Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 169

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

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It was not until January 6, 1870, that the regular meetings were instituted. At that time some changes were made in the constitution, and the list of officers completed. The papers of incorporation were signed on March 31, 1871.

In accordance with the provisions of the constitution, semi-monthly day meetings and monthly evening receptions have been held-the former attended by women only; the latter by men and women.

The admission of gentlemen as associate members is a peculiar feature, and stamps the Club as the vanguard of the future, when men and women shall find the best results in co-operation.

Article 2 of the constitution is as follows :- " The objeet of this Association shall be the improvement of its members, and the practical consideration of the important questions that grow out of the relations of the individual to society, and the effect of existing institutions upon individnal de- velopment. It shall be independent of sect, party and social eliques, the basis of membership being earnestness of pur- pose, love of the truth, and a desire to promote the best interests of humanity."

There are six standing committees, viz .: on Literature, Music, the Drama, Art, Science, and Philanthrophy. At the day meetings these committees, in the order of succession, present papers on topics within the scope of each committee, which are discussed by the members. The art of conversa- tion is strenuously cultivated, and the ability to make correct and accurate statements is the ne plus ultra toward which all effort is directed.

At the receptions of the Club, members and associate- members, with invited guests, find opportunity for social interconrse and enjoyment, which is enhanced by literary and musical contributions of a high order of excellence. Music is an essential feature of all meetings.

The Club aims to encourage and foster the various gifts of each member, so as to develop and improve all; and as each contributes the result of her talents in any special direction for the general good, in like manner each is benefitted by the attainments of others. Thus by mutual action and re- action, by the interchange of gifts, acquirements, and ex- perience, every member enlarges her mental outlook, and advances her culture.

While results of this nature evade a tangible summing up, they are the most important and satisfactory the Club has attained. Always keeping the object of this Association in view, the Club has been a home or receptacle for new ideas and reform movements, and in this capacity has served a noble end by the impulse and sympathy it has given them.

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LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

The need for a snitable boarding-house for teachers, artists, and women engaged in business, which should possess the refinement, grace, and good cheer of a well-ordered home, and at the same time protect inviolate the freedom of the individual, early absorbed the energies of the Club. To this scheme, Mrs. Anna C. Field devoted her time and talents, and directed the efforts of the other members to success, which culminated in establishing The Business Woman's Union in the spring of 1871.

The management of the Union was relinquished to an able Board of Trustees, it being beyond the intent of the Associa- tion to actively engage in such enterprise. It is most gratify- ing to state that to the wise conduct of the officers of the Union, Brooklyn possesses an institution, which is an honor to her, and a boon to women.

Mrs. John F. Des Mazes and Mrs. Elliston Perot, were sent as delegates to the International Prison Conference, held in London, July 3, 1872; and Mrs. Charlotte B. Wilbur acted in like capacity at the Prison Convention in Baltimore in the following year.

In the early part of May, 1873, the preliminary business pertaining to the establishment of a branch of the State Charities Aid Association in Brooklyn, occupied the Club, and gave the impetus which resulted in forming the well-known and efficient Brooklyn Branch of the State Charities Aid Association.

The movement which has completely revolutionized the care of the sick, by the system of trained nurses, was brought to the attention of the people by the Club in May, 1873.

The founding of Cooking Schools was in large measure due to the impulse received at the meetings.

To the discussion of educational matters-industrial, in- tellectual, and moral-and to the training and care of the young in the home and beyond it, the Club has enthusiastic- ally devoted much time and effort. By the interchange of ideas on these subjects, it has been instrumental in creating and molding public opinion to more advanced ground.

The deep interest felt by the members in securing the in- fluence of women in the education of the young, resulted in the circulation of petitions, at different times, asking the Mayor to appoint women as members of the Board of Educa- tion. These petitions, numerously signed, were presented to Mayor Schroeder, at his office, in May 1876, and to Mayor Low, in May, 1882.

Lectures have been delivered before the Club by Mr. George William Curtis, Rev. John Weiss, Rev. John W. Chadwick, Col. T. Wentworth Higginson, Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, Miss Emily Faithful, Miss Kate Hilliard, Mrs. Lucy Wright Mitchell, Mrs. Abby Sage Richardson, and Mr. Daniel G. Thompson.

Among those to whom receptions have been given are: Rev. Moncure D. Conway, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Prof. Maria Mitchell, Miss Emily Faithful, Rev. Celia Burleigh, Miss Louisa M. Alcott. and Mrs. Lncy Stone.

