USA > New York > A history of the purchase and settlement of western New York : and of the rise, progress and present state of the Presbyterian Church in that section > Part 31
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Two other Congregational bodies in Western New York have been organized within a few years past, viz. The Monroe Asso- ciation, and the Consociation of Western New York. The Monro Association was formed by a coalition of a number of ministers and churches in the county of Monroe and vicinity, who seceded from the Genesee Consociation, on account of the heterodox character of that body. The Consociation of Western New York has its location west of the Monroe Association ; but the precise bounda- ries of these organizations are unknown to the writer. These bodies are not large ; whether on the increase, or otherwise, is not known to the writer. They are both of them connected with the General Association of Congregational ministers in the State of New York, and, it is hoped, are, in some good degree, engaged in pro- moting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom in Western New York. Their churches contribute to the funds of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the American Home Missionary Society, and regard with favor the other bene-
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BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS.
volent organizations of the day. In doctrine they are believed to be substantially in agreement with their Congregational brethren in other parts of the State, and in New England.
The Presbyterian churches in Western New York, and the Con- gregational churches which have coalesced with them, have ever, from the beginning, regarded the benevolent operations of the day with the highest favor. We have already brought into notice their course with respect to the department of Domestic Missions. They generally sympathize with the American Home Missionary Society, with the exception of that portion of the Presbyterian Church connected with the Old School General Assembly. It is believed that almost all the churches contribute, and the aggregate amount of the contributions of these churches constitutes an impor- tant item in the revenue of the Society for sending missionaries to the Far West. These churches ever, from their organization, have been familiar with the subject of domestic missions ; they have witnessed their operations ; have been strengthened by their influ- ence ; and know their value. Not having been unacquainted with feebleness themselves, they have learned to succor those that are feeble.
In the department of Foreign Missions, the churches of Western New York of which we speak, have done comparatively well. At the commencement of the operations of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, many of the good people of Western New York imbibed a goodly share of the spirit of mis- sions, and contributed according to their ability to the funds of the Board. They were in the practice of reading the " Panoplist," the periodical which furnished the greatest amount of information on the subject of foreign missions. The publications of the Board have ever had an extended circulation in Western New York, and some of the Christians of this region were among the earliest con- tributors to their treasury. Twelve of the corporate members of the Board, and nearly four hundred of the honorary members, made such by the payment of fifty dollars into the treasury of the Board, are, or have been, residents of Western New York. Nearly all of these are connected with the Presbyterian or Congregational Church. Within the bounds of Western New York are six agen- cies, or auxiliary Societies, organized for the purpose of raising funds for the American Board. From these institutions for the year ending August 1st, 1845, there was paid into the treasury of the Board the sum of twelve thousand two hundred and twenty- five dollars and seven cents, which is considerably more than half of what was collected by all the other auxiliaries in the State.
In addition to the sum above mentioned, considerable sums were collected in congregations or given by individuals, and paid directly into the treasury of the Board, and of course were not credited to any one of the auxiliaries. How much these might have swelled
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
the amount, it is not in the writer's power to estimate. It is evident, however, from the preceding statement that the Presbyterian churches in Western New York are not behind their brethren, in other parts of the land, in regard for the salvation of their dying fellow men. In most of the churches the monthly concert of prayer for the conversion of the world unto God, is observed, and is con- sidered as an interesting season, both as it relates to the devotional exercises, and the communication of missionary intelligence. The churches of Western New York have furnished a considerable number of laborers for the Foreign Mission field. Of these some were clergymen, and some laymen ; some were male and some female. The exact number is not known to the writer. A number of them are still on missionary ground, employed in their Master's work ; some have been called from their labors here on earth, we doubt not, to their rest in heaven.
