USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 1 > Part 12
USA > New York > New York City > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 1 > Part 12
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Dr. Cuyler received his degree of D.D. from Princeton College. IIe is a graphic and fluent writer. He has published about sixteen hundred articles in religious papers and magazines ; of all these com- bined about fifty millions of copies have been issued. They have been widely circulated in Europe. Nearly three hundred articles have been written for the Independent alone. A volume, entitled "Stray Arrows," contains a portion of his articles contributed to newspapers. He is the author of two very celebrated temperance tracts, entitled "Somebody's Son," and " His Own Daughter," the former of which had a circulation of one hundred thousand copies. Among the papers to which he has contributed may be mentioned the Christian Intelligencer, Independent, and Evangelist. His articles are pervaded by a genial Christian tone, which has attracted to them a wide attention.
Ile has published a number of books. Four of these, " Cedar Christian," " Heart-Life," "Empty Crib," . and " Thought-Ilives," have been reprinted in England.
He delivers in the course of a year probably one hundred ad- dresses, besides his sermons. Of the latter he usually preaches two on each Sabbath, and takes an active part in the weekly meetings.
Dr. Cuyler is somewhat above the ordinary stature, erect, and ex- tremely active. His head is more long than round, with regular features, and bold, restless, searching eyes. He has straight black hair, and side whiskers. A distinguished phrenologist says of him : " The countenance exhibits a strong mental temperament. The vital forces are scarcely sufficient to meet the constant demand of an over- active brain. From carly youth Dr. Cuyler has shown an ardor and enterprise in his calling rarely equaled. In the earnestness of his efforts he has strained every nerve, mental and physical, and thus kept his vital forces much below par. Large language is indicated in the eyes; strong perceptive power in the projecting eyebrows; large mirthfulness and ideality impart taste, imagination, and brilliancy to his style. Order is large; so with constructiveness. Among the intellectual faculties Comparison is doubtless the most influential. He has a fine moral development, which is broad rather than high
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REV. THEODORE L. CUYLER, D. D.
His is a working piety-that which exhibits itself in practical life and is known by its fruits."
Dr. Cuyler is very correctly described in the following extract :
" He mingles freely and happily with his people. His feelings are solid and sympathetic, his conversation is fluent and interspersed with illustration, anecdote, lively metaphor, and felicitous quotation; his manner natural, candid and frank; his tone of voice at once full, encouraging, and also gentle; so that he unites the gifts which elicit friendly feeling, promote freedom of social intercourse, and bind a pastor to his people by the innumerable threads of friendly intercourse, rather than by the one cable of profound and distant reverence. Hence he combines in an un- usual degree success in pastoral labor with success in preaching. He teaches his people quite as much out of the pulpit as in it. He seeks to make his church an organized band who 'go about doing good,' in working sympathy with the poor and outcast. He also diffuses a zeal, 'lengthening the cords and strengthening the stakes' of their own influence. Dr. Cuyler is accessible both in the parlor and in the pulpit. One is sure of hospitality at church as well as at home."
Dr. Cuyler's style as a preacher is peculiar and impressive. Calm- ly looking over his congregation, he utters his text in a deliberate, solemn tone, and pauses for it to have due effect. Usually his texts are a few graphic words, such as " What wilt thou ?" "Stand there- fore," "P'ray without ceasing," " What think ye of Christ ?" Hav- ing fixed every eye and startled, as it were, every heart, he now pro- ceeds with his sermon. It is full of graphic utterances, powerful illustrations, and eloquent appeals. His voice is defective in mellow- ness, but the words are so striking and well chosen that the tone does not seem other than pleasant to the ear. By turns he is earnest and emphatic, and then subdued and pathetic ; sometimes he indulges in brilliant passages of description and narrative, and then in ringing sentences of invective against human error. Probably there is no preacher who can more readily inspire the multitude.
Something of his style may be understood by the closing portion of a sermon on "The True Spirit : "
" My friends of three-score-and-ten ! The clock of our existence is nearly worn out. The wheels have grown rusty. The springs are corroded. Brush off the dust from its face and you will see that the hands point almost to midnight. Your course is nearly run. The time is short ! Prepare to meet thy God ! Give thy heart and hopes and thoughts to Christ. And what thou doest do quickly ! Before to-morrow morning thy clock may stop forever."
