USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > New York > New York City > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 1 > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
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REYNOLDA HISTORICAL GENEALOCI CLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01150 3163
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LIVES
OF THE
CLERGY OF NEW YORK >
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EMBRACING
Two Hundred Biographies of Eminent Living Men in all Denominations.
ALSO, THE
HISTORY OF EACH SECT AND CONGREGATION.
Pt.1 BY
J. ALEXANDER PATTEN.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS ON STEEL:
"LIGHTS OF THE WORLD, AND STARS OF HUMAN RACE."-Cowper.
NEW YORK: ATLANTIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1874.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
0
1
1851312
Patten, James Alexander.
D 23516 .67 Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in adi do notha nations. Also, the history of each reet and congregation. By J. Alexander Patton. Illustrated with portraits on steel ... Now York, Atlantic publishing company, 1874. vill, D 035 p. porta. 25 -.
1. Clergy-New York (City)
33 -- 23818
Library of Congress
3075 Copyright 1874: 14816
BR5GO.N41.3 022
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/livesofclergyofn01patt
D 28516.67
ENTERED, ACCORDING TO AOT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1874,
BY J. ALEXANDER PATTEN,
IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON.
3075
1
1
PREFACE.
THIS volume is respectfully presented to the public as the result of many years of conscientious labor. A collection of the biographical facts relating to the clergy of the cities of New York and Brooklyn, and of the historical information concerning the different sects and churches, when carried to the extent of the present work, necessarily involves a vast amount of research and time. My rule has been, with a few exceptions, to make the acquaintance of each clergyman, and to obtain from himself the facts of his life, and then, by a thorough study of his character and attendance upon his preaching, to prepare myself for writing the personal descrip- tions and criticisms which are leading features of the book. I have thus taken little second-hand information, but used my own original facts, and the opinions formed by personal ac- quaintance. The plan has also enabled me to make the bio- graphies correct in their stated facts, and more of personal portraitures than is possible where the subjects are unknown to the biographer. As the sketches were prepared, they ap- peared serially in two forms of publication (in one of them weekly for several years), and the popularity they uninterrupt- edly enjoyed was an assured proof of their fidelity to truth and the character of the individuals. It also led to their ex- amination by the subjects themselves, and the pointing out of typographical and other errors, so that in their present form they are, probably, as nearly correct, in all particulars, as is possible. To write the lives of living men is a delicate as well as a responsible task, and I can justly declare that, while I have drawn very close portraits, I have in no measure allowed my pen to be the vehicle of a wound.
Two hundred and sixty-three biographies of the living clergy of New York and Brooklyn have been written. Of
iv.
PREFACE.
this number two hundred and fourteen were originally pub- lished, forty-nine have since been prepared, and sixty-three persons of the original number have removed to other places or are deceased, leaving two hundred as the number in the present volume. Several of those included have died, and others removed while the book is in press, but these are ne- cessarily retained. Each of the sketches serially published has been revised, largely re-written, and brought down to date, and the new biographies are of all the leading clergy more recently called to the pulpits of the two cities. Great care has been given to the accuracy of the historical facts, which will be found reliable and useful for reference in relation to the different sects and churches. An Appendix furnishes various statistical tables of information for the same purpose. The Extracts from Sermons have been selected to show the greatest variety in style of thought and eloquence. In a word, every source of information, in individuals, records, books, and newspapers, has been diligently made use of in the different branches of the work. For the invariable cour- tesy and assistance which have been extended to me in all intercourse and investigations of this nature, I now express my grateful thanks. In concluding this review of the manner in which I have performed my long task, I venture to in- dulge the hope that it will be esteemed worthy of contin- ued public approbation.
New York, 1874.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Adams, Rev. Dr. William 9
Adler, Rabbi Dr. Samuel 12
Alexander, Rev. Dr. Samuel D. 15
Anderson, Rev. Dr. Galusha 18
Anderson, Rev. Dr. Thomas D
20
Armitage, Rev. Dr. Thomas.
25
Bancroft, Rev. Dr. Lucius W 32
Beach, Rev. Dr. Alfred B. 34
Beecher, Rev. Henry Ward. 37
Bellows, Rev. Dr. Henry W 42
Bjerring, Rev. Nicholas
47
Boole, Rev. William H. 49 -
Booth, Rev. Dr. Robert R. 54
Budington, Rev. Dr. William I. 57
Burchard, Rev. Dr. Samuel D. 60
Camp, Rev. Stephen H 64
Carroll, Rev. Dr. J. Halsted. 66
Campbell, Rev. Gawn.