At an early period the attention of the Congregational and Pres- byterian ministers and churches of Western New York was en- gaged on the subject of furnishing the Bible, by gratuitous distri- bution or sale, for the destitute within their borders. Before any organization, having a reference exclusively to this object, was formed in this region, Bibles, for gratuitous distribution to the indigent and destitute, were sent to individuals or intrusted to itine- rant missionaries for distribution, by the Bible Societies of Connec- ticut and Massachusetts, and, perhaps, by some other Societies or organizations. But it was not long that the good people of West- ern New York felt that they could depend entirely on foreign aid for the necessary supply of the Holy Scriptures for the destitute of the region. And, instead of transmitting the funds raised by them to Societies in Connecticut and Massachusetts, it was deemed more expedient to form organizations of their own. On the 23d day of February, 1815, a Bible Society was formed in the Court-house in Auburn, in accordance with a public notice which had been pre- viously given for that purpose. This Society was denominated, " The Cayuga Bible Society." The officers of the Society, elected at its organization for the year ensuing, were,
Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff, President. William Brown, Esq., Vice President. Rev. Seth Smith, Secretary. Mr. Horace Hills, Treasurer.
Rev. Royal Phelps, Rev. Levi Parsons,
Rev. Henry Ford, Directors.
Rev. Benjamin Rice, Capt. Joseph Rhodes,
These officers of the Society were all ministers or members of
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BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS.
the Presbyterian Church, from which circumstance it is evident, that the members of the Society generally, if not universally, were of that denomination. At a period nearly as early, or perhaps even earlier, the Female Bible Society of Geneva was formed by ladies mostly of the Presbyterian denomination, in the village of Geneva and its vicinity. This Society, ere long, extended itself into other places, and some branch societies were formed in con- nexion with it. Such a branch existed in Prattsburgh, Steuben county ; another in Wolcott, Wayne county. There may have been others unknown to the writer. The Society for several years continued its operations, and did considerable for the supply
of the destitute with the Holy Scriptures. During the first three years of the operation of the American Bible Society, the Female Bible Society of Geneva furnished one hundred and twenty-seven dollars to its treasury. The labors of this Society deserve to be kept in remembrance. The Cortland Female Bible Society may also be noted here as among the earliest institutions formed in Western New York, for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures. This Society, previous to the third annual meeting of the American Bible Society, had paid into the treasury of that Society, one hun- dred and thirty dollars. On the 11th day of May, 1816, the Ame- rican Bible Society was formed in the city of New York, by a convention of delegates from local societies in different parts of the United States. The Cayuga County Bible Society was represented in the Convention by Rev. Henry Ford, and, as the writer believes, was, at that time, the only Bible Society existing in Western New York, with the exception of the Female Bible Society'of Geneva, and, perhaps, the Cortland Female Bible Society. Soon after this period other Societies for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures were organized in Western New York. The Parent Society, in their first Annual Report, mention, as Auxiliary Societies, Cortland Female, Cortland Auxiliary, Seneca County, Madison County, Broome County, Steuben County, and Ontario County Bible Soci- eties. In a short period Societies, auxiliary to the Parent Society, existed in every county, besides numbers of more circumscribed limits. The members of these Societies were mostly connected with Presbyterian or Congregational congregations. The Episcopa- lians and Methodists generally preferred not to unite with other denominations, in any organization of a religious character ; and the Baptists, for a season, mostly stood aloof from the Societies. Within a few years past the Methodists have changed their course, and cordially unite in these Societies, with other denominations, while the Baptists have almost entirely withdrawn, and act by themselves.
Near the close of the year 1824, the Monroe County Bible Soci- ety appointed an Agent to go through the County for the purpose of ascertaining the number of families destitute of Bibles. Persons
17
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
to make the necessary inquiries were appointed by him in each School district throughout the county. The result of this investi- gation exhibited about twelve hundred families living without the Word of God in their houses. The Society then resolved unani- mously, that they would, at all events, raise funds sufficient to sup- ply the destitution. In accordance with this resolution, the funds were raised, Bibles procured, and the distribution of them complet- ed in the early part of the ensuing summer. This is the first in- stance on record of the systematic supply of the Bible to all the destitute families within a certain district, in a given time. But this good example seemed to be contagious. Other Societies, within a short period, adopted the same course, and at the meeting of the American Bible Society in May, 1829, the following resolution was passed, viz .- " Resolved, that this Society, with an humble reliance on divine aid, will endeavor to supply all the destitute families in the United States with the Holy Scriptures, that may be willing to purchase or receive them, within the space of two years, provided sufficient means be furnished by its Auxiliaries and benevolent indi- viduals, in season to enable its Board of Managers to carry this re- solution into effect." In the interval between the action of the Mon- roe County Society and that of the parent Society, several of the County Societies had adopted similar resolutions, and carried them into effect, and, in a short period, all the County Societies in West- ern New York had followed the example. By most or all of these Societies, the general supply of the destitute within their bounda- ries, has been repeated, in several instances, at subsequent times.
