USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 26
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Until 1855, this society was under the care of and supplied by the pastor of the Haverstraw church. Then the Stony Point church was or- ganized as a separate body, under the care of the Presbytery of New York. In 1869, the church edifice was rebuilt and enlarged to its present size. The pastors of the church before its separation werc : Rev. Mr. Burns, Rev. Samuel Pelton, from 1816 to 1839; Rev. James Hildreth, 1839 to 1848 ; Rev. Livingston Willard, 1849 to 1850; Rev. J. H. Trowbridge, to 1853; Rev. P. J. H. Meyers, from 1854 to 1855. Since its separate existence the pastors have been : Rev. Abijah Green, from 1855 to 1856 ; Rev. David Eagan, from 1856 to 1858; Rev. Frederick King, 1858 to 1866; Rev. J. J. McMahon, 1866 to 1876; Rev. R. B. Mattice, 1879 to 1880; Rev. T. C. Straus, 1881 to 1884; and the present pastor, Rev. John S. Gilmorc, from 1885.
MOUNTVILLE CHURCH.
When John Beverige of Newburgh, determined on Iona Island as his place of residence, he bought property on the mainland at Doodle- town, and erected at his own expense, in 1851, the building known as the Mountville Church. A strong Presbyterian in belief, Mr. Beverige started this church as a society of that denomination, and for a time had its pulpit supplied by a pastor from Newburgh. Earnest as were his efforts, they called forth little response from the mountain inhabitants of this section. After trying for some time to excite some interest among the people, Mr. Beverige at last gave up his idea, and donated the building to the people of Doodletown. It was at once turned into a Methodist mission, and has since been supplied by circuit preachers of that denomination.
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THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HAVERSTRAW.
This church society was organized by a committee of the Fourth Presbytery of New York, April 22d, 1846. The use of the building be- longing to the Methodist Protestant Church was obtained for divine ser. vice, and the pulpit was supplied by different ministers till the last Sabbath in June, 1846, when the Rev. Amasa S. Freeman commenced his pastoral duties.
Ground was given for the church edifice by Hon. George S. Allison and Rev. Edward Hopper, and the erection of the building begun, the corner stone being laid August 21st, 1846. Two months later, when the walls were up and ready for the roof, a gale destroyed the uncompleted work. Until the inclemency of the weather prevented, divine service was held in a structure put up for the convenience of the workmen on the church lot and now used as a horse shed. February 7th, 1847, the base- ment of the church was used for the first time by the congregation, and, on the third Sunday in September, 1847, the audience room was com- pleted and the building dedicated to the service of the Triune God.
On April 25th, 1849, Rev. A. S. Freeman was formally installed as pastor of this church and still occupies the pulpit. In 1860, the church was enlarged. In 1883, the thirty-seventh anniversary of the pastoral re- lation was commemorated by the congregation of this church by the ercc- tion of a tower, with a bell and clock.
I have steadily refrained in this work from panegyric or the laudation of living men, and, with the exception of the case of Rev. Amasa S. Frce- man, D. D., shall continue so to refrain, believing that if any past or present resident of the County has done aught commendable, his name will appear in connection with the work, and readers are as well fitted to praise or blame as I am. But the work of Dr. Freeman has been so unos- tentatious, so like that of the good Master, his afflictions have been so sore, the mad passions which at times have raged in our midst have been so trying and yet have been met by this man and conquered; that a few words concerning him may not be a trespass.
" I came here to spend one Sabbath, and little anticipated that one Sabbath would be so long drawn out." In the morning of the long Sab- bath, which Dr. Freeman began with us in 1846, all was peace and beauty. A church edifice was erected, a congregation of large size was built up, marriage gave him a partner and children blessed the union. Never did a day open more auspiciously. As the noon approached, symptoms of a coming storm appeared-" A little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand."
