USA > New York > Tompkins County > Ithaca > History of the First Presbyterian church of Ithaca, New York, during one hundred years : the anniversary exercises, January twenty-first to twenty-fourth, 1904 > Part 12
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In 1870 there were three Bible classes, composed almost entirely of stu- dents from Cornell University, two of them taught by Mr. H. B. Lord and Mr. S. P. Sherwood in the Sabbath School building, and the third by Dr. White, the Pastor, in the church, comprising altogether from seventy-five to eighty young men. In the spring of 1872 the failing health of the Pastor made necessary his relinquishment of the position of teacher. The other two classes, each numbering about twenty, remained.
In the first two years of Mr. McChain's administration, the number of scholars in average attendance increased from about one hundred twenty to about one hundred forty, where it remained with little change until the close of his period of service. The average number of teachers atttending, ran from fifteen to twenty-seven.
A deep spiritual interest seems to have generally prevailed. In 1857, although there was no Pastor, the superintendent reports,
"The year is one long to be remembered by those connected with the School, as one in which God's presence and blessings were peculiarly manifested." "In the month of May the hearts of the superintendents and teachers were gladdened by seeing one and another of the members of the School coming and surrendering themselves to the Saviour. Commencing in one of the classes composed of some of the older scholars, it seemed quickly and powerfully to go through the whole School, until there was not a class that did not to some extent feel its influence."
It was believed that nearly thirty had met with a change, seventeen of whom made a public confession of their faith. In the following year seven- teen more were added.
A pleasing incident is noted in connection with this revival. While it was in progress, the Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church was holding its annual meeting in Ithaca. Several of its members, knowing that we were
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without a Pastor, " visited the School, both on the Sabbath and during the week, and by their counsels and expressions of warm hearted sympathy, did much in encouraging and strengthening superintendents and teachers."
The teachers' Sabbath prayer meeting doubtless had something to do with this revival of spiritual interest. The time of meeting was later changed so as to follow the morning service at noon-day. It was continued for many years .* I11 1861, ten of the scholars united with the Church. In 1864, there was another revival. The superintendent writes of the joy of listening one Sabbath morning to the experiences, and the expression of their deter- mination to lead a Christian life, on the part of twelve to fifteen of the young men of the Sunday School, who had resisted the strong influences of former revivals. In 1867, there was manifest among the teachers "an in- creased earnestness of desire for the salvation of souls;" and sixteen mem- bers of the School united with the Church. After that time, there does not appear to have been any unusual spiritual awakening, the number of reported conversions never exceeding four in any one year.
The new constitution presented by Mr. McChain and adopted at the annual meeting in 1856, identified the School with the Presbyterian Church, as it had already become in fact by changing the name from the "Ithaca Sabbath School " to the "Sabbath School Association of the Presbyterian Church of Ithaca." It abolished the visiting committee, which was one of the most prominent features of the first constitution ; abolished the office of president, theretofore held by the Pastor of the Church (to which office the Pastor was, nevertheless, from force of habit perhaps, for two years more nominally elected) ; and by omitting the provision which created a board of managers composed of the officers of the School, tended to centralize authority in the office of superintendent, and necessarily lessened somewhat the dignity and importance of the offices of secretary and of treasurer.
Those who were entitled to a voice in the election of officers, were " per- sons contributing to the funds of the Church, teachers in the Sabbatlı School, and scholars eleven years of age." Dues were abolished. A resolu- tion adopted at the same time and observed for many years provided that a certificate should be awarded to scholars not absent over four times during the year, and that the names of scholars having perfect lessons should be publicly read.
* "Besides the regular Teachers' Prayer Meeting, which was commenced in the month of January, and held on Sabbath afternoon, a morning prayer meeting at six o'clock on every Tuesday and Friday was commenced in June, and continued until the close of the summer."
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The sessions were held at half past nine in the morning; first in the session house, which was much too small for its purpose; and after the second Sunday in February, 1864, in the chapel that was built in its place. Great was the rejoicing when this chapel was ready for occupancy. In his next annual report, the superintendent says : "We do not use too strong language when we say that we would not have anything different about it, and it looks more and more beautiful to us every time we enter it."