71
Ganse, Rev. Dr. Harvey D
223
Carter, Rev. Dr. Abram B. 71
Carter, Rev. Samuel T.
77
Chadwick, Rev. John W 79
Chambers, Rev. Dr. Talbot W. 81
Chapin, Rev. Dr. Edwin H.
90
Clark, Rev. Dr. Frederick G.
92
Conkling, Rev. Nathaniel W
95
Conrad, Rev. Dr. Thomas K
98
Cooke, Rev. Dr. Samuel 102
Cookman, Rev. Jolm E 106
Corbit, Rev. William P 109
Cox, Rev. Dr. Samuel H. 112
Coxe, Right Rev. A. Cleveland. 116
Crosby, Rev. Dr. Howard .. 119
Cummins, Rev. Dr. George D
122
Cuyler, Rev. Dr. Theodore L
124
Dawson, Rev. William C 128
Deems, Rev. Dr. Charles F 131
De Haas, Rev. Frank S.
135
De Witt, Rev. Dr. Thomas
138
Diller, Rev. Dr. Jacob W 143
Dix, Rev. Dr. Morgan 146
Dowling, Rev. Dr. John. 149
Draper, Rev. Dr. George B. 152
Drowne, Rev. T. Stafford.
156
Duffie, Rev. Dr. Cornelius R
160
Duryea, Rev. Dr. Joseph T.
162
Eaton, Rev. Dr. Theodore A
166
Einhorn, Rabbi Dr. David.
168
Elder, Rev. Joseph F 171 Enyard, Rev. William T. 173 Ewer, Rev. Dr. Ferdinand C 177
Farley, Rev. Dr. Frederick A 180
Farrell, Rev. Father Thomas
182
Ferris, Rev. Dr. Isaac .. 184 Flagg, Rev. Dr. Edward O. 188
Fletcher, Rev. Charles
193
Forbes, Rev. Dr. John M.
195
Foster, Rev. Bishop Randolph S., DD 199 Foss, Rev. Cyrus D. . . 202
French, Rev. J. Clement .. 205 Frothingham, Rev. Octavius B 208
Fulton, Rev. Dr. Justin D 211
Gallaher, Rev. Henry M
213
Gallaudet, Rev. Dr. Thomas.
216
Galleher, Rev. John N 220
Geer, Rev. Dr. George 225
Geissenhainer, Rev. Dr. F. W. 228
Giles, Rev. Dr. Chauncey. 231
Gillette, Rev. Dr. A. D. 235
Gillett, Rev. Dr. Ezra H. 237
Gottheil, Rabbi Dr. Gustav. 239
Hall, Rev. Dr. Charles H.
241
Hall, Rev. Dr. John.
246
Haight, Rev. Dr. Benjamin I 250 Hamilton, Rev. Samuel M. 253
Hana, Rev. Thomas A. T. 255
Haskins, Rev. Dr. Samuel M. 257
Hastings, Rev. Dr. Thomas S. 261
Hecker, Rev. Father Isaac 'T
264
Hepworth, Rev. George H. . : 266
Holme, Rev. Dr. J. Stanford 270 Houghton, Rev. Dr. George H. 273
Howland, Rev. Dr. Robert S. 276
Hoyt, Rev. Wayland. 279
Huebsch, Rabbi Dr. Adolphus. 282
Hunt, Rev. Dr. Albert S. 285
Hutton, Rev. Dr. Mancius S. 287
Ingersoll, Rev. Edward P.
289
Inglis, Rev. Dr. David
291
Inskip, Rev. John S. 293
Irving, Rev. Dr. Theodore
296
Isaacs, Rabbi Samuel M
299
Janes, Rev. Bishop Edmund, S., D.D. 303
Johnson, Rev. Daniel V. M.
308
Jutten, Rev. David B.
311
Chapman, Rev. John A. M. Cheever, Rev. Dr. George B.
83
88
PAGE
VL
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Kimball, Rev. Dr. Joseph. 313
Krotel, Rev. Dr. G. Frederick. 316
Lawrence, Rev. Dr. Francis E.
319
Littlejohn, Right Rev. Dr. A. N ..
