"A not unimportant element of influence and success, next to a becoming spirituality, is the _social-religious_ element. This is proverbial of the Allen Street Church."
Not to refer to the regular weekly prayer-meeting in this connection would do great violence to a complete record as well as harm to many a saint in Israel. For years this meeting has been a great power in Christian life and work. Hundreds maybe said to date their first serious impression, and very many their conversion, to the scenes of that hour and place; and how perennial its influence, and refreshing upon the host of G.o.d"s people.
Among the most prominent pastors of this church, we may mention the Rev. Henry White, D.D., regularly installed March, 1829. He resigned March 9, 1837, and became the first Professor of Systematic Theology in the Union Theological Seminary, New York City. He died August 25, 1850, aged fifty years. A man of decided character.
Rev. George B. Cheever, D.D., was installed October 10, 1839, and was dismissed April 24, 1844. He afterward became the pastor of the Church of the Puritans on Union Square. He now resides at Englewood, N.J., a man of vast resources, both personal and acquired, eloquent and effective in address, in views extremely radical.
Rev. David Benton Coe, D.D., was installed October 14, 1844. He was dismissed May 13, 1849. He became one of the secretaries of the American Home Missionary Society. He was of a retiring habit, scholarly attainment, instructive as a preacher, and devoted and sympathizing as a pastor.
Rev. Dr. Newell was installed February 8, 1860. His pastorate ceased February 2, 1874, being the longest pastorate of the church, embracing one quarter of its history.
In this brother the pastor and the evangelist were happily united. Of deep sympathies, ardent in faith, Christ crucified became the one theme of his ministry. He was second to none in religious zeal, and untiring in effort.
Each succeeding ministry has not been wanting in the evidences of the Spirit, in which the being of the church seems to have been cast.
The pastorate of Mr. Lucas, for example, deserves more than a pa.s.sing notice. It was marked by two interesting works of grace: one soon after his coming to the field (1855), and that of 1858. During these seasons not a few of the best friends of Allen Street were brought to Christ.
Not all were equally favored, however, with beholding what men too often regard exclusively as signs of success. In ill.u.s.tration of this, it is enough to suggest that the loss experienced yearly during a large period of her history has by no means been supplied through additions by letter. This source of gain alone would not have spared her the extinction which early threatened the church through removals. On the contrary, as previously observed, the balance has been favorable through all these years of depletion--a monument to the grace of G.o.d in no general sense.
Perhaps it may not be disparaging to say that _the_ revival period of the church is embraced in the pastorate of Dr. Newell, the fourteen years of which were distinguished for their revival spirit. I think it may be truthfully said, that he would have deemed his own ministry a miserable failure in the absence of revival seasons.
With two exceptions each year of his ministry was marked with ingathering. A large proportion of those now worshipping here were brought to the Saviour within these years; while many others are known to be justifying the spirit of their birthplace in other communions.
The most powerful work of grace, in many respects, occurred in the winter of 1866-67.
On March 24, 1867, one hundred and fifty-four subjects of that work publicly professed faith in Christ; upward of two hundred joined the church during the year.
The following notice is taken from the New York _Evangelist_ soon after, the editor of which was present:
"A goodly sight, indeed, and worthy the words of hearty welcome uttered by the pastor. As he led the congregation in the song, "There are angels hovering round," the house seemed to be full of heavenly influence. There were a large number of baptisms. There was visible emotion as the symbol of purity was lifted to the brow of a lady in deep mourning. Her husband (Mr. George Betts) had been an elder of the church twenty-eight years. It was his constant cry to G.o.d that he might not die until his wife became a Christian. Two weeks before he had heard her examined and received by the session.
On his way from church he was struck with paralysis, and died."
He adds: "I have never seen a better appearing mult.i.tude stand in any church. The s.e.xes were about equally divided."
"These seasons," said the pastor, in his farewell discourse, "have not been the result of accident. They were thoroughly planned and provided for, and sought of the Lord. We have found that appropriate means was wisdom, that persistent concentration was power; that enthusiasm for souls was force; and that belief in G.o.d was success."
A complete history of that one revival would occupy a volume. It was deep, wide-spread, and confined to no particular cla.s.s. The official capacity of the church recently has been largely exercised by men converted at that time. Men holding trusts in the Society to-day were without hope previous to that work.
