USA > New York > Nassau County > Hempstead > History of St. George's Church, Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. > Part 15
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In 1828, under Mr. Hall's administration, a Sun- day School was organized in the parish, the first in the town of Hempstead ; and an institution which was something of a novelty in this country.
In 1833, the salary of the sexton was $30.+ Mr. Hall being of an ardent temperament, exerted himself with unflagging zeal to awaken among his people greater interest in religious things, and to bring all to embrace Christ with a faith fruitful in good works. To this end-besides the usual services in church on Sundays and holy-days-he held frequent services in all parts of his parish. Almost literally " from house to house, he ceased not to warn every one night and day."# He had also meetings protracted from day to day, calling to his aid the Rev. Dr. Milner, Rev. Mr. -afterwards Bishop McIlvaine, and other prominent clergymen, that the services might be more attractive and effective.
The result of all these efforts was disappointing to the ardent expectations of the Rector. He thought the people did not sufficiently respond to them, and he felt that he was not the one who could do them the most good. This feeling-together with a growing repugnance to the necessity he was under of
* Eccles. Laws of New York, p. 22.
+ Records, p. 258.
į Acts 20 : 31.
233
Rev. Richard D. Hall.
making personal efforts in order to get a portion of his salary-which prevented his devoting his whole attention to his spiritual duties-determined him to offer the following letter of resignation :
" HEMPSTEAD, April 11, 1834.
"To the Vestry of St. George's Church :
" Dear Brethren-I hereby tender to you my resignation of this parish, and according to the altera- tion of the agreement entered into at my coming among you, notify you that the connection will cease between myself and the congregation as your Pas- tor, after three months from the above date.
" Being under the impression that I am acting in the line of duty, with an eye single to the glory of God, and the hope of greater usefulness elsewhere, having labored much in this parish for five years past without correspondent fruitfulness, I trust you will yield assent to my views of the contemplated sepa- ration.
" The manner of conducting the temporal affairs. of the parish is, I think, rather too loose and indefi- nite, which I fear will be a serious hindrance in the way of my successor. A minister should have as. little as possible to do with, at least, some part of the. temporalities of a parish, that he may devote him- self fully to liis proper work, and have his mind as: little encumbered by worldly matters as possible.
" With earnest prayer for the welfare of the parish, and the Divine guidance in the choice of a successor,. and a blessing upon his labors,
I remain your sincere friend and Pastor,
RICHARD D. HALL."
After his removal from Hempstead, the Rev. Mr .. Hall became Rector of St. Mary's Church, Hamilton- ville, West Philadelphia. He also held, for a time,.
234
St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove.
the position of an agent for the American Bible So- ciety. He died at Mount Holley, New Jersey, July 28, 1873, aged 84 years.
It was during the Rev. Mr. Hall's rectorship that another parish was organized within the boundaries originally assigned to St. George's. This was
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, GLEN COVE.
To this place the early Rectors of St. George's had occasionally extended their labors. The Rev. Dr. Jenney, in his report to the Venerable Society in 1729, mentions Musquito Cove, the name by which the place was then called. The number of persons in that neighborhood was then small, and many were the places desiring or needing church services, among which the Rector had to divide his time. When, after some years, the hamlet had developed into a village, and promised to become a thriving place, the Episcopalians living there took active measures to secure to themselves continued services.
Previous to the organization of a parish, services had been held frequently in the village school-house by the Rev. Joseph F. Phillips, of Christ Church, Manhasset, and also, it is thought, by the Rev. Mr. Sherwood, of Cold Spring, and the Rev. J. P. F. Clark.
Determinate action for the establishment of a parish was taken on the 4th of March, 1833, by the circula- tion of a subscription paper to secure funds for the building of an Episcopal Church.
* "We the subscribers, believing it important to
* Parish Records of St. Paul's, Glen Cove.
235
St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove.
have a house for public worship in this section of country, do promise to pay the sum opposite our respective names for the purpose of erecting an Episcopal church in the village of Mosquito Cove.
" When sufficient funds are subscribed, a meeting of the subscribers will be called to determine where the church shall be located, and appoint trustees to receive the money and superintend the construction of the building."
To this paper seventy-five names were signed, and the sum of $1364 was subscribed, besides pledges of labor, etc. Greatly encouraged by the interest manifested in the project, it was determined to pro- ceed to organize a parish. After due notice of this purpose a meeting was held, December 16, 1833.
The Rev. Joseph F. Phillips, then Rector of Christ Church, Manhasset, was called to the chair, and it was resolved-
"To organize a parish in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, and in conformity with the laws of the State.
