USA > New York > The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, 1785-1885 > Part 33
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In 1880 land was purchased on West Street and West Houston Street, on the Hudson River, and plans were pro- cured for a substantial building of brick, to include a chapel, a reading-room, Sunday school-room, quarters for the sexton, and a house for the missionary. For want of funds only a portion of this edifice has been erected. A legacy recently received will enable the society to complete the purposed plan by building the chapel and the house for the missionary. The society has a house in Pike Street for the purposes of the East-side Mission ; also a house in Franklin Square, used as a Home, or Boarding-house for Seamen, under the constant supervision of the society and its missionaries. Numbers of seamen, while on shore, are in the habit of depositing for safe keeping, what in the aggregate amounts to large sums of money, with the superintendent of the Home. Under the in- fluence of the missionaries many of those who go down to the sea in ships have been led to abandon the use of intoxicating liquors and to enroll themselves on the side of temperance and sobriety.
In conclusion it is a gratification to be able to put on record here that some of the original managers of 1844 are still among the society's officers and guides, and that, having been permitted to see the fruit of over forty years' labors in this field, they still continue their active participation and un- abated interest in the truly charitable work of caring for the souls and bodies of seamen.
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ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL. 1850.
St. Luke's Hospital was founded and incorporated in 1850. The original incorporators were : William A. Muhlen- berg, D.D., Lindley M. Hoffman, John H. Swift, Robert B. Minturn, James Warren, William H. Hobart, M.D., Joseph D. B. Curtis, Samuel Davis, Benjamin Ogden, M.D., George P. Rogers, Edward McVickar, John Punnett and Henry C. Hobart. An amendment to the charter, passed March 28, 185I, authorized the increase in the number of managers from 13 to 31, and provided that seven of these should form a quorum for the transaction of business.
The nature of the work undertaken is thus stated in Article I. of the Constitution, viz. : To afford "medical or surgical aid, and nursing, to sick or disabled persons; and also to provide them, while inmates of the hospital, with the ministrations of the Gospel, agreeably to the doctrines and forms of the Protestant Episcopal Church. A further object of the institution shall be the instructing and training of suitable persons in the art of nursing and attending upon the sick."
The land on which the hospital stands came into pos- session of the corporation partly by grant and partly by pur- chase. The hospital was opened for the reception of patients May 13, 1858, with appropriate religious services. Since that time to the present date, its charitable doors have never been closed. It has cared for 24,408 patients to the present time, of all nationalities and of every religious creed. It has shown no distinction in the reception of patients afflicted with acute, curable, and non-contagious diseases, on account of color or creed, and has closed its doors against no poor man on account of his poverty.
The following extract from the twenty-fifth Annual Re- port is equally interesting and valuable : "When this hos- pital was built, the population of this city was about 500,000. The total accommodation provided at that time in hospitals was in 940 beds. Of these 550 were in Bellevue Hospital, 350 in the New York City Hospital, and 40 in St. Vincent's
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Hospital, which had then just been opened. So extraordinary has been the increase of hospital accommodation, that, with a present population of between 1,200,000 and 1,300,000, New York city provides now 5,487 beds in institutions sup- ported by public taxation, and 2,857 beds in institutions supported by voluntary subscriptions and private charity, being 8,344 beds in all. From these figures it will be seen that, although the population of the city is now about two and a half times as large in number as it was twenty-five years ago, the number of beds provided in our hospitals for the sick poor is now nearly nine times as great as it was then."
St. Luke's Hospital embodies the Christian thought of its founder, the venerated Rev. Dr. William Augustus Muhlen- berg, who aimed to establish a hospital in which the religious and churchly sentiment appealed to, to build and support the institution, should be always practically manifested to the patients in its administration. The motto he gave the hos- pital, and which he caused to be impressed upon its corporate seal, Corpus sanare, animam salvare, "to cure the body, to save the soul," expressed his thought, and has been the work- ing principle throughout its career of more than a third of a century.
