The "Church of the Strangers" originated with the present pastor, Rev. Chas. F. Deems, D.D. of the M. E. Church South, who preached the first sermon in the small chapel of the University, on the twenty-second day of July, 1866, to fifteen persons. Service was held weekly until the chapel was filled, and in May, 1867, the congregation removed to the large chapel of the University and organized a Sabbath school. Temporary organizations to conduct the business were formed, and on Jan. 5, 1868, a church organization was effected and twenty-two communicants enrolled. The membership now numbers two hundred. Members are required to subscribe to the Apostles' Creed and profess an earnest "desire to flee from the wrath to come and be saved from their sins." In October, 1870, the congregation removed to the old Mercer-street Presbyterian church, which had been purchased and generously presented to the society by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Esq. The temporal affairs are conducted by the Monthly Meeting, composed of all communicants and subscribers. The seats are free, and all members and resident attendants are expected to subscribe a weekly amount. Annual expense of church, $10,000

The Moravians were first organized in New York in 1748, and have at this time two churches. The Universalists began in 1796, and have at present three churches and four missions. The Unitarians organized in 1819, their first sermon being preached by Dr. Channing, of Boston; they have at this writing five congregations. The Friends opened their first Meeting House in 1703, and have now five congregations on Manhattan. The members of the Greek church have just opened a temporary chapel, and are soon to erect a church on Lexington avenue. The churches and chapels of the Protestant denominations now number four hundred and thirty, with seating for nearly 400,000 persons. The church property exclusive of endowments amounts to at least $30,000,000. About one and a half million dollars are annually required to support the Protestant churches, and these contribute, beside their current expenses, five millions to other charities.

The New York City Mission and Tract Society was organized nearly fifty years ago. In 1835 it employed twelve general missionary laborers and the number has been steadily increased until it now exceeds forty. The missionaries have not, until recently, attempted to form societies. There are three missionary societies operating in the City, under the direction of the Protestant Episcopal church, and one connected with the Reformed Dutch church. There has been also for many years a city missionary society connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, which was reorganized and incorporated in April, 1866. Under the presidency of the late W. W. Cornell, Esq., whose munificence and unaffected piety have rarely if ever been excelled, this organization became the most vigorous for city evangelization of any in the metropolis. During the last four years three of its missions have developed into self-supporting churches, with good houses of worship; a number of fine chapels have been erected, and nearly twenty new societies organized. There are over 260 city missionaries at work in New York under the direction of the Protestant churches, beside scores of agents and visitors of the numerous benevolent societies. These missionaries make about 800,000 visits per annum; they carry gladness and sunshine into many caverns of darkness and poverty, disseminate religious knowledge, relieve the suffering, and gather the wayward into the sanctuaries. Though much is said and written about the neglect of the masses in large cities, it is nevertheless certain to those who are in circumstances to know, that few sections of Christendom are more thoroughly canvassed by the pious than the lanes and streets of Manhattan.