322
Lowry, Rev. Robert.
326
Ludlow, Rev. Dr. James M.
328
Lundy, Rev. Dr. John P.
331
Lyman, Rev. Albert J.
333
MacArthur, Rev. Robert S 335
McCloskey, Most Rev. Dr. John ... 337
McElroy, Rev. Dr. Joseph. 343
McGlynn, Rev. Father Edward, D.D. 346
McJilton, Rev. Dr. John N
350
McLeod, Rev. Dr. John N. 354
McVickar, Rev. W. Neilson
358
Malone, Rev. Father Sylvester,
361ª
Mandeville, Rev. Dr. G. Henry
362
Mikels, Rev. William S ..
366
Milburn, Rev. William H.
368
Miller, Rev. Dr. D. Henry 373
Mitchell, Rev. David.
375
Montgomery, Rev. Dr. Henry E. 378
Moore, Rev. Dr. David. .
381
Morgan, Rev. Dr. William F. 383
Morrill, Rev. Father Charles W. 387
Muhlenberg, Rev. Dr. William 391
Murray, Rev. Dr. James O 395
Newell, Rev. Dr. William W 399
Northrop, Rev. Henry D 402
Ogilby, Rev. Dr. Frederick .. 405
Ormiston, Rev. Dr. William 407
Osborn, Rev. Dr. Abraham C. 411
Osgood, Rev. Dr. Samuel. 415
Paddock, Rev. Dr. John A. 417
Paddock, Right Rev. Dr. Benjamin H. 419
Partridge, Rev. Alfred H. 421
Paxton, Rev. Dr. William M. 423
Pendleton, Rev. William H. 428
Pomeroy, Rev. Charles S. 430
Porter, Rev. Dr. Elbert S. 432
Potter, Right Rev. Dr. Horatio. 437
Potter, Rev. Dr. Henry C. 439
Powers, Rev. Henry
442
Prentiss, Rev. Dr. George L. 445 Preston, Rev. Father Thomas S. 449 Price, Rev. Dr. Joseph H. 452
Prime, Rev. Dr. Samuel Irenæus 454
Pullman, Rev. James M. 456
Putnam, Rev. Dr. Alfred P.
461
Quackenbush, Rev. Dr. D. McL. 466
Reed, Rev. Dr. Alexander. 468 Reid, Rev. William. 471
Pidgaway, Rev. Dr. Henry B.
474
Riley, Rev. Isaac.
476
Robinson, Rev. Dr. Charles S. 479
Rockwell, Rev. Dr. J. Edson .
483
Rogers, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer P.
487
Rossiter, Rev. Stealy B.
489
Rylance, Rev. Dr. James H. 491
Sabine, Rev. William -T. 494
Schaff, Rev. Dr. Philip.
496
Schenck, Rev. Dr. Noah H
499
Scott, Rev. Dr. William A.
504
Scudder, Rev. Dr. Henry Martyn .. 508 Seabury, Rev. William J. 510
Seaver, Rev. Dr. Norman. 513
Seymour, Rev. Dr. George F
515
Shedd, Rev. Dr. William G. T.
519
Sloss, Rev. Dr. Robert.
520
Smith, Rev. Dr. John Cotton 523
Smith, Rev. Dr. J. Hyatt. 527
Snively, Rev. William A 529
Southgate, Right Rev. Dr. H. 531
Spear, Rev. Dr. Samuel T. 533
Spring, Rev. Dr. Gardiner.
535
Storrs, Rev. Dr. Richard S.
539
Street, Rev. Thomas. 542
Stryker, Rev. Dr. Peter.
544
Sweetser, Rev. Edwin C .. 548
Talmage, Rev. T. De Witt. 550
Taylor, Rev. Dr. William M. 555 Taylor, Rev. Dr. Elisha E. L. 559
Thomas, Rev. Jesse B. . 562
Thompson, Rev. Dr. Hugh Miller .. 565 Thompson, Rev. Dr. Alexander R .. 567 Thompson, Rev. Dr. Joseph P. 570 Thomson, Rev. Dr. John. 573
Thrall, Rev. George E 576
Tuttle, Rev. Dr. Isaac H 579
Tyng, Rev. Dr. Stephen H.
583
Tyng, Jr., Rev. Dr. Stephen H. 587
Van Dyke, Rev. Dr. Henry J 590
Vermilye, Rev. Dr. Thomas E.
