2- ./^'. 18 . 
 
 K PRINCETON, N.J. # 
 
 Presented h^t)\ a ^<7\ Vc\ T) U-^^\ "<S \ c\ , :D .Tl . 
 
 BX 9211 .N70011 F506 1916 ) 
 First Presbyterian Church I 
 
 (New York, N. Y. ) 
 The services in celebration 
 
 ot the two hundredth 
 
1716-1916 
 
 THE BI-CENTENNIAL BOOK 
 
 Old First Presbyterian Church 
 
 in the 
 City of New York 
 
THE SERVICES 
 
 in celebration of the 
 
 Two Hundredth Anniversary 
 
 of the founding of the 
 
 Old First Presbyterian Church 
 
 in the 
 
 City of New York 
 
 PFF< lA 1070 
 
 In the Church 
 FIFTH AVENUE, ELEVENTH to TWELFTH STREETS 
 
 December 1916 
 
^ 
 
 LET US NOW PRAISE FAMOUS MEN AND OUR 
 FATHERS THAT BEGAT US. 
 
 THE LORD HATH WROUGHT GREAT GLORY BY 
 THEM THROUGH HIS GREAT POWER FROM 
 THE BEGINNING. 
 
 LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE BY THEIR COUNSELS 
 AND BY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LEARNING 
 MEET FOR THE PEOPLE, WISE AND ELOQUENT IN 
 THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
 THERE BE OF THEM, THAT HAVE LEFT A 
 NAME BEHIND THEM, THAT THEIR PRAISES 
 MIGHT BE REPORTED. 
 
 AND SOME THERE BE, WHICH HAVE NO ME- 
 MORIAL; WHO ARE PERISHED AS THOUGH 
 THEY HAD NEVER BEEN. 
 
 BUT THESE WERE MERCIFUL MEN WHOSE 
 RIGHTEOUSNESS HATH NOT BEEN FORGOT- 
 TEN. 
 
 THEIR SEED STANDETH FAST, AND THEIR 
 CHILDREN FOR THEIR SAKES. 
 
 ^ 
 
THE FOUNDERS 
 "The small body of Presbyterians kept 
 together and continued, with few interrup- 
 tions, and with a gradual increase of their 
 number, to meet for worship, without a 
 minister until the year 1716, when 
 
 JOHN NICOLE, PATRICK McKNIGHT, 
 
 GILBERT LIVINGSTONE, 
 
 THOMAS SMITH 
 
 and a few others conceived the plan of 
 forming themselves into a regular Presbyter- 
 ian Church and calling a stated pastor." 
 
 MEMOIRS OF REV. JOHN RODGERS, D.D. 
 By SAMUEL MILLER, D.D. 
 
THE PASTORS 
 
 1717 James Anderson 1726 
 
 1727 Ebenezer Pemberton 1753 
 
 1750 Alexander Gumming 1753 
 
 1756 David Bostwick 1763 
 
 1762 Joseph Treat 1776 
 
 1765 John Rodgers 1811 
 
 1785 James Wilson 1788 
 
 1789 John McKnight 1809 
 
 1793 Samuel Miller 1813 
 
 1805 Philip Milledoler 1805 
 
 1815 Philip Melancthon Whelpley 1824 
 
 1826 William Wirt Phillips 1865 
 
 1866 William Miller Paxton 1883 
 
 1886 Richard Davenport Harlan 1890 
 
 1891 Howard Duffield 
 
THE RULING ELDERS 
 
 1784 John Broome 1810 
 
 1790 Daniel Phoenix 1812 
 
 1800 John Keese 1809 
 
 1800 John R. B. Rodgers 1833 
 
 1809 David Gelston 1828 
 
 1809 Robert Lenox 1839 
 
 1809 Robert McGill 1831 
 
 1809 Peter Ludlow 1828 
 
 1809 David L. Dodge 1819 
 
 1812 John P. Mumford 1820 
 
 1820 James Anderson 1831 
 
 1820 Alexander Nichols 1828 
 
 1825 Daniel Boardman 1833 
 
 1825 William Sterling 1843 
 
 1833 James Patton 1846 
 
 1833 James Lenox 1880 
 
 1833 Aaron R. Thompson 1880 
 
 1846 John V. Talmage 1852 
 
 1846 Milton St. John 1859 
 
 1846 Walter Lowrie 1868 
 
 1846 James Donaldson 1872 
 
 1846 Aaron B. Belknap 1880 
 
 1868 Joseph Greenleaf 1871 
 
 1868 FiNDLAY Wright 1881 
 
 1868 Latimer Bailey 1885 
 
 1868 Hezekiah King 1887 
 
 1868 Samuel Frost 1888 
 
 1885 Eugene McJimsey 1899 
 
 1885 Richard H. Bull 1892 
 
 1885 Samuel C. Brush 1887 
 
 1888 Robert Ferguson 1899 
 
 1888 Edwin J. Hanks 1890 
 
 1888 Charles M. Jesup 1896 
 
 1892 Julius S. Howell 1897 
 
 1892 Thomas Greenleaf 1908 
 
1892 Oscar E. Boyd 1905 
 
 1895 Frank Hallett Lovell 1914 
 
 1895 Frederick Blume 1905 
 
 1897 Albert Remick 1900 
 
 1899 James Girvan 1915 
 
 1899 D. Stuart Dodge Jessup 
 
 1901 J. D. T. Hersey 1902 
 
 1901 Calvin W. Hendrick 1907 
 
 1901 Henry D. Dickson 1905 
 
 1902 Charles H. Olmstead 1916 
 
 1902 Walter W. Strang 1904 
 
 1903 William J. Hendrick 1912 
 1903 Roger H. Williams 
 
 1903 Edgar Fenton 1908 
 
 1905 Frederick A. Carpenter 
 
 1905 John T. Stanley 1908 
 
 1905 Joseph E. Messenger 1909 
 
 1905 F. GusTAv Kindlund 1916 
 
 1906 John W. Farrington 1912 
 1906 James Henry 
 
 1906 James D. Miller 
 
 1912 James K. Andrews 
 
 1912 Henry Brown 1913 
 
 1912 Paul Caldwell 
 
 1913 Charles E. Davis 
 1913 Robert G. Parr 
 1915 Henry C. Martin 
 1917 William Read Hersey 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 "Auspicante Deo," "By the favor of God." So runs the 
 opening sentence of the Votive Tablet erected by our fathers 
 in 1749 to commemorate their gratitude for the founding of 
 the Church and its preservation amid perils which threatened 
 its continuance. 
 
 "Auspicante Deo," "By the favor of God," the Two Hun- 
 dredth Anniversary of the establishment of Presbyterianism 
 in the City of New York by the organization of the Old First 
 Church, was celebrated during the week beginning December 
 the third, Nineteen Hundred and Sixteen. The unique sig- 
 nificance of this occasion was emphasized by a formal author- 
 ization issued by the Presbytery of New York, which directed 
 a general observance of the event in all the Presbyterian 
 Churches of the City, and the attendance of the Presbytery in a 
 body at the special Mid-Week Festival Service. The Synod 
 of New York took cognizance of the occasion by a Vote of 
 Congratulation and the appointment of a Special Representa- 
 tive to convey to the Church its official Greeting. The Mod- 
 erator of the General Assembly was present; participated in 
 the opening services, presided at the Wednesday night func- 
 tion, and expressed to the Old First Church the official felici- 
 tations of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America. The birth of Presbyterianism in the metropolitan 
 City of the country thus received official recognition both from 
 the local Church and the Church throughout the land. 
 
 The far reaching and influential touch of this event upon 
 the myriad sided life of the town during the past two cen- 
 turies, was signally attested by the presence at the Celebration, 
 of the representatives of all phases of religious opinion, and 
 all lines of civic activity, and all classes of social organization. 
 The President and Ex-Presidents of the United States sent 
 letters of personal congratulation. The Governor of the State, 
 the Heads of the City Government, Judges of the Courts, the 
 General of the Army, the Admiral of the Navy, Presidents of 
 Institutions of Learning, Officers of the Boards of the Church, 
 
Representatives of other Religious Communions, Delegates 
 from Patriotic and Historical Societies by their presence com- 
 bined to infuse the Anniversary with a metropolitan and cath- 
 olic spirit which eloquently bespoke its profound meaning. 
 
 Throughout the week the national colors were displayed 
 upon the Church Tower. During all the days the sun shone 
 from an unclouded sky. Popular interest was manifested by 
 the crowded attendance at every service. The noble and stir- 
 ring history of the venerable Church was recited. The mul- 
 titudinous play of its energy upon the ecclesiastical and civic 
 life of the town was passed in review. Thanksgiving blended 
 with consecration. The review of the past brought benedic- 
 tion. The outlook upon the future kindled inspiration. The 
 grand old Church was revealed in the light of its story, as a 
 fountain-head of blessing, which opened by the grace of God 
 when the town was young, had poured forth through all its 
 years an unceasing stream of vitalizing beneficence ; and, 
 which, saved from dissolution by the hand of God, was pulsing 
 with the hope, that beneath God's smile, it would continue to 
 be a well-spring of yet more abundant good, so long as the 
 City should endure. 
 
 Every incident of this notable week provokes the heartfelt 
 petition with which our fathers closed their Votive Tablet : 
 
 "Annuente Christo 
 Perduret in aevo perpetuo." 
 
 The entire Celebration was marked by a spirit of dignity, 
 simplicity and enthusiasm. The plan was carried to comple- 
 tion without a flaw. Every assignment was met. Every in- 
 tention was realized. This completeness of success was in 
 no small measure due to the patient and efficient cooperation 
 of my Secretary, Miss Dickinson ; my Assistant, Mr. Jaquith ; 
 the Musical Director, Dr. Carl ; the Head Usher, Mr. Neilson ; 
 and the Sexton of the Church, Mr. Lewis. In this connection 
 there should ever be kept in mind the name of Dr. Harlan G, 
 Mendenhall, Moderator of the Presbytery and of the Synod of 
 New York, who, both ofificially and personally, exerted such a 
 wise and sympathetic influence in determining the scope and 
 
 10 
 
method of the Anniversary festivities, that he has put the Old 
 First Church and the Presbyterians of the City under large 
 and lasting obligation. 
 
 The printing of this Bi-Centennial Book, which preserves 
 in permanent form an invaluable Record of the Celebration, is 
 wholly due to the characteristic generosity of Mr. Charles 
 Mortimer Jesup, formerly an Elder of the Church, and always 
 the Friend and Helper of its Pastor. 
 
 Howard Duffield. 
 
 n 
 
COMMEMORATION DAY 
 
 Sunday, December the Ninth, 9.30 A. M. 
 
 The Service in the Sunday School 
 
 The Old First Church of the future Hes latent in the Bible 
 School of to-day. Because of this fact it seemed fitting that in 
 the Bible School the initial note of the Celebration should be 
 struck. The first half hour of the regular session was de- 
 voted to an observance of the Anniversary. Mr. Harold C. 
 Jaquith, the Pastor's Assistant, in charge of the School, gave a 
 brief sketch of the founding of the Church, its early struggles 
 on Wall Street, its growth, its removal to the cathedral-like 
 structure on Fifth Avenue, and the erection of the present 
 Chapel. Attention was called to the Votive Tablet now in the 
 vestibule of the Church, and with that as a text, a few remarks 
 were made concerning the unusual heritage of the Old First. 
 The responsibilities resting upon the young people to foster 
 and loyally to support the Old First Church and to foster its 
 growth as the historic organization passed into the third 
 century of its usefulness, were earnestly presented. The 
 Commemorative Services of the coming week were explained, 
 and a hearty invitation extended to all members of the School 
 with their parents to attend. 
 
 Dr. Duffield was present at the closing exercises of the 
 School and made a short address, speaking of the rare priv- 
 ilege which was conferred upon all who were associated with 
 such an historic Church ; of the beauty and the preciousness 
 of that legacy of prayer and faith which had come down 
 through an ancestry of devoted men and women, who for 
 two hundred years had loyally uplifted the banner of the cross 
 in the heart of this great City, — and of the obligation which 
 now rested upon every member of the Church family, young 
 and old, to make a record which when read in the light of the 
 after time should be of a piece with the thrilling story which 
 those who preceded us had written. 
 
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COMMEMORATION DAY 
 
 Sunday, December the Third, 11 A. M. 
 
 The Morning Service 
 
 The Bi-Centennial Celebration began in sunshine. With- 
 out, the First Church was bathed in hght. Within, the Church 
 was beautiful and fragrant with floral offerings, the gift of a 
 former parishioner. Upon the Pulpit wall, the national colors 
 and the City flag were crossed. At the intersection of the flag 
 staffs was a shield of evergreen bearing the cipher of the Old 
 First Church. Upon the wall at either side of the banners 
 the dates "1716" and "1916" were blazoned in figures of red 
 upon a background of evergreen. When the Westminster 
 Chime pealed from the Tower and the opening notes of the 
 Organ rolled through the Church, every seat was occupied with 
 an expectant congregation. 
 
 At a quarter before eleven o'clock the officiating Clergy 
 assembled in the Pastor's Study. Together with Dr. Menden- 
 hall. Moderator of the Presbytery and of the Synod, and Dr. 
 Newman, Special Representative of the Synod, were Dr. 
 Forbes, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery, Dr. Hoadley, Per- 
 manent Clerk of the Presbytery, Dr. MacCracken, Ex-Chan- 
 cellor of the University of the City of New York, Dr. Mallery, 
 and Dr. Stoddard. 
 
 At eleven o'clock the Clergy wearing their academic robes 
 entered the Church in procession through the Chapel doorway, 
 and preceded by Dr. Duffield and his Assistant took their places 
 in the Pulpit. 
 
 The Salutation was read by the Pastor and the Doxology 
 was sung by the People. 
 
 The following Invocation was delivered 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor Jesse F. Forbes 
 
 Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of New York 
 
 "Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father, help us to enter into 
 
 Thy gates with thanksgiving and to come into Thy Courts with 
 
 13 
 
praise. We thank Thee for the past, fraught with precious 
 memories. We thank Thee for the present, abounding in 
 opportunities for service. We thank Thee for the future, 
 glorious with hope before us. 
 
 "Bless this old historic Church. Abide with and watch over 
 our Presbytery and the whole Presbyterian fellowship. Guide 
 and direct Thy people, that the Lord may come unto His King- 
 dom, and grant that the riches of Thy grace may rest upon us 
 and upon all the household of God, in His name who hath 
 taught us to pray ; 
 
 r "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, 
 ; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in 
 ■ heaven ; give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive our tres- 
 passes as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead 
 j us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine 
 ^is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen." 
 ■" The One Hundred and Fifteenth Psalm was sung as an 
 Anthem by the Choir. 
 
 The Seventy-Second Psalm was read responsively led 
 By the Reverend Doctor Charles Payson Mallery 
 
 The Thirty-fifth Chapter of the Prophecy of Isaiah was read 
 as a Scripture Lesson 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor James H. Hoadley 
 Permanent Clerk of the Presbytery of New York 
 
 Greeting from the Presbytery of New York 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor Harlan G. Mendenhall 
 
 Moderator of the Presbytery and Synod of New York 
 
 "It is my privilege to extend to the Pastor and the Officers 
 and Members of the Old First Presbyterian Church the greet- 
 ings of the Presbytery of New York on this historic day. 
 
 "To have perpetuated an unbroken church life in this City 
 of New York for two hundred years is an honor extended to 
 but very few similar organizations in this country ; and this 
 Church has come to this age, with eye undimmed and with 
 natural force unabated. 
 
 14 
 
"You are linked, my friends, in your church Hfe, with the 
 Protestant Reformation of the XVth Century, and you have de- 
 rived its traits direct from the Church of Scotland, with which 
 you were incorporated, I understand, for at least fifty years. 
 
 "You are congratulated upon being the Mother of all the 
 Churches in this Presbytery of New York, now numbering 
 over sixty, with a Church Membership of thirty-five thousand. 
 If we were to include in our Presbytery, the Greater City — 
 as the Presbyteries of Chicago and Pittsburgh have done — 
 this Church would be the Mother to-day of more than sixty 
 thousand Presbyterians enrolled in our Churches. 
 
 "Your membership has included men and women whose lives 
 have been identified with the moral and material development 
 of New York and the inspirers of those Presbyterians in all 
 our Churches, who have had so much to do with all those 
 higher ideals of life, that have led to righteousness in this 
 metropolis of the New World. 
 
 "We are not forgetful at this time of the fact that your un- 
 broken life has been due very largely to those eminent men 
 who have been your Pastors. That you have had only ten min- 
 isters — I believe that is the number — in this long life, shows 
 how illustrious those clergymen were who occupied this pul- 
 pit. Your present pastor is a worthy successor of those emi- 
 nent men. He came to you in one of the most critical times. of 
 your history. I was in his audience twenty-five years ago when 
 he began his task, and I recall the enthusiasm of himself and 
 wife as he began what has since proven to be a most successful 
 pastorate. 
 
 "This Church, praise be to our Heavenly Father, is secure 
 for the coming years ; and no man is more deserving the hon- 
 or of this result than Dr. Duffield, who, for a quarter of a cen- 
 tury, has carried on this splendid work. 
 
 "Recognizing, therefore, these important events in your 
 history and the life of your honored Pastor, the Presbytery of 
 New York, at one of its public meetings, made formal recog- 
 nition of its congratulations on your Anniversary as a Church, 
 and on the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Pastorate of 
 
 15 
 
Dr. Duffield, and at this hour and on this Anniversary Day, in 
 its name — on this day of days in the Calendar of your Church 
 life — I bring to you our joy, and our prayers that these com- 
 ing years may give both Pastor and people the victory of 
 service. 
 
 " 'The brightest glories earth can yield 
 The brighter bliss of heaven.' " 
 *— .Then was sung the Hymn : 
 
 "Ancient of Days, who sittest throned in splendor." 
 
 Doctor Mendenhall then said : 
 
 "We will now listen to the Greeting from the Synod of New 
 York. It is brought to us by the Reverend Doctor Arthur 
 Newman, Ex-Moderator of the Synod, and Pastor of our 
 Church at Bridgehampton, Long Island. 
 
 "It may be interesting to know that the Church at Bridge- 
 hampton is just a little older than the First Church of New 
 York. It celebrated its two hundredth anniversary in Sep- 
 tember last. Dr. Duffield was the representative of the Pres- 
 bytery of New York in extending greeting on that happy occa- 
 sion. 
 
 "The Synod of New York takes official cognizance of this 
 very important celebration in which we are engaged, and could 
 find no one better fitted to honor us than our dear friend, Dr. 
 Newman, who will now speak to you." 
 
 Greeting from the Synod of New York 
 By the Reverend Doctor Arthur H. Newman 
 
 "As Moderator of the Presbytery of New York and in a 
 sense at the head of Presbyterianism in New York, Dr. Men- 
 denhall ought to be infallible. I shall have to venture, how- 
 ever, to correct the announcement in the way it was just given. 
 I have the honor to belong to a Church that is almost two 
 Hundred and fifty years old, and I am its ninth pastor. But 
 last September the Presbytery of Long Island celebrated its 
 Bi-centennial, and the Synod of New York took notice of that 
 fact, and sent a representative to speak for it on that occasion, 
 
 16 
 
inasmuch as that marked the beginning of organized Presby- 
 terianism in the State of New York. 
 
 "To-day the First Presbyterian Church in New York City 
 begins to celebrate its Bi-Centennial, and the Synod of New 
 York takes notice of that fact and is represented on this occa- 
 sion because the organization of this Church marks the begin- 
 ning — the first step forward — of Presbyterian Church expan- 
 sion in the State of New York ; for it was practically the first 
 official act of the newly established Presbytery of Long Island 
 to establish this Presbyterian Church in New York City. 
 
 It is worthy of recalling at this present time that the first 
 English-speaking settlements in the State of New York, at 
 Southold and Southampton, in 1640, established a Church, at 
 the date of their beginning, and that these Churches were 
 Presbyterian in doctrine and, in a degree, Presbyterian in form 
 of government. It is worthy also of commemorating at this 
 time the fact that the first Church spire that the rising sun this 
 morning illuminated on the soil of the 'Empire State' was 
 the spire of a Presbyterian Church, and that its midday rays 
 now illumine almost one thousand Presbyterian Churches, 
 with two hundred and twenty-five thousand members, with one 
 hundred and eighty thousand Sabbath school scholars — 
 Churches, which last year contributed three and a quarter mil- 
 lion dollars towards their own support, and gave away a mil- 
 lion and three-quarters more. 
 
 "In the name, therefore, of this great body of fellow-workers. 
 Dr. Duffield, and Members and associates of this First Pres- 
 byterian Church, the Synod of New York offers to you its 
 deep congratulations. 
 
 "We are well aware of the fact that longevity may be un- 
 usual, and yet not noticeable. We are interested in this your 
 Commemoration, because we recognize that this Church is a 
 vine of the Lord's own planting, that it has been miraculously 
 fruitful in all these many years and, praise be to God's gra- 
 cious name, is fruitful to-day. 
 
 "I was listening this morning as the hour struck from the 
 great clock tower where the old Madison Square Presbyterian 
 Church stood, and as I was listening to it, I was recalling to 
 
 17 
 
myself an event that took place in that church in 1873. The 
 Eucumenical Council met there at that time. Dr. Woolsey, 
 President of Yale College, delivered the opening address. In 
 the course of that address he quoted the familiar words: 
 " 'Oh, where are kings and empires now 
 Of old that went and came? 
 But, Lord, Thy church is praying yet, 
 A thousand years the same.' 
 
 "That was the time of the discussion of the so-called Tyndal 
 prayer test. You recall that, perhaps, — the proposition that 
 a certain group of patients in a certain hospital, that were 
 afflicted with certain diseases and treated in a certain way 
 should be prayed for ; and in a certain other hospital, another 
 equal group of patients, with the same disease and with the 
 same treatment, should not be prayed for ; the consequences 
 to be watched and the effect to be noted. The audience was 
 quick to note the suggestion of Dr. Woolsey's quotation ; it 
 was the swift straight answer of the Church to the insinuation 
 of scientific scepticism. 
 
 I looked at your Year Book, and on one of its pages the 
 milestones of the Church's progress are noted down. The first 
 item was this : 'Presbyterian prayer meetings began in New 
 York City in 1706.' The First Presbyterian Church in New 
 York City was organized in 1716. This Church began its 
 life with prayer, in prayer it has continued and it 'is praying 
 yet, two hundred years the same.' We rejoice with you that 
 this is your life's story. 
 
 Sameness is a mark of stability. Nobody thinks anything 
 of the young man who changes his opinion, his vocation, his 
 abode ; but the mature man has fixed convictions, fixed opin- 
 ions, definite activities and a settled home. The man that 
 does' the same things again and again, is the man whose skill you 
 seek, whose counsel you avail yourself of, and in whose sta- 
 bility of character, the home, the Church and the State are 
 secure. 
 
 In this great city, — eager, enterprising, myriad-minded, 
 Athenian-like in its demand for novelty, — it is an inspiring 
 thing to come together to commemorate a public institution 
 
 18 
 
that for full two hundred years has stood for the same thing; 
 recognizing that the heart-beats of men everywhere, in every 
 generation, are the same ; that the only hope of salvation given 
 under heaven, among men is the gospel of the cross of Jesus 
 Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and forever. 
 
 When Abraham Lincoln had breathed his last. Secretary 
 Stanton, looking upon the face of the martyred President, ex- 
 claimed : "He belongs to the ages now." 
 
 It was finely said. Lincoln indeed became one of the im- 
 mortals. But he belonged to the ages all the while, for he 
 clearly saw and with the strength of a strong man stood for 
 the fundamental and eternal principles of truth and righteous- 
 ness and justice. 
 
 To-day we reverently and rejoicingly remind ourselves that 
 this Church belongs to the ages, founded upon and witnessing 
 to the faith delivered unto the saints, inheriting the prayers 
 and the labors of generations past and cherishing the gracious 
 purpose under God to make its debtors the generations to 
 come. 
 
 In the name of your brethren in this great commonwealth, 
 the State of New York, I offer you congratulations and bid 
 you God speed. 
 
 "■^""^ The Anniversary Prayer was then off'ered 
 By the Reverend Doctor Henry Mitchell MacCracken 
 Ex-Chancellor of the University of the City of New York 
 
 "We thank Thee, O God our Father, for speaking to us, 
 and for calling us to speak to Thee. We praise Thy voices 
 in nature, where the heavens declare Thy Glory and the firma- 
 ment sheweth Thy handiwork. We praise Thy speaking 
 in times past unto the fathers by the prophets. We praise 
 Thy speaking four hundred years ago by the new voices of the 
 Protestant Reformers. To-day we thank Thee for the Ger- 
 man Martin Luther, for the French John Calvin, the British 
 Tyndale and John Knox and all their noble company. Espe- 
 cially to-day we thank Thee here, for their disciples, who three 
 hundred years ago, came as colonists to America, to the South, 
 to New England, to these Middle States of ours, each bringing 
 
 19 
 
with him his Bible. We thank Thee for that great forerunner, 
 that John the Baptist of the First Presbyterian Church of New 
 York, — for Francis Makemie, and for his apostohc work in the 
 South and in the North ; for his valiant championship two hun- 
 dred and ten years ago in this City of ours; when, in 1709, he 
 declared and defended, before a tyrannical governor, and for 
 weeks on a dungeon floor in the City of New York, the liberty 
 of a preacher of Christ. 
 
 "Thou O Almighty Spirit, didst strengthen Francis Ma- 
 kemie to stand fast in thfe liberty wherewith Christ has made 
 men free! Through the long weeks in jail, charged with no 
 crime save preaching without license in the home of a friend 
 in this City, and baptising there the child of a friend, through 
 the weary months. Thou didst strengthen him to secure a trial 
 and complete acquittal before the law of the land. Thou 
 gavest him also, as Thou gavest the Apostle Paul, grace to 
 provide his own livelihood by his own eliforts, being charge- 
 able to no man while preaching the truth of Christ. Even he, 
 suffered the loss of his worldly estate by the rulers of this 
 our City. For this apostolic harbinger and forerunner of the 
 Presbyterian Church here we glorify Thee this day, on this 
 two hundred and tenth anniversary of this martyr's suffering ; 
 and we thank Thee for those disciples of his, who endured and 
 who two hundred years since organized this Church, not as a 
 church before the law until America became a free and inde- 
 pendent nation, but a church before God and after their own 
 hearts, before the infant presbytery of Makemie and his few 
 brother ministers in the Middle States and in the South. We 
 thank Thee for the more than ten thousand Sabbaths of holy 
 worship held by this congregation. We thank Thee for the 
 holy influence going out through two centuries to more than 
 ten thousand younger churches, for the unceasing stream of 
 beneficence to other churches at home and abroad and through 
 the whole round world; for the patriotism of minister and 
 people, as in that time when the faithful pastor stood General 
 Washington's friend and helper, although driven from Church 
 and from home and from this City when occupied by English 
 troops; for the hospitality of this Church shown to other 
 
 20 
 
churches, and to our New York Presbytery where even now it 
 finds its home beneath this roof tree. 
 
 "We thank God to-day that Thou has brought this Church 
 out into a large place. We beseech Thee to continue its power, 
 continue its disposition to do liberal things. Even as this house 
 of praise and worship stands unique in the many miles of our 
 greatest avenue, to rejoice the eyes of every stranger with 
 admiration of its grassy greensward, its shrubs and its trees, 
 so make this Church ever a joy to our land and to the whole 
 world as a living memorial of Christ, known and read of all 
 men. And here may a true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ 
 endure, as long as New York City shall endure, as long as the 
 heavens and the earth shall endure. All this we ask for Jesus 
 Christ's sake. Amen." 
 
 -' A Selection from Schubert's "Song of Miriam" was sung 
 by the Choir as an Offertory Anthem. 
 
 Dr. Mendenhall then referred to the fact that formal greet- 
 ings from great ecclesiastical bodies had been conveyed to the 
 Church as a notable historic organization, and he suggested 
 that now the people, assembled for this notable Anniversary, 
 should unitedly give their greeting to Dr. Duffield, under 
 whose personal leadership for the past twenty-five years the 
 Church had come to the threshold of its third century, clothed 
 with such power and promise. In response to this happy and 
 kindly suggestion, the entire assemblage rose and with waving 
 handkerchiefs gave to the Pastor of the Church a most impres- 
 sive and soul stirring salutation. 
 
 The Historical Sermon was then delivered 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor Howard Duffield 
 
 The Minister of the Old First Presbyterian Church 
 
 21 
 
THE ANNALS OF THE OLD FIRST CHURCH 
 
 Book of the Psalms LXXn:16 
 
 "There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of 
 
 the mountains. The fruit thereof shall shake 
 
 like Lebanon." 
 
 One of the greatest assets of this wealthy town is its Pres- 
 byterianism. Long ago it was said that the real grandeur of 
 a city was to be measured not by the height of its roofs, but 
 by the spiritual stature of its citizens. For two hundred years 
 the quarrymen and hod carriers and iron workers have been 
 building and re-building the city which we see, raising ever 
 mightier walls and more stupendous towers. For two centur- 
 ies the Presbyterian way of looking at the truth has been 
 unceasingly at work helping to build a more glorious city, not 
 made with hands, nor viewed with eyes, but resplendent to the 
 inner vision, and defiant of the changes of time, a city which 
 shall be clothed with abiding strength and beauty when the 
 material glories of the town shall have vanished like a dream. 
 The city of our real habitation is not a structure of asphalt 
 and metal and timber and stone which is ever returning to its 
 native dust, but "a City which hath foundations whose builder 
 and maker is God," the home of a citizenry whose character 
 is moulded by faith and honor and righteousness and liberty 
 and truth, a commonwealth where the soul sits upon the 
 throne. For two hundred years our fathers have been the 
 builders of such a city. They laid the deep foundations of its 
 greatness upon the word of God. Its architecture they fash- 
 ioned after divine patterns. Its walls and gates they reared 
 by the magic might of exalted principles and noble ideals of 
 living. Their life force has impressed itself upon every 
 phase of its civic life. The tonic tingle of their blue blood 
 is in the veins of the body corporate. No single force has 
 contributed more directly to the development of the City's 
 real prosperity, and guaranteed the City's continued great- 
 
 22 
 
ness, than that generated by the long Hne of those choice 
 spirits, who with an intelligent and unflagging devotion, have 
 translated into terms of daily life the elemental principles of 
 the Presbyterian faith. The rolls of its merchant princes 
 are inscribed with their signatures. In the company of its 
 commercial leaders they stand in the foremost rank. As 
 patrons of art, as promoters of science, as benefactors and 
 philanthropists, their names are as well known as the letters 
 of the alphabet. Of every movement that aims at the lifting 
 of the common burden and the giving a larger, sweeter defini- 
 tion to the common life, they are the spinal strength. 
 
 This mighty harvest has fruited from an insignificant seed- 
 ing. The beginning was beggarly, but the outcome is opulent. 
 A handful of corn has burgeoned into a forest of stately 
 cedars. A garden patch, sterile as Sahara, has clothed itself 
 with a glory like that of Lebanon. As the American continent 
 was sown with grain which God Himself had sifted, so the 
 Presbyterian Church in the City of New York has grown from 
 seed divinely hand-picked. The little company which cradled 
 the Church were winnowed by the fan of persecution. Their 
 passion for freedom of worship, their readiness to die for lib- 
 erty of the body and of the soul, their stalwart devotion to the 
 rights of men and the rights of God, were lessons learned in 
 the school of oppression. Their ancestors were the Huguenots 
 who were ever haunted by the horror of Bartholomew's Day; 
 the Puritans of England and of Holland, baptized with the 
 blood of the saints ; the Covenanters of Scotland, with heroic 
 memories of the martyrs burnt into their recollection and woven 
 into the very fibre o^ their being. The trumpet tones of 
 Luther, who defied the claim of the Emperor to act for him, or 
 of the Pope to think for him, never ceased to reverberate within 
 their souls. The call of God to witness for these truths, which 
 had come to them as a divine birthright, and were by them 
 transmitted as a priceless heirloom to their children, never slept 
 in their consciousness. The days of the Church's founding 
 were days which tried men's souls. The heralds of a new 
 era are not baskers in the sunshine. The champions of human 
 rights do not feed upon sugar plums and loll upon roses. That 
 
 23 
 
was an hour in which men were willing to suffer for righteous- 
 ness sake, and rejoiced when they were counted worthy to 
 endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Then, the 
 things of faith were the real things. They were the only reali- 
 ties. All else was shadow, flitting by, passing away. In that 
 hour, the truths of God were counted precious enough to die 
 for, and glorious enough to make martyrdom a boon. What 
 Lincoln said concerning the founders of the State, may well 
 be said of the builders of this Church. "The accounts of the 
 battlefields and struggles for the liberties of the country fixed 
 themselves upon my imagination. I recollect thinking, boy 
 though I was, that there must have been something more than 
 common that these men struggled for, . . . something that 
 held out a great promise to all the people of the world, for all 
 time to come." 
 
 The opening chapter in the story of New York Presbyterian- 
 ism reads like a leaf from the Book of Acts. The early Church 
 builders had at least two marks of apostolicity. The enter- 
 prise was planted in a prayer meeting, like that which was the 
 prelude to Pentecost; and it was nurtured in a house, like 
 that of Aquila and Priscilla, so well known to Paul and his 
 fellow preachers. Into such a fireside circle came first of 
 all, in 1643, Francis Doughty, whose name happily bespeaks 
 his character, a bold and outspoken witness for the truth, who 
 for his devotion to freedom, had won the meed of ostracism 
 and exile. In 1650 followed the scholarly Richard Denton, a 
 graduate of Cambridge, and according to Cotton Mather, "one 
 of the lights of the day." The hearthside became an altar 
 place. As occasion offered, visiting clergymen ministered to 
 these waiting households of faith. In this simple fashion, little 
 companies gathered to pray, and to listen to the message of 
 such preachers of passage. Even such informal and instinc- 
 tive upreachings of the heart toward the light became the sig- 
 nal for persecution ; and the rattle of chains, and the crackle 
 of faggots greeted the earliest attempts in this City to wor- 
 ship God according to the call of conscience. To found a 
 Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, men had to 
 face the frowns of tyranny and to suffer for their faith. In 
 
 24 
 
no other way do truth and freedom come to dwell in the earth. 
 The apostle of American Presbyterianism was Francis Ma- 
 kemie. He was a graduate of one of the Scottish Universi- 
 ties, and a member of the Presbytery of Laggan in North Ire- 
 land. He was a man of disciplined mind, commanding person- 
 ality, and fascinating address. Coming to America in response 
 to an appeal from the so-called dissenting Churches for relig- 
 ious instructors, he quickly and inevitably rose to the leader- 
 ship of American Presbyterians. Resident in the colonies of 
 the South, he treated all the colonies as his field and visited 
 throughout all their borders. Geographic boundaries were to 
 him imaginary lines. After attending a meeting of the 
 Presbytery at Philadelphia, in October, 1706, accompanied by 
 John Hampton he set out for Boston, and en route visited the 
 City of New York. The Governorship was at that time vested 
 in Lord Cornbury, who has earned the doubtful reputation of 
 being gifted with "all the vices of aristocratic arrogance joined 
 with intellectual imbecility," a reckless adventurer, profligate 
 and unprincipled, who had fled England to escape his creditors. 
 The little circle of New York Presbyterians being advised of 
 Makemie's presence, imploring him to preach. It was not 
 easy to find a place of meeting. The Dutch and French 
 Church buildings could only be opened with the consent of the 
 Governor. This being flatly refused, public worship was held 
 in the house of William Jackson, at the lower end of Pearl 
 Street. There was a small gathering of ten or fifteen persons, 
 no larger than that which long ago met in the upper room at 
 Jerusalem. A sermon was preached. A little child was bap- 
 tized. The names of five of that historic company have been 
 preserved. As they constitute the first group of the citizens 
 of New York known to have held a Presbyterian service in the 
 City, the roll should be recited. Their names were, David 
 Jamieson, Captain Theobolds, John Vanhorn, William Jackson, 
 and Anthony Young. Jamieson was a sweet singer, a man of 
 classical attainments, who during the persecutions in the Old 
 World had been arrested and sold as a slave in New York. 
 He had been bought by Mr. Clark, the Minister in the Fort, 
 and permitted to teach school. He had studied law and be- 
 
 25 
 
V3^" 
 
 came the Clerk of the Council. Vanhorn and Theobolds were 
 merchants. William Jackson was a shoe maker, and with 
 Anthony Young had been shipped from Scotland to the Amer- 
 ican Plantations. The coachman of the Governor was also 
 one of the little company. "Ye see your calling, brethren, 
 how not many great men after the flesh, not many mighty, not 
 many noble, are called. For God hath chosen the weak things 
 a world to confound the mighty, and things that are not to 
 bring to naught the things that are." 
 
