USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > History of the Wesley M.E. Church of Brooklyn, L.I. > Part 2
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INTRODUCTION.
position, will be readily conceded and duly appreciated when it is understood that we have had to treat of cir- cumstances and events familiarly known to many, and with persons with whom we were immediately con- cerned and officially connected. Regard for the truth and fidelity to the subject, alike demanded at our hands honesty and candor in the treatment. By the adoption of this course, we flatter ourselves that the fallow ground has been broken up and prepared for the reception of the seed, from which, it is hoped, will spring an early and fruitful harvest.
Unless we are greatly mistaken, few will rise from a perusal of the sketch without having their minds in some degree quickened with a livelier sense and clearer perception of the privileges, benefits, and en- joyments arising from their connection and relation- ship as members of the church,-the visible body of Christ. To the thoughtful reader, it must appear that it is no vain thing to belong to the household of faith,- the church which Christ has purchased with his most precious blood. The deeper this conviction is made, the clearer will be the apprehension of the duties and responsibilities appertaining to so exalted a relation- ship. According to the estimate which is placed upon church membership, so will be enhanced the honor, dignity, importance, and responsibility attaching to the position of those who are chosen to become ยท office-bearers in the house of the Lord, and there will
xxi
INTRODUCTION.
be less occasion to undervalue the service, and less temptation to become lukewarm in its performance. When right motives and correct ideas prevail on this subject, it will be a source of pleasure and delight to be employed in any capacity, either as hewers of wood or drawers of water. Then something of the feeling of the royal psalmist will be experienced, when he declared, "I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Then there will be no diffi- culty in getting official brethren to attend to their duties,-no trouble in securing the attendance of Trus- tees, Stewards and Leaders, upon official meetings ; they will be ready and willing to take hold of the spiritual and financial concerns and business of the church in right earnest, and attend to the same with promptitude, diligence, and delight.
While it has been our endeavor to stimulate official brethren to a more hearty and punctual performance of their duty, it has been no less our desire, to inspire the rank and file of the membership with a higher appre- ciation of their privileges, and to incite them to a more faithful discharge of their duties, by regular attend- ance upon the ministry of the word, the week-night social means of grace, the class and prayer-meetings, love-feasts, watch-night services and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. It has been also our aim, as much as possible, to promote a higher regard and better ap-
xxii
INTRODUCTION.
preciation of our theology, hymnology, economy, dis- cipline, usages, and peculiarities which have so long distinguished our beloved Methodism, as an honored, prosperous, and fruitful branch of the church of Christ. And with equal earnestness have we endeavored to show it to be the privilege, as well as the duty of our Sunday school superintendents, officers, and teachers to get the children, in larger numbers than heretofore, induced to attend upon the public worship of the sanctuary, and to lead them by every proper motive and available means to become, early united with the Church.
Some may consider the space occupied by the chro- nological record of members who have been received into the church, by probation and letter, during the past decade as unnecessary, because so large a num- ber of them have since removed and gone to reside in other locations. While the majority of such, we have reason to believe, are running well, and in good stand- ing in other churches, yet we regret to say that some have got weary in well-doing, and through temptations made shipwreck of faith, and returned to the beggarly elements of the world. To such, the simple knowledge of the fact of finding their names enrolled upon the church records may, under the blessing of God, prove to be the means of recalling to memory the experience of former days, when the candle of the Lord shone brightly upon them :-
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INTRODUCTION.
"Those peaceful hours they once enjoyed, How sweet their memory still ! But they have left an aching void, The world can never fill."
It is to be hoped that this circumstance may lead them seriously to reflect upon their present unhappy and wretched condition, and induce them to arise, like the prodigal of old, and return to their Father's house, where there is bread enough and to spare, and find pardon and forgiveness in the outstretched arms of a loving and all-sufficient Savior.
