Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 111

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

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The Navy Mission was situated on the corner of Green lane and Front st. When it was first started, so strong was the opposition that, when meetings were held on Sunday even- ings, it was hardly safe to pass through the street. Stones would often be thrown against the door. Members of the Second Presbyterian Church would stand outside the door to watch the boys.

The first Unitarian school was in 1838; the Universalist about the same time; the first Roman Catholic in 1828. There are five Jewish schools, numbering about one thousand scholars.

The first Lutheran Sunday-school was started in Williams- burgh, in 1847. The Moravian Sunday-school was organized in 1854. In 1853 in a small cottage, near where the present chapel of Lee Avenue Congregational now stands, was or- ganized the Lee Avenue Reformed Sunday-school. There were no houses in the vicinity for a mile or more; on either side open fields met the eye. The beginning was feeble, consisting of three teachers and eight scholars. The whole enterprise grew slowly for the first two years, when, in 1858, it numbered 1,350, officers and teachers, Mr. Jerc- miah Johnson, Jr., being its Supt. They were the first schools that had class banners. So noted was this school that strangers came to visit it.

St. John's P. E. Sunday-school was org. in 1827, in Mr. Kingsley's school-room, Adams st., near Johnson. Judge Morse was Supt., and John T. Moore, Sec'y. Some of the teachers were: Mr. William Hunter, Hon. John W. Hunter, John H. Baker, Miss Hester Strang, Misses Ryerson, Rowley, and Moysers; and some of the scholars, John Folk, John Wiggins, Dr. Watson, Samuel Booth, Stephen Kidder, Howard C. Cady, Mrs. Alfred Emanuel. That year they joined the schools in celebrating the anniversary at Castle Garden. The banner carried on that occasion was a white silk one, having the picture of an open Bible.

In 1828, they moved to the new school-room, corner John- son and Washington sts. About two hundred scholars were then in attendance. The following persons have been Super- intendents : Rev. D. V. M. Johnson, Rev. Henry Spafard, Mr. S. D. C. Van Bokelin, up to the time of their removal from Johnson st. to St. John's place.

The second school of St. Ann's was organized August 30, 1830; Mr. Charles Congdon, Supt; Mr. Wm. H. Carter, Sec'y, with twelve teachers. In 1845, Rev. Charles Bancroft was Supt; H. P. Morgan, Sec'y; Henry G. Nichols, Librarian; and Abraham Halsey, Asst. Librarian.

Kings County Sunday-School Union, organized 1829 .- Inı the Long Island Star of April 8, 1829, mention is made of a meeting in the Apprentices' Library, held the 6th inst., when it was determined to establish a Sunday-school society for Kings county, auxiliary to the Southern Sunday-School Union of New York. The following gentlemen were elected OFFICERS: Nehemiah Denton, Prcs .; J. Terhune, N. W. San- ford, Vice-Prest's ; Rev. E. M. Johnson, Sec .; Abraham Van- derveer, Treas. Managers : For Brooklyn, Rev. Mr. Rousc, Rev. Mr. Carroll, Eliakim Raymond, Adrian Hegeman, Henry White; Flatbush, Rev. Mr. Strong, John Lefferts, Dr. Vanderveer; Flatlands, Rev. Mr. Crookshank, David Neefus, James Remsen; Gravesend, Bernardus C. Lake, John S. Gar- ritson ; Bushwiek, Rev. Mr. Meeker, Peter Wyckoff, James Halsey; New Lots, John Williamson, Jno. Vanderveer; New Utrecht, Rev. Mr. Beattie and M. Allen; also the gentlemen who are Superintendents of schools, in connection with American Sunday-School Union, are also ex-officers and managers.

In the Star of June 20, 1830, notice is given of a meeting of the Kings County Sunday-School Union, at Flatbush,

1098

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

The church was crowded with the scholars and teachers and friends. banners hung around the church, and a proces- sion of 600 children took place.

