Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 102

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360

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Rev. M. J. HATTON, born in France, 1838; ord. 1591. Was Prof. in Sem .. and Asst. Priest in France: located B'klyn. 1872, in charge of Homes for Aged of Little Sisters of the Poor, in U. S. A.

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ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THE VERY REV. JOHN LOUGHLIN, Bishop of the R. C. Diocese of the City of Brooklyn, N. Y.

A little more than thirty years ago, in Cetober, 1853, the eity of Brooklyn was raised to the dignity of an Episcopal See. On the 30th of that month, Very Rev. John Loughlin, then Viear-General of New York, was consecrated first Bishop of Brooklyn. The ceremony of consecration was performed in St. Patrick's Cathedral by Archbishop Bedini, the Pope's Nuneio, assisted by six bishops, and the consecra- tion sermon was preached by Archbishop Hughes. On the 9th of November, Bishop Loughlin's installation took place. The Catholies of Brooklyn made the occasion a gala day, and turned out en masse, to welcome him who was hereafter to be their spiritual director. Catholic societies paraded, banners waved, bands played, and over one hundred priests Were present. Catholie writers termed it a great day for Brooklyn.

It is entirely unnecessary for us to refer, at any length, to the great administrative ability of Right Rev. Bishop Lough- lin. The condition of the Catholic Church in his diocese to- day speaks plainer than any written words, of the work that the Bishop has done. A plain, unassuming man, gifted not with ability alone, but also endowed with sound, prac- tical common sense, to a degree that few men are; he has labored for the honor of God and the glory of his church, and his labors have been abundantly blessed with great fruits.

Upon the advent of Bishop Loughlin, the episcopal resi- dence of the diocese was fixed at St. James', where it has since been. He entered immediately upon the duties of his high position. The spiritual affairs of the diocese were then circumscribed. The number of churches in the diocese could be almost counted on the fingers of a single hand. Since his eoming, the average of new parishes created has been over one for each year; and the Bishop has fairly earned the title of the " Church Builder."

Bishop Loughlin was born in Albany, N. Y .; was educated at Emmettsburgh, Md., and was then appointed Assistant to the Bishop of the city of New York. When we have stated these facts, and presented the following résumé of the con- dition of his diocese, after his thirty-one years' administra- tion of its spiritual and temporal affairs, we have written his biography. Words can do no more.

When he came to Brooklyn, the churches of St. James, St. Patrick, St. Paul, and of the Assumption, comprised the bulk of the Roman Catholic inembership of the eitỷ. It is true there were a few other seattered congregations, but they were generally insignificant in point of numbers; the great bulk of the people having clustered in the lower part of the city.

By 1856, seven new and fine ehurehes had been erected and dedicated; besides one in Queens county; and, in the same year, the corner-stones of another one in Queens county, and one in Greenpoint, were laid. The work thus vigorously carried on in the early years of Bishop Loughlin's administration has never been allowed to stop, and to-day is being as earnestly proseeuted as ever in the history of the diocese.

('atholic societies of all kinds have also grown and pros- pered with the ehureh in Brooklyn, and have done much in the various parishes in which they are situated, to asssist their respective Pastors. Almost every church has its

" Holy Name," and its "St. Vincent de Paul's " Society; and both of these societies have effected great good. In addition to these, there are numerous other societies having various aims and objects, and all doing good in their respective fields. The Young Men's Literary Societies in Brooklyn num- ber about fifteen, and have an aggregate membership rang- ing from 1,200 to 1,500. Most of them affiliate with a Na- tional Union of all the Catholic Literary Societies in the United States. The President of this National Union is a Brooklyn clergyman, Rev. J. H. Mitchell, of St. James' Cathedral.

Temperance societies exist in many parishes of the city. Those two beneficial, organizations, the Catholic Knights of America, and the Catholic Benevolent Legion, both very strong in Brooklyn, have the unqualified approval of the Bishop. The Knights have eight branches in Brooklyn; the Legion seven- teen councils. Both are in a flourishing condition. Other societies of lesser importance our lack of space compels us to refrain from mentioning. Bishop Loughlin has not been slow to approve of good societies; but he has steadily refused to encourage any whose aims were not thoroughly Catholic.

The increase of opportunities for Catholic education in Brooklyn has kept pace with the growth of the church. That every Catholic child in his diocese should be provided with a Catholic education has always been Bishop Longh- lin's earnest desire.

