USA > New York > Queens County > Jamaica > The origin and history of Grace church, Jamaica, New York > Part 11
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175
OF GRACE CHURCH
This part of the churchyard contains pathetic inscrip- tions on its stones, such as are found elsewhere in old graveyards, but all are dignified in their expressions of sorrow.
One reads under the name of a wife who departed this life "ye 13 January, 1767, aged 26 years":
O, Cruel Death, why wast thou so severe To rob me of a tender Wife so dear?
Another who had been "the wife of one husband 50 1/2 years" received this epitaph :
At length ye Christian's race is run : A glorius prize she now has won: With ye angelic host she's fixed, In joys Celestial and unmixed.
An appreciative visitor to another early grave in his account of Grace Church published in the Brooklyn Eagle April 18, 1908, says of it:
"The eternal struggle during the ages to substitute the sense of grief at the loss of one dear, by the gladness of the thought of the life of bliss enjoyed by the free spirit, is voiced in this bit of poetry on the monument of John Rowland:
Dear as thou wast, and still is dear, We will not weep for thee. One thought shall check the starting tear, It is that thou art free. And then shall this consoling power The tears of love restrain. Oh, who that saw thy parting hour Could wish thee here again.
At the east side of the church are plots of families of the second one hundred years of the life of Grace Church. Among these is the marble monument to the Rev. William
176
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
Lupton Johnson, D. D., and his wife and children, whose graves extended to the fence, and marble slabs to Rev. George H. Sayres, D. D., with several children. These are the only two rectors of Grace Church buried in this churchyard. But a number of clergymen have here made their last resting places. Among these are Rev. Sabura S. Stocking, D. D., whose stately monument, a high granite cross, with its elaborate Latin inscription, stands near the north boundary; Rev. Beverley R. Betts, under massive granite stone, formed and polished like a sar- cophagus; Rev. Lewis E. A. Eigenbrodt, L. L. D., and his son, Rev. William Ernest Eigenbrodt, D. D., each with the same distinguished memorials. Of later interments are the stone crosses over the remains of Rev. Canon James A. Smith, John M. Crane and Harriet Seabury Crane.
The later monuments have far excelled in graceful form or costly material the earlier ones. The stones over the graves of the King family of several generations are plain white marble slabs; so are those of the Cogswells, Dentons, Duers and Wellings, Oldfields, Betts and Ogdens.
There are other well-known names, borne by Wardens or Vestrymen of the Church or prominent citizens of Jamaica and Long Island-Van Brunt, Skidmore, Van Nostrand, Higbie, Thatford, Napier, Seabury, Carpenter, Kissam, Crossman, Damon, Pettit, Stoothoff, Robinson, Meynen, Remsen, Canfield, Jackson, Seabury, Brenton, Clowes, Snediker, Hunter, Brooks, Butler, Hoyt, Ander- son, Ichenbrock, Carpenter, Clark, Sayre, Simonson and Troup.
Some of these have splendid monuments. The whole aspect of the churchyard is that of the living of departed ones in the memories of those who survive them.
Two VIEWS OF THE SANCTUARY AND CHURCHYARD OF GRACE CHURCH, JAMAICA.
(Photograph by Dexter Walker.)
177
OF GRACE CHURCH
There was no more beautiful gift ever bestowed upon Grace Church than that which is recorded in the parch- ment deed of Martha Heathecote, for this "God's acre." Here lie the patriots of three wars, who died for their nation's defence and perpetuation. Here rest the valiant soldiers of the Church. Here every human relationship has been hallowed by loving gifts upon graves covered by flowers, wet with tears, gilded with the rays of the sun of righteousness, and lightened by the hope of life eternal.
The frosts of Christmas blight the fresh garlands spread upon these mounds, the warm airs of Easter morn are fragrant with the multitude of flowers spread over them in the early twilight. The flags of our Union wave over the graves of soldiers in the hot rays of July suns, the ivies creep all the year over mouldering forms below, the roses shed their petals all through the summer days upon the grass.
And yet, beyond the tall iron fence which encloses this sacred spot, the streams of human activities are flowing swiftly by, reminding us that the solemn words of the burial service which is always said in this churchyard, are too sadly true :
"In the midst of life we are in death.
