the first actual record of this movement, is found 
 in the minutes of January 2d, 1812. There it is stated 
 that a petition, or memorial, subscribed by seventy- 
 four persons, was presented and read, praying for a 
 separation of the South Church from the other chur- 
 ches. The question was then put— "are there any 
 terms, on wliicli Consistory will consent to separate the 
 South Churcli from the others ? " 
 
 This was answered in the affirmative. Dr. Wilson, 
 and M essrs. Kip and Heyer were appointed a committee, 
 to meet Messrs. Thomas Storm, Henry I. Wyckoff and 
 Abraham Brinckerhoff, on the part of the memorial- 
 ists, to consider the subject. The two committees acted 
 with great promptness, and, on the 24th of that same 
 month, — the great Consistory assenting, — it was 
 " Resoloed: — that the Cliurcli oi' Garden Street and 
 the grounds adjoining, witlia.Clnu-cli-Bondfor$15, 355, 
 tlie amount of tlie late sale of pews, — be transferred 
 to the new organization, conditioned on a lease of 999 
 years." Application was immediately made to Classis 
 for their assent, and on the 18th of February, 1812, 
 the separation was confirmed by the Classis, and tlie 
 
Rev. Dr. Kuypeks was appointed to ordain elders and 
 deacons in the new organization. 
 
 The church was accordingly organized. But there 
 was great diversity of opinon respecting the choice of 
 a pastor, it heing understood that they should not call 
 any of the then Collegiate ministers. Unable to agree 
 on any one, and finding it difficult to obtain supplies 
 for the pul})it, the Consistory applied to the llev. Dv. 
 James M. Matthews, then an assistant of Dr. John 
 Mason in the theologii^al seminary of the Scotch Pres- 
 byterian Church, and engaged him to preach for them 
 once on each Lord's day, until they could select a 
 pnstor. " Neither of us," — remarks Dr. Matthews, 
 — '■ had then the remotest idea of my settlement 
 among them ;is n pastor." But he who says, "Not by 
 might, nor by power, but by my spirit," had the end 
 in view. 
 
 Men or[)iety, intelligence and wealth "were induced 
 to fiivor tlie new effort. A strong attachment wns soon 
 formed between them and the preacher, and in July, 
 1813, Dr. Mattheavs had consented to serve them, 
 and was installed as pastor., Thus the enterprise was 
 fnii'ly launched. 
 
 In a semi-centennial discourse preached by Dr. 
 Matthews in 1857, he says, "When I was called to 
 take charge of the church, there were but nineteen 
 families to be considered as l)elonging to it ; and at 
 our lirst conuiuuiion, the members who sat down :it 
 the Lord's table, with the elders and deacons, all told, 
 amounted to seventeen in number. With such small 
 beginnings, did we engage in the work of building 
 u}) what liad been for years a waste place in Zion." 
 " The success, '' — he adds, — " was far beyond our 
 deserts. Notwithstanding the unfiivoral)le circum- 
 stances of its location, the church was soon filled 
 
10 
 
 with a strong congregation. Members attached tliem- 
 selves to it, liaving large means and large hearts, 
 soon putting its temporal welfare beyond the reach 
 of peradventure.'' " But the chief glory of the church," 
 — he goes on to say, — " lay in its spiritual prosper- 
 ity. If the members were few in the beginning, it was 
 a spark of the right fire that dwelt within them; — it 
 was a coal from the altar above.'' 
 
 This testimony I am able to corroborate. It is at 
 this point that my personal knowledge of the church 
 commences. Although I was a lad of onl}- ten years 
 of age, I recall with great vividness the deep interest, 
 pride and love, with which we were wont to i-egard 
 the church and its loved and popular pastor. In our 
 estimation there was no superior in the pulpit, or in 
 the parlor, to Dr. Matthews. And the men who were 
 grouped around him commanded o\u" warmest love. — 
 They were truly helpers in the good cause. Two of 
 the elders aided him every week in catechising. Every 
 Saturday evening there was held what was called the 
 " Elders' Prayer-Meeting.'' It was a kind of ]»ible- 
 class, — very pleasant and very profitable. It was 
 at one of these meetings that I offered my first public 
 prayer ; and I am not certain that the infiuence of 
 these meetings had not something to do in leading me 
 into the Gosi)el ministry; tlu^y certaiidy had much to 
 do in cultivating the zeal, piety and activity of the 
 church. Dr. Matthews possessed large views of Chris- 
 tian union and enterprise, and was in the foremost 
 rank as an advocate of tlie religious efforts , which at 
 this time were awakened in the churches. 
 
