USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 79
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1842-58, Hempstead Harbor or North Hempstead Circuit .- Preachers: 1842, 1843, Edmund (). Bates; 1844, Elbert Osborn, also James Sweeney (supply"; 1845, Elbert Osborn, Oliver E. Brown; 1846, 1847,
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
Nathan Rice, Alex. H. Mead; 1848, 1849, Edmund O. Bates, also Robert R. Thompson supply); 1850, George Hollis, Henry C. Glover; 1851, G. Hollis; 1852, Henry Hatfield, J. J. Bell; 1853, Henry Hatfield (supply); 1854, Joshua L. Burrows; 1855, 1856, L. B. Clark (supply); 1857, 1858, John S. Haugh.
1859-80, Roslyn and Scaringtown Circuit Manhasset and Port Washington and Glenwood some time included .- Preachers: 1859, 1860, Edward K. Fanning; 1861, 1862, Thomas M. Terry; 1863, Charles W. Lockwood; 1864, 1865, James L. Hall; 1866, 1867, Charles Stearns; 1868, 1869, Theodore C. Beach; 1870, George Hollis; 1871, 1872, Miles N. Olmsted; 1873 75, David McMullen; 1876, Samuel F. Johnson; 1877, 1878, Robert P'. Chris- topher; 1879, William Ross; 1880, Albert A. Lathbury.
Did space permit it would be appropriate to mention some of the most honored among the founders and sup- porters of this venerable and useful church. John Sear- ing, class leader, exhorter and local preacher, was a " burning and a shining light." David Buck, for several years an honored and useful itinerant minister, afterward a local preacher and paper manufacturer, was abundant in Christian labor, and chief among the apostles of Ros- lyn Methodism. To these might be added the names of Joseph Starkins, Cornell Denton, William T. Hendrick- son, Epenetus Oakley, Moses Fowler and many others.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SEARINGTOWN.
When Philip Cox, the first circuit preacher on Long Island, entered upon his work, in 1784, he found two Methodist societies, one at Newtown (Middle Village, and one at Comac, with an aggregate membership of 24. The society at Jamaica had become extinct. Methodism was established in Searingtown under the following cir- cumstances: "Hannah Searing, an aged and respectable widow lady, opened her house for preaching, and very many attended until an alarm was sounded that the false prophets foretold in Scripture had come. The word of truth, however, did not fall to the ground. Souls were awakened, and a society formed which remains to this day." Among the persons known to have united in form- ing this first class was Albert Van Nostrand, who afterward became a useful and honored minister of the gospel, and died in 1797.
The oldest known record of the members of this church, made in 1806, contains the following names: Coe Searing (class-leader), Mary Searing, Hannah Searing, Jacob Searing, Nancy Searing, Freelove Searing, Abi- gail Searing, Sarah Griswold, James Beatty, Amy Doxcey, Anna Bacon, Martha Searing.
In the early part of the year 1788 the circuit preacher, Rev. Peter Moriarty, personally superintended the erec- tion of a house of worship for the Searingtown society, a framed building 34 feet long and 30 feet wide, the second "meeting-house" (they were so styled in those days) erected by the denomination on Long Island; since
the destruction of the original Middle Village church building it is known as the oldest Methodist church on the istand. The land for the church, " sixty feet deep and fifty feet wide, on the north side of the road which leads from the plains to Searingtown," was given by Jacob Searing, the nominal price being one shilling. The deed bears date May 4th 1788, and the original trustees named therein were Coe Searing, Jacob Searing jr., and Daniel Searing jr.
The life of Rev. Benjamin Abbott contains the follow- ing account of that celebrated preacher's first visit to this place in 1791: "I went to Sister Searing's (an old widow woman in Searingtown), and preached in the meet- ing house to a very attentive congragation, and met class. The members spoke of the dealings of God to their souls, and I was happy. Mr. G's daughter [probably Griswold] asked me to preach at her father's. Thanked her and told her to have it given out in four weeks."
In 1842 Rev. E. O. Bates was preacher in charge of the circuit including Searingtown. He found the build- ing in a dilapidated condition. Up to that time it had not been lathed or plastered. Before the unpainted ceil- ing had been nailed to its place, in 1788, the workmen had walked on the boards with bare feet, and there were the mud stains, the prints of their feet plainly visible after the lapse of fifty-four years. Not a few yet call to mind their childish wonder at the strange power of the man who could have walked on the ceiling, head down- ward, with bare feet! The pulpit reached almost to the ceiling, the room was dark and cheerless, and the fence was out of repair. Mr. Bates refused to preach in the church while it remained in that condition. The frame was then stripped and re-covered, and the people of Sear- ingtown rejoiced that their old building was made new. The preacher engaged for the dedication failing to appear, Rev. Mr. Bates preached from the words-"Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, the place where thine honor dwelleth." The expense of rebuilding was pro- vided for by the contributions made on that occasion.