Of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee,
O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?"
178
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
CHAPTER XX.
Early Gifts to the Church of England in Jamaica-Later Gifts to Grace Church-Donations to Grace Church Funds.
On the 17th of April, 1704, representations made to the Society as to the needs of their missions led to a resolution that a sum not exceeding £15 be allowed the Church in Jamaica for vestments and for vessels for the communion table. As the Lord Bishop of London reported, in 1706, that Queen Anne had given a large Bible, Common Prayer Books, and Book of Homilies, cloths for pulpit and com- munion table, silver chalices and patens, for the churches in Hempstead and Jamaica, the source of the donation made by the Society in 1704 is thus, according to tradition, from the royal bounty.
The chalice and paten that Grace Church still treasures and has in use are among the oldest relics of ecclesiastical use in America. Around the chalice is a Latin inscription "Ex dono Societatis promovendo Evangelis in partis transmarinis 1704 A. D."
It is 10 1/2 inches high, 5 1/2 inches in diameter at the brim, and holds three pints. It bears the mark of sterling silver, and is the oldest sacramental cup in Long Island. This chalice was once broken by the fall of a stovepipe upon it during service, which of necessity was discon- tinued. The break was so neatly mended by a silversmith that it cannot now be discovered. It was used in the con- secration of the Cathedral at Garden City, with the silver
179
OF GRACE CHURCH
communion vessels of St. George's, Hempstead, which were of later make.
The title page of the Prayer Book presented by Lord Cornbury in 1703 for the reading desk, reads thus:
"The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments" &c.
with the inscription written in spaces on each side of the printed words:
"Given to the Church of Jamaica by his Excellencie Ed wd Viscount Cornbury Oct 1703."
This prayer book is in the possession of Mr. William Perry, of Newtown, L. I.
The Royal Arms, which were first set up in the churches of England by order of Queen Elizabeth in 1550, was also given to Grace Church by Queen Anne, with an altar of oak. The Royal Arms is still a well preserved painting, inclosed in a black frame, but the altar was destroyed in the burning of Grace Church in 1860. No description of this altar can be found, except that it was marked with a plate indicating its gift by the Society and was of graceful pattern. The Ten Commandments first ordered to be placed in the churches by Queen Elizabeth, in 1564, were probably not part of the chancel appointments of Grace Church till the new church was erected, 1822, during the rectorship of Rev. Gilbert Sayres. There was also in con- nection with the Decalogue tablets one containing the Creed and the Lord's Prayer, in this and the following church building erected in 1861.
In 1761 a handsome silver collection plate was given by Mr. John Troup, to which all other collection plates given in later years conformed in pattern and value.
180
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
There is no list of subscriptions for building the first Episcopal church in Jamaica in 1734.
There was a sale of pews and lots on Feb. 23, 1737, with the following conditions:
I. Each pew lot to be struck off to the highest bidder.
II. Every purchaser to build (his pew) in such season that the work be not hindered.
III. Every purchaser to make use of his pew, or the Church shall let it out to another.
IV. On the purchaser leaving the parish the pew or lot is to revert to the Church.
Purchasers' Names.
No. S.
d. No.
1. Daniel Whitehead 20.
2. Robert Howell 16.
Smelt 10.
3. George Reynolds 12.
18. Benjamin Taylor 9.
4. William Steed 12. 19. Sarah Payer, gratis.
5 Rector for time being. 20. Benjamin Thorne 14.
6. Anthony Waters 12.
21.
Samuel Clowes 14. 6
7. Richard Betts Jr. 11.
6 22. Thomas Colgan .21. 6
8. Richard Betts 16.
10 23. William Welling 18.
9. Samuel Clowes 16. 10 24. Timothy Bridges 15.
10. Samuel Clowes Jr. 11.
11. Gabriel Luff 12.
26
Isaac Van Hook. 11.
12. John Willett 12.
27. William Wiggins 12.
6
13. Andrew Clarke 12.
28. Daniel Sawyer 14.
6
14. Robert Freeman
29. Sias Wiggins 15.
15. Common Pew
30 Benjamin Whitehead .. 20.
16 Henry Wright 10.
17. Edw. Willett to Samuel S. d.
6 Guy Young 14.
Six persons in above list defaulted payment.
