First Presbyterian Church (200th Anniversary)

The First Presbyterian Church on Fifth Avenue, between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets, which has been called the mother of all the Presbyterian churches in the New York Presbytery, celebrated the 200th anniversary by a series of meetings, beginning December 3, 1916, and continuing throughout the week. The occasion was also taken advantage of to celebrate the silver jubilee of its pastor, Dr. Howard Duffield, who is one of a long list of distinguished men who have served this church. To Dr. Duffield is credited the work of securing the church to lower Fifth Avenue by his efforts in obtaining the large endowment necessary to accomplish this object.

The old First Church fills a large place in the history of Presbyterianism in New York and consequently this celebration brought together representatives from most of the historic and civic organizations of the city and clergymen from all the other Protestant communions Gov. Whitman, John G. Hibben, President of Princeton University, Bishop David H. Greer, and Bishop Luther B. Wilson were among those who took part in the celebration. An interesting account of the church was given by Dr. Duffield, who recounted the leading facts of its history from the time six citizens met in the home of William Jackson in Pearl Street in 1716 down to the present time, when the church has a membership of 1324.

The church in Wall Street which we are so familiar with in old prints was erected in 1719. Jonathan Edwards, who had such powerful influence in the religious life of the country, was its most noted pastor. George Whitfield also preached in this church and it was used as a prison by the British during the Revolution. The present church edifice in Fifth Avenue was erected in 1845.

Scotch Presbyterian Church (160th Anniversary)

Another anniversary celebration in the Presbyterian fold was that of the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Central Park, W. This church was organized in Cedar Street in 1756 and worshipped there until 1836, when it was moved to Crosby and Grand Streets. In 1853 the church in 14th Street was built and occupied. Many old New Yorkers can remember when it stood there, while 14th Street was yet a very handsome residence street. At this time Mr. O'Neil, the owner of the great department store just around the corner on Sixth Avenue, was one of its leading members, and in the congregation were many old Scotchmen of the Covenanter type. Now, however, one could not distinguish it from any other evangelical church. The Anniversary celebration was attended by many eminent clergymen and well known citizens.

Old John Street Church (150th Anniversary)

The same week in which St. Paul's celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary also marked the celebration of the same occasion for old John Street Methodist Church. On the same site it occupies today this old church, which is called the cradle of Methodism in America, has stood for a century and a half, and is revered by all New Yorkers. Often it is referred to in print and conversation as "dear old John Street Church."

It is an offshoot from Trinity, its founders being members of that church at the time John Wesley and his followers were still in communion with the Church of England. It was in the house of Philip Embury, in Park Place, that Methodist services were first held, and here was the inception of John Street church in 1766. At first the church was a small, unpretentious wooden building, quite in keeping with the plain, earnest worshipers of these early Methodist days, and it has not changed its character since then at all, for although larger and more substantial than the original, it is only a plain brick building, without exterior beauty, and quite the place one would expect a great religious movement like Methodism to take its start. It is contemporaneous with St. Paul's and bids fair to fill a place in the future life of the city as important as its more famous and more historic companion. The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary was celebrated with great enthusiasm and brought together many of the most notable clergymen of all denominations. Bishop Samuel Dwight Chown, of Canada, and Dr. S. Parkes Cadman, of Brooklyn, dwelt specially on the subject of the Allies and compared their spirit to that of the colonists in 1776, just about the time when this old church was founded.

All Saints Church and Slave Gallery

There is an old church in New York where still may be seen the "Slave gallery", a not uncommon appurtenance to churches of the early days. Very few New Yorkers even know that such things ever existed, so far have we traveled from these dark ages, but there, in the old church at Henry and Scammel Streets, All Saints' Church, is the tangible and visible evidence of this fact. It was the custom of some slave holders to send their human chattels to church for instruction in humility and obedience and in this gallery they were gathered together, entirely separated from their white masters. This is the only remaining slave gallery in this part of the country.

There are other antiquities in the old church which are interesting and historic, the only remaining "three Decker chancel," consisting of reading desk for clerk, high pulpit for clergyman, and the small old altar behind; the original organ and the only remaining Colonial window in New York. There is also a collection of Dutch antiquities and manuscripts from 1624. The Netherlands Art Museum of the church, containing much interesting material, is under the direction of the vicar, the Rev. Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie.

Saint Paul's Chapel, 1766-1916 (150th Anniversary)

St. Paul's Chapel was one hundred and fifty years old October 30, 1916, and held an appropriate celebration on the occasion. Mayor Mitchell headed a procession consisting of the Sons of the Revolution, and the Society of the Cincinnati, which met in Fraunces Tavern and marched from the historic landmark to the famous old church which has filled so large a place in the history of our city and is held in such high esteem and affection by the people. President Wilson was represented by Col. E.M. House, and Gov. Whitman by Col. Lorillard Spencer. The pew Washington occupied when he worshipped here was decorated with American flags.

Memories of Washington, Lafayette and other heroes which cluster around this historic old church were revived and it was recalled that in the days when Washington worshipped in St. Paul's he used to walk from his residence in Cherry Street to the church and mingle among the people like any other good citizen. St. Paul's was then tree embowered and looked out on the sparkling waters of the Hudson, unobstructed by high buildings and undisturbed by the noises of modern street traffic. Great indeed have been the changes witnessed by this old church, but St. Paul's itself remains unchanged and preserves for us, amid the fast shifting scenes of the years something of the flavor of an age that is dear to old New Yorkers for its quaint simplicity and yet severe and unyielding rectitude.

The text from which Bishop David H. Greer preached on the Sunday of the celebration epitomises better than anything that could be written the feelings of New Yorkers toward this old church. It was the same from which Dr. Samuel Auchmuty preached on the dedication of the chapel October 30, 1766: "Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."