 Upon the day following the sermon, Makemie and his com- 
 panion were arrested by Cornbury's order and thrown into 
 prison. In the absence of the Chief Justice they languished 
 in unjust confinement for nearly two months. By writ of 
 Habeas Corpus they at length secured a hearing in the Courts 
 and were admitted to bail. Mr. Makemie at the appointed 
 time returned to stand trial, in the conduct of which "it was 
 difficult to say whether he was most conspicuous for his talents 
 as a man, or for his dignity and piety as a Minister of the 
 Gospel." The jury acquitted him, but he was not discharged 
 until by shameful extortion he had been compelled to defray 
 not only the costs of the defence, but the fees of the prosecutor. 
 This bitter hounding of an innocent man aroused the entire 
 Puritan body of the colonists, and many an earnest and indig- 
 nant protest went over the seas concerning this violation "of 
 the law of the nation, and the common rights of Englishmen." 
 British justice prevailed and Cornbury was recalled. In re- 
 linquishing his office, the Governor discharged a Parthian arrow 
 in the shape of an elaborate apology for his administration, 
 which concluded with this vivid sketching of Makemie as 
 he saw him, "he is Jack of all trades ; he is a preacher, a doc- 
 tor of physic, a merchant, an attorney, a counsellor at law, and 
 worst of all a disturber of governments." 
 
 The removal from the City of their arch persecutor seems 
 to have inspired the Presbyterians to renewed efforts to 
 crystallize their scattered forces into a regularly constituted 
 Church. Apparently they invited some minister to head this 
 undertaking, whose name has not been preserved, for under 
 date of December 2, 1709, Vesey, the Rector of Trinity Church, 
 
 26 
 
writes, "that the Dissenting Minister is likely to gain no 
 ground." His stay must have been brief, as no record of it 
 remains, save this passing allusion. The people, however, kept 
 together. Their numbers increased. Confidence was re- 
 stored. Their long cherished desire came to fruition in 1716. 
 In that year a group of their leading spirits formulated a 
 definite plan of organization and took the steps necessary to 
 secure its realization. The story of this movement is written 
 in the Minutes of the Church of Scotland. It is there re- 
 corded that the prime movers in the enterprise were John 
 Nicoll, Patrick McKnight, Gilbert Livingston, and Thomas 
 Smith. William Livingston and William Smith are also 
 known to have been associated with the inception of this un- 
 dertaking. Mr. Thomas Smith was by birth an Englishman, 
 who from his distinguished services in establishing Presbyter- 
 ianism in the American colonies was held in high esteem in 
 the Church of Scotland. Mr. William Smith, who was from 
 Newport-Pagnell in England, became a Judge and a member of 
 the King's Council. Mr. Patrick McKnight, a native of the 
 North of Ireland, was a merchant and owner of some prop- 
 erty. But in establishing the Presbyterian Church in the City 
 of New York none exercised more dynamic influence than Dr. 
 John Nicoll, a graduate of Edinburgh University, and a physi- 
 cian of recognized eminence. Throughout his long life he gave 
 impetus and momentum to this enterprise. A man of clear 
 vision, and of strong, almost autocratic will, in other words, of 
 Scotch canniness and obstinacy, with the gifts of a leader and 
 with the enthusiasm of a martyr, he kept his hand on the helm 
 and set the course across the troubled seas upon which this un- 
 certain venture was embarked. In spite of the attacks which 
 he continually provoked, and of criticism, which perhaps his 
 rugged and unyielding self assertion may sometimes have mer- 
 ited, the sincerity, the unselfishness, the triumphant persistency 
 of the man came to be so conspicuously apparent, that those 
 associated with him have embalmed his memory in formal and 
 emphatic eulogy. So clear brained and resolute a leader inev- 
 itably becomes a target for critics and gossip. Nicoll held 
 his way unswervingly through a gauntlet of opposition until" 
 
 27 
 
he extorted admiration from those who had been at swords' 
 points with him. His companions upon the Board of Trustees 
 with whom he had frequent and serious differences of opinion 
 caused the following memorial to be entered upon their Min- 
 utes : "Be it remembered that J. Nicoll, Doctor of Physick did 
 for about the space of 20 years take almost sole care of the 
 temporal affairs of this congregation upon himself, and did 
 leave the Church free of debt, at his own very great expense ; 
 for which services to the Church, his name ought to be trans- 
 mitted to posterity at the beginning of this book with the high- 
 est marks of Honor and Regard." At his funeral service, his 
 Pastor declared "These walls will be the lasting monument of 
 his zeal for the house and public worship of God, in the erect- 
 ing of which he spent a considerable part of his estate, and 
 undertook a hazardous voyage to Europe for the establishment 
 and security of this infant society. Upon these and other 
 accounts too numerous to mention while a Presbyterian 
 Church exists in the City of New York the name of Nicoll will 
 ever be remembered with honor as one of its principal founders 
 and its greatest benefactor." 
 
 The first move of the organizers of the Church was to hire a 
 private house for a place of meeting. Their application is re- 
 corded in the Minutes of the Common Council. It is dated 7 
 August, 1717, and reads, "the house known as Venoo's house 
 situate in the Eastern part of the City is recorded as Publick 
 Meeting House for the Congregation of Dissenting Protestants 
 called Presbiterians, for the Publick Worship of Almighty 
 God." It was their intention to invite such Ministers as they 
 could prevail upon to visit the City to preach for them in turn 
 "giving them encouragement according to their ability." This 
 method speedily proved impracticable. Nearby Presbyterian 
 Ministers were not plentiful. Some attempted to come a hun- 
 dred miles or more, but were defeated by the primitive meth- 
 ods of travel. The people could secure no regularity of service. 
 They missed what they most needed, pastoral care. Although 
 "very, very small," they therefore determined to secure a Pas- 
 tor and in the summer of 1717 they issued a call to the Rev. 
 James Anderson of the Presbytery of Newcastle, Delaware, 
 
 28 
 
who during a visit to New York had given them much sympa- 
 thy and encouragement, and had become thoroughly famihar 
 with the situation. He accepted their invitation and began 
 his pastorate early in the following December. 
 
 Almost immediately after his installation Mr. Anderson ad- 
 dressed a letter to Dr. Stirling, "principal of the Colledge of 
 Glasgow." With a keen and vivid touch it illuminates the 
 situation as it appeared to one of the chief actors in it. The 
 unique importance of this paper as well as its picturesque style 
 warrants ample quotation 
 
 "This place, the City of New York, where I now am, is a 
 place of considerable moment & very poplous consisting as 
 I'm informed of about 3000 families or housekeepers. Its a 
 place of as great trade & businesse, if not more now, as any 
 in North America. In it are two minrs, of ye established 
 church of England, two Dutch minrs, one French minr, a Luth- 
 eran minister, an Anabaptist & also a Qwaker meeting. The 
 place did att first intirly belong to the Dutch ; After the Eng- 
 lish had it endeavours were used by ye chief of ye people who 
 then understood English toward the Settlement of an Eng- 
 lish dissenting minister in it, & accordingly one was called 
 from New England, who after he had preached sometime 
 here, having a prospect & promise of more money then what 
 he had among the dissenters, went to old England, took orders 
 from ye B. of London & came back here as minister of the 
 established church of E: Here he yet is, has done, & still is 
 doing what he can to ruin the dissenting interest in the place 
 & verifying ye old saying Omnis apostata est sectae sua osor : 
 Afterwards endeavours were used again & again by the fa- 
 mous Mr. Francis Mc Kemine, Mr. Hampton, Mr. Mc Nish 
 & others toward the Settlement of a Scots church in this 
 city, but by ye arbitrary management & influence of a wicked 
 high flying governour, who predeeded his excellency Briga- 
 deer Hunter, our present governor (may ye Lord blesse & 
 long preserve him) that businesse has been hitherto impeded 
 & could never be brought in a likely way to bear. 
 
 "The last summer, I being providentially here, & obliged to 
 stay here about businesse the matter of a month, att the desire 
 
 29 
 
of a few especially Scots people, preached each Sabbath. Tho' 
 there were a pretty many hearers, yet there were but few yt 
 were able & willing to do anything toward the setting forward 
 such work, a few there were who were willing to do their utter- 
 most, but so few that I had then but small grounds to sup- 
 pose that any thing effectually could be done. Some time 
 before our last Synod, a call from this small handful with 
 some few others yt had joyn'd them, came to the presbytry 
 of Newcastle desiring a transporation of me from Newcastle 
 to New York, which the Presbytry referred to ye Synod then 
 in a little time to sit. The Synod, having a prospect of getting 
 Newcastle supplied by a young man one Mr. Crosse, lately 
 come from the North of Ireland, transported me hither. 
 The people here who are favorors of our church & per- 
 swasion, as I've told yow, are yet but few & none of the 
 richest, yet for all, I am not without hopes yt with Gods 
 blessing they shall in a little time encrease. Some are al- 
 ready come to live in the city & more are expected whose 
 langwage would not allow them to joyn with ye Dutch or 
 French Churches, and whose consciences would not allow 
 them to joyn in the service of the English Church. The 
 cheif thing in all appearance, now wanting, with Gods bless- 
 ing & concurrence to render us a growing flourishing con- 
 gregation, is a good large convenient house or church to 
 congregate in ; Some proposals are now sett on foot toward 
 the building of one, but building being here very coastly & 
 convenient ground to build such a house upon being yet more 
 coastly, & the handful of people yt are having their hands 
 full to doe toward the necessary Support of their minister 
 we shall not be able to goe through with the building of 
 such a house as the place requires without the assistance of 
 our friends : The crying necessity of having the Gospell & 
 Gospell ordinances dispensed purly in our langwage here, 
 This seeming to he the time for carrying on such a work, 
 while things are So moderate att home, & while we have such 
 a wise moderate governour here, Together with the hopes of 
 the growing of our interest «& the hopes of some assistance 
 from our friends & brethren att home, att least in building, 
 
 30 
 
were cheif considerations moving the Synod to transport me 
 hither & begetting a willingness in me to comply with the 
 Synod's act. 
 
 "I believe by this time yow smell my drift. I don't know 
 how to begin to beg any more att your door least I should 
 be reckoned (to use our own Scots word) missleard. But 
 if any of your Substantiall Merchts or some other Synod 
 could be prevailed upon to contribute toward the building of 
 a Scots church here Oh ! how acceptible would it be to re- 
 ligion & our interest in the place. Severall of our Scots mer- 
 chants trade hither & I doubt not more will when before 
 now they have come, they understanding neither Dutch nor 
 French were oblidged either to stay att home or goe to ye 
 church of E ; or worse which has been ye occasion of some 
 mischiefs Wickednesse & inconveniences, which I hope in a 
 great measure if this work of God succeed here, shall hereafter 
 be prevented, I am afrayid I have wearied yow." 
 
 The records of the Church reveal the steps which were 
 taken by the new-born society to become housed in a home of 
 its own, the desire for which is so feelingly treated in this 
 epistle. 
 
 In 1718 Dr. Nicoll, Patrick McKnight, Gilbert Livingston and 
 Thomas Smith purchased a lot for a Church building near 
 the corner of Wall Street and Nassau Street adjoining the 
 newly erected Municipal Building (which occupied the site 
 where now stands the Sub Treasury Building). To raise the 
 necessary funds for the purchase of the land and the erection 
 of the building, in addition to private subscription, the Legis- 
 lature of Connecticut was appealed to, and also the General 
 Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Both these bodies re- 
 sponded with such substantial assistance, that the building of 
 the Church was carried steadily forward. Until they should 
 be possessed of an edifice of their own, the infant congrega- 
 tion obtained permission to hold their services in the new 
 City Hall "provided they do not interfere with, or obstruct, the 
 Public Courts of Justice to be held from time to time in 
 said City Hall." "This municipal building," writes Nicoll, 
 "was costly and magnificent." It was then regarded as one 
 
 31 
 
of the prominent architectural ornaments of the City. The 
 site had been donated to the municipaHty by Colonel Abraham 
 de Peyster. The corner stone had been laid by Mayor 
 Provost. The cost of the structure was $1500. It was a two 
 story brick building, the jail being upon the lower floor. The 
 upper story contained accommodations for the Assembly, the 
 City Council, and the Supreme Court. The building con- 
 tained a library for the use not only of the City of New 
 York, but under specified restrictions, of residents in New 
 Jersey and Connecticut. The inefficiency of its early manage- 
 ment, led to the organization of the Society Library. With 
 this group of occupants the new-born Presbyterian Church 
 shared the shelter of the City Hall for nearly three years. 
 
 In 1719 the Church edifice was completed and dedicated. 
 The satisfaction of the young organization found expression 
 in a letter to the Governor and Legislature of Connecticut. 
 "We now with rejoicing crave leave to acquaint the Assembly 
 that by the assistance we experienced from Connecticut we 
 were not only encouraged to go on with our begun building, 
 which otherwise was like to drop and go to ruin, but were also 
 able to get it under roof, so that now with joy we enjoy the 
 ordinances dispensed to us therein. We heartily thank you 
 for your opportune, free and voluntary liberal aid to a small 
 despised handful, which we hope designs nothing else but the 
 honor of the glorious Lord, and the eternal good of their 
 souls, and of their children." But in this very expression 
 of their exultation it crops out that a seed of menace has 
 rooted itself in their society. The sum raised in Connecticut, 
 they go on to say, was less than expected, "the charity of 
 some having been cooled by false and malicious reports dis- 
 persed among the colonies." This root of bitterness, as al- 
 ways, grew with a tenacious and exuberant vitality. We find 
 it hinted at in a letter of Cotton Mather written at this time 
 to Dr. Nicoll "for communication" in which he says : "We 
 are very sensibly touched with grief at the information you 
 give us of the strange difficulties under which ye evangelical 
 affairs are laboring. Since it is from you only we have been 
 informed of them this gives us a little hope that they may 
 
 32 
 
not grow to the extremity you may be afraid of. We never 
 yet have had any disadvantageous representations of the worthy 
 Mr. Anderson made to us, nor shall we receive anything to 
 his disadvantage, without first giving him and you an oppor- 
 tunity of vindication." 
 
 The next step was to become incorporated in order that title 
 might be taken to the land and the building. The earliest ap- 
 plication for a charter was preferred to the Kings Council, 4th 
 of March, 1720, by Mr. Anderson and five others. They 
 style themselves "Scots from North Britain" and represent 
 the distressing inconvenience of vesting their property in the 
 name of individual owners, which they are compelled to do 
 until chartered by law. The vestry of Trinity Church was 
 represented by Counsel in opposition, and the request was 
 finally dismissed. After a change of Governorship had oc- 
 curred, the application was renewed September 19th, and in 
 opposition are found certain of the Trustees of the Church 
 itself. The English members of the Board, Livingston and 
 Smith, arrayed themselves against the Scotch Irish contingent 
 headed by NicoU and McKnight. The animus of this opposi- 
 tion was the apprehension that the rigid Scotch element would 
 gain control of the possessions and the organization of the 
 Church, and it was believed that the situation of the more lib- 
 eral minded English element would be freer and better without 
 a charter granted to those who then aspired, as it was claimed, 
 to secure control of the Church. This cause of alarm was 
 unquestionably emphasized, perhaps created, by the attitude of 
 Mr. Anderson. Although a man of talents and spirituality, 
 and an able and popular preacher, he did not seem to have 
 mastered accurately the problems of the situation, nor to 
 have brought sufficient tact to their solution. It is clearly 
 evident that a number of his people and officers were unac- 
 customed to the rigid theories of the Scottish Kirk and resented 
 certain of its principles which he undertook to enforce. His 
 opponents accused him of "afifecting a strictness which the 
 Presbyterians of England had not been used to and interfering 
 in the temporalities of the congregation, and the disposition 
 of the Public Money (with which ministers ought to have no 
 
 33 
 
concern)." This feeling became so intensified by pulpit 
 utterances of Mr. Anderson, that the same gentlemen who 
 challenged the granting of the charter, entered a complaint 
 before the Presbytery of Long Island with reference to the 
 regularity of his settlement as Pastor. After a patient hear- 
 ing it was decided that the proceedings of his induction 
 into the pastorate were entirely regular. Complaint was then 
 lodged against two of his sermons. These were read. Pres- 
 bytery approved them, "as orthodox and godly, but in some 
 portions not so mild and soft as might be wished." The dif- 
 ferences became so pronounced, and led to such unseemly 
 personal collision and bred such unholy heat, that a schism 
 occurred. The Scotch faction stood with the Pastor. The 
 English contingent withdrew from the organization. The se- 
 ceding company began promptly casting about for a place of 
 worship. From the Minutes of the City Council it is learned 
 that Mr. Thomas Grant, conspicuous in his opposition to Mr. 
 Anderson, obtained the authority in 1721 to use the house of 
 John Barbour near the Fort, as a place of assembly. Late 
 in the same year record is made of a new house lately erected 
 and built in the East side on Smith Street, (now William 
 Street) "for a meeting house for the congregation of dis- 
 senting Protestants called English Presbiterians for the Pub- 
 lick Worship of God." In the living room of this building 
 there ministered to the little circle of worshippers, a lad of nine- 
 teen, tall, slender, pale of face, but of marked refinement, and 
 carrying in his bearing tokens of the promise which the after 
 years fulfilled. His name was Jonathan Edwards. A recent 
 graduate from Yale University, as he crossed the threshold of 
 professional life, he first exercised the gospel ministry as a 
 leader of the liberal wing of New York Presbyterianism. "I 
 had," he writes in his diary, "abundance of sweet religious con- 
 versation with the family of Madam Smith." "Very fre- 
 quently," another entry runs, "I used to retire to a solitary spot 
 upon the banks of the Hudson at some distance from the city 
 for contemplation upon divine things and secret converse with 
 God, and had many sweet hours there." This remote spot 
 was a stretch of pebbly shore which stretched along the 
 
 34 
 
water's edge from the present Cortlandt Street to Barclay 
 Street. The ministry of Mr. Edwards lasted but eighteen 
 months. At its close owing largely to his personal influence, 
 the separation terminated, those who had withdrawn, return- 
 ing again to the parent church. But the difficulties which had 
 been engendered could not be entirely eliminated. Debate 
 followed debate. Criticisms were launched bitterly at every 
 step in the church work. Appeals were continually taken to 
 the Presbytery and to the Synod until in September, 1726, 
 Mr. Anderson being called to Donegal in Pennsylvania re- 
 moved to that place where he prosecuted a notably successful 
 ministry. He died in 1740. The Presbytery entered upon 
 their records a Minute expressive of their high esteem for 
 "his circumspection and diligence and faithfulness as a Chris- 
 tian Minister." 
 
 The enforced removal of Mr. Anderson left the Church 
 facing a dismal outlook. The first decade of its existence 
 had been a story of disaster. In spite of its brave struggle, 
 it was pastorless, amid circumstances that certainly did not en- 
 courage any minister to assume the obligations of its pastorate. 
 The Church had failed to obtain incorporation, and it was 
 clearly apparent that all hope of corporate existence must be 
 postponed to a remote future. Even if clothed with power to 
 hold property, its material possessions were little worth the 
 holding. Its Meeting House was lamentably out of repair, the 
 roof leaky, admitting snow and rain ; six of the eight windows 
 unglazed ; the fences about the ground clamoring to be re- 
 built. The woe-begone appearance which the Church pre- 
 sented to the community was painfully significant of inter- 
 nal conditions. The congregation was reduced to a very 
 handful. It was rent by serious differences. It was handi- 
 capped by a reputation for lack of harmony. A church 
 fight was no more of an aid to church success two hundred 
 years ago than it is to-day. The community at large 
 was not powerfully drawn to the support of an organization 
 whose most conspicuous achievement was dissension. The 
 menace of impending dissolution seems to have compelled a 
 truce between the discordant groups in the church member- 
 
 35 
 
ship. Divisive questions were laid upon the table. All par- 
 ties joined hands and girt loins for fresh start. With in- 
 spiring unanimity a call for a Pastor was issued. It is a 
 significant fact that in this exigency the Church directed its 
 appeal to the opposite quarter of the theological compass 
 from that to which they had looked for Mr. Anderson. Hav- 
 ing experimented somewhat unhappily with a clergyman of 
 Scottish extraction, they now invited as their leader a minister 
 from New England. A statement of their condition and an 
 appeal for assistance was addressed to the clergy of Boston. 
 In response to this solicitation a young licentiate named 
 Ebenezer Pemberton was sent in the spring of 1727 as a 
 candidate for this arduous but honorable post. At the time of 
 this visit Mr. Pemberton was about twenty-three years of age. 
 He came of a godly ancestry. He was a child of the manse. 
 His father had filled one of the pulpits of Boston with notable 
 ability. He had inherited a love of letters, and was graduated 
 from Harvard College in 1721. His aptitude for future war- 
 fare as a good soldier of Christ had been indicated by a three 
 years service as Chaplain at Castle William in Boston Harbor. 
 The impression which he made upon the congregation in New 
 York was most favorable and he was promptly given a formal 
 and urgent call to take pastoral charge of the Presbyterian en- 
 terprise. In the quaint language of the Church records this 
 call was issued by "the scattered remnants of the first under- 
 takers with some few others." The opening of the pastorate is 
 thus depicted : "For some years after his coming the congre- 
 gation numbered about 70 or 80 persons old and young. 
 The salary was perpetually in arrears. The buildings re- 
 mained unfinished. The minister was greatly discouraged. 
 At length six of the eight windows which had continued 
 covered with boards these many years were glazed. The 
 showers of Heaven began to open upon the congregation." 
 
 Mr. Pemberton returned to New England to receive ordina- 
 tion. This service was held in Boston, his native city, August 
 9, 1727. The sermon on this occasion was from the text "And 
 behold a man of the company cried out saying, Master I be- 
 seech Thee look upon my son for he is mine only child." The 
 
 36 
 
reading of this text after these many years, recalls the emo- 
 tions of that long past hour, when with deeply stirred hearts 
 that company of great souled and devoted people gathered to 
 send forth, with mingled anxieties and expectations, upon an 
 adventure of extreme peril, and high consequence, this gifted 
 youth known to them from his boyhood and honored and be- 
 loved of all for his parent's sake, as well as his own. The ven- 
 erable minister elected to counsel him, dwelt upon the young 
 man's parting from his beloved mother, his removing from the 
 city to which he had given the first fruits of his labor, his be- 
 ing called to the head city of a province and the goodness of 
 God in having schooled him for this service and inclined him 
 for this distant and important work. He reminded him of 
 the hand of God in the affection of the flock about him, and 
 presented as a motive of faithfulness the piety of his parents 
 and grandparents. He enjoined him to prepare 'beaten oil 
 and sweet incense for the sanctuary,' and earnestly to con- 
 tend against the common errors of the day, maintain the doc- 
 trine of worship and discipline established from the begin- 
 ning, assert expressly the Trinity, the true Godhead of Jesus, 
 and justification by faith, insist on the observance of the Lord's 
 Day and urge the duty of family worship and family govern- 
 ment. These were his concluding words. "The God of New 
 England, before whom our fathers walked, go with you and 
 give you the blessing of Abraham and to thy seed." With 
 such admonitions and benedictions, the youthful preacher ad- 
 dressed himself to a task, from which brave men might have 
 turned away. 
 
 The ministry thus inaugurated was marked from its outset 
 by the most encouraging success. The new pastor unified the 
 people and not only won their warmest hearted affection, but 
 also the respect and admiration of the general public. The 
 historian Smith being witness "he was a man of polite breed- 
 ing, pure morals, and warm devotion ; under whose incessant 
 labors the congregation greatly increased. He was a respect- 
 able, diligent and useful pastor and preacher." He won for 
 himself a conspicuous and honorable place among the ministers 
 of the city. Those who enjoyed his preaching and through a 
 
 Z1 
 
long term of years were shoulder to shoulder with him in the 
 work of the Church, speak with a warmer accent. Their feel- 
 ing glows through the faded ink of the record book which 
 states "under his ministry, by the Divine Blessing, this Church 
 and congregation has happily retrieved its honor and repu- 
 tation, and is increased to at least ten times the number of 
 those who statedly attended divine worship. . . . After long 
 experience of him, now near twenty years, in a profound peace 
 the Church has greatly flourished." Such gracious issues were 
 not the work of a day, nor the result of accident, nor the fruit 
 of child's play. Vigilance, prudence, and prayers without 
 ceasing, were the steps along the road over which the church 
 advanced from the cloud into the sunlight. One of the earliest 
 acts of this ministry was the giving of stability to the Church 
 property by vesting the title in the officials of the Church of 
 Scotland. It had become apparent that all endeavors to re- 
 ceive charter rights from the City government must prove 
 futile and in order to secure such guarantees as would dissi- 
 pate the sense of insecurity, which hung about the enterprise 
 like a malaria, the individuals, who held in their own names the 
 Church building and grounds in Wall Street, on March 16th, 
 1730, conveyed the fee simple "to the Moderator of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Commission 
 thereof, the principal of the College of Edinburgh and the Pro- 
 fessor of Divinity therein, the Procurator and agent of the 
 Church of Scotland for the time being, and their successors in 
 office, as a Committee of the General Assembly." On August 
 15, 1732, the Church of Scotland by an instrument under seal 
 of the General Assembly signed by Mr. Neil Campbell, Prin- 
 cipal of the University of Glasgow and Moderator of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly and the Commission thereof, Mr. James Nesbit, 
 one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and Moderator of the 
 Presbytery of Edinburgh, Mr. William Hamilton, principal of 
 the University of Edinburgh, Mr. James Smith, advocate prose- 
 cutor for the Church of Scotland, did, pursuant to an act of 
 the General Assembly, May, 1731, declare "That notwith- 
 standing the aforesaid right made to them and their successors 
 
 38 
 
in office, they were desirous that the aforesaid building and 
 edifice and appurtenances thereof, be preserved for the pious 
 and religious uses for which the same were designed, and that 
 it should be free and lawful to the Presbyterians then residing 
 or that should at any time thereafter be resident in or near 
 the aforesaid city oi New York in America, or others joining 
 with them to convene in the aforesaid Church for the worship 
 of God in all the parts therefor and for the dispensation of all 
 gospel ordinances, and generally to use and occupy the said 
 Church and its appurtenances fully and freely in all times 
 coming, they maintaining and supporting the edifice and appur- 
 tenances at their own charge." 
 
 The Church having been clothed with corporate rights as 
 far as these were attainable, its legal status having been given 
 satisfactory definition in the eyes of the community and its 
 confidence in its own future having been advertised, arrange- 
 ments were devised for its proper financing. The termination 
 of Mr. Anderson's ministry had plunged the Church not only 
 into disruption but, to quote the language of the contemporary 
 Trustees, left it burdened with "extreme poverty." To resus- 
 citate the decrepit money supply and to create a regular and 
 dependable source of annual revenue engaged the attention 
 of the Board of Control. It was, reads the records, "Unani- 
 mously agreed that the natural fund for the support of the 
 ministry and salary of the clerk and sexton of the said Church 
 is to rent the Pews and seats, the money arising from the 
 opening of the ground for Burials, and the produce of the 
 Pawl and the Black Cloth, which ought to be so rated as to 
 answer those charges, if it conveniently can be done." It is 
 not without interest to note the schedule of rating for the 
 "Burials," which was evidently depended upon as the major 
 source of income. The tariff upon tombs depended upon 
 their location, and the amount to be paid, for adults, was re- 
 duced for children under fourteen. For grown persons buried 
 within the Church, the cost was £5, for a child £1.3. For the 
 honor of a grave in front of the Church, more must be paid 
 than for interment at the ends ; while an obscure and hidden 
 resting place "after life's fitful fever" might be obtained in the 
 
 39 
 
hired part at the back, for the very moderate sum of "three 
 shilHngs." If the Pawl was required, the price was one shilHng. 
 If in addition, the dignified drapery of the Black Cloth was 
 sought, six shillings must be paid. In this connection the 
 Sexton was officially admonished that "he must not open the 
 ground for Burial, but after some creditable personage engag- 
 ing to pay the rates, on neglect of which, such charges were to 
 be made to himself." Of this he was to be notified immedi- 
 ately. New England and Scotland might dififer in theology, 
 but they preached the same gospel of thrift. The graveyard 
 was regarded as the best possible real estate investment, for the 
 Minutes of the Trustees continue that any "surplus was to re- 
 main as a Church stock, for the purchase of ground for burial 
 of the dead." Apparently a member of the Church could 
 scarcely find a more effective way of serving it, than by dying 
 for it. It is interesting to observe that the burying ground 
 being arranged for, the next most desirable use to which the 
 Church funds could be devoted, was the "building of a Steeple 
 and the purchasing of a Bell." 
 
 While the financial relations of the Church were thus being 
 satisfactorily established Pemberton was giving himself to the 
 development of the spiritual possibilities of his charge with a 
 whole-hearted zeal that, says the Minute Book, "came to bear 
 exceeding heavy upon the minister." He preached twice every 
 Sabbath Day. The elaborate sermons of the morning were 
 supplemented by a scriptural exposition every Sunday evening. 
 The ordinary round of catechetical and pastoral visitation cre- 
 ating a demand for increased religious instruction, it was sup- 
 plemented by introducing weekly and occasional lectures. The 
 mid-week lecture, being an innovation, occasioned the ever 
 ready critic to circulate a sneer "concerning some who pretend 
 to water what God has planted, by setting up lectures." 
 
 The anxious readiness of Mr. Pemberton to undertake what- 
 ever might strengthen the Church influence and the singular 
 ingenuity of faultfinders in discovering grounds for attack, is 
 made apparent by a curious entry in the old records : "Whereas 
 it has been a practice in the Churches and congregations East 
 and West to have funerals attended with more religious form 
 
 40 
 
that hath been usual among us, and the French and Dutch 
 Churches in the city, and the want of it hath given unpleas- 
 antness to several well disposed persons, and Mr. Pemberton 
 having offered to attend that service gratis (if desired) by a 
 funeral prayer, either in the Church, (if the relatives of the 
 deceased will be at all expense of candles,) or at the grave, if 
 candles are not provided, it is unanimously approved and con- 
 sented to, that that practice be introduced into this congrega- 
 tion, in cases where it shall be desired, and lest any innovations 
 may give offense, that Mr. Pemberton take further consent 
 of the whole people, if he think proper." The majority en- 
 dorsing cordially this scheme, it became the customary cere- 
 monial. Where the immense banking houses now cluster so 
 thickly upon Wall Street, Mr. Pemberton, long ago in those 
 homespun days, stood in the plain unfinished candle lighted 
 meeting house, or with a circle of mourning friends whose 
 means were unequal to providing "candles," at the brink of the 
 open grave in the church yard, as the evening shadows deep- 
 ened, and offered prayer for the healing of the broken heart, 
 and for the fortifying of the troubled faith. A minority of 
 the people resented this custom, and never entirely forgave 
 the Pastor for its practice. 
 
 The most marked access of spiritual prosperity and the 
 establishment of the Church upon enduring foundations was 
 the result of the visit of that Chrysostom of the Nineteenth 
 Century, George Whitfield. This man of God, gifted with phe- 
 nomenal power, "uniting the intellect of a cherub with the heart 
 of a seraph and the eloquence of an apostle," visited New York 
 in the year 1739. The preaching places of the City were barred 
 against his occupancy. Mr. Pemberton was the only clergy- 
 man of the City who opened to him the doors of his Church. 
 His ministrations unsealed a well spring of blessing. The 
 entrance of the Church upon the path of its long and distin- 
 guished metropolitan ministry dates from his advent. 
 Throngs flocked to hear his message. Few who came within 
 the sound of his voice remained unmoved in heart. The First 
 Presbyterian Church became recognized throughout the town 
 as a centre of holy influence, and a seat of religious power. 
 
 41 
 
In a warm hearted letter from Mr. Pemberton to Whitfield, the 
 effects of the evangelist's visit are graphically described. Un- 
 der date of November 28, 1739, he writes: "I found the next 
 day that you had left the town under a deep and universal con- 
 cern, many were greatly affected, and I hope abiding impres- 
 sions were left upon some. Some that were before loose and 
 profligate look back with shame upon their past lives and con- 
 versations and seem resolved upon a thorough reformation. I 
 mention these things to strengthen you in the blessed cause 
 you are engaged in and support you under your abundant 
 labors. When I heard so many were concerned for their 
 welfare, I appointed a lecture upon Wednesday evening, the 
 it was not a usual season, and though the notice was short. We 
 had a numerous and attentive audience. In short I cannot but 
 hope your coming among us has been the means of awakening 
 some among us to a serious sense of practical religion and may 
 be the beginning of a good work in this secure and sinful 
 place. Let your prayers be joined with mine for this desirable 
 blessing. I desire your prayers for me in particular that I 
 may be faithful in my Master's work, that I may be an instru- 
 ment in the hands of the Lord for the putting down of the 
 stronghold of sin and Satan and building the Redeemers King- 
 dom in this place. Your affectionate brother, E. Pemberton." 
 
 Dr. Nicoll, whose unremitting and long continued labors 
 were nearing their close, records with grateful pen the Pente- 
 costal events which moved him to sing "Nunc dimittis." Un- 
 der the date of October, 1740, he writes to the Agent of the 
 Church of Scotland : 
 
 "A large increase of gifts was bestowed upon the Minister. 
 The divine presence manifestly appeared among our people 
 so that upon our doors might be written "Jehovah Jireh, the 
 Lord is there." The edifice became quite full, which some of 
 us for a long time scarce hoped to see. The effects were vis- 
 ible in the town, particularly in our congregation, and in my 
 own family. Little children followed Mr. Pemberton to his 
 lodgings weeping and anxiously concerned about the salvation 
 of their souls. The Good Lord hath stirred up Gilbert and 
 
 42 
 
Mr. Tennant but Satan is using his utmost effort to drive 
 some of them to extremes." 
 
 An emphatic indication of the expanding influence of the 
 Church and the prominence and capacity of its Pastor is at- 
 tested by the part Mr. Pemberton was called upon to play in 
 the establishment of Princeton College. He became affiliated 
 with a constellation of the brightest minds in the Synod, who 
 were anxiously desirous of erecting an institution of learning 
 for the training of ministers. In their deliberations and en- 
 deavors he seems to have taken no small part. An advertise- 
 ment in the Weekly Post Boy, February 10th, 1846, announces 
 the practical outcome of their plans. 
 
 "Whereas a Charter, with full and ample privileges, has 
 been granted by his Majesty under seal to the Province of 
 New Jersey, bearing date of 22 October 1746 for erecting a 
 College in said province, to J. Dickinson, John Pierson, Ebe- 
 nezer Pemberton, and Adam Birn, Ministers of the gospel, and 
 some other gentlemen as Trustees of the said College, by such 
 Charter equal liberties and privileges are secured to every 
 denomination of Christians, any different religious sentiments 
 notwithstanding." 
 