At an early period the ministers and members of the Presbyte- rian and Congregational churches in Western New York, were apprised, not only of the inability of many of the newly formed churches to provide a competent support for the ministry, but also of the great deficiency in the number of pious and educated minis- ters to furnish the needful supply of ministerial labor for the rapidly increasing number of churches, and for missionary operations. As early as the year 1805, an overture on the subject of educating in- digent pious young men for the gospel ministry, was laid before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, and the Presbyteries were directed to instruct their com- missioners for the next year respecting the measures which they might think it advisable for the Assembly to adopt. At the next meeting, it appearing that there was a general coincidence of senti- ment on this subject among the Presbyteries, the Assembly recom- mended to every Presbytery under their care, to use their utmost endeavors to increase, by all suitable means in their power, the number of promising candidates for the holy ministry-to make vigorous exertions to raise funds to assist all the youth who might need assistance-to be careful that the youth whom they took on their funds, gave such evidence as the nature of the case admitted,
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BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS.
that they possessed both talents and piety-to inspect the education of the youth under their care, during the course both of their aca- demical and theological studies, so as eventually to bring them into the ministry, well furnished for their work. The Assembly further ordered that every Presbytery under their care should make annu- ally, a report of what they had done in this concern. It does not appear that under this recommendation any funds were raised by the Presbyteries of Western New York so as to be reported to the General Assembly prior to 1814. In that year the first church of Genoa is reported as having contributed to the education fund eight dollars and thirty-seven cents. The next year the Presbytery of Cayuga is reported as having collected for this object ten dollars and thirty-one cents, and the Presbytery of Onondaga thirty-two dollars and eleven cents. In 1816, the Presbytery of Geneva is re- ported as having collected twenty-one dollars and thirty-one cents, and the Presbytery of Onondaga thirty-two dollars and eleven cents.
In 1817, the collections were, in the Presbytery of Geneva twenty- five dollars and twenty cents ; Cayuga, fifteen dollars and eighty- four cents ; and Onondaga 194 dollars and ninety-nine cents. In the following year the Presbytery of Niagara reported, as collected for the education fund, five dollars and eighty-two cents ; Ontario, three dollars and thirty-three cents ; Bath, twelve dollars and sixty- four cents ; Geneva, ten dollars ; Cayuga, ninety dollars and forty- three cents; and Onondaga, 195 dollars and twenty-nine cents. These appear as small beginnings, and they indeed were so. But it is to be recollected that Western New York was not at that period, the immensely rich and populous region that it now is; that institutions of learning were rare in the region ; that few compara- tively of the young men turned their attention to a professional life, and of those who did, the work of the ministry was chosen by only a very small number. Candidates for the ministry were very few ; nor was this peculiar to Western New York. Throughout the bounds of the whole Presbyterian church in the United States, in the year 1813, only twenty-seven young men are reported as under the patronage of the Presbyteries, preparing for the ministry in accordance with the recommendations of the General Assembly ; and in the year 1815, only forty. Nor does it appear that the sums stated above constitute the whole of the collections raised in Western New York, for the support of indigent young men in their preparation for the ministry. In 1813, no collections for this object are reported by the Presbytery of Onondaga, but it is stated that one young man, selected and supported by them, was in a course of preparation for the ministry.
