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CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 ANNA ALLEN WRIGHT 
 
 LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BR 560.Y7K59 
 
 Church and Sunday-school work In Yonkers 
 
 3 1924 008 720 371 
 
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Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924008720371 
 
lGt[UI^Ct[ 
 
 AND 
 
 Sqqdqy-Scliool Woi^l^ 
 
 IN YONKEXRS: 
 
 ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESsTI 
 
 BY 
 AGNES E. KIRKWOOD. 
 
 Write this for a memorial in a book. Exod. 17: 14. 
 
 Now go, write it before tliem in a table and note it in a book, that it may be for the 
 time to come. Isa. 30:8. 
 
 It is the privilege of history to bring back things long obscured by time or sinking 
 into oblivion. Poulson's History of Holderness. 
 
 150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORk. ', V 
 
COPYRIGHTED 1889, 
 BY AGNES E. KIRKWOOD. 
 
TO THE MEMORY 
 OF 
 
 ^1) pother, 
 
 WHOSE EARLY AND PRAYERFUL INSTRUCTION IN THE 
 
 HOLY SCRIPTURES WAS A TREASURE TO ME 
 
 ON EARTH AND WHOSE LOVE IS NOW 
 
 A TREASURE IN HEAVEN. 
 
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 The chapters contained in this book were written for the " Yonkers 
 Gazette,'' with no thought of their further publication. As the work pro- 
 gressed it met with the hearty approbation of many who are interested 
 in the work of the Churches and Sunday-schools of Yonkers, and in com- 
 pliance with their wishes it is issued in its present form. 
 
 The extent of the work at its first publication rendered unadvisable 
 its publication in its entirety. It has therefore been revised, and in its 
 revision nothing has been taken from it but some programmes and ad- 
 dresses delivered on various occasions in connection with the Sunday- 
 schools which had no important bearing on their history. 
 
 It is due the memory of the writer's first Sunday-school teacher, her 
 eldest sister, to acknowledge that in all probability the many difficulties 
 and discouragements which seemed almost insurmountable in its writing 
 would not have been overcome but for her helpful sympathy and undis- 
 courageable spirit, ever hopeful and brave and undismayed by apparent 
 defeat. 
 
 The writer here wishes to gratefully record her appreciation of the 
 assistance of Miss Louisa Jones, which has enabled her to proceed with 
 this publication. Also for help and encouragement from the Rev. Lyman 
 Cobb, Jr., and Mr. Charles Collins. 
 
 The author would acknowledge her obligations to the clergymen of 
 the various Churches who have in reply to her inquiries communicated 
 much valuable information concerning the Churches. 
 
 The author would also take this opportunity of expressing her grateful 
 appreciation of the unfailing kindness of all who have assisted towards its 
 completion. To some perhaps the chapters will seem difRise, but they are 
 not written for any other than a local or antiquarian public, which will be 
 grateful for the author's inclusive spirit. 
 
 After having received such kindly assistance, it would be ungrateful 
 to dwell on the disadvantages in the midst of which the work has been 
 written. The writer has done her utmost under the circumstances, and 
 
8 THE author's preface. 
 
 though she has fallen short of her ideal, she is conscious of the necessary 
 imperfections of her work, for it is hardly possible that she should have 
 escaped errors in a book involving the examination of numerous reports 
 with their conflicting statements in regard to chronological records. 
 
 Preventive work is not so popular as reformatory work. The results 
 of the latter are apparent ; but preventive work supersedes reform. All 
 labor for rescue and reform emphasizes the necessity of preventive work, 
 and this is the aim of the teachers in our Sunday-schools. That their 
 efforts in the past have been abundantly blessed is verified by the records 
 of our schools ; for out of the scholars and teachers of the Yonkers Sun- 
 day-schools have sprung those who are now pillars there and elsewhere, 
 honored Church officers, elders and deacons, efficient workers in Sunday- 
 schools and other Christian effort, ministers of the Gospel, and men who 
 gave their young lives for their country in the civil war. 
 
 It is hoped that this work, for its seriousness of purpose and diligence 
 of research, will not be found an unacceptable contribution to the eccle- 
 siastical history of Yonkers, and that the record of work done in the 
 Churches and Sunday-schools of Yonkers may be an encouragement to 
 all who are endeavoring to hold up Jesus Christ and him crucified, the 
 world's Light, Hope, Refuge, and Glory. 
 
COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. 
 
 Prom B. F. Jacobs, of Chicago, the Author of the International System of Sunday-school 
 Lessons, which are now universally used, is the Chairman of the Executive Com- 
 mittee, comprising over sixty members. 
 
 Chicago, December 5, 1887. 
 Dear Miss Kikkwood:— I am interested in the Sunday-school work, and consequently 
 I am interested in the history and progress of the work In every place. I send you a copy of 
 the reports, which I hope will be helpful to you in the preparation of your articles for the 
 press. I think their publication will do good; it increases the interest and arouses enthu- 
 siasm. We have had a large experience with many similar publications in the West, but 
 your history goes back towards the beginning of the Sunday-school work in this country, 
 and necessarily ought to be more interesting than those of later date. I sincerely wish yon 
 every success in yonr effort. 
 
 Yours in the good work, 
 
 B. F. JACOBS. 
 
 From Rev. John H. Yinoent, D. D., Chairman of the International Lesson Committee. 
 
 Boston, Mass., December 28, 1887. 
 Deak Miss Kibkwood:— The plan you propose seems very good and useful, and the 
 people of Yonkers will undoubtedly appreciate it. 
 
 Yours in Sunday-school bonds, 
 
 . J. H. VINCENT. 
 
 From Rev. A. F. Schacfplek, D.D., President of the Missionary Training Classes in the Union 
 Theological Seminary, New York, and Leader of Sunday-school Teachers' Normal 
 Class, New York. 
 
 260 FouKTH Avenue, November 28, 1887. 
 
 Mt Deab Miss Kibkwood:— Your plan of passing the Sunday-schools of Yonkers in 
 review is a very good one, and will help those who are trying to do good work for our com- 
 mon Master. You have my best wishes in this work I am sure. 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 A. F. SCHAUFFLEK. 
 
 From the Secretary of Missions for New York District of the American Sunday-school Union, 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 New Yobk, October 18, 1888. 
 
 Your history of the origin and progress of Sunday-school work in Yonkers will be of 
 
 great value as a permanent record of work of this branch of church service. It is a matter of 
 
 surprise that the historical interests of Sunday-school work have been so generally neglected. 
 
 I am sure those connected with your schools will duly appreciate your labors in the 
 
 early history of Bible Schools in your city. Wishing you abundant success, 
 
 I am very cordially yours, 
 
 L. MILtON MARSH. 
 
 From Rev. H. M. Baibd, D. D., Professor in the University of the City of New York. 
 
 Tonkeus, April 6, 1888. 
 I return the slips which you were so kind as to send me. So far as I have had time to 
 examine them yon seem to have made a very interesting and complete series of papers on 
 the Sunday-schools of this city. ' 
 
 I remain yours very truly, 
 
 HENRY M. BAIRD. 
 
lO COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. 
 
 From Rev. William S. Lanofoed, D. D., Secretary of the Domestic and Foreign Mlaaionary 
 Society of the Protestant Epiacopal CImrch in the United States of America. 
 
 21-26 Bible House, New York, July 26, 1888. 
 I have read with much Interest the papers containing an historical account of the 
 Chm'ohes and Sunday-schools In Yonkers. You are engaged in a most laudable work, and 
 your labors deserve the unqualified appreciation of the people of Yonkers. Ton are certainly 
 supplying Important record of local history which will be of permanent value. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 WM. S. LANGFORD. 
 
 From Rev. John Hall, D. D., Pastor Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. 
 
 New Yobk, January 14, 1888. 
 
 Dear Miss Kirkwood:— I think the writer of these papers quite capable of producing 
 
 an interesting little book It Is good to use the pen for higli objects. The reward comes 
 
 sooner or later, mostly later. Yours most truly, 
 
 J. HALL. 
 
 From Rev. 'William M. Taylor, D. D., Pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle Church. 
 
 6 West Thirty-fifth Street, New York, May 31, 1889. 
 Dear Miss Kirkwood:— I have read with attention the historical sketches of the 
 Churches and Sunday-schools in Yonkers which you have been good enough to send me, 
 and have been specially interested in those which treat of the Westminster Presbyterian 
 Church. Such historical details as you give increase in value as time passes, while their 
 present Interest is very great. 
 
 Will you please put me down as a subscriber for two copies of the book. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 WM. M. TAYLOR. 
 
 From Rev. Charles E. Allison, Pastor of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church, Yonkers. 
 
 The history of the Yonkers Sunday-schools testifies to the patient and painstaking 
 research of the author. Miss Aones E. Kirkwood. The full value of her work will be more 
 appreciated when years shall have passed and its pages shall be perused by such as delight 
 to search for sources of influences, potent when the characters of thousands were moulded. 
 , CHARLES E. ALLISON. 
 
 From a former pastor of the Reformed Church in Yonkers, Kev. Victor M. Hulbert, D. U. 
 148 North Avende, Battle Creek, Mich., April 28, 1888. 
 In the preparation of your several articles on Sunday-school Work in Yonkers I liave 
 been agreeably surprised at the research, scope, accuracy, and style of your perlormance, 
 as If Providence had qualified and marked you out for tliat specific work. 
 With much regard, very truly yours, 
 
 V. M. HULBERT. 
 From Rev. John Reid, D. D. 
 
 First Pbesbvterian Manse, Yonkers, N. Y.. December 22, 1888. 
 
 Historical beginnings are vital as well as Interesting; passing time always adds to 
 their value. , 
 
 Personally interested in this love's labor of one of my own church members, I have 
 known, perhaps more Intimately than most, the care which Miss Kirkwood has expended on 
 her work. With the greatest patience and fidelity, consulting Innumerable sources of infor- 
 mation, comparing conflicting traditions, and reacliing the truth where often it was hidden 
 and its presence least suspected, she has gathered up the fi-agments of a most Interesting 
 part of the religious life of our community. The Schools are happily identified with the 
 Churches in these valuable articles. All who are Interested in our Sunday-schools owe a debt 
 of gratitude to this patient worker in a new field. I wish this book might find its way into 
 every home of our church-going people. 
 
 JOHN REID. 
 
COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. II 
 
 From Rev. David Cole, D. D., Pastor of the Reformed Church of Yonkers, N. Y. 
 
 September 13, 1889. 
 
 Miss Kirkwood's History of the Sunday-schools of Yonkers speaks for itself as a monu- 
 ment to a tireless industry and perseverance. 
 
 It surpasses wonder that at this late date the early facts of our older schools— two over 
 sixty years old, one about fifty, a fourth Is forty, and two others more thau thirty — have been 
 brought together and recorded with so much of fulness and such self satisljing accuracy. 
 
 The courage with which this history was begun, the perseverance with which it has 
 been carried on, the fulness and accuracy of the results that have been recorded, reflect great 
 credit upon the compiler. A little later on in time this work would have been impossible. 
 Our lovers of Snnday-schools are brought under special obligation by the respected and faith- 
 ful compiler of this work. 
 
 I cheerfully give my own subscription for the forthcoming book, and shall be glad to 
 find that it is generally taken by the Christian people of our city. 
 
 DAVID COLE, 
 Parsonage of the Reformed Church of Yonkers. 
 
 From Rev. A. B. Carver. 
 
 St. John's Rectory, Yonkers, N. Y., June 22, 1888. 
 
 Miss Kibkwood: — Yon certainly deserve much credit for your enthusiasm and practical 
 interest in the Sunday-school work of Yonkers. All who read your book will be well 
 informed in this important part of our Church work, and will certainly wish for it a large 
 circulation. Sincerely yours, 
 
 ALEX. B. CARVER, Rector of St. John's Church. 
 
 From Rev. W. H. MUls, D. D. 
 
 Yonkers, September 10, 1889. 
 
 I most cordially concur with the above recommendation. * 
 
 WM. H. MILLS, Rector of St. Paul's. 
 
 From Rev. James T. Bixby, Ph. D., Pastor of the Unitarian Congregational Church, Yonkers. 
 
 YONKERS, N. Y., December 27, 1888. 
 I find that yoiir aocoimt of the Churches and Sunday-schools of Yonkers makes a very 
 interesting and valuable history. You have shown very great industry, and all interested in 
 the religions life of the city of Yonkers ought to appreciate your faithful work. I hope your 
 book will receive the welcome it deserves. 
 
 Yours cordially, 
 
 JAMES T. BIXBY. 
 
 From Rev. C. W. Millard, Formerly Pastor of Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Yonkers. 
 
 28 Hawthorne Avenue, February 25, 1888. 
 Miss A. B. Kirkwood:— Your faithful, painstaking labors as Sunday-school historian 
 of Yonkers are receiving, as they deserve, the praise of appreciative minds. You are doing a 
 needed work remarkably well. 
 
 Yours fraternally, 
 
 C. W. MILLARD. 
 
 From Rev. De Los Lull, Formerly Pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Yonkers, 
 and author of " Father Solon; or, The Helper Helped." 
 
 AsBURY Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington Square, S. Y., June 28, 1888. 
 
 I am pleased that you are having so much encouragement to put your papers on the 
 Sunday-schools of Yonkers in book form. I feel that by so doing you will render valuable 
 service to the general work, by the example of preserving local Sunday-school histories, by 
 lifting local work and workers into a measure of prominence, and by the stimulus so doing 
 will give to Churches, Schools, and Sunday-school workers an impulse to try to do good work 
 for permanent public record. As a specimen of what may be done for every town in this 
 line, your book should have a wide circulation. Put me down as a subscriber. 
 
 I remain as ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DE LOS LULL. 
 
12 COMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORK. 
 
 From Rev. George B. Stkobridge, D. D. 
 
 YONKEBS, September 11, 1889. 
 
 Miss Kikkwood is deserving tlie liberal patronage of this community as a reward for 
 the thoroughness and fidelity wiih which she has treated the interesting subject herewith 
 presented. 
 
 Her patience, industry, and indefatigable research will doubtless be appreciated as 
 their fruit appears in these interesting pages, and it is to be expected that the book will have 
 the large sale it so richly merits. 
 
 G. E. STEOBEIDGE, 
 
 Pastor First Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 From Rev. Henry M. Sanders, Formerly Pastor of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, 
 Yonkers. 
 
 433 Fifth Avenue, New York, June 16, 1888. 
 
 I have read yonr articles on the history of the Sunday-schools in Yonkers, giving espe- 
 cial attention to those relating to the Baptist Church. So far as my personal knowledge 
 extends 1 find them accurate and comprehensive. 
 
 They are written in an mterestlng and impressive manner and ought to stimnlate 
 increased effort in a department of Oliristian work which in its history has been a veritable 
 "romance of Providence." 
 
 Wishing you success in the further prosecution of your work, 
 
 I am yours sincerely, 
 
 HENRY M. SANDERS. 
 From Rev. Alt ah S. Hobart, D. D. 
 
 Yonkers, September 14, 1889. 
 
 Miss Agnes Kirkwood:— Allow me to say that your efforts in preserving the items of 
 Church and Sunday-school history in Yonkers are commendable and worthy of recognition. 
 
 alvah s. hobart. 
 
 Pastor of Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Yonkers. 
 
 The writer has also received commendatory notices of her work from 
 
 The Et. Rev. William F. Niohol, Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 Albert Woodruff, President of the Foreign Sunday-school Association. 
 
 Rev. James A. Worden, D. D., Superintendent of the Sabbath-school and Missionary 
 Department of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-school work. 
 
 Rev. Abram Beach Carter. D. D., and Rev. A. B. Atkins, D. D., former rectors of 
 St. John's Church, Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. Dwight M. Seward, D. D., and Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., former pastors of 
 the First Presbyterian Church, Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. Samuel T. Carter and Rev. Edward Caldwell Mooke, former pastors of 
 the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. A. A. LivERMORE, D. D., President of Meadville Theological School, Pa., and for- 
 mer pastor ol the Unitarian Congregational Church, Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. Augustus Ulmann, rector of Christ Church, Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. W. T. Crafts, pastor of the First Union Presbyterian Church, New York. 
 
 Rev. Theodore J. Wylie, D. D., pastor of the First Reformed Church in PWladelphia. 
 
 Also a number of Sabbath school superintendents aud teachers. 
 
GONTRNTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Extracts from Church History — St. John's Church and Sunday-school 15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The Mile Square Sunday-school ■- 63 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 St. John's Episcopal Church (at Tuckahoe) and Sunday-school 68 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 First Methodist Episcopal Church of Yonkers (at Tuckahoe) and Sunday- 
 school 71 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The First Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 75 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 The Reformed Church and Sunday-school 115 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 St. Mary's Roman-catholic Church, Parish, and Sunday-school 150 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The Warburton Avenue Baptist Church (formerly Mount Olivet Baptist) and 
 
 Sunday-school 167 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 The First Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school 212 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 The Westminster Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school 262 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 The First Unitarian Congregational Church and Sunday-school 313 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 327 
 
14 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 The Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school 347 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Woodhill Union Chapel Sunday-school 375 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Central Methodist Church and Sunday-school 380 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and Sunday-school 398 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 St. John's German EvangeUcal Lutheran Church and Sunday-school 408 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 Christ Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 416 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 The St. Joseph's Roman-catholic Church and Parish Schools 432 
 
 CHAPTER XX. s 
 The Dayspring Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school 438 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 The Messiah Baptist Colored Church and Sunday-school 473 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 The Glenwood Summer Sunday-school 4^^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 The German Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school 487 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The Ludlow Street Chapel (Mission of the Reformed Church) Sunday-school 494 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 The Immanuel Chapel (Mission of the First Presbyterian Church) Sunday- 
 school 502 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 A Few Words in Conclusion 514. 
 
 Appendix. -- -.- 521 
 
Ct^URCtj 
 
 AND 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK 
 
 IH YOHKERS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM CHURCH HISTORY — ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 
 AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 In giving the origin of Church and Sunday-school 
 work in Yonkers it appears proper to state by whom and 
 when the first religious effort was put forth and each suc- 
 cessive step which led to the organization of the first 
 Church and Sunday-school. This will be shown in the 
 following interesting extracts taken from Robert Bolton's 
 " History of the Church in Westchester County." 
 
 In the year 1642 (says the historian of the " New 
 Netherlands") Mr. John Throckmorton and thirty-five 
 associates, who had been driven by the fiery Hugh Peters, 
 with Roger Williams, from Massachusetts, procured per- 
 mission from the Dutch authorities of New York to settle 
 some twelve miles east of the Manhattans, at a place called 
 Westchester, but which the Dutch at the time named 
 Vredeland, or Land of Peace, a meet appellation for the 
 spot selected as a place of refuge by those who were 
 bruised and broken down by religious persecution. 
 
 In his petition to the Dutch authorities on the 2d of 
 October, 1642, he solicits permission to settle downwithih 
 the limits of the New Netherlands. "There I wish to 
 reside in peace and enjoy the same privileges as Dutch 
 subjects, and to be favored with the free exercise of reli- 
 
l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 gion." But even here the persecuted Puritan was destined 
 to find, like the dove of Noah's ark, no place on which to 
 rest the sole of his foot, for here it was that several mem- 
 bers of his family fell in the Indian massacre which took 
 place on the 6th of October, 1643. 
 
 The next settlement in Vredeland was upon the site 
 of the village of Westchester in 1654. At this early period 
 public worship appears to have been regularly established 
 according to the Independent or Congregational order. 
 
 The Rev. John Megapolensis in a letter to the Classis 
 of Amsterdam, dated the 5th of August, 1657, says : " The 
 inhabitants of this place — ^Oost-dorp or Westchester — are 
 Puritans, alias Independents. They have no preacher, but 
 they hold Sunday meetings, reading from an English book 
 a sermon and making a prayer." The Dutch Commissions 
 visited them in December, 1656, and reported their mode of 
 worship as follows : "After dinner Cornelius Van Ruyven 
 went to. the house where they held their Sunday meeting 
 to see their mode of worship. There I found a gathering 
 of about fifteen men and ten or twelve women. Mr. Baly 
 said the prayer, after which Robert Bassett read from a 
 printed book a sermon composed by an English clergy- 
 man. After the reading Mr. Baly gave out another prayer 
 and sang a Psalm, and they all separated." 
 
 All ecclesiastical business at this period was conducted 
 by the town assembled in! town meeting. After having 
 disposed of secular matters they attended to the business 
 of the church ; therefore the early history of religion was 
 found principally in the town records. 
 
 Under date of July 29, 1674, twenty years after, appears 
 the name of the Rev. Ezekiel Fogge, probably the first 
 Independent minister that officiated at that place. The 
 - following was taken from the town books : 
 
 "On the nth of February, 1680, there was sprinkled 
 with water by Morgan Jones (what they call baptizing), 
 William Hunt, son of John Hunt, of Westchester. Wit- 
 nesses present, Joseph Hunt and Bridget Waters." 
 
 The English laying claim to New Netherlands, it was 
 surrendered to them by the Dutch in 1664. The first 
 English governor, Richard NicoUs, for the encourage- 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 1 7 
 
 ment of settlers published an instrument in which he de- 
 clared " in all territories of His Royal Highness liberty of 
 conscience is allowed, provided such liberty is not con- 
 verted into licentiousness or the disturbance of others in 
 the exercise of the Protestant religion." 
 
 Immediately after the surrender it became a matter of 
 indispensable and pressing necessity that laws and ordi- 
 nances should be passed adapted for the then condition of 
 the colony. Whereupon Gov. NicoUs invited the inhab- 
 itants of Westchester and other towns upon Long Island 
 to send delegates to a general meeting at Hempstead on 
 the 28th of February, 1665. 
 
 The convention met at the time appointed. 
 
 At this meeting a body of laws and ordinances was 
 promulgated for the future government of the province, 
 which were called by way of distinction "The Duke's 
 Laws." 
 
 Among the principal provisions of the code are the 
 following : 
 
 " Whereas the public worship of God is much discred- 
 ited for the want of painful and able ministers to instruct 
 the people in true religion, and for want of convenient 
 places capable to receive 'any assembly of people in a de- 
 cent manner for celebrating God's holy ordinances, 
 
 " Ordered, that a church shall be built in the most 
 convenient part of each parish capable to receive and 
 accommodate two hundred persons. To prevent scandal- 
 ous and ignorant pretenders to the ministry from intruding 
 themselves as teachers, no minister shall be admitted to 
 officiate within the Government but such as shall produce 
 testimonials to the Governor that he received ordination 
 either from some Protestant bishop or ministers, within 
 some part of His Majesty's dominions or the dominions of 
 any foreign prince of the reformed religion ; upon which 
 testimonials the Governor shall induct the said minister 
 into the parish that shall make presentation of him." 
 
 " The Duke's Laws " continued to govern the province 
 until the first Provincial Assembly in 1683. At this time 
 the dissenting teachers officiated. Such, however, was the 
 fearful progress of Sabbath-breaking and other profanities 
 
1 8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 that the Court of Sessions for Westchester County issued 
 the following proclamation, 1693 : 
 
 " Upon complaint made to the Court, concerning greate 
 disorders and prophainness in the County upon the Sabbath 
 days, and for regulation and prevention of the same, the 
 Court orders that 
 
 " Whereas the publick worshipp of God is much neg- 
 lected, for want of able ministers to instruct the people 
 every Sabbath day and on such publick days of fasting and 
 thanksgiving that are appointed, or shall hereafter be ap- 
 pointed, by His Excellancy, the Governor and Council, and 
 General Assembly ; 
 
 "And whereas we find that severall places within 
 this County are not in a capacity to maintaine a minister, 
 whereby great debaucheries and prophainness are com- 
 mitted on the Lord's days, and that parents and masters 
 of families doe not traine up youths and servants in the 
 feare of Go4 and observing His holy Commandments, 
 although His Excellancy hath taken speedy care, after his 
 arrival!, for the suppressing of vice and encouragement of 
 virtue and observance of the Lord's day, and by his pro- 
 clamation, which hath beene published in this County, yett 
 very many takes noe notice thereof ; 
 
 " It is therefore ordered yett within every Towne pre- 
 cinct and pattent within this County due observance of the 
 Lord's day shall be kept, and for want of an able minister 
 the inhabitants shall employ a reader to read out of good 
 books, two Sermonds every Lord's day, (that is to say) one 
 in the forenoone betweene 9 and 1 1 o'clock, and one in the 
 afternoone, betweene 2 and 4 o'clock, at such places as shall 
 be thought meet and convenient by ye inhabitants of such 
 Towne precinct and pattent, att a meeting ordered by the 
 next Justice of the Peace ; provided that if the inhabitants 
 shall not appoynt such place as aforesaid, that then the 
 next Justice of the Peace shall appoynt a place ; and in case 
 any person or persons shall make derission or make any 
 unseemly behaviour in the time of publick worshipp, that 
 then the said Justice of the Peace of the said place or pre- 
 cincts shall committ all such deriders to the stocks one 
 houre, otherwise shall pay tenn shillings, to be levyed by 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 1 9 
 
 the constable, the one half to ye constable and the other 
 half to be employed towards relief of the poor of said 
 place. 
 
 " It 's alsoe ordered : 
 
 " That noe person shall sitt tippleing in a publick orde- 
 nary on the Lord's day, upon penalty as aforesaid, or at 
 other times on penalty as the law directs, and that any 
 persons inhabiting within this County shall not travill on 
 the Lord's day, without permition and raake known their 
 ocation to the next Justice of the Peace, upon penalty as 
 aforesaid, likewise noe person or persons shall presume to 
 go a fishing, shooting, or hunting of horses, or any other 
 sports which makes breach of the Sabbath, upon ye penalty 
 as aforesaid, provided, that this order shall not prohibit 
 any stranger of meat and drinke for his refreshment on 
 the Sabbath day. 
 
 " Alsoe any Justice of the Peace which shall neglect or 
 refuse to grant his warrant to the constable, for laying such 
 fines upon the breakers of the Sabbath, shall forfeit twenty 
 shillings for every such neglect as aforesaid, and that the 
 constable of every respective towne that shall publish this 
 order in his respective place, precinct or pattent, and inspect 
 and give notice of all Sabbath breakers to the next Justice 
 of the Peace, on penalty as aforesaid, for every such his 
 neglect." 
 
 But vice of every kind prevailed in spite of governors, 
 proclamations, military orders, and judicial acts, and little 
 good seemed to be accomplished by non-Episcopal minis- 
 trations ; and such was the state of affairs that the historian 
 says, " There seems to have been no face of the Church of 
 England in the colony." 
 
 Governor Col. Fletcher proposed a settling of an able 
 ministry as one of the best and surest means of suppress- 
 ing vice and profanity. The majority of the Assembly 
 were entirely disinclined to the scheme, which occasioned 
 a warm rebuke from the Governor in his speech at the close 
 of the Session in these words : 
 
 " Gentlemen, the first thing that I did recommend to 
 you, at our last meeting, was to provide for a ministry, and 
 nothing is done in it. There are none of you but that are 
 
20 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 big with the privileges of Englishmen and Magna Charta, 
 which is your right, and the same law doth provide for the 
 Religion of the Church of England, against Sabbath-break- 
 ing and other profanity. But as you have made it last and 
 postponed it in this Session, I hope you will begin it the 
 next meeting and do somewhat towards it effectually." 
 
 The determination of the Governor at length induced 
 the house to yield, and a " bill was brought in for settling 
 the ministry and raising a maintenance for them." This 
 bill was entitled "An act for settling a ministry and raising 
 a maintenance for them in the city of New York, counties 
 of Richmond, Westchester, Queens. Passed the 24th of 
 March, 1693." 
 
 The act did not take effect until about the year 1702. 
 
 In June 16, 1701, the Venerable Society for the Propa- 
 gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was incorporated by 
 royal charter from King William III. 
 
 The principal object of this society was : " To send 
 clergymen to the colonies ; and the society to earnestly 
 request and beseech all persons concerned that they recom- 
 mend no man out of favor or affection or any other worldly 
 consideration, but with a sincere regard to the honor of 
 Almighty God and our blessed Saviour as they tender the 
 interest of the Christian religion and the good of men's 
 souls." 
 
 Of this Society the Hon. Rufus King said : " The So- 
 ciety for the Propagating of the Gospel is the brightest 
 light shining in the candlestick of the Reformation ; it has 
 done more and is doing more for the cause of Christ than 
 all Christendom^ united." 
 
 On the seal of the Venerable Society for the Propaga- 
 tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and the oldest mis- 
 sionary society in the Protestant world, are inscribed these 
 words : 
 
 "Sigillvm Societatis De Promovendo Evangelio in 
 Partibvs Transmarinis. The seal of the Society for pro- 
 moting the Gospel in lands beyond the sea." And under- 
 neath these words : " Thanks be to God for the Venerable 
 Propagation Society." 
 
 There is also a picture of a sailing vessel with the sails 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 21 
 
 spread, and on a flying pennant, on the main mast, is in- 
 scribed, " Transiens Adiuvanos." 
 
 Also a figure on the seal, a mythological representation 
 of the sun, in the upper portion of the seal, probably rep- 
 resenting the Sun of Righteousness as beaming benig- 
 nantly on the missionary ship. On the prow of the vessel 
 a man is standing, clad in a Bishop's robe, with an open 
 Bible in his hand, while on the bluff to which the ship is 
 approaching there is a group of natives with beaming faces 
 and extended hands to welcome the missionaries. 
 
 In regard to the society's missionaries sent to this 
 country, says the historian : " I believe the Christian Church 
 could never boast of better men, take them as a body. 
 They chose their profession from a pure love to religion 
 and the cause of Christ, not from the love of money or the 
 praise of men. They sought for no honor but that which 
 Cometh alone from God and an approving conscience. Like 
 their beloved Master they were despised and rejected, and 
 their religion was everywhere spoken against and vilified. 
 As the apostles were a spectacle to men and angels, so 
 were these men, and if they suffered not as martyrs, it was 
 because the civil authority protected them. They were 
 workers, not talkers, in their Lord's vineyard. Their rec- 
 ord is in heaven. 
 
 " Yet even in the little that does remain we read a 
 narrative not easily paralleled, in at least two noble fea- 
 tures of the Church's Missionaries. First, in their patient, 
 unflinching endurance : the enthusiasm, not of sentiment, 
 but of duty ; taking hold on their mission, as men do on 
 the daily work of life, heartily ; and this was the more to 
 their honor as they had little oversight save God and their 
 own conscience. And secondly, their unbending main- 
 tenance of the Church's teachings in her faith, ministry, 
 sacraments, and catechism. 
 
 " This again has something in it of the heroic strain, 
 for they were surrounded and pressed by every temptation 
 life could bring to the concealment or modification of un- 
 popular doctrine. But although feeble they were fearless 
 men ; their only outcry was for a Bishop to ' visit all the 
 churches,' they said, 'to ordain some, confirm others, and 
 
22 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 bless all.' Their only quarrel was that he came not. ' We 
 have cried,' to use their own bitter words in writing home, 
 'till our hearts ache, and ye own 'tis the call and cause of 
 God, and yet ye have not heard or have not answered, and 
 that 's all one.' " 
 
 As early as 1684 Yonkers appears to have been associ- 
 ated with Eastchester and Westchester in the support of a 
 minister, for on the 2d of April of that year it was resolved, 
 at a town meeting held in Westchester, " That the Justices 
 and Vestrymen of Westchester, Eastchester, and Yonkers 
 do accept of Mr. Warham Mather as our minister for one 
 whole year." 
 
 The first mention of the parish of Yonkers occurs in 
 an act passed during the first session of the third Assem- 
 bly, sthof King William and Queen Mary, September, 1693. 
 
 The Rev. John Bartow, A. M., was one of the first mis- 
 sionaries sent out by the Venerable Propagation Society, 
 and the first missionary to Yonkers. Among the questions 
 sent by the Bishop of London to be answered by the cler- 
 gymen in the province of New York was the following : 
 
 Question — " Have you more cures than one ? If you 
 have, what are they, and in what manner are they served ?" 
 
 To which Mr. Bartow answered : " I have four towns 
 under my cure, Westchester, Eastchester, Yonkers, and 
 the Manor of Pelham, of which New Rochelle is a part, in 
 whose churches I officiate on Sundays, according to their 
 several quotas, on the payment of £t,o per annum. I 
 preach at Westchester every Lord's day, excepting every 
 fourth Sunday at Eastchester, three times in the year at 
 Yonkers, and as often as I can at New Rochelle." 
 
 To the Venerable Propagation Society he writes Octo- 
 ber 5, 1704, " At Younckers there is a small congregation 
 of Dutch who have only a reader, and sometimes they go 
 to the church at Westchester." 
 
 In 1702 Rev. John Bartow commenced his services 
 within the precinct of Yonkers. On September 5, 1708, he 
 writes to the Venerable Society that he occasionally 
 preaches at Yonkers, where the population was then 250 
 souls. 
 
 On the 4th of August, 1705, another act of General 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 23 
 
 Assembly was passed — " An act for the better explaining 
 and more effectual putting in execution an act of General 
 Assembly, entitled an act for settling a ministry and rais- 
 ing a maintenance for them in the city of New York, 
 Counties of Richmond, Westchester and Queen's County." 
 This act was ratified by Queen Anne on the nth of April, 
 1706. 
 
 That the Rev. Mr. Bartow was an earnest, indefatiga- 
 ble, patient, and persevering worker, notwithstanding the 
 many difficulties which he had to encounter in the prosecu- 
 tion of his work, is not only shown from his own letters, 
 but from the Venerable Propagation Society's abstracts. 
 In a letter to the Secretary of the Venerable Society under 
 the following date he writes : 
 
 "Westchester, in New York, in America, 1 
 * August 14, 1706. / 
 
 " Sir : My great business is to plant the Church of 
 England among prejudiced poor and irreligious people, 
 who are more apt to receive than to give, who think it a 
 hardship to pay their dues, and we dare not use the law 
 for fear of bringing an odium on the church, and on all 
 •occasions expect to be civilly treated by the minister. 
 
 " My task is greater than I can bear ; I will hold out 
 3.S long as I can with submission to the divine will, who 
 feedeth the fowls of the air; trusting he will still feed 
 me, by your means, when you come to be sensible of our 
 ^wants. 
 
 " Worthy sir, your most devoted and obliged servant, 
 
 " JOHN BARTOW." 
 
 Then, under date of Westchester, in the province of 
 New York, in America, ist December, 1707, he writes : 
 
 " I have inhabited ever since in the conscientious dis- 
 charge of my duty, hardly ever missing to officiate on the 
 Lord's day in my parish, and have discharged that duty in 
 the Jerseys at Rye or at some other place. 
 
 " I have always been ready to visit the sick when sent 
 for, and before frequently, if I knew of it, not refusing in 
 time of very mortal diseases, which we have frequently had 
 since I came here, frequently riding day and night more 
 than ten miles, I may say twenty. 
 
24 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 "I have administered the sacrament of Baptism to a 
 great number of people, young and old, and the sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper publickly, three times a year, at the 
 three usual feasts, Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday, and 
 have administered it to many on their sick and dying beds 
 who never received it before. 
 
 " I take care to catechise the children in the church 
 and to make amends for an omission of that duty at any 
 time. I allow a schoolmaster twenty shillings per annum 
 to encourage him to instruct the children in the Church 
 Catechism. 
 
 " And if I have failed in any part of my duty (as it 
 seems you are informed), let me know it in your next, that 
 I may amend, 
 
 " Your most humble and obliged servant, 
 
 "JOHN BARTOW." 
 
 Mr. Bartow, writing to the secretary of the Venerable 
 Propagation Society on the 12th of September, 171 7, says, 
 " Yonkers has no church, but we assemble for divine wor- 
 ship, sometimes in an house of Joseph Bebits, deceased, 
 and sometimes in a barn when empty, but the people 
 begin to be in a disposition to build a church." 
 
 In 171 3 the Propagation Society founded a charity 
 school for the education of children in this town. The 
 same year ;^5 per annum is granted to a schoolmaster in 
 Yonkers, where there is a large congregation of Dutch and 
 English, for instructing the younger sort in the catechism 
 and liturgy, provided he can produce a certificate of his 
 teaching thirty children. A. D. 17 19 Mr. Jones was allowed 
 fifty shillings for teaching children to read at Mile Square. 
 
 From the secretary's report of the Venerable Propaga- 
 tion Society the following extract is taken : 
 
 " Rev. Mr. Bartow, wUo is a very good man, does do 
 great service to the church. He has baptized twenty-two 
 persons, one an ancient woman, and sometimes preaches at 
 a place called Lower Younckers." 
 
 In the year 1724 Mr. Bartow informs the Bishop of 
 London that he " officiates on Sundays in the four towns 
 under his care, and he preaches three times a year at 
 Younckers." 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 25 
 
 Rev. John Bartow died at Westchester in 1725. His 
 remains, according to the custom of that day, were interred 
 under the communion-table in the old Parish of St. Peter. 
 Since the removal of that ancient edifice, however, nothing 
 serves distinctly to mark the site of his tomb, but one thing 
 is certain, " that He who was with him in his last hour and 
 made his bed in his sickness, will watch over the precious 
 dust till He shall bid it rise." 
 
 " So pious, just, and even, as if he meant 
 His name should be his marble monument." 
 
 " Mr. Bartow," says Dr. Hawkins, " continued in the 
 discharge of his important duties for the long period of a 
 quarter of a century. He was the instrument of bringing 
 many separatists back to the church, and admitting into it 
 many hitherto careless adults. He likewise gave much of 
 his time to the instruction of the poor negroes. By such 
 long and faithful services he secured the general esteem of 
 his people." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Bartow was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas 
 Standard, A. M., M. D., in 1725. 
 
 " Rev. John Bartow and Rev. Thomas Standard were 
 the rectors of St. Peter's, the Westchester, or parent 
 church, and Yonkers was then simply missionary ground. 
 The former became rector of St. Peter's in 1702, and died 
 in 1725, and the latter was inducted in 1725, and died in 
 1759 or 1760. 
 
 " It was during Rev. Mr. Standard's rectorship of St. 
 Peter's and missionary work here that the first Yonkers 
 church building was erected." (1752.) 
 
 To the parish of St. Peter's Yonkers was missionary 
 ground till the year 1787. 
 
 St. John's Church was first incorporated on September 
 IS, 1787, under the Act of 1784. Augustus Van Cortlandt, 
 Israel Honeywell, Jr., and J. Warner were appointed trus- 
 tees. In accordance with the Act passed for the relief of 
 the Episcopal Church, March 17, 179S, it was again organ- 
 ized on September 7 of the same year: Augustus Van 
 Cortlandt and William Constable, church wardens; John 
 Warner, Thomas Valentine, Isaac Vermilyea, Frederick 
 
26 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Underbill, Shadrach Taylor, Isaac Lawrence, Stephen Oak- 
 ley, and Jacob Post, vestrymen. St. John's Church was 
 iirst represented in the Diocese of New York in 1787. 
 
 ^mWf i — 
 
 ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, CONSECRATED I7g2. 
 
 First church was built by the Hon. Frederick Philipse. 
 Commenced in November, 1752; finished December, 1753. 
 Amount expended, .£'625, 6s. gd. 
 
 Hon. Frederick Philipse was buried in the family 
 vault in the Dutch Church at Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, 
 N. Y., July 28, 1 75 1. 
 
 The tower, the roof and woodwork of the original 
 structure were destroyed by an accidental fire May, 1791. 
 In 1792 it was restored in the precise original outward 
 form, and on the 21st of August of that year consecrated 
 to the service of Almighty God under the name and title 
 of St. John's Church, Philipsburgh, by the Rt. Rev. 
 Samuel Provoost, first bishop of New York. 
 
 In the vestry-room of the present St. John's Church 
 is a frame containing the certificate of the consecration of 
 St. John's Church in the handwriting of Bishop Provoost, 
 as follows : 
 
 " Be it known unto all Men by these Presents that I, 
 Samuel Provoost, by Divine Permission Bishop of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 2/ 
 
 on the first Day of August in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, did consecrate to 
 the Honor and Service of Almighty God the Episcopal 
 Church of St. John in the Town of Yonkers, in the County 
 of Westchester, and do hereby publickly and openly de- 
 clare and pronounce the said Church to be separated from 
 all profane and common uses. 
 
 " Given under my Hand and Seal at the town of 
 Yonkers this first Day of August, Anno 
 [l. s.] Domino 1792 and of my consecration, the 
 Sixth. 
 
 "SAMUEL PROVOOST." 
 
 For some time after building the church the ;f)recinct 
 Tiad no settled clergyman, but was supplied four times a 
 year by the rectors of the parish and by occasional visits 
 of the neighboring clergy. 
 
 In October, 1761, Rev. John Milner succeeds. Manse 
 built on Sawmill River, and glebe fenced, 250 acres— now 
 St. John's* and Oakland Cemeteries. 
 
 Mr. Milner was succeeded by the Rev. Harry Munro, 
 A. M., who accepted the charge of the mission at Yonkers 
 Whitsunday in the spring of 1765. He resigned and in. 
 1768 accepted a call to St. Peter's Church, Albdny. 
 
 In 1 77 1 Rev. Luke Babcock was appointed to the 
 rectorship of the parish. Of him the Venerable Society's 
 abstracts for 1 77 1 say : < 
 
 " The clergy of New York recommend the Rev. Luke 
 Babcock, who was lately ordained here by the Bishop of 
 London, as a proper person for Missionary." 
 
 Mr. Babcock was accordingly appointed to the mission 
 with a salary of thirty pounds, and he labored at Yonkers 
 with very good success until the breaking out of the Revo- 
 lutionary War, when he openly espoused the cause of the 
 Government. 
 
 * The first interment on record in St. John's Cemetery occurred in 
 1783, and is that of Richard Archer. The next was the daughter of Rev. 
 Luke Babcock, rector of St. John's Church. And among other memorials 
 are those of " Miss Susannah Howland, born in Boston, 1753 ; died in 
 Greenburgh, 1823, aged 73 years," and also that of " Lemuel Wells, Esq., 
 born in the city of Hartford ; mar. Eliza H.; died Feb. nth, 1842, aged 82." 
 
28 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 In 1775 he was one of the protestors at White Plains 
 against the Whigs. The protest was signed by three hun- 
 dred and twelve persons. The names of Frederick Phil- 
 ipse, Isaac Wilkins, and Samuel Seabury precede that of 
 Mr. Babcock. Amidst the succeeding disorder and con- 
 fusion he addressed the following letter to the Venerable 
 Society : 
 
 " Philipsburgh, 22 March, 1776. 
 
 " Rev. Sir : Soon after the receipt of your letter the 
 troubles of this Country were multiplied. There was the 
 fever excited in men's minds by the late battle of Lexing- 
 ton, then the affairs of Bunker Hill next came, and the 
 Continental Fast, which may be considered as a trial by 
 ordeal of the ministers of the Church of England in 
 America. 
 
 ****** 
 
 " My refusal to bow down before an altar the Congress 
 has raised made it necessary to confine myself to my own 
 parish till the packets were discontinued, and I have been 
 threatened with mutilation and death if I go into New 
 England. 
 
 "The people of this province in general are forced 
 into the present unhappy contest ; but as things are cir- 
 cumstanced, I could hardly expect it should be better than 
 it is at present. 
 
 " I am, Rev. Sir, 
 
 " LUKE BABCOCK." 
 
 Mr. Inglis, in his historical notices of the missions of 
 the Church of England, says : ' 
 
 " Mr. Seabury and Mr. Beardsly have been obliged to 
 fiy from their missions. These calamities have been the 
 principal cause of the death of one very worthy missionary, 
 Mr. Babcock of Philipsburgh. 
 
 " This clergyman was not only exemplary in his life 
 and assiduous in his pastoral duty, but distinguished by 
 his steady loyalty and warm attachment to our constitu- 
 tion in Church and State. 
 
