The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 102

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II > Part 102

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ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

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worship was laid; the edifice being first opened for service on the 6th of June, 1847. The old church in Cranberry street had been sold, in June, 1846, for the sum of $20,000, to parties who subsequently conveyed it to Plymouth Church.

The Rev. William Hogarth, D. D., was installed as Pastor on the 15th of March, 1855. On the 20th of March, 1860, the Rev. Charles S. Robinson, D. D., was installed, and resigned March, 1868. He was succeeded by Rev. Norman Seaver, D. D., installed December 1st, 1869. Dr. Seaver resigned in 1876, and was succeeded, in April, 1877, by the present Pastor, Rev. C. Cuthbert Hall.

Second Presbyterian Church (Old School) was organized by the Presbytery of New York, October 25th, 1831, from a colony of the First Church, consisting of thirty-one members. They first erected a lecture-room on Adams street, near Concord, which was opened May 1st, 1832. During the years of 1833 and '34, a brick church edifice, of the Grecian Doric order, one hundred and three feet by seventy-five, was erected on Clinton street, near Fulton, at a cost of about $24,000, and $4,000 for the ground. It was dedicated May 4th, 1834; a lecture-room was subsequently built, on an adjoining leased lot, at a cost of $6,000; the old one, in which they had first worshiped, having been disposed of for $8,000.

Pastors : Ichabod S. Spencer, D. D., March 23d, 1832, till his death, Nov. 23, 1854, aged fifty-six years; Willis Lord, D. D., 1854 to Aug., 1859; Dr. Nathaniel West, 1860-'67.

In July, 1870, this church and the Third Presbyterian Church were consolidated; and the united society retained the name, Second Presbyterian Church, the house in Clinton street continuing to be the place of worship. Rev. J. M. Green, Pastor of the Third Church, continued as Pastor of the consolidated church till 1873, in which year Rev. A. Crosby was called.

In Sept. 1877, a lecture-room, church parlor and vestry room were fitted up in the church building, and reduced the seating capacity of the auditorium from 1,100 to 900. In Dec., 1882, this church was consolidated with the Clinton Street Church, and the two Pastors, Revs. H. J. Van Dyke and A. Crosby, retained as Collegiate Pastors.

Third Presbyterian Church (New School) .- In the spring of 1831, a few members of the First Presbyterian Church (Rev. Dr. Carroll, Pastor) commenced a mission Sabbath- school in the upper room of a dwelling-house, cor. Nassau st. and Hudson ave., then Jackson st. In January, 1833, a framed building was erected at 153 Nassau st., nearly oppo- site Stanton st., for a school and for occasional religious meetings. April 13, 1835, the Third Presbyterian Church was there org., with 34 members, and Rev. Rollin S. Stone was installed as first Pastor. Mr. Stone resigned in 1837, and the congregation removed to Classical Hall, in Wash- ington st., near Concord. Rev. William Beale Lewis was installed Pastor Oct. 10, 1837; and a church edifice was erected in Jay st., between Sands and High, in 1840. Mr. Lewis resigned iu Oct., 1848; Rev. Daniel P. Noyes, installed April, 1849, resigned Sept., 1854; Rev. William S. Karr, in- stalled Sept. 28th, 1854, resigned Nov. 15, 1867. Rev. Joseph M. Greene was installed May 12th, 1868.

July 5th, 1870, this church was consolidated with the Second Presbyterian Church, Clinton st., and Mr. Greene be- came the Pastor of the united congregation.

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (formerly Central, Old School), Schermerhorn st., near Nevins st. July 19, 1834, the Princs St. Mission School was established under the direction of the Second Presbyterian Church, then under the

pastoral charge of Rev. Ichabod Spencer. That school, of which John Morris, senior Elder of the church, was the first Superintendent, and C. C. Mudge the last, resulted in a church organization April 13, 1847. After worshiping for a time in a school-room in Prince st., the building at the cor- ner of Willoughby and Pearl, formerly occupied by the Fifth Presbyterian Church, was purchased. This was sold in 1853, and a frame building on the corner of State and Nevins sts. was erected and first occupied April 30 of the same year. The corner-stone of a permanent edifice was laid on Scher- merhorn st., near Nevins, which was dedicated Dec. 10, 1854, at a cost of about $30,000. Rev. Nathaniel C. Locke was the first Pastor; succeeded April 13, 1851, by Rev. Edson Rock- well. He resigned in 1868, and was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, who was installed March 23, 1869. The church, by reason of controversies, was nearly extinct at the time Mr. Talmage was called to its pastorate. In 1870, a church edifice, called the Tabernacle, was erected on the same block with the one erected in 1874. This build- ing had a seating capacity of 3,000; it was destroyed by fire December, 1872. The present Tabernacle was erected in 1873, and dedicated Feb. 22, 1874. It is in the Gothic style, built of brick, with stone trimmings, and has a seating capacity of 5,000 at the ordinary services. The auditorinm has the amphitheatre form, and its acoustic properties are excellent. The membership of the church exceeds 3,100, while the Sun- day-school contains nearly 2,000.