In recalling the names and memories of the de- parted members of the church, who have died in the Lord, and finished their course with joy and entered into rest, it cannot fail to be a source of pleasure and gratification to their former associates who in times gone by went with them to the house of God in company, to keep holy day, to find the absent and sainted ones are not forgotten ; but especially to the more intimate friends and relatives of the deceased, this affectionate memorial will be hailed with feelings of grateful appreciation and regard. While the obit- uary notices will serve an affectionate in memoriam, yet they may answer a still higher and more important end to the surviving members of the Church, by in- citing them to copy their example, and run with greater diligence, perseverance, and. delight the ap- pointed race, still pressing toward the mark for the prize of their high calling in Christ Jesus, looking
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INTRODUCTION.
unto Him, who is the author until he becomes the finisher of their faith, and shall say unto them, It is enough, " well-done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord, as ye have been faith- ful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things ; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
How far we have succeeded in compassing the end or accomplishing the objects contemplated by the work, it is for others to determine ; but whatever may be the verdict, we have this consolation, to know and feel that the same was begun, continued, and finished with the single desire to advance the glory of God and good of the church ; and should such prove in any degree to be the result of our labor, TO GOD BE ALL THE PRAISE.
THE
HISTORY
OF
WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY.
THE circumstances connected with the origin of the Tompkins Avenue M. E. Society, form a striking analo- gy to similar societies which have been called into existence since Methodism was first introduced, and successfully planted in the British colonies, of North America, now upward of one hundred and ten years ago ; as will be seen from the subsequent narrative.
In the Spring of 1864, during the session of the New York East Conference, according to the usual custom and practice of the Church, the authorities, the Bishop, and Presiding Elders, in the exercise of their executive prerogative, appointed the Rev. Gad Smith Gilbert to the De Kalb Avenue charge, without any solicitation on his part or that of the official members of the Church. The Joint-Board, consisting of the Trustees, Stewards,
2
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
and leaders, had previously made application to the Conference for another preacher, whom they desired should be sent as their pastor ; but from some cause or other the request could not be conveniently or con- sistently granted. After the Conference was closed, and the appointments were made, Mr. Gilbert arrived in Brooklyn, and presented himself for the purpose of entering upon his duties as pastor of said charge.
As soon as his arrival was announced, a deputation waited upon Mr. Gilbert at the house of a friend in Kent Avenue, when they gave him to understand that they did not wish him to enter upon the discharge of his duties, for the reason, that they had not asked for him and did not want him ; and that in making such appointment, they considered, the Conference had not treated them with the courtesy and respect to which they were entitled, and therefore they had resolved to appeal to the Bishop to appoint some other preacher. The Bishop, at Philadelphia, accordingly was waited upon by the delegates appointed for that purpose, and they stated the case with all their grievances to him, and closed their address by protesting against the set- tlement of the new pastor. The Bishop, after patiently hearing all they had to say, politely informed the dele- gates that he did not feel justified under the circum- stances to interfere with the appointment that had been made, and advised them to go home and get along with the appointee as pleasantly as possible ; they returned to Brooklyn and reported the result of their mission ; and Mr. Gilbert immediately entered upon his duties as pastor of the De Kalb Avenue M. E. Church. In the mean time, it should be observed, that while a majority of the official brethren were opposed to Mr.
3
ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY.
Gilbert and refused to co-operate with him, there were a number of the members of the Church and congrega- tion who did sincerely feel for him and his excellent wife, under the trying circumstances in which they were placed, and they most heartily rallied round them and did everything in their power to comfort and sus- tain them, by Christian sympathy and support.
This unhappy state of feeling continued to exist be- tween the minister and the official brethren during the whole of that Conference year ; and toward its close, after several fruitless efforts had been made to secure harmony and co-operation, it was finally suggested by the pastor, and seconded by the presiding Elder, that as the De Kalb Avenue Church was numerically strong, and situated in a favorable and populous location, it was likely to continue so ; that the time had arrived when an effort should be made in the direction of a Church extension movement, by the formation of a new society, in a less populated locality. After further consideration the proposition was favorably entertained by several of the official brethren and members who sympathized with the pastor ; believing that it was nothing less than a loud and providential call to enter a new field of labor, for the purpose of extending the Redeemer's cause and kingdom. Although they under- stood perfectly well that in cutting their connection with the De Kalb Avenue Church and attempting to form a new society, many old and affectionate ties must be broken, while new cares, and increased respon- sibilities would have to be assumed, and personal in- conveniences and sacrifices would require to be made ; yet, nevertheless, they resolved to go forward with the enterprise, depending upon Providence for all needful
4
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
and necessary aid. Elder Pease and Mr. Gilbert em- braced the earliest opportunity of prospecting the sur- rounding neighborhood, and finally selected what they considered a desirable site, on the northwest corner of Tompkins and Willoughby Avenues.