 " This naturally marked him out as an object of the 
 highest resentment to the rebels. He was seized and car- 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 29 
 
 Tied off a prisoner to Hartford, Conn. Here he was de- 
 tained in custody from October, 1776, to February, 1777. 
 
 " About the first of February he was taken sick, and 
 as his confinement had produced no change in hi's senti- 
 ments, he was dismissed with a written order to remove 
 within ten days within the lines of the King's army. He 
 got home with difficulty, in a raging fever, and delirious. 
 In this state he continued about a week (the greatest part 
 of the time delirious), and then died, extremely regretted. 
 Indeed I know not a more excellent man, and I fear his 
 loss, particularly in that mission, will scarcely be made 
 up." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Babcock died in the old parsonage, on Tues- 
 day, the loth of February, 1777, and a monumental tablet 
 was placed in the church to his memory by the congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 The Rev. George Panton, A. M., was the next minister 
 and continued in the service of the church until 1 782. 
 
 " As the attention of the people was called off from the 
 church by the din of surrounding war and as the support 
 annually received from England by the Episcopal clergy 
 was cut off by the separation of this country from England, 
 the parish was neglected for some time after the withdrawal 
 of the Rev. George Panton in 1 782. 
 
 " No clergyman was called and settled for seven years. 
 Ministers of different denominations were permitted to take 
 the pulpit during this melancholy scene of disorder and 
 distress. The church suffered from various causes, the 
 people became careless in their morals, from the influence 
 of the example of the armies around them and from the 
 want of an opportunity to acquire even a common educa- 
 tion. 
 
 " The distress of the people was greater than is com- 
 monly imagined. It is said by the old inhabitants that 
 frequently the wealthiest farmers were deprived by the 
 plunderers of the army of what was absolutely necessary 
 for supplying the daily wants of their families. 
 
 " It was at this period that the minister of the Dutch 
 church at Tarrytown attempted to gain possession of the 
 church and annex it to his own, but he was unsuccessful. 
 
30 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " Mr. Van Cortlandt, a descendant of Frederick Phil- 
 ipse, first lord of the manor at Philipsburgh, procured an 
 extract from Mr. Philipse's will from which it appeared 
 that the property was given for the building of an Episco- 
 pal church, and other documents being produced proved 
 that the church had been built in compliance with the will, 
 and that no other service had ever been regularly per- 
 formed in it. This fortunately determined the point in 
 debate. 
 
 "In 1784 Mr. Fowler (afterwards the Rev. Andrew 
 Fowler) collected the congregation and was the first one 
 who read prayers and sermons in the church after the 
 Revolutionary War. i 
 
 " During this period the rectory continued to be occu- 
 pied by the widow of Rev. Luke Babcock and his children, 
 who were very active in persuading the people to attend 
 the service in the church. 
 
 " In the fields adjoining the old rectory, formerly called 
 ' Babcock house,' were frequently garrisoned the troops of 
 both armies. The British cavalry were stationed there for 
 some time during the winter of 1780. A gang of six or 
 eight cowboys broke open the rectory and robbed the de- 
 fenceless ladies of everything valuable. 
 
 " The confiscation of the manor of Philipsburgh, inclu- 
 ding church property, occurred in 1785. After the confisca- 
 tion of Manor Hall the State of New York very generously 
 ordered that all the land then in the possession of the widow 
 of Luke Babcock should be reserved for the purpose for 
 which it was designed, and that the church, with two acres 
 of land adjoining it, should be conveyed to the trustees of 
 said church. 
 
 "This act was first passed the first of May, 1786, but 
 not being carried into speedy execution by the commission- 
 ers, another act was passed the third of April, 1792, as 
 follows : 
 
 " ' That all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, and 
 demand of the people of the State of New York in and to 
 the said parsonage or glebe shall be and hereby are granted 
 to and vested in the Corporation of the Episcopal Church in 
 the Town of Yonkers, County of Westchester, and State of 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 
 
 31 
 
 New York, and their successors for ever, for the use of said 
 corporation.' " 
 
 ST. JOHN'S RECTORY AND GLEBE, l8og. 
 
 During Mr. Panton's ministry the country was very 
 much disturbed by the ravages of the American Revolution, 
 and the parish, being alternately occupied by the British 
 and American forces, felt the sad effects of the war. The 
 church was used at intervals by both armies as a hospital 
 during the Revolution. 
 
 " The site of the original glebe is now centrally repre- 
 sented by the combined areas of St. John's and Oakland 
 Cemeteries. The site of this rectory and its outbuildings 
 was near the Sawmill River road. The rectory stood within 
 the spot now occupied by the pretty grove of trees near the 
 road and directly opposite the large carpet factory of Alex- 
 ander Smith's Sons. From the setting apart of the glebe 
 till 1845 the church rectors lived upon it. At that time 
 
32 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 it was sold, of course for an amount that would now be 
 deemed trifling, and with the proceeds of the sale the pres- 
 ent rectory, within the church grounds, was built. The 
 only land now owned by St. John's Church is St. John's 
 Cemetery and the plot on which their church, rectory, and 
 Sunday-school building stand. " 
 
 SCHARF'S HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, I8 
 
 The parish remained destitute of preaching until the 
 year 1789, when the Rev. Elias Cooper, A. M., succeeded 
 Mr. Panton. Mr. Cooper was rector of the church for twen- 
 ty-seven years. Rev. Mr. Cooper organized and taught 
 a school during his pastorate. The schoolhouse is shown 
 in the picture of the rectory and glebe as they were in 1809. 
 It stands immediately south of the rectory. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cooper died January 16, 18 16, and his remains 
 "were interred in the burying-ground belonging to this 
 parish, now St. John's Cemetery. A memorial tablet was 
 also placed in the church. 
 
 Mr. Cooper was succeeded by the Rev. William Powell, 
 A. M., who took pastoral charge in May, 18 16. He resigned 
 the loth of August, 18 19, having ofiiciated here only a few 
 months over three years. 
 
 Rev. John Grigg, A. M., succeeded Mr. Powell in 1820, 
 and resigned August, 1823. 
 
 On the 17th of October of the same year the vestry 
 gave a call to the Rev. John West, A. M., and it was during 
 his rectorship that the Sunday-school was founded. 
 
 Thus it is shown by, the foregoing historical church 
 records that to the Church of England was given the privi- 
 lege and honor of , putting forth the first religious effort, of 
 building a Church, and of starting the first Sunday-school in 
 Yonkers. 
 
 The Rev. John West resigned his rectorship in the 
 year 1828, and was succeeded by the Rev. Alexander Ham- 
 ilto^n Crosby, A. M., who served ten years, dying in the 
 rectorship January 4, 1839. He is still represented in the 
 congregation by his own descendants. He was a devoted 
 pastor and greatly beloved by his congregation. 
 
 The following brief extract taken from a sermon 
 preached in St. John's Church, Yonkers, on Sunday, March 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 
 
 33 
 
 TO, 1839, by the Rev. Robert William Harris, D. D., of 
 White Plains, is of interest in connection with his work in 
 this church : " Addressing his congregation in 1837, he said, 
 ' When coming to this parish I found only about thirty-five 
 communicants, the attendance on divine service very irreg- 
 ular, only about twenty dollars annually given to missions, 
 and but little to other benevolent institutions.' During his 
 incumbency the sum of one thousand dollars was raised by 
 public subscription for repairing the church and also six 
 hundred dollars expended on the old parsonage, besides 
 other large sums for missions, and the communicants had 
 increased to seventy-two." 
 
 In 1 84 1 the interior of the church was slightly modified 
 and some alterations were made in the steeple under the 
 supervision of Mr. Ebenezer Baldwin (the grandfather of 
 Mrs. William F. Cochran), then of Norwich, Conn. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, 1S49. 
 
 Upon the death of the Rev. Mr., Crosby the Rev. Wil- 
 liam M. Carmichael, A. M., was called to the rectorship, but 
 declined. 
 
 Ohurch and Sanday-achool Work. 
 
34 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The Rev. Smith Pyne was rector from 1 839 to 1 840. He 
 was succeeded by the Rev. Henry L. Storrs, A. M., in 1841,, 
 who served eleven years, dying in the rectorship May 16, 
 1852. During his rectorship the first rectory within the 
 present church grounds was built, and the enlargement of 
 the church by the addition of transepts took place, and the 
 old parsonage and glebe sold for $6,500, excepting land 
 used as St. John's Cemetery. 
 
 The Rev. Abraham Beach Carter, D. D., became rector 
 June 12, 1852, and served about sixteen years and a half, 
 resigning December, 1868. Rev. Mr. Carter died in the 
 rectorship of Trinity Episcopal Church, Rochester, N. Y., 
 March 26, 1890. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas A. Jaggar, D. D., became rector in 
 i86g, and resigned in 1870. He is now the Bishop of the 
 Southern Diocese of Ohio. 
 
 The Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., became rector in 
 1870, and resigned July, 1875. He is now the General Sec- 
 retary of Domestic and Foreign Missions of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in America. 
 
 The Rev. Addison B. Atkins, D. D., became rector 
 May I, 1875, and resigned May, 1879. 
 
 The Rev. James Haughton became rector October, 
 1879, ^^^ resigned in 1887. 
 
 In 1870 the subject of improved church accommoda- 
 tions was agitated by the people of St. John's Parish, and 
 the question presented was whether the old building 
 should be enlarged and improved, or pulled down and a 
 ■ new church erected. After careful deliberation it was 
 decided to enlarge and improve the old building, retaining 
 as many of the venerable features of the original edifice as 
 should be found practicable. With this view the work was 
 committed to Mr. Edward Tuckerman Potter, the well- 
 known architect. The new church was completed in 1 872. 
 
 The following description of the new and enlarged 
 edifice is taken from " The Episcopal Register " of 1874, to 
 which is added the improvements which have been made 
 in and around the church more recently : 
 
 " The design of the present and elegant church ap- 
 proaches the Renaissance, the style of architecture preva- 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 35 
 
 lent in England during the reign of George the Second. 
 But the herring-bone course of brick-work, the peculiar 
 arrangement of the coping, the raking buttresses of the 
 fa9ade, not built with weatherings in the Gothic manner, 
 but carried up on the batter, giving an appearance of mas- 
 siveness and strength, the elaborate brick-work of the door- 
 ways, the panelling of the doors, and the great rings used 
 as handles, all carry us back to the days of our grandfa- 
 thers and clearly indicate the Dutch influence which pre- 
 vailed at the time the original structure was put up. 
 
 " The entire south wall of the old building is retained 
 which was erected in 1752, with its venerable south door 
 and windows ; also the south transept and part of the east 
 wall with two of the windows of the old chancel, the old 
 weather-vane and bell. 
 
 " Viewing the structure from the east, the little belfry 
 over the south transept, the fine proportions of the apse, 
 and the little vestry attached produce an effect at once 
 artistic and picturesque. This effect is increased by the 
 iron cresting with the urn-like forms so much used by the 
 old architects. 
 
 " The exterior of the clere-story, the windows and other 
 parts, are illuminated in gold and color. 
 
 " The main entrance is from the west by an ample ves- 
 tibule, divided from the church by a screen of carved chest- 
 nut and plate-glass. Over the vestibule is the organ gal- 
 lery, with the front elaborately carved. 
 
 " Appropriate panels bear the monogram ' I. H. S.' 
 and the text, ' His name only is excellent,' and the whole is 
 enriched with carved olive-leaves and other foliage, with 
 representations of musical instruments used in the service 
 of the sanctuary irom the earliest times. Drawings of these 
 were obtained from old manuscripts and from the Raphael- 
 esque in the Loggio of the Vatican. The organ recently 
 purchased, wl;iich is of elegant and chaste design, has been 
 removed at the left of the chancel, the old organ-gallery 
 being retained. 
 
 " The interior of the church is divided into nave and 
 aisles — the centre one being eight feet and four inches in 
 width — by six finely proportioned bronze columns. From 
 
36 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 these spring a series of large senii-circular ajrches, affording 
 support to the clere-story. The spandrels are enriched 
 with an arcade, carrying a broad band carved with the text, 
 ' He brought me into His banqueting-house,' on the north 
 side, and on the south side, ' And His Banner over me was 
 love.' Above are little galleries something after the style 
 of those in St. Etienne du Mont, at Paris. A beautiful 
 effect is produced by the stained glass of the clere-story as 
 seen above the galleries. The illuminations are mainly 
 gold and color." 
 
 " The church was redecorated in 1889 and the ceiling — 
 formerly mazarine blue — is now a French gray, and the 
 walls, which were a violet tint, are now in terra cotta with 
 a broad band with traceries in light blue. The cost of the 
 redecoration was the gift of Wm. F. Cochran. The chan- 
 cel arch is lofty. The tympanum above the arch is en- 
 riched with five illustrations displaying a cross terminated 
 ^Yitla. patera bearing the symbols of the four Evangelists." 
 
 On the south wall of the chancel is a handsome brass 
 tablet with the following inscription : 
 
 The Chancel Windows of this Church 
 
 Were erected by her children 
 
 In memory of Jane Baldwin Smith 
 
 Who fell asleep in Jesus July Xth A. D. 
 
 MDCCCLXXV 
 
 Numbered— With— Thy— Saints— In 
 
 Glory — Everlasting. 
 
 These windows are very elegant in design, represent- 
 ing Mary the mother of our Lord, Christ the King, and St. 
 John, the beloved disciple, 
 
 " On either side of the apse of the chancel there are 
 side aisles in a semi-apsidal form, in the manner of a ckevei. 
 
 "The reading desk is of black walnut, richly carved 
 and panelled with polished veined Griotte marble." 
 
 The memorial pulpit was presented by Mrs. William 
 F. Cochran, the base of which is of antique oak, quartered, 
 this method of cutting the tree bringing out to the greatest 
 extent all the beauties of the natural grain of the wood, 
 and highly polished. The desk, which may be lowered or 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 37 
 
 raised at pleasure, is also of oak, and oak steps lead into 
 the pulpit from the rear. The rest is of brass. A brass 
 rail, supported by brass columns, incloses the base, and an 
 artistic brass panel in front, on either side of which is a 
 panel design' of Easter lilies, bears the following inscription : 
 
 I. H. S. 
 
 As Though God Did Beseech You Through Us. 
 
 Easter, A. D. 1888. A memorial of 
 
 Elizabeth Paddock. 
 
 " Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto her life's end." 
 
 " The chancel rail and furniture are of black walnut. 
 
 " The altar table, presented by Edmund S. T. Arnold, 
 M. D., bears symbols of the twelve apostles and eight dif- 
 ferent symbols of the divine name. 
 
 " On the elegant Bishop's chair is carved a mitre, cro- 
 zier, and olive foliage with the words ' Grace,' ' Mercy,' 
 ' Peace.' 
 
 " The chancel floor is of Italian marble, as are the altar 
 steps. 
 
 " The appearance of the church from the chancel look- 
 ing west is very beautiful. Just above the organ gallery 
 is a semi-circular rose window, divided into six sections. 
 
 " The centre bears a Greek character which represents 
 the word Christ. The other sections are embellished with 
 an open door, rose, lily, and a crown ; on the outside is a 
 row of stars formed of double triangles, symbols of the 
 Trinity. 
 
 " Above are five lance windows on which are repre- 
 sented I. H. S., the bread and wine of the sacrament, and 
 the Greek letters Alpha and Omega." 
 
 The size of the ground floor is 63 by 120. The chancel 
 is 50 feet wide. The height from floor to peak is 75 feet. 
 
 The church is lighted by nine chandeliers of nine 
 burners each, with incandescent electric lamps, with two 
 coronas in the chancel to correspond. They are beautiful 
 and unique. 
 
 The seating capacity of the church is about one thou- 
 sand. 
 
 "The mural tablets of the old church erected to the 
 
38 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 memory of the Rev. Luke Babcock, the Rev. Elias Cooper, 
 A. M;, the Rev. Alexander H. Crosby, A. M., and the Rev. 
 Henry L. Storrs, A. M., are also retained. 
 
 " No description can convey, however, an idea of the 
 effect which the architect has succeeded in producing, 
 the fine effect in the arrangement of distance and the 
 management of space. 
 
 " The eye striking the galleries of the clere-story glances 
 upwards to the loftier height of the peak, and one feels a 
 sudden shrinkage as to personal dimensions. The feeling 
 however is soon lost sight of in the warmth of coloring, 
 which cannot fail to create a glow of heart. It really seems 
 as though there is an atmosphere of color, so rich are the 
 hues, yet so admirably are they blended. With all their 
 brilliance there is' naught of glare, and the harmony is per- 
 fect." 
 
 " The good people of St. John's parish of Yonkers have 
 a rare temple of worship." 
 
 In the south side of the present church is a beautiful 
 memorial window, representing the offerings of the wise 
 men to the infant child Jesus. This window was erected 
 in memory of William Jones and his wife, Hannah Jones, 
 by their children. The inscription is as follows : 
 
 In Memoriam, William Jones, Senior 
 
 Warden of St. John's Church, Fell Asleep 
 
 Feb'y i/th, 1843. Also his Wife Hannah 
 
 Watson Jones. Entered into rest Sept'r 22D, 1839. 
 
 Easter,] Born in London, died at Yonkers. [1873. 
 
 This was the first memorial window erected in the 
 church. Two other windows are in memory the one of 
 Mrs. John G. Christopher and the other of Edward Under- 
 hill and his wife, which are to the right of the main en- 
 trance to the church. 
 
 A very interesting and deeply impressive service was 
 held in St. John's Church on Friday evening, May 4, 1888, 
 when the unveiling and dedication of an elegant Baptismal 
 Font, erected in memory of Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb, only 
 daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Lyman Cobb, Jr., who entered 
 into the "Palace o' the King ".May 26, 1886, took place. 
 
, ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 39 
 
 There were present of the clergy the Rev. Wm. S. 
 I^angford, D. D., the Rev. Wm. H. Mills, D. D., the 'Rev. 
 Wm. S. Coffey, of Eastchester, the Rev. Alexander Mann, 
 of Orange, N. J., the Rev. Alexander B. Carver, rector, 
 
 the Rev. August Ulmann, the Rev. Alexander Forbes, and 
 the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., and a very large congregation. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Langford preached the sermon, taking for 
 his text a portion of the fourth verse of the tenth chapter 
 of the Acts : " A memorial before God," and in closing he 
 said : " It is beautiful to make memorials, and it is much 
 
40 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 more fitting to place such in the house of God, where they 
 can be specially useful. This font, this pulpit, and these 
 windows are all valuable memorials because of that. This 
 beautiful font will be lovingly associated for many genera- 
 tions, though the people who kneel here may have scarcely 
 a thought of her whose gentle life procured it ; but they 
 will, nevertheless, be beholden to her memory. . . . Min. 
 nie Putnam Cobb, when I took charge of St. John's Church, 
 eighteen years ago, was one of the children of the congre- 
 gation. How memories cluster around me, how faces come 
 back, as I recall those times! Some have passed within 
 the veil, yet they seem to look down with sacred interest 
 as we gather to dedicate this font. She had a peculiar 
 loveliness and gentleness of manner. She knew no other 
 church, and here she prayed and gave alms and labored 
 for the salvation of souls. She was a gift of God, and has 
 been given back to God. It is meet, then, that this font 
 should be first a glory to God, and that it should ever be 
 used for His glory and the benefit of those who from gene- 
 ration to generation shall kneel there to receive holy bless- 
 ings." 
 
 The first two stanzas of " Jerusalem the Golden " were 
 then sung to a new tune composed by George F. Le Jeune, 
 formerly of Yonkers, and then the clergy assembled around 
 the font, the rector within the railing, offering the prayers 
 of dedication. After this the remaining portion of the 
 hymn was sung, while the clergy returned to the chancel 
 and the rector pronounced the benediction. 
 
 The font rests to the right of the Paddock Memorial 
 Pulpit, is of exquisitely carved Carrara marble, and is sup- 
 ported by two figures of angels, life size. The whole font 
 is four feet and four inches in height and rests on a stone 
 base which is of dark color, six inches high, the whole work 
 resting on a platform of wood eight by nine feet, seven 
 inches from the floor. Around the font is an ornamental 
 brass railing with this inscription : " Erected to the glory of 
 God and in loving memory of Minnie Putnam Cobb, i8Sy." 
 The inscriptions on the font are as follows : On the north 
 side, " In.methory of ;" on the west side, " Minnie Putnam 
 Cobb;" on the south side, "May ii, 1857; May 26, 1886;" 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 4I 
 
 on the east side, " The gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Cobb, Jr." 
 The rail on the west side of the platform insets a foot, leav- 
 ing one foot of the platform outside the rail for a kneeling, 
 place for the candidates for baptism, and which is covered 
 with a scarlet-colored cushion. There is a ewer of brass, 
 twenty inches high, for holding the water, which the rector 
 pours into the font when needed. On the ewer is this 
 inscription : " In memory of Minnie Putnam Cobb. ' He 
 that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.'— St. Mark 
 16:16." 
 
 The design for the font was made by Mrs. Lyman 
 Cobb, Jr. ; the model was made by Alexander Doyle, of 
 New York, sculptor; and the sculpture is the work of 
 Signer Carlo Nicoli, of Florence, Italy. The brass work 
 and other surroundings were furnished by J. & R. Lamb, of 
 New York, excepting the quartered oak platform, which 
 was the work of John A. East, of Yonkers. 
 
 A handsome and costly memorial window has been 
 placed in the north side of the church in memory of the 
 Rev. Abraham Beach Carter, D. D., the beloved rector of 
 this church for sixteen years and a half. 
 
 In i860 the first chapel was built. The corner-stone of 
 the chapel second was laid on St. John the Evangelist's 
 Day, December 27, 1889, by the Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, 
 D. D., LL. D., who was assisted in the services by the Rev. 
 Wm. H. Mills, D. D., the Rev. August Ulmann, the Rev. 
 Alexander Forbes, the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., and the rec- 
 tor of the church, the Rev. Alexander B. Carver. 
 
 The comer-stone bears the simple inscription, " A. D. 
 1890." The contents of the box are : Parish Year Book of 
 1 889, the names of officers of the Corporation, the names of 
 present members of the parish, a roll of the teachers of the 
 Sunday-school and the number of scholars, coins of that 
 year, Yonkers and New York daily newspapers, the last 
 copy of the " Churchman," and an olive branch from the 
 oldest tree in the Garden of Gethsemane, at Jerusalem. 
 
 The trowel with which the Bishop cemented in place 
 the stone which covered the box was of solid silver with 
 turned ebony handle. It bore the following inscription: 
 " Used by Bishop H. C. Potter, D. D.. LL. D., in laying the 
 
42 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 corner-stone of St. John's Chapel, December 27, 1889. Pre- 
 sented by the Altar Society of St. John's Church to the 
 Rev. Alexander B. Carver, rector." 
 
 The new buildings, consisting of chapel, parish house, 
 and rectory, recently erected, are literally three in one. 
 They are in perfect harmony with the architecture of the 
 church. The material of which the buildings are con- 
 structed is gray stone, with brick trimmings. The interior 
 of the chapel is 41 1-2 by 80 ft., exclusive of the room at the 
 west, which is 24 by 28 ft., and is used by the primary de- 
 partment of the Sunday-school. The chancel of the chapel 
 is at the north end, with an organ room at the west. At the 
 east end are ample robing-rooms, also a well-arranged library 
 room. The interior of the chapel is finished with stained 
 white wood, with high ceiling, and is furnished with most 
 comfortable chair seats, as are also the various class-rooms. 
 
 Between the chapel and the church, but connected with 
 the former as part of the same building, and with the latter 
 by a covered way or cloister leading to the entrance of the 
 church, is the parish house, which is two stories high. The 
 main room on the lower floor is 20 by 32 ft. In this assem- 
 bly room the ladies of the congregation hold their meet- 
 ings. This room opens into the chapel by large sliding- 
 doors. At the rear of the assembly-room towards the east 
 is a kitchen and other rooms. In the second story is the 
 rector's study, with four rooms for various branches of 
 church work. 
 
 The rectory is 42 by 56 ft. in size, although its outlines 
 are irregular, with many gables, turrets, and chimneys. It 
 contains eighteen rooms, and has beside a spacious cellar. 
 The interior is partly painted and in part finished in hard 
 wood. It is connected with the chapel and other buildings 
 by a covered cloister nine feet wide. The buildings form, 
 with the church proper, a court which faces on South Broad- 
 way. A driveway circles about a beautiful lawn, containing 
 some time-honored locust-trees. Around the entire church 
 property is an exceedingly handsome low stone wall, in keep- 
 ing with the architecture of the buildings which it surrounds. 
 This fence is included in the gift of Mr. W. F. Cochran. 
 
 The buildings were designed by R. H. Robertson. 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 43 
 
 architect, of New York. The builders were James and 
 George Stewart, of the firm of masons, and S. Francis Quick, 
 the carpenter. 
 
 Tuesday evening, the feast of the Epiphany, January 
 6, 1 89 1, was an occasion memorable in the history of St. 
 John's Church, inasmuch as on that evening the new chap- 
 el, parish house, and rectory were then given by Mr. Wil- 
 liam F. Cochran. 
 
 In addition to this gift Mr. Cochran place4 on the 
 church property at the corner of South Broadway and Hud- 
 son Street a public cold water drinking-fountain, to be 
 known as "St. John's Cold Water Fountain." 
 
 The mortgage debt upon the church property, amount- 
 ing to $49,000, was cancelled by Mrs. Eva S. Cochran. 
 These aggregated gifts amounted to over $100,000. 
 
 Judge Stephen H. Thayer, treasurer of the vestry, 
 responded on their behalf in a brief and felicitous manner, 
 accepting the noble gift on behalf of the vestry. The Rev. 
 Alexander B. Carver made an address, speaking of the gifts 
 as gifts to the parish, to the town, to the church at large, 
 and to God himself, and then offeted a preamble and reso- 
 lutions expressive of the appreciation by the rector, ward- 
 ens, vestrymen, and pewholders of St. John's Church of the 
 high Christian sentiments which dwell in the hearts of the 
 donors, and praying that they may be refreshed through- 
 out many prosperous years by a perception of the many 
 blessings which shall result from the sowing of this good 
 seed. The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a 
 standing vote. The munificent gifts of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cochran have placed St. John's parish upon a strong basis, 
 and the facilities for the prosecution of all parish work are 
 thus largely increased. 
 
 The church was consecrated by the Bishop of the Dio- 
 cese, the Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, on Wednesday, April 
 I, 1 89 1, in the presence of thirty-seven of the clergy and a 
 large congregation. 
 
 The Bishop, accompanied by the clergy, was received 
 at the entrance of the church by wardens Walter H. Pad- 
 dock and Philip Verplanck, and vestrymen William F. 
 Cochran, John H. Hubbell, William F. Lawrence, William 
 
44 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL, WORK. 
 
 W. Scrugham, William M. Morgan, Stephen H. Thayer, 
 Frederick Von Storch, and Robert P. Getty, Jr. The ves- 
 try formed on either side of the centre aisle of the door ; 
 the clergy passed along and formed similarly; and then 
 the Bishop walked between the columns, leading the way 
 to the chancel. As they proceeded up the aisle the Bishop 
 and clergy repeated alternately Psalm 24, beginning, " The 
 earth is the Lord's, and all that therein is." 
 
 The Bishop then went within the chancel rails with 
 such of the clergy as could be accommodated. As he sat 
 in his chair the instrument of donation was read by vestry- 
 man Cochran, and was then presented to him by the rector. 
 
 The instrument of consecration, which was signed by 
 Bishop Potter, was read by the Rev. Dr. Langford. The 
 consecration service being ended, Morning Prayer followed, 
 the officiating clergymen being Bishop Talbot, Archdeacon 
 Thomas, and the Rev. Drs. Huntington and Langford. 
 The musical programme was as follows, and was well ren- 
 dered: Venite Exultemus, Dr. W. Turner; the Psalter — 
 Proper Psalms, 84, 120, 132 ; Te Deum Laudamus, Mendels- 
 sohn ; Benedictus, Dudley Buck ; Introit — Hymn 278 (St. 
 Ann's), Dr. Craft ; Kyrie Eleison ; Gloria Tibi, W. T. Best ; 
 the Hundredth Psalm, Mozart; Offertory, "This is the 
 Day," Gadsby ; Recessional Hymn, 282, Henry Smart. 
 
 The sermon was preached by the Rev. David H. 
 Greer, D. D., rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, New 
 York, from the text, " And the Lord added to the church 
 daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47. It was an 
 able and appropriate discourse. 
 
 After the services, which ended shortly after i o'clock, 
 the clergy, vestry, and others partook of an elaborate luncheon 
 provided by the ladies of the church in the parish building. 
 
 The present rector of this church, the Rev. Alexander 
 B. Carver, studied at the University of Pennsylvania and 
 at the Episcopal Divinity School at Cambridge in 1878. 
 His mother is a descendant of the House of Hapsburg and 
 his father a descendant from Capt. Carver of the " May- 
 flower." During his diaconate he was assistant minister of 
 Christ Church, Brooklyn. 
 
 After a year's service as assistant he was ordained to 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 45 
 
 the priesthood, and then assumed charge of a mission 
 church, St. Gabriel's, in Providence, R. I. This mission, 
 at first heavily in debt, was cleared of its indebtedness and 
 became an independent parish. 
 
 After a service of five years he was called to the rec- 
 torship of St. Peter's Church, Narragansett Pier, and held 
 the position for two summers, when he accepted an invita- 
 tion to become assistant minister of St. Thomas' Church, 
 New York city. 
 
 In 1887 he was unanimously elected to the rectorship 
 of St. John's Church, Yonkers, N. Y. 
 
 The Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., always faithful and ready, 
 assists the rector on Sundays. 
 
 The Rev. Alexander B. Carver is a clergyman of 
 marked ability. His sermons bear evidence of deep 
 thought and a mind well stored with philosophic and reli- 
 gious truth. They are replete with poetic figure, apt illus- 
 trations, and sound gospel teaching, being delivered with 
 much feeling and earnestness of expression. His sermons 
 without manuscript are of late his best efforts, and predict 
 for him in the near future a decided reputation for that 
 method of preaching. Besides this he is thoroughly faith- 
 ful in parish work. Having the stamp of the Christian gen- 
 tleman, his visits are well received. The increase of the 
 members of the parish and the attendance at the church 
 services prove very forcibly that he is appreciated and is 
 doing a good work. His popularity in a parish distin- 
 guished for the diversity of the churchmanship of its 
 members is remarkable. Extremely liberal in his views 
 and imbued with love for the Master, he rejoices in and 
 encourages with his sympathy and help every good work. 
 
 The present officers of St. John's Church, 1891, and 
 who were elected on Easter Monday, 1891, are^ 
 
 WARDENS. 
 
 Walter H. Paddock, Philip Verplanck. 
 
 VESTRYMEN. 
 
 William F. Cochran, William M. Morgan, 
 
 John H. Hubbell, Stephen H. Thayer, 
 
 William F. Lawrence, ' Fred. Von Storch, 
 
 William W. Scrugham, Robert P. Getty, Jr. 
 
46 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CLERK OF VESTRY. TREASURER. 
 
 Robert P. Getty, Jr. S. H. Thayer, Jr. 
 
 The ushers of St. John's Church are as follows : 
 Fred. Von Storch, Earnest Belknap, 
 
 George Herbert Rose, Kearney Pentz, 
 
 Wilson Morris, Albert S. Skinner. 
 
 PAROCHIAL STATISTICS, SEPTEMBER i, 1889-1890. 
 
 Number of souls, about 1,000 1,000 
 
 Baptisms: Infants, 44; adults, 10. Total . . 54 66 
 
 Confirmed 31 37 
 
 Marriages . 18 19 
 
 Burials 27 19 
 
 Communicants : Nuniber last reported . . 600 600 
 Expenditures. Total for all objects, 1890, |is,666 33. 
 
 The membership of St. John's Church is effectively- 
 organized for various forms of parish and other work. 
 Prominent among the latter is St. John's Riverside Hospi- 
 tal, which was founded November, 1869, and chartered in 
 1 870, and is now. one of the prominent public institutions 
 of Yonkers, and has enlisted the sympathy and care of 
 this congregation ever since, its establishment. 
 
 Several of the members of St. John's Church have 
 served for successive years as members of its Board of 
 Managers. The Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., has served as its 
 Chaplain and Treasurer for twenty years and filled those 
 oflfices with great acceptance. 
 
 St. John's Church also supported a lady missionary. 
 Miss Seymour, who went to South Africa in 1857. The 
 Church has also the following societies connected with it : 
 
 The Women's Auxiliary. President, Mrs. William F. 
 Cochran ; Secretary, Mrs. Dr. Houston ; Treasurer, Miss Hal- 
 stead. The Auxiliary raised for Home and Foreign Mis- 
 sions in 1890 over $1,000. 
 
 A Junior Auxiliary Missionary Society was organized 
 January, 1890. The amount raised for home and foreign 
 missions for the year ending December, 1 890, was $400. 
 
 Altar Society. President, Mrs. Alexander B. Carver, 
 Mrs. D. A. Booth, Miss Nellie Scrugham, Miss Waring. 
 
 Dorcas Society. 
 
 Mothers' Meeting. 
 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 47 
 
 The Industrial School. 
 
 Girls' Friendly Society. 
 
 In September, 1 888, Mrs. L. C. Wray began her labors 
 as parish visitor, and served till June, 1 889. She was suc- 
 ceeded by Mrs. E. L. Chapman, who is the present parish 
 visitor. The rector, the Rev. Alexander B. Carver, bears 
 testimony to the efficiency and great usefulness of her 
 labors in connection with the parish work. 
 
 Organist and Choirmaster, James Pearce, Mus. Bac. 
 Oxon. 
 
 The leading singers are Miss Louise Cowles, soprano. 
 Miss Sara Humbert, alto, Harry Rawcliffe, tenor, and R. G. 
 Jackson, bass; the best quartette the church has had, at 
 least for many years. 
 
 Three of the sextons of St. John's Church have been 
 Charles Philips Angevine, son of John Angevine, a colored 
 servant of the Philipses, who served forty-five years, Lewis 
 Ritter, colored, who acted in that capacity for thirty years, 
 and Richard J. Whitehead, who served for twenty-eight 
 years; he was succeeded by Benson M. De Witt. The 
 present sexton is Sylvester L. Havey. 
 
 On the present pulpit Bible is inscribed, " St. John's 
 Church, Yonkers, 1872. Gift of Mrs. J. Lewis Leib." 
 
 " The old communion service of this church was car- 
 ried oflf, during the war of the Revolution, for safe keeping 
 to the city of New York. Some years after the close of 
 the war the altar cloth was discovered in an old dusty box 
 where it had lain through the whole period of the Revolu- 
 tion, and is now preserved at St. John's Chapel, Tuckahoe. 
 
 " The silver formerly used at the administration of the 
 holy sacrament consisted of one large silver flagon, two 
 silver chalices, a silver basin or font (the latter was pre- 
 sented by a member of the Van Cortlandt family in 1830, 
 on the occasion of the baptism of Miss Harriet Van Cort- 
 landt Crosby, daughter of Rev. Alexander H. Crosby), and 
 two silver plates, one of which bears the following inscrip- 
 tion : ' Presented to the Episcopal Church, Town of Yon- 
 kers, 1795.' 
 
 " The altar-cloth was given by Miss Arabella Ludlow." 
 
 BOLTON'S HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 
 
48 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The present communion-service is of solid silver, and 
 consists of two flagons, two chalices, two patens, and a 
 communion-spoon and spoon-rest. On the flagons are the 
 following inscriptions : " St. John's Church, Yonkers. The 
 gift of William C. Waring, July i, 1845." "Presented to 
 St. John's Church by Lyman Cobb, Jr., in memory of 
 Hannah Chambers Cobb, his beloved mother, Yonkers,- 
 November, 1884." 
 
 The communion-spoon and spoon-rest each bear the fol- 
 lowing inscription : " Presented to St. John's Church, by 
 Lyman Cobb, Jr., in memory of his sister, H. Louise Crut- 
 tenden, November, 1884." 
 
 Communion set for the sick. " Presented by Sylvanus 
 Mayo to St. John's Church, Easter, 1880. In memory of 
 Angelica R. Mayo." 
 
 The large paten bears this inscription : " Presented to 
 the Episcopal Church of the Town of Yonkers, 1795-" 
 Upon the small paten, " Presented by Augustus Fred Van 
 Cortlandt to St. John's Church, Yonkers, November i, 1836." 
 
 The chalices bear the following inscriptions : " The gift 
 of Miss S. Williams to the Episcopal Church of Philips- 
 burgh." "The gift of Miss H. "White to the Episcopal 
 Church of Philipsburgh, 1836." 
 
 The three silver alms-basins bear the following inscrip- 
 tions : the first, " William Jones," the second, " Nathaniel 
 Valentine," the third, " St. John's Church, Yonkers, N. Y., 
 from W. M. Morgan, Easter, New York, A. D., 1891." 
 
 On Easter, 1891, a brass altar desk was presented by 
 the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., which bears the following' in- 
 scription : " In loving memory of Raffaelle Cobb, Jr., 1890." 
 
 Also ten chancel prayer and service books, " Presented 
 to St. John's Church by J. Lewis Leib, in memory of his 
 wife, Josephine S. Leib." 
 
 The bell was presented to the church by Joseph How- 
 land, Esq., and contains the following inscription : " B. 
 Hanks, Mansfield, Conn., 1818." 
 
 The first Year Book of St John's Church was issued in 
 1889. The rector in his introductory note of the Parish 
 Year Book of 1889 says, "We believe that we are entering 
 upon a new era of increased usefulness and prosperity, and 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 49 
 
 that by steadfast support, patient sympathy, generous help, 
 and enthusiastic loyalty we shall 'abound more and more,* 
 and bring forth good fruit to the praise and glory of God 
 and His church." , 
 
 Holy Communion first Sunday in the month, 11 A. M. 
 
 Holy Baptism on the first Sunday in the month. At 
 other times by special appointment. 
 
 Confirmation as appointed by the Bishop. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 From the semi-centennial report of John P. Groshon, 
 the present superintendent of St. John's Sunday-school, we 
 find that the school was sixty-one years old Easter, 1887. 
 According to this report the school was founded under the 
 . rectorship of the Rev. John West, A. M., who was called to 
 the rectorship of St. John's Church the 17th of October, 1823. 
 
 From Miss Alice S. Brown, a resident of Kingsbridge, 
 whose recollections of the school date back to the rector- 
 ship of the Rev. John West, in the year 1 826, we learn that 
 the school was held in Manor Hall (now the Yonkers City 
 Hall) on Warburton Avenue, which was at that time the 
 residence of Lemuel Wells, Sr., warden in St. John's 
 Church. There, in a room designated as the " Green 
 Room," Miss Brown, with her sister and her brother James 
 D. Brown, met with the family of Mr. Wells, Sr., whose 
 family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Wells, Sr., Lemuel Wells, 
 their only son, who died at an early age and was at this 
 time under the tuition of the Rev. Richard Cadle, and also 
 Mrs. Wells' youngest sister (now Mrs. Harriet Baylies), 
 daughter of Mr. James Blackwell, of Blackwell's Island. 
 These, with two others whose names she could not recall, 
 constituted the little Sunday-school. 
 
 After a time the " Green Room " became too small to 
 accommodate them, and they adjourned to the Library. 
 The name of the superintendent she does not recollect, but 
 the Rev. Mr. Cadle sometimes conducted the opening exer- 
 cises. Her recollections of the hours spent in the school 
 are very pleasant, and her remembrance of Mr. Wells and 
 his family especially so. 
 
 The room formerly known as the " Green Room " is 
 
 Cliurcb and SuDday-achool Work. A 
 
so 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 now the room in the present City Hall which is occupied by 
 the janitor, and the room formerly known as the " Library " 
 is the southwest room in the second story, and is especially 
 sacred to memory as General Washington's bed-chamber. 
 
 In the west room of the second story of Manor Hall* 
 the fireplace jambs are lined with one hundred and six 
 tiles, five inches square, each one illustrating a passage of 
 Scripture. The iron fire-brick is dated 1760, and has upon 
 it a casting representing Elijah being fed by ravens. 
 
 At a later period the little school gathered again within 
 its walls, and received a cordial welcome from its kind 
 
 THE MANOR HALL IN 1842. 
 
 owner, Lemuel Wells, Sr., who opened its doors on the cold 
 winter mornings in "ye olden times " when the good sex- 
 ton of St. John's Church failed, as he sometimes did, to kin- 
 dle the fire in season, so as to make the church comfortable 
 for their meeting. 
 
 The late Mrs. P. W. Paddock, who was a pupil in the 
 
 * Upon a tablet fastened on the wall of the present front hall of Manor 
 Hall is this inscription: " Philipse Manor House. Erected in 1682, by 
 Frederick Philipse, esq. Manor of Philipsburg created 1693. Confiscated 
 by act of the legislature of New York, 1779. Sold by Commissioners of for- 
 feiture, 1785. Occupied as a private residence until 1868. Purchased by 
 the village of Yonkers in that year. Became the City Hall of Yonkers. 
 1872. Bi-centennial celebration of its erection 1882." 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 5 1 
 
 Sunday-school at that time, related the above incident to 
 her children when talking of her Sunday-school days. 
 
 The Rev. Alexander H. Crosby, who became rector of 
 St. John's Church, was very closely identified with the early 
 history of the school, and during his connection with it he 
 was assisted by Squire Thaddeus Rockwell, who also held 
 the office of Justice of the Peace of the village of Yonkers 
 at that time. 
 
 From early reminiscences of this school given by Mrs. 
 Frederick A. Back,* an old resident of Yonkers, and who 
 was a pupil in the school, we find that it was held in the 
 old court-room located on Broadway on the site where the 
 Citizen'^ Bank now stands. This room was about eighteen 
 feet wide and forty feet long, with wooden benches for 
 seats. This building is at present located on Nepperhan 
 Avenue, opposite Morgan Street. 
 
 The rector and his most estimable wife, a woman 
 greatly beloved by all who knew her, were always present 
 during the session, which was from nine oJclock until ten 
 o'clock in the morning. They were both very sweet singers 
 and always led the singing, which consisted of selections 
 from the metrical version of the Psalms of David. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Crosby always heard the children recite 
 the Church Catechism. It was the custom of Mrs. Back, 
 when obliged to be absent from the school, to send to her 
 teacher the answers to the questions of the lessons for the 
 day written out. The Apostles' Creed was recited in con- 
 cert and a psalm was sung, and the scholars with their 
 teachers, two by two, walked in procession to the church 
 over the way, the rector and his wife leading. 
 
 At this time the school numbered between twenty and 
 thirty scholars and eight teachers. They were Miss Har- 
 riet Myers (now Mrs. Albert Keeler), Miss Sarah Forested 
 
 * Mr. Frederick A. Back, an old resident of this city, remembers when 
 quite a young boy of attending a Sunday-school which was held in the par- 
 lor of Mrs. Barrett, an English lady who resided on the Pinkney farm, later 
 known as the Coddington farm, a mile and a half from Getty Square, in 
 New York city, and upon a portion of which Superintendent Groshon now 
 resides. She was assisted by her sisters. The number of pupils Mr. Back 
 does not remember. The school was held during the summer months 
 only, and but for one year. He thinks it was in 1825 or 1826. 
 
52 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 (now Mrs. George B. Rockwell), Miss Eliza Rockwell (now 
 Mrs. Joseph Moore), Miss Jane Myers, Miss Rachel Anna 
 Nodine, Miss Hibbard, Mrs. Jane Baldwin, and Peter Nodine. 
 
