USA > New York > Nassau County > Hempstead > History of St. George's Church, Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. > Part 17
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The Vestry took action, as follows :*
" At a meeting of the Vestry of Christ Church, held at the Rectory, on February 6, 1862, present the Rector and Messrs. Hewlett and Willis, Wardens ; and Messrs. Poole, Allen, Bremner and Mitchell of the Vestry. It was on motion :
" Resolved, That the following preambles and resolutions be adopted :
" Whereas, we have been duly informed by the Rector, that our respected and venerable townswoman Mrs. Ann' E. Cairns, being desirous of having a cha- pel erected in Roslyn, the village of her residence, for the celebration of Divine worship according to the Doctrine and Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal church, has given the generous sum of $2500 to be applied to the erection of said chapel :
" And whereas Mrs. Cairns has given this money on the condition that the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Christ Church, Manhasset, shall be the trustees thereof, and of the property which shall be-
* Records of Christ Church, Manhasset.
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Trinity Church, Roslyn.
purchased therewith, until such time as the Episco- palians of Roslyn shall be sufficiently numerous to warrant the organization of a separate parish ; there- fore,
" Resolved, That the Rector, Wardens and Vestry- men of Christ Church, Manhasset, do accept for ourselves and for our successors in office, the trust, and do hereby record our deep and lively sense of the Christian liberality of the donor.
" Resolved, That a committee consisting of Messrs .. Samuel L. Hewlett, Samuel J. Willis, and the Rector, be appointed to purchase land and superintend the erection of the proposed chapel thereon.
" Resolved, That a copy of the proceedings of this meeting, so far as they relate to the above named donation of Mrs. Cairns, be most respectfully com- municated to her by the Rector.
" Signed by GEO. W. PORTER, Rector.
Samuel J. Hewlett, Samuel J. Mitchell, Wardens.
Samuel C. Poole, Richard Allen,
Andrew A. Bremner, John S. Morrell, Vestry-
Wm. A. Mitchell, L. G. Capers, men.
Joseph L. Hewlett,
"WM. A. MITCHELL, Clerk."
The Committee to purchase land for the Chapel, obtained the present site of one acre from Mr. Ste- phen Mott, for $1000 cash, and the title was duly vested in the corporation of Christ Church, Manhas- set. A plan and specification for the building were obtained from McDonald and Clinton, and a contract made with S. Roe, of Flushing, to erect it, for $1995.
The Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, on the IIth of July, 1862, laid the corner-stone, which was the same that in 1839 had been used. It was opened, and additional
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Trinity Church, Roslyn.
documents inserted in the box. When the edifice. was built, the ladies of the congregation provided a furnace, carpets, and other furniture, and the chapel was consecrated on Tuesday, December 2, 1862, by Bishop Potter; the Rector, Rev. Geo. W. Porter, reading the request for consecration and instruments. of donation ; the Lessons and Prayers being by the Rev. Thomas Mallaby of Glen Cove, and Rev. Wm .. H. Moore, D. D., of Hempstead.
For seven years the Rector of Christ Church, Man- hasset, continued to serve the portion of his flock, who met in the chapel at Roslyn.
March 19, 1869, at a meeting of the Vestry of the. parish, the following action was taken, sundering the connection between mother and daughter, by the unanimous adoption of the following preamble and resolution :
" Whereas, the Protestant Episcopalians of Roslyn, by a committee of H. W. Eastman, Thos. Clapham, and John J. Willis, have made application to the. Vestry of Christ Church, Manhasset, to have the chapel of that place, now a part of this Parish, set over to them for the purpose of a separate organization, and to establish a settled ministry, the more effectually to carry out the good work begun in that part of God's vineyard, and believing, as we do, that the future growth and prosperity of the church depends. wholly or mainly on the active exertions of a settled. minister : now therefore,
" Resolved, That as soon as they shall be organized as a Vestry, that the application be granted. And may God add His blessing to their labors and speed. the good work.