Soon after Mr. McChain became superintendent, the American Board of Foreign Missions proposed to the Sabbath School children of the United States, that they should raise $12,000 for the purpose of building a mis- sionary ship to convey Missionaries and supplies to and from their fields of labor. One hundred twenty thousand shares of stock in the new ship were offered at ten cents a share. To this appeal, our School responded gen- erously. Eight hundred fifty shares were taken by scholars and teachers, whose names and the number of shares subscribed for by each are set forth in the records. The ship was purchased, and named the "Morning Star ". It is said that on her first voyage, all but one of her crew were converted.
In 1857 a Missionary Society was formed, of which Hervey Hazen was the first treasurer, and Elizabeth Breakey the first secretary. Thereafter, as long as Mr. McChain was superintendent, the Sunday School benevolences were collected and disbursed through this society, the secretary and treasurer being elected at the time of the annual meeting. The treasurer of the Missionary Society was a distinct office from that of Treasurer of the Sunday School. At the organization of the Missionary Society, a plan was made by which the money collected was to be divided between the American Sunday School Union and the American Board of Foreign Missions. In 1860, a new plan was adopted by vote of the School, under which at the monthly meeting of the society "one of the teachers or some other person presents an object for consideration, and the scholars designate by vote how much they will con- tribute to it from the missionary fund." In 1873, one hundred fifty dollars were contributed to purchase one of the horses for an outfit for Rev. S. G. Clark, a traveling Missionary in Kansas. In 1875, the School undertook the education of an Armenian, Mr. N. H. Suren, advancing to him fifteen dollars a month therefor, and continuing the payments for at least two years. The highest aggregate of benevolent contributions in any one year was $342.91, given in 1873.
The library was well supported during all this period, considerable amounts being contributed every year for the purchase of books. In 1875, the num- ber of volumes was five hundred sixty.
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The expense of carrying on the Sunday School, and of maintaining the library, were largely defrayed from collections taken in church. Strange to relate, however, the annual picnics of 1873 and 1874 were sources of consid- erable income.
In 1856, the Presbyterian Sabbath School united with the Dutch Reformed School to hold a picnic in a grove at Fall Creek, to which place the Schools marched in procession from their respective rooms. In 1861, the annual picnic was held at Sheldrake. This is the first mention of a picnic excursion on the lake.
In 1855, a Temperance Society was organized and conducted by Mr. S. P. Sherwood.
In 1856, and again in 1857, Secretary Carpenter in liis report speaks with interest of the infant department, then numbering about thirty scholars, well managed by Mrs. Dunning and Miss Mary Williamns. In the later reports made by Mr. McChain, no mention is inade of the infant department as a separate organization.
In 1856, the superintendent reports that singing in the Sabbath School had received a new impetus under Mr. Barnard, " who meets here at the close of the afternoon service as many of the teachers and scholars as choose to come." In 1874, the School was led in song by Dr. Howe, who proved an acceptable leader. During all this time, singing was made a prominent and important feature. One hundred copies of the "Golden Chain," a book with which many of the older members are still familiar, were purchased in 1861. Some of us can still remember some of the old hymns, such as " O, do not be discouraged ;" and " Where, oh where are the Hebrew children ;" which were very familiar in those days.
Miss Prudence Hungerford continued to hold the position of "female superintendent " until 1866; when she was followed by Mrs. L. W. Phillips. Mrs. Samuel Stoddard was elected in 1867, but did not serve. Mrs. Lucy Dunning followed in 1868. Then came Mrs. Dr. Samuel J. Parker, who continued from 1869 to 1875, when Mrs. Dr. Peck was chosen. It is notice- able that in 1877, when Mrs. G. D. Beers was elected " female superinten- dent " to take the place of Mrs. Peck, that the word "assistant " is written over the word "female ;" and the term " female superintendent " never again appears.