ORPHAN'S HOME AND ASYLUM OF THE PROT- ESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN NEW YORK. 1851.
The Orphan's Home was founded in 1851 by the Rt. Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., D.C.L., and the Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D. It was incorporated in 1859, under the fuller title which it now bears. The work of the institution consists in the care and training of children who have lost father or mother, or both, by death. Beneficiaries of the Home are admitted between the ages of three and eight years only. They are expected to remain until the age of twelve, unless the surviving parent, if there be one, remarries. Such children as have not been baptized are at once enrolled in Christ's flock by Holy Baptism, and all in the Home are trained in the Catholic faith as held and taught by the Prot-
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estant Episcopal Church. The building in which the inmates of the Home are accommodated is in East Forty-ninth Street near the Fourth Avenue. The occasion which led to the founding of this institution is worthy of being put on record. It was the dying request of a father that his children should be brought up in the faith of the Church of which he was a member. This request was carried by two ladies, communi- cants of St. Paul's Chapel, to the clergymen named above, and through their zeal and activity the Orphan's Home and Asylum took its place among the charities of the Church in the city of New York. It may also be mentioned that one of the Home's beneficiaries, now gone to his rest, was a presbyter of the Church.
ST. LUKE'S HOME FOR INDIGENT CHRISTIAN FEMALES. 1852.
St. Luke's Home for Indigent Christian Females was founded May I, 1852, by Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., and others. It was incorporated January 12, 1854, the incorpo- rators being Anthony B. McDonald, Edmund M. Young, Francis Pott, Samuel Wiswall, Charles H. Clayton, Thomas P. Cummings, and Christopher S. Bourne. The work to which this institution is devoted is the care and support of aged, indigent female communicants of the Church. A pay- ment of $100 entrance fee was originally required ; afterwards this fee was increased to $200. The building adjoining St. Luke's Church, in Hudson Street, was purchased and occu- pied from May, 1852, to 1872. The new and spacious build- ing, corner of Eighty-ninth Street and Madison Avenue, was erected in 1870, and is capable of accommodating 66 inmates. It is a matter worthy of record that the Church of the Beloved Disciple, adjoining the Home on Eighty-ninth Street, with sittings reserved for the inmates, was erected by Miss Caroline Talman as a " memorial."
SISTERHOOD OF THE HOLY COMMUNION. 1852.
This institution was founded in New York City in 1852 by the Rev. William A. Muhlenberg, D.D. Its special province
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is the care of the poor, the sick, aged women, little children, and girls training for service. The sisterhood owns and occupies a house, built as a "memorial " to the daughter of the late John H. Swift. It has charge of a Home for the Aged, Shelter for Respectable Girls and Servants, Training House for Young Girls, the Babies' Shelter, and a Dispen- sary. This, it is claimed, is the first sisterhood organized in the communion of the Anglican Church.
THE HOUSE OF MERCY. 1854.
This institution was founded in 1854 by Mrs. William Richmond. Its chosen field of labor is for the reformation of young girls who have gone or are going astray, and for the reclamation of fallen women. The corner-stone of the build- ing occupied by the institution was laid October 16, 1870. It is situate at the foot of West Eighty-sixth Street, New York, and affords accommodation for 75 inmates. The Sisters of St. Mary, five in number, have the work of the House in their charge. They entered on this work in 1863.
SAINT STEPHEN'S COLLEGE, ANNANDALE. 1859.