Presidents of the Club: Rev. Celia Burleigh, Miss Kate Hilliard, Mrs. M. W. H. Elwell, Mrs. Imogene C. Fales, Mrs. Ellen T. Brockway.

The Society of Old Brooklynites was organized through the efforts of Joel Conklin and Alden J. Spooner, who con- ceived the idea of forming a society whose object should be social intercourse among residents who had resided in Brook- lyn for the period of fifty years; to that end on March 24, 1880, a meeting was held at the Hamilton Rooms on Court street; fourteen gentlemen were present, and so fully ex- pressed themselves iu favor of the project that a meeting was held in the Court-house on April 29th, and the preliminaries toward organization attended to, which resulted in the

formation of the above society May 20, 1880. The first OFFICERS were : Jno. W. Hunter, Pres .; Henry A. Moore, First Vice-Pres .; Win. Taylor, Second Vice- Pres .; Samuel H. Cornwell, Ree. Sec .; C. C. Smith, Treas. The original membership was 38; the present about 150, headed by the following OFFICERS : Jno. W. Hunter, Pres .; Edward D. White, First Vice-Pres .; Albert H. Osborn, Second Vice- Pres .; Henry D. Young, Treas .; Samuel A. Haynes, Sec. Since the organization of this society eleven deaths have been recorded; by courtesy of the Surrogate, the Old Brook- lynites meet on the first Thursday of each month at his room in the Court-house, and enjoy an evening of social in- tercourse; original papers are read and commented upon; historic, artistic, scientific and literary topics are discussed; and, later on, the Brooklyn Advance publishes the inore noteworthy proceedings of this venerable organization.

St. Nicholas Society of Nassau Island was organized in 1848, and was designed to collect and preserve information respecting the history, settlements, manners, &c., of the early inhabitants of Long Island (formerly called Nassau Island), and to afford pecuniary relief to reduced members of the society and their families. Eligibility to membership requires a person to be wholly, or in part, of Dutch descent, or a descendant of a person who was an inhabitant of this island previous to 1786. The first President of this society was the late venerable General Jeremiah Johnson. An an- nual dinner is given, at which old customs are observed, and the memories of old days revived. These reunions bring together a noteworthy class, and are occasions of great in- tellectual as well as social interest. The OFFICERS for 1883 -'84 are : John W. Hunter, Pres .; H. D. Polhemus, High Steward; E. H. Willetts, Treas., and H. B. Hubbard, Sec.

The New England Society of Brooklyn held its first meet- ing and festival on December 21st, 1880, the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock and for this reason called Forefathers' Day. The objects of the society are "to commemorate the landing of our Pilgrim Fathers on Plymonth Rock; to encourage the study of New England history, and to that end to establish a library; and to promote charity and good fellowship among its members." The membership of the society is large and embraces the élite of the New Englanders, or their descendants, in Brook- lyn. The annual festivals of the society are intellectual feasts of a high order. Two Presidents of the United States, an ex-President, and many distinguished men, native and foreign, have been entertained by this noteworthy organiza- tion. Benjamin D. Silliman was the first President, and still occupies the office. John Winslow and Charles Storrs are the present Viee-Presidents; S. B. Noyes and Rev. A. P. Putnam, Secretaries; and William B. Kendall, Treasurer.

St. Patrick's Society is a Roman Catholic organization, whose chief object is to celebrate with a public dinner the anniversary of St. Patrick's birth. This society was insti- tuted in 1850, with a membership of fifty, which has since increased to two hundred. First OFFICERS were : John O'Mahoney, Pres .; Chas. Hawley and Jas. Bennett, Vice- Presidents; John O'Rorke and John N. Doyle, Secretaries; and James Galway, Treas. This society is purely social. The annnal dinners are recognized as feasts for the mind as well as the body, because of the many intellectual men who gather around the board. The present OFFICERS : Thomas Kinsella (deceased), Pres .: William Sullivan and James H. Greene, Vice-Presidents; A. Murphy and E. J. Regan, Secretaries; B. McCafferty, Treas .; Very Rev. William Keegan, Chaplain, and Rev. John M. Kiely, Ass't Chaplain.

New York Arbroath Association was established in 1878, for the purpose of affording assistance to persons coming

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

from Arbroath, Scotland; to promote social intercourse among natives of Arbroath residing in or near New York and Brooklyn, and to perpetnate a burial fund for members of the association. Meetings arc held quarterly, either in the Mechanics' Exchange on Fulton st., Brooklyn, or in the Caledonian Club Rooms in New York. The OFFICERS for 1883-'84 are : James Ross, Pres .; D. F. Smith, Vice-Pres .; James Allan, Treas .; George T. Addison, Sec.