 And his influence was felt, and responded to l)y his 
 attached peo})le. The most perfect harmon}' and 
 union pervaded the whole church, and the contiiuicd 
 presence and blessing of tlie Holy Si)irit, was enjoyed 
 
11 
 
 to i\ui very last. This was seen in the large c()iitril)U- 
 tiouH to benevolent purposes, in the steady ingathering 
 of the young into the church, and in the unity of the 
 people, which was so marked that it might have been 
 said of them as of old, " Behold, how these brt^thren 
 love one another !" The church shared largely hi the 
 general revival of religion, which spread through many 
 of the churches of our city in 1831, and during that 
 happy season, " aged members of the congregation," 
 
 — says Dr. Matthews in the sermon already alkided 
 to, — " who had reached their three score and even 
 three score and ten, were made subjects of the gracious 
 work. But the harvest was chiefly among the young ; 
 and so profusely was the spirit poui'ed out, that, in 
 several instances, every son and daughter in whole 
 liouseholds, came forward, and publicly professed the 
 name of tlie Saviour." Atone single communion there 
 was an addition to the church of eighty persons; and 
 at the communion following, forty were added. 
 
 It was only two years after this great ingathering 
 that my connection with the church, as an associate 
 pastor, commenced. In 183,4, Dr. Matthews having | 4/; 
 become the chancellor of the University of New York, ' 
 
 — into the establishment of which institution, and the 
 erection of its noble l)uilding. he had thrown himself 
 with all his energy, and with his whole soul, — it be- 
 came imperative that ho should have an assistant, if 
 he retained the pastorate of the church. 1 was accor- 
 dingly called to this office. It was an honor unsought, 
 and most unexpected, by me. To my mind, it was the 
 highest, the noblest, the most desirable position which 
 the great head of the church could bestow upon me. 
 I had been asking him to direct my steps, and with- 
 out a movement of my own in that direction, I received, 
 a few days after, a unanimous call to the church 
 
12 
 
 of my lUtlicr, ami ul' my boyish atUiclimciil. It was 
 witli devout sentiments of wonder and oi'atilude and 
 love, that 1 found myselfconneeted asCln'ist's minister, 
 with my most loved and honored pastor, and saw my- 
 self surrounded and sustained by the venerable elders, 
 to some of whom 1 had, in my early days, recited the 
 Heidelberg catechism. You will |)aiMl(»n me for thus 
 speaking of myself. 
 
 But a storm of desolating fury from a clear heaven 
 bi'oke upon us, sweei)ijig away in a, single night our 
 church-building with all its hallowed associations. I 
 allude to the great lire of 1885. About nine o'clock 
 in the evening of the sixteenth day of Decend)er, with 
 the tliei-momcter three degrees below zero, we wei'e 
 startled by the ringing of the bells, and the cry of 
 lii-e. The alarm continuing to sound so long, and the 
 light in the heavens inci'easing, 1 was induced to go 
 out to witness the scene. I retiuMied after midnight 
 with a solemn and saddened heart, — the cliurch in 
 ashes ! 
 
 I, with the chief engineer of the Fire Depaitment, 
 had climbed into the steeple of the church, where I'oi- 
 some two hours we watched the radiant lire-sheet I'a})- 
 idly advainmig, even against the wind, to enclose the 
 church in its terrible folds. So intense was niy ex- 
 citement, that 1 was unconscious of the cold, and was 
 only aroused to it by the remai'k of the engineei'. 
 ■'We had better descend ; the church is already on 
 lii-e." l)i-. Matthews and myself then took our stand 
 on the slej»s of a house on the opposite side of the 
 street, unable to draw oui'selves a-wny IVom the loved 
 building. VVe stood silent, with oui' eyes lixed upon 
 the pulpit. At hist he exclaimed, "there goes the 
 pulpit !'' We 1urne(l and left the scuMie. 
 