June 3, 1830, a public meeting was held in the Sunday- school room of St. Ann's Church, for the purpose of estab- lishing an African Infant Class _Association. The object was to establish an infant school for African children. P. W. Radelitf was Pres. ; F. C. Theker and Robert Snow, Vice- Prest's; W. II. Van Sinderen, Sec .; Charles J. Alding, Treas, and fourteen Directors. The first colored school organized was in High st. There are now about ten colored schools.

Sunday-school Statistics for 1883. - There are 279 Sunday- schools in Kings county, containing a total membership of 100,597 officers, teachers, and scholars. These schools are divided as follows: Presbyterian, 30; Reformed, 32; Baptist, 31; Congregational, 28: Methodist, 61; Protestant Episcopal, 17: Reformed Episcopal, 3; Lutheran and Evangelical, 15; Friends. 2; Moravian, 1, Christian, 3; Union Mission, 15; Unitarian, 4; Universalist, 3; Reformed Catholic, 1. The total average attendance of the schools for the full term was 57,762, and the number of conversions or confirmations, 2.676. The moneys contributed during the year by various schools, for benevolent and other purposes, amounted to $81,589.80, the Methodist giving the largest part or $17,303.09 of that sum. The fifteen Union Mission Schools gave $3.417.95 during the same period.

The following are some of the veterans in Sunday-school service in Kings county:

ANDREW A. SMITH .- Born at Berlin, Ct., 1817; came to New York iu 1834, and entered Dr. Erskine Mason's Pres. Sunday-school; visited Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1836; 110 Sunday-school, and stores open on Sundays; established a Sunday-school in store loft, also a Sabbath service, reading- room, etc .. and very soon gathered a regular congregation; a church was org, and pastor called; the place grew to be a moral, religious community, now a large city noted for churches, etc .; returned to Brooklyn in 1838; was a teacher in Dr. Spencer's Church and Mission School; while teaching a Bible class was called persistently to take charge of Bethel Mission Sunday-school (now Bethel of Plymouth Church); in this work fifteen years; left Bethel to build up City Park Mission, now in Concord st., where. after a year or two, he broke in health, and was compelled to leave and rest from all Sunday-school work.

Ile was President of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union some twenty years; also President of the Hamilton Literary Association, and aided to organize the Young Men's Christian Association ; was its first president for three years: also aided in organizing State Sunday-school Convention; was elected Superintendent of Dr. Duryea's Church Sunday-school; employed there some two years, and then in prison-work three or four years, till seized with rheumatic fever con- tracted there; is now Supt., and active in the Chinese mission- school on De Kalb ave.

AZEL D. MATTHEWS. - Born in Hinsdale, Mass., 1809; when the Sunday school was first introduced, in 1820, he became a scholar in the Congregational Church. In 1828, came to this city and connected himself with the church and Sunday-school of the First P'res. Church, in Cranberry st. In 1833 removed church and school relations to St. Ann's Prot. Epis. Church, continuing there as teacher and Superintendent nutil 1872; then removed to St. Peter's Epis. Church, and now is teacher of a young men's Bible class, not having left the Sunday- school since 1820. le has been a manager of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union since its organization; was Vice-Presi- dlent of the Union tor a number of years; was foremost in the

organization and support of the State Sunday-school .Associa- tion, and County Secretary for a number of years.

CHARLES C. MUDGE .- Born in 1806; in 1827 he entered the Sunday-school as a teacher of one of the younger classes; this school was situated in the rear of the Quaker Meeting- house in Rose st., New York City, his elass being composed of three colored persons-father, son, and grandson-all learning their letters; about two years later he entered the Sunday-school of Dr. Romeyn's Cedar St. Pres. Church, where he continued as scholar, Ass't Librarian and teacher until 1830, when he took a class in a mission school m Duane st .. near Church. In 1841 he entered the Prince Street Mission Sunday-school, Brooklyn, connected with the Rev. Dr. Spencer's Second Pres. Church; this was the first mission-school started in Brooklyn, and was originated by Mr. John Morris; he was Superintend- ent from 1842 until the school developed into the Cen- tral Pres. Church (1847), now the Tabernacle, and con- tinued as its Superintendent until 1856; shortly after this he started a mission-school at 317 Altantic st., and now known as the Pacific Street Chapel, under the care of Dr. Van Dyke's Church; resigned in 1863, on account of ill health.