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The tempest of civil war burst upon us, and men's souls were sorely tried. Through the scething hate of that period Dr. Freeman passed un- scathed. From the pulpit and rostrum, in the press and by deed, he up- held the Union, undeterred by menace, and in his church the first company of volunteers from Haverstraw said their good-byes, from his hand its Captain-Edward Pye-received the flag given by the loyal women of Haverstraw, by his efforts was money raised for the Sanitary Commis- sion:
Then came a period of dishonor in our County's financial history, and the blow fell with peculiar force on Dr. Freeman's church. For a time it seemed as though the spirit of discord would win, as though the happy relationship, theretofore existing between pastor and people, would be dis- solved. The crisis passed, and the strained feelings became again happily relaxed. The evils of intemperance have assumed greater import in Haverstraw than in any other place in our County, because of the unstable laboring population of that village. For thirty years the liquor interest has been one of controversy and conflict, and the subject has been carried into societies politic, social and religious. Never, in all the long years of contest, has Dr. Freeman been found wanting or doubtful. He has com- batted the evil whenever opportunity arose.
Yet, in the inscrutable wisdom of God, these social trials were to pale before the domestic bercavements which fell with crushing force upon his household. Death entered his family circle and took from him the hopes of his declining years. Before the tragic awfulness of his affliction he bowed, murmuring only the words of resignation, and patiently yielding his loved ones to Him who gave them, continued his labors here, sancti- fied by suffering.
And so the long Sabbath is passing like a summer day, with peace and storm, and now the even-tide approaches, calm and fresh. For almost two score years has Dr. Freeman labored and suffered amongst us, and his name is now known and venerated throughout our County, and re- membered by Rockland's sons wherever resident, But one has excelled him in the duration of pastoral relationship-Nicholas Lansing-who labored at Tappan for a year over a half century ; but one nearly reached his term of pastorate-Joseph W. Griffith-who labored in one church for eight and thirty, and among the Baptists of our County for five and forty years; and but two others toiled in the Master's work in this County over a score of years-Rev. James D. Demarest, who preached from 1804 till November, 1855, and Samuel Pelton, who continued his pastorate in the " English Church " four and twenty years.
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THE PALISADES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
On April 23d, 1863, C. R. Agnew, M. D., Clinton Gilbert, W. S. Gil- man, Jr., J. N. Sears and C. F. Park, met at the residence of one of the 'number in New York city and determined to erect a Presbyterian church at Palisades. At a later meeting, the above-named gentlemen engaged the services of Rev. Joseph Greenleaf, Jr., to December Ist, 1863. On May 15th, 1863, the first service of this church society was held in the first Methodist church building at Palisades. On June Ist, 1863, the foundations of the present Presbyterian church edifice were begun, and by the close of the year the building was completed, being opened for divine service January 3d, 1864.
This church society was formally organized by the Presbytery of New York Oct. 14th, 1863, and on October 21st of the same year, Rev. J. Greenleaf, Jr., was installed. Following this first pastor have been: Rev. John K. Demorest, from October 16th, 1866 to February 13th, 1870; Rev. Aaron H. Hand, D. D., from October 18th, 1870 to September, 1879; Rev. J. W. McIlvain, from December 26th, 18,9 to September 30th, 1882; Rev. Newton L. Reed, from October, 1883, to the present time.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN ROCKLAND COUNTY.
About 1782, Elder Luke Reuland, of Long Island, came to Sneden's Landing on a visit. While in the County he preached in different houses, and under his teachings five persons were baptized. Subsequently Elder J. L. Thompson, of Orange county, and Elder Cox, of England, preached occasionally in the County. In 1796, Edward Salyer, then residing at Middletown, embraced the views of this church, and was baptised in New York in connection with the Second Baptist church of that city, and shortly after James Blauvelt, of Middletown, was baptised in the Hacken- sack by Rev. Dr. Foster of the First Baptist church of New York City.
In 1797, Elder Daniel Steers, who had immigrated from England and was then resident on Staten Island, preached on different occasions at Middletown, and under his ministrations a few were baptized. These, with others in this and the adjacent part of Bergen county in New Jersey, to the number of twelve, formed themselves into an independent Baptist church on October 18th, 1798, under the name of the Rockland Baptist Church.
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THE ROCKLAND, MIDDLETOWN OR NANUET BAPTIST CHURCH.
At the organization of this, the first Baptist Society in our County, the sermon was preached by Elder Davis of New York, from the text : " In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gos- pel of your salvation : in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed, with that Holy Spirit of promise." The charge to the church was given by Elder Daniel Steers.
Early in 1800, this society invited Elder Steers to become its pastor, and, at a regular church meeting held May 3d, 1800, he was received by letter from the Baptist church at Staten Island. In January, 1802, the name of the church was changed to the Middletown Baptist Church.
