USA > New York > New York City > History of the school of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church, in the city of New York, from 1633 to the present time > Part 7
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* Con. Rec. Leg. G. 199.
+ This custom, which still exists, was borrowed from the Episcopal Church school, in which it had obtained as far back as the year 1757, and probably a few years earlier. The hymns used by the children of the Reformed Dutch school on these occasions have been prepared, from year to year, by the friends of the institution. A majority of these compositions, running back as far as the year 1813, are now in the possession of the present Principal.
86
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
them to some useful profession or employment at the expira- tion of their terms in school, or secure to Consistory the power of so doing."
This article was never carried out.
" That as far as the consent of the parents or guardians can be obtained, the same resolution be extended to the boys already admitted.
" That ten boys be admitted into the school, in addition to the present number under the care of Mr. Latham.
"That ten girls, at present under the tuition of Mr. La- tham, be removed and put under the care of a female in- structor."*
Miss ELIZABETH TEN EYCK was accordingly engaged, and . continued in this capacity until the year 1809, when, upon the introduction into the school of the Lancasterian system of education, "the Madam's school was dispensed with." She immediately opened a private school, to which, during a period of three years, the trustees occasionally sent some of their female pupils to receive instruction in sewing.t Dur- ing Miss Ten Eyck's connection with the school, and for thirty years afterwards, she had the making of the girls' clothing ; and in whatever capacity she was engaged by the trustees, her duties were always performed in a satisfactory manner.
1795 .- Mr. Latham, like his predecessor, enjoyed the privilege of having pay scholars; but the Consistory, im- pressed with the necessity of having the school composed exclusively of charity scholars, had an interview with him, and, on the 8th day of January, they "Resolved, that from and after the 1st February next, none but charity scholars shall be admitted into the school ; and that the number of such shall remain unlimited, and depend from time to time upon the direction of Consistory." And further, "Resolved, that
* Con. Rec. Leg. G. 225-227.
+ Trus. Min. i. 26, 30, 32, 40, 67, 73.
87
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
from and after the said day, the Consistory will pay unto Mr. Latham £200 per annum, and that he shall continue to remain in the house, as hitherto, free of all rent." Also, "Resolved, to allow twelve loads of wood every year for the school ; and it is expressly understood that, besides the usual education in literature, Mr. Latham shall teach the scholars psalmody, as is usual in all institutions of this nature."
"Mr. Latham being called, and these resolutions commu- nicated to him, he acquiesced, and declared his willingness and gratitude for this arrangement; and it is now recipro- cally understood that all former agreements are hereby super- seded, and that this shall be the basis for the future services of Mr. Latham, and no alteration is to be made therein on either side under at least six months' notice; and that a copy of this minute be handed to Mr. Latham."*
June 17 .- Dr. Linn reported he had received from Dr. Joshua Lathrop, of Norwich, Conn., a guinea for the benefit the school.t
1799, May 25. - By a resolution of Consistory, the number of children was restricted to fifty ;} probably in con- sequence of the withdrawal of the funds which, during the years 1796 and 1797, the school had received from the State.
1801 .- The catechising of the scholars by the ministers was transferred to the North Church.
1804 .- March 1. The number of scholars under the care of the master was limited to sixty ; and he was privileged o receive six pay scholars.§ In addition to the studies already taught in the school, the boys, if time and circum- stances admitted, were to be instructed in the principles of English grammar.
* Con. Rec. Leg. H. 1. + Ibid. 21. ¿ Con. Rec. Leg. H. 138. § Con. Rec. Leg. H. 326.
88
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
A committee was appointed to report upon the propriety of extending the benefits of the institution to such individual or individuals, of superior talents or acquirements, as might be calculated to fit them for future usefulness in Church or State.
1808 .- For a period of one hundred and seventy-five years, commencing in 1633, the deacons had constituted the Standing Committee of Consistory for the management of the school ; but in the year 1808, May 5, the code of 1789 was amended so as to place the institution under the care of a " Board of Trustees," whose duty it should be "to advise with Consistory in all matters that may be deemed import- ant, and in all things to be under their control."*
The original members of the Board were, Messrs. John Stoutenburgh, Richard Duryee, Isaac Heyer, Abraham Brinckerhoff, Anthony Dey, Jesse Baldwin, and John Nitchie, Jr. Their first meeting was held June 9, 1808, in the Con- sistory-chamber, Garden street. John Stoutenburgh was chosen Chairman, and John Nitchie, Jr., Secretary.