Shortly after the building lots had been secured and arrangements made for their purchase, about forty-two persons in all, male and female, applied for and ob- tained from Mr. Gilbert their letters of membership, and thereupon withdrew in a body from the De Kalb Avenue Church. Pursuant to notice, the same parties subsequently met at the residence of Mr. T. P. Moses, No. 173 Tompkins Avenue, on Thursday afternoon, March 16, 1865, and were there and then, by Presiding Elder Rev. H. F. Pease, formed and constituted into a society, to be known and designated as "The Tompkins Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church."
The following persons composed the original mem- bers of the Society, viz. :
JOHN VAN NESS, MRS. JOHN VAN NESS, GILBERT E. CURRIE, MRS. G. E. CURRIE, ANCEL TITUS, MRS. ANCEL TITUS, MRS. MARIA THORPE, HUGH MCCROSSAN, MRS. H. MCCROSSAN, W. G. DARBY, MRS. W. G. DARBY, JOHN M. JACOBS, MRS. J. M. JACOBS, WM. MCDONOUGH, W. H. M. SMITH, MRS. SMITH, CHAS. M. TURNER, MRS. C. M. TURNER, THOS. P. MOSES, MRS. T. P. MOSES, WM. A. VALENTINE, MRS. W. A. VALENTINE, JAMES ROGERS, MRS. J. ROGERS, HENRY CHASTY, MRS. H. CHASTY, WM. Ross, J. G. ABERLE, MRS. J. G. ABERLE, MRS. ABERLE, SEN., MRS. JOHN FOLK, MRS. MELVILLE, MRS. CROWELL, MRS. ISAACS, MRS. R. OLMSTED, JEREMIAH JOHNSTON, MRS. JEREMIAH JOHNSTON, MRS. WALRAVEN, MRS. WOODS, MRS. SHEPPARD, MISS PLUMSTED.
The society when formed was then placed tempora- rily under the charge of the Rev. W. H. M. Smith, a
5
ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY.
located Elder, until such time as the Conference, when it met in April, would appoint a regular pastor. This is the origin of the Tompkins Avenue M. E. Society ; and its formation under the circumstances presents an- other illustration of the truth of God's word, where it says that He will make " the wrath of man to praise Him."
Immediately after the formation of the Society was effected, the contract for building a meeting house was given to Mr. Rose, who pushed forward the work with- out delay, and in the course of seven or eight days thereafter, it was inclosed and ready for occupancy. The Tabernacle was erected on the present site of the Wesley M. E. Church, corner of Tompkins and Wil- loughby Avenues ; and although somewhat hurriedly and rudely constructed and designed for temporary use, yet it was convenient and commodious enough for all necessary purposes. It was constructed exclu- sively of timber, one story high, peeked roof, and with two entrances on the front ; an infant class room was boarded off from the audience room, and subse- quently another class room was added at the rear, 25 by 16 feet ; the entire dimension of the building was 35 by 75 deep. The value of the lumber was $637.94, and cost of labor $375.00 ; making a total of $1,012.94. Furniture, fixtures, etc., amounted to $922.75 ; thus making an aggregate expenditure for building and furniture of $1,935.69. The photographic sketch, which was taken of the building, with old Father Titus stand- ing in the front, forms a very fair representation of the old Tabernacle.
The first Sabbath, March 26, after the Tabernacle was finished, it was solemnly dedicated to the service
6
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
of God. At the close of the morning service the sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper was administered, and a very gracious and refreshing season was experienced from the presence of the Lord. Thus amid praise and pray- er, mingled with tears and songs of gladness, the in- fant society took possession of their humble and new place of worship, with grateful hearts, thanking God and taking courage, and none daring to molest or make them afraid.
The first annual election of Trustees was held at the Tabernacle, on Monday evening, March 27, 1865, when the following persons were duly elected by a plurality of votes, viz. : John Van Ness, Gilbert E. Currie, James Rogers, J. M. Jacobs, Ancel Titus, W. G. Darby, and W. M. H. Smith. At a subsequent meeting of the Board for the election of officers, the following persons were elected : Gilbert E. Currie, President ; John Van Ness, Treasurer, and John M. Jacobs, Secretary. In the mean time the ladies of the Church had organized themselves, on Friday, March 17, into a " Union Aid Society," and elected Mrs. Job Johnson, President ; Mrs. G. E. Currie, Treasurer, and Mrs. J. M. Jacobs, Secretary.
CHAPTER II.
REV. GAD SMITH GILBERT, PASTOR.
