A history of St. George's church in the city of Schenectady, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Hanson, Willis T. (Willis Tracy)
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Schenectady, Priv. print.
Number of Pages: 310


USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady > A history of St. George's church in the city of Schenectady, Volume I > Part 9


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Towards the end of the year the resources of the parish were considerably augmented by the establishment of a $3800 fund, known as the City Fund, from money accruing from the sale of certain lands5 effected by the city for the purpose of endowing the several6 churches. The conditions of the fund gave the income only for the use of the vestry and in anticipation of the first inter- est payment several minor but necessary repairs to the church building and property were at once undertaken.


Perhaps it is not unreasonable to suggest a connection between the spirit which prompted the City Fathers in their plan of endow- ment and the trend of local religious activity evidenced during the year following in the so-called "revival of religion."


"In the third week of January," so the story goes,7 "there was a very sudden death in the College. A member of the Senior class, in the full vigor of life, was suddenly removed. The alarm was very great; the call was loud, and sensibly heard and felt. There


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4


were prayer-meetings held around the bier, which was placed in an officer's room. There, for two days, did the students resort, from feelings of sorrowing sympathy; and there, was the question often proposed, 'suppose this call of God had been directed to you, were you ready to obey it?' The negative answer, was often carried back to the heart, ..... and rendered productive of genuine convic- tions. Many, indeed, thought it was all fright! and would soon pass over. . . A nine day's wonder! was the common name given to the students' anxious distress, The fright! if such it must be called, became more general. (there were) prayer-meet- ings and meetings of conference (and) anxious meetings too, were often held." So powerful and rapid was the awakening that by the first week in April between thirty and forty "were rejoicing in the hope of forgiven sin." "Seventeen joined themselves to the Presbyterian church, six or seven to the Dutch church, and six or seven to the Episcopal church." "The effect on (the) college," comments the report, "was visible and salutary. There seldom was a session of so much order, tranquillity and industry. The subjects of the work, generally, acted on the principle, that they could not be fervent in spirit unless they were diligent in their business."


From the college the "awakening" spread down into the city, rapidly gaining converts until the Presbyterian church was scarcely large enough to accommodate those who attended the Wednesday evening lectures, and by April the names of nearly three hundred had been added to the rolls of the various churches.


Before8 the "awakening" had spent its force, Mr. Potter found it necessary to convey to the vestry of St. George's the distressing information that in consequence of ill health he felt obliged to re- sign his charge.


IN MEMORY OF THE RIGHT REVEREND ALONZO POTTER D. D.I .. L. D. BISHOP OF PENNSYLVANIA AND FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF UNION COLLEGE BORN AT BEEKMAN DUTCHESS COUNTY NEW YORK JULY 10º 1800. DIED AT SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA JULY 4º 1865,


TO RECORD THEIR AFFECTIONATE VENERATION FOR THE CHARACTER AND THEIR HIGH ESTIMATE OF THE SERVICES OF ONE WHO WAS ALIKE EMINENT AS A SCHOLAR TEACHER AND DIVINE THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE TRUSTEES OF UNION COLLEGE A,D, MDCCCLXVI,


MAN


Bishop Potter Memorial Tablet. Erected in St. George's Church in August, 1866. Acompanion tablet was erected at the same time as a memorial to his wife Sara Maria onlydaughter of Eliphalet. Volt.


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Although Mr. Potter immediately gave up his work in the church he retained his position at the college and during the next year was appointed professor of mathematics and natural philos- ophy. Still holding to his decision to enter the ministry, Mr. Pot- ter continued his theological studies, and during the year 1824 he was ordained to the priesthood and two years later called to the rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Boston.


The vestry of St. George's, entertaining as they did the highest opinion of Mr. Potter's "Talents & piety," accepted his resigna- tion with exceeding regret, and at once took steps to secure a suc- cessor. Several prospects were invited to preach in the church dur- ing the next eight or nine months and in March, 1821, the Rev- erend Alexis P. Proal, rector9 of St. John's Church, Johnstown, New York, was added to the number. The opinion regarding Mr. Proal was closely divided and when later the vestry voted on the proposal to extend him a call the motion was lost by one vote. Not trusting to their decision, a meeting of the congregation was called on April 18, and the question submitted for their vote. Two of the vestry, who had opposed the original motion, were absent and the decision of the meeting was to offer Mr. Proal the position at a salary of six hundred dollars a year.


