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 97
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Rev. JOHN JOHNS was born in England, 1835; preached in England, 1856-'72, and in New York, 1873-'9; came to Brook- lyn, April, 1883.
Zion M. E. Church, corner of South Third and Eleventh streets, was dedicated Feb. 12, 1884. The new building is con- structed of brick and is a substantial edifice. It has been erected for the use of the Zion M. E. Church, of which Rev. George E. Smith is the Pastor. The new structure is without a steeple, though its front is relieved by ornamental brick work. A large vestry extends under the entire building, with class-rooms and kitchen and all modern church ap- pliances. The audience-room has a seating capacity of about five hundred. At the coming of the present Pastor to the church the) society was found to be incumbered with a deht, while the church building was in a state of dilapidation that made it almost unsafe. The Pastor set himself to work at once. The various churches were enlisted in a union fair, which was held in the basement of what is now the Lee ave.
ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
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Academy of Music, which proved successful enough to pay of the entire debt. A new church was at once proposed, a building committee of leading citizens was selected, and a vigorous canvass inaugurated. One gentleman generously gave $1,000, and an anonymous benefactor in the Eastern District gave $5,000, conditioned on the whole amount being raised. The cost of the church, embracing the adjoining parsonage, was $10,400, and it was dedicated free of debt.
Zion's Chapel .- This chapel is attached to the Zion Home for the Aged and Infirm on Dean st., between Albany and Troy aves. Both organizations are under the care of A. M. E. Zion Church of New York city. The lots were bought Sept. 20, 1872, and such alterations made in the buildings as to adapt them for use as a Home and a chapel. Rev. John H. Smith was the first Chaplain, and was succeeded by Rev. H. M. Wilson, and he in turn by Rev. Abram Anderson, who was followed by Rev. T. Williams, the present incumbent.
The Norwegian Bethel Ship Mission of the M. E. Church was originally the Scandinavian M. E. Bethel Ship Mission of New York. About 1875, the Bethel Ship was moored at the foot of Harrison street, Brooklyn; and services were held there till February, 1879, when the place of worship was re- moved to a hall on the corner of Van Brunt and President streets. In 1881, a new church building was erected on the sits of this hall, at an expense of $16,000. This house was a donation to the mission, from Edwin Mead of New York. The present name was adopted in 1881.
The Pastors of this Mission, since the removal of the Bethel Ship to Brooklyn, have heen: Revs. O. B. Peterson, B. Jo- hansen and the present Pastor, Christopher Freeder. The principal work of the Mission is among Morwegian sea- man.
Sheepshead Bay M. E. Church .- The certificate of incor- poration of a Methodist Episcopal Church at Sheepshead Bay was filed in the County Clerk's office Aug. 9, 1883. Trustees and incorporators are: Supervisors John G. McKane. Alan- son Tredwell, Obadiah S. Aumack, James McKane and John Colwell. The presiding officers for the first year are: Alan- son Tredwell and Obadiah S. Aumack.
METHODIST (NON-EPISCOPAL) CHURCHES.
The First Methodist Protestant Church, being the third ecclesiastical organization in Williamsburgh, originated in the withdrawal of thirty-five members from the existing Methodist Episcopal Church of the place. It was organized in 1833, at a meeting held in the residence of Brown Suttle, on North Second st. The first Board of Trustees was: Fred- erick Dickerman, John Snyder, Benjamin Doxey, Peter Mer- rit and Stephen Baker. A small but comfortable wood edi- fice was erected and dedicated in the autumn of 1833; which was replaced in 1850 by a brick structure, 45 by 70 feet, with lecture-room. Rev. Ruel Hanks was installed Pastor in 1835, followed by the Revs. William H. Johnson, P. K. Whitsel, J. J. Smith. Samuel Henderson, William Millar, and the present Pastor, Rev. R. Woodruff. The membership of the church has been small, but is now increasing, while the Sun- day-school is flourishing.
Rev. ROBERT WOODRUFF, born in Elizabeth, N. J., 1809; circuit preacher in Meth. Prot. Church over 40 years; located Brooklyn, 1879.
