USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > The social history of Flatbush : and manners and customs of the Dutch settlers in Kings county > Part 20
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THE TOLL-GATE.
When the road to Brooklyn was a turnpike, the care of the road was paid for from the money collected at the toll-gate. This, in or about 1842, stood near where Flatbush Avenue forms the terminus of Hanson Place, or between Hanson Place and Lafayette Avenue. Af- terward it was removed to what is now called Atlantic Street, somewhat easterly of the present intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue. Next it was placed near the Battle Pass, south of the Valley Grove
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Hotel, on the old road. After this it was placed opposite the Willink property. Finally, it was re- moved within the limits of the village, and at present stands on the avenue between Fenimore and Winthrop Streets.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHURCHES IN FLATBUSH.
THERE are seven churches in Flatbush. In their order of erection, they are as follows : The Reformed Dutch Church, St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal, the Methodist, the Roman Catholic, the Mission Church, the Baptist, and the German Reformed.
The name of the Dutch Church was first officially given in the memorial which Domine Selyns, of New York, and his consistory offered to Governor Dongan in 1688. It was confirmed by a charter which Gover- nor Fletcher granted to the metropolitan corporation in 1696, under the title of "The Ministers, Elders, and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in New York." This is the oldest religious corporation in this country.
The first church in Flatbush was built in 1654, by order of Governor Stuyvesant. He directed that it should be sixty or sixty-five feet long, twenty-eight feet broad, and from twelve to fourteen feet under the beams ; that it should be built in the form of a cross, and that the rear should be reserved for the minister's dwelling. The Governor also directed that the morning service for Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Flatlands should be held at Midwout; the afternoon service alternately at Brook-
20
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THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF FLATBUSH.
lyn and Flatlands. The first church was erected in Flatlands in 1662, in Brooklyn in 1666. The second church in Flatbush, on the same spot, was erected in 1698. It was of stone, facing the east, with a steep, four- sided roof, in the center of which was a small steeple.
The site of the present Reformed Church was, there- fore, that of the first church of any denomination in Kings County ; on this spot there has been preaching continuously since 1655, a period of two hundred and twenty-five years.
The salary paid Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, the first pastor, was a sum equal to about four hundred and sixteen dollars. The Rev. Henricus Selyns was sent over from Amsterdam in 1660, to have charge of matters ecclesiastical in Brooklyn, upon complaint as to "the difficulty of the road from Breucklin to Mid- wout." Domine Selyns returned to Holland in 1664. After the death of Domine Polhemus in 1676, the Rev. Casparus Van Zuren was sent over by the classis of Am- sterdam, and installed in 1677 as pastor of the four churches, i. e., Breucklin, Midwout, Amersfort, and New Utrecht. He returned to Holland in 1685. The Rev. Rudolphus Varick was the next minister over the Kings County churches ; he continued in office until 1694, and was succeeded by Domine Lupardus, who died in 1702.
The church at Jamaica was now added to the num- ber, and there seems to have been a little disturbance upon the occasion of calling another minister. Some of the people were anxious to have a call given to Rev. Bernardus Freeman, of Schenectady ; others. made a formal application to the classis of Amsterdam, and, in response to their request, Rev. Vincentius Antonides
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was sent out and installed in 1705. Meantime Domine Freeman had also accepted the call, and party spirit ran high as to the claims of the respective ministers. The controversy increased in bitterness until the year 1714, when a more Christian spirit prevailed, and the churches agreed to accept both ministers and to lay aside their differences. The charge of the two ministers consisted of the churches of Breucklin, Bushwick, Flatbush, Flat- lands, New Utrecht, and Jamaica. Breucklin, Bush- wick, and Flatbush communed together, and Flatlands, Gravesend, and New Utrecht ; Jamaica had a separate communion.
The churches were, about this time, greatly agitated upon the question of ordaining ministers. One portion, called the " Cætus party," claimed that, in view of the inconvenience of sending for ministers from Holland, there should be a regular organization into classes and synods in this country. The " Conferentie party " be- lieved that the ministers should be ordained and sent out by the classis of Amsterdam. In 1746 the appro- bation of the classis of Amsterdam was given, and the first meeting of the new Cætus was held in September, 1747, in New York City, this being the first judicial organization, higher than a consistory, established in the Dutch Church in America.
