Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 110

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

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. > Part 110

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).

In Switzerland, Mr. Woodruff found that rationalism had spread like a blight over the land of Zuingle and Calvin. Through his exertions, several well-organized schools were established. There a Union committee was enabled, with the help of Rev. Mr. Jaulmes-Cook and his good lady, to extend Sabbath-schools over the Canton de Vaud and afterwards over other parts of Switzerland. In Geneva, was organized a school of more than a hundred boys and girls, superin- tended by the pious and gifted wife of Merle d'Aubigne, the historian of the Reformation. Later, the Sabbath-school Union was placed among the National Societies, and its meetings called together one of the largest religious assem- bles in Switzerland.

Mr. Woodruff's return to America in no degree diminished his interest in the foreign work that had been so happily hegnu, and he was appointed by the Board of the American Foreign and Christian Union an Associate Secretary, with special reference to the Sabbath-school Department which they created at the same time.

The value placed on Mr. Woodruff's labors by those among whom he labored is best shown by the spontaneous utter- ances of varions Continental speakers at the Sabbath-school Centennial, held in London in 1880.

Dr. J. Prochnow, of Berlin, traced the rise of secular Sun- day-schools in Germany, from the Revolution, through the age of Voltairo, when they died ont. He told how, through a long and dark period, the nation passed, till Mr. Woodruff came, and enlisting the sympathy of three clergymen, started the organization that, in spite of munch difficulty and oppo- ition has kept on growing until the present day, as shown by statistics below.

Speaking of Sindday-schools in France, Rev. I. Panmier sand: "Since the first visit of our dear friend, Mr. Woodruff, there are 1, 115 schools in France, with more than 40,000 chuil- dren " Rev. Mr. Brockelmann, from Germany, said: " For many years it was considered highly improper in Germany for anybody but clergymen and school-masters to explain

the Bible to children; but, in 1863, a Suuday-jeliool quan from the new world, Mr. Albert Woodruff of Brooklyn, came over to Germany and blew the trumpet of Sunday- schools from one end of the country to the other, stirring. cheering, explaining all about the system, how to start a Sunday-school aud so on. Mr. Woodruff was a practical Christian. He resembled those heroes in history who conquered the world, because they did not come before their time nor behind their time, but just at the right time. Meanwhile, Mr. Woodruff succeeded in establishing the Foreign Sunday-school Association at Brooklyu, which had afforded most useful help by appointing the ladies of their committee to keep up a most encouraging correspond- ence with German Sunday-school teachers, and to assist them when needed. Next to our gracious Lord, Germany owes the introduction of Sunday-schools to Mr. Albert Woodruff, and to the Sunday-school Union of England."

Said Pastor Basche: " While at the baths in Boliem.a for my healtlı, I became acquainted with an American family who told me of a girl who was very fond of Sunday-schools. Some weeks afterwards I received a letter from the young lady herself, urging on me the duty of establishing a Sun- day-school. Afterwards she wrote again, and at length I determined to make the attempt. We established oue Sun- day-school, and the Lord has been with us."

At another time, Dr. Prochnow, from Berlin, paid a tribute of praise to the work that was done by Mr. Woodruff, stating that when he went to Germany some years ago, there were ouly three elergymen to look after the children, whereas, on a recent Sunday, 7,000 children assembled mn one church to celebrate the centenary."

On Mr. Woodruff's way home from his field of labor in Continental Europe, he tarried awhile in London, urging the Sabbath-school Union of that city to co-operate in furnishing the continent with Sunday-schools. After several interviews. that noble union of workers appointed nine members to co- operate with the American friends, who, ever afterward, have heartily continued their labors.

After Mr. Woodruff's return to America, his interest in the European work so auspiciously opened, led to the frequent interchange of letters with the newly-awakened workers there, which came from beyond the sea, some with joyful tidings, and some with appeals for help, a vast freight of hopes and fears. So fast did they accumulate, and in snel diverse languages, that recourse was had to the lady teachers in Packer Institute, Dr. West's, and other schools, for assist- ance in translating and answering them. The growing in- terest and demands of the work, its wonderful expansion, necessitated the organization of a society devoted exclusiveb to the foreign Sunday-school work. Therefore. in 1568. Mr. Woodruff withdrew from the Sunday-School Department of the Foreign Christian Union, and, with other earnest friends of the cause, organized