 The exact date cannot be ascertained when the school 
 left this building and met in St. John's Church. In the 
 year 1832 John Hobbs became a teacher in the school, and 
 at that time it was held in the gallery of the church. Mr. 
 Hobbs led the singing, and often took the place of the 
 librarian when that official was absent. The school was 
 divided' into two divisions. The girls occupied the south 
 end of the gallery and the boys the north end. The super- 
 intendent's desk was placed in the middle of the room 
 between the two divisions. There was one adillt Bible 
 class, which was taught by Sampson Simpson. 
 
 Mrs.; Charles Belknap, a resident of Yonkers, who was 
 a pupil in the school at that time, says, " The scholars num- 
 bered between forty and fifty, and the children always re- 
 mained during the church service in the gallery. Mr. Hobbs 
 led the singing in the church also and Miss Caroline Jones 
 presided at the organ. The school became too large to meet 
 in the gallery and adjourned to the body of the church." 
 
 In the year 1849 transepts were added with other im- 
 provements to the church edifice, and during this time the 
 school was held in what was called the " Long Room." 
 This room was in a building belonging to the Wells estate, 
 and was located on the southwest corner of Broadway and 
 Main Street. There were three rooms in this building 
 opening into each other by folding doors, and it was at that 
 time the only public hall in the place. 
 
 The Sunday-school was held in the church chapel, 
 which was erected in i860, and was located within the 
 inclosure of the church grounds on Hudson Street until it 
 was renloved to the present beautiful and comniodious 
 chapel on Sunday, June 29, 1890. The first church chapel 
 •was erected by private subscription, and was a wooden 
 structure with transepts. The interior was pleasant and 
 attractive. It had stained glass windows, and on the north 
 side, in the chancel window, was represented in stained 
 glass three choir boys, symbolizing praise. Underneath 
 the picture were these words : " We praise thee, O God." 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 53 
 
 On the west window was pictured Christ blessing 
 little children, with the words, " For of such is the king- 
 dom of heaven." On the opposite side, over the east en- 
 trance, was the representation of an open Bible with a 
 crown above it. 
 
 The infant class room on the south side and south 
 entrance opened into the audience-room, between which 
 were sliding doors, over which was inscribed, " Remember 
 now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." In this room 
 was a large oil painting representing a scene after the cru- 
 cifixion : the darkened sun, the riven rocks, and the centre 
 cross standing upright with the inscription upon it, " I. N. 
 R. I.," while the other crosses have fallen broken into the 
 chasm below, are strikingly represented. This picture is a 
 copy from the original which was painted by J. T. Weir, 
 and is in the chapel of "the Holy Innocents" at West 
 Point. It is said to have considerable artistic merit. It 
 was presented to the Sunday-school by Mrs. W. W. Scrug- 
 ham. 
 
 The annual report of the Sunday-school, for May 23, 
 1872, gives the following statistics: Total number of teach- 
 ers, 34; total number of pupils, 484; number in primary 
 department, 241 ; number of volumes in library, 900 ; total 
 amount contributed for benevolence during the year, 
 $266 91. The officers of the school were Samuel Emmet 
 Getty, Superintendent ; Edward Jackson, Secretary ; A. O. 
 Lawrence, Librarian ; and Fred. W. Von Storch and G. E. 
 Back, Assistant Librarians. 
 
 The semi-centennial anniversary of the school was 
 held in the church at four o'clock in the afternoon, on 
 Whitsunday, 1876, when the exercises began by singing a 
 hymn, followed by the reading of a selection of Psalms ; 
 then the Gloria in Excelsis, reading of the Scriptures, 
 Creed, and prayer ; singing by the infant class, which was 
 followed by an address by the rector, the Rev. Addison B. 
 Atkins, D. D. ; closing by a hymn and benediction. 
 
 The following is taken from a printed report of the 
 school in the centennial year, April, 1876: 
 
 " The Sunday-school connected with St. John's Church 
 on South Broadway is a model one in every respect. Good 
 
54 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 order and close attention to the lesson were observable on 
 the occasion of our visit last Sunday morning. The attend- 
 ance was large and all seemed much interested. Since 
 the Rev. Dr. Atkins has taken the rectorship of this parish 
 he has organized a Bible-class, which is in a flourishing con- 
 dition. 
 
 " The following statistics for the past year speak well^ 
 of the condition of the school- Ofl&cers, 6, teachers, 34; 
 scholars on register, 340, average attendance, 259; largest 
 attendance, 327; number in infant class, 130; volumes in 
 library, 600; receipts, $498 78; expenditures, $461 34. 
 
 " The ofEcers of the school are as follows . J. P. Gro- 
 shon, Superintendent ; Frederick Von Storch, Secretary and 
 Treasurer; Charles Back, T. Silkman, Governeur Morris, 
 and John T. Christopher, Librarians. The teachers are as 
 follows: Miss'A. D. Locke, Miss M. Bowers, Miss C. Law- 
 son, Miss M. V. Oakley, Miss Gettie E. Cobb, Miss M. Gi- 
 hon, Miss L. M. Sommers, Miss Kate Underbill, Miss L. 
 Clark, Mrs. James Bloomer, Miss N. Lawson, Miss J. A. 
 Christopher, Mrs. George W. Cobb, Mrs. Dr. Swift, Miss 
 A. Locke, Miss I. M. Orme, Miss E. A. Metcalf, Mrs. C. E. 
 Keeler, Miss H. Gihon, Miss K. E. Spencer, Mrs. D. C. Kel- 
 linger. Miss M. L. Proseus, Miss Arthur, Messrs. George 
 W. Cobb, R. J. Harper, H. B. Odell, James D. Mclntyre, 
 S. J. Everett, S. A. Moore, Edgar Logan, Jr., Wm. Smith, 
 J. B. Silkman, A. A. Renwee, and Mr. Gaul." 
 
 The fifty-second Easter celebration of the Sunday- 
 school was held in the church on April 21,1 878. At four 
 o'clock, the school marched from the chapel singing a pro- 
 cessional hymn. The exercises comprised the singing of 
 carols. Scripture reading, the recitation of the Creed and 
 prayers, the address by the rector, the Rev. Dr. Atkins, 
 and the presentation of the offerings. The offerings by 
 the scholars were very beautiful, the Scripture mottoes 
 accompanying them appropriate, and the amounts credita- 
 ble, making the aggregate sum of $175, which was devoted 
 to various benevolent objects. 
 
 The report of John P. Groshon, Superintendent, was as 
 follows : Number of pupils on the roll, 448 ; largest attend- 
 ance, 437: smallest attendance, 114; average attendance, 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 55 
 
 286 ; teachers and officers, 46 , total, 483. Superintendent 
 Groshon said the school held its sessions throughout the 
 year without the omission of a single Sunday. Ninety-six 
 scholars had committed the Catechism during the year. 
 The children's weekly contributions for missions were 
 $630 25. Agnes Clayton, Mary Kelly, Minnie Ginzlinger, 
 Nellie Lanzendren, William Gaul, and Harry Clayton had 
 been present in their places every Sunday during the year. 
 After the exercises by the school the rector distributed 
 presents to those members who by punctuality in attend- 
 ance and application to lessons had earned them. 
 
 On Easter morning Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, Bishop of 
 the Diocese, confirmed a class of thirty-five, seventeen of 
 whom were adults, the others being from the Sunday- 
 school. This number made one hundred and fifty-six 
 persons who had been presented for confirmation by the 
 rector, the Rev. A. B. Atkins, D. D., within two years. 
 
 The Christmas and Easter festivals of the school are 
 occasions of great interest and enjoyment to the children, 
 and their Easter offerings of flowers are choice and beauti- 
 ful. On one of these occasions among the floral designs 
 was a pyramid of flowers, the offering from a class of young 
 ladies, while crosses and anchors and fancy baskets full of 
 flowers were among the other offerings. And across the 
 chancel rail were fastened wires to which were hung floral 
 letters, and a member from each class, as the class was called, 
 came and placed a letter on the wires. The school did not 
 know what the sentence was to be until after each class had 
 placed its letter. And when it was completed it read 
 thus: "Christ is Risen." The letters were composed of 
 pure white flowers, on a background of green. The effect 
 was exquisitely beautiful. 
 
 At one of the Christmas festivals, a Jacob's ladder, bril- 
 liantly lighted, extended from the chancel floor to the roof, 
 at the base of which were placed the gifts for the school, and 
 it was the attractive feature of the event. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1868 was held in the Sunday- 
 school chapel, which was beautifully decorated with ever- 
 greens and the tables were bountifully spread with cake, 
 fruit, and confections. In the centre of the transept stood 
 
56 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 a large Christmas-tree. The exercises of the evening were 
 opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Carter, a former rector 
 of the church, who had made it a special duty and pleasure 
 to attend on this occasion. 
 
 Dr. Carter said : " Though no longer their rector, he, 
 hoped they would not look upon him as a stranger, that his 
 former pleasant connection with them would not pass from 
 their memory. It would not pass from his, and he hoped 
 often to visit them and witness the continued prosperity of 
 the school. And he left them as his last special lesson the 
 duty of reverence to the holy child Jesus, whose birth they 
 were celebrating." 
 
 Interesting and appropriate addresses were made by 
 Edgar Logan and Britton Richardson. The distribution of 
 gifts from the Christmas-tree followed, giving great delight 
 to the young recipients. A pleasing feature of the occasion 
 was the presentation of a beautiful study-chair to Dr. Carter 
 by Mr. Richardson on behalf of the school. 
 
 Dr. Carter replied in feeling terms that in receiving the 
 evidence of the love of his former young charge he hoped it 
 would long remain in his family as a reminder of his happy 
 connection with the Sunday-school of St. John's Church. 
 
 The doxology was sung, and the benediction given by 
 the Rev. Dr. Carter, and teachers, scholars, and visitors all 
 seemed highly delighted with the evening's entertainment. 
 
 St. John's Sunday-school has four circles of the " King's 
 Daughters." 
 
 The first band of King's Daughters started in Yonkers 
 was formed by Mary B. Kellinger, which met first at her 
 home, October ii, 1886. The members were: Miss Mary 
 B. Kellinger, President, Ellie Hill, Mary Guilford, Louise 
 Shipman, Alice Booth, Ada Beardsley, Frances Thayer, 
 and Margaret Nye. Their motto is 
 
 "Lend' A hand." 
 
 In 1886 this Circle contributed various gifts to St. 
 John's Riverside Hospital, and in i88g garments and cro- 
 cheted articles were made for St. John's missionary boxes, 
 and seventy dollars sent to Miss Margaret Scott's mission 
 in Liberia, Africa. 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 57 
 
 By the aid of a younger Ten, whose president is Miss 
 Edith Morgan, a number of garments were made for St. 
 John's Dorcas Society. 
 
 CIRCLE " NO. 2." 
 
 Miss Grace Wellman, President, Miss Verplanck, Anna 
 Clark, Julia Sherman, Nellie Scrugham, the Misses De 
 Wint, Mrs. Fisher Morris, and Mrs. Edward Verplanck. 
 Ob j ect — Baptism. 
 
 Gifts for the sick poor and articles for a fair for the 
 benefit of Bishop Brewer's Hospital were made by the circle 
 in 1889. Also gifts for the " Yonkers Nursery and Home." 
 
 CIRCLE "NO. 3." 
 
 GOLDEN RULE CIRCLE, K. D. 
 
 . Mrs. Hastings, President, Ada B. Belknap, Secretary, 
 Susan Clark, Lizzie Williams, May Bashford, Mary Cobb, 
 Miss Reinfelder, and Mrs. Beardsley. 
 
 The Golden Rule Circle is composed of three Tens : a 
 young ladies' Ten, a Ten of married ladies, and a Ten of 
 young men. The Circle was formed by Mrs. Esther E. 
 Hastings, who is President of the several Tens. The special 
 object of the Circle is to help the sick and poor. 
 
 CIRCLE " NO. 4." 
 
 ''LOVE AND SERVE." 
 
 Miss Bashford, President, Mrs. John Copcutt, Elizabeth 
 Katharine Humason, Carol Seymour Humasbn, Alice M. 
 Edgar, Gertrude E. Underbill, Marion A. Chase, Gertrude 
 Chase, Carrie Emerson, Adeline F. Keeler, Annie Mason, 
 and Katharine Getty. Organized February 14, 1889. Ob- 
 ject — To sew for some poor little needy ones. 
 
 The primary department of the school is efficiently 
 taught by Mrs. E. L. Chapman, who is assisted by Miss 
 Sarah Hill and Mrs. L. C. Wray. The Commandments, 
 the Apostles' Creed, the Church Catechism, and lessons 
 from "The Story of the Bible" are taught. "The Pic- 
 torial Gospel Reading," consisting of large colored pic- 
 tures illustrative of the lesson, is used, and a paper en- 
 titled "The Young Christian Soldier" is distributed. 
 This department, under its present superintendent, has 
 
58 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 largely increased, in interest and membership from one 
 hundred and fifty pupils to its present number, two hun- 
 dred and thirty-five. 
 
 The largest and advanced Bible-class in the school 
 is taught by Mrs. E. L. Chapman. This class numbers 
 from thirty-five to forty members of men and women, many 
 of whom are heads of families. 
 
 Mrs. Dewitt C. Kellinger is in charge of a large and in- 
 teresting class of young ladies numbering twenty. 
 
 The rector, desiring to increase the interest of the boys 
 in the church and Sunday work, suggested the organization 
 of a boys' club, " with weekly meetings, when such exer- 
 cises or amusements could be enjoyed by them as would 
 make their connection with the Sunday-school a source of 
 pleasure and relaxation, as well as a duty." 
 
 A boys' club was , organized, the name of St. John's 
 Cadets was adopted ; and an eagle on a pink ribbon, bear- 
 ing the motto " Onward," was selected as the badge. The 
 first meeting was on Tuesday, November 5, 1888. The 
 second meeting was held on Thursday, November 14, when 
 there were sixty-six boys present. 
 
 As the movement was naturally a parochial one, and it 
 was thought, also, that such a course v/ould be interesting 
 and attractive to the boys, it was decided to adopt a system 
 of issuing certificates of membership to be countersigned 
 by the Sunday-school teacher. 
 
 The cadets are under the supervision of the following 
 gentlemen: Commandant, Henry T. Bragg (late Captain 1 3th 
 Regiment, N. G., S. N. Y.) ; assisted by Mr. William B. Froe- 
 ligh (of 3d Battery, N. G., S. N. Y.), and Mr. August Miller. 
 
 The meetings are held weekly on Thursday evening, 
 at 7:30, in the chapel. 
 
 St. John's Church was crowded with children and 
 friends on Saturday evening at six o'clock, December 28, 
 1889, when the Sunday-school festival was held. A large 
 and beautifully decorated Christmas-tree stood in the chan- 
 cel, surmounted by a star. 
 
 The rector, the Rev. Alexander B. Carver, conducted the 
 services, and delivered a very felicitous fifteen-minute ad- 
 dress that interested the children greatly. He illustrated 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 59 
 
 in simple language the fact that something good is pretty- 
 certain to come out of whatever seems hard to accomplish 
 or to understand, and that troubles in this life are prepara- 
 tory to appreciation of the joys in the life to come. 
 
 Seven carols were sung by the school, and one by the 
 infant class. The latter was rendered with the usual child- 
 ish vigor that never fails to please. The second carol sung 
 by the school was one the words and music of which were 
 composed by Mrs. Alexander B. Carver. The music was 
 pretty, and the words were as follows : 
 
 Hail to thee, thou Prince of glory ! 
 
 Ring the joy-bells far and wide ; 
 Welcome to the blessed Christ-child, 
 
 Welcome now to Christmas-tide. 
 
 Chorus. — Alleluia ! Alleluia ! 
 Echoing hills take up the strain. 
 
 Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 Christ has come to earth again. 
 
 Heavenly realms resound with music. 
 
 Seraphim adore thy face, 
 We on earth are lowly bending. 
 
 Bless us with thy royal grace. 
 
 Chant we of thy glorious advent ; 
 
 Listening choirs, from far above, 
 Catch the glad refrain, and answer : 
 
 Crown him Prince of Peace and Love ! 
 
 The little children's presents were dolls and toys, and 
 rich and wholesome candies were distributed. The elder 
 scholars received books principally, It was a very happy 
 occasion. 
 
 The opening exercises of the school are always con- 
 ducted by the rector when present, and at the opening, re- 
 cently, the Rev. Alexander Carver, rector, in a few brief re- 
 marks, spoke of his earnest desire for its prosperity, and 
 hoped that the teachers would unite with him in his efforts 
 to make the school attractive. He also commended the 
 pupils for their singing and for so heartily uniting in the 
 responsive reading, and said while doing so well, they could 
 still do better, and mentioned his intention of having the 
 first Sunday in the month sef apart for catechising the 
 
6o ' CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 children from the Church Catechism, and in conchision said, 
 " You do not come here primarily to learn about the church, 
 but more than that : you come to study and learn about the 
 life of Christ and his teachings — Christ in the Old Testa- 
 ment and Christ in the New Testament." 
 
 The lessons taught in this school are from the Old and 
 New Testament and Church Catechism. The collections 
 taken up are appropriated to the Sunday-school and mis- 
 sionary work. Collections for missionary work are taken 
 up at the Christmas and Easter festivals. 
 
 One of the pupils of this Sunday-school, the son of the 
 Rev. Henry Lemuel Storrs, D. D., entered the ministry. A 
 son of Henry Anstice, a former superintendent of the same 
 school, entered the ministry, and is now the Rev. Henry 
 Anstice, D. D., rector of the St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 
 Rochester, N. Y., where he has been located for the past 
 twenty years. 
 
 We have given simply the history of the school in 
 facts and figures. The spiritual work of the school cannot 
 be so estimated nor fully known until " the day shall de- 
 clare it." Suffice it to say this is the primary thought in 
 the minds of rector, superintendent, and teachers. From 
 this Sunday-school many have been confirmed and are now 
 consistent and active members of the church. 
 
 The names of the superintendents who have had 
 charge of the school, so far as can be ascertained, are: 
 Thaddeus Rockwell, who served under the rectorship of the 
 Rev. Alex. H. Crosby ; Thomas O. Farrington, who served 
 under the rectorship of the Rev. Henry Lemuel Storrs; 
 Henry Anstice, served under the rectorship of the Rev. 
 Abraham Beach Carter, D. D.; John N. Stearns, under the 
 rectorship of the Rev. Abraham Beach Carter, D. D. ; S. 
 Emmet Getty, under the rectorships of the Rev. Drs. 
 Carter, Thomas A. Jaggar, and William S. Langford. 
 
 John P. Groshon took charge of the school in May, 
 1875, and has served under the rectorships of the Rev. Wil- 
 liam S. Langford, D. D., the Rev. Addison B. Atkins, D. D., 
 and the Rev. James Haughton. He was succeeded by the 
 Rev. August Ulmann, late rector of Christ Church, Yon- 
 kers, who served under the rectorship of the Rev. James 
 
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 61 
 
 Haughton, then by the Rev. R. Herbert Gesner, who is 
 nt)w rector of the Hyde Park (N. Y.) Episcopal Church, 
 ■under the Rev. James Haughton. 
 
 John P. Groshon was again appointed by the Rev. 
 Alexander B. Carver, who came to the parish May 15, 1877. 
 The record book shows an interesting fact, that Mr. Gro- 
 shon, during the entire term of thirteen years as superin- 
 tendent of the school, has never been late or absent. 
 
 Mr. Samuel A. Moore, for his long term of service of 
 twenty years as teacher in connection with this Sunday- 
 school, has his name enrolled among the honorary list of 
 Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 Sunday-school offerings for year ending September, 
 1889, $162 82. The present enrolment, April, 1890: Bible 
 classes, 60 ; intermediate, 300 ; primary, 240 ; officers and 
 teachers, 37. Total, 650. 
 
 The present officers and teachers of the Sunday-school 
 are as follows : 
 
 Superintendent, 
 
 Lay Superintendent, 
 
 Assistant Superintendent, 
 
 Secretary, 
 
 Librarian, 
 
 Assistant Librarian, 
 
 Organist, 
 
 Miss Moore, 
 Miss Skinner, 
 Miss M. Guilford, 
 Miss Verplanck, 
 Miss Wellman, 
 Mr. Wm. Gaul, 
 Mr. H. Back, 
 Miss E. Varian, 
 Miss J. Waring, 
 Miss A. B. Belknap, 
 Miss Hoheim, 
 Mr. Miller, 
 Mrs. Humason, 
 Miss Shotts, 
 Miss Rose, 
 
 The Rev. Alexander B. Carver. 
 
 John P. Groshon. 
 
 James E. Freeman. 
 
 R. E. Belknap. 
 
 Ernest Getty. 
 
 Wallace Guilford. 
 
 Miss Minnie Bayer. 
 
 Teachers. 
 
 Miss Kerr, 
 Mrs. George Cobb, 
 Miss Clark; 
 Mr. Sheldon, 
 Mrs. Close, 
 Mrs. Farrington, 
 Miss Borgman, 
 Miss S. Waring, 
 Mrs. Wm. Clark, 
 Miss Barber, 
 Miss Belknap, 
 Miss Bashford, 
 Miss Taylor, 
 Mrs. J. E. Freeman, 
 Miss Emerson. 
 
 TEACHERS OF PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza L. Chapman. • Miss Sarah Hill, 2nd Ass't. 
 
 Mrs. Lizzie C. Wray, ist Ass't. 
 
 Miss Minnie Bayer, Organist. 
 
12 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Total number of scholars of all ages for 1891, 460. 
 Total number of scholars in Primary Department, 340. 
 Mrs. D. C. Kellinger's Adult Bible-Class, 25. 
 Mrs. E. L. Chapman's Adult Bible-Class, 40. 
 Mr. James E. Freeman's Adult Bible-Class, 20. 
 vSunday-school offerings, $300. 
 In Library, Books, 611. 
 
THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 63 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 On the east side of the town of Yonkers, bordering the 
 Bronx River, is situated a tract of land called the Mile 
 Square, lying principally in a beautiful vale watered by the 
 river and sheltered by. picturesque hills. This tract was 
 exempted out of the great manorial patent of 1693, and 
 appears originally to have formed a part of the possessions 
 of the Doughtys of Flushing, as we find John Doughty, of 
 that place, in 1670, selling sixty-four acres of land here, in 
 one square mile, to Francis French, Ebenezer Jones, and 
 John Wascot. In the year 1685 John Hiatt, of Bronx's 
 River, deeds sixty acres of upland to Hopestill Betts, of the 
 Younckers, this sale being a part of the whole tract of land 
 called by the name of the Mile Square. Tradition says 
 that this place was given by Frederick Philipse as a dower 
 portion when his daughter Annetje married Philip French. 
 From the French and Jones family it passed by sale to the 
 Oakleys, Bertines, Curwells, Sherwoods, and Riches. 
 
 Mile Square during the war of the Revolution was a 
 favorite camp-ground with both armies, on account of its 
 sheltered situation and vicinity to the water. Here were 
 quartered Col. Emmerick's British Light Horse, and the 
 British Hussars were billeted here for several summers. 
 For security the roads were patrolled and videttes stretched 
 along the neighboring heights. 
 
 In I TjS the American Rifle Corps were stationed here, 
 and from this place crossed the Bronx to attack and harass 
 the British flank as they moved towards White Plains, 
 after landing on Throgmorton's Neck. Subsequent to the 
 memorable battle of White Plains the British returned to 
 Mile Square, reconstructed Hunt's bridge, and occupied 
 the hill forts.* 
 
 In the old district schoolhouse of this historic little 
 hamlet a Sunday-school was opened in 1836-37 by Miss Car- 
 * Bolton's History of the County of Westchester, page 430. 
 
64 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 oline Jones, daughter of William Jones,.warden in St. John's 
 Church, Yonkers, who was commonly known as " Gentle- 
 man Jones," on account of his uniform urbanity of manner. 
 
 Miss Jones was assisted by a Mrs. Tremaine. Both 
 were deeply interested in the prosperity and success of the 
 little enterprise, and devoted their time and means to ad- 
 vance its interests. Miss Jones was the superintendent 
 and led the singing, and the pupils became very much 
 attached to her. She always remembered them by beauti- 
 ful gifts at Christmas. The school at that time numbered 
 between twenty and twenty-five scholars. The teachers 
 were Misses Sarah and Louisa Jones, sisters of the super- 
 intendent, and Isaac Sherwood. The Rev. Alexander H. 
 Crosby, the rector of St. John's Church in Yonkers, fre- 
 quently visited this school and catechised the children in 
 the Church Catechism, as did ] lis successor, the Rev. Henry 
 L. Storrs, who interested the children by his pleasant talks 
 to them. 
 
 How long Miss Jones took charge of the school cannot 
 be definitely ascertained. Some of the present residents of 
 Mile Square have Prayer Books which were given to them 
 while pupils in this Sunday-school, and the date of their 
 presentation, in the handwriting of Miss Jones, is 1841. 
 
 In the year 1850 James Odell was the superintendent, 
 and in the year 1854 Miss Anna Seymour (now Mrs. George 
 Burgess), was superintendent for a brief period. From 
 that date the school became a union effort, and members 
 from different denominations took an interest in it, and 
 among its teachers were those who belonged to the Episco- 
 palian, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Baptist, Methodist, 
 and Reformed Churches. From this time it was known as 
 " The Mile Square Union Sunday-school." 
 
 No written record of the school since the above men- 
 tioned date can be found, consequently the information 
 obtained and the facts stated are from those who have been 
 connected with it during the following years. 
 
 Through the efforts of Miss Julia E. Hunter and her 
 mother, Mrs. J. M. Hunter, who was a member of the con- 
 gregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Yonkers, a 
 few children were gathered in the year 1859, and Lucius 
 
THE MILE SQUARE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 65 
 
 Spring, a son of Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., was made 
 superintendent. 
 
 Mrs. Isaac S. Valentine, Mrs. Julia M. Hunter, and 
 Miss Julia E. Hunter were the teachers at this time. The 
 school flourished and soon aroused an interest in the neigh- 
 borhood. A Mr. Watt succeeded Mr. Spring as superin- 
 tendent, the latter moving away from the place. 
 
 Edward A. Morrison, a member of the Reformed 
 Church in New York, was elected superintendent and 
 served about one year, the school then numbering between 
 twenty-five and thirty scholars. Mrs. Hunter, Miss Julia 
 E. Hunter, Miss Sarah E. Valentine, Miss Fanny M. Val- 
 entine, and two others, whose names cannot be recalled, 
 were the teachers. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1 873 Marshall H. Clement, 
 then a member of the Reformed Church at Mt. Vernon, 
 N. Y., now a member of the First Presbyterian Church of 
 the same place, at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Morrison, 
 became superintendent, and through his faithful efforts a 
 new impetus was given to the school and it increased in 
 numbers and usefulness. When Mr. Clement took charge of 
 the school it numbered forty pupils, and during his super- 
 intendency it increased to sixty. He continued with the 
 school until the fall of 1885. During these twelve years he 
 was assisted by an earnest working corps of teachers. 
 
 Through the efforts of Mr. John Thurton the " Mile 
 Square Christian Association " was organized and in coope- 
 ration with the Sunday-school a large fair was held in the 
 adjacent fields. Mrs. Thurton, Miss Kate Roberts, Miss 
 Anna Kolb, John Mcintosh, and Samuel Stilwell, with 
 many others, were actively engaged in this enterprise, 
 which resulted in the raising of the sum of $800 towards 
 the building fund of a church, which fund now amounts to 
 about $1,200, still held in trust for this object. 
 
 In the spring of 1875 Rev. Dr. David Cole, of the Re- 
 formed Church of Yonkers, began volunteer preaching ser- 
 vices, and with the assistance of Rev. Mancius H. Hutton, 
 of the Reformed Church in Mt. Vernon, an evening service 
 was held every month. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hutton, finding that he was unable to con- 
 
 Charch and Sonday-acbool Work. C 
 
66 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 tinue this extra service besides the regular services of his 
 own church, withdrew, and services were inaugurated and 
 regularly held, conducted by Rev. Dr. Cole, assisted by 
 some of the laymen of his own church at Yonkers. Dr. 
 Cole continued to carry on these monthly services for six 
 years. They were well attended and the audience frequeht- 
 ly numbered seventy-five, all the building could accom- 
 modate. These labors of Dr. Cole, through the influence 
 of the Holy Spirit, were greatly blessed, and through his 
 instrumentality very many were gathered into the church. 
 Mr. Thurton and family united with the church at Mt. Ver- 
 non, and others with Dr. Cole's church in Yonkers. 
 
 After the resignation of Mr. Clement, in 1885, the in- 
 terest in the school began to decline, and owing to the 
 removals of both teachers and pupils from the place, it was 
 reduced to eighteen scholars. A vigorous effort was then 
 made by Mr. Wilson and Miss J. E. Hunter to revive the 
 interest and increase its numbers. Together they visited 
 all the families who were then connected with it, or had 
 been, and urged the attendance of the children. For a few 
 Sundays there was a slight increase in attendance ; but it 
 soon fell off and the school numbered about ten scholars. 
 Miss Julia E. Hunter and Miss Frances Mankin continued 
 to meet with the remaining few until cold weather, and as 
 the accommodations were very poor and the interest so 
 small, they disbanded. The school remains for the present 
 closed. 
 
 A movement is being made which it is hoped will 
 result in the reopening of this Sunday-school in the near 
 future. To all the earnest and faithful workers who have 
 so^n and who shall continue to sow spiritual seed in that 
 part of the Master's vineyard, this promise is peculiarly 
 appropriate and comforting: " And he that reapeth receiv- 
 eth wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both 
 he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." 
 
 "What's done for time ends by-and-by, 
 What 's done for God can never die." 
 
 The names of the superintendents, so far as can be 
 ascertained, are as follows : Miss Caroline Jones, who served 
 
THE MILE 'square SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 6y 
 
 from 1836 to 1 841, and who was succeeded by James Odell ; 
 then Miss Anna Seymour, Isaac S. Valentine, Lucius 
 Spring, Mr. Watt, Mrs. J. M. Hunter, Horace H. Thayer, 
 Edward A. Morrison, and Marshall H. Clement. 
 
 The teachers who have been connected with the school 
 at different times are : Mrs. Tremaine, Miss Sarah Jones, 
 Miss Louisa Jones, Miss Anna Seymour, Mrs. J,. M. Hunter, 
 Miss Julia E. Hunter, Miss Sarah E. Valentine, Miss Fanny 
 M. Valentine, Miss Kate Hunter, Miss Natalie Jones, the 
 Misses Hoffman, Miss Frances G. Mankin, Mrs. Thurton, 
 Mr. Wilson, Horace H. Thayer, Fletcher A. Valentine, and 
 William Piatt. 
 
68 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH (AT TUCKAHOE) AND 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This parish (after existing for more than a half a cen- 
 tury as a chapel of St. John's Church, Yonkers, N. Y., 
 having had its connection with the above-mentioned parish 
 severed by an act of the Vestry thereof) was founded by the 
 Rev. Elias Cooper, rector of St. John's Church from 1789 to 
 1816, and organized according to law July 18, 1853. The 
 church edifice, which was erected in 1798, is a small wooden 
 structure, and stands on high ground, commanding an ex- 
 tensive view of the surrounding country. The ground was 
 a gift of Mr. John Bowne. On June 29, 1847, the church 
 was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, under the 
 name of St. John's Chapel, Tuckahoe, by the Rt. Rev. 
 William Heathcote de Lancey, D. D., LL. D., the conse- 
 cration sermon being preached by the Rev. Thomas W. 
 Coit, D. D., a late rector of New Rochelle. 
 
 Half an acre of land was presented to the Corporation 
 by John and Elias Cooper, sons of the late John Bowne, Esq., 
 upon which the vestry erected a parsonage. 
 
 The number of baptisms in 1835 was three, communi- 
 cants sixteen. The statistics of the church in 1883 were as 
 follows: Communicants, 55; catechists and Sunday-school 
 teachers, 6 ; Sunday-school children, 34. The money con- 
 tributed in 1882 was $1,125 5o, of which $1,000 was devoted 
 to parish purposes. 
 
 During the year 1888 the church built a rectory, which 
 was completed in 1 889, at a cost of three thousand dollars 
 (with no indebtedness) upon grounds given to the church. 
 The amount contributed for support of church is about 
 $700 for the year 1889. The rectors and supplies of the 
 church have been as follows: 
 
 The Rev. Charles Jones, A. M., who was the first rector, 
 from 1853-58. 
 
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TUCKAHOE. 69 
 
 The Rev. Augustus St. Clair, supply only, from 1859-60. 
 The Rev. David Doremus, supply only, from 1860-61. 
 No incumbent from 1861-65. 
 
 The Rev. Angus M. Ives, supply only, from 1865-80, 
 who served the church most faithfully for fifteen years and 
 was greatly beloved by his people, who erected a wall tablet 
 to his memory in the church. 
 
 The Rev. A. M. Ives was followed by the Rev. S. B. 
 Moore and the Rev. James B. Neis. 
 
 The present rector is the Rev. John W. Trimble, who 
 received and accepted a call to become the rector of St 
 John's Episcopal Church at Tuckahoe October 26, 1889. 
 
 The present officers are as follows : Charles R. Dusen- 
 berry and William H. Underbill, wardens ; Wilbur S. Un- 
 derbill, Robert Thedford, Caleb A. Ives, Henry M. Under- 
 bill, Samuel B. Jones, Thomas Dunn, Richard Thomson, 
 and Samuel S. Horton, vestrymen. 
 
 Parochial statistics, September i, 1890: 
 
 Number of souls - - 114 
 
 Baptisms - 6 
 
 Confirmed - 41 
 
 Marriages i 
 
 Burials 3 
 
 Communicants - - 69 
 
 Expenditures, total, for all objects, 1890, I983 05. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The Sunday-school connected with this church "was 
 organized about the time the church was built, which was 
 in 1798." The present number of pupils on the roll is fifty- 
 five. 
 
 " The Christmas festival of St. John's Church, Tucka- 
 hoe, was held Monday evening, December 29, 1890. The 
 church was beautifully decorated with wreaths, arches, and 
 festoons of hemlock, holly, and laurel. A very beautiful 
 Christmas-tree stood in front of the chancel, loaded with 
 glittering ornaments, and these covered with a veil of silver 
 and golden tinsel. 
 
 " Back of the tree, on either side, were hung great bells 
 of white and silver, bells of all sizes, which seemed to ring 
 out the joyous Christmas chimes. These, with the tree 
 
70 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 and red walls of the chancel for background, made a very- 
 brilliant and beautiful sight. 
 
 " The rector, the Rev. John W. Trimble, was assisted by 
 the Rev. E. L. Hoffecker, of the Asbury Methodist Church, 
 who read the lesson and delivered the first 'Christmas 
 greeting.' The Rev. Mr. Trimble gave the second greet- 
 ing, which was a hearty and merry one. 
 
 " The singing of the carols by the school was very fine, 
 being accompanied by the organ and violin. Noticeable 
 among these were the carols, ' Ring on, sweet bells,' and 
 ' What do they say, these bells, to me ?' The closing prayer 
 was by the school, all kneeling, ' Now I lay me down to 
 sleep ' — a very appropriate ending for the little ones' festi- 
 val. 
 
 " While the gifts were being distributed, C. M. Staab 
 sang very sweetly the old hymn, ' Holy Night, Silent Night,' 
 ' which is always beautiful at Christmas-time. 
 
 "Among the gifts distributed was a silver match-box, 
 with a substantial lining, from the St. John's Legion to the 
 rector. Gifts between teachers and scholars were also ex- 
 changed." 
 
 The present superintendent is Charles R. Dusenberry. 
 The names of teachers are : Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur S. Under- 
 bill, Mrs. S. M. Raiwsbeck, Miss Fannie Fee, Miss Lelie Fee, 
 Miss Mary Fulton, Miss Sarah Horton, Miss Sarah J. Booker. 
 
 Sunday-school offering, for September, 1890, $71 20. 
 
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, TUCKAHOE. 71 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF YONKERS 
 (at TUCKAHOE) AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The information concerning this church is obtained 
 from Rev. William E. Ketcham, and from the present 
 pastor of the church, Rev. Edmund L. Hofifecker. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ketcham writes : " The time of the introduc- 
 tion of Methodism into Yonkers cannot be definitely stated'. 
 A Methodist society was formed at Tuckahoe in 1771, the 
 same year in which Methodism was introduced into New 
 Rochelle by Rev. Joseph Pilmoor, one of Rev. John Wes- 
 ley's missionaries. 
 
 " The Rev. Francis Asbury (who subsequently became 
 bishop) preached at Tuckahoe in 177 1. In the year 1773 
 Mr. Peter Bonnett was active in securing preaching-places, 
 and opened his own house for the Methodists. After his 
 decease, Mrs. Sherwood, who was a widow, opened her 
 house, and it became a regular preaching -place. This 
 house stood on the site of the present residence of Mr. 
 Charles R. Dusenbury. In July, 1797, Bishop Asbury 
 writes : ' I met the society at the substitute house ' (the 
 widow Sherwood's) . . . 
 
 "Thus, after twenty-six years since this society was 
 formed, they are about to build a place for the worship and 
 the word of God. 
 
 "That church (Tuckahoe) was dedicated Christmas 
 day, 1797, by Bishop Asbury. He, being too feeble to walk, 
 was carried in a chair from Mrs. Sherwood's house to the 
 church, and performed the ceremony seated in a chair. 
 Moses Sherwood deeded ground for the church for the 
 consideration of twenty-five dollars. The church was organ- 
 ized at that time, Christmas day, December, 1797, but was 
 never legally incorporated till February 13, 1855." 
 
 The first Trustees were elected December 25, 1800. 
 They were, First Class, Lewis Dubois and Henry Cronck. 
 
72 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Second Class, Jonathan Sherwood and Bishop Sherwood. 
 Third Class, Aaron Lawrence and Jabez Fowler. On the 
 minute-book of the church under date of December 25,1818, 
 the election of Peter Underbill and Jonathan Sherwood as 
 trustees, to fill vacancies, is recorded. 
 
 The church at Tuckahoe was within the circuit of what 
 was called the New Rochelle circuit from 1798 to 1825. 
 Then from 1826 to 1852 it was with a circuit which from 
 1826 to 1836 bore the name of the Kingsbridge circuit, and 
 from 1836 to 1852 the name of the Yonkers circuit. Be- 
 tween the last two dates the churches of Kingsbridge (or 
 Mosholn), Yonkers, on North Broadway, and Tuckahoe 
 were joined together, but between 1853 and 1858 Yonkers 
 was dropped from this connection, and Mosholn and Tuck- 
 ahoe were left by themselves. In 1858 Tuckahoe was made 
 a separate station. From that date the preachers for Tuck- 
 ahoe till 1867 were Rev. Nathaniel Mead, 1858-59 ; Rev. W. 
 H. Evans, 1859-60; Rev. A. M. Hough, 1860-62; Rev. 
 Aaron K. Sandford, 1862-64; Rev. Erastus L. Prentice, 
 1864-67. 
 
 The church edifice now in use was erected in 1866. 
 Tuckahoe marble was used in its construction. There is a 
 tablet over the main entrance door in front of the church 
 with these words upon it, " Asbury Centenary M. E. Church, 
 1866," which is incorrect as to the name of the church. The 
 corporate name of the church is " The First Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church of Yonkers." This church has borne the said 
 corporate name for nearly a century. The church is in the 
 town of Yonkers. 
 
 The corner-stone of the church was laid in September, 
 1 866, by Bishop Edward S. Janes, and was also dedicated by 
 him on February 20, 1 867. It was built under the pastor- 
 ate of Rev. Erastus L. Prentice. The preachers from the 
 date of dedication have been, Rev. Gideon Draper, D. D., 
 Rev. S. M. Vernon, Rev. John W. Ackerley, Rev. Oscar 
 Haviland, Rev. Benjamin N. Lewis, Rev. George W. Tar- 
 bush, Rev. John W. Selleck, Rev. Frank Bottome, D. D., 
 Rev. David McCartney. The parsonage was built under the 
 pastorate of Rev. Nathaniel Mead, in 1858. 
 
 The present pastor. Rev. Edmund L. Hofifecker, who is 
 
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, TUCKAHOE. "J^ 
 
 serving the church with great acceptance, was appointed in 
 April, 1888. He is a Marylander by birth, and of an old 
 slave-holding family. He was born in 1853, became a 
 Christian in 1869, was educated at Washington College, and 
 entered the ministry in 1876. Such are the bare facts of a 
 somewhat laborious life. In May, 1889, a fine pipe organ 
 was erected in the church. It is a very handsome instru- 
 ment with cathedral finish. Mrs. Julie Lent, nee Merritt, 
 presides at the organ, and plays with skill and efficiency. 
 The new organ adds much attraction to the church and 
 dignity to the services. The church is in a better condition 
 now than for some years. The congregation is larger, and 
 the church property was never in a better condition. The 
 valuation of the church property is $35,000. The amount 
 contributed for benevolence in 1887 was one hundred and 
 seventy dollars. The amount contributed for missions and 
 for other benevolent collections for the Conference year 
 ending April, 1890, was two hundred and twenty-six dollars. 
 The present membership is one hundred. The present 
 Trustees are as follows : Nathaniel Reynolds, Pres. ; Her- 
 bert Lent, Sec. ; I. V. Underhill, Caleb T. Underhill, Chas. 
 A. Hodgman, George Ferris, Chas. Dusenberry, Frank De 
 Frate, James Young. 
 
 Stewards : Nathan Reynolds, I. V. Vanderbilt, C. F. 
 Underhill, Chas. A. Hodgman, Frank De Frate, Jesse Rey- 
 nolds, I. N. Matthews. 
 
 In the graveyard connected with this church the oldest 
 stone bears the date 1800. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The Sunday-school was established about the year 
 1797, and has prospered until the present time. The su- 
 perintendent of the school in 1887 was the present super- 
 intendent, Isaac V. Underhill. The school numbered 
 seventy pupils and fifteen officers and teachers. 
 
 At this writing. May, 1 891, it has eighty-nine pupils and 
 fifteen officers and teachers. The names of the present 
 officers and teachers are as follows : I. V. Underhill, Super- 
 intendent; George Booker, Librarian and Secretary. 
 Teachers. — E. L. Hoffecker, Mrs. Lizzie Merritt, A. O. 
 
74 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Young, Iva Lent,. Miss Marie Hodgman, Annie Davidson, 
 Mrs. Mary Hodgman, and Mary Swain. , 
 
 Miss Annie Davidson has the primary class. In all the 
 classes the Berean Lessons, Leaves and Quarterlies, are 
 used. They are published at the Book Concern, N. Y. 
 Four persons united with the church from the Sunday- 
 school during the year 1889.' The Sunday-school contribu- 
 ted for missions in 1 890 fifteen dollars. . < 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 75 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SUNDAY- 
 SCHOOL. 
 
 (Corner North Broadway and Ashburton Avenue.) 
 
 " This church is, in the order of time, the second Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church founded within the limits of the 
 present city of Yonkers. 
 
 " It is called ' The First Methodist Episcopal Church 
 of Yonkers, N. Y.' That it is not ' The First ' has been 
 shown in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
 Tuckahoe, N. Y. And also in the minutes of the New 
 York Conference the two churches have been spoken of, 
 not by their corporate names, but as the Tuckahoe and 
 Yonkers churches." 
 
 On the old post road from Albany, facing the old 
 country road to the Neperah, or Sawmill River (now the 
 northeast corner of North Broadway and Ashburton Ave- 
 nue), stood the little district schoolhouse surrounded by 
 tall poplar and weeping-willow trees, j In this antiquated, 
 dingy, weather-beaten, one-story frame building, which 
 consisted of one room 12 by 28, the first sermon now re- 
 membered as heard in Yonkers from a Methodist preacher 
 was delivered in the year 1826. A class of five members 
 was organized, and in due time this became one of the 
 regular appointments on the Kingsbridge Circuit. In this 
 old building church services were held about once a month 
 when the circuit preacher could " get around." 
 