181
OF GRACE CHURCH
The Subscriptions towards the Rebuilding of Grace Church, March 28, 1821:
Cornelius I. Bogert $150
Silas Roe
$550
Mary Codwise
5
Joseph Roe
40
L. E. A. Eigenbrodt
300
Gilbert Roe
35
Nancie Gracie
500
Benjamin Rowland 50
Mrs Harvey
20
John Skidmore 50
Mrs. Hyler
20
Gilbert H. Sayres
25
Rufus King
500
Joseph Thatford 10
John A. King
200
Ann Vandervoort 25
B. T. Kissam
100
John Van Nostrand
25
Timothy Nostrand
300
Adrian Van Sinderen
20
Nathaniel Prime
50
Samuel Ward Sr.
50
Prime, Ward & Sands
100
Hannah Wickham
25
Abiathar Rhodes
55
William Puntine
10
Lawrence Roe
100
Besides the above there were the following persons who were pewholders from July 3, 1823, to 1825:
Mrs. Brewer
John B. Roe
John B. Codwise
Lawrence Roe
Lawrence Denton
Ida Rowland
Cornelius Duryea
James Smith
Miss Dawson
Jeremiah Simonson
Mrs. Dyson
Mrs. Bowe
Mrs. Forbes
Joseph Sealy
Samuel Greenoak
John Sproull
Smith Hicks
John Thatford
John Hoagland
John Titus
Mrs. Hicks
Mrs. Tapp
Mrs. Jackson
Thomas S. Townsend
John T. Jones
Mrs. Troup
James Brooks
Jeremia Valentine
Benjamin Kissam
Henry Kneeland
James Valentine Jr. Samuel Ward Jr.
Charles McNeill
Nancy Welling
William McKay
Samuel Welling
Andrew Napier
John Welling
Frederick Polhemus
Mrs. Brasher
William Puntine
James Valentine Sr.
Mr. Lyde
182
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
Subscriptions for Rebuilding a Church of Free Brown Stone, May 8, 1861.
John A. King $1,000
Andrew Napier $ 50
William J. Cogswell
250
Martha and Devine Hewlett
100
Dr. George H. Kissam
250
Mrs. Adela Bell
5
Hendrick Brinckerhoff 250
Sarah Maria Van Wyck 100
John C. Stoothoff 100
Martha Kingsberry
5
George Nostrand 100
Mrs. M. G. Johnson
100
Thomas Welling
100
Alexander Hagner
50
John L. Denton
250
Miss Harriet Cornwell
10
Jeremiah Valentine
125
John A. King, Jr.
100
John Skidmore . 100
Cornelius Duryea
100
David W. Skidmore
100
William Betts, L.L.D. William J. Sayres
250
Peggy and Ann Kissam
100
Daniel Smith
100
Nathaniel Vanderverg
50
J. J. Brenton and Sons
75
Robert Ray 50
Ann Ely
50
Miss Elizabeth Gelston
25
James T. Lewis
25
Benjamin Curtis
10
Misses Valentine
100
Mrs. Job Jackson
50
James Ashby
25
George N. Codwise
50
Joseph H. Skillman
100
James Weeden
25
Mrs. Catherine Napier
50
$4,455
Gifts from 1849 to 1894.
GIFTS.
DONATORS.
Ladies of the parish 1849
Miss Rachel Valentine 1861
Baptismal font
Mrs. Sarah Rogers King 1862
Eagle lectern, memorial to Mary King, 1873
Miss Cornelia King 1878
1881
Silver and gold alms basin, me- morial to Catherine L. Eigenbrodt Saint Cecilia window, memorial to Theodora Brenton Gardiner. . Altar book rest
1885
Mrs. Adelia Gale
1888
Silver paten
Miss Cornelia King 1892
Silver and gold baptismal bowl
Miss Cornelia King 1892
Altar cross
Mrs. Harriet Seabury Crane . . 1894
50
Charles R. King
25
Silver communion tankard
Silver collection plate
V
183
OF GRACE CHURCH
Gifts for the Building of the New Sanctuary, 1901-1902. (From Treasurer's Report)
Mary Rhinelander King
memorial to John A.
