ts thoughts to the building of a new
church. Much discussion there was as to the style and the locality
of the new structure, and at length it was determined to build in a
semi-Gothic style, on Broadway. I was not myself in favor of Broadway,
it being the great city thoroughfare, and ground very expensive; but it
was thought best to build there. It was contended that a propagandist
church should occupy a conspicuous situation, and perhaps that view has
been borne out by the result. One parishioner, I remember, had an odd,
or at least an old-fashioned, idea about the matter. "Sir," said he,
"you don't understand our feeling about Broadway. Sir, there is but one
Broadway in the world." It is now becoming a street of shops and hotels,
and is fast losing its old fashionable prestige.

The building was completed in something more than a year, and on the
2d May, 1839, it was dedicated, under the name of the Church of
the Messiah. The burning of our sanctuary had [80] proved to be our
upbuilding; the position of the Stuyvesant Institute on Broadway, and
the plan of free seats, had increased our numbers, and we entered the
new church with a congregation one third larger than that with which we
left the old. The building had cost about $90,000, and it was a critical
moment to us all, but to me especially, when the pews came to be sold.
It may be judged what was my relief from anxiety when word was brought
me, two hours after the auction was opened, that $70,000 worth of pews
were taken.

It was a strong desire with me that the church should have some
permanent name. I did not want that it should be called Dewey 's church,
and then by the name of my successor, and so on; but that it should be
known by some fixed designation, and so pass down, gathering about it
the sacred associations of years and ages to come. I believe that it was
the first instance in our Unitarian body of solemnly dedicating a church
by some sacred name.

Another wish of mine was to enter the new church with the Liturgy
of King's Chapel in Boston for our form of service. The subject was
repeatedly discussed in meetings of the congregation; but although it
became evident that there would be a majority in favor of it, yet as
these did not demand it, and there was a considerable minority strongly
opposed to it, we judged that there was not a state of feeling among us
that would justify the introduction of what so essentially [81] required
unanimity and hearti