USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Albany bi-centennial. Historical memoirs > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
Bishops Asbury and Coke were the first accredited repre- sentatives to present from any church an address to President Washington, assuring him of the sympathy and prayers of their people with and for him in his administration ; and a Methodist conference-the New York-was the first religious body to pledge its support to the general government after the assault on Fort Sumter, and by a happy coincidence, the same conference being then in session, telegraphed its con- gratulations to President Lincoln after the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee. There are statistics to prove that the Methodist church contributed 175,000 soldiers to the army of the Union, and of it President Lincoln fitly said : " Nobly served as the government has been by all the churches, I would utter nothing which might appear invi- dious against any, but it is not the fault of the others that the Methodist church, by her greater numbers, sends more soldiers to the field, more nurses to the hospital and more prayers to heaven than any other. God bless the Methodist
176
church. God bless all the churches, and blessed be God, who, in this our great trial, giveth us the churches." Have I not a right then to affirm of it that it is pre-eminently an American church ? But I will not rest the case on ex parte testimony. I will impannel a jury of reputable citizens, not one of whom shall be a Methodist, and hear their testimony. George Bancroft: "The Methodists were the pioneers of religion ; the breath of liberty has wafted their messages to the masses of the people, encouraged them to collect white and black in church or greenwood, for counsel in divine love and the full assurance of faith, and carried their con- solations and songs and prayers to the farthest cabins of the wilderness." Dr. Tyng said in London : " I come from a land where you might as well forget the tall oaks that tower in our forests, the glorious capitol we have erected in the centre of our hills, or the principles of truth and liberty we endeavor to disseminate, as to forget the influence of Methodism and the benefit we have received therefrom."
Dr. Baird calls it " the most powerful element in the reli- gious prosperity of the United States." Dr. Channing said " the influence of Methodism in liberalizing the theology of New England is beyond all estimate."
These citations might be multiplied indefinitely, but enough has been given to prove my statement, and I claim the case.
Do you still ask what place Methodism has in this Bi- centennial ? I answer that though Gov. Dongan knew us not and, staunch Romanist that he was, I have no doubt he would have thought himself and the city better off with- out us, and though Mayor Schuyler died without witnessing the advent of these " men who have turned the world upside down," and, Protestant though he was, he would have been scarcely less dismayed at the sight of the broad-brimmed hats and shad-bellied coats of these " pesky parsons ; " and though more than one hundred years of her history passed without the Methodist church, still do not believe Albany could afford to lose out of her history the service rendered by that denom- ination. Bishop Asbury said that the region of Albany did not seem congenial, but times have changed since that day, and many of his successors have found Albany a most kindly home. Freeborn Garrettson was the pioneer in this region and had cause to remember his reception in Albany, for when he was entertained by a gentleman he saw deadly
177
.
hostility in the face of the hostess, and under a strong im- pression of danger he did not drink the small beer which she tendered him, nor would he eat in the house. The next day he learned that the husband and son of the woman had been poisoned nearly to death by eating the meat which this hospitable woman had prepared for him. She afterward said that if she could have had her way there would not have been a Methodist left. Now, however, clergy and laity find themselves cordially welcomed who would go from us to other denominations, and men and women converted at our altars are in every communion, and the pastor of one of the most popular churches told me once that his most efficient members were those he had received from us.
I congratulate you on the fact that our church is now housed in Albany in a manner befitting the station she is called to occupy ; that the time when anything would do for a Methodist church has forever passed. The mission of Methodism to the masses was once a popular theme and was patronizingly conceded to us by the other denomina- tions, but this was a misapprehension. Methodism began socially at the top and was at home among the learned and noble, but has proved herself worthy of her Divine Lord by reaching down to the lowest, by disintegrating the masses and lifting the individual to the level of the heavenly. Her mission ! it is to every one ; her field ! it is the world.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In the First Lutheran church in the morning, the congregation was very large. The decorations about the pulpit, while not of an elaborate character, were, nevertheless very handsome. The front of the pulpit platform and the standards at the ends were effect- ively draped with orange and blue colors, and at the summits of the standards, palms waved their graceful branches. Immediately in front of the pulpit an elegant floral shield, with suitable inscriptions, rested on an easel.
