Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI THE ORGANIZATION OF A WORKING PARISH 1868-1873 The new rector, then in the thirty-fourth year of his age, preached his first sermon in Grace Church on Sunday, April 26th, 1868. His subject was "A Living Christ, the Power of a Living Religion." "The edifice was well filled," said the Times in an inconspicuous paragraph, and the "instructive discourse was listened to with marked attention." Thus quietly the New York ministry began. The city at that time was practically bounded by Fortysecond Street. Beyond were ill-paved roads between knolls of rock inhabited by goats and squatters. Downtown, Trinity spire soared high above the four-story shops and houses. Complaints were made, however, of the grievous scarcity of residences with reasonable rents, and already, in 1865, attention had been called to "the Parisian plan of dividing a large building into many suites of apartments." The President of the United States was then on trial looking to his impeachment. In Mexico a revolution was in progress. Hostile Indians were making trouble in Nevada. The Kuklux Klan was active in Mississippi. General Napier was scattering the troops of King Theodore in Abyssinia. In New York, Tweed and his associates were beginning to retreat. Lyman Abbott was pastor of the New England Congregational Society in East Forty-first Street, John Hall was at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Thomas Armitage at the Fifth Avenue Baptist, William M. Paxton and Howard Crosby were active in their ministry, Beecher and Storrs were preaching in Brooklyn. John Cotton Smith was at the Ascension, Edward A. Washburn at Calvary, Stephen H. Tyng at St. George's, Dr. Morgan at St. Thomas's, Dr. Houghton at the Transfiguration, Dr. Ewer at Christ Church, Dr. Dix at...