 The late Searing Howell, of this city, recalled a mem- 
 orable occasion in connection with this little schoolhouse 
 in which a love feast was held. After the close of this ser- 
 vice the congregation, with others whom the room could 
 not accommodate, gathered under the willow-trees to listen 
 to the sermon then preached. And also of the time when 
 the subject of building a church was first discussed, at a 
 meeting of half a dozen members of the church. This was 
 in the year 1 826. 
 
^6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " On the 2 1 St of April, 1828, a free deed of the land 
 upon which the present church stands was given by Lem- 
 uel Wells to Alfred Thompson, Frederic Shonnard, Thomas 
 Griffin, Joseph Oakley, and David Oakley, in trust for the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church of Yonkers." 
 
 At the close of that year the church building was 
 completed and dedicated. Rev. Noah Levings, " the silver- 
 tongued orator," preached the dedicatory sermon. The 
 building was a small wooden structure, painted white with 
 green blinds. It was located directly opposite the little 
 schoolhouse, on the southeast corner of the old Albany post 
 road and the little country road leading to the Sawmill 
 River, the latter running directly in front of the building, 
 the site of 'which is now the southeast corner of North 
 Broadway and Ashburton Avenue. The church was sur- 
 rounded by tall cedar-trees, the entrance being on the 
 south side. 
 
 "On the 14th of August, 1839, Frederic Shonnard and 
 wife, ' for the love and affection which they bore towards 
 said church, and one dollar,' deeded to Christ Methodist 
 Episcopal Church — the original corporate name — the plot 
 of ground used for the parsonage." This was the first par- 
 sonage and stood i^n the rear of the old church building. 
 The present parsonage was built in 1871. It cost $5,000. 
 
 In the year 1854 the old church building was enlarged 
 by the addition of transepts. A tower was also put on the 
 northwest corner of the building and the main entrance 
 was changed from the south to the west, on Broadway, the 
 entrance on the south still remaining in use. The whole 
 interior of the church was renovated and beautified. Be- 
 hind the pulpit was painted a beautiful representation of a 
 series of arches and columns of the Doric order of architec- 
 ture, the perspective of which was very fine. The base- 
 ment was also fitted up for the use of the Sunday-school. 
 
 December 28, 1878, the church celebrated the semi- 
 centennial of Methodism in Yonkers. 
 
 The morning sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Fow- 
 ler. At three P. M. Rev. Dr. Stratton conducted a confer- 
 ence meeting. 
 
 The evening service began by the singing of " All 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 77 
 
 hail the power of Jesus' name," which was followed by 
 prayer by Rev. David Cole, D. D. Rev. Dr. Wheeler, 
 editor of "The Methodist," preached the sermon. An 
 original hymn, which was written for the occasion by a 
 former pastor of the church, Rev. Frank Bottome, D. D., 
 was sung. Prof. John A. , Harding, organist of the Re- 
 formed church, led the singing at all these services. To 
 the left of the pulpit were placarded the following statistics, 
 setting forth the wondrous growth of the denomination 
 and well calculated to cheer the heart of every Methodist. 
 
 1766. Members, 4; preachers, i. 
 
 1778. Members, 6,095 ; preachers, 29. 
 
 1828. Members, 419,000; preachers, 1,642. Missionary 
 collections, $6,245. 
 
 1878. Members, 3,315,000; preachers, 30,000. Value 
 of church property, $110,000,000. Missionary collections, 
 $800,000. Members of Sunday-school, 3,857,330. 
 
 Rev. L. H. King, D. D., pastor of the church at that 
 time, prepared a list of the names of its useful and honored 
 pastors, twenty-seven in all, since its organization. These 
 names were printed on white muslin charts and placed on 
 the wall and at the right of the pulpit. 
 
 The first name on the list was that of the Rev. E. Hib- 
 bard, the first pastor of the church. The last name on the 
 list was that of Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D., who was three 
 times pastor of this church. 
 
 The last Sunday service held in the old house of wor- 
 ship of the First Methodist Church was on Sunday, June 6, 
 1886. Both the morning and evening services were pecu- 
 liarly interesting and were largely attended by the mem- 
 ber? of the congregation and others. The audience-room 
 was filled from pulpit to pew, and chairs were placed in the 
 altar and aisles to accommodate those who were present on 
 this occasion, while many were unable to obtain entrance to 
 the church. The pastor of the church. Rev. Abraham J. 
 Palmer, D. D., conducted the exercises in the evening. 
 Rev. C. W. Millard, pastor of the Central Methodist 
 Church, read the opening hymn. Rev. Dr. Palmer offered 
 the opening prayer. Rev. William Pickens, by request of 
 Rev. Dr. King, read the following hymn : 
 
78 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 "My gracious Lord, I own thy right," 
 which the congregation heartily united in singing. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. L. H. King* preached a most instructive 
 and eloquent sermon from the text found in Rom. 14 : 7, 
 " For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to 
 himself," closing with an earnest and affectionate appeal 
 to the unconverted to beconie reconciled to Christ. He 
 then read some original lines. The closing stanza reads 
 thus: 
 
 " Farewell to the church where we have worshipped so long. 
 Made sacred by prayer and hallowed by song ; 
 Farewell to the walls, altar, pulpit, and pew. 
 For these must give place to those which are new; 
 And may the new temple, more spacious and bright, 
 Be ever found batthng for God and the right. 
 Until thousands, redeemed from sin and despair. 
 Shall raise the glad shout, We all were born there !" 
 
 These services concluded by singing the well-known 
 hymn, " I love thy kingdom. Lord," and the benediction 
 by the pastor. 
 
 The last sermon preached in the old church building 
 was by Rev. William E. Ketcham — the occasion being that 
 of a funeral — from the text, " The Lord shall make bright 
 clouds." Zech. 10: i. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge, in an article which 
 appeared in the "Christian Advocate" of August 22, 1889, 
 gives an account of the early effort which led to the erec- 
 tion of the new church as follows : 
 
 " This church is the third in turn that has stood on the 
 
 * "Entered into the rest that remaineth for the people of God," from 
 his home in New York city, on November 18, 1887, Rev. Lucius H. King, 
 D. D. 
 
 Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 22, at the church 
 of which he was the pastor, and were largely attended by members of the 
 New York Conference and others, and the exercises were of the most im- 
 pressive character. The interment was at St. John's Cemetery, Yonkers, 
 on Wednesday morning, November 23. Rev. Dr. Palmer, Rev. Dr. Oak- 
 ley, Revs. C. W. Millard, J. W. Ackerley, and Clark Wright took part in the 
 services there. 
 
 A memorial service was also held in the Central Methodist Church of 
 Yonkers, of which he was formerly pastor, on Sunday evening, November 
 29, 18^7. Rev. Charles W. Millard, pastor of the church. Rev. William 
 Pickens, of Yonkers, Ruben Barnes, and A. T. Serrell took part therein. 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 79 
 
 satne site. The effort which culminated in its erection 
 was begun with the appointment of Rev. Wm. E. Ketcham. 
 The story of his indefatigable labors is best told in his own 
 words : 
 
 " ' As I, entered upon my work in the spring of 1883 I 
 observed that it was highly important, for the future growth 
 of our beloved Methodism, to secure as early as possible the 
 erection of a new church. I studiously and with all the 
 tact at my command kept the consideration of this out of 
 the monthly official meetings for one year. The project 
 did not, however, slumber or sleep in my brain or on my 
 tongue. Everywhere I talked, prayed, and preached new 
 church except in the official meeting. 
 
 " ' Thus a year passed, a year of seed-sowing. At the 
 meeting of the Board of Trustees held July 7, 1884, a be- 
 ginning was made in the official consideration of the sub- 
 ject, and after numerous consultations, vexatious delays, 
 changing of architects and plans, at length the committee 
 having the matter in charge consented to allow the circula- 
 tion by me of a subscription on the condition that I should 
 raise $25,000. 
 
 " ' For a solid year after I pegged away night and day, 
 in heat and cold, to secure the end. Many persons were 
 called upon, some from five to fifteen times, before a final 
 answer was given. I always carried a memorandum of 
 names with amounts assessed to cover the entire sum of 
 $25,000. This I constantly changed as some " fell out " and 
 others " fell in." I often studied the possible loss of sev- 
 eral thousand dollars,- and would make a new list, supply- 
 ing said possible loss with new estimates, always bringing 
 my sum out at $25,000. 
 
 " ' At last, March 28, 1886, the amount of $27^640 stood 
 upon my subscription-book. This subscription, with the 
 new plans substantially as they are to-day, with the resolu- 
 tion of the brethren td build at once, was passed over to 
 Dr. Palmer, my successor. 
 
 '"I cannot tell in all fulness what it cost of work, 
 prayer, and tears. One thing I am well assured of, that 
 the effort was determined. Moreover, this also I know, that 
 no selfi'glory to attain was mine.' 
 
8o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " Readers of this modest sketch cannot form any prop- 
 er estimate of the difficulties and discouragements through 
 which this dear brother struggled, consuming the whole of 
 his pastoral term and committing to his successor the im- 
 portant but as yet hidden results of his work. His phe- 
 nomenal enthusiasm, his patience and persistence, his faith 
 and energy, will ever be the wonder and admiration of this 
 appreciative people. He has the right of way unchallenged 
 to their hearts. None is more deserving than he, and none 
 could be better beloved." 
 
 Another clergyman of the New York Conference 
 writes concerning Rev. Mr. Ketcham's efforts in connec- 
 tion with the new church : " Only they who know how 
 grandly he surmounted obstacles which seemed insur- 
 mountable, and not only made possible, but compelled the 
 erection of a new sanctuary, can recognize the lasting 
 claims he has on the Methodism and Christianity of Yon- 
 kers. Where otheis flashed he shone ; where others talked 
 he toiled." 
 
 The services of the laying of the corner-stone of the 
 new church were held in the First Presbyterian Church on 
 Tuesday evening, October 19, 1886. Rev. G. H. Gregory, 
 D. D., Presiding Elder of the district, conducted the servi- 
 ces, assisted by Rev. W. E. Ketcham, Rev. C. W. Millard, 
 Rev. Dr. David Cole, Rev. John Reid, Rev. Merritt Hul- 
 burd. Bishop John F. Hurst. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Gregory stated that the anticipated cost of 
 the church building was between $50,000 and $60,000, and- 
 that there was yet lacking nearly $23,000. This amount 
 was somewhat reduced by the collection taken up that 
 evening. 
 
 The copper box which was to be placed in the corner- 
 stone .was exhibited, and by request Merritt H. Smith, 
 President of the Board of Trustees, read the following list 
 of articles which it contained : " Origin and history of the 
 First Methodist Episcopal Church of Yonkers ; a list of its 
 pastors ; names of the present pastor, board of trustees, 
 stewards, and leaders ; names of the Bishops of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, names of all subscribers and con- 
 tributors to the fund for the new church up to date ; Disci- 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 8l 
 
 pline, Bible, and hymn-book ; Conference sermon by Bishop 
 Hurst ; minutes of the Conference ; copies of the ' Christian 
 Advocate,' 'The Yonkers Gazette,' and 'The Yonkers 
 Statesman;' New York papers; report of the Woman's 
 Christian Temperance Union of Yonkers ; copy of the ser- 
 vices of laying the corner-stone ; names of the building 
 ■committee, architect, masons, and carpenter of the new 
 •church ; names of the pastors of all the churches of Yon- 
 kers, President and Vice-President of the United States, 
 Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of New 
 York, Mayor and Common Council of Yonkers ; a piece of 
 the old John Street Church, the first Methodist church 
 built in America ; apex of the spire of the First Methodist 
 Church in Yonkers ; copy of ' The Statesman ' qf June 4, 
 with an account of the last sociable held in the old church ; 
 'The Statesman' of June 7, with report of the last Sun- 
 day's sermon in the old church, by Rev. Dr. King ; and the 
 names of the officers, teachers, and scholars of the Sunday- 
 school." 
 
 At the conclusion of the service the clergymen and 
 congregation went to the site of the new church edifice, on 
 that of the old one (on the southeast comer of North Broad- 
 way and Ashburton Avenue), where under the brilliant 
 calcium light the scene presented was most impressive. 
 
 Bishop Hurst offered a prayer and a few preliminary 
 remarks, after which Rev. Wm. E. Ketcham read a portion 
 of Scripture, struck the stone with a hammer, and said, " In 
 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy 
 Ghost we lay this corner-stone for the foundation of a 
 house to be builded and consecrated to the service of 
 Almighty God, according to the order and usages of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church." 
 
 The doxology was then sting, when Rev. Dr. Gregory 
 pronounced the benediction. 
 
 On the corner-stone is cut this inscription: "First 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 1828-1886." 
 
 The style of architecture of this church is modernized 
 Romanesque. It is of rock face light Belleville stone, with 
 dark brown stone trimmings. There is a tower on the 
 southeast corner of Broadway and Ashburton Avenue 
 
 Cbuxch BDd SuQday-achoal Work. ^ 
 
82 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 entirely of stone, one hundred feet from the sidewalk. It 
 runs square about sixty feet and terminates with a fbrty^ 
 foot spire. There is also a smaller low staircase tower on 
 the southwest corner, octagonal in shape. 
 
 FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
 On the Broadway front is a porch with double stair- 
 ways, twenty feet wide, to the main entrance of the church. 
 This porch is ornamented with wrought iron-work roof. 
 There is also an entrance to the church proper on the 
 Ashburton Avenue side and to the Sunday-school rooms, 
 and one on the Broadway side to the social room, 60 by 35. 
 Under the Sunday-school room is a kitchen and toilet-room 
 for both the. social and Sunday-school rooms. The base- 
 ments are lighted by large windows glazed with colored 
 glass. 
 
 Through the main auditorium there are two lines of 
 columns which help to support the open - timbered roof. 
 The interior columns are connected longitudinally with 
 ornamented arcade arches, with ornamental sawed work 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 83 
 
 above. The caps of the columns are moulded and carved. 
 The Sunday-school room in the rear has an open-timbered 
 roof, made to correspond with the main roof. The con- 
 struction of the roof and of all the interior trimmings is of 
 yellow pine, stained and varnished. 
 
 The chancel arch is supported by two large round 
 columns with ornamental caps and bases, and enriched 
 with ornamental plaster-work. The main auditorium is 
 lighted by double muUioned and transomed windows filled 
 with opalescent glass. The pews and pulpit furniture are 
 of ash, stained and varnished to correspond with the other 
 woodwork. There are four aisles. 
 
 The church has a frontage of seventy-five on North 
 Broadway and one hundred and thirty-five feet on Ashbur- 
 ton Avenue. The main auditorium of the building is sixty- 
 three feet wide and seventy-six feet deep. The pulpit is 
 located at the east end, with organ-loft and choir behind. 
 
 On the west end is a gallery capable of seating one 
 hundred people'. The seating capacity of the main audi- 
 torium is seven hundred. The main Sunday-school room, 
 class, society, and infant-class rooms, and the pastor's study 
 and library occupy the easterly end of the church, all spa- 
 cious in size, well lighted and well ventilated. 
 
 The original plan, as stated by the architect of the 
 church, has been carried out with a few alterations. Rob- 
 ert H. Robertson, of New York, was the architect. The 
 Building Committee were J. E. Andrus, J. C. Havemeyer, 
 S. F. Quick, C. R. Leffingwell, and John Sherwood. Never 
 was an important enterprise in safer charge. With a 
 patience and watchful care unsurpassed they kept their 
 eye and hand upon the work until it was brought to a suc- 
 cessful end. 
 
 While awaiting the completion of the chapel of the 
 new church, the congregation, by invitation of the trustees 
 and members of the Central Methodist Church, held their 
 Sunday services with their congregation. 
 
 On the morning of the 23d of October, 1887, the con- 
 gregation assembled for the first time in the chapel of their 
 new church building. The services began by the singing 
 of the 770th hymn, " I love thy kingdom, Lord." Rev. Dr. 
 
84 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Palmer, Presiding Elder, offered the dedicatory prayer, at 
 the close of which the congregation joined him in the 
 Lord's Prayer. Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge, pastor of 
 the church, then read the 84th Psalm. 
 
 After a few words of welcome to their new church 
 home, addressed to the congregation by the pastor, Charles 
 R. Leffingwell read a number of resolutions embodying 
 their thanks to the trustees, members, and pastor of the 
 Central Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they had 
 the privilege of worshipping for more than fifteen months. 
 These resolutions were unanimously adopted, and a certi- 
 fied copy directed to be sent to the Central Church. 
 
 Dr. Strobridge preached an able and eloquent discourse 
 from these words : " I was glad when they said unto me. 
 Let us go into the house of the Lord," Psa. 122: i, at the 
 close of which $1,050 was contributed for the chapel. 
 
 In the evening Dr. Strobridge preached to a large con- 
 gregation, from Mark i : 37 : " All men seek for Thee." 
 
 While awaiting the completion of the main audience- 
 room of this church the regular services were held in the 
 chapel. 
 
 The new church was dedicated Sunday, September 9, 
 1888. Rev. John Miley, D. D., Rev. Dr. A. J. Palmer, and 
 Bishop R. S. Foster took part in the morning service, the 
 latter preaching the sermon from i Tim. 5:8: " But if any 
 provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own 
 house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an in- 
 fidel," at the close of which subscriptions were taken up 
 amounting to more than $20,000, after which the doxology 
 was sung, and Bishop Fitzgerald pronounced the benedic- 
 tion. 
 
 At the afternoon service Rev. William E. Ketcham 
 presided, and short addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. 
 O. H. Tiffany, Rev. Dr. Palmer, Rev. Dr. R. M. Stratton, 
 Rev. F. Hamlin, and Rev. Delos Lull. 
 
 The references of former pastors to preachers and 
 members who have passed to the better land were exceed- 
 ingly interesting and touching. 
 
 Bishop Fitzgerald preached the evening sermon from 
 the text in Heb. 3:3: " For this man was counted worthy 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 85 
 
 of more glory than Moses." In the evening the church 
 was crowded to overflowing. Rev. Dr. H. M. Baird offered 
 prayer. Rev. Dr. Palmer read the Scriptures. 
 
 An address was delivered by John E. Andrus, the 
 chairman of the Building Committee, which fairly electri- 
 fied the large audience. He spoke in part as follows : 
 
 "This church was not completed as a poor man's 
 church, neither was it completed as a rich man's church, 
 but it was completed as the church of the people, erected 
 in honor of the ever-living God. I would speak of the 
 effort which has made this day's happiness possible, an 
 effort put forth when darkness surrounded, and no ray of 
 light was seen nor any word of cheer was heard to gladden 
 and encourage. Then a man came, a man with no muscle 
 to grow weary, no nerve- to relax, and a heart that never 
 felt faint in this noble work. When you and I were care- 
 less and indifferent this man with hand and foot and brain 
 kept toiling on, knowing full well that a church would 
 come. We, and people yet to come, would be ungrateful 
 were we not to remember with lasting thankfulness the 
 man who has done so much for us, so much for this church. 
 Need I mention his name? You know it well, the Rev. 
 Wm. E. Ketcham. 
 
 ****** 
 
 " With those, and all others interested in the building 
 of this church, I say, glad I am that we are at last assem- 
 bled within its walls, glad that the voices of the workmen, 
 the sound of the hammer, the trowel, and the saw, have 
 died away in the stillness of the past. And in their stead 
 we have already heard the voice of prayer and praise, the 
 sound of the gospel, and sweet music falling pleasantly 
 upon our ears. May I cherish the hope that they will con- 
 tinue to fall on willing ears of a happy, contented, and 
 united people occupying these pews on and on through 
 many a far, far distant Sabbath day that you and I shall 
 not live to see !" 
 
 After which the dedicatory service took place, con- 
 ducted by Bishop R. S. Foster, D. D., LL. D. The services 
 were closed by the singing of a hymn and benediction. 
 
 It will not be invidious to others who did what they 
 
86 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 could, and did a great deal, to say that the church was 
 largely the gift of two laymen, Mr. John E. Andrus and 
 Mr. John C. Hayemeyer, the former giving one-third of 
 the entire cost of the buildings. The gifts of the people 
 on the day of dedication were $28,000, entirely freeing the 
 property from debt. 
 
 The new church cost (exclusive of the ground) $60,000. 
 A large and handsome crayon portrait of Rev. William E. 
 Ketcham, the gift of the congregation, was placed in the 
 vestibule of the church on the day of the dedication. 
 
 The financial statement of Charles R. Leffingwell, 
 Secretary and Treasurer, for the first year in the new 
 chiirch was as follows: Payments, $5,284 81; receipts, 
 $5,284 81. The church raised also eleven hundred dollars 
 for benevolent purposes. 
 
 The pastors of the First Methodist Church of Yonkers 
 and their terms of service have been ; 1828, Rev. E. Hib- 
 bard ; 1829-30, Rev. R. Seaman ; 1831-32, Rev. E. Hibbard; 
 1833-34, Rev. E. Smith; 1835, Rev. T. Evans; 1836-37, 
 Revs. E. Oldron and J. D. Bangs; 1838, Rev. J. Davies ; 
 1839, Rev. H. Hatfield; 1840, Rev. Thomas Burch; 1841, 
 Rev. D. I. Wright; 1842-43, Rev. John A. Selleck; 1844- 
 45, Rev. J. C. Green; 1846-47, Rev. C. C. Keys; 1848-49, 
 Rev. Salmon C. Perry; 1850-51, Rev. Paul R. Brown; 1852, 
 Rev. P. L. Hoyt; 1853, Rev. P. L. Sanford; 1854, Rev. 
 George Brown; 1855-56, Rev. J. B. Hagany ; 1857-58, Rev. 
 P. Ward; 1859-60, Rev. L. H. King, D. D. ; 1861-62, Rev. 
 Edwin R. Keyes; 1863-65, Rev. Joseph B. Wakeley; 1866, 
 Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D. ; 1867-69, Rev. Morris D. C. 
 Crawford, D. D. ; 1870-71, Rev. Francis Bottome, D. D. ; 
 1872-74, Rev. R. M. Stratton, D. D. ; 1875-77, Rev. Fletcher 
 Hamlin; 1878-79, Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D. ; 1880-82, 
 Rev. De Los Lull; 1883-86, Rev. William E. Ketcham; 
 1886, Rev. Abraham J. Palmer, D. D. ; 1887 to April, 1890, 
 Rev. George E. Strobridge, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Strobridge's pastorate of the church was 
 marked with success. He did much to build up the spir- 
 itual and material interests of the church. He preached 
 constantly the great doctrines and awakening truths of the 
 Bible with earnestness and effectiveness. 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 87 
 
 The number added to the membership of the church 
 ■during his pastorate was one hundred and seventy-nine. 
 He was succeeded by Rev. William E. Ketcham, April, 
 1 890, who attended to the pastoral work of the charge until 
 the coming of the Rev. Edwin A. Schell, October 19, 1890. 
 The pulpit was supplied meanwhile by several eminent 
 preachers of the denomination, among them Bishop An- 
 drews and Dr. Upham. 
 
 Rev. Edwin A. Schell was born at Logansport, Ind. 
 Early in his boyhood his parents moved to Chicago. He is 
 now in the thirtieth year of his age. He graduated at the 
 Northwestern University, and also at Garrett Biblical Insti- 
 tute. During his attendance at school he organized the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church at Hammond. A church was 
 -erected, and became a strong charge. At the time of his 
 -admission to the Northwest Indiana Conference he was 
 sent to South Bend, and with that charge he was connected 
 for over four years. During that time he carried on and 
 completed a post-graduate course of study in De Pauw Uni- 
 versity, receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
 (Ph. D.) He took the Kirk prize of $100 in oratory while 
 in college. An oration of his, on "The Victorian Age," 
 was printed in the volume entitled " A Decade of Oratory," 
 issued by the University Press Company, Evanston, 111. 
 He declined the presidency of a Western college last year. 
 Rev. Dr. Schell preached his first sermon as pastor of the 
 First Methodist Church on Sunday, October 19, 1890. 
 
 Regarding Rev. Dr. Schell, the "South Bend (Ind.) 
 Daily Tribune " says : " No minister ever came to South 
 Bend so perfect a stranger and made so many friends as 
 Mr. Schell. His personality has made him very popular as 
 a man and citizen, while his popularity in the pulpit comes 
 from his originality in the presentation of religious matters, 
 his address, and his eloquence. Indiana has few pulpit 
 -orators that can equal Mr. Schell. As a preacher to chil- 
 dren his ' little sermons ' to them as a prelude to the reg- 
 ular church service will be greatly missed." 
 
 Up to this writing (June i, 1891) fifty-eight have been 
 Teceived into the church during his pastorate. 
 
 The present officers of the church are : 
 
88 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Presiding Elder, Rev. Abraham J. Palmer, D. D. 
 
 Pastor, Rev. Edwin A. Schell, Ph. D. 
 
 Local Elder, Rev. D. T. Macfaflan. 
 
 Trustees, J. C. Havemeyer, J. E. Andrus, S. F. Quick, 
 C. R. Leffingwell, J. B. Odell, John W. Oliver, B. S. Wash- 
 burn, Wm. M. Williams, S. T. Bell. 
 
 Stewards, John Embree, A. Austin, Frank Connelly, 
 C. R. Leffingwell, J. F. Vincent, Frank Wheeler, J. W. Oli- 
 ver, W. F. Washburn, Franklin Ames, E. M. Yerks, Jr., J. 
 A. M'Lachlin, Seymour Van Voorst. 
 
 Sunday-school Superintendent, E. M. Yerks, Jr. 
 
 Class Leaders, A. Austin, Th. Billings, H. N. Palma- 
 tier, Theo. Terrell. 
 
 The present membership — May, 1891 — of the church is 
 380. Full members 360, probationers 20. 
 
 The Ladies' Aid Society of the church was organized 
 in January, 1884. Officers, 1890, Mrs. John W. Oliver, 
 President ; Miss Marguerite Fones, Secretary ; and Mrs. 
 Frank E. Wheeler, Treasurer. 
 
 The Woman's Foreign and Woman's Home Missionary- 
 Societies were organized November, 1 888. 
 
 Officers of the Foreign Society, 1891 : Miss Helen S. 
 Macfarlan, President ; Mrs. E. C. Paton, Secretary ; Miss 
 Bertha Steele, Corresponding Secretary ; Mrs. D. T. Macfar- 
 lan, Treasurer. 
 
 Officers of Home Society, 1891 : Mrs. E. A. Schell,. 
 President ; Mrs. J. W. Goodale, Secretary ; Mrs. F. Keppel, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The present organist and director of the quartette 
 choir is William H. Hoppock ; Mrs. Charles D. Wyman, 
 soprano ; Miss Clara Lee Mott, alto ; F. E. Hubbel, tenor ; 
 John K. Myers, bass. 
 
 The present organ was presented to the church in 
 September, 1888, by Mrs. William F. Cochran. 
 
 The present pulpit Bible and hymn-book were pre- 
 sented by Mrs. S. F. Quick, July, 1888. 
 
 The old church clock is placed in the chapel. George 
 Senior has been sexton of the First Methodist Church, 
 for over twenty years. The ushers are Frank E. Wheeler, 
 S, T. Bell, Edwin A. Oliver, and A. Austin. 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 89 
 
 The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in 
 this church the first Sunday morning in each alternate 
 month. 
 
 The 92d annual session of the New York Conference 
 was held in this church, April 1-8, 1891. Bishop Fitzgerald 
 presided. The Conference was hospitably entertained by 
 the citizens of the community irrespective of denomination, 
 and on the adjournment of the session, resolutions of the 
 most complimentary character to the church and community 
 were adopted. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 In the old country schoolhouse where the first services 
 of the church were held, the first Methodist Sunday-school 
 of Yonkers was founded in the year 1826. 
 
 The late Searing Howell, of Yonkers, was one of the 
 pupils who attended this Sunday-school when it was held in 
 the little schoolhouse, and his family relate the incident 
 that when a very little fellow he fell asleep during meeting- 
 time, and of his being aroused by the sonorous tones of the 
 Methodist preacher, very much scared as he fell from the 
 high wooden bench to the floor, which youthful episode 
 was never effaced from his memory. This incident, so well 
 remembered, fixes the date of the organization of the school 
 as above stated. 
 
 The first church edifice was erected in 1828. Into this 
 building the Sunday-school entered in the autumn of 1828. 
 
 The next date in the early history of this Sunday- 
 school was in the year 1831. At that time Abby J. Odell 
 (now the widow of the late Charles Belknap) and her sister, 
 Sarah Odell (now the widow of Searing Howell), were 
 pupils in the Sunday-school held in the old white meeting- 
 house at half-past one o'clock in the afternoon. Subse- 
 quently they, with their sister, became teachers in the 
 school. 
 
 The superintendent at that time was Frederic Shon- 
 nard. The teachers, so far as can be ascertained, were Miss 
 Alice S. Brown, Miss Charity Brown, Miss Rockwell, Miss 
 Harriet Rockwell, Mrs. Pemberton, James D. Brown, Fred- 
 erick Brown, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Shonnard. 
 
go CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The school then numbered between twenty-five and 
 thirty-five children. The infant class of five was taught by 
 Miss Abby J. Odell. She taught them their A, B, C's from 
 the Bible, and they recited their Bible verses which they had 
 committed to memory and which had been taught to them 
 by their parents at home, and a question from the Church 
 Catechism. A hymn or two was sung from the church 
 hymn-book and the little class was dismissed to attend the 
 afternoon church service, which was held after the dismis- 
 sion of the school, at three o'clock. Such were the exercises 
 and methods of teaching the little primitive infant class. 
 There were no illustrated lesson charts, no attractive picture 
 papers, no reward cards for punctual attendance, perfect 
 lessons, and good deportment ; but with the well-earned 
 commendation and parting words from their young teacher 
 "that they had been good children and said their Bible 
 verses and Catechism nicely," they bade her good-by until 
 next Sunday. 
 
 As the early records of this church and Sunday-school 
 have been unfortunately lost, the later and following history 
 of the school is obtained from the quarterly reports of the 
 Sunday-school presented by the pastors of the church to the 
 Methodist Conference. 
 
 In the reports required by the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church relative to the condition of their churches and Sun- 
 day-schools occurs the following question : 
 
 " Is there a written report from the pastor of the num- 
 ber, state, and average attendance of the Sunday-school 
 and Bible classes, and the extent to which he has preached 
 to the children and catechised them ?" 
 
 In many of the reports presented by the former pas- 
 tors of this church to the Quarterly Conference we find that 
 this question is answered briefly thus : " In part," or sim- 
 ply in the affirmative. 
 
 The following extracts, taken by permission from the 
 Quarterly Record Book of this church, show the condition 
 and growth of the church at different periods and under 
 different pastors of the church. 
 
 The first record of the Sunday-school contained in the 
 " Quarterly Conference Record Book of the First Methodist 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 91 
 
 Church of Yonkers to the New York Conference " is the 
 following : 
 
 From the first Conference report presented by the pas- 
 tor in charge, Rev. M. D, C. Crawford, D. D., is the follow- 
 ing, August 17, 1867: The Sabbath-school is in a flourish- 
 ing condition. The school is organized into a Missionary 
 Society auxiliary to the General Missionary Society of our 
 church. Average attendance of scholars, i "]"]. 
 
 Third quarterly report, November 16, 1867. — Average 
 attendance, 1 70 ; officers and teachers, 36. 
 
 February 29, 1868, the pastor reports to the Quarterly 
 Conference : We have been and are hoping and praying for 
 the conversion of the children, though as yet there are no 
 clear indications of this great mercy. The school numbers 
 children on record, 264; average attendance, 168; officers 
 and teachers, 33 ; contributions to Sunday-school Union, 
 $75 ; to Tract Society, $25 ; to Bible Society, $25. 
 
 October 3, 1868. — Pastor reports to Conference: Aver- 
 age attendance of scholars, 126; of teachers, 20. During 
 the summer and until now the attendance has been smaller 
 than formerly and the school has suffered for lack of faith- 
 ful teachers. The Church Catechism has just been intro- 
 duced into the school. 
 
 The Sunday-school continued to increase in numbers 
 so that the basement of the church was not large enough to 
 accommodate the scholars, and it was removed to the audi- 
 ence-room of the church in the autumn of 1868, which,with 
 the gallery,it continued to occupy till June 6, 1886. 
 
 March 27, 1869. — The Sabbath-school is prosperous and 
 well conducted. Within a few weeks three of the interest- 
 ing children of our infant class — Wilbur F. Lawrence, 
 Fanny Quick, and Herbert Strickland — have been removed 
 from the care of their loving parents to the fold of the 
 Good Shepherd. The general condition of the school is 
 encouraging. It has pleased God to refresh our church 
 and Sunday-school, and some have been added to the 
 church from the Sunday-school who give promise of great 
 usefulness. 
 
 In the year 1869 the superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school was John W. Oliver, now editor of " The Yonkers 
 
92 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Statesman," who was formerly the superintendent for a 
 number of years of the Sunday-school of the Trinity Meth- 
 odist Church in New York city. Mr. Oliver gave his time 
 and means freely to advance its interest. The pastor's 
 family — his daughter and three sons — ^were among the 
 officers and teachers of the school, and not a little of the 
 prosperity of the school was due to their energy and faith- 
 fulness. The social condition of the school at that time 
 was very pleasant. 
 
 At their anniversary, which was held at Radford Hall, 
 Getty Square, on Friday evening, December 17, 1869, an 
 admission fee was charged. 
 
 The exercises began by singing " Life's Rosy Mom " 
 by the school, and the opening prayer was offered by the 
 pastor, Rev. Dr. Crawford. Recitations, dialogues, solos, 
 and duets by members of the school followed. 
 
 An address was delivered by Master Frank Simpson, 
 entitled "Our Sunday-school Family," which was written 
 by one of the officers of the school. In this address a 
 rhyming description of the teachers was given. 
 
 One of the recitations, entitled "Every Drop Helps," 
 by Marian C. Burgess, was very pleasing. Another, " Peo- 
 ple will Talk," by Hattie G. Post, was encored. A duet, 
 "Angel Voices," was sweetly sung by Jules Coffin and" 
 Emma L. Oliver, daughter of the superintendent. 
 
 The recitation, " One Thing at a Time," by Kitty Law- 
 rence, and the dialogue, " I Want to Know the Reason," by 
 Lucy Quick and Mary A. Smith, were well recited. 
 
 The hymn " We are Coming " was beautifully sung by 
 
 the school, after which a dialogue, " That Reminds Me of a 
 
 / Little Story," was given by James Paul, Ethelbert Embree, 
 
 Matthew M. Johnston, Rufus P. Livermore, Thomas C. 
 
 Oakley, and Edwin A. Oliver. 
 
 The closing hymn was " The Friend Near and Dear." 
 The exercises throughout were interesting and entertain- 
 ing. 
 
 The children were led in singing on this occasion by 
 the Rev. Daniel T. Macfarlan, who for a number of years 
 had charge of the singing of this school and always took a 
 special delight and pains in training the children. He 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 93 
 
 will always be remembered as the sweet singer of the 
 school. 
 
 There are only two persons connected with the school 
 at this time who were then in it — Mrs. John Stelwagon 
 (now Mrs. George Burgess), who was the female superin- 
 tendent of the school then, and James B. Odell, who was its 
 treasurer. 
 
 Mrs. George Burgess has been connected with the 
 school since the year 1854, and has been actively engaged 
 in it, either as a teacher or officially, with the exception of 
 a few yekrs intervening between the date of her entrance 
 to the present date, 1888. She is now assistant libra- 
 rian, and as a Sunday-school worker is second on the 
 "Roll of Honor" among the Sunday-school workers of 
 Yonkers. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1 869 is recalled as being an 
 especially delightful occasion. In arranging for the festi- 
 val, the officers and teachers of the school desired to pre- 
 sent their honored pastor, Rev. Dr. M. D, C. Crawford, with 
 some kindly token of recognition. After discussion it was 
 concluded that the present should be $100 in greenbacks. 
 Supervisor Jacob Read, in behalf of the members of the 
 church, presented the gift, and the novel way in which the 
 presentation was made will always be remembered by those 
 who witnessed it. 
 
 The report of the school under the pastorate of Rev. 
 Frank Bottome, D. D., presented to Conference June 18, 
 1870, is as follows : 
 
 On entering my new charge I found a very carefully 
 revised Church Register, which my excellent predecessor 
 prepared with great circumspection and neatness. The 
 Sabbath-school continues to prosper and remains much as 
 per last report of my predecessor, but the basement of the 
 church is deemed utterly unfit for the infant class. 
 
 November 26, 1870. — The Church Improvement Soci- 
 ety, which was started a few months ago, has been a deci- 
 ded success. Our lack is most of all proper church and 
 Sunday-school accommodations. We have not a single 
 class-room, and our basement is the constant complaint of 
 many, who declare that they cannot worship in it without 
 
94 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 detriment to their health. Yet this is the room in which 
 the infant class meets on the Sabbath. 
 
 A large and interesting young people's Bible-class is 
 under the necessity of meeting in the choir gallery of the 
 church and complains of the constant interruptions by the 
 school in the open room below, while the exercises of the 
 body of the school have frequently to be modified to accom- 
 modate the Bible-class. 
 
 June 21, 1873. — Dr. A. W. Lozier was appointed super- 
 intendent by the pastor. 
 
 The following is taken from a printed report of the 
 school in the centennial year, April i , 1 876 : 
 
 " This school is at present in a very flourishing condi- 
 tion and has during the past year made many additions to 
 its ranks. Mr. S. C. Lusk, the superintendent, is an inde- 
 fatigable worker and has the school in fine running order. 
 Religious interest is manifested throughout the school and 
 the best of order is maintained during the entire session. 
 From among the smaller children there has been formed a 
 band for religious exercises called ' The Dew-Drops.' This 
 is in charge of Mrs. Chauncey Shaffer and Miss Harriet 
 Seymour, and their meetings are held after the usual ses- 
 sion of the school. On the third Sunday of each month are 
 held mission exercises under the conductorship of Chaun- 
 cey Shaffer, Esq. This school has four Bible-classes, the 
 members of which take great interest in 'searching the 
 Scriptures.' Following is the statistical exhibit of the 
 school for the past year : 
 
 "Officers, 9; teachers, 26; scholars on register, 237; 
 average attendance, 190 ; largest attendance, 250 ; number in 
 infant class, 30 ; conversions, 27 ; volumes in library, 450 ; 
 receipts from all sources, $420 68 ; expenditures, $409 33 ; 
 donated to missionary cause, $150; donated to church debt, 
 $100. 
 
 " The officers of this school are : S. C. Lusk, Superin- 
 tendent ; Van Buren Clark, Assistant Superintendent ; J. 
 Frank Hull, Treasurer; Charles W. Wheeler and J. Henry 
 Townsend, Librarians ; Mrs. M. Haviland Smith, Lady Su- 
 perintendent ; Miss Amanda P. Carr, Secretary. The 
 teachers are : Mrs. Chauncey Shaffer, Mrs. Anna Burgess, 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 95 
 
 Mrs. James Waterloo, Mrs. George Thomas, Mrs. Seymour 
 Van Vorst, Mrs. Tillie Smith, Miss Harriet Seymour, Miss 
 Helen R. S. Macfarlan, Miss Ella McCord, Miss Mary 
 Hughes, Miss Cora Mackrell, Miss Zelia Anderson, Miss 
 Mary Dates, Miss Lizzie Walsh, Miss Christine Lewis, Miss 
 Mary J. Haines, Miss Hattie Bennett, Miss Wordetia Light, 
 Messrs. G. Herbert McCord, Alfred T. Serrell, Henry Ben- 
 nett, Chauncey Shaffer, Hamlin and Van Buren Clark." 
 
 Report of pastor in charge. Rev. Dr. L. H. King, July 
 28, 1878: In the former report from Sabbath-school there 
 were 197 ; now 221, showing an increase of 24. 
 
 July 19, 1879. — Have the rules respecting the instruc- 
 tion of the children been observed ? Answer — " In part."^ 
 Teachers, 29; scholars, 221 ; collected on Children's Day 
 $10, and sent to the Board of Education. 
 
 Report to the Church Conference by Rev. Delos Lull, 
 June 15, 1880: — I found the Sunday-school in the hands of 
 earnest, devoted workers. The usual effect of removal 
 of families and change of teachers is now upon it. EfiEorts 
 will be made to gather to our school especially the children 
 of our own congregation, some of whom are attendants of 
 other schools. Number of scholars, 200. 
 
 November 15, 1880. — Sunday-school is in excellent con- 
 dition under the skilful management of Brother C. V. Clark 
 and his associates. There has been removed by death Mrs. 
 Noble, an earnest and faithful teacher. 
 
 January 6, 1881. — The Sunday-school is in excellent, 
 condition. Number in infant class, 50 ; officers and teach- 
 ers, 41 ; number of scholars, 200. I have preached twice to 
 the children in the Conference year. 
 
 June 14, 1 88 1. — A good proportion of the scholars in 
 this school at this time are over fifteen years of age. I have 
 preached to the children twice during the past quarter. 
 The superintendent and associates are thorough in their 
 work. 
 
 October 6, 1881. — The Sunday-school connected with 
 this church has been unusually well attended for the season. 
 Notwithstanding the summer and autumn heat and consid- 
 erable disappointment felt by the children of this school 
 occasioned by a failure of plans for a picnic excursion, there 
 
g6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 has been no abatement of interest or decrease in numbers. 
 It is my conviction that our school should be maintained 
 ■without depending on external and sensational methods. 
 
 Dr. Edgar M. Hermance taught a large Bible-class 
 numbering thirty young men and women. This class met 
 for five years from 1880 to 1885 in the west wing of the 
 church, which at one time was occupied by the organ and 
 choir. Many of the pupils of that class are now heads of 
 families and recall with grateful appreciation his faithful 
 and practical instruction. 
 
 The report of the pastor, Rev. William E. Ketcham, to 
 the Quarterly Conference, May 30, 1883, says: We have one 
 Sunday-school. It is in charge of an able superintendent 
 and is doing faithful work. It has a worthy record and is 
 capable of great efficiency. The average attendance is 
 about 230. I have given five-minute sermons to the chil- 
 dren nearly every Sabbath since, among this people. Some 
 of the children have been received to full communion of 
 the church. 
 
 February 15, 1884. — Our Sunday-school is an arm of 
 great strength to this church. Its work is going forward 
 grandly. Those engaged in this department are among 
 our most devoted and earnest members. Much money 
 is raised for missionary purposes by our Sunday-school 
 missionary society. The average attendance is 240. More 
 room is required by the Sunday-school than is possible 
 to furnish in the old church. I think our Sunday-school 
 could be relied upon to assist in any movement looking 
 towards more and ample quarters. 
 
 July 10, 1884. — Amid the competition of several schools 
 in this city we stand at great disadvantage. The very at- 
 tractive Sabbath-school rooms of no less than five different 
 churches — ^within a stone's throw of ours — ^have very potent 
 influence to make drafts upon our own. The children are 
 easily captivated by the neat, tidy, and winning features of 
 the room in which they study and worship. The illumina- 
 ted maps, the brilliant mottoes, ample library rooms, the 
 attractive parlors, so well and tastefully furnished, are mag- 
 nets of no ordinary power to draw the children thereto. 
 
 Our sixty infant-class children assemble from Sabbath to 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 97 
 
 Sabbath and- are compelled to occupy tlie dingy basement, 
 where a mixture of stovepipe and furnaces greets their eyes. 
 These children offer no indifferent plea for better accom- 
 modations. We find our school ardent with love to missions, 
 and to their honor, be it said they raise from $20 to $30 per 
 month for six months of the year for our General Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 A conviction at present prevails that the school would 
 be justified, in view of the home needs, to launch itself upon 
 the work of gathering funds for our new church and for the 
 time being give less to the General Missionary Society. It 
 is worthy of note that with heartiness the school celebrated 
 Children's Day, June 8, and received benefit and instruc- 
 tion by the addresses of Brothers Andrew E. Leffingwell 
 and Myron T. Scudder. A collection from the children for 
 the fund of the Board of Education amounted to $66. 
 
