USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > History of the First Presbyterian church of Albany, N.Y.; lists of its officers, and a complete catalogue of its members from its organization > Part 4
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but so accomplished did some become through long practice, that it might be difficult to determine exactly when the singing ended and the "lining" began; and tradition tells of the great disgrace that fell upon presuming individuals, who aspired to this office without the requisite gifts and training.
The first innovation in this part of the worship was made in the year 1800. At its meeting, March 4th, of that year, Session directed each elder to inquire among the members in his district, if any would be opposed to the abolition of the custom of lining the Psalms as they were sung. At the next meeting, it was reported that there was " no material objection ; " and accordingly, notice was given, that, on the first Sabbath of the following month, it would be discon- tinued ; and requesting the people to supply themselves with " Psalm Books," - Session also ordering some copies to be dis- tributed by the deacons among the poor. At their meeting, September 19th, 1803, Session received a petition signed by one hundred and two persons, praying them to introduce the Books of Psalms and Hymns recommended by the General Assembly, and abolish the use of the old version of the Psalms. There was, however, strong opposition to the in- troduction of uninspired hymns into the worship of God. For two years the petition was allowed to remain unan- swered; when the change asked for was made, going into
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effect the second Sabbath of September, 1805. Some per- sons withdrew from the church in consequence of this change.
The precentor, at this time, seems to have created dis- satisfaction, on account of the music he was introducing in leading the singing. The Session adopted a very simple method of regulating the evil. September 2d, 1805, a com- mittee was appointed to " make a selection of tunes proper to be sung in the church." This committee reported at the next meeting, recommending twenty-seven tunes, of the dif- ferent metres, as suitable to be sung. The report was adopted, and the precentor furnished with the list, from which he was to make his selections. This list contains a number of the "good old tunes" most acceptable to the church at the present time. Some such action, on the part of the Session at this time, was very necessary ; as persons were asking for letters of dismissal, assigning as their reason, the kind of music which was being used in the worship of God's house.
The singing at this time being wholly congregational, it was of importance that the people, as far as possible, should be qualified to join harmoniously in the exercise. Both the Session and the Board of Trustees recognized this fact ; and, the facilities for receiving a musical education being exceed- ingly limited, and enjoyed by the fewest, various arrangements were effected, from time to time, for exercising the people in
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singing. " Singing schools" were organized, the precentor was required not only to lead the singing in the church, but also to teach the people during the week - for which extra salary was allowed -and, at times, the congregation were asked to meet, before or after the usual Wednesday evening lecture, for the purpose of " improving themselves in psalm- ody." Thus was the praise of the congregation conducted up to about the year 1829 or 30.
November 22d, 1829, a committee was appointed by the Session to "regulate the singing in our church in the gallery ;" and, at the next meeting, they " reported that they had attended to that duty, and that pews had been assigned for that purpose." This action, doubtless, marks the time of the introduction of the choir into this church. Other ad- vances soon followed; each of them in turn shocking the pious sensibilities of some of the good people of the congre- gation, and occasioning no small dissatisfaction. Among some old files of papers, I find a petition to the Session on the subject of church music, signed by thirty-three prominent male members of the congregation. Although it bears no date, yet, from circumstances, it must be assigned to the early part of the year 1830. In it, the petitioners ingen- iously argue ;- that church music is a " part of the worship of the church militant, more nearly allied to that of the church triumphant, than any other," - that, " where there is a spirit
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of singing, there is a spirit of prayer,"- they declare them- selves "extremely anxious to cultivate to its true standard that interesting, important, and too much neglected part of the public worship of God,"- and as a means for the attain- ment of these most desirable ends, they ask "permission for the choir -
To stand up when they sing -
and, To use instrumental accompaniments to assist their voices in keeping tone and time."
Of course, no church Session would care to record them- selves against this extreme desire to more nearly ally the church militant to the church triumphant and to increase a spirit of prayer ; and if they had any doubts as to the effi- ciency of the means suggested to accomplish these ends, they gave no official utterance to them. I find no minute of any action having ever been taken on this petition, nor any re- ference whatsoever to it. But, on Sabbath, the 18th day of August, 1830, the choir both stood up when they sang, and had an instrumental accompaniment to help them keep " tone and time."1 . The instrument then introduced was a large bass viol. To this was added, not long after, a violon- cello, a violin, and two flutes. When the new church was finished, in 1850, an organ was built in at an expense of $2,000. About six years ago, this organ was made to give
' In a scrap book made by Jacob Vanderzee, there is a woodeut picture clipped from one of the papers of the period caricaturing the choir as it appeared on that day.
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place to the large, noble instrument, which occupies the organ loft at the present tinie.
