USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > History of the Wesley M.E. Church of Brooklyn, L.I. > Part 14
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REV. CALVIN B. FORD, PASTOR.
eties. From a careful investigation into the statistics bearing upon the case, he found that seven-eighths of all the conversions came from those who had been con- nected at some period of their lives with the Sunday school. The Sunday schools ought to be greatly in- creased, ably organized, and efficiently sustained, be- cause they were the hope of the Church and the world. At the close of Mr. Barker's remarks, the children sang :
" We are watching, we are waiting For the bright prophetic day, When the shadows, weary shadows, From the world shall roll away. We are waiting for the morning, When the beauteous day is dawning ; We are waiting for the morning, For the golden spires of day.
" Lo! he comes, the King draws near ; Zion, shout, the Lord is here."
The Rev. George L. Westgate, being called upon, addressed the meeting in a few pointed, earnest remarks on the benefit of Sunday schools; he considered them one of the most efficient Home Missionary instrumen- talities in the land. He urged the officers, teachers, and scholars to go forward in their good work until the des- titute and solitary places in the city be made to rejoice and blossom as the rose; then, by and by, should they prove faithful stewards they would receive their reward.
After the well-trained and favorite quartette choir connected with the Sommerfield M. E. Church had dis- coursed some of their most popular music, to the delight of the assembly, the school joined in
" Singing for Jesus, singing for Jesus, Trying to serve him wherever I go ; Pointing the lost the way of salvation, This be my mission-a pilgrim below."
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HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
The missionary collections from the various classes were then reported, after which Harry Van Bencoven was presented with a bright, new gold English sover- eign, donated as a prize by the Superintendent of the school, as a reward for bringing in the largest amount of missionary money during the last three months; and Miss Louisa Moses received an American new silver " Trade " dollar, donated by the Rev. Geo. A. Hubbell, for collecting the next largest amount. After the pre- sentations were made, the School sang, "We shall rest on the beautiful shore."
" Go work, for the harvest is near ; Go work, for the laborers are few ; Soon our glorious Master in joy shall appear, And we all can find something to do. We shall rest, we shall rest, We shall rest on the beautiful shore."
The annual report of the Treasurer was read and ap- proved. The annual amounts collected by each of the four leading or banner classes during the past four years were also reported by the Treasurer.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE WESLEY M. E. SUNDAY SCHOOL HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1875.
Report by Classes.
Name of Classes.
Name of Teachers.
Cash balance on hand
$3 30
Crusaders.
C. D. Wadsworth ยท 51 03
Cadets.
John R. Curran 25 40
Lovers of the Bible
Miss McLean
21 90
Lambs of the Flock.
Mrs. Aspinall.
16 32
Busy Bees
Miss Stanton 10 93
Volunteers.
G. E. Currie.
10 74
Shepherd Boys.
G. G. Lyon
9 20
Lilies of the Valley
Miss Lush
8 17
Missionary Box.
Mrs. Myers
6 92
Olive Branch
G. F. Beardsley
6 21
REV. CALVIN B. FORD, PASTOR. 179
Young Pearl Gatherers.
Miss L. Stanton. 3 02
Jewels of the Master H. R. Davy. 1 64
Wayside Gatherers.
Mrs. Chasty 1 64
Little Daisies
.Miss Hegeman.
1 18
Rose of Sharon.
Mrs. Wilson.
28
Young Veterans
Robert Benson
50
For Life Members special collections
25 00
Basket collections.
22 29
Receipts for eleven months.
$227 77
Disbursements for the same period. 244 00 1
Balance due Treasurer $16 23
REPORT SHOWING THE AMOUNTS COLLECTED BY EACH OF THE FOUR LEADING OR BANNER CLASSES FOR THE YEARS ENDING MARCH 31, 1872, 1873, 1874, AND 1875.
1872.
Jewels of the Master Banner Class $96 60
Precious Jewels.
Second Banner Class 25 50
Earnest Workers
Third Banner Class 24 23
Daughters of the Cross
Fourth Banner Class 15 35
1873.
Jewels of the Master
Banner Class 33 21
Lambs of the Flock
Second Banner Class 10 96
Young Men's Bible Class
Third Banner Class.
10 80
Young Soldiers
Fourth Banner Class.
7 71
1874.
Busy Bees
Banner Class. 127 52
Pastor's Bible Class.
Second Banner Class
45 45
Jewels of the Master.
Third Banner Class.
31 95
Earnest Workers
Fourth Banner Class 25 89
1875.
Crusaders
Banner Class. 51 03
Cadets.