 'i'lie incident of the j)astoi's looking at the burning 
 
13 
 
 pulpit in that hour, and then turning sadly away, re- 
 minds me of two other incidents of similar character. 
 Our organist entered the building wlien almost all others 
 had deserted it, and the organ ceased not to utter its wail, 
 until the lire commenced dropphigfrom the ceiling; and 
 the sexton, until the fire cut off the rope, ceased not to 
 ring with a wild ring, the hell, which sounded as if 
 struggling in its last agony; but the agony was in our 
 hearts. Nothing was left of the scene of our labors 
 and enjoynient, but the blackened and crund)ling 
 walls.* 
 
 This cahiniity, which rendered our church, and a 
 large districtof our city, an utter ruin, at once brought 
 u}) the important (picstion, — where ought the churcli 
 to be rebuilt? No one for a single moment thought ol 
 rebuilding it on that s})ot, sacred as we felt it to be. 
 Before the fire, it had l)ecome surrounded by lofty 
 stoi'e-houses, and very few dwelling houses were to be 
 found south of Wall St. and east of Broad St. Al- 
 though we held the property, as has been noticed, by 
 a lease for 999 years, yet it was. a lease not a deed. 
 We, of course, could not dispose of the ground with- 
 out tlie consent of the Collegiate Chiu-ch. This con- 
 
 * It is pleasant, however, to be able to state that there remains one 
 tovichiug and solitary memorial of this interesting church edihce. 
 When this sermon was delivered, in the 29th and iHth St. Churches, on 
 the table in front of the pulpit, stood a glass shade, covering a brass ball. 
 In reference to this ball was received the following note from a venerable 
 elder of the Collegiate Church. 
 
 "This ball was picked up by Mr. Sylvanus S. Ward in Garden St., im- 
 mediately after the fall of the steeple, so hot that it was handled with dif- 
 ticulty. He had the following words engraved on it: 'The upper ball, 
 from the steeple of the Garden St. Churcli, burnt in the great contlagra- 
 tion at New York, on the Kjth and 17th of December, 1835, in which 
 were destroyed tiSU buildings, and $'20,00U,U00 of property. 
 
 'A few years after, it was presented to me, and I had it mounted as at 
 present. James Andekson, M. D. ' " 
 
 It has fallen into good hands. For if there is a true lover of the Dutch 
 Church, it is our esteemed antl honored Elder, Dr. James Anderson. 
 
14 
 
 sent, after «cvcrul phiiis ami propoyitious had been re- 
 jectuil, was at last obtained on eonditioii of our paying 
 into their treasury $02,000 — a measure, which we, at 
 tlie time, thought was very hard, but which, as I look 
 back now, I have no doubt actually saved from hnan- 
 riul ruin both the cnter[)rises which resulted from the 
 lire, — (jrod, by his spirit, over-ruling and guiding the 
 whole matter. 
 
 The property being thus placed in our hands, it was 
 found that we were not of one mind on the question 
 of where the church should be rebuilt. This diversity 
 of opinion eventually resulted in our dividing into two 
 bands, botli of which have been blessed of God, The 
 old Garden Street Church built, temporarily, on the 
 corner of Church and Murray Streets, whence it re- 
 moved to Fifth Avenue and Twenty-First Street, and 
 is still flourishing as the garden of the Lord, under 
 the care of Dr. E. P. Rogers, and still rejoicing in her 
 old title— " The South Dutch Church." Her loved 
 title will, ere long, become no misnomer. She is al- 
 ready almost the, furthest south of the Reformed 
 churches in the city. 
 
 The other band deemed it wiser to go at once to the 
 upper part of the city. They selected a location on 
 Washington Square, and re(|uested the pastors — who 
 had been allowed to choose to which of the bands they 
 would contiiuie attached, and who preferred the up- 
 town movement, — to commence divine services in the 
 small chapel of the Univei'sity. Although the pastors 
 still retained their connections with the South Dutch 
 Church, who, at this time, were regularly worshiping 
 in the chapel of the brick Presbyteiian Church, on the 
 east side of the City Hall Park, and at the junction of 
 Park Row and Nassau Street, yet, in accordance with 
 the above request, they connnenced an evening service 
 
15 
 
 ill the small chapel of the University, in February, 
 1837. On the 30th of April, in that year, they or- 
 ganized the church on Washington Square, by the in- 
 stallation of Thomas Boyd, M. D.. and 0. Holmes as el- 
 ders, and Henry Roosevelt and Edward L. Matthews 
 as deacons, and received into the conimimion of the 
 church forty-nine members. It was not, however, "j j\r \ '■ 
 until the 16th of November, 1837, that the connection ! 
 of the pastors witli the South Church ceased, and they 
 became the regular pastors of the new church. 
 