The Fourth Methodist Protestant Church was organized in September, 1879, with 14 members. The Rev. F. Kratz hecame Pastor in October, 1879; succeeded in March, 1880, by the present Pastor, Rev. Thomas Buller.
The first place of worship was Greenwood Hall, on Fifth ave., near Ninth st .; then a store on Fifth ave., bet. Tenth
and Eleventh streets. The present church edifice is on the corner of Fifth ave. and Eighth st.
The First Free Methodist Church of Brooklyn was org. in April, 1874, mainly through the exertions of Joseph Mac- key, who purchased the house of worship of the North Dutch Reformed Church for $18,000.
. In October, 1878, the church was reorganized under the name, Brooklyn Free Methodist Church. In 1881, a new church building was erected on Sixteenth st., bet. Fourth and Fifth aves. It is a framed structure, with a seating ca- pacity of 400, and its cost, including site, was $5,000.
Ministry, since 1874: Revs. James Matthews, Thos. La Due, William Gould, George Ekin and Fred. Wurster.
Rev. FRED. WURSTER born in Freudenstadt, Germany, 1841; grad. Theol. at Phil., 1879; located New York and Brooklyn, 1883-'4.
C.WRIGHT.
PARK AVENUE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
Park Avenue Primitive Methodist Church, cor. N. Elliott place. The congregation formerly worshiped in the frame structure on Bridge st., which they sold in 1872, and built the bandsome brick church, 48 by 80 feet, on Park ave., which they completed in 1873, at a cost of $40,000, includ- ing site and adjoining parsonage. Ministry: Revs. Fred. Bell, 1872-'6 ; Joseph Odell, 1876-'80 ; J. Finch, 1880-'3 ; E. Hum- phries, 1883-'4. The church system has no bishops or pre- siding elders, but is governed by the Annual Conference and Executive Committees ; it maintains an itinerant ministry, but pastorates are not strictly limited to three years. The congregation numbers about 300, and the Sunday school the same. E. L. Frost, Supt.
The Brooklyn Primitive Methodist Church has existed since 1839. In church government it is entirely democratic, and all matters of progress and discipline are settled by the will of the people. The church is situated in Bridge st., bet. Concord and Tillary sts. It is a wood frame building, the inside plain and neat, and the religious devotions are ener- getic and lively. All the seats in the church are free. No further information concerning this church could be ob- tained.
Orchard Primitive Methodist Church, Oakland st., near Nassau ave., was commenced by a few earnest Christians,
1044
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
who rented a store-room, cor. of Oakland st. and Nassau ave., and org. a Sunday-school July 4, 1874, with the following OFFICERS : Supt., Thos. Butler ; Asst., W. J. Hoyt; Treas., Jas. H. Whitehorne; Sec., Jas. H. Bennett. Preaching ser- vices were instituted the same month. In May, 1875, a church organization was effected, and the following ap- pointed Trustees : Thomas Butler, Jas. H. Whitehorne, C .. Montross, James H. Bennett, W. J. Morrison, Jacob Weiss, Abraham Gamble, John Davis, Atkins Storer.
Ministry: Rev. Thos. Butler, 1877-'9; J. A. McGraham, 1879-'82; W. H. Yarrow, 1882-'4.
In 1877, two lots were leased on Nassau ave., and a neat one-story church, 35 by 60 feet, was erected and paid for. In 1883, two lots were purchased on Oakland st., and the church building moved on to the same, raised 12 feet, and a commodious lecture-room built under it. A neat parsonage house was also erected.
The membership at the last conference numbered 103, and the congregations are improving. There is a good Sunday- school, numbering 150, in excellent working order.
Rev. WILLIAM H. YARROW born in London, Eng., 1830; located London till Sept., 1876; Shepardvale, Pa., 1876-'8; Hazleton, Pa., 1878-'82; B'klyn, 1881-'4; author of Theology Made Easy; History of Primitive Methodism; Life and Works of Charles Spurgeon.