BOOT

TABERNACLE ORGAN.

The organ is one of the largest in the country. A series of "fifteen-cent admission " popular organ concerts were org. during the winter of 1883-'84 by Mr. Henry Eyre Browne, the organist of the Tabernacle, partly to defray the expenses of certain improvements, and partly to afford the people of Brooklyn first-class music at reasonable prices. At these concerts appeared many of the best vocalists in New York and Brooklyn. At each concert were produced five different pieces, without repetition of a single selection, a record never before made by any organist in this country ; and the music performned has always been of the classical order. These con- certs had an average attendance of 2,000 persons, and proved a great success, both musically and financially. The singing at the services is assisted by a male quartette and led by a cornet

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

REV. THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D.

THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D., was born at Bound Brook, N. J., January 7, 1832, the youngest of a family of five girls and seven boys. He was reared in a Christian home, from which three brothers pre- ceded him in the Christian ministry. His preparatory education was acquired in the common schools, and at the Academy in New Brunswick. He then went through a thorough course of reading for the law, which was first his chosen profession; but, feeling it a duty and a priv- ilege to preach the Gospel, he entered the New York University, took a degree of A. B., with the class of 1853; and, three years later, graduated from the Theo- logical Seminary in New Brunswick, N. J. His first charge was at Belleville, N. J., where he preached for three years to one of the oldest societies in the State; and was then called to Syracuse, N. Y. After a pas- torate there of three years also, where his preaching grew tonic and free, as the preacher learned humanity and his own heart, he went to the Second Reformed Dutch Church in Philadelphia. He attracted large con- gregations, and his preaching was fruitful in spiritual results, during his seven years' stay in that city. There his powers became " set; " he had the courage of his convictions, and realized his duty and mission in the world to preach the Gospel in his own way, and to compel men to listen and to heed. The church was not to him a select few, in organization a monopoly, but it was meant to be the conqueror and transformer of the world, and his the responsibility of arousing and leading his people in the great conflict. He also ac- quired wide-spread fame as a lecturer, being invited, far and near, to occupy the platform. Meanwhile, the Central Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn was without a pastor, and, by reason of controversies, had dwindled to nineteen voting members; these signed a call to Mr. Talmage to become their Pastor. At about the same time, invitations came to him from churches in Chicago and San Francisco. He came, however, to Brooklyn, and was installed March 22, 1869. The old Central Presbyterian edifice, on Schermerhorn street, near Nevins, a cramped, brick rectangle, capable of holding twelve hundred, was used until it became evident that a larger house must be provided. In 1870, he laid before the trustees of the church his plan for a new edifice. The plan was accepted, and an iron structure erected, with raised seats, the interior curved like a horse-shoe; the pulpit, a platform bridging the ends. It was dedicated in September, 1870, and acconimo- dated three thousand persons, but within the first year was enlarged to accommodate five hundred more. The spiritual growth of the church kept pace with its in- crease in numbers, But on the 22d of September,

1872, the Tabernacle was destroyed by fire. When Dr. Talmage arrived on the scene, his characteristic re- mark was-" Well, the Tabernacle never was large enough, now the people throughout the country will help us build a more roomy structure." While the fire was still burning, arrangements for the future were discussed, and the sympathy of others was shown by the generous offer of several churches for the use of the Tabernacle congregation, but the Academy of Music was secured as a temporary place of worship. A new and larger Gothic structure of brick and brown- stone, cathedral-like above, amphitheatre-like belew, was dedicated February 22d, 1874. It helds five thousand as easily as one person, and all can hear and see equally well. Dr. Talmage's ideal in the plan was that of a great family gathered around the hearth- stone. Even this, the largest church building in this country, is now insufficient to accommodate the theu- sands who throng to attend its services.