Second Banner Class
25 40
Lovers of the Bible
Third Banner Class
21 90
Lambs of the Flock.
Fourth Banner Class
16 32
Amount collected by these four Classes in 1872 $161 68
Amount collected by these four Classes in 1873.
63 68
Amount collected by these four Classes in 1874.
230 81
Amount collected by these four Classes in 1875
114 65
Total for four years by four Classes $570 82
G. E. CURRIE, Treasurer Wesley M. E. S. S. M. Society.
.
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HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
This anniversary meeting was one of the most inter- esting and instructive ever held in connection with the Sunday School Home Missionary Society. The exer- cises were closed with singing the Doxology, and bene- diction by the Pastor.
Fourth Quarterly Conference was held in the class- room, March 12, 1875. Presiding Elder, Rev. C. B. Sing, in the chair. The session was opened with prayer by the Presiding Elder. Rev. G. G. Lyon was appointed Secretary. Members present, Rev. C. B. Ford, G. G. Lyon, John Tucker, John R. Curran, G. E. Currie, Charles D. Wadsworth, George W. Lush, and George E. Clark.
What Committees shall be appointed ? Ans .:
On Missions, G. E. Currie, T. C. Nostrand, Robert Benson.
On Sunday School, G. E. Clark, George Nicholson, W. G. Hotaling.
On Tracts, Charles D. Wadsworth.
On Church Extension, D. W. McLean, Henry Tippens, J. R. Curran.
On Church Records, G. E. Currie.
On Parsonage and Furniture, Robert Benson, D. W. McLean.
On Estimating Preacher's Salary, C. D. Wadsworth, J. R. Curran, R. Benson.
On Conference Claimants, G. G. Lyon, G. E. Currie. Are there any Complaints ? Ans. None.
Are there any Appeals ? Ans. None.
Are there any Reports ? Ans. From the Pastor, and Board of Trustees.
What amounts have been received for support of the ministry during the quarter ? Ans. For preacher, $465.
181
REV. CALVIN B. FORD, PASTOR.
What amounts have been received for benevolent ob- jects ? Ans. For church extension, $10 ; for tracts, $5 ; Sundays schools, $5 ; Missionary cause, $30.
Who shall be Treasurer of benevolent collections ? Ans. C. D. Wadsworth.
Who shall be Stewards for the ensuing conference year? Ans. Bros. John R. Curran, George W. Lush, W. G. Hotaling, Jacob P. Cook, George Nicholson, George H. Hinds, George Rumboldt, G. G. Lyon, and Jolin Tucker. G. G. Lyon was appointed Recording Steward, and John R. Curran, District Steward.
There were no recommendations for license to preach; no local preachers for ordination ; no recommendations for admission into the traveling connection ; and none for the recognition of orders. Bro. John Tucker's char- acter was examined, and his license renewed as local preacher. Rev. G. G. Lyon's character was examined, and passed as local elder.
Are there any reports from Leaders ? Bros. T. C. Nostrand, McLean, and Beardsley's classes. No report. Bro. Wadsworth reported whole number of members, 25 ; with average attendance, 14. Pastor reported a small attendance of the members.
When shall the next Quarterly Conference be held ? June 14th. Have the provisions of the discipline, in regard to Missions, been carried out ? Partially. Have the rules in relation to the education of children been observed ? Partly.
Report of the Trustees of the Wesley M. E. Church : Number of churches and parsonages, one church and chapel. Their probable value, fifty thousand dollars. The title by which they are held, "The Trustees of Tompkins Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, Brook-
182
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
lyn, N. Y." Income for current expenditures, forty-one hundred dollars. Current expenditures for the year, fifty-one hundred dollars. Debt and how contracted, twenty-seven thousand two hundred dollars on ac- count of building and repairs and current expenses. Insurance, twenty-one thousand dollars. Amount raised for improving the church property during the year, two thousand eight hundred dollars.
Respectfully submitted,
GILBERT E. CURRIE,
President of the Board.
On motion, the foregoing report was accepted and ordered on file.
Report of the Pastor on Sunday school : Number of schools, 1 ; officers and teachers, 27 ; scholars of all ages, 270 ; fifteen years of age and over, 70 ; under fifteen years of age, 116. Number of scholars in infant class, 70 ; average attendance, 158. Number of Sun- day School Advocates taken, 150 ; Sunday School Jour- nals, 25. Conversions, 1. I have not preached to the children during the quarter ; the state of the school is prosperous and very encouraging.