Up to about the year 1861, the choir was what is generally known as " amateur,"- the best musical talent of the church volunteering to lead the singing of the congregation,- only the leader or organist receiving pay. During the autumn of 1861, paid singers were introduced ; and the choir has been composed of such, with one exception, from that time to the present - the expense ranging between $1000 and $1,500. It would, however, be doing great injustice to those who have now for many years led the music of this congregation, to class them with the ordinary professional choir. Without exception, they have always shown themselves accommodat- ing and obliging, and have taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare and prosperity of this congregation. One of them,1 who is a member of our own church, has given his services in this direction, wholly gratuitously, for a period of now nearly twenty years; and I avail myself of this op- portunity to express to him the sincere thanks of this entire congregation.
I A. P. Stevens.
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SABBATHI SCHOOLS.
CHURCH SCHOOL.
ROM the beginning, this church has shown great concern for the careful religious training of its children. The old records of the church show, that, during the last century, the catechetical instruction of the young was one of the regular services of the Sabbath ; and various plans were adopted, from time to time, looking to the more efficient discharge of this important duty.
During the early years of this century, the Sabbath School movement began to attract attention in this country. Up to 1813, schools had been organized at the following places ; 1_ New Brunswick, N. J., 1799 ; Greenwich Village, N. Y., 1804 ; Bath, N. II., 1805; Pittsburgh, Pa., 1809; New York City, and Beverly, Mass., 1810; Somerville, N. J., 1811; Boston, and Salem, Mass., 1812. Then came the first organization of the kind in this city. March 21st, 1813, Mr. and Mrs. Upfold opened a "Sunday Free School" in Van Tromp street, "where several branches of an English education" were taught. This enterprise, however, did not continue long. Again, in January 1816, Mrs. Upfold and Mrs. Bocking opened a - Sabbath 1 History S. S. Union by J. Ferris.
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School for the instruction of African females." Soon after this, another school was opened, in the Uranian Hall, for males. These two enterprises were afterwards united, and continued for a number of years to do a most excellent work for the colored population of this city. In June of this year, also, some ladies of the Reformed Dutch Church opened a school for girls in Green street, which continued through that summer, and then was closed on account of the severity of the winter, and not opened again for some two years, None of these enterprises were permanent ; neither were any of them admitted into any of the churches.
The first Sabbath School organized in this city, which proved permanent, was the First Presbyterian. Three lady members of this church, in July, 1816, opened a school for girls at house No. 20, Beaver street. Their names were Miss Oakie, Miss Berbank, and Miss Aimes now the venerable Mrs. James, widow of Rev. Dr. James, and at the present time a member of this church. This school was an immediate suc- cess, and soon removed to the basement of thechurch, and was recognized as a church school. That its relation to the church was fully and speedily recognized, is evident from a minute I find on the Session book, dated May 9th, 1817 :- " A memorial signed by Miss M. L. Ames, in behalf of the Sunday School Society belonging to this congregation, and praying for a collection," etc., was " referred to the Board of
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Trustees, with a request that the prayer of the petition might be granted."
In September1 of 1816, three other schools were started,- one by some members of the Methodist church,- one by Mr. Young, who was also connected with the Upfolds in their first enterprise - (neither of these continuing long), - and one for boys, September Ist, by the Young Men's Society, in a schoolroom in Green street. This latter school soon filled up the room in which it met ; and the year following applicants for admission were turned over to a school, started in August, 1817, by Mr. Dillingham, on the corner of Chapel and Steuben streets. These schools were afterwards merged into one and became the Second Presbyterian. The order of time, therefore, in which some of the earlier schools were organized in this city, and which have survived uninter- ruptedly to the present, seems to be about as follows :-
July, 1816, First Presbyterian.
September 1st, 1816, Second Presbyterian. January Ist, 1818, St. Peters.
1818 or 1819, Middle Dutch."
November 13th, 1819, First Baptist. April 30th, 1820, Lutheran. December 17th, 1820, North Dutch.
' Report of Superintendent Briggs for 1876.
: Munsell's Annals.
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When first organized our own school was designed only for girls, but soon the plan was enlarged to admit boys also. Its main object seems to have been, to furnish instruction of a religious character to poor and neglected children, whom the ordinary Sabbath instruction failed entirely to reach. The Sabbath School idea did not then, and, rightly understood, does not now, presume to take the care of the
church's children out of the hands of Christian parents, their Divinely appointed guardians and instructors. Parents cannot leave the religious education of their offspring to any merely human institution, no matter how excellent it may be, without proving themselves neglectful of a most sacred and heaven imposed duty.
The Session of the church continued to give the same careful attention to the catechetical instruction of the young, after, as before, the organization of the Sabbath School in connection with this congregation. September 1st, 1820, it was resolved that the elders should " attend in rotation, on Wednesday afternoon, to aid and countenance the pastor in instructing the classes in the Bible and Catechism ; " and in 1838, Session "appointed a committee to make arrange- ments, in the Sunday School of our church, for appropriating a part of the time each Sabbath, to the teaching of the children the Assembly's Catechism." Thus it appears, that until comparatively recent years, the Sabbath School had
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not superseded those useful catechetical exercises, maintained and conducted by the pastor and Session from the organi- zation of the church.