Next to a free church, dispensing a free gespel, Dr. Talmage had at heart the enlistment of laymen in Christian work; he was anxious to arouse and direct the dormant energy of the church to the werk of evan- gelizing the world. To this end he formed and success- fully carried out a plan for training and educating Christian workers. From this beginning grew up the Tabernacle Lay College, with organized classes, com- petent teachers, and able lecturers in their special fields. The work was undenominational, productive of in- creased activity in the churches, and in the establish- ment of new mission and Sunday-school enterprises, but of late years has been discontinued, ewing to the multifarious duties which demand Dr. Talmage's time and energies in other directions. In 1879, Dr. Tal- mage went abroad for the third time, visiting and preaching in the cities of Great Britain and Ireland, and speaking ninety-six times in ninety-four days, also making a short tour upon the Continent. His reception among the English-speaking people was a continuous ovation; his public appearances, the occasion of great gatherings of people; while a large public meeting in Brooklyn welcomed him on his return home.

Dr. Talmage has been termed a "sensational" preacher, but a more erroneous judgment could not be made, in the sense in which that term is commonly used. He is an earnest, impassioned speaker; and his extraordinary imagination, descriptive powers and humor; his great art in grouping and arrangement; his wonderful mastery of words to illumine and alleviate human conditions, to interpret and inspire the harme- nies of the better nature, are appreciated by all who can put themselves in sympathy with his high consecration

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

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REV. THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D

of purpose. His manner mates with his nature. It is each sermon in action. He presses the eyes, hands, the entire body, into the service of illustration; gestures are the accompaniment of what he says. As he stands before the immense throng, without a scrap of notes or manuscript, and no desk before him, the effect pro- duced cannot be understood by those who have never seen it. His power to master an audience, from text to peroration, is marvelous. No man was ever less con- scious in his work; he preaches the Gospel literally as he finds it, with a simplicity and thoroughness that withhold nothing. He fears and defers to no prejudice, interest or ism; he manifests the closest sympathy with nature and humanity. His mantle of charity is so broad, and covers the failings of others so completely, that no enmities or resentments linger in his memory. His language is clear, terse and epigrammatic; his vo- cabulary noticeably from the Anglo-Saxon. The prac- tical test of the value of his preaching is given in the great numbers that gather around him in the Taber- nacle, Sunday after Sunday, where there is a congrega- tion of more than five thousand regular attendants, in-

cluding business men and their families, young people, and those who had previously given up the habit of at- tending church, besides a multitude of strangers from all parts of the land; and, best of all, a church of more than thirty-one hundred active members, the largest in the world. Type gives him two Continents for a church, and the English-speaking world for a congre- gation. One hundred papers in Christendom statedly publish his sermons and " Friday-night talks," exclusive of the dailies of the United States. To pulpit labors of this responsibility should be added considerable pas- toral work, constantly recurring lecturing and editorial labors, to fill out the public life of a very busy man. He is the author of Crumbs Swept Up, The Abomina- tions of Modern Society, Around the Tea-table, and many published volumes of sermons. He was also editor of the Christian At Work, of the Advance, and now edits the Sunday Magazine, contributing likewise to other periodicals.

Personally, Dr. Talmage is unassuming and a man of vivacious temperament, of pleasant address, easy to approach, and a sincere friend

1064

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Clinton Street Presbyterian Church (formerly First Pres- byterian Church-Old School) .- That portion of the congre- gation of the First Presbyterian Church which seceded in 1838, worshiped in the Court-house for about a year. In 1839-'40, they erected a new church edifice on the corner of Fulton and Pineapple sts. It was a Gothic brick structure, 85 by 65 feet, and cost, including the ground, $40,000. It was one of the finest church edifices in the city. In 1850, it was taken down, and the materials used in the construction of the present church, on the corner of Clinton and Remsen sts., which was completed in 1853. The seating capacity is 900.

Rev. Melancthon Williams Jacobus was installed as the Srst Pastor of this congregation in the autumn of 1839, and was dismissed, on account of ill health, Oct. 21, 1851. His labors here were faithfully prosecuted, in the midst of diffi- culties which few young ministers have encountered and overcome. During nearly two years after his departure the pastorate was vacant, and the congregation in a very unset- tled and distracted state. The present Pastor, Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke, was installed on the 29th of June, 1853, and within ten years the society expended about $12,000 in the im- provement of the church building, and extinguished their debt. In 1868, the interior was remodelled, at an expense of about $18,000.