593
Verren, Rev. Dr. Antoine. 597 Vidaver, Rabbi Dr. Henry. 601
Vincent, Rev. Dr. Marvin R. 603
Washburn, Rev. Dr. Edward A 605
Weed, Rev. Dr. Levi S
608
Wells, Rev. Dr. John D. 613
Weston, Rev. Dr. Sullivan H. 617
Wild, Rev. Dr. Joseph. 621
Williams, Rev. Dr. William R. 624
Wilson, Rev. James D
627
Appendix
631
Recent Facts and changes.
7
PAGE
RECENT FACTS AND CHANGES.
While our volume is in press, various recent facts and changes, relating to the clergy who are included in it, are to be noticed as follows : -
Rev. Isaac Ferris, D. D., LL. D., died June 16th, 1873, in his seventy-fifth year.
Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., born February 24th, 1785, died August 18th, 1873, in the eighty ninth year of his age.
Rev. Antoine Verren, D. D., born in 1801, died March 17th, 1874, aged seventy-three years.
Rev. John N. McLeod, D. D., died April 27th, 1874, in his sixty- eighth year.
Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D., died May 18th, 1874, in his eighty- third year.
Rev. Elisha E. L. Taylor, D. D., died August 18th, 1874, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.
Rev. Henry E. Montgomery, D. D., died October 15th, 1874, in his fifty-fourth year.
Rev. Dr. William Adams, having been elected President of the Union Theological Seminary, New York, preached his farewell ser- mon as pastor of the Madison Square Presbyterian Church, on Sun- day, April 19th, 1874. His inauguration as President took place on the occasion of the thirty-eighth anniversary of the Seminary, May 11th, 1874. Rev. Dr. George L. Prentiss, formerly of the Church of the Covenant, New York, was also installed as Professor of Pastoral Theology, Church Polity, and Missionary Work.
The new edifice of the Tompkins Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, of which the Rev. Dr. Frederick G. Clark is pastor, was dedicated on the evening of February 12th, 1874.
On Sunday, April 26th, 1874, the Rev. William F. Sabine, rec- tor of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, New York, preached a sermon, announcing his secession from the Protestant Episcopal to the Reformed Episcopal Church. He resigned his rectorship, and organized a new congregation, who hold services in the church, on the corner of Madison avenue and Forty-seventh street, New York.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Adler, the senior pastor of the Jewish congre- gation Temple Emanuel, has been retired on an annuity for life.
Rev. Dr. Henry Vidaver, of the congregation Bnai Jeshurun,
VIII
New York, received and accepted a call from a congregation in San Francisco, California.
Rev. John A. M. Chapman, formerly of St. John's Methodist Church, Brooklyn, commenced preaching at St. Paul's, New York, on Sunday, September 6th, 1874.
Rev. Levi S. Weed, recently of the John Street Methodist, New York, has been appointed to the Carroll Park Church, Brooklyn.
Rev. Octavius B. Frothingham has published two new works, viz: "The Religion of Humanity," and the "Life of Theodore Parker."
Rev. Dr. William W. Newell has resigned the pastorship of the Allen Street Presbyterian Church.
Rev. William T. Enyard is now the pastor of the Reformed Church, Brighton Heights, Staten Island, New York.
Rev. Dr. Henry B. Ridgaway, left the charge of St James' Meth- odist Church (Harlem), New York, for an extended period of travel in the Holy Land : Rev. Dr. Cyrus D. Foss has been appointed to St. James'.
Rev. John E. Cookman is now the pastor of the Tremont Street Methodist Church, Boston, Mass.
Rev. Henry Powers has resigned the pastorship of the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian), New York.
Rev. Dr. John Dowling has retired from the active ministry.
Rev. Wayland Hoyt is now the pastor of the Shawmut Avenue Baptist Church, Boston, Mass.
Lee Avenue Baptist Church, Brooklyn, by reason of its adher- ence to the practice of open communion, was dropped from the list of the Long Island Association, under the protest of its pastor, Rev. J. Hyatt Smith.
The confirmation of the Rev. Dr. George F. Seymour, as Episco- pal Bishop of Illinois, having occasioned an issue in the high and low church question, it was defeated in the General Convention.