" That the name or title by which it should be known in law was fixed on and agreed to as 'The Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, Mosquito Cove, Queens Co.'
" That the Vestry should consist of two Wardens and eight Vestrymen, to be elected annually.
" That the annual meeting of the parish for the election of Wardens and Vestrymen should be held on Tuesday in Easter-week."
The meeting then proceeded to elect the Wardens and Vestrymen, when the following named persons were duly elected, viz .:
236
St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove.
Oliver Coles, Israel Horsefield, S Wardens.
James C. Townsend, M. D. ) Edward Coles, -
Daniel T. Cock,
John D. Feeks, Vestrymen.
Edward Coles (of Dosoris),
James Udall,
Willet Weeks,
Joseph Coles,
Messrs. John B. Coles and Ephraim Gritman, with the Chairman, were appointed to certify to the pro- ceedings of the meeting.
"On the 2 1st day of December, at a Vestry meeting held in the School House, Israel Horsefield, Church Warden, being in the chair, and Edward Coles, of Dosoris, clerk pro tem. Oliver Coles was unani- mously elected as Treasurer, Doctor James C. Town- send was unanimously elected Clerk, Edward Coles of Dosoris, was unanimously elected Collector, and Oli- ver Coles, Israel Horsefield, Joseph Coles, Edward Coles of Mosquito Cove, Daniel T. Cock and James Udall were elected a building committee to superin- tend the finishing of the Church."
On the 4th of February, 1834, the name of the Vil- lage of Mosquito Cove was changed to its present name of Glen Cove. The record of which is as fol- lows :
" Agreeable to public notice a meeting of the in- habitants of the Village of Mosquito Cove and its vicinity, was held at the house of Joshua T. Wright, February 4, 1834, to take into consideration the pro- priety of changing the name of the village and patent of the Mosquito Cove. George D. Coles, Esq., was
237
St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove.
called to the chair, and Doctor Jas. C. Townsend ap- pointed Secretary.
" Resolved, unanimously, that it is expedient to change the name of the village and patent of Mos- quito Cove."
The name of Glen Cove was then proposed, and the question being taken on the adoption of this name, it was unanimously adopted.
" Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published for three months in the two county papers, and in the Long Island Star, in the New York Standard and Statesman, and in the Courier and Enquirer.
" (Signed) GEORGE D. COLES, Ch'm'n. "(Signed) JAMES C. TOWNSEND, Sec'y."
At the next annual meeting, held in the Church, Tuesday in Easter Week, "the same being the first day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four," after Morning Prayer the election was held, resulting as follows :- Oliver Coles and Israel Horsefield, Church Wardens. Messrs. Edward Coles, Joseph Coles, Edward Coles, of Glen Cove, James C. Townsend, M.D., Daniel T. Cock, James Udall, Willet Weeks and John D. Feeks, Vestrymen.
The church building was erected at a cost of $1675, and was consecrated May 3, 1834, by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk. The grounds about the church were set apart and laid out for a cemetery, and regulations concerning interments therein were agreed upon, August 27, 1834,
Until the year 1846, the parish was connected with Christ Church, Cow-Neck (now Manhasset), the
238
St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove.
Rector of Christ Church giving to St. Paul's one ser- vice on Sunday and such other attendance during the week as might be necessary.
Under this agreement the Rev. Joseph F. Phillips, the Rector of Christ Church, became also Rector of St. Paul's. Afterwards the Rev. Moses Marcus filled that position from December 14, 1835, to June 19, 1836, when the Rev. James P. F. Clark succeeded him and continued in it until some time in 1846.
The first Rector of the Parish having exclusive charge, was the Rev. William Alfred Jenks, whose term of office extended from July 25, 1846, to May 2, 1849. During his rectorship, by the efforts of the ladies of the congregation, the church was greatly improved in its internal arrangements and appearance. A recess chancel was added to the church and its general effect brought to accord with improved views of ecclesiastical architecture.
The Rev. Stephen Douglass succeeded Mr. Jenks in September, 1849, and resigned the cure Oct. 1, 1852.
The Rev. Thomas Mallaby became Rector, Nov. I, 1852, resigning the position May 1, 1874. During his incumbency the church was enlarged and beautified. In 1856, Mr. John B. Coles, at his own expense, erected a range of horse-sheds for the use of those at- tending church, at an expense of over $300. In 1857 an organ was purchased for $800, and the old bell, which had become cracked, was exchanged for a new one. In 1858, another enlargement of the church was made by extending it eighteen feet, thus provid- ing an addition of twenty-eight pews. Mrs. John B. Coles, by a gift of $200, provided an open roof to take
239
Rev. William. M. Carmichael.
the place of the former flat ceiling. At Christmas, 1859, a stone font was obtained, and in the same year an additional lot of ground was added to the cemetery of 333 by 45 feet, at a cost of $500.
