The City of Churches

Presbyterian

Growth of a Big Church

30th Anniversary of Dr. Burrell's Congregation

Important Celebration in the Classon Avenue Presbyterian Church -- Sermon
by the First Pastor, Dr. Duryea -- An Interesting Historical Statement

The thirtieh anniversary of the founding of the Classon avenue Presbyterian church was celebrated morning, afternoon and evening yesterday, and a further celebration will take place on Tuesday evening, hwen there will be a reception in the chapel, with an address by the Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, who took part in the installation of the first pastor, the Rev. Dr. Joseph T. Duryea, now at the First Reformed Church, in the eastern district. The platform was beautifully decorated with growing palms and flowers.

Previous to the sermon yesterday morning by Dr. Duryea, the pastor, the Rev. Joseph Dunn Burrell, made a historical statement, which contained some interesting facts. On December 10, 1866, there was a meeting of the sessions of the First and Lafayette avenue Presbyterian churches, at the request of the former, in the lecture room of the latter, to consider the question of establishing a new church somewhere east of Washington avenue, in the Seventh ward. A committee, consisting of Edward A. Lambert and James Robinson, was appointed to look into the matter. On December 20 the committee reported.

On March 11, 1867, a meeting was held at Mr. Walbridge's house. John Gibb, D.G. Walbridge, Henry A. Jones, James Robinson, J. March Martin, R. Ruddick, Joseph A. McDougall, J. Henry Smith, J.E. Eastmond, Theodore Eastmond and W.B. Burkhout were present. The sum of $3,100 was subscribed toward buying lots for the church edifice. On. March 26, 1867, trustees were chosen and the corporation of the Classon avenue Presbyterian church formed. The present site was afterward purchased, a chapel built and dedicated June 30. In July the presbytery of Brooklyn organized the church, with John Gibb, O.G. Walbridge and James Robinson as elders. Mills root, John Rhodes, and J. Marc Martin as deacons and fifty-seven members, among whom the following are still members: Miss Laura Berry, Mrs. Orlando H. Jadwin, Mr. and Mrs. Willam Harlan Page. On December 3, 1867, the Rev. Joseph T. Duryea, then of the Collegiate Reformed church of New York, was called as pastor, and on December 26 he was installed, the Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Hastings, lately president of Union Theological seminary, preaching the sermon. Dr. Robinson charging the pastor and Dr. Cuyler the people. At two communion services 128 persons joined, and in less than a year it was necessary to enlarge the chapel.`

On December 1, 1868, the cornerstone of the present church was laid and the building was dedicated January 2, 1870, having cost something over $100,000. The total cost of the ground, the original chapel and the present church was $128,000. The membership at dedicastion was 399. Dr. Duryea's pastorate lasted twelve years, he resigning in 1879, when the membership was 836 and Duryea chapel was founded. The Rev. Dr. David R. Frazer, second pastor, was called from the First Presbyterian church in Buffalo January 1, 1880. He was installed March 4, 1880, the Rev. Dr. J. M. Ludlow, now of Orange, preaching the sermon and the Rev. Drs. J.D. Wells and Cuyler charging pastor and people. December 12, 1880, there were subscriptions to the church debt of $30,537 and pews owned by individuals and valued at $40,000 were surrendered, making a total of over $70,000 toward the liquidation of the debt. The Rev. Dr. Leander T. Chamberlain had a successful pastorate of seven years, from 1883 to 1890. He was called from the Broadway Congregational church of Norwich, Conn., on May 16, 1883, and was installed October 11, the Rev. Dr. Francis L. Patton, now president of Princeton university, preaching the sermon, and Drs. Cuyler and Charles Cuthbert Hall giving the charges to pastor and people. Mr. Burrell began his work in 1892 and since his coming the Wyckoff Heights chapel has been established and all debt paid off on the entire property of the Classon avenue church.