" S. S. SMITH, Clerk of the Vestry."
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Trinity Church, Roslyn.
The congregation at Roslyn thereupon proceeded to organize a parish.
* " At a meeting of the male members of the con- gregation worshipping in the Chapel at Roslyn, attached to Christ Church, Manhasset, held at said Chapel, April 7, 1869, notice of the same having been previously given, the Rector, Rev. Geo. W. Bugbee, occupied the chair; H. W. Eastman appointed Sect'y. On motion of A. A. Bremner, it was
" Resolved, That the Church and Parish be known by the name of ' Trinity Church,' of Roslyn."
An election was held, and Stephen Day was elect- ed Senior Warden, and John Ordronaux, Junior Warden. Thomas Clapham, Franklin Wight, Francis Skillman, Henry W. Eastman, William J. Willis, Andrew A. Bremner, John T. Willis, Henry T. Hew- lett, Vestrymen.
" It was Resolved, That Easter Monday be the day of termination of office of the Wardens and Vestry -. men.
"H. W. EASTMAN, Scc'ry."
In 1873, a rectory was built on the church land at a cost of nearly $3,000. The whole property is now valued at some $6,000.
In the church ground is a single grave, enclosed within an iron railing. In the grave are deposited the remains of John, son of Otto Pollitz, Esq., who for some years resided in Roslyn. Young Pollitz was one of the most active members of the young parish. He died at the age of nineteen, in a southern hospi- tal, while serving in the army engaged in putting down the rebellion. He devoted the pay he received
* From minutes of Trinity Church, Roslyn.
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St. George's Church.
from the government to purchase a bell for the church. He was also an ardent soldier of Christ.
Mrs. Cairns died March, 1866, and her daughter has presented to the parish, as a memorial of her, a considerable sum towards a fund for the support of a rector, and to ensure the continuance of services in the church.
The following is a list of the Rectors :
Rev. Stephen A. McNulty, from June, 1869 to May, 1873.
Rev. Charles Pelletreau, from May, 1873, to July, I875.
Rev. James W. Sparks, from Nov. 1875, to Nov. 1878. Rev. William P. Brush, from May, 1880.
CATHEDRAL AT GARDEN CITY.
An important event in the history of St. George's parish took place in 1876, in the yielding up of a portion of its limits for the establishment of a Cathe- dral for the See of Long Island. In June, 1875, in answer to a request, the writer waited upon Mrs. Alexander T. Stewart, who stated to him that she wished to erect at Garden City a church, as a memo- rial to her deceased husband, of which, she hoped, the Bishop of Long Island would take charge; and as Garden City was within the bounds of St. George's parish, she asked consent of the writer, as Rector of the parish, according to the rules of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for such a partition of its territory. Consent was given readily, and with rejoicing that the Diocese and the whole Church were to be so
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Cathedral at Garden City.
enriched, although the old parish might be thereby diminished.
In the following year, June 28, 1877, the corner stone of the designed memorial structure was laid, with memorable services, in the presence of several thousand persons, under the title of the " Cathedral of the Incarnation of the Diocese of Long Island-in Memoriam-Alexander Turney Stewart."
Twenty-two of the young men of St. George's parish acted as the aids of the Committee of Arrange- ments and Chief-Marshals on that occasion, and per- formed their duties so well under the unusual cir- cumstances, as to draw forth from the marshals a letter of grateful appreciation to them, as having very largely contributed to the effective carrying out of the plans for that ceremony. The project thus begun has already effected great things, and among other results, has attracted no little attention to the mother parish itself.
The work already done indicates what will be effected when the generous plans of the founder are fully developed.
The Cathedral, as may be seen, is a thing of beauty, and is as substantial as beautiful. "Though. not pretentious in the matter of its dimensions, yet in gracefulness of design, in beauty of pro- portion and ornamentation, it will not suffer by comparison with the finest architectural creations of Europe."*
And St. Paul's School building includes every
* Dr. Snively's address at the laying of the corner-stone.