The Rev. George W. Miller preached a discourse entitled "A Retrospect of Two Centuries," from the
178
text, " Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations."-Deut. xxxii., 7.
Macaulay says : "To write history, that is, seemingly, the easiest of all compositions, is on the contrary the most diffi- cult. History is philosophy, teaching by example, though unhappily what the philosophy gains in soundness and depth, the examples generally lose in vividness. A perfect historian must possess an imagination sufficiently powerful to make his narrative affecting and picturesque, yet he must control it absolutely, contenting himself with the materials which he finds." Recognizing this, I purpose using the greatest care and caution in speaking of our Albany church. Could history truthfully picture the past, our eyes would see some strange scenes connected with this venerable organiza- tion. The history of the Albany First Lutheran church has special interest because it is the oldest continued organiza- tion in the denomination in America, the church in New Amsterdam, now New York city, having lost its identity, when in 1783 Trinity and Christ's church, or " The old Swamp church," united. The first Lutheran settlement in this country was made in New Amsterdam in 1623, and came from Holland. The second distinct body of Lutherans came from Sweden in 1636, settled on Delaware bay and bought land of the Indians, the place now being Wilming- ton, Delaware. They brought a pastor with them, and these Swedes were the first Lutherans organized under the care of a pastor. Later, owing to a lack of English-speaking min- isters, they became Episcopalians, thus leaving the New York churches the priority as continued Lutheran organiza- tions. Moreover, Albany is the oldest surviving city of the original thirteen colonies. At Albany the voice of Benja- min Franklin was heard in convention advising the measures afterwards incorporated into our Federal constitution. In Albany assembled the first convention for the union of the colonies. Henry Hudson, in the yacht Half Moon, moored in September, 1609, at a point which is now in Broadway. This place was called by the Dutch, New Orange originally, afterwards Beverswycke, and then later when taken posses- sion of by the English in 1664, Albany, in honor of an English duke.
179
EARLY IMMIGRATION OF LUTHERANS.
The principles of the reformation had been carried to Holland, and strong churches were organized, soon after Luther's work. Thus, before America was known as a land of refuge Protestants had settled in various lands, and some had sought our shores. Of these Lutheran churches in Holland the strongest was in Amsterdam, and it became the foster mother of the New Amsterdam Dutch Lutheran congregation. There had been a fierce controversy in Holland over Calvinism and Arminianism, and afterwards intolerance was manifested toward Lutherans. Hence, these Dutch Lutherans emigrated from Germany to Holland, and from Holland to America. This establishment of Lutherans was effected here a little more than a century after the discovery of America, and within a few years of the landing of the Pilgrims; and while the Thirty Years War was raging in Germany that threatened to exterminate Protestantism from Europe. Thus are we led to see God's peculiar providence in sending those whom God's word and spirit had made free into this new world. We call attention to history respecting the Albany church .;
PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS.