Protestant Methodist Church, originated in a schism which took place among the Primitive Methodists in 1839. The secession first assumed the style of Wesleyan Methodists, and hired the building that had been erected by the Primi- tive society, and sold for the debt with which it was encum- bered. The preacher of the original society went with the secession. For a while the new organization appeared to pros- per, and numbered nearly one hundred members. They purchased a lot of ground on Kent st., on which they erected a church edifice, which they occupied from 1841 to 1845, when it was sold to the Roman Catholics.
It is understood that the society is dissolved. Fred. W. Holland was Pastor, 1839-'40; George Parsons, 1841-'2; Wm. Birch, 1844-'5.
Metropolitan Mission (Independent African M. E. Church) was organized May 28th, 1878, with 60 members, most of whom had been members of the Fleet Street A. M. E. Church. The congregation first worshiped in the Brooklyn Lyceum, Washington street. In September, 1879, they purchased from St. Matthew's (Evangelical Lutheran) Church their house of worship on Atlantic avenue, between Third and Fourth ave- nues, for $8,000. It is a brick structure with a seating ca- pacity of 500. The church prospered, and now numbers 300 members. Rev. J. B. Murray has been Pastor from the time of its organization.
The following M. E. Clergymen reside in the city:
Rev. I. SIMMONS, born 1831, in Duxbury, Mass .; grad. Wes. Univ. 1860; studied Concord Bib. Inst .; stationed Lynesbury, Conn., 1860-'62; New Haven, 1862-'64; Bridgeport, 1864-'66; Birmingham, 1866-'69; Norwalk, 1869-'72; Brooklyn, 1872- '84; is Presiding Elder of New York East Conference.
Rev. GEO. A. HALL, born New Castle, N. Y., 1837; grad. Wesleyan Univ., 1867; Pastor 7th Ave. M. E. Ch., 1866-'67; State Sec'y Y. M. C. A., 1876; Special Agt. U. S. Christ. Com., one and a half years.
Rev. WILBERT C. BLAKEMAN, born at Bridgeport, Conn., 1847; grad. Wesleyan Univ., 1876; located at Rockland, Ct., 1877; Whitestone, L. I., 1878-'79; Brooklyn, 1880; Parkville, L. I., 1881-'82; Brooklyn, 1883-'84.
Rev. ALONZO F. SELLECK, born in New York, 1806; has been 30 years in itinerant ministry; located Bklyn, 1877,
Rev. JAMES. PORTER, A. M. (Wes. Univ., 1847), D. D. (McKendrix Coll. 1856), was born in Middleboro, Mass., 1808; was trustee Wesleyan Univ., 1855-"71; Overseer Harvard; Trustee Concord Theol. Sch .; author of Compendium of Methodism, 1851; Spirit Rappings, 1853; History of Method- ism, 1876; and many other pub. works; located N. E. Con- ference, 1830-'56; Local Sec'y. Nat. Temp. Soc., till 1881; came to Bklyn, 1864.
Rev. E. HUMPHRIES was born in England, 1853; studied theol. with Rev. E. Millward, Eng .; is Publisher and Gen. Sec. of Conference; previous locations, Shamokin, Pa., 1874-'76; Mahanoy, 1876-"78; Tamaqua, 1878-'83; came to B'klyn, 1883.
Rev. MCCLINTIC R. BARNITZ, ord. as Bapt. Min., at Sag Harbor, 1866; Agt. Amer. Bible Union, 1868-'78; settled over 18th St. M. E. Ch., 1883.
Rev. WILLIAM BURT, born in England, 1852; grad. Wss. Univ., 1879; Madison Theol. Sem., 1881; located B'klyn, April, 1880.