This offer Mr. Proal accepted and assumed the rectorship of St. George's Church in May, 1821. Almost immediately he suggest- ed the making of several improvements on the building and prop- erty; notably the flagging of the sidewalk in front, the repainting of the certain parts of the church, both inside and out, and the al- tering of the chancel. These suggestions were at once carried out and during the next year the property adjoining the church on the north was purchased10 and the house repaired" for the use of the rector.


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While the records of the church during the succeeding eight years indicate a general progress it is reserved for the year 1829 to record a definite expansion by the first mention of the Sunday school. Although it is, unfortunately, impossible to ascertain the exact date of the organization of this activity, the minutes of the vestry indicating only that in May, 1829, two pews were appro- priated for the use of scholars attending the school, it is possible to determine that the school was well established by October of that year when the enrollment numbered12 seventy scholars and ten teachers.


The affairs of the parish continued to flourish and with the fu- ture prospects "in a high degree encouraging," the vestry, in March, 1831, voted to increase the seating capacity of the church by extending the gallery13 along the north14 and south walls.15


February, 1833, records further expansion in the activities of the parish: the Ladies' Industrious Society and the church fair, the first responsible for the second, which was held16 for the benefit of the Sunday school on February ninth with gratifying results, approximately $170 being raised. "Having attended the Fair," comments one who signs himself "A Bachelor," writing in the Cabinet,17 "we feel it our duty not less then our pleasure, to bear witness to the taste and refinement of those by whom it was got up. We confess that our feelings are always par- ticularly interested in whatever concerns the fairer portion of the community; and on such an occasion as this, our delight knew no bounds .- Somewhat daunted by the brilliant array of beauty that greeted our entrance into the room, we quietly retired to a corner in order to enjoy all the splendor of the scene. On one hand lay an endless variety of fancy articles, wrought into such various and beautiful shapes, and decked with what seemed to our bewildered


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eyes nothing less than gold and jewels, that we could scarcely persuade ourselves but that Mistress Fancy, who, be it confessed, sometimes plays us very sorry pranks, had returned to her old tricks, and was cheating our senses with an unreal dream. Immediately before us, a fair form was bending over a glittering urn, and dis- pensing, with a liberal hand, a beverage which we at first believed could be nothing less than nectar, still having been favored with some ourselves, we found to be coffee; and we blessed our stars, as we sipped it, that for once we had been able to obtain our favor- rite exactly to our taste. We were then called from our snug re- treat, and compelled to march up-without the power of resist- ance-to a board that was gleaming with shells, and beads, and flowers, where we made a most magnificent purchase and received in return a smile which made the remaining silver which we pos- sessed to jingle in our pockets. Gathering courage hereupon, we strayed down the crowded room, and soon loaded ourselves with a profusion of fairy toys, such as cardracks, gilt stars, bead chains, &c., &c., which we shall ever preserve as memorials of the rare pleasure we enjoyed."


During the year 1834, a radical change was made in the man- ner of financing the church, the pew rents being raised18 to net an amount necessary to meet the expenses of the parish and the Sun- day collections being discontinued.19 During the same year the wood-burning stoves that had hitherto heated the church were re- placed by two stoves "for the consumption of Anthracite coal of Dr. Nott's Patent,20 known as the Church or factory stove."


For two years longer the Reverend Alexis P. Proal remained as rector of St. George's Church, or until May 1, 1836, when his resignation of the charge became effective and he left to accept the call of Trinity Church, Utica, New York. That his departure


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was deeply regretted alike by vestry and congregation can well be imagined for the entire period of his rectorship had been marked by general harmony and progress. Although the vestry had had ample21 notice of Mr. Proal's intended departure no steps had been taken to secure a successor and May found the parish, now num- bering22 eighty-two communicants from one hundred and eigh- teen families, again without a rector.


Reverend Alexis P. Proal


Notes.


Chapter XI.