ACCORDING to a previous understanding and by re- quest of the members of the Society, the Conference ap- pointed the Rev. Gad Smith Gilbert, pastor of the Tomp- kins Avenue M. E. Church. Mr. Gilbert's entrance upon the new charge was hailed with grateful emotions by pastor and people ; they felt indeed that it was a deliverance from the house of bondage-from a state of trouble and discord to one of harmony and peace. Preacher and people were alike stirred up to renewed activity and zeal, and the Conference year commenced with a gracious revival of the work of God. Souls were converted, and believers built up in their most holy faith, and several were added to the Church, such as we trust shall be e nally saved.
The various institutions connected with the Church were promptly organized and set in working order. The " Ladies' Aid Society," in point of time, took the lead. They organized their association, as we have said, on Friday, March 17, 1865, and they commenced in right earnest their work of faith and labor of love. The Sab- bath School was next organized, on April 15, 1865, by the appointment of William Ross, Superintendent; John M. Jacobs, Asst. Superintendent ; Gilbert E. Currie, Treasurer ; Wm. McDonough, Secretary, and James Rogers, Librarian. Immediately followed the organi- zation of classes, when the following persons were ap-
8
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
pointed leaders : Chas. M. Turner and Gilbert E. Currie. The Sabbath School Juvenile Missionary Society then followed ; it was organized Tuesday evening, May 2, 1865, when the following persons were appointed offi- cers for the year : Gilbert E. Curric, President ; Wm. Ross, Treasurer, and W. G. Darby, Secretary.
The first quarterly conference was held at the Taber- nacle on Friday evening, April 14, 1865. The Presiding Elder, Rev. Hart F. Pease in the chair. Present, Rev. H. F. Pease, Rev. G. S. Gilbert, Bros. John Van Ness, Gilbert E. Currie, Ancel Titus, W. G. Darby, Chas. M. Turner, W. M. H. Smith, J. Aumack, G. W. Lord, and John M. Jacobs. Bro. Jacobs was appointed Secretary. The following Committees were appointed : on Missions -Bros. Van Ness, Currie, and Turner ; on Sabbath School, Bros. Darby, Titus and Aumack ; on Tracts, Bros. Smith, Jacobs and Darby. The Stewards for the ensuing year were : Bros. T. P. Moses, Frank Purdy, Wm. McDonough, A. W. Valentine, and J. G. Aberle ; District Steward, A. W. Valentine ; Recording Stew- ard, J. M. Jacobs ; Estimating Committee, Bros. Titus, Van Ness, and Moses. G. W. Lord was recommended for Deacons' orders. Bro. Wm. Ross, as Superintend- ent of Sunday Schools, was admitted a member of the quarterly conference.
The second quarterly conference was held at the Tab- ernacle on Monday evening, July 24; Bros. Henry Chasty, Wm. Ross, and Jas. Rogers were appointed Stewards. Bro. W. A. Valentine resigned.
The Church organization, with its various auxiliary agencies, being now fairly set in motion, and in good working order, each department vied with the other in laboring to promote the material well-being and
9
REV. GAD S. GILBERT, PASTOR.
spiritual prosperity of the Society. The Ladies' Aid Society, through the Treasurer, Mrs. G. E. Currie, re- ported on July 21, having received from initiation fees, collections, and donations, $270.68, which for the short time it had been in operation, was considered an excel- lent commencement. The first instalment of books for the Sunday School Library was made on August the 8th, when ninety-four volumes, at the aggregate cost of $53.86, was bought of Edward Goodenough, Nassau Street, New York. The first quarterly report of the Treasurer of the Sunday School Juvenile Missionary Society, showed total receipts on July 31, amounting to $33.84.
The parcel of land, consisting of five full lots, which was secured for the Church, originally belonged to the old Rappelyea Estate ; and was conveyed by deed in fee simple by Harriet Rappelyea, Agnes D. Davis and Walter S. Davis, (her husband), to "The Tompkins Avenue M. E. Church, of the City of Brooklyn," in con- sideration of the sum of one dollar paid in hand, and three thousand dollars secured on bond and mort- gage ; and is recorded in the " Register office" of Kings County, in Liber 662 of Conveyances, page 189, April 24, 1865. In this connection it may be well to observe that another Deed by the same parties was executed and conveyed to the Trustees on February 28, 1868, in consequence of an error having been made in the former one, relating to the title of the corporation, as recorded in the " Register office," the legal title be- ing " The Trustees of the Tompkins Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church." This Deed is also recorded in the Register office of Kings County, in liber 806 of convey- ances, page 266, March 13, 1868. The " Wesley M. E.