The Rt. Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., was the first who publicly expressed the need of a training college for the min- istry in the Diocese of New York. In 1852 he had the subject before his mind and made some propositions for the establish- ment of one in the neighborhood of White Plains. He after- wards made some inquiries about the possibility of commenc- ing such work at Annandale, and proposed to take a house in that part of the diocese and reside there some weeks in the year, and give such a school his personal influence and super- vision. The premature termination of his episcopate of course did not allow the completion of such plans. The sub- ject was taken up in 1856 by the Rev. John McVickar, D.D., Professor in Columbia College, and Superintendent of the Society for Promoting Religion and Learning. He said, in his report of that society to the Convention of the diocese, that one purpose he had in view was "to turn the attention of the Convention to the small number of our own candidates,
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so inadequate to the necessities of our Church and to the only adequate remedy for their increase. The smallness of the number arises, obviously, not so much from want of funds as from want of that preparatory training which surrounds the youth from an early age with all the associations which lead him to that choice as well as prepare him for it. In other words, it arises from the want, in our diocese, of some Church institution or training school, in which, as a nursery for the ministry, the destitute sons of our poorer clergy might find a home under Church influences, as well as the sons of zealous laymen-a Church school, leading to the ministry, adequately endowed, episcopally governed, and annually reporting to the Convention its condition and its progress. Should such institution arise under a wise organization and episcopal control, it would doubtless bring forth liberal con- tributions, both from churches and individuals, for the further- ance of so desirable an object ; while those educated within it would naturally become the recipients, according to their needs, of the bounty of the society, which is now bestowed on preparatory education, under circumstances far less favor- able, and too often antagonistic to the very end for which the bounty of the society is given. The advantages which the diocese would reap from such an institution are too obvious to need enlargement. This report would only add the experience of the society in their frequent disappointment among their scholars, of early resolutions and paternal wishes, not to add honorable engagements, thus frustrated through academic influences over which they could have no control." The Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., said in his address to the same Convention: "One of the urgent wants of this diocese is a Church training school to take charge of hopeful youth from a very early age, and by faith- ful intellectual and religious culture, to prepare them for the work of the holy ministry. 'Without money and without price,' it should afford shelter and nurture to the sons of deceased clergymen ; and by its economy and wise and ear- nest training, it should be capable of raising up men of sim- ple habits and fervent hearts, who will shrink from no toil
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and from no self-denial; and who, 'by manifestation of the truth, will commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.' I commend the object to your serious consideration and to your prayers." In response to this ap- peal the Convention referred the subject to a special commit- tee, consisting of the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., the Rev. Francis Vinton, D. D., the Rev. J. Ireland Tucker, the Rev. G. T. Bedell, D.D., Mr. James F. De Peyster and Judge Wendell.
At the next Convention, in 1857, the Rev. Dr. McVickar again referred to the subject in his report of the Society for Promoting Religion and Learning. "Among their further suggestions they would venture to renew that made by them in their last annual report, on a Diocesan Training School, en- dowed and ecclesiastically recognized and governed, to which the society might confidently remand such of their applicants now assigned to the charge and superintendence of individual clergy, as being, through the want of classical attainments or other causes, disqualified for entrance on the full Seminary course." On motion of the Rev. Dr. Vinton, the committee on this subject was continued, " with instructions to report to the next Convention." The bishop also said in his address that he had not called the committee together, because he had " not been able to see as yet in what way they could usefully exert themselves." But he added that the Convention " would be glad to know that the object they had in view was in a way to be accomplished."
At the Convention in 1858, the Rev. Dr. McVickar again referred to the establishment of a training school. He said : " Were the funds for ministerial education made adequate to the Church's needs, we should have at least one great train- ing school for the diocese, regularly organized and amply en- dowed, under episcopal supervision, as a Christian home for the student, for the preparatory studies of the Theological Seminary, or for the complete education of the missionary. Such an institution would alone satisfy either the needs of the Church or the claims it may rightly make on the zeal and liberality of Churchmen. Trusting that the time will soon arrive when such diocesan institution will arise to give effi
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ciency and permanency to the present unequal and spasmodic efforts on which this great cause now rests, and with the as- surance that the society herewith reporting will act in this matter with the greater zeal and liberality in proportion as it sees the diocese earnest in the same."