The Caledonian Club. On the 9th of March, 1866, a num- ber of gentlemen, of Scottish birth. or descent, met at 369 Fulton street, and organized this Club. Their names were: John Maltman, David Wilson, Jas. Palmer, Alex. Balmer, Peter Wilson, M. Alexander, Jas. Blue, W. S. Reid, Robert Bowie, and Geo. Brown. The Club was incorporated March 19th, 1868. The object of the association is to preserve the ancient customs, games, costumes and literature of Scotland; to establish a library, and to found a charitable fund. None but those of Scottish descent are eligible to membership; and, at all public entertainments, or celebrations, the officers arc obliged to dress in Highland costume. The first club-rooms were in the Brooklyn Institute; after which Granada Hall on Myrtle ave. was secured. Two years after, the Club moved to the corner of Atlantic ave. and Clinton street. Three years ago, Adelphi Hall, on Myrtle ave., was secured, at which place the Caledonians still nect. Annual athletic games are held during the summer at Ridgewood Park. The present mem- bership of the Club is 150. A library, consisting of about 1,000 volumes of miscellancous works, has been procured for the use of the members of the Club. It is proposed to add to this, as fast as the means of the Club will permit, copies of the most valuable and interesting works of ancient and modern Scottish literature.

Several papers on interesting subjects have been read be- fore the Club, and provision has been made to encourage further efforts in this direction, and to give members more frequent opportunities for social and literary intercourse.

The Burns Association was organized at the Wall House in 1862, under the name of the Burns Friendly Association of Brooklyn, E. D., and was then, as now, composed entirely of those born in Scotland, or of Scotch parents herc. The ob- ject of the association was to assist needy Scotchmen, to preserve tender memories of " Auld Scotia," and to celebrate in a becoming manner the birthday of Robert Burns, the patron saint of the society. First OFFICERS: James Lindsey, Pres .; Robert McFarlane, Vice-Pres .; and James C. Eadic, See. As the membership increased the organization became more liberal and nationality was less recognized. The char- itable work of the society was carried on for about ten years, when, owing to a number of impositions practiced upon it, the benevolent effort was abandoned, and the word " Friend- ly " stricken from the title. Meetings are held at the offices of James C. Eadie, No. 45 Broadway. The special feature of the association is the annual dinner given January 25th, in commemoration of the birth of the poet-Robert Burns. At these banquets many illustrious men have been entertained, including William Cullen Bryant, John G. Saxe, Bayard Taylor, Henry Ward Beecher, and all the Mayors of Brook- lyn for the past twenty years. The membership is twenty- five. OFFICERS: James C. Eadie, Pres. (for twenty years) ; Andrew J. Baird, Vice-Pres .; J. W. Fleming, Treas .; Geo. E. Darling, Sec.

The Brooklyn Saengerbund .- In May, 1862, it was pro- posed to unite the Thalia and Liederkranz Singing Chibs in one organization. This plan was carried out, and the con- solidated society was named " The Brooklyn Saengerbund," The head-quarters were at the Old Pavilion, No. 200 Court street, now known as Piper's Club House, where for years

the meetings of the society were held. The membership at present is 250. In 1867 this organization secured the prize at Philadelphia for musical excellence; and again, in 1881, their efforts were similarly rewarded. Many entertainments in aid of charity are given during the year; and never has the Saengerbund scored a failure. In October, 1883, the society bought, for $40,000, the property at the corner of Smith and Schermerhorn streets (a buikling 80x120 feet), remodelled it at large expense, and have occupied their new quarters since December, 1883.

The Weber Quartette was organized in the spring of 1876, at the residence of Caleb C. Eabry, and named in compliment to Albert Weber, of piano-forte fame, who was at once made an honorary member. The first members were: Caleb C. Eabry, 1st tenor; J. Knowles, 2d tenor; J. V. Provost, 1st bass; W. H. Liscomb, 2d bass. The reputation of this quar- tette increased steadily for four years, when, by the addition of N. A. Northrup, John Purdy, C. H. Jordan and E. B. Campbell, in the order named above, an octette was formed, which, for two years, delighted audiences throughout New York and New England as well as local. The members belonged to the order of Free Masons and assisted largely at dedications, funerals, and all masonic celebrations and enter- tainments. In 1882, the octette was disbanded, giving place to a quartette composed of Messrs. Fabry, Knowles, Provost. and Jordan, who, after two scasons of unusual success, have finally disbanded.