Mr. Carpenter served as secretary until March, 1858, when Mr. M. L. Granger was chosen to take his place. In 1860, Mr. E. K. Johnson was elected secretary, but the report of 1861 is signed by Mr. John F. Hawkins, who continued to act as secretary until 1864, when Frederick Brooks was
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elected. The latter was succeeded by Alfred Brooks in 1866, who held the position for seven years, and was followed by Mr. Fitch. Mr. F. W. Phillips was chosen secretary in 1874, and served continuously until 1882.
The treasurers were Dr. J. O. M. Ingersoll, E. C. Seymour, George Halsey, Charles B. Curtis and Uri Clark, bringing the record down to 1868, when Miss Ada Stoddard, who was the first lady treasurer, was chosen. Then fol- lowed the Misses Fannie Rankin, Abbie Brooks, Kate Humphrey, Sophy P. Fleming, Lizzie Treman and Alice Evans, and then Ada Stoddard again, at the close of Mr. McChain's administration. Mr. Ralph Christiance was the librarian of the Sunday School from 1864 to 1891.
In the annual report of 1858 we find this entry concerning one who is still rendering efficient service, and reflecting honor upon the School from which he came, "We have lately lost the services of Mr. Hervey Hazen as a teacher, a young man who has been an attendant of the School from his earliest youth. He has now gone to commence a course of study that we believe is to prepare him for the ministry of Christ."
PART THREE
FROM THE RESIGNATION OF MR. MCCHAIN TO THE PRESENT TIME.
1876-1904.
On the 18th day of June, 1876, Mr. McChain resigned the office of super- intendent, and at the same time withdrew from the Church. Elder Henry S. Williams was appointed by the Session to take his place.
The most notable features of the subsequent period in the history of the Sunday School are :-
I. The assumption by the Session of the control of the Sunday School.
2. The phenomenal administration of Rev. Mr. Stryker, as acting superintendent in 1879.
3. The period of steady growth and prosperity, continuing through the subsequent adminis- trations of Elders Charles F. Blood and George R. Williams, and their successors.
4. The changes incident to the occupancy of the new church edifice, under the administra- tion of Mr. Robert H. Treman.
Up to the time of the resignation of Mr. McChain, the Sabbath School had been practically an independent society ; working for the most part in absolute harmony with the Church, and for the same ends, but under a con- stitution in which the authority of the Session to control it was in no way acknowledged or recognized; and always exercising the right to elect its
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own officers without the intervention of, or confirmation by, the Session of the Church.
The Session deeming such an arrangement unwise, and not for the best interests of the Church as a whole, and acting as was claimed in accord- ance with the action of the General Assembly, ignored the traditions of the past, and assumed entire control. It was under the pastorate of Dr. White that this change was made. Upon his resignation, and the coming of Mr. Stryker in 1878, the policy was continued and the bonds of sessional control intensified.
The teachers were no longer permitted to select, nor even to nominate, their superintendent. He was appointed by the Session, and entrusted with the entire management of the School. He was to make quarterly reports to the Session, to whomn alone he was responsible. A committee of three Elders was appointed by the Session, through whom the funds provided by the Church for the support of the School must be disbursed. During this period, we no longer find any complete account of the Sunday School in its own permanent records ; but are compelled to go for information to the minutes of the Session, where the record of its work in connection with the Sunday School and the results accomplished are quite fully set forth.
The high esteem in which the superintendent who had been appointed by the Session was personally held, the tact and ability he displayed, and the impetus given to the School by the activity of the new Pastor, allayed to a large extent the friction which might otherwise have been aroused. That there was some revolt, is manifest from the fact that on the 5th day of July, 1879, after the Session had appointed one after another, three persons in suc- cession to fill the vacancy in the office of superintendent, all of whom de- clined, the following resolution was adopted by the Session :
"The Session of this Church having felt it their duty to take an authoritative supervision of the Sabbath School, as being pre-eminently a part of that work of the Church which by their very office they are bound to promote, guide and control ; this step being in accordance with the recommendation of the General Assembly ; but having also no wish but a pure and peace- able harmony, and desiring to bind still closer the bond of a common interest and aim about all workers and officers of the Church, 'that they all may be one ;' and desiring further to give the sense of the teachers a full and efficient expression, hereby resolves :
"That while elected by and responsible to the Session, the Superintendent of the School of this Church shall be nominated by a quorum of the teachers of the School, and that the Session shall elect by original choice only in the absence of a suitable nomination.