 In his history of Princeton College, Dr. John Maclean, its 
 venerated President, ascribes the successful launching of the 
 enterprise very largely to Dr. Pemberton and his friend and 
 adviser, William Smith. Governor Belcher, the Chief Magis- 
 trate of New Jersey, under whose patronage the charter of the 
 College was obtained, writes to Mr. Pemberton "as to a new 
 charter, if you and the rest of the gentlemen will digest their 
 matter, and let me have a rough of it, you will be sure of my 
 protection." It was Mr. Smith, an officer of the First Church, 
 who 'roughed out' the main provisions of the charter under 
 which the College was organized, and designed its official seal. 
 Both he and his Pastor became Trustees of Old Nassau, Mr. 
 Pemberton holding office until his removal to New York, Mr. 
 Smith remaining in office until his death. From that day until 
 the death of Dr. Paxton, the First Church has never lacked at 
 least one representative in the administrative Board of the Col- 
 
 43 
 
lege. The first recipient of the degree of "D.D." conferred by 
 the new institution was Mr. Pemberton. 
 
 In 1729, two years after Mr. Pemberton's coming to New 
 York, the Dutch congregation had become so prosperous that 
 a new and imposing church had been erected at no great dis- 
 tance from the place of Presbyterian worship. It was located 
 upon Nassau Street below Cedar and Liberty Streets. It was 
 of great size, capable of containing twelve hundred people. 
 It possessed no small architectural pretension. The view from 
 its lofty steeple was famed throughout the city for beauty and 
 extent. Some seven years later the Presbyterian folk had 
 witnessed the rebuilding and enlargement of Trinity Church, 
 its next-door neighbor on the West. "It was attractively lo- 
 cated on the banks of the Hudson (to quote the history of 
 William Smith). On either side lay its cemetery, enclosed 
 with a paled and painted fence. Before it stretched a long 
 walk to the riverside. The building was of extensive and 
 stately proportions and crowned with a lofty spire. The door- 
 way facing riverwards, was inscribed with a Latin memorial 
 of the royal favor under which the Church was founded. The 
 interior was the most elaborate in the city. The chancel was 
 graced with a beautiful altar piece. The pillars were crested 
 with winged angels gilded. The walls were decorated with 
 heraldic insignias of its noble adherents. Two 'glass branches' 
 depended from the ceiling. The 'allies' were paved with 
 smoothed stone." The contrast between these tokens of abun- 
 dant success and the leaky roof and weather beaten walls, the 
 unseemly fences and boarded windows, and "candles if pro- 
 vided" must have irked the members of the Presbyterian con- 
 gregation, and have hindered its impact upon the community. 
 
 At length came the turn of the tide. The wise lines 
 along which the Church work was prosecuted under Mr. 
 Pemberton's ministry, his personal devotion and force 
 of character, the widespread and enduring results of 
 Mr. Whitfield's work, bore its appropriate fruit. The size of 
 the church edifice became inadequate to the demands of the 
 enlarging congregation. Galleries were added and quickly 
 filled. The services of an Assistant Minister were required. 
 
 44 
 
In 1748 circumstances forced the people to study the exciting 
 proposition of the enlargement of the Church. With the as- 
 sistance of outside aid, the necessary funds were obtained, and 
 the rebuilding of the Church prosecuted to a happy and longed 
 for issue. The edifice was larger by one-third than that which 
 it replaced. It was built of hewn stone. Its shape was oblong, 
 being eighty feet in length by sixty feet in breadth. A grace- 
 ful steeple towered aloft at the southwestern end one hundred 
 and forty-four feet in height. A Memorial Stone of black slate 
 was procured from Boston and imbedded in the Church wall 
 between the two long windows fronting the street. The in- 
 scription composed by Mr. William Smith was in Latin and 
 was most artistically engraved in script upon the stone in gilt 
 letters. Translated into English it reads: "By the favor of 
 God this building consecrated for the perpetual celebration of 
 the divine worship, first erected in 1719 and afterward repaired 
 throughout and rebuilded larger and more beautiful in 1748, 
 the Presbyterians of New York founding it for their own use 
 and the use of their children, in this Votive Tablet dedicate it 
 to the God who gave it. May it be yet more illustriously 
 adorned by religious concord, by love, and by purity of faith 
 and manners, and by the blessing of Christ may it endure 
 throughout many generations," 
 
 A memorandum upon the Trustee Book records the fact that 
 "10 September 1749, the bell was rung from a Presbyterian 
 steeple for the first time in the city of New York." It is not 
 easy for us to appreciate the thrill which these bell notes wak- 
 ened. Every description of a church in Smith's History of the 
 earl}^ City, Dutch, French or Episcopalian, notes that their 
 buildings have "a steeple and a bell." When the church roof 
 was open to the weather and the building of disreputable ap- 
 pearance, and the necessity for ground in which to bury their 
 dead with decency and safety was crying aloud, the Presby- 
 terian heart burned with an irrepressible determination to 
 compass the possession of a "Bell." The reason is explicitly 
 stated, "Not only to call the congregation together," say they, 
 "but also for want of the more honorable support of the divine 
 worship, and to take away our Reproach, it being a vulgar 
 
 45 
 
error among us that we are incapable of the privilege." When 
 at length a peal from a Presbyterian steeple rang out over the 
 city, it sounded to them as the voice of an angel from heaven. 
 That bell note announced the removal of their "Reproach." It 
 heralded their entry into the goodly fellowship of the Churches 
 of the City. It rang out weary days of darkness, dissension 
 and defeat. 
 
 Under Dr. Pemberton's able leadership the attendance of the 
 Church was so greatly increased and the scope of its work en- 
 larged, that its care exceeded the powers of a single minister. 
 The Rev. Alexander Cumming, a young man who as Stated 
 Supply of a church in New Brunswick, N. J., had given prom- 
 ise of brilliant success, was called to be an Assistant Pastor. 
 In October, 1750, he entered upon his duties. Of Scottish an- 
 cestry and possessing an energetic personality and a disciplined 
 mentality, he proved himself a worthy associate of the accom- 
 plished and successful Pemberton, sympathizing with him in 
 his liberal views of church order, and manifesting commend- 
 able elasticity of thought in adapting himself to whatever 
 changes of plan and effort the problems of the church life de- 
 manded. A clear thinker, a forcible preacher, a companion- 
 able man, he won the admiration and affection of the people 
 of the Church, and secured for himself an enviable standing in 
 the community. 
 
 The marked ability and spirituality of this dual pastorate 
 seemed a guarantee of the Church's prosperous advance. But 
 the classic root of ecclesiastical dissension suddenly yielded its 
 baleful fruit. There is no such inevitable destroyer of church 
 harmony as church music. Upon the question of its hymnol- 
 ogy, the congregation disintegrated into cliques. "Rouse's 
 Version," "Watt's Imitation," "Tate and Brady's Transla- 
 tion" became the jarring watchwords of different groups of the 
 people, and soon rang out as clamorously and scarcely less 
 bitterly than the slogans of political parties. Each group firmly 
 believed itself to be "contending earnestly for the faith once for 
 all delivered to the saints." Presbytery in vain strove to calm 
 the storm. The episcopal power of the Synod was invoked. 
 After protracted discussion, permission was given to use in the 
 
 46 
 
worship of the Church the version of Watt's, as well as that 
 of Rouse. The rigid advocates of the traditional psalmody, in 
 the intensity of their feeling, began to formulate complaints 
 against their Pastors, and feathered their shafts by adducing 
 various charges of ministerial delinquency, in addition to that 
 of an heretical indifiference to the exclusive use of the Scottish 
 Psalm Book. Charges were tabled under the following bill 
 of particulars : 
 
 "(1) — For giving exhortations at funerals when requested 
 by friends of deceased persons to do so. (2) — For not pay- 
 ing formal ministerial visits according to the usage of the 
 Church of Scotland. (3) — For making the introductory 
 prayer in public worship, reading the Scriptures and giving out 
 the first Psalm from the Clerk's desk, instead of the pulpit, 
 (4) — For secretly favoring the introduction of the new system 
 of psalmody." Mr. Cumming was also charged with the sin 
 of "insisting upon family prayer as a necessary prerequisite in 
 everyone to whose child he administered baptism." This in- 
 dictment was tabled and tried before the Presbytery and Synod, 
 and the ministers completely exonerated. Dr. Pemberton, 
 sickened by the lack of spirituality among the people, which 
 threatened to overthrow all that he had accomplished, and Mr. 
 Cumming, burdened with declining health, together withdrew 
 from the pastorate. This action seems in some measure to 
 have opened the eyes of the people. Left pastorless as the 
 result of the unhappy dissensions, the sobered and saddened 
 congregation appointed a day of humiliation, fasting and 
 prayer, which was observed with great solemnity, upon the 31st 
 of December, 1758. The sad situation which had been created, 
 received significant emphasis in the inability of the Church to 
 induce anyone to accept the pastoral care of so unruly a flock. 
 In 1753 Dr. Joseph Bellamy of Connecticut was called. 
 Extraordinary pressure was brought to bear upon him in the 
 effort to induce him to come to "poor New York," but the 
 invitation again and again repeated was steadfastly declined. 
 In 1754 Mr. John Rogers of Delaware was urgently besought 
 to occupy the pulpit. A refusal of the summons was returned 
 by the messenger who brought it. In 1755 the Rev. David 
 
 47 
 
McGregore of New Hampshire was appealed to, but saw no 
 encouragement to adventure himself among a people at such 
 loggerheads among themselves. A few months later a call 
 was extended to the Rev. David Bostwick of Jamaica, L. I. 
 The Presbytery hesitated to place the call in his hands, and re- 
 ferred the subject to the Synod. The Synod found the ques- 
 tion attended with so many difficulties, that it was placed in the 
 hands of a Commission. After protracted debate, it was deter- 
 mined to issue the call to Mr. Bostwick. Upon his signifying 
 his inability to reach a decision, the Synodical Commission 
 advised him that in their judgment his path of duty led to 
 New York. In the late spring of 1756 he was inducted into 
 the pastorate. The result justified expectation. Gifted, 
 trained, consecrated, he exercised from the start a command- 
 ing influence. A popular preacher, a wise counsellor and an 
 effective administrator regained the Church's prestige, and 
 won for it and for himself a high standing in the community. 
 Early in his ministry the little troop of those who were out 
 of tune on account of the Psalmody withdrew, and, securing 
 the services of Dr. John Mason, organized the Scotch Church. 
 This division of forces proved a real reinforcement of the 
 Presbyterian order. By this move, the clash of cliques, whose 
 collisions had shaken as with an earthquake the foundations 
 of the Church, came to an end. The stability and harmony 
 of the parent Church was assured, while a second company 
 of adherents to the Presbyterian faith and order moved out 
 upon a new line of development. 
 
 The pulpit ability of Mr. Bostwick is witnessed to by many 
 who listened to his preaching. President Davies of Nassau 
 Hall asserted "He has, I think, the best style extempore of 
 any man I ever heard." William Smith, the historian of Old 
 New York, a member of his congregation, writes in glowing 
 terms : "Of mild and Catholic disposition, with prudence and 
 zeal, he confines himself entirely to the proper business of his 
 function. In the art of preaching he is one of the most distin- 
 guished clergymen in these parts. His discourses are method- 
 ical, sound, pathetic in sentiment, in point of diction singularly 
 ornamented. He delivers himself without notes, and yet with 
 
 48 
 
great ease and fluency of expression, and performs every part 
 of divine worship with a striking solemnity." The native 
 strength of his character which gave its dynamic influence to 
 his gentle and tactful dealing with delicate questions, and those 
 "unreasonable men" (whose forebears were such a vexation 
 of spirit to St. Paul in the Thessalonian Church) shines out 
 in his decision to remain at his post while a scourge of small- 
 pox was raging in the city. "I had rather die in the way of 
 duty," he said, "than save my life by running out of it." 
 
 The health of Mr. Bostwick becoming seriously impaired, 
 the Rev. Joseph Treat of the Presbytery of New Brunswick 
 was invited to become his colleague. In November, 1763, Mr. 
 Bostwick died in the forty-fourth year of his age, in the quaint 
 phrase of that time, "being remarkably supported." 
 
 The congregation which had now become large and influen- 
 tial, once more called the Rev. John Rodgers to undertake its 
 pastoral care. This summons he was induced to accept, and 
 removed from Newcastle, Delaware, to New York City, in the 
 summer of 1765. On the fourth of September in that year 
 he was inducted into the pastorate of the First Church. The 
 John Rodgers burned at the stake in Smithfield market and 
 immortalized in the New England Primer, was his ancestor. 
 Born in Boston, of parents who had emigrated to America 
 from Londonderry, he spent his youth and early manhood in 
 Philadelphia, reaching New York by way of Newcastle, Dela- 
 ware. The sturdiness of the Scotch-Irish, the intelligence of 
 the New Englander, the breadth and humanity of the colony 
 of William Penn, combined to endow his character with a 
 blend of winsomeness, dignity and force. In his boyhood the 
 hand of George Whitfield led him to the cross. The inter- 
 weaving of Whitfield's life with the hfe of the First Church 
 is of singular interest. To his vitalizing presence was due the 
 lifting of the shadows which lowered so heavily during its 
 earlier years and menaced so seriously its continuance. 
 Through his instrumentality was given to it the most influ- 
 ential of its leaders, the man who made the deepest impress 
 upon the religious life of the City in his time, and who will 
 remain to all time an outstanding figure in the annals of Chris- 
 
 49 
 
tianity in New York. At an out-door meeting, which Whit- 
 field addressed from the steps of the Court House on Market 
 Street, Philadelphia, a boy stood near him holding a lantern 
 for his accommodation. As he listened he became absorbed, 
 impressed, agitated, until, forgetful of his task, the lantern 
 dropped from his hand and was dashed to pieces. That twelve 
 year old lad was John Rodgers. The message of the preacher 
 so dominated him that he there and then consecrated himself 
 to the service of Christ, and to life's end, with a steady and 
 unfailing hand, he held high the shining lamp of a glowing wit- 
 ness to Him who is the Saviour of the world. 
 
 After his successful novitiate in Newcastle, he came to 
 his City Parish in the prime of his young manhood. From 
 the moment of his entrance upon this responsible service, 
 the Church began to tingle with the pulse of a new vigor. 
 Congregations enlarged. Conversions multiplied. Spirituality 
 developed. Character was schooled. Problems were solved. 
 High ideals of life were created. Large visions of work awak- 
 ened. Loyalty to historic faith, with generous hospitality to- 
 ward the religious views of others, was the keynote of this 
 ministry. Upon one occasion when requested by his church 
 officers to preach against the errors of a particular sect, and to 
 warn his people against them, Rodgers characteristically re- 
 plied : 
 
 "Brethren you must excuse me. I cannot reconcile it with 
 my sense either of policy or duty to oppose these people from 
 the pulpit otherwise than by preaching the truth plainly and 
 faithfully. I believe them to be in error, but let us outpreach 
 them, outpray them and outlive them, and we need not fear." 
 
 Not only did the First Church under such leadership win 
 an honored and influential place in the growing municipality, 
 but upon the destiny of the country at large she began to 
 exert a marked and beneficial effect. The Revolution was 
 just at hand and in precipitating that movement for the liberty 
 of America, and in giving it the impulse which brought it to 
 a triumphant close, this Church played no small part. The 
 same quenchless love of freedom which resented the en- 
 croachments of ecclesiastical domination, arrayed the Presby- 
 
 50 
 
terians against the tyranny of the state and kindled the fires 
 upon the altar of patriotism. 
 
 Upon the rolls of the First Church were the names of the 
 leading spirits among New York patriots. Its Pastor was 
 marked as "an early and decided friend of American Inde- 
 pendence" and there was at least one Tory protest filed against 
 the ardor of his prayers for the Independence of the Colonies, 
 and the success of the American Revolution. In 1752 a Club 
 was formed to resist the aggressions of the throne. Three 
 men became conspicuous as its leaders and being affiliated 
 with the Presbyterian Church have gone down to history as 
 the "Presbyterian Triumvirate." A loyalist historian of the 
 day finds in the fact of their Presbyterianism, the only pos- 
 sible explanation of their arraying themselves upon the side 
 of what to him was "anarchy and confusion." Following the 
 Stamp Act the Society known as the Sons of Liberty was 
 organized and from the faith of its members became popularly 
 known as "The Presbyterian Junto." Some two score dele- 
 gates were appointed to attend the Provincial Congress. Of 
 this number the name of Livingston is on our Communion sil- 
 ver; that of Broome upOn the wall beside the pulpit; that of 
 McDougal, upon the tablet near the door; that of Smith, upon 
 the register of membership. 
 
 At the time of the Revolution the Church building upon 
 Wall Street was used by the British soldiery as barracks and 
 riding school. The British soldiery paid Presbyterianism the 
 compliment of recognizing the devotion of the members of that 
 persuasion to the cause of civil and religious liberty by defacing 
 and wantonly destroying their church property, while the 
 church holdings of other denominations were scarcely inter- 
 fered with. 
 
 As a citizen the Pastor of the First Church exercised a 
 controlling influence upon public afifairs. Social distinction 
 came to him as inevitably as iron to the magnet. In the 
 counsels of the Presbyterian Church throughout the land he 
 rose to a commanding position. Early chosen a Trustee of 
 Princeton College, he became the bosom companion of John 
 Witherspoon, its distinguished President, whose burning 
 
 51 
 
words swung the scale when the Continental Congress de- 
 bated issuing the Declaration of Independence. Before the 
 war of the Revolution he was recognized throughout the 
 Colonies as a mouthpiece of patriotism. During the struggle 
 he was the intimate friend and confidential correspondent of 
 General Washington. As Chaplain oi Heath's Brigade he 
 served in the line of the Continental Army. The station of 
 his military charge was near the site of the old brewery build- 
 ing which has just been removed from the corner of Seventh 
 Avenue and 11th Street. The detachment was quartered in 
 a near-by grove, a locality marked by the present Grove Street. 
 "There," said Rodgers, "I held my church for the entire sum- 
 mer," little foreseeing that his City charge would in the after 
 time erect its present home in such close proximity that had it 
 been standing there at that time its bell notes might have been 
 heard among the tents. The vicissitudes of the Revolution 
 drove him from place to place. Wherever he went he 
 preached. Many towns heard his ringing message and cherish 
 grateful memories of his unique personality. Following the 
 record of a Session Meeting held December 11th, 1775, is ap- 
 pended the following note: "N. B. The Congregation was 
 dispersed during the Summer following this date, by the late 
 War, and was not collected again till the Autumn of 1783, 
 when Dr. Rodgers and a considerable number of the Con- 
 gregation returned after the Evacuation of the City by the 
 British Troops which took place on the 25th day of Novem- 
 ber that year." 
 
 At the heels of the retreating British came the scattered 
 Presbyterians, regathering. As the King's troops marched out 
 of the town. Dr. Rodgers and his band of patriotic Church folks 
 marched back to their posts. 
 
 Circumstances having delayed the return to New York of 
 Rodger's colleague, the Rev. Dr. Treat, the long exiled con- 
 gregation at its reassembling adopted the following rather pithy 
 resolutions of reorganisation : 
 
 "Resolved, that this congregation can support but one min- 
 ister. 
 
 52 
 
"Resolved, that the Reverend Doctor Rodgers be that min- 
 ister. 
 
 "Resolved, that a committee be appointed to apply to the 
 moderator of the Presbytery, and request him to call a meet- 
 ing of that body as soon as convenient, that we may apply 
 in a regular manner for the liberation of this congregation 
 from the Reverend Mr. Treat as one of our ministers." 
 
 John Rodgers was the Napoleon of New York Presbyterians. 
 It was he who marshalled its forces, led its advance, won its 
 triumph, and endowed it with a prestige which it has never 
 lost. The degree of Doctor of Divinity came to him from the 
 other side of the Atlantic. At the request of Benjamin Frank- 
 lin, who was then in London, the Provost of the University of 
 Edinburgh brought the matter to the attention of its Regents 
 and the unusual and notable honor was conferred. Sig- 
 nal as was the distinction of being crowned with this dig- 
 nity by a foreign university, it was almost as unique a fact 
 that its bestowal should have been solicited by Benjamin 
 Franklin, who was not in the habit of burning incense before 
 theologians. That the American Socrates should have stood 
 sponsor for the Pastor of the First Church, is quite as illum- 
 inating a testimonial to the broad and forceful humanity of 
 Rodgers, as was the Edinburgh diploma to his distinction in 
 scholarship. An incidental reference to him from the pen of 
 Washington Irving is quite as revealing, in picturing him as his 
 father's pastor, moving among his fellows with an innate maj- 
 esty of bearing, clad in garments "invariably neat, elegant, and 
 spotless" and recalling as unforgettable "his silver mounted 
 cane and well polished shoes with silver buckles." Of his 
 home life it is recorded "he lives in elegant style and enter- 
 tains company as genteely as the first gentleman in the City." 
 If credentials of his social eminence were required, they are 
 found in the fact that his name appears upon "Mrs. Jay's 
 Dinner and Supper List," which was the Roster of Respecta- 
 bility for the city of that day. During the half century in 
 which he administered the spiritual affairs of this people, there 
 was no more commanding figure, no more influential factor 
 
 53 
 
in New York life, than the brave, genial, learned, patriotic, 
 spiritual John Rodgers. 
 
 The Commonwealth recognized his genius for leadership. 
 The first Convention for the formation of a Constitution sum- 
 moned him to its Chaplaincy. The Committee of Seven into 
 which the Convention merged, and the Legislature of the newly 
 created State of New York which was ultimately created, in- 
 vested him with similar honor. 
 
 The First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in- 
 vited him to sit in the Moderator's Chair. In every subsequent 
 movement toward the development of its ecclesiastical organiza- 
 tion in the plans for its work, in the formation and definition 
 of its standards, his influence was a prime factor.* 
 
 Church after Church was organized in the City under his 
 superintendency. At one time, under the collegiate system, he 
 presided over three as Pastor. When, heavy with years, the last 
 public act of his life was the laying of the corner-stone of the 
 Spring Street Church, the outgrowth of a mission Sunday 
 School from the parent church in Wall Street. This was the 
 sixth Church of the Presbyterian order, of which he had been 
 the master builder. 
 
 During the long service of Dr. Rodgers, a colony from the 
 Wall Street Church in 1768 hived at Beekman Street, and 
 founded a Collegiate Church. It was the eldest child of the 
 Old First Church. From the material of its building it was 
 styled the Brick Church, which title it has cherished until this 
 day. By its service to the community and its unswerving and 
 effective stand for the things that are most excellent, it has 
 made the "Brick" to stand as symbol for all that is costly, 
 splendid and enduring in character building. A second col- 
 onization occurred in 1789 upon a site donated by Henry Rut- 
 gers, whose generosity has been perpetuated throughout the 
 years in the title of the Rutgers Presbyterian Church, 
 now established at 72nd Street and Broadway. With some 
 
 * In this connection, it is with pardonable satisfaction I note that 
 constantly associated with Dr. Rodger's (in apostolic succession to 
 whom it is my happy lot to serve as a spiritual descendant) is found 
 the name of my lineal ancestor, Rev. Dr. George Duffield. 
 
 54 
 
modification of the collegiate system, the pastorate of this 
 organization was administered by the Rev. Dr. Philip Mille- 
 doler, under whose ministry it gained the largest church mem- 
 bership in the United States. In 1807 a further colonization 
 took place. Originally established upon Cedar Street, it mi- 
 grated to Fifth Avenue at 19th Street, and has since been 
 borne by the tide up Fifth Avenue to 55th Street. The 
 Collegiate arrangement under which until to this time the Pres- 
 byterian Churches of the city had been organized and operated, 
 created conditions which pastors and people alike found incon- 
 venient and irksome. The formation of the Cedar Street 
 Church became the occasion for the breaking up of this ar- 
 rangement, which Dr. Miller describes as "so long established 
 and so highly mischievous in the Presbyterian Church of New 
 York." 
 
 Subsequent to the Revolution three colleagues served with 
 Dr. Rodgers in the Pastorate. The Rev. James Wilson, a 
 licentiate from Scotland, after searching probationary tests 
 continued during a period of several months, was ordained 
 and installed as collegiate pastor in 1785. The service he 
 rendered was acceptable, but at the end of three years, the 
 briefest ministry in the Church's history, failing health com- 
 pelled his resignation. His successor was the Rev. John 
 McKnight, a member of the Presbytery of Carlisle, who was 
 installed 1789. For twenty years he discharged the duties of 
 his office with conspicuous ability. In 1793 a third colleague 
 was added to the pastoral staff, one whose equally forceful 
 handling of his responsibihties as a metropolitan pastor and 
 later as Professor in Princeton Theological Seminary, has 
 written his name large in the chronicle of American Pres- 
 byterianism. 
 
 If Rodgers was the Napoleon, Samuel Miller was the Wash- 
 ington Irving of New York Presbyterianism. The peculiar 
 charm which clothed that man of letters dwelt in marked de- 
 gree with the First Church pastor. Young and magnetic, 
 scholarly and spiritual, gentle and forceful, he was atmos- 
 phered with that distinction which is the hall-mark of 
 high breeding. The eloquence of his speech and of his life 
 
 55 
 
alike commanded admiration and won affection. In all the 
 notable scenes of his time his figure appears. In shaping the 
 course of affairs his voice was continually heard. In 1809 
 the Historical Society celebrates the Two Hundredth Anni- 
 versary of the discovery of the Island by Hendrick Hudson. 
 At that Bi-Centennial the Old First Church was, through its 
 Pastor, almost as prominent as it is at this one. On behalf of 
 the municipality, Dr. Miller delivered the Anniversary Address 
 in the Court Room of the City Hall, before a brilliant and 
 representative audience, including the Governor of New York 
 and the leaders of the commercial, intellectual, and social world. 
 A movement to establish Free Schools throughout the city is 
 launched and Dr. Miller's name is high among the list of the 
 incorporators. The Bible Society is born, his Presbyterian 
 hands helped to rock the cradle. Tammany Hall in those Days 
 went to Church, and more than one sermon was delivered 
 before them by Dr. Miller. It is to be feared that though he 
 piped unto them, they did not dance. Had his words been 
 heeded as sedulously as they were needed, Tammany Hall 
 might have become an academy of political purity instead of — 
 what it is now supposed to be. When the Theological Semi- 
 nary was founded at Princeton, Dr. Miller was selected as one 
 of the foster fathers who should mould the infancy of this most 
 important institution. Reluctantly he relinquished the pulpit 
 for the desk and became co-professor with Archibald Alex- 
 ander. One-half of the first faculty of Princeton Seminary 
 was furnished by the Old First Church. 
 
 The opening of the Erie Canal is one of the outstanding 
 events in the City's history. In its day it seemed more mo- 
 mentous than the cutting of the Island of Panama in ours. 
 The wedding of the lakes and the seas, "our Mediterraneans 
 with our Atlantic" as De Witt Clinton phrased it, marked the 
 beginning of modern New York. The resulting municipal 
 development exceeded anticipation. Business increased by 
 bounds. The roofs of the city rose into the air. Buildings 
 went skyward, from four stories to fourteen. The streets of 
 the City swept northward and remote frontiers became trans- 
 ferred into residential sections. As these new energies began 
 
 56 
 
to play through the life of the community, Dr. William Wirt 
 Phillips came into charge of the First Church. The tidal wave 
 of life then surging through the City is marked by the removal 
 of the Church from Wall Street to the location where it now 
 stands. After the Revolution the Church had been repaired, at 
 a large expense, in the year 1784. During the time of the re- 
 building, the congregation worshipped in old St. George's and 
 St. Paul's, which were offered to them by the courtesy of 
 Trinity Parish. The sermon which Dr. Rodgers preached 
 upon "The Display of God's Goodness in the Revolutionary 
 War" was delivered from the pulpit of old St. George's 
 Church. In 1809 it became necessary to still further enlarge 
 and enrich the Church building, and during Dr. Miller's associ- 
 ate pastorate with Dr. Rodgers, this was accomplished. From 
 December, 1809, until August 11th, 1811, the Church wor- 
 shipped in the French Huguenot Church, which was then upon 
 Pine Street. The first movement of the Church from Wall 
 Street to its present location was suggested by Presbytery, who 
 deemed it wise that this Church of unique eminence should 
 leave the more crowded regions of the lower city and occupy 
 a frontier post on Fifth Avenue and 12th Street. The corner- 
 stone was laid in 1844. The contract for the new building 
 was let July 4th, 1844, a date of happy augury, memorializing 
 that spirit of ardent patriotism for which this Church has al- 
 ways been characteristically conspicuous, and marking this 
 building as a school of loyalty as well as theology. The goodly 
 edifice which we now occupy was entered and dedicated on 
 January 11, 1846. The title of Dr. Phillips' sermon upon that 
 day might fitly be given to the building itself — "A Memorial 
 of the Goodness of God." The architecture of the Church is 
 not only worshipful in its suggestions, but possesses an elo- 
 quent significance. The tower is a copy of the Magdalen 
 Tower at Oxford, while the body of the building is a replica of 
 the Church of St. Saviour at Bath. The "Old First" Church, 
 is a Gospel in stone, uplifting a signal to the sinful which 
 teckons them to a holy Saviour who is waiting to redeem them. 
 The Church building is the message of its pulpit made visible. 
 The wisdom which selected the strategic spot for the abiding 
 place of the Old First Church, and the sense of beauty and 
 
 57 
 
dignity which dictated its architectural style and construction, 
 have been emphatically endorsed by the witness of the suc- 
 ceeding years. In a sermon delivered in the Cathedral Church 
 of St. John the Divine, in New York City, upon the occasion 
 of the consecration of the Nave, Sunday, October 1, 1911, the 
 Rev. Dr. Grosvenor, Dean of the Cathedral, uttered the fol- 
 lowing significant sentence : 
 
 "Some years ago I asked Bishop Satterlee a question which 
 I have often asked myself, concerning site and architecture. 
 If we were obliged to destroy every church in the city of New 
 York but six or seven, which churches would we save? My 
 list would be this : St. Paul's Chapel, Trinity, Grace, The First 
 Presbyterian, St. Patrick's and St. John the Divine, and I am 
 sure we will include the new church being built for St. Thomas 
 Parish. I believe that a hundred years from now they will 
 still be standing." * 
 
 * Miss Helen Marshall Pratt, who speaks with authority concerning 
 the spirit and achievement of Cathedral Architecture on both sides of 
 the sea, wrote as follows in "The Churchman," November 20th, 1915 : 
 
 "The First Presbyterian Church in its green enclosure, larger than 
 almost any of our city churches, with its fine hedge, its exuberant ivy 
 extending well up to the pinnacles ; its noble beech tree and, over all, 
 its lovely tower, is one of the most beautiful church pictures in the 
 city. The parish house, lately added, is in the same general style of 
 architecture and groups well with such fine old houses as remain in 
 this once popular residential section, and with the Church of the 
 Ascension, one block below. 
 
 "As at Trinity, the exterior presents more interesting features for 
 the study of fifteenth century Gothic than the interior. The building 
 is rectangular, like Trinity: it measures 119 feet in length, and 85 in 
 width; its roof is high pitched; the windows are unusually handsome, 
 being wide and lofty, with elaborately traceried heads and transoms : 
 the former having the perpendicular line which marks its date ; and a 
 parapet on the roof of open stone-work. The beautiful tower at the 
 west front at once attracts attention by its graceful yet impressive pro- 
 portions, its fine traceried windows, especially those of the stage below 
 the top, its battlemented parapet, ogee-arched doorways and lofty 
 pinnacles. It was modelled after the famous Magdalen Tower at 
 Oxford, which was built under Cardinal Wolsey's direction while he 
 was bursar, and the ivy came from this same college, a gift to the 
 wife of the present pastor. Dr. Howard Duffield. 
 
 58 
 
The City life unfolded not alone along commercial lines. 
 The community throbbed with the stir of a new intellectual 
 energy. Bryant called into being "The Evening Post." The 
 merchants of the town founding a reading room for their 
 clerks, planted the seed of the Mercantile Library. The Uni- 
 versity of the City erected its stately buildings upon the East 
 side of Washington Square. Union Seminary sprang to life 
 on University Place. All these harbingers of metropolitan 
 renaissance clustered within sight of the tower of the new 
 Church, and were within the sound of its bell. Amid the stir 
 of such impulses and under the stimulus of such forces, Phil- 
 lips wrought his noble ministry for forty years. 
 
 William Wirt Phillips was a man whose commanding pres- 
 ence fitly indicated his large spiritual endowment. He ably 
 maintained the preeminence of the First Church at the fore- 
 front of American Presbyterianism. He was Moderator of 
 the General Assembly. He played a conspicuous part in the 
 organization and control of the various Boards of Home Mis- 
 sions, Foreign Missions and Publication. He was Trustee and 
 Director of the Seminary at Princeton, and Trustee of its 
 sister institution, the University. His noble pastorate spanned 
 two generations. For years, from 1826 to 1865, he ministered 
 to its people, and imparted to its life the imperishable impress 
 of his consecrated character. 
 
 "To bulwark this fine stone building there are deep stone buttresses 
 standing against the church walls and against the angles of the tower, 
 in three stages with set-offs and crowned by pinnacles a thought too 
 tall, perhaps, but richly ornamented with crockets and finials. 
 
 "Within, the eye is less gratified. Here the architect met his diffi- 
 cult problem of avoiding great supporting columns by frankly throwing 
 a wide, awkward vault over the entire width, which though wide and 
 uninteresting as to proportions and adaptability, preserves some good 
 Gothic traditions, for here is a ridge rib extending, without interfer- 
 ence, from east to west, the entire length of the church, and from it 
 hang stone pendants, recalling those glorious stone pendant lanterns in 
 the fan vaults of Henry VH.'s chapel at Westminster and in the Ox- 
 ford cathedral choir. Notice also, in the interior, the two ranges of 
 noble windows and the carved wood arcade along the walls under the 
 windows, reminiscent of numerous Gothic arcades in mediaeval cathe- 
 drals." 
 
 59 
 
Upon the mural tablet which commemorates his ministry 
 his life story is vividly outlined in the following inscription: 
 
 "In walk and conversation blameless ; in word and doctrine 
 tenacious of the truth ; in exortation earnest and in prayer 
 fervent ; in holy labors abundant, he so discharged the sacred 
 office of Pastor and teacher, that, revered in life, he was la- 
 mented in death by the people of his charge, who here record 
 their admiration of the simplicity and godly sincerity which 
 adorned his character, while rendering their thanks to God 
 for the long career of eminent usefulness by which His faithful 
 servant illustrated, in the Church and before the world, the 
 power of divine grace and the beauty of holiness." 
 
 Those who succeeded to the pastoral office wore with grace 
 the mantle of their predecessors, and like them trod the uplands 
 of life. Philip Melancthon Whelpley strikingly reflected the 
 blended grace and strength which were such conspicuous traits 
 of the great Reformer whose name he bore. His sun went 
 down at mid-day. A ministry of shining promise was cut 
 short by death, but during its brief years he made an influen- 
 tial contribution to the spiritual life of the community. 
 
 William Miller Paxton, dowered with rare literary gifts, 
 with great executive capacity, with disciplined pulpit power, 
 came to the First Church after having achieved an enviable rep- 
 utation for scholarship and pulpit power in Pittsburg, Penn- 
 sylvania. His pastorate lasted for eighteen years. At the 
 First Pan-Presbyterian Council, held in Edinburgh, he was a 
 representative of American Presbyterianism. When the Coun- 
 cil met in the Academy of Music at Philadelphia, as its Presi- 
 dent he opened the proceedings with an oration of memorable 
 power. He administered with ability the Presidency of the 
 Board of Foreign Missions. He occupied the Chair of Mod- 
 erator, of the General Assembly. He sat at the Trustee Board 
 of Princeton University. With grace and force he wore the 
 dignity of the Senior Professorship in Princeton Seminary. 
 