In the fall of 1866 he entered a mission-school connected with Dr. Cuyler's Church, now the Memorial Presbyterian; he continued as Superintendent about two years after the church was organized; was one of the managers of the Sunday-school Union almost uninterruptedly since its organi- zation: early in its history he was Recording Secretary, and at a later period for many years its Treasurer: he died in 1553.

JOHN R. MORRIS,-Born in New York City, 1823; entered the Sunday-school of the First Pres. Church, Brooklyn, in 1828: took a class in Prince Street Mission 1843; in 1853 was elected Secretary of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union ; the management then was by an Executive Committee, consist- ing of one from each denomination; subsequently the Board was increased to 23 members, and then to 36, and he served as Assistant Secretary; in 1868 was elected one of the Managers, and in 1872 its Recording Secretary: has been County Secretary over eight years; has been gathering statistics for thirty years, and Secretary of the State Con- vention six years; was a scholar when there were but six Sunday-schools in Brooklyn; was one of the visitors when all Brooklyn was districted out for systematic visitation, twenty-five years ago, when every house was visited to see who attended Sunday-school and who did not; he is still one of the Managers of the Sunday-school Union, and its Record- ing Secretary, and County Secretary under the State Asso- ciation of Sunday-school Teachers.

Rev. SAMUEL BAYLISS came to Brooklyn, in 1853, as Pastor of the Warren St. Mission, formerly a Sunday-school which met in Freeman's llall (cor. of Columbia and Amity sts .. the school became a church, with a membership of over 175, Hle was always present at the sessions of the school and at t weekly teachers' meetings, and also habitually attended the meetings of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union. In 1565 or 1870, he became Secretary and Manager of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. Ilis death took place Feb. 12, 1879, in his 68th year. Mr. Bayliss frequently visited the Sunday-schools of the city. His son, Benj. Bayli -. was President of Brooklyn Sunday-school Union, from 157 to 1883; is still a Manager: has been for 12 years Supt. of the Memorial Presbyterian Sunday-school of Brooklyn. He worked with his father many years as Superintendent of the Warren St. Mission.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK IN BROOKLYN.

1099

JEREMIAH JOHNSON, Jr., born June 27th, 1827, at the Wallabout, Brooklyn; he is the son of Barnet Johnson and tlic grandson of Gen. Jeremiah Johnson. May 1st, 1853, lie org. the Lee Ave. Sunday-school in a small cottage in the vacant lots, cor. Bedford ave. and Hewes st., with three teachers and 8 scholars. During his thirteen years' service as Superintendent, lie was absent but four Sundays. He witnessed the growth of the Sunday-school from eight to two thousand scholars, and the erection of the present commodious and substantial buildings, largely through his own efforts and liberality. He was Supt. of the First Pres. Sunday- school, Rahway, N. J., for six years. He was Supt. of the Madison Avc. Ref. Sunday-school for three years, from Dec., 1873, and secured the erection of a fine Sunday-school room on 57th strect.

He was elected Supt. of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Sunday- school (Rev. Dr. Talmage's); served two years and then in October, 1882, resigned to become Supt. of the Lee Ave. Sun- day-school, then somewhat demoralized, but now numbering 1,500. Mr. Johnson is a man remarkable for activity and energy, which he has a great faculty of infusing into his Sunday-school work.

WILLIAM M. PIERSON .- Born 1808, in Westfield, N. J .; his first recollection of the Sunday-school is the gathering of a class of six on Sunday afternoon, his mother-the teacher- and four brothers and one sister, forming it, the Bible and the Westminster Shorter Catechism the text-books; in 1829 entered the York Street Methodist Sunday-school as a teacher; in 1835 connected himself with the Prince Street Mission; continued here until the Central Pres. Church was organized, Sept. 5, 1847, and in this school (now the Taber- nacle) he has continued up to the present time; Superintend- ent one and one-half years; teacher of Bible class; had charge for four or five years of the Sunday-school of the Protestant Orphan Asylum, in Cumberland st.