For many years the chief officer of the school was called " Principal." The first Principal of whom we have any information was Mr. Warner. It is to be regretted that no minutes of the school have been kept back of 1840. As perfect a roll, however, of Principals and Superintendents, as can be made, will be found among the lists of the officers of the church. The school has maintained a vigorous exist- ence from the beginning. But in more recent years it has become so largely a church school, reaching so small a por- tion of that element of our community for whom it was originally intended, that it was felt by many, that some new enterprise of a Sabbath School character ought to be set on foot by our church, looking more to the care of poor and neglected children. This eventually took shape in the organization of the
MISSION SCHOOL.
A meeting of the friends of such an enterprise, was held in the Lecture Room of the church, March 30th, 1866. Great interest was manifested; the movement was at once fully inaugurated, and afterward vigorously carried forward. Various committees were appointed, to choose a site for a
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Chapel, - to ask the assent of the Session and Board of Trustees to a canvass of the congregation for subscriptions- and to solicit contributions. Unanimous consent was given, by the officers of the church, for a committee to call on the members for means to forward the enterprise, on the condi- tion, that the object should simply be stated, and " the money should be voluntarily offered for this purpose and not solicited," so that it might " not interfere with the regular revenues of the church." On this condition, the money was soon obtained and a house built on a lot which had been procured in Alexander street. The whole cost of the ground and chapel was $4,779.68.
September 10th, 1866, a meeting was held to organize the school. Twenty-two persons volunteered their services as teachers ; Mr. Joseph F. Winne was elected superintendent ; and other officers were chosen. The enterprise was now fully organized and officered,-only lacking the important element of scholars to teach. From the beginning of the movement, it was walking "by faith and not by sight." What if after all this effort, outlay of means, and organiz- ation, no scholars could be induced to attend ? The most sanguine could scarcely hope for more scholars at first, than the number of teachers and officers they now had. It was with no little anxiety on the part of the originators of the movement, that the opening day was awaited. Sabbath
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afternoon, September 16th, 1866, the house was dedicated with appropriate exercises ; and one week from that time, September 23d, it was opened for school purposes. Nor was the faith which inspired the movement hitherto disappointed, so far as visible promise of success was concerned. Two hundred and one scholars were present the first day; and the number continued to increase from day to day, until the accommodations of the house proved inadequate.
November 27th, 1867, it was resolved by the teachers, to endeavor to raise funds for the purpose of building on an addition to the Chapel; which was successfully accomplished during the following winter. This addition made the entire cost of the property about $6000. This house was destroyed by fire in the early morning of September 13th, 1869. It was immediately rebuilt, and rededicated December 5th, of the same year. Mr. A. P. Stevens was elected Superintend- ent, September 15th, 1869, and continues to fill the office at the present time. The school has always been largely attended, and is now in successful operation. Though the work is necessarily one of a difficult, and in some of its as- pects, discouraging character, yet the faithful toilers in this field have, for their great encouragement, the promise of " the faithful God," which keepeth covenant and mercy to a thousand generations." " As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth
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the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the cater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth : it shall not re- turn unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it." " In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."
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BENEVOLENCE.
OR many years, there does not seem to have been much attention given to the subject of benevolence. The Board of Trustees received all moneys gathered in the church into their treasury. When Presbytery or General Assembly made calls for contributions for various objects, the Board voted such sums as they deemed "to be adequate ;" which were usually very small, averaging but a few pounds. Of course, under such a system, there was no opportunity for the growth of a spirit of benevolence. This plan was abandoned somewhere about the year 1800. In 1804, a charity collection for the poor was taken in the church, after a special sermon on the subject by Mr. Nott. The sum realized on that occasion was $327, and was re- marked "as the most liberal collection ever taken in the city."1 This amount may seem small, as compared with nearly $3000 given by this church last year to the poor in our own midst ; but when we remember that this was among the earliest efforts of the congregation in the way of charity contributions, and also take into consideration the compara- tive ability of the church then and now, we need not think
1 Munsell's Annals.
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strange that it should be remarked as a very liberal contri- bution.
Up to 1830, there was little exercise of the spirit of li- berality,- the collections generally running under $100. But about that time, there is a very marked change, and rapid improvement from year to year, which has continued to the present time,- the aggregate of the contributions during the past year being the largest in the history of the church. If, therefore, we are not financially stronger than we have ever been ; then, what is better, we are more liberal. The sum total of moneys gathered in the congregation for all purposes during the last seven years is something over $105,000. It is a curious fact, well worth noting, that in those years when the church raised the largest amounts for necessary expenses at home, its contributions to the various causes of benevolence abroad have also been largest,- illus- trating the important truth, that the more a people give the more they are disposed to give.