 During the following three years, while worshiping 
 in the chapel of the ITniversity, the membersliip had 
 increased from forty-nine to one hundred and fifty-nine 
 and the crowded state of the chapel made us anxious 
 to obtain a larger place of worship. It was impossible 
 for us to increase in tlie situation we then occupied. 
 There were, however, difficulties in our wa3\ The 
 ground on the corner of Washington Square and 
 Washington Place had been purchased ; but there 
 were on it two or three tenements, which had been 
 leased to persons who felt that the church was in their 
 power, and therefore demanded large sums to vacate 
 the ground. One evening the Consistory had met in 
 the council-room of the University, which overlooked 
 the ground selected for the church, and the question 
 was agitated, whether we had not better pay all that 
 was demanded, rather than delay for an hour the erec- 
 tion of the building. Before a conclusion was reached, 
 there was a cr}^ of "fire," and Mr. Roosevelt raised 
 the window to ascertain whence the alarm pi'oceeded. 
 As he did so, he turned and said to us, "Brethren ! God 
 has decided the question for us.'" The tenements were 
 in flames. 
 
 Arrangements to build were at once made, and we 
 were allowed to dedicate our new house in September, 
 
10 
 
 1840. Tlw oTound on wliicli it was orectod, cost 
 $44,000, and the; contract cost of the l»nilding was 
 $67,000. 
 
 Wlicn it is considered that llie cliiiicli liad no I'cady 
 money, her receipts from tlie rental ol' tlie chapel 
 onl}' paying the rent of tliat bnildiiig, it will be at once 
 seen that we entered onr new church overwhelmed 
 with debt, and sun'oundcd with dilhculties. W(^ en- 
 tered, in fact, with but one earthly hope for our ex- 
 tricaticm ; and that was the sale of a sufficient num- 
 ber of pews, to meet our most pressing lial>iHti<'s. In 
 this hope we were disappointed; and then there com- 
 menced a struggle foi' existence, which none save those 
 who passed through it can conceive. Having had no 
 income during the three preceding years, save what 
 merely sulficed to pay the rent of the chajiel. and all 
 that we could raise on tlie propei'ty in Exchange Place 
 being needed to erect stores thereon, and to deCray 
 the necessary yearly expenses of the (^hurch while the 
 edihce was being built, we could maintain the sti'uggle 
 for two years only. On the Kith of Aj)ril, 4842, at 
 a joint meeting of the Consistory and a committee of 
 the congregation, it was unanimously resolved, — 
 " that the Consistory be advised to take asearly meas- 
 ures for the sale of the church, and of the entire 
 pro])i'rty, as may be consistent with the interests of 
 all concerned." 
 
 Tn accordance with this i-esolution. (4forts were 
 made to dispose of the chui'(4i edific*', but without 
 ;i\';i,il. hi the interim, suits had l)een commenced on 
 some ol" our un])aid chui'cli bonds, and on the (>\'en- 
 ing of May 30th, 1842, it was deci(l(Ml to make an 
 assignment of the whole property, Ibi- the benefit of 
 the ci'cditors. This was the only lionorable course, 
 and it was neccssar}^ to prevent a judgment which 
 
17 
 
 would have been an injury to other bond-holders. 
 It was accordingly done, and, m July, the pastors 
 were requested to unite in an application to Classis 
 for a dissolution of the pastoral tie. I at once com- 
 plied with the request, and my relation with the loved 
 Church was sundered. In November following, the 
 consent of the senior pastor having been obtained, his 
 connection with the Church ceased also. In the mean 
 time the church property was put up at auction, and 
 the stores in Exchange Place were sold. But the sale 
 of the church edifice was postponed, partly to keep it 
 out of the hands of the Roman Catholics, — who were 
 said to be ready to buy it, — and partly from the hope 
 that the church might yet be saved to the denomina- 
 tion, through the aid of the Collegiate Church, hith- 
 erto denied. The sum realized from the sale of the 
 stores, was only $5000 over the amount of the mort- 
 gages which covered them, thus giving but slight 
 relief, as the amount due on the property, was a debt 
 of $35,000, and a mortgage of $44,000 — making in 
 all $70,000. 
 