AMATEUR DRAMATIC ASSOCIATIONS.

(See pages 1162-1165.)

The Gilbert Dramatic Association is an outgrowth from the Nonchalant Club and was regularly organized, June 26, 1878, the original membership being eleven. The first OFFI- CERS werc: Geo. A. Watson, Pres .; E. S. Seaman, Vice-Pres .; Wm. B. Vernam, Sec .; Frank G. Read, Treas. Very soon the membership was augmented to two hundred, through efforts made by T. C. Hammill and Geo. A. Wasson, among the rank and file of the 23d Regt. of Brooklyn. The first dramatic effort of the association was made at the Athenæum; "Sweethearts " and " Aunt Charlotte's Maid " were performed in a highly creditable manner; four entertainments followed, given in the same place; the sixth, which closed the initial season, was given at the Brooklyn Academy, when " Married Life" was played. The reception, which followed the per- formance, was held in the Assembly Rooms. The Waverly Theatre, corner of Court and Remsen sts., was used exclu- sively during the second season. The membership, too, was extended to 100, and the dues increased to $2.00 monthly, a necessary step to insure financial support to the club and to subscribers' seats at the performance. The entertainments of the third and fourth seasons were given at the Athenaum; the Waverly Theatre having been demolished. During these seasons the Gilbert scored a succession of dramatic triumphs, and felt warranted, at the beginning of the fifth, to secure the Academy of Music in which to present all future dramatic efforts. The membership and dues have each increased one- third. The financial condition is solid and its success assured. The present OFFICERS are: Wm. R. Carroll, Pres .; John W. Noble, Vice-Pres .; Fred. O. Nelson, Treas .; Nat. B. Evans, Sec.

Among Amateur Dramatic organizations not previ- ously mentioned (pages 1162-1165) are the _Ithenan, .Arcadian, Barrett, Benton, Clifton, Euterpe, Mel- pomene and Montague.

LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

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Among the literary and artist clubs and societies, the following deserve mention: the Irving, Social Literary Union, Brooklyn Debating Society, org. 1875, and the Pencil Sketch Club, org. 1883 (membership of both sexes, and holds its mectings in the Brooklyn Institute).

The Pioneer Amateur Photographic Club, of New York and Brooklyn membership, org. 1883. OFFICERS: L. P. At- kinson, Pres. (Brooklyn); Herbert Seymour, Sec .; Gilbert A. Robertson, Treas.

The Crescent Literary Society, org. May, 1882. Member- ship, about 20. Wm. M. Brockett, Pres .; A. H. Zugalla, Sec .; Eugene De Comps, Treas.

The Mechanics' and Traders' Exchange is an association of business men which was organized in July, 1871, for the purpose of establishing equitable business relations among members, and to adjust business misunderstandings. This exchange was incorporated May 23, 1872, and is authorized to maintain a fund for the support of indigent members and their families, and to sustain a library and reading-room. In 1875 the membership was 500; the number at present is 300. The first OFFICERS were: Henry Harteau, Pres .; Abram Allen, Vice-Pres .; Jeremiah Van Riper, Treas .; Oliver Faurot, Sec. The association's rooms are at No. 363 Fulton street, where meetings are held daily from 12 to 1 o'clock. The present OFFICERS are: Elbert Snedeker, Pres .; Thos. B. Rutan, Vice-Pres .; Benj. C. Miller, Treas., and F. L. Barnard, Ser.

AUTHORS AND SCIENTISTS.

From its earliest village days, Brooklyn has never lacked the presence, among its inhabitants, of a few who dabbled in literature, or wooed the poetic muse. That their productions, whether in verse or prose, saw the light only in the columns of the village news- paper, proves no want of merit. Brooklyn was then- as it has been until a recent period-quite overshadowed by the great city across the river. Yet, even in those days, the village writer sometimes found voicc beyond the confines of his native place. Of such was GREN- VILLE A. SACKETT, who, although a diligent and com- petent lawyer, was possessed of more than ordinary poetical genius; and under the signature of " Alfred," wrote some of the best and most widely circulated fugitive poetry of the day in the New York Mirror, New York Times, and Long Island Star. He was the son of Samuel Sackett, one of the most prominent citi- zens of the village; and, with his brother, Clarence D. (also a lawyer), was buried on the same day, from Trinity Church, New York. Of the same era, also, was the late ALDEN J. SPOONER, Esq., whose career as a lawyer we have elsewhere portrayed. But Mr. Spooner was, by tastes and instincts, much more of a litterateur than a lawyer. This is evidenced not only by his ac- tive and absorbing interest in everything pertaining to the literary development of Brooklyn, and by his helpful spirit towards cvery literary venture, but in the many graceful papers which he contributed to the press, and to the magazines of his day. He was a facile writer -as might have been expected from the son of such a veteran editor as Col. Alden Spooner-he had a poetic temperament, great felicity of expression, and a quiet underlying vein of humor, which gave a peculiar charm to his slightest effort. His well-known sketches of the Last of the Leather-breeches, in which he chroni- cled, with exceeding gusto, the long litigation between the village authorities and old Jacob Patchen; his sketches in the Brooklyn Monthly (1869) on The First Episcopal Church in Brooklyn (old St. Ann's); The