Mr. Freeman died in 1741. Johannes Arondeus was appointed as his successor, but he does not seem to have shown a Christian spirit, and was not held in high esteem. He was deposed from his office, and Domine Curtenius was installed in 1755. Rev. Ulpianus Van Sinderin was called to fill the place of Rev. Vincentius Antonides, who died in 1744 ; his colleague was Johannes Casparus Rubel.
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THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF FLATBUSH.
Domine Rubel was a violent Tory during the Revo- lution, and gave much offense for this cause. He had also faults which were very inconsistent with his Chris- tian profession.
There was nothing charged against the moral char- acter of Mr. Van Sinderin ; but his eccentricity and his advanced age made it desirable that he should withdraw from active duty. He was declared emeritus, and a stated salary was given him until his death, at Flat- lands, in 1796. Rubel was deposed from office, and his subsequent career proved that the people had acted wisely in doing so.
Van Sinderin and Rubel were the last ministers sent to America from the classis of Amsterdam.
The Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker and the Rev. Peter Lowe were the colleagues next placed over the six col- legiate churches of Kings County. The former preached in the Dutch language until his death, which occurred in 1824. At that time he was nearly ninety years of age. "He was," says Furman, " the last connecting link of the chain which had bound together the churches of Flatbush and Gravesend from 1654." It is said that Domine Schoonmaker never but once (in 1788) preached in English. With his death, in 1824, the regular and public use of the Dutch language in the pulpit ceased. Until 1792, however, all the church service was in Dutch ; at that date it was arranged that Mr. Lowe should preach in English in the afternoon service at Brooklyn, Flatbush, and New Utrecht. The combina- tion of the six congregations composed of the towns of Brooklyn, Bushwick, Flatbush, New Utrecht, Flatlands, and Gravesend continued until 1805. As these towns in- creased in size they gradually formed separate churches.
1
Q AE DAUNTE M RAMOHT 25
REV. THOMAS M. STRONG, D. D. Born April 28, 1797. Died June 14, 1861.
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CHURCHES IN FLATBUSH.
After the death of Rev. Peter Lowe, Flatbush and Flat- lands, the only remaining united congregations, called Rev. Walter Monteith. In 1822, the Flatbush church called Rev. Thomas M. Strong, he being the first pastor settled over this church alone. The Rev. Dr. Strong died in 1861, and was succeeded by Rev. C. L. Wells, who is still the pastor.
The present church is the third upon the same spot ; it was completed in 1796. The temporalities of the church were judiciously managed by church masters for a period of one hundred and seventy years. The last of these church masters were John Vanderbilt, Isaac Snediker, and Johannes E. Lott. This church was the first on Long Island incorporated under the general act of the Legislature of the State in 1784. It continued under this act until 1804, when, under a special act providing for the incorporation of the Reformed Dutch churches, the title became that of the " Trustees of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Town of Flatbush, in King's County." Dr. Strong says that much of the labor in building the present church was done by the congregation. So well did they love the house of the Lord ! The cost, exclusive of the work thus given, was £4,873 7s. 7d. The bell in present use was the gift of Hon. John Vanderbilt, who imported it from Holland.
In speaking of the interior arrangement of the sec- ond church, Dr. Strong says : "The male part of the congregation were seated in a continuous pew all along the wall, divided into twenty apartments, with a suffi- cient number of doors for entrance, each person having one or more seats in one or the other of these apart- ments. The residue of the interior of the building was
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for the accommodation of the female part of the con- gregation, who were seated on chairs. These were ar- ranged into seven different rows or blocks, and every family had one or more chairs in some one of these blocks. This arrangement of seats was called 'De Ges- toeltens.' Each chair was marked on the back by a num- ber or by the name of the person to whom it belonged. The windows of this church were formed of small panes of glass ; those on either side of the pulpit were painted or ornamented and set in lead."
