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 108

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 108

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B. W. Wilson, George E. Moulton, Mrs. S. A. Jarvis, Supts. of the Sunday-school. A Young People's Association, and other auxiliary organizations, are maintained.

Rev. ALMON GUNNISON, D. D. (St. Law. Univ.), was born in Hallowell, Me., 1844; grad. Tuft's Coll. and St. Lawrence Univ. Theol. Dept., 1868; is Trustee of St. Law. Univ .; located at Bath, Me., 1868-'71; B'klyn, 1871-'84; author of Rambles Overland, 1883; Assoc. Ed. of Christian Leader.

JEWISH SYNAGOGUES.

Congregation of Beth Israel .- To obviate the incon- venience of crossing to New York to attend worship, a small number of Israelites, in 1856, organized an independent con- gregation in Brooklyn, with M. Erlich as President. A room was hired, and services were conducted by such clergymen as could be procured, till Rabbi Joel Alexander became Pastor. A building for a synagogue was erected during the presi- dency of Solomon Furst, Esq., on the corner of State st. and Boerum pl., at a cost of $10,000. It was completed and dedicated Aug. 31, 1862.

A school was established for the instruction of children in the Hebrew language, and it has continued at intervals since.

The congregation was at first strictly orthodox; but, in 1879, it adopted certain reforms. Rabbi Alexander was succeeded by Rabbi Adolph Ressler.

The Congregation of Beth Elohim, founded in October, 1861, by a secession from the Congregation Israel, is mainly composed of German Israelites. Shortly after, they pur- chased the edifice formerly known as Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, in Pearl, between Concord and Nassau streets, at a cost of $5,100; which, together with an expense of $2,000 for alterations, was cheerfully borne by a congregation of only fifty members. This edifice was dedicated March 30, 1862; and in February, 1870, the fine edifice previously oc- cupied by the Central Presbyterian Church, in Schermerhorn, between Powers and Nevins streets, was purchased, at a cost of $55,000. Previously to this time, also, the congregation had conducted their religious services according to the orthodox ritual; but they adopted, and on the 19th of February, 1870, inaugurated the moderate reform services.

1089

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

In 1871, the building was repaired and remodeled, and family pews were substituted for the former seats. An organ was at this time purchased. George Brandenstein has been the Rabbi in charge from the founding of the congregation; and to Moses Hess, Samuel Hess and S. Rosenburg, this con- gregation is largely indebted for its prosperity.

Temple Israel, in Greene ave., bet. Carlton and Adelphi. - A number of intelligent Hebrews of Brooklyn assembled Nov., 1869, at 30 Douglass street (A. Fleischauer's), and or- ganized a temple whose services are in English, except the Psalms. Their first place of worship was the rooms now occupied by the Y. M. C. A., Fulton ave. and Gallatin place, occupied Jan. 1, 1870. The present temple was purchased from the "Church of the Redeemer " in 1878. Its seating capacity is 800. The membership is about 70 families. The Sunday-school has 100 children. The first Rabbi was Rev. B. C. Lewin, succeeded by Rev. Mr. Lasker, 1874-'76; Rev. S. Moshe, 1876-'80; Rev. E. M. Chapman, 1880-'84.

Rev. EDWARD MAURICE CHAPMAN, born in London, Eng., 1854; grad. Jews' Coll. in Theol. and London Univ., 1874; was Prof. of Hebrew, East London College, 1872; Asst. Supt. Heb. Orphan Asylum, New York, 1877-'78; located at Hartford, Ct., 1878-'80; B'klyn, 1880-'84.

Congregation Temple Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, E. D .- The congregation Beth Elohim, now worshiping in the beautiful Temple on Keap st., Brooklyn, E. D., was started about 30 years ago, by 15 Israelites, who met every Sabbath and holidays, in a modest place of worship on the North side of Williamsburgh, for which the annual rent of $150 was paid. To become a member of that religious society, the payment of an initiation fee of $3, and the annual contribu- tion of $6, was required. The first officiating Hasan (Reader) of the Congregation was Mr. Barnard.