1. He was officially delegated as " Missionary in the vacant congregations of Schen- ectady and Greene Counties." His first report was delivered at the 31st Convention of the Diocese of New York, October 1-3, 1816. (vide Journals of Conventions- Republished. Vol. 1, 349), and reads as follows: "Since my ordination, I have (per- sonally, and by exchange) supplied the vacant congregation at Stillwater four Sun- days, the vacant congregation at Duanesburgh four Sundays, and the vacant con- gregation at Ballstown one Sunday. I have also preached one Sunday for the Rev. Mr. Wheeler, of Johnstown, during his absence. Besides which, I have performed Di- vine service in the College Chapel about one-third part of the Sundays during the College session.


" There are at present in this Institution nearly fifty Episcopal students. They en- joy the same toleration, and the same religious privileges as the other denominations; and next to the Presbyterians, they are the most numerous. A very laudable degree of good order and good morals forms the general characteristic of the students; and you will be pleased to learn, that the Episcopal Theological Society continues to increase in numbers, and in the zeal of its members."


2. Reverend Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, later first provisional bishop of the diocese of New York.


3. Born in Beekman (La Grange), Dutchess County, N. Y., July 6, 1800.


4. The vestry recorded a unanimous resolution that they were much pleased with his "performance."


5. In the township of Glenville on the Turnpike Road about four miles from the city. Title to the property had been acquired from the land grants of colonial times.


6. The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, the Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, the First Reformed Dutch Church in the fourth ward, the north branch of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, the Second Reformed Dutch Church in the third ward, the First Presbyterian Church, St. George's Church and the Methodist Church.


7. Vide, "A Narrative of the Revival of Religion, within the bounds of the Presby- tery of Albany, in the year 1820," Schenectady, 1821.


[ 13] ]


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8. June 19, 1820.


9. He had officiated there for two and one-half years.


10. Vide Chapter X, p. 115. The purchase price was $1240.


II. At a cost of $600.


12. Report of Mr. Proal to the 44th Convention, October 1, 1829. Two years la- ter there were enrolled sixteen teachers and between eighty and one hundred scholars.


13. The total cost of the improvement was $478.28, the greater part of which sum was raised by the sale of the new pews. Originally the front of the gallery was inclosed by a railing only. Later the railing was faced on the inside with boards with "crimson moreen" between the boards and the railing.


14. The pews in the east end of the north gallery were reserved for the use of the students of Union College.


15. The church was open for service, with all repairs made, on July 31. On the occasion the sermon was preached and the rite of confirmation administered by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Onderdonk.


16. At Mr. Topping's, corner of Ferry and Liberty Streets. The admission was 12 1/2 cents, with half price for children.


17. "The Schenectady Cabinet," February 20, 1833.


18. A circular letter notified the congregation of the proposed change.


19. Collections were resumed in July, 1836.


20. Dr. Nott gave much attention to physical science, especially to the laws of heat. The stove patented by him was the first constructed for burning anthracite coal and was extensively used for many years. The two stoves for St. George's Church were purchased in Albany at a cost of $106.


21. His resignation was presented to the vestry on January 20.


22. "The Schenectady Reflecter," May 6, 1836.


Chapter XII.


The Rectorships of the Reverend Aldert Smedes and the Reverend William Henry Walter.


A LTHOUGH the vestry had been seemingly dilatory in their efforts to secure a successor to Mr. Proal, his de- parture made immediate action necessary and on May 13, 1836, a call was extended to the Reverend Alexander H. Crosby, rector of St. John's Church, Yonkers, New York, with a sug- gested salary of six hundred and fifty dollars a year. Three weeks later the call was amended by increasing the salary to eight hun- dred dollars and on June 10, Mr. Crosby accepted the proposal of the vestry.


Mr. Crosby was well liked by his parishioners in Yonkers and his acceptance of the call to Schenectady raised a storm of protest. Petitions were circulated and through the bishop of the diocese, whose support was secured, a memorial was forwarded to the ves- try of St. George's pointing out the evils that were apprehended to the church in Yonkers should he remove and requesting that he be released from his acceptance of the rectorship. As Mr. Cros- by assented to the granting of the petition and corroborated the statements in the memorial, the request was at once complied with, and all further thought of obtaining his services given up.