"Second, Resolved, that the Superintendent shall hold office twelve months, beginning with the first Lord's day of each October."
At the Session meeting held October 4th, 1878, it was announced that Superintendent Henry S. Williams was about to leave for Europe to be
LADY SUPERINTENDANTS
١٪
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absent during the winter, whereupon the Pastor Rev. M. W. Stryker was asked, and consented, to take charge of the School during the superinten- dent's absence. Mr. Stryker had come to the Church early in May, 1878. On the 31st day of that month, the Session resolved that " on and after the first Sunday of July next the morning Church service be held at half-past ten o'clock, A.M., and the Sunday School immediately after the close of said Church service." From the time of its organization, the Sunday School had invariably convened in the morning ; but since July, 1878, it has always been held at the close of morning service.
Mr. Stryker followed no beaten paths, in his plans for the conduct of the school ; but in the program of exercises, and in the general management of its affairs, he pursued the course that seemed to him best adapted to accoin- plish the ends desired, without regard to precedent or tradition. He inau- gurated a teacher's meeting, the like of which has never been known before nor since. It had an average attendance of twenty, out of the twenty-eight teachers of the School. They were drilled in the details of the lesson, in facts of scripture which they as teachers ought to know ; and taught how to teach. Above all, to teachers and scholars together, he gave that enthusiasm and inspiration, which to such an unusual degree, he had the power to im- part. Full of physical, mental and spiritual energy, with a rare personality and exceptional powers of leadership, he gave to the School an impetus that cannot be easily measured. It was not until the fall following the nine months during which Mr. Stryker acted as superintendent, that the writer came into the School or into the Church ; but Mr. Stryker was still present as the real head of the School. The memory of what he had accomplished was vivid in the minds of all, while its results were everywhere manifest.
The "Narrative " to Presbytery in the spring of 1879, prepared by Mr. Stryker, contains a reference to the Sunday School, very characteristic of its author, as follows :
"The School is regarded not as a poor relation of the Church, but as its child. The body supplies blood to its right hand. The superintendent is appointed by the Session, makes a quarterly report of the affairs of the School in writing, and appoints his teachers and officers. These changes have been made in order to foster a vital connection, and thorough familiarity between the Session and that part of Church work which is its very battle edge. The West- minster leaflets are used, the 'Child's Paper' and the 'Sunbeam' in the infant classes. The scholars are carefully drilled in the catechism."
In March, 1879, Mr. Stryker, as acting superintendent, reported to the Session, among other things, a large increase in the amount of the collec- tions ; and the adoption of a new hymn book, "with the intention of supple- menting the frivolous music and puerile words of much of the late Sabbath
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School song books." The average attendance was not stated, but the total number of officers, teachers and scholars on the roll was 246, thirty-seven of whom were members of the infant class. Indicative of the sense of obliga- tion to duty upon which he insisted, he says in his report : "That no teacher should ever be away without supplying his place, or notifying the superin- tendent long enough beforehand not to interfere with or delay the conduct of the School."
Upon his return from Europe, Mr. Williams decided not to resume the office of superintendent and presented his resignation. No one having been secured to take his place, Mr. Stryker evidently continued to act as superin- tendent until the first of July following ; for we find in the Session record, under date of June 7th : " Resolved, that measures be taken to relieve the Pastor from the care of the School after the current quarter." On June 25th the motion was made and carried that Mr. A. B. Brooks be requested to act as superintendent for a few Sabbaths. Mr. Brooks filled in the gap, and presumably entered upon the duties of the office on the first Sunday in July, evidently continuing until October, when Elder Charles F. Blood, having been duly nominated by the teachers, and elected by the Session, became superintendent of the School.