During Dr. Cuyler's public ministry he has received two thousand seven hundred and eighty persons into church fellowship, of whom fourteen hundred have united on profession of faith. His labors in the cause of temperance and other moral reforms have been
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REV. THEODORE L. CUYLER, D. D.
constant and enthusiastic. His writings and speeches have shown earnestness and good nature as well, and greatly appealed to popular favor.
In the summer of 1872 he returned from a visit to Europe. He went as a delegate to a Presbyterian assemblage in Edinburgh, Scot- land. During his stay in Scotland and England he received great attention from all classes of society, and had several informal meet- ings with Premier Gladstone, and other statesmen.
He is a talented, energetic public man, filled with the progressive spirit of his day. He is stubborn in his opinions and stern in his principles ; but his nature is generous, and all his impulses are noble. Animated by a desire to do his part in the religious and moral eleva- tion of mankind, he has given his utmost talents and energies to the work, and already won for himself an unfading renown.
127
REV. WILLIAM C. DAWSON,
PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, NEW YORK.
EV. WILLIAM C. DAWSON was born in Scott county, Kentucky, July 23d, 1841. He is the son of the Rev, John D. Dawson, of the Church of Christ. He entered the Junior Class of the State University of Missouri, and at the age of nineteen, was appointed an adjunct Professor of the Ancient Languages in that institution. On the breaking out of the war the University was necessarily closed. During the next three years Mr. Dawson was engaged in teaching and preaching in Pike county, Missouri, having been ordained to the ministry. In 1864 he entered Bethany College, in West Virginia, where he was graduated in the following year. He then took charge of the Church of the Disciples at Decatur, Illinois, remaining two years. After this he passed two years as pastor of the church at Lexington, Missouri, and three years in charge of the Second Church of the Disciples at Louisville, Kentucky. In October, 1872, he was installed as the pastor of the Church of the Disciples of Christ, wor- shiping in West Twenty-eight street, New York. For a number of years this congregation occupied a building on West Seventeenth street, but, about 1863 or 1864, purchased the more modern and eligibly located structure now used by them, There are about two hundred and fifty members.
The organization of Christians, to which Mr. Dawson belongs, is known by the designations of "Disciples of Christ," "Church of Christ," "Christians," and "Campbellites." It took its origin in the effort made many years since to effect a union of the Protestant de- nominations. "In the beginning of the present century," says a writer on the subject, "several religious movements for this purpose occurred in different parts of the United States, independently of each other, and without pre-concert. The one which gave immediate origin and distinctive character to the body now known as ' Disciples,'
128
REV. WILLIAM C. DAWSON.
was initiated in 1809 by Thomas Campbell, a preacher of purity and distinction among the Seceders, aided by his son Alexander, to whose ability and energy its successful progress is mainly attributed, and by whom it has been chiefly directed. The original purpose was to heal, if possible, the divisions of religious society, and to develop and establish a common basis of Christian union. It was thought that these desirable objects could be attained by taking the Bible alone as a guide, and its express teachings as the only authoritative standard of faith and practice, allowing meanwhile entire liberty of opinion in relation to all matters not fully revealed. Upon these principles a considerable society was formed, consisting chiefly of members from Presbyterian churches, and meetings were held statedly for the pro- motion of the cause of the union and for religious worship and in- struction. After some time the question of infant baptism, and, as connected with it, the use of sprinkling as baptism, became matters of investigation in the society, and it was finally, after some months, decided by a large majority that there was no Scripture warrant for either practice, and that consequently, upon their own principles, they were compelled to renounce them. Becoming then a society of universal believers, they soon after united with the Redstone Baptist Association, stipulating, however, in writing, that no standard of doctrine or bond of Christian union, or other than the Holy Serip- tures, should be required. By means of this union with the Baptists, the principles and views of the 'Disciples,' ably developed and de- fended by Alexander Campbell in his writings and publie discussions, were widely disseminated and adopted by many."