This First Presbyterian Church (Old School) and the South Presbyterian Church (New School), which worshiped at the corner of Clinton and Amity sts., and was for 28 years under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Samuel Spear, in December, 1875, were consolidated. Both churches technically dis- banded, and reorganized under the title of the Clinton Street Presbyterian Church. For eighteen months the congrega- tion worshiped in the two buildings alternately, and then voted to have their permanent home at the corner of Clinton and Remsen sts. Some time after, the building at the corner of Clinton and Amity sts. was sold to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. The object of the consolidation was to reduce the number of Presbyterian churches on the Heights. Dr. Van Dyke remained Pastor of the consolidated church.

In December, 1882, at the request of the Second Presbyte- rian Church, on Clinton st., near Fulton, another consolida- tiou was effected, and the two were united under the title of the New Second Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Dr. Van Dyke and Rev. Arthur Crosby as collegiate Pastors.

The Fourth Presbyterian Church (New School) was or- ganized at Gowanus, by the third Presbytery of New York, in February, 1838. A house of worship was erected soon after, and the Rev. Robert R. Kellogg was installed June 4, 1839, by the Presbytery of Brooklyn. He was dismissed in December following, and the congregation being few, and oppressed with debt, the church was dissolved by the Presby- tery, May 9, 1842, and, subsequently, the building was pur- chased by the Third Dutch Church.

The Fifth Presbyterian Church (New School), which was first organized in Brooklyn, was entirely distinct from the congregation which subsequently existed under the same name. It had its origin in the schism which occurred in the infancy of the Second, or Central, Dutch Church.

The seceders, with their Pastor, Mr. Tappan, organized as a Congregational body, and subsequently removed to a church which Samuel A. Willoughby built, and ded. May 30, 1839. At the same time, the church changed its order, com- ing under the care of the Brooklyn Presbytery, as the Fifth Pres. Church. Mr. Tappan left in 1839, and was succeeded by Rev. Absalom Peters, D. D., as supply. After a few weeks, preaching ceased; and the church was disbanded.

The Fifth Presbyterian Church (New School) was an en- tirely distinct organization from the preceding. The Rev.

George Duffield, Jr., was ordained in January, 1841, in the church on the corner of Pearl and Willoughby sts., built in 1837, by S. A. Willoughby, Esq., and occupied by the first- mentioned Fifth Presbyterian Church. Shortly after, a church was formed of twenty members. The building is 70 by 40 feet, and cost $10,000, but is now used as an auction sales-room.

The Sixth Presbyterian Church (New School) was gath- ered, but never legally organized, at the Wallabout, January 26, 1840, by a committee of the Brooklyn Presbytery. Rev. James Knox labored here about three months. After his departure, the church became extinct, although it continued to have a nominal existence for about three years, two of its elders and most of its members giving the Wallabout that church.

The Free Presbyterian Church (New School) was er- ganized March 22, 1841, and the Rev. Russell J. Judd in- stalled Pastor the 1st of May following. He was dismissed in the autumn of 1843 ; and, in the spring of 1844, the Rev. Edward Reed was installed, and served about a year. Sub- sequently, this congregation purchased the edifice erected by the Second Baptist church, on the corner of Tillary and Law- rence sts. In the spring of 1845, the church, having become vacant, unanimously agreed to change their order and be- come Congregational.

The First Presbyterian Church (New School), E. D., erg. with fifteen members, under the Presbytery ef Brooklyn, May 26, 1842. Shortly afterwards, its members became divided on the subject of abolitionism, which resulted in the dismission of four male and three female members, whe sub- sequently united in the formation of a Congregational se- ciety. At first dependent upon occasional supplies, the cen- gregation received an element of permanence, by the instal- lation, June 13, 1843, of Rev. Joseph Rawson Johnson, whe had labored with them during the previous November. In Feb., 1844, when their number amounted to eighty-six, a proposition to transfer their relation to the Old School Pres- bytery, of New York, again divided the feelings and opinions of the church; and, finally, three elders and twenty members were, at their own request, dismissed, March 29, 1844, for the purpose of organizing another church, to be placed under the New York Presbytery. In April, 1845, Mr. Johnson was dismissed from his pastoral relations, and was succeeded by the Rev. James W. McLane, who was installed September 2, 1845. During his pastorate, in 1848, a new church edifice was erected on South Fourth, cerner of Sixth st., of brick, and with a lecture-room on the rear, twe stories high and facing on Sixth st. Dr. McLane died in Feb., 1864, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph H. Robinson 1864 to 1865; Rev. Samuel Carlisle, 1866 to Oct., 1870; Rev. J. Glentworth Butler, D. D., 1871 to May 1, 1873; Rev. S. Miller Hegeman preached, June 1873, to July, 1874, but was net settled as Pastor ; Rev. William Guthrie Barnes, Dec., 1874, till Nov., 1876; Rev. Thomas Crowther, from April 3, 1877, te his death, Oct. 10, 1877 ; Rev. Aaron Peck, frem 1878 to Oct. 16, 1881. Rev. H. H. Northrop is the present Paster.