Mr. Blood continued to hold the position for three years, Mr. F. M. Bush acting as assistant superintendent. Miss Ada M. Stoddard was at the same time chosen as corresponding secretary, in which position she has continued to act until the present time, with the exception of a short interval after the adoption of the constitution of 1902 ; in the first enactment of which the importance of this office was overlooked, and its duties unperformed, until by the amendment of 1903 the office was restored and Miss Stoddard re-ap- pointed.
We have no record of the attendance in 1878 or 1879 ; but in consequence of the work done under Mr. Williams, Mr. Stryker and Mr. Blood, the average attendance for the year 1880 reached the maximum of one hundred ninety-three, the largest then known in the history of the School.
In the Narrative of 1880, the Pastor reports : "The infant room has this year been arranged as a distinct department of the School, with its own superintendent and six assistant teachers". The new superintendent of the infant department as thus re-arranged was Mrs. M. W. Stryker, who in her own inimitable way carried on the same excellent work that had been done by her predecessors in charge of the infant classes, with the increase of interest and efficiency that was made possible by the help of the additional teachers. Prior to that time there had been but two classes, one for boys and one for girls. The boys' class had been taught since its organization
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in 1851 by Miss Mary E. Williams, whose faithful and efficient service was appreciated by all. The class of girls, taught first by Mrs. C. B. Wood, was successively taught by Mrs. Dunning, Miss F. Spencer (Mrs. E. K. Johnson) and others, and finally from 1871 to 1878 by Miss Kate Humphrey (Mrs. Hunt). Mrs. Stryker took Miss Humphrey's place in 1878. These classes continued to meet in the gallery of the chapel, until the department was moved to the gallery of the church at the time of the re-organization under Mrs. Stryker. In the year 1882, Mrs. Stryker resigned, and was suc- ceeded by Mrs. A. E. Sumner.
In September, 1882, Mr. George R. Williams, who in the past had de- clined the appointment, was elected by the teachers superintendent of the School, and in October following, entered upon an administration of the Sunday School, which was to continue for nine years, a term of equal length to that of Harley S. Lord, and next to that of Mr. McChain, the longest term held by any superintendent. His conduct of the School was marked by conservative management, careful attention to details and ex- cellent judgment in the selection of teachers and classification of scholars. While in his administration there was nothing startling or unusual, a high degree of excellence was maintained all the time; and of no one in my remembrance could it be said with equal truth as of him, that he left no duty relating to the School unperformed. He seemed to forget nothing, but every department of the School and its work received its due share of his thought and attention. He did all the work of superintendence with- out the aid of an assistant. In 1886, the average attendance rose to two hundred forty,-almost fifty in excess of the high figure that had been reached in 1880. In the same year, the contributions of the Sunday School reached the maximum of $481.37, an amount that has probably never been surpassed.
During the same period (1882 to 1891), Mrs. Sumner, who later became Mrs. Dudley Finch, served as superintendent of the primary department. Her administration was very successful and satisfactory. The need of larger quarters than the gallery of the church afforded, became more and more manifest, and in 1885 an addition to the chapel was built on for the accom- modation of the primary department which, under the inspiring supervision of Mrs. Finch, largely increased in interest and importance.
During many years of Dr. Fiske's pastorate, and while Mr. Williams was superintendent, a deep spiritual interest prevailed. It was during this period that one day at the word of the Pastor, the members of each class,
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except of those in the primary department, kneeled in their places in the School and engaged in solein prayer together.
In the winter of 1886 prayer meetings were held in the Hayt and Burt districts, and also at Forest Home, largely conducted by members of the Sunday School. Many were converted, and several brought into the Church, as a result of these meetings.
As early as in 1882, the custom was inaugurated which has been made of late years a most prominent feature, of asking the children to bring gifts for others at the annual Christmas festival.
In 1884 and in 1885 there were anniversary exercises of the Ithaca Sunday School Union. In the latter year the exercises were held in "the rink,"* to which the scholars of the various Schools, twelve hundred in num- ber (including two hundred from our School) marched in procession through the streets. The teachers of our School decided not to take part in the parade of the following year, and the custom was soon abandoned. In 1894 all the Schools of the city assembled at the Lyceum where appropriate exer- cises were observed ; but there was no parade.
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