For several years, the congregation of this church worshipped in a private house ; then a small building was erected on the Middletown road, directly at the head of the road from Pascack. The date of erection of this first Baptist church seems in doubt. Elder J. W. Griffiths in his his- tory of the Baptist church in Rockland County fixes it "about the year 1805," while the deed for the land on which the first church stood, bears date February 20tl1, 1810.
On June 14th, 1811, the members of this church residing at Masonicus, now Hempstead, asked for and obtained their dismissal, for the purpose of forming a separate church. The same year, Elder Steers, who had previously removed to Haverstraw, resigned his charge of the Middletown church. Until 1815, the society was without a settled pastor ; then Elder Joseph W. Griffiths was called and entered upon his pastoral duties in June of that year. Besides preaching at Middletown, Elder Griffiths held ser- vice every alternate Sabbath at Haverstraw, during the first eighteen months of his pastorate, and subsequently held frequent service at Hack- ensack, Hempstead and Tappan Slote, when opportunity offered, until 1837. After this time, he devoted himself especially to the Middletown church till his resignation in 1853. Following Elder J. W. Griffiths have been : Elder J. L. Thompson, from 1853 to 1859; Rev. W .. Pauline, from April 7th, 1859 to December 1859; Rev. J. C. Page, 1860; Rev. A B. McGowen, 1871 ; Rev. Frederick Greaves, 1873 ; Rev. Frank Fletcher, 1880; Rev, W. S. S. Warden, who is now supplying the pulpit.
During Elder Griffiths' pastorate, about the year 1820, a new church edifice 20 by 40 feet was built some half-mile south of the old one on the same road. In 1859 the church was moved within the Clarkstown lim- its, and the building, now occupied by the congregation, erected. In 1865, the name of the society was changed to the Nanuet Baptist Church.
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In 1838, this church, in conjunction with that at Piermont, organized a Bible Society called the Middletown and Piermont Bible Society, which was auxiliary to the American and Foreign Bible Society.
THE HAVERSTRAW BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1802, a number of the Baptist members, living at Haverstraw, werc constituted as a branch of the Middletown Baptist Church, and Elder Daniel Steers held divine service on alternate Sundays at different private houses. By 1809, the edifice belonging to the Presbyterian Society at Haverstraw had become much dilapidated, and a union was entered into with the members of the Baptist faith, there resident, for the support and repair of the church. So utterly at variance are the statements of Elder Griffiths and the Presbyterians in this matter, that necessity compels me to be prolix on the subject. The deed for the lot on which the first Pres- byterian church of Haverstraw was erected, was granted by Thomas Smith to the Trustees of the English Protestant Society at Haverstraw, and bears date August 17th, 1789. When the boundary line of the Cheese- cocks Patent was being run in June 1790, the church is spoken of as " now building." Finally we have the following record : "The subscri- bers, members of the First Presbyterian church in the Town of Haver- straw and others attached by Education and principle to the Congrega- tion, viewing with the utmost regret the present disgraceful state of re- pairs in which the House of God has for a long time continued, and con- sidering the present smallness of the Congregation, and their inability to keep the House of God in tenantable Repair and support a pastor of their own. And having always considered the Baptist and Presbyterian churches as nearly and intimately allied, differing only in principle, and in fact Sister Churches, do therefore consent and agree that the Baptist con- gregation of Haverstraw, of the New York Association, shall and may be permitted to repair the said house of worship, and shall have the privilege of hereafter using the house equally with the Presbyterians, Sabbath for Sabbath alternately, and all other times when the same is not occupied by the Presbyterian Congregation. March 25th, 1809."
Such is the documentary evidence in the case, and at this day we are not able to go behind this evidence. That this matter was not so under- stood by the Baptists at Haverstraw, will be evinced by the following extract from Elder Griffith's history, taken, doubtless, from the accounts of the members of the Baptist faith in Haverstraw, and relating the story as they understood it.
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" In 1807 a liberal minded and wealthy gentleman, named Smith,"- one of the sons of the Smith who had given a lot to the Presbyterian congregation-" donated the church at Haverstraw a fine lot of ground in the centre of the village, on condition that a house of worship was crected upon it. Within two years time, after the lot was presented, they (the Baptists) had the greater part of the materials purchased and some money collected. They then injudiciously entered into an arrangement with the Presbyterians of that village to make a joint interest of the same, cach to furnish one-half of the materials and to pay one-half of the expense of re- pairing and fitting up the old meeting house, and, when the house was completed, each congregation was to occupy it on alternate Sabbaths. The house was finished, and peace and harmony prevailed for several years, Elder Steers preaching for them (the Baptists) regularly till 1811, when he changed his field of labors to Peekskill.