Besides the addition of a porch a few years since there has been no increase of the original size of the building. An organ was introduced into the church not many years ago, and later still new seats of modern and improved style were purchased and good horse-sheds built. The first sheds were erected on land bought for that purpose in 1852. The church was reseated under Rev. Mr. McMullen's administration.
About 1834 Miss . Ruth Searing, seeing the children Bishop Asbury visited Hempstead Harbor in 1787, and neglected, gathered them together Sabbath afternoons preached at that time in the house owned and occupied for religious instruction. There was until recent years by Coe Searing, of Searingtown. The old building yet no formal or permanent establishment of a Sunday- stands-a part of the present residence (1881) of a grand- school. The pastor in 1860 reported to the quarterly son of Coe Searing, W. C. Williams.,
conference "a small Sunday-school in Searingtown." In 1862 the report was "no Sunday-school, for want of children." Later a Sunday-school session has been regularly maintained, Thomas E. Pearsall being elected superintendent from year to year.
An old record shows that in 1843 the number of members was thirteen, one more than in 1806. It
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METHODIST CHURCHES IN NORTH HEMPSTEAD.
further states that the entire amount to be raised on the circuit during the year for the preachers was $592, of which Searingtown was to pay $47.
The earliest pastoral record of Long Island circuit is as follows: Philip Cox traveled the circuit in 1784; Ezekiel Cooper in 1785; Thomas Ware in 1786; Peter Moriarty in 1787. Thomas S. Chew was presiding elder in 1785, John Tunnell in 1786, Thomas Foster in 1787. The preachers thenceforward are the same as those of the Roslyn Methodist Episcopal church.
On the tombstones in the burial ground connected with this church one may read the names of the godly men and women who were the founders of this society. Here also repose the mortal remains of two eminent ministers, David Buck and Richard Seaman.
A large proportion of the Searingtown church is com- posed of descendants of the Searings and others who were members in earlier years, although it is noticeable that the name Searing, which occurs in the old list so frequently, has disappeared. These Searingtown Meth- odists exhibit many of the admirable traits of their fore- fathers-intelligence, thrift, economy, simplicity and piety. One service a week, on Sabbath afternoon, pre- ceded by a Sunday-school session, satisfies the demand of this scattered congregation, but these services are to the preachers on the circuit, as "quarterage" and usually well attended. They are conducted by the min- isters of the Roslyn and Searingtown circuit, residing in the parsonage at Roslyn.
The reader is referred to Warriner's forthcoming "Cy- clopædia of Long Island Methodism " for a full and ac- curate biographical record of the pastors and members of this church.
AFRICAN M. E. ZION CHURCH, LAKEVILLE.
This society was formed in the year 1821, with Rev. William Carman as pastor. Moses Coss, Jacob Mastias, Henry Chappell and others were the worshipers. They then met at the house of Moses Coss, at Little Neck, and in 1829 moved their place of meeting to his new house at Success. In 1833 the society bought land and erected a frame building convenient for worship. At this time a number of members were added, increasing the member- ship to 35. William Carman was still pastor, but soon died, and was succeeded by his assistant, George Tread- well.
There have been about twenty pastors in all. The present church membership is 40. The value of the church property is $2,000. The trustees are T. Treadwell, S. E. Smith, Edward Smith, Stephen Smith and George B. Smith, the assistant pastor.
The Sunday-school was organized in August 1869, with Richard Schenck superintendent. The school has 50 pupils.
There is another small African M. E. church at Roslyn, also a negro Baptist church at Westbury.
PORT WASHINGTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The oldest record of Methodism in this vicinity is found in the old Hempstead circuit record (August 1832),
when "Cow Neck" was included as a preaching place on the circuit, the preachers being N. Bigelow, H. Hulin and E. Oldrin. Two dollars was the amount of the first payment of "quarterage," and William Wood was the man by whom it was collected. About the same date the record of a class at Cow Neck was made in the mem- bership list of Hempstead circuit, consisting of Daniel Wanzer, Alexander Smith, Ann Baxter and Leonard Wanzer. This little company was soon scattered.