The Foreign Sunday-School Association, which was in- corporated April 4, 1578, with Mr. Woodruff as President. and a large membership among the best people in the city It aims to extend to foreign countries the institution of the Sabbath-school, which has quickened Christian faith and zeal so mightily in Great Britain and America. There is in every foreign country a scattered munber, who in oue way or another, have become Christians, and in some degree have yichled to convictions of self-restraint and duty. To search out these, wherever they are, and set them to teaching in cellars, parlors and garreta, or in the open air, on the Sunday-school theory, and finally to work with them, is the central idea of the Foreign Sunday-school Association. Written communications with these scattered workers are the

1095

SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK IN BROOKLYN.

most available means, wherefore it becomes a prominent aim of the Association to restore the letter-writing system of the New Testament, which is itself so largely composed of etters written to stir up, to exhort, to rebuke, to instruct, ind above all, to encourage, comfort and cheer the believers who have yielded to the force of Truth, and started ou the Heavenly way.

The result of its work to April, 1884, is shown in the follow- ng partial statistics : In Germany and German-Switzerland, there are: Sunday-schools, 3,915; teachers, 17,643; scholars, 328,677. There are 7,735 Sunday-school scholars in Italy; and in Bohemia, 92 schools, 225 teachers and 2,875 scholars. Late statistics from other foreign countries where the work s equally prosperous, have not yet been received.

The officers of the Association for 1883-'84 are as follows: President, Albert Woodruff; Treasurer, C. B. Davenport; Cor. Secretaries, Rev. O. C. Morse (Cleveland, O.), Rev. H. C. Woodruff (Black Rock, Ct.); Rec. Sec., Miss M. E. Thal- heimer; Asst. Sec. Miss Sadie Woodruff; Sec. of Committees, Miss H. A. Dickinson.

After this eursory glance at the rise and progress of the ill-important Sunday-school movement in our own and in foreign lauds, which, it is hoped, will be of interest to the churches, it only remains to look briefly at the beginning and growth of this divine institution in the City of Brooklyn, with the hope that historians to come may be able to chronicle a future increase even more wonderful than the past growth of the

Sunday-schools in Brooklyn .- From a paper read by Mr. Jolın R. Morris, we take the following account of carly schools in Brooklyn:

In the Long Island Star of March 20, 1816, appeared this advertisement :-

" BROOKLYN SUNDAY-SCHOOL. The attention of the enlight- ned and benevolent inhabitants of Brooklyn are particu- arly invited to this institution. It is now in operation; the number of scholars is upward of seventy. The school is nn- der the management of four superintendents. a standing committee of seven, and a mimber of male and female teach- ers who have kindly volunteered their services. As it is the lesign of this institution to combine religious and moral in- struction with ordinary school learning, it is expected that parents and guardians will give proper advice to their child- en as to their behavior at school; to forward them in study it home; to send them to the school in proper season; and particularly express their wishes as to what catechism they will have them to learn. It is requested that children may be sent to school as neat and clean as circumstances may permit. A subscription has been made to purchase a uum- per of books, slates, etc .; still they fall short. Whatever the citizens may contribute will be thankfully received by any of the subscribers. The superintendents likewise invite those who will assist as teachers to make their intentions known and their offer will be accepted. The average num- per of children is about seventy. The managers hope to be able to educate a much greater number; they, therefore, re- quest the citizens of Brooklyn generally to exert their influ- ence with the poor especially to persuade them to send their children; a number of poor children will be takeu from that most destructive of all places to the morals of youth-we mean the street-on Sabbath-day. We ought to have ob- served that children are taught to spell, read and write. They will, likewise, be taken to such church as their parents may choose on the Sabbath-day."

This document is signed by Andrew Mercein, Robert Snow, Joseph S. Harrison and John Murphy.

In the school district there were 978 children between the ages of five and sixteen years.

In the Star of March 25, 1816, an advertisement appeared 15 follows :-

"Notice is hereby given that at 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening, 27th inst., in the school-room of Mr. Evan Beynan, will be held a public meeting, at which Christians of cvery

denomination in Brooklyn are invited to attend. The design of these meetings is to organize a society in the village simi- lar to the Sunday-school Society of New York, and the ob- ject of the society will be to establish a school in which child- ren or adults shall be taught gratuitously, on the Sabbath- day, to read the Holy Scriptures, and shall receive other re- ligious instruction. Monthly meetings of the society will be held, and quarterly meetings, at which reports as to the con- dition of the school and classes will be given. If the schola's are disorderly or profane in their language, and if, after be- ing admonished, they continue the offense, they will be ex- pelled from the school."