 Richard Davenport Harlan came to the pulpit from the 
 Seminary class room, crowned with academic honors. To the 
 solution of the serious problems which had arisen in connec- 
 
 60 
 
tion with the church Hfe, he brought a talented mind and a 
 vigorous personality. During his brief pastorate the Church 
 was enriched with its superb organ and the plans for a Chapel 
 building were inaugurated. He has left a gracious memory 
 in the hearts of those to whom he ministered, and those who 
 have never looked upon his face and scarce know his name, yet 
 feel the lasting touch of his influence as their spirits respond 
 to the helping and haunting voices of the organ. After a stay 
 in New York of four years, Mr. Harlan accepted a call to 
 Rochester. 
 
 Thus we come to the Present Day. That Day is twenty-five 
 years long. Like the days of God in Genesis, the evening came 
 before the morning. It began in shadow and it has closed in 
 light. A quarter of a century ago we faced empty pews, a 
 depleted exchequer, an organization paralyzed, a congregation 
 devitalized. The historic glory of this ancient institution 
 seemed sinking to its setting. It is never to be forgotten that 
 in this hour of its helplessness the Old First Church was sus- 
 tained in being and tided over the most critical period of its 
 existence by the unstinted liberality of Miss Rachel Lenox 
 Kennedy, who, almost single handed, lifted its financial bur- 
 dens with a noble generosity, only equalled by her undaunted 
 courage and her unshaken faith in the Church's future. The 
 clouds that threatened dissolution were gathering thick 
 and hanging low around these venerable towers and bat- 
 tlements. To-day, we behold a goodly company of 
 loyal and enthusiastic hearts, of skilful and unwearied 
 hands, a Church open every day of the year, alight every 
 night of the year, the Chapel too small to house its activities, 
 its ministry touching every want of the myriad sided life of 
 the surrounding community, and so rooted and rivetted to its 
 historic abiding place that our children and our children's chil- 
 dren shall continue to praise God and do His work on this 
 very spot, made holy by the prayers and the sacrifices of so 
 many generations. That change came to us as a great change 
 came to Louis Stevenson, who wrote that when his life swung 
 round from drifting upon the rocks, to sailing over the charted 
 seas, "I came about like a well handled ship. There stood at 
 
 61 
 
the wheel that unknown steersman whom we call God." That 
 same hand was upon the helm of this Church. That same 
 steersman shaped our course. But our Pilot is not unknown. 
 It was He who once before led His helpless flock on a miracle 
 march through the desert ; refreshed His fainting children with 
 water from the rock ; made the feeble to triumph over mighty 
 foes ; and guided them across death shadowed wastes in cloud 
 by day and fire by night, until He brought them, radiant and 
 triumphant, into a land teeming with the harvests of promise. 
 The benefits which now so enrich and ennoble this Church 
 of our love have been purchased with a great price. God 
 worked out His plans for this Church through the surrendered 
 lives of those to whom the Church's welfare was dearer than 
 their own. Its present prosperity represents struggle and 
 heartache and tears; a quenchless hope, that could grope its 
 way to the dawn through the blackness of midnight. That 
 our children after us and their children after them might 
 worship in this holy house where through the long years our 
 father's honored the name of the Most High God, life has 
 been poured out as a libation. Those who have been heart to 
 heart through these years of struggle, know that words are too 
 weak to tell the whole of that story. Those who have not felt 
 the intensity of that strain would not grasp the full meaning 
 of the story, even if it could be told. The pressure of this 
 long endeavor has been baptized with the sacrifice and devo- 
 tion of her children. Its very stones are unspeakably dear 
 to me. Its every member is cherished in my inmost heart. 
 To take part in its services is the sweet and supreme priv- 
 ilege of my life. To promote its welfare is the crown of my 
 ambition. 
 
 "For her my tears shall fall 
 
 For her my prayers ascend 
 To her my care and toil be given 
 'Til toils and cares shall end." 
 
 For twenty-five years no Sabbath has found the door of this 
 Church closed, nor its pulpit silent. The Bible School has 
 known no interregnum. Every Wednesday night longing 
 hearts and wearied spirits have come together seeking escape 
 
 62 
 
from the wear and tear of the things of time, and yearning for 
 the touch and vision of the eternal. The purchase of the Manse 
 on the north and the erection of the Chapel on the south, like 
 the flukes of a mighty anchor, gripped the ground with a guar- 
 antee that the hold of the church upon its historic site would 
 never be relaxed. Carl was discovered and captured, and be- 
 gan that noble work of musical development which has so 
 enriched the service of the Church, and added to the power 
 of its ministry. The windows of stained glass one by one 
 were blazoned upon the Church walls. The floor was paved 
 with beautiful and enduring marble. The chimes of West- 
 minster pealed out from the tower, symbolizing the proclama- 
 tion of the ancient truth in sweet and present day tones. The 
 glow of new lights flooded the Church, betokening the passing 
 of the shadows and the advent of an unclouded dawn. One 
 thousand three hundred and twenty-four persons enrolled for 
 the work of the church and the witness for the truth. Gen- 
 erous friends vitalized the enterprise with noble gifts. Per- 
 manent financial foundations were laid. All lent a hand to 
 the work. Through weary, hopeless years many gave gifts 
 which, numerically small, were beyond all price. That list 
 of names upon the subscription books stirs deepest emo- 
 tion. The full history of that effort will never be known 
 until "The leaves of the judgment book unfold." All the 
 Societies concentrated upon this effort. The whole member- 
 ship bent its energy to this end. Persons struggling to live, 
 struggled harder that they might give. Some sacrificed daily 
 comfort. Some cut down their meals. Some scrimped their 
 dress. Little children gave pennies. A vast total of littles has 
 gone to stay the Church upon its foundations, that when 
 the books of God are opened will be found to have had a deci- 
 sive potency in securing the triumphant result. That money 
 was the visible token of forces which money cannot buy, and 
 without which money is paltry — faith in God, trust in His prom- 
 ises, devotion to His service and the supreme passion of self 
 sacrifice. Yesterday bankruptcy stared the Church in the face. 
 To-day a permanent fund has been accumulated which yields an 
 annual income of more than twenty thousand dollars. 
 
 63 
 
Upon its corporate seal the Church is emblemed as the ark, 
 tossed with the tempest, but grounded upon the mountain top, 
 while from the rifted heavens descends the dove bearing a 
 branch of olive, God's blessed messenger of light and peace. 
 Those who fashioned the device drew a picture from their own 
 experience. Unwittingly they prefigured that great and nota- 
 ble deliverance of the Church, which came but yesterday. In 
 the hour when night was darkest, when every star was hid, 
 when the radiant face of hope was veiled, when the fainting 
 heart of faith beat low, God said, "Let there be light." That 
 honored and beloved servant of His, whose name, written in 
 your hearts, needs no mention from my lips, imbued with His 
 spirit, rejoicing to do His work, listening to the challenge of 
 the dire necessity and beckoned by a vision of the glorious 
 possibility, as truly an angel of the Most High God as though 
 she had come radiant from His presence chamber, spoke the 
 word and wrought the deed, which saved this Church. (For 
 the sake of those who read this record in the after time it is 
 proper to state that this reference is to Mrs. D. Willis James — 
 who sharing the feeling and executing the purpose of her hon- 
 ored husband, by her rare and marvellous liberality, estab- 
 lished the Old First Church upon abiding foundations.) The 
 shadows fled away. Prayers changed to praises. Sighing 
 gave place to Alleluias. Words fail. That experience baffles 
 speech. "Jehovah Jireh !" The Lord did provide. Life, sur- 
 charged with spiritual enthusiasm, with unsparing unfailing 
 devotion to Him who wrought this miracle of deliverance, can 
 alone expresses what all hearts experienced in that hour of 
 wonder. 
 
 Within sight of the Old First Doorstep upon the Washing- 
 ton Arch is carved this inscription : "Let us raise a standard to 
 which the wise and honest can repair ; the event is in the hands 
 of God." Long ago the Old First set up the standard of "The 
 Open Door and the Open Heart" to mark a spot to which all 
 kinds and conditions of people could repair, to get good and 
 to do good. More than fifteen hundred persons now come to 
 her services weekly, in addition to the many who seek her 
 shelter daily for rest and prayer. The sole reason for persist- 
 
 64 
 
ing in the almost hopeless struggle to secure endowment for the 
 Old First Church was the desire to have it neighbor to the need- 
 iest. Now it is anchored in just such a place. It abides among 
 the people. It sympathizes with the people. It works for the 
 people. Its buildings, its music, its schools, its clubs, its mes- 
 sage of hope, its ministry of help, all it has — is free to all. It 
 extends the Glad Hand to all. It is trying to create the Glad 
 Heart in all. It holds a strategic point. It stands upon one 
 of the greatest arteries of the intense life of America's chief 
 metropolis. It occupies a vast open space, and cannot be blank- 
 eted by sky scrapers. The infinite variety of the population 
 which throngs about its walls invites every variety of progres- 
 sive, highly developed church work. As a vantage ground 
 for bringing the old Gospel into direct and practical contact 
 with the latest problems of human life, it is almost without a 
 rival. The splendid possibilities of its ministry have been dem- 
 onstrated by the development in these later days of efiflcient 
 service along every line of modern church enterprise. It is in 
 commission every day of every week. Summer and winter its 
 services are held without interruption. Every class of the com- 
 munity is within reach of its ministrations. Services in any 
 spoken language could secure a congregation within its walls. 
 A potential Pentecost lies within its environment. Ministers 
 from all over the land might be brought into residence here, 
 who would find it a unique spot from which to utter their mes- 
 sage, and in which to study and to state the problems of our 
 day in their acutest form. The neighborhood is dense with 
 souls and the population is increasing. The Church is at the 
 heart of an immense boarding house district. The need for 
 work and the opportunities for work are steadily multi- 
 plying. No Church ofifers a more inspiring opportunity for 
 service to the Lord's workers, nor a more fascinating opportu- 
 nity for investment to the Lord's stewards, than the Old First 
 Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, old in its years, 
 but with undying youth in its heart. 
 
 With two centuries looking down upon her, she is girding 
 herself for her present day mission with old time vigor. The 
 challenge of new difficulties is to her an invitation to fresh tri- 
 es 
 
umphs. The tides of business may beat about her, but they 
 cannot sway her. She is anchored where she is by fidelity to 
 the King's business. Populations may shift. Her ministry 
 is for every sort of population. Her doors are never shut and 
 open-handed Hospitality dwells within her walls. There, is 
 ever to be found the ministry of Help ; and there, is ever to be 
 heard the message of Hope. Thrilling with the memories of 
 that long and shining pathway over which her Lord has led 
 her, she is ardently pressing out along the new lines of service 
 upon which the banners of His providence are moving. She 
 covets to stand in her lot so long as the City itself shall endure, 
 to tell in simple phrase that "old old story," which is ever new, 
 and with a wise and unwearied effort to bring to increasing 
 numbers of those who are stained and wounded by the fierce 
 stress of metropolitan life, the healing benediction of Him who 
 "went about doing good." 
 
 — Then was sung the Hymn : "The Church's one Foundation 
 is Jesus Christ her Lord." 
 
 The Closing Prayer and the Benediction were pronounced 
 By the Reverend Doctor Charles Augustus Stoddard 
 
 "O God, the Giver of all good gifts, we thank Thee for this 
 day of feasting. Thou hast given us fat things full of mar- 
 row and wine upon the lees well refined — a rehearsal of bless- 
 ings that have grown up out of the sacrifice and service of 
 many years, and a consummation in this present time of pros- 
 perity and progress and joy. For all these mercies we are 
 indebted to Thee, the Giver of all good things. Continue Thy 
 blessings upon this Church, we earnestly pray Thee, this ancient 
 Church, so thoroughly and securely founded, so faithfully and 
 steadfastly built up, and so ready to stretch out its useful 
 hands to bless the City where it is established. 
 
 "O God we thank Thee for that steadfastness in the faith 
 which has here been manifested, for the fulfilment of Thy 
 promises which we have had placed before us ; and now grant 
 us we beseech Thee continued blessing, and give strength and 
 faith and hope and purpose to Thy servant, and to those who 
 are associated with him here, in maintaining the truth of God 
 
 66 
 
and the gospel of the Blessed Savior of mankind. And grant, 
 O Lord, that the service of this day and the memorial services 
 that shall continue through the week, may deepen the impres- 
 sion that has been made by this Anniversary. Grant we be- 
 seech Thee that this influence may go out through all the Pres- 
 byterian Church to induce a steadfastness in faith and sacrifice 
 and devotion to principle and to God. 
 
 "And now may the blessing of God the Father and God the 
 Son and God the Holy Ghost abide upon and remain with us 
 all evermore. Amen." 
 
 & 
 
COMMEMORATION DAY 
 
 Sunday, December the Third, 1917, 8 P. M. 
 
 The Evening Service 
 
 The special purpose of the Evening Service was to commem- 
 orate the long line of faithful and illustrious men who had 
 served in the pastorate of the Old First Church. 
 
 The Clergy who were to participate in this Service met in 
 the Pastor's Room at fifteen minutes before eight o'clock. In 
 addition to the Reverend Doctor Harlan, who was to preside, 
 there were present the Reverend Doctor Marquis, Moderator 
 of the General Assembly, the Reverend Doctor Roberts, Stated 
 Clerk of the General Assembly, who was to deliver the Com- 
 memoration Address, the Reverend Doctor George Alexander, 
 of the University Place Church, who was to offer the Commem- 
 oration Prayer, and the Reverend Doctor Franklin B. Dwight, 
 who was to conduct the Devotional Exercises. At the Service 
 Hour they entered the Church in procession through the Chapel 
 Door and passed to their places in the Pulpit. 
 
 A selection from Gounod's Oratorio of "The Redemption," 
 "How Lovely are the Messengers," was sung by the Choir. 
 
 The Salutation was read by the Pastor. 
 
 The Invocation was offered 
 By the Reverend Doctor Franklin B. Dwight: 
 
 "Almighty and Ever-gracious God, our Merciful Heavenly 
 Father, we would enter into Thy gates with thanksgiving and 
 into Thy courts with praise. We would be thankful unto 
 Thee and bless Thy name for Thou art mindful of all, and 
 Thy tender mercies are over all Thy works. 
 
 "Accept we beseech Thee, our sacrifice of praise and prayer 
 and thanksgiving. Make us conscious of Thy presence in Thy 
 Church, and of Thy love which is ever around about Thy 
 
 68 
 
people. Strengthen us more and more for Thy service and 
 help us to do Thy will, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 
 "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, 
 Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven ; 
 give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our tres- 
 passes as we forgive those who trespass against us ; and lead 
 us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; for Thine is 
 the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." 
 
 The Eleventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews was 
 then read as a Scripture Lesson 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor Franklin B. Dwight. 
 
 A Word of Greeting was then spoken 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor Richard Davenport Harlan 
 
 Minister of the Old First Church 1886-1890 
 
 Just how much the members of the "Old First" Church of 
 1916, and the distinguished Pastor who has just rounded out 
 his strenuous and effective twenty-five years of service to this 
 parish, are to be congratulated, as compared with the First 
 Church of 1886 (when his predecessor was ordained and be- 
 gan his pastorate here), is perhaps better knov/n to him who 
 now speaks to you than to any one else in this audience to- 
 night. 
 
 The great work which your Pastor has accomplished during 
 his quarter-century of service, and the present stability of the 
 "Old First" Church, can best be measured by a few facts in 
 regard to its unstable condition and uncertain future in 1886 — 
 the year which marked the end of a regime during which this 
 Church had been absolutely dependent upon the generosity of 
 a few devoted families to whom God had given great v'ealth, 
 and which in 1886 were represented by a small and steadily 
 diminishing group of elderly people who at that time were near 
 their journey's end and who were to leave no descendants in 
 the parish to take their place, after the older generation fell 
 asleep. 
 
 Dr. Duffield's predecessor — who came to this field a fledg- 
 ling from Princeton Seminary — found it necessary, two or three 
 years after he had put his hand to the plow, to examine care- 
 
 69 
 
fully into the financial condition and outlook of the parish. To 
 his dismay he learned that the regular pew rentals (amount- 
 ing to less than $4,000) were considerably less than one-half 
 of the expenses ; and that, for many years previous to 1886, 
 the huge annual deficit (amounting to $8,000 or $9,000) had 
 been privately subscribed each year by six or seven devoted 
 people, whom God had blessed with an abundance of this 
 world's goods. 
 
 The generosity of that small group was magnificent, but 
 such a method of church support was most undemocratic and 
 demoralizing. During the transition pastorate of five years 
 which lay between the old regime (which closed with Dr. Pax- 
 ton's pastorate) and Dr. Duffield's call to this Church, among 
 the things accomplished the one which gave Dr. Duffield's 
 predecessor the greatest satisfaction was the inauguration of 
 a modern and democratic method of church support, in accord- 
 ance with which all the members of the congregation, the 
 people of moderate means and even the poorest members, were 
 appealed to for the annual deficit. The principle of "propor- 
 tionate giving" became firmly established in the congregation. 
 Instead of six or seven privileged subscribers to the deficit, 
 over 100 people of all grades of income gave what was needed 
 each year beyond the pew rents. And I remember that dur- 
 ing the first year of the new plan about $2,000 of new money, 
 which previously had gone elsewhere, was received by the 
 Trustees for the support of the local church. 
 
 You and your pastor are, therefore, to be congratulated 
 upon the splendid strides made in this one respect, during his 
 pastorate; for since the system was changed, about 1890, this 
 old church, which is for all, has been supported by all, each 
 person being asked to give regularly, "according as God has 
 prospered him," towards the maintenance of the ordinances of 
 religion for themselves and their families. 
 
 In regard to the introduction of an organ in this old Church 
 I have been given much greater praise than I deserved. My 
 only part in that radical innovation was to "take off the brakes" 
 and let others move in the matter, as soon as all the people 
 
 70 
 
were ready for an organ. Not once was it necessary for me to 
 make any appeal for its introduction, and the organ was never 
 even mentioned from this pulpit until the night when I bade 
 farewell to my congregation. 
 
 The only time I ever said anything to my people on that 
 subject was at a well-attended mid-week prayer meeting, which 
 was held in the old Lecture Room, the week after the Trustees 
 had voted to put in an organ. On that occasion, I told those 
 present that a small group of generous people of means were 
 doubtless ready to meet the whole expense of an organ, but 
 that I was sure that the rank and file of the congregation would 
 not be willing to give to a few people the monopoly of such a 
 pleasure, but that every man, woman and child in the parish 
 would wish to contribute, according to their means, towards the 
 purchase of an instrument that was to lead the common praise. 
 With a unanimity that was inspiring, the congregation met 
 their Pastor's challenge, and practically every one in the con- 
 gregation — young and old, poor and rich — contributed to the 
 organ fund. 
 
 Shortly after the mid-week meeting of our little church fam- 
 ily, I happened to be making an ordinary pastoral call upon 
 Mrs. A. B. Belknap (of blessed memory). As you know, she 
 was a member of that famous old Presbyterian family whose 
 name is immortalized in the Lenox Foundation of the Public 
 Library of New York and whose princely gifts are gratefully 
 remembered by the Mission Boards of our great church, and by 
 Princeton Seminary and many churches and educational institu- 
 tions in this and othpr lands. 
 
 Mrs. Belknap herself opened the question of the new organ 
 by saying: 
 
 "Mr. Harlan, I hope that we are going to put in a fine 
 instrument." 
 
 With a smile which I did not try to hide, I replied : 
 
 "Then I take it, Mrs. Belknap, that now that the old 
 Church has decided to put on the trills and frills, you 
 would like the best that can be had ?" 
 "That's just it, Mr. Harlan." 
 "But," said I, "such an organ will cost a great deal of 
 
 71 
 
money. To put one in that would fit that beautiful build- 
 ing across the street and satisfy you will cost not less 
 than $11,000 or $12,000." 
 
 She said that it did not matter what it cost; that she and 
 her sister, Miss Maitland, would give one-fifth of all that was 
 needed. 
 
 One more fact in regard to the organ is worth mentioning. 
 
 The uninformed strangers who happened to be in the Church 
 on that epochal October morning in 1889, when the rich dia- 
 pason tones of that noble instrument rolled along this vaulted 
 ceiling for the first time, might have supposed that the organ 
 had been there for several decades ; for no reference whatever 
 to the great change which that Sunday marked in the Church's 
 life and methods of worship was made from this pulpit on that 
 occasion. The organ came "without observation," dropping 
 quietly into the large and helpful place which, under Dr. Carl's 
 masterly leadership, it has ever since filled, not only in this 
 parish, but in the development of Church music in this City. 
 
 And with all my heart I must also congratulate you upon the 
 beautiful manse and the stately Chapel and Parish House 
 which flank the rear of the Church on the 12th and 11th Street 
 sides, and which Dr. Duffield so felicitously described this 
 morning as the two flukes of the anchor which helps physically 
 and so effectively to fix this churchly edifice to its historic site. 
 
 Throughout my own pastorate I had been much troubled by 
 the anomalous and infelicitous fact that we had two Sunday 
 Schools that were almost within a stone's throw of each other 
 — the Church School in the old 11th Street Chapel and a Mis- 
 sion School in the middle of the block, in 12th Street. I had 
 tried in vain to get possession of the 12th Street building so 
 that in time we might sell it and arrange for consolidating the 
 two schools in a new Chapel on the 11th Street side. 
 
 I was, therefore, greatly rejoiced to learn shortly after Dr. 
 Duffield's coming that he had succeeded where I had failed, 
 and that, thanks to the generosity of Miss Rachel Kennedy and 
 the late Alexander Maitland (two of the legatees of the Lenox 
 Estate), the Church had secured possession of that 12th Street 
 building; and that the large sum for which it was then sold, 
 
 72 
 
when added to the "Chapel Fund," which it had been my priv- 
 ilege to start, enabled you, in 1893, to erect the beautiful and 
 commodious Gothic Chapel and Parish House on the 11th 
 Street side, which is now such an integral part of the whole 
 edifice that it seems always to have been here. 
 
 I think on this "Commemoration Day" the time has come 
 when I owe it to the memory of three generous Christian 
 women, who have long ago gone to their reward, to reveal the 
 history of "Chapel Fund," which with the accrued interest 
 thereon amounted to about $30,000 by the time it came to be 
 used for that purpose. 
 
 Ten thousand dollars of it was given to me by Miss Henri- 
 etta Lenox, in the summer of 1886, within a week of the time 
 when she was stricken with what proved to be a fatal illness. 
 It was probably among the very last cheques which she signed. 
 
 When Mrs. Henry R. Withrop heard of Miss Lenox's gift, 
 she surprised me one day by handing me a checque for $5,000 
 for the "Chapel Fund." I had not asked her for any contri- 
 bution ; but, as was her frequent habit, she gave without being 
 asked. More than any person I have ever known she entered 
 into the beatitude conferred by St. Paul when he said "God 
 loveth a cheerful giver," the Greek words literally mean "a 
 hilarious giver." When you applied to her for a subscription 
 to any good cause, you never had to overcome any unwilling- 
 ness to part with her money. In her mind it was never a 
 question as to whether she would "give up" the particular sum 
 she was being asked to contribute ; she had already given that 
 money, and much more, to God, in that it had been set aside 
 and devoted to good works, generally. All that was left for 
 you to do was to convince her judgment that your cause offered 
 her a good investment for a portion of a fund that had already 
 been given, in her own mind, to God and her fellow men. 
 
 The remaining $10,000 of the original "Chapel Fund" was 
 given to me by a member of "The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian 
 Church," Mrs. Robert L. Stuart, to whom on account of the 
 kindly interest she had shown in the youthful pastor of the 
 "Old First" Church I had ventured to describe my problems 
 and difficulties. But as she was wise and tactful enough to 
 
 73 
 
fear that it might offend the pride of the people of this old 
 church if they ever suspected that its Pastor had appealed to a 
 member of Dr. John Hall's congregation for help, she exacted 
 of me a promise that I would not tell anyone of the source of 
 that large addition to my "Chapel Fund." In view of the more 
 than twenty-five years that have elapsed since that most wel- 
 come gift, I have felt that I could properly absolve myself from 
 that promise and pay this public tribute to the memory of a 
 generous and large-minded woman. 
 
 But most of all I do congratulate you, and especially your 
 Pastor upon what he has done for Presbyterianism in this city, 
 in securing the splendid endowment (now yielding an annual 
 income of over $20,000) by which the Mother Church of the 
 Presbytery is anchored to its historic site. 
 
 I rejoice with Dr. Duffield all the more, because I remember 
 so well the haunting anxiety with which the Trustees and 
 Elders and former Minister of this Church, during the transi- 
 tion period of which I have spoken, looked forward to the finan- 
 cial problem with which this parish was certain to be con- 
 fronted as soon as that small group of special benefactors, 
 already referred to, had passed away. 
 
 I had hoped and prayed that God might fire some generous 
 heart with a worthy ambition to win an immortality of influ- 
 ence through this ancient Church by putting it upon a solid 
 financial foundation and thus firmly establishing it in this 
 downtown region, so that with confidence it could undertake 
 large things for this neighborhood and inaugurate every pos- 
 sible form of Christian and philanthropic activity and thus, in 
 many ways and at many points, touch and uplift and sweeten 
 the life of this part of New York. 
 
 Never shall I forget one night, about the year 1899, when I 
 stood in front of the old Lenox residence, on the opposite 
 corner, with the late Dr. Samuel Hamilton, the pastor of the 
 Scotch Church which was then in 14th Street. As we were 
 admiring this beautiful edifice — its noble Gothic lines, its 
 stately tower and the wealth of green round about it, stretch- 
 ing across the front of an entire block on the most imposing^ 
 avenue of this mighty City — he said to me: 
 
 74 
 
"The First Church ought to be strongly endowed, so that 
 it could be the Presbyterian Cathedral of New York, a great 
 Church for the masses, the busy center of Christian work 
 for this entire quarter of the metropolis." 
 
 The few of you here to-night who were present when I made 
 my farewell address from this pulpit, nearly twenty-six years 
 ago, will forgive me if I now repeat some of the things which 
 I said on that occasion. 
 
 Up to 1890 the Presbyterians of New York had not been 
 wise in their day and generation. Most of the churches of our 
 faith and order had been withdrawn from the section of the 
 city below 14th Street; and unless endowments were secured, 
 it looked more than probable that the ever-increasing demands 
 for business sites in this quarter would force most of our down- 
 town congregations unwisely to desert this neighborhood and 
 follow the tide of wealth to the upper end of the island. 
 
 During my pastorate here, the small group of special bene- 
 factors already referred to were opposed, on principle, to an 
 Endowment Fund for their own parish ; they feared that it 
 would pauperize the congregation by sapping the spirit of self- 
 help. I did what I could to show that such an objec- 
 tion did not apply to a down-town parish like this. The 
 difficult period of transition immediately preceding your call 
 to Dr. Dufifield became darker every year, because of the 
 inroads made by death upon that small group of special bene- 
 factors who were to leave no descendants or substitutes behind 
 them. Toward the close of my pastorate it looked for a while 
 as if the only thing which the office-bearers of this Church 
 could do would be to sell this magnificent property for the 
 immense sum that could have been realized from it and then 
 to build a great church in some quarter of the city where the 
 problem of church support could be easy. 
 
 Your joy, to-night, over the possession of your present En- 
 dowment Fund only serves, by way of contrast, to bring back 
 to my own memory the anguish of mind with which I contem- 
 plated the mere possibility of this Church being forced to follow 
 the line of least resistance and to find the easy solution of its 
 financial problems by transplanting the money value of this 
 
 75 
 
magnificent property to a more prosperous and promising quar- 
 ter of the City. 
 
 I thought of the irreparable loss of tender associations in 
 such a dismantling of this unique temple of worship. I thought 
 of the dead whose precious dust still sleeps out yonder, be- 
 neath the greensward and under the protecting shadows of 
 this House of God. I thought of the unutterable pain which 
 such a sale of this property would give to the then members 
 of this parish, who with rare exception lived downtown and 
 from whom their Church would be taken, if this property were 
 sold. Although such a plan would have legally perpetuated 
 this historic corporation, which holds important fiduciary rela- 
 tions to two large public charities (The Sailors' Snug Harbor 
 and The Leake and Watts Orphan House), yet to transplant 
 the Church to an uptown site would have left you with the 
 mere shell of an organization, to be filled up afterwards by 
 strangers ; it would have been the "First Church" without the 
 "First Church" people. 
 
 But the psychological moment had not come when it was 
 possible to persuade any of that small group of special bene- 
 factors to furnish the necessary Endowment Fund. There- 
 fore, when on the night of October 3rd, 1890, I presented my 
 resignation to this congregation, I earnestly pled with them 
 not to be tempted to sell this property and move uptown, but 
 to follow what then seemed to be the only other way out. 
 Accordingly I urged them as soon as the acceptance of my res- 
 ignation left this pulpit vacant to invite my beloved brother, 
 George Alexander, who after thirty-three years is still the Pas- 
 tor of the University Place Church, to become my successor in 
 the pastorate of the "Old First" and to invite his congregation 
 to sell their University Place property and come over into this 
 Church and by that means to create at once a large and effec- 
 tively organized Church, with an Endowment Fund of at least 
 half a million, which would have resulted from the sale of the 
 University Place property and the merging of their funds and 
 financial strength with the still undeveloped financial possi- 
 bilities of the First Church congregation, as it then existed. 
 
 With all my heart I rejoice with Dr. Duffield that it has 
 been given to him to find a way for the Old First to work 
 
 76 
 
out its own salvation, without a merger of these two down- 
 town churches. My own parting advice to this congregation 
 was another instance of the old proverb, "Man proposes, but 
 God disposes.'^ I rejoice, to-night, in the thought that — ^by 
 reason of the bitter financial necessities of this parish, which 
 finally became evident even to those members who had been 
 prejudiced against the principle of endowments — Dr. Duffield 
 was enabled to reap such a goodly harvest, and especially that 
 his statesmanlike appeals to certain broad-minded and generous 
 men and women of means outside of this parish have been 
 crowned with so large a measure of success that to-day it seems 
 certain that the Mother Church of the Presbytery will remain 
 where it now is as long as the City endures, and be for Lower 
 Fifth Avenue what Old Trinity is for Lower Broadway. 
 
 With you and Dr. Duffield, and on behalf of the toiling 
 masses who must always live down-town, I hope and pray that 
 your Endowment Fund may soon be increased to at least a 
 half-million dollars. It ought not to be any less, if you and 
 your successors are to accomplish the large things that must be 
 done for the King in this part of the great metropolis. I have 
 faith enough in the progressive and forward-looking Presby- 
 terians of the present generation to feel sure that, in a far 
 higher degree than was true of their predecessors in 1890, they 
 realize what a priceless boon a Church like this could become 
 to this neighborhood — provided that it is adequately endowed. 
 
 Thank God that the "Old First" is at last anchored to 
 its now historic site. It is a green oasis to which the masses 
 of the people can come on the glad Rest Day, and at all times, 
 and for a while forget this down-town wilderness of brick and 
 stone and mortar — a cool and shady spot in the fierce heat and 
 sun of work-a-day living. A Church like this when fully organ- 
 ized and equipped and manned, does more than minister might- 
 ily, by its solemn grandeur and its worshipful services to the 
 religious wants and needs of the masses. It helps to lift up 
 and idealize and beautify many lives that are otherwise flat and 
 uninteresting and materializing. 
 
 Thanks to what under God had already accomplished dur- 
 ing Dr. Duffield's twenty-five years of ministry here, you 
 
 77 
 
have begun to carry out the poHcy which the Church of Christ 
 in New York City should ever keep in mind, the poHcy of 
 sending the best regiments into the very thick of the fight, 
 the poHcy of building up the strongest, the most beautiful, the 
 best equipped, most completely manned churches with the 
 finest of music and the best of preaching in the downtown 
 quarter of the great metropolis, the quarter where for many 
 people the conditions of life are the hardest and the obstacles 
 to Christian living are sometimes the greatest. 
 
 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face 
 to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up 
 the light of His countenance upon you and give you peace, now 
 and evermore. Amen. 
 
 The Commemoration Address was then delivered 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor William Henry Roberts 
 
 Stated Clerk of the General Assembly 
 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. 
 
 The Ministers of the First Presbyterian Church 
 IN THE City of New York 
 
 First Epistle to the Corinthians IV :1 
 
 "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, 
 and stewards of the mysteries of God." 
 
 It is easy from the mere human standpoint, to praise and 
 exalt the Church of Christ, whether we have in mind the 
 visible Church Universal, or a particular congregation of 
 Christian believers. Its victories over evil have been notable 
 in every century and are more significant and far reaching 
 in this present than at any previous epoch of the world's 
 history. By its doctrines it has taught the sinful world that 
 man was in origin a child of God, that the human soul has 
 inestimable value, that the goodness of God has all men as 
 its objects, and that faith, in Christ and love one for another, 
 were not only the duties of all men, but the natural results of 
 the existence of the Church. Again, in other than religious 
 lines the Church has been one of the greatest powers of 
 the world. It has been the center of the energies which have 
 
 78 
 
produced Christian civilization. Mighty and world-wide 
 have been the impulses which it has given to education, to 
 philanthropy, to art, to liberty and to social progress. Here 
 and there there may be found a few among men who ignorant 
 of history, depreciate the Church of Christ, but they who are 
 possessed of sound knowledge will always bow in its pres- 
 ence, cherishing within the heart that feeling of reverence 
 which prompted the first of English lexicographers, Samuel 
 Johnson, to remove his hat whenever he passed a church 
 edifice. 
 
 But the Church is not only in general, a proper object of 
 admiration from the intellectual standpoint, it has further a 
 deep hold upon the human heart. Its influence touches the 
 life of man at all its stages. It blesses the little child at the 
 baptismal font, receives it to communion at the age of dis- 
 cretion bestowes a benediction upon young men and women 
 at the marriage altar, and teaches all classes and ages their 
 duties and responsibilities. It visits them in their sickness, 
 uplifting their souls by sympathy and strengthening them with 
 prayer. It brings them into real fellowship with their breth- 
 ren and into union with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 
 It consols them with divine comfort amid the afflictions and 
 bereavements of earth, and at last when their work on earth 
 is over, speaks above their dust to the living, the inspiring 
 words, "sorrow not even as others, which have no hope, for 
 Jesus died and rose again, even so they which sleep in Jesus, 
 will God bring with him." From the cradle to the grave, the 
 Church in its services, and through its pastors, ministers to 
 the highest of human needs and lifts upon the clouds which 
 gather about the tomb, the clear shining of that hope which 
 is in Him who is the Sun of Righteousness. Blessed in- 
 deed are the memories and the influences which cluster about 
 every organization of believers, be it large or small, whatever 
 the circumstances or the speech of its members, and in what- 
 ever portion of earth they are found. 
 
 What is true of the Christian Church in general, is true 
 in a notable sense of the First Presbyterian Church of New 
 York. Located in the metropolis of the new world, it has 
 
 79 
 
been for two centuries related in a unique and potent manner 
 to the progress of humanity, of civiHzation and of the King- 
 dom of Christ, both on the American and all other continents. 
 As we shall think of this First Church and of its ministers, 
 we do well to recall sentences from an anniversary sermon 
 preached in 1844 by the twelfth pastor the Rev. Dr. William 
 Wirt Phillips. "We feel called upon to record the kindness 
 and faithfulness of our God, who for so long a period, and 
 through so many changes and trials preserved a people called 
 by his name distinguished for their warm and sincere at- 
 tachment to his truth and devotedness to his service, to whom 
 he sent a succession of pious, able and faithful ministers who 
 have preached the same Gospel of his grace and administered 
 the same sacraments in their purity, and after the same simple 
 form of their original institution." We echo these words of 
 Dr. Phillips and rejoice that as the history proves the minis- 
 ters of this church have been worthy of the names "Ministers 
 of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God." 
 
