for their admission to the quarterly love feast and communion, without which they were not admitted. Embury's first sermon was in response to a call from Barbara Heck, a member of the class, who urged that he preach against card playing and worldliness, which she feared would ensnare his flock unless he lifted his voice against them. Dr. Streeter asserts that this was a mere development of the church, not the beginning, which he places back in 1760 with their arrival. It appears to be probable that the present John Street Church, which is not the original edifice built in 1768 but stands on its site, will be torn down within the next year and replaced with a tall business structure. The property is owned by the Methodist General Conference and at the session in Saratoga in 1916, consent was given to permit the Trustees of the property to improve it with a commercial building. Tentative plans provide for a church headquarters on one of the lower floors. The church covers a plot fronting forty feet at 44 and 46 John Street, on the south side, between Nassau and William Streets, in the active fire insurance center. The adjoining four-story building at 48 John Street is also controlled by the Conference and the entire plot, fronting 62.6 feet and more than 80 feet in depth, will be utilized in the building operation. The old John Street Church did not share the fate of some other city churches during the Revolution and it was not used for hospital or prison purposes. It was, however, used for religious services to which the Hessian as well as British soldiers went. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Two Hundredth Anniversary In September, 1916, the First Presbyterian Church of New York celebrated its 200th anniversary. The history of the old First Church is interesting not only from the denominational standpoint but also from the standpoint of city history, for its first house of worship stood in Wall street and was erected upon property whose chain of title is linked with some of the most important events in the history of old New York. For that reason, we have devoted Appendix D of this Report to early transactions connected more or less intimately with the beginning of Presbyterianism in New York. It is, in a sense, a chapter of Wall Street history, and therefore, we believe, possesses a dual interest. (See plates 4, 5 and 6.) BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Offered Millions to Sell Property The financial temptation to which the churches of New York City are repeatedly exposed, to sell their present church properties for commercial purposes and to remove to other sites, has been illustrated notably during the past year by the offer made to the Brick Presbyterian Church to sell its property on the northwest corner of 5th Avenue and 37th street. As stated in Appendix D of this Report, the Brick Church is the offspring of the Old First which has survived a similar temptation and which, like it, does not take a commercial view of church work. In 1856, the Brick church paid $58,000 for its lot on the corner of 37th street and Fifth avenue, and when the present church was built in 1858, moved into it from its first house of worship which stood in the block bounded by Nassau street, Beekman street, and Park Row. The property at 37th street and 5th avenue now has an assessed valuation of $2,140,000. On October 28, 1916, it was announced that the church had refused an offer of nearly $2,500,000-one paper said $3,000,000 to make way for a commercial building an increase in value of 45-fold or 55-fold. The Rev. William P. Merrill, pastor of the church, was quoted as saying that of the many offers which had been made for the plot this was decidedly the best, as the prospective buyers were ready to pay the entire sum in cash. "The offer was of such a nature that it was deemed necessary to lay it before the entire Board of Trustees," said Dr. Merrill, "and the vote was unanimous to decline it. The Brick Church is a civic institution, and the sentiment of the entire church body is to keep the old structure on its present site." The Brick Church property is one of the most valuable devoted to religious uses in the city, and owing to its splendid location in the new retail section of Fifth avenue, many efforts have been made in the last few years to induce the officers to sell. SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH One Hundred and Sixtieth Anniversary The Scotch Presbyterian Church, on the southern corner of Central Park West and 96th street, of which the Rev. Robert Watson, D.D., is minister, began on Sunday, October 29, 1916, the celebration of its 160th anniversary The first church of this congregation stood on the south side of Cedar street, midway between Nassau street and Broadway. In 1836 it moved to Crosby and Grand streets, and in 1853 to 14th street near 6th avenue. In 1893 the congregation occupied temporary quarters and in 1894 it moved into the present church. The corner stone of the church bears the following inscription on its eastern face: 1756 Scotch Presbyterian Church On its northern face is carved the seal of the Church