The officers of this society were: Joshua Sands, President; Andrew Mercein and Abraham Mercein, Vice-Presidents; Thomas Sands, Treas .; Rev. John Ireland, Sec .; William Cornwell, Robert Bache, David Anderson, Jonathan G. Pray, Joseph Harris, Robert Snow and Alexander Young, Examining Committee.

In the Star of April 10, 1816, is the Constitution and By- laws of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union Society. adopted April 6. The school was divided into classes, graduated according to the pupils' knowledge; first class, those who knew not the alphabet; second, those who could spell words of two or more letters; third, those who could read one or two syllables; fourth, those who could spell three or more syllables; fifth, of those who could read sentences; sixth, of those who were capable of reading the New Testa- ment.

The school up to this time had been held in Thomas Kirk's printing office-a long, narrow, two-story frame edifice on the westerly side of Adams st., between High and Sands- but was afterwards removed to the district school-house, No. 1, cor. Adams and Concord sts. Robert Snow was superin- tendent; succeeded by Joseph Herbert. In 1817, St. Ann's Suuday-school was first organized, Rev. Hugh Smith being Rector. The school was held in a school-house some distance from the church, so that it was found impracticable to con- tinue its sessions during the winters of 1818 and 1819, on ac- count of the inclement weather. Its membership iu the fall of 1818 numbered 187; Rev. James P. L. Clarke, Superin- tendent. Rev. H. W. Onderdonk, D. D., who was Rector of St. Ann's from December, 1819, to October, 1827, was not an advocate of the Sunday-school, so after a few years the school was discontinued. He had regular catechetical in- struction of the children of the parish on Sunday afternoons. After his resignation, Rev. Mr. McIlvaine became Rector iu 1828. On Sunday, May 11th, the school was opened in the Dutch Consistory rooms, on Middagh st. Fourteen adults and twenty children assembled at the first session.

May 13th the Constitution and By-laws were adopted, in part, as follows: "This school shall cousist of male and female scholars four years old and upwards. Its object shall be to instruct youth in the knowledge of God's word, and it shall embrace children of all classes without distinction. Yearly selections of Scriptures and catechetical lessons shall be arranged by the Rector and the Superintendents for the use of the school, so that every class of readers shall receive in- struction in the same lesson and at the same time."

May 13th, Frederick T. Peet was elected Superintendent; George A. Bartow, Secretary, and a committee of seven were chosen to look after the school. As it increased. it was found necessary to look for new quarters. The vestry ap- pointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Bache and Vau Bokelin, to co-operate with the committee from the Sunday- school, and the property cor. Washington and Prospect sts. was bought. A building was erected which cost about $1,500 and occupied iu 1829. Frederick T. Peet was superin- tendent from 1828 to 1845, and A. D. Matthews from 1845 to Oct. 30, 1870, wheu old St. Ann's School was closed. The

1090

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

present Superintendent of St. Ann's Sunday-school is Mayor Low.

Before dismissing the subject of the early organization of this school, it may be interesting to quote one of the rules, which provided that " No teacher shall appear with a rod or cane in his or her class, but order shall be maintained in the several classes by the most temperate means. They shall deliver over disorderly scholars to the superintendents."

In IS24, the only Sunday-school was the School Union, cor. Adams and Concord sts. It is supposed that this school was in existence until 1824, when the various denominations sep- aratel and organized schools in their different churches. As most of those engageil in the Union School were Methodists, it has been allowe l that Sands St. is the oldest school, but its wirly records were destroyed in the great fire. The Superin- toudents have been: Robert Snow: Joseph Herbert; Thomas Moreein; M. F. Odell (died June 13, 1866); John Collier to Jan. 21, 1867; S. U. F. Odell (died May 6, 1875): Samuel S. Utter, until May 15, 1877; Henry G. Fay, until Feb. 19, 1878; Wm. I. Preston and John M. Espencheid, from Oct. 24, 1882.

In 1819, Mr. Nehemiah Denton org. a Sunday-school in the kitchen adjoining his dwelling, near the old Yellow Mill on Gowauus creek, which was removed after a year or two to the school-honse at the foot of the Post Road, eor. of Gow- anus lane; it merged in the school on Third ave. and after- wards in what is now the Twelfth St. Church. This school still has the old banner painted in 1829. Between the years 1822 and 1827, schools were also formed in the school-house at lower Gowauus, at the foot of Pope's Lane, with Albert Van Brunt. Superintendent; also one in the school-house at Bedford, and another in the school-honse at Wallabout. There was also a school for a few years in the old lecture- room of the First Reformed Ch., then in Middagh st., where Public School No. 8 now is.

