23rd STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK Copyright (c) 2001 by Mary Lindbo (mlindbo@gateway.net). ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ This is the history and membership list of the West Twenty-Third Street Presbyterian Church in New York City. The history timeline starts in 1834 and ends in 1874. The membership list is from a Pastoral Letter and Manual published in 1855. HISTORY - West 23d Street Presbyterian Church From LDS microfilm #1313852 [At the beginning of the first book of records is the following entry] "Early History of The Eighth Avenue Presbyterian Church" The Presbytery of New York having directed their attention to the wants of that section of the city lying in the 8th Avenue and its vicinity, authorized their missionary committee to engage a man to labour in that field. Accordingly on 27 November 1833, the Rev'd. J. Cooke Edwards, late of the Theological Seminary of Princeton, New Jersey and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Newton, New Jersey was appointed by said committee. Meetings for religious worship were held in private houses until December 29, when the people assembled in a building prepared for their accommodation on the west side of 8th Avenue above 19th Street and on the 5th of January it was formally opened as a place of divine worship. On the 9th of February 1834, a church was organized consisting of the following members, viz. James Scott Anna Scott John Marshall Ann Marshall Samuel Gurnee Mary Gurnee John Hay James Anderson Lucretia Owen Harriet R. Edwards Cochran Black Chas. Wighton Martin Bigg Two of this number, Messrs. John Marshall and James Scott were ordained elders, and Mr. Samuel Gurnee, deacon. The Rev'd Daniel L. Carroll preached on the occasion from Is. 62:1 and the Rev'd Wm. W. Phillips, D. D. officiated at the ordination of the Elders and Deacon. The building in which the church was organized was a brick store, No. 189 Eighth Avenue. 1834 - The frame chapel upon Seventeenth Street north side, west of Eighth Avenue was occupied. 1835 March - Rev. J. Cooke Edwards accepted a call to Smithtown, L. I. April 18 - The Rev. Henry A. Riley was chosen pastor April 23 - He was ordained and installed 1838 October 31 - The church on account of the division of the Presbyterian Church into Old School and New School, was included in the 2nd Presbytery of New York and afterwards transferred to the 4th Presbytery (N. S.) December 24 - Mr. Riley accepted a call to Montrow, Pennsylvania 1839 April 7 - The Rev. Robert C. Brisbin was installed pastor 1841 - The church removed to the hall in the second story of the building corner of 8th Avenue and Eighteenth Street (S. E. corner) March 21 - Mr. Brisbin's pastorate closed. May 1 - The Rev. James I. Ostram assumed the pastorate 1844 - The church dedicated its new building upon the south side of 20th Street, east of 7th Avenue and Mr. Ostram was formally installed as pastor. 1851 December - Mr. Ostram dismissed from the pastorate. 1852 April 21 - The Rev'd Frederick Gorham Clark was installed pastor. 1853 April - The corner stone of the new building upon West 23rd Street (lots No. 208, 210, 212, 214) was laid, and the name of the church was changed to: The West 23rd Street Presbyterian Church 1854 March 12 - The new church was dedicated. 1858 December 21 - The church voted to withdraw from the Fourth Presbytery (N. S.) to become connected with the "Presbytery of New York" 1860 June 22 - The entire debt was paid, the church being aided to the extent of $10,000 by the following churches viz:; - Fifth Avenue Church - First Church - University Place Church - Scotch Church - Brick Church 1860 December 8 - The church partially burned 1866 - A mission school organized at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-Fifth West 1867 April 23 - Rev. Frederick G. Clark dismissed from the pastorage November - The Rev. Henry O. Northrup entered upon the pastorate and early in the following year was formally installed. 1868 November 8 - The Young People's Sunday Evening Prayer meeting was organized. 1870 - The happy reunion of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church. 1872 - Organization of the Young People's Christian Association. 