 The Methodist Catechism is knocking at the door of 
 our school, and we speak for it an early welcome. 
 
 March 13, 1885. — Our Sunday-school has maintained a 
 very excellent and marked degree of prosperity during the 
 Conference year just closing. The officers have been faith- 
 ful and have given much time and attention to the work of 
 the school. The teachers have shown diligence and inter- 
 est in their work. 
 
 Our infant class is large and promising, although com- 
 pelled to hold its session in our unpromising lecture-room, 
 where no maps, etc., are to be found, so needful to aid in 
 study and to compete with neighboring schools. New and 
 valuable accessions have been secured during the year. 
 
 The missionary interest of our school increases and 
 missionary days are occasions of real delight. Contribu- 
 tions are taken monthly with the explicit understanding 
 that for six months of the year the offerings are for the 
 General Missionary Society, and for the remammg six 
 months of the year for the running expenses of the school. 
 The plan works well. 
 
 We are inclined to the thought, which is becommg a 
 conviction, that the Sunday-school may be made an all-im- 
 portant factor in aiding the new church enterprise, which it 
 is expected will be launched soon with the most flattering 
 
 Cbnich aod Sunday-Bchool Work. J 
 
98 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 prospect of success. The only regret we cherisli in sur- 
 veying the secular work of the school is the failure to hold 
 with regularity, every month, a teachers' meeting for the 
 transaction of the many items of business needful for the 
 higher success of their Sabbath-school work. 
 
 We have no classes formed for religious instruction 
 other than the Sabbath classes. Number of scholars in 
 school, 240 ; teachers and officers, 59 ; scholars over fifteen 
 years of age, 140 ; infant class, 60. 
 
 June 19, 1885.— The school maintains its accustomed 
 vigor and promises well for the future. A new departure 
 is giving additional attention to the monthly teachers' 
 meeting. To reason and plan for the highest good of the 
 school augurs well for new interest during the year. An 
 effort is now being made to introduce the much neglected 
 catechism into the school. 
 
 The Children's Day exercises were attractive and ren- 
 dered very popular. The school assembled in the evening 
 and sang with remarkable power. Two addresses were 
 made, one by Brother C. R. Leffingwell, of our own church, 
 and the other by W. W. Law, of the First Presbyterian 
 Church of Yonkers. The addresses and singing, as well as 
 the tasteful and abundant floral display, merited and re- 
 ceived very hearty appreciation. 
 
 The old story of limited accommodation for the school 
 need not be repeated, but a better church for such pur- 
 poses is soon to be reached. There are in the records of 
 the Sunday-school many items which indicate a deep inter- 
 est in the new church enterprise. 
 
 In the spring of 1 879 Messrs. Bloomer & Co. opened a 
 shirt manufactory and laundry in the building now owned 
 by the Yonkers Railroad Company, corner Main Street and 
 Buena Vista Avenue. They brought with them a number 
 of Chinamen to assist in their work. An effort was made 
 by two teachers of the Westminster Sunday-school to bring 
 [the Chinese into that school, which was partially success- 
 ful ; but their final preference was given to the Methodist 
 Sunday-school, and to this school is accorded the honor of 
 taking the lead in the noble work of giving the gospel to 
 the Chinese who have come to our shores. 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 99 
 
 Rooms were hired by these Chinamen in Mr. Bloom- 
 er's building, and it soon became known as the "Chinese 
 headquarters " in Yonkers. Here they slept and ate their 
 meals and spent their evenings in playing cards and in 
 other amusements. Their Sundays were spent very much 
 in the way they had been accustomed in their native land. 
 They had their idols with all the paraphernalia of heathen 
 worship, and so far as they were able they were true and 
 devout heathen worshippers. 
 
 A young boy, a clerk in one of the stores in the city, 
 was sent on errands by his employers to the proprietor of 
 the factory. While waiting to be attended to he talked 
 with these Chinamen about their work and became very 
 much interested in them. This interest was reciprocated, 
 and one day he asked one of them if he would like to go to 
 Sunday-school, and said, " My father has a class in Sunday- 
 school. Would you like to come to it ?" 
 
 The Chinaman replied eagerly, " Yesee, velly muchee." 
 
 George went home and said, " Father, will you take a 
 Chinaman in your class next Sunday ?" His father con- 
 sented. The next Sunday George, accompanied by his 
 father, went down to the Chinese headquarters to show the 
 Chinaman the way to school and to protect him from the 
 attacks of the street Arabs who persecuted him. 
 
 This custom was kept up for several Sundays, until 
 the new scholar was able to come alone unaccompanied by 
 his bodyguard. Then the new scholar, Fred Coon, brought 
 one of his associates. Lew To Gow by name. These two 
 became inseparable companions, and could often be seen, 
 with their little primers under their arms, wending their 
 way to the Sunday-school. 
 
 But these two youthful Chinamen were not without 
 their trials in their new enterprise. More than once they 
 were accosted by rude boys, who stood on the street corners 
 and shouted out as they passed, " Halloa, heathen Chinee, 
 how much will you take for your pigtail?" Once a dead 
 rat was thrown in their way with a rude remark. But they 
 passed on with a calm dignity as though they heard them 
 not. 
 
 The next Sunday they were accompanied by a third, 
 
lOO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Fred Coon acting as their interpreter. November 2d of 
 the same year their number increased to seven, and the 
 next Sunday to twelve. 
 
 At that time Mr, Terrell had rather an unruly class of 
 boys. Thinking that perhaps another person could man- 
 age and instruct them better than he, Mr. Terrell gave up 
 his class and turned his attention to the twelve Chinamen, 
 who were always attentive, obedient, and very respectful 
 in their conduct. It was truly a turning to the Gentiles. 
 
 Mr. Terrell found that he had more scholars than he 
 could attend to and was very much perplexed to know 
 what to do. They were, as he said, like an " elephant on 
 his hands." They were so earnest and eager for instruc- 
 tion, and knew so little of the English language, it seemed 
 a necessity that each one should have a teacher. 
 
 An appeal was made to the superintendent, Mr. V. B. 
 Clark, and it was partially successful. Yet more teachers 
 were needed and a second appeal was made, when Miss 
 Carrie W. Rehorn, now a teacher in the girls' department 
 of the High School in Yonkers, responded and brought 
 with her several of her associate teachers. Then the work 
 began in earnest, and the gallery in the old church was set 
 apart for their use and was called the Chinese department 
 of the school. 
 
 A few weeks afterwards a gentleman from Boston 
 addressed the school, after which he spoke with Mr. Ter- 
 rell about his work. Mr. Terrell told him of his perplexi- 
 ties and difficulties, and of his desire that the work might 
 be carried on more successfully. This gentleman directed 
 him to a lady who was a member of Rev. Dr. Howard 
 Crosby's Church in New York, and who had been for sev- 
 eral years a very successful teacher among the Chinese 
 and had an evening school in White Street, New York. 
 He thought she could solve his difficulties for him and give 
 him many useful and helpful hints about the work. 
 
 Mr. Terrell visited Miss Goodrich's school several 
 times and obtained much benefit from her methods of 
 teaching. Miss Goodrich passed from earth to heaven a 
 few years ago, leaving a bright and enduring record of her 
 work. By Miss Goodrich's advice Mr. Terrell bought Chi- 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. lOI 
 
 nese primers and Testaments from the American Tract So- 
 ciety, New York, and found them very useful in his work. 
 
 Lew To Gow's instructor was Mrs. John P. Ostrander, 
 who labored faithfully and prayerfully for his conversion, 
 and under her careful instruction he became a Christian. 
 A few years ago he died a happy Christian death in San 
 Francisco, where he had gone hoping to regain his health. 
 Another one of his class, Haw Ling, was baptized into the 
 fellowship of the Baptist Church in North Adams, Mass., 
 and became a useful member of t^at Society. Fred Coon, 
 Chumbag Ham Dock, Ching Tong Goung, Ching Gow 
 Goung, and Lau Jone became communicants of the First 
 Methodist Church. 
 
 "February 4, 1880, the Chinese celebratdd their New 
 Year on Monday. It was a very joyous occasion and the 
 festivities lasted for several days. Many of the Sunday- 
 school teachers and their friends were present, and the 
 affair wound up with a firing off of 50,000 fire-crackers, 
 which had been imported for this purpose. " 
 
 In June, 1881, their beloved superintendent, Theodore 
 Terrell, left the city, as his business called him elsewhere. 
 For a time Fred Coon acted in this capacity, and then Mrs. 
 Catherine B. Sing (widow of the late Rev. Charles Sing), 
 took charge of them. She has a deep interest in them and 
 has kept up a correspondence with many of them who have 
 left Yonkers. She has received many interesting letters 
 from them, full of touching words and thankful acknowl- 
 edgment for her untiring efforts in their behalf. 
 
 The Chinese have always been very grateful fo^ what 
 has been done for them, and show their appreciation by 
 beautiful gifts to their teachers. They are also very be- 
 nevolent and not unfrequently are the banner class, their 
 monthly contributions being the largest in the school. 
 One year they contributed $65 for missionary purposes, 
 and once a larger sum. 
 
 In the Methodist Church Conference of New York 
 there is but one other school that has a Chinese depart- 
 ment connected with it. In regard to the results of their 
 religious instruction received in the Yonkers school the 
 following letter testifies : 
 
I03 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " YoNKERS, N. Y., Oct. 6, 1884. 
 
 " Mr. Theodore Terrell — Dear Sir : I will write you 
 a few lines and let you know I intend started for China on 
 tlie 27th of this month. I thought I come over see you, 
 and all the other friends what I know them from Yonkers, 
 and bid them good-by before I gone back to China, but 
 instead I write this letter. I hope I see you again when I 
 come back, and will tell you how glad I am in America, and 
 how thankful to our Saviour Jesus, who bids you and all 
 the dear Yonkers friends to help the heathen Chinese into 
 His righteous ways from darkness. 
 
 " When I reach Chinei I will not go back to worship 
 idols any more, but I shall showly tell all my friends in 
 China about the Mighty Father in Heaven who gave his 
 only-begotten Son, our Saviour Jesus, to redeem the world 
 from our sins and that whosoever believe in Him ' should 
 not perish but have everlasting life.' 
 
 " I also bring my teachers' and friends' photographs 
 and show it to them and tell them what kind of people I 
 know in America, that teach us the right ways like brothers 
 or sisters. Dear brother, pray for us all. May the Lord 
 hear your prayers and answer to them. I will close my 
 letter and go up to Miss C. W. Reborn's house for my les- 
 son. 
 
 "My dear brother, give my kind regards to all my 
 
 friends what I know, 
 
 " Your friend, 
 
 ■< *»* «*** ' • 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ketcham in his report to the New York Con- 
 ference says : " The Chinese department connected with 
 this school is somewhat novel, but useful as an educational 
 power." 
 
 Again in his report of June 19, 1885, he says: "The 
 Chinese department is still an important feature in our 
 school. We have, ranging from fifteen to twenty China- 
 men, careful and earnest students, under the direction of 
 Mrs. Catherine B. Sing and a band of faithful teachers. 
 Recently another of that class, with sincere desire to accept 
 Christian faith and teaching, after a critical examination 
 touching the leading doctrines of Christianity, abandoned 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 103 
 
 for ever his former faith in idols and accepted Christianity 
 and was received by baptism into our fold. The event will 
 ever be remembered by those who were witnesses of it. 
 Mrs. Sing stood with our brother from the far East as he 
 took the vows of God upon him and accepted the name 
 of a distinguished layman, and was baptized in the faith of 
 the Lord Jesus." 
 
 The names of the pupils in the Chinese department 
 in 1887 were as follows : Fred Coon, Ching Goon, Lee Dick, 
 Chung Jan, Chung Tong, Lau Poo, B. Chung, Chung Wong, 
 Chung Song, Chung Jang, Chung Yon, Lau H. Jone, Lee 
 Wing, Chung On, Ah Ching, Yon H. Quong, Yong Gine, 
 Yot Sing, and Chung Hing. 
 
 The teachers in the Chinese department were: Mrs. 
 Catherine B. Sing, Superintendent ; Theodore Terrell, Mrs. 
 Terrell, Miss Eva Mackrell, Miss Rehorn, Mrs. Owen Van 
 Winkle, Miss McMahon, Miss Pagan, Mrs. Yerks, Miss Net- 
 tie Brown, Miss C. B. Cronk, Miss Mary Delamater, Miss 
 Campbell, Miss I. Vincent, Mrs. Miiller, Miss Harriet Sey- 
 mour, Mrs. Ames, Mrs. Fowler, Miss Stella Pearsall, and 
 Miss Susie Pearsall. 
 
 The department meets in the northwest class-room, 
 over the room occupied by the primary department. It is 
 attractively furnished with small square tables, with pretty 
 covers of various designs, and a Mason and Hamlin organ. 
 Scripture mottoes, Chinese banners, and other foreign orna- 
 mentations adorn the walls. , Mrs. C. B. Sing continues the 
 faithful and zealous superintendent, who with her efficient 
 corps of teachers are earnest and devoted in their efforts in 
 teaching their pupils the" way of life. 
 
 The department numbers twenty -two pupils. The 
 present teachers, April, 1890, are Mrs. Catherine Andrews, 
 Mrs. John H. Brown, Mrs. Elizabeth Steele, Mrs. Ames, 
 Mrs. Van Winkle, Mrs. Alex. O. Kirkwood, Mrs. Lucy 
 Wheeler, Mrs. Minnie Hogel, Miss C. Cronk, Miss Edith 
 Pagan, Miss Ella Quick, Miss Mary Delamater, Miss Blake- 
 more, Miss Libbie Smith, Miss Mary McMahon, Miss Em- 
 ma Smith, Mr. Robert O. Kirkwood, Allan S. Kirkwood, 
 Miss Harriet Seymour, and Jennie O. Kirkwood. , 
 
 The last session of the Sunday-school in the old church 
 
104 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 building was held at two o'clock in the afternoon, the inter- 
 esting feature of this occasion being the bringing in of the 
 Sunday-school barrels which contained the contributions to 
 the building fund of the new church, earned by the children 
 and collected from others towards this object. 
 
 These little barrels were about three inches in height 
 and were numbered, the number corresponding to each 
 scholar's name. They bore this inscription : " Sunday- 
 school Offering for our New Church. First Methodist 
 Episcopal, Yonkers, N. Y." 
 
 After the opening exercises of the school the barrels 
 were collected in a large basket and carried into the par- 
 sonage adjoining the church. The secretary, Mr. F. H. 
 Connolly, assisted by Mr. Seymour Van Vorst and one of 
 the teachers of the school, opened the barrels and counted 
 their contents, which consisted of coppers, dimes, and dol- 
 lars. The amounts in the barrels ranged from fifty cents 
 to twelve dollars. 
 
 In one of these tiny barrels, collected from the Chinese 
 department, was found a copper coin, the value of which 
 was equal to one cent of U. S. money. This coin was pur- 
 chased by a member of the school for twenty-five cents as a 
 memento of the occasion. After the amount had been 
 ascertained — which was $450 — it was carried into the school 
 and put into the hands of the pastor, Rev. W. E. Ketcham, 
 who congratulated the children on the successful result of 
 their efforts, which he had suggested to them, and the joy 
 and enthusiasm were participated in by all. It was truly a 
 jubilee day.^ 
 
 The following Sunday, June 14, 1886, the school assem- 
 bled in the old Sunday-school room of the First Presby- 
 terian Church, which had been kindly tendered to them by 
 the Board of Trustees of that church until their new chapel 
 was ready for occupancy. 
 
 The school continued to meet there until they entered 
 their new chapel in the fall of 1 887. Although there were 
 some disadvantages and inconveniences occasioned by their 
 removal from their own church home, and the summer 
 season of that year was peculiarly trying, yet there was 
 no diminution in its numbers nor flagging of interest. 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 105 
 
 This was in no small degree owing to the faithful and 
 punctual attendance of both officers and teachers. And 
 thus the school was brought successfully through this criti- 
 cal period of its history. The fifteen months which the 
 school spent under the sheltering roof of the First Presby- 
 terian Church are filled with pleasant memories. 
 
 The chapel adjoining their new church edifice being 
 completed, the Sunday-school held their first session there 
 October 23, 1887. • 
 
 The exercises of the Sunday-school began at 2:30 
 o'clock with the reading of a selection of Scripture by 
 Abram Austin, the superintendent, followed by a respon- 
 sive reading of the lesson for the day, which was from the 
 Gospel of St. Matthew, 9 : 1 8-2 1 . The school then united 
 in singing, with heart and soul, the hymn entitled " Bring- 
 ing in the Sheaves," which hymn is a great favorite with 
 the members of the Chinese department of the school. 
 The pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. Strobridge, then led 
 them in a tender, earnest prayer, full of thanksgiving and 
 petitions for a present blessing to rest upon all assembled, 
 and for a continuance of the blessing upon the future work 
 of the school. The hymn " The Water of Life," from the 
 school hymn-book, the "Gem of Gems," was then sung. 
 The singing was led by Frederick Hubbell, and Winfield S. 
 Soeteman presided at the organ. The school sustained 
 their reputation for good singing in this hymn as in all 
 those sung on this occasion. 
 
 Then the lesson of the day was taken up, at the close 
 of which the school was called to order, which took just 
 one minute and a half, by the superintendent's watch, as 
 was announced. At the request of the superintendent 
 the scholars recited in concert the memory texts of the 
 lesson. This was followed by the recitation of the golden 
 text, which was beautifully and distinctly given by the 
 little ones. 
 
 Dr. Strobridge then suggested that a vote of thanks 
 be given to the Sunday-school of the First Presbyterian 
 Church of this city for the use of the room in their church 
 building, which they had occupied for the past fifteen 
 months free of charge. This suggestion was responded 
 
Io6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 to with a nnanimous and hearty ay from the members of 
 the school. 
 
 He also stated that this vote of thanks was from the 
 Sunday-school children to the Sunday-school of the First 
 Presbyterian Church and a written vote of thanks would 
 be sent by the teachers and officers of this school, to be 
 given at the next monthly teachers' meeting. 
 
 In concluding his address Dr. Strobridge said : 
 
 " Now what of the future of this school ? What are we 
 going to do with these new opportunities, these rich and 
 grand privileges, and this beautiful Sunday-school room ? 
 Let us begin the work of the school with a boom. And 
 how shall we boom this school? First fill it with new 
 scholars. How shall we do that? Let us begin in this 
 way, on the one boy and one girl plan — that is, each boy 
 and each girl promise this : ' I will bring one new pupil 
 into this school next Sunday.' Let each one present en- 
 deavor to do this. 
 
 " And, secondly, let us begin a new dispensation, a new 
 economy. But these are theological terms. Let us say 
 instead a new beginning, and you will all understand. And 
 this second boom is to make a new beginning in the matter 
 of preparing the lesson. Let all study the lesson, and not 
 depend upon the teachers to make the lesson interesting to 
 you. Do your part to make it so. 
 
 " Now for a motto for this new room for you to think 
 about all the year and in the coming years : ' According to 
 your faith be it unto you,' which is in substance this : If 
 you do a thing, believe in it and you will strive for it. All 
 hail then and welcome to you all in this beautiful new 
 room. Pray and work for the prosperity of this school." 
 
 The superintendent followed in a few brief remarks, 
 ftiUy indorsing all that the pastor had said, and concluding 
 with, " Now let us try to show our faith by our works." 
 
 The school then arose and repeated the Apostles' Creed 
 in concert, the closing hymn, " The New Song," was sung, 
 and they were dismissed with the benediction by Dr. Stro- 
 bridge. Thus ended the exercises of the school on the 
 first day in their new schoolroom. It was a day long to be 
 remembered with pleasurable emotions. 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. lO/ 
 
 The audience-room of this new chapel is very attract- 
 ive. The walls are of terra cotta tint and the ceiling a 
 beautiful soft tint of green. The windows are of opalescent 
 glass and the woodwork of finely finished maple. 
 
 The seating capacity of the audience-room is three 
 hundred, which does not include the class-room at the south 
 end, nor the two Bible-class rooms at the northwest end. 
 There are two other class-rooms abo\e these. The library 
 room, on the right of the audience-room, is pleasant, and 
 has all the appointments necessary for conducting the work 
 of the school. 
 
 It was a merry company which assembled at the 
 Christmas celebration of the Sunday-school of the First 
 Methodist Church, held in the First Presbyterian Church, 
 December, 1886. There were two Christmas-trees, and 
 every child received a book, a box of candy, and an orange. 
 
 Superintendent A. Austin presided, and received a 
 special present of a set of the People's Cyclopaedia from the 
 teachers of the school. Miss M. Hodges directed the 
 music. 
 
 Abram Austin was elected superintendent in January, 
 1886. His natural and marked executive ability and inde- 
 fatigable perseverance were exhibited in his management 
 of the school, and under his superintendency it increased in 
 numbers and prosperity. He introduced the system of 
 rewards — a reward being given to the scholar who had 
 been punctual and faithful in his attendance and perfect 
 in the commital of the school lesson and Scripture verses 
 during the year. 
 
 The reward was either a beautiful and well-bound copy 
 of the Bible, a Methodist hymn-^ook, or any other book 
 which the scholar might choose, provided the price did not 
 exceed a certain sum. This system proved a success. 
 
 The school held their Christmas celebration of 1887 in 
 the chapel of their new church on Monday evening, De- 
 cember 26. Rev. Charles E. Allison, pastor of the Day- 
 spring Church, interested the children with one of his 
 characteristic and entertaining talks. Their pastor, Rev. 
 Dr. Strobridge, also spoke a few words to them, after which 
 came the distribution of the Christmas gifts, which con- 
 
I08 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 sisted of books for tlae older members of the school ; and 
 cornucopias of candy, oranges, and attractive picture books 
 from a beautiful Christmas-tree were given to the children 
 in the Prirhary Department. A beautifully illustrated book 
 entitled " The Story of the Bible " was given to each niem- 
 ber of the Chinese department by their superintendent, 
 Mrs. Catherine B. Sing. The Christmas carols entitled 
 " We Hail Thee Once, Again," " The Coming of the King," 
 and the " Music of the Christmas Bells," sung by the school, 
 added to the interest of the occasion. 
 
 During the fall of 1889 George D. Mackay, the Presi- 
 dent of the Young Men's Christian Association of Yonkers, 
 delivered a series of " Pictorial Bible Readings." He was 
 assisted by Rev. John Kershaw, the pastor of a Brooklyn 
 Mission Church, who operated the stereopticon and assisted 
 in the prayer and inquiry meeting always held after the 
 close of the readings. 
 
 The subjects of the illustrations were Bible naratives in 
 the life of Christ. The pictures exhibited were procured at 
 no small expense by Mr. Mackay, and were from some of 
 the greatest paintings of ancient and modern times. There 
 were two views of " Christ entering Jerusalem," by Selous 
 and Dubufe, " The Widow's Mite," by Barrias, " The Rich 
 Young Ruler," by Lejeune, " Christ Healing the Sick in the 
 Temple," by Benjamin West. Other views were : " The 
 Raising of Lazarus," " Healing the Woman with the In- 
 firmity," "Christ Eating with the Publicans," and the " Re- 
 storing of Sight to Bartimasus," Durand's marvellous pic- 
 ture of the secret watch of the procession of Christ on his 
 way to Calvary, Munkacsy's " Christ Before Pilate," Ru- 
 ben's " Descent from the' Cross." Plockhort's " Rabboni " 
 was truly a heavenly vision, and one seemed to be en- 
 tranced and enchained with the surprised and enraptured 
 Mary. 
 
 Robert's " To Emmaus " was a powerful representation 
 of a scene that the imagination might scarcely venture 
 to> picture, much less the hand presume to portray. 
 
 There were five pictures by the fertile and expressive 
 pencil of Bida — " The Women Bringing the Spices," " Mary 
 Coming to the Tomb," " Jesus and the Ten," " Have Ye 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 109 
 
 Any Meat?" and Peter springing into the water and swim- 
 ming ashore. 
 
 Thompson's " Easter Dawn " floated into the vision 
 to stay and inspire. The affecting picture of "Thomas 
 Convinced " was admirably reproduced, and Gleyre's " As- 
 cension " outshone the original copy. This scene closed the 
 instructive and profitable exhibition of Bible pictures. 
 
 At the close of each lecture there was thrown upon the 
 screen the words of Matthew 32 : 33, emphasizing the lesson 
 therein contained, and followed with the pledge : " I ac- 
 knowledge that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ 
 came into the world to save sinners. I accept Jesus Christ 
 as my Saviour and Master. And I ask the Lord's people 
 to pray with me that I may be kept faithful." Small slips 
 were printed with this pledge and rules for beginners in 
 Christian life on them, together with passages showing the 
 authority for both pledge and rules, and at the end of each 
 lecture, signatures to the pledges were requested. This 
 course of Bible-readings resulted in forty-four accessions to 
 the membership of this and other churches in Yonkers. 
 The course was also delivered at the Immanuel Mission 
 Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers with 
 good results. 
 
 The Christmas Festival of 1889 was held in^the chapel. 
 W. H. Hoppock, the church organist, gave some brilliant 
 music before the exercises began, and he also accompanied 
 the school upon the instrument. Charles R. Leffingwell, 
 the superintendent, conducted the exercises. 
 
 George D. Mackay made a very pleasing address, 
 during which he related a Christmas legend ; and Rev. Dr. 
 Strobridge had some happy words to say, and said them 
 happily. Each scholar was made the recipient of a handsome 
 book and a basket of delicacies. Superintendent Leffingwell 
 ■received a large and beautiful book from the school : and 
 Assistant Superintendent Theodore Terrell became the 
 owner of a very handsome volume, the gift of his superior 
 officer. Elijah M. Yerks was honored publicly by his large 
 Bible-class, and there were other presentations, of a quiet 
 order, between the teachers and their classes. 
 
 A teachers' meeting is held monthly for the purpose of 
 
no CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 consultation in regard to plans and methods used and re- 
 quired for carrying forward the work of the school, the 
 presentation of reports of work done during the month, and 
 for the transaction of any other business relative to the 
 school. These meetings are well attended and successful 
 in their results. 
 
 The school is self-supporting and contributes to the 
 missionary fund of the church about $i 50 annually. Month- 
 ly missionary meetings are held, and to the class which 
 contributes the largest amount the Sunday-school mission- 
 ary banner is given, to be kept for a month or a longer 
 period, provided the contributions of said class are the 
 largest for that month. This class is known as the " Ban- 
 ner Class." 
 
 The school has two banners — one of crimson silk with ' 
 gold fringe, the other of blue silk, on each of which is in- 
 scribed in golden letters, " First Methodist Sunday-school 
 Banner Class," and "No. i" and "No. 2" respectively. 
 Not unfrequently is the first banner won and held for more 
 than a month by the Chinese department. The school has 
 also a Birthday-Box. , 
 
 The Young Men's Association connected with this 
 Church and Sunday-school was organized in 1 882 by Rev. 
 Delos Lull. In 1883 it became the " Young People's Associ- 
 ation," President, Abram Austin ; F. H. Connolly, Secretary ; 
 George Christian, Treasurer. From this Association was 
 formed the Christian Endeavor Society in February, 1889. 
 This society is now called the Epworth League. Its officers, 
 January, 1 890, are James McLachlan, President ; Clarence 
 Pearsall, Vice-President ; William H. Schultz, Secretary ; and 
 Miss Ella Lawrence, Treasurer. The membership is eighty. 
 
 The primary department in 1887 was in charge of Miss 
 Amanda Carr, assisted by Miss Minnie Hodges, and num- 
 bered between fifty and sixty scholars. 
 
 The superintendent of the department is Mrs. Eleanor 
 E. Paton, who is ably assisted by Mrs. Bertha Miiller and 
 Mrs. Wilcox. 
 
 The Methodist Catechism with the lesson is taught in 
 this department. By means of interesting Scripture selec- 
 tions, with word picture illustrations by the teacher, doc- 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Ill 
 
 trinal truth is made plain and attractive to the little ones. 
 The illustrated "Berean Leaf Cluster" is also used, and 
 " The Picture Lesson Paper," with Scripture picture cards 
 for punctuality and deportment. Present number of pupils 
 is fifty. 
 
 The class-room at the south end of the main room is 
 occupied by the large Bible-class of young women, num- 
 bering thirty, which is taught by Miss Carrie W. Rehom. 
 
 There are also two other advanced Bible-classes con- 
 nected with the school, which are taught by E. Yerks and 
 Abram Austin. The former is composed of young men 
 and the latter of young women. 
 
 Sixteen pupils from this school during the year 1887 
 were received into the full communion of the church. 
 
 The officers of the school in 1887 were : Abram Austin, 
 Superintendent ; Elijah Yerks, Assistant Superintendent ; 
 C. R. Leffingwell, Treasurer ; F. H. Connolly, Secretary ; 
 Miss Carrie W. Rehom, first Woman Superintendent ; Miss 
 Amanda Carr, second Woman Superintendent; Mrs. C. B. 
 Sing, Superintendent of Chinese department ; Fred. Hub- 
 bell, Organist ; W. B. Sing, Librarian ; Mrs. George Bur- 
 gess, first Assistant Librarian ; Harvey Chase, second 
 Assistant Librarian. 
 
 The teachers were : Mr. Palmateer, Miss Rehorn, Mrs. 
 Andrus, Mrs. A. Austin, Miss Chadburn, Mrs. Devoe, Mrs. 
 Archibald, Miss Ella Lawrence, Miss Kitty Lawrence, Miss 
 Mary Calahan. Miss Ida Pollock; Miss Rennie Kenworthy, 
 Miss Georgie Haines, Miss Emma Chadeayne, Miss Gor- 
 man, Miss Emma Shaler, Miss Miriam Burgess, Miss Heath- 
 er, Miss Steele, Miss Fones, Miss Alma Embree^ Miss Eva 
 Chadburn, Miss Minnie Hodges, Miss Strobridge, Miss 
 Amanda Carr, David Burgess, George Craven, George Odell, 
 J. ,B. Odell, and Elijah Yerks. 
 
 The school numbered 270 scholars. 
 
 Mr. Austin resigned the superin tendency of the school 
 in March, 1888, and was succeeded by Charles R. Leffing- 
 well. 
 
 In June, 1888, the service on "Children's Day" was 
 held in the church. The programme carried out was that 
 prepared by Dr. Payne and Miss Baldwin for the Board of 
 
112 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Education of the Methodist Church. W. H. Hoppock pre- 
 sided at the organ, and Mr. Poindexter, the precentor, 
 directed the children in singing. Superintendent Leffing- 
 well led in the responsive reading. Dr. Strobridge made a 
 fine address. The floral decorations were very beautiful. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1889 attracted all the schol- 
 ars and a large number of friends to the church in which it 
 was held. A well-arranged progranime of recitations and 
 singing of carols was carried out in a charming manner. 
 A fine Christmas-tree, resplendent in its dress of gifts and 
 lights, stood on the platform, the admiration of the chil- 
 dren. 
 
 The patriotism of the school was shown in the late 
 civil war, when five of its members went out from it to 
 engage in the defence of our country, namely, John For- 
 syth, Alonzo Craw, James Duff, James H. Hanny, and 
 James Beasley. 
 
 The lesson helps used by this school are the " Sunday- 
 school Journal," edited by Rev. J. H. Vincent, D. D., and 
 the " Berean Leaf." In the primary department is used 
 the illustrated " Berean Leaf Cluster " by the same author, 
 and the Picture Lesson Paper published by Phillips & 
 Hunt. The Sunday-school hymn-book is the " Epworth 
 Hymnal." The number of books in the library is 651. A 
 new library is to be purchased for the school. 
 
 The Children's Mission Band was organized January, 
 1889, ^^^ raised for " Pawhuska Home," Indian Territory, 
 $40. Its officers, January, 1 890, were : Mrs. Hattie Terrell. 
 President ; Miss Bertha Steele, Secretary ; Master Robert 
 Strobridge, Treasurer. Its membership was sixty. 
 
 This school has always taken a prominent and decided 
 stand in the temperance cause, and a number of its officers 
 and teachers are actively engaged in the temperance work. 
 Mrs. Merritt H. Smith, who for many years was the teacher 
 of a large adult Bible-class of the school, was the first pres- 
 ident of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of 
 Yonkers, and continued so to be for a number of years and 
 until her removal from the city. 
 
 A former secretary of the .school, F. H. Connolly, or- 
 ganized the order of " Good Templars " in Yonkers. Many 
 
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. II3 
 
 ■of its pupils are members of the Band of Hope of the 
 Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 
 
 The present (January, 1891) number of scholars of all 
 ages is 320. 
 
 The officers of the missionary society of the school 
 are: Theodore Terrell, President; Frank H. Connolly, 
 Vice-President ; Clarence A. Pearsall, Secretary and Treas- 
 urer. 
 
 The additions to the communion of the church from 
 this Sunday-school in the past years of its history, have 
 been very many. These persons have in turn been instru- 
 mental in leading others into the enjoyment of the same 
 blessings and privileges with themselves in connection 
 with the church, and many have gone out from this school 
 who are now filling positions of usefulness in the world. 
 
 Rev. John G. Oakley, Ph. D., pastor of the Thirteenth 
 Street Methodist Church, New York city, who received 
 ^ the honorary degree of doctor of divinity from the Grant 
 Memorial University, June, 1889, was a member of this 
 school, and Rev. Edwin T. Brush "who entered upon his 
 duties as pastor of the Methodist church at Fremont, 
 ' Chester County, Pa., April, 1 890. 
 
 The superintendents, so far as can be ascertained, 
 have been : Frederic Shonnard, the first superintendent as 
 far back as 1826; Garret Norton, Daniel Blauvelt, 1 861-2; 
 Rev. Daniel T. Macfarlan, 1863-4 ; John W. Oliver, 1867-70; 
 Rev. D. T. Macfarlan, 1871-2; Dr. A.W. Lozier, 1873-4; S. 
 C. Lusk, 1875-6 ; V. B. Clark, 1877-85 (Edwin A. Oliver was 
 acting superintendent for a brief period during the absence 
 of Mr. V. B. Clark in 1886); Abram Austin, 1886-8; and 
 Charles R. Leffingwell, elected March, 1888-90. 
 
 The officers of the school, January, 1890, were: C. R. 
 Leffingwell, Superintendent; Theodore Terrell, Assistant 
 Superintendent ; Mrs. C. B. Sing, first Assistant Lady Su- 
 perintendent ; Miss Carrie W. Rehom, second Assistant 
 Lady Superintendent; James A. McLachlan, Secretary; 
 Stephen Bell, Treasurer; William Vincent, Librarian; 
 Charles Hall, Assistant Librarian. 
 
 The annual meeting of the Sunday-school Board of the 
 First Methodist Church was held in the chapel on Monday 
 
 Gbnrcb and Snoday-Bchool Work. O 
 
114 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 evening, March lo, 1890. Rev. Dr. Strobridge presided^ 
 and there was a large attendance. The reports showed the 
 school to be free from debt and the average attendance 
 through the year to have been 203. Officers elected : Elijah 
 M. Yerks, Superintendent ; Stephen T. Bell, Assistant ; 
 Miss Carrie W. Rehorn and Mrs. Catherine Sing, Female 
 Assistants ; James McLachlan, Secretary ; Wm. M. Schultz, 
 Assistant ; Frank E. Wheeler, Treasurer ; Charles Hallam, 
 Librarian ; William F. Vincent and Vincent Mitchell, As- 
 sistants. 
 
 A committee was appointed to report resolutions ex- 
 pressing the sense of the Board in regard to the faithful 
 services of the retiring superintendent, Charles R. Leffing- 
 well, who declined a reelection. A delightful feeling of 
 unity characterized the meeting. 
 
 The following are the present (April, 1891) officers of 
 the school: Elijah M. Yerks, Superintendent; Theodore 
 Terrell, Mrs. Catherine B. Sing, and Miss Carrie W. Rehorn, 
 Assistant Superintendents ; William M. Schultz, Secretary ; 
 Frank E. Wheeler, Treasurer; Charles L. Hallam, Libra- 
 rian ; Vincent Mitchell, Assistant Librarian. ^ 
 
 The teachers, in addition to those in the Chinese de- 
 partment, are : Mr. A. Austin, Mr. O. L. Austin, Mr. F. H. 
 Connolly, Miss Bricker, Miss Chadburn, Miss Callahan, 
 Miss Heather, Miss Hogel, Miss Ketcham, Miss Lawrence, 
 Miss Pearsall, Miss Rehorn, Miss Steele, Miss Vincent, 
 Miss Embree, Miss Deen, Mrs. Schell, Mrs. Patterson, Miss 
 Macfarlan, Mr. F. E. Wheeler, Mr. W. H. Terrell, Mr. T. 
 Terrell. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 11$ 
 
 CHAPTER VI . 
 
 THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The facts concerning the organization of this church 
 are gathered from the historical address delivered at the 
 twenty-fifth anniversary of the Reformed Church, April 
 23, 1868, by Rev. David Cole, D. D., present pastor of the 
 church. 
 
 The history of the Reformed Church, known as the 
 Reformed Dutch Church of Yonkers till November, 1867 
 (when the denomination of which it is a branch, and which 
 was called the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of 
 America, dropped the word Dutch, and from that date has 
 l^en called the Reformed Church in America), goes back 
 to the spring of 1841, at which time there were but two 
 churches in Yonkers, the St. John's Episcopal Church and 
 the First Methodist Episcopal Church, both of which were 
 located on Broadway, or the Albany post road, as it was 
 then called. 
 
 There were at that time only two residents of Yonkers 
 who had formerly belonged to the Reformed Dutch Church 
 in Market Street, New York. They were Mr. and Mrs. 
 James Bashford, of New York, who then attended the 
 church of Dr. Van Pelt at Fordham. There were other 
 persons who formerly belonged to the Presbyterian Church 
 who resided here, and who often expressed to each other a 
 desire for a church of the Presbyterian order and govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Mr. Eben S. Hammond, a student in the Theological 
 Seminary in New Brunswick, N. J., was the first person 
 who preached to these people, April 18, 1841. He came to 
 Yonkers on introduction by a letter from Rev. William S. 
 Moore to Duncan Macfarlane. Mr. Moore introduced him 
 as a young theological student about to visit Yonkers, who 
 might be prevailed upon to lecture here some evening 
 during his stay. 
 
 Two days after his coming Mr. Hammond met Rev. 
 
Il6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 George Dubois, of the Reformed Church of Tarrytown, and 
 Rev. William S. Moore, of the Reformed Church of Union- 
 ville. After a conference, in which the religious wants of 
 the village and the desire which had been expressed by 
 the little gatherings for a church of the Presbyterian order 
 in Yonkers were discussed, these clergymen determined to 
 present the matter before the Classis of New York at a 
 meeting held the same day, April 20, 1841. This was 
 accordingly done by Rev. Mr. Dubois, and the Classis ap- 
 pointed a committee to visit Yonkers and report at the fall 
 session. 
 
 The committee consisted of Rev. Peter I. Van Pelt, 
 D. D., of Fordham, Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D., of New 
 York, and Rev. George Dubois, of Tarrytown. Rev. Mr. 
 Dubois during the summer of 1841 started mission services 
 at Yonkers, and was assisted in his work by Mr. Charles 
 Dusenberry, of Tuckahoe, who had formerly been a men;- 
 ber of the Franklin Street Reformed Church in New York, 
 of which Rev. Mr. Dubois was formerly the pastor. 
 
 Mr. Dusenberry expressed the desire that the people 
 residing in his own locality might unite in a joint effort in 
 maintaining a pastor in Yonkers and also in Greenville, 
 eight miles from Yonkers. Mr. Dusenberry's suggestion 
 met with a favorable response, and Rev. Mr. Dubois con- 
 ducted services at both of these places in the summer of 
 1 84 1. The report made by Rev. Mr. Dubois resulted in 
 the appointment of a list of supplies, and preaching servi- 
 ces were appointed to be held at Yonkers every Sunday 
 morning, and in the afternoon in the vicinity of what is 
 now called Greenville. 
 
 The first ministerial supply was Rev. Samuel Van 
 Vranken, D. D. The service was held in what was called 
 the " Long Room," being two apartments which opened 
 into each other and which were on the ground floor of an 
 unoccupied building located on the southwest corner of 
 Broadway and Main Street. This building was owned by 
 Lemuel Wells, Sr., whose residence was Manor Hall (now 
 the Yonkers City Hall on Warburton Avenue). The build- 
 ing was afterwards purchased by Robert P. Getty, and is 
 now on Riverdale Avenue near Washington Street. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. II7 
 
 This building was kindly loaned for these services by- 
 Mr. Wells. The room was fitted out temporarily with seats 
 Iqaned by the First Methodist Church from their lecture- 
 room. A pulpit was hastily constructed by George Schlip- 
 er, one of the original members, the cost of which was 
 three dollars. The seats were brought in the evening by 
 Duncan Macfarlane and Lewis Ritter, the latter a colored 
 man, who subsequently became a communicant of St. 
 John's Church, and was chosen sextoji of that church in 
 1847. These two persons spent the entire evening in ar- 
 ranging the room for Dr. Van Vranken's service. They 
 were about leaving the room at twelve o'clock midnight, 
 when they felt constrained to go back and pray for the 
 divine blessing on the new enterprise about to be begun. 
 They did so, and two earnest prayers were offered. 
 
 The Methodist people, having no service of their own, 
 attended Dr. Van Vranken's service that evening, and 
 Messrs. Garret Norton and David Howell of that church 
 kindly led the singing. 
 
 On January g, 1842, preaching services were conducted 
 by Rev. William S. Moore. 
 
 The next service in this building worthy of record was 
 held on Sunday morning, August 21, 1842, when Rev. Vic- 
 tor Moreau Hulbert, a recent graduate from the Theologi- 
 cal Seminary at New Brunswick, preached from the text, 
 " Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning 
 upon her Beloved?" Solomon's vSong 8:5. 
 
 The first audience consisted of about forty persons. 
 The choir was led by Bailey Hobbs. Ralph Shipman 
 played the bass viol. The other singers were Miss Mary 
 Elizabeth Bashford (now Mrs. Edward Van Sice), Miss 
 Sarah Jane Knifiin (now Mrs. William Percival), Lemuel 
 W. Wells, Henry Gale, and Parven Cantrell. The result 
 of this service was that Mr. Hulbert was employed as a 
 permanent supply by the two neighborhoods of Yonkers 
 and Greenville, as yet neither of them formally organized. 
 
 The official relations of the new supply for the Yon- 
 kers mission began September 1,-1842. 
 
 The Society at Greenville soon erected a church build- 
 ing, the corner-stone of which was laid June 13, 1842, and 
 
Il8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOO'L WORK. . 
 
 the formal organization of the church and the dedication 
 of the building took place the same day, November 9, 1843, 
 Rev. William S. Moore taking part in both services. Rev. 
 Victor M. Hulbert received a call to become its pastor, and 
 was ordained and installed as such on Wednesday, January 
 4, 1843. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. 
 Knox. Rev. Dr. De Witt delivered the charge to the pastor, 
 and Rev. George Dubois the charge to the people. The 
 joint relations of the two congregations continued until 
 1845, more than three years, during which period Rev. Mr. 
 Hulbert served the church of Yonkers simply as a supply. 
 He came to them on Saturday of each week and taught a 
 singing school in the evening. 
 