After a time other features of primitive Christianity were intro- duced, such as "baptism for the remission of sins," and the practice of partaking of the Lord's Supper on every Sabbath. " In pressing these matters upon the acceptance of the Baptists," says the writer before quoted, " a spirit of opposition was at length aroused in various quarters, especially in Virginia and Kentucky, and a separation, to some extent, ensued, many of the Baptists remaining connected with the Disciples. Not long afterward, at the close of 1831, their members were still further augmented by a union between them, and a numerous body which had originated in Kentucky, and some other Western States under the labors of B. W. Stone, and others, who. some years prior to the movement led by Thomas and Alexander Campbell, had separated from the Presbyterian communion, and, in like manner, attempted to effect a union of Christians upon the Bible
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REV. WILLIAM C. DAWSON.
alone. These reformers readily adopted baptism for a remission of sins and the ancient order of things as practiced by the Disciples, and became assimilated with the latter. Since this period there has been a great and constantly increasing accession both from the world and other religious denominations, and it is believe l that the number of members in the United States is now about 300,000. . There are many churches also established in British America, in Great Britain, and in Australia. Although the Disciples reject creeds as a bond of fellowship, and disprove of the technical language of popular theology, holding themselves bound to speak of the things of the Spirit in the language of Scripture, they do not materially differ from the evangelical denominations in their views of the great matters of Christianity."
Alexander Campbell, the chief originator of this sect, died a few years since. At the time he was president of a college, which he founded in 1841 at Bethany, West Virginia, and editor of the leading paper of the denomination, called the Millenium Harbinger. He was born in 1792, and originally held to the Presbyterian faith, from which he withdrew in 1812, and received baptism by immersion in the same. In 1827 he was likewise excluded from the fellowship of the Baptists. He was a man of great ability, and a bold defender of the particular belief of his reformed sect.
The Disciples have flourished greatest in the West and South- west. Before the war the church numbered sixty thousand in the State of Kentucky, and was equally promising in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Virginia. It has also considerable strength in West- ern New York, a very fine church having been built at Syracuse.
The revision of the Bible by the American Bible Union is gener- ously sustained by this seet. They accept the new version as their authentic guide.
Mr. Dawson is of the medium height, erect, and active. His hair is already quite gray, giving him an older look than usual in a man of his age. He has an intelligent, cheerful face, and his manners are frank and polite. As a pastor and preacher he excels in those characteristics which best serve the temporal and spiritual interests of a congregation. He is genial and devoted in all intercourse, and he preaches with the spirit of God in his heart. Thoroughly grounded in the principles of his own faith, and able as an expounder of the Scriptures, and as a teacher of morals, he exerts a most signal influ- ence in both his private and public duties.
130
Charles " Nein
REV. CHARLES F. DEEMS, D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE STRAN- GERS, NEW YORK.
EV. CHARLES F. DEEMS was born in the city of Baltimore, December 4th, 1820, his father being a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He wes graduated at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, in 1839. Having been converted before he entered college, and feeling himself called to the Christian ministry, he was duly licensed to preach in the Methodist Church during his senior year. After graduation he passed a winter in New York, where he studied most of the time, and preached occasionally in the city churches. At the early age of twenty he was appointed General Agent of the American Bible Society, and selected North Carolina as his future field of labor. He labored with success in this agency until appointed Adjunet Pro- fessor to the chair of Logie and Rhetorie in the University of North Carolina. He filled this position acceptably for five years, when he accepted the chair of Natural Science in Randolph Macon College, Virginia, but did not deem it desirable to continue in this professor- ship longer than one year. Returning to North Carolina, he was stationed in Newbern the following year; and the next year was elected a delegate to the General Conference to be held in St. Louis. While in attendance at the General Conference, he was elected President of the Greensboro' Female College, in North Carolina, and for five years had charge of that institution. During this period he rendered a very important service to the conference and the church, by placing the college on a permanent basis of prosperity. In 1854 he again returned to the regular work of the ministry, and was ap- pointed successively first to Goldsboro' and afterward to Front street church, Wilmington, in each of which places he remained two years. He was re-ciceted to the General Conference, and at the same period President of the Centenary College, Louisiana, and either President or Professor of about eight other institutions. At the close
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REV. CHARLES F. DEEMS, D. D.
of his term of service in Wilmington he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Wilmington district. A year later he was elected to the Professorship of History in the North Carolina University, but de- clined. While Presiding Elder he made a visit to Europe. The citizens of Wilson county, North Carolina, tendered to him directly as a gift a fine college building, only on condition that he would establish there a male and female school, which he at once proceeded to organize, continuing in the position of Presiding Elder.