Upon his arrival in Brooklyn there were but two Catholic schools in this city; one attached to the Church of the As- sumption, and the other to St. James' Church. The Chris- tian Brothers of New York were invited to take charge of the new school. The desire for Catholic education was so great even then that the school was overcrowded on the opening day. The Brothers are still in charge, and fully sus- tain their reputation as educators of Catholic youth. Very many of their pupils have become prominent in mercantile or public life; and not a few have been, and are to-day, zealous priests, exercising their ministry in this diocese and elsewhere.

At the invitation of the Bishop, the Sisters of St. Joseph came to Brooklyn in August, 1855. In September of the same year, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Sisters of the Vis- itation also came; and in 1858, Bishop Loughlin applied for a few Franciscan Brothers to assist in the work of Catholie education. Two Brothers eame in May of that year, and aided by the Bishop, they multiplied in numbers, and be- came prosperous and flourishing. Their headquarters is the Monastery of St. Francis of Assissi. in Butler street. They are now edueating about 5,000 children in this diocese eaclı year. To-day there is scarcely a church that has not a sehool adjoining. Church and school have been simultane- ously erccted, and we can say, without fear of contradiction, that to-day no city in this broad land has better facilities for Catholic edueation than Brooklyn. These schools, as a rule, are well attended. In the diocese there are 73 paro- chial sehools, 18 academies and select schools, and 2 eol- leges. The parochial schools are attended by 9,173 boys and 9,825 girls: the aggregate attendance being 18,997. The se- lect schools are attended by 2,030 scholars, of whom 1,680 are girls, and 350 boys. St. Francis' College is attended by 225 pupils, and St. John's by 185. By this it will be seen

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that the total number of scholars attending Catholic schools of all kinds in this city is 21,437.

For thirty years Bishop Loughlin has lived in this com- munity; and, during that time, his life has been as simple and open as that of the least of his flock. His heart lias al- ways been with his people, and his door has ever stood open, that the meanest and most wretched of them might come to him for the relief not to be elsewhere found. He found the C'atholics of Brooklyn few in number and weak in resources. To-day, in 90 churches and 37 chapels and stations, 150 priests

minister to the spiritual needs of 200,000 Catholics; in nearly 100 schools and colleges more than 20,000 children are being carefully instructed ; and within the confines of his diocese, four hospitals and sixteen asylums stand with their doors open to the poor, the sick, and the unfortunate. Deeds are more eloquent than words, and the administration of Bishop Loughlin has been big with deeds .*

* We acknowledge our indebtedness to The Catholic Examiner of October 6, 1883.

REFORMED CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

The movement of late years to return to the primitive Christianity which recognizes the Bible as the only authority in religions matters, instead of the decrees of councils, found a number of adherents in Brooklyn. Its mission is to reach, with Bible truths. the Roman Catholic element. In this, success has been achieved by not becoming identified with any particular denomination, but by standing aloof. and as ex-Roman Catholics, still retaining the name and character of Catholic; tlms having a greater influence, speaking more directly to Roman Catholics. During the past two years of this church in Brooklyn, 60 persons have identified themselves with the First Reformed Catholic Church. This church is under no episcopal jurisdiction whatever, but conducted on a purely congregational basis.

Rev. E. H. Walsh, of New York, formerly a Trappist monk in the Church of Rome, formed the First Independent Catholic Church in this city, Sept. 25th, 1881, in Bridge st., between Tillary and Concord.

Rov. J. F. McNamee was the Pastor in charge until March, 1883, when he took a portion of the church and established a congregation in Central Hall, known as the First Reformed Catholic Church. At the same time Rev. Mr. Walsh came to Brooklyn and took charge of the Bridge street church, which was incorporated in October, 1883.

Rev. J. V. MeNamara has charge of the Independent Re- formed Church, which holds it meetings in Everett Hall, and was organized in June, 1883.

Jan. 7, 1884, a branch was org. at Masonic Hall, Grand st., for the Eastern District, of which Father McNamee is Pastor.

These churches are all the outgrowth of a movement that took form about six years ago, and which throws off from chureli organization everything of human origin, and aims to return to the Apostolic form, and to the simplicity of the Gospel.

Rev. JAS. F. McNAMEE, born in Ireland, 1857; grad. Coll. de Beaucamps, Lille, 1879; located Newark, 1881; Brooklyn, 1881.

Rev. EDMUND H. WALSH, born in Ireland, 1853; was in Bridge St. Ch., and in Ind. Cath. Ch., Harlem, N. Y., from Sept. to Nov., 1981; Ind. Cath. Ch., Brooklyn, Nov., 1881-'84.

