USA > New York > The earliest churches of New York and its vicinity > Part 4
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In 1726, the Dutch Church school was under the charge of Barent De Forest, and there is no direct refer- ence to its history in official records until the year 1743 : here the regular minutes commence again. from which we can learn, ever since, an uninterrupted account of the institution and its teachers. Another Church school
* Act of Incorporation R. P. D. Church.
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"farther up town" became necessary, when Mr. Abra- ham De Lanoy took charge of it; he was also to dis- charge the duty of catechetical instruction to the children in the Garden Street Church, and De Lanoy at the New, or "Middle Dutch."
In 1746, the consistory appropriated, in addition to his salary, ten pounds, New York currency, for one year, "to officiate as chorister alternately in the Old and New Church" (Garden and Nassau). Mr. Van Wagenen in- tending to resign in 1748, Mr. Daniel Bratt, chorister at Catskill, was appointed in his place, for five years, in the "New" (Middle) Church. He was also to act as school- master, and to be provided with a dwelling-house, school-room, twelve free scholars, and "for which he should receive twelve pounds ten shillings, with a load of wood for each scholar, annually, half nut and half oak." His services commenced in April, 1749.
During the year 1691, the Dutch Church purchased from the Common Council, for four hundred and fifty dollars, a tract of land on Garden street, between Wil- liam and Broad,-on the north side one hundred and seventy-five feet, on the south one hundred and eighty. Here a church had been built. 1693, and opposite. on the south side, the new schoolhouse and teacher's dwell- ing were erected, in 1784. To the curious in old matters, this property is now known as number fifty and fifty- two, Exchange Place. Here this excellent Dutch Church school continued for seventy-six years, three-quarters of a century ! What eventful changes have taken place on this venerable, time-honored, and once sacred spot ! The church and its graveyard and the schoolhouse all have
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passed away, not a vestige of their former pious purposes remaining. And now, the keen dealers in notes, stocks, "greenbacks," and specie, crowd the whole once sacred region ! This is what has been called " Young America !"
In 1751, a Mr. Van der Slam received the appointment of "Consoler of the Sick and Catechiser," and Mr. Bratt as chorister and schoolmaster. his services terminating in 1754. The consistory now found it difficult to pro- cure a suitable person for "Voorleser" and schoolmas- ter, when they resolved, 1755, "to call a chorister, catechist, and schoolmaster from Holland."
Such an one was obtained in Mr. John Nicholas Welp, who arrived from Amsterdam in 1755. For more than seventeen years, as schoolmaster and chorister. he performed his duties satisfactorily and with fidelity, when death ended his useful labors. During his ser- vices there had been great excitement and discussion about introducing the English language in the worship of the Dutch Church. It was finally determined to call a minister who should officiate in English, while the Dutch was to be continued a part of the Sabbath. Dr. Laidlie was thus called, and delivered his first sermon in English at the Middle Dutch Church, in the afternoon of the last Sabbath in March, 1764, from 2 Corinthians v. 11: "Knowing, therefore. the terror of the Lord. wo persuade men." All the public services were conducted in the English language, except the singing, in Dutch, led by Jacobus Van Antwerp (Voorsanger, or fore-singer), as the congregation were not acquainted with English psalmody. The immense house was densely crowded, and many climbed in the windows on this unusual occasion.
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This new measure, as might well be expected, gave great offence to some ; and finding all their expostula- tions in vain, at last they invoked the civil power. In 1767, more than three years after the settlement of the "English Preacher," a few members of the Dutch con- gregation presented a remonstrance to his Excellency. Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, complaining that the consistory had violated the constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church, by the introduction of English services in their public worship. Abel Hardenbrook, Jacobus Stoutenburgh, with Huybert Van Wagenen, and others, signed this remonstrance ; and the last- named was the schoolmaster in 1743; and the document failing in its object, he connected himself with the Eng- lish Church.
Nine years before the death of Mr. Welp, the English language had been introduced into the Dutch pulpits, and had now become quite common, so that regard must be paid to this faet in the selection of a new school- master. It had become necessary that he should "in- struct twenty poor children in reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well in both the English and Dutch lan- guages." In Mr. Peter Van Steenburgh, schoolmaster at Flatbush, Long Island, was to be found such a person, when he was called, and accepted the invitation in 1773 .* A new and enlarged schoolhouse was built. and for three years the school continued its operations under Mr. Van Steenburgh, amidst great public excite- mont, when it was compelled to disband. It was the moment of intense publie excitement in New York. * Danshee's History of the school, p. 72.