of Scotland, representing the burning bush, described in Exodus, which was not consumed. Under the bush are the thistle, shamrock leaf and rose, and around it the motto: "Nec Tamen Consumebatur." Upon a wooden tablet above the corner-stone is painted the name of the church, the name of the minister, the hours of service, and these lines: Historically the Second Presbyterian Church of New York. Organized 1756. USES FOR OLD CHURCHES Under the heading of St. John's Church we have discussed the subject of the uses to which an abandoned church edifice may be put. Mr. Palmer H. Langdon of New York, editor, publisher and traveler, writing to us on this subject, says: "All of the churches in New York City which are architectually worth saving ought to be preserved and turned into lecture halls, reading rooms, rest centers, and so forth. Comfort stations might be put in the basements. I refer to the churches which are crowded out by the growth of business. London, as you doubtless know, is full of such churches, and I have seen comfort stations actually in the walls of castles in some of the old English towns thus making them useful as well as ornamental." NEW YORK COUNTY COURT HOUSE The occurrence of the war with Germany will further delay the building of the new County Court House in New York City; but otherwise the situation is favorable. On March 5, 1917, a majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court approved the form of contract and specifications for the erection of the Court House according to the plan of Mr. Guy Lowell. On March 9 following the Board of Estimate and Apportionment by a vote of 10 to 6, authorized the Court House Board to advertise for bids, but did not commit the City to accepting any of them. The President of the Board of Aldermen, Hon. Frank L. Dowling, the President of the Borough of Manhattan, Hon. Marcus M. Marks, and the President of the Borough of Richmond, Hon. Calvin D. Van Name, were opposed to asking for bids at this time. Mayor Mitchel made it clear that while the Estimate Board considered $7,500,000 as the outside price for the construction of the Court House, the City reserved the right to refuse any bid, even though within that limit. This sum is not intended to include the furnishing of the Court House and certain details. On April 10, 1917, however, the Court House Board decided that it was inexpedient to begin the physical work at this time and voted to offer the services of the Board and its staff, and the use of the Court House site, to the Mayor, to be tendered to the United States Government for such use in connection with the war as may be deemed advisable. The members of the Court House Board agreed to accept no compensation for further services until it was decided to take up the erection of the Court House On April 13 the Board of Estimate and Apportionment accepted the Court House Board's offer and tendered it to the United States Government. It is planned to erect the Court House within the area bounded by Leonard, Lafayette and Baxter streets. Part of the site purchased not needed for the Court House grounds may be resold. The plans of Mr. Lowell call for a building circular in form, typical in appearance of many of the buildings of ancient Rome. The ground is cleared of old buildings and ready for the beginning of the work at any time. It presents a convenient site for many temporary uses during the war. The site for the building cost about $13,000,000. If the unfurnished building costs $7,500,000, it is estimated that the total cost of the site and the furnished building will be at least $22,000,000. In the fall of 1916 Hon. Morgan J. O'Brien and Hon. George V. Mullan resigned from the Court House Board and were succeeded by Hon. Ezra P. Prentice and Hon. Walter Lindner. The other members are Hon. L. Laflin Kellogg, Chairman, Hon. Charles Steckler, and Hon. E. Clifford Potter. Mr. Lindner is Secretary and Mr. Percy J. Michelbacher is Executive Secretary. The Board has moved during the past year to new offices in the Municipal Building. NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE STADIUM In our last Annual Report, at pages 188-191, we gave an account of the dedication of the Stadium at the College of the City of New York, given by Mr. Adolph Lewisohn. The stadium was dedicated on May 29, 1915. (See plate 18.) On May 14, 1916, the New York Times published the following letter: New York City, May 13, 1916. To the Editor of the New York Times: Referring to the article published in the edition of the New York Times on Sunday, May 7, 1916, in regard to the Stadium, I wish to say that if the Stadium could be enlarged by the addition of the ground opposite, known as Jasper Field, I will undertake the architectural embellishment of the new field. My architect has designed a colonnade consisting of a row of Greek Doric columns and a low marble wall terminating at each end in a low pylon, to be placed at the easterly end of Jasper Field to harmonize with the present structure. Therefore, the only expense to the City would be the grading of the ground and a few minor expenses. Yours very truly, ADOLPHI LEWISOHN, |