Rev. CHARLES F. GAEGAN, born at Fairfax C. H., Va., 1857; grad. Mt. St. Mary's Coll. (Md.), 1875, and New York Theol. Sch., 1880: located Newark, New York, Hartford. Boston, 1879-'83; lecturer, Gen. Miss. and Gen. Sec'y, Ind. | Cath. Ch.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

First Presbyterian Church (New School) .- The ground upon which the Plymouth Church now stands was purchased in 1822, by John and Jacob, M. llicks, for the erection of an edifice for the use of the First Presbyterian Church. The population of Brooklyn was then less than ten thousand, and the church located in the midst of cultivated fiells, and far ont from the settled portion of the village. It was or- ganized with ten members, by the Presbytery of New York, March 10th, 1822, and incorporated vi the 13th of the same month. The new organization was admitted to connection with the Presbytery of New York, April 10, 1822; and on the 15th of the same month, the corner-stone of a substantial church edifice was laid. This bnikling was ninety feet in depth, by fifty-five feet in width. A lecture-room, including a Sabbath-school room and study, was attached to the rear of the church, fronting npon Orange street, in 1831. The first Pastor was Rev. Joseph Sanford, mstalled Oct. 16th, 1523, and dismissed Jan. 11, 1529. He wassucceeded by Rev.

Daniel Lynn Carroll, installed March, 1829, and dismissed July 9, 1835. The pulpit then remained vacant ncarly two years: until, on the 8th of May, 1837, the Rev. Samuel llan- son Cox, D. D., was installed as Pastor. In November, 1838. the division of the Synod of New York was followed by a corresponding division of the membership of this church. About forty families, including three elders and nearly one hundred members, claiming to be the legitimate representa- tives of the original founders of the church, in their reli- gious opinions and sentiments, preferred to retain their con nection with the Presbytery of New York (which remained attached to the Old School Synod and General Assembly ), and asserting themselves to be the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, withdrew from Dr. Cox's charge. The Paster, seven ellers, and about five hundred and fifty members, ar- knowledging the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Brooklyn. continued on the even tenor of their way. On the 25th of July, 1816, the corner-stone of the present elegant house of

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worship was laid; the edifice being first opened for service on the 6th of June, 1847. The old church in Cranberry street had been sold, in June, 1846, for the sum of $20,000, to parties who subsequently conveyed it to Plymouth Church.

The Rev. William Hogarth, D. D., was installed as Pastor on the 15th of March, 1855. On the 20th of March, 1860, the Rev. Charles S. Robinson. D. D., was installed, and resigned March, 1868. He was succeeded by Rev. Norman Seaver, D. D., installed December 1st, 1869. Dr. Seaver resigned in 1876, and was succeeded, in April, 1877, by the present Pastor, Rev. C. Cuthbert Hall.

Second Presbyterian Church (Old School) was organized by the Presbytery of New York, October 25th, 1831, from a colony of the First Church, consisting of thirty-one members. They first erected a lecture-room on Adams street, near Concord, which was opened May 1st, 1832. During the years of 1833 and '34, a brick church edifice, of the Grecian Doric order, one hundred and three feet by seventy-five, was erected on Clinton street, near Fulton, at a cost of about $24,000, and $4,000 for the ground. It was dedicated May 4th, 1834; a lecture-room was subsequently built, on an adjoining leased lot, at a cost of $6,000; the old one, in which they had first worshiped, having been disposed of for $8,000.

Pastors : Ichabod S. Spencer, D. D., March 23d, 1832, till his death, Nov. 23, 1854, aged fifty-six years; Willis Lord, D. D., 1854 to Aug., 1859; Dr. Nathaniel West, 1860-'67.

In July, 1870, this church and the Third Presbyterian Church were consolidated; and the united society retained the name, Second Presbyterian Church, the house in Clinton street continuing to be the place of worship. Rev. J. M. Green, Pastor of the Third Church, continued as Pastor of the consolidated church till 1873, in which year Rev. A. Crosby was called.

In Sept. 1877, a lecture-room, church parlor and vestry room were fitted up in the church building, and reduced the seating capacity of the auditorium from 1,100 to 900. In Dec., 1882, this church was consolidated with the Clinton Street Church, and the two Pastors, Revs. H. J. Van Dyke and A. Crosby, retained as Collegiate Pastors.