 April 18, 1843, Rev. Mr. Hulbert, on behalf of the peo- 
 ple of Yonkers, presented a request to the Classis of New 
 York for a formal organization of the people into a church. 
 A committee", consisting of Rev. Messrs. Dubois and Hul- 
 bert, was appointed to organize. The people met for this 
 purpose April 23, 1843, ^t the close of the morning service. 
 Twenty-nine persons were received into communion, eigl;it- 
 een upon profession and eleven upon certificate. From the 
 members received, Lemuel W. Wells and Duncan Macfar- 
 lane were chosen elders, and Frederick Nodine and Ralph 
 Shipman deacons. 
 
 Lemuel Wel^s, Sr., took a deep interest in this new 
 church enterprise, often entertaining the ministerial sup- 
 plies at his residence. Manor Hall. He had generously 
 given the plot of ground for the First Methodist Church, 
 and he was solicited during the year before his death, 
 which occurred February 11, 1842, to give the plot of 
 ground for the Reformed Church also. He was willing to 
 do this, but before he carried out his purpose he died. 
 Meanwhile the heirs of Mr. Wells had come into possession 
 of his estate, and Lemuel Watts Wells, his nephew, held a 
 power of attorney for all the heirs. 
 
 He was deeply interested in the welfare and prosper- 
 ity of the new enterprise from its earliest beginnings. 
 He was a member of its first choir and an elder in its first 
 consistory, in which latter relation he remained until April 
 26, 1852. A church meeting was called July 29, 1844, to 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. Iig 
 
 talk over the matter of the erection of a church building. 
 At this meeting a resolution was adopted to incorporate the 
 church under an act passed April 5, 181 3, entitled "An act 
 to provide for the incorporation of religious societies." Ac- 
 cordingly on July 30, 1844, this church was incorporated 
 -and legally styled " The Ministers, Elders, and Deacons of 
 the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Yonkers, County 
 of Westchester and State of New York." 
 
 After discussing the subject of the church building 
 the following committees were appointed : 
 
 On Site : Hiram Searl, Henry Gale, Rev. Victor M. 
 Hulbert, Frederick Nodine. 
 
 On Building : Lemuel W. Wells, Hiram Searl, Ethan 
 Flagg. 
 
 Consulting Committee : Rev. Victor M. Hulbert, Hon. 
 Aaron Vark, Duncan Macfarlane. 
 
 The committee on site reported August 3, 1844, in 
 favor of the present site on Broadway (now South Broad- 
 way), between Hudson and Prospect Streets, which was 
 adopted. 
 
 Lemuel W. Wells, in behalf of the heirs of his uncle, 
 donated the present site to the congregation, and a com- 
 mittee of five were appointed to solicit funds for the new 
 huilding. 
 
 The committee on building reported August 24, pre- 
 senting plans and specifications, with estimates. The plans 
 were adopted, and the contract was awarded to Henry Gale 
 upon his estimate, $3,250. The corner-stone of the new 
 church was laid on the 15 th of October, when Rev. Mr. 
 Hulbert offered the opening prayer, Rev. Dr. Marselus 
 delivered the address. Rev. Dr. Van Pelt offered the last 
 prayer, and the service was closed with singing by the 
 Sunday-school children. 
 
 After these exercises the ladies held a fair at Manor 
 Hall and realized during the day and evening $220 towards 
 furnishing the church. The first service was held in the 
 new building, August 24, 1845. The dedicatory services 
 were held on Wednesday, August 27, 1845. Rev. Dr. Van 
 Pelt pronounced the invocation and read the Scriptures. 
 Then came the singing of the twenty-seventh Psalm, which 
 
120 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 was followed by the opening prayer and a chant by the 
 choir. Rev. Victor M. Hulbert delivered an address and 
 offered the dedicatory prayer. After singing of another 
 hymn Rev. Dr. De Witt delivered the sermon and offered 
 the closing prayer. 
 
 " A chant, the doxology, and the benediction closed 
 the interesting services, and the newly erected building 
 stood thenceforth among the people a grateful tribute of 
 their hearts and hands, and dedicated to the service of the 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 
 On November 12, 1845, Rev. Victor M. Hulbert (now 
 Rev. Dr. Hulbert), having received a call from his Yonkers 
 people, was installed as their pastor, and continued in this, 
 his first pastorate of this church, till April 18, 1848, when 
 he received a call made, declined, repeated, and then ac- 
 cepted, from the Reformed Church of Flatbush, Ulster 
 County, N. Y. When he left Yonkers, 100 members were 
 on the roll. 
 
 The next pastor was Rev. Isaac S. Demund, who was 
 installed here October 8, 1848. Under his pastorate the 
 present parsonage adjoining the church was built. Mr. 
 Ethan Flagg presented to the consistory the lot upon which 
 it stands. Rev. Mr. Demund continued in the pastorate of 
 this church till April 16, 1850, when he resigned to become 
 the pastor of the Reformed Church of Belleville, N. J. At 
 his departure 1 12 members were left on the roll. The con- 
 gregation again extended a call to Rev. Mr. Hulbert to 
 become their pastor, but hef declined. 
 
 Rev. Dwight M. Seward (now Rev. Dr. Seward), of the 
 Congregational Church of West Hartford, Conn., received 
 a call to become their pastor, which was accepted. His 
 installation took place on February 12, 1851, and he contin- 
 ued with the church till April 26, 1852, when he withdrew 
 to become the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of 
 Yonkers, which was organized May 10 of the same year. 
 At that date the membership of -the church was 1 18. 
 
 The Rev. V. M. Hulbert was again invited to return, 
 and consented. He was reinstalled November 9, 1852, and 
 remained with the church till September 21, 1865. At his 
 coming the church filled rapidly, and the enlargement of 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 121 
 
 the church became a necessity. It was rededicated in 
 June, 1854. A parsonage was also built on the north side 
 of the church. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hulbert's pastorate of this church, exclusive 
 of his early missionary period, extended over fifteen years. 
 At the close of his second and last pastorate the church 
 prospered, but its financial burdens were great, and a debt 
 of $7,650 was left on the church property. The member- 
 ship of the church was 148. 
 
 Of the three pastors, the Rev. Dr. Hulbert and Rev. 
 Dr. Seward are still living. Rev. Isaac S. Demund died 
 at Ridgewood, N. Y., April 23, 1888. Rev. Dr. Hulbert 
 resides at Battle Creek, Mich., and Rev. Dr. Seward at 
 South Norwalk, Conn. 
 
 The present pastor of the church, Rev. David Cole, D. D., 
 was born at the family homestead. Spring Valley, N. Y., 
 September 22, 1822. He is the son of Rev. Isaac D. and 
 Maria Shatzel Cole, being on his father's side of Holland, 
 and on his mother's of German, Welsh, and Holland de- 
 scent. He entered the Sophomore class of Rutgers Col- 
 lege in October, 1839, ^.nd was graduated in July, 1842. 
 He followed the profession of teaching from graduation 
 till November, 1858. He taught select schools of his own 
 at Tappan, N. Y., and New. Brunswick, N. J. In 185 1 he 
 became principal of Trenton Academy at Trenton, N. J. 
 In 1855 he was appointed by Gov. Rodman N. Price a 
 member of the first Board of Trustees of the State Normal 
 School of New Jersey, and in July, 1857, he became Profes- 
 sor of Latin and Greek in that institution. He was licensed 
 April 13, 1858, at Pennington, N. J., by the Presbytery of 
 New Brunswick to preach the gospel. On the twenty-third 
 day of November of the same year he was ordained to the 
 ministry and installed as pastor of the Reformed Church 
 of East Millstone, Somerset County, N. J. In February, 
 1863, he was elected Professor of the Greek Language and 
 Literature in Rutgers College, and entered upon his work 
 there March 16, 1863, leaving his pastorate at Millstone 
 April I. On the 8th of December, 1865, he accepted a call 
 to the pastorate of the Reformed Church at Yonkers, over 
 which he was installed pastor on the loth of January, 1866. 
 
122 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole, as a minister' of the Reformed Churcli, 
 lias been connected prominently for years with its institu- 
 
 tions and work, and has held the highest official positions in 
 its gift. In 1884 he was President of the General Synod of 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 23 
 
 the Reformed Church at Grand Rapids, Mich., and in 1887 
 he was also delegated to represent the church in the Fourth 
 General Council of the Alliance of the Reformed Churches 
 holding the Presbyterian System which convened at Lon- 
 don, England, July, 1888. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole's pastorate began with a debt of $7,650, 
 of which $1,650 was paid at once. In 1868 the church 
 chapel was built adjoining the qhurch, the parsonage hav- 
 ing been removed to the corner of Prospect and Clinton 
 Streets, and continued to be the pastor's residence till the 
 spring of 1872. 
 
 Improvements were made in the church costing nearly 
 $6,400. In the spring of 1872 the Prospect Street parsonage 
 was sold for $7,500, and the fine parsonage on 122 Warbur- 
 ton Avenue was bought for $16,000. In the same year the 
 interior of the church was improved at a cost of $5,500. 
 After all these outlays and the maintaining of the running 
 expenses of the church for three years, it was found in the 
 spring of 1875 that the church indebtedness was $13,500. 
 In the darkest^ of times financially to the country the con- 
 gregation bravely paid the debt. 
 
 In 1 884 the first parsonage, which was lost to the 
 church in the events of 1852, was recovered by purchase for 
 $12,000, and put in order at a cost of $1,500. 
 
 The total amount contributed by the church during 
 Dr. Cole's pastorate up to April i, 1890, was $191,950 86, of 
 which $31,519 14 was given to benevolent objects. 
 
 The debt on the church property is $3,800 on its par- 
 sonage and $3,000 on its church chapel, the Ludlow Street 
 Mission Chapel. The church property, lying in the centre 
 of the city on South Broadway, is very valuable, 
 
 A problem is before the people of this church whether 
 they shall enlarge the present building, or erect a new 
 church edifice. The building, at this writing, would not on 
 the lower floor hold even the. members in communion if 
 they should all be present at any one service ; much less 
 would it accommodate its own non-communicants and give 
 room for visitors. 
 
 A building committee, consisting of the following gen- 
 tlemen, George Stewart, Chairman, Wm. H. Dick, John 
 
124 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Pagan, Virgil Myers, Walter A. Drinkwater, and James 
 Kellock, has been appointed, and plans and specifications 
 for a new church edifice have been prepared. 
 
 Many precious seasons of revivals have been enjoyed 
 by this church under Dr. Cole's ministry, and "he has 
 been permitted to welcome 414 souls by profession of their 
 faith into the communion of this church. How many more 
 have been savingly impressed by his fervent words, the 
 revelations of the great day of the Lord shall disclose." 
 
 The membership of the church at this writing, Novem- 
 ber, 1890, is 411. 
 
 A printed directory of church services and of general 
 information is issued annually. The last year, ending 
 April 30, 1890, gives the total amount of the gifts of the 
 congregation to Home and Foreign Missions to be $982 40. 
 
 Public exercises were held in the church on Thursday, 
 December 11, 1890, at 7:30 p. m., in commemoration of the 
 twenty-fifth anniversary of the settlement of the Rev. David 
 Cole, D. D., as pastor of the church. 
 
 By request of the committee, Mr. James Stewart, an 
 elder of the church since May, 1 866, presided at the service. 
 The music was under the conduct of Prof. Edwin Moore, 
 the chUrch organist, and the singing was furnished by the 
 following quartette, namely. Miss Evelyn Neely, soprano ; 
 Miss Dora L. Costello, contralto; Mr. William J. Moore, 
 tenor ; and Mr. Walter Thomas, bass. 
 
 The following was the order of exercises : 
 
 1. Organ Voluntary. 
 
 2. Anthem — "Sing ye to God." 
 
 3. Invocation Rev. Charles E. Allison. 
 
 4. Reading of 87th Psalm - Rev. W. McKendree Darwood, D. D. 
 
 5. Prayer - Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, D. D. 
 
 6. Address Rev. John Reid, D. D. 
 
 7. Address - - William Allen Butler, LL. D. 
 
 8. Singing. 
 
 9. Address - Rev. John K. Allen, 
 
 Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Tarrytown, rep- 
 resenting the Classis of Westchester. 
 10. Address - ' - - Rev. Joachim Elmendorf, D. D., 
 
 Pastor of the First Collegiate Reformejl Church of Har- 
 lem, representing the Reformed Church in America as 
 a denomination. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 25 
 
 11. Closing Words Rev. Dr. Cole. 
 
 12. Singing. 
 
 13. Benediction - Rev. William H. Mills, D. D. 
 
 . consistory's committee of arrangements. 
 Joseph H. Palmer, James Kellock, 
 
 Nathan S. King, M. D., Le Grand W. Ketchum, 
 
 Alden C. Tompkins. 
 
 THE ladies' committee ON RECEPTION. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah E. Drinkwater, Mrs. David H. Ketchum, 
 
 Mrs. Sidney S. Peck, Mrs. John P. Radcliff, 
 
 Mrs. Joseph H. Palmer, Miss Helen A. Rollins, 
 
 Mrs. Margaret A. Ackert, Miss Mary Berwick, 
 
 Mrs. James H. Wheeler, Miss Anna M. See. 
 
 The exercises throughout were deeply impressive. 
 
 "The addresses were commemorative of a pastorate 
 that in point of length has been frequently equalled and 
 even surpassed, but which has been characterized by a loy- 
 alty to Christ and his church that can scarcely be ex- 
 celled. 
 
 " At the close of the services at the church a reception 
 was held at the parsonage. Both the audience at the 
 church and the gathering at the parsonage were represent- 
 ative of the highest church life and the best citizenship of 
 Yonkers. With but three or four exceptions all the pas- 
 tors and resident clergymen of the city were at both, and a 
 number of ladies and gentlemen from abroad." 
 
 Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Cole were the recipients of valuable 
 gifts and testimonials from their people and friends. 
 
 It may be inferred from Dr. Cole's long pastorate that 
 he enjoys the confidence and affection of his people, which 
 does not diminish with the passing years. 
 
 The pastors and the length of their pastorates of the 
 Reformed Church are as follows: Rev. Victor Moreau 
 Hulbert, November 12, 1845, to April 18, 1848; Rev. Isaac 
 S. Demund, October 8, 1848, to April 16, 1850; Rev. Dwight 
 M. Seward, D. D., February 12, 1858, to April 26, 1852 ; Rev.. 
 Victor M. Hulbert, D. D., November 9, 1852, to September 
 26, 1865 ; Rev. David Cole, D. D., December 10, 1865, to the 
 present time. 
 
 The present consistory of the church is as follows : 
 
126 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ELDERS. DEACONS. 
 
 James Stewart, Charles E. See, 
 
 Hyatt L. Garrison, William M. Dick, 
 
 Joseph H. Palmer, Martin Blauvelt, 
 
 Virgil Myers, Lewis H. Wiggins, 
 
 William G. Ackerman, Walter A. Drinkwater, 
 
 John Pagan, James Kellock, 
 
 George Stewart, Le Grand W. Ketchum, 
 
 Nathan S. King, M. D. Alden C. Tompkins. 
 
 The church has a Woman's Missionary Society, which 
 was organized in April, 1875. It contributes to Home and 
 Foreign Missions. In 1890 it contributed $470 to the Home 
 and Foreign fields. The present officers are : 
 
 Mrs. David Cole, President. Miss Agnes Mitchell, Secretary. 
 
 Mrs. Nathan King, Vice-President. Miss Marion Stewart, Ass't Sec. 
 Miss Helen A. Rollins, Treasurer. 
 
 The church has also a Ladies' Aid Society, organized 
 in 1888. 
 
 The music is led by a volunteer choir with two excep- 
 tions — Miss Evelyn Neely, soprano, and Miss Dora Costel- 
 lo, alto — of from eight to ten voices. 
 
 The organist and choir leader for twelve years has 
 been Professor Edwin Moore. 
 
 Mr. Isaac N. Barker was sexton for more than sixteen 
 years. The present sexton is Mr. David A. Eddy. 
 
 The present pulpit Bible was presented to the church 
 April, 1868. 
 
 The communion service was presented to the church 
 April 23, 1868, by the members of the congregation. It 
 was an offering of gratitude to God on the twenty-fifth an- 
 niversary of the church. It is a very costly service and 
 consists of two tankards, four goblets, five plates, and a 
 baptismal bowl. 
 
 The ordinance of the Lord's Supper is administered at 
 the morning service, and infant baptism at the evening ser- 
 vice, on the last Sabbaths of January, March, May, July, 
 •September, and November. 
 
 ORDER OF BENEVOLENT OFFERINGS. 
 
 Last Sabbath in May Westchester County Bible Society. 
 
 Last Sabbath in June - - . - Domestic Missions. 
 
 Last Sabbath in July - - - Widows' Fund. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 12/ 
 
 Last Sabbath in August - - - Board of Education. 
 
 Last Sabbath in September - American Tract Society. 
 
 Last Sabbath in October - - Disabled Ministers' Fund. 
 
 Last Sabbath in November - - The church Sunday-school. 
 
 Last Sabbath in December - - Poor of the church. 
 
 Last Sabbath in January - Church Building Fund. 
 
 Last Sabbath in February - - Foreign Missions. 
 
 Last Sabbath in March - Poor of the church. 
 
 Last Sabbath in April - The church Sunday-school. 
 
 Note. — The first Sabbath in January is set apart as " Hospital Sun- 
 day." At the morning service of that day all the cash contributed through 
 the collection is devoted to the benefit of St. John's Riverside Hospital of 
 this city. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The exact date of the organization of this school can- 
 not be definitely ascertained, as its early records have 
 unfortunately been lost. It was probably organized in the 
 year 1842. The informatioh concerning its early history, 
 from the above-mentioned date until the year 1865, has 
 been obtained by the writer from correspondence with the 
 pastors of the church and from others who have been con- 
 nected with this Sunday-school. 
 
 Anson B. Hoyt gives the following report of the school 
 when it was held in the " Long Room :" " I can only recall 
 seven teachers, Duncan Macfarlane, Lemuel W. Wells, 
 Samuel Lawrence, Miss Sarah Knifiin, Miss Mary Bash- 
 ford, Miss A. Emeline Hoyt, and myself. There were 
 others, I think about a dozen in all. The school numbered 
 about fifty scholars and the singing was led by Mr. Wm. 
 Mann." 
 
 In a letter received from the first pastor of the church. 
 Rev. Dr. Hulbert, the following facts and incidents are 
 given of the school under his pastorate : 
 
 " Battle Creek, Mich., September 18, 1887. 
 
 " Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood — My Dear Friend :, Your 
 communication was duly received, awakening many inter- 
 esting memories of Yonkers. * * * I am very much grati- 
 fied to know that you have given yourself to services use- 
 ' ful to the world. * * * And now, in seeking to write up 
 the Sunday-school history of Yonkers, I would gladly fur- 
 nish any useful facts within my knowledge. But I fear I 
 
128 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 cannot render you any important service. At the time of 
 the organization of the Sunday-school of the Reformed 
 Church I was serving two churches, Yonkers and Green- 
 ville, eight miles distant. My morning service was in 
 •Yonkers, where I took dinner and immediately left for 
 Greenville. The Sunday-school of my church at Yonkers 
 held its sessions afternoons in my absence at Greenville, so 
 I was ignorant of its operations save as I was told. Your 
 most authentic information on the early history of the 
 Refomed Church would be from some of the surviving 
 members, namely, Anson B. Hoyt, and others I cannot 
 name. The school may have been organized previous to 
 September i, 1842, when I became the first pastor. The 
 exact date might be learned from the record books kept by 
 the Sunday-school. 
 
 " ' Who organized it ?' Probably it was a voluntary 
 effort of members in council such as Duncan Macfarlane 
 and Mr. Wells, or ' Farmer Wells,' as he was called. The 
 first superintendent was Lemuel W. Wells. The number 
 of 'Scholars I do not know. The first place of holding the 
 school was in two large rooms of a private house thrown 
 together, situated on Broadway and Main Street. For the 
 reason of my not being present at the sessions of the school 
 at first I cannot give you any interesting incident of its 
 management. 
 
 " After I became sole pastor of the one church at Yon- 
 kers I identified myself closely with the Sunday-school, 
 teaching the children their tunes and also teaching a Bible- 
 class. The Sunday-school of the Reformed Church of 
 Yonkers is most vividly impressed on my memory from 
 1852 to 1865. Dr. G. P. Reevs was a most efficient teacher 
 of Bible truths. My eldest daughter became a Christian 
 while under his valuable instruction, and always felt espe- 
 cially grateful to him for his clear and convincing exposi- 
 tion of Romans, causing her to feel solid on the doctrine of 
 God's sovereignty with great comfort. George Radford, a 
 noble young man, was in my Bible-class. He was fatally 
 wounded at the battle of Fredericksburgh in the late civil 
 war. His body was brought home and I preached his 
 funeral sermon. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 29 
 
 " The elder David Stewart was a veteran in Church and 
 in Sunday-school work* 
 
 "Our annual Sunday-school picnics were institutions 
 highly enjoyed by all. Our Sunday-school music was among 
 the most interesting and profitable, I may say, of our ser- 
 vices, running in the ear of childhood onward to old age. 
 
 " I am an old man now and nearly seventy-four years 
 old, but among the pleasant scenes of my pastoral life the 
 dear Sunday-school holds a prominent place in my memory. 
 " Sincerely your friend, 
 
 "VICTOR M. HULBERT." 
 
 Rev.* Dr. Hulbert was a very fine singer and took great 
 pleasure in cultivating the musical talents of the children 
 
 * The following interesting incident in regard to Elder David Stewart, 
 to whom Dr. Hulbert refers, appeared in the " New York Observer " under 
 the signature of Louise J. Kirkwood : 
 
 " On a bright Sabbath morning by the side of a country road runrting 
 along the Hudson, not many miles from New York, two men stood talking 
 together. One was a Judge of high social standing and legal distinction, 
 the other was a stone mason, and their conversation was about the build- 
 ing of a new wall near the place where they were standing, to consult 
 about which the Judge had sent for the mason on this Sabbath morning. 
 
 " Just coming into sight as he trudged along the road on his way to 
 church was a plain Scotch fanner, well known as a God-fearing, Sabbath- 
 keeping, honest, hard-working man, neither fearing nor asking favor of the 
 great or rich. His chief ambition in life seemed to be to raise a large fam- 
 ily of children in the fear of God and honorably in the sight of men, which 
 his example was well fitted to do. 
 
 " In the midst of an animated explanation of what he wanted in a new 
 wall, the Judge caught sight of the farmer. Stopping suddenly he said, 
 ' There comes David Stewart ; it will never do to let him see us talking 
 business on Sunday morning. We will just step behind this bit of wall 
 until he passes.' And the Judge and the mason crouched down behind the 
 wall until the plodding fodtsteps of the farmer echoed faintly in the dis- 
 tance, and the good man passed from sight, all unconscious of the silent 
 reproof his appearance had caused ; while the Judge with feelings, one 
 would think, belittling to his manliness, crept from his hiding-place to con- 
 tinue his conscience-confessed desecration of the Lord's day. ' 
 
 "The next morning the incident was related to the farmer by the ma- 
 son, who was himself a Scotchman, though unhappily not so conscientious 
 as his friend. He told the story with some glee, adding : 
 
 " Wha wad a thot, maun, that ye had sic a pooer in ye as to mak the 
 Judge hide behint the wall for the fear o' ye ?' 
 
 " Is not this incident an illustration of the force and influence of a sin- 
 cere Christian character, and was it not a silent sermon preached by this 
 good man which brought home to the Judge the conviction of his sin ?" 
 
 Ohnnih and Sunday-school Work. Q 
 
130 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 in his Sunday-school in the days when less attention than 
 now was given to the subject of Sunday-school music. 
 
 Rev. Isaac S. Demund, the second pastor of the Re- 
 formed Church, writes : 
 
 " RiDGEWOOD, N. J., December 21, 1887. 
 " Miss A. E. Kirkwood : — I will endeavor to answer 
 your inquiries in regard to the Reformed Church Sunday- 
 school as best I can. The teachers who taught in the 
 school under my pastorate were Rev. Dr. Robert Baird, 
 Rev. Wm. C. Foote, Mr. Ralph Shipman, Duncan Macfar- 
 lane, Samuel Barry, Joseph Jennings, Charles W. Baird, 
 Dr. Levi W. Flagg* and his brother Ethan Flagg.f The 
 
 * In the springtime of the year, thirty-four years afterwards, on May 
 19, 1884, the funeral services of this beloved physician were held in the 
 First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, of which church he was one of the 
 constituent members. The spacious audience-room and galleries were 
 filled with friends from all ranks of society. The aged and the young, the 
 fathers and mothers and the little children to whom he had so often and so 
 kindly ministered, were there to pay their last tribute of regard to their 
 loved and honored physician. It was a beautiful contrast, such as is rarely 
 seen upon earth, the testimony of the rich and the testimony of the poor, 
 their tears flowing together, each with a sense of personal loss. 
 
 Rev. John Dixon, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of 
 Vonkers, offered the opening prayer. The well-known hymn, " Rock of 
 Ages," was very beautifully and tenderly sung by William C. Baird. Rev. 
 John Reid, his pastor, said, " There is no man in this city who brought 
 more Sunshine into the homes where he entered than our departed friend 
 and brother. His presence was as bright and cheering and strengthening 
 as the sunshine in the sick-room, inspiring hope and courage alike to his 
 patients and their attendants." He also alluded to his own personal expe- 
 rience when two of his^own household were laid low, and when the crisis 
 of the disease was approaching how this physician, by his tones and man- 
 ner, won his hearty confidence, and his tender, intelligent, and delicate 
 care of his loved ones would never be forgotten. Speaking of his religious 
 experience, his pastor said, ' The last time I called to see him it was with 
 no uncertain words that he told me on whom his hopes were placed for 
 eternity. There was a tenderness and maturity in his voice that told vol- 
 umes of the quietness and composure and readiness of his spirit." 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole of the Reformed Church offered the last prayer, and tlie 
 services were closed with the singing of Rev. C. Henri Malan's beautiful 
 
 hymn, 
 
 " It is not death to die, 
 
 To leave this weary road, 
 And 'mid the brotherhood on high 
 To be at home with God." 
 
 t Six months had scarcely elapsed when a large concourse of friends 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 131 
 
 former took charge of the young ladies-' Bible-class and the 
 latter had a few young men. There were others I cannot 
 now recall. The school was in charge of Mr. Lemuel Wells. 
 There was a small infant class. The teacher's name I do 
 not recall. 
 
 "I was pastor of the Reformed Church from 1848 to 
 1850. I was eighty-four years old last May. For- fifty 
 years and more it has been my part as a minister of the 
 gospel faithfully to testify to the truth, whether men will 
 hear or forbear. Not a word, not a promise, spoken by our 
 Lord with regard to what he has revealed shall fall to the 
 ground. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin 
 of the world. He alone can save ; he alone can cover the 
 sins that have been committed by the believer with his 
 expiatory blood. He alone by his blood can wash away all 
 our stains, making us whiter than snow. He alone can 
 save. He alone can baptize with the Holy Ghost and with 
 fire. 
 
 " Affectionate regards to yourself and Dr. Cole, 
 
 "ISAAC S. DEMUND." 
 
 • The following additional names of teachers and schol- 
 ars have been given by Janet Stewart, a former pupil, and 
 daughter of Elder David Stewart (now Mrs. Samuel B. Stil- 
 well, of Ulster County, N. Y.), who were in the Sunday- 
 school under Rev. Mr. Demund's pastorate : James Nodine, 
 Samuel Rockwell, Edward Hunt, and Sarah Keeler. The 
 school numbered from 150 to 175 pupils. 
 
 The Sunday-school continued to meet in the " Long 
 Room " until the completion of the church in August, 
 1845. The first service in the new church was held Sun- 
 gathered again in the First Presbyterian Church to attend the funeral ser- 
 vices of Ethan Flagg, which were conducted by his pastor, Rev. John Reid, 
 assisted by Rev. D. M. Seward, D. D., a former pastor of the church. The 
 same beautiful hymns were sung as at the funeral of his brother, Levi W. 
 Flagg, M. D. Tender and appreciative words were spoken by his pastor 
 of the worth of his Christian character and of his far-reaching usefulness 
 as a citizen of Yonkers. Then his bereaved kindred bore the remains of 
 their loved one with calm trust to a consecrated grave made thus by the 
 crucified and risen Saviour who had abolished " death and hath brought 
 life and immortality to light in the gospel." These brothers were "lovely 
 and pleasant in their lives, and in death they were not divided." 
 
132 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 day morning, August 24, and probably the first session of 
 the Sunday-school in the new church was held in the after- 
 noon of the above-mentioned date. It continued to meet 
 in the aUdience-room of the church until the completion of 
 the lecture-room in the basement of the church, about the 
 latter part of the month of June, 1854. 
 
 Miss Anna C. Cantrell gives reminiscences of the Sun- 
 day-school during her connection with it. 
 
 "Washington, D. C, April 23, 1888. 
 
 " My Dear Miss Kirkwood : — Mr. Charles W. Baird 
 was superintendent of the Sunday-school in the church in 
 the village — the one near Dr. Flagg's old home. There is 
 no doubt about that. But I think the church was then 
 called the Dutch Reformed. I remember perfectly a beau- 
 tiful little address which Mr. Baird made in rearranging 
 the seats in the Sunday-school. The older classes occupied 
 the front seats and he wished to put the children there, so 
 that he might the more easily address the school as 'my 
 dear children.' I remember the very tones that voiced 
 his loving Christian heart and the glow that lighted 
 his beautiful and spiritual face as he spoke the simple 
 words. 
 
 " Mr. Wells was superintendent before this. The Sun- 
 day-school once met in the old Manor Hall when the Wells 
 family lived there. I was a pupil at the time, and Mr. 
 Wells used to take me in his arms as one of the 'little 
 ones.' 
 
 " Very sincerely yours, 
 
 ''ANNA C. CANTRELL." 
 
 This beloved superintendent afterwards studied for 
 the ministry in the Union Theological Seminary, New 
 York. He was graduated in 1852, and was licensed to the 
 ministry by the Presbytery of New Brunswick. In 1853 
 he was ordained by the siame body. From 1852 to 1854 he 
 was chaplain of the American Chapel at Rome, where he 
 remained two years. For some time after his return to 
 this country he was engaged in study and in ministering 
 for one or two years to a church in Brooklyn. In the 
 spring of 1861 he was called to the pastorate of the Presby- 
 terian church at Rye, where he remained the faithful and 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 33 
 
 greatly beloved pastor until the relation was dissolved by 
 bis death, February 10, 1887. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Baird received the degree of D. D. from his 
 alma mater in 1876. 
 
 The memory of Dr. Baird as a scholar will be perpetu- 
 ated by his published works, prominent of which is his 
 " History of the Huguenot Emigration to America." 
 
 " It would be difficult adequately to portray in words 
 the graces of his character as they will be remembered and 
 cherished by his friends, the people of his charge, his asso- 
 ciates in the ministry, and indeed by all who knew him 
 personally. He was a man of transparent purity and sim- 
 plicity of heart, dignified, polished, and gentle in his man- 
 ners, almost singularly modest in spirit and in all his de- 
 portment. He was one to whom we may truthfully apply 
 the words of our Lord in the sense in which they were 
 originally uttered, ' Of such is the kingdom of God.' He 
 was thoroughly devoted to the work which God had given 
 him to do, making full proof of his ministry, and at the 
 end exemplifying the whole tenor of his life by responding 
 to the summons which called him away. ' You know that 
 I am ready,' were among the last words he uttered." 
 
 Through the suggestion of the librarian of the school, 
 John Berwick, a printed catalogue of the library was first 
 made in 1854. Mr. Berwick prepared it for publication 
 and efficiently served the school as its librarian for three 
 years. 
 
 Anson B. Hoyt was one of the early superintendents, 
 and a very popular one, as was shown by his being elected 
 to the office four times. In the year 1862-3, during the 
 war of the rebellion, he resigned his position as superin- 
 tendent and became Chaplain of a regiment in the army. 
 
 Gustavus A. Rollins was one of the superintendents of 
 this school when it met in the basement of the church in 
 i860. Special attention was given by the school at that 
 time to the committal of Bible verses, and Mr. Rollins 
 offered rewards for the committal of the catechism. The 
 Heidelberg Catechism was taught in several of the largest 
 classes. 
 
 Large portions of the Bible were committed to mem- 
 
134 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ory by the pupils. The interest taken in this important 
 feature of Sunday-school work was doubtless owing in a 
 great degree to the special interest which was manifested 
 by the superintendent. Mr. Rollins was very exact in en- 
 forcing the rule of punctual attendance of both teachers 
 and scholars, scarcely varying if ever a minute from the 
 time appointed to open and close the school. For the 
 strict observance of this rule he won the sobriquet of the 
 " minute rtian " among the delinquent teachers. 
 
 John K. Myers taught a class of young ladies in the 
 Reformed Sunday-school when it was held in the base- 
 ment of the church. He was a very efficient and instruct- 
 ive teacher. His talent for locating incidents in Bible 
 history and illuminating and elucidating Scripture truths 
 is well remembered by those privileged to be under his 
 instruction, nearly all of whom united with the church 
 while under his charge, the writer being among the num- 
 ber, and by whom he is held in affectionate and grateful 
 remembrance. He always manifested a kindly interest in 
 all that interested the members of his class (some of whom 
 were preparing to become teachers), especially in their 
 acquisition of knowledge. 
 
 In 1856 Joseph H. Palmer was acting superintendent 
 for a brief period. In i860 he was assistant superintend- 
 ent. In 1 86 1 Mr. Palmer was elected superintendent, and 
 served until 1 866. 
 
 The attendance of the school during that period was 
 large, several Bible-classes were held in the church, and 
 the infant class in the gallery. 
 
 Mr. Palmer, while acting secretary in 1875, had super- 
 vision of the infant class also. 
 
 The school met in the basement of the church till the 
 new chapel adjoining the church was dedicated in Novem- 
 ber, 1868. In that year the average attendance of the 
 school was 1 20. The teachers who taught in the basement 
 of the church and who with the school entered the new 
 chapel were : Walter A. Underbill, Superintendent, David 
 Stewart, Sr., Gustavus A. Rollins, Anson B. Hoyt, Joseph 
 H. Palmer, Hyatt L. Garrison, Dr. Gabriel P. Reevs, James 
 Stewart, Philip A. Deyo, George Stewart, Alexander Dick- 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 135 
 
 son, Augustus C. Bechstein, Ralph E. Prime, Mrs. Abra- 
 ham Fredenburgh, Mrs. William A. Drinkwater, Mrs. Ja- 
 cob D. Wood, Miss Helen A. Rollins, Miss Adelia Emeline 
 Hoyt, Miss Catherine S. Williams, Miss Julia C. Pratt (now 
 Mrs. Dr. Hocking), Miss Josephine F. Disbrow, Miss Sarah 
 L. Disbrow, Miss Sarah J. Beebe, Miss Hulda Radford (now 
 Mrs. William Welsh), Miss Mary Berwick, Miss Lizzie Ber- 
 wick (now Mrs. James Montgomery), Miss Isabella Berwick 
 (now Mrs. Henry V. Clark), Miss Cornelia S. Stilwell (now 
 Mrs. Charles F. Hulbert), Mrs. Thomas H. Collins, and 
 Miss Victoria Morrison. 
 
 In May, 1869, the school was under the superintend- 
 ency of Dr. G. P. Reevs and of his assistant, Augustus 
 Bechstein, and was in a very prosperous condition. The 
 chapel was more than filled by scholars, so that several 
 classes were obliged to meet in the audience-room of the 
 church. A half-hour's teachers' prayer-meeting was held 
 after the close of the session of the school, which was most 
 delightful and profitable to all who participated in it. It 
 was also fruitful in its results, cultivating not only a pleas- 
 ant social feeling among the teachers, but a devotional spirit 
 alike in teachers and the larger scholars of the school. A 
 weekly teachers' meeting was also held, which was well 
 attended. The contributions of the school for benevolent 
 objects were large. The school maintained at that time a 
 Bible reader in the foreign mission field. It numbered 
 475 pupils. 
 
 From a very comprehensive annual report presented 
 by Secretary Joseph H. Palmer in April, 1875, are gleaned 
 the following statistics: James Stewart, Superintendent. 
 Officers and teachers, 39 ; number of classes, 32 ; Infant- 
 class enrolment, 121 ; total average attendance of pupils, 
 195 ; largest attendance, 230 ; added to the communion of 
 the church on confession of faith, 37 ; deaths, two pupils 
 and one teacher. Miss Mary Reevs; volumes in library, 
 680; receipts, $303 94; expenditures, $295 58. 
 
 The secretary concludes his report as follows : 
 
 " A large Bible-class, embracing about forty different 
 members, is taught in the chapel by the pastor, Rev. Dr. 
 Cole, every Thursday afternoon. It is composed of Sun- 
 
136 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 day-school teachers and scholars and others who chiefly 
 attend the church services. It is indirectly a preparation 
 for the Sunday-school work and one of the most important 
 branches. 
 
 " It gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the 
 promptness and cheerfulness of all the Sunday-school offi- 
 cers in the performance of their duties. 
 
 " The efficiency and growth of the school are chiefly 
 due to the teachers." 
 
 The following is from a printed report of this Sunday- 
 school in the centennial year, December, 1 876 : Officers, 7 ; 
 teachers, 36 ; scholars on register, 370 ; average attendance, 
 203; largest attendance, 267; number in Infant-class, 120; 
 conversions, 13 ; deaths, 3 ; volumes in library, 685 ; receipts, 
 $657 94 ; expenditures, $588 25. 
 
 Its officers are : James Stewart, Superintendent ; Hyatt 
 L. Garrison, Assistant Superintendent ; Joseph H. Palmer, 
 Secretary; Martin Blauvelt, Assistant Secretary; Edward 
 Garrison, Treasurer ; Nelson Ackert, Librarian ; Garret 
 Rose, Assistant Librarian. The teachers are : Miss Mary 
 Berwick, Miss Cornelia Stilwell, Miss Anna Schryver, Miss 
 Helen Rollins, Miss Sarah J. Beebe, Miss J. Dickson, Miss 
 Marion Stewart, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Hulda Radford, 
 Miss Anna Palmer, Miss Emma Radford, Mrs. Warren, Miss 
 G. Stewart, Miss Emma Peene, Miss Hattie Spear, Mrs. 
 Fredenburgh, Miss Emeline Hoyt, Miss S. Hoyt, Miss K. 
 Huestis, Miss L. Baldwin, Mrs. Thomas H. Collins, Messrs. 
 Benjamin Warren Stillwell, Bethune Reevs, C. Underhill, 
 Adolphus Rollins, S. S. Craine, Edward Garrison, Alexan- 
 der Dickson, J. Pruyn, Dr. G. P. Reevs, Anson B. Hoyt, 
 Walter Underhill, George Stewart, J. B. Silkman, and 
 Hyatt L. Garrison. 
 
 The officers of the school in April, 1877, were : George 
 Stewart, Superintendent ; Martin Blauvelt, Secretary ; Rob- 
 ert Stewart, Assistant Secretary ; George Poucher, Treas- 
 urer ; Nelson Ackert, Librarian ; and Isaac D. Cole, Assist- 
 ant Librarian. 
 
 This school was the first in Yonkers to introduce the 
 annual summer excursion by steamboat, now adopted by 
 so many of our Sunday-schools. It has given its pupils an 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 37 
 
 excursion each summer for over thirty years. The excur- 
 sion in early days was a leading event of the year, and 
 was looked forward to by parents and children with eager 
 expectation. This school was alone in the practice for 
 more than fifteen years. Probably the first Sunday-school 
 picnic in Yonkers was held by this school. It was held at 
 Glenwood on the grounds now occupied by the residence of 
 James B: Colgate. 
 
 Miss Mary Berwick, then a pupil in the school, recalls 
 the pleasurable time spent by the school there, and makes 
 mention of the big swing constructed from a huge grape- 
 vine which was entwined around one of the large forest- 
 trees and afforded amusement for old and young, and the 
 generous hospitality of the superinte^ident, Joseph H. Jen- 
 nings, who welcomed them to the grounds and who provi- 
 ded a large part of the refreshments for the occasion. 
 
 The picnic at West Point, August, 1867, is recalled as 
 being an unusually delightful occasion. 
 
 Superintendent Joseph H. Palmer introduced religious 
 exercises in connection with these excursions, prayer being 
 offered before leaving the Sunday-school, and the singing 
 of Sunday-school songs while at the groves. 
 
 "A very considerable change was produced in the 
 number of pupils of this school in the year 1882 by chan- 
 ging the hour of meeting from afternoon to the morning. 
 This changed the character of the school, making it less of 
 a mission and more of a church school. The school lost in 
 numbers by the step, but improved by making its aims 
 more definite. After a time it began to increase in num- 
 bers, and the wisdom of the course became apparent in the 
 increased solidity of the school." 
 
 Miss Kate S. Williams, Mrs. Thomas H. Collins, and 
 Miss S. J. Beebe were most zealous, devoted, and success- 
 ful teachers in this school. These three beloved teachers 
 have entered into the rest that remaineth. " And I heard 
 a voice from heaven saying. Write, Blessed are the dead 
 which die in the Lord from henceforth ; yea, saith the 
 Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their works 
 follow with them." 
 
 " In 1883 the Association character of the school, which 
 
138 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 had been maintained from the beginning, was changed. It 
 was by a vote of the officers and teachers distinctly placed • 
 in the care of the Consistory. This had always been its 
 theory but not its practice. Now the Consistory were 
 directly asked to assume the care of it, to appoint a Stand- 
 ing Committee on Sunday-school supervision, and even to 
 appoint and annually reappoint its officers. This origina- 
 ted as to suggestion with Dr. Cole, the pastor, but as to act 
 with the school itself. The application was made to the 
 Consistory January 23, 1883, and at once granted. From 
 that time the school ceased to be an Association, and has 
 been the church school. No change has since been made 
 in its arrangement except that, for the relief of what on 
 working proved a difficulty, the Consistory returned to 
 the school again the right to choose its own officers annu- 
 ally. The relation between the Consistory and the school 
 under the arrangement as now carried on seems to be per- 
 fect. It conforms to the governmental system of the Re^ 
 formed Church and establishes organic connection between 
 the school and the church of which it is a part." 
 
 The Christmas festivals have always been occasions of 
 great delight to the teachers and scholars, that of 1881 
 being of an unusually interesting character. The church 
 was filled with the children and friends of the school. 
 I Rev. Dr. Lansing, the prince of children's speakers, 
 addressed them. The recitation in concert of the twenty- 
 third Psalm by the infant-class and a " Missionary Solilo- 
 quy" by five little girls were excellent. The Christmas 
 carols were very beautiful and the singing was good. The 
 young people and children acquitted themselves admirably 
 in all the exercises. The pupils were presented with hand- 
 some books. The teachers and scholars gave a beautifully 
 bound copy of Matthew Henry's Commentary, which, with 
 other valuable books — the gift of the pastor — were sent to 
 their Bible-reader in India. Hyatt L. Garrison was the 
 superintendent of the school that year, and great success 
 and prosperity attended it in every department. 
 
 The Christmas celebration of 1888 was of an interest- 
 ing character. The carols were beautiful, and the teachers 
 and pupils received a variety of handsome presents. Spe- 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 1 39 
 
 cial gifts were given to thirty-nine pupils who had been 
 present at every session of the school during the past year. 
 Rev. H. B. Grose delivered an address which was pleasing 
 and profitable to both old and young. 
 
 Children's Day is observed in this school with appro- 
 priate services, the pastor usually addressing the children. 
 
 The exercises in the school on Children's Day, June 1 7, 
 1889, were held in the church on Sunday evening. The 
 teachers and scholars marched from the chapel into the 
 church, keeping step to the organ voluntary played by Ed- 
 win Moore. 
 
 The services were opened by the singing of the hymn, 
 " To praise Thee, ever bounteous Lord," followed by prayer. 
 The congregation participated with the school in the hymns 
 and responsive readings which followed. 
 