Presiding Elders of the M. E. Church in Brooklyn and the Long Island District :- 1785, Thomas Chew; 1786, Joha Tun- nel; 1787, Thomas Foster; 1788, Henry Willis; 1789, Freeborn Garrettson; 1790, Thomas Morrell; 1791, Robert Cloud; 1792 -'3, Jacob Brush; 1794, Freeborn Garrettson; 1795, George Roberts; 1796, Freeborn Garrettson, Sylvanus Hutchinson; 1797-'9, Sylvester Hutchinson; 1800-'3, Freeborn Garrettson; 1804-'6, William Thatcher; 1807-'10, Joseph Crawford; 1811 -'14, Freeborn Garrettson; 1815-'18, Samuel Merwin; 1819, Nathan Bangs; 1820-'3, Peter P. Sandford; 1824-"7, Labau Clark; 1828-'31, D. Ostrander; 1832-'5, Samuel Merwin; 1836 -'9, D. Ostrander; 1840-'3, S. Martindale; 1844-"7, J. J. Mat- thias; 1848-'50, Labau Clark; 1851-'4, Seymour Landon; 1855 -'8, Buell Goodsell; 1859-'61, Wm. H. Norris; 1862, Wm. H. Norris; 1863, John Kennaday. * L. I. South Dist .:- 1864, Daniel Curry; 1865-'7, B. Pillsbury; 1868-"71, E. E. Griswold; 1872, T. G. Osborne; 1873-'5, Chas. Fletcher; 1876, A. S. Graves. L. I. North Dist .:- 1864-'5, H. F. Pease; 1866, N. Mead; 1867-'8, H. Bangs; 1869-70, J. B. Merwin; 1871, H. F. Pease; 1872-'5, C. B. Sing; 1876, J. L. Peck. N. Y. Dist .:- 1877-'8, J. L. Peck; 1879-'80, J. W. Beach; 1881-'2, Thos. H. Burch; 1883-'4, Benj. M. Adams. Brooklyn Dist .:- 1877-'9, A. S. Graves; 1880-'1, G. F. Kettell; 1882, W. T. Hill; 1883-'4, Ichabod Simmons. In 1800, the M. E. population of the U. S. was 64,894, with 287 preachers. Brooklyn statistics for 1883 :- Churches, 39; Church members, 12,885; Sunday- schools, 91; Sunday-school scholars, 19,832; Value of Churches, $1,367,700.
List of M. E. Preachers in L. I. Circuit, from 1784 [till 1845 :- 1784, Philip Cox; 1785, Ezekiel Cooper; 1786, Thomas Ware; 1787, Peter Moriarty; 1788, Robert Cloud; 1789, Wm. Phœbus, John Lee; 1790, David Kendall; 1791, Wm. Phoebus, Benj. Abbott; 1792, John Ragan, James Boyd; 1793, Joseph Totten, Geo. Strebeck; 1794, E. Cooper, L. McCombs; 1795, Joseph Totten; 1796, John Clark, Jacob Rickhow, David Buck, Wm. Phoebus; 1797, Andrew Nichols, Joseph Totten, Wm. Phœbus; 1798, Andrew Nichols; 1799, Cyrus Stebbins, Jas. Campbell, John Wilson; 1800, David Buck; 1801-'2,
* The churches were all in the Long Iaiand District until 1864, when they were divided into the Long Island South and Long Island North Distriots, the former containing the Sands at., York at., Washington st., Johnson st., Paciflo st., First place, Carroli Park, Warren at., Wil- Ham at., 18th st., 7th ave., Hanson place, Fieet at., New York ave., Embury, Nostrand ave., Greene ave., Janes Swedish Miss., Norwegian Miss. The latter contained Summerfield, Simpaon, Park ave., Miaa.' De Kalb ave., Tompkins ave., Broadway, St. John's, Central, South 2nd, South 3rd, Gothic, Cook st., North 5th, Leonard at., St. Mark's Miss., Greenpoint, First, Tabernacle and Orchard Mias. In 1877, the former were made part of the New York District, the latter the Brooklyn District.
ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
1045
1
2
..