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known device to secure to its pupils all possible. advantages. Its massiveness of construction tells us that it is built to endure for ages, and yield its bene- fits to many generations.
A sketch of the religious family, which a parish is, has mainly to do with the exteriors of the life of that family ; matters of a visible, and mostly of a material nature. It has to be occupied with the incidents of its outward growth or decline, of the building up or taking down of temples made by hands. Of the spiritual, which is the real and supreme life of that family, very little can ever be said which is not either of a very general nature or essentially indefinite. The things of the spirit are cognizable only by those who are themselves familiar with spiritual experiences. To such persons a bare intimation will suffice to convey a world of precious information. In giving this historical sketch of St. George's parish, we have presented a few statistics of baptisms, confirmations and additions to. the Holy Communion ; but we have not attempted to declare how far even these signified real "growth in grace," and the development of the life of God in the souls of men. So far as works of benevolence and zeal for God disclose faith working by love, so far do. the acts of the several generations of those who have: made up the continuous life of the corporate parish · afford data for judging them. We know them only by their works; the Judge of all alone knows them by their hearts, and as they really are.
While it has not been deemed judicious or safe to. seek to portray the religious condition and attain-
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Rev. William H. Moore.
ments of the members of the church in the several periods of the existence of the parish which have: been under review, the compiler does not hesitate to say, in general terms, concerning this essential mat- ter, that several valuable religious features are plainly to be discerned as characterizing the members of the church. They have invariably adhered to the old paths of the Church : to the old, precious, distinctive truths and doctrines of the Gospel; as letters and. specimens of the sermons delivered to them and ac- cepted by them, which are still preserved, abundantly testify. We know that the several pastors of the parish have proclaimed to its members, in unqualified terms, " the unsearchable riches of Christ." The effect has doubtless been much the same aforetime as now, and here, as elsewhere ; some have believed the things spoken, and some have believed not. Some have had a name to live, but were dead ; while others. truly lived and died unto Christ.
More than once, in the history of the parish, has a whirlwind of religious excitement swept around it, and "overthrown the faith of some," who were in each instance carried away by the love of some new thing-but the great number remained unshaken and steadfast. And when the excitement had spent it- self it was manifest that religion with earnestness, but not with outcry and self-assertion, is usually deepest and most durable.
There are sundry incidental statements in the par- ish records which plainly show that it has had mem- bers whose Christian life shone with extraordinary brightness. And they show what is better still, that
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St. George's Church.
very many, by a quiet and humble walk and con- versation, and by patient continuance in well doing- some of them to very great age-glorified God in their bodies and spirits. They illustrated Cyprian's saying : "We do not speak great things, but live them."*
It would not be difficult to mention the names of several of the past members of the parish who " let their light so shine before men as to glorify our Fa- ther in heaven." But we could hardly do this with- out appearing invidious. But there is one whose name we may recall without liability to such objec- tion, because of the peculiar incidents of her history ; whose life exemplified those traits of a solid and effective but unobtrusive piety, which had character- ized many of her relatives and fellow members.
MRS. ELIZABETH NICHOLS.
October 24, 1858, the remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Nichols were laid in St. George's churchyard. She was the daughter of Mrs. Abigail Smyth, who in 1828 bequeathed $1000 towards the support of the Rector of St. George's. Her father was Captain John Ferdinand Stuart Smyth, or Smyth-Stuart, for he used both forms of cognomen, and claimed to be a descendant of the Duke of Monmouth, son of Charles II. He was Captain of the Queen's Ran- gers, and was stationed on Long Island, where he married Miss Abigail, daughter of Leffert Lefferts, a staunch Churchman, and Warden of St. George's Church from 1746 to 1788. Mr. Lefferts, who was
* " Non loquimur magna, sed vivimus," de Bono Patientiæ.