Brodhead's history of the State of New York says: "The Lutherans, in 1653, are strong enough to support their own pastor." In Callaghan's history it is stated that a placard had been published in 1656 against the congregation of Lutherans at Beverswycke (i. e. Albany). At this time the Lutherans were much opposed and oppressed by the Dutch Reformed church people. They were taxed to support that church, compelled to assent to its creed if they had their children baptized, and strenuous effort was made to compel the Lutherans to identify themselves with the Dutch church. But they strenuously resisted, and petitioned for a minister of their own. In 1657 the Rev. John Ernest Goetwater arrived in the ship Mill, June 6, to serve two congregations, one at New Amsterdam and one at Beverswycke; but he was ordered to return by the same ship, and though sickness prevented his immediate compliance, he was put without the walls of the city, and finally forced to re-embark for Holland. The Lutherans were disposed, however, to push forward with a hard Lutheran pate, Brodhead, the historian, says ;
180
and in 1660 they promoted a subscription for a clergyman of their own. In 1664, however, the Lutheran congregation was in an organized condition. There cords are most meagre. These old Dutch worthies were modest and economical in record-making. Besides. their descendants have been crimin- ally careless about preserving what records they made. The Rev. P. A. Strobel, in an article in the Hartwick memorial volume respecting St. Paul's church, West Camp, Ulster county, N. Y., mentions an incident illustrating this. Their church was organized by the Rev. Joshua Kocherthall in 1711. Some years since, the members of that church wishing to get rid of some old papers, it was resolved to make a bonfire of them. The Albany church was first built on Pearl street, between Lutheran (now Howard) and Beaver streets, facing Pearl. This church was standing in 1674. In Mr. Munsell's Annals we read : "The Lutherans seem to have succeeded in gathering a congregation before 1670. It is supposed that about this time they erected a church and parsonage, the first and last penny for these being paid." And from the same source, speaking of 1795, we read: "There is in Albany a Dutch Lutheran church of a Gothic and very peculiar shape." This was at least their second edifice, for we know that that was constructed only about ten years previous, and in it the second synod in America was organ- ized in 1786. While the Bi-centennial History of Albany and Schenectady counties says : " The first Lutheran church was built 1668 or 1670, on Pearl street, the present site of the city building. The Episcopalians worshiped in this building part of the day, in 1714." In 1784 the society was incorporated. The edifice preceding the present fine and imposing one was erected during the pastorate of the Rev. F. G. Mayer, on the present site, the city having purchased the lot on Pearl street, that had been in the possession of the congregation almost a century and a half, the present site being doubly historic, for here stood " the old colonial army hospital." In it were gathered men who suffered for their country, and if patriotismi be only second to piety, it was early consecrated by their sufferings. While, as if to show the fluctuations of time and circum- stances on this same spot. in a hospital room in 1769, there was fitted up Albany's first theatre, a comedy company from New York introducing the drama. To this historic spot hence have come those who suffered the ills and mishaps of
181
war. Here, in pain, has been paid, in part, the price of liberty. Here, on cots, have lain loyal, patriotic sons. Here brave men have died. Here have been experienced the horrid results of war. This has marked one era. While, as if to relieve the tedium, these very soldiers seem to have inaugurated the reverse of this, in comedy. Nor was it without opposition ; but, succeeding slow suffering, and then mirth-making, has come the work of ministering to sad and glad. And for seventy years Christ's church, in loyalty to truth, has crowned this spot.
A WORD ABOUT THE PASTORS.
For 216 or 217 years, on two spots in Albany, the gospel of God's grace has been administered according to our usages. A hurried glance at the men who ministered at these altars may not be amiss. In 1668 the Rev. Jacob Fabritius became the first pastor, serving the New York and Albany churches. He was impulsive and rash, though learned and able, and soon left. In 1671 the Rev. Bernar- dus Arensius assumed the work. In 1703 Justus Falckner, the first Lutheran minister ordained in America, was settled, preaching at Loonensburg (now Athens) and Albany. He died in 1723, and was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. Christo- pher Berkenmeyer, an able, devout man, who preached until his death at Athens, and under that church he lies buried. The Revs. Michael Christian Knoll, Henry Moeller, Schwerd- feger, A. T. Braun, Groetz, John Frederick Ernst, and Henry Moeller successively served until 1806. The services remained German until 1808. In 1807 the Rev. Frederick G. Mayer assumed the work as his first and last pastorate, remaining thirty-seven years. He was short in stature, stout in person, calm in manner, and an ex tempore speaker. The first sacred musical concert given in Albany was at his suggestion. In 1843 the Rev. Dr. Henry N. Pohlman assumed the duties of the office, and for twenty-three years, in a devoted and dignified manner, discharged its trust, Dr. Pohlman being the leader of the Lutheran hosts of New York during many years of his life. Since then, the Rev. Drs. S. P. Sprecher and I. Magee, and your speaker have ministered.
THE PROGRESS OF THE DENOMINATION.