 It will be remembered that the property was placed 
 in the liands of assignees in the month of May. In 
 Septenibei" following, certain individual members of 
 the congregation hired the churcli of the assignees, 
 and applied to me, promising that if I would preach 
 for them, they would make another effort to save the 
 church. I felt bound to comply with their wishes and 
 further the ellort, and in February 1843, the aid hoped 
 for from the Collegiate Church was given. It will be 
 recollected that tlie debt, for which the churcli was 
 immediately responsible, was $35,000. The Collegiate 
 Consistory promised to give us their bonds for one-half 
 of this sum, — $17,500 — on condition of our raising the 
 other half. This was done, and the church saved ; 
 
18 
 
 and on the 14tli of April 18-43, I was, for the third 
 time, installed as a pastor over my beloved people, 
 dearer to me than ever, on account of the troubles 
 vvhicli we had borne together. 
 
 Fi'oni that hour a l)right lieaven was over us, and a 
 rich blessing upon us. Our churcli moi'c than filled ; 
 there was a list, at one time, of eighty apjdicants for 
 pews, waiting for their turn. Tlie social position of the 
 people was such as was surpassed by no church in the 
 city, and the preached word was unceasingly accompa- 
 nied by the Holy Spirit. The Sunday-School was al- 
 ways a flourishing part of the organization, and became, 
 tnider the superintendence of Mr. Ralph Wells, a 
 model scliool ; while the churcli, for its contributions 
 to the American Sunday-School Union, was, for some 
 years, called, "The Banner Church.'' 
 
 While thus on the top of the wave, it was deter- 
 mined to nuike an effort to reduce the mortgage of 
 $44,000, still remaining, it will be remembered, upon 
 the ground. It resulted in reducing the debt to 
 $j53,000, which sum, it was supposed, we could easily 
 carry. But in 1857, the rapid emigration of the 
 wealthy families among us, to the upper portion of our 
 ever growing city, made it evident that it became us 
 to nuike another effort to reuiove the entire debt. 
 The pews on the ground-floor of the church, were still 
 all lilled and in denuind. But a large ])oi'tion of the 
 wealth which had been among us, had passed on to 
 the more fashionable parts of the city, and it was felt 
 that some extei'nal aid would be necessary. In these 
 circumstances, recalling the fact that we had paid into 
 the Collegiate Treasury $31,000, and that the Consis- 
 tory had kindly put us on our feet, by a former gi'aiit 
 in our necessity, we felt that we must begin by asking 
 tli(!ir further aid. An application was therefore made 
 
10 
 
 at their meeting in June 1857. Help IVoni on Higli 
 was sought; we knew that it was " not by might, nor 
 by powei'," but by the 8])irit of God alone, that we 
 could succeed. All was left in his hands. 
 
 Early the next morning, I received from my now 
 sainted friend andl)rothei\ Dr. Knox, a note which run 
 thus : — 
 
 " Our Consistory, last evening, by a unanimous vote, 
 suspended the operation of their rule, in leference to 
 your application, and then, by a Hke vote, appropriated 
 to your use $10,000, payable when certified that, with 
 this amount, your indebtedness shall be extinguished. 
 
 " Under all existing circumstances.no more une- 
 quivocal, or earnest expression of kind sympathy with 
 your concerns, could have been given. Tthas aftbrded 
 me pleasure to promote this result, and is now a 
 pleasure to communicate it. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "John Knox." 
 
 Yes, — Dk. Knox was a true friend. 
 
 One year from this time, on the second Sabbath of 
 June. 1858, we sat down at the table of the Lord, with 
 thirty-nine new members, thirty-three of them gather- 
 ed from the world, — two of tliat number sul)sequently 
 became successful and popular preachers of the (jr().s})el, 
 - — and, on the following Monday the mortgage was 
 paid off, and the church on Washington Square was 
 entirely free from debt. Do you wonder that grateful 
 hearts exclaimed, " Not by might, nor by jjower. but 
 by my spirit, saith the Lord"? 
 