Near the close of the year 1817, the Western Education Society was organized at Utica, for the declared " purpose of aiding indi- gent young men of talents and piety, in acquiring a competent edu-
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
cation for the gospel ministry." This Society embraced in its operations not only what in this work is denominated Western New York, but also much of the more central and northern part of the State. Its centre of operations was for a number of years at Utica. Of late years the Society has become more limited in its field of operation, by the establishment of the Utica Agency, and the trans- fer of the seat of its operations from Utica to Auburn. The Society was organized on liberal Christian principles. The Directors, in their report to the Society at its first annual meeting, say, " The Western Education Society is established on a broad basis. It confines its charities to no particular district-to no particular Christian Communion. Its beneficiaries, already received, are from three different States; and three are members of the Episcopal Church, and the others of the Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Congregational Churches." At this period, twenty-eight young men were on the list of beneficiaries aided by the funds of the Society. The eighth article of the Constitution says, "No candi- date for the charity shall be approved, unless he produce satisfac- tory evidence of piety, talents, and indigence, nor unless he shall profess a determination to be a preacher of the gospel, nor shall any person continue to receive aid from this Society, after he has ceased to give the evidence, or to make the profession aforesaid." Every beneficiary, before receiving aid, was required to enter into a writ- ten engagement to refund the money he received, with interest, provided he should not become a preacher of the gospel. At the organization of the Society, Rev. Amos G. Baldwin of Utica of the Episcopal denomination, became a member and was elected one of its Vice-Presidents. Col. Robert Troup of Geneva, of the same church, made a liberal donation to the Society during its first year, and was, at the first annual meeting, elected to the office of Vice- President. But the writer is not aware, that, for many years past, the Society has received any patronage from members of the Epis- copal Church, or that any of its beneficiaries have been of that denomination. Its principal support has been derived from the members of the Presbyterian congregations. Soon after the organi- zation of the Society, Rev. Henry Smith (now deceased) was em- ployed as an agent to obtain subscriptions to the funds of the Society. God greatly prospered him in the undertaking. In the counties which we have included in Western New York, subscrip- tions were obtained by him to the amount of the following list, viz.
County of Madison,
$1833,35.
County of Chenango,
1014,84.
County of Onondaga,
1908,08.
County of Cortland,
806,66.
County of Broome, 3773,83.
County of Tioga,
1611,25.
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BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS.
County of Tompkins,
596,00.
County of Seneca,
1534,25.
County of Ontario,
3237,89.
County of Steuben,
2205,25.
A large proportion of these subscriptions was subsequently trans- ferred to the Theological Seminary of Auburn, by consent of the parties, and some of them were never collected.
The Society in 1822 became auxiliary to the Presbyterian Edu- cation Society (now the Central Education Society), which was organized in the city of New York in the year 1818, and became a Branch of the American Education Society in 1827. The West- ern Education Society, from the time of its organization, has steadily pursued the object of its organization, and has done much to supply the churches with pastors, and to provide missionaries for our western wilds, and to carry the gospel to the heathen in foreign lands. It has generally had on its list, from twenty to near one hundred beneficiaries, in the different stages of their preparation for the ministerial office ; and in addition to the support of its own beneficiaries, has at times paid considerable sums into the treasury of the parent Society.
The Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in Western New York have, from an early period, taken a lively interest in the ope- rations of the American Tract Society. Before the organization of that Society, considerable was done in the way of distributing tracts ; but the facilities for so doing have been materially augment- ed by the organization of that Society. From the Annual Report of that Society, presented at New York, May, 1845, it appears that at that time, from one hundred and eleven Auxiliary Societies in Western New York, fourteen thousand seven hundred and thirty- three dollars had been received in remittances for tracts purchased by them, and one thousand two hundred and eighty-four dollars in free donations. The sum here mentioned as free donations must be very far short of the amount contributed by individuals in West- ern New York as free donations to the parent society, and an addition may also be made to the sum stated to have been received in remittance for tracts purchased, to the amount of purchases made by individuals. In the formation of Tract Societies in Western New York, and in conducting Tract operations, other evangelical denominations of Christians have, to some extent, been united with Presbyterians and Congregationalists ; but it will undoubtedly be admitted that these latter denominations have furnished far the greater part of the funds, and performed much the largest share of the labor employed in these operations. In the cities and large villages, and in many county towns, a systematic monthly distribu- tion of tracts has been carried on, and the results have been highly
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
gratifying to the benevolent heart. In connexion with tract distri- bution, the system of colportage has to a considerable extent been adopted in Western New York. Within a year or two past, con- siderable sums have been raised in different counties, and colpor- teurs have been, and now are engaged in distributing the Society's tracts and bound volumes from house to house, conversing with individuals on the subjects which concern salvation, and praying with them, as opportunity presents.