. David Buck, Peter Jayne; 1801, Billy Hibbard; 1802, John Finnegan; 1803, Ezekiel Canfield; 1804, Cyrus Stebbins; 1805-'6, Ezekiel Cooper; 1806, Samuel Thomas; 1807, Elijah Woolsey, John Wilson; 1808, Daniel Ostrander; 1809, Reu- . - ben Hubbard; 1810-'11, William Thacher; 1812-'13, Lewis Pease; 1814, Samuel Merwin; 1815, Nathan Emory; 1816-'17, Joseph Crawford; 1818, William Ross; 1819-'20, Alexander McCaine; 1821-'22, Lewis Pease; 1823-'4, William Ross; 1825 -'6, Thomas Burch; 1826-"7, S. L. Stillman; 1827-'28, Samuel Luckey; 1828, S. Landon; 1829-'30, Noah Levings, James Covel; 1831-'2, John C. Green, Charles W. Carpenter; 1832, J. Tackaberry; 1833-'4, Thomas Burch, J. Kennaday, J. Luckey; 1835-'6, B. Creagh, 1st ch. ; R. Gilbert, 2d ch. ; 1835, S. Remington, 3d ch .; 1836, J. B. Stratten, 3d ch .; 1837-'8, Wm. H. Morris, 1st ch. ; J. L. Gilder, 2d ch. ; Robert Seney, 3d ch .; 1839, Fitch Reed, 1st ch .; 1839-'40, E. E. Griswold, 2d ch .; 1839, Benjamin Griffen, 3d ch. ; 1840, Peter C. Oakley, 1st ch .; James Floy, 3d ch .; Benjamin Griffen, Centenary ch .; J. Le Fevre, C. Foss, Williamsburgh and Newtown; 1841, Peter C. Oakley, 1st ch .; Seymour Landon, 2d ch .; James Floy, 3d ch .; Jarvis Z. Nichols, Centenary ch .; J. W. Le Fevre, Charles B. Sing, Williamsburgh; 1849, L. M. Vincent, 1st ch, ; S. Landon, 2d ch. ; James Sewell, 3d
ch .; J. Youngs, Centenary ch .; H. F. Roberts, Williams- burgh; M. Richardson, Bushwick and Wallabout; 1843, L. M. Vincent, 1st ch .; J. Poisal, 2d ch .; J. Sewell, 3d ch .; J. Youngs, Centenary ch .; H. F. Roberts, Williamsburgh ch .; O. States, Wallabout ch .; 1844-'5, H. F. Pease, Sands street ch. ; B. Goodsell, York street ch .; C. W. Carpenter, Waslı- ington street ch .; J. M. Pease, Centenary ch .; O. Starr, Ebenezer ch .; Paul R. Brown, Williamsburgh; A. F. Beach, Bush wick.
The names of ministers in years following 1845 will be found in the sketches of the respective churches.
M. E. Churches in the New York District of the N. Y. East Conference, 1884 :- Summerfield, Francis, Cook street, Cedar street, St. John's, Central, So. 2d street, So. 3d street " Gothic," No. 5th street, Leonard street, St. Luke's, First (Greenpoint) Tabernacle.
M. E. Churches in the Brooklyn District of N. Y. East Conference, 1883 :- Sands street, York street, Washington street, Pacific street, Johnson street, First place, St. Paul's Mission, Carroll park, Warren street, 18th street, 44th street, Grace, Hanson place, Fleet street, DeKalb avenue, Simpson, New York avenue, Embury, Nostrand avenue, Greene avenue, Janes, Swedish Mission, Norwegian Mission.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
The history of the Roman Catholics of Brooklyn, as a body, begins in the second decade of the present century. Before that, the Catholics of Brooklyn were compelled, for religious worship, to cross the East river, to attend St. Peter's Church, in Barclay st., New York, the first, and long the only Catholic church in that city. The present Cardinal of New York, the Most Rev. John McCloskey, is a native of Brooklyn, and remembers the time when he, as a boy, thus crossed to the neighboring city. The Rev. John Power, Pastor of that church previous to 1822, caused mass to be celebrated occasionally here, in such rooms as could be oh- tained. It is said that mass was first celebrated in Brooklyn, at the residence of Mr. William Purcell, on the north-east corner of York and Gold sts., by Rev. Philip Larissey.
Among the clergy who ministered to the Catholics of Brooklyn in these early days, were : Revs. Mich. O'Gorman, Patrick Bulger, McCauley, and McKenna, the latter of whom died and was buried in Brooklyn.