 But the wonderful growth and prosperity of our 
 city were really against us. In a few years it became 
 evident that we had ceased to be in the u})per and 
 growing part of the city, and had become again a 
 down-town church. The tide of emigration out 
 
20 
 
 of us was fearful, and affords a striking illustration of 
 the changes ever going on in our busy population. 
 Of the two hundred and five families who occupied 
 our pews in 1858, there were only twenty-one who 
 had been with us ten years before. This depletion 
 and change increased steadily, and was gradually un- 
 supplied by new comers. In 1861 it was proposed 
 to start a new enterprise in the upper portion of the 
 city, in connection with the Church on the Square ; 
 but the audience was still so large in the latter edifice, 
 that the plan was dropped as not being necessary. 
 The lapse of another ten years clearly showed that a 
 mistake had been made, and that now the Church on 
 the Square had became too feeble to move; especially 
 as it was found on investigation, that it was impossible 
 to obtain suitable grounds in the upper portion of 
 the city, for less than one hundred and fifty, or two 
 hundred thousand dollars. It was also found that, if 
 the church were sold for any other purpose than a 
 churchof our denomination, the Collegiate Church had 
 in virtue of their advances to us, a legitimate claim 
 on the property for about $85,000. It was therefore 
 decided that the wise, and indeed the only right course 
 was, to place the entire property in the hands of the 
 Collegiate Consistory, subject only to a condition in 
 favor of its pastor. This was done in 1876, and the 
 church and grounds passed into the possession of the 
 Greene St.Methodist Church, forthe sum of $80,000;— 
 and her members are passing into other communions. 
 Her life has been continued for thirty-eight years. 
 During that period she has received within her pale, 
 and cheered upon their way to the Church on High, 
 one thousand two hundred and sixteen souls. I have 
 no record of her contributions to Church purposes 
 previous to 1852, but since that period, they have 
 
21 
 
 amounted to more than $245,000, of which $90,000 
 has been for benevolent purposes. She has sent forth 
 nine young men into the Gospel ministry. She has 
 gathered from the world steadily, every year, an av- 
 erage of eighteen or twenty souls. Scarcely a com- 
 munion season through her whole existence has passed 
 in which some sat not down for the first time at the 
 Table of the Lord. This will surely be acknowledged 
 to have been "not by might, nor by power, but by 
 the spirit " of the Lord. I am, indeed, most conscious 
 of my own un worthiness as her pastor, — know of 
 many a shortcoming; but, as I look back over her 
 history, recall the love which ever surrounded me, 
 the prayers which were offered for me, the harmony 
 which was never disturbed for a single hour, it is a 
 blessed memory for which I can only say, " Bless the 
 Lord, my soul ; and let all that is within me bless 
 his holy name." No minister of Jesus has greater 
 reason for thankfulness. 
 
 I have occupied so much more than the time usu- 
 ally given to a sermon, that I cannot pause upon the 
 lessons of wisdom which thi^ history affords. I would 
 only notice. 
 
 First, — The Debt of Gratitude which this City 
 OWES TO the Reformed Church. 
 
 She brought here, and laid in the very foundations 
 of the city, those religious principles on which the 
 welfare of a community so much depends ; — the old 
 Bible principles, which are often called "Calvinistic," 
 — (although a better name would be Pauline) — and 
 whose fruits are always, liberty, morality, duty towards 
 God and man, happiness in this world and the world 
 to come. She planted the Sabbath, the sanctuary, 
 and the school-house here on this island, before the 
 pilgrim fathers came to their aid, — planted them 
 
00 
 
 within the Ibrt, and, as the })()piihiti()n increased, 
 forestalled its necessity. At this hour, the tirowth of 
 the city may be marked by her church edifices. She 
 built Garden Street riuurh Avhen the peojde said, "it 
 is too far up-town."" Then she built the Middle 
 Church as the city grew, — then the North Church — 
 then the Chui'ch on Lafayette Place, the people still 
 saying, "it is too far up-town." Then came the Twenty- 
 ninth Street Church as the people grew, and lately, the 
 Forl^^-eighth Street Church, — marks and monuments 
 of the growth of the city, each church an improve- 
 ment in architectural beauty, aud in advance of the 
 population. She stands to-day along the line of the 
 city's growth, holding forth the truths taught in the 
 fort on the Battery. Many of her customs are still 
 the pride and glory of the city. The chains which she 
 once planted across the thoroughfares, to prevent the 
 violation of the Sabbath and the disturbance of di- 
 vine worship, are, morally, still across our streets, 
 and manifested to-day in the habitsof the community. 
 Yes; — it may not be recognized l)y the })resent dwell- 
 ers in our city, but it is a tact, that New York, in its 
 observance of the Sabbath, in its public-school system, 
 and in its general moi-ality, is much indebted to the 
 right beginning, and the sturdy devotion to religious 
 principle, of our Holland forefathers. 
 