Report on the Church : Received into full member- ship, Elizabeth Aspinal, Sarah Dayton, Anne M. Car- man, George McLellen, James McLory, Etta Cook. Dismissed by letter, Lorinda M. Medson, Josephine Van Voorhis. The following pastoral labor has been per- formed during the quarter : I have made about one hundred and twenty calls and visits, baptized one adult and three children, and attended four funerals. The following amount has been raised for benevolent ob-
183
REV. CALVIN B. FORD, PASTOR.
jects : For Missionary cause, $30. Subscribers have been obtained for our periodicals : For Christian Advo- cate, 26 ; Ladies' Repository, 1 ; Quarterly Review, 1 ; Sunday School Advocate, 150 ; Missionary Advocate, 25.
The state of the Church : We are at peace among ourselves, and a good degree of spiritual life and power manifested on the part of many of the members. Some, I am sorry to say, remain inactive and apparently in- different. We have had excellent meetings during the winter.
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. FORD, Preacher in Charge.
At the close of the official business, Bro. Currie stated that, as the Rev. Frederick Brown, of Westport, had accepted an invitation to become the Pastor for the ensuing conference year, it was the desire of the brethren that the Presiding Elder should use his influ- ence with the Bishop and his cabinet to secure the transfer of Bro. Brown to this charge. The Elder re- plied, he would do so, but did not anticipate there would be any difficulty in the matter. The Conference adjourned with the benediction by the Presiding Elder.
CHAPTER X.
THE DECENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
As the time was approaching when the M. E. Society at Tompkins Avenue would complete its first ten years' experience from date of organization, some anxiety was felt by the officiary of the Church with regard to the forthcoming event. The question that suggested itself for their consideration and action was somewhat diffi- cult to solve, viz., how, or in what manner the Decen- nial Anniversary should be conducted, so as to render the occasion not only interesting to the Church and congregation and the friends who were expected to be present, but productive of advantage to the Society in a financial point of view ? Under ordinary circum- stances there would have been little trouble in settling this point ; but as the Society was situated, after mak- ing an extraordinary effort to meet the expenditures incurred by the recent alterations and improvements, and at the close of the conference year, when every exertion must be made to provide for the current ex. penses so as to finish up the same without carrying a balance of indebtedness over into the new year- such being the position of matters-it was thought it would be hardly right to call upon the members at this time for any special subscription, and much less to take advantage of friends and visitors from other churches, who were expected to favor them with their presence,
185
THE DECENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
by soliciting them for pecuniary aid. These questions, could only be determined when brought before the brethren for their official action.
The monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees was held in the class-room on Monday evening, February 15th, at eight o'clock ; G. E. Currie in the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer by Bro. Benson. Bro. McLean was appointed Secretary. Present-Bros. Currie, McLean, Nostrand, Benson, Tippens, and Clark. After the usual business was transacted, the chairman introduced the subject of the approaching Decennial, in a few remarks showing the propriety and desirable- ness of holding such anniversary, believing, if properly conducted, it would be the means of promoting increased interest among the members of the church and congre- gation, as well as exerting a salutary influence through- out the neighborhood ; he therefore urged the brethren to express their views, and take such action as they felt disposed upon the subiect.
After some discussion was had and the opinions of the members pretty fully canvassed, the impression prevailed that the suggestions of the Chairman should be carried out. It was therefore moved by Bro. McLean, and seconded by Bro. Nostrand, that this Board cordially approve and earnestly recommend that a Decennial Anniversary of the Society be held at the earliest possible convenience ; and that the officers of the Board, in conjunction with the Pastor, be appointed a Committee with power to fix the time and place, pre- pare a programme, and make other arrangements for celebrating the same ; and further, that no subscription be solicited on that occasion, but that a "plate " col- lection be taken up at each of the services. The motion
186
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
being put, was unanimously adopted, after which the meeting adjourned.
Pursuant to appointment, the Committee consulted with regard to what would be the best means to employ for the purpose of creating a lively interest in behalf of the forthcoming Anniversary ; the conclusion at which they arrived was to enlist if possible the sym- pathy and services, not only of the former pastors of the Church, but to secure the attendance and aid of minis. ters of other evangelical denominations to take part in the public services of the day. Accordingly the fol- lowing circular and card of invitation was prepared and addressed to pastors of sister churches and clergymen of other denominations :
" Decennial Anniversary of the Wesley M. E. Church, cor. Tompkins and Willoughby Aves., Brooklyn, N. Y.