The Rev. Dr. Duryea took his text yesterday from Matthew xvi:18: "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church." Among other things he said: "Analyzed this passage means, "Tho are Peter" (petros -- a piece of rock), "and upon this rock (petra), of which thou are a part, I will build my church." The one foundation of the structure is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Upon this the apostles were built as the first tier of sontes of the edifice. Upon them rested the next generation and so on down to ourselves. We as a church rest on the life of those who went before us, as those who come next shall rest on us. The church is, therefore, a living body, not an organization, not an institution, but the company, gathered anywhere at any time......... In time of His apostles and made the New Testament. For Christ neither wrote Himself nor commanded anyone else to write. This living church, out of which came the divine word, takes that word to itself and so is nourished. But the life it lives is the one thing of most importance. This living spirituality is what the church has to bring as its gift to the generation in which we live. Here is the answer to skepticism. Doubts vanish in the presence of one good man. Here is the antidote to that superabounding worldliness which casts over our human society an indifference in the things of the soul which is worse than skepticism. The temper of our day is accurately revealed in the fact that in the financial distress which has come upon us, men, instead of flying to God for help to bear their burdens manfully, instead of deploring their sins, deplore the loss of their money. Men think far more of their earthly possessions than they do of their eternal destiny. In the gospel of Christ is that which can meet also the needs of the generation nex to come. When this church was first built I used to come in here on a Sunday afternoon and look over the infant class sitting up in yonder alcove. Where are those boys and girls now? Everyone of them is a man or a women to-day -- except those who passed from this life to the next. Are they faithful men and women? Are they living the Christian life? It is a searching question. It suggests to me to say this, that the time to get hold of any generation is in childhood. Every boy of a Christian home ought to stand here confessing Christ before his 16th year. So from generation to generation we carry on the great work of the living church."

In the afternoon there was a meeting of the Sunday schools of the Classon avenue church, the Duryea church and the Wyckoff Heights chapel, the boys' brigades of Duryea church and the home church being present in uniform. On the platform with the Rev. Mr. Burrell who presided, were the Rev. John E. Fray of Duryea church, and the Rev. Dr. Frazer.

The Rev. Dr. Frazer made an address which pleased the children greatly. He emphasized the duty of honoring fathers and mothers, serving Christ and being true to the word of God. He said that infidelity was doing its best to overthrow the Bible. "It can't be done," he said. "This book no more needs my poor little defense than God needs me to help light the stars."

At night the Rev. Dr. Leander T. Chamberlain preached to a large audience. He took his text from Revelation iii:8: "Behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it." In the course of the sermon Dr. Chamgerlain said: "On a circular letter sent out by a group of prominent men lately. In the interest of a certain philanthropy, was a picture of a church door bearing these words: "No misconception could be more perverse." The open door which is meant is not that which leads into the church, but that which the church itself is to enter. The picture is not that of the shepherd opening the gate of the sheepfold to let the sheep enter, but the shepherd searching all over the mountains for the lamb that is lost. The mission of the church is not to invite the masses in, but to go out and seek them in the highways and hedges. The church has its mission to the rich, whom it reminds "that to whom much is given, of him much shall be asked.", it points them to the great white throne, where account must be given. But the church's chief message must always be to the multitude, to the poor. To them it goes with medicine, with disease, relief for famine, clothing for want, cleanliness for impurity, and love. To all the world it carries the gospel of the divine love, knowing no distinction of persons and setting upon every soul the estimate of heaven, that it is worth being bought with the blood of the only begotten Son of God.."

Publication: Brooklyn Eagle; Date: March 15, 1897

Presbyterians Celebrate

Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Westminster Standards

President Patton's Address

The Head of Princeton University Speaks as the Guest of the Brooklyn Presbytery
-- A Large Audience Present in the Classon Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Some Differences Between Catholicism and Protestantism Outlined.

Classon Avenue Presbyterian Church contained a representative, if not, large, audience last everning. Clergymen and prominent laymen representing several denominations were present, in attendance upon the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Westminster standards, the foundation stones of Presbyterian doctive. It was the commemoration of the event by the Presbytery of Brooklyn. The celebration has been held by many Presbyteries throughout the country, and the General Assembly will observe it at its meeting in May next. The committee which arranged last neight's service was composed of the Rev. Dr. John Fox, the Rev. Dr. L.R. Fouts and Elder Charles Henderson.