The interior of the present church has been con- stantly modernized in accordance with the changes of fashion, and to keep pace with the appearance of sister churches in the adjacent city. At first the aisles were not carpeted, but were scrubbed when necessary and sanded. Until 1836 the pew-doors were as high as, and on a line with, the back and front, so that the level pew-tops gave them the appearance of pens. The wood was grained and of a very dark color. The galleries at the north and south were never used ; the front of these was so high that a person sitting there could not have been seen from below. There was no gallery across the east side of the church. There were a few pews between the belfry and the side galleries which were given for the use of the colored people. There were no blinds on the windows. The pulpit, which was reached by means of winding stairs on each side, was made of mahogany, and was some five feet above the floor, supported on col- umns. The church was heated by two cast-iron stoves, but these were not sufficient to make the people com- fortable, and foot-stoves were provided by every pew- holder for the use of his family. These foot-stoves were boxes about a foot long, made either of tin or wood per-
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forated. Within this box was placed an iron cup con- taining hickory coals. The colored servants carried these foot-stoves to church. It was common to see a small colored boy or girl preceding the mistress with her stove and placing it in her pew. They were pushed from one member of the family to the next when needed, and the peculiar scratching noise upon the floor thus made was quite a familiar sound in church. Sometimes a careless child upset the stove, which occasioned some commotion in the pew. In 1836 the gallery front was lowered, as were also the tops of the pews ; a gallery was thrown across the east side of the church, and the woodwork was painted white. Back of the pulpit was a fluting of dam- ask, forming a crimson arch behind the minister. Two bronze lamps stood upon the desk. The next change made in the church was to paper it to represent stone. But this did not meet with general approval. Taking the flimsiest material to represent the most durable was not characteristic of the Dutch. In place of the crim- son satin arch, a painting representing a curtain looped back was inserted back of the pulpit. About this time blinds were placed upon the north and south windows. Unfortunately, the exterior of the church, although stone, was painted like the front, which was stuccoed. It was a great mistake, and has since been much re- gretted. Somewhere about 1864 the church was again renovated, and it still remains as it was at that time dec- orated. After this renovation a new church-clock was placed in the steeple, which has proved to be an excel- lent time-keeper. It strikes upon the old bell given in 1796. The organ was purchased about 1860. Instead of the cast-iron stoves, large heaters are now used, which make the temperature very pleasant throughout the
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building. Furnaces such as require pipes laid below the flooring can never be placed under the foundation, for fear of disturbing the graves of those who were buried under the church.
While the service was in the Dutch language the music was only vocal. Many of the old Psalm-books are still extant ; the music was on every page beside the words. The square notes look very odd compared with the music of this age. The New Testament and Psalms were bound together, and the books were usually mount- ed and clasped in silver, and had small rings attached, through which chains or ribbons were passed, so as to hang the book, when not in use, on the back of the chair.
The earliest recollection which we personally have of the singing during the church service is that of Mr. John Antonides as precentor or " voorzanger." He was an old man even then (somewhere about 1836)'; he was very tall, with a strong frame, and a voice so powerful that it filled the church without an effort. His place was in the corner of the elders' seat, for then, as now, the elders' bench was at the right side of the minister and the deacons' at the left. When the Psalm was given out he leisurely put on his spectacles, and, beating time with his hand once or twice on the top of the pew, took the proper key from his tuning-fork, and then slowly rose from his seat and led some of those old tunes which are now almost forgotten : Dundee, Lenox, Mear, Duke Street, and St. Martin. When he struck the keynote, the people all sang, not leaving the praise of God to the choir alone.
At that time the metrical version of the Psalms was used ; the old tunes adapted to them have a peculiar power to recall vividly the past. How well are those
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old hymns remembered ! and how often they come to mind : "Teach me the measure of my days "; " O God, our help in ages past"; "Sweet is the day of sacred rest"; "Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear." They recall the memory of the beloved minister whose lips shall no more speak the words, and of the chorister who has slept for more than a quarter of a century in the old churchyard with the congregation whose hymns of praise he led.