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Mrs. Elizabeth Nichols.
of Dutch descent, was also called " Haugewout ;" and by this title he is commonly mentioned in the Parish Records. The name is said to have been derived from the residence of his ancestors, " Haugewood," on the Hague.
Captain (Stuart) Smyth was married to Miss Lef- ferts, Oct. 23, 1778, by the Rev. John Bowden, chap- lain of Gen. De Lancey's brigade. The connection was not agreeable to Mr. Lefferts, who foresaw that at the termination of the war his daughter would probably be separated from her husband. Such separation took place sooner than he anticipated. The year after his marriage Captain Smyth embarked for England with the ostensible purpose of presenting to the Government his claims to be recompensed for losses of property in Virginia he had sustained for adhering to the Crown against the Colonies. If he made such claims, they were unsuccessful. Mrs. Smyth, on her husband's departure, returned to her father's house, and there, May 4, 1780, was born a daughter, the subject of this sketch.
For sixteen years after his departure, nothing was heard of Captain Smyth. His statement afterwards was that he had often written, but having no replies to his letters, and some reason to think his wife was dead, he had married again in England.
When Miss Elizabeth Smyth was seventeen years old, her father visited New York and sought her out. Learning that she was visiting a friend in New York city, he called on her, and met at the same time his deserted wife. The incidents of this painful inter- view we pass over. The effect upon Mrs. Smyth was
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St. George's Church.
only to open anew the wound which preyed upon her spirits. After Captain Smyth returned to England, he occasionally wrote to his daughter. He died in London, December, 1814.
On the 30th of March, 1802, Miss Smyth was married to Mr. Gideon Nichols, by the Rev. Seth Hart. A few years after this Mrs. Nichols became conscious of a defect in her hearing, which resulted in total deafness. But her ability to speak she never lost; and being able to discern what others said by the movement of their lips, she was not deprived en- tirely of the privileges of social intercourse. But she was excluded from a full participation in the Church services, and this was a great grief to her. The por- tions of the services she could unite in she used with fervor. Her appreciation of the advantages of a Lit- urgy was thus declared. Visiting a relative belong- ing to the Society of Quakers, she accepted an invitation to accompany her to their place of worship. There was a "silent meeting." On their return home her friend remarked to her that she must feel that their mode of worship suited her best, for they all hear alike on that occasion. No, Mrs. Nichols replied, she was more than ever convinced that the Church to which she belonged was best adapted to her case; for when with the Quakers and others, she knew not whether any one was speaking or not; but with the Prayer Book before her, she could join with the other worshippers of the congregation almost as well as those who could hear around her.
In 1843 she was made greatly happy in seeing her
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Mrs Elizabeth Nichols.
youngest son, the Rev. Edwin A. Nichols, admitted to Holy Orders.
Mrs. Nichols exemplified in every way a mortal can, deep and heartfelt love to her Lord. Her reli- gion was wrought into the very warp and woof of her daily life and conversation. As truly as any of the saints whom the Church delights to remember, she "walked with Christ."
At her funeral, in October, 1858, as the coffin reposed in front of the chancel, the image of the dove with outspread wings, in the colored glass window in the chancel, was reflected upon the plate of the coffin- lid, on which was inscribed :
" Elizabeth Nichols-Aged 78-Asleep in Jesus."
The observant eye of one of her daughters noticed this prophetic sign, and in the following lines gave expression to the thoughts and emotions it awakened.
Thy form was borne, O mother dear, Where late thy steps had gladly trod, And placed, from off the sable bier, Within the hallowed house of God.
Without the rude winds raged and sighed, But all seemed sheltering peace within ; So shall their souls in peace abide, Whom Christ receives, secure from sin.
Then rose the strains of praise and prayer, And words of cheering hope were said
By priest and people gathered there To honor the lamented dead.
To me the preacher's voice was mute,* And grief of bitter sorrow told ;
* The daughter shared in defect of hearing.
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St. George's Church.