As the Jewish population increased in Williamsburgh, this Congregation became stronger in membership, till they were able to buy, in 1860, the building on the corner of South First and Eighth sts., now the German Lutheran Church "Emanuel." This they reconstructed; and it served to the C'ongregation as a Synagogue till 1876, when it was sold to the above-named congregation, and the Temple on Keap st. was dedicated.

In the old Synagogue, Mr. Eiseman, an old member of the Congregation performed the ministerial duties for a number of years; and then, in succession, Revs. Gotthold, Rubin and others officiated. The form of worship was conducted ac- cording to the orthodox ritual. When the Congregation resolved to adopt the ritual of the modern reform school, a

considerable number of the conservative members withdrew, and formed a separate orthodox Congregation, whose Syna- gogue is on Johnson ave. Since that time a new era has begun for the Beth Elohim Congregation. The new Temple on Keap st., near Division ave., was erected at a cost of $50,000; its size, 60x100 feet; its seating capacity about 800; and its material, Philadelphia brick, with brown-stone trimming. It is the largest and finest Jewish house of wor- ship in Brooklyn, and is counted among the handsomest edifices of the "City of Churches."

The first regular Rabbi and preacher of this Congregation was Rev. Dr. Grossman, who was succeeded by Dr. Schwab, wbo resigned to accept a ministry in St. Joseph, Mo. The present Rabbi of the Temple is the Rev. L. Wintner, Dr. Ph., who has occupied the Beth Elohim pulpit since October, 1878, and is also the Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

The number of Sabbath-school pupils has increased, mak- ing necessary alterations in the lower part of the Temple for the purpose of more school-room accommodations; and re- quiring also more salaried teachers.

The present officers of the Congregation are : Pres., Moses May; V. Pres., M. Hessberg; Treas., N. Bernstein; Sec'y, H. Meyers. Trustees : M. Kessel, Morris Adler, Ph. Strauss, I. Igelheimer, Henry Newman, M. Levy. Rabbi, Rev. L. Wintner, Ph. Dr .; Reader, Rev. E. Halff; Sexton, I. Smith.

Rev. L. WINTNER, Ph. D., A. M., born in Hungary, 1834, studied in Imp. Univ., Vienna, and Jena Univ., Germany, and Rabbinical schools ; grad. Univ. Tubingen, Germany; came to America 1863; teacher theol. and modern languages in Mobile, Louisville, Jackson and St. Paul; minister in St. Paul, 1871-'3; and Detroit, 1873-6; was in Europe, 1876-'8; came to Brooklyn, 1878.

Other Rabbis residing in Brooklyn are: Rev. Dr. I. MAYER, born 1809, in Bavaria; grad. Theol. Sem. at Frankfort-on-the- Main, 1834 ; former locations Cincinnati, Rochester, Hart- ford, 1870; author of Ben Sirah, 1853; Hebrew Grammar, 1856 ; Source of Salvation, 1874 ; located in Brooklyn, May, 1883.

Rev. SAL. MOSHE, born in Germany, 1843; grad. from Royal Sem. 1860, and Theol. Sem. at Breslau, 1862; previous locations, Germany and New Orleans, La .; came to Brooklyn 1874.

Ahavis Achim .- A society of reformed Jews of the Eastern District was established, and their Sepher Tore, or Book of the Law, dedicated at the hall, corner of Meserole and Ewen streets, August 31, 1869

MISCELLANEOUS.

Christian Church of the Evangel .- In 1860, a movement was inaugurated in the Seventeenth Ward of Brooklyn, then the village of Greenpoint, to establish a religious body which should be independent of existing sects, and, at the same time, thoroughly in sympathy with all Christians and Chris- tian work.

Through the efforts of Mr. W. H. Corwith and others, an organization was effected under the name of the Greenpoint Mission Society, which held its first meeting in a carpenter's shop in Eckford st., on June 24, 1860.