It is gratifying to record the continuance of the gracious favor, that this last year of the century, the fifty-seventh of our existence, should be crowned with still another work of grace--gradual in inception, first indicated by increasing interest in the ministration of the Word, in the absence of special means, only finding in the Week of Prayer an occasion for decided development--continuing with deepening and widening interest, until attention was necessarily divided between this and a more general work in connection with the coming of Messrs. Moody and Sankey to our city. As visible proof of this quiet work, fifty-seven have been added to the church--forty-six making profession of their faith on March 12th, of all ages--youth from the Sabbath-schools, adults, and several heads of families.
A church of such continuous revival record ought, indeed, to raise her Ebenezer to-day. While as patriots we fling out our Centennial Banners, let us, as subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ, set up a memorial to the praise of His boundless, matchless grace.
During the ministry of the Rev. George O. Phelps, the blessing of the Lord attended his untiring and loving labors.
We cannot omit mentioning here the kindness of the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Conkling, who cheerfully supplied the pulpit for eighteen months without any remuneration; and during this time the pastor"s study was neatly furnished, and the church property renovated. Also a number of young persons were led to Christ and united with the church; some of these young men are to-day actively engaged in the Lord"s work in the lower part of the city, at the Church, and in connection with the "Young Men"s Inst.i.tute," on the Bowery.
It only remains for me to speak of the _Sabbath-schools connected with this church_.
Imperfect, indeed, would be this narrative, without a record of this department of Christian work.
Mr. Samuel Kennedy was its first superintendent, which office he held for twenty-three years. He was a man of great kindness of heart, strict in discipline, and devoted to the interest of youth.
The present superintendent is Martin Ralph.
The following named gentlemen have held the office of Superintendent in regular succession: John D. Camp, Benjamin N. Goldsmith, Daniel O.
Caulkins, Amos P. Hawley, Lewis S. Benedict, Mahlon T. Hewitt, William C. Bradley, H. C. Southworth, Joseph W. Lester, Edward P. Tibb.a.l.l.s, H.
G. Fraser, and G. A. Koos.
There is also related to this church a Mission-school, superintended by one of its elders--Mr. J. H. Owens--known as the "_Ludlow Street Mission Sabbath School_," at present occupying the public school building on Ludlow Street, between Rivington and Delancey.
The superintendents are tireless in exertion, and fully devoted to its interest, encouraged by a zealous band of officers and teachers, the influence of whose work upon the children and the families they represent in that locality, eternity alone can tell.
Next to Elder Knowles, as the ruling elder, we might mention the name of Joseph W. Lester, of whom it may be said that he endeared himself, by an unusual force of character, to a large acquaintance, best known in connection with the Allen Street Church, but a pillar of strength to every good work throughout the city; of strict integrity, a judicious adviser, largely benevolent, prompt to act, of wonderful energy, reliable everywhere, zealous to win souls, esteemed for his business qualities, and a true patriot.
But amid all the changes to which both the church and school have ever been subject, there remains one, who, as a dutiful son, and an apt scholar, took his place forty-seven years ago; so now his fidelity and constancy are no marvel, since, with the Psalmist, he is a "door-keeper in the House of the Lord," and like John the Baptist, "An _unshaken_ Reed."
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS ON THE REMOVAL OF THE CHURCH.
The _New York Times_, of Monday, May 9, 1887, gives a brief account of the origin of the church:
The Allen Street Presbyterian Church had its beginning in Madison Street, then Bancker, in 1816. A missionary society in 1817 built a wooden structure at a cost of a little over two thousand dollars, near the corner of Catharine Street. The society was incorporated as the "Mission Church in the City of New York," and that t.i.tle has never been changed, except by common usage. In 1823 an edifice was erected at a cost of about three thousand dollars. For years the church did not prosper, and was on the point of selling its property, when the Rev. Absalom Peters offered to act as Pastor for a time without salary. He pulled the society through its troubles.
The present building was erected in 1833 at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. Since then the church has been humbly prosperous.
For the present, until a site is secured, the congregation will worship in the Church of the Sea and Land, in Market Street.
On the same date, under the heading of "After Fifty-four Years," and "The Last Services in the Old Allen Street Church," the same paper says:
Another of New York"s old churches will soon be torn down.