A call on the same terms that had been offered Mr. Crosby was now extended to the Reverend Aldert Smedes, assistant rector of Christ Church, New York City. Mr. Smedes accepted the call in


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person and entered upon his parish activities by presiding at the meeting of the vestry held on July 23.


Five years after the Reverend Alonzo Potter accepted the rec- torship of St. Paul's Church, Boston, Massachusetts, he was obliged to resign the charge because of ill health. No sooner did his de- cision become known than the trustees of Union College recalled him to that institution as professor of Moral Philosophy. This po- sition he was holding during the period of vacancy in the rector- ship of St. George's Church and as can well be imagined he glad- ly welcomed the opportunity offered by the vestry to supply the pulpit, pending the arrival of the successor to Mr. Proal.


The growth of the parish now brought to the attention of the vestry the desirability of joining to the church property the lot of Mrs. Peek abutting on the south, for it was felt that the additional land could later be used to advantage as a burial ground or as a possible location for a Sunday school building, the erection of which had already2 been suggested by the Ladies' Sewing Society. The growth of the parish also brought to the attention of the ves- try the necessity of increasing the seating capacity of the church, and while negotiations for the Peek property were under way a committee was appointed to inquire into the cost of removing the old church and replacing it by one more suited to the needs of the parish.


The committee appointed lost no time in making their report and on February 7, 1837, the vestry authorized them to secure plans and an estimate covering the erection of a church fifty-five by eighty feet to be built of brick and stone.


A month later two plans were submitted for consideration and although no estimate of the cost accompanied them the vestry im-


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mediately proceeded to a discussion of the ways and means of se- curing money for the erection of the building to be decided upon. As a possible solution it was voted to petition the city officials to permit the use of the principal of the "City Fund" to be applied against the cost and in the plans for raising money the possibility of securing aid from Trinity Church was not overlooked.3


The plan of erecting a new church, when placed before the congregation, met with instant favor and a committee had already been appointed to raise the necessary funds when someone fortu- nately awoke to a realization of what was about to happen and ex- pressed his opinion in terms sufficiently strong to immediately gather a formidable following. "By limiting ourselves to enlarg- ing instead of rebuilding our Church edifice," it was now forcibly and wisely argued, "we (can avoid) the imposition of any addition- al burthen upon those who have always attended here for worship, and (we will not compel) any one to leave us either from inability or unwillingness to contribute to the expense of increased Church accommodations which every one admits ought to be made- We (will) not sour anyone by exposing him to the censorious criticism of his neighbor for not subscribing so largely as that neighbor may (think he) ought to (do)-We (will) obtain the accommodations of a new Church and have retained enough of the old one to con- tinue the solemn associations connected with every ancient sacred edifice-We (will) accomplish a most important work and pre- serve uninterrupted the harmony of the congregation- We (will) further contribute to the diffusion of the doctrines of our Church by furnishing room for additional hearers, whether they be those actuated by former partiality in her favor or those who may be tempted by the neatness and pleasantness of the (proposed) en-


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larged building to take a seat therein-We (will) show how a larger congregation may be accommodated in a Church and no greater effort of voice be necessary on the part of the clergyman to instruct them than when the building would only contain a much smaller number- We (will) furnish seats for as great a num- ber of parishioners as most ministers will wish to take charge of, and (will) not, as we probably should (do) by rebuilding on a more extensive scale, retard the erection of another church of our com- munion and the settlement of another clergyman in our City, both (of) which the extended bounds of our settlements and increase of our population will before many years justify and require. - "


Although, in answer to the petition, the city officials readily voted to permit the use of the "City Fund" against the cost of erecting a new building, the original plan quickly gave way be- fore the pleas and arguments of the opposition.


The plan now proposed contemplated the widening of the church at the east end twelve and a half feet on either side for a length of twenty-six feet and ten inches; 4 the altering of the pulpit; the build- ing of a small vestry rooms beneath it; and the construction of a new ceiling over the center of the church.


To assist the vestry in obtaining funds for the work the Ladies' Industrious Society at once offered for their use, upon bond and mortgage, the sum of seven hundred dollars which they had collected for use in the erection of a Sunday school building at some future time. Enthusiasm reigned, and the committee appoint- ed, under direction to push the work with as much speed and economy as possible, reported on September 28, 1837, that they had made a contract with John R. Edrik to do the mason work and with Elias Lyons to do the carpenter work, "the whole to be completed in six weeks from the date of the contract."