A Sabbath-school was coun. cted with the enterprise, and a number of persons became identified with it by letter and profession of faith. Elder Moses Cummings wae connected

with the society for a year and a half, after which his place was supplied by Rev. I. C. Tryon and others until August 8, 1862, when E. W. Lockwood was chosen to preach. About this time the old house standing on the cor. of Leonard and Collyer ets., formerly owned by the Baptist Church, was hired by the society, which on Jan. 5, 1863, directed its pur- chase. On March 1, 1863, the trustees were authorized to buy two lots in Leonard, near Meserole st., and move the building thereon. This having been effected, the house was repaired, and on April 11, 1863, ded. At the same time E. W. Lockwood was ordained to the ministry. He re- signed June 12, 1864. Rev. S. S. Nason commenced his work in June, 1865, but died in the following August. Rev. E. G.

1090

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Haulenheck, of New York City, preached six months, begin- ning with January, 1866.

In July, 1866, the society secured Mr. Martyn Summerbell for the remainder of the year; Dec. 20, 1867, he was or- dained; May 4, 1868, five persons were baptized (by immer- sion) by the Pastor.

To promote acquaintance in the now growing congrega- tion, a "Ladies' Social " was inaugurated on July 15, and Nov. 10, 1869. May 25, 1869, under a decree of the Supreme Court, the congregation adopted the legal title of the First Christian Cong. Church, of Greenpoint, and was consolidated with the Suffolk St. Church of New York City.

In Nov., 1872, the church adopted its present Manual, and, with permission of the Supreme Court, received its present name, The Christian Church of the Evangel.

From this time forward the growth of the church under Mr. Summerbell's pastorate was constant and healthful. In 1875, it was decided to erect a new edifice. In 1876, the old houso was removed to the rear and remodelled; and on Sept. 28, 1876, the corner-stone of the new building was laid, the Masonic Order and the New York State Christian Asso. par- ticipating in the ceremonies. The plan of building only as the bills were met was strictly adhered to; and, on Christmas, 1878, the edifice, furnished and carpeted, was formerly ded. for worship The building is semi-Gothic, covering two city lots, and will seat about 400. It is substantially constructed, with frame filled to the plates with brick, and finished out- side with wood. The inside finish is of hard wood, chestnut, ouk and black walnut. It is conveniently supplied with baptistery infant class, and retiring rooms, and is connected with the chapel at the rear. The tasteful effect of its interior furnishings, contrasting well with the stained-glass windows, is much admired. The tower, surmounted with belfry and gilded cross, rises to the altitude of nearly one hundred feet.

In July, 1880, Mr. Summerbell resigned to take pastoral charge of the Franklin St. Christian Church in Fall River, Mass., after a service of exactly fourteen years. In Septem- ber, 1880, Rev. E. A. Hainer commenced his labors and still remains Pastor.

Rev. EDWIN A. HAINER, born in Burford, Ont., 1856; grad. New Market High Sch., 1874; Christian Bib. Inst., 1880; lo- cated New Market, 1874; West Eimelburg, 1875; Franklin, 1876; Brooklyn, 1880.

Other ministers of the Christian denomination are;

Rev. JOIIN BALL COOK, born at Livingston, N. J., 1804; grad. Succasunna Acad., N. J., 1829; and Newton Theol. Sem., 1833; located Cincinnati, Middletown, Rochester, Binghamton, Brooklyn, 1869; author of Reviews, Tract3, and Diagram of Prophecy.