1874 July 19 - Mr. Northrup retired from the pastorate. PASTORAL LETTER AND MANUAL FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - 1855 From LDS microfilm 1313852 CHURCH OFFICERS Pastor: Rev. Frederick G. Clark, 96 West 22d Street Ruling Elders: James Ruthven, Daniel Crane, Tobias D. Lander, Henry D. Crane Deacons: Isaac B. Smith, Montgomery Underwood, James Neafie Trustees: John B. Jervis, President; John H. Mathews, Secretary; Gurdon Burchard, Treasurer; Henry D. Crane; George M. Tunison; Joseph Thompson; Tobias D. Lander; James Donaldson; Samuel Longstreet Sexton: Montgomery Underwood, 166 8th Avenue HISTORICAL SKETCH This Church was organized with thirteen members, in the year 1834, by the Presbytery of New York, to meet "the wants of that section of the city lying on the Eighth Avenue and its vicinity." The organization was effected in a temporary place of worship, which had been prepared on the west side of Eighth Avenue, above Nineteenth Street. The Rev. William W. Phillips, D. D., presided on this occasion, and officiated at the ordination of the Elders and Deacons. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Daniel L. Carroll, D. D. from Isaiah 62:1: "For Sion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." The Church was established at the recommendation of the "Missionary Committee" of the Presbytery of New York, in pursuance of a desire to extend the privileges of the sanctuary into the new and growing portions of the city. During the infancy of the enterprise, the congregation occupied several places of worship, meeting once in Seventeenth Street, and then in Eighteenth Street, until, in 1844, the Church edifice on West Twentieth Street was finished. This structure was afterwards enlarged and beautified; and here the worship of God was maintained until the building became too small. In 1852, the congregation resolved to erect a large and commodious house of worship on West Twenty-third Street. In pursuance of this plan, the corner stone of the new structure was laid in the spring of 1853; and on the second Sabbath of March, 1854, the present house of worship was solemnly dedicated to the service of Jehovah. The cost of this building, with the ground, was upwards of sixth thousand dollars. Thus, has this church been led along by the hand of Providence, from the feebleness of a missionary enterprise to its present position of enlargement and self-sustaining vigor. So that, in review of the past, we may exclaim, "the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad!" Thus also is the unfailing covenant of God verified - "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." During the first two years of its existence, the Church enjoyed the ministrations of the Rev. J. C. Edwards, then a licentiate of the Presbytery of Newton, N. J., who officiated as a stated supply. Rev. Henry A. Riley, the first Pastor of the Church, was installed by the Presbytery of New York, April 25, 1835. The sermon was preached by Rev. William W. Phillips, D. D.; the charge to the Pastor was by Rev. Jared Dewing; and the charge to the people by Rev. John M. Krebs, D. D. After laboring four years in this Church, Rev. Mr. Riley accepted a call to another field of labor. Rev. Robert C. Brisbin was installed Pastor in April 1839. He was dismissed in the month of April 1841. Rev. James J. Ostrom was employed, in May, 1841, as a stated supply, by consent of Presbytery. He was afterwards installed Pastor, and continued his labors till the spring of 1852. Rev. Frederick G. Clark commenced his pastoral labors in this Church on the second Sabbath of April, 1852; and was installed on Wednesday evening, April 21st of the same year, by the Fourth Presbytery of New York. The sermon was preached by Rev. William Adams, D. D., from Psalm 126:3. The charge to the Pastor was by Rev. Joel Parker, D. D.; and the charge to the people by Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, Jr. NOTICES The Lord's Supper is administered on the afternoon of the first Sabbath in the months of February, April, June, August,* October and December. (*This Communion Service is usually put one week earlier, to anticipate the Pastor's Vacation.) The regular Weekly Prayer Meeting is held on Tuesday evening; and the Weekly Lecture on Friday evening. The Preparatory Lecture is delivered on the Friday evening