The VIIth Article of their by-laws provided for a com- mittee of two of the Trustees, to be called the School Com- mittee ; and at each stated meeting the "Chairman shall appoint one of the School Committee in succession from the Trustees, to supply the place of one whose term shall expire." This was amended in 1831, so that there is now but one member on the Visiting Committee.
1809, January 1 .- The school-room having been en- larged, the Lancasterian or monitorial system was introduced into the school, and the number of scholars was increased from seventy-two to one hundred.
* The Rules for the government of the Board of Trustees are con- tained in the " Standing Rules of the Consistory of the Collegiate R. P. D. Church," Art. xiii.
89
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
February 27 .- Thirteen girls each received a pair of scissors for their improvement in writing; and twelve boys, each a penknife. These were presents from Richard Duryee Esq. At subsequent dates, useful articles, the gifts of differ- ent individuals, were presented to the most meritorious children.
March 7 .- The number of scholars having been increased, and Mr. Latham having relinquished the pay scholars granted him in 1804, his salary was advanced to six hundred dollars per annum, and his house-rent.
.December 6 .- Mr. Latham presented his resignation, to take effect the first of May following; and Joseph Hinds, who graduated from the school in 1808, was engaged as an assistant teacher for a period of seven weeks.
December 7 .- James Forrester was unanimously elected, by Consistory, to supersede Mr. Latham. His competitors were Richard Witts and Paul J. Micheau .*
1810, May 1 .- Mr. Forrester entered upon his duties, and the school was divided, under the Lancasterian system, as follows : 1 First Class-A B C, and figures. In sand. Second Class-Monosyllables. Third Class-Words of two syllables, and writing same on slate.
Fourth Class-Words of more than two sylla- bles, and irregular words.
Fifth Class-Reading in Child's Instructor ; Catechism.
On slate.
Sixth Class-Reading in New Testament ; Heidelbergh Catechism.
Seventh Class-Reading in Old Testament, Murray's Grammar, and penmanship.
* Con. Rec. Leg. I. 107. Trus. Min. i. 24, 26, 36.
90
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
All to study arithmetic, at the discretion of the teacher.
June 21 .- In case the minister was absent, from sickness or otherwise, one of the elders was to conduct the catechetical exercise.
1811, January 10 .- The eight-day clock, which had hung for many years in the Garden Street Church, was cleansed and re-cased by M. Demilt, at an expense of twenty-five dollars. It was then put up in the school-room. What the bank or railway clock is to the adult, this, for many years, has been to anticipative youth ; and though it cannot foretell, yet its indications have signalized the period for the resumption of study, or the. desired release. Venerable by age, and faith- ful amidst all the changes of time, suspended on the walls of the present building, it still answers nobly the precise object for which it was made; and, were it gifted with speech, it could undoubtedly reveal more knowledge of mischievous frolic than ever fell under the cognizance of the teacher.
1813, January 25 .- Mr. Nitchie having resigned his situa- tion as Secretary of the Board, a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to him by the trustees, for the diligent and able discharge of his duties for nearly five years; and at the annual election of officers in 1814, Mr. Richard Duryee hav- ing been chosen chairman, it was on motion resolved, that the thanks of the Board be communicated to Mr. Stouten- burgh, for his faithful and punctual attendance as chairman for nearly six years.
1813 .- "On the 2d of April, 1805, (the same year in which the Free School Society was founded,) the Legislature passed an act providing that the nett proceeds of 500,000 acres of the vacant and unappropriated lands of the people of this State, which should be first thereafter sold by the Surveyor-General, should be appropriated as a permanent fund for the support of common schools; the avails to be
91
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
safely invested until the interest should amount to $50,000, when an annual distribution of that amount should be made to the several school districts. This act laid the foundation of the present fund for the support of common schools."