Yesterday the last services were held in the Allen Street Presbyterian Church, near Grand Street. For many years the church has been a sort of half-way house between up and down town, and its congregation has been an ever-changing one. It has never been a large nor a rich church, although it has had among its members many who are to-day wealthy, and its total membership, since its organization, is much greater than that of many a larger church.
The last services were made interesting, not only by the presence of nearly all the present members, but of members of twenty and twenty-five years ago, who came from churches further up town and from Brooklyn. In the afternoon there was a union service of the church, Sunday-school, and the Ludlow Street Mission. Later the young people held a prayer-meeting, and in the evening reunion services were held. The pastor, the Rev. D. McNeill Young, read letters from many former members who had left New York, all regretting the necessity for demolishing the old building. The reading of the letters was interrupted by the puffing and rattle of the elevated trains directly in front of the door--one of the princ.i.p.al causes of a change of location--that made more prominent the fact that, though sentiment might desire to save the church, it could never again be a pleasant place of worship. After the letters were read familiar hymns were sung, and, without any formality, the older members and their former a.s.sociates gave reminiscences of the early days of their church.
As a proof of its spiritual power not less than _fourteen hundred and forty-three_ persons have been connected with it in the service of the Master, the number of active members at the time of changing location being _five hundred and sixty three_, showing that though old in years it still retains its usefulness.
The _New York Evangelist_ of April 21, 1887, under the heading of "Another Land-mark to be Obliterated," says:
The old Allen Street Presbyterian Church building, where G.o.d"s people have continued to battle against sin and Satan for some sixty-four years, has at last yielded to the pressure of the advancing tide of business on Grand Street, and been sold. The present expectation of the Church is to remain in the neighborhood, and it is hoped that a more desirable location may be obtained, and a building, suited to the times and the needs of the people, erected thereon. Farewell services will begin on Friday evening, May 6th, with the preparatory lecture, to be followed by an earnest season of prayer for the divine blessing on the exodus. On Sabbath, May 8th, the farewell communion service will be held at 11 A.M. A union meeting of the Home and Ludlow Street Sabbath-schools will be held in the main audience room of the church building at 2 P.M. The exercises of the Young People"s Prayer and Conference Meeting will take place at seven o"clock, followed by the closing farewell service in the Church at 7.45 P.M. Then the last good-by will be said in the dear old home which has been the spiritual birth-place of many, many precious souls. It is earnestly hoped that these services will bring together many who can tell of former refreshing times from the presence of the Lord, and of hallowed a.s.sociations within the sacred walls of the old Allen Street Church. It is expected that some of the former pastors will be present to add interest to the occasion. It is well understood that this well-known church property has been purchased by Messrs. Ridley & Co. for $75,000. They thus secure large additional s.p.a.ce for their enormous mercantile business. It should, perhaps, be known that the building of the Elevated road, just in front, has greatly injured "Old Allen Street," as it was popularly called, for all church purposes. The noise of the pa.s.sing trains was very annoying, especially in warm weather, when windows and doors were open. The sum realized will, it is hoped, enable the congregation to build elsewhere in the neighborhood.
The New York Daily _Tribune_, of the same date, thus comments on the old church:
LEAVING THEIR OLD CHURCH HOME.
Yesterday the Allen Street Presbyterian Church held their last service in their present home. The building has been sold to Messrs. Ridley & Sons for mercantile purposes. The church moves temporarily to Market Street, where they will worship with the Church of the Sea and Land. There were the regular morning services, followed by communion. The church was tastefully decorated with flowers, the gift of the Bethany Society of the Church, in commemoration of their last services. On May 28, 1819, the church was organized, although the building had been dedicated on October 25, 1817. This building was in Madison Street, and when it became too small they moved to their present place in 1834.
In the afternoon the home Sunday-school and the Mission school in Ludlow Street held a reunion in the home church. The programme in the afternoon and evening consisted of short addresses and music.
It was a reunion of old members and new, of old pastors and people, of old officers and those whom they were accustomed to oversee. The Rev. N. D. Conkling, a.s.sisted the pastor, the Rev. D. M. Young in the services, preaching the morning sermon. There were twelve persons received into the church on profession of faith.