10
HISTORY WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
Church " is the denominational name which was subse- quently given by the Trustees, and afterward ratified when the corner stone was laid, and finally confirmed on the day the edifice was dedicated to the service of God by Bishop Janes.
The only important event which took place during the remainder of the year 1865 was the sudden and unexpected death of the pastor's estimable wife, Mrs. Gad S. Gilbert, in child-birth-the mother was taken and the child was left. This bereavement deeply and sincerely affected the whole Society, and the sympathy of the Church went generously out for the sadly af- flicted father and husband and his motherless boy. The stroke fell with terrible crushing effect upon the disconsolate husband ; suffering as he did at the time from physical debility, it completely prostrated him to such a degree, that he never entirely recovered from it. Toward the close of the year, the official brethren deemed it advisable for the interest of the So- ciety, to invite another pastor, for the ensuing con- ference year. Accordingly a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Rev. Francis C. Hill, of the Carlton Avenue M. E. Church, and tender him an invitation. After a very full explanation of the condition and fu- ture prospects of the Society had been given to him, he requested time to consider the matter, which was granted, when he afterward consented to accept the same, subject to the decision of the appointing power. Application for Mr. Hill was made to Conference, when it assembled in April ; the petition was favorably re- ceived, and he was appointed the pastor of Tompkins Avenue M. E. Church.
Thus closed the first year of the Society ; the mem.
11
REV. GAD S. GILBERT, PASTOR.
bers having increased from forty-two to sixty-nine, and probationers, sixteen ; making a total of eighty-five ; Sunday-school scholars, 100 ; teachers, 12. The mon- eys paid to the Board of Trustees by subscriptions, plate collections, Ladies' Aid Society, and Sabbath Mission- ary Society, amounted to $2,229.69. The Steward and Leaders' Board, reported receipts from quarterly collec- tions, classes, Ladies' Aid Society, Missionary Fund, ' etc., $1,345.20, making total receipts for the year of $3,574.89.
CHAPTER III.
REV. FRANCIS C. HILL, PASTOR.
AT the time of the arrival of the Rev. F. C. Hill, the newly appointed pastor, a very excellent state of re- ligious feeling existed among the membership and offi- cial brethren, and his appointment to the charge was considered by all exceedingly appropriate and very providential. The various appliances of the organiza- tion were in good working order, but with the design, if possible, to increase their efficiency and promote union and more effective co-operation among the official brethren, it was proposed by the pastor, that a Joint- Board should be established, consisting of the Trus- tees, Stewards, Leaders, Local Preachers, and Sunday- school Superintendent. The proposition was well re- ceived, and accordingly on May 20, 1866, the Joint- Board was organized, with the pastor as President, Chas. M. Turner, Secretary, and Thos. P. Moses, Treas- urer, the regular meetings of the Board to be held on the first Monday evening of each month ; the same to take the place of the Stewards' and Leaders' meeting.
The first quarterly conference was held at the Tabernacle, April 23, 1866 ; Presiding Elder, Rev. H. F. Pease in the chair ; the session was opened with prayer by the Elder. Present, Bros. H. F. Pease, Hill, Currie, Van Ness, McCrossan, Darby, Moses, Ross, Chasty, Titus, Smith, Cathart, Jacobs, and Turner. Bro, Ross was appointed Secretary. After the usual
13
REV. F. C. HILL, PASTOR.
disciplinary questions were put and answered, the fol- lowing Committees were appointed for the year, viz : on Sabbath School, Bros. Darby, McCrossan, and Currie : on Tracts, Bro. Titus ; on Centenary, Bros. Hill, Van Ness, Smith, Jacobs, Titus, and Ross. Bro. Ross was re-appointed Superintendent of Sabbath School. A vote of thanks was given to Elder Pease for obtaining the appropriation from the Mission Funds of $600.
The second quarterly conference was held at the Tab- ernacle, on July 23, 1866, Presiding Elder in the chair. Bro. Benson, as Trustee, was appointed a member. The pastor reported the general condition of the charge in a promising condition, fifteen members hav- ing been received by certificates during the quarter. The finances were in a prosperous condition. The Sunday School also had made some advancement in numbers and interest. Number of Scholars, 125 ; teachers, 18.
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