A second effort to establish a Methodist society here, in 1843, is thus narrated by Rev. E. O. Bates: "With brother E. Oakley, a member of the Roslyn church, we visited Manhasset Bay (now Port Washington), and held meetings weekly at the house of Mr. Mackey (James M). His house soon became too small. On invitation of Captain Peck, of the steamer plying between that place and New York, we occupied the saloon until the close of their visits. We then removed to the house of Mr. Moore. A revival was enjoyed. Over 30 professed con- version. I organized a class, and brother Mackey was the principal man. The preachers met the class." This year (1843) the eleven members comprising this class were to pay $25, their portion of the $592 ."allowance " "table expenses."
Ere long this new society became extinct. Rev. George Hollis thus describes its permanent reorganization: "Before I left the North Hempstead circuit, in 1852, about the last thing, I instituted meetings, and organized a class in Port Washington (Cow Bay). Perhaps there had been something before; it was a new departure. I appointed an old captain class leader." This was doubt- less Captain James M. Mackey, mentioned above. Cap- tain Mackey died in 1854, and the little society, though it continued to exist, with occasional meetings, was in a languishing state.
It is reported that when the "Congregational Method- ist " society was organized, in 1858, some friends of the original Methodists (rude and ungodly though they were) in a sort of partisan zeal determined that the old Meth- odists of the regular order should have a chance to hold their own against what was taken to be an effort to super- sede them. To do this they must have a preacher. Whereupon, they contributed toward the expense of pro- curing the services of the circuit preacher from Roslyn, Rev. John S. Haugh. A protracted meeting was held in the school-house, continuing two months, with very marked success. Among the sixty converts were thirty married persons, including some of the most talented and influential people in the place, and many who had been notoriously addicted to Sabbath-breaking, gambling, pro- fanity, and other forms of vice. Mr. Haugh wrote to the Christian Advocate that previous to the revival the village had been noted for wickedness; there were only six Epis- copal Methodists, and only now and then a preaching service. The amount paid for preaching advanced at once from nothing to $too a year. A church building enterprise was commenced, which resulted in the building
426
HISTORY OF. QUEENS COUNTY.
of the " Union Free Chapel," in which the Methodists. as well as other denominations, worshiped till 1871.
It is stated on the authority of Warren S. Weeks that a little neighborhood Sunday-school, claimed by no par- ticular denomination, was held in the school-house dur. ing the summer months for a number of years. Later (1859) a " union mission Sunday- school " was organized, largely sustained by the Episcopal Methodists, and super- intended, successively, by Henry Baxter (a Baptist), Wil- liam B. Mackey, Warren S. Weeks, W. H. McKee, James E. Bird and Edward M. Weeks. About 1872 the school being practically a Methodist institution, it was so rec- ognized by vote, and it has continued to meet on Sabbath afternoons in the union chapel, superintended by E. M. Weeks and Charles E. Surdam.
In 1871, R. P. Christopher pastor, a church was built too far from the center of the village to be convenient, but on a most commanding site, the land having been contributed by Charles W. Mitchell. The church, a chaste and beautiful edifice, with all its appointments. furniture, carpets, heater, lamps, bell, cushions, books. etc., was the gift of John Wesley Harper, eldest son of John Harper, of Harper Brothers. It is 39 feet wide and 51 feet long, with a tower 63 feet high. The sides are low, and the roof rises in good proportions. Its style is the old English rural, allied to the gothic, and the windows are of stained glass. It was dedicated Novem- ber 19th 1871, by Bishop Ames, Rev. H. F. Pease and others participating in the services, and Rev. Charles Fletcher preached in the evening. The sermons were eloquent and powerful.
A beautiful parsonage, in a central and pleasant loca. tion, was purchased in 1874.
The pastors from the origin of the society till 1870 were the same as those of Roslyn Methodist Episcopal church, and for subsequent years the list is as follows: 1870, P. W. Howe (supply); 1871-73, R. P. Christopher (supply); 1874, Charles Backman; 1875, 1876, William H. McAllister; 1877, William J. Robinson; 1878, 1879, E. Watt; 1880, H. S. Still; 1881, F. G. Howell.
The membership, including probationers, is 97. The church property (1881) is valued at $9,000. The amount paid in 1880 for ministerial service, exclusive of house rent, was $829.
The church purposes building a new Sunday-school room.
TRINITY CHURCH (EPISCOPAL), ROSLYN.