Reverend Aldert Smedes


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St. George's Church. , I37


The strain of increasing activities had reacted upon the health of the rector and in September Mr. Smedes asked for a leave of absence until the following June, in the hope that he might recov- er his health by relaxation and travel. As Dr. Potter and Professor Reed6 of the College had already volunteered to supply the pulpit during his absence, Mr. Smedes' request was readily granted and subsequently he sailed for Spain.


Mr. Smedes returned to St. George's in September, 1838, ben- efited but not entirely recovered from his ill health; and, that his duties might not again force his retirement, he engaged to assist him for a six months period and with the approval of the vestry the Reverend William Henry Walter,7 then rector of St. Paul's Church, Castleton, Staten Island.


Although the original estimate for the enlargement of the church had been approximately twelve hundred dollars, additions had been made to the plan as the work progressed, notably a new roof over the entire building, and the final cost of the work a- mounted to $2101.35. Mr. Hearsey had been early appointed to superintend the work, "with the moderate inducement of $ 1 per day for his services," and to him the committee in their final re- port showed no hesitation in attributing the economy and dispatch with which the work was performed.


With the final result all were delighted and the report of the committee clearly indicates that the hopes of those who had taken a stand in favor of enlarging the church, rather than rebuilding, were realized to the fullest degree.


In February, 1839, negotiations for the Peek property, which had been allowed to lapse pending the completion of work on the church, were again resumed and the purchase effected.8 A Sunday


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school building for which the Ladies' Industrious Society had been saving was now assured, for the substantial building standing on the property offered, by remodeling, the possibility of meeting every requirement, and with this in view the ladies were induced to permit the vestry to apply their fund against the cost of the purchase of the property and the alteration of the building.


While the affairs of the parish were thus satisfactorily progress- ing, the increasing labors were again reflected in the health of its rector and on March 25, 1839, Mr. Smedes informed the vestry that it was his intention to resign his charge on May 1. Mr. Wal- ter who had assisted Mr. Smedes on a former occasion was already well and favorably known to the congregation and to him was at once offered the post, on the same terms that had been accorded Mr. Smedes.


Mr. Walter did not immediately come to an agreement with the vestry but when the salary was raised to one thousand dollars a year the matter had his more serious consideration and at the end of three weeks he accepted the call with the expressed hope that the "connexion might eventuate in mutual pleasure."


With the selection of his successor Mr. Smedes was well pleased. "So confident am I," wrote he in his formal resignation to the vestry, "that I leave you to the pastoral care of one who will in every respect more than supply my lack of service towards you that painful as the sacrifice on every account is, I can almost cheer- fully resign the charge."


The rectorship of Mr. Smedes had been eminently successful and it was with deep regret that the vestry found themselves re- luctantly compelled to submit to the necessity which forced his re- tirement and to spread upon the minutes a resolution setting forth


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their "cordial and united approbations of his character and con- duct as a faithful, exemplary and affectionate Rector," and to ex- tend to him their "fervent aspirations for the future welfare of himself and his amiable family."


Mr. Smedes had been interested in education before he came to Schenectady and while in New York he had been principal of a small private school; when, therefore, he was restored to health he followed the inclinations of his earlier days and in 1842 founded in Raleigh, North Carolina, St. Mary's School. His prudence, tact, and high personal qualities soon made the institution successful and Dr. Smedes remained its head until his death.


As had been planned, Mr. Walter assumed the rectorship of St. George's Church on May 1, 1839, and it was not long before he added to the regard in which he was already held the increasing affection and esteem of his congregation. "Those . who knew him," wrote9 Henry Codman Potter,10 years after, "knew his earnest, prayerful spirit, the sweet attractiveness of his Chris- tian character, and especially his rare persuasiveness as a minister to children. .... It was my own privilege, then myself a child, to be one of those little ones under his ministry, when he was rec- tor of St. George's. I shall never forget the tenderness of his man- ner, and the deeply devotional and impressive character of all his public ministrations."




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