" Rev. and Dear Sir :- The Officiary of WESLEY M. E. CHURCH having resolved to celebrate the DECENNIAL AN- NIVERSARY of the organization of the Society, on Sun- day, the 28th day of March next, deem it a most appropriate occasion to solicit and secure the sympa- thy and co-operation of ministers of associate churches and other evangelical denominations, who are desirous of promoting the extension of the Redeemer's Kingdom, and witnessing to the world the fundamental principle of Christian unity and fellowship of believers in Christ.
" Believing the proposed Anniversary to be a suitable opportunity for bearing such testimony, we have been induced to extend to you a cordial invitation to be present with us on that occasion, and take part in the exercises. As the entire day, morning, afternoon, and evening, will be devoted to the Memorial Services, you
187
THE DECENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
will therefore confer a favor by informing us if you can accept this invitation, and say at which of the three sessions it will be convenient for you to be present.
" The favor of your reply will much oblige, " Yours fraternally,
"C. B. FORD, Pastor. "G. E. CURRIE, President. " ROBT. BENSON, Treasurer. "D. W. MCLEAN, Secretary. " Board of Trustees.
" WESLEY M. E. C. PARSONAGE,
No. 167 Tompkins Ave., Brooklyn, Feb. 26, 1875."
It was gratifying to find that the responses to the foregoing invitation were more numerous than the Com- mittee had reason to anticipate, inasmuch as several who promised to be present did so at considerable per- sonal inconvenience, having to find supplies for their own pulpits and make other necessary arrangements. The Decennial Anniversary having thus assumed tang- ible form, there remained no room for doubts or misgiv- ings about the matter, the Committee determined noth- ing should be wanting on their part to make it a success. Mr. John E. Lucky, the Chorister, got the members of the choir thoroughly interested in the matter, so that they began to prepare and practice some fine selections of sacred music from the old masters for the Anniver- sary.
The officers, teachers, and scholars of the Sabbath school also got interested, and the parents of the chil- dren were accordingly informed respecting the extra-
188
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
ordinary meetings that were to come off at Wesley M. E. Church on the 28th of March, and they likewise resolved to be present. The Superintendent arranged to have the children assemble in the school-room at the usual hour, and go through the lessons for the day, and then repair in a body to the gallery of the church, at 3 o'clock P. M. Rev. C. B. Sing, the Presiding Elder of the North Long Island District, kindly engaged to be present and preside over the afternoon union meeting. Rev. Daniel Curry, D. D., the venerable and talented editor of the Christian Advocate, was expected to be present, but was prevented on account of a previous engagement.
The arrangements for the Decennial Anniversary at length being completed, the following advertisement was inserted in the Brooklyn city papers :
" Decennial Anniversary of the Wesley M. E. Church, cor. Tompkins and Willoughby Aves., Brooklyn.
"The Decennial Anniversary Services of the Wesley M. E. Church, will be held on Sunday, March 28th (this day). The Rev. R. S. Mo- ran, D. D., from Wilmington, North Carolina, will preach in the morning at 101/2 o'clock, and Bishop E. G. Andrews, D. D., at 71/2 o'clock in the evening.
"Special Union Services at 3 o'clock P. M., when the Rev. C. B. Sing, Presiding Elder, Rev. C. B. Ford, the Pastor, Rev. F. C. Hill, Rev. J. W. Barnhart, Rev. John Parker, Rev. S. H. Platt, of DeKalb Avenue M. E. Church, Rev. G. A. Hubbell, of Greene Avenue M. E. Church, Rev. Dr. Jeffries, of Marcy Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Hutch- ins, of the Bedford Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Lewis Ray Foote, of the Throop Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rev. Stewart Walsh, of the Gethsemane Baptist Church, and other distinguished clergymen are expected to take part in the Memorial Services.
"Seats free. Strangers cordially invited to be present at all the services."
Pursuant to arrangements, the services morning, afternoon, and evening were held, and the attendance upon all of them, throughout the day, was much larger
189
THE DECENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
and better than any had anticipated ; in fact, a larger, more attentive, or appreciative audience had never before assembled in Wesley M. E. Church. The min- isterial visitors not only kept their engagements, but did everything in their power to contribute to the interest of the occasion, and by their spirited and soul-stirring addresses they inspired new life, hope, and courage among all classes of the people.
The following report of the day's proceedings is taken from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of March 29, 1875 :
" ANNIVERSARY OF WESLEY M. E. CHURCH. " DECENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
" The Decennial Anniversary of the founding of the Wesley M. E. Church was celebrated in the church edi- fice, corner of Tompkins and Willoughby Avenues, yes- terday, three services being held, all of which were well attended.