next preceding each Communion season. The Parochial Library is opened for the free use of the Congregation at the close of both of the regular weekly services. The Monthly Concert of Prayer is held on the first Monday evening of each month, when a collection is taken up for Foreign Missions. A Collection for the Poor of the Church is taken up at the close of every Communion Service. Parents are invited to present their children for Baptism on the afternoon of the Sabbath following each Communion and also at the Preparatory Lecture. They are requested to furnish the Pastor with a memorandum of the names in full of the parents and of the children, with the date of each child's birth. The Sabbath School is held in the Lecture Room, twice every Sabbath, immediately before Public Service. Male and Female Bible Classes are held at the same time. The youth of the Congregation are affectionately invited to avail themselves of these advantages. RECEPTION OF MEMBERS The names of all persons who have been received to Church membership by the Session, are publicly announced at the next Communion season. Those received on the profession of their faith, are expected to stand and give their assent to the following: COVENANT You do now publicly profess your belief of the Christian religion, as it is contained in the sacred Scriptures and received in this Church. You solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah as your God, the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier and Comforter, and the Word of God as your only rule of faith and practice. Humbly confessing the sinfulness of your nature, the manifold transgressions of your life, and your past unbelief, you do now most sincerely devote yourself to the love and service of God, consecrating all your powers to the advancement of his glory, and intending, by Divine aid, to observe all the Commandments of God. You propose that your life shall be holy, humble and prayerful; to be faithful in your observance of public and social worship; strictly to observe family and secret prayer; to honor the Sabbath as a day of holy rest; and in every relation to promote the cause of Christ. You likewise covenant with this Church in particular, to submit to its order and discipline; to treat its members with brotherly love; kindly to give and receive all needful admonition; and diligently to attend on all the Christian ordinances as they are here administered. Be mindful, then, beloved, that the vows of God are on you. We charge you forget not this day. Watch against the beginnings of sin. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Be ever busied in your Master's service; and remember that "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." And now, may the God of peach "make you perfect 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." BAPTISMAL COVENANT You present your children here before God, to consecrate them to his service. You desire to interest them in the Covenant of Grace which God has made with Abraham and his spiritual seed, of which Covenant the water of baptism is now the seal. You give up these children to God, leaving them to the disposal of his infinite wisdom, and engaging on your part to strive for a spirit of acquiescence in whatever may prove to be his holy will concerning them. You acknowledge that which this ordinance implies - the need of an inward baptism of the soul, through the blood of Christ and the influence of the Holy Ghost, to render your offspring meet for heaven. And these blessings, of which Baptism is the sign, you engage to seek of God in their behalf continually. You engage to teach your children to read and understand God's Holy Word; to render them sensible, as soon as possible, of their sinfulness; to point them to the Lamb of God and urge them to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. You will aim at such government in your house as shall secure obedience to yourselves and above all to God; while you strive to curb every sinful passion and to restrain your children from the path of temptation. You engage to pray with and for your children; to set before them a constant example of godliness; regularly to maintain family worship; and always to walk before your house in the fear of the Lord. These and all other