"By the act to incorporate the Merchants' Bank in the city of New-York, passed the same year, the State reserved the right to subscribe for three thousand shares of the capital stock of that institution, which, together with the accruing interest and dividends, were appropriated as a fund for the support of common schools, to be applied in such manner as the Legislature should from time to time direct."
" By acts passed March 13, 1807, and April 8, 1808, the Comptroller was authorized to invest such moneys, together with the funds arising from the proceeds of the lotteries authorized by the act of 1803, in the purchase of additional stock of the Merchants' Bank, and to loan the residue of the fund."*
On the 19th day of June, 1812, an act was passed for the establishment of common schools in this State, and provision was soon after made, in accordance with the act of 1805, for the distribution of the interest arising from the common school fund.t As there were several Societies in the city of New-York at this time already engaged in the work of edu- cating the poor, all of which had for many years been suc- cessfully and satisfactorily engaged in this laudable under- taking, a law was passed March 12th, 1813, “directing that the portion of the school fund received by the city and county of New-York shall be apportioned and paid to the trustees of the Free School Society of New-York,
* Common School System of the State of New-York, by Samuel S. Randall, Dep. Sup. Com. Sch., p. 9.
+ Rand. Com. Sch. Sys. S. N. Y. 13.
92
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
the trustees or treasurers of the Orphan Asylum Society, the Society of the Economical School, the African free school, and of such incorporated religious Societies in said city as supported or should establish charity schools, who might apply for the same." Under the operation of this law, as the money to be received was to be in proportion to the number of scholars on register, it is natural to suppose that efforts would be made by each school sharing in the distribution of the fund, to obtain as many scholars as possible. So far as the Dutch Church school was concerned, however, the limit of scholars fixed in 1809, four years previously, remained unaltered.
Impressed with the necessity and importance of imparting religious instruction to the youth under their charge, the trus- tees of the Free School Society, " on the suggestion, and to meet the wishes of numerous well-meaning individuals, yielded readily to a proposition that an Association of more than fifty ladies, of high respectability and of different religious de- nominations, who had volunteered for the purpose, should meet in the school-room one afternoon in each week, to give instructions to the pupils from such denominational cate- chisms as might be designated by their parents. At the same time, to meet their expressed wishes, monitors were appointed to lead them on the Sabbath to their appropriate places of worship."*
This movement was naturally calculated to affect the charity schools then existing in the city; and on receiving an assurance from the Free School Society that their children should enjoy the same privileges, literary and religious, which they had enjoyed among themselves, the trustees of the
* Vide Sketch of the Rise and Progress Pub. Sch. Soc., xxxvii. An. Rep. 20.
93
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
Presbyterian school relinquished the portion of the State fund to which they were entitled, and the school eventually dis- banded ; but the Dutch Church, adhering to her principles on this subject, and to the practice which for centuries had obtained with her, declined the overture ; and the Consistory on the 14th of January resolved " that the children belonging to the Dutch Church who attended the New-York free school, be presented each with a catechism, and be invited to attend a public catechising every Wednesday, at 3 P. M., in the North Church."*
One week later, a communication was received by the Consistory from the Free School Society, accompanied by a resolution of the trustees of that institution, in the following words :
"Resolved, That the afternoon of Tuesday (third day) in each week be appropriated for the instruction of the children of the New-York free school in the principles of the Chris- tian religion ; and in order that they may be educated in the peculiar tenets of the denomination to which they respectively belong, the several churches with which they are connected be respectfully invited to send suitable persons to catechise and otherwise so to instruct them."
Thereupon the Consistory resolved,
" That John Vanderbilt be appointed to instruct the child- ren connected with the Dutch Church, attending the New- York free school on the day designated, until further arrange- ment be made."+
* Con. Rec. Leg. I. 228.
+ Con. Rec. Leg. I. 232. A communication and resolution of the same character were presented to the Vestry of Trinity Church, and "it was thereupon ordered that the Assistant Rector and other Clergy of this church be requested to give the necessary attention to the said resolution, and that 200 Common Prayer
94
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
The name of Mr. Vanderbilt does not occur again in this connection ; and it is presumed that the catechising of the children connected with the Dutch Church and attending the free school was left in the hands of the ladies associated for that purpose .*
books be appropriated to the use of the scholars who belong to the Episcopal Church, to be distributed under the direction of the Assistant Rector." Vide Hist. Trin. Ch. p. 254.