 It is appropriate to begin this record of the lives of the 
 ministers of the church with reference to the fact that there 
 were from a very early day, English Puritan Presbyterians 
 in and about what is now New York City. It is interesting 
 here to observe that among all the cities of the United States, 
 the chief city which was founded by Colonists professing the 
 Reformed faith and attached to the Presbyterian system of 
 government, was this city of New York. The church of the 
 original Calvinists is still in our midst powerful and influential, 
 the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, The Presbyterian 
 element of the population of the city, now as of old, friendly 
 to the Reformed Church, is representative largely of the 
 Churches of Scotland and England, and of the Presbyterian 
 Church of Ireland, has always been sympathetic with the 
 church of the original settlers. So far as information can be 
 secured, the first Presbyterian to minister in this city was 
 the Rev. Francis Doughty, who officiated from 1643 to 1648. 
 The Rev. Richard Denton, pastor of the Church at Jamaica, 
 Long Island, from 1644 to 1658, also preached at times in 
 New York to a company of believers. Both these minis- 
 
 80 
 
ters were regularly ordained clergymen of the church of Eng- 
 land, who held as Puritans to Presbyterian views of faith 
 and order and it is to be remembered that from 1645 to 1660 
 the Church of England was Presbyterian in government. 
 The most notable, however, of the earlier Presbyterian minis- 
 ters who visited New York City was the Rev. Francis Ma- 
 kemie, a graduate of the University of Glasgow, ordained in 
 the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and the organizer of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. He 
 was several times in the city, and in 1707 for preaching to 
 a little company of Presbyterians in a private house, and 
 administering baptism to an infant was arrested by the Gov- 
 ernor of the then colony of New York, was imprisoned and 
 fined a large sum of money. The little group of English 
 speaking Presbyterians in New York City continued their 
 association together, however, despite all obstacles thrown in 
 their way, and at last feeling their need of a permanent re- 
 ligious society were organized as a church in the latter part of 
 the year 1716, and called in 1717 the Rev. James Anderson, 
 as their pastor. 
 
 Mr. Anderson was born in Scotland, November 17th, 1678, 
 and was ordained by Irvine Presbytery in 1708 with a view 
 to his settlement in Virginia. He did not, however, remain 
 in the Southern colony and was received by the General 
 Presbytery, then the supreme and only judicatory of the Pres- 
 byterian church, September 20, 1709, and was settled at New 
 Castle, Delaware. In 1717 he accepted a call to this con- 
 gregation which at the time worshipped in the City Hall. 
 His ministry was acceptable, and until near its close unevent- 
 ful. A division occurred in the congregation, in 1725 and the 
 members who separated called as their minister the Rev. 
 Jonathon Edwards, afterwards President of Princeton Col- 
 lege, and through his writing the acknowledged leader of 
 American theological and philosophical thought. The separa- 
 tion continued for about a year and Mr. Anderson resigned 
 in 1726. He accepted a call to Donegal, on the Susquehanna 
 River, and he also served the congregation at Derry. He 
 evidently was a man of influence and of executive ability, for 
 
 81 
 
in 1713 he was Clerk of the General Presbytery, and in 1729 
 Moderator of the General Synod. In April, 1738, the General 
 Synod sent him as a deputation to wait on the Virginia Gov- 
 ernment, and solicit its favor in behalf of Presbyterianism 
 in that Colony. He performed his mission with success. 
 Mr. Anderson died July 16, 1740. 
 
 The successor of the Rev. James Anderson was the Rev. 
 Ebenezer Pemberton, recommended by certain of the minis- 
 ters of Boston, Mass., and at the request of the church he was 
 ordained in Boston, August 9th, 1727. Mr. Pemberton was 
 born at Boston, in 1704 and was graduated at Harvard Col- 
 lege in 1721. These facts suggest the great change since 
 1727 in the religious atmosphere of eastern New England and 
 emphasize the departure from Puritan doctrine in that region 
 since the dates of the adoption of the Westminster Con- 
 fession. During Mr. Pemberton's ministry the most notable 
 events were the several visits of the great evangehst the Rev. 
 George Whitefield. The Presbyterian Church edifice was the 
 only edifice open to the Revival Preacher, at his first visit 
 in November, 1739. In October, 1740, Whitefield came a 
 second time and a good authority declares that "the Holy 
 Ghost came down as a mighty rushing wind upon the com- 
 munity." Not only was the church greatly increased in num- 
 bers but the pastor himself became a notable preacher. He 
 preached at Yale College on several occasions and was greatly 
 inspired by Mr. Whitefield's third visit in 1747. As a preacher 
 Mr. Pemberton was much admired and his audiences were 
 large. He did not confine his labors to his own congrega- 
 tion but was one of the ministers interested in the establish- 
 ment of what is now Princeton University. Indeed White- 
 field wrote to Mr. Pemberton from London in 1748 urging 
 him to come there and solicit funds for Nassau Hall, the 
 first name of Princeton. Mr. Pemberton was also Moderator 
 of the General Synod in 1737 and of the Synod of New York 
 in 1746. In 1752 differences disturbed the church with refer- 
 ence to the use of Watts Psalms and some other matters and 
 Mr. Pemberton receiving in 1753 a unanimous call to the 
 Brick Church of Boston accepted the same with the consent 
 
 82 
 
of both the Synod and Presbytery, and was installed in his 
 new charge March 6, 1754. He continued in Boston until 
 1774 and then retired, dying September 9, 1779. Mr. Pem- 
 berton was in both his charges a faithful pastor and in his 
 pulpit utterances loyal to the faith once delivered to the saints. 
 
 In October, 1750, the Rev. Alexander Gumming was or- 
 dained and installed by New York Presbytery as Collegiate 
 pastor with Mr. Pemberton. He was born at Freehold, N. J., 
 in 1726. His father, Robert Gumming, was Ruling Elder 
 his maternal uncle was the Rev. Samuel Blair and he studied 
 under his pastor the Rev. William Tennant. He served at 
 first as a Missionary in Augusta County, Virginia, and he is 
 said to have been the first Presbyterian minister to preach 
 within the bounds of Tennessee. It is a tribute to his abili- 
 ties that prior to his ordination and while still a licentiate 
 he opened the Synod of New York in 1750 with a sermon. 
 He was the first minister to occupy the office of collegiate 
 pastor, and his connection with the congregation ended Octo- 
 ber 25, 1753. 
 
 For nearly eight years he remained without a charge owing 
 to his feeble health. In 1761, however, he was installed 
 pastor of the Old South Church in Boston and it is not at 
 all remarkable that it was said of his ministry in Boston that 
 being characterized by strong adherence to the Presbyterian 
 Standards, there were many in that city who did not relish 
 his sermons. He died August 23, 1763, and the testimony 
 concerning him is that "he was full of prayer a lively active 
 soul in a feeble body." 
 
 As successor both to Pemberton and Gumming the congre- 
 gation chose the Rev. David Bostwick who was born in New 
 Milford, Conn., in 1721. A student at Yale College he left 
 before graduating and completed his studies with the Rev. 
 Aaron Burr, at Newark, N. J. Ordained by the New York 
 Presbytery as pastor at Jamaica, L. I., in October, 1745, he 
 remained there more than ten years, having great repute as 
 a preacher and large acceptance with his brethren and the 
 churches. In the early part of 1756 Mr. Bostwick was in- 
 stalled as pastor of this Church and the character of the man 
 
 83 
 
is shown by the fact that an epidemic of smallpox being 
 prevalent in the city he came to the following conclusion (I 
 use his own words), "I had rather die in the way of duty 
 than purchase life by running out of it." He remained during 
 the epidemic in New York City but deemed it prudent to 
 send his family to Newark, N. J. Mr. Bostwick it is said 
 was uncommonly popular as a preacher. His appearance and 
 deportment were attractive. He possessed a clear under- 
 standing, a warm heart, a quick apprehension, a vivid imagina- 
 tion and solid judgment. He had a strong voice and a com- 
 manding eloquence. Dr. Miller says of him, that "his elo- 
 quence was such as few attain and with the purity of his 
 life, gave him a strong hold on public esteem." Mr. Bost- 
 wick was one of the overseers of the College of New Jersey 
 from 1761 and received from that Institution the degree of 
 Master of Arts in 1756. He also published several sermons 
 and a Work on "Infant Baptism." He was Moderator of 
 the Synod of New York in 1757 and died much lamented 
 November 12, 1763, in the 43rd year of his age. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Treat who was a colleague pastor with 
 the Rev. Dr. Bostwick was installed as such in October, 1762. 
 A graduate of the College of New Jersey in 1757 he acted 
 as tutor for two years after his graduation. What little is 
 known of him in his pastoral work indicates that he was 
 faithful in duty and that his preaching was acceptable. He 
 was Moderator of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia 
 in 1782. During the war of the Revolution the congregation 
 of the First Church was scattered by the English occupation 
 of New York and the ministers left the city. Mr. Treat did 
 not return after the war but supplied the churches of Lower 
 Bethlehem and Greenwich, in Sussex County, N. J., until 
 his death in 1797. 
 
 The real successor to Mr. Bostwick was the Rev. John 
 Rodgers, D.D., born in Boston, Mass., August 5, 1727. His 
 parents removed to Philadelphia in 1728 and it was in the City 
 of Brotherly Love that he was brought up. During the first 
 visit of George Whitefield to Philadelphia in 1739 young 
 Rodgers was a constant attendant upon the services, and 
 
 84 
 
when little more than twelve years old, became, to use a phrase 
 then current, "hopefully pious." He became a student in 
 1743 in the School under the care of the Rev. Samuel Blair 
 at Faggs Manor, Pa. A licentiate of the Presbytery of New 
 Castle, he was installed pastor at St. Georges, Delaware, 
 March 16, 1749. His work both in this congregation and in 
 the whole region was highly successful. He became Moder- 
 ator of the Synod of New York and Pennsylvania in 1763, and 
 under the advice of the Synod accepted a call to New York, and 
 was duly installed September 4, 1765. His evangelistic spirit 
 became immediately evident in his preaching and a large num- 
 ber of persons were added to the church within a short time. 
 Dr. Rodgers during the Revolutionary War was an ardent 
 patriot. He became Chaplain of General Heath's Brigade in 
 1776 and the records show that General Washington more 
 than once consulted with him. Dr. Rodgers was one of the 
 Committee of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia that 
 prepared the pastoral letter of 1775 calling all the ministers 
 and churches of the Synod to be "careful to maintain the 
 union which subsists through all the colonies and let it be 
 seen that they are able to bring out the whole strength of 
 this vast country." He was one of the first American minis- 
 ters to receive an honorary degree from the other side of 
 the Atlantic, the University of Edinburgh conferring upon 
 him the Doctorate of Divinity in 1782. Upon his return to 
 New York after the war of Independence he found the Wall 
 Street Church converted into a barracks and the Brick Church 
 into a hospital, both edifices being left in a ruined state. He 
 was invited, however, to preach in St. Paul's and St. George's 
 Episcopal Churches and the services of this congregation 
 were held for a time in those edifices. His activities in things 
 ecclesiastical already noted, were continued after the achieval 
 of American independence. He was the second member of 
 the Committee (Dr. Witherspoon being the Chairman), which 
 framed the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 U. S. A. and he was in 1789 the first elected Moderator of 
 the General Assembly established by the adoption of that 
 Constitution. The Associate Pastors with him were Joseph 
 
 85 
 
Treat, James Wilson, John McKnight, and Samuel Miller. 
 The first two named died before their Senior, and the others 
 were associated with him to the close of his ministry. After 
 1803 he ceased to preach more than once on the Sabbath and 
 officiated for the last time in September, 1809. On May 7, 
 1811, he entered into rest in his 84th year. In his youth he 
 had served in a Mission on the frontiers in a manner to se- 
 cure commendation ; and he lived to see his country free and 
 prosperous and the church of his devotion enlarged beyond his 
 most sanguine expectations. During his entire ministry he 
 emphasized the importance of revivals of religion and we can- 
 not but doubt but that his heart was gladdened by the great 
 awakening during the early years of the Nineteenth Century 
 which saw added before 1830 to the communicant membership 
 of the American Presbyterian Church more than one hundred 
 thousand persons increasing its membership four fold, and 
 ushering in that period of expansion in all Christian work 
 which has followed upon the cultivation of the evangelistic 
 and missionary spirit. In all accounts given of Dr. Rodgers 
 one thing that is emphasized is the peculiar and uniform dig- 
 nity of his manners. While maintaining a spirit of kindly 
 fellowship with all men, he never, it is said, forgot that a 
 Christian minister is a gentleman. 
 
 Mr. James Wilson, one of the Colleagues of Dr. Rodgers, 
 was born in Scotland, came to the United States as a minister, 
 was received by the Presbytery in April, 1785, and installed in 
 August of the same year. He labored diligently and ac- 
 ceptably for about three years, but resigned in 1788 owing 
 to the impairment of his health. He became in January, 1788, 
 pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Charleston, S. C, where 
 he spent several years in fruitful pastoral service. Resigning 
 that charge he retired from active work, owing to ill health 
 and died in Virginia in 1799 in the forty-eighth year of his age. 
 
 Dr. John McKnight, the seventh pastor of the Church, was 
 a native of Pennsylvania, was born near Carlisle, October 1, 
 1754, and graduated at Princeton College in 1773. He minis- 
 tered to a congregation in Virginia from 1775 to 1783 and was 
 then settled over lower Marsh Creek Church in Adams County, 
 
 86 
 
Pennsylvania. He was installed as colleague with Dr. Rodgers, 
 December 2, 1789. In 1795 he was elected Moderator of the 
 General Assembly. During twenty years he rendered faithful 
 and acceptable service in the congregation combining the dig- 
 nity of a clergyman with the urbanity of a gentleman. He 
 appears to have been a worthy exception to the rule, "That 
 a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." He 
 resigned in April, 1809, because of the new arrangements 
 which were being made in connection with the management 
 of the church. It is proper here to state that in this year 
 the Collegiate System so long in existence was definitely 
 abandoned. Prior to this year three congregations in separate 
 church edifices had been under the control of one church 
 Session and one Board of Trustees. This change involved a 
 new disposition of pastors and Dr. McKnight retired. From 
 this time forward his health being delicate he consented to 
 be a Stated Supply only, declining even such flattering invita- 
 tion as that to the Presidency of Dickinson College. He died 
 October 21, 1823, in the seventieth year of his age. 
 
 Another colleague of Dr. Rodgers was the Rev. Samuel 
 Miller, D.D., son of the Rev. John Miller, D.D., pastor near 
 Dover, Delaware, born at the manse October 31, 1769. Gradu- 
 ated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789 he was licensed 
 hy the Presbytery of Lewes and was installed as Colleague pas- 
 tor with Dr. Rodgers and Dr. McKnight, June 5, 1792. In 
 1806 he was chosen Moderator of the General Assembly. 
 Deeply interested in theological education he was one of the 
 ministers active in the establishment of Princeton Theological 
 Seminary, and was chosen in 1813 to the Chair of Ecclesiastical 
 History and Church Government in that Institution. In this 
 post of usefulness and honor he served to the full acceptance 
 of the Presbyterian Church at large for more than thirty-six 
 years. In May, 1849, feeling the infirmities of age, he tendered 
 his resignation, and in accepting it the Assembly bore testimony 
 to their great appreciation of his services and their high re- 
 spect for his character. He died January 7, 1850. Dr. Miller 
 was distinguished not only as a preacher but also as an 
 author. As a profession he gave to his work all the energies 
 
 87 
 
of mind and body. Of the "Clerical Manners" which he rec- 
 ommends in his valuable work on that subject, he was himself 
 an admirable example and it can be truly said of him in rela- 
 tion to the institution, of which he was one of the chief agents 
 in establishing, that "being dead he yet speaketh." 
 
 The briefest pastorate in the record of the First Church 
 was that of the Rev. Philip Milledoler, D.D., who was born 
 at Rhinebeck, N. Y., in 1775, was graduated from Columbia 
 College in 1793, and was pastor of the Nassau Street Re- 
 formed Church in New York City from 1795 to 1800. In the 
 latter year he was installed as pastor of the Third Presbyterian 
 Church of Philadelphia and continued there until early in 
 1805. He was Colleague pastor of the First Church in 1805 
 for less than a year and then became pastor of the Rector 
 Street Presbyterian Church from 1805 to 1813. He was 
 Moderator of the General Assembly in 1808 and Stated Clerk 
 of the General Assembly from 1803 to 1806. In 1813 he re- 
 turned to the Reformed Church and became one of the pas- 
 tors of the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of 
 New York. In 1825 the General Synod of that Church 
 elected him Professor of Theology in the Theological Semi- 
 nary at New Brunswick, N. J., and he was for a time also 
 President of Rutgers College. Dr. Milledoler's ministry was 
 highly successful and his pastorates were characterized by an 
 almost constant revival of religion. His "preaching was full 
 of grace and often rose to great heights of eloquence." Re- 
 tiring from active service in 1845 he died September 22, 1852, 
 aged 77 years. 
 
 The Rev. Philip Melancthon Whelpley was the third minis- 
 ter of Massachusetts birth to be pastor of this Church. Born 
 at Stockbridge in that State in 1794 he was licensed to preach 
 in October, 1814, by the Presbytery of Jersey having studied 
 under the direction of the Rev. Dr. James Richards of Newark. 
 He was ordained and installed pastor on April 25, 1815. His 
 career though brief, was highly useful. As a preacher he w-as 
 brilliant. "Characterized by grace of manner, elegant diction 
 and eloquence of thought" he was most efifective in the pulpit 
 until the much to be regretted close of his career. His death 
 occurred July 17, 1824, in the thirtieth year of his age. 
 
The successor of Dr. Whelpley was the Rev. William Wirt 
 Phillips, D.D., who was born in Florida, Montgomery Co., 
 N. Y., September 23, 1796, graduated at Union College in 
 1813 and was a student first in the Associate Reformed 
 Theological Seminary in New York and then in the Theological 
 Seminary of the Reformed Church at New Brunswick. He 
 was transferred as a licentiate to the Presbyterian Church in 
 1817 and in April, 1818, was installed pastor of the Pearl 
 Street Presbyterian Church in New York. Here he was a 
 most acceptable minister for eight years and was then trans- 
 ferred by the Presbytery to the pulpit of the First Presby- 
 terian Church, at the time worshipping in Wall Street. Dur- 
 ing his pastorate the new church edifice was built. His 
 religion, it is said, "moulded his whole character, and dififused 
 itself over his whole life." Among the people of his charge 
 he moved about as a good angel. In the pulpit he was a 
 model of simplicity and fervor, and brought out the great 
 truths of the gospel in a luminous and impressive manner. 
 His good influence was felt throughout the whole church. 
 The general respect early cherished for him is found in the 
 fact that the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred 
 upon him by Columbia College when he was thirty years of 
 age. He was also a Trustee of the College of New Jersey 
 and a member of the Council of the New York University, 
 a Trustee and a Director of the Theological Seminary at 
 Princeton, and in addition he was the President of the Di- 
 rectors. He was Moderator of the General Assembly in 
 1835 and was often sent to that Body as a Commissioner. 
 During several years of his later life he was President of the 
 Board of Foreign Missions and occupied in addition, other posi- 
 tions of responsibility. The work devolving upon him was fre- 
 quently onerous, but he gave himself thereto with earnestness 
 and in the exercise of his ability met the demands of every situ- 
 ation. It is said of him that few of his contemporaries had 
 more to do than he in moulding the destinies of the Presby- 
 terian Church. He continued actively in the duties of the pas- 
 torate and in the fulfilling of other appointments, until within 
 four weeks of his death, which occurred March 20, 1865. 
 
 89 
 
His successor, the Rev. William Miller Paxton, D.D., LL.D., 
 was born in Adams County, Pa., and was the grandson on 
 fhe maternal side of the Rev. William Miller, D.D., for years 
 pastor of the Lower Marsh Creek Church. His father was a 
 leading lawyer of the Commonwealth; and the son after his 
 graduation from Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, in 1843 
 chose the same profession. During his legal studies he, how- 
 ever, decided that it was his duty to become a minister, and 
 therefore entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, 
 graduating in 1848. He was ordained by the Presbyterian 
 Church at Greencastle, October 4, 1848, and there he re- 
 mained two years. His success in his work at Greencastle 
 led to his being called to the First Presbyterian Church at 
 Pittsburgh as successor of the famous Rev. Dr. Francis 
 Herron. Installed in this important church in January, 1851, 
 he speedily became felt both in the City of Pittsburgh and the 
 surrounding region, and his pulpit labors in particular were 
 attended by the divine blessing. Interested in the affairs of 
 the Church at large, he was from 1860 to 1867 also Professor 
 of Sacred Rhetoric in the Western Theological Seminary. In 
 1866 he was invited to the pastorate of this First Church of 
 New York, which he accepted and where his work was equally 
 successful as it had been in Pittsburgh. His interest in theo- 
 logical education led him in New York City, as in Pittsburgh, 
 to add to his pastoral labors theological instruction, and he 
 filled with distinction the post of Lecturer on Sacred Rhetoric 
 in the Union Theological Seminary. In 1883 he was elected 
 successor to the Rev. Alexander T. McGill, D.D., LL.D., in 
 the Chair of Ecclesiastical, Homiletical and Pastoral The- 
 ology in Princeton Theological Seminary. Here likewise his 
 eminent qualifications for the training of young men for the 
 ministry had ample opportunity for their appropriate influ- 
 ence. Dr. Paxton was Moderator of the General Assembly at 
 Madison, Wis., in May, 1880, and in September of the same 
 year preached the opening sermon at the Second General 
 Council of the World Wide Presbyterian Alliance which met 
 at that time in Philadelphia. As a preacher Dr. Paxton stood 
 in the front rank, and his eloquence and power were uni- 
 
 90 
 
versally acknowledged. He was also among the foremost 
 leaders of the Church in her progressive advance in benevo- 
 lence and in missions, and in the general moral and spiritual 
 uplift which beginning in the 19th century is gathering greater 
 headway than ever before in these opening years of the 20th 
 century. Active in connection with all the work of the church, 
 he was specially interested in the Board of Foreign Missions, 
 of which he was President from 1880 to 1884 and a member 
 until his death at Princeton, N. J., November 24th, 1904, in 
 the eighty-second year of his age. 
 
 We now come to the two ministers of the Church who 
 are still on earth and who have been privileged to serve this 
 Church as successors to their brethren who have passed on 
 before, and who have received the crown of Righteousness. 
 In dealing with their records, the speaker will confine him- 
 self to simple statements of fact. 
 
 The fourteenth pastor of the Church, Rev. Richard Daven- 
 port Harlan, D.D., LL.D., was born in Evansville, Ind., No- 
 vember 14, 1859, and of a family notable in the annals of 
 Kentucky. He graduated from Princeton University in 1881 
 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1885. He was 
 ordained to the ministry April 1, 1886, and at the same time 
 was installed as pastor of this Church. He continued in the 
 position until 1890 and then resigned, to follow theological 
 studies at the University of Berhn. From 1894 to 1901 he 
 was pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester, N. 
 Y., and from 1901 to 1906 the President of Lake Forest 
 University, 111. More recently he has been in charge of the 
 George Washington University Movement, Washington, D. C, 
 for the purpose of carrying out the spirit of Washington's 
 last Will and Testament, in the development of a University 
 for graduate work at the National Capitol. 
 
 The present pastor, the Rev. Howard Duffield, D.D., was 
 born at Princeton, N. J., April 9, 1854, graduating from 
 Princeton University in 1873 and from Princeton Seminary in 
 1877. The family of which he is a member is historic in 
 the annals of the country and of the church. Ordained in 
 June, 1877, he was until 1880 pastor of Leacock Church, 
 
 91 
 
Leainan Place, Pa. He was also Pastor at Beverly, N. J., 
 from 1880 to 1884 and of the Westminster Presbyterian 
 Church, Detroit, Michigan, from 1884 to 1891. He became 
 pastor of this First Church in 1891 and has rendered in this 
 pastorate, services which have been most important in main- 
 taining the past record of the church, and in securing its 
 future permanency.* 
 
 The record we have considered sets forth certain things 
 worthy of special attention. The old proverb is always true: 
 "In To-day walks To-morrow." Some of the lessons of the 
 record are the following: 
 
 1. Loyalty to Church standards is of potential value in 
 connection with all church enterprises. The ministers of this 
 
 *For the sake of the record, it is desirable to insert in a foot-note 
 facts concerning Dr. Duffield's pastorate which the Speaker did not 
 feel at liberty to introduce into his spoken address. 
 
 Dr. Dufheld is ex-officio a Trustee of the Sailor's Snug Harbor 
 and of the Leake and Watts Orphan House and a Manager of the 
 Presbyterian Hospital. He served as Moderator of the Synod of 
 New York and was four times chosen as Moderator of the New 
 York Presbytery. For a time he was a Member of the Board of 
 Foreign Missions, a Trustee of Lincoln University, and a Trustee 
 of the New York City Mission and Tract Society. From the out- 
 set of his pastorate he has been a Director of Princeton Theolog- 
 ical Seminary. He is a member of the Century Club, the Quill Club 
 and Chi Alpha. He is Vice President of the Saint Nicholas Soci- 
 ety, Lieutenant Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in the 
 State of New York, and Member of the Board of Management 
 of the Veteran Corps of Artillery, and the Military Society of the 
 War of 1812. He is a Member of the Sons of the Revolution, and 
 an Honorary Member of the Huguenot Society of America and of the 
 Marine Society of the City of New York. 
 
 During his pastorate the Thurlow Weed Mansion (12 West 
 Twelfth Street) was purchased as a Manse and the Chapel in Elev- 
 enth Street was built. The Church was paved with marble. Its 
 ten windows were filled with Memorial glass. Electric lighting 
 was installed as a Memorial Gift. The Memorial Chimes were 
 placed in the Tower. The Chapel Organ was purchased and the 
 Church Organ was enlarged and perfected. 
 
 In addition to collecting an Endowment Fund of over Four 
 Hundred Thousand Dollars, Dr. Duffield also secured a Working 
 Capital Fund of Ten Thousand Dollars per annum, covering a 
 period of ten years. 
 
 92 
 
Church have been men of pronounced Presbyterian convic- 
 tions, who combined in a remarkable degree denominational 
 loyalty with that catholicity which is at the heart of the Pres- 
 byterian system. While holding strongly to their own opin- 
 ions as to doctrine, government and worship, from James 
 Anderson down to the present, these ministers have acknowl- 
 edged the rights of conscience as the inalienable possession 
 of all men. While thorough going Presbyterians they have 
 been also large minded Christians and this has been of in- 
 estimable value in connection with the influence of the Church 
 in the community, and in the moulding of American character 
 upon positive and broad and generous lines. 
 
 2. The great value to a congregation, of which it is a part, 
 of the Christian denomination. The pastors of this congre- 
 gation have been, as a rule, ministers interested not only in 
 the work and the progress of the congregation to which they 
 were directly related, but also have had time for attention to 
 the work of that great Fellowship of Churches, known now 
 by the name of the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
 of America. During Colonial Days, Anderson and Pember- 
 ton, Bostwick and Rodgers were leaders in the Councils of 
 the Presbyterian Church and when the need arose, patriots 
 in the front rank. After the achieval of Independence and 
 the establishment of the Presbyterian General Assembly, this 
 leadership was recognized not only in the Councils of the 
 Churches, but further in the work of its Administrative 
 Boards. Princeton College, and Princeton Theological Semi- 
 nary were also the special objects of the activities of succes- 
 sive pastors. Five of the number were Moderators of the 
 General Assembly: John Rodgers, 1789; John McKnight, 
 1795; Samuel Miller, 1806; PhiHp Milledoler, 1808; William 
 Wirt Phillips, 1835 ; William M. Paxton, 1880. The history 
 shows that there is no field of service to which an important 
 congregation can more appropriately lend its influence for the 
 upbuilding of the Church of Christ than through the service 
 of its pastors in the work of the Church at Large. It has 
 both a direct and a reflex influence. It stimulates other con- 
 gregations to activity in national and world wide Christian 
 
 93 
 
enterprises and it brings the congregations whose pastors are 
 leaders in church work, to a higher standard of influence and 
 a greater outreach of power. Narrowness gives place to 
 breadth, and worldwide Christian activity stimulates congre- 
 gational thoroughness of service and Christ-like sympathy. 
 
 3. The gracious and potent influence of the evangelistic 
 spirit. 
 
 It is notable in the history of this Church that the first 
 decided growth in numbers and influence was the result of 
 the visits of the great evangelist the Rev. George Whitefield, 
 and it is also notable that the only church in the city on his 
 first visit which opened the doors of its edifice to him was the 
 First Church. God's blessing followed. The Church was 
 much prospered spiritually and, through its pastor Ebenezer 
 Pemberton, ministered of the blessing it had received to other 
 cities. This influence of Whitefield was continued in an espe- 
 cial manner in the pastorate of the Rev. John Rodgers, D.D., 
 one of the converts of that great apostolic preacher of the 
 eighteenth century. The Church is to be congratulated that 
 not only the two ministers referred to, but others have been 
 earnest in their efforts through the pulpit and in their pastoral 
 labors in behalf of the conversion of sinners, as well as for the 
 edification of saints. Evangelism is the key note of the re- 
 ligion of Jesus Christ, the divine Saviour, and the evangelistic 
 spirit should be a decided feature of every ministerial life. 
 One of the notable things about the history of evangelism in 
 the United States of America has been the fact that the great 
 evangelistic leaders frequently have been ministers holding to 
 Calvinistic doctrine, as well as officially connected with the 
 Presbyterian Church. It was true in this city of old, and his- 
 tory is often repeating itself, that men holding to the divine 
 sovereignty and looking to the Holy Spirit for His guidance 
 and blessing will add through their labors greatly to the num- 
 bers and also to the missionary spirit, not only of the Presby- 
 terian but of other Christian Churches. 
 
 4. The power in church and ministerial life that is se- 
 cured by the exaltation of Jesus Christ consciously to the first 
 place, in thought, speech and act. He is the head of His body, 
 
 94 
 
which is the Church. Out of the recognition of this head- 
 ship flows incalculable benefit alike to congregations and min- 
 isters. Of the pastors of this Church it can be truly said that 
 there was in all their ministry the sentiment put into rhyme 
 by a distinguished theologian, who during his life was often 
 in this pulpit. It was a favorite saying of the Rev. Archibald 
 A. Hodge: 
 
 "I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all 
 And Jesus Christ is all in all." 
 
 The exaltation of Christ to His rightful place in the Church, 
 and in the individual heart, and in the life of the Church, is 
 the secret of power, of true prosperity and of permanence in 
 connection with all spiritual interests. 
 
 May Christ reign more and more in the hearts of this peo- 
 ple. May its ministers be through all the coming years true 
 ministers of Christ and real stewards of the mysteries of God. 
 
 Many are they, whose earnest prayer is that all the desires of 
 Dr. Duffield and his co-laborers for the increasing success 
 of this congregation may be answered to the full, and this 
 Church continue a great moral and spiritual power in this 
 world, influencing the community until the Christ shall come 
 in His glory a second time unto the fullness of salvation. 
 
 The Commemoration Prayer was then offered 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor George Alexander 
 
 Pastor of the Presbyterian Church on University Place 
 
 Then was sung the Hymn : 
 "Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand." 
 
 The Closing Prayer and Benediction was pronounced 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor John A. Marquis 
 
 Moderator of the General Assembly : 
 
 "Almighty God our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for 
 the record of those saints that have gone on high. We praise 
 Thee for the influence of this Church. As this Church has 
 praised Thy name in the centuries gone by, we come to Thee 
 as Thy children living in this present hour, to pray for Thy 
 blessing upon us, that we may be their worthy successors. 
 
 95 
 
"Endue us with the same spirit of trust in our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. Baptize us with the spirit of evangelism. As in 
 their time they were men of power through Jesus Christ, grant 
 O our Father, that in our day and generation we may also 
 be men of power. 
 
 "We pray that Thy richest blessing may rest upon this 
 Church, upon the Pastor of this Church and upon the people 
 who from Sabbath to Sabbath here lift voice and heart in 
 praise and prayer to Thee. 
 
 "And now may the love of God, Our Father, the grace of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and the fellowship of 
 the Holy Ghost, our Sanctifier, be and abide with us and the 
 people of God everywhere. Amen." 
 
 96 
 
THE ANNUAL DINNER 
 
 The Presbyterian Social Union of New York City 
 
 Monday, December the Fourth, at 8.30 P. M. 
 
 The Presbyterian Union of New York is an organization 
 composed of members from all the Presbyterian Churches of 
 the City, associated for promoting social intercourse, to give 
 opportunity for personal acquaintance and to quicken the sense 
 of fellowship throughout the communion. In addition to sev- 
 eral meetings during each season, at which literary and musi- 
 cal entertainment is provided, it is the custom of the Union to 
 hold an Annual Dinner, to which the Moderator of the General 
 Assembly is invited and at which eminent speakers discuss 
 topics of outstanding importance, and general interest. By 
 a happy coincidence, the date for the Dinner of 1916 fell 
 within the time set for the Bi-Centennial Celebration of 
 the establishment of Presbyterianism in the City of New York 
 by the founding of the Old First Church, and at the gracious 
 suggestion of the Moderator of the Presbytery, and the Presi- 
 dent of the Union, steps were taken to make the formal recog- 
 nition of this notalDle event a prominent feature of this annual 
 function. The fact of the Celebration having been in due form 
 brought to the attention of the Union by the Church and by the 
 Presbytery, the following action was taken: "The Executive 
 Committee of the Presbyterian Social Union has accepted 
 for the Union the invitation of the Old First Church on Fifth 
 Avenue and Eleventh Street, and of the Presbytery of New 
 York, to join with them in celebrating at this time the Two 
 Hundredth Anniversary of Presbyterianism in New York City. 
 The Presbyterian Union takes pride in commemorating the 
 splendid and honorable traditions of the Church." With note- 
 worthy courtesy the Union invited Dr. and Mrs. Duffield to be 
 its Guests of Honor and requested the Pastor of the Old First 
 Church to be one of the After Dinner Speakers. 
 
 The gathering of Presbyterians at the Hotel Savoy upon 
 the evening of December 6th was more than ordinarily large 
 
 97 
 
and representative. Groups of members from all the Churches 
 of the Presbytery and the leaders of Presbyterian thought and 
 work throughout the City and the land were assembled. The 
 usual dining room was too small to accommodate the guests 
 and tables were placed in the adjoining salon. 
 
 Mr. Edwin J. Gillies presided with characteristic grace and 
 force. The Reverend Doctor Mendenhall, Moderator of the 
 Presbytery, said grace. The Reverend Doctor Jowett, Min- 
 ister of the Fifth Avenue Church, with great felicity of phrase, 
 gave an impressive analysis of the "Religious Life in England 
 as affected by the War." The Reverend Doctor Marquis, 
 Moderator of the General Assembly, in words aglow with light 
 and power, argued for the intensifying of the spiritual life of 
 the Presbyterian Church throughout the land. The Reverend 
 Doctor Duffield, Minister of the Old First Church, whose pas- 
 torate rounded out a quarter of a century at the same time 
 that his Church reached the Bi-Centennial mark dealt col- 
 loquially with the theme dictated by the occasion. "Twenty- 
 five Years — Behind and Ahead." The past he sketched with 
 informal anecdote and personal reminiscence. The future he 
 suggested was beckoning the Churches to reahze not only a 
 Social Union but a Spiritual Union of heart and life, from 
 which all denominational influences should be eliminated and 
 which should illustrate the great basic principle formulated by 
 Augustine, "In essentials, unity ; in non-essentials, liberty ; in 
 all things, charity." 
 
 98 
 
ANNIVERSARY DAY 
 
 Wednesday, December the Sixth, Eight p. m. 
 