 Second, — The Debt ofCtratitude wiircii the Church 
 OAVES TO God for his continued and uniform ueessfng. 
 
 Her very existence, amid the multi})lied difliculties 
 which have ever attended her progress, is a sul»ject tor 
 devout gratitude. The possession of the island by the 
 English, and the establishment of a Court Church backed 
 by the authoiity of P]ngland, — the Holland language 
 in a population increasing so rapidly, and speaking 
 another tongue,-— all the diniculties and anti-religious 
 
23 
 
 influences connected with an unceasing tide of immi- 
 gration, had to be encountered and overcome. And 
 when we estimate these aright, and see where the 
 Church standsto-day, and her influence, from the dail}- 
 Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting all along the city to 
 Forty-Eighth Street Church, must she not, ought 
 she not say in humble and adoring gratitude, 
 '■ Not by might, nor b}^ power, but by Thy spirit, oh, 
 Lord, haili it been done" ? To him be the glory ! 
 
 One further reflection and lesson. How should this 
 Reformed Church of ours be loved and cherished 
 by all who have the happiness and the honor 
 of being connected with her, in this city. 
 
 It is " The Church of New York."^ — the first planted 
 here, and whose influence for good has been surpassed 
 by no other. It has been said that she is decreasing, 
 — dying out I In some aspects this may be true. For 
 her children have not always been true to her, and 
 the names which now adorn, and constitute the strength 
 and glory of many of the denominations around us, 
 are the names of our Holland ancestors. 
 
 It has also been said that soon there Avill be no 
 other Reformed Church in our city, but the Collegiate 
 churches. It may be so. But the Collegiate Church 
 is the Mother-Church. Oflshoots have sprung up 
 and done their work, and have died, as has done 
 the church on Washington Square. But has the Col- 
 legiate Church with her line running through the city, 
 decreased ? The mass of her members is not indeed 
 *' Dutch,'" for the name has necessarily lost its signifi- 
 cance in our day. But her history, as connected with 
 this city, cannot die. It should be regarded as an 
 honor to be connected with her, by every one who 
 glories in being a New Yorker. 
 
24 
 
 One thought more. It lias sometimes been said 
 that it is a question whether it be a real advantage 
 to have a church endowed. I would reply, in view 
 of the history of the Collegiate Church, by the sim- 
 ple question, — what legacy, in any age, has done more 
 good to this city and to the cause of Christ, than that 
 gift of our Dutch ancestors ? Their works have followed 
 them. It has been quite common for many to find 
 fault with the manner in which these funds have been 
 used. I do not say that there have been no mistakes 
 made. But the results of that management show 
 both causes of thankfulness to God, and for encour- 
 agement. Look at the history before us. See what 
 has been done by the gift to the Garden Street Church 
 only sixty-five years ago ! It planted two of the most 
 successful and useful churches in our city, — churches 
 which have won thousands from the world, and united 
 them to Christ, — which have given thousands of dol- 
 lars to the cause of the Master, — one of whom as she 
 dies, returns into her treasurj^ $80,000, and the other, 
 under her historic name '' The South Dutch Church," 
 still flings to the air the banner of the cross, and is 
 moving on with fii-m and steady step in her glorious 
 march. Look back, also, and see the rude building 
 in the fort on the battery, and then cast your eye 
 along the line of fortifications she has planted along 
 the line of the growing city, up to Forty-eighth 
 Street, from each of whicli the Gospel cannon are still 
 thundering the joyful proclamations of redemption, 
 and tell me, — has she not "held the fort" in which 
 the Master planted her ? Call you this dying out? 
 Must we not say, with adoring and humble gratitude, 
 "Not by might, nor by power, })ut by thy spirit, 
 Lord "? Should we not thank God, and take coui-age ? 
 
BX9517.5.N5W3H9 
 
 Historical discourse: a sermon relating 
 
 II ni"M,rM,l'.L^f,?I.°?,'^f.' Semmary-Speer Library 
 
 1 1012 00043 2411