New York has not proven as fertile soil for Lutheranism as have other states. In 1870 more than a third of all
182
Lutherans in the United States were reported in Pennsylva- nia and Ohio, and nearly five times as many churches in Pennsylvania as New York; that but three synods have developed in 100 years since the New York ministerium was organized in the Albany church, while from the Maryland and Virginia synod, organized in 1820, twelve synods have sprung, and the ministerium of Pennsylvania, organized in 1748, has 88,596 communicants, while the ministerium of New York, organized 1786, has but 25,930. Peculiar circumstances produce this, just as the number of Presby- terians is not great in New England nor are the Congrega- tionalists strong in New York, while one-half of the Congregationalists in the United States in 1870 were in New England. There are four Lutheran congregations in Albany : St. Paul's German church, organized 1842, Rev. G. F. Stutz, pastor; First German Evangelical Lutheran church, organized in 1854, William A. Frey, pastor ; St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran church, organized in 1858, Rev. Ernst Hoffman, pastor, and Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran church, organized 1860. The relation of the Albany church to Lutheranism in the State has been most intimate. Here the first synod in New York and second in America was organized, with three ministers and two laymen present. Here Hartwick seminary originated, Dr. Pohlman being its first graduate. He was the first student of our first theological seminary. With the Albany church John Christopher Hartwick, its founder, had most intimate relations, and his remains lie under its lecture room floor. In the Albany church occurred the separation in 1867, after the formation of the general council, and in the church then and there was organized the New York, since consoli- dated with the New Jersey synod.
OTHER RELATIONS.
As late as 1747 there were but eleven ministers in all the colonies, and in 1768 the entire clergy showed but twenty- four names. To-day the Evangelical Lutheran church stands third in the list numerically among denominations in America, numbering 893,000 communicants. In 1775 the Lutherans had twenty-five ministers and sixty churches. In 1876 they had 2,662 ministers, 4,623 churches, and did we enumerate all baptized persons we have more than 1,500,000 Lutherans.
183
WHAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS WITNESSED.
She has seen government twice change hands, the Dutch surrendering to the English and the English in turn granting our independence. She has seen the population of the entire country grow from 200,000 in 1688 to over 50,000,000 at the present time. She has sentinel-like, watched and from her patriotic pulpit heard prayers during four wars. She has seen the log school house, with puncheon floor, slab bench and oiled paper windows give way to our uncommon common school. She has seen the spinning wheel retire for the spinning jenny ; the stitch of the weary needle replaced by the sewing machine; the slow sickle in the reaper's hand banished by the mower and reaper ; the flail by the thresher ; the lumbering coach by the fast express; the occasional overland mail by the postal telegraph and cable, and the courier, on relays of horses, by the telephone. She has seen the feeble, impoverished colonies surpass in wealth every other nation.
She has seen her sister churches, in common with herself, grow strong and influential, with spires daily piercing the skies. Truly " God hath not dealt so with any nation." To-day we have reason for thanksgiving for a home in this goodly city, a place in this honored old church, and for a remembrance of the days of old and the knowledge that for more than two centuries she has without strife, division or cessation gone on in her work. To-day we inaugurate our Bi-centennial celebration. As Albanians, whether this be our native heath or our adopted home, it becomes us to recognize God's hand in the history and development of the city. Albany is an honored, prospered and lovely munici- pality. Nature has done much for her, and art has grandly aided. She is to-day noted for her wealth, philanthropy and long-time history. She has some splendid streets and avenues, elegant private residences, imposing churches and grand public buildings. And she contains a most excellent citizenship. To-day, in our retrospect, while we trace our church existence 216 or 217 years, if we pause midway we would see an Albany very different.
A RETROSPECT.