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IIere, in 1765, the Provincial Congress assembled, pass- ing the famous "Declaration of Rights." Here the stamped paper had been destroyed, and the Lieutenant- Governor hung in effigy, in 1763. And the same year of Van Steenburgh's appointment, the "Sons of Lib- erty" destroyed a cargo of tea, on its arrival. From these and other similar causes, the city of New York was soon possessed by the British forces, and became the head-quarters of the enemy. Martial-law was de- clared ; many patriotic citizens fled to neighboring places for safety, and all the churches and schools were closed and discontinued during the war. Now we lose sight of the "Krank-bezoecker," "Voorsanger," and the "Voorleser." for several years. Not less than five thousand American prisoners were confined in the city jails, sugar-houses, and Dissenting churches. Sey- eral hundred crowded the Middle Dutch Church, until removed to make room for a cavalry riding-school. The North Church held eight hundred prisoners, and its pews were used for fuel. To increase these desecra- tions and these evils, in July, 1776, a fire consumed four hundred and ninety-three houses, from Whitehall Slip to Cortlandt street, Trinity Church and the Luther- an, on the opposite corner, included in the number. Again, August, 1776, in the neighborhood of Coenties Slip, three hundred more houses were consumed. In such times, and for seven long years, all church service ceased, and the schools and college closed.
On the return of peace, the scattered citizens grad- ually returned to their old homes. The consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church reorganized again in
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September, 1783, four days only after the signing of - the Treaty of Peace, at Paris, and before the British evacuated New York, in the month of November fol- lowing.
Mr. Van Steenburgh, returning to the city in 1784, again took charge of his old Church School. This insti- tution, from its commencement until now, had been known as the "Public," "Free," or "Low Dutch School." It now used the term "Charity," as similar seminaries were called "Charity Schools," by the other denominations. They derived their support from the voluntary contributions of the church members. The Episcopal Charity School, founded in 1748, had received large legacies from those in her communion, aided by annual collections ; and from this circumstance, proba- bly, the term was adopted. This school subsequently discarded the title, becoming a chartered institution, with a less objectionable name. Most of these denom- inational free schools, that existed towards the close of the last century, have ceased long since.
In the fall of 1789, commenced the practice of provid- ing each scholar with a suit of clothes, which was after- wards adopted in the Episcopal and Methodist Church Free Schools. To meet this new expense, public collec- tions were made in the respective congregations on the same Sabbath day. This was an interesting occasion with the scholars and their friends; all turned out in their new suits, and. dressed alike, sang beautiful hymns before the congregations ; after which and the sermon, the public collections were taken up. At times, these amounted to very large, generous sums, and the lib-
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erality of the Collegiate Dutch Church became pro. verbial.
From the establishment of the Dutch Church School. in 1633, its schoolmaster, with only one or two excep- tions, had acted as chorister : and in 1791. Mr. Stanton Latham, clerk in the North Church since 1789, super- seded Mr. Van Steenburgh, in consequence of his " sing- ing" talents. He also agreed "to teach fifty scholars for seven shillings per quarter," and his offer was accepted by the consistory.
In 1792, it was deemed an indispensable condition of the admission of boys in future, that their parents or guardians "do, previously, by bond, engage themselves to bind them to some useful profession or employment. at the expiration of their terms in school. or secure to the consistory the power of so doing;" but this plan was never carried out.
Like his predecessor, Mr. Latham had enjoyed the advantage of having some pay scholars; but, in the year 1795, it was resolved to admit none but "charity scholars" into the school. His salary was now fixed at two hundred dollars a year, house-rent free. with twelve cords of wood yearly for the school. In 1804. the num- ber of pupils was limited to sixty.
During a period of one hundred and soventy-five years the deacons of the Dutch Church had constituted a Standing Committee, to manage the affairs of the school ; but in 1808, it was placed under the care of a "Board of Trustees." Its original members are well remembered-excellent names -- JJohn Stoutenburgh. Richard Duryes, Isaac Hover. Abraham Brinckerhoff,
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Anthony Dey, Jesse Baldwin, and John Nitchie, Jr. During the same year, the teacher's salary was increased to six hundred dollars.