 The Festival Service 
 
 The Festival Service was devoted to a presentation of the 
 varied lines along which the activity of the Old First Church 
 had been exerted. The Order of Exercises was planned to 
 bring into view the part which it had played in civic life, 
 philanthropic interest, educational work, and church develop- 
 ment within the city, and missionary enterprise throughout the 
 world. 
 
 Invitations had been issued in large numbers to the leaders 
 of all phases of ecclesiastical and civic thought and activity, 
 and to the heads of the National, State, and Municipal Gov- 
 ernments. The acceptances were general. The various De- 
 nominations and the Religious, Patriotic and Historic Societies 
 of the City appointed delegations. For all the representatives 
 of secular interests seats were assigned in the Church. The 
 Presbytery and the Delegates from religious organizations as- 
 sembled in the Chapel at seven-thirty o'clock. Wearing vest- 
 ments and academic robes, they entered the Church in proces- 
 sion, at eight o'clock. Led by the Pastor, they marched down 
 the South Aisle, across the end of the Church behind the screen, 
 and passed up the Centre Aisle to the pews reserved for them. 
 The Speakers of the evening, each with a special escort, was 
 conducted to his place in the Pulpit. The long lines of the pro- 
 cession, defiling through the densely crowded church, the bright 
 and various colors of the gowns and hoods, the brilliant uni- 
 forms of the Governor's Staff, together with the swelling tones 
 of the Processional Hymn, ushered in the Festival Service with 
 singular impressiveness. An Order of Service specially pre- 
 pared for this function had been distributed to every one pres- 
 ent. It contained in full every item of the evening's exercises 
 so that each person was enabled easily and fully to take part in 
 the Celebration. 
 
 99 
 
The Salutation was read 
 
 By the Reverend Doctor Howard Duffield, 
 
 Minister of the Old First Church. 
 
 The Choir sang as an Anthem the 
 "Sanctus" by Gounod. 
 
 The Reverend George J. Russell 
 
 Moderator of the Presbytery of Long Island 
 
 then led in the Reading from the Psalter of Psalm CXLV, 
 
 and offered the Prayer of General Thanksgiving. 
 
 Then was sung the Hymn : 
 "O where are Kings and empires now. 
 
 A series of Anniversary Addresses, illustrating and empha- 
 sizing the varied lines of influence along which the ministry of 
 the Old First Church had been exercised during the double 
 century since its founding, were then delivered. 
 
 An Address entitled 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND HER CHILDREN 
 
 was then delivered by 
 
 The Reverend Doctor William Pierson Merrill 
 Minister of the Brick Presbyterian Church 
 
 The little band of Presbyterians, which dared to establish 
 in New York City a Church of their own faith and order two 
 hundred years ago, has grown into a brotherhood of sixty 
 churches, with thirty-five thousand members. These Churches 
 send back, through a past, rich with varied experiences of 
 storm and sunshine, of growth in favorable and in unfavor- 
 able conditions, their greeting of reverence and love to the Old 
 First Church, the Church that once contained them all. It is 
 a staunch Calvinistic conviction that all of us were in Adam 
 when he sinned. It is a realization no less sound and far 
 more pleasant, that we were all in the Old First Church when 
 it began its corporate life. 
 
 And we are still one. The family has not grown so large 
 that we forget the inter-relationship. This occasion is like 
 the homecoming at Thanksgiving Day or Christmas. The 
 children are glad that they have homes of their own ; they 
 
 100 
 
may even be better friends for living in not too close an 
 intimacy. But it is good to be brought together at times in 
 the bonds of affection for the mother and the old home. 
 
 It would be quite inappropriate to attempt any historical 
 review of the growth of Presbyterians in New York City. 
 The time would fail me (as it failed even an inspired man 
 on one occasion) and the work has been done by those far 
 better qualified to deal with it. It is well to be content with 
 a simple greeting. It is not inappropriate that this word of 
 greeting should come from a representative of the Brick 
 Church, for that child stayed long in the home ; for forty years 
 fiving one corporate life with the Old First Church, though 
 in a separate building, not so much "tied to its mother's apron 
 strings" as "bound in one bundle of life." It is a privilege to 
 bring these greetings, however, not only from any one child, 
 but in the name of the whole family. 
 
 The growth from one church to sixty does not adequately 
 express the progress made by Presbyterianism on this island 
 during the past two hundred years. For conditions are such in 
 this abnormally crowded area, that churches are not easily 
 started or maintained. The present situation represents a sur- 
 vival, — we will not say of the fittest, but of the most fortunate. 
 There have been many consolidations, — intermarriages among 
 the descendants. There is a familiar saying that that man is a 
 public benefactor who can make two blades of grass grow 
 where one grew before. But in the conditions that obtain 
 here, we may well count that man a benefactor of the church, 
 who can make one strong ecclesiastical organization grow, 
 where two weak ones grew before. In the chorus of greetings 
 brought to the Old First Church, "Jerusalem, the mother of 
 us all," there are to be caught the voices of churches now no 
 longer to be found in tangible form, churches that have been 
 willing to fall into the ground and die, for the sake of the 
 wider interests of Presbyterianism and of the Kingdom of God. 
 
 We may well permit ourselves on this occasion to dwell a 
 little on some of the best outstanding characteristics which 
 have marked the Presbyterians of the City of New York. 
 
 First of all, in the beginning and throughout, the Presby- 
 terian Churches of this city have been characterized by a firm 
 
 101 
 
and splendid loyalty to their own great branch of the Christian 
 Church. Despite misunderstanding and wrong impressions 
 which may have obtained among outsiders at times, I know 
 that all will join with me in the confident assertion that 
 nowhere in America is there a Presbytery, or any organization 
 of Presbyterian men and women, more consistently and 
 eagerly loyal to the standards of the Presbyterian Church, to 
 the accepted statements of its belief, and to the historic prin- 
 ciples and ideals of Presbyterianism. Perhaps we may be 
 pardoned if, on such an occasion, we allow ourselves some 
 indulgence in self gratification that we have been loyal when 
 loyalty was severly tested; and that it seems clear to us 
 that more than once we have been most faithful to historic 
 Presbyterianism, when some were questioning our loyalty. 
 
 But the Presbyterian Churches of this City have been 
 heartily loyal not only to the standards and creeds of their 
 denomination, but as well to those larger interests, the work 
 and spirit and best traditions of Presbyterianism. How the 
 churches in this city have contributed and are contributing, 
 their best, in men and in resources, to the nation-wide, and 
 world-wide work of the great denomination of which they 
 are a part ! The Churches of this Presbytery have been fore- 
 most in studying the unity and the progress of the church. 
 
 Nowhere have we been more truly loyal to the spirit of our 
 beloved church than in that which some count weakness, 
 namely, our catholicity in giving and in service. Doubtless 
 it is true of Presbyterians in general, and notoriously true 
 of New York Presbyterians, that they give without stint 
 from their resources of wealth and personality to all good 
 work, to undenominational and inter-denominational under- 
 takings, as freely as to their own church causes. No doubt 
 it is a tendency carried too far in many cases ; no doubt 
 it is a weakness in the matter of denominational efficiency and 
 success. But there is something finely Christian in it, some- 
 thing of the very essence of the Presbyterian spirit. For 
 one of the deep and fundamental principles of our church is 
 that we assert that we are not the church, that the true church 
 of God is very wide and far-reaching, that all truth is ours, 
 
 102 
 
and that all good work is ours. Catholicity of giving and of 
 service is one of those weaknesses, through which the power 
 of Christ rests the more upon a man, or a fellowship of men; 
 one of those weaknesses in which we may well glory. 
 
 We recall with joy and gratitude the evidences that the 
 stock is not failing, that the Presbyterianism of New York 
 to-day is vigorous and alert. It was here that the vital task 
 of Church extension in City conditions first took on adequate 
 dimensions, and the leadership has been maintained. It is to 
 this Presbytery that those look for guidance who the country 
 over, are awake to the pressing problems of immigration and 
 congestion. By no means the least hopeful and interesting 
 among the children of the Old First Church, are the new 
 churches among the foreign born residents of our City, centres 
 of true Americanism, of civic worth, of Christian character 
 building. What is there anywhere in the world, that comes 
 nearer to a fulfillment of the inspired vision of a church made 
 up of all peoples and kindreds and tongues than the Interna- 
 tional Presbyterian Church at Labor Temple? It points with 
 hope to a time when this City shall be in truth the City of God. 
 
 So we, who have grown out of that first little band of 
 faithful Presbyterians, salute the Old First Church to-night. 
 We rejoice that the First Church is still here, still strong, still 
 facing the future with hope and courage and determination. 
 We give thanks for the real unity of our Presbytery, that, 
 large as the family has grown to be, it is still one family. 
 We hope and pray and believe that the best years of the Pres- 
 byterian Church on this island are still ahead of us ; and as 
 we look forward, our wish for the City which we love and 
 serve in the name of Christ, and for the Church which is the 
 loved Mother of us all, is found in the closing verses of the 
 prophecies of Exekiel and Daniel : 
 
 "And the name of the city in that day shall be, the Lord 
 is There." "And as for thee, go thy way; for thou shalt 
 stand in thy lot at the end of the days." May the Old First 
 Church be found standing in her lot, with her many children 
 around her in one strong loyal family, when this City shall at 
 last have become the City of our God. 
 
 103 
 
An Address Entitled 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND THE WINNING OF 
 
 THE WORLD 
 
 was then delivered by 
 
 The Reverend Doctor George Alexander 
 
 President of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions 
 
 Mr. Moderator, Members of the Presbytery of New York, 
 Minister and Members of the Old First Presbyterian 
 Church and Friends: 
 
 There is no more shining chapter in the annals of the First 
 Presbyterian Church of New York than that which records 
 its part in the winning of the world for Christ. It is no 
 exaggeration to say that in her arms the enterprise of Foreign 
 Missions, as prosecuted by the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America, was cradled. 
 
 In the year 1837 that Church proclaimed itself a missionary 
 organization, created a Board charged with the task of fulfill- 
 ing its missionary responsibility and located its headquarters 
 m this city. The year 1837 was a disastrous year, a year of 
 commercial panic which wrecked fortunes all over the land and 
 especially in New York. It was also a year of ecclesiastical 
 strife, resulting in a Presbyterian schism that remained for 
 more than thirty years unhealed. In the midst of a tempest, 
 the missionary craft was launched. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Miller, a Professor in Princeton Theological 
 Seminary, and a former Minister of this Church, was the 
 first President of the Board, which consisted of one hundred 
 and twenty members scattered over the country. The Board 
 in action was its Executive Committee, of which Dr. William 
 Wirt Phillips, then Minister of this Church, was Chairman 
 from the beginning. A wise and courteous leader of men, 
 a strong and commanding figure, he stood at the helm until 
 in 1865, death loosened his grasp. 
 
 With him were associated other honored members of this 
 Church, notably Mr. James Lenox, founder of the Lenox Li- 
 brary and other civic institutions, who, after an interval of 
 only two years, succeeded Dr. Phillips in the Chairmanship of 
 
 104 
 
the Committee, and at the reorganization in 1870 became first 
 President of the Board, as now constituted. Of this Com- 
 mittee the historian says : "Its meetings held weekly, with the 
 attendance of the Chairman, rarely interrupted during a quar- 
 ter of a century, constituted a pre-eminent factor in the ad- 
 vance of the work abroad and in securing for it the confidence 
 and support of the Churches." 
 
 This record of fidelity is all the more remarkable since the 
 First Church itself was in 1837 passing through a season of 
 stress. Only two years before, its holy and beautiful house 
 had been reduced to ashes in the great fire, which necessitated 
 the strain of rebuilding on the old site in Wall Street, to be 
 followed in a very few years by the wrench of removal to 
 Twelfth Street. 
 
 Dr. William M. Paxton succeeded Dr. Phillips in Foreign 
 Mission service as well as in the pastorate of this Church and 
 continued to be a member of the Board until his death. For 
 five years, from 1880 to 1885, he was President of the Board, 
 so that, for half of the life of the Board of Foreign Missions, 
 a minister or a member of the First Church presided over its 
 deliberations and powerfully influenced its policies. 
 
 It is a matter of some interest to me personally that during 
 fifty years of the life of that Board the presiding officer has 
 been an Alumnus of the little college in Schenectady which 
 it is my privilege to call Alma Mater. 
 
 During the first forty years of the Board's existence this 
 Church was the largest contributor to its treasury. I take the 
 record of a single year as a fair sample: — "contributions for 
 Church Support $12,000, for Foreign Missions $36,000." 
 Even as late as the year 1870, this Church contributed more 
 than one-ninth of the Board's receipts from all our churches 
 throughout the land. 
 
 Thirty years ago our Boards of Home and Foreign Mis- 
 sions occupied cramped quarters in a little old house at 23 
 Center Street. It was an honored member of this Church, 
 Mr. Robert Lenox Kennedy, who by a personal gift of $50,000 
 and by his family influence, affected their removal to the 
 former Lenox Mansion on the corner of 12tk Street and 
 
 105 
 
5th Avenue. If some of us had been as wise twenty years 
 ago, as we think we are to-day, it is probable that the head- 
 quarters of the Presbyterian Church in America would have 
 been a stately edifice in place of the towering commercial 
 building on yonder corner, and Howard Duffield, instead of 
 George Alexander, as President of the Board of Foreign Mis- 
 sions would be talking to you about "The Old First Church 
 and the Winning of the World." 
 
 It should be added that in those formative years when forces 
 resident in this Church were the controlling forces in the 
 Board of Foreign Missions, the great missionary leaders, who 
 being dead are yet speaking, were chosen, commissioned and 
 supported in their heroic service. The Lowries, the Morri- 
 sons, the Newtons, the saintly George Boehm in India, Nevius 
 in China, Hepburn in Japan, and Wilson in Africa, — men of 
 extraordinary capacity and consecration, who exalted the task 
 of world evangelization and made it glorious in the eyes of 
 all people. 
 
 Little did the faithful men of that generation realize how 
 wisely they were building and to what proportions the work 
 of their hands would grow ! Could they have foreseen that 
 in this year of grace, their Board of Foreign Missions would 
 be gathering and expending two and one-half millions of 
 dollars, supporting fourteen hundred foreign missionaries and 
 six thousand native helpers, maintaining schools, colleges, dis- 
 pensaries and hospitals, establishing mighty centers of civili- 
 zation, philanthropy, and Gospel light in every dark continent, 
 they would have been as men that dream ; "their mouth would 
 have been filled with laughter and their tongue with singing." 
 
 If the Old First Church, Dr. Duffield, should die to-morrow, 
 it would have its memorial in many a far land, and not only 
 have a memorial, but be still working there. May she not 
 die, but live through the ages, borrowing fresh courage and 
 strength and stimulus from the traditions of her great past ! - 
 
 106 
 
An Address entitled 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND EDUCATION 
 
 was then delivered by 
 
 The Reverend Doctor John Grier Hibben, 
 
 President of Princeton University *• 
 
 Mr. Moderator, Dr. Duffield, Visiting Delegates, His Ex- 
 cellency, the Governor and Members of the Congregation of 
 the First Presbyterian Church: 
 
 I regard it a great privilege to bring to your church this 
 evening the very hearty felicitations of Princeton University. 
 The name of Princeton University would be unknown to the 
 founders of this church. They knew Princeton only under 
 the name of the College of New Jersey. One of the pastors 
 of this church, Ebenezer Pemberton, belonged to the little 
 group of men who founded at Princeton the College of New 
 Jersey, and continued throughout his life a most influential 
 and devoted Trustee of the College. 
 
 The test, perhaps, of any institution is to be found in its 
 first years, and through this stormy period we had the con- 
 stant sympathy, encouragement and support of Ebenezer Pem- 
 berton. And then the second period of storm and stress for 
 the young College occurred in the days of the Revolution, and 
 at that time Dr. Witherspoon was the President of the col- 
 lege, and a very intimate friend of John Rogers, the Pastor 
 of this Church. 
 
 John Rogers was also a Trustee of the University. And 
 from the beginnings of Princeton to the present day we have 
 looked to the First Church for counsel and for substantial 
 support. In our endeavor to repay this debt, we have been 
 training young boys who have come to us, and in after years 
 they have appeared in this pulpit as your pastors, with the 
 stamp of the Princeton training upon their character and 
 upon their preaching. 
 
 Presbyterianism has as one of its by-products — or perhaps 
 I should correct myself and say one of its natural products — 
 the founding of academies and colleges and universities. 
 Our forefathers two hundred years ago at the founding of this 
 
 107 
 
Church, and again one hundred and seventy years ago, at the 
 beginnings of Princeton, had only three ideals which they 
 hoped to realize; and to those ideals, which blended into one, 
 they concentrated all their efforts, all their endeavor, — the 
 Church, the School and the State. The men who founded the 
 churches of this country were the men who founded our 
 academies and colleges, and the men who founded our acade- 
 mies and colleges were among the foremost in the time of 
 our country's greatest danger. For two hundred years you 
 have been maintaining through all the history of this City 
 a position in which you have done constructive work, minis- 
 tering to the best citizenship of this community. You have 
 stood in the very front line of battle. You have maintained 
 your position here in the first line of trenches and you have 
 not withdrawn when the powers of darkness closed about you ; 
 but here, at the point where you have been most needed, you 
 have been and are doing, and I trust with the favor of God 
 you will continue to do this great work of enlightening the 
 darkness that surrounds you. , 
 
 I think that we all feel in coming together on a festival 
 occasion such as this, how deeply the shadows are cast about 
 our national life at this present time, and through what a 
 grave crisis we as the people are now passing. This may 
 escape the man on the street, but the serious, the reflective 
 person bears the burden of great anxiety and apprehension 
 of what may come to us as a people in the near future. 
 
 On Thanksgiving Day last I happened to take up a book of 
 addresses of Abraham Lincoln and turned, by suggestion of 
 the day, to his Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1864. There 
 was just one idea in that Proclamation which he elaborated, 
 and just one thing for which he thanked God in the name of 
 the American people, and that was, that they had been in- 
 spired and animated by God to show themselves courageous 
 and resolute in the face of a great national crisis. No men- 
 tion of the material wealth or abundant prosperity of the land"; 
 he mentioned only the moral and spiritual vigor of the peo- 
 ple. Some one will say it was natural to emphasize the 
 moral and spiritual vigor of the people and thank God for 
 
 108 
 
it when the country was in such great danger. But I believe 
 most profoundly that we as a people are tried not only by 
 the perils of adversity but the more difficult, the more subtle 
 perils of prosperity, and that at this present day we are 
 passing through this period of trial. Can we as a people 
 stand the material prosperity of the present day? Whether 
 we know it or not, we are being at the present time weighed 
 in the balance. 
 
 I do not know whether you noticed a few weeks ago the 
 account of the death of a young man, a Lieutenant Butters 
 of the British Army, who went out from the State of Cali- 
 fornia to volunteer his services in this great world struggle. 
 He died in the Somme attack. But just before that attack 
 he wrote a letter home and that letter was published in our 
 press. In the letter among other things he said he could not 
 help but believe — as he expressed it — that they all were gain- 
 ing a certain honorable advancement for their souls, in that 
 struggle in which they were engaged. "Honorable advance- 
 ment for their souls!" Can we say that to-day of the young 
 men of America through all of their professions, through all of 
 their business life, through all of their pursuits in this day of 
 prosperity, that they are gaining an "honorable advancement for 
 their souls." We know what the men of Europe, those young 
 men, are gaining to-day. They are gaining a spiritual insight 
 that they never had before. With all the terrible sacrifices 
 of the war there is this compensation brought to those who 
 are engaged in it, help of soul, elevation of spirit. God for- 
 bid that the young men of our country should be compelled 
 to pass through such scenes in order to get such a reward. 
 
 And, therefore, I feel that this situation is to-day a chal- 
 lenge to the Church on the one hand and the College on the 
 other. We are to see to it by all our endeavors, by all our 
 energies, by a new consecration not only of our activities but 
 of our thought, that we in some way stir up the young men 
 of our country to realize their situation, their privilege, their 
 opportunity and their responsibility. We — this Church, Prince- 
 ton University, all the institutions of this country of a like 
 kind — we are all to have a part in the building up of a new 
 world. And how shall that new world be built? 
 
 109 
 
Farseeing men to-day tell us as regards the economic and 
 industrial world, as regards the political world, that there 
 is to be one great idea that will dominate Europe, and if 
 we are to keep pace with Europe it must dominate us. That 
 idea is the idea of common interest, concentrated along the lines 
 of concerted action. The day of extreme individualism is 
 to pass, and pass away forever. We are to work together, 
 industrially and politically. That is to be the great formative 
 constructive idea. Can the church contribute anything along 
 that line? It seems to me that the church has, out of the 
 very essential idea of Christianity, this contribution to make 
 to this country, namely, the idea of a common cause, the cause 
 of truth and of justice, the cause of righteousness — the cause 
 of the eternal God and His Christ. 
 
 One of the writers of the present day in France, perhaps 
 we may say the most eminent of all the writers of this present 
 day in any land, because he has just received as recognition 
 of his brilliant attainments, the Nobel Prize, — looking out from 
 Europe to-day amidst all the bloodshed, all the disaster of 
 war, says that it is possible in his opinion to build up out of 
 all this wreckage — what? What he is pleased to call the City 
 of God ! "For the finer spirits of Europe," he writes, "there 
 are two dwelling places ; one our earthly Fatherland and the 
 other the City of God. Of the one we are the guests ; of the 
 other the builders. To the one we must give our lives and 
 our faithful hearts ; but neither family, nor friend, nor Father- 
 land, nor aught that we love, is to have ultimate power over 
 the spirit. The spirit is the Hfe. It is our duty to hft it 
 above the tempests, to thrust aside the clouds which threaten 
 to obscure it and build up higher and stronger the walls of 
 that City wherein the souls of the whole world may assemble." 
 And taking his idea, is it too much to say that it is possible 
 for this Church, with concerted action, with all the forces 
 that make for righteousness in this community, to make of 
 this City, the City of God? Some may smile at the characteri- 
 zation of New York as the City of God. But it is possible, 
 and if that idea can here by realized, it will be the hope and 
 the salvation of our nation. But in order that it may be re- 
 
 110 
 
alized not only the Church as an organization but the Uni- 
 versity as an organization, all of us individually, must take 
 the very serious problem home to ourselves, how we may be 
 able to simplify our lives so that we may bring them in line 
 with this great project and to throw all of our energies into 
 its realization. 
 
 You may have noticed a few days ago in a paper describ- 
 ing the burial of the late Emperor of Austria the pro- 
 gram of the funeral procession was given somewhat as fol- 
 lows : — the funeral procession would be halted at the en- 
 trance to the vault in which are buried all together some one 
 hundred and thirty-two of the old Hapsburg line. And as 
 they stop, there is to come a challenge from within, "Who is 
 there?" Reply will be made, "His Most Serene Majesty the 
 Emperor Francis Joseph." The challenger will then reply, 
 "I know him not." Responding to a second challenge, "Who 
 is there?" the reply will be made, "The Emperor of Austria, 
 the Apostolic King of Hungary." The challenger will an- 
 swer, "I know him not." When for the third time the voice 
 within asks, "Who demands admittance?" the master of cere- 
 monies is to make reply, "A sinful man, our brother Francis 
 Joseph." The portals will then swing open and the proces- 
 sion will enter. 
 
 A sinful man before God ! A brother to one's fellowmen ! 
 That is the supreme condition of citizenship in the great "City 
 of God." Shall we, my friends, wait until we come into 
 the condition of the late Emperor of Austria at the time of 
 our death, shall we wait for that day when we are reduced 
 in the sight of God to our simplest terms? Shall we not 
 rather seize now upon this idea to confess ourselves sinners in 
 the sight of God, but brothers to our fellowmen ? Let that idea 
 rule us, not in the hour of death merely but in the full flood 
 of life. 
 
 Ill 
 
An Address entitled 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND SOCIAL SERVICE 
 
 was then delivered by 
 
 Mr. Eugenius H. Outerbridge, 
 
 President of the New York Chamber of Commerce 
 
 On this great anniversary of two hundred years of active 
 life and service in this community, it is, I think, historically 
 worth while and also interesting to recall the relations which 
 the Old First Church and its members have had with social 
 service activities in this City. 
 
 One hundred and sixteen years ago this Church must have 
 already gained a distinctive position in the community in re- 
 gard to its sympathies and activities in charitable work on a 
 large scale, because it was in 1801 that Captain Robert Richard 
 Randall, at that time a prominent and wealthy resident of New 
 York City, declared in his will that, for all time, whoever might 
 be the Pastor of this Church should be one of a small body 
 of Trustees of his estate, which he was leaving for the estab- 
 lishment of that wonderful charity known as the Sailors Snug 
 Harbor; and so it happens that your Pastor, Dr. Howard 
 Dufifield, has for twenty-five years been one of those Trustees. 
 
 Perhaps many of you do not know that Captain Randall's 
 farm which constituted a large part of the estate which he was 
 leaving for this purpose, included nearly all of that section 
 of the City lying on the North side of Washington Square, 
 up Fifth Avenue to Ninth Street and East to Broadway ; a por- 
 tion of it extending even to Fourth Avenue. 
 
 This densely settled section of the City can hardly now be 
 thought of as having been a farm. With the care and devel- 
 opment of that great tract of property, your Pastor has had 
 to concern himself during the past quarter of a century; but 
 what I am sure has interested him much more, has been the 
 building up of that great Institution on Staten Island for the 
 care and comfort of aged and infirm seamen, where they 
 live out the remainder of their fives in this safe and peaceful 
 harbor, free of all anxiety, with the comforts and indeed 
 
 112 
 
luxuries, such as neither the forecastle or the cabin ever pro- 
 vided in the days of their active sea service. 
 
 Similarly also, the founders of the Leake and Watts Orphan 
 Home in Yonkers provided that your Pastor should be one 
 of the Trustees of that corporation, and through him this 
 Church has been and will continue to be a directing influence 
 in its affairs. 
 
 It was one of the members of this Church, Mr. James Lenox^ 
 who donated that splendid block of property between Madison 
 and Park Avenues, and Seventieth and Seventy-first Streets, 
 for the founding of the Presbyterian Hospital and upon which 
 it now stands. The Hospital corporation was organized in 
 the Old First Lecture Room, and as long as Mr. Lenox lived, 
 all meetings of the Directors were held there. 
 
 Then, having thus provided for the physical needs and care 
 of the sick and injured, this same generous giver thought of 
 the intellectual needs of the people and gave to this City the 
 wonderful Lenox Library. 
 
 Coming down through more recent years, the establishment 
 of industrial classes, the support of convalescent ^nd rest 
 homes for aged women and many other good works have 
 signified the broad and helpful activity of this church and its 
 people in social service work. 
 
 Standing here between downtown and uptown, it has felt 
 the fickle winds of fashion blow over it, and the changing 
 tides of trade swirl about it, and pass on, leaving its foundation 
 unshaken and its power for good undisturbed. Here it has 
 touched, in greater or lesser degree, countless thousands of men 
 and women, who in these economic changes and in the tur- 
 moil of their busy and transitory lives, have for a time, 
 labored around this center and passed on. Here it stands, 
 never closed, spreading its influence and welcome to all comers 
 every day in the year. So much for the past. 
 
 In conclusion I would like to say just a word for the future. 
 
 Situated in perhaps the only part of the city of Greater 
 New York that may be said to possess a "neighborhood" it 
 supplies a spiritual and practical center for what, if the peo- 
 ple of this neighborhood so will it, may become a center of 
 
 113 
 
art, literature and religion. A center, which may express by 
 its people, in its methods of life and in the character of its 
 buildings, the ideals of cultured but simple living, free from 
 ostentation and extravagance. In place of ever changing 
 currents of trade, there may be substituted and perpetuated 
 here a real civic center, a community life and spirit, a munici- 
 pal example, w^hich as pictured in the beautiful thought and 
 words of Dr. Hibben, may make it indeed the First Little 
 City of God in the City of Greater New York. 
 
 An Address entitled 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND EDUCATION 
 
 was then delivered by 
 
 The Reverend Doctor J. Ross Stevenson, 
 
 President of Princeton Theological Seminary 
 
 I count it a great honor on this joyous occasion to bring 
 the greeting of Princeton Seminary, an Institution which has 
 trained for the Christian ministry six thousand men, the larg- 
 est number sent out by any American theological institution, 
 and which has to-day in the service of the church three thou- 
 sand graduates, and an Institution which owes much in every 
 way to the Old First Church. It was the Pastor of the Church, 
 Dr. Samuel Miller, who more than a hundred years ago elo- 
 quently advocated the establishment of a Presbyterian Semi- 
 nary. In the Assembly of 1810 he was Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee, which brought in a report recommending that a Semi- 
 nary should be established and that it should be located at 
 Princeton. This Church not only had a voice in the organiza- 
 tion of our Seminary, but all through the years it has taken 
 a most active part in its direction and maintenance. Not to 
 mention gifts for special needs sent in from time to time — 
 the amounts contributed by members of this Church — the 
 Lenox family, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Kennedy and Mrs. Win- 
 throp — towards grounds, buildings and endowment reach a 
 grand total of more than two million of dollars. On the 
 Boards of Directors and Trustees this Church during the en- 
 tire life of the Institution has been continuously represented. 
 
 114 
 
All the Pastors of this Church since 1812 have, with the excep- 
 tion of Dr. Whelpley, been members of the Seminary direc- 
 torate. Dr. Duffield's twenty-fifth anniversary as the Pastor 
 of this Church marks his service of a quarter of a century as 
 a Princeton Director. For fifty years this Church has been 
 served continuously by Princeton Seminary graduates. There 
 are two names which form the strongest links between the 
 Seminary of the Presbyterian Church and ''The Old First," 
 Samuel Miller and William M. Paxton. The former resigned 
 the Pastorate of this Church in 1813 to accept the Professor- 
 ship of Church Government and Ecclesiastical History in 
 Princeton Seminary, which position he filled for thirty-six 
 years. He and Dr. Archibald Alexander are very properly 
 considered the founders of Princeton Seminary. Dr. Henry 
 A. Boardman of Philadelphia speaking of the Divine Spirit's 
 influence in the establishment of the Seminary says, ''His 
 benign agency is especially to be recognized in the selection of 
 the original Professors. Upon them would depend mainly, 
 under Providence not only the character of this Seminary, 
 but the character of future Seminaries to be established in 
 other parts of the church and indeed the character of our 
 ministry as a body. Our church can never be sufficiently 
 grateful to God, that He so ordered events as to place the 
 institution in the hands of two men who were prominently 
 qualified for this very responsible trust." Dr. Paxton was 
 called from the Pastorate of this Church in 1883 to take up 
 the work of the Chair of Ecclesiastical Homiletical and 
 Pastoral Theology, and in a faithful and wide-reaching service 
 he labored for twenty years. The spirit of these two men has 
 been woven into the very texture of the Seminary's life 
 and work. Men of strong doctrinal beliefs, clearly appre- 
 hending the truth as it is in Jesus, and possessing a passion 
 for its proclamation, they were men of irenic temper, al- 
 ways solicitious for the peace and harmony of the Church. 
 When the question of theological training was agitating the 
 church more than a hundred years ago, three propositions came 
 before the General Assembly, first, to establish a Seminary 
 in each Synod, seven in all; second, to establish two Semi- 
 
 115 
 
naries in such places as might best accommodate the North- 
 ern and Southern divisions of the Church, and third, to 
 found one great school in some convenient place. It was 
 Dr. Miller's advocacy of one Seminary which prevailed, and 
 the reasons he urged were, the advantage of large funds, a 
 more extensive library, a greater number of professors, a 
 system of education, therefore, more extensive and perfect; 
 the youths educated in it would also be more united in the 
 same views and contract an early and lasting friendship for 
 each other, circumstances which could not fail to promote 
 prosperity and harmony in the church. When the Old and 
 New School parties arose in the Church the Princeton Pro- 
 fessors counseled moderation and restraint. Indeed so toler- 
 ant was their spirit and so close their friendship with some 
 of the New School men that conservatives in New York took 
 alarm, and believing that Princeton was about to be captured 
 by the liberal wing of the Church, they took steps to estab- 
 lish an Old School Seminary here in New York, going so 
 far as to select a suitable site, and place funds in the bank 
 for the undertaking. Dr. Paxton, brought up in the Old 
 School branch, formed close friendships with New School 
 colleagues, with Dr. William Adams first of all, for whom 
 he cherished a boundless reverence, with Doctors Henry B. 
 Smith, Thomas H. Skinner, Robert H. Booth, Howard Crosby, 
 Charles H. Robinson. He was a lecturer in Union Seminary 
 and held a place in the Board of Government. These men 
 also brought to the Seminary the spirit of a strong and ag- 
 gressive evangelism. When Dr. Miller began his work as a 
 teacher he made the solemn resolution "that by the grace of 
 God, I will not merge my office as a Minister of the Gospel 
 in that of Professor." Trained for the pulpit he gloried in 
 preaching and his heart glowed with a passion for souls. 
 Along with his colleagues, the students of the Seminary, the 
 President and some earnest students of the College, a day of 
 fasting and prayer was observed in 1823, in behalf of a greater 
 religious interest in institutions of higher learning. This 
 marked the beginning of a revival and inaugurated what is 
 since known as "The Day of Prayer for Colleges." Dr. Mil- 
 
 116 
 
ler's biographer gives us a striking picture of him engaged in 
 conversation with Daniel Webster as they journeyed by steam- 
 boat to Philadelphia. These two men walked up and down the 
 deck and Mr. Webster listened intently, as the earnest prophet 
 of the Lord set before him the claims of Jesus Christ. In 
 like manner Dr. Paxton corresponded with President Bu- 
 chanan, explaining to him the nature of experimental religion 
 and the significance of a profession of faith in Christ and 
 received from him assurance of his trust in the Saviour and 
 decision to unite with the Church. These men held that 
 Theological Seminaries are primarily training schools for min- 
 isters of the Gospel, and whose students should have the spirit 
 of the original propagators of the faith, known as lovers and 
 defenders of the truth, and friends of revivals of religion. 
 And they also imbued the Seminary with missionary interest 
 and zeal. Due no doubt to Dr. Miller's influence, the original 
 plan of the Seminary has this aim : "It is to found a nursery 
 for missionaries to the heathen, and to such as are destitute 
 of the stated preaching of the gospel; in which, youth may 
 receive that appropriate training which may lay the founda- 
 tion for their ultimately becoming eminently qualified for mis- 
 sionary work." As early as 1829 Dr. Miller and Dr. Alexan- 
 der and Dr. Hodge advocated the establishment of a Mission- 
 ary Department in Princeton Seminary. Dr. Miller recorded 
 in 1823 his resolution to devote himself more earnestly to the 
 precious cause of missions, domestic and foreign. It was 
 largely due to his advocacy in 1836, when he laid down the 
 principle that the Church is a missionary and educational so- 
 ciety commissioned to send the gospel to every creature and to 
 train laborers therefor, that our Foreign Mission Board was 
 organized. He was the first President of this Board and con- 
 tinued in office until his death. Dr. Paxton was also a mem- 
 ber, and for a while, the President of this same Board, and 
 sustained a similar relationship to the Home Board. It is 
 not surprising, therefore, that Princeton Seminary has sent 
 more men into missionary service than any other Institution 
 in our land. The time would fail me to speak of other strong 
 ties which bind Princeton Seminary to this honored Church. 
 
 117 
 
Others have labored, and we who have entered into their labors 
 can do nothing better and nobler than to make the past a suc- 
 cess by increasing their heritage, fulfilling their worthy pur- 
 poses and by following them as they followed Christ. 
 