The Brooklyn Society of the New Jerusalem (Swedenbor- gian). - Lay services were commenced at private parlors in April, 1856, by some twenty-five Swedenborgians, and con- tinued for about a year. In May, 1857, the hall of the Acad- emy on Clinton street, near Pierrepont, was secured as a place of worship, and the occasional services of a minister were enjoyed. In Oct., 1858, Mr. James E. Mills, a licentiate, of Boston, became minister, and a society under the above name was organized June 15, 1859. The increase of members rendered a removal to the Athenaeum building, corner of Clinton and Atlantic streets, necessary in 1860; and, at the same time, a society that had worshiped at Dodsworth's Academy united with this. June 5, 1861, Mr. Mills was in- stalled Pastor. The society was accepted as a member of the General Convention in 1862. In Oct., 1803, Mr. Mills resigned, and for a year lay services were held, with occasional preach- ing. January 8, 1865, the present Pastor, Rev. J. C. Ager, entered on his duties. In February of the same year, the in-

crease of the congregation necessitated another removal, and the chapel of the Polytechnic Institute was secured. Here the congregation worshiped during four years. The Church of the Restoration, corner of Monroe place and Clark, was purchased, with organ and furniture, at $40,000, and upward of $6,500 expended in repairing and decorating the interior, and Feb. 21, 1869, the edifice was dedicated. Dr. R. C. Moffat has, from the beginning of the society, been a prominent and active member, and its leader whenever without a Pastor.

Rev. JOHN CURTIS AGER, born 1835, at Warner, N. H .; grad. Urbana (O.) University, 1858; studied at Newton, Mass. Theol. Sem .; was Prof. Mental Phil. and Eng. Lit. at Urbana, 1858-'61; previous location, Brookline, Mass., 1861-'4; Editor New Jerusalem Messenger; located in Brooklyn, 1865.

Rev. JOHN ESCHMANN, born in Zurich, Switzerland, 1817; grad. City Gymnasium, 1835; Zurich Theol. Sem., Switzer- land, 1839; located New York, 1845; and East New York, 1869; was itinerant missionary in North-west; author of pub. sermons, catechism and several translations.

The First Moravian Church of Brooklyn was organized in 1854, by some members of the Moravian Church in New York city, who had become residents of Brooklyn. In that year a frame building was erected on Jay street, near Myrtle avenue, and consecrated September 10th. September 24, 1868, it was destroyed by fire, and the present brick church structure, with a parsonage, was at once erected on its site, at an expense of $24,000. It was dedicated Oct. 10th, 1869. It has 400 sittings.

The Pastors of this church have been: Revs. Joseph Rum- mer, 1854-'8, Edward Kluge, 1859-'60; Edwin E. Reinke, part of 1860; Herman Brickenstein, 1861-'4; Isaac Prince, 1865; Edward Ronthaler, 1866-'73; Charles B. Schultz, 1874-7; Charles Ricksecker, 1878; Wm. Henry Rice, 1879-'80; and the present Pastor, Edward S. Wolle, 1880.

The Church of the Blessed Hope .- This society was org. in 1879. The members had belonged to other Advent churches; but they organized this society in accordance with views which they had come to hold, different, in some respects, from those of other adventists. Their place of worship is a chapel in Cumberland street. Rev. J. B. Cook has been the Pastor from the organization of the society.

Rev. GEORGE R. KRAMER, born in Baltimore, 1839; educated Dickinson Seminary, Pa; located in Augusta, Ga .; Staunton, Va .; Wilmington, Del .; huilt Independent Church in latter place; came to Brooklyn, 1882; author of pub. sermons and poems.

Life and Advent Church was organized about 1879. lis place of worship has been Brooklyn Institute, on Washington street. It has had no settled Pastor, but has maintained regu- lar worship. The pulpit has been supplied by Revs. F. D. Burbank, W. N. Pile, Brown and others. There are in Brook- lyn several small societies of Adventists termed "Brethren," who maintain worship in accordance with their views.

Union Chapel was first established as Columbia Union Mis- sion in 1848, in a hall on the corner of Smith and Butler streets. In 1852, it was removed to a small hall in Union street, and during the warm part of the year, services were held in a tent on a vacant lot. In 1854, the mission was burned out, and, during two years, services were held in Hamilton avenue, in a room furnished by Anson Blake, Esq.