In 1800, Mr. Latham resigned his office, when Joseph Hinds, a graduate of the institution, became an assistant teacher, until the election of Mr. Forrester as principal, during the same year, when he adopted the Lancasterian system of instruction. in sand and on slate. It is here worthy of note, that the old eight-day clock, which had hung so many years in the Garden Street Church, was repaired and removed to the schoolroom. A venerable and faithful chronieler of time, precious time, it still, on the walls of the present schoolhouse, marks the rapidly passing moments.
During the year 1805, the Free School Society was founded in the city of New York; and in 1812, the "Common School System" commenced in the State. These legal movements, consequently, affected the Chari- ty Schools of the city. When the Free School Society assured the public that children should have the same privileges, literary and religious, which they enjoyed in their own church schools, most of these institutions dis- banded. But the Reformed Dutch Church, adhering to her own views on this important subject, declined the overture, following those principles which she had maintained for centuries.
In 1818, the school numbered one hundred scholars- seventy-six boys and twenty four girls. For seventy- six years the institution had now continued in Garden street, and a temporary removal to Duane street, near William, became necessary. Here the school remained
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until 1835, when it again removed to Elm street, corner of Canal; thence it occupied the basement of the Re- formed Dutch Church, on Broome and Greene streets, removing to the basement of the church on the corner of Greene and Houston streets, remaining one year, till its removal to No. 91 Mercer street. Here its sessions continued five years, when temporary accommodations were prepared in the basement of the Ninth Street Church.
In July, 1847, ground was broken for a new and permanent school edifice, on Fourth street; and in November following, the old school took possession of it. Noah Webster, Esq., for many years the President of the Trustees, commenced the ceremony of dedication by solemnly commending the institution, its friends, teachers, and scholars, in devont prayer, to Almighty God. He thanked the Lord for ITis constant care and goodness ever extended over this signally blessed institu- tion of the Church ! . The new edifice is admirably adapt- ed to its purposes. It is built of brick, and is forty feet front by forty-five deep, and three stories high. The "Honors" of the school, annually distributed, consist of a Bible, a Psalm-Book, with the Catechism and Liturgy of the Church, and a mounted engraved Testi- monial .*
In the year 1842, the trustees appointed Henry T. Dunsheo principal of the school ; and Mr. Forrester having been engaged in the faithful discharge of its arduous duties during the last thirty-two years, it was concluded that he ought now to be relieved, at the age
* Mr. Dun.theo's History of this school, 1853.
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of nearly seventy years, from his responsibilities. Ho - was, however, retained as catechist for twelve months, when his long connection with the school closed. Few men, in his sphere and day, have been more useful ; and, at the advanced age of eighty years; he still lives. the monument of God's goodness and mercy ! He is a Scotchman, born in the environs of Edinburgh, 1775, and emigrated to America in 1794. Teaching has been his employment through life.
We have described this venerable school thus fully, because, of all charities, that which imparts literary and religious education to destitute children, and prepares them for usefulness in Church and State, is the most important and praiseworthy. This, too, is now the old- est educational institution in our land, and most closely identified with the history of our city from its settle- ment, and allied to the most ancient Church within her borders. Even its associations become most interesting, delightful, and important. In 1863. the two hundred and thirtieth anniversary of this school was held in the Middle Dutch Church, Lafayette Place; the Rev. Dr. Vermilye delivered the diplomas to the graduating class, when the parting song was sung.
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CHAPTER IJI.