One hundred years ago Albany was a village, receiving mail once a week. In 1698 Albany had but a population of 803 ; of these five were English families, one Scotch and
184
all others Dutch. In 1790, when the community was 185 years old, there was a population of but 3,498. In an interesting volume, " New England in Albany," we read that Pearl street then was the resident street for the aristo- cratic burghers, and that the people were Dutch, the houses were Dutch and the dogs were Dutch. The original Dutch settlers had little enterprise They cared little for learning or education, only for liberty of trade. Beaver skins and ducats was the great desiderata. Their annual trade in 1646, wher. Albany contained but ten houses, were 16,000 beaver skins. A century ago, even these people lived here very quietly, rising early, and when the curfew bell rang at 8 P. M. they covered up their fires on the hearths and retired. Thus in their one-story houses with peaked roofs and gables to the end, they lived. And in the morning early on their stoops (each house had a stoop) these ancient and venerable mynheers, with their little sharp-cocked hats and red-ringed worsted caps drawn tightly down over their heads, there they sat like monuments of a former age, smoking their pipes in dignified silence, and with phlegmatic gravity. And on Sabbath, with ruffled shirt front, knee-breeches, silver-buckled shoes, immense wigs, and their cocked hats, these burghers wended their way to church. No furnaces were in use then ; portable stoves or warm bricks were taken to the sanctuary. And it was no uncommon thing to see fifty or seventy-five colored servants or slaves at the church door with foot-stoves, or warm bricks, wrapped in flannel, the records saying that the deacons used a little sack or bag, on the end of a pole for taking the collections, and that a bell was on the end of the pole. But tehse are bygones. Albany is now a modern city, and she is rapidly improving, catching more and more the spirit of enterprise. Our highest expression of interest in her past, present and prospective welfare is to be found in a loyal love for all that is good, and a watchful and outspoken hate and opposition for all that is wrong."
The history of the First Lutheran church has special interest, not alone to its own membership and local friends, but as well to all Lutherans, because it is the oldest continued organization in the denomination in America.
The church in New Amsterdam (now New York city) having lost its identity when in 1783, Trinity and Christ's church, usually called the Old Swamp church, united. The
185
first Lutheran settlement in this country was made in New Amsterdam in 1623, they coming from Holland. The second distinct body of Lutherans came from Sweden in 1636, and settled on Delaware bay, and bought land of the Indians. They brought a pastor with them and were the first Lutherans organized under the care of a pastor. But, later, owing to a scarcity of English speaking preachers, they became Episcopalians, thus leaving the New York churches the priority as continued Lutheran organizations. More- over, Albany, the sight of the church, is the oldest city in the original thirteen colonies. Jamestown, Va., long a rival in point of age, having past from existence. The principles of the reformation had been carried to Holland and strong churches established there soon after Luther's work. Thus before America was known as a land of refuge for the oppressed, Protestants had settled in various lands and some had sought an shore. There was a strife in Holland over Armenianism and Calvinism, and the Lutherans were appressed. Hence these Dutch Lutherans emigated from Holland to America. This establishment of Lutherans was effected here a little more than a century after the discovery of America and within a few years after the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, and while the thirty-five years' war was raging in Germany. In 1657 their first pastor came, but was ordered by the Dutch authorities to return by the same ship. In 1664, however, the Lutheran congregation was in an organized condition. The Bi-centennial history of Albany and Schenectady counties says that the first edifice of the Lutheran church was built, 1668 or 1670, on Pearl street, the present site of the City building. In 1784, the society was incorporated.
The present site is doubly historic, for on it stood the old colonial army hospital, and in a room in that hospital was fitted up in 1769 Albany's first theatre. For two hundred and sixteen or seventeen years on two spots in Albany the gospel of God's grace has been preached and the ordinances of church administered according to our usage. In 1668 Rev. Jacob Fabritum became the first pastor. He has been followed by Revs. Rudman, Falckner, Berkenmeyer, Knoll, Moeller, Braun, Schuefeger, Groetz, Moeller, Mayer, Pohl- man, Sprecher, Magee and the present incumbent.
186
CLINTON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Anniversary services at the Clinton Square Presby- terian church were made impressive by the presence of Rev. Dr. E. A. Huntington, of the Auburn Theo- logical seminary, who preached a close, argumentative sermon from the sixth verse of the tenth chapter of II. Corinthians. After concluding his sermon, he interested his hearers by recalling the early associa- tions of the church :
-
" Fifty years ago to-day," he said, " I preached my second sermon, and it was before a congregation of this church, then called the Third Presbyterian church of Albany. These associations are dear to me from the fact that it is the only church I was ever pastor of. Its history of pastors is remark- able. In fifty years you have had but three pastors, I served you eighteen years, and was then called to my present posi- tion in the Auburn Theological seminary, and was succeeded by Dr. Halley, who was your beloved pastor for twenty-two years, when your present pastor, who has ministered to you for ten years, began his labors with you.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.