In December, 1865, Dr. Deems removed to the city of New York, where he soon after established a religious and literary weekly paper, called the The Watchman, which, however, was suspended. In July, 1866, he commenced preaching in the chapel of the University. This religious movement soon took the form of a new church organization, and services were regularly held. The congregation became known as "The Church of the Strangers," being intended particularly for the benefit of the great number of persons who are temporarily in the city and desire to have a place for religious wor- ship. The gospel is preached without any special reference to any of the creeds, and there is no ceclesiastical connection of the con- gregation with any of the sects. Persons of all denominations are found in the congregation, and all are welcomed who desire to enjoy purely unsectarian worship. Such an organization as this is worthy of a city like New York, and well adapted to the character of its great transient population. It is a free church, sustained by the voluntary contributions of those who attend and of the wealthy Christian merchants. The attendance is already large, and it will, without doubt, become a numerous and important congregation.
In 1870, through the liberality of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Esq., the congregation was enabled to secure the property belonging to the Mercer street Presbyterian Church. Commodore Vanderbilt gave fifty thousand dollars for the purpose. The edifice, a large and eligibly situated building was repaired, and the congregation now worship in it. The dedicatory exercises on the 2d, and also the 9th of October, 1870, were attended by a large number of the leading people of the city, showing that the work of Dr. Deems was most highly regarded.
Dr. Deems was invited to accept the presidency of a college in California, and also the same position in a college in Georgia Hle declined, however, being unwilling to give up the field in New York. 132
REV. CHARLES F. DEEMS, D. D.
In 1852, in his thirty-second year, Dr. Deems received his degree of D. D. from Randolph Macon College; one of the Virginia papers declaring him " the youngest D. D. in North America." He is the author of fourteen volumes of various works, and numerous published sermons. Among his works may be mentioned " The Home, Altar," which was translated into French ; "What Now ?" a volume for young ladies ; " Annals of Southern Methodism," a valuable historical and statistical work ; and his recently issued volume, " Life of Jesus." A speech delivered by him on the trial of Dr. Smith, at Petersburg, in 1855, was pronounced to be a master-piece of forensic eloquence. An address on "The True Basis of Manhood," first delivered by in- vitation before the Literary Societies of Hampden Sidney College, Va., and since repeated on several occasions, shows the highest capabilities as a thinker and writer.
Dr. Deems is under the medium height, sparely made, though compact and well-proportioned, and capable of performing an almost incredible amount of labor. He has a fair complexion, gray eyes, high forehead, and a feminine delicacy of feature. The intellectual development of his head is very striking, and his quick, beaming eyes are full of mental fire. IIe is of a nervous, impulsive tempera- ment, and, like all such men, is rapid in coming to his conclusions, and earnest and enthusiastic in carrying forward his plans. His de- portment is at all times characterized by a high-toned courtesy and a genial warmth, which give him great attractiveness in social life. Old and young are irresistibly drawn to him. He has fine conversational powers, and his natural talents, learning in ancient and modern literature, and extensive experience among all classes of his fellow- men, happily fit him for an instructive and fascinating companion.
Dr. Deems is one of the most remarkable men in the American pulpit. He commenced his public career at an extremely early age, and since that time he has always been employed in an energetic religious and educational work. His field of effort has been vast, and his toils have been little less than Hereulean, but he has always seemed a master of every situation in which he has been placed. No considerations have ever influenced him except those relating to the public good, and the religious and intellectual elevation of his fellow beings. Ilis time, talents, and means have all been prodigally given to the public interest, and with a degree of unselfishness which has been as noticable as the success which he has invariably achieved.
As a writer and speaker, Dr. Deems has few equals. Composition
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REV. CHARLES F. DEEMS, D. D.
and speaking are, in fact, natural talents with him. He has a vivid, spontaneous fancy, and at the same time his mind is naturally far- reaching, logieal, and practical. Hence he is not only a thinker, but his thoughts weave themselves into the most chaste and beautiful form of language. He is impassioned even in argument; and there is in all that he writes and says the glow of earnest, sincere feeling. In his preaching there is a display of the finest powers of the natural orator and the thorough scholar. His thoughts are rapid, and they are all aglow with sentiment and emotion, while they have a positive- ness and interest which can only be imparted by extensive learning. His voice is smooth and silvery, and his gestures are well-timed and emphatic.