"At the morning service the Rev. C. B. Ford presided, and the regular order of worship was observed. The Rev. Dr. R. S. Moran, of Wilmington, North Carolina, preached the sermon, which lasted nearly two hours. His text was from the second chapter of 1st Corinthi- ans, the 9th, 10th, 11th verses : 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him. Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.' He said : 'The first sentence of this text is usu- ally applied to the things of the heavenly world ; but
190
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
in reading this passage in connection with the text itself it will be seen that the Apostle has no such idea in his mind, as it refers not at all to the things of heaven, but to things here ; for he immediately adds, " God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit," and assigns as the reason for it, that "The Spirit searcheth all things." As true religion was in the mind, life, it must of necessity follow that the great facts and the truths which enter into that life can be comprehended truly only by those who have been born into it ; hence the Apostle here and elsewhere distinctly asserts that this is the only specific way in which the spirit can attain any correct knowledge of the essen- tial truths of religion, and by experience in the insti- tuted and divinely organized system of the Bible. The Apostle did not make the announcement as a philo- sophical abstraction, but as a practical truth. The
only difference between the Apostle Paul and the apos- tles of modern science was this : That Paul asserted the necessity of this experimental appreciation, in or- der to arrive at the reality and validity of our spiritual knowledge, whereas they assert it in order to arrive at the reality of our natural knowledge. A certain ex- perience is necessary in order to gain a practical ap- preciation of the facts that are laid out in either, and this is implied, though not formally expressed in the text, and it contains the true philosophy of all spirit- ual perception. The man who is regenerated by the Spirit of God is the only one capable of receiving this revelation ; no other man can have a thorough appre- ciation of these spiritual things, no matter what may be his rank, his station, or his position in society, whether he be layman or clergyman, prince or peasant,
191
THE DECENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
priest, patriarch, or pope-no matter what may be his attainments in other departments of knowledge, how- ever profound his knowledge of statesmanship, how- ever thorough he may be as a scientist, however com- prehensive he may be of philosophical lore, however learned in systematic theology, however keen sighted in ethical distinctions, however erudite in biblical criti- cism ; he may be master of the Greek and Hebrew languages in which these truths found their first and purest expression, he may be familiar with the terms by which each of these spiritual truths may be most appropriately represented to the eye and to the ear, even the words which the Holy Ghost has chosen as the vehicle of communication to man, he may be able to frame these words into compact and beautiful sen- tences which do not admit of correction or revision ; yet, notwithstanding all this, these words never con- vey to his own understanding the real thoughts which they were designed to express. This may sound strange to the ears of some, while to others it may sound as a startling paradox. I don't mean to affirm that an unregenerated man may not know anything of religion ; but I mean to say that an unregenerated man can have no adequate appreciation or comprehen- sion of the things revealed by God to the conscience of the believers. Through this statement two ques- tions arise. First, What does the Apostle mean by the expression, "The things which God hath prepared for them that love him ?" And secondly, Why is it that an unregenerated and unconverted man can never embrace, receive, or understand it. It seems that the Apostle does not mean to embrace in this position those relig- ious truths which are of a scientific and historical char-
192
HISTCRY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
acter, such as are necessarily involved in, and are in- dispensable to, the existence of religion, and are nec- essary to its defense and support, not revealed by the Spirit to the senses of the believer, but by study to the investigator. But the Apostle means all those spirit- ual truths that have a practical application to, and an actual development in, the life of the believer ; all those material elements that form the concrete basis of our spiritual knowledge, and which are given to us in- tuitively, and which are directly and spontaneously born in the religious consciousness of every man who is born of God. Now, why can not an unregenerated man un- derstands these truths ? The one comprehensive and all-sufficient reply is, that an unconverted man, no mat- ter what qualifications he may possess, has not that experience through which only such knowledge is at- tainable. Observe the correspondence established be- tween the Creator and the faculties of man for getting knowledge, and the object to be acquired by knowledge.'
" The afternoon services commenced at three o'clock, there being a full gathering of the children belonging to the Sabbath school and members of the congrega- tion. The Rev. C. B. Sing, the Presiding Elder of the District, opened the meeting with prayer and presided on this occasion. There was plenty of pleasant sing- ing, and a good time was experienced generally. Short addresses were made by the Revs. F. C. Hill, C. B. Ford, J.W. Barnhart, John Parker, G. A. Hubbell, D. D., James Porter, D. D., Hiram Hutchins, D. D., Lewis Ray Foote, and A. Stewart Walsh.
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