Yet, dearer than the sound of lute, Sweet thoughts were on my spirit rolled.
For while I sat with tearful gaze Fixed ever on the coffin lid, Which henceforth, through my lonely days, From me life's dearest object hid :
Then, from the pictured height above, Soft gleams of light upon thy name Reflected fell ; the mirrored dove Around it shed a beauteous flame,
And trusting hope came whispering near, Behold a token thus displayed, --- Her soul whose name is graven here, In God's pure light is now arrayed.
It is to be added that this daughter has consecrated of her means a fund with which is built the chapel of St. John's Hospital, of the Church Charity Founda- tion of Long Island, in Brooklyn, as a memorial of her mother.
It remains to be stated, in conclusion, that the in- stitution of the compiler of this history into the rectorship of St. George's Church, took place on Tuesday, November 13th, 1849, the Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Professor in the General Theological Seminary, acting as institutor by request of the Stand- ing Committee of the Diocese of New York. The sermon was preached by the Rev. B. C. Cutler, D.D., Rector of St. Ann's Church, Brooklyn, the Rev. Wm. L. Johnson, D.D., of Grace Church, Jamaica; and the Rev. George Shelton, of St. James' Church, New- town, being present and assisting. The keys were delivered by Mr. John Bedell, Senior Warden.
APPENDIX A.
CHURCHYARDS. ST. GEORGE'S, HEMPSTEAD. 1.
I never can see a churchyard old, With its mossy stones and mounds, And green trees weeping the unforgot That rest in its hallowed bounds; I never can see the old churchyard, But I breathe to God a prayer, That, sleep as I may in this fevered life, I may rest when I slumber there.
2.
Our mother, the Earth, hath a cradle-bed Where she gathereth sire and son, And the old world's fathers are pillowed there, Her children, every one ! And her cradle it hath a dismal name, When riseth the banquet's din, And pale is the cheek at dance or wine, If a song of its sleep break in.
3.
But our Mother the Church hath a gentle nest, Where the Lord's dear children lie, And its name is sweet to a Christian ear, As a motherly lullaby.
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Appendix A.
Oh the green churchyard, the green churchyard, Is the couch she spreads for all ; And she layeth the cottager's baby there, With the lord of the tap'stry hall!
4.
Our Mother, the Church, hath never a child To honor before the rest,
But she singeth the same for mighty kings And the veriest babe on her breast ; And the bishop goes down to his narrow bed As the ploughman's child is laid, And alike she blesseth the dark-browed serf And the chief in his robe arrayed.
5.
She sprinkles the drops of the bright new-birth The same on the low and the high, And christens their bodies with dust to dust, When earth with its earth must lie ; Oh, the poor man's friend is the Church of Christ, From birth to his funeral day ; She makes him the Lord's, in her surpliced arms, And singeth his burial lay.
6.
And ever the bells in the green churchyard Are tolling, to tell ye this ; Go pray in the church, while pray ye can, That so ye may sleep in bliss. And wise is he in the glow of life Who weaveth his shroud of rest, And graveth it plain on his coffin-plate, That the dead in Christ are blest.
7.