The corner stone for a building was laid by the bishop of the diocese as far back as 1835, but nothing further seems to have been done at that time toward its erection. Mission services were held in the place with more or less regularity up to 1862, when through the kindly interest
and the present building erected, under the supervision and management of the rector and vestry of Christ Church at Manhasset. The building was consecrated by Bishop Potter, of New York, December 5th 1862, and designated as Christ Church Chapel.
was organized into a separate parish and called Trinity Church, with the Rev. S. A. McNulty as the first rector. A comfortable, rectory has since been erected on the church lot, which is situated in one of the pleasantest spots in the village. The property is valued at $6,000. The rectors have been as follows: Rev. S. A. McNulty, from June 1869 to March 1873; Rev. Charles Pelle- treau, from April 1873 to May 1875; Rev. James W. Sparks, from November 1875 to November 1878; Rev. William P. Brush, since May 1880.
ST. BRIDGET'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Bridget's church is situated near Westbury station, on a farm containing 120 acres, owned by Bishop Lough- lin. The building was dedicated by Bishop Loughlin on the 27th of July 1856, and was the second Catholic church built east of Brooklyn. Father McGinnis was the pastor. The congregation at that time numbered about 300, coming from Little Neck, Manhasset, Port Washington, Roslyn, Glen Cove, Cold Spring, Hunting- ton, Babylon, as far west as Rockaway, and from inter- mediate places.
Rev. James O'Donnell held the first mass in these parts about 1840, at the residence of Bernard Powers, now Thomas White's, near the insane asylum. The con- gregation consisted of Mr. and Mrs. B. Powers, James Sweeney, Patrick Grady, and three children who were baptized. Previous to building the church, services were held the first Sunday in each month at Bernard Powers's, then one and a half miles east of Hempstead village. Since building the church, services have been held every Sunday. Those who have officiated here are the Revs. Edward McGinnis, Arthur Fearly, Father Kelly, and Revs. James McEnroe, Eugene McShery, and P. Kear- ney, the present incumbent.
ROSLYN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In the autumn of 1849 Mrs. James Losee, seconded by other members of her family, took the first steps toward the establishment of a Presbyterian church in Roslyn, the first sermon being preached on the 26th of October of that year, by the Rev. Franklin Merrill, who conduct- ed the services for some months, occasionally assisted by the Rev. Mr. Graves, a Congregational minister located at Hempstead. The meetings were held in the academy building, the free use of which was given by H. W. East - man, until the latter part of January 1851, when they were moved to a room near where the church now stands, owned and offered free of charge by Mr. Pinkney. The meetings continued to be held in this room until the completion of the present church.
At first the meetings were held on a week day even- ing, but they were soon changed to Sabbath afternoon and generosity of Mrs. A. E. Cairns a lot was procured [ and during the summer of 1850 to Sabbath morning, and they have so continued, with an additional service in afternoon or evening and sometimes a prayer meeting during the week.
The first meeting of the congregation for the purpose
In June 1869 it of becoming a corporate body was held in the academy
427
PRESBYTERIAN AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES, ROSLYN.
building Thursday evening January 24th 1850. The corporators organized under the name of the Roslyn Presbyterian Association, and Messrs. James Losee, Ste- phen A. Ketcham, James W. Smith, Joseph J. Hegeman and Franklin Merrill were appointed trustees, Mr. Ketcham being elected permanent clerk and Mr. Losee treasurer. The proceedings of this meeting were duly recorded in the county clerk's office, and thereafter meet- ings were regularly held and the minutes kept by the permanent clerk. There was no ecclesiastical organiza- tion until May 1851, when a committee of the Presbytery of Long Island, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. James McDougall, N. C. Locke and Franklin Merrill, met at Roslyn for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church. On the day first appointed, the weather being very stormy, the Rev. N. C. Locke preached a sermon and the committee postponed the other exercises until the next Sabbath, which was the last in May. On that day, as no other members of the committee were present, the Rev. Mr. Merrill proceeded to complete the organi- zation. The following persons were received and de- clared members of the church: James W. Smith, Maria Losee, Elizabeth Ketcham and Elizabeth Losee. James W. Smith was chosen and ordained as ruling elder, and served in that capacity until the time of his death, in January 1879.
After the organization the Presbyterian association transferred all its books and property to the Presbyter- ian church and congregation, and the following persons were chosen as trustees: James Losee, Daniel Brinker- hoff, S. A. Ketcham, Joseph J. Hegeman, Henry W. Eastman and Caleb Kirby.
Immediately after the incorporation measures were taken to raise funds for erecting a church edifice, and the foundation was laid that fall. About $r,ooo was subscribed in Roslyn and vicinity, the balance being do- nated by the Presbyteries of New York and Long Island, the churches of Newtown, Jamaica, Hempstead, Babylon,
ton, and at the time of the laying of the corner stone and the dedication. The entire cost of the building and lot was $1,900; $170 being afterward raised in Roslyn for the purchase of a bell.