Thence it was removed to Columbia street, near Summit, where services are still held. It is non-sectarian in its char- acter, and during its long existence it has accomplished much good. From the organization of the mission till 1881, a period of more than thirty years, it has been under the pastoral charge of Rev. Josiah West. He and his wife have given a large portion of their lives to this self-denying work. The mission is now known by the name of Union Chapel.

€

HISTORY

OF THE

SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK IN

BROOKLYN.

T HE development of the Sunday-school, as an institution for teaching the Heaven-revealed truths of the Bible, has occupied for both hemispheres but a little more than a hundred years; sixty-six of these years have received the thoughts and the activity of the gentleman whose portrait is on the opposite page.

The Sunday-school in a New England country town, in 1816, had strength enough to tempt the lad of eleven years to engage in its ever-increasing work; and as age matured judgment and strengthened reflection, this institution per- meated his life with its influence, and caused him to devote the whole of his time, talents and substance, in later years, to the Sunday-school cause.

While it is no part of the design of these volumes to write history, much less biography, beyond the events that have acted and reacted upon our city life and development, society and character, so subtle are these influences, and so inter- twinsd that it is impossible to set forth either without tracing them to some extent from their source to their issue. This alons justifies a narration here of such examples as are capable of imitation by any and every layman who would mingle his higher obligations with the every-day transac- tions of his life.

The individual who directs his efforts to the promotion of the higher interests of his race is the only person who occu- pies a normal position in society. It is the glory of the Sunday-school system, as it is of the Gospel method, to mul- tiply moral teachers; nay, to virtually resolve the community into two classes-teachers and taught. Lessons are drawn directly from the only text-book which contains motives of sufficient power to restrain the passions or affect the will.

Unfortunately, all human experience has shown how diffi- cult is the task of influencing the adult mind in a way con- trary to cherished wrong opinions, and of changing long- fixed svil habits of thought or action. It is obvious, there- fore, that the Gospel teachings must be brought to bear upon the minds and hearts of the young, before evil has gained supremacy there. The steel must be forged while it is plas- tic, the streamlet must be turned before it has become the river. Whether the first attempts to gather in the children for Sabbath instruction, a hundred years ago, were inspired mors by pity for their neglected condition or by a desire to do good for the Master's sake, the result exceeded even the hopes of the pioneers.

Not speaking of the schools of the catechumens, Luther's, Knox's, Borromeo's or Haecker's, none of which were Sun- day-schools in the modern sense, the first organization in

which the teaching was done by the lay element was founded by Robert Raikes in 1780, at Gloucester, England, where he at first placed twenty children under the care of Mrs. King, for Sunday instruction, in her cottage in Catherine street.

The progress of the Sunday-school system, from that small beginning to this present time, when fifteen millions of scholars are under religious instruction on the Lord's day, has been truly marvelous. The advance that has taken place from the "shilling-a-day teachers," employed by Raikes, to this period, at which something near two millions of volun- tary teachers are engaged in Sunday-school instruction, is the most wonderful movement of the nineteenth century. Its origin was humble; it owes its success neither to lavish expenditure, love of display, or the patronage of the great. It is the result of Christian devotion consecrating the Sab- bath to the religious education of the young. Its greatest glory is that it is voluntary; free and Scriptural. Starting in Gloucester, England, it has been carried to every quarter of the civilized globe, itself being the greatest of civilizing agencies and the means best adapted to that universal dif- fusion of Christianity which is to usher in its ultimate triumph. It has brought about the unprecedented recogni- tion of the influence and importance of childhood that characterizes this century. Robert Raikes and his com- peers, mindful of the command -- " Feed my lambs"-began to pay attention to the wants of children; true religion in- creased; the world grew more spiritual as the Sunday-school work took hold of the people's time, thought and energies; until after a single century, Pastor, adults and children meet to study the Word of God, binding by one topic and one text the nations of the world in the international lessons.