FIRST BURIAL-PLACE IN NEW YORK -- SERVICES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND INTRODUCED, 1664-MR. VESEY, THE FIRST RECTOR ---- CHARLOTTE TEMPLE'S GRAVE --- REV. ELIAS NEAU-DR. VINTON- EPISCOPAL FREE SCHOOL ESTABLISHED -- EPISCOPAL CHURCHES CLOSED IN THE REVOLUTION --- DRS. COOPER, AUCHMUTY, CHARLTON, BARCLAY, INGLIS-REPLY TO " COMMON SENSE" SEIZED BY SONS OF LIBERTY AND BURNED-GENERAL HOWE LANDS IN NEW YORK- THE GREAT FIRE, 1776-DR. INGLIS RETIRES TO NOVA SCOTIA, AND THERE MADE BISHOP-THE KING'S FARM-TRINITY BURNED AND REBUILT-ST. GEORGE'S, ST. PAUL'S, AND ST. JOHN'S BUILT-GOV- ERNOR FLETCHER'S ARRIVAL ; A HIGH CHURCHMAN-CHURCHES ORDERED TO BE ERECTED IN WESTCHESTER, SUFFOLK, AND RICH- MOND-CITIZENS TAXED FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
THE first burial-place in the city was about the corner of Broadway and Morris street -- four lots of twenty-five by one hundred feet. This was abandoned in 1676, and the north part of Trinity churchyard substituted. Trinity Church was erected in 1696, and incorporated the next year as the " Parish Church." On the transfer of the New Netherland colony to the British, in 1664. the worship of the Church of England was introduced, and the chaplain of the British forces conducted divino service in the Dutch church at the fort. A very friendly feeling existing between the two denomina- tions when Mr. Vesey, the first rector, arrived. he was invited to hold his religions services in the Garden
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Street Church on a part of the Sabbath. When he was inducted into his holy office, Governor Fletcher request- ed two of the Dutch clergymen to be present.
Until the cessation of burials, by law, in the city. Trinity churchyard was a general cemetery, where mul- titudes. thousands on thousands of the past generations have been interred. There is scarcely an old family among us but has some relative or friend sleeping in this sacred repository. Here lie the ashes of Generals Hamilton and Lamb, and Colonel Willet, with other Revolutionary heroic men-Captain Lawrence and Lieu- tenant Ludlow of the Chesapeake, heroes of the war of 1812. Who has not read the story of Charlotte Temple ? It was a tale of truth ; and the lady also slumbers here. What reverend histories are attached to the silent ton- ants of this vast field of the dead ! Nearly all the tomb- stones first placed are dilapidated or have perished. Some of the buried, however, have become a part of history. and will never be forgotten.
In old Trinity churchyard repose the remains of many Huguenots, and among them those of the Rev. Elias Neau, the paternal ancestor of Commodore Perry's wife : and a Perry married the Rev. Dr. Vinton, a descendant of the seventh generation from this venerable and pious ancestor. The doctor now is a distinguished minister of old Trinity, after a lapse of more than one hundred and fifty years, and declaring sacred truth on the same reverend spot where his children's pious progenitor exercised the same holy calling so very long ago. Mr. Neat's memory deserves more notice. He was a fal- ented, good man, and appointed catechist of Trinity
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when the Rev. Mr. Vesey was its rector. After his appointment, for a number of years, he diligently dis- charged his important religious duties among the slaves and Indians, of whom there were some fifteen hundred catechumens in the city. He could never collect them until candle-light. in summer or winter, except on the Sabbath, when they assembled after the last church services. He may be said to be the founder of the Free School of that church, so celebrated, serviceable, and numerous for many years. He closed a life of extra- ordinary usefulness in the year 1722, and his dust also sleeps in Trinity burial-ground, nearly on a line with its northern porch.
At the commencement of the American Revolution, there was much animosity manifested towards the Epis- copal or Church of England. Most of its clergy took sides with the British, and hence were violently opposed by the Whig or American party. The Episcopal churches, generally, were closed, and many of their pastors sought safety in England. Among this number was Myles Cooper, D. D., President of King's (Colum- bia) College. Dr. Samuel Auchmuty succeeded the Rev. Mr. Charlton as catechist to the negroes, and assist- ant minister in Trinity ; and on the death of Dr. Barelay, in 1761, he was elected rector. He, too, was a strong loyalist, and retired, for a season, to New Brunswick, New Jersey, with his family. Dr. Charles Inglis became assistant to Dr. Auchimmuty in 1765, whom he succeeded as the rector of Trinity, two years afterwards.