Dominie's Ride with the Devil, and other similar papers on Long Island topies, possess a charm of fancy and description strongly reminding one of (if, indeed, not fully equal to) Washington Irving's legend- ary tales. It is to be regretted that, with his rich store of personal reminiscence, Ins wide acquaintance with the best literature, and his deep and abiding love for his native land, he never set himself seriously to work upon some work of permanent value. It was un- derstood in his later days, that he had made some progress towards a history of Long Island; but his sudden death has deprived us of what-had it ever been completed-would undoubtedly have been a classically elegant work of its kind.

Contemporary with him, of course, was the late HENRY C. MURPHY, whose literary record has been presented on pp. 360-366 of this volume; and among the same group of young literati, most promising in his early mauhood, perhaps, of all, but most sadly unfortu- nate in the sun-setting of his life, was GABRIEL FURMAN, of whom a careful biography will be found in the chapter on the Beach and Bar of Kings county.

These were all native-born to the island, or the vil- lage; but there was a resident of Brooklyn who, in 1835, created for himself a widespread, though ephemeral fame, by the stupendous literary hoax which he played upon the public. This was RICHARD ADAMS LOCKE, long since dead, but in his prime a bright and pushing man. "One day, his fancy rioting, he con- ceived the notion of deceiving the public, and he did it very effectually. In August, 1835, there appeared in the columns of the New York Sun a pretended ex- tract from the pages of a 'Supplement to the Edin- burgh Journal of Science,' under the title of 'Great Astronomical Discoveries lately made by Sir John Herschel, LL.D., F.R.S., etc., at the Cape of Good Hope.' This was the Moon Hoax. Several numbers of the Sun were required to omplete the story. Men went wild in speculations over the wonderful discov-

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

eries. The publication created as great an excitement abroad as at home; and at home the serious-minded Mercantile Advertiser of New York, said: 'It appears to carry intrinsie evidence of being an authentie docu- ment;' while the Commercial Advertiser was morally certain that in it could be traced 'marks of trans- Atlantie origin.' Meanwhile, Loeke chuckled, and the Sun made money by the fabulous sale of its sheets. A pamphlet edition of the Hoax was subsequently published by the proprietors of the Sun, and of this sixty thousand copies were sold-and so were the buyers. Ten or twelve years ago, a single copy of this pamphlet (then long out of print) was disposed of at a library anetion sale for the price of $3.75."

Whatever honor Brooklyn may have gained in the fields of literature, is however, mostly due to her adopted, rather than to her native-born children. Her nearness and accessibility to New York, the pleasant features of her civie topography and environments, and the delightful social atmosphere pervading her population, has ever rendered " The City of Churches " a favorite dwelling-place for those of studious tastes and literary occupations. Add to these advantages a cheaper scale of house-rents, and a greater variety of eligible locations, and of opportunities for securing an inexpensive and tasteful home, than are offered by New York city, and it is easy to understand how Brooklyn has gathered within its limits no inconsider- able number of those whose lives are spent in literary pursuits. The growing value, also, of our two prin- cipal libraries, the Historical and the Brooklyn, is contributing largely to the resources which our city offers to both student and writer.

The reader who consults our chapters upon the Medical Profession, the Bench and Bar, the Press, and the brief biographical notes of the Clergy of the city attached to the History of Church Organizations, will see that we have a goodly number of professional gentlemen among us, whose lives and whose works go to make up the literary history of the county and eity; and whose efforts, whether in the pulpit, at the bar, or by the pen, have conferred upon Brooklyn the reputa- tion which she so widely enjoys, of being a refined and cultured community.

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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 169

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