The Sunday-school germ soon extended to America, where schools are said to have been established by Bishop Asbury, in Virginia, in 1786; by Bishop White, in Philadelphia, in 1791; by Katy Ferguson, a colored woman, in New York, in 1793; and by Mrs. Graham, in 1801, who had seen the schools in England, and on returning, taught poor children in her own house in New York.

About 1809 the churches in America assumed charge of the schools and made the instruction more exclusively religious. Since 1848 special attention has been given to planting and sustaining Mission schools.

Brooklyn Sunday-School Union Society. A meeting wa : held March 27, 1816, to organize a society in the village of Brooklyn, similar to the Sunday-School Union Society in New York, whose object was to give gratuitous religous in- struction to children on the Sabbath day, and to unite

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Christians in this benevolent undertaking. As a result of this meeting, the Brooklyn Sunday-School Union Society was formed, adopted a constitution April 8th, and subsequently a code of rules, issued by Joshua Sands, President ; Andrew Mercein and Abraham Remsen, Vice-Presidents; Thomas Sands, Treasurer ; Rev. John Ireland, Secretary; William Cornwell, Robert Bache, David Anderson, Jonathan G. Pray, Joseph Harris, Robert Snow, and Alexander Young, Directors. In July, 1821, circulars were issued, inviting the people to join the Brooklyn Sabbath Union for the promotion of Sunday-schools, offering instruction to all without price; great attention was promised to the " manners and morals of scholars." The first celebration of the Union was held in 1829, at the Sands Street Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1838, Messrs. Charles Clark, R. J. Thorn, I. Peet, and some others of different denominations, arranged to hold a Monthly Teachers' Concert for Prayer, Reporting and Conference, which was sustained for many years. Cyrus! P. Smith was President of their organization, Jno. N. Wyckoff, Jno. Dike- man, Vice-Presidents, and Wm. E. Whitney, Treasurer.

As before noted, these earlier schools were largely missions, to which business men gave of their time and means; while delicate ladies did not hesitate to explore lanes and tenement houses in search of new members for the schools. " Thou- sands of dollars were expended for clothing and food for destitute children. Thanksgiving day was celebrated with the zeal of which only the poor and hungry were capable. It was not unusual to see a mission-school boy leave such an entertainment with a lot of apples inside his shirt, belting his body just above the waist-band, while caps were often util- ized for secreting cake, candy, and even pumpkin pies; for home consumption." Some of these schools still exist, while many have gone into permanent church organizations, such as the Prince Street Mission of 1832, from which came in 1847 the church which is now the Brooklyn Tabernacle; the South Brooklyn Mission of 1840, out of which grew the South Presbyterian Church; the Navy Mission of 1844, now merged into Mayflower Mission; the Bethel Mission of 1841, now in a commodious building on Hicks st., near Fulton; the Warren Street Mission, begun in Freeman's Hall, Amity st., 1847, now the Pilgrim Chapel ; the City Park Chapel, organized as a mission in 1841; the Bonder Mission, now Olivet Chapel ; the Throop Avenue Presbyterian Mission; the Rochester Avenue Mission, now the Church of the Mediator; besides many others that might be named. (

The Sunday-School Union was reorganized in 1854 upon a different basis, and took substantially its present form. It was divided into committees, thus :- Albert Woodruff, Chair- man, Congregational; John R. Morris, Secretary, Presby- terian ; J. M. B. Bogert, Joseph H. Field, Ellis S. Potter, Reformed ; Thomas R. Harvey, E. Marx, Moravian ; A. D. Matthews, John C. Smith, R. S. Slocum, Protestant Epis- copal ; Peter Balen, Geo. W. Bleecker, J. V. Harriott, Bap- tist ; A. A. Smith, J. W. Judson, F. A. Fisher, Chas. Clark, C. C. Mudge, R. M. Hubbard, Presbyterian ; Silas Daven- port, Sidney Sanderson, H. N. Holt, Congregational ; Samuel Carter, Wm. Edsall, Wm. H. Brown, Methodist.

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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 108

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