F. T. Martin. 5.00
and Mary C. King .$7,857.58
Mrs. F. T. Martin .
5.00
Mr. P. K. Meynen 50.00
C. G. Smyth
5.00
Miss J. Gertrude Ward. . 10.00
Mr. Alden S. Crane 25.00
Mrs. Helen L. Hicks. ... 50.00
Mrs. Emily H. Betts ....
25.00
Mrs. Annie S. Hunt. 5.00
Mrs. Geo. W. Damon. . . .
15.00
Mr. F. D. Andreu 10.00
Miss Virginia Cogswell. .
4.00
Rev. H. O. Ladd. 25.00
Miss Eirene Ladd.
3.00
Mr. Lovatt
5.00
Miss C. O. Aymar
5.00
Mr. C. Blondel 15.00
Mr. J. A. Lodge.
10.00
Mrs. Goodman 10.00
Mrs. W. D. Llewellyn.
26.64
Mr. John S. Denton. 200.00
Mr. H. A. Johnson. 40.00
Mr. B. J. Brenton.
250.00
Cash
5.00
Miss Gould
2.00
Mrs. Julia E. Napier. .
50.00
R. E. Pond.
5.00
Mrs. R. E. Pond
5.00
C. W. Burtis.
10.00
Mrs. Johnson
10.00
Miss C. C. Lyon
10.00
Mr. John Alvin Young. . 250.00
Cash
3.00
For Decorating Walls.
Mrs. Emily H. Betts $ 20.00
50.00
Gifts for Memorials in New Chancel and Sanctuary.
Mr. John M. Crane, organ, memorial to Harriet Seabury Crane $2,500.00 Mrs. N. M. and Charles Belden, carved seats, memorial to Rev. S. S. Stocking 258.50
Mrs. S. S. Stocking, chancel window, memorial to Rev. S. S. Stocking
Mr. C. C. Napier, communion rail, memorial to his parents, brothers and sisters 360.50
Mr. James L., John S., and George Denton, pulpit, memorial to ancestors.
Mr. Theodore Johnson, marble altar and steps, memor- ial to Rev. William Lupton Johnson, D. D., 400.00
Mr. W. D. Llewellyn.
73.36
Cash
10.00
Mr. C. C. Napier 150.00
Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Kirby
25.00
Mr. W. S. Cogswell, me- morial . 250.00
Mrs. S. S. Stocking
Cash $ 1.00
Mr. Frank D. Denton 50.00
Mr. F. J. Cogswell 25.00
Mr. Charles M. Hunt .. 5.00
184
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
William D. Wood, M. D., memorial processional cross. Mrs. Jane Fleury and Charles J. Stewart, two candle- sticks, memorial to James Fleury Stewart.
Mrs. Jane H. Horan, two altar vases.
Col. William S. and Mr. Francis J. Cogswell, carved oak reredos, memorial to William J. and Alma Sterling Cogswell.
Rev. Charles M. Belden, rector's prayer desk, memorial Rev. S. S. Stocking.
Altar Guild, credence table.
Miss Hester J. Boyd, red vestments for altar and pulpit. Mrs. Hortense Campbell Lee, violet vestments for altar and pulpit.
Miss J. Eirene Ladd and Miss H. Virginia Cogswell, two brass vases for the altar.
Mrs. George C. Damon, a fair linen cloth for the altar. The Altar Guild, a red dossal and a linen surplice for the crucifix.
Later Gifts from 1896 to 1910.
Altar Linen, from members of the Altar Guild, . .. . 1896 to 1902 Private Communion Service, given by Mr. and Mrs. Philip K. Meynen, . 1899
Mrs. R. C. McCormick, St. Paul window, memorial to Richard C. McCormick, . 1903 Mrs. Mary Sheaff Glover Mills, portrait of Rev. Thomas Colgan, memorial to Mary C. J. S. Hoyt, . 1903 Mr. Michael Pette, Annunciation window, memorial to Lydia Euler Pette, 1908 Memorial to Mrs. Anna Duer Breck, rugs for vestry room, 1908 Mrs. William Unwin, quartered oak settle with cushions,
furniture for vestry room, memorial to Mr. William Unwin,
Mr. William D. Llewellyn, silver collection plate, . 1910 Mrs. Mary Wilcockson Llewellyn, silver collection plate, memorial to Mabel Brenton Skidmore, . 1910
185
OF GRACE CHURCH
Donations to Grace Church Funds, since 1867.