In 1829, the First Reformed Dutch Church built a frame lecture-room on Joralemon street, in the rear of the City Hall, in which a Sunday-school was organized, with Andrew Hegeman, Superintendent, till 1839; Samuel Smith and Mar- tinns Schoonmaker, Assistant Superintendents; Thos. Hege- man, Sec'y; Mrs. Mary Van Brunt, Female Superintendent, and Miss Harriet Silliman, assistant. Among the teachers were: John W. and Archibald T. Lawrence, James M. Duf- field, Abraham J. Beekman, John D. Prince, Joseph Hege- man, Miss Mary Moon, Miss Alice and Miss Cornelia Moon, Miss Aurilia Silliman and others. Other superintendents: A. J. Beekman, till 1848; Samuel Sloan, Roswell Graves, Steplien H. Wheeler, Henry D. Van Orden, till 1865; Beekman, 1865-'8; Gustavus A. Brett, Henry V. Gilbert, Mervin Rushmore, William H. Dike, Frederick B. Schenck, Rev. S. S. Wood- hull, Abraham Remsen, David Anderson and Abraham Van- derveer, members of First Reformed Church, were workers in the old Union School in Adams street. Mr. Beckman com- menced his Sunday-school work in 1820 in a wheelwright shop in Greggstown, Somerset county, New Jersey, established to teach slaves; in 1828, he removed to Brooklyn. The Central Dutch Reformed Sunday-school was organized in 1837, and when the Reformed Church on the Heights was built, the school was re-organized. East (now Bedford) Reformed Sunday-School was organized in 185.1. Isaac Brinkerhoff was Superintendent in 1858. This school afterwards moved from its old building to one nearly opposite on Bedford avenne. The present Superintendent is Mr. Henry Howland. The North Reformed Sunday-school, Clermont aveme, was or- ganized in 1851, with E. S. Potter, Superintendent for many years. The Twelfth Street Reformed was formerly on Third avenue and Twenty-third street. It has now a membership of 1,400; Mr. C. H. Buckley, superintendent.

The First Presbyterian School was organized in a building on the site of the lecture-room of Plymouth Church, in 1824. Many of the teachers and scholars had been in the Union School. The first Superintendent was Nathan W. Sanford. Miss Margaret Cunningham, was Assistant Super'ntendent; Marvin McNulty, Secretary. The school used to uuite with the schools iu New York, on anniversary day, at Castle Garden. The Superintendents were: Professor Greenleaf, R. J. Thoru, George B. Ripley, Robert C. O.pden andl F. S. Potter. Mr. R. D. Dodge is now Superintendent.

In 1838, owing to a division in the church, another school was organized, called the First Presbyterian Sunday school. It was on the corner of Pineapple and Fulton streets, but moved afterward to the corner of Remsen aud Clinton streets.

Nov. 13th, 1831, a colony went out from the first church and organized a church, and afterwards a Sunday school. known as the Second Presbyterian School. The school met in Classical Hall, Washington street, near Concord. John Morris was Superintendent, assisted by John Alexander: Mr. Henry Hadden, Secretary; James Spies, librarian; with eighteen teachers; and at the first session there were eighteen scholars. Abont 1832, it moved to Gothic Hall, Adams street, between Nassau and Concord streets; and in 1835 moved to Clinton street, junction of Fulton. Rev. Dr. Spencer became Pastor of this church in 1832. Among those who have actel as Superintendents of this school are: John Wright, Charles Clark, Myron Goodman, Andrew A. Smith and Jasper Corning.

When this school united with the Third Presbyterian, Mr. W. H. Hurlbut became Superintendent, and remained 50 until his death. It was united with the Clinton Street Pres- byverian, 1883, and known as the Second Presbyterian.

In 1831, another school was organized in Nassau street, corner Hudson avenue. W. HI. Hurlbut, with a few others, left the First Presbyterian Sunday-school, which afterwards became the Third Presbyterian Church and school. Mr. Hurlbut then connected himself with that church, and le- came the Superintendent of the school.

The First Presbyterian was organized about 1841. It ocel- pied the building corner Willonghby and Pearl streets, where Joseph Hegeman's auction-room now is. In 1847, this school was disbanded.