In the meanwhile Dr. McVickar had begun at Irvington the work which he then proposed. But at the same time some propositions were made to Mr. John Bard, of Annan- dale, who was likely to take up the matter in earnest. Dr. McVickar therefore transferred both his influence and efforts to the establishment of the proposed college at Annandale. The bishop alluded in his address to the proposition of an honored presbyter of the diocese, and stated that he had made this transfer " because a promising effort to establish a training school had been recently commenced in another place."
At the Convention of 1859 the bishop said in his address : " Several years ago I turned my attention to the subject of a training school to assist in preparing young men for the sacred ministry. We greatly needed a school where young persons, of the proper moral and religious qualifications, but in very different states as to their literary qualifications, might be re- ceived, placed under influences accordant with the supreme aim of their lives, and matured with all good learning, until they should be prepared to enter the General Theological Seminary. I often referred to its importance in private, and in my address in 1856 to the Convention I pressed it upon the consideration of the diocese. But I was not anxious to at- tempt to build up a mere arbitrary mechanical project before Providence should seem to open the way for something real. At length I am happy to be able to announce that a begin- ning has been made with every prospect of eminent success. Through the munificence of John Bard, Esq., of Annandale, Dutchess County, and the kind co-operation, to a certain ex- tent, of the Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learn- ing, a training school has been opened at Annandale under the superintendence of the Rev. George F. Seymour, well known for his scholarship, his experience and ability as a
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teacher, and his admirable qualities for training and molding the young."
To the same Convention Dr. McVickar said that "the So- ciety would also thankfully report the special aid and assis- tance afforded them during the past year in carrying out their plans, by a warm-hearted and liberal Churchman of this dio- cese, in the establishment and endowment of a training school for the ministry, preparatory to the candidate's reception into the General Theological Seminary." . . . "In order to carry out this object, land and buildings at Annandale, to the value of $60,000, have been recently transferred by this liberal donor to a Board of Trustees approved by the acting bishop of the diocese, who becomes also the head and visitor of the school, and an act of incorporation prepared, by which at once all corporate powers, and, in process of time, collegiate privileges will be granted to it." In consequence of this announcement the Convention appointed a committee to "report suitable resolutions for its action." The next day the Convention adopted the following resolutions reported by the committee, the Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., the Hon. John A. King, and the Rev. T. A. Guion, D.D. :
Resolved : That the munificent donation of property at Annandale, valued at $60,000, for the purpose of a training school and college for the education of young men prepar- ing for Holy Orders in the Church, is a gift to the Church in this diocese, demanding the grateful acknowledgments of this Convention.
Resolved : That this Convention hereby tender the thanks of the Church to John Bard, of Annandale, for his generous establishment and endowment of a training school and col- lege for the benefit of this diocese.
Resolved: That this Convention recognize the training school and college at Annandale as a Diocesan Institution, and worthy of the confidence and patronage of Churchmen.
Resolved : That the trustees of said training school and college be requested to make an annual report to the bishop and Convention of this diocese, to be read and entered on the Journal of the Convention.
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It was also, on motion of the secretary, the Rev. W. E. Eigenbrodt, D.D., " Resolved: That the proposed 'Plan of a Training College for the Diocese of New York' be printed in the next Journal of the Convention as an appendix."
At the Convention of 1860, Dr. McVickar, on behalf of the society, said : "That to the liberal appropriations in aid of Mr. Bard's noble benevolence at Annandale, is due under God the successful completion of that long cherished and deeply needed Diocesan Church Training School, a plan which has now matured into the legal incorporation of St. Stephen's College." And in 1864, he again said: "For the rising reputation of this Church Institution, the society now reporting would sincerely congratulate the diocese, as afford- ing to the Church what it had till then wanted, college teaching and church-training, thoroughly united and mutually operating in fitting for the ministry." The last reference which Dr. McVickar made to St. Stephen's College was in his last report, the year before he was taken to his rest. He then seems to say with great justice that " this Church Insti- tution may be said to be the child of the Society for Promot- ing Religion and Learning."