Third Presbyterian Church (New School) .- In the spring of 1831, a few members of the First Presbyterian Church (Rev. Dr. Carroll, Pastor) commenced a mission Sabbath- school in the upper room of a dwelling-house, eor. Nassau st. and Hudson ave., then Jackson st. In January, 1833, a framed building was erected at 153 Nassau st., nearly oppo- site Stanton st., for a school and for occasional religious meetings. April 13, 1835, the Third Presbyterian Church was there org., with 34 members, and Rev. Rollin S. Stone was installed as first Pastor. Mr. Stone resigned in 1837, and the congregation removed to Classical Hall, in Wash- ington st., near Concord. Rev. William Beale Lewis was installed Pastor Oet. 10, 1837; and a church edifice was erected in Jay st., between Sands and High, in 1840. Mr. Lewis resigned in Oct., 1848; Rev. Daniel P. Noyes, installed April, 1849, resigned Sept., 1854; Rev. William S. Karr, in- stalled Sept. 28th, 1854, resigned Nov. 15, 1867. Rev. Joseph M. Greene was installed May 12th, 1868.

July 5th, 1870, this church was consolidated with the Second Presbyterian Church, Clinton st., and Mr. Grcenc be- came the Pastor of the united congregation.

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (formerly Central, Old School), Schermerhorn st., near Nevins st. July 19, 1834, the Prince St. Mission School was established under the direction of the Second Presbyterian Church, then under the

pastoral charge of Rev. Ichabod Spencer. That school, of which John Morris, senior Elder of the church, was the first Superintendent, and C. C. Mudge the last, resulted in a church organization April 13, 1847. After worshiping for a time in a school-room in Prince st., the building at the cor- ner of Willoughby and Pearl, formerly occupied by the Fifth Presbyterian Church, was purchased. This was sold in 1853, and a frame building on the corner of State and Nevins sts. was crected and first occupied April 30 of the same year. The corner-stone of a permanent cdifice was laid on Seher- merhorn st., near Nevins, which was dedicated Dec. 10, 1854, at a cost of about $30,000. Rev. Nathaniel C. Locke was the first Pastor; succeeded April 13, 1851, by Rev. Edson Rock- well. Hc resigned in 1868, and was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. T. De Witt Tahnage, who was installed March 23, 1869. The church, by reason of controversies, was nearly extinct at the time Mr. Talmage was called to its pastorate. In 1870, a church edifice, ealled the Tabernacle, was erected on the same block with the one crected in 1874. This build- ing had a seating capacity of 3,000; it was destroyed by firc December, 1872. The present Tabernacle was erected in 1873, and dedicated Feb. 22, 1874. It is in the Gothic style, built of brick, with stone trimmings, and has a seating capacity of 5,000 at the ordinary services. The auditorium has the amphitheatre form, and its acoustic properties are excellent. The membership of the church exceeds 3,100, while the Sun- day-school contains nearly 2,000.

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TABERNACLE ORGAN.

The organ is one of the largest in the country. A series of " fifteen-cent admission " popular organ concerts were org. during the winter of 1883-'84 by Mr. Henry Eyre Browne, the organist of the Tabernacle, partly to defray the expenses of certain improvements, and partly to afford the people of Brooklyn first-class musie at reasonable prices. At thesc concerts appeared many of the best vocalists in New York and Brooklyn. At each coneert were produced five different pieces, without repetition of a single selection, a record never before made by any organist in this country ; and the music performed has always been of the classical order. These con- eerts had an average attendance of 2,000 persons, and proved a great success, both musically and financially. The singing at the services is assisted by a male quartette and led by a cornet

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

REV. THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D.

THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D., was born at Bound Brook, N. J., January 7, 1832, the youngest of a family of five girls and seven boys. He was reared in a Christian home, from which three brothers pre- ceded him in the Christian ministry. His preparatory education was acquired in the common schools, and at the Academy in New Brunswick. He then went through a thorough course of reading for the law, which was first his chosen profession; but, feeling it a duty and a priv- ilege to preach the Gospel, he entered the New York University, took a degree of A. B., with the class of 1853; and, three years later, graduated from the Theo- logical Seminary in New Brunswick, N. J. His first charge was at Belleville, N. J., where he preached for three years to one of the oldest societies in the State; and was then called to Syracuse, N. Y. After a pas- torate there of three years also, where his preaching grew tonic and free, as the preacher learned humanity and his own heart, he went to the Second Reformed Dutch Church in Philadelphia. He attracted large con- gregations, and his preaching was fruitful in spiritual results, during his seven years' stay in that city. There his powers became "set; " he had the courage of his convictions, and realized his duty and mission in the world to preach the Gospel in his own way, and to compel men to listen and to heed. The church was not to him a select few, in organization a monopoly, but it was meant to be the conqueror and transformer of the world, and his the responsibility of arousing and leading his people in the great conflict. lle also ac- quired wide-spread fame as a lecturer, being invited, far and near, to occupy the platform. Meanwhile, the Central Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn was without a pastor, and, by reason of controversies, had dwindled to nineteen voting members; these signed a call to Mr. Talmage to become their Pastor. AAt about the same time, invitations came to him from churches in Chicago and San Francisco. He came, however, to Brooklyn, and was installed March 22, 1869. The old Central Presbyterian edifice, on Schermerhorn street, near Nevins, a cramped, brick rectangle, capable of holding twelve hundred, was used until it became evident that a larger house must be provided. In 1870, he laid before the trustees of the church his plan for a new edifice. The plan was accepted, and an iron structure erected, with raised seats, the interior curved like a horse-shoe; the pu.pit, a platform bridging the ends. It was dedicated in September, 1870, and accommo- dated three thousand persons, but within the first year was enlarged to accommodate five hundred more. The spiritual growth of the church kept pace with its in- erease in numbers. But on the 22d of September,

1872, the Tabernacle was destroyed by fire. When Dr. Tahnage arrived on the seene, his characteristic re- mark was-" Well, the Tabernacle never was large enough, now the people throughout the country will help us build a more roomy structure." While the fire was still burning, arrangements for the future were discussed, and the sympathy of others was shown by the generous offer of several churches for the use of the Tabernacle congregation, but the Academy of Music was secured as a temporary place of worship. A new and larger Gothie structure of brick and brown- stone, cathedral-like above, amphitheatre-like below, was dedicated February 22d, 1874. It holds five thousand as easily as one person, and all can hear and see equally well. Dr. Tahnage's ideal in the plan was that of a great family gathered around the hearth- stone. Even this, the largest church building in this country, is now insufficient to accommodate the thou- sands who throng to attend its services.

Next to a free church, dispensing a free gospel, Dr. Talmage had at heart the enlistment of laymen in Christian work; he was anxious to aronse and direct the dormant energy of the church to the work of evan- gelizing the world. To this end he formed and success- fully carried out a plan for training and educating Christian workers. From this beginning grew up the Tabernacle Lay College, with organized classes, com- petent teachers, and able lecturers in their special fiells. The work was undenominational, productive of in- creased activity in the churches, and in the establish- ment of new mission and Sunday-school enterprises, but of late years has been discontinued, owing to the multifarious duties which demand Dr. Tahage's time and energies in other directions. In 1879, Dr. Tal- mage went abroad for the third time, visiting and preaching in the cities of Great Britain and Ireland, and speaking ninety-six times in ninety-four days, also making a short tour upon the Continent. His reception among the English-speaking people was a continuous ovation; his public appearances, the occasion of great gatherings of people; while a large public meeting in Brooklyn welcomed him on his return home.

Dr. Tahnage has been termed a "sensational " preacher, but a more erroneous judgment could not be made, in the sense in which that term is commonly used. He is an earnest, impassioned speaker; and his extraordinary imagination, descriptive powers and humor; his great art in grouping and arrangement; his wonderful mastery of words to illumine and alleviate human conditions, to interpret and inspire the harino- nies of the better nature, are appreciated by all who can put themselves in sympathy with his high consecration

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

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REV. THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D

purpose. His manner mates with his nature. It is ich sermon in action. He presses the eyes, hands, the atire body, into the service of illustration; gesturcs re the accompaniment of what he says. As he stands efore the immense throng, without a scrap of notes or manuscript, and no desk before him, the effect pro- uced cannot be understood by those who have never een it. His power to master an audience, from text peroration, is marvelous. No man was cver less con- cious in his work; he prcaches the Gospel literally as e finds it, with a simplicity and thoroughness that rithhold nothing. He fears and defers to no prejudice, nterest or ism; he manifests the closest sympathy with ature and humanity. His mantle of charity is so road, and covers the failings of others so completely, hat no enmities or resentments linger in his memory. lis language is clear, terse and epigrammatic; his vo- abulary noticeably from the Anglo-Saxon. The prac- ical test of the value of his preaching is given in the reat numbers that gather around him in the Taber- acle, Sunday after Sunday, where there is a congrega- ion of more than five thousand regular attendants, in-

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Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 102

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : Munsell Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360