 Misses Marion de Revere, Bessie Osborne, Annie 
 Odell, and Mabel Doren gave appropriate recitations. The 
 chorus and semi-chorus, " Dear little Pan^y," was very 
 sweetly sung by the Primary Department, as was also the 
 " Motion Chorus." The duet, quartette, and chorus, " There 
 is Joy in every Sunbeam," was beautifully rendered by sev- 
 eral of the members of the advanced Bible-classes. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole followed with brief congratulatory re- 
 marks, closing with a well-deserved commendation to the 
 little ones of the Primary Department for their excellent 
 attention and good behavior throughout the exercises of 
 the extremely warm evening. The meeting closed with 
 the chorus, "Thanks to God." 
 
 At the Christmas festival in 1889 the church was crowd- 
 ed with the Sunday-school pupils and their friends when 
 the exercises began at half-past seven o'clock. Superin- 
 tendent Charles E. See presided. Excellent singing by the 
 school was the principal contribution of that body to the 
 entertainment. 
 
 An address by Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge was very 
 appropriate and very interesting; and brief addresses by 
 the pastor. Rev. Dr. Cole, and by the former superintend- 
 ent, C. F. Tietjen, were also made. 
 
 A number of scholars who had not been absent from 
 school during the year received handsome books, and 
 
HO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 books were given also to some who had missed through 
 sickness, only one Sabbath. 
 
 The Primary Department was formerly divided into 
 small classes, Miss Caroline Radford and Miss Rachel 
 Waring at one time in charge of it. Miss Lizzie Berwick 
 (now Mrs. James Montgomery) also served as its superin- 
 tendent, having one assistant. It then numbered between 
 forty and fifty pupils. During the session of the large 
 school, it met in the audience-room of the church, assem- 
 bling with the school only at the opening and closing exer- 
 cises. 
 
 Mr. George Stewart superintended this department 
 from 1 87 1 until May, 1888. His unceasing fidelity and 
 devotion kept the class always steady and regular in its 
 attendance and solid in its progress. The affection of its 
 teacher for the class was earnest, and the class returned 
 it heartily. The groundwork of the school is done in this 
 class. The children committed Bible verses, catechism 
 questions, and many faipiliar hymns. The class numbered 
 about sixty. Mr. Stewart was assisted by his daughter, 
 Mrs. Bethune Reevs. 
 
 At this time, January, 1891, Miss Marion Stewart is 
 the superintendent. She is assisted by her sister, Mary E. 
 Stewart. They have been in charge since May, i888, and 
 are devoted to their work and very successful in it. They 
 celebrated the reopening of their class in September, 1889, 
 with the presentation of beautiful bouquets of foliage plant 
 leaves and gay autumn flowers to each member of the de- 
 partment. The children were highly delighted with these 
 gifts. 
 
 The enrolment is about seventy pupils, with an aver- 
 age attendance of fifty. The International Series of les- 
 sons is taught. The paper distributed is the " Sunbeam." 
 The collections ar6 given to the general fund of the school. 
 The singing book used is " Infant Songs." 
 
 The Society of Christian Endeavor connected with this 
 church was organized April 15, 1887, with forty members, 
 nearly all of whom were members of the Sunday-school. 
 The pastor, Rev. David Cple, D. D., William M. Dick, Wal- 
 ter A. Drinkwater, Le Grand W. Ketcham, Miss Anna M. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 141 
 
 Palmer, and Miss Jennie R. Doren were appointed to pre- 
 pare a constitution, which was adopted. " The object of 
 this society is to promote an earnest Christian life among 
 its members and to make them more useful in the service 
 of God." In addition to its regular prayer-meeting, which 
 is held every Sabbath, once in a month a consecration 
 meeting is held. At this meeting it is expected that the 
 active members shall in some way orally testify concerning 
 his or her own progress in the Christian life. There are 
 also several standing committees, such as the lookout, 
 prayer-meeting, and social committees, etc. This organiza- 
 tion is a source of great power to the church and is devel- 
 oping a strong service and character in the young people 
 of the church and Sunday-school. Young people must be 
 members of the church before they can be received into 
 active membership in this society. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole has always been closely identified with 
 the Sunday-school, and rarely fails to be present either at 
 its opening or closing exercises, not infrequently taking 
 the place of an absent teacher. A warm attachment exists 
 between him and the members of the school and the young 
 people of his church, which found expression in their propo- 
 sition to send him and Mrs. Cole on their recent European 
 tour. This desire was heartily seconded by all the mem- 
 bers of his church and congregation, who aided them finan- 
 cially in carrying out this plan. Their departure from 
 America was made on July 9, 1887, in the steamer " Um- 
 bria." They travelled by sea and land 12,000 miles, and vis- 
 ited Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Belgium, France, 
 Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, and visited at all but 
 eight of the capitals of Europe. 
 
 The services in the church on Sunday previous to the 
 departure of Dr. Cole on his European trip were unusually 
 interesting, and his remarks were chiefly in reference 
 thereto. The Society of Christian Endeavor was present. 
 Rev. Dr. Cole closed his remarks with an earnest and im- 
 pressive charge to the young people to be faithful and true 
 to their society, to each other, to continue to read and study 
 the Word of God, to pray for one another, and so to live 
 that others should take knowledge of them that they had 
 
142 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 been with Jesus. Preceding the services the ordinance of 
 baptism was administered to two infants — Anna May Dick 
 and Florence Estelle Drinkwater. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Cole on their return received a most 
 hearty welcome by the members of the home and mission 
 Sunday-schools, the Society of Christian Endeavor, and the 
 congregation. 
 
 A pleasant reception was prepared by the society on 
 Friday evening, October 26, 1887. Under the skilful and 
 tasteful direction of the Decorating Committee the chapel 
 of the church presented a beautiful appearance. 
 
 Letters of welcome were read from Rev. Dr. Stro- 
 bridge, Rev. C. E. Allison, and Rev. E. C. Moore. Brief 
 addresses were made by Rev. C. W. Millard, Rev. J. H. 
 Bertholf, son-in-law of Dr. Cole, and Alexander O. Kirk- 
 wood. 
 
 Dr. Cole responded to all these tender and warm words 
 of welcome from his brethren in the ministry, with much 
 feeling and^ appreciation, after which refreshments were 
 served in great abundance. So with music and song and 
 social chat the hours passed all too quickly, but they will 
 be held in pleasant remembrance by all who enjoyed 
 them. 
 
 In the home school on Sunday, October 28, 1887, the 
 exercises began at 9 .-45 in the morning, the superintendent, 
 Christian Tietjen, promptly to the minute announcing the 
 opening hymn, entitled " Our Morning Prayer." 
 
 At the close of the lesson for the day, Superintendent 
 Tietjen made some very happy remarks in relation to Dr. 
 Cole's return, and in closing said, " When he enters that 
 door this morning, which I hope he will, I want you all to 
 rise and sing ' Welcome Home ' from your hymn-book. 
 And I know you will sing it heartily." 
 
 At this moment Dr. Cole entered the room, not from 
 the side door leading into the church, as he was wont to 
 come, nor from the door at the entrance, as he sometimes 
 came, but quite unexpectedly to all through the door at the 
 head of the stairs leading into the basement, where he had 
 been saying a few words of greeting to the infant-class. 
 Unexpected as this was the school at once arose, and the 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. I43 
 
 organist, Edwin Moore, led them in singing their " Wel- 
 come Home." The scene was very impressive. 
 
 At the close Dr. Cole rose and, hesitating for a mo- 
 ment, said, " I feel overcome by the profuse welcomes you 
 have given me. I cannot command my voice ; no language 
 can express my feelings. I thank you a thousand times 
 for this bright and cheery welcome you have given me. It 
 prepares me for my future work for you. When I left you 
 it was with some anxiety. I feared that the chain of 
 thought and feeling might be lost in your contact with the 
 world and the new circumstances which would be before 
 you. You know we had just come from the delightful 
 atmosphere with which the church and school had been 
 surrounded for the past few months, for the silent and all- 
 powerful influence of God's Holy Spirit was working in our 
 church and school. But the warm welcome which I have 
 received from you makes me feel that it has not been so. 
 Perhaps some of you will greet me with a still warmer wel- 
 come, that some of you will come forward and tell me how 
 you have found the Saviour since I have been away. Since 
 I left you I have seen many forms of religion in the differ- 
 ent countries I have visited, of which I will tell you at an- 
 other time. Do you know that your privileges are far 
 greater than many others enjoy? And for that reason 
 your responsibility is far greater. Avail yourselves of these 
 precious opportunities, and may the dear Lord pour his own 
 bountiful blessing upon this Sunday-school." 
 
 The closing hymn, "Working for Christ," was then 
 sung and the school disihissed. 
 
 In the church the morning service began by singing 
 " Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." The 107th 
 Psalm was then read, followed by the hymn, " While Thee 
 I seek, protecting Power." Dr. Cole offered an earnest 
 prayer, full of thanksgiving for past and present blessings. 
 
 The sermon was from these words, " Believe on the 
 Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 16:31. The preacher com- 
 menced by expressing profound gratitude to God for pre- 
 serving himself and wife from dangers by sea and land 
 and throughout their journey of more than 12,000 miles 
 without abatement of health, and for bringing them safely 
 
144 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 to their Yonkers home. " As our brave ship on her home- 
 ward journey was battling with the tempest we felt that we 
 were borne up by the prayers of God's dear people, and the 
 knowledge of this came to us as we journeyed along through 
 the week and on the Sabbath day as we rested. And we 
 desire, Mrs. Cole and myself, to put on record our deep and 
 profound gratitude, first to God for his tender care, and 
 next to our dear people for their loving prayers." 
 
 Dr. Cole then spoke of the deaths which had occurred 
 in the congregation since his absence, those of Robert Hal- 
 ley, Mrs. William Kellogg, esteemed members of the church, 
 and another member of his congregation, and of the three 
 little infants who had been taken into the kingdom of 
 heaven. He also mentioned his intention of giving a 
 course of lectures to the members of the Society of Chris- 
 tian Endeavor on the countries he had visited, and conclu- 
 ded by speaking of the appropriateness of God's saving 
 plan of salvation for a lost world. 
 
 Rev. J. Henry Bertholf preached in the church in the 
 evening to a large audience, in which the Young People's 
 Society of Christian Endeavor was represented by its offi- 
 cers and members. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole delivered a series of lectures in the 
 Reformed Church, under the auspices of the Young Peo- 
 ple's Society of Christian Endeavor,upon the cities of Lon- 
 don, Edinburgh, Paris, and Rome. They were illustrated 
 with stereopticon views by George D. Mackay, Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the Y. M. C. A. 
 
 Miss Jennie R. Doren, Miss Marion Stewart, Miss 
 Lucy A. Bragdon, Miss Mamie Costello, Miss Phoebe Pal- 
 mer, Walter A. Drinkwater, William M. Dick, William A. 
 Wiggins, and A. C. Tompkins attended the convention of 
 sister societies in Philadelphia in 1889 as delegates from 
 the Christian Endeavor Society of the Yonkers Reformed 
 Church. 
 
 The present membership of the society is eighty-five. 
 
 President Mr. W. A. Wiggins. 
 
 Vice-President - - - Miss Phoebe Palmer. 
 
 Secretary Miss Mary E. Stewart. 
 
 Treasurer Miss Edith A. Doren. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 145 
 
 CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 Lookout Committee Miss Marion Stewart. 
 
 Prayer-meeting " Mr. John P. Radcliff, Jr. 
 
 Social " . Mr. W. A. Drinkwater. 
 
 Music and Flower " Charles F. Walters. 
 
 The Mission Band of this school was begun by a class 
 of little girls taught by Miss Grace Stewart (now Mrs. John 
 W. Alexander). It contributed towards the missionary 
 fund of the church and also made its president, Miss Stew- 
 art, a life member of the Woman's Board of Missions of the 
 Reformed Church. After the resignation of its president 
 it was disbanded for a time, but was reorganized by Mrs. 
 Thomas Lyall in 1883, who gave it the name of "Joy 
 Bells." Its officers were: Mrs. C. F. Tietjen, President; 
 Mrs. Thomas Lyall, Vice-President ; Miss Agnes Mitchell, 
 Secretary ; Miss V. Hover, Corresponding Secretary ; Miss 
 Marion Stewart, Treasurer. These officers took charge of 
 it for two years, during which time it contributed towards 
 the support of a missionary in Utah and responded liber- 
 ally to an appeal — made by the writer — in behalf of the 
 Woman's Board of Missions in New York for contributions 
 towards a fund to procure- a boat for the missionaries in 
 Petchaburi, Siam. The amount raised that year was $93. 
 
 The following extract is taken from a letter received 
 in acknowledgment of the money contributed by the " Joy 
 Bells " Mission Band and the " Constant Workers " Mission 
 Band of the Westminster Church for that object : 
 
 " The children in Yonkers have done a great thing in 
 giving their money towards so noble an enterprise as this. 
 The missionaries in Siam needed a boat very much to carry 
 forward their work successfully. Some of them often go 
 away on mission work for several days, and if any one takes 
 sick one of the best cures is to go off in a boat for a day or 
 two. There has been a great deal of sickness here lately, 
 and I think it did some of our missionaries very much good 
 to get away even for a day from the Compound, where death 
 has made such havoc recently. As we sailed up the river 
 we distributed our books and tracts to the crowd of curious 
 natives, old and young. So we tried to scatter handfuls of 
 good seed in their hearts and leave it to God's fostering 
 
 Church and Sunday-Bchool Work. lO 
 
146 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 care. Again we congratulate the little stockholders in 
 Yonkers who have so liberally given their pennies to pur- 
 chase our boat. As they have so freely given so may they 
 freely receive the blessed Saviour's blessing." 
 
 The band is now in charge of Miss Helen A. Rollins, 
 who is assisted by Mrs. Samuel Barclay and Miss Jennie 
 Doren. It has a membership of 224. It contributes to- 
 wards home and foreign missions, and raised in 1887 $112. 
 
 In 1888 it held a most enjoyable entertainment, known 
 as the " Dolls' Fair." The dolls' fair was a great success, so 
 much so, that by request it was repeated the following even^ 
 ing. The sum of $25 was realized by the dolls' reception. 
 
 In 1888 the band assumed the support of Gria Sonn- 
 dari, a native teacher in India. The present officers of the 
 band, January, 1890, are: Miss Helen Rollins, President; 
 Miss Veronica Hover, Vice-President ; Miss Jennie R. Do- 
 ren, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 May, 1888, Rev. Dr. David Cole and Elder George 
 Stewart were selected as delegates from the Reformed 
 Church in America to the Alliance of Reformed Churches 
 and to the World's Missionary Conference, which was held 
 in London in June. On Sunday, May 20, a very interesting 
 farewell meeting was held by the Sabbath-school and by 
 the church with the pastor and elder. Mr. Stewart had 
 been the successful superintendent of the Primary Depart- 
 ment of the school for a number of years, and the exercises 
 were especially sympathetic. 
 
 The evening service was devoted to missions. The 
 Society of Christian Endeavor was active in these various 
 meetings. 
 
 On Wednesday the society and many members of the 
 congregation were gathered on the " Germanic " to bid 
 Godspeed to Dr. Cole and the elder. 
 
 Miss Helen A. Rollins has taught in this Sunday-school 
 since 1852, beginning the work of Sunday-school teacher 
 when but a child with teaching a class of little children. 
 She has had charge of the largest Bible-class in the school 
 since 1865, at which time the place it occupied in the chapel 
 school became too small to accommodate its increasing 
 numbers, and it was moved to the gallery of the church. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 147 
 
 which, it occupies at the present writing. The class was 
 formerly composed of young men. Now young ladies are 
 among its members as well. 
 
 The two pupils of this school sent to New Brunswick 
 as students for the ministry, namely, James H. Owens and 
 Henry J. Bogardus, were members of this class. The for- 
 mer is now the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Perth 
 Amboy, N. J. Mr. Bogardus was licensed to preach in 
 1 88 1, and was intending at the time to become a mission- 
 ary in Japan, and took a course of medical study with that 
 end in view. At the end of that course he was prevailed 
 upon to remain in this country and take a position in the 
 Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled in New York city, 
 in which place he remains to-day. 
 
 Others from this class are now occupying positions of 
 usefulness in the church. Walter A. Drinkwater, now one 
 of the deacons of this church and a teacher of this Sunday- 
 school, was a pupil in this class, also Stephen A. Peene, who 
 is now a teacher in the school. Many from this class have 
 become communicants in the church. 
 
 Two sons of the pastor, J. Wycoff Cole and Frank 
 Howard Cole, Charles Howard Bertholf, Herbert R. Fre- 
 denburgh, and many others whose names cannot be re- 
 called, have been among the number. 
 
 Miss Adelia E. Hoyt, who recently passed to her heav- 
 enly reward, was connected with this school for a period of 
 forty-two years. 
 
 Miss Helen A. Rollins, from this school, stands high 
 on the honorary roll of Sunday-school teachers in Yonkers 
 for her long and faithful service in the work. 
 
 The school has always manifested a deep interest in 
 the temperance cause and many of its teachers have been 
 prominent in advancing the work in Yonkers. Miss Helen 
 A. Rollins, Miss Mary Berwick, and the writer were among 
 the founders of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union 
 of Yonkers, which was organized March 22, 1878. John 
 Pagan was also prominent in the organization of the prohi- 
 bition movement in Yonkers, and has been nominated for 
 several offices on the prohibition ticket. 
 
 " On several occasions during the pastorate of Dr. Cole 
 
148 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 large accessions have been received into the church from 
 the Sunday-school ; and more than one-third of all received 
 into the communion of the church by profession since Dr. 
 Cole's pastorate, have come from the Sunday-school. It has 
 had its times of coldness and fruitlessness, but it has also 
 had its years of abundant blessing and large fruitage. 
 During the year 1 870 sixteen, the year 1 874 thirty, the year 
 1878 twenty-three, and the year 1887 thirty-five from this 
 school, were received into the communion of the church. 
 
 The number of pupils received into the church from 
 the school and the Ludlow Street Mission School from 
 1 887 to 1 889 was fifty-six. 
 
 The school is self-supporting. It has supported a Bible- 
 reader, Abram Williams, for more than twenty years at an 
 expense of $100 per year. The contributions for benevo- 
 lence in 1888 were $160. 
 
 Number on roll-book April, 1891, of officers, teachers, 
 and scholars, 256. 
 
 Hyatt L. Garrison, ex-superintendent of the Reformed 
 Church Sunday-school, was elected a member of the Exec- 
 utive Committee of the Westchester County Sunday-school 
 Teachers' Association, which was organized at Tarrytown, 
 N. Y., November 19, 1889. 
 
 A new library, the gift of the congregation on Christ- 
 mas, 1888, was presented to the school, and the old library 
 was donated to a school in the West. The present num- 
 ber of volumes is 425. 
 
 The International Lesson Quarterly is used, and the 
 papers distributed are the publications of David C. Cook 
 Publishing Company. The singing-book is "Pilgrim 
 Songs." 
 
 The Superintendents of this school as far as can be 
 ascertained have been : Lemuel Watts Wells, the first su- 
 perintendent, Charles W. Baird, Anson B. Hoyt, Joseph H. 
 Jennings, Anson B. Hoyt, John K. Myers, Gustavus A. 
 Rollins, Anson B. Hoyt, Joseph H. Palmer, Walter Under- 
 bill, Dr. Gabriel P. Reevs, Anson B. Hoyt, James Stewart, 
 George Stewart, Hyatt L. Garrison', and Christian F. Tiet- 
 jen, Charles E. See elected in 1888, and W. A. Drinkwater 
 elected May, 1891. 
 
THE REFORMED CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. I49 
 
 The officers of the school, January, 1887, were; Chris- 
 tian F. Tietjen, Superintendent; Virgil Myers, First As- 
 sistant ; George Stewart, Second Assistant ; Joseph Hover, 
 Secretary; William M. Dick, Treasurer; Henry Pagan, 
 Librarian ; Edward R. Cole, Assistant Librarian. 
 
 The officers of the school January, 1890, were : Charles 
 E. See, Superintendent; Walter A. Drinkwater, first As- 
 sistant Superintendent ; Miss Marion Stewart, second Assist- 
 ant Superintendent, in charge of the Infant Department ; 
 Le Grand W. Ketcham, Treasurer; William A. Wiggins, 
 Secretary ; Edward R. Cole, Librarian ; Alden C. Tomp- 
 kins and John P. Radcliff, Jr., Assistant Librarians. 
 
 Officers and teachers of the Sunday-school elected for 
 year. May i, 1891, are as follows: 
 
 Superintendent - Mr. W. A Drinkwater. 
 
 First Assistant Superintendent Mr. John Pagan. 
 
 Second " " Miss Marion Stewart. 
 
 Secretary - Mr. W. A. Wiggins. 
 
 Assistant Secretary - Mr. C. F. Walters. 
 
 Treasurer - Mr. Le Grand W. Ketcham. 
 
 Librarian - Mr. A. C. Tompkins. 
 
 First Assistant Librarian Mr. E. R. Cole. 
 
 Second " " Dr. H. Winthrop Bertholf. 
 
 TEACHERS. 
 
 Miss H. A. Rollins, Miss M. Y. Kellock, 
 
 Miss Phoebe Palmer, Mr. John Pagan, 
 
 Miss J. R. Doren, Mr. Virgil Myers, 
 
 Miss Mary Berwick, Mr. R. J. Dick, 
 
 Miss Carrie J. Bowler, Mr. George Stewart, 
 
 Miss Jean B. Archibald, Mr. John P. Radcliff, Jr. 
 
 Miss Agnes Mitchell, Mr. H. L. Garrison, 
 
 Miss Edith A. Doren, Mr. George J. Ord, 
 Mr. Martin Blauvelt. 
 
 PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Miss Marion Stewart, Superintendent ; Miss Mary Stewart, Assistant. 
 
IJO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH, PARISH, ANt) 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL.* 
 
 The first record of any religious service of the Roman- 
 catholic Church in Yonkers is about 1836-9, at which time 
 the Rev. James Cummiskey began his ministrations among 
 the workmen who were engaged in the construction of the 
 Croton aqueduct from Sing Sing to New "York. Many of 
 the laborers on the bridge over the Sawmill River — now the 
 Nepperhan River — occupied the adjacent uplands which be- 
 longed to Anthony Archer, Sr. A building in the neighbor- 
 hood of where Summit Street now runs, between the aque- 
 duct and the river, was set apart for religious service and 
 became the first Catholic Chapel in Yonkers, and here Rev. 
 James Cummiskey heard the confessions and said mass'for 
 the people. Father Cummiskey won the respect of all 
 whom he met, and people especially welcomed his coming 
 when dissensions among the laborers occurred, as they 
 sometimes did. 
 
 He continued his services among the Roman-catholics 
 of Yonkers until the completion of the aqueduct, after which 
 he left Yonkers, and the few Catholics who remained were 
 dependent on such neighboring missions as they could reach. 
 In the autumn of 1847 work was begun on the. construction 
 of the Hudson River Railroad through Yonkers. Thomas 
 C. Cornell was appointed a civil engineer of this work, 
 and the Rev. John Ryan, S. J., one of the professors of 
 Fordham College, and later the first president of St. Xavier 
 College in the city of New York, was charged with the mis- 
 sion among the laborers. Before the end of the year he 
 made it a rule to say mass at Yonkers every Sunday and to 
 hear confessions on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. 
 
 The first mass was held in a dwelling-house near George 
 Morgan's Dye Works, not far from where Nepperhan 
 
 * For the most of the facts in this chapter the writer is indebted to 
 " The Beginnings of the Roman-catholic Church in Yonkers," written by 
 Thomas C. Cornell, and published in 1883. 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. Ijl 
 
 Avenue crosses tlie Sawmill River, Hugh Donoghue serving 
 the mass and Thomas C. Cornell being one of the worship- 
 pers. Mr. Morgan offered the use of a store-room belong- 
 ing to his office, where the little congregation shared the 
 space with boxes of logwood waiting shipment. 
 
 In 1 848 Ethan Flagg erected the first three-story brick 
 building in Yonkers. It stood on the corner of Palisade 
 Avenue (then Factory Street) and New Main Street (then 
 Mechanic Street) and the upper floor was hired for Father 
 Ryan's Sunday services during the summer and autumn 
 of 1848. 
 
 The same year Father Ryan thought the time had come 
 to build a Roman-catholic church in Yonkers. Judge Wood- 
 worth offered to give the land for a Catholic church where 
 St. Mary's now stands, and the offer was accepted by Father 
 Ryan. The lot deeded was 85 feet front on South Street, as 
 it was named in the deed, 135 feet deep, and 164 feet wide 
 along Judge Vark's line in the rear. The name of South 
 Street was changed to St. Mary's Street as soon as the 
 name proposed for the new church was known. It was 
 understood that the three partners in the fifty-acre tract 
 had agreed among themselves to give land for three church- 
 es, Judge Woodworth to the Catholics, and Messrs. Rich 
 and Scrymser to the Presbyterians and the Baptists, but as 
 the latter part of this plan was never carried out, the land 
 deeded to Bishop Hughes, in the summer of 1848, was really 
 the joint gift of these three gentlemen. 
 
 Soon after obtaining the land Father Ryan procured 
 plans for a church from Patrick C. Keely, an architect of 
 considerable reputation and who built a great number of the 
 best Catholic churches in the United States, one of which 
 is St. Francis Xavier in New York, and St. Mary's Church 
 was built in conformity with these plans. The dimensions 
 of the church were 40 by 70 feet, with a small sacristy, 
 1 3 by 23 feet, in the rear, and enough of the lower part of the 
 brick-work of the tower in front to make an entrance porch. 
 
 The building seemed so large in proportion to the needs 
 of the congregation that Thomas C. Cornell, with the con- 
 sent of Father Ryan, went to Bishop Hughes to urge a 
 smaller church. The Bishop said that the plan ought 
 
152 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 rather to be larger than smaller. " I have always found," 
 said he, " the numbers as well as the ability of such missions 
 to exceed first anticipations." Father Ryan wished the 
 church to be dedicated " to the Blessed Virgin Mary, con- 
 ceived without sin," and it is hence called either the Church 
 of the Immaculate Conception, or St. Mary's, at pleasure. 
 
 A contract for the mason-work was made with Peter F. 
 Peek, in 1848, for $2,045, which with the extras increased 
 to about $2,200, and of this sum Mr. Peek agreed to give 
 one year's credit for $400, and in addition it was provided 
 that in case the money could not be collected, work could be 
 stopped at any time on paying for the portion actually done. 
 But the money did not fail, and a contract was made with 
 William H. Hanlon to put on the roof, lay the floors, and 
 put in doors for $1,065, which with some extras amounted 
 to $1,200. The work was completed in December, and the 
 windows were boarded up, with here and there an old sash 
 to let in the light. Sashes were put in the vestry and some 
 rude board benches were made in the church, a couple of 
 stoves were set up, and thus, with brick walls and no ceil- 
 ing. Father Ryan gave his congregation their Christmas 
 mass of 1848 in their own church. 
 
 Collections were made by Father Ryan and by Thomas 
 C. Cornell and others, most of it in sums of fifty cents to one 
 dollar. The contributors from Yonkers, not a few of whom 
 were not Catholics, included many names still remembered. 
 Moses H. Grinnell, then living here, was one of the most 
 liberal, giving $25. Among the others were Judge William 
 W. Scrugham, Prince W. Paddock, Thomas W. Ludlow, S. 
 W. Chambers, De Witt C. Kellinger, Levi P. Rose, Lispe- 
 nard Stewart, W. F. Groshon, Thomas C. Cornell, Hugh 
 Donoghue, C. M. Odell, Jacob Read, Edward F. Shonnard, 
 Mr. Williams, John Chrisfield, John Mathews, John Moffat, 
 and many others. 
 
 The church walls remained unplastered, with no ceiling 
 but the open roof, for nearly three years, and the only seats 
 were rude board benches without backs, the men all sitting 
 on the gospel side and the women on the epistle side, but in 
 the summer of 1 846 enamelled glass windows were put in at 
 a cost of I500, which however included a sanctuary rail. 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CA'THOLIC CHURCH. 153* 
 
 Judge Wood-worth offered to pay the cost of the spire 
 if the church would complete the brickwork of the tower, 
 and this was done in the autumn of 1849 ^.t the cost of $600. 
 In all these building contracts Father Ryan's building 
 committee had been Judge Woodworth, Thomas C. Cornell, 
 and Hugh Donoghue. At the end of 1849 the church had 
 cost, exclusive of land, $4,500. This was the portion of the 
 church which now (February, 1887) lies in the front of the 
 transepts and remained thus unfinished until the autumn 
 of 1851. 
 
 Father Ryan organized a Sunday-school as soon as he 
 could obtain a place to hold it. He taught the children 
 himself, and from among the pupils of the Sunday-school 
 who had voices for music he selected a number and taught 
 them the elements of "musical notation every Sunday after- 
 noon when he could himself be present with them. The 
 school met in the audience-room of the church and num- 
 bered about fifty pupils. 
 
 In September, 1850, the College of St. Francis Xavier 
 was opened in Fifteenth Street, New York. Father Ryan 
 was chosen its first president, and his duties there rendered 
 it impossible for him to continue his mission at Yonkers. 
 
 For a time, in 1850, Father Bienvenue attended the 
 mission, coming from Fordham every Saturday evening 
 and returning on Sunday evening. He attended the mis- 
 sion Sundays and holy days from 1849 to 1850. He was 
 succeeded by Rev. Father L. Jouin, S. J., who continued 
 in charge from 1850 to 185 1. At the end of this year the 
 congregation thought they were able to maintain a resi- 
 dent pastor, and after consultation with the above mentioned 
 lay committee, with the approval of Fathers Jouin and Ryan, 
 Thomas C. Cornell made the request for a resident pastor 
 to Archbishop Hughes, who promptly responded, and in 
 July, 1 85 1, Rev. Thomas S. Preston, now the Right Rev- 
 erend Monsignor Preston, holding the dignity of prelate 
 of the papal household, arrived in Yonkers and took charge 
 of the new parish. 
 
 After Father Ryan became president of the College 
 of St. Xavier in New York and gave up his Yonkers mission, 
 his Sunday-school was continued with some intermissions 
 
154 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 by his successors. Father Jouin brought in lay teachers to 
 assist him. There exists no contemporary record of Father 
 Jouin's Sunday-school, and tradition can now recall among 
 its teachers only the names of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Cornell, 
 Dr. Hugh Gartlan, and Hugh Donoghue. This school, num- 
 bering less than a hundred pupils. Father Preston found at 
 his coming in 1857. He preferred to have the religious 
 teaching of the children in his own hands, and relieving the 
 lay teachers taught the children himself on Sunday after- 
 noons. Sunday-schools under lay teachers do not seem to 
 be entirely in accordance with Roman-catholic customs. 
 Religious instruction comes from the priest or from the re- 
 ligious orders who make teaching a duty. Hence perhaps 
 one of the reasons why Catholics desire parish schools and 
 teach religion in the lessons of every day. 
 
 The church at Yonkers when Father Preston took 
 charge was still in an unfinished condition. But by All 
 Saints' Day it was finished, and on November 16, 185 1, 
 Bishop Hughes blessed the church and gave confirmation. 
 Several clergymen were present and the Rev. Arthur J. 
 Donnelly, who afterwards became pastor of St. Michael's, 
 New York, and is now one of the Vicars-General of the 
 diocese, was master of ceremonies. After the service at the 
 church Archbishop Hughes, Father Preston,, Thomas C. 
 Cornell, with two or three other friends of Judge Wood- 
 worth, were invited to dine with him at his residence at 
 Manor Hall. 
 
 This school had been opened in the early spring of 1852 
 in the basement of the dwelling-house still standing on the 
 northwest corner of St. Mary's and Clinton Streets, with less 
 than a dozen boys and girls together, and it did not exceed 
 two dozen when first opened in the new schoolhouse. But 
 a year later the number exceeded eighty, and when closed 
 in March, 1854, there were ninety-two. 
 
 At this time the Yonkers mission included Hastings, 
 Dobbs Ferry, and Tarrytown. Father Ryan occasionally 
 said mass at those places, and the Very Rev. Dr. Power, 
 V. G., occasionally said mass at Hastings. Dr. Power died 
 in April, 1849. After Father Preston's coming these mis- 
 sions were regularly attended. There was no parochial 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 1 55 
 
 residence in Yonkers at that time, and Father Preston 
 boarded as he could. ' 
 
 In the summer of 1853 he ventured to build a house. 
 He did not ask for much — a small parlor, a dining-room 
 and a kitchen, with two bedrooms above, making a house 
 less than twenty-five by thirty feet, which was built at a 
 cost of about $2,200. The house was scarcely inclosed 
 when in October, 1853, Father Preston was recalled by 
 Archbishop Hughes to become his secretary. 
 
 The congregation of St. Mary's with great regret heard 
 the recall, and a delegation, among whom was Thos. C. Cor- 
 nell, went down to the Archbishop to induce him to recon- 
 sider the call. But the Archbishop promptly intimated that 
 such petitions could not even be considered. " I must look 
 on every side," he explained in a kindly way, " and must 
 be left free to do what seems to me best for all." 
 
 Father Preston's successor, in making his financial 
 statement in assuming control of the parish, said that the 
 record showed that during the two years and three months 
 of Father Preston's pastoral charge in Yonkers he had 
 drawn but $200 for his own salary and personal expenses. 
 Father Preston was subsequently made Chancellor of the 
 diocese, and has now long been Vicar-General and one of 
 the Archbishop's council. 
 
 Rev. John McMahon succeeded Father Preston and 
 continued in charge from October, 1853, to May, 1854, and 
 was succeeded by Rev. Eugene Maguire, who remained in 
 charge from May, 1854, to February, 1856. The parish school 
 had been discontinued for two months before he came and 
 Avas not reopened during his stay, and the little school- 
 house became the residence of the sexton. 
 
 The Rev. Edward Lynch was appointed the next pastor 
 of St. Mary's at Yonkers, on February 20, 1856, and contin- 
 ued in charge until May, 1865. His assistants during his 
 pastorate at St. Mary's Church were : Rev. S. A. MuUady, 
 S. J., from January, 1859,10 July, 1861 ; Rev. Father Biretta, 
 O. S. F., from 1861 to 1862; Rev. Patrick Brady, from 
 January, 1863, to May, 1863; Rev. T. Byrne, June, 1864, to 
 October, 1864; Rev. Wm. H. H. Oram, from October, 1864, 
 until May, 1865. 
 
156 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The parish school had been discontinued for nearly two 
 years. Father Lynch had been but two weeks in Yonkers 
 when it was reopened in the small schoolhouse with twenty- 
 two girls under Miss Josephine Dwight, and as many boys 
 under James Webb. A few weeks later John J. Hughes, 
 who afterwards became the pastor of St. Jerome's Church, 
 Mott Haven, was put in charge of the boys, and the base- 
 ment of the schoolhouse was fitted up for the girls, whose 
 number increased to more than eighty during the year 
 Miss Dwight remained with them. Father Ryan, in build- 
 ing the church, did not wish to leave it possible to put any 
 basement room under it, but Father Lynch found the want 
 of such a room so great that he undertook it, and he placed 
 stone piers under the floor with columns. This work cost 
 about $600, and the boys removed to this room in 1857. 
 John J. Hughes entering the college at Fordham, Mr. Reily 
 took his place as teacher of the boys. From that year till 
 1 860 the little schoolhouse was occupied by the girls under 
 the care of the Sisters of Charity. 
 
 The coming of the Sisters of Charity to Yonkers is an 
 important event in the history of this church, and the cir- 
 cumstances of their coming are as follows : the Mother House 
 of the Sisters, near Fifth Avenue and One Hundred and 
 Seventh Street, had been recently taken for Central Park, 
 and another and larger place was required. A place on the 
 Hudson River, between Tarrytown and New York, seemed 
 desirable. Mother M. Angela, a sister of Archbishop 
 Hughes, was at that time the Superior. She had been Sis- 
 ter Angela in charge of St. Vincent's Hospital until the 
 preceding December, 1865. At Mother Angela's request 
 Thomas C. Cornell accompanied her and her secretary. 
 Sister Willian Anna, in visiting and examining the places 
 offered for sale on the Hudson. 
 
 Mr. Cornell invited Mother Angela to visit the Forrest 
 property. He had known the place and its owner for some 
 years, and when Mr. and Mrs. Forrest were talking of build- 
 ing, Mr. Forrest had intended to build on the point, since cut 
 by the railroad, " a cluster of towers in the later Norman 
 style." The present situation was selected and the castle 
 completed. Before showing it to Mother Angela Mr. Cor- 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 1 57 
 
 nell sent for Mr. Forrest to come and see him, which he 
 did. 
 
 In the course of the interview Mr. Forrest said, "The 
 place has cost me a hundred thousand dollars, and if the 
 Sisters want it they can have it at cost, and I will make 
 them a present of five thousand dollars towards the pur- 
 chase." An appointment was made for him to meet Mother 
 Angela on the ground. Mr. Forrest, not content with show, 
 ing her the beauties of the place, the castle, the cottage, and 
 the great stone barn, took her to the pond near the gate 
 where the fish came to the shoals and ate bread out of his 
 hand. 
 
 At Mother Angela's request Archbishop Hughes, ac. 
 companied by Mr. Cornell, looked over the place that he 
 might advise her about the purchase. " This is the place,'' 
 said the Archbishop, on seeing it. But on ];eaching the 
 castle he added, " But that must come down." Second 
 thought, however, preserved it as a residence for the Chap- 
 lain. The purchase was consummated in December, 1856, 
 and Mr. Forrest gave his certified check for $5,000 as his 
 contribution. 
 
 The title is in the name of the Sisters of Charity, a 
 corporation organized under the laws of the State of New 
 York. The foundation of the convent was begun in the 
 spring of 1857, and the corner-stone of the chapel was laid 
 by Archbishop Hughes September 8, 1857. In his address 
 he claimed for the chapel the dignity of a parish church, 
 and spoke with force of the far-reaching influence of the 
 institution of which they were then laying the foundations. 
 A small colony of sisters then occupied the castle, and in 
 September of the same year two of them — Sister M. Chrys- 
 ostom and Sister M. Winnefred — were put in charge of the 
 girls' department of the parish school in Yonkers. Fa- 
 ther Lynch provided a carriage to bring the Sisters to the 
 school and to return them to their home every night. This 
 was ten years before the Sisters had their own house of St. 
 Aloysius in Yonkers. 
 
 Father Lynch thought the building of a new school- 
 house his most important work, and in 1859 its erection was 
 begun. The dimensions of the building were 50 by 55 feet, 
 
158 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 •with two stories, a basement and attic. It was completed 
 in September, 1859. I* cost, including furniture, about 
 $10,000. 
 
 Sisters Chrysostom and Winnefred remained in charge 
 of the school till the death of Sister Chrysostom, January 
 28, 1865. Sister Chrysostom was endowed with unusual 
 intellectual gifts and was a most successful teacher. She 
 is still held in loving honor by all who knew her, and 
 although long ill with consumption, she continued to work 
 faithfully until within a few weeks of her death. During 
 her illness her place was supplied for over a year by Sis- 
 ter Ambrosia, who subsequently was put in charge of the 
 girls' protectory at Westchester, and is now Mother Superior 
 of the Sisters of Charity in the diocese. 
 
 Father Lynch put the Sisters with the girls on the first 
 floor, and the boys on the second floor of the new school- 
 house under the care of the Christian Brothers, and the 
 third floor was fltted up for the brothers' dwelling. 
 
 The Brothers' School was opened in September, 1871, 
 under the care of Brother Clementin — now vice-president 
 of Manhattan College — as director, with three assistants 
 and about 1 50 boys. Mr. Riley's school in the basement 
 of the church the preceding year numbered about 125 boys. 
 
 The girls' sclaool in the spring of 1857, before the 
 coming of the sisters, had numbered about 83, but when 
 Sisters Chrysostom and Winnefred came the number in- 
 creased to above 100. When they moved into the new 
 schoolhouse in September, i860, the girls numbered 135, 
 and at the time of Sister Chrysostom's death had reached 
 155, making the whole school of boys and girls about three 
 hundred. 
 
 After the building of the schoolhouse the enlargement 
 of the church was begun, and transepts, chancel, and vestry 
 were added. In the original church there, were but two 
 aisles and 84 pews ; in the enlarged church there are three 
 aisles and 162 pews on the floor and 34 in the gallery, and 
 it will seat one thousand persons. The enlargement of the 
 church was finished in the autumn of 1 863 at the cost of 
 $13,000. James and David Stewart did the mason work 
 and Anthony Imhoff the carpenter work. 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 159 
 
 The parish work increased so largely that Father 
 Lynch was obliged to call an assistant, who was Rev. S. A. 
 Mullady (formerly of the Society of Jesus), who was his 
 first assistant. Other assistants followed him. Father 
 Lynch began to fail in health for nearly a year before his 
 death, which occurred at the parochial residence May 5, 
 1865, in the tenth year of his pastorate at Yonkers. He 
 was much mourned by his people, who were devotedly 
 attached to him. 
 
 It was Father Lynch's habit to consult with his people 
 about all of his undertakings. He mingled much among 
 them and spoke freely of what he thought it might be best 
 to do and of the reasons for it. He did not discuss matters 
 with them to any extent, but rather stated his own wishes 
 and hopes in a way not to invite objections. 
 
 Whenever he met his people in their own homes, or 
 by the way, he talked of things until they saw as he did, 
 and then whatever he undertook the people were heartily 
 with him. Outside of his church all whom he met respected 
 and honored him. He interested himself in the local and 
 public welfare, giving his influence to the side of the Gov- 
 ernment from the breaking out of the war in 1861. 
 
 He brought his people and the children of his schools 
 to the great fair held in February, 1864 (in the then new 
 building, now the Macfarlane silk factory, on James Street), 
 in aid of the United States Sanitary Commission, and was 
 one of the guests at the dinner which was given there by 
 its friends to all the Yonkers clergymen. 
 
 A little pamphlet, entitled "Chronicles of Yonkers," 
 was privately printed and sold for the benefit of this fair. 
 It was beautifully printed on rose-tinted paper. Its author, 
 then unknown, was Robert P. Getty. In this pamphlet a 
 rhyming description was given of the clergymen of Yonkers, 
 and Father Lynch was alluded to in the following lines : 
 
 " St. Mary's good priest I know by repute, 
 His zeal and devotion no one can dispute ; 
 Be they Protestant or Catholic, the truth let me clinch. 
 There are few better men than our own Father Lynch." 
 
 Father Lynch was quiet and unostentatious in his 
 manners and very simple in his way of living. Though 
 
l6o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 possessed of means of his own, lie was contented to live with 
 his assistants and friends in the narrow accommodations 
 of the parochial residence. He was a prudent financier, 
 social in his feelings, and his kindly and gentle ways won 
 for him many friends in Yonkers. When his funeral 
 procession passed on the way to the railroad the bell of SI. 
 John's Episcopal Church was tolled. His remains were in- 
 terred beside his parents and kindred in St. Agnes' Ceme- 
 tery, Syracuse. 
 
 The successor of Father Lynch was the Rev. Charles 
 T. Slevin, who came to Yonkers in May, 1865. For two 
 years he had no assistant. One of the first of Father Slevin's 
 works was the erection, in 1 866, of a white marble altar and 
 tabernacle in place of the wooden altar in the church. In 
 1 867 the' altar recess was beautified by three large paint- 
 ings. 
 
 Father Slevin also enlarged the parochial residence, 
 making an addition to the front of the building and doub- 
 ling the accommodations, at a cost of $10,000. 
 