The removal of many of the members to Western New York, coupled with a mortgage which the Presbyterian clergyman held on the house to secure his salary, so discouraged and disheartened the remainder, that regular meetings were not held till about the year 1815."
This finished the first Baptist Church in Haverstraw ; the society had the name and the Presbyterians the edifice. Until 1847 no further effort was made by this church to build a house of worship. During the years between 1815 and 1844, the few members of the society still clung to- gether, and, whenever it was possible, Elder Griffiths visited and minis- tered to them. In the last named year a fresh impetus was given to the society by the advent of the employees of Higgins' carpet factory, and the scattered members were again collected. The first meeting of the re- organized church was held in the upper part of what is now the store of Isaac De Baun, on the south side of Main street.
Rev. William Pike, a native of England, had taken charge of the con- gregation, and under his efforts regular meetings were held each Sabbath at private residences, till the congregation had again obtained sufficient strength to build a church edifice. In 1847 a lot was bought from George S. Allison, and a house for worship was raised. In the efforts to obtain funds for this purpose, both the Presbyterians and Methodists of Haver- straw gave efficient aid, "and the large contributions on the day of dedi- cation of the building were mainly attributable to the appeal of the Methodist clergyman, who was present and took part in the exercises." The edifice was dedicated by Rev. John Dowling, D. D.
Elder Pike remained with the congregation a few years and then removed to the West Baptist Church, Staten Island, from which he had
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received a call. In 1850, the carpet factory stopped and the employees moved away. Feeling now that their place of worship was too far away from Haverstraw village, the congregation sold it to the Roman Catholics -it is still standing and used as a school-house-and purchasing another lot on the west side of Rockland street, near Broad, erected another build- ing. Experience had not taught this congregation wisdom. A loan of $700 was made to the church by parties in New York, and the deed of the property was given to them as security. In a short time the money was demanded, and as it could not be raised, the property was sold to the Episcopal church for $1,000. Since that time no further effort has been made to re-organize this church.
THE BAPTIST CHURCHES AT VIOLA.
The original Baptist church at Masonicus, later Hempstead, now in the township of Ramapo, west of Viola, was organized, as we have seen, from the Middletown Baptist church in 1811. For several years it had no settled pastor, but divine service was held by Elder Steers and Elder Griffiths, whenever possible. About 1815, the first house for worship was erected on the site now occupied by the " Old School " church building. In the years 1820-21, a great revival took place in this church, and for eleven consecutive Sabbaths Elder Griffiths administered the rite of bap- tism.
In 1823, Rev. Gilbert Beebe was ordained to the ministry, and assumed pastoral charge of the church. Until 1826, Elder Beebe remained in this field of labor and then removed to Middletown, to edit a church paper- He was succeeded by Elder Evan J. Williams, during whose pastorate the Society was split asunder by unfortunate controversies between the con- servative and liberal members.
In the division which followed, each faction claimed the house of wor- ship, and at last resorted to litigation to determine the question of owner- ship. Neither obtained the building, for, on the eve of the trial, in 1853, it was burned and the cause of dispute thus removed.
Ere this time, Elder Williams had resigned his charge of the church, and removed to Brooklyn. Not long after his resignation, Elder Edwin Westcott visited Hempstead, assumed the pastoral charge of the church, and collected once more a portion of the scattered flock. An interest was again awakened, and under his charge a house of worship, thirty-five by fifty feet was erected on the north side of the New City road, a half mile nearer Suffern, in 1853. This society is known as the Liberal Baptist Church of Viola. Upon the resignation of this charge by Elder Westcott,
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the care of the church was assumed by Edwin Browe, a licentiate of the Middletown church. He remained with the congregation for some time, but was finally obliged to resign.
When the liberal portion of the old congregation became reunited, that faction which adhered to the views of Rev. Gilbert Beebe, also formed an organization, and in 1857, erected a church building on the site of the burned edifice. This society is known as the "Old School" Baptist Church of Viola. Neither of these societies now have more than a nom- inal existence.