The Rev. Dr. John D. Welles, pastor of the South Third Street Presbyterian Church, presided. The service began by the singing ........... nearer the time of the meeting of the Westminster assembly than Mr. Hutchins'. But they might have had another idea, that one of my age , nourished a little longer on Westminster truth, would know more about it. But Mr. Hutchins has begun to rear a family and he will give it the some nourishment as I had. I want to say a word as to what the great Presbyterian church has done toward celebrating the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the formation and adoption of the Westminster standards. The South has been in advance of the North, for in 1896 the general assembly of the Presbyterian church South determined to celebrate the anniversary this year, and eleven of the first men in the Southern church were apponted as a committee. Eleven addresses were made at the Southern general assembly this year, and they were so acceptable in the assembly that a resolution was passed to publish them in a volume of 300 pages, which I have had the pleasure of reading. Our assembly met in Winona, Ind., in May last, and a recommendation was offered and passed to make arrangements for a celebration on the second Thursday during the meeting in 1898. A committee, consisting of the officers of the assembly, with Dr. Sheldon Jackson, moderator, as chairman, was appointed to urge synods, presbyteries and church to celebrate this year. The Presbytery of Brooklyn is to be congratulated on the presence here to-night of the president of a great university and one of the faculty of the theological seminary, Dr. Francis L. Patton needs no introduction to a Brooklyn audience."

Dr. Patton said in substance: "I have chosen as my subject, 'The Creeds of Christendom.' Westminster standards generally represent a phrase of devotion in the matter of creeds which will be all the better understood if we consider the confession of faith and the catechisms in the light of those who went before. Christendom is divided into two great branches, the Catholic and the Protestant. I shall speak first of the Catholic and then of the Protestant. We do not make any concessions to the claims of Catholicism, but we do know that the Catholic church agrees in this, that those who are members of the church as members of an organizaiotn which possesses an unbroken constitution, episcopally officered, with a Catholic mission and a deposit of faith. Protestants do not believe in unbroken apostolic succssion, in the catholic mission of any one denomination or in a special deposit of faith.

Dr. Patton went on to speak of the branches into which the Catholic church is divided -- the Roman Catholic, Greek church and Anglican Church. He spoke of the three great ecumenical creeds -- the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian and the decrees of the Council of Trent and the Vatican decrees. He said he was not going to enter into any debate over the errors of the Catholic church, but it runs itself out into direct individualism, and the individual may carry his devotion to creed to such a point that he will believe all who disagree with him to be heterodox. The logic that allows two denominations would allow 2,000. The branch theory of the church ends in individualism. Dr. Patton said he was not one to say tha ta church is not a church because it contained some error, but it was a question as to how much error it could teach before it ceases to be a church. It might be necessary to unchurch it when it teaches so much error as not to save some. He had no sympathy with those who declare that the great Catholic church should be unchurched. Therre was no need of more sectarianism. He said the Roman Catholic Church had had its schisms, spoke of the hot debate in 1870 as to the infallibility of the Pope, of the movements and marriage of Pope Hyacinth, of the attemps of the Old Catholics to reform the Roman church from within and said it would be an interesting thing if the Pope some day, contrary to the Vatican council should infallibly declare that he is fallable.

Siloam Presbyterian Church Holds a Celebration

The fiftieth anniversary of the Siloam Presbyterian Church, Prince street, near Willoughby, was celebrated last evening. The event will be concluded to-night. The history of the church has been given. An effort is now being made to relieve it from debt.

Last night's services opened with a prayer by the Rev. Dr. Alexander, followed by a piano selection by the organist of the church, Herman Hurlong. Dr. Alexander then introduced the Rev. W.R. Lawton, who preceded Dr. Alexander as pastor of the church. Mr. Lawton reviewed the work of the church, and told an interesting incident in regard to the raising of the necessary amount of money to begin the erection of the church. The amount needed was $2,000. The membership, he said, was not very large at that time and it was decided to tax each family $30. The single members of the congregation were let off with half that amount. The members of the church then wet to work with a will and many were the schemes which were adapted to raise the amount. Entertainments of every description were held and a few months after the call for funds had been sent out the money was in the hands of the pastor. Mr. Lawton then told of the dedication of the building and of how the membership increased after the building had been completed. He said that under the wise direction of the present pastor the church had incresaed in membership and that many debts were being liquidated.

Dr. Alexander then spoke briefly upon the celebration. He said that the event which the church was now celebrating was the fifthieth anniversary of the corporate organization of the church and not the fiftieth anniversary of the church. He stated that the church had been in existence for a year and a half before it was formed into a corporate body and the fiftieth anniversary of the church had been celebrated last year.

The Rev. W.T. Dixon of the Concord Baptist Church then made a congratulatory address.

At. to-morrow night's services, which will close the celebration, all of the living trustees and officials of the church, who have served from the first to the present year, will be in attendance and relate some events which occurred at the time they served.

Publication: Brooklyn Eagle; Date: November 30, 1900