DATE.
OBJECT. AMOUNT.
Walter Nichols 1879
Estate of Keziah Griffin. . 1885
For the Sunday School .. $ 300 Churchyard and poor of parish 6,500
Sunday School 500
Woman's Missionary Ass'n 500
Poor of parish 500
Churchyard 1,000
Churchyard
200
Church 600
Chimes 1,000
Parish house fund. 200
Churchyard 1,000
Churchyard sales of plots 3,723.51
son 1873
Estate of J. Bancroft Davis. . 1895
Mary E. Rowland. . 1899
Susan Pettit . 1901
Caroline King .
1901
Rachel Ann Speed-
Churchyard 50
Churchyard 1,000
Churchyard 100
Churchyard 100
Churchyard 400
Church fund 600
King
Church endowment
3,000
Trinity Church, New York, proceeds from sale of lot 68, Trinity Place, specified use . 1910
Trinity Church, balance of pro- ceeds from sale of 58 Reade Street . 1910
Church endowment
... 38,052.57
9,771.84
Unconditional Gifts to Churchyard Endowment Fund.
Estate of Josephine Rowland. 1911 Churchyard 400
Foster Hendrickson
" Benjamin J. Brenton 1912
Margaret Thompson 1913
Dr. F. Delafield.
$100
Mrs. Horan 10
J. Augustus Lodge 10
Francis J. Cogswell 25
Mrs. Susan Johnson
100
Eliza Suydam
25
C. E. Butler
50
Churchyard 250
Churchyard endowment .. 1,000
Churchyard .
500
Mrs. Beverley Robinson 25
Mrs. Mary E. Green 26
Mrs. J. W. Smith 150
Mrs. C. L. Underhill 150
Miss E. J. Suydam
25
$846
" John Napier 1868
Cornelia King 1897
1897
1897
Sarah Valentine 1899
1899
- John A. King and family . . 1896
Estate of Mary McFarland. . . . 1897
Estate of John Alsop King. .. 1867 Heirs of John Alsop King. .. . 1873 Estate of Ann Augusta Simon-
Churchyard 500
Churchyard 250
Churchyard 300
Churchyard 1,000
Churchyard 1,000
ing . 1901
Deborah J. Rhodes. 1904
James Gore King. . 1909
Jenny Cook . . 1910
Charles C. Napier . . 1910 - 1910
Mary Rhinelander 1910
186
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
Gifts to Churchyard Endowment Fund with covenanted conditions, in perpetuity, 1911.
Mrs. Alice Davis
$2,000
Mr. Denning Duer. 100
Miss Ellen King
2,000
Mrs. Nora King Buckley . 25
Mrs. James Gore King 1,000 Mr. Charles King.
25
H. Van Rensselaer 1,000
Mrs. Anna V. R. Duer. .
25
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Hardy
800
Mrs. Charles King. . ..
25
Mrs. Elizabeth F. King
400
Mrs. Alice Bayard Edgar.
500
Mrs. J. Bancroft Davis
250
Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher King.
300
Miss Sarah Grace Duer ..
250
Mrs. Frances King Duer ....
50
Miss Amy H. Duer.
250
Mrs. Rebecca Gore Davis ...
250
Miss Isabella C. King.
200
Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher King. .
300
Mrs. Eugene Schuyler
160
Mrs. Frances K. Ward. ..
50
Mrs. Elizabeth V. R. Ells- worth
100
Mr. John Alsop King
500
187
OF GRACE CHURCH
CHAPTER XXI.
Wardens and Vestrymen of Grace Church, Elected Under the Charter.
Elected.
Died.