Thus we have rapidly passed over a period of two hundred and twenty-six years. The fact that this ven- erable church was the first organization in Kings Coun- ty invests it with peculiar interest. Where now there are so many places of worship that our adjacent city has been called " the City of Churches," this one stands first in the line, and is the oldest in the sisterhood. On the very spot where the present building was erected, the Indian tribes of western Long Island first saw an assem- blage for worship in a house dedicated to God.
OTHER CHURCHES.
There were at one time in Flatbush many colored children, the descendants of those who were once slaves on Long Island. The majority of them did not attend Sunday-school, and they were rarely seen at church.
The month of February, 1856, was ushered in by a heavy fall of snow ; so severe was this storm that travel was impeded, and even after the highways were cleared it was almost impossible for those who lived off from the main streets to make their way through the drifts. At this time some of these colored children were gath- ered into a small building upon a hillside in what is now Prospect Park, but which was then the private
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THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF FLATBUSH.
property of Judge Vanderbilt. A little whitewashed room, about twelve feet square, in an unoccupied house built for the use of a gardener, was the primitive schoolroom. The school was opened with five scholars ; it met the need of the people, and the number rapidly increased.
In order to hold the money legally which was raised to build a schoolroom, a society was organized and duly incorporated under the general law. It was called the" Society for the Amelioration of the Colored Population of Flatbush," and was organized October 27,1858.
The money raised through subscription by the man- agers amounted to $939.75. A lot of ground was then purchased, and a building erected at a cost of $1,000. 76, leaving a debt of $64.12, which was subsequently liqui- dated by the managers themselves.
The school-house was neat and comfortable, and the situation, on the old turnpike, was all that could be desired for quiet and seclusion. A Sunday-school was held here regularly, and at times public worship ; there were also occasional prayer meetings and temperance meetings, and, when necessary, the room was offered for funeral services.
Another cause for anxiety soon disturbed the friends of this little mission. At the opening of Prospect Park the building was found to be within the park limits. Owing to the increased value of property in the vicin- ity, it was difficult to purchase desirable lots ; but for the strenuous exertions of friends, the work would have been abandoned.
At a meeting of the society held December 14, 1864, Mr. John Lefferts was authorized to transact the busi-
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ness in regard to the sale and purchase of the building and lots. He selected some land in Catharine Street, a small street running through the center of what was then called the "Point lot."
These two lots were purchased for $1,600. The moving of the building cost $125, and to the Park Commissioners, for the repurchase of the same, was paid $250. A room for the infant department was now added at the cost of $1,600. There were many other items consequent upon the grading, laying gas-pipes, etc., which increased the cost to $3,877.
To meet this, the funds in hand were $1,363, as the award for the land taken by the Park Commissioners ; $700, the result of a fair held by the ladies of the Reformed Dutch Church ; $500, a legacy from the estate of Mrs. Eliza J. Lefferts, and some donations from friends, the sum total being $3,084. There re- mained a deficit of $800, which was canceled by Mr. John Lefferts as a gift to the society. A bell was at this time kindly presented to the chapel by Miss Esther J. Martense.
Upon the opening of Washington Avenue and Mal- bone Street, the successive assessments were paid for with the returns of fairs held for that purpose.
At a meeting of the "Society for the Amelioration of the Colored Population," it was resolved to transfer the property to the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church. As it was entirely free from debt, and the building in good repair, it was a valuable gift. After this transfer was made the society was dissolved, having accomplished with a good measure of success the pur- pose for which, years before, it was organized.
The Consistory of the Dutch Church had upon re-
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quest established regular church services in the chapel. The ministers who have successively had charge of the mission are : Rev. Mr. Gleason, Rev. R. G. Strong, Rev. V. B. Carroll, Rev. J. A. Gerhard, and Rev. C. S. Wright. On the first communion Sunday a neat service, consisting of two goblets, two plates, a wine- pitcher, and a baptismal bowl, was presented by Mr. J. Lefferts. A beautiful pulpit Bible was also presented " in memoriam " by Mrs. Eliza J. Zabriskie.
In 1878 the chapel was found to be on the proposed line of the Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Coney Island Rail- way ; it was purchased by the company for $2,500.