Dr. Deems enjoyed great popularity in the South, and was esteemed one of the foremost theologians and publie men in the Methodist church. His social gifts, his pre-eminent talents, and his devotion to his church, and all religious, moral, and educational enterprises, made for him warm hearts wherever he went. He has now entered upon an equally important work in a new section, and among "strangers," with all his accustomed zeal, piety, and de- votedness. As he enjoys the confidence and aid of the generous and enlightened citizens of New York, he is likely to achieve the crowning success of his life.
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N
REV. FRANK & DE HASSEDD
NEW YORK FORELL INGE
REV. FRANK S. DE HASS, D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE LEXINGTON AVENUE METHI- ODIST CHURCH, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. FRANK S. DE HASS was born in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, October 1st, 1823. The family was originally German, being known by the name of Von Hass, and having three distinet branches. In the year 1549, Baron Charles De Hass, the representative of one of the branches, removed to Strasburg, and, after the joining of the dukedom of Alsace to France, became the founder of the French noble family of that name. The arms of the city of Florence were awarded to him for his services in the conquest of Italy. Subsequently the family, who were Protestant, emigrated to Holland, and in 1772 some portion of them came to America, and settled in Pennsylvania. General Philip De Hass, of revolutionary memory, was an immediate ancestor of the subject of our notice.
Dr. De Hass was graduated at Washington College, Pennsylva- nia, in 1839, and was licensed as a Methodist preacher in 1844. ITis first appointment was at Leesburg, Ohio, in July, in connection with the Pittsburg Conference. He was ordained deacon in 1846, and elder in 1848. In 1845, he was stationed at Murraysville, in Penn- sylvania ; in '46, Weston, Va. ; in '47 and '48, Wheeling; in '49 and '50, agent of Alleghany College ; in '51 and '52, Wesley Chapel, Pittsburg; in '53 and '54, agent of Traet Society of Methodist Church ; in '55 and '56, Trinity Church, Pittsburg; in '57 and '58, secretary of Tract Society ; in '59 and '60, Seventh street, New York; in '61 and '62, Washington street, Brooklyn. He was ap- pointed to the Pacific street Church, Brooklyn, in 1863; and, three years later, went to the Metropolitan Church, in Washington City, where he remained three years. Among the attendants of this church were President Grant, Vice-President Colfax, Chief Justice Chase, and various other distinguished individuals. Two years were then spent with Trinity Church, Cincinnati, and two subsequent years
135
REV. FRANK S. DE HASS, D. D.
in travel in Europe, Egypt, and Palestine. In the Holy Land he secured a rare writing of the Book of Moses, found in a tomb, and supposed to date a thousand years before Christ. He has made four voyages across the Atlantic. On April 1st, 1872, he was appointed to the Lexington Avenue Church, New York. Ile received his degree of D. D. from Michigan University, in 1870.
Dr. De Hass enjoys considerable reputation as an eloquent speaker. Various sermons at camp meetings are spoken of as grand in the extreme. On one occasion he chained the attention of some four thousand persons for one hour and twenty minutes. He attended the General Sunday School Convention, held in London, in 1852; and at one of the sessions made a speech of marked beauty and power. Ilis publications are several sermons. He is engaged in the prepara- tion of a historical account of the planting of Methodism in the Valley of the Mississippi.
He has a well-proportioned figure, and fair hair and complexion. His face has a most amiable expression. The brow is round and high. His eyes are bright, and when he talks his countenance lights up with an intelligent animation. In his manners he is social and genial, while there is always to be observed a certain measure of well-conceived dignity. He is a man of strong feelings and very deep sensitiveness. You can no more breathe upon a looking-glass without leaving the evidence of it, than you can touch him without striking the impression into his heart. In fact, his nature in this respect has more of the sensitive delicacy of the woman than the callousness and indifference common to the man. Everything sinks down into the recesses of the heart, there to send forth rejoicing or sadness. Hence, as regards himself, he is serupulously considerate of every word and act, and it is to be seen that he is constantly and greatly affected by all that oceurs about him. He has a peculiar tenderness of manners, and is cautious to give utterance to no wounding word. Of course, a nature like this must be rather tame, submissive, and negative. It does not show an original, de- cided, governing temperament, but it may not be the less pleasing, winning, and controlling. And thus it is with Dr. De Hass. You find him the type of the least conspicuous and impressive kind of men, and yet his simplicity, his sensitiveness, and his gentleness never fail to interest those who come in contact with him, and are the sources of his influence.
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