HENRY R. PIERCY. Born in 1798; in 1826 entered the Sunday-school Union School, held in district school-house on Concord st .; this school consisted of members of the different evangelical denominations; it soon became too large for the building, and it was deemed advisable to separate and liave the schools in their respective churches; he was Superin- tendent of Sunday-schools thirty-six years; is now teaching in the Union Congregational Church, State st.

SAMUEL L. PARSONS .- Born 1817, in West Springfiekl, Mass .; entered Sunday-school in 1827 or 1828; removed to Marshall, Mich., in 1837, wliere lie was Secretary of a Sunday-school; for two years he occupied similar positions in Palmyra, Mo .; for two years from 1843 he did the same work in Springfield, Mass .; in 1815 he was for four years Secretary and Superin- tendent; removed to Brooklyn in 1851; served twenty years as Supt. of Church schools, and five in a mission school; was President of the Sunday-school Union from 1867 to 1869. During this period he spent all his Sabbaths in visiting the schools of the Union. In 1879 he opened a school for the Chinese in rooms of Young Men's Christian Association, where he gathered a goodly number of Chinamen to study the Bible.

ISRAEL A. BARKER .- Born in New York City 1820: entered the Sunday-school of the Willet Street M. E. Church in 1827; came to Brooklyn in 1842, and joined the Centenary M. E. Sunday-school; was teacher and secretary until 1848, when, with about one hundred others, left the M. E. Church and organized a Congregational Methodist Church, corner Law- rence and Tillary sts., where lie served as trustee of the church and secretary of the Sunday-school; went into the Sunday-school and became Superintendent till 1865; was clected one of the Managers of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union in 1863; now belongs to the Park Congregational Church, and teacher of a class of young ladies, and still one of the Managers of the Sunday-school Union,

T HIE old Suydam house, of which a cut is given here- with, is still standing, in good repair, and occupied as a residence by Hon. A. M. Suydam. It is on the corner of Evergreen and Woodbine avenues, and was probably built in the carly part of the last century, since it was considered an old house in 1760, when Jacob Suydam bought the farm on which it stood, and he re- shingled and repaired it then. During the Revolutionary War it was used by the British troops as their winter quar- ters for a time. It is built of stone gathered from the surrounding fields, which are covered with cement. The door is in two sections, an upper and a lower. The win- dows have the small lights and heavy sash of the olden time. It was erected in the clearing, before any roads were laid out in that part of Bushwick; afterwards the old " Bushwick road," now Evergreen avenue, was put through from the little village beside East River to Flatbush. The old house has been the home of three generations of Suydams. (See biography of A. M. Suydam, page 201.)

OLD SUYDAM HOUSE.

MISSIONARY. BIBLE, TRACT

AND

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

FOR CHRISTIAN WORK.

T THE practical fruits of Christianity are seen in the many charities of the city, and the benevolent organizations which look after the spiritual and temporal welfare of the needy. Brooklyn, "the city of churches," is well supplied with these charitable societies. One of the oldest is

The Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society, which was organized July 22, 1829, in the Apprentices' Library. It is wholly undenominational, and has steadily pursned its work of ministering to the spiritual, and often to the tempo- ral, wants of the destitute. Up to 1848 the Society main- tained its existence only by hard struggles.