South Third Street Presbyterian (Old School), cor. ef Fifth st., orig. in the second secession from the First Church, previously mentioned. They first assembled for divine wor- ship, on the 7th of April, 1844, in the public school-roem ef District No. 1. The (Old School) Presbytery of New York, on the 19th of April, org. a church of twenty-seven mem- bers, and Rev. N. S. Prime was engaged as stated supply. April 22, 1844, trustees were elected and the congregation incorporated as The Presbyterian Church of Williamsburgh. Rev. Eugene P. Stevenson was installed as Pastor February 20, 1845; meetings being held in the public school-house, cer.

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

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SOUTH THIRD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

So. Third and Fifth sts. A new church edifice on So. Third and Fifth sts. was first occupied on Thanksgiving, December 4, 1845, and dedicated on Sabbath, May 10, 1846. This edifice- is of brick, 62 by 75 feet, with a projection of 12 by 20 feet for a tower and steeple; the land costing $650, and the build- ing $16,000, together with a parsonage costing $3,800. In the following year, the house adjoining the church, and occu- pied as a parsonage house, was built. Mr. Stevenson was snccee'led by the Rev. John D. Wells, who was ord. October 9, 1849, and is still the Pastor.

In 1852, and several times since, extensive repairs and im- provements have been made in the interior of the church. From this church have been colonized the Christie St., the Throop Ave., and the Ross St. Pres. churches; yet the parent has lost none of its vigor or influence. Rev. N. W. Wells has been Aseistant Pastor since 1881.

Rev. JOHN D. WELLS, D. D., born at Whiteborough, N. Y., 1815; grad. Union Coll., 1838, and Princeton Theol. Sem., 1844; Trustee of Princeton Theol. Sem., 1878; on Board of For. Miss., 1861; Vice-Pres. of same, 1877; on Board of Con- trol, N.Y. State Colonization Soc .; preached in private chapel of J. Lenox, Esq., 1844; Mission Chapel, N. Y. City, 1845-'6; author of Last Week in the Life of Davis Johnson, Jr., Little Walter of Nyalusing; sermons and pamphlets ; lo- cated in Brooklyn, Jan., 1850.

The South Brooklyn Presbyterian Church (New School) was org. Sept. 18, 1842, with sev- enty-two members, and the Rev. Samuel T. Spear, Pastor, May 14, 1843. Their first place of worship was a school-house on Pacific street, which they purchased and occupied till their beautiful edifice, on Clinton, corner of Amity street, was completed in August, 1845. Its dimensions were sixty by one hundred and fif- teen feet, including a lecture-room in the rear, and its whole cost was about $28,000. In 1875, it was consolidated with the first Presbyterian Church (Old School), and the United Society took the name of Clinton Street Presbyterian Church.

The Wallabout Presbyterian Church (Old School), now Franklin Ave .- The Wallabout village, now East Brooklyn is nearly a mile to the eastward of the Navy Yard, the ancient Waale-boght. Prior to the years 1828 and 1830, this territory lay in farms. The Primitive Meth- odists, in 1836; the Episcopalians, in 1837; and the Presbyterians (New School), and Dutch Re- formed in 1840, attempted to occupy the ground, but all fa led. In 1842, Rev. Jonathan Green- leaf commenced missionary labor here, and in December, 1842, a church was organized under the above name. In January, 1843, it was legally constituted ; and, in February, Mr. Greenleaf became the Pastor. He was succeeded, after his death, April 24,1865, by Rev. Wm. A. Fer- guson, and he, January 1, 1868, by Rev. Samuel P. Halsey. A lot of ground on Franklin, near Myrtle ave., was presented for a church edifice, by Mr. Greenleaf and wife, on condition that no debt should be incurred in the erection of the house. The building was commenced in March, 1844, and dedicated in March, 1845. The cost was $55,000, exclusive of hell, chimneys, carpets, lamps, fence, etc., which were contributed by individuals. It is now known as the Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church. Rev. Samuel P. Halsey, Pastor, until June 30, 1883.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 102

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345