REV. WILLIAM ADAMS, D. D., PASTOR OF THE MADISON SQUARE PRESBY. TERIAN CHURCH, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. WILLIAM ADAMS, son of John Adams, was born at Colchester, Conn., in 1813. When an infant he was taken to Andover, Mass., where his father became the principal of an academy. The elder Adams was one of the most celebrated teachers of his day, and had among his . pupils some of the greatest Bible scholars our country has produced. Trained by his father, and a protege of Professor Stuart, young Adams had also the advantage of constant association with such men as Judson, Gordon Hall, Newell, and many others. As a boy, his first dollar was given to the Missionary cause. He settled at Brighton near Boston, where his ministry was successful. The ill health of his wife induced him to come to the city of New York, to pass the winter. In 1840 he accepted a call to the Broome Street or Central Presbyterian Church of New York, and for many years was its most efficient and beloved pastor.
A large portion of this congregation, who thought it advisable to remove to the upper part of the city, withdrew with Dr. Adams, in 1853, and erected an elegant church edifice on the corner of Madison avenue and Twenty-fourth street, and became known as the Madison Square Presbyterian Church. The building fronts Madison Square and the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and all its surroundings are very fine. It was erected at a cost of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, all of which came from voluntary subscriptions. The dedication took place in December, 1854. The congregation has always been large, and now numbers many of the most influential men of the city. Being unable to maintain themselves down-town, the Central Church at length sold their building, and removed to a point up-town much beyond even the field occupied by Dr. Adams.
In appearance, Dr. Adams is a tall, erect finely-proportioned
REV. WILLIAM ADAMS, D. D.
man, going down the decline of life, but still hale and vigorous. He has regular, well-defined features, and a cheerful, intellectual face. His eyes are bright and penetrating, his mouth is expressive of much decision of character, and his brow has not less of physical symmetry than evidences of mental endowment. To this striking and attractive presence, he adds manners at once polished and fas- cinating. IIe exhibits an easy, becoming dignity, but he is very affable and approachable, being so finished a gentleman. In public and private his bearing is marked by an entire self-possession, and a happy adaptability to circumstances and persons. He has a genial, companionable disposition, and none save ennobling qualities of heart.
Dr. Adams has greatly distinguished himself in the authorship of occasional sermons and addresses. He wields an eloquent as well as a learned pen, and whatever he writes is worthy of permanent preservation. Much that he has written has been printed, and en- joyed an extended circulation. Among his books may be named "The Three Gardens-Eden, Gethsemane, and Paradise," and "Thanksgiving."
His lectures on the "Catacombs of Rome," delivered to a crowded audience in Association Hall, was one of the most interesting ever given to a New York audience. Of the many thousands who have visited those monuments of early Christianity in the Eternal City, we believe Dr. Adams was the first to read and interpret correctly the Greek and Latin inscriptions on them ; and he has thus furnished a key to all biblical students, whereby the mysteries of revelation and the facts of history may be understood and appreciated.
His sermons are all able, and show his great theological as well as literary culture. He never preaches such a thing as an indifferent sermon-it is, in fact, an impossibility with him. All are grand in thought and majestic in eloquence. While he does not turn aside from the course of religious argument, he interweaves with his rea- soning attractive cullings from literature and much that is imaginative. Powerful and scholarly arguments, they are also affecting Christian appeals to sinners. His voice is mellow, though of full compass for the largest building, his tall, erect figure imparts additional impres- siveness to his delivery and gestures. He is equally happy as an extemporancous speaker, showing a remarkable fluency of chaste, effective language.
Dr. Adams belongs to the order of ministers who carry dignity
10
REV. WILLIAM ADAMS, D. D.
and propriety as well as power into the sacred desk. They are intellectual men, prepared for their work by study, experience, and talents; and they are consistent men, living godly lives, and main- taining the dignity as well as the purity of the religious life. In the light of their abilities ignorance and sin shrink away abashed, and confronted with their force and influence of character public senti- ment is arrested and controlled. This is the nature of the position occupied by Dr. Adams in his denomination, and with the public at large. His influence is at all times commanding and wide spread, and he stands in the church and the community as the representative of the highest religious, moral and intellectual power.