In 1835, the first mission school was organized. Mr. John Morris, who organized the Second Presbyterian Sunday- school, leased the ground (where Prince street now ist of Messrs. Sackett & Fleet. A school-honse seating 250 was built on it, costing about $500. Myrtle avenue was not then cut through, and there was not a house within a quarter of a mile. The school was opened July 19, 1835; Mr. Morris we its first Superintendent. It was known as the Prince Street Mission Sunday-school, and was under the care of the Second Presbyterian Church. For the first three or four years, how . ever, it was mainly supported by voluntary contributions. The first teachers were: Daniel Colt, James B. Cochran, Iria Jaques, Angustus Butler, Elias Edwards, Joseph W. Camp- bell. James Lawson, William Phrauer, Lonis Wheaton, Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, Miss Sarah Smith, Elizabeth and Maria Campbell, Mrs. S. A. Butler, Sarah and Jane Wheaton. Two years later Mr. Morris retired, and Mr. Augustus Butler was elected: in 1842. Mr. C. C. Mudge succeeded him.

After Myrtle avenue and the other streets were cut through, the building was moved to Myrtle avenue, between Price and C'arll streets.

In 1847, a building was erected in Prince street, now knowt as Siloam Presbyterian Church, in which the Central Pret- terian Church was organized, the teachers and scholars mov- ing from the old school-house.

1097

SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK IN BROOKLYN.

The church known as the Fifth Presbyterian, corner Wil- loughby and Pearl, was offered to the Central Society for $5,000, and was bought. Preaching services commenced there in April. Rev. N. C. Locke was the first Pastor. The school flourished under the administration of Mr. Mudge, Rev. Mr. Sloan and others. Finally, the building was sold, and school and church moved to Schermerhorn street, occu- pying a temporary building, corner State and Nevins street, until the Tabernacle was built, of which Rev. Dr. Talmage is Pastor. From the Prince Street Mission many teachers have gone out and organized other schools and churches.

In 1842, Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf organized a school in the Wallabout in Franklin avenue, now known as the Franklin Avenuc Presbyterian Sunday-school.

In 1840, a mission-school was organized in Pacific street, which afterwards became the South Presbyterian Church.

Of the schools of the Baptist denomination, the first is the First Baptist, organized in 1824, holding its sessions in the public school building on Middagh strect, on the site now occupied by school No. 8, also in public school building, first district, corner Concord and Adams streets. The first youths' missionary society organized in connection with the school was in 1831. OFFICERS: Pres., Robert Raymond; Vice-Pres., Elijah Lewis; Sec., Alexander Lewis; Treas., Joseph Kutz.

In June, 1873, the school and the Pierrepont strcet Baptist were united, adding about 120 teachers and scholars. The first Superintendent was Eliakim Raymond. He served two years, succeeded by the following persons: Elijah Lewis, John Bigelow, John Clark, E. L. Brown, Isaiah W. Raymond, Sylvanus White, D. W. C. Taylor, J. D. Reid, H. C. S. Jervis, J. W. S. Harding, and at present H. C. S. Jervis is Superin- tendent. In the early history of the school, it occupied the building in Pearl street, where the Jewish Synagogue now is. Pierrepont Strect Baptist Sunday-school was organized in 1838. This church organized a mission in South Brooklyn, from which sprung the Strong Place Baptist Sunday-school; it also had a mission in John street for many years. After a number of years strong Place Baptist established a mission in Colum- bi + street, near Hamilton avenue, now known as the Taber- nacle Baptist; also a mission-school in Gowanus, now known as Greenwood Baptist. The Tabernacle Baptist started a mission in Hamilton avenue, which, after a few years, dis- banded. Strong Place Baptist now supports a mission called Carroll Park. Hanson Place Baptist was organized in 1853; it first met in Atlantic avenue, near Fourth. East Brooklyn Baptist was organized in 1846. The Pierrepont Street Bap- tist established mission-schools and was the means of organ- izing large churches in South Brooklyn. The largest school in that denomination is the Marcy Avenue Baptist.

York Street M. E. Sunday-school was organized in 1830. A Mr. Booth was the first Superintendent, succeeded by Alfred Mulford, George Hunt, Hon' Samuel Booth, Joshua Rogers, Jr., and others. Samuel Booth was Superintendent thirty- nine years, leaving York st., in 1858, to take charge of Han- son Place M. E. Hon John French was Superintendent of Hanson Place for nearly twenty-five years.

Washington St. was the third Methodist school organized. Judge Dykeman took an active part in the work, and Jere- miah Mundell was never absent from school but twice in twenty years.

After 1832, schools began to multiply. The first Congrega- tional school was the Pilgrim. In 1846, a school was org. in the Mariners' Church, Main st., near Front, an old wooden building. Mr. John P. Elwell was the first Superintendent, and the school moved from there to the old Fulton Market, James st., in 1844, and this school is now the Bethel in Hicks st.

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.

Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 110

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