Sabbath schools are held in high estimation by the churches of all evangelical denominations in Western New York. They were instituted in the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of the region nearly as early as in any other part of the United States, and have been maintained with much interest to the present time. Schools have been organized in nearly all of the churches, and very many of the children and youth are participating in this spe- cies of instruction. With the schools, libraries are generally con- nected, and in numbers of churches the monthly concert for Sabbath schools is observed. Various Associations for promoting Sabbath school instruction have been organized, among which the Genesee Sabbath School Union is, perhaps, the most conspicuous. This Union, comprising the thirteen western counties of the State, was formed at Rochester in 1827. One principal object of the Union was, to establish one or more large depositories of Sabbath School books, from which the schools in the different places might, with convenience, be supplied with libraries. Another object was the formation of an auxiliary Union in each of the thirteen counties embraced by the Union ; and still another, to send forth agents to awaken attention to the subject of Sabbath Schools, to form County Unions, to organize Sabbath Schools, to obtain funds, and in every way to promote the general objects of the institution. All of these objects, in a good measure, were speedily accomplished. A County Union was, in each of the thirteen counties in which one had not previously existed, organized in the course of a year ; agents were employed ; many additional schools were formed ; funds to a con- siderable amount were obtained, and depositories of Sabbath school books were established. In this enterprise the different evangeli- cal denominations harmonized. The Annual Report for 1833, which is the last to which the writer has had access, gives the state of the different County Unions as follows, viz.
Alleghany,-78 schools, 380 teachers, 2244 scholars, 1098 vo- lumes in the libraries.
Cattaraugus,-50 schools, 300 teachers, 1500 scholars, 1550 volumes in the libraries.
Chautauque,-54 schools, 432 teachers, 2573 scholars.
Erie, -- 50 schools, 420 teachers, 2618 scholars, 2122 volumes in the libraries.
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BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS.
Genesee,-162 schools, 810 teachers, 5670 scholars.
Livingston,-86 schools, 515 teachers, 3380 scholars, 1650 vo- lumes in the libraries.
Monroe,-32 schools, 927 teachers, 4798 scholars, 5897 volumes in the libraries.
Niagara,-34 schools, 214 teachers, 1818 scholars, 1359 volumes in the libraries.
Ontario, -- 107 schools, 845 teachers, 4526 scholars.
Orleans, -- 23 schools, 282 teachers, 1567 scholars, 1580 volumes in the libraries.
Steuben,-100 schools, 400 teachers, 3500 scholars.
Wayne,-53 schools, 450 teachers, 2615 scholars.
Yates,-42 schools, 1900 scholars.
The Episcopalians and Methodists generally stood aloof from the Union. Their schools, therefore, were not embraced in this report. In addition to the above enumerated items, the report states that among the teachers and scholars more than four hundred hopeful conversions had occurred. The receipts at the treasury of the Society for the previous year amounted to the sum of four thousand two hundred and fifteen dollars and twenty-eight cents, and the disbursements to the sum of four thousand two hundred and fifty-seven dollars, and forty-eight cents. In the other parts of Western New York in the Presbyterian Church, the. Sabbath school cause was, probably, equally progressive. In all the other benevolent enterprises of the day, the Presbyterian Church in Western New York has taken a deep interest, especially in the cause of temperance. Almost all the ministers and members of the churches are enrolled members of Temperance Societies, and practise on the principle of total abstinence as a beverage from all intoxicating liquors.
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