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SPIRITUALITY.
IKE all churches, this one has had its seasons of quickening, and times of coldness and formality; but it has not been subject to those regular oscil- lations from one of these states to the other, that character- ize the life of churches sometimes. Its growth has not been spasmodic, but rather gradual and healthy. It has not en- joyed many great revivals; but it has continually enjoyed a good degree of the favor of the church's Great Head. Its roll of members shows that in all the years of its existence, but few communion seasons have passed without some ac- cessions. From the character of the people who have always largely composed this church, meetings of a highly emotional nature could never find encouragement. As a consequence, when the means of grace, on rare occasions amounting only to three or four during the church's existence, have been in- creased, they have been unmistakably called for by the quiekened state of the church at the time. Meetings "to get up a revival" have never been resorted to. The labors of " Evangelists" have never been sought. When meetings have been multiplied, as in 1831, 1840, and 1872, they have been conducted wholly by the pastor; and they have been characterized by such an entire absence of every external de- monstration of excitement, that sometimes the congregation
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had but little conception of the extent of the work of grace going on in their midst. The results of these meetings have been the very best possible. The fruits of each one of these ingatherings are found in the church now, and constitute a part of its most active and efficient element. From the or- ganization of this church up to June 21st, 1843,- the time of the publication of the last catalogue,- the whole number received into its membership is set down at 1680. From that time up to the beginning of the present ministry, 405 were added. During the present pastorate, the accessions have been 188,- making a total of 2273 souls.
My brethren, this is a goodly number; but is it quite what we should like to behold as the result of the work of such a church as this for more than a century ? Might it not have been reasonably expected, that this large church, standing in the midst of this community, for so long a time, with its powerful influences, would have drawn into it a larger number than it has ? May it not be, that its historic con- servatism has tended somewhat to repress and hinder its aggressive power ? I like conservatism. It is prudent : it is cautious : it is safe : its language is that of the apostle, " Prove all things, hold fast that which is good." If it does not build so rapidly ; it builds more securely. If it does not go on so fast ; it goes more surely. I am grateful that the Great Head of the church has assigned me to labor in a
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field, where the "progressive spirit of the age" is not re- cognized as of any special authority,- among a people, with whose views concerning some of the church measures of the day, my own are in such entire accord. In this re- gard, " the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places." And yet, my brethren, let us remember we may mistake here. There is such a thing as too straight a conservatism, one that may keep us too much shut up within ourselves; and which may prevent us, as a people, from reaching and sav- ing as many as we might. God grant that this church may ever stand in this community as a bulwark of the old doc- trines of the Gospel, and the good old ways; but at the same time, God grant, that no conservatism of old ways, simply because they are old, may stand in the way of its utmost efficiency for the salvation of souls. It is an en- couraging fact that the spiritual power of this church is on the increase. The yearly average of accessions to our com- munion during the past seven years, is more than one-third larger than that of the previous seven, and almost double the average for fourteen years immediately preceding. Only let us bear in mind that the Master has called us euch to work in his vineyard,- let us gird ourselves with the grace of his Gospel, and this healthy increase of efficiency may be multiplied many times.
Let us remember the poor. Let us not forget, that one of the great distinguishing features of the New Testament
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dispensation is, that "the poor have the Gospel preached unto them." It should be the great ambition of every church, to fulfil and illustrate this Divine ideal, and make the propehey history. Let us, therefore, neglect no influence that is calculated to reach, with the saving grace of Christ, this large class, to whom above all others, the church is especially commissioned by its Lord to go.
Brethren, the past is beyond our reach : its history is made for eternity : but the future is ours to improve, or neglect. Our church occupies a vantage ground for useful- ness to-day never surpassed in its existence. Let us learn from the past, let us take courage from the present, let us be inspired by the future, and address ourselves to its duties as never before. Our generation will soon be num- bered with those of the past. Our works will soon be studied by posterity, as we study to-day those of the generations dead. God help us to fill well our brief day, that it may be written of us-" They were a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, * * * a peculiar people ; " showing "forth the praises of him " who called them "out of darkness into his marvellous light." And the God of our fathers, " the faith- ful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy, with them that love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations," own and prosper the works of our hands ; and to his own Great Naine be praise, evermore. Amen.
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OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH FROM ITS ORGANIZATION.
Rev. William Hanna, Rev. Andrew Bay,
Rev. John MeDonald, Rev. David S. Bogart, Rev. Eliphalet Nott,
Rev. John B. Romeyn, Rev. William Neill, Rev. Arthur J. Stansbury,
Rev. Henry R. Weed,
Rev. John N. Campbell,
Rev. James M. Ludlow,
Rev. J. MeClusky Blayney,
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