The Rev. Mr. Mallaby was succeeded, Sep. 1, 1874, by the Rev. John Cavarly Middleton, S.T.D.
REV. WILLIAM M. CARMICHAEL.
The Rev. Richard D. Hall was succeeded in the Rectorship of St. George's, Hempstead, by the Rev. Wm. M. Carmichael, who accepted the call given to' him by the Vestry, July 21, 1834, couched in the terms of the one given to Mr. Hall, but which stipulated that "the salary shall be $700 per annum." He was Instituted by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, on Sunday, August 17, 1834, the Rev. Sam'l. A. Warner, of Antigua, being present and assisting .*
Mr. Carmichael was born in Albany, in the year 1804. He graduated from Hamilton College, in 1826, and pursued his theological studies at Prince- ton. He was licensed as a Presbyterian preacher, and acted for six months as a temporary supply to the Reformed Dutch Church in Waterford, N. Y. His views respecting the requisites for a duly authorized ministry having undergone a change, he announced the fact to the people he was supplying, and sought for Episcopal ordination. He was ordained Deacon, Jan'y 13, 1832, by Rt. Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, and Priest, April 10 of the same year. In 1839 he re-
* Parish Register, p. 116.
240
St. George's Church.
ceived the degree of S.T.D. from Columbia College. He was called to this parish from Christ Church, Rye, of which he was then Rector. This was a repe- tition of an occurrence in 1726, when the Rev. Dr. Jenney was called here from the same parish.
One of the earliest of Mr. Carmichael's official acts: is thus recorded :
"Buried in the yard of St. George's Church, on the 20th of October, 1834, Mrs. Judith Moore, widow of the late Rev. Thos. Lambert Moore, aged 77 years.""
Soon after Mr. Carmichael had entered upon his duties, the Vestry authorized extensive repairs to be made upon the parsonage, and the fence around the glebe ; the interior of the church was repainted ; an organ purchased for $600, and a carpet, lamps, and books for the chancel obtained. The outlay was about $1600, a part of which was obtained by sup- scriptions and a part from loans on the notes of the Vestry. The barn which had been built at the request of Mr. Hobart, in 1800, and which had been placed fronting on Greenwich Street, was removed to its present position, back from the street. In the same year (1834), the Rector and Vestry determined to offer for sale a portion of the parsonage glebe. Five lots on Greenwich Street, were accordingly sold. The first lot next south of the parsonage, being sev- enty-five feet front, was sold, ultimately, to Richard Carman, for $840,* being about $11 per foot front. One was sold to George Vannostrand, and the others to Joseph Bedell, a blacksmith, and to Stephen Be-
* Records, p. 309.
241
Rev William M. Carmichael.
dell and Sylvanus Bedell. A lot was also sold on the east side of the parsonage garden, adjoining the Thorne property, of seventy feet front on Prospect Street, to William H. Barrol, at $12 per foot front, $840, but not being paid for, it reverted to the Vestry, who have since declined offers for it.
The proceeds of these sales of property, which had been devoted solely towards the support of the Rector, both by the vote of the town and the subsequent ratification of the legal authority of the Province of New York, should, of course, have been funded, that the income might be sacredly devoted to the purposes of the grant. We shall see, presently, whether this was the procedure.
" May 30, 1836 .- " The Vestry advanced the Rector's salary to $goo a year."
The land on Fulton Street, east of and extending to the present Attorney Street, in the village of Hempstead, originally contained twenty-three acres. Some of this property, known as "the Greenfield farm," had been thrown out to straighten Fulton Street or the Farmingdale Turnpike, as it was called ; and one or two small gores had been sold. It was at one time designed to use the land as a cemetery .*
This idea was finally given up, and it was resolved to sell it. It was offered to Mr. Amos Hogins, of New York, for $1850; who bought the larger part of it for $1800, and gave a mortgage and bond for the amount, which he discharged in 1844, and the money
* Records, p. 274.
11
242
Trinity Chapel, Rockaway.
was reloaned to Thomas Nelson .* The remaining. part was sold to Jacob Duryea.+
Oct. 5, 1837 .- Dr. Carmichael reported :
Baptisms-Adults 18, children 4 22
Marriages. IO
Confirmed (including 15 at Rockaway.) 44
S. School : Teachers, 12 ; Scholars, 50 62
Communicants (including Rockaway) about 140 Burials . .24
Besides these, 43 emigrants and sailors, who were drowned by the wrecking of the ship Mexico at Long Beach, on the night of Jan. 2, 1837, were inter- red by him at Rockville Cemetery, where a monu- ment was erected by funds given by citizens, com- memorating these " unknown dead."