I never can see a green churchyard But I think I may slumber there, And I wonder within me what strange disease Shall bring me to homes so fair ;
Patent and Charter. 289
New Church in the said Parish, and the same had Dedicated to the Service and worship of God, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England as by law estab)- lished, by the name of Saint George's Church, which Church Church they hold and enjoy, together with a parsonage House and built and glebe occu- Glebe Lands in the said Parish, but that for want of their pied, but being Incorporated they are not capable of Receiving or ac- poration, no Incor- cepting such Donations as Pious Design'd persons were or but needed. may be disposed to give unto them, or of purchasing any Lands or Tenements for the use of the said Church, or of Transacting and carrying on the affairs and business thereof in such advantagious and beneficial manner as otherwise they might do: Wherefore, to the End the said Petitioners and their Successors may be Secured in the quiet and peaceable Possession and enjoyment of the said Church, Parsonage and Glebe Lands, and also erected and made a Body Politick Petition and Corporate, the better to manage and carry on the affairs poration for Incor- and business of the said Church to and for the Glory of God considered .. and the pious uses intended thereby, they prayed our Roy- al Grant and Confirmation of the said Church, Parsonage and Glebe Lands, and that they and all other the Commun- icants of the said Church may be Incorporated into a Body Politick and Corporate in Deed, fact and name, by the name and Stile of the Rector and Inhabitants of the Parish of Hemp- Title. stead, in Queens County, on Long Island, in Communion of the Church of England as by law established: And that, as such and by that name they and their Successors may have, hold, use, occupy and enjoy all the Rights, benefits, advan- tages, privileges, immunities and appurtenances as are usually Privileges aeld and enjoyed by any parochial Church within the Realm asked. of England, and we being willing to give all due encourage- ment and promotion to the pious intentions of our said Sub- jects and to grant this their reasonable request in that be- halfe made: KNOW YE, that we of our Especial Grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, HAVE made, Ordain- ed Constituted and Declared, and by these presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, DO make, Ordain, Constitute, Names of Grant and Declare, That the said Robert Jenny, John Cor- Incorpora- nell, William Cornell, Joseph Smith, Thomas Williams, tors. Jacob Smith, Richard Thorne, Micah Smitlı, Robert Sutton, James Pine, Sen., John Roe, Thomas Gildersleeve, George
13
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Appendix C.
Decree of Incorpora- tion.
Perpetual Succession.
Maintain Suits.
Gildersleeve, John Cornell, Jr., Peter Smith, Silas Smith, Joseph Thorne, Joseph Langdon, James Albertus, Thomas. Lee, Robert Marvin, William Langdon, Daniel Hewlitt, George Balden, Timothy Smith, Joseph Mott, Geradus Clowes, James Hugins, Jakamiah Mitchell, Peter Smith, Jr., Charles Peters, Richard Cornell, Jr., Thomas Cornell, Jr., William Corneli, Jr., and Isaac Germon, and the rest of the Communicants of the said Church in the Parish of Hemp- stead aforesaid, be, and they and their Successors, Com- municants of the said Church, shall be from time to time and at all times forever hereafter a Body Corporate and pol- itick in Deed, fact and name, by the name of the Rector and Inhabitants of the Parish of Hempstead, in Queens County, on Long Island, in Communion of the Church of England as by law established, and them and their Successors, Com- municants of the said Church, by the name of the Rector and Inhabitants of the Parish of Hempstead, in Queens County, on Long Island, in Communion of the Church of England as by Law established, One Body Politick and Corporate in Deed, Fact and name, really and fully we do for us, our Heirs and Successors, Erect, make, Constitute Declare and Create by these presents: And that by the same name they and their Successors shall and may have perpetual Succession, and shall and may be responsible and Capable in the Law to. Sue and be Sued, to Implead and be Impleaded, to Answer and be Answered unto, to Defend and be Defended in all Courts and Elsewhere in all and Singular Suits, Causes,. Quarrels, matters, Actions, Demands and things, of what nat- ure or kind soever. AND ALSO, that they and their Suc- cessors by the same name be and shall be forever hereafter Capable and able in the Law to take, Accept of, Acquire and purchase, Receive, Have, Hold and Enjoy in fee for- ever, or for Life or Lives, or for Years, or in any other man- Rights to hold and dispose of ner, any messuages, Buildings, Houses, Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments and Real Estate, and the same to Lease or real estate. Demise for one or more years, or to Grant, Alien, Bargain, Sell and Dispose of for Life or Lives or forever, under cer- tain yearly rents: AND also to accept of, take, possess and purchase any Goods, Chattels or personal Estate, and the same to Hire, Lett, Sell or dispose of at their Will and pleas- ure, and all this as fully as any other Corporation or Body
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