Aymar, Samuel Swift,
1851
1897
Baker, Byron D.,
19II
Barden, Edward,
1794
Barker, Dr. Charles H.,
1877
1893
Belden, Dr. Clinton A.,
1883
1898
Betts, Richard,
1761
Betts, Thomas,
1761
1776
Betts, Richard,
1808
Betts, William, LL. D.,
1840
Blondel, Charles,
1894
Braine, Thomas,
1761
Brenton, James J.,
1854
Brenton, Benjamin J.,
18II
1884
Brinckerhoff, Hendrick,
1842
1865
Brown, Josiah,
1799
1814
Clarkson, Levinus, Capt.,
1795
1812
Codwise, George, Jr.,
1799
1816
Codwise, George Nelson,
1865
1873
Cogswell, William J.,
1842
1885
Cogswell, William S., Col.,
1874
Comes, John,
176I
1770
Cornwell, Daniel,
1825
1842
Cortelyou, Peter, Col.,
1808
1820
Crane, John M.,
1873
1904
Crane, Alden S.,
1905
Denton, Lawrence,
182I
1836
Denton, John L.,
1830
1870
Denton, James L.,
1872
Denton, John S.,
1874
Depeyster, James,
1788
1799
188
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
Elected.
Died.
Eigenbrodt, L. E. A.,
1817
1828
French, James B.,
1904
Gracie, W. R.,
1840
1873
Griswold, Thomas,
1806
1808
Hagner, Henry I.,
1842
1849
Hagner, Alexander,
1861
1880
Hewlett, John, Sr.,
1804
1812
Hewlett, Isaac,
1815
1838
Hicks, George A.,
1877
1893
Hinchman, Thomas,
1761
1782
Hinchman, John,
1793
1805
Hicks, Stephen,
1810
1820
Hitchcock, Daniel M.,
1815
Hoogland, John,
1810
1851
Howell, Robert,
1764
1776
Johnson, Martin G.,
1867
Johnson, Henry N.,
1893
King, John Alsop,
1836
1867
King, Richard,
1872
1892
Kissam, Daniel, lawyer,
1793
1812
Kissam, Daniel,
1803
1848
Kissam, Dr. Geo. H.,
1849
1865
Llewellyn, William D.,
1902
Lott, Francis,
1886
1896
Mackrel, James, Sr.,
1793
1812
McNeill, Charles, Sr.,
1798
1825
Martin, James,
1798
1831
Martin, James G.,
1842
Meynen, George K.,
1892
Meynen, Philip K.,
1908
Morrell, James,
1796
1813
Motley, John, Capt.,
1799
Napier, Andrew,
1808
1857
Napier, John B.,
1865
Napier, Charles C.,
1896
1910
Nichols, Walter,
1833
1879
Nostrand, Timothy,
1806
183I
Nostrand, George,
1842
Oborne, Ernest A.,
1909
189
OF GRACE CHURCH
Elected.
Died.
Oldfield, Joseph,
1812
Ogden, Dr. Jacob,
1761
1802
Puntine, William,
1798
1833
Robinson, Henry B.,
1868
1874
Rhodes, Abiathar,
1813
1850
Roe, Joseph, Captain,
1814
1829
Roe, Lawrence,
1816
Roe, Silas,
1816
1831
Rowland, David,
1802
I821
Rowland, Jonathan,
1826
1875
Sale, William A.,
1808
1856
Sayres, Gilbert B.,
1903
Sayres, William J.,
1869
Scholey, William
1913
Sealey, Joseph,
1810
1831
Sherlock, William,
1761
Skidmore, John,
1804
1863
Skillman, Joseph H.,
1867
Skinner, Abraham,
1793
1826
Smith, Samuel, Jr.,
1761
Smith, Christopher,
1788
1805
Smith, John C.,
1832
1859
Smith, Daniel,
1860
1865
Smith, William Wood,
19II
Stoughtenberg, Gilbert B.,
1912
Stout, William C., Captain,
1832
Simonson, Jeremiah,
1824
1835
Thatford, Joseph,
1809
1827
Thatford, John, Jr.,
1800
1833
Titford, Isaac,
1799
Troup, John,
1761
1775
Valentine, Jeremiah,
1813
1850
Valentine, Jeremiah, Jr.,
1850
1875
Valentine, James,
1829
1865
Valentine, John,
1831
Valentine, John H.,
1842
1843
Valentine, Thomas,
1849
1872
Vandeverg, George,
1857
1860
Vandeverg, Nathaniel,
1866
190
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
Elected.