Among the burials of this date there is recorded that of Mrs. Onderdonk, the mother of the Bishops, who had resided in Hempstead some time before her death.
TRINITY CHAPEL, ROCKAWAY.
The Rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Carmichael was marked by the important measure of the permanent occupation of Rockaway for the services of the Church ; and the initiatory steps which led to the in- dependent existence of another parish within the ancient limits of old St. George's. From an histori- cal sketch of Trinity Parish, Rockaway, by the Rev Samuel W. Sayres, Rector, read at the laying of the corner-stone of the recently erected church, we learn that as far back as the year 1817, occasional services were held in Rockaway, by the Rev. Seth Hart. In
* Church Records, p. 323. + Ibid, p. 335.
243
Trinity Chapel, Rockaway.
August of that year the Governor of the State, Dan- iel D. Tompkins, being on a visit to Far Rockaway, donated to the inhabitants, on petition of Mr. Benja- min Cornwell and others, a small building, formerly a " block-house," for use as a place of worship. The Rev. Mr. Hart held services in this building every fourth Sunday afternoon. The Rev. Gilbert H. Sayers, D.D., Rector of Grace Church, Jamaica, also officiated occasionally. This arrangement continued until the need of a more convenient and befitting house for worship was generally felt. The question of erecting a Chapel, while often considered, did not result in any positive efforts to obtain one until September, 1835 ; when a consultation of the friends of the church was held, and at a subsequent meeting it was resolved to build a Chapel, and the Rev. Mr. Carmichael, who presided at the meeting, and Mr. Clinton Pettit and George Hewlett, were appointed a Committee to take the necessary steps to carry this resolve into effect by securing the funds and a suitable lot of land on which to place a Chapel, " to be under the jurisdiction of the Vestry of St. George's Church, Hempstead."
A lot of ground containing about three acres was given by Major Cornelius Van Wyck and his sister. Another acre was purchased from the same parties, and on the 3rd of May, 1836, the corner-stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, Bishop of the diocese. Donations of timber and stone were receiv- ed ; about $1500 was raised by subscriptions, and a gift of $500 was made on the application of the Com- mittee by the Corporation of Trinity Church, New
244
Trinity Chapel, Rockaway.
York. These facts were duly reported to St. George's Vestry ;* and also that while the cost of the Chapel had been about $2,300, there was left an indebtedness of only about $90, which the Committee would im- mediately seek to obtain. They requested the Vestry to take the proper steps to have the building consecrated, by the name of "Trinity Chapel, Rockaway."
The Vestry accepted the report with thanks to the gentlemen who had so expeditiously and admirably executed the work intrusted to them. They signed the certificate and request to the Bishop; who complied with it, and the chapel was consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk, on Saturday, July 8, 1837. The next day the Bishop administered the rite of confirmation to a class of fifteen.
· The chapel and grounds continued to be the prop- erty of St. George's, Hempstead, until 1844.
On the 12th of December, 1843, at a meeting of the congregation of the chapel, Messrs. Clinton Pettit, George M. Hewlett and Peter T. Hewlett were appointed a Committee to obtain from the corporation of St. George's a separation from that parish, prepara- tory to its organization as a separate parish. This committee waited upon the Vestry, Jan 22, 1844.+ But the Rev. Dr. Carmichael having resigned the rectorship, and there being no Rector, the Vestry de- ferred action until they were duly organized with a Rector. And it was not until October 9, 1844, that the matter was disposed of. At that date, at a meet-
* Parish Records, p. 138.
+ Records, p. 320.
Trinity Chapel, Rockaway. 245
ing of the Vestry, the Rev. Orlando Harriman, Jr., Rector, in the chair, was passed the following :
" Resolved, That the Corporation of St. George's Church, Hempstead, convey all their right, title, and interest in Trinity Church, Rockaway, and the lands appertaining thereto, to the Rector and Vestry of said church, by deed of gift, to be held by them and their successors, for the purposes of an Episcopal (Church ?) and no other purpose.
" Resolved, That the Rector and S. Warden be a Committee to prepare the deed, and the Rector be authorized to sign it and affix thereto the corporate seal."
Upon this favorable action of St. George's Vestry, a meeting was held of the congregation, Feb'y 14, 1844,* and the organization of Trinity Church, Rock- away, perfected ; and the following persons elected its first vestry :
Foster Nostrand, Wardens.