duties incumbent on you, as Christian parents, you undertake, with Divine aid, to perform. [Note: When this Church assumed the title of the "West Twenty-Third Street Presbyterian Church," in April, 1853, a new Roll was made, containing the names of only those who were known to be members in actual attendance upon the Church. By this means the membership was made to appear much smaller than would have been the case had the Roll been left in the conditions of most Rolls of city Churches. As thus reduced to accuracy, the list of Church Members contained at this time one hundred and thirty-seven names. Notwithstanding many dismissions, in consequence of removal, the Church now numbers one hundred and ninety-four members. During the present pastorate there have been one hundred and thirty- nine accessions, forty-one of which were upon profession of faith. No pains have been spared to make the following Roll as accurate as possible; but, from the frequent omission of Church Members to inform the Pastor of their removal, errors will necessarily occur in the places of residence. It is requested that any errors here occurring may be at once communicated to the Pastor, through the Sexton. To secure future accuracy, it is indispensable that immediate notice should be given of all removals in town, or intended departures from the city.] ROLL OF CHURCH MEMBERS Adams, Titus - 385 Sixth Avenue Adams, Mary Ann (Titus) - 385 Sixth Avenue Baker, Grace M. (Silas) - 605 8th Avenue Baker, Silas - 605 8th Avenue Bayard, David H. - 256 W. 18th Avenue Bayard, Mary (D. H.) - 256 W. 18th Avenue Beach, Samuel D. - 222 W. 30th St. Beach, Maria L. (S. D.) - 222 W. 30th St. Beam, Rachel B. (M. R.) - 154 W. 20th St. Beatty, George - 131 Perry St. Beatty, Margaret (George) - 131 Perry St. Beatty, Jeanette - 131 Perry St. Binns, Eliza (William) - 246 W. 32d St. Blackwell, Fanny W. - 149 W. 22d St. Blair, Mary - 208 W. 16th St. Blount, Margaret (wid.) - 92 W. 27th St. Board, Achsa P. (J. H.) - 147 W. 24th St. Board, Cornelia J. - 147 W. 24th St. Boughton, Caroline L. (Joseph) - 197 W. 32d St. Boughton, Caroline E. - 197 W. 32d St. Brown, James Brown, Mary (James) Bull, Richard H - 8 Fourth St. Bull, Mary Ann (R. H.) - 8 Fourth St. Burchard, Gurdon - 173 W. 22d St. Burchard, Adeline (Gurdon) - 173 W. 22d St. Cable, Annie M. (W. D.) - 201 W. 30th St. Chapman, Mary E. (George) - 269 W. 21st St. Clark, Elizabeth (B. M.) - 185 10th Ave. Clark, Elizabeth S. - 185 10th Ave. Clark, Jane - 185 10th Ave. Clark, Eliza B. (wid. Rev. D. A.) - 272 W. 22d St. Clark, Sereno B. - 272 W. 22d St. Clark, Sarah B. (Rev. F. G.) - 96 W. 22d St. Coley, Sarah E. - 146 1/2 W. 19th St. Corwin, Emily C. (J. M.) - 307 Sixth Ave. Crane, Daniel - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, Elsie Ann (Daniel) - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, Henry D. - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, Hiram A. - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, Julia (H. D.) - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, Rev. Edward P. - Rockland Lake Crane, Thomas S. - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, William N. - 192 W. 30th St. Crane, Emeline M. - 192 W. 30th St. Darrow, William - 203 Tenth Avenue Darrow, Mary C. (William) - 203 Tenth Avenue Davidson, Sarah (Wid.) - 276 W. 33d Street Denham, William - 159 W. 17th St. Denham, Eliza Ann - 159 W. 17th St. Donaldson, James - 121 W. 19th St. Donaldson, Emily - 121 W. 19th St. Dunn, Isabella (J. F.) - 219 W. 19th St. Edgar, Benjamin W. - 209 Ninth Avenue Edgar, Phebe (B. W.) - 209 Ninth Avenue Ervin, William - 116 Christopher St. Fleming, Jane - 151 W. 20th Street Fleming, Mary Ann - 151 W. 20th Street Freeman, Lucy (wid.) Freeman, Susan M. (wid.) Freeman, Maria L. Fuller, Mason O. - 250 W. 24th St. Fuller, Lydia S. M. (M. O.) - 250 W. 24th St. Galloway, Lucy Ann - 200 7th Avenue Gambling, Richard - 188 W. 17th St. Gambling, Ann (Richard) - 188 W. 17th St. Gilbert, George - 16 Troy St. Gilbert, Maria R. M. (George) - 16 Troy St. Groesbeck, William Henderson, Jane - 207 8th Avenue Hine, Reuben H. - 153 W. 31st St. Hine, Eunice (R. H.) - 153 W. 31st St. Hollister, Edwin M. - 132 W. 23d St. Hollister, Gratia B. (E. M.) - 132 W. 23d St. Hollister, Helen M. - 132 W. 23d St. Hollister, George - 132 W. 23d St. Hollister, John B. - 132 W. 23d St. Howe, Ralph - 132 W. 23d St. Hunt, Emily (wid.) - 147 W. 24th St. Ivison, Henry - 292 W. 23d St. Ivison, Sarah (Henry) - 292 W. 23d St. Ivison, Sarah B. - 292 W. 23d St. Jackson, Clulow - 182 W. 17th Street Jackson, Cassandra (Clulow) - 182 W. 17th Street Jackson, Lydia (wid.) - 165 W. 20th St. Jervis, John B. - 216 W. 23d St. Jervis, Eliza R. (J. B.) - 216 W. 23d St. Johnson, Sarah (William) - 146 W. 20th St. Jones, Lucy (wid.) Jones, Cynthia Ketcham, Amelia - 11 W 24th Street Ketcham, Ann (D. C.) - 11 W 24th Street King, William S. - 150 W. 38th St. King, Adelia A. (W. S.) - 150 W. 38th St. La Force, Abbey (Wid.) Lander, Tobias D. - 193 W. 30th St. Lander, Justine V. (T. D.) - 193 W. 30th St. Lander, Harriet A. - 193 W. 30th St. Livingston, Cornelia - 147 10th Ave. Livingston, Sarah - 147 10th Ave. Locke, Eliza Jane (George) - 170 W. 26th St. Longstreet, Samuel - 112 W. 16th St. Longstreet, Margaret (Samuel) - 112 W. 16th St. Lounsberry, Elizabeth - 46 Amos St. Mackay Clarissa (Hay S.) - 188 25th St. Mackay, Clarissa - 188 W. 25th St. McIlvaine, Sarah McIntyre, Jane - 208 W. 16th St. McIntyre, Mary (John) - 211 W. 24th St. McNamee, Frances D. (H. S.) Mallard, Harriet - 230 W. 36th St. Martin, Ann (wid.) - 187 W. 25th St. Martin, Jane - 187 W. 25th St. Mathews, John H. - 149 W. 22d St. Mathews, Maria L. (J. H.) - 149 W 22d St. Mickins, William - 189 W. 43d St. Mickins, Sarah Ann (Wm.) - 189 W 43d St. Mitchell, Christiana (Robert) - 207 8th Ave. Mitchell, Juliett H. (R. M.) - 139 W. 34th St. Mitchell, Hannah M. - 139 W. 34th St. Moase, Miriam Moon, Margaret - 151 8th Ave. Mott, Charles D. - Brooklyn Mott, Mary R. L. (C. D.) - Brooklyn Myrick, Elizabeth - 260 W. 18th St. Neafie, James - 213 W. 18th St. Neafie, Charity P. (James) - 213 W. 18th St. Newcomb, Elizabeth (Obadiah) - 55 London Ter. Newcomb, Jane A. - 55 London Ter. Newcomb, Amelia W. - 55 London Ter. Norris, Sarah Ann (Noah) - 260 W. 18th St. Norris, Olivia - 260 W. 18th St. Norris, Thomas S. - 260 W. 18th St. Owens, Cynthia (wid.) - 179 W. 17th St. Paulmier, Cornelia B. (Jesse) - 55 London Ter. Pollard, Mary E. (Isaac C.) - 51 W. 28th St. Ranney, J. W. (M. D.) - 354 Bleecker St. Reeve, Elias H. - 191 W. 24th St. Reeve, Esther (wid.) - 157 W. 17th St. Reeve, Jeremiah - 187 W. 23d St. Reeve, Mary (Jeremiah) - 187 W. 23d St. Robertson, Elizabeth (wid.) - 92 W. 27th St. Robinson, Emma (H. W.) - 22 Lamartine Pl. Rockwood, William H. - 186 W. 25th St. Rockwood, Susan G., (W. H.) - 186 W. 25th St. Rockwood, Susan W. - 186 W. 25th St. Roeckel, Margaret (Joseph) - 407 8th Ave. Rogers, Mary (wid.) - 202 W. 22d St. Roome, Cornelia A. Russell, Robert - 127 W. 25th St. Russell, Ann Maria (Robert) - 127 W. 25th St. Ruthven, James - 100 W. 23d St. Ruthven, Jane (James) - 100 W. 23d St. Ruthven, Clementina - 100 W. 23d St. Ruthven, Clementina - 100 W. 23d St. Sampson, Mary - 317 W. 24th St. Sampson, Ellen - 317 W. 24th St. Savage, Joseph W. Savage, Letitia (wid.) Scott, Mary F. (wid.) - 137 W. 20th St. Seacor, Sarah (J. T.) - 10 Patchin Place Searing, Maria (Osmon) - 224 W. 18th St. Sears, Esther (John R.) 256 W. 23d St. Sharp, Alexander H. - 215 6th Ave. Slocum, Rosabella (W. S.) - 105 W. 16th St. Smith, Isaac B. - 167 7th Ave. Smith, Susanna (I. B.) - 167 7th Ave. Storms, Henry - 201 W. 27th St. Storms, Phebe A. (Henry) - 201 W. 27th St. Thompson, Daniel - 191 W. 43d St. Thompson, John - 193 W. 43d St. Thompson, Joseph - 176 W. 26th St. Thompson, Sarah M. (Joseph) - 176 W. 26th St. Thompson, Samuel - 187 W. 43d St. Thompson, Angelina H. (Samuel) - 187 W. 43d St. Tunison, George M. - 179 W. 16th St. Underwood, Montgomery - 166 8th Ave. Underwood, Sarah N. (Montgomery) - 166 8th Ave. Utter, Eliza (wid.) Van Middlesworth, Sarah A. - 292 W. 23d St. Washburn, George - 213 W. 17th St. Washburn, Sarah R. (George) - 213 W. 17th St. Waters, William - 255 6th Ave. Wetmore, Julia A. - 11 W. 24th St. Whippy, Caroline - 199 W. 18th St. Whitlock, Phebe (wid.) - 67 W. 36th St. Whitlock, Permelia W. - 67 W. 36th St. Whitney, Timothy P. - 70 4th St. Whitney, Emeline (T. P.) - 70 4th St. Wills, Rachel - 275 W. 33d St. Wilson, Benjamin M. Wilson, Mary W. (B. M.) Woodruff, Mary Ann M. (wid.) - 166 8th Ave. Wright, Matilda (wid.) - 267 W. 32d St.