Ue was a decided Tory and Churchman ; and when Washington, with the American troops, took possession
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of the city, the General, soon after his arrival, attended Trinity Church. One of his officers called at the rec- tor's house, leaving word that "he would be glad if the violent prayers for the king and royal family were omitted." But Inglis paid no regard to the request, informing Washington that "it was in his power to shut up our churches, but by no means in his power to make the clergy depart from their duty." Whilst officiating on the Sabbath, a company of one hundred "armed rebels" marched into the church, with drums beating and fifes playing, their guns loaded and bayo- nets fixed. The congregation was thrown into great consternation, but Inglis, elevating his voice above the noise and tumult, went on with the services. The soldiers, finally, invited by the sexton, took seats, and the thing passed off without accident.
When independence was declared, soon after, the vestries of the Episcopal churches shut them up ; and at this moment the equestrian statue of King George in the Bowling Green was pulled down and demolished. All the royal arms, even on the tavern signs, were destroyed, and orders were sent to have them removed from Trinity, or the mob would do the work them- selves. Dr. Inglis wisely and immediately complied. His family were removed to a distant part of the coun- try for safety, but he remained, "to visit the sick, bap- tize the children, bury the dead, and afford what sup- port I could (he writes) to the remains of our poor flock." Ile took possession of all the keys, "lost." he adds, "the sexton's might be tampered with." Thus,
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for the present, the Episcopal churches escaped the desecration of the war.
At this moment of national excitement, Paine pub- lished his "Common Sense," earnestly justifying inde- pendence, and the rector of Trinity characterized it as "one of the most virulent, artful, and pernicious pam- phlets ever met with, and perhaps the wit of man could not devise one better calculated to do mischief. It seduced thousands." At the risk of life and liberty he answered it, but, as soon as printed, his whole impres- sion was seized by the "Sons of Liberty, " and burned. He sent, however, a copy to Philadelphia, where it was printed, with a second edition. This, of course, swelled the catalogue of the rector's political transgressions, and he was compelled to retire to Flushing, on Long Island, and "keep as private as possible." Soon, General Howe defeated the Americans at the unfortunate battle on Long Island, which set him at liberty, with many Tories in New York.
On the 15th of September, 1726. General Howe landed at New York with the English forees, when the Ameri- cans abandoned the city. Early the next morning Dr. Inglis returned to his house, which he found plundered of every thing. "My loss amounts (he says) to near two hundred pounds. this currency, or upwards of one hundred pounds sterling. The rebels carried off' all the bells in the city, partly to convert them into cannon. partly to prevent notier being given speedily of the destruction they meditated against the city by fire when it began." On the following day he opened one of the Episcopal churches and solemnized divine worship.
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when the citizens, now very few, generally attended, - but they were Episcopalians. They congratulated cach other on the prospect of returning security, but were to be mistaken and disappointed.
On the next Saturday, the weather being dry, with the wind blowing fresh, the city was fired in several places, at the same moment, before daylight. The fire, raging with utmost fary, destroyed about one thousand houses, embracing a fourth of the whole place. Three Episcopal churches were burned-Trinity. the oldest and largest. It was now a venerable edifice, with an excellent organ, costing eight hundred and fifty pounds. The rector's house and the Charity School, two large buildings, with St. Paul's Church and King's College (Columbia), shared the same fate. The loss of church property was estimated to be twenty-five thousand pounds.
Dr. Inglis was ordained in England, and, when peace came, in 1783, he was obliged to leave the States, as he himself, with his lady, were included in the Act of Attainder. With some of his flock, he accordingly went to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where, in 1787, he was consecrated the first Colonial Bishop of that province. He died in 1816, aged eighty-two years. His son. John Inglis, was the third Protestant Bishop of Nova Scotia.
In 1703, the "King's Farm" had been granted, by Queen Anne, to Trinity, and it thus became the cole- brated Trinity Church property. The old edifice had been enlarged in 1785, again during 1737, and burned by the fire of 1776. It was again rebuilt in 1928. and consecrated by Bishop Provost in 1791, and demolished
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once more for the present splendid structure, which was opened during the year 1848.
Trinity Church, afterwards, was enlarged, so as to embrace St. George's, Beekman street, erected in 1752 ; St. Paul's, 1766; St. John's. 1807, with Trinity Chapel, Twenty-fifth street-all its chapels. The first Trinity was built in 1606-a small, square edifice, with a very tall spire. One of its pews was appropriated to the Mayor and Common Council, and a sermon was annually preached to them on the day of the city elec- tion.
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