Clinton Pettit,
George Hewlett, r
Jacob Lawrence,
John L. Morton,
Aledger Hewlett,
George M. Hewlett,
Vestrymen.
Jacob Stringham,
George R. Rhodes,
Robert B. Baisely, M. D.
Within a few years a Chapel to Trinity Church has been built at Far Rockaway, and consecrated by Bishop Potter, Nov'r, 1860-mainly through the zealous efforts of Mrs. F. H. Bolton ; affording a
11* * Parish Records, pages 330 and 331.
246
Trinity Chapel, Rockaway.
coveted opportunity to many to enjoy the services of the Church who lived too great a distance from the mother Church.
In 1854, largely through the liberality of Mr. Jo- seph Hewlett, a rectory was built on the church grounds. In 1876, preparation for building a new and large church was begun; the corner-stone being laid by the Bishop of the Diocese, July 19, 1877; and the contrast between it and the old one marks the wonderful advance made in forty years in ecclesiasti- cal architecture, as it also indicates the prosperous growth of the parish. The new church was conse- crated by the Rt. Rev. A. N. Littlejohn, Bishop of Long Island, May 2, 1878.
List of Rectors of Trinity Church, Rockaway.
Rev. J. Carpenter Smith, D.D. 1844 to 1847.
66 Vandervoort Bruce. 1847 to 1851.
Beverly R. Betts 1851 to 1852.
Dexter Potter (officiated) 1853 to 1854.
George L. Neide 1854 to 1859.
Robert T. Pearson 1859 to 1875.
Samuel W. Sayres May, 1876.
The old church has been converted into a lecture and Sunday-school room. The local position of the church and rectory is now, of late, distinguished by the name of Woodsburgh, so called after Mr. Samuel Wood.
After the chapel at Rockaway was built, in 1836, the Rev. Mr. Carmichael found it best for the interest. of the parish to give every other Sunday afternoon to Rockaway, although this involved the necessity of
247
Rev. William M. Carmichael.
his discontinuing the service he had been accustomed to hold at the Court House .*
At a meeting of the Vestry, March, 1838, another addition to the church-yard was effected by the pur- chase from David Bedell of a plot of ground Go feet wide and 300 feet long, for the sum of $600. 1. To raise this sum one hundred dollars at six per cent was obtained as a loan from Lewis Rushmore, and $500; from Lawrence Seaman, at the same rate of interest ;: but the latter made it a condition for his loan-" that each and every individual of the Vestry by himself became responsible for the same." The Vestry strongly objected to these terms, as being "a depart- ure from the general and authorized mode of doing business."# Nevertheless, they complied with them, and severally signed Seaman's note. It will be observed that the financial burdens upon the parish were accumulating rather rapidly. The Vestry, after a while, began to feel the pressure of these obligations, and May 17, 1742,§ they directed the treasurer to pay the following obligations, amounting to $730, viz .:
Note held by Lawrence Seaman, principal and in- terest,
$424 00
Note held by Jane Rushmore, $201 60
by Samuel L. Seaman, 105 00
Besides taking up these notes, the Treasurer was directed to pay sundry bills.
The money to minister this relief was taken from
* Records. p. 138.
# Records, p. 287
t Records, p. 284.
§ Records, p. 309.
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St. George's Church.
the $840 for which a part of the parsonage glebe had been sold to Joseph S. Cornwell. This was a diver- sion of funds given and sacredly devoted "to the support and maintenance of the minister of the parish." By this procedure the ministers' support is diminished for all time.
In 1838,* permission was given to the Rector to sell the old bell and procure a new one. The bell now in the church was then bought, but the sub- scriptions could not have equalled the price of it, for in April, 1845, we find the Vestry directing the Treas- urer " to pay the note due Messrs. O. T. and J. Hew- lett for the bell, with the money received from the Greenfield lots, lately sold."t Another diversion of funds which were given-not to pay for casual bills- but " towards the support of the Rector of said par- ish for the time being."
In IS38 the erection of the lecture-room was under- taken. The ladies of the parish had formed a "Fe- male Sewing Society," and by their industry earned the funds necessary. This was accomplished at a cost of $700, and the building was occupied in 1840.
In the parish register of Burials, under date of 1840, occurs this entry :
"Interred in the churchyard, Aug. 15, 1840, by the Rev. Wm. L. Johnson, of Jamaica, the Rector being indisposed, Edward Henry, son of Simeon Hyde, of Brooklyn, in the twenty-third year of his. age."
It was in connection with the grave of Mr. Hyde that Bishop Coxe wrote the ballad entitled 'Church-
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