Probably the pastoral relations of Dr. Adams are as agreeable as `those of any man in the ministry. He is admired and beloved by his people, and he is as sincerely attached to them. They belong to a cultivated class, and he has the pleasure of knowing that his learned efforts in the pulpit are not thrown away on unappreciative minds. His church is always crowded, and there is no want of reli- gious zeal. He is also very comfortable as far as worldly goods are concerned, as his own personal wealth is said to exceed one hundred thousand dollars. He resides in a fine mansion at the rear of the church on Twenty-fourth street.
Although Dr. Adams has now grown gray in the ministry, and although his efforts have always been incessant and zealous in the utmost degree, still there is no abatement of his energies, and most likely will not be. His pride is to be in the harness, and to make every hour useful in behalf of his fellow-men. Hence he goes con- stantly among his people, with his gentle words of instructie2, counsel and cheer; and he teaches in his pulpit with an affectionate concern for his bearers, which never fails in impressing the most un- concerned to be found in a public assemblage.
11
REV. SAMUEL ADLER, PH. D.,
RABBI OF THE TEMPLE EMANUEL CONGRE- GATION, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. SAMUEL ADLER was born in the city of Worms, on the Rhine, in 1810. He is a son of the late distinguished Jacob J. Adler, who was rabbi of the con- gregation at that place. He commenced the study of the Hebrew language, the Bible, and the Talmud, at an early age, under the superintendence of his father. At fourteen, the death of his father caused him to leave home, and repair to Frankfort-on- the-Maine, there to pursue his studies at the Talmudical High School. Later, he studied under the Rabbi Bamburg in his native town, and also, by his own exertions, sought to fit himself for the University. From 1831 to 1836 he frequented the Universities of Bonn and Giessen. 'The study of philosophy, and especially that of Oriental philology, were pursued with great zeal and grasp of mind. In the spring of 1836 he returned to Worms, where he was at once installed as preacher and religious instructor of the congregation, to which office was added that of instructor of all the Jewish schools. He now first appeared as the champion of reform, and took the car- liest steps toward the purification and improvement of public wor- ship among the Israelites of that entire section of country. Quick to seize every opportunity to inculcate his views, he awakened great interest in his proceedings, and, comparatively young as he was, be- came a man of commanding influence.
In 1842, he received charge of the rabbinical district of Alzei, an extensive, and as yet uncultivated field of labor. Such was the success of his efforts, that in a few years the whole community of Alzei had obtained for itself, throughout Germany, a name which compared favorably with that of the richest and largest congrega- tions.
He was one of the most active members of the convocation of German Rabbins of 1844-46. In 1854, he accepted an engagement
12
REV. SAMUEL ADLER, PH. D.
as rabbi and preacher of the Jewish congregation at Limberg, in Galicia, but which was not fulfilled, by reason of unforeseen cir- cumstances. The death of the Rev. Dr. Merzbacher, rabbi of the Reform congregation of the Temple Emanuel in New York, left an important vacancy, which Dr. Adler was invited to fill, in the fall of 1856. He accepted, and is still discharging the duties of the position. He received the diploma of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Giessen. The Temple Emanuel congregation was or- ganized about twenty-eight years ago, and is now one of great wealth and influence. They worship in a synagogue on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Forty-third Street, which is not excelled in magnificence by any church or other building of the city. At the beginning of the organization, there were only fifteen poor men, and the first preaching was in a room of a private house. Afterward, preaching was held in Chrystie street, and later, a handsome syna- gogue was opened in Twelfth street. The success of the congrega- tion at length led to the building of the synagogue on Fifth avenue, which was duly consecrated, September 11th, 1868. This structure cost, with the ground, between six and seven hundred thousand dollars, and seats some eighteen hundred people.
In the Jewish temples of the reform school, the sexes are not seated separately. The choir is accompanied by an organ or melo- deon. The male worshipers in the orthodox synagogues wear their hats and silk praying scarfs, or Tuleths, during service; in the reform temples they do not. The abandonment of the old ritual has led to the introduction of several new forms of prayer and em- bodiments of principles, which have frequently only local accepta- tion. Thus there are distinct rituals at Cincinnati, Baltimore, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York, and other cities. The reform movement is German in its origin, but its development has been American. In Europe the traditions and prejudices of the people, combined with their political condition, retard such a reform : while in the United States, free institutions and their teachings have pro- moted it. The first reform congregation in the United States was in Charleston ; but there are now some forty throughout the country. Dr. Adler revised the prayer book for his own congregation, and by his great scholarship has given influence to the whole movement.
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