When, on Jan. 7, 1822, a meeting was held to consider the erection of a church, it was found by a careful census of the Catholics in the village, that only 70 were able to help, either in money or labor. Mr. Cornelius Heeney offered lots on the corner of Court and Congress sts., as a site; which, however, were declined as being too far out of the village.
St. James' Church .- March 2, 1822, eight lots were pur- chased on the corner of Jay and Chapel sts., $400 being paid in cash, and $300 more secured by a mortgage. The ground was blessed by Rev. Mr. Bulger, April 25th. Just two months later, a building committee was appointed; and, not- withstanding the difficulties attending the work, the edifice was so far completed that it was dedicated under the name of St. James, August 28, 1823. The building cost, including fences, $7,118.16. A school was at once established, but for some time all efforts to secure a resident Pastor failed.
The Clergy of the church from its organization have been : 1825-'32, Revs. John Farnan, Pastor ; 1832-'42, John Walsh, Pastor; 1836-"7, P. Dougherty ; 1839, Philip Gillick ; 1840,
Patrick Danaher ; 1841, J. McDonough ; 1842-'47, Charles Smith, Pastor ; 1845-'6, Jerome Nobriga ; 1847-'8, Patrick McKenna ; 1848-'52, Jas McDonough, Pastor ; 1849, Eugene McGuire; 1849-'52, John Quinn.
At this time, the Roman Catholic churches on Long Island had so increased from the small beginning at St. James', that the Holy See formed the island into a Diocese, and the Very Rev. John Loughlin, then Vicar-General of New York, was appointed Bishop of Brooklyn. He was consecrated October 3, 1853, and made St. James' Church his cathedral.
Clergy : 1852-"7, Revs. Eugene Cassidy, Rector ; 1852-'4, Samuel A. Mulledy ; 1856-"7, Thomas W. McCleery, D. Whelan ; 1857-'9, Thomas Walsh ; 1857-'60, John F. Turner ; 1857-'8, Bartholomew Gleason ; 1859-'60, Robert McGuire; 1859-'60, Robert V. Moyce ; 1864, Joseph Giraud ; 1864-'6, Francis J. Freel, D. D .; 1865-'8, Thomas J. Gardner, D. D .; 1867-'8, Eugene McSherry ; 1870, Michael Hickey ; 1872-'3, John Kelly; 1872, P. Sheridan ; 1873-'78, P. F. O'Hara; 1877- '78, M. J. Murray ; 1877, Richard Foley ; 1878, Ed. McCabe, John O'Donohue; 1879-83, James T. Woods; 1879, M. McCabe; 1879, Wm. Dougherty ; 1879, John Joseph Mallon ; 1880-'3, Jas. F. Mealia, Jas. H. Mitchell. The parish has, from an early date, maintained a school for boys.
Bishop Loughlin has secured a fine site for a· cathedral on Lafayette ave., between Carlton and Vanderbilt aves., and is now erecting a splendid church, which will be the finest ecclesiastical structure on Long Island .*
*The corner-stone was laid with much pomp and ceremony, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Loughlin, on the 21st of June, 1868; and an address was delivered by the Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey, of New York, in the course of which the speaker thus alluded to his own earlier recoliections of Brooklyn: "And well may you rejoice on the day and on the oceasion which is to be ever memorable to the Catholics of this city and of this diocese, a day which recalls so many memories, such, in part at least, as were awakoned in the hearts of oid; for many there are who had hardly hoped to seo this day. Of that number I can men- tion ono, and it is he who now addresses you. His first and earliest memories aro hero, Ho first saw the light of heaven and breathed the
1046
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
St. Paul's Church, Court, cor. Congress st. The plot of ground originally offered by Cornelius Heeney, Esq., to St. James', became, in time, the site of the second Roman Catholic church in the city of Brooklyn. In 1836, the church of St. Paul was erected here. It was a substantial brick building, 72 by 125 feet, and cost about $20,000 ; the land being then valued at $9,000 more.