It is proper to state here why the college was placed at Annandale. When Mr. John Bard came to reside on the Hudson, he found a small settlement in the neighborhood of his estate without any religious privilege. The parish church of this neighborhood was St. Paul's, Red Hook, which was more than two miles distant. He immediately interested himself in the welfare of his neighbors, and instituted a Sun- day-school. The first service was held in a building on his estate by the Lord Bishop of Jamaica. Shortly after this the Rev. James Starr Clark came to act as missionary. A building was erected by Mr. Bard, which served the double purpose of a chapel and a parochial school. In 1855 the Rev. George F. Seymour took the place of the Rev. Mr. Clark, who removed to Madalin, where services similar to those at Annandale were begun. In the summer of 1858, while the establishment of a training school was under consideration, the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter spent a few weeks at Annandale,
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the guest of Mr. Bard. He found there several young men under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Seymour, who were preparing to enter the General Theological Seminary. It appeared to the bishop that this work only wanted enlarge- ment to become the training school of the diocese. The proposition was made to Mr. Bard and to Mr. Seymour. The subject, after due consideration, was taken up, and a plan, after much consultation with the bishop and the Society, was matured. In the winter of 1858 and '59 a committee of the Society for Promoting Religion and Learning visited Annan- dale, and an agreement was drawn up which was accepted by Mr. Bard, the society and the Convention. The com- mittee consisted of the Rev. John McVickar, D.D., the Rev. Edward Y. Higbee, D.D., Mr. James F. DePeyster, Mr. Cyrus Curtis and Mr. Thomas W. Ogden. "They report that after frequent correspondence and occasional interviews with Mr. Bard on the subject by individual members of the committee during the winter, a visit of the united committee, with a view to a personal examination of the school and the premises, and a more full discussion of the plan, was determined on, and finally fixed for Saturday, 14th of May, running on to Monday, and, on the part of one member, to Tuesday, the 17th inst. The majority of the committee, then and there, met accordingly, and after full communication with Mr. Bard and the teachers, more especially with the Rev. Mr. Seymour, the responsible head of the establishment, as well as after a highly satisfactory examination of the scholars in their classi- cal studies by an academic member of the committee, together with evidence open to all of quiet, thorough Church teach- ing and training in every department of the school, as well as the happy influence it is so obviously exerting throughout a large district of country around; these facts have brought your committee herewith to report unanimously and heartily the first point committed to them, viz .: 'The expediency of co-operating with Mr. Bard in the establishment of such pro- posed institution.' The second point referred to them, viz .: ' The method,' demanded and received longer and fuller de- liberation, and the subjoined plan exhibits the final result
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arrived at by them, a plan which they herewith submit, together with their unanimous recommendation to the Board for their sanction and approval of the same ; a sanction to be so officially given as that it may come before the next Con- vention of the diocese, approved by the bishop and patronized by this society as a Diocesan Institution fully and legally organized.
" But in thus submitting the committee would beg leave to premise the light in which they have viewed it and the prin- ciples which have governed them in framing it. They regarded the proposed plan in the light of a tripartite contract or agreement-one in which the interests and rights of three parties were concerned, and were to be respectively guarded and secured.
"Of these, the first and most important party, and the one for whose benefit the whole was created, was the Church in this diocese. This end was to be obtained by making the institution supply an actual need-the want, namely, not of a Church school for boys, such as the diocese already has many, but a special training school for the ministry, confined to those sufficiently advanced to know their own minds and actually seeking preparation for it, and being ready to receive such according to its means, at whatever age beyond the minimum required or whatever stage of progress towards the end sought. Such an institution is, and has thus far been, a desideratum greatly felt in our diocese.
" A farther point to be guarded against was all appearance of rivalry with the General Theological Seminary within our own diocese. Its specific object is, therefore, made a prepara- tory training for it, except in cases where the diaconate sim- ply is sought. The last security it owed to the diocese has been given, by making an elected member of the Convention an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees, and by an annual report to be made to it.
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