From that time new efforts were made by its friends to enlarge its resources, and extend its operations. The follow- ing year three missionaries were employed ; the number of visitors was increased to 254, and the collections amounted to $2,134.46. In 1850, four missionaries were employed, with 407 visitors, and $3,011.48 were received into the treasury. In 1858, the constitution was amended, and the society was named, in accordance with what it had in fact become, " The Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society." The employment of missionaries, in distinction from the simple circulation of religious traets, became thenceforth its principal work; and the happy effect of the change upon its resources and opera- tions, and on the interest felt in it by the churches, at once became apparent. It has since gone on with continually in- creasing prosperity and power. The first number of its journal was issued in January, 1862

The society has had as Presidents : Rev. (since Bishop) C. P. Mellvaine, 1829-32; Rev. I. S. Spencer, D. D., 1832-'8; Rev. B. C. Cutler, D. D., 1838-45; Jasper Corning, Esq., 1845-'7; Rev. B. C. Cutler, D. D .. a second time, 1847-63; Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr., D. D., 1863-74; Wm. W. Wickes, Esq., 1874-'80; Alfred S. Barnes, Esq., 1880-4. Owing to hard times, from 1864 to 1880, the work was suspended, but resumed in the latter year. Fifteen missionaries are now employed, besides a large mimber of helpers and visitors.

In 1847 Mtr. C. C. MUDAR (see biography, p. 1098), became General Agent and missionary of this society. If the Sunday- school work was his hobby, the traet work was his life-work, to which he devoted himself with unfailing love and faith- fulness, winning for himself not only respect and esteem, but the deep affection and love of his visitors and associates.

Soon after his connection with this society, as a natural ontgrowth of his work and the Bible work in connection with it, he was appointed Depositary and Secretary of the City Bible Society, In these two societies he served with loyalty

and devotion, till the Master said: "Stand aside and wait awhile." Then followed four years of gentle submission to God's will, when, on the 22d of September, 1888, four days before the completion of his 77th year, the call came and he entered into rest. " And his works do follow him."

The Brooklyn City Bible Society was formed in 1811, as auxiliary to the Long Island Bible Society. Its first OFFI- CERS were : James Ruthven, President ; Edward Corning. David Stamford, Thomas Kirke, Geo. L. Sampson. Adrian Hegeman. D. H. Arnold. David Coope and J. A. Sperry, Vice-Presidents; Rev. M. W. Jacobus, Cor. Sec .; Heury C. Bowen, Rec. Sec .; Henry Young, Treas .; and a board of twenty managers. The first year's receipts were $469.09; expenditures. $466.83, and 1.701 bibles and testaments dis- tributed. In 1849, the Society became auxiliary to the Amer- ican Bible Society; in 1848, 1856 and 1867, the whole city was thoroughly canvassed; and, in 1867, the affairs of the society were committed to the control of an executive committee of twenty. Presidents : Geo. L. Sampson, 1842-'3; A. R. Moen, 1814 ; Daniel Ayres, 1854-8; Chandler Storr, 1849-57; Daniel Ayres, 1857-'69 ; Richard P. Buck, 1860-'9; Rev. N. H. Schenck, D. D., 1870-22: Rov. W. 1. Budington, 1573; Rev. David Inglis, 1874-77; Rev. Dr. A. S. Hunt, 1878'54. The present Vice-Presidents are : Sidney Sanderson and John Barnier; Cor. Sec., Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke, D. D .. Treas., E. B. Wood. Mr. Chas. C. Mudge was Rec. Sec. from 1854 tih mis death.

The Brooklyn Woman's Bible Society, auxiliary to the above, was founded in 1850; also a North Brooklyn Bible So- ciety was established in 1845.

Brooklyn Young Men's Christian Association, desigued to improve the spiritnal, intellectual and social condition of young men, to bring them under Christian infinence, and to stimulate them to Christian effort. found inception nt a convention of some three hundred young men connected with the several evangelical denominations in this city, in June, 1853. It was organized September 15, 1853, with two hundred and seven members ; a certificate of incorporation was filed, and a suite of rooms rented in the Washington Building, corner of Court and Joralemon sts., the regular monthly and other public meetings being held in the lecture- rooms of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, and the Henry St. Presbyterian Church. Here a library and reading-room was established and opened, free to all young men, irrespective of membership in the association; while a Literary Society, course of free popular lectures by eminent speakers, monthly meetings for social reunions, stated conference and prayer-

1101

MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETIES.

meetings, educational classes, etc., lent their aid to further the objects of the association. In 1854, the association inter- ested itself largely and practically in the work of tract dis- tribution and of mission-school enterprises, of which there were, at that time, twenty in operation in this city. In April, 1859, the Association removed to the Brooklyn Institute building, and remained until their removal, in August, 1865, to the building on the corner of Fulton ave. and Gallatin place. After that time, the work of the Association, in all its departments, received a wonderful impetus, and its labors were attended with a commensurate amount of good to the community.