 An Address entitled 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND THE 
 
 COMMONWEALTH 
 
 was then delivered by 
 
 The Honorable Charles S. Whitman 
 
 Governor of the State of New York 
 
 To-night as I entered the Church, my very old friend Justice 
 Goff , our former Recorder, recalled the fact that sometime ago, 
 at a Presbyterian gathering in the City, the presiding officer re- 
 marked, "Our District Attorney, I know, is entirely at home 
 in at least two places in this world ; one of them is a criminal 
 courtroom, and the other within the walls of a Presbyterian 
 church." I grew up in a Presbyterian parsonage, I was 
 graduated from there to the Criminal Court. I am thor- 
 oughly familiar with both places ; and I am absolutely sure 
 tTiat a more intimate association on the part of both would be 
 better for either. 
 
 By virtue of the office, which is likely to be mine for two 
 years to come, it has been my privilege — and it is a very great 
 privilege — to be present at gatherings, celebrations, anniver- 
 saries, centennials of various organizations, civic, social and 
 religious, in various parts of this State in which we live, and 
 which we all love. In addressing an organization consecrated 
 to religious and social activities, as is this organization, and 
 the hundreds and thousands of other organizations all over 
 New York, I realize, as I know you do, the tremendous sig- 
 nificance of what it means when a splendid gathering Hke 
 this comes together to celebrate two hundred years of exist- 
 ence of this Church in this great City. But the real life of 
 this Church, and of any church as old as this, or as young 
 as this, is lived not alone within this City where it has stood 
 for two hundred years, but in the vast numbers of men 
 
 118 
 
and women who have gone forth from this Church, and from 
 hundreds of other churches in this City of New York, who 
 have been inspired here and in those other churches to noble 
 lives, reaching and inspiring other lives as they have gone 
 forth, bringing their wealth of splendid manhood and of splen- 
 did womanhood to the towns and villages throughout this 
 State, and to other communities throughout the nation. All 
 these have been, in a very true sense, making history for the 
 First Presbyterian Church for two hundred years. It is im- 
 possible to estimate how much of good has been accomplished 
 for the Commonwealth, and for this nation, by this organiza- 
 tion brought into being two hundred years ago. 
 
 It is eminently fitting, it seems to me, that one who has a 
 right, and who is extremely proud of the privilege of repre- 
 senting all the people of all the State of New York — ten mil- 
 lions of people or more — should rejoice with you, and should 
 speak the sentiments which I know animate all people familiar 
 with the conditions, and would inspire them all, did they but 
 know the conditions, to rejoice with you and share with you 
 in this service and on this occasion. We are brothers and 
 sisters in this great State. We are divided in all kinds of 
 ways, but after all, notwithstanding all that we say about each 
 other, we really do love each other. Perhaps no one religious 
 organization has played a more important part in the civic life 
 of this City, and of this State, than has this old Church. It 
 was old even in the days of the Revolution. It did not belong 
 to a machine ; it was irregular before the Revolution. Being 
 a, dissenting body, they would not even let it have a charter. 
 It was not recognized at all. It was not an incorporated church 
 Ijefore the Revolution. Its charter was held by the Presby- 
 terian Assembly of Scotland. Yes, this Church was owned in 
 Scotland before the Revolution. 
 
 The inscription upon its seal is, at least technically and le- 
 gally, correct. "The First Church in the Commonwealth of 
 New York !" A pretty big claim, my friends. Nothing mod- 
 est about that claim on the part of the First Church. "The 
 First Church in the Commonwealth of New York!" It 
 was not the "first church" at all, but it was the first religious 
 
 119 
 
organization to receive corporate existence under the first Act 
 for the Incorporation of ReHgious Societies which was passed 
 by the first legislature assembled in the State of New York 
 after New York had become a sovereign State. The first 
 religious charter given by the first legislature of the State of 
 New York was given to this Church. There were politicians 
 before the present generation ; and I have often wondered if 
 the fact that this Church should have received the first charter 
 from the first Legislature, was at all due to the other fact that 
 the Chaplain of that Legislature was the Pastor of this Church. 
 
 In revolutionary days, when social and religious organiza- 
 tions were divided, members of this Church were among the 
 staunchest friends and supporters of Washington and his 
 armies. General McDougal, Colonel of the First New York 
 Infantry, Brigadier General in 1776, Major General in 1777, 
 was an Elder in this Church all the time. A tablet upon the 
 wall of this church building recalls the fact that Col. John 
 Broome, a gallant soldier of the Revolution, was for many 
 years a consistent and devoted member here ; and the Pastor of 
 this anything but meek and lowly flock at that time was a 
 trusted friend of Washington, was the Chaplain of Heath's 
 fighting brigade and leader of the first Constitutional Conven- 
 tion ever assembled in this State, of the Committee of Seventy, 
 and, as I have said before, of the first Legislature of New 
 York. 
 
 At the outbreak of the Revolution three of its members, 
 leading lawyers of this city, who were consistent and con- 
 spicuous advocates of the principles which resulted in the 
 American Revolution — the "Presbyterian Triumvirate," as they 
 were called — sent a call to Boston and to Philadelphia and 
 to the South for a convocation of the colonies of the South to 
 take a stand for American liberty against British invasion of 
 American rights ; and this, says the historian Bancroft, was 
 the origin of the call for a Continental Congress. I under- 
 stand that some of the members of this Church are almost 
 inclined to claim that the Continental Congress began in the 
 First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 You saw a small portion of my army march up the aisle 
 to-night. I know that some of you realized at least that this 
 
 120 
 
was not the first time that military uniforms had been seen 
 within the walls or the martial tread of marching feet heard 
 in the First Church. Its building was used as a barracks for 
 British soldiers, and as a riding school for the men that were 
 fighting those who were defending American liberties much 
 more than a century ago. 
 
 I might continue until I should tire you recounting incidents 
 more of which I presume you have already heard during the 
 past few days here in this building. Yours is a goodly her- 
 itage, a proud character. By what this powerful Church has 
 done in the years that are gone we may know something of its 
 possibilities during the years that are to come. It has exer- 
 cised in years gone by a mighty influence in the life of this 
 splendid commonwealth of New York, not only on account 
 of its pulpit, which has ever been powerful, as it is to-day, 
 but as well because its members were actively interested in 
 the life of the community and the State — at least, they were in 
 years gone by, — bringing to their duties the inspiring force 
 of Christian manhood devoted to things that were true, that 
 were righteous and that were of good report. If this land 
 of ours is great it is because our souls have been made to 
 keep pace with our minds, because we have permitted no fatal 
 breach between our intellect and our ideals. If this greatness 
 is to continue, if our conviction of our high destiny is to be 
 realized, there must be no lessening in the importance of our 
 religious institutions, in the value of ideals, in the militancy of 
 faith. More than ever before the problems of life demand 
 that religion shall be part and parcel of life, gaining new and 
 more vital meaning with every day that passes. 
 
 There is no place in this world of ours for a church that 
 disdains the work of the world and the life of the world. Re- 
 moteness and aloofness soon become uselessness. I know you 
 will understand the allusion when I say we do not want our 
 good churchmen "on the side lines," we want them "in the 
 game." 
 
 It is the history of Christendom from the first, that relig- 
 ious movements have been marked by interest in human con- 
 ditions and by fearless and united attack upon evil and upon 
 
 121 
 
injustice, I admit no fundamental evil in our national life, 
 in the life of our City or State. I hold it is good, all of it. 
 There is not a single injustice that has not been cried out 
 against, and that will not be remedied when the people come to 
 realize the power that lies in united attack. To help to bring 
 about this unity is peculiarly, it seems to me, the work of re- 
 ligious preachers and religious teachers and religious organ- 
 izations ; and by your splendid past and present, by the splen- 
 did service which you have rendered to the State and the land 
 in the years that have gone by, we measure, and we have a 
 right to measure, the things that you are abundantly able to 
 do and the things that you are yet to do for the Common- 
 wealth of New York and for humanity. 
 
 Then was sung the Hymn : 
 
 "God bless our native land." 
 
 The following Letters were then read by 
 
 The Reverend Doctor Marquis. 
 
 The White House, 
 
 Washington 
 
 Shadow Lawn, 
 October 23, 1916. 
 My dear Dr. Duffield: 
 
 I am complimented by the invitation so kindly conveyed by 
 your letter of October twentieth to attend the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the founding of the Old First Presbyterian 
 Church in the City of New York, but, unhappily, it is impos- 
 sible for me to accept because the celebration falls at the very 
 time of the assembling of Congress for the last session of the 
 64th Congress. 
 
 Since I cannot be present in person, will you not accept for 
 yourself and convey to the officers and members of the Old 
 First Church my very warm congratulations on the occasion 
 of the bi-centennial celebration of the founding of the congre- 
 gation? They certainly have reason to look back with grati- 
 fication and pride upon a long history of distinguished service 
 to the community. 
 
 Cordially and sincerely yours, 
 
 Woodrow Wilson. 
 
 122 
 
Sagamore Hill. 
 
 November 13th, 1916. 
 My dear Dr. Du field: 
 
 I thank you for your kind invitation. I greatly regret that 
 it is out of my power to be present on such an historic occasion. 
 With all good wishes, 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Theodore Roosevelt. 
 
 November 7th, 1916. 
 My dear Dr. Dii field: 
 
 I write to congratulate you on the celebration of the Bi- 
 centennial of the Old First Presbyterian Church in the city 
 of New York. The leading part which this old church has 
 played in ecclesiastical affairs in America for two centuries 
 makes this celebration of the utmost interest. Its service to 
 our country during the Revolutionary period, in recruiting 
 the Sons of Liberty from its membership, and furnishing 
 many of the officers of the Continental Army, entitle it to the 
 gratitude of all Americans. Such an historic heritage as that 
 you have is exceptional among churches, and you are right to 
 cherish it. I am sorry I can not be with you to join in the 
 celebration, which I hope will be a great success. 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Wm. H. Taft. 
 
 A Greeting from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States was then delivered 
 By the Moderator 
 The Reverend Doctor John A. Marquis 
 
 It is my privilege to convey to the Pastor, the Officers and 
 Members of this historic Church the Greetings of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of that Communion, in whose history this Church 
 has played so conspicuous a part. You have a great past, a 
 past full of noble service and of glorious deeds; but you also 
 have a future, of which we are desirous to congratulate you 
 as well as upon your great record. The past with its ser- 
 vices rendered to both the Kingdom of Christ and the coun- 
 
 123 
 
try is magnificent, but we believe the future is going to be 
 finer still, in service to the country, the city, and to the w^hole 
 Church of Jesus Christ. 
 
 You have had the courage to stay downtow^n, when you 
 might have gone to a more promising section uptown; and 
 for that courage we greet you and congratulate you to-night, 
 and take pride in you. You have a chance here to find the 
 solution to a very difficult problem, one of the most difficult 
 confronting the Church to-day; that of making the Church 
 what it ought to be in a downtown district. The frontier of 
 the gospel to-day is not on the plains. It is not in the Rocky 
 Mountains. It is in the dividing line between Uptown and 
 Downtown in our great cities. 
 
 You began as a pioneer Church two hundred years ago. 
 You are a pioneer Church to-day in remaining in a great un- 
 captured section of the City into which the Church must ere 
 long find an opening. 
 
 We trust you will find the key to making the Church a 
 home in this downtown community, a place of warmth and 
 sympathy, a place of invitation, of Christian experience and 
 uplifting worship to the whole community. 
 
 I often think of this Church and of Trinity on lower Broad- 
 way, as oases in the great wilderness of granite cliffs about 
 them; places where the grass is green, where there is an at- 
 mosphere radiating welcome and invitation. I have seen 
 churches in some of our cities whose only announcement or 
 sign on the outside, visible to the naked eye, was the address 
 of the undertaker. I am sure that the outside of this Church 
 is going to present a vastly different front to the community. 
 What greater service can you render to the community or 
 to the Kingdom of Christ than to make the people round 
 about feel that here is a spot where they can think of higher 
 things, where there is warmth and cheer and help, that after 
 all this is a good community to live in, and in which they can 
 safely train their children. In a good many of the Western 
 cities they have what is called a "booster" committee, the 
 business of which is to convince everybody in the world out- 
 side, that that particular town is the best place on the planet 
 
 124 
 
for sensible people to live in, — with what regard for the truth I 
 shall not say. At any rate they are performing a psychological 
 service to the community, making people satisfied to be there, 
 glad to be there, to live their lives, and rear their children. 
 If works for contentment, for peace, for law and order, for 
 public improvement and public spirit in everything. This is 
 what a Church should be; a leaven to make people contented, 
 and happy, to make them proud of their situation and work in 
 life. This Church has a great chance here in the heart of the 
 world's metropolis to show the rest of us how to find the solu- 
 tion of what we call the downtown problem. 
 
 I greet you and congratulate you in the name of Presby- 
 terians everywhere. I assure you of our prayers and our 
 good wishes as you enter the third century of your history of 
 service to the Kingdom and the Country. 
 
 Then the Apostles' Creed was recited by the People, a Collect 
 was read by the Pastor, and Dr. Mendenhall pronounced the 
 Benediction. 
 
 The Procession then reformed and returned to the Chapel 
 singing as a Recessional Hymn, 
 
 "Forward be our watchword." 
 
 125 
 
THE PASTOR'S XXVth ANNIVERSARY 
 
 Thursday, December the Seventh, 8 P. M. 
 
 The Organ Recital 
 
 Soon after Doctor Duffield had been installed in the pastor- 
 ate of the Old First Church, William C. Carl was engaged as 
 Organist and Choir Master. Doctor Duffield began his work 
 the first Sunday of December, 1891, and Mr. Carl entered upon 
 his duties the second Sunday of March, 1892. From the 
 outset Mr. Carl cooperated with the Pastor most sympa- 
 thetically and helpfully, consulting his wishes in every par- 
 ticular, carrying out perfectly his every suggestion, and lend- 
 ing his aid in every way in his power to assist in promoting 
 the welfare of the Church. By untiring effort, as well as mas- 
 terly ability in his art, he has developed the musical interests 
 of the Church, establishing them upon a high level and greatly 
 enlarging their scope. The character of his work commanded 
 such public recognition that the University of the City of New 
 York conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Music. 
 The musical features of the Bi-Centennial Celebration were 
 planned with great care, prepared for with painstaking thor- 
 oughness and executed with notable skill — contributing in a 
 marked degree to the impressiveness of the Festival Services. 
 With characteristic courtesy, Dr. Carl tendered the Pastor a 
 special Recital in honor of the "Twenty-fifth Anniversary of 
 the Pastorate." This was given on the evening of Thursday, 
 the seventh of December. The program consisted entirely of 
 excerpts from Wagner's "Parsifal," christened by the com- 
 poser a "Stage Consecrating Drama." The following numbers 
 were rendered, illustrating the theme of the drama, and the 
 unfolding of its plot : 
 
 The Prelude 
 
 The Entry to the Hall of the Grail 
 
 The Lament of Amfortas 
 
 126 
 
The Voice from on High 
 
 The Chorus of the Flower Maidens 
 
 The Narrative of Kundry 
 
 The Good Friday Spell 
 
 The March of the Grail Knights 
 
 Assisting Doctor Carl were the following artists : 
 Margaret Harrison, Soprano 
 Andrea Sarto, Bass 
 Alix Young Maruchess, Violinist 
 William G. Reddick, Pianist 
 William Irving Nevins, Chimes. 
 
 Comments upon the work were read by Doctor Duffield from 
 a monograph which he had written upon "Parsifal." The en- 
 tire performance was of unique interest. The Organist inter- 
 preted the marvelous music with rare force and charm. The 
 artists who assisted him rose to the severe demands upon their 
 skill. The audience, which crowded the Church to its capac- 
 ity, gave every evidence of keen satisfaction and appreciation. 
 
 The event was in every way worthy of the occasion — in 
 idea, in execution and in spirit. The very selection of "Par- 
 sifal" for a Recital which was to be a tribute to the fellow- 
 ship between art and religion was peculiarly happy. The 
 remarkable saturation of this noble work with the devotional 
 spirit was emphasized by Dr. Duffield, who, among other re- 
 marks, said : "The Feast of the Grail in 'Parsifal' is a compos- 
 ite symbol invented by the author of the work to lay stress upon 
 the idea of the redemption of humanity through atoning sacri- 
 fice, which is the tap-root of all religious thinking. On this 
 point let Wagner speak for himself : "It is the function of art to 
 preserve the inner kernel of religion ; and the way it does this is 
 to take the mythical symbols which religion insists on having 
 men believe in their literal sense ; to conceive them in their em- 
 blematic sense; and by ideal representation to call attention 
 to the deep truth which is concealed within them." The spirit 
 of intense religiousness with which this drama is saturated, 
 and the noble forms in which it finds expression, would seem 
 to have opened to the Church an inviting opportunity. Every 
 
 127 
 
friend of the truth may well rejoice from the heart, that the 
 lyric stage has been so uplifted that the presentation of such 
 a work is possible, a veritable "stage consecrating play," con- 
 verting the opera house into a pulpit for the publication of 
 the noblest themes to moved and reverent throngs; and stir- 
 ring to its depths the universal heart, by the exhibition of eter- 
 nal verities. It is a spectacle to command the Church's grate- 
 ful and sympathetic approbation, to behold a mighty genius 
 tasking his rare powers and enlisting every resource of all the 
 arts, to bear witness to the splendor and the sovereignty of the 
 vital elements in the doctrine of the Christ, those very truths 
 which the Church exists to publish. Such a unique product of 
 mental power as "Parsifal" is a mighty apologetic for Chris- 
 tianity, and its author an ally whose service the Church should 
 gladly hail, in the age-long effort to emancipate humanity from 
 its woe, and to brighten this sad earth." 
 
 128 
 
THE PASTOR'S XXVth ANNIVERSARY 
 
 Friday, December the Eighth, 8.30 to 10.30 P. M. 
 
 The Church Reception 
 
 Twenty-five years as Pastor of one Church, guiding it from 
 uncertainty into security, is a goodly record. Among the 
 brightest spots in that whole successful period is this Bi-Cen- 
 tennial Celebration, and the most personal and intimate event 
 of that Celebration, was the Reception on December the eighth, 
 given by the Members and Friends of the Old First Church to 
 Doctor and Mrs. Duffield. 
 
 By a happy coincidence Doctor Duffield rounded out the 
 Quarter Century of his pastorate at the very time the Church 
 completed the Second Century of its work. The Twenty-fifth 
 Anniversary of their coming was made the occasion of a heart 
 stirring expression of the Church's love and loyalty to the 
 Pastor and his Wife. 
 
 The Reception was one of the most impressive events of the 
 kind ever held in the Old First Church. The Chapel was 
 beautifully decorated. The Officers and Members of the 
 Church with their friends and neighbors filled the room with 
 a glad assemblage. The bright faces and glad voices charged 
 the atmosphere with a contagion of rejoicing. The spirit of 
 thanksgiving and congratulation throbbed in every heart. 
 During the earlier part of the evening Doctor and Mrs. Duffield 
 played the part of host and hostess and received all the guests, 
 each of whom shook hands and expressed their good wishes 
 with characteristic Old First warmth and enthusiasm. Near 
 them on the platform where they stood was a large and beau- 
 tiful model of the Church, its Tower rising to the height of 
 at least three feet. Illumined by electric light and surrounded 
 by a grove of palms and ferns, it added a uniquely interesting 
 feature to the Festival. Following the Greeting Period, Mr. 
 Henry Miller, a member of the Choir, sang with fine effect a 
 group of "Songs of our Forefathers." Miss Maud Morgan, 
 who has so endeared herself to the Church by her winning 
 
 129 
 
personality, as well as her marvellous skill as an artist, ren- 
 dered several beautiful selections upon the harp. 
 
 Mr. Jaquith then announced that there would be a Roll Call 
 of the Members of the Church. First he read the names of 
 all those who sent no reply to the letter he wrote them, and in 
 which he requested that they answer and let him know wheth- 
 er or not they could attend the Reception. It was suggested 
 that if any of these were present, that they be brave enough to 
 stand up and announce their presence. Several of those who 
 had forgotten to answer the letter had come. Then he read the 
 names of those who sent a message saying that they could 
 not come. One was read from Mrs. Fairchild, a member for 
 more than fifty years ; another from Miss Greenleaf, whose 
 membership neared the mark of sixty-five years ; another let- 
 ter was from a young man who was out on the border, but 
 whose heart was right here! This was followed by the Roll 
 Call of those who had responded and who were present. 
 
 After another musical number. Doctor and Mrs. Duffield 
 were asked to step to the door. Twenty-five of the young 
 ladies of the Church, each with an annunciation lily in her hand, 
 entered and, crossing the back of the room, lined up on either 
 side of the center aisle. Raising their lilies and crossing them, 
 as soldiers cross their swords at a military wedding, they 
 formed a floral arcade, through which Doctor and Mrs. Duf- 
 field passed to the platform. As they walked between the lines 
 Dr. Carl played the chimes, producing a most beautiful effect. 
 Colonel Olmstead awaited Doctor and Mrs. Duffield at the plat- 
 form and in a masterly address voiced with rare eloquence and 
 tender feeling the people's grateful appreciation of all that 
 their Pastor had been to them and their deep and abiding 
 affection for him. 
 
 Colonel Olmstead said : 
 "Dear Doctor Dufifield : 
 
 "Many years ago, in a Southern city, it fell to my lot to 
 express for a congregation of grateful people their affection 
 for a beloved Pastor upon the 25th anniversary of his pas- 
 torate. 
 
 130 
 
To-night that experience is repeated for me. It is now 
 my happy privilege to speak for this people, your people, to 
 tell you in their behalf, how deeply their hearts are stirred 
 by this occasion, how warm their sympathy with the emotions 
 that must fill your breast, how sincere their thankfulness to 
 Almighty God that the bond which unites you to themselves, 
 which was created twenty-five years ago, has grown in strength 
 and vigor with the passage of time and now knits our hearts 
 together indissolubly. 
 
 Twenty-five years — how short a period in the history of a 
 world, yet how long to the individual experience. We look 
 back upon our own lives, and to each one of us the retrospect 
 lengthens as the mind dwells on details without number. The 
 hours and days and months and years have been so full that we 
 measure them no more by the ordinary standards of time, but 
 rather by what they have brought to us of joy or sorrow, hap- 
 piness or care, prosperity or adversity. If this be so with 
 each individual one of us, much more with you who in addi- 
 tion to the happenings of your daily life have been called upon 
 through sympathy and because of your holy office, to bear our 
 burdens and trials as well. And if, perchance, this has made 
 the years seem long to you there is the all compensating circum- 
 stance that the slender tie of 1891 has become the riveted steel 
 of 1916. 
 
 We congratulate you, dear Pastor, upon all that has been 
 accomplished for the material interests of the Church during 
 these twenty-five years, recognizing that the result has been 
 due to your personal efifort. It is a thing for you to be proud 
 of, and for us to be grateful for. But most of all do we bless 
 God that, throughout your ministry amongst us, the Cross of 
 Christ has been preached with faithfulness and power. From 
 your lips we have heard no uncertain sound, no fanciful doc- 
 trine, no strained interpretation of the Scriptures, but 'the 
 pure milk of the Word,' continuous demonstrations of 'the 
 faith once delivered to the Saints.' 
 
 We congratulate you, also, upon the coincidence between your 
 anniversary and the Two Hundredth Anniversary of this dear 
 Church. Fitting is it that they should fall together, to remind 
 
 131 
 
us that as we now look back upon the saintly labors of the 
 long line of consecrated men who dug deep these founda- 
 tions and reared high this bulwark against sin and unright- 
 eousness — even so future generations will revert to this, your 
 era, with hearts aflame with gratitude to God. 
 
 Because of these things, beloved Pastor, your people find 
 it impossible to permit this occasion to pass without some tan- 
 gible expression of their love and appreciation. And be- 
 cause it is desired that the Dear Lady who stands by your side 
 (she who in her own way has been a joint minister with you 
 through all these years), because we wish her to share in what 
 is going out from our hearts to you, I am commissioned to 
 ask your acceptance of a gift that may brighten and beautify 
 the domestic board, that center of the home, where her grace- 
 ful hospitality has so charmed in the days that are past, and 
 will continue to charm in the days to come. The Committee 
 upon whom devolved the selection of the gift, found, after it 
 had been provided, that more and more of the congregation 
 were wishful to take part in this expression of affection. 
 Their later contributions have been put into the pure gold 
 'coin of the realm' fit emblem of the purity and strength of 
 their feeling for you. 
 
 My dear Pastor, in many a man's life there is found a sea- 
 son of storm and trial when rivers of affliction seem to sweep 
 him away from everything fixed and stable, out into a shore- 
 less ocean, where waves and billows of adversity overwhelm 
 and beat upon his head. God grant that such may never be 
 your portion, but that happiness alone may fill up the measure 
 of your days. 
 
 Yet come what will, come what may, your people would 
 point, in evidence of their unfailing affection, to the words 
 engraved upon one of these pieces of silver, 'Many waters 
 cannot quench Love.' All things else may pass away and 
 come to naught, but our love for you is abiding. Love is' of 
 God, the sweet antidote for every sorrow of earth, the eternal 
 joy of heaven." 
 
 "Many waters cannot quench Love." 
 
 132 
 
At the close of his speech he presented them with a beautiful 
 sterling silver Tea Set, four Candle-sticks and a Purse of one 
 hundred and fifty dollars in gold. The following words were 
 inscribed on the Tea Pot, "Many waters cannot quench love." 
 
 In a brief response Dr. Dufifield spoke of the sheer 
 impossibility of putting into speech the emotions which such 
 circumstances awakened, referred to the days of stress and 
 strain through which he and the people had passed, and which 
 had welded them together in bonds of peculiar intimacy, em- 
 phasized the fact that to the manifest interposition of Gk)d was 
 due the deliverance of the Church from the perils with which 
 it had been menaced, noted the large share which Mrs. Duf- 
 field had taken in bearing burdens, and inspiring courage in 
 the dark hours, and reminded the people that she was a gift 
 to him from the Old First, felicitated the congregation upon 
 the circumstances which made their entrance upon the third 
 century of the Church's ministry so fraught with promise, 
 expressed his deep gratitude at having been permitted to serve 
 with them for so long a term of years, and the hope that he 
 would be able, during whatever time of service might yet re- 
 main for him, to put into deeds the story of his love for them, 
 which he could never put into words. 
 
 As the flower girls returned to the back of the room, each 
 one presented Mrs. Duffield with her lily, making one blos- 
 som for each of the twenty-five years that Doctor and Mrs. 
 Duffield had been connected with the Old First. Refreshments 
 were served, followed by a short social hour of heart warm- 
 ing fellowship, which crowned an evening never to be for- 
 gotten. 
 
 133 
 
CONSECRATION DAY 
 
 Sunday, December the Tenth, 11 A. M. 
 
 The Holy Communion 
 
 So far as was possible, the entire membership of the Church, 
 both those in active service and those who had removed be- 
 yond its bounds, but retained affihation with it, were notified 
 of this proposed regathering of the family at the Communion 
 Table, and were urged to make a special effort to be present. 
 
 Invitations were also sent to those associated with the 
 Church in former times, whose names and work were ever 
 cherished in the Church's recollection. The response was 
 large and sympathetic. The congregation which assembled 
 for this tender service, to express their adoring sense of the 
 divine goodness, and to render their fealty to the God of their 
 fathers, filled the Church, and was representative of the vari- 
 ous circles to whom the Old First Church was a golden center 
 of life. Doctor Duffield was assisted in the celebration of the 
 Communion by the Reverend Doctor Robert Mackenzie, Secre- 
 tary of the College Board, and the Reverend Doctor James 
 Oscar Boyd, Pastor of the Church of the Redeemer, Paterson, 
 New Jersey. Dr. Mackenzie had ministered to the Church 
 so steadily during the long illness of Doctor Duffield that a 
 feeling of pastoral relationship had grown up between the 
 People and himself. Doctor Boyd was the one son of the 
 Church who had entered the gospel ministry during the pres- 
 ent pastorate, and his honored father had been an Elder in 
 the first days of Doctor Duffield's New York ministry, a wise 
 counsellor, an efficient worker, and a true friend. 
 
 Mr. Robert Ferguson, who occupied a chair in the Session 
 during the opening of the pastorate, and had upheld the Pas- 
 tor's hands during many of its most trying hours, was happily 
 present, and aided in the distribution of the elements, as did 
 Doctor Benjamin G. Demarest, whose devotion to the Church, 
 and enthusiastic desire to promote its interests, found expres- 
 
 134 
 
sion in the gift of the Huguenot Window. The Members of 
 the Session present and assisting in the Celebration of the 
 Sacrament were, Mr. James K. Andrews, Mr. Paul Caldwell, 
 Mr. Charles E. Davis, Mr. James Henry, Mr. Henry C. Martin, 
 Mr. Robert G. Parr, Mr. Roger H. Williams, 
 -^t eleven o'clock, while a beautiful chorale of Bach's was 
 being played upon the organ, the Ministers and Elders entered 
 the Church through the Chapel Door, Doctor Mackenzie tak- 
 ing the large chair. North of the pulpit. Doctor Boyd that upon 
 the South side, Doctor Duffield the Chair at the right side of 
 the table, and the members of the Session their accustomed 
 seats. 
 
 "**- The opening services, including the Institution of the Sacra- 
 ment and the Invitation to the Table, were conducted by the 
 Pastor. Doctor Boyd and Doctor Mackenzie then took the 
 seats at either end of the Communion Table, Doctor Dufifield 
 occupying the chair vacated by Doctor Boyd. After the 
 quotation of appropriate Scripture and a Consecrating Prayer, 
 Doctor Boyd distributed the Bread. A moving address was 
 made by Doctor Mackenzie, who then distributed the Wine, 
 and closed the Celebration with a Prayer of Thanksgiving. 
 After Christ's "Benediction of Peace" had been sung by the 
 Choir, Doctor Duffield took his place behind the Table, and 
 spoke a few sentences concerning the "Communion of Saints," 
 .emphasizing the presence and participation in all these services 
 of that great "cloud of witnesses" who through the long years 
 of two centuries had given themselves to its work, and of whose 
 prayers and faith and sacrifice this great festival of the 
 Church's Bi-Centennial was the happy fruition. 
 
 The Sacramental Service was concluded with the Apostolic 
 Benediction, "Now the God of Peace, that brought again from 
 the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
 through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you per- 
 fect in every good work to do His will, working in you that 
 which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to 
 whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." 
 
 135 
 
CONSECRATION DAY 
 
 Sunday, December the Tenth, 8 P. M. 
 
 The Choral Service 
 
 The Bi-Centennial Week closed with the "sevenfold sym- 
 phonies and harping hallelujahs" of "The Messiah." The eve- 
 ning of Sunday, December the eleventh, was set apart for the 
 rendering of Handel's masterpiece. The Choir, who by their 
 whole-souled and thorough work had so greatly enriched the 
 Anniversary Services, was for this occasion largely augmented, 
 their number being doubled. Solo singers of distinguished 
 ability had been secured. Bechtel Alcock, Tenor; Miss Mar- 
 garet Harrison, Soprano; Miss Merle Alcock, Contralto, and 
 Mr. Henry Miller, Bass. 
 
 This Service was presided over by the Reverend Doctor 
 Edward M. Deems, Chaplain of the Sailors' Snug Harbor, to 
 which Institution the Old First Church stands in such close 
 historic relations. With him in the Pulpit, were the Reverend 
 Doctor Mackenzie, the Reverend Doctor Boyd, and the Pastor 
 of the Old First Church. Opening the Service with a Scrip- 
 tural Salutation, Doctor Deems read as a Scripture Lesson the 
 One Hundred and Fifteenth Psalm and pronounced the fol- 
 lowing Collect, with which it is the custom at the Old First 
 Church to preface all Choral Services and Organ Recitals: 
 
 "O God Almighty, and All Loving, Who hast given us 
 hearts that hunger for beauty, and Who by the voice of music 
 doth speak to our souls messages that are sweet and wonder- 
 ful and passing the power of words, make us grateful to Thee 
 for the privilege of this hour, and cause its influences to bright- 
 en and enrich our lives, and to bring them into harmony with 
 Thy life. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen." 
 
 136 
 
The following numbers of the Oratorio were then ren- 
 dered : 
 
 Overture 
 Comfort ye my people. Rejoice greatly. 
 
 Every valley shall be exalted. He shall feed his flock. 
 And the glory of the Lord. Come unto Him. 
 Thus saith the Lord. His yoke is easy. 
 
 But who may abide. He was despised. 
 
 O thou that tellest. Lift up your heads. 
 
 For unto us a child is born. Why do the nations. 
 Pastoral Symphony. Since by man came death. 
 
 There were Shepherds. By man also came the Resur- 
 
 Glory to God. rection. 
 
 I know that My Redeemer 
 liveth. 
 Hallelujah Chorus 
 
 The solemn dignity of the old Gothic interior, the power 
 and beauty of the familiar words and the well known har- 
 monies, the sympathetic and skilful interpretations of the sing- 
 ers, the intelligent and masterful accompaniment, and leading 
 of the Musical Director, and the uplifting consciousness of the 
 occasion, blended in a presentation of "The Messiah" that car- 
 ried its sublime message home to every heart. The exalted 
 devotional feeling which took possession of the great congre- 
 gation of listeners was remarkable. The art of the composer, 
 and the skill of the performers, were alike forgotten in the deep 
 emotion with which all were stirred by the spiritual content of 
 the Oratorio. 
 
 The Hallelujah Chorus had been transposed from its place 
 in the body of the work and made the closing number of this 
 service. As the trumpet-like notes of the introduction sounded 
 the throng rose. As the thrilling and triumphant "Hallelu- 
 jahs" ceased, instead of pronouncing the customary Benedic- 
 tion, Doctor Duffield spoke the following words : 
 
 " 'And they saw no man — save Jesus only.' During this 
 wonderful week the names of great leaders have been upon 
 our lips. The forms of devoted servants of the cross have 
 Been in our thought. We have had a vision of that vast com- 
 
 137 
 
pany of men and women and little children who, with courage 
 and patience, with prayer and toil, through two hundred years, 
 have held high in this mighty City the banner of the cross. 
 This octave of services reaches its climax in this matchless song 
 to the "Messiah." At the closing moment of this Celebration, 
 all names pale before one, as the brightness of the stars is hid- 
 den in the splendor of the sun. One name alone thrills our 
 souls, that name long ago written upon Calvary's cross, that 
 name which bye and bye all intelligent being shall ac- 
 claim with hallelujahs. One form alone enthralls our souls, 
 the form of Him for whom our fathers lived and died, of Him 
 whom we love and whom we serve, of Him to whom this 
 Church shall render its homage and its ministry until time shall 
 be no more. With the voices of the past thrilling our hearts, 
 with the call of the future kindling our enthusiasms, we join 
 the song of the ages, we anticipate the anthem of the skies, 
 and cry — 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power 
 and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and 
 blessing, forever and forever. Amen and Amen." 
 
 Thus, with ascriptions of praise to the Divine Christ, the Old 
 First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York entered 
 upon the Third Century of its ministry. 
 
 138 
 
THE SUPPLEMENT 
 
 139 
 
MINUTE ADOPTED BY THE 
 
 Presbytery of New York and Sent to Every Presbyterian 
 
 Minister in the City 
 
 October 31st, 1916. 
 Dear Brother: 
 
 This year the First Presbyterian Church of this City will 
 celebrate the 200th Anniversary of its founding, and the estab- 
 lishment of Presbyterianism in New York City. Presbytery 
 feels that such an important event should be noted by all the 
 congregations under its care and to this end the following 
 program has been adopted: 
 
 On Sunday, December 3rd, in the Old First Church 
 at the morning service the Moderator of Presby- 
 tery will preside and there will be an historical sermon 
 by the Pastor, Rev. Howard Duffield, D.D. In the 
 evening in the same Church there will be a sermon 
 commemorative of the Ministers who have served in 
 the Old First pulpit. On this same day Presbytery 
 requests that all the churches of this Presbytery, as 
 far as possible, note this important event by histor- 
 ical sermons or by such references as shall impress 
 upon the minds and hearts of the people the spirit of 
 Presbyterianism. 
 