THE PIERMONT BAPTIST CHURCHI.
In 1817, Elder Griffiths, who was then located at Middletown, made appointments to preach at Tappan Slote, and in the following year, he held services at Piermont every Sabbath, preaching one week at Middle- town in the morning, and at the Slote in the afternoon, and the next week reversing the order. Under his ministrations a congregation was collected, which at first occupied the school house. Increasing numbers soon ren- dered this too small an accommodation, and a house for worship was built, which was dedicated on the second Sunday in November, 1819.
This church remained an auxiliary of the Middletown church till 1839, and during this period Elder Griffiths continued pastor of both congrega- tions. On May 15th, 1839, the communicants at Piermont were consti- tuted an independent Baptist church, under the name of the First Baptist Church at Piermont.
The next day, A. M. Torbet was ordained to the ministry and as- sumed the pastoral care of the church, which he held till November, 1842, Following him have been : Rev. David Logan, from 1843 to 1844 ; Rev. Andrew Hopper, 1844 to October 1847; Rev. Charles W. Waterhouse, August, 1847, to January, 1849; Rev. G. P. Martin, August, 1849, to December, 1851 ; Rev. B. Slaight, from June, 1851, to 1856; Rev. W. A. Bronson, May, 1855, till his death, May 14th, 1858; Rev. Alfred Earle, till February, 1860; Rev. Benjamin Wheeler, till 1863, Rev. Robert Fisher; Rev. J. W. Taylor, from March, 14th, 1866, to May, 1867; Rev. WV. I. Loomis, till August, 1868 ; Rev. Joshua Wood ; Rev. B. Lounsbury, from January 1870 to June, 1873 ; Rev. James S. Carr, to 1877. Since this time the church has had no stated pastor. In 1866, during the pas- torate of Rev. J. W. Taylor, the church edifice was rebuilt and enlarged.
THE NYACK BAPTIST CHURCH.
With prophetic foresight, the Father of the Baptist Church in this County, Rev. Joseph W. Griffiths, wrote in 1855 : " The last, and that
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which will become one of the strongest interests in Rockland County, is the Baptist church at Nyack." The worthy pastor never lived to see the fulfillment of his prophecy, as he died in 1860 at the age of three score and eight years. But if we may be permitted to believe that from a hap- pier sphere those who have gone before are cognizant of our deeds, then we may feel that his " feet hath trod the battlements of heaven, his eye hath viewed the struggles of the children of men."
As early as 1806, Elder Daniel Steers, while pastor of the Middletown chruch, preached occasionally in the school house at Nyack. When the Presbyterian Society was established in the village and was presented with a lot of ground for a church building by Peter DePew; it was stipu- lated by the donor, that the Baptist congregation should occupy the house of worship alternately with it. This arrangement was carried into effect and continued till Elder Steers' illness and death. From that period till 1838, little effort was made to carry on the Baptist cause in the village. In the last named year, Elders Williams, of Hempstead, Torbet of Piermont, and Griffiths of Middletown, after consultations, decided to establish a Baptist interest at Nyack, each agreeing to take his turn in the work so that regular service should be held. A room, standing on the site now occupied by Union Hall, was hired, and a fair
congregation collected. For two years the labor continued, and was then abandoned because of the apprehension of the members of the Piermont church, that a society at Nyack would impair the strength of their church. From this time till the Union Hall was built in 1853, the members of this faith had no regular preaching, but met occasionally at private houses. On the opening of the Union Hall it was hired by Elder Griffiths and five others, who became personally responsible for the rent of the room and who agreed to pay a supply till the church became strong enough to take care of itself, and on February 2d, 1854, the First Baptist Church of Nyack was duly constituted with thirteen members.
For three years, the Baptist members continued to meet in Union Hall under the pastoral care of Rev. G. P. Martin, whom they had called as their first minister, and who labored with this congregation as well as that at Piermont, till December 1854, when he resigned the latter charge. Then they determined to build a house for worship. This build- ing was completed in 1857, and on the 19th of August in that year, it was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. On August 23d, 1857, Rev. G. P. Martin resigned, and his place was occupied by Rev. T. T. Dc Van, who began his pastoral duties December 2d, 1857, and remained in charge of the church till June 1862. Following him in pastoral duties
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