* The following extracts from the Annual Reports of the Free School Society, furnish probably all the information now to be had upon this subject.
In their Ninth Annual Report, bearing date May 2, 1814, over the signature of De Witt Clinton, President, after speaking of the progress of their pupils in intellectual attainments, the Report adds:
" While the Trustees have been thus engaged in communicating to the understandings of the children, the elements of useful knowledge, they have not been unmindful of the importance of imbuing their minds also with a sense of moral and religious obligation."
"The afternoon of every Tuesday, or third day of the week, has been set apart for this purpose; and the children have been instructed in the catechisms of the churches to which they respectively belong. This pious office is performed by an Association of highly respect- able females, who are in profession with the different religious deno- minations in the city. The number of children educated in the pecu- liar tenets of each religious community is, at the present time, as follows :
Presbyterians,
271
Episcopalians,
186
Methodists,
172
Baptists,
119
Dutch Church,
41
Roman Catholic,
9
"In the furtherance of the same interesting object, the children have been required to assemble at their respective schools on the morning of every Sabbath, and proceed, under the care of a monitor, to such place of public worship as was designated by their parents or guardians. This requisition has been regularly attended to by many, but the want of suitable clothing has prevented others from comply- ing with it. It is believed that this deficiency might be amply sup- plied by the appropriation to this purpose of the garments which are laid aside as useless, in the families of our wealthy fellow-citizens. And, surely, few acts of charity could be more truly benevolent and
95
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
The disparagement between the number of children at- tending these schools from the Presbyterian and Dutch churches, the former being 37 per cent. and the latter only 4 per cent., may be accounted for by the discontinuance of the Presbyterian charity school, as above stated ; while the Dutch Church continued to sustain her institution, and the weekly catechetical expositions to her children.
In the year 1815, in order to give more efficiency to these exercises, the Consistory resolved that each of the ministers
useful. It would not only contribute to the personal comfort of the children, but it would enable them to join in the public celebration of religious worship."
" In cases where an attendance at school previous to going to church is particularly inconvenient, liberty has been given for the children to attend public worship in company with their parents or guardians."
Extract from the Tenth Annual Report of May 1, 1815 :
" The office of communicating religious instruction to the children, by teaching them the catechisms of their respective churches, is still performed by the Association of benevolent females who so zealously engaged in it. Their kindness has also prompted them to furnish many of the scholars with comfortable clothing during the late incle- ment season."
" The children at present under the care of the Society are said to belong to the different religious denominations as follows:
Presbyterians,
365
Methodists,
175
Episcopalians,
159
Baptists,
144
Roman Catholics,
57
Dutch Church,
33."
Extract from the Eleventh Annual Report, May 6, 1816 :
"The children continue to receive the advantages of religiou's instruction communicated to them from the catechisms used in the respective churches to which they belong, in the manner mentioned in the Report of last year."
The wide extension of the free schools, and the establishment this year of Sunday-schools, " to which excellent institutions they thereafter commended their pupils," led to a discontinuance of this measure.
The free schools in operation at this time were No. 1, opened in 1809, at the corner of Chatham street and Tryon Row ; and No. 2,
96
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
ought to have separate classes of the children and youth, and on different days, so as not to interfere with each other; and the ministers were directed to carry this out. Two months subsequently, on the request of the Rev. Dr. Milledoler, the Elders Wilson and Duryee were appointed to assist him in catechising the children,* Mr. Forrester's scholars, in common with the other children connected with the Dutch Church, assembling as usual in a body for that purpose.