Died.
Van Nostrand, Aaron,
1793
1822
Van Nostrand, John A.,
1803
I828
Van Nostrand, John,
1820
1832
Welling, Thomas,
I793
18II
Welling, Samuel,
1799
1823
Welling, William,
1856
I867
Whitehead, Benjamin,
1761
1780
Witherstine, W. C.,
1914
Wood, Philip M., M. D., .
1913
Wood, William D., M. D.,
1894
1903
Woolley, Samuel T.,
1852
GRACE CHURCH INTERIOR, 1900. (Photograph by C. C. Napier.)
V THE RECTORSHIP OF HORATIO OLIVER LADD, A. M., S. T. D. 1896-1910
193
OF GRACE CHURCH
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE RECTORSHIP OF THE AUTHOR-1896-1910.
Rev. Horatio Oliver Ladd was elected by the Vestry to the rectorship of Grace Church, while rector of Trinity Church, Fishkill, N. Y., July 20th, 1896. The members of the Vestry were Wardens William S. Cogswell and John M. Crane, Vestrymen John S. Denton (secretary), Samuel S. Aymar (treasurer), Benjamin J. Brenton, and Messrs. George K. Meynen, M. D., Henry M. Johnson, William D. Wood, M. D., Charles Blondel and Charles C. Napier.
The salary named in the resolution was $2,000, with the use of the rectory at 62 Clinton Ave. The invitation to the rectorship was accepted, and after the summer weeks had passed, during which the Rev. Canon James H. Smith had charge, the new rector met all the communi- cants who could be gathered, and officiated for them on the first Sunday in October, having brought his family to the rectory in the latter part of September. His first ser- mon was from I Cor., viii, 1, "Charity edifieth," and he took for the type of his ministry to this parish the rector- ship of the Rev. Thos. Colgan, and his words shortly after assuming the same office: "At peace with the sectaries around us I shall be of a loving charitable demeanor to every persuasion."
The officials of Grace Church had explained the two great needs of the parish to be met if possible by the new rector. One was the enlargement of the sanctuary, and the other the erection of a suitable parish house. To ac-
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ORIGIN AND HISTORY
complish these, concerning which there were conflicting opinions as to which was the most urgent, it was necessary to gather the scattered members, to revive the interests of the communicants in the sacraments and worship, and to make the Sunday School a better representation ,in its membership and spirit, of the real but latent strength of the parish.
There had been in the two previous rectorships a great depletion by death, removals, and neglect of worship. The business life of Jamaica was at a standstill. There was no definite record to be found of the communicants, so many had disappeared from those nominally reported to the Convention. There were sixty-two families on the parish list, which was manifestly incomplete, and the Sunday School, six months without a rector or regular Superintendent, could rally but few classes or pupils. A new superintendent, Mr. W. D. Llewellyn, had taken charge and was likely to be an efficient aid to the recuper- ating of the strength of this important part of church nurture, but Mr. Llewellyn did not remain as Superintend- ent, to gather in all the results of the energetic effort he was putting forth for the young.
Cards were issued to be filled out by communicants present and receiving communion. Parishioners were also visited, and by aid of personal inquiries, their names were tabulated. An exact religious census of the town, in which other Christian organizations co-operated, brought remarkable results. About eleven hundred persons in Jamaica were recorded as associated with Grace parish in preference to any other Christian organization. Efforts were made towards more system in the activities of the parish, which was divided into districts, and those who were willing assigned to their respective duties to care for
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OF GRACE CHURCH
the various interests of Grace Church. Guilds one after another were organized for those of different ages.
The districting of the parish was not an entirely success- ful measure, but the guilds performed an important and lasting part in the strengthening of the parish.
The musical part of the services was already inaugu- rated, and the work of the choir made more attractive by special musical services, as well as in the usual offices of the Church liturgy.
In the first year of this rectorship, there passed from the earthly life two parishioners, who had been of the few oldest and most active members-Mr. Samuel Swift Ay- mar, vestryman and treasurer, died May 10, 1897, and Miss Cornelia King the previous year, Dec., 1896.
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