In August, 1872, the Association removed to the opposite corner of Fulton and Gallatin place, which was fitted up with a large gymnasium, a lecture-room seating 500, a libra- ry of 6,600 volumes, and a reading-room coutaining two hundred current journals and magazines, with cheerful par- lors, reception and class rooms.

Of the great work that has been accomplished by the Young Men's Christian Associations in this country, the Brooklyn society has done its full share. It now provides a course of lectures, literary entertainments, instruction in French, German, penmanship, book-keeping, phonography, elocution, vocal music, and other subjects.

In 1869, a charter was obtained, framed with a view to the erection of a large building for the uses of the Association, on the plan of the Cooper Institute iu New York.

The bequest of the late Frederick Marquand, Esq., gave to the Association $200,000 for a new building, on condition that the further sum of $150,000 should be raised by the members as an endowment for the Association. The condi- tion is so nearly met that plans have been adopted for a new building, to be erected during 1884, on Bond st., near Fulton, with an entrance on the latter street. It will be of brick, four stories and basement, 100 by 125 feet, with a 25 feet wide extension to Fulton, conveniently arranged and espe- cially adapted to the uses of the Association.

Its Presidents have been: Andrew A. Smith, 1853-'56; James McGee, 1856-'57; George A. Bell, 1857-'58; John M. Double- day, 1858-'59; Henry H. Lloyd, M. D., 1859-60; Robert S. Bussing, 1860-'61; James M. Ives, 1861-'62; O. Vincent Coffin, 1862-'63; O. Vincent Coffin, Charles A. Righter, 1863-'64; William Edsall, 1864-'68; Wm. W. Wickes, 1868-'69; Joseph T. Duryea, D. D., 1869-'70; D. G. Eaton, 1870-'73; William Edsall, 1873-'74; D. H. Cochran and Tasker H. Marvin, 1874-'76; D. D. McWilliams, 1876-'77; John P. Adams, 1877 -'78; B. H. Dillingham, 1878-'79; D. D. McWilliams, William Taylor, 1879-'80; R. Fulton Cutting, 1880-'82; Edwin Pack- ard, 1882-'84.

OFFICERS, 1884 : Pres., Edwin Packard; Vice-Presidents, Henry Dalley, Jr., F. H. Stuart, M. D .; Treas., Daniel W. McWilliams; Ass't Treas., Henry G. Fay; Rec. See., F. A. Parsons; Gen. Sec., Thos. J. Wilkie; Ass't Sec., Wallace McMullen; Librarian, J. Harry Gould.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Silas M. Giddings, Alanson Trask, A. A. Raven, Henry G. Fay, E. W. Hawley, Wm. Peck Smith, Edwin Packard, Alonzo Alford, A. J. Newton, J. H. Righter, M. H. Dorman, David A. Boody, F. A. Parsons, Willoughby Powell, Jas. R. Cowing, F. E. Bassett, Edw. A. Lovell, Noah Tebbetts, D. W. McWilliams, John J. Vail, F. H. Stuart, M. D., A. Augustus Low, Henry Dalley, Jr., Oliver G. Gardner, W. P. Gill, R. E. Beers, Chas. L. Bonnell, M. D., Geo. F. Peabody, F. B. Schenck.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Alanson Trask, A. S. Barnes, John T. Martin, John A. Tucker, George I. Seney, Thomas S. Moore. The East Brooklyn Young Men's Christian Association, Library and Free Reading Room, held its first meeting,

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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 111

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