1818, March 12 .- The Teacher's Annual Report to Con- sistory sets forth the attainments of the children at this time, and presents the school in a very favorable aspect. He says : " The school consists of 100 scholars, viz., 76 boys and 24 girls. Of these, 24 boys and 8 girls read in the Old Testa- ment, and 17 boys and 11 girls, in the New Testament; the remaining 15 boys and 5 girls write on sand-tables, and read in the Child's Instructor, and Spelling-Book : 48 boys and 12 girls are in arithmetic; 5 of the boys have been through Vulgar and Decimal Fractions, and are now in Interest. The second class consists of 10 in the Rule of Three. The third class, of 10 in Reduction. The fourth class, of 19 in Compound Addition : 7 of the girls have been through Practice, and 6 more are in Compound Addition ; 43 boys and 12 girls recite a new section of the Heidelbergh
opened in 1811, in Henry street. The original object of this Society was " the education of children who do not belong to, and are not pro- vided for by any religious society ;" but in 1808, they received " author- ity to educate all children who were proper objects of gratuitous Instruction." Clothing donated for the purpose was at times distri- buted to the necessitous. For the use of the Reports from which the above extracts were taken, the author is indebted to the kindness of Samuel W. Seton, an individual who has rendered incalculable ser- vice to the cause of education in this city.
* Con. Rec. Leg. I. 340, 850.
97
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
Catechism every week; 31 boys and 10 girls study the Shorter Catechism, and every week commit a portion thereof to memory, according to their several capacities : 24 of the children can recite the Heidelbergh Catechism throughout."
The Annual Report of the Trustees, accompanying that of the teacher, closes with the following commendatory lan- guage, which shows the high estimation in which his services were regarded : "The Board rejoices in being able to say that they are satisfied with the zeal, ability, and attention of the teacher, and particularly with the parental care with which he watches over the religious and moral condition of those committed to his charge."
December 24 .- Commenced the custom of closing the school between Christmas and New-Year's.
December 28 .- Hereafter the school was kept from nine o'clock to three, from the 15th of November to the 15th of March.
1819, March 4 .- A committee of Consistory having de- termined that the state of the funds warranted an increase of scholars, the number was extended from one hundred to one hundred and ten.
April 26 .- Bell's system of instruction was introduced into the school.
December 27 .- The parents were required to furnish cer- tificates of the baptism of children hereafter admitted.
1820, May 29 .- From this date the school sessions have been between the hours of nine and three, throughout the year.
1825 .- During the years 1796, 1797, and 1801, this school, in connection with the other charity schools of this city, received from the State certain appropriations, and enjoyed for a number of years, in common with the Free
5
98
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL,
School Society, and other educational institutions, the privi- leges granted by the law of 1813; but, in the year 1820, the Bethel Baptist Church organized a free school in the basement of the church corner of Delancey and Chrystie streets ; and subsequently, in 1822 and 1823, by the per- mission of the Legislature, two others, from the surplus money which they had in hand: thus they enjoyed privileges equal to those of the Free School Society, the Trustees of which, apprehensive that the buildings thus erected for the Bethel free school, " becoming church property, might also be appropriated to other purposes than exclusively for the education of the poor," memorialized, with the sanction and cooperation of the Common Council, the State Legis- lature for a repeal of the law enacted in favor of the Baptists, and for an amendment to the law relative to the distribution of the school-fund in this city, so as "to prevent any religious society, entitled to a participation in the fund, from drawing for any other than the poor children of their respective congregations." "For," say they, "the Bethel free schools have taken away many scholars from the Soci- ety's schools, and thereby diminished the amount of attend- ance upon them, and, consequently, their revenue derived from the Common-school Fund."
The Trustees of the Free School Society thought also that they had " discovered a manifestation of a disposition, on the part of some other religious societies, to follow the example of the Bethel Baptist Church to the extent of enlarging their schools so as to receive for instruction poor children gene- rally, without restricting themselves, as heretofore, to those of their own particular congregations. A school of this descrip- tion has been opened in Grace Church, unde. the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Wainwright; another, for the education of female children, by the Congregational Church in Chambers
99
FROM 1783 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
street ; and a third will soon be opened by the Dutch Church, in the large rooms in Harmony Hall, at the corner of William and Duane streets ;" " and when it [the Dutch Church School] shall get in full operation, the Trustees have little doubt that they shall be under the necessity of discon- tinuing Free School No. 1."
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