 Presbytery has decided to unite with the Presby- 
 terian Union at its Annual Dinner, December 4th, 
 in the celebration of this Anniversary. 
 
 Presbytery recommends that on Wednesday, De- 
 cember 6th, at eight o'clock, an Anniversary Service 
 be held in the First Church in which the wide spread 
 and varied influence of the Church be reviewed by 
 representative speakers. Presbytery is to attend this 
 service in a body and it is to be regarded as the mid- 
 week meeting for the Churches. 
 
 By Order of Presbytery, 
 
 Fraternally yours, 
 
 Jesse F. Forbes, 
 Stated Clerk. 
 
 141 
 
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE OLD FIRST 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 December, Nineteen Hundred and Sixteen 
 
 The Pastor of the Church, 
 The Reverend Doctor Howard Duffield. 
 
 The Assistant to the Pastor, 
 Mr. Harold C. Jaquith, 
 
 The Session, 
 Colonel Charles H. Olmstead, Clerk. 
 Roger H. Williams, Treasurer. 
 James K. Andrews. James Henry. 
 
 Paul Caldwell. Henry C. Martin. 
 
 Robert G. Parr. 
 
 The Board of Trustees, 
 The Pastor and the Ruling Elders. 
 Roger H. Williams, Secretary. 
 James Henry, Treasurer. 
 
 The Board of Deacons, 
 J. Randolph Graham, M.D., Chairman. 
 James W. Durkee, Clerk. 
 Charles L. Thorne, Treasurer. 
 
 Ferdinand Aufmkolk. Henry Hamilton. 
 
 Harry Best. Frank D. Hutchins. 
 
 Elmore A. Hall. Robert H. McGowan. 
 
 W. Whitman Neilson. J. R. K. Sharp. 
 
 The Church Visitor, 
 Miss Alice Salt. 
 
 Organist and Musical Diretcor, 
 Dr. William C. Carl. 
 
 Soloists, 
 Miss Margaret Harrison, Soprano. 
 Mr. Henry Miller, Baritone. 
 
 142 
 
Sexton, 
 Benjamin W. Lewis. 
 
 Societies and Clubs, 
 Graded Bible School — Classes for all ages. 
 Christian Endeavor Society — President Miss Gallagher, 
 Junior Endeavor Society — Leader, Miss Salt. 
 Women's Missionary Society — President Mrs. Duffield. 
 Mothers' Meeting — Leader, Miss Salt. 
 Industrial School — Superintendent, Mrs. Duffield. 
 Women's Work Meeting — First Directress, Miss Evans. 
 Old First Girls' Club — President, Miss Cushier 
 Senior Girls' Club — Girls from 16-20. 
 Intermediate Girls' Club — Girls from 14-16. 
 Old First Fraternity — Young men over 18. 
 Senior Boys' Club — Boys from 16-18. 
 
 Intermediate Boys' Club — Boys 14-16, Mr. Duncan Ferris. 
 E. H. T. Boys' Club — Boys from 12-15, Mr. Harry Schroeder. 
 Junior Boys' Club — Boys under 14, Ferdinand Aufmkolk. 
 
 The Flower Committee, 
 Mrs. Wilking B. Cooley, Chairman. 
 Miss Elizabeth Davis. Miss Pansy Fiske. 
 
 Miss Winifred Duffield. Miss Rhoda Geddes. 
 
 Holy Communion 
 The Holy Communion will be celebrated at 11 A. M. on the 
 second Sunday of February, April, June, October and De- 
 cember, and at 8 P. M. on the second Sunday of January, 
 March, May and November. The Sacrament of Baptism will 
 be administered in connection with any Service if due notice 
 be given to the Pastor. 
 
 143 
 
THE INVITED GUESTS 
 
 The Honorable Woodrow Wilson, 
 
 President of the United States. 
 The Honorable Theodore Roosevelt, 
 
 Ex-President of the United States. 
 The Honorable William Howard Taft, 
 
 Ex-President of the United States. 
 Major General Hugh Lenox Scott, 
 
 Chief of Staff of the United States Army. 
 Major General Leonard Wood and Staff. 
 Rear Admiral Nathaniel L. Usher and Staff. 
 The Honorable Charles S. Whitman and Staff. 
 
 Governor of the State of New York. 
 The Honorable John Purroy Mitchel, 
 
 Mayor of the City of New York. 
 Mr. Eugenius H. Outerbridge, 
 
 President of the Chamber of Commerce. 
 The Heads of Departments of the Municipal Government. 
 The President of the Board of Aldermen. 
 The Justices of the Supreme Court. 
 The Judges of the Appellate Division. 
 The Judges of the Court of General Sessions. 
 Doctor John H. Finley, 
 
 Commissioner of Education in the State of New York. 
 Nicholas Murray Butler, LL.D., 
 
 President of Columbia University. 
 Chancellor Ellsworth Elmer Brown, LL.D. 
 
 President of the University of the City of New York. 
 Sidney Mezes, LL.D., 
 
 President of the College of the City of New York. 
 The Reverend Doctor John Grier Hibben, D.D., LL.D., 
 
 President of Princeton University. 
 The Reverend Doctor Charles Alexander Richmond, 
 
 D.D., 
 
 President of Union College. 
 The Reverend Doctor J. Ross Stevenson, D.D., LL.D., 
 
 President of Princeton Theological Seminary. 
 
 144 
 
The Board of Directors, Trustees and Faculty of 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary. 
 The Board of Directors, Trustees and Faculty of 
 
 Union Theological Seminary. 
 The Brick Presbyterian Church. 
 The Rutgers Presbyterian Church. 
 The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. 
 The Spring Street Presbyterian Church. 
 The Presbyterian Church on University Place. 
 The Greenwich Presbyterian Church. 
 The Reverend Doctor David James Burrell, D.D., LL.D., 
 
 Senior Minister of the Collegiate Reformed Church, and a 
 
 Delegation of its Ministers. 
 The Pastor of the French Huguenot Church 
 
 and his Officers and People. 
 The Right Reverend David Greer, D.D., LL.D., 
 
 Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and a 
 
 Delegation of his Clergy. 
 
 The Reverend Doctor Luther B. Wilson, D.D., LL.D., 
 Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a 
 Delegation of his Clergy. 
 
 The Lutheran Churches. 
 
 The Baptist Churches. 
 
 The Congregational Churches. 
 
 The Young Men's Christian Association. 
 
 The Salvation Army. 
 
 The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The Board of Church Erection of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The College Board of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The American Bible Society. 
 
 The New York City Bible Society. 
 
 The City Mission Society. 
 
 The Seamen's Friend Society. 
 
 The Port Society. 
 
 The Marine Society. 
 
 The Society of Mayflower Descendants. 
 
 The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York. 
 
 145 
 
The Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York. 
 
 The Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New Jersey. 
 
 The Society of the Cincinnati. 
 
 The Society of the Sons of the Revolution. 
 
 The Knickerbocker Chapter D. A. R. 
 
 The Military Society of the War of 1812, and 
 
 The Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York. 
 
 The Huguenot Society of America. 
 
 The Holland Society. 
 
 Saint Nicholas Society. 
 
 Saint Andrews Society. 
 
 Saint David's Society. 
 
 Saint George's Society. 
 
 The New York Historical Society. 
 
 The City Historical Society. 
 
 The City History Club. 
 
 The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. 
 
 The Washington Square Association. 
 
 146 
 
THE ORDER OF THE PROCESSION 
 AT THE FESTIVAL SERVICE 
 
 Wednesday, December the Sixth, 1917, 8 P. M. 
 
 I. 
 
 The Reverend Doctor Howard Duffield, 
 Minister of the Old First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 II. 
 
 The Presbytery of New York. 
 
 III. 
 The Officers and Members of Churches Colonized from the 
 Old First Church. 
 
 IV. 
 The Officers of the Boards of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America. 
 
 V. 
 The Representatives of Religious and Philanthropic Societies. 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Delegates from other Communions. 
 
 VII. 
 The Pastors of Pre-Revolutionary Churches. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Speaker.s and Their Escorts 
 
 The Reverend Doctor George F. Nelson, Canon of the 
 
 Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, representing 
 The Right Reverend Doctor David H. Greer, Bishop of 
 
 the Episcopal Diocese of New York, escorted by Mr. Law. 
 The Reverend Doctor Luther B. Wilson, Bishop of the 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, escorted by Mr. Sharpe. 
 Mr. Eugenius H. Outerbridge, President of the New York 
 
 Chamber of Commerce, escorted by Dr. Demarest. 
 
 147 
 
The Reverend Doctor George Alexander, Pastor of the 
 
 Presbyterian Church on University Place, escorted by 
 
 Mr. Davis, 
 The Reverend Doctor William Pierson Merrill, Pastor 
 
 of the Brick Presbyterian Church, escorted by Mr. Parr. 
 The Reverend Doctor John Grier Hibben, President of 
 
 Princeton University, escorted by Mr. Williams. 
 The Reverend Doctor J. Ross Stevenson, President of 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary, escorted by Mr. Henry. 
 The Reverend George J. Russell, Moderator of the 
 
 Presbytery of Long Island, escorted by Mr. Martin. 
 The Reverend Doctor Harlan G. Mendenhall, Moderator 
 
 of the Synod and the Presbytery of New York, escorted 
 
 by Mr. Thorne. 
 The Honorable Charles S. Whitman, Governor of the 
 
 State of New York, escorted by Mr. Andrews. 
 The Reverend Doctor John A. Marquis, Moderator of the 
 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 
 United States of America, escorted by Colonel Olmstead. 
 
 148 
 
THE ORDER OF WORSHIP 
 AT THE FESTIVAL SERVICE 
 
 Wednesday, December the Sixth, at Eight P. M. 
 
 Organ — Reformation Symphony, . . . Mendelssohn 
 
 Processional — 
 
 Through the night of doubt and sorrow 
 
 Onward goes the pilgrim band. 
 Singing songs of expectation, 
 
 Marching to the promised land ; 
 Clear before us through the darkness, 
 
 Gleams and burns the guiding light; 
 Brother clasps the hand of brother. 
 
 Stepping fearless through the night. 
 
 One the light of God's own presence 
 
 O'er His ransomed people shed. 
 Chasing far the gloom and terror. 
 
 Brightening all the path we tread, 
 One the object of our journey. 
 
 One the faith that never tires. 
 One the earnest looking forward, 
 
 One the hope our God inspires : 
 
 One the strain that lips of thousands 
 
 Lift as from the heart of one, 
 One the conflict, one the peril 
 
 One the march in God begun; 
 One the gladness of rejoicing 
 
 On the far eternal shore 
 Where the One Almighty Father 
 
 Reigns in love for evermore. 
 
 149 
 
Onward, therefore, pilgrim brothers, 
 
 Onward, with the cross our aid ; 
 Bear its shame, and fight its battle, 
 
 Till we rest beneath its shade ; 
 Soon shall come the great awakening, 
 
 Soon the rending of the tomb; 
 Then the scattering of all shadows. 
 
 And the end of toil and gloom. Amen. 
 
 The Minister shall begin the Service by pronouncing the 
 following Salutation, the People standing: 
 
 The Lord bless thee and keep thee. 
 
 The Lord make His face to shine upon thee and be gracious 
 unto thee. 
 
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee 
 peace. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall read the following Sentences : 
 
 God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship 
 
 Him in spirit and in truth. 
 
 Our fathers trusted in Thee ; they trusted and Thou didst 
 
 deliver them. 
 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless 
 
 His holy name. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall read the following Responses : 
 The Lord be with you 
 And with thy Spirit. 
 Lift up your hearts 
 We lift them up unto the Lord. 
 Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God 
 It is meet and right so to do. 
 
 Then the Minister and the People shall say the Lord's Prayer : 
 Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; 
 Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven ; 
 give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive us our tres- 
 passes, as we forgive those who trespass against us ; and lead 
 us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; for Thine is 
 the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 
 
 150 
 
Then shall he sung by the Choir the Ancient Canticle, 
 known as the "Ter-Sanctus." 
 "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts, 
 Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory, 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High. Amen." 
 
 Then shall be read responsively this Selection from the 
 Psalter, followed by the Gloria Patri : 
 
 I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless Thy 
 name forever and ever. 
 
 Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name 
 forever and ever. 
 
 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; and His great- 
 ness is unsearchable. 
 
 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall 
 declare thy mighty acts. 
 
 I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of 
 Thy wondrous works. 
 
 And men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts; and 
 I will declare Thy greatness. 
 
 They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great good- 
 ness, and shall sing of Thy righteousness. 
 
 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion ; slow to anger 
 end of great mercy. 
 
 The Lord is good to all ; and his tender mercies are over all 
 his works. 
 
 All Thy works shall praise Thee; O Lord; and Thy saints 
 shall bless Thee. 
 
 They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of 
 Thy power. 
 
 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the 
 glorious majesty of His kingdom. 
 
 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion 
 endureth throughout all generations. 
 
 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those 
 that be bowed down. 
 
 The eyes of all wait upon Thee ; and Thou givest them their 
 meat in due season. 
 
 151 
 
Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every 
 living thing. 
 
 The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His 
 works. 
 
 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that 
 call upon Him in truth. 
 
 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He will 
 also hear their cry, and will save them. 
 
 The Lord preserveth all them that love Him: but all the 
 wicked will He destroy. 
 
 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all 
 flesh bless His holy name forever and ever. 
 
 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy 
 Ghost; 
 
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world 
 without end. Amen. 
 
 Then shall the Minister offer the following Prayer of 
 Thanksgiving: 
 Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we Thine unworthy 
 servants do give Thee most humble and hearty thanks for all 
 Thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men. We 
 bless Thee for our creation, preservation and all the blessings 
 of this life ; above all for Thine inestimable love in the re- 
 demption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the 
 means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech 
 Thee give us that due sense of all Thy mercies that our 
 hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we show forth 
 Thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives ; by giving 
 up ourselves to Thy service, and by walking before Thee in 
 holiness and righteousness all our days ; through Jesus Christ 
 Our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all 
 honour and glory, world without end. Amen. 
 
 After that shall be sung the following Hymn : 
 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. 
 
 152 
 
We mark her goodly battlements, 
 
 And her foundations strong; 
 We hear within the solemn voice 
 
 Of her unending song. 
 
 For not like kingdoms of the world 
 
 Thy Holy Church, O God ; 
 Though earthquake shocks are threatening her 
 
 And tempests are abroad ; 
 
 Unshaken as eternal hills, 
 
 Immovable she stands, 
 A mountain that shall fill the earth, 
 
 A house not made by hands. 
 
 Then shall the following Anniversary Addresses be delivered: 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND HER CHILDREN, 
 The Rev. Dr. William Pierson Merrill, 
 Minister of the Brick Presbyterian Church. 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND THE WINNING OF 
 THE WORLD, 
 The Rev. Dr. George Alexander, 
 President of the Board of Foreign Missions. 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND SOCIAL SERVICE, 
 
 Mr. Eugenius H. Outerbridge, 
 
 President of the Chamber of Commerce. 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND EDUCATION, 
 
 The Rev. Dr. John Grier Hibben, 
 
 President of Princeton University. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. J. Ross Stevenson, 
 
 President of Princeton Seminary. 
 
 THE OLD FIRST CHURCH AND THE COMMON- 
 WEALTH, 
 The Hon. Charles S. Whitman, 
 Governor of the State of New York. 
 
 153 
 
Then shall be sung the following Hymn: 
 God bless our native land; 
 Firm may she ever stand 
 
 Through storm and night; 
 When the wild tempests rave, 
 Ruler of wind and wave, 
 Do Thou our country save 
 
 By Thy great might. 
 
 For her our prayers shall rise 
 To God, above the skies ; 
 
 On Him we wait ; 
 Thou who art ever nigh. 
 Guarding with watchful eye, 
 To Thee aloud we cry, 
 
 God save the State. Amen. 
 
 After that shall he given a Greeting from the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. John A. Marquis, 
 
 Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 
 Church in the U. S. A. 
 
 Then shall he said hy the Minister and the People the Apostles' 
 Creed: 
 
 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven 
 and earth: 
 
 And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord ; who was con- 
 ceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of the Virgin Mary ; suffered 
 under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; He 
 descended into hell ; the third day He rose again from the 
 dead ; He ascended into heaven ; and sitteth on the right hand 
 of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to 
 judge the quick and the dead. 
 
 I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the 
 Communion of Saints ; the Forgiveness of sins ; the Resur- 
 rection of the body; and the Life everlasting. Amen. 
 
 Then shall he sung hy the People the Old Hundredth 
 
 DOXOLOGY. 
 
 154 
 
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow 
 Praise Him all creatures here below 
 Praise Him above ye heavenly host 
 Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." 
 
 After that shall he sung by the Choir an "Alleluia" 
 according to an ancient musical form. 
 
 Then shall the Minister offer the following Prayer : 
 
 Our Heavenly Father we give Thee most hearty thanks for 
 those Thy servants whom Thou didst so long ago call to 
 found this Church. We thank Thee for that company of their 
 children who in unbroken succession have continued their 
 work until this hour. We thank Thee for the faith and 
 patience wherewith they wrought our splendid heritage, and 
 we humbly pray that we may be so baptised with the spirit 
 of our fathers, that the noble principles bequeathed to us by 
 them, may be by us transmitted to the generations follow- 
 ing, — all of which we ask in the name and for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ, Our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord Our God, we beseech Thee not only for Thy favor 
 upon this Church and People, but also that Thou wilt bless 
 Thy whole Church, in this land, and throughout the world. 
 Gather Thy true people into the unity of the faith, and take 
 from them all bitterness and unkindness, all needless divisions 
 and misunderstandings. May grace, mercy and peace be mul- 
 tiplied unto all who love Our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. 
 Pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon all men, and hasten the time 
 when every people shall be blessed with the knowledge of 
 Thee, and of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. 
 
 After that shall the Minister pronounce the Benediction : 
 
 The peace of God which passeth all understanding keep 
 your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God 
 and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of 
 God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be 
 amongst you and remain with you always. Amen. 
 
 155 
 
Recessional — 
 
 Forward! be our watchword, 
 
 Steps and voices joined; 
 Seek the things before us, 
 
 Not a look behind ; 
 Burns the fiery pillar 
 
 At our army's head ; 
 Who shall dream of shrinking, 
 
 By Jehovah led? 
 Forward through the desert, 
 
 Through the toil and fight ; 
 Jordan flows before us, 
 
 Zion beams with light. 
 
 Forward, flock of Jesus 
 
 Salt of all the earth 
 Till each yearning purpose 
 
 Spring to glorious birth ; 
 Sick, they ask for healing 
 
 Blind, they grope for day ; 
 Pour upon the nations 
 
 Wisdom's loving ray. 
 Forward out of error, 
 
 Leave behind the night ; 
 Forward through the darkness. 
 
 Forward into light. 
 
 Glories upon glories 
 
 Hath our God prepared. 
 By the souls that love Him 
 
 One day to be shared ; 
 Eye hath not beheld them. 
 
 Ear hath never heard ; 
 Nor of these hath uttered 
 
 Thought or speech or word. 
 Forward, marching eastward 
 
 Where the heaven is bright. 
 Till the veil be lifted, 
 
 Till our faith be sight. 
 
 156 
 
Far o'er yon horizon 
 
 Rise the City towers, 
 Where our God abideth ; 
 
 That fair home is ours : 
 Flash the streets with jasper. 
 
 Shine the gates with gold ; 
 Flows the gladdening river, 
 
 Shedding joys untold. 
 Thither, onward thither. 
 
 In Jehovah's might ; 
 Pilgrims to your country, 
 
 Forward into light! 
 
 PosTLUDE — Choral Song, Wesley 
 
 i57 
 
THE OLD COMMUNION SILVER 
 By Charles H. Olmstead, Clerk of Session 
 
 Very few persons in the Congregation are aware of the his- 
 toric interest attached to our Old Communion Service, as re- 
 vealed upon the flagons, cups, and plates themselves. Most of 
 us have seen them only when in use, under circumstances that 
 obviously forbade anything like a critical examination. It has 
 been thought desirable, therefore, to give a short account of 
 them that we may know how intimately they connect us with 
 the blessed company of the godly men and women who are 
 our spiritual ancestors in this beloved Church, and who have 
 long passed from the militant to the triumphant stage of Chris- 
 tian experience. 
 
 The Service (irrespective of the individual cups recently 
 adopted) consists of the following articles of massive silver: 
 Two large Flagons, two smaller Flagons, eight Cups, eight 
 Plates of ordinary size and two very large Plates. 
 
 There is good reason for believing that the plainer of the 
 two small Flagons, three Cups given by Anna Peartree and 
 three Plates given by Peter R. Livingston made up the first set. 
 The inscriptions upon the Cups read as follows : 
 
 "Ex Dong Anna Peartree, 
 
 In unsum Ecclesiae Christi Presbyterianae 
 
 apud Neo Eboracenses." 
 
 And on one of the Cups is the date 1730. The Three Plates 
 simply bear the words upon the outer rim : 
 
 "Ex Dong Peter R. Livingston." 
 
 The Flagon has no mark upon it, and is perfectly plain, but 
 it is exactly of the same style of heavy, beaten silver as- the 
 cups and plates described. 
 
 As all the rest of the silver (except three Plates and one 
 Cup of decidedly modern make) have later dates upon them, it 
 is not a violation of the probabilities to say that for one hun- 
 
 158 
 
dred and eighty-five years we have been debtors to the gener- 
 osity of Anna Peartree and Peter R. Livingston. 
 
 In the early years of the last century it is evident that the 
 Service was beginning to be too small for the demands upon 
 it, for in 1812 a number of gifts of silver were made by vari- 
 ous members of the Congregation. It may be noted that the 
 inscriptions upon all of these were in English, "The Gift of" so 
 and so "to the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New 
 York, 1812," thus differentiating them from the earlier in- 
 scriptions, which were in Latin, and tending to give strength 
 to the assumption as to what pieces formed the first set. These 
 later gifts were as follows: 
 
 Two stately and beautiful Flagons, that are at the right and 
 left of the Table on every Communion occasion. These were 
 respectively the gifts of William Edgar and Daniel McCor- 
 mick. 
 
 Two Cups given by David Gelston. 
 
 One Plate given by Daniel McCormick. 
 
 One Plate given by Samuel Campbell. 
 
 There is no way of learning when or how the Church came 
 into possession of the unmarked articles. 
 
 In the same year, 1812, two very large Plates were given by 
 Robert Lenox and Brockholst Livingston, respectively. These 
 were probably intended for taking up the benevolent collec- 
 tions, which must have been very generous if we may judge 
 by the size of the receptacles provided for them. 
 
 In 1896 the spirit of giving for Communion purposes was 
 again awakened and two beautiful Cups were presented by the 
 Ladies' Missionary Society and by an honored and beloved 
 Elder, Mr. Thomas Greenleaf, respectively. 
 
 A description of the second smaller Flagon has been left 
 for the last. It is elaborately ornate, a very beautiful and 
 unique piece of silver. On the side opposite the handle a 
 coat of arms is engraved and above the date the words : "A 
 legacy of Mr. Jeremiah Owen to the Presbyterian Church in 
 New York, 1756." Upon the lid in repousse work is what is 
 believed to be a reproduction of some medal struck in 1634 in 
 honor and in memory of the great Gustavus Adolphus, "the 
 
 159 
 
Protestant hero" as he was called in his day, the conqueror of 
 Tilly and Wallenstein in the Thirty Years' religious War of 
 that century. It will be remembered that he was killed in the 
 victorious battle of Lutzen, in 1632, and the medal shows him 
 in the form of Death, a skeleton riding triumphantly in his 
 chariot over a prostrate dragon. A figure stands on each side 
 of him, one an armed warrior, the other a female holding a 
 wreath over his head with the left hand, while with the right 
 she clasps a Bible surmounted by a burning lamp. Above is 
 the inscription, "Et vita et morte triumpho." The whole is 
 surmounted by this legend, in which it will be seen that there 
 is elision in several of the words: 
 
 "Dux Glorios Principus Heros Invict. Victor Incomparab 
 Triumph Felix et Ger, Liberator." 
 
 Enough has been said to establish in these sacred vessels a 
 strong link to bind us to the past history of the Church; we 
 are brought in touch with the pious emotions that prompted 
 the givers and led them to desire to associate their names with 
 every gathering of God's people around His Table. 
 
 160 
 
THE MURAL TABLETS 
 Passing through the central portal of the Church fronting 
 upon Fifth Avenue, the visitor to the Old First Church is at 
 once attracted by the generous roominess of vestibule, its tiled 
 floor, its vaulted roof and its double row of triple arches, 
 through the central one of which stairways ascend to the gal- 
 leries. Upon the division wall, between the vestibule and the 
 main body of the Church to the right of the entrance, is one 
 of the few pre-revolutionary relics which New York still 
 possesses. It is a large Mural Tablet of black slate beauti- 
 fully inscribed with a Latin legend, of which the following is 
 a translation : 
 
 "Under the favor of God this edifice, sacred to the 
 perpetual celebration of the Divine worship, first 
 erected in 1719, was again thoroughly repaired and 
 built larger and more beautiful in 1748. The Pres- 
 byterians of New York founding it for their own and 
 their childrens use, in this Votive Tablet dedicate it 
 to the God who gave it. May it be yet more illus- 
 triously adorned by Religion, by Concord, by Love, 
 by Purity of Faith, of Worship and of Discipline. 
 May it, by the favor of Christ, endure throughout 
 many generations." 
 A corresponding tablet of white marble to the left of the 
 entrance door is blazoned with the names of the Church Offi- 
 cers at the time of the erection of the present building. Among 
 these groups of names, almost all of which are well known to 
 those familiar with the history of the city, are to be noted 
 those of John Broome (whose family name was given to 
 Broome Street), David L. Dodge (father of William E. 
 Dodge, Sr.), Daniel H. Wickman (so honorably associated with 
 .the Mayoralty), Brockholst Livingston, J. Kearney Rodgers, 
 Milton St. John, Maltby Gelston, James Boyd and others — 
 a cluster of personalities whose character and influence are 
 not only the heirlooms of the "Old First," but who have en- 
 riched the entire community with the wealth of their example 
 and achievement. 
 
 161 
 
Just inside the Church a beautiful screen of wood and glass 
 crosses the entire building behind the pews, spanning the aisles 
 with low arches. The graceful spring of the roof, with its 
 rare and effective groining; the noble and chancel-like pulpit 
 with its rich accompaniment of harmonious furnishings; the 
 chairs for the clergy, the seats for the elders and the Com- 
 munion Table; the fine Gothic design of the gallery front and 
 the lancet windows, at once claim attention and are full of 
 interest and charm. The walls are adorned with a series of 
 Memorial Tablets. Some of recent date commemorate con- 
 spicuous workers in the Church, such as Mr. Aaron Belknap 
 and Mr. Latimer Bailey. Within the pulpit recess a marble 
 has been placed in memory of Dr. William Wirt Phillips, who 
 served the Church during its longest pastorate. Nearby in 
 front of the left gallery stands a memorial to his wife. Just 
 beneath this gallery are two stones in honor of John Broome, 
 an early Lieutenant Governor of New York, and John Rod- 
 gers, an eminent Professor in Columbia College, both Elders 
 in the "Old First." Beneath the opposite gallery a richly 
 carved tablet is reared to the memory of that merchant prince, 
 Mr. Robert Lenox, who not only himself held office in the 
 Church, but his whole family have always been so conspicu- 
 ously identified with its life. Just inside the left entrance 
 door is a tablet of striking design to the memory of General 
 Alexander McDougall, of whom Washington said: "He was 
 a brave soldier and a disinterested patriot." He was an Elder 
 of the Church, was one of the leaders of the "Sons of Liberty," 
 served with distinction in the Revolutionary War and became 
 equally prominent in political and commercial affairs. His 
 name, as well as that of Lieutenant Governor Broome, has 
 been perpetuated in one of the city streets. 
 
 162 
 
THE MEMORIAL WINDOWS 
 
 Stained glass is not a mere architectural ornament, but plays 
 an important and eloquent part in the ministry of the House 
 of God. A Gothic Church building is the embodiment in 
 stone of the primitive forest shrine, with its mysterious sense 
 of the brooding presence of exuberant and unfathomable life. 
 The clustering tree-trunks, with their over-arching branches 
 and interlacing boughs, are outlined in the stately columns, the 
 groined roof, the shadowy aisles, and the lancet-like windows. 
 The play of the light through the forest spaces, tempered by 
 the greenness of the leaf, figured and broidered by the ara- 
 besque traceries of vine and tendril, and sufifused with the 
 snowy whiteness of the cloud, aglow with the sapphire radi- 
 ance of the sky, or dyed with the rich hues of the flowers, took 
 enduring form, under the skilful touch of the artist, in the 
 translucent stains of the glass. The scenes of Scripture, the 
 lives of the martyrs and confessors, the heroic and thrilling 
 incidents of the Church's history, were blazoned as on an 
 illuminated missal ; and these wondrous transparencies of the 
 old cathedrals became known as Biblia Panperum — the Bibles 
 of the Poor. Every eye could read their language. To every 
 heart they spoke their message. 
 
 After such a fashion, the Windows of this venerable Church 
 are like mystic scrolls, bearing a message to all who are seek- 
 ing to know the Will of God, and to do the Work of God. 
 Upon the North Wall stand a row of those chosen personalities, 
 who, during many ages, and in various forms of speech, but 
 under the dominance of one divine will, were privileged to voice 
 the Word of God to His children in this world. Along the 
 South Wall of the Church are ranged a group of those who, 
 through the centuries, having heard in their hearts the divine 
 call, wrought masterfully to realize the Will of God, by making 
 the world sweeter and humanity nobler. The Word of God 
 and the Work of God, for which this Church stands, are 
 builded visibly into the Church's walls. As in the ancient pal- 
 ace, the stone cried out of the wall and the beam out of the tim- 
 ber, so long as this Church shall stand these Windows shall 
 
 163 
 
sound the note of the Church's spirit and the Church's service. 
 
 In connection with the dedication of the Luther Window, 
 the following article was written by Mrs. Laura C. Dunlap, 
 the Editor in charge of the Church News Department of the 
 "Globe" (March 6, 1915) : 
 
 "An interesting history attaches to the ten memorial win- 
 dows which will soon fill all the openings in the beautiful 
 Gothic structure standing in its little park, where fullest value 
 is given to the richly tinted stained glass by the unobstructed 
 light on both sides. When the Rev, Dr. Howard Dufifield 
 came to the Church twenty- four years ago he felt that the aus- 
 terity of the massive gray walls and the dark Gothic furni- 
 ture of the Church required the softening influence of rich 
 coloring. So he planned a series of Memorial Windows to be 
 placed on both sides of the auditorium, and one by one as the 
 years have passed they have been taken until after nearly a 
 quarter of a century the last one has been supplied. 
 
 "On the North side of the building the series symbolizes the 
 literary elements of the Holy Scriptures. First, 'Moses' rep- 
 resenting the law. This was placed by the Young People's 
 Society in memory of Algernon Sydney Sullivan, its founder 
 and first president. Next comes 'David' representing sacred 
 poetry. This window, which was erected some years ago by 
 Mrs. Hersey in memory of her father, J. D. T. Hersey, an 
 elder in the Church, is directly opposite the Luther Window to 
 be unveiled to-morrow. Tsaiah,' the prophet, follows. This 
 Eugene Mcjimsey placed in memory of one of his ancestors, 
 Elder John Keese, who was also a Trustee of the Church. 'St. 
 John,' representing Gospels, was the gift of Thomas Green- 
 leaf, the father-in-law of Dr. Duffield, in memory of his 
 father, Joseph Greenleaf, for many years an Elder and Trus- 
 tee. An interesting fact noted in connection with the donor 
 of this Window is that Dr. Duffield's children are sixth in 
 line of the original Greenleaf members of this Church. Last 
 comes 'St. Paul' representing the doctrinal element of the 
 Scriptures. This was given in his memory by the family of 
 Professor Richard Harrison Bull, an Elder. 
 
 "On the South side of the Church the Windows are filled 
 
 164 
 
with figures symbolizing the historic forces which enter into 
 the evangeHcal Church. These are, in order, the 'Walden- 
 sians,' represented by Peter Waldo; the 'Reformation' by 
 Martin Luther; the 'Huguenots' by Admiral Coligny; the 
 'Scotch Presbyterian Church' by St. Columba, and the 'English 
 Protestant Reformation' by the Puritan. This last Window 
 was put in by the Church Officers at the time when the parish 
 house was built some twenty years ago, and was the first to 
 be erected. It was designed by Maitland Armstrong, as were 
 the 'Moses' and 'St. Paul' Windows, and the figure was so 
 beautiful that it served as the model for the 'Puritan' in the 
 Century Dictionary. The Scotch Presbyterian Window with 
 its figure of St. Columba was presented by Mrs. Emily H. 
 Moir in memory of William Moir, an Aberdeen Scotchman, 
 who was the Treasurer and an Elder of the Church. This 
 Window was from the Tiffany Studios as was the 'Prophets' 
 Window. The 'St. John' Window was designed by Francis 
 Lathrop. 
 
 "The 'Old First' is in fact a fascinating Church. It will 
 soon be two hundred years old. It is the parent of the Scotch, 
 Brick, Rutgers and Fifth Avenue Churches. It has witnessed a 
 removal from Wall Street to its present site at Fifth Avenue 
 and Twelfth Street, and has been there seventy-five years re- 
 sisting all attractive offers to remove further uptown, and 
 enjoy the comforts which the sale of its magnificent site would 
 provide. Instead, the Church now uses its endowment to pro- 
 vide institutional classes and recreation for its changing con- 
 gregation and the neighborhood. It is just a year since 
 Tannenbaum and his army of anarchists invaded the Church, 
 prepared to dare the hostile treatment of a wealthy congrega- 
 tion, and instead were received with brotherly kindness and 
 every man provided with a supper and a bed. 
 
 "Such is the First Presbyterian Church. There is some- 
 thing doing every day in the week. It was one of the first to 
 utilize motion pictures. It was the first among Presbyterian 
 Churches to be open every day. It is not closed in summer and 
 its lawn services are quite the most delightful of downtown 
 summer gatherings. There is nothing old fogy about the 'Old 
 First.' It is in the forefront of all modern movements." 
 
 165 
 
VOTIVA TABULA 
 
 AuspiCANTE Deo 
 
 Hanc Aedem 
 
 CuLTui DiviNO Sacram 
 
 in perpetuum 
 
 Celebrando 
 
 A. D. MDCCXIX 
 
 Primo Fundatam, 
 
 Denio penitus Reparatam, 
 
 Et Ampliorem et Ornatiorem 
 
 A. D. MCCXLVIII 
 
 constructam, 
 
 Neo-Eborascenses Presbyteriani 
 
 In Suum et Suorum Usum 
 
 Condentes, 
 
 In hac Votiva Tabula 
 
 D. D. D. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Concordia, Amore, 
 
 Necnon, Fidei, Cultus et Morum 
 
 puritate 
 
 SUFFUETA, ClARUISQE, ExORNATA 
 
 Annuente Christo 
 
 Longum perduret in 
 
 Aevum. 
 
THE VOTIVE TABLET 
 
 By the Favor of God 
 
 This Holy House 
 
 For the Perpetual Celebration 
 
 OF Divine Worship 
 
 first erected in 
 
 A. D. 1719 
 
 then thoroughly repaired 
 
 enlarged and adorned in 
 
 A. D. 1748 
 
 is in this Votive Tablet 
 
 DEVOTED DONATED DEDICATED 
 
 BY its Founders 
 
 The Presbyterians of New York 
 
 FOR THEIR own AND THEIR CHILDREN'S USE 
 
 Sustained and More Splendidly Adorned 
 
 By the Harmony and Love 
 
 of their Faith, Worship and Way of Living 
 
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