The Pastors and Clergy of this church have been : Revs. Richard Waters, 1838-40 ; Nicholas O'Donnell, O. S. A., 1840-'7 ; James O'Donnell, O. S. A., 1840-'4 ; William Hogan, 1845-'8; Joseph A. Schneller, 1848-'60; Hippolyte De Luynes, S. J., 1849-'50 ; Joseph Regan, 1851-'3 ; Timothy Farrell, 1852 -'3 ; John Curoe, 1852 ; John McShane, 1854-'7 ; M. O'Reilly, 1854-'5; B. Allaire, 1857-'8; Peter C. Fagan, 1858-'60 ; McGerrish, 1862-'3 ; Robert J. McGuire, 1863-'80 ; V. Dallis, 1863-'5 ; P. Reddy, P. McGuire, John R. McDonald, 1863-'4 ; Ed. O'Reilly, 1870-'3 ; Wm. Lane, 1870-'3 ; Jno. McCarty, 1873 ; Henry J. Zimmer, 1873 ; Wm. Connolly, 1874; Peter Maguire, 1875; John Hogan, 1877-'8 ; John Longhran, D. D., 1877; Philip J. Kinney, 1877-'9 ; J. J. Marvin, 1878-'80; Wm. Giles, 1879-'81; Wm. J. Lane, 1880-'83 ; M. S. Boylan, 1881- '82 ; Wm. J. Hill, 1882-'4 ; Peter H. Plunkett, 1882; Edwd. M. Gannon, 1883-'4.
A school was early established in connection with this church, and it was regularly maintained. The boys and girls are under the Sisters of Charity.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, York and Jay ets. Corner-stone laid October 27, 1831, by Rev. Father Farnham, as an independent Catholic Church, who afterwards abandoned his undertaking. It remained unfinished for many years, when it was finally purchased by Bishop Hughes, in 1840, who placed it in charge of Rev. D. W. Bacon. He completed it, and, on June 10, 1842, it was dedicated under the above title. Father Bacon remained its Pastor until 1855, when he was consecrated First Bishop of Portland. During his pastorate, he was assisted by the fol- lowing clergymen: Revs. P. McKenna, 1844-'5; Hugh Maguire, 1845-'6; J. Viera, 1851-'2; B. Farrell, 1852-'3, when the present Pastor, Rev. William Keegan, became assistant, and suc- ceeded Father (now Bishop) Bacon. His assistants have been : Revs. P. Bradley, P. Kelly, Benjamin Allaire, P. V. Moyce, Gaudentius Ballestrini, Thos. Farrell, T. Reid, 1865 ; Owen O'Brien, 1869-'75, when the present assistant, Rev. C. J. Gallagher, was appointed. The Very Rev. W. Keegan was appointed Vicar-General of the Diocese, in 1880; but still retains his position as Pastor, and still resides at the parochial residence, cor. of Jay and York sts. He has built a mag-
breath of life In what was then but the little village of Brooklyn. He weli remembers the day when there was neither Catholic church nor chapel, nelther priest nor altar, within all these surroundings. He 1 members when, as a youth, when Sunday morning came, he, as one of a happy group, wended his way along the shore to what was then calied Hicks' ferry, to cross the river, not In elegant and graceful steamers as now, but in an old and dingy horse-boat ; going, led by the hand of tender and loving parents, to assist at the sacrifice of mass In the old brick church of St. Peter's, in Barclay st. How little could he then have dreamed ever to have witnessed a spectacle such as this; to have stood here in the capacity in which he now stands, in such a presence; to see the foundations lail and tho corner-stone blessed and consecrated by a hishop of Brooklyn, surrounded by prelates from other sees and dioceses, by a numerous clergy from far and near, and by such a vast and Innumerable concourse of people, brought together to take part, as it were, in the beginning of such a glorious work ; a work which is to rear itself up in grand and goodly proportions before the eyes of men, and stands a monument of your Catholic faith, your Catholle generosity, and your Catholic zeal ; stands as a monument, too, of Catholic genius, Catholic architectural taste and skill, and to he, besides, looked upon, as it will be, as adding a newer beauty, and another glory, and another honor, and another source of pride to what is already the renowned city of churches,"
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