Rev. Franklin Merrill continued in charge of the church until June 1853. Ilis salary was at the rate of $150 per year.
From that time until May 1854 Rev. H. B. Burr and others conducted the services. Rev. Samuel R. Ely, 1). D., then became the stated supply, and so continued until the spring of 1870.
In the spring of 1853 a Sabbath-school was established, but it was only kept up for a few months. In May 1854 William S. Ely and Samuel R. Ely jr. reorganized the school, which has, with the exception of the winter of 1854 and 1855, continued in a flourishing condition.
In August 1858 Mrs. W. C. Bryant, the wife of the poet, was baptized and admitted into the fellowship of the church.
1870 until July 12th 1871, when Rev. Charles R. Strong was unanimously called as the first installed pastor of the church.
The report of the church to the General Assembly in May 1872, showed a membership of 45 and a Sabbath- school attendance of 75.
On July 12th 1873 the session passed resolutions of sorrow for the death of Rev. Samuel R. Ely, D. D., who had been for 17 years the stated supply to this church, all of that time devoting himself to the interests of the church without receiving any regular salary.
During the summer and autumn of 1874 the Rev. Mr. Cate supplied the pulpit, the pastor being in Europe on account of ill health. During the spring of 1877, for the same reason, the pastor was absent, the pulpit being supplied by the Rev. Mr. Jefferson. On the 27th of July 1877 the Rev. Mr. Strong resigned the pastorate. From December 19th 1877 the Rev. Charles S. Symning- ton was pastor until June 22nd 1879, when he resigned to accept another call. The Rev. Dr. Buchanan and others supplied the pulpit until January 1881, when Rev. George S. Payson, son of Rev. E. H. Payson, of the Presbytery of Utica, was unanimously called, and on the 2 1st of April 1881 he was duly installed as pastor.
The membership at this time was about 65, with an average attendance, at morning service, of 50, and a Sabbath-school with over 60 on its roll.
CATHOLIC CHURCH, MANHASSET.
The Catholic church here was dedicated October 14th 1857, and the society is the parent of the Roslyn church. It is ministered to by the pastor of the Roslyn church.
THE FREE CHURCH, PORT WASHINGTON.
About the year 1859 a meeting of inhabitants of school districts No. 4 and 5 decided to build a free church. At that meeting trustees were elected and a subscription list started. The land was given by Henry Cock, with a Huntington, Sag Harbor, East Hampton and Southamp- stipulation that it should be free to all Protestant Christian
denominations. The whole cost of the building was $2,000.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, ROSLYN.
Previous to the establishment of a parish, from 1866 to 1871, Roslyn was attended from Manhasset by Rev. I. A. Strain, who said mass for the people in John Camp- bell's house. In June 1871 Rev. William O'Donnell, who was appointed pastor, built a humble wooden build- ing, in which he said mass until his death in November of the following year. He left a reminder of his labors in a new brick church, of gothic style, 95 feet long by 45 feet wide. Rev. B. F. Sheridan, a Jesuit, succeeded him on the 15th of November 1872. During his pastorate he fitted up the basement of the church, where he held services. In May 1876 he was transferred to the new church at Great Neck, a section taken off Manhasset. He was succeeded in the same month by the present in- cumbent, Rev. M. C. Brennan, from St. Mary's Immacu-
Rev. W. W. Kirby supplied the pulpit from spring of late Conception, Brooklyn, E. D., where he had for five
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
years acted as assistant. During his first two years at Roslyn he completed the church up stairs, at an expense of $4,200, to which the members of other churches in the place contributed generously. The church was dedicated June 23d 1878. It still needs about $3,000 expended to make its architectural designs complete, though it is now considered the finest Catholic church on Long Island outside of Brooklyn. Thirty years ago the first Cath- olic, a domestic in the home of a lady who is now an honored great-grandmother, came to Roslyn to live. The Catholic community in Roslyn at present numbers about 500.
GREAT NECK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The church edifice is located on the Flushing and |by Bishop Simpson. He preached on the occasion an North Hempstead turnpike, about midway between the eloquent sermon from the words " I will make the place Great Neck railroad station and Manhasset village, on of my feet glorious." The discourse was stenographically one of the highest inhabited portions of Long Island. The reported, and published in the Christian Advocate. The erection of a house of worship in this place was accom- singing at these services were conducted by the choir plished in 1872, solely by the munificence of Joseph S. of the Hanson l'lace Methodist Episcopal Church, Spinney, then engaged as a commission merchant at 47 Brooklyn.
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