The Consistory of the Reformed Church appointed Mr. J. Lefferts to transact the business of moving the house once more. Lots were purchased, and the build- ing was removed to Lefferts Street ; for this and other expenses beyond the money in hand ($2,500) a debt was incurred, which was once more defrayed by Mr. J. Lefferts. The room was now newly furnished, a fine organ was presented by some friends, two pulpit chairs were given by Miss Mary J. Williams, and in July, 1878, the chapel was once more thrown open for the use of the congregation ; it now presented a very neat and cheerful interior, and offered ample accommoda- tion for all in the neighborhood who might desire to assemble there for worship.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church was built in 1836. The Christian courtesy of the Dutch church was shown in the fact that the first service preparatory to the organi- zation of the Episcopal church was held in the lecture- room, which was offered for that purpose by the Con- sistory of the Reformed Church. Dr. Strong says, alluding to this : " Although it was the first attempt
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to introduce the services of another denomination of Christians in the town, the kindest feelings were enter- tained and expressed, and such facilities were afforded to further it as Christian courtesy dictated on behalf of the officers and members of the Reformed Dutch church."
The building first erected by this congregation was taken down some eight years since, and a smaller but picturesque and tasteful edifice was erected upon the same ground.
The Methodist church was at first a wooden build- ing in the English Neighborhood. The congregation afterward selected Diamond Street as the locality upon which to build their new brick church. For want of funds it has not yet been wholly completed, service be- ing held in the lower story. The members of the Dutch church have contributed large sums not only toward the erection, but also toward extinguishing the debt upon this church.
The Roman Catholic is the largest church in Flat- bush. It is built of brick with stone coping ; the exte- rior is varied in outline and presents an imposing ap- pearance. The congregation is large, including those of this faith from an extended area beyond the limits of the village.
The Baptist society have erected a small building to serve temporarily for their worship until their number and their funds render enlargement advisable.
The German church is included in the South Clas- sis of Long Island, as one of the churches in its care. It was built for the Protestant Germans of this vicinity who could not understand the service in the English language.
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As we are limited in the general scope of our work to the subject of the Dutch settlers in this village, we are obliged to forego reference to the other churches beyond the mere statement of their order of organi- zation.
CHAPTER XXVII.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Sunday-School.
THE first Sunday-school in Flatbush was held Decem- ber 17, 1816, in a barn, for the benefit of the slaves. It was doubtless the philanthropic work of some Christian heart, but the mere fact of its organization is all that is known of it now. It was probably of short duration.
The Sunday-school of the Reformed Dutch church was organized in 1823, and was first held in the galleries of the church. In 1831 the consistory-room adjoining the church was built, and the Sunday-school was held there. When the new chapel, corner of Grant Street and Flatbush Avenue, was completed in 1871, ample accommodation was afforded to the increased size of the school, which at present numbers about three hun- dred scholars, with an able and efficient corps of teach- ers.
Tract Society.
As early as 1815 a society for the distribution of religious reading was organized, called "The Female Religious Tract Society of Flatbush and Flatlands," these villages being united in the work. In 1816 the society enlarged its work, and changed the 'name to
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" The Female Bible and Religious Tract Society of Kings County," and the surplus funds were given to the American Bible Society.
We realize the changes of half a century when we read from the minutes of their meetings that in 1816 they distributed 1,493 tracts in the following places : New Brunswick, Bergen, Allentown, Raritan, Millstone, Middlebush, Monmouth, the garrison at Fort Lewis, Hempstead Harbor, city of Hudson, N. Y .; Cedar Swamp, Long Island ; Staten Island ; Johnstown, N. Y.
This society is still in existence, but its work is at present confined to the distribution of tracts and reli- gious newspapers within the limits of the village of Flatbush.
Weekly Prayer-Meetings.
During the pastorate of Dr. Strong, the prayer- meetings of the Reformed Dutch church were held in the homes of the members of the congregation.
Each house in turn was thrown open on Friday evening for this purpose. A year was necessary to go through the village, and no family, rich or poor, re- fused their rooms for this meeting, and none were omitted in their regular order of succession. At pres- ent all prayer-meetings are held in the chapel, the con- gregation being too large to have it otherwise.
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