 The parish school was continued by Father Slevin as 
 he found it. Sister Ann Cecilia and Sister M. Maurice 
 conducted the girls' school, which numbered 155 children, 
 and the Brothers had about 150 boys in 1865. The boys' 
 school was discontinued in November, 1 876, until it was 
 reopened by Rev. Charles R. Corley, the successor of 
 Father Slevin. 
 
 Father Slevin's assistants were the following: Rev. 
 Albert A. Lings (now pastor of St. Joseph's Church), from 
 October 1867 to 1871 ; Rev. Bernard Goodwin, June, i87i,to 
 February, 1872; Rev. J. Byron, from February, 1872, to 
 June, 1874. 
 
 During this time Father Slevin's health had been so 
 much impaired that he obtained leave of absence and 
 went to Europe, hoping to regain his health by an ocean 
 voyage and a brief visit to the Continent. The Rev. Ed- 
 ward McKenna took his place as parish priest from Feb- 
 ruary to October, 1873. Father Slevin returned with im- 
 proved health and resumed his pastorate in October, 1873. 
 Rev. Eugene McKenna assistant from June, 1 874, to May 
 1875 ; Rev. James W. Hays, May, 1875, for a short period. 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. l6l 
 
 But before this, in October, 1874, Rev. Andrew O'Reilley 
 "was made assistant and serves until the present date. 
 
 Father Slevin's health continued to fail, and in June, 
 1877, the Rev. Charles R. Corley was sent to supply the place. 
 On the 1 8th of July, 1878, Rev. Charles T. Slevin, still hold- 
 ing his pastorate, died among his relatives at North Easton, 
 Mass. 
 
 Father Slevin was the first pastor to have a paid choir 
 at St. Mary's. He rebuilt the organ gallery, putting a 
 larger and finer organ in place of the old one, which re- 
 mains. He reduced the debt on the church from $18,000 to 
 $12,000. During his pastorate two important events oc- 
 curred in the history of the Catholic Church at Yonkers : 
 first— the founding of St. Aloysius'* in 1868, and second 
 the setting off of the new parish of St. Joseph's in 1871. 
 
 The Sisters of Charity had frequently been solicited to 
 take charge of small boys so young as still to need woman's 
 care, and it was finally decided to open a boarding-school 
 for that purpose. Thomas C. Cornell, in response to Mo- 
 ther Jerome's inquiry for a suitable place, recommended 
 the handsome property formerly occupied by Judge Aaron 
 Vark, on South Broadway. It was accordingly purchased 
 by the corporation of the Sisters of Charity, in November, 
 1868, for $42,000. It comprised four and a half acres of land 
 on the highest ground in that neighborhood. Important 
 additions have been made, making the property of high 
 value. 
 
 The institution has been successful and has always 
 been filled with pupils. Its chief importance and influence, 
 however, have been in bringing to Yonkers a community 
 of Sisters of Charity. Sister Ann Cecilia was made the 
 first Sister Superior of the institution, to which was given 
 the name of the Academy St. Aloysius, and its doors were 
 opened to its little protdg^s in December, 1 868. 
 
 From that date it became the home of the Sisters teach- 
 ing in the parish school. For the preceding eleven years 
 they had in all weather gone through the two miles' jour- 
 
 * On Sunday, Christmas morning, 1887, at half-past one o'clock, St. 
 Aloysius' Academy on South Broadway was almost totally destroyed by 
 an accidental fire. 
 
 Chnrch and Sundny-school Work. X I 
 
l62 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ney from the convent to the school in the morning and 
 returned in the evening every school-day and to the Sun- 
 day-school on Sundays. The Sisters delight to tell of the 
 kindness and thoughtfulness, during these years, of Mrs. 
 M-. W. Rooney, who sent them, from her home on South 
 Broadway and Prospect Street, every day a hot dinner for 
 their noon recess. 
 
 Sister Mary Pius succeeded Sister Ann Cecilia in the 
 charge of St. Aloysius' in April, 1871. The sisters at the 
 parish school are Sisters Maria Magdalena, M. Germana, 
 Agnes Loyola, M. Myra, and Frances Clara. Sister M. 
 Arsenia is now at the head of the parish school. 
 
 The present parish priest of St. Mary's is Rev. Charles 
 Raymond Corley, who has been pastor since 1877. He was 
 born on St. Raymond's Day in 1848, received his classi- 
 cal education at St. Xavier College, New York, entered 
 the Provincial Theological Seminary, was ordained by 
 Bishop McQuaid in 1871, and in June of that year was sent 
 to St. Mary's, Rondout, where he was assistant for two years. 
 In July, 1873, he was sent to St. Peter's, New York, as one 
 of the assistants of Father Farrell, now Bishop of Trenton, 
 where he remained until the Archbishop sent him to Yon- 
 kers in June, 1877. 
 
 Father Corley 's assistants have been Rev. Edward 
 Sweeny for a short time in 1 877 ; Rev. Michael Montgom- 
 ery, 1880 to 1 88 1. The latter assisted during the temporary 
 illness of Father Corley. And since 1884 Rev. James F. 
 McLoughlin has also been an assistant. Rev. Andrew 
 O'Reilley, D. D., who was assistant when Father Corley 
 came to the parish, has with Father Corley done almost all 
 the. pastoral work of St. Mary's for the past five years and 
 more. 
 
 The parish school was one of Father Corley's first cares 
 in coming to Yonkers, and he reopened the boys' depart- 
 ment again under the Christian Brothers. Rev. Brother 
 Elwaren, in September, 1877, was made principal. He. had 
 three assistants, his boys' department numbering 215. 
 
 Brother Alexis succeeded Brother Elwaren as director 
 in : September, 1881, and Brother Abel was put in charge in 
 September, 1882, with Brothers Alphanus John, Aloysius, 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 163 
 
 and Francis as assistants, with 313 boys in the classes. 
 John M. Flood was also one of the assistant teachers. 
 
 Father Corley, on his coming -to Yonkers, found Sister 
 Martina in charge of the 300 girls of that department. In 
 September, 1878, she was succeeded by Sister Maria Magde- 
 lina, and tinder her administration the school was marked 
 by great ability and success. She was assisted by Miss 
 Maggie M. Hynes and several others. 
 
 The girls' department is now in charge of Sister M, Ar- 
 senia and the boys' department of the school is in charge of 
 Rev. Brother Dennis, with three Brothers as assistants. In 
 January, 1884, the two schools numbered nearly 800 pupils. 
 
 The Sodalities of the parish school are as follows : St. 
 Aloysius Society of Boys, Holy Angels of Girls, and Society 
 of the Holy Infant. The number of children on the parish 
 school-book was 835, and at the free school of Mount St. 
 Vincent, in this parish, 100; at St. Aloysius Academy 30, 
 in 1888. So that in the parish of St. Mary's there were in 
 1888, 965 children enjoying Catholic education without ex- 
 pense to the city or State. The number of girls attending 
 the parish school in November, 1890, was 425. The num- 
 ber of boys was 410. 
 
 In the year 1885 the building for the parish school 
 erected by Rev. Father Lynch in i860 was greatly enlarged 
 at a cost of about $20,000. The building is three stories in 
 height and has a frontage of 123 feet on St. Mary's Street, 
 with a depth of 53 feet. 
 
 The record of the marriages and baptisms in St. Mary's 
 church during the following years reads thus : 
 
 
 Baptisms. 
 
 
 
 Mav 
 
 riages. 
 
 
 1882 
 
 -- 
 
 162. 
 
 1882 
 
 
 - 
 
 30. 
 
 1883 
 
 
 152. 
 
 1883 
 
 
 
 34- 
 
 1884 
 
 
 168. 
 
 1884 
 
 
 
 38. 
 
 1885 
 
 
 197. 
 
 1885 
 
 
 
 45- 
 
 The present membership is six thousand. 
 
 St. Mary's Church has several societies. The Sodality 
 of the Sacred Heart in 1883 numbered 600 members. The 
 Confraternity of the Living Rosary of the Blessed Virgin 
 Mary had a membership of 350, and the Children of St. 
 Mary over 100. The church has also a Ladies' Temperance 
 
164 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Society, a Young Men's Temperance Lyceum, and the Im- 
 maculate Conception Total Abstinence Society. 
 
 The officers of the Young Men's Temperance Society 
 for the year 1890 were: John Hennesey, President; Corne- 
 lius Coughlin, Recording Secretary ; Maurice Connery, Fi- 
 nancial Secretary ; Dennis Muldoon, Corresponding Secre- 
 tary ; Dennis Murray, Treasurer ; James McGrath, Sergeant- 
 at-Arms. 
 
 The financial statement of the Church of the Immacu- 
 late Conception for the year 1890 shows receipts of $38,- 
 990 15; loan, $21,036 32; total, $60,026 47. All of this sum 
 was expended, $48,045 being paid on the new church. 
 
 The entire amount paid on the new edifice is $56,- 
 341 60. The debt of the church is $21,036 32, and there is 
 $63,000 worth of insurance. 
 
 Rev. Charles R. Corley, rector, is the treasurer ; John F. 
 Flood, accountant. The auditors were Michael Dee and 
 John J. Devitt. 
 
 St. Mary's parish is one of fourteen in the Archdiocese 
 of New York that has been honored by making its Rector 
 immovable ; that is, he cannot be changed unless tried and 
 convicted of some misdemeanor by an ecclesiastical court. 
 In all the other parishes, of which there are over one hun- 
 dred and thirty with resident pastors, the Archbishop, of 
 his own volition, with or without cause, can remove the 
 rector or pastor. The immovable rectors have a voice in 
 selecting the Bishop of a Diocese when there is a vacancy. 
 
 Rev. Charles R. Corley, who became rector in 1 877, still 
 continues in charge of St. Mary's Church, winning the re- 
 spect of all with whom he comes in contact by his scholarly 
 attainments and gentle bearing. He has succeeded in 
 clearing the property from debt. During his rectorship a 
 new church edifice was begun, the completion of which 
 is expected to be in the fall of 1891. 
 
 The new church building is located on the 175 by 200 
 feet lot at the northwest corner of South Broadway and St. 
 Mary's Street. The building is of stone, and will have 
 a seating capacity of i ,400. There is a chapel wing to the 
 church, capable of holding 150 to 200. The cost of the 
 building will be $125,000, without the tower, which will be 
 
ST. MARY'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 165 
 
 near the centre on St. Mary's Street. The style of architec- 
 ture is Rounded Arched Gothic. The architect is Lawrence 
 J. O'Connor, of New York. The church when completed 
 will be the finest and most costly Catholic church in this 
 Diocese outside of New York city. 
 
 On Sunday, May 4, i8go, the blessing and laying of the 
 corner-stone of the new church took place ; Rt. Rev. Mon- 
 signor Preston officiated. The sermon was preached by 
 Very Rev. Joseph F. Mooney. 
 
 The number of baptisms in 1889 was 258. The number 
 of marriages was 51. 
 
 The attendance at the various masses celebrated in St. 
 Mary's Church on Sunday amounts to five thousand peo- 
 ple. The number of persons confirmed during the pastor- 
 ate of Rev. Charles R. Corley to the present date, 1 888, is 
 
 1,532. 
 
 The present choir is composed of Miss Mary Schaeffer, 
 soprano ; Miss Eliza Kiley, alto ; J. N. Craft, tenor ; and 
 Adolph Schaeffer, bass, with a chorus of twentj''- three 
 voices. The organist is Prof. Bernard E. Johnston. 
 
 Joseph Hagan is the present sexton of St. Mary's 
 Church, and Michael Moran is the sexton of St. Mary's Cem- 
 etery. The former has occupied the present place over six 
 years. 
 
 Saint Joseph's Hospital, which was erected in 1889 on 
 South Broadway on the site formerly occupied by St. Aloy- 
 sius Academy, was the carrying out of a project that first 
 saw light in 1878, when the Sisters of Charity obtained a 
 charter from the Legislature for the purpose. 
 
 St. Joseph's Hospital was formally opened on Wednes- 
 day, March 19, 1890. It is under the management of the 
 Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Sister Ann Aloy- 
 sia being the Sister-in-Charge, and is attended by the priests 
 of the church. 
 
 The medical staff of St. Joseph's Hospital is as follows : 
 Dr. P. A. Callen, President ; Dr. N. A. Warren, Secretary ; 
 Drs. Valentine Browne and Samuel Swift, Consulting Phy- 
 sicians ; Drs. A. C. Benedict and P. A. Callen, Consulting 
 Surgeons ; Drs. E. M. Hermance, John H. Seabury, E. E. 
 Colton, and J. T. Gibson, Visiting Physicians ; Drs. P. H. 
 
l66 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Pyne, Henry Moffat, E. I. Harrington, and N. A. Warren, 
 Visiting Surgeons. 
 
 The following is a printed report of St. Mary's Sunday- 
 school in the centennial year, April i, 1876. 
 
 " The Sunday-school connected with the Church of the 
 Immaculate Conception on St. Mary's Street, of which Rev. 
 P'ather Slevin is pastor, is under the charge of the Chris- 
 tian Brothers and Sisters of Charity, and has a very large 
 attendance. 
 
 " The following statistics are those of the male depart- 
 ment only ; those of the female department failed to reach 
 us in time for publication. Teachers 3, scholars on register 
 250, average attendance 200, largest attendance 235, number 
 in primary department no, number of deaths 4, volumes 
 in library 200." 
 
 The teachers are Brothers Simplican, Ireeneno, and 
 Edmund. The number of pupils contained in the Sunday- 
 school connected with St. Mary's Church, with those who 
 came from Mt. St. Vincent was nearly 1,000 in January, 
 
 1 889. The Sunday-school is under the charge of four Chris- 
 tian Brothers, five Sisters of Charity, and three lay teach- 
 ers. 
 
 The number of pupils in Sunday-school in January, 
 
 1890, was 1,000. 
 
 In this school the Catechism of Christian Doctrine is 
 taught, which catechism was ordered by the Third Plenary 
 Council of Baltimore. Having been compiled and exam- 
 ined, it was approved by Archbishop Gibbons, of Baltimore, 
 apostolic delegate, April 6, 1885. Also of which imprima- 
 ture was given by John, Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop 
 of New York, at New York, April 6, 1885. The Catholic 
 hymn-book is also used and instruction explanatory of the 
 catechism is given. Two sessions are held, in the m.oming 
 at nine o'clock and in the afternoon at two o'clock. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 167 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY- 
 SCHOOL. 
 
 The following interesting and important facts con- 
 ■cerning the organization of the First Baptist Church in 
 Yonkers are gathered from several of the early members 
 of the church and from a pamphlet which was prepared 
 and published by a committee appointed by the church 
 June 30, 1869. 
 
 "At a meeting held May 14, 1849, ^t the residence of 
 Benjamin F. Crane -on Ashburton Avenue (now the north- 
 east corner of Ashburton Avenue and Locust Hill Avenue) 
 Rev. D. Henry Miller (now Rev. Dr. Miller) offered a reso- 
 lution that a Baptist church be organized. The resolution 
 was adopted, and seven persons enrolled themselves as 
 members that evening, viz : Peter F. Peek and his wife 
 Abbie J. Peek, Benjamin F. Crane and his wife Emeline 
 Crane, George Van Ness, Elias Whipple, and Rev. D. 
 Henry Miller. A week later the following persons were 
 added to the membership roll : Mrs. Lucy E. Miller, wife 
 of Rev. D. Henry Miller, Mrs. Mary Miller, the mother of 
 Rev. D. Henry Miller, A. C. Van Ness, Jonathan Odell 
 and his wife, Mrs. Rosina Whipple, Miss Amelia Minnerly, 
 and Mrs. M. A. Chambers. 
 
 "Rev. D. Henry Miller was the first pastor of the 
 church, and preached his first sermon to his congregation 
 in Flagg's Hall. May 23, 1849, the new organization was 
 formally recognized by a council of members and dele- 
 gates from neighboring churches." 
 
 Evening meetings were held by this little company 
 and others some time previous to the above date. The 
 first Baptist prayer-meeting was held at the residence of 
 Peter F. Peek on Tuesday evening, March 5, 1847. At 
 that meeting -there were eleven persons present. The first 
 sermon preached to a Baptist audience was by Rev. John 
 Dowling, D. D., a Baptist clergyman of New York city. 
 This service was held at Mr. Peek's residence in August, 
 
l68 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 1847. The text was, "Weeping may endure for a night, 
 but joy Cometh in the morning." Psa. 30: 5. 
 
 A few days after the organization of the church, steps 
 were taken towards collecting funds for the erection of a 
 church building. A series of lectures and public readings 
 was given for this object. Edwin Forrest, of Forrest 
 Castle, now Mount St. Vincent, gave a reading from Shake- 
 speare in the Getty Lyceum in the Getty House, in March,. 
 1853, offering his services gratuitously. It was the only 
 public reading he ever gave. The receipts of that even- 
 ing's entertainment were $200, a large amount for an 
 entertainment of that character in Yonkers at that time. 
 Other readings followed this, and from these public efforts 
 quite a handsome sum was raised for the church building 
 fund, and a lot was secured on North Broadway — now oc- 
 cupied by Temperance Hall, which was erected by the 
 Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Yonkers — and 
 the building was begun. The corner-stone was laid Octo- 
 ber 24, 1850, and the work prospered and prospects were 
 bright for the early completion of the church. 
 
 The following incident is related in connection with 
 the building of the church. One day in the early spring- 
 time, Peter F. Peek, one of the prominent leaders of this 
 enterprise, in company with the Rev. John Dowling, D. D., 
 was crossing the Hudson River in a rowboat. Suddenly 
 the sky became overcast, the wind blew, and the waves 
 dashed against the little boat, which interrupted the 
 pleasant conversation in which they were engaged about 
 the new church enterprise. As the wind and waves be- 
 came contrary, Dr. Dowling said to his companion, " Dea- 
 con Peek, you take one oar and we will call that work, and 
 I will take the other oar and we will call that faith," where- 
 upon he took the oar and the honored clergyman and the 
 good/ deacon did their work nobly, and notwithstanding 
 the wind and tide, which were both against them, in due 
 time they reached the shore in safety. Was their experi- 
 ence prophetic of future events ? 
 
 Not many days after this occurrence there came a 
 great wind which blew down the rear wall of the church 
 building then in course of erection. This unexpected 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 169 
 
 catastrophe furnished a theme for their young preacher 
 for a discourse, and the next Sunday morning he preached 
 a sermon from these words found in Ezek. 13 : 10, 1 1 : " One 
 built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered 
 mortar," etc. The preacher, after alluding briefly to the 
 building of the church and the event which had recently 
 
 MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH.* 
 
 transpired, concluded his discourse with an earnest exhor- 
 tation to his hearers to remember that they were all build- 
 * The engraving shows the first home of the Baptists in Yonkers, 
 which was situated on North Broadway between- Dock Street and 
 Wells Avenue on the lots where the Temperance Hall now stands. 
 Upon the completion of the new church building known as the War- 
 burton Avenue Baptist Church, the old church was taken down and the 
 materials in it used . for the erection of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
 Mission Sunday-school building. 
 
170 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ers who were rearing each the fabric of his own life. 
 Every day the walls of the fabric were rising higher and 
 higher. He exhorted them to see to it that what they 
 build ed should be silver, gold, and precious stones, that 
 might last and shine for ever — not the wood, hay, and 
 stubble of vanity and worldliness, which must all perish in 
 the fire. • 
 
 At length, after the persistent and persevering efforts 
 •of the brave band of faithful workers, the building was 
 completed and dedicated in 1852. It was a brick structure, 
 52 by 63 feet, with a square tower on the southeasterly 
 ^corner 60 feet high. On this tower was a white marble 
 tablet bearing this inscription, " Mount Olivet Baptist 
 Church. Erected to the Triune God, 1852." The building 
 contained a basement which could accommodate about 200 
 persons, and the main audience-room and the small end 
 gallery had seating capacity for nearly 400 persons. 
 
 One of the many interesting meetings held in this 
 church in the year 1858 is thus referred to in the journal 
 of the late Rev. Robert Kirkwood : 
 
 " I attended a deeply interesting all-day prayer-meeting 
 held in the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. It was a union 
 meeting of the various churches in our village. The 
 morning service was peculiarly impressive ; the Holy Spirit 
 with his all-powerful and all-pervading influences seems to 
 be moving the hearts of the unconverted in our midst. 
 The work of grace appears to havev begun among the 
 young people and children of the Sunday-schools. It was 
 very interesting "to hear the testimony of the young con- 
 verts in prayer and exhortation, telling of their newly 
 found joy and peace in the Saviour. Religion is the theme 
 among those who hitherto have been uninterested in the 
 all-important subject. As the meeting was dismissed 
 many seemed almost unwilling to leave the church, appar- 
 ently held by an irresistible and invisible power, and little 
 groups lingered in the aisles and at the church door, talk- 
 ing earnestly about the salvation of their friends and 
 neighbors who are out of Christ. The interest on the sub- 
 ject of vital religion seems to be increasing, and the reli- 
 gious press is teeming with accounts of extensive revivals 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 171 
 
 throughout the churches of our land. May the great Head 
 of the Church bestow upon the beloved pastors and their 
 dear people in our village his richest blessing, and permit 
 them to experience in greater measure the gracious in- 
 fluence of the blessed Holy Spirit !" 
 
 The following persons were the members of the choir 
 in the Mount Olivet Church : James Youmans, George Van 
 Ness, Abram B. Mead, William Wittemore, Mrs. Sarah 
 Mead, Mrs. John A. East, Miss Turner (late Mrs. B. Leeds), 
 Mrs. Charles T. Mercer, Miss W. Whipple, and Miss Sarah 
 Hallet (now Mrs. William N. Bailey). Miss Ella Youmans 
 was the organist. 
 
 In the year 1863 the building of a new church was 
 talked of among a few of the members of this church, but 
 no active or general movement looking towards this object 
 was made until the regular church meeting held on Octo- 
 ber 2, 1867, which was the date of the first formal proposi- 
 tion and church action. Months previous to this, however, 
 and in anticipation of the acceptance by the church of the 
 formal offer, the lots had been purchased; and several 
 weeks before the above date the plans had been drawn, 
 the main contracts had been awarded, and ground had 
 been broken. 
 
 At that meeting a communication in regard to this 
 subject was read by the pastor, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends 
 (now Rev. Dr. Behrends), to the congregation, from John 
 B. Trevor and James B. Colgate, and was as follows : 
 
 To THE Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Yonkers. 
 
 Dear Brethren: — Feeling a deep interest in the 
 advancement of the cause of Christ, and under obligations 
 to him for many blessings, and as expressive of our love 
 for him and for the Church which he has purchased with 
 his own blood, we propose to erect and give to you a 
 church edifice (according to the plans herewith submitted), 
 with the ground, being about 218 feet on Ashburton Av- 
 enue, and 204 feet, more or Idss, on Warburton Avenue, 
 besides an additional piece adjoining the easterly side, 
 50 by 100 feet, free from all debt, on the following con. 
 ditions : 
 
172 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 1. The church, on entering into possession, is to be 
 known as the " Warburton Avenue Baptist Church," in- 
 stead of " Mount Olivet Baptist Church." 
 
 2. The church is to relinquish to the undersigned all 
 its rights, titles, etc. (if it have any), to the eight lots on 
 the northerly side of the Manor House property. 
 
 3. The church shall not encumber with debt or, sell 
 the said property, and it is distinctly agreed between us 
 that it is to be used as a Baptist place of worship for all 
 time. 
 
 4. The church is to use the said building and grounds 
 for no other purpose than those of a religious character, 
 all meetings of a political or secular character being for- 
 bidden to be held on the premises. 
 
 5. The church is to raise the sum of ten thousand dol- 
 lars in cash, which is to be spent in furnishing the new 
 edifice, under the direction of the architect, E. L. Roberts, 
 Esq.; and should there be any surplus, it is to be spent 
 towards paying for an organ to be used in said building. 
 
 6. In case of any dispute arising hereafter as to what 
 is a Baptist church, it is to be settled by, the creed of the 
 present church, in which its doctrines are fully set forth. 
 
 Should the church agree to accept the property on the 
 above conditions, and instruct its trustees to receive the 
 same, we agree to deposit in the hands of F. A. Coe, Esq., 
 of Yonkers, a deed, to be held by him in trust, and to be 
 surrendered to your trustees on these conditions being 
 fully complied with. 
 
 Hoping the above propositions will meet with your 
 approval, and be favored with the blessing of God, we are, 
 dear brethren, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 John B. Trevor. 
 James B. Colgate. 
 
 The communication was referred to a committee, con- 
 sisting of Brothers Edward Bright, P. F. Peek, and Isaac 
 G. Johnson, who submitted the following report, whose 
 appended resolutions were unanimously and heartily 
 adopted : 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 73 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the communica- 
 tion of Brothers John B. Trevor and James B. Colgate, is 
 profoundly impressed with the generous and noble work 
 they propose to do, and the reasonableness of all the condi- 
 tions upon which the church is to accept the gift. Such 
 a church edifice as they intend to build at their own ex- 
 pense will be more than impressive, and delightful evidence 
 of the estimation in which they hold their Christian and 
 denominational convictions ; it will also prove to .be, as 
 your committee believes, an inestimable blessing to the 
 community in which it is to be located and to the cause of 
 evangelical truth throughout the world. For it is to be, 
 from generation to generation, the spiritual home of a 
 living church of Jesus Christ, and such a church is every- 
 where and always the best and most potent conservative 
 force in the world. 
 
 The Christian men. and women here assembled should, 
 therefore, accept this munificent gift of their brethren with 
 fervent gratitude to God and with no other thought or 
 purpose than to regard it as a perpetual argument for the 
 existence of a living, united, and aggressive church within 
 its walls — a church that shall evermore hold to and hold 
 forth the truth as it is in Christ Jesus ; the truth as he, 
 and those whom he personally instructed, held and illustra- 
 ted it. 
 
 The committee recommend, therefore, the adoption of 
 these resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That in the spirit of the sentiment herein 
 expressed, and in the hope of the fullest realization of 
 all the blessings herein intimated, this Church does hereby 
 express its profound gratitude to God for the timely, mu- 
 nificent, and noble gift proposed by Brothers John B. Tre- 
 vor and James B. Colgate. 
 
 Resolved, That the Trustees of the Church and Society 
 be, and they are hereby, requested and instructed to accept 
 the conditions on which Brothers Trevor and Colgate pro- 
 pose to transfer the deed of the new church edifice, and to 
 take the necessary measures to carry into prompt and com- 
 plete effect every condition named in their communication. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of this report be communicated 
 
174 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 to Brothers Colgate and Trevor, individually, by the pastor 
 
 and clerk of the church. 
 
 EDWARD BRIGHT, 
 PETER F. PEEK, 
 ISAAC G. JOHNSON. 
 
 The corner-stone of the new church was laid with 
 appropriate services April ii, 1868. The pastor of the 
 church, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, was assisted in the ser- 
 vices by the Rev. U. T. Tracy, rector of St. Paul's Epis- 
 copal Church, Rev. M. D'C. Crawford, pastor of the First 
 Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Cole, pastor of the Reformed 
 Church, Rev. D. M. Seward, D. D., pastor of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Lewis W. Mudge- (now 
 Rev. Dr. Mudge), of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. 
 
 This church is located on rising, ground on the south- 
 west corner of Ashburton and Warburton Avenues,* and 
 from the latter it derives its name. It is built of Belleville 
 freestone of a handsome brown color, and the roof is of the 
 best quality of slate. 
 
 The length of the building, including the two-story 
 chapel in the rear, is 1 54 feet, and its width in front 90 feet. 
 The chapel is 90 by 36 feet. The main tower and spire are 
 on the southwesterly corner. This spire is an attractive 
 feature of the church, and is a handsome specimen of archi- 
 tectural work. It is 160 feet high and is surmounted by a 
 beautiful stone cross. 
 
 On the southeast corner is an octagon tower 60 feet 
 high. The architecture of the church is Romanesque or 
 rounded arched. The main audience-room is 80 by 60 feet, 
 with galleries on both sides, and an organ-loft opposite the 
 pulpit. The church has a seating capacity of twelve hun- 
 dred, and is the largest church in the city. 
 
 The ceiling and walls are handsomely frescoed, the 
 coloring being of a subdued tone. The windows are of 
 stained glass. There is a spacious baptistery under the 
 pulpit platform, from which there are convenient commu- 
 nications with the robing-rooms. These, with the church 
 parlor, 37 by 32 feet, and the pastor's study, occupy the first 
 
 * This latter avenue was named after the late William Warburton 
 Scriigham. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1/5 
 
 floor of the chapel. On the second floor is the Sunday- 
 school room, 69 by 32 feet, with an end gallery for the pri- 
 mary department, and separated from the main room by 
 sliding glass doors. 
 
 This room is furnished with semi-oval cane-bottom 
 settees. This and the audience room are lighted from 
 great reflectors in the ceiling. The Sunday-school room 
 is frescoed as the church. Great attention was given to 
 the ventilation of this building, and the architect pro- 
 nounced it to be one of the best ventilated buildings in the 
 country. 
 
 The entire cost of the building and appointments,, 
 including the ground on which it stands, was nearly 
 $200,000, all of which, except the $10,000 raised by the 
 church, was contributed by John B. Trevor and James 
 B. Colgate. 
 
 The deed of this superb gift, made by Messrs. Trevor 
 and Colgate, was formally presented and accepted in a 
 meeting of the church held on June 7, 1869. In presenting 
 the deed, Mr. Colgate spoke as follows : 
 
 " Mr. Chairman and Brethren : About thirty years since, 
 in conversation with my friend Garret N. Bleeker, I ex, 
 pressed to him a hope that I might live to build a house 
 of worship for the service of God. This hope, since then, 
 secretly cherished, is about to be fulfilled. 
 
 " Nothing belongs to me in this enterprise which does 
 not belong equally to my associate and friend, John B. 
 Trevor. 
 
 " In the erection of this house of worship we trust we 
 have been actuated by no motives which will not bear the 
 scrutiny of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 " We are not careful to reply to those who may charge 
 us with extravagance. Such we would refer to the answer 
 of our Lord in reply to the question, ' Ought not this oint- 
 ment to be sold for more than two hundred pence and 
 given to the poor ?' And we would also remind such that 
 the oldest historical fact on record pertaining to public 
 worship is that God had respect to the sacrifice of Abel, 
 who offered the firstlings of his flock, while he rejected the 
 meaner offering of Cain, as insulting to his Creator. 
 
1/6 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 "In conveying this property we have imposed some 
 conditions, in which we think the Church will cheerfully 
 acquiesce. 
 
 " I. The property cannot be sold, but must be used 
 solely for a Baptist church. 
 
 WAEBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 "2. Its use is restricted to religious purposes only, 
 excluding everything secular. 
 
 " 3. The Church is debarred the right to encumber the 
 property. 
 
 " And, brethren, may peace dwell ever with you. May 
 these new walls never' reverberate with the strife of breth- 
 ren, but may they resound with the teachings of God's 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 177 
 
 Word, accompanied with the notes of praise and prayer. 
 May the interesting associations clustering around the old 
 be transferred to the new edifice, and there be entwined 
 with dearer and fresher and more glorious associations ; 
 and may ' He who dwelleth between the cherubim shine 
 forth ' and fill the house with his glory. 
 
 " We now most cheerfully and cordially tender to you 
 this deed of the property." 
 
 The pastor responded in a few words, and G. H. Scrib- 
 ner, Esq., read the carefully drawn document, which, be- 
 sides being a full deed of conveyance, embodies the com- 
 plete Articles of Faith of the Church, adherence to which 
 is a perpetual condition of the gift. He then moved the 
 resolution by which the church received the property — one 
 of the largest donations ever made by two individuals to a 
 church of Christ. And the church will do well to remember 
 that it " is never to be encumbered " — which, by a free inter- 
 pretation, must mean that no mortgage is to rest upon its 
 stone and mortar, and no dead formalism is to crush the life 
 out of the worship and enterprise of which it is to be the 
 home and centre. 
 
 The church was dedicated on Sunday morning, June 
 20, 1869. The pastor. Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, Rev. C. 
 D'W. Bridgman, D. D., of Albany, and Rev. Edward Bright, 
 D. D., of Yonkers, occupied seats on the pulpit platform. 
 After the invocation and the singing of the 933d hymn, 
 selections from the Scriptures were read by Rev. Dr. Bridg- 
 man. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. 
 Edward Bright, and Rev. A. J. F. Behrends preached the 
 dedicatory sermon from these words : " The glory of this 
 latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the 
 Lord of hosts, and in this place shall I give peace, saith the 
 Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:9. At the close of the sermon 
 the choir sang the sentence beginning, " How beautiful 
 are Thy dwellings, O Lord of Hosts !" 
 
 Seryices were held in the afternoon which began by 
 singing. A portion of Scripture was read and prayer was 
 offered by Rev. L. W. Mudge, pastor of the Westminster 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 By invitation of the pastor, Rev. M. D'C; Crawford 
 
 Church and*8undfty-achool Work. I 2 
 
178 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 D. D., pastor of the First Methodist Churcli, Rev. David 
 Cole, D. D., pastor of the Reformed Church, and Rev. 
 Thomas A. Jaggar, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, 
 addressed the audience. 
 
 In the evening the Rev. C. D'W. Bridgman, D. D.,. 
 pastor of the Pearl Street Baptist Church, Albany, preached 
 from the text, " Why say est thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O 
 Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is 
 passed over from my God ? Hast thou not known, hast 
 thou not heard, that the everlasting "God, the Lord, the 
 Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is 
 weary?" Isaiah 40:27, 28. 
 
 A congratulatory meeting was held in the audience- 
 room of the new church fedifice on Monday evening, June 
 21, 1869. The pastor. Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, presided and 
 after an appropriate introductory address, on behalf of the 
 committee appointed to make arrangements for this meet- 
 ing, he offered the following preamble and resolutions r 
 
 Whereas, Our brethren, John B. Trevor and James B. 
 Colgate, have manifested a spirit of liberality and an in- 
 tensity of interest worthy of the highest commendation, in 
 the munificent gift of a beautiful house of worship to the 
 Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, and so transferring the 
 same that the church cannot fail to have a thoroughly fur- 
 nished local habitation, and enjoy the highest opportunities 
 for the effective prosecution of Christian work, as long 
 as the spirit of worship remains in the body of her mem- 
 bership ; and 
 
 Whereas, It is, and ever must continue to be, a matter 
 of just village pride that within the boundary lines of our 
 local habitation there have been nourished a benevolence 
 so large-hearted and an execution so painstaking, and that 
 our soil has been honored with so great and enduring a 
 monument of Christian liberality and devotion ; and 
 
 Whereas, This noble act of Christian generosity, noble 
 in conception, in the amount of money expended, in the 
 care personally given to the enterprise, and in the free- 
 heartiness of its conveyance to the church for the use of a 
 Baptist house of worship for ever, is a significant expres- 
 sion of the full indorsement by our brethren of the principles 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST, CHURCH. 1 79 
 
 of the denomination of which they are honored members ; 
 therefore 
 
 Resolved, That, as members of the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church and Congregation, we unite most cordially 
 in this formal expression of our thorough appreciation of 
 the noble generosity of our brethren, Trevor and Colgate, 
 earnestly praying " that these new walls may never rever- 
 berate with the strife of brethren, but resound with the 
 teachings of God's Word, accompanied with the notes of 
 praise and prayer, that the interesting associations cluster- 
 ing around the old may be transferred to the new edifice, 
 and here be entwined with dearer and fresher and more 
 glorious associations, and that ' He who dwelleth between 
 the cherubim ' may shine forth and fill the house with his 
 glory." 
 
 Resolved, That, as citizens of the village of Yonkers, as 
 admirers of the beautiful in art and of the enduring in 
 construction, as lovers of good order, promoted more by 
 schools and churches than by police and prisons, we hail 
 with hearty joy this noble addition to the place of our hab- 
 itation, and rejoice in this added assurance of peaceful 
 Sabbaths and unmolested homes. 
 
 Resolved, That we hail the generous act of our brethren 
 as calculated to inspire a just pride in the hearts of all who 
 throughout our broad land are bound to them by ecclesias- 
 tical associations, and as an eloquent plea to the men of 
 means in our denomination to consecrate during life their 
 substance to the Lord. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, engrossed, 
 be, by the committee appointed to draft the same, duly 
 certified and presented to Messrs. John B. Trevor and 
 James B. Colgate, severally, as an abiding memorial of 
 this occasion. 
 
 John M. Bruce, Jr., Esq., of Yonkers, moved the apr 
 proval and adoption of the above resolutions. The motion 
 having been seconded by A. F. Decker, Esq., the first reso- 
 lution was responded to, on behalf of the church, by the 
 Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., editor of the " Examiner and 
 Chronicle." William Allen Butler, Esq., of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church, Yonkers, responded by invitation of the 
 
l8o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 committee, and at the suggestion of prominent citizens not 
 members of the church or of the congregation, to the sec- 
 ond resolution. 
 
 The Rev. J. R. Kendrick, D. D., pastor of the Taber- 
 nacle Baptist Church of New York city, responded to the 
 third resolution, on behalf of the denomination. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Kendrick closed his address as follows : 
 
 "Standing in this beautiful temple of religion, just 
 dedicated to the highest of purposes, I almost envy the 
 men who have Ipved their principles and their people so 
 well as to build for them a synagogue, who have had the 
 money and the grace to set so sublime an example. They 
 have reared for themselves a monument more noble than 
 the proudest mausoleum which bereaved affection, aided 
 though it were by royal treasures, could construct. Would 
 you see that monument ? Look around. Blessings on them ! 
 Blessings on their basket and their store, their homes 
 and offices and commercial transactions ! So long as 
 they continue rich in grace, and in this grace of giving, I 
 care not how freely they receive and how opulent they 
 become. 
 
 " And blessings on you, my brother, the pastor of this 
 flock, and on the church and .congregation that are the 
 favored and grateful recipient^ of this extraordinary gener- 
 osity. Peace be ivithin these walls I For m.y brethren and 
 companions' sake throughout the land I will now say. Peace 
 be within you !" 
 
 The resolutions were unanimously and enthusiastically 
 approved and adopted by a rising vote. The Doxology was 
 then sung, and the congregation was dismissed. 
 
 The new edifice was dedicated on what is known in 
 the Episcopal communion as St. John's Day, and the follow- 
 ing poem, commemorative of the event, was written by 
 Mrs. J. H. Uhl, of Yonkers : 
 
 ' The day of good St. John 
 
 With fervid splendors shone, 
 Distilling sweets from every rose of June ; 
 
 Blue waters laughed in light, 
 
 Blue ether wooed the flight 
 Of birds, whose matin songs were all in tune. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. l8l 
 
 This day of summer days 
 
 Its purple pomp displays 
 To grace a gift more regal than its own ; 
 
 For Nature's wealthiest dole 
 
 Shows poor beside the soul 
 Of "cheerful giving," which His love doth crown. 
 
 More sweet than rose of June, 
 
 Than bird-song more in tune. 
 Than sky or water brighter and more fair ; 
 
 This dual gift shines forth, 
 
 And for its noble worth 
 Claims in all Christian hearts their thanks to share. 
 
 John-Baptist's holy day, 
 
 Its benediction lay 
 Upon the doers of this generous deed ; 
 
 And may the holy spell 
 
 Rest on their work as well — 
 All Christian hearts must pray for it, " God speed." 
 
 The successive pastors of this church have been : Rev. 
 D. Henry Miller — settled 1849; resigned 1857. Rev. J. R. 
 Scott — settled 1858; resigned September 5, i860. Rev. J. 
 C. C. Clarke — settled October 24, 1861 ; resigned February 
 24, 1865. Rev. A. J. F. Behrends— settled July 27, 1865 ; 
 resigned June 6, 1873. Rev. William T. Burns — settled 
 May 20, 1874; resigned October 2, 1875. Rev. Henry M. 
 Sanders — settled September 28, 1876; resigned December 
 I, 1 88 1. Rev. Edward R Farnham— settled March i, 
 1883; resigned 1886. Rev. H. B. Grose, acting pastor, Oc- 
 tober, 1887, to April, 1888. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart resigned the pastorate of 
 the First Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio, to accept that of 
 the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Yonkers, in June, 
 1 888. 
 
 Rev. Alvah Sabin Hobart was born at Whitby, Canada 
 West, March 7, 1847, of Charles and Pathenia Hobart, citi- 
 zens of Vermont. He is the grandson of Rev. Alvah 
 Sabin, who was pastor of the Baptist Church in Georgia, 
 Vt., for fifty-two years. He was converted in the spring of 
 1868 at Georgia, Vt., and baptized by Rev. L. A. Dunn into 
 the fellowship of the Fairfax Church in the autumn of that 
 year; graduated at Madison (now Colgate) University in 
 1873 ; and from the Hamilton Theological Seminary in 
 
1 82 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 1875 ; ordained June 30, 1875 ; began his first pastorate at 
 Morris, N. Y., August 30, 1874, while in the Seminary; 
 naarried, September of that year, Miss Mary Katie Bancroft, 
 the daughter of Dr. John D. and Laura B. Bancroft, of Har- 
 persville, N. Y. In March, 1 879, he removed to Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, to take the pastorate of the Mount Auburn church, 
 and from there to the First Church, Toledo, Ohio, Septem- 
 ber I, 1885. The degree of D. D. was conferred by Deni- 
 son University, Ohio, in 1887. 
 
 " His pastorates have all been successful — eminently so 
 was his last one, as evidenced by large additions to the 
 church. In his pastorate of three years he baptized iii 
 and received on experience and letters 49. The morning, 
 and evening audiences were larger than ever before. The 
 people of his Toledo church are earnest and active, main- 
 taining the largest church prayer-meeting in that city. Dr. 
 Hobart entered upon his ministerial work in Yonkers on 
 Sunday, August 19, 1888. " 
 
 Rev. Dr. Hobart's, labors as pastor of this church have 
 been followed with blessed results. He is active, earnest, 
 and aggressive in his pulpit and pastoral work. As an 
 expositor of the truths of the Bible he is practical and 
 instructive, emphatically independent in thought and utter- 
 ance, and bold in the declaration of his principles. " His 
 marked individuality and independency of thought is inter- 
 blended with large-heartedness and warm sympathies. His 
 sermons are clear and didactic, intensely practical, dealing 
 with the heart and conscience, full of beauty, instruction, 
 encouragement, and religious power, and leading the un- 
 converted directly to Christ. 
 
 Under his ministrations the congregation is enlarging. 
 The additions to the membership of the church during his 
 pastorate to this date, October, 1890, are 109. The church 
 in August, 1889, changed the plan of support and adopted 
 a financial plan which was suggested by the pastor. Rev. 
 Dr. Hobart. 
 
 The plan in its results has been extremely gratifying 
 and successful thus far beyond all expectations. At the 
 annual meeting of the church held January 23, 1890, the 
 trustees reported the expenses for the year all met and the 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 83 
 
 receipts from rentals and subscriptions $900 more than last 
 year, 1889. 
 
 The contributions to benevolence, exclusive of some 
 large individual gifts, for the year ending December, 1 889, 
 amounted to $3,955 12; for the Sunday-schools, $371 15; 
 total, $4,326 27. 
 
 The Women's Missionary Circle connected with this 
 church was organized in 1873. Its membership is seventy- 
 five, and their annual contribution at this writing, October, 
 1890, is $500. Its oflELcers are : Mrs. C. E. Okell, President ; 
 ■ Miss Caroline Tripler, Vice-President ; Miss Mary Colgate, 
 Treasurer; Miss Hattie Middlebrook, Assistant Treasurer. 
 
 A Woman's Union Prayer-meeting was organized by 
 Mrs. Livingston Willard and Mrs. William AfHeck March 
 12, 1876. The meetings were held weekly in the parlor of 
 this church for three years. They were full of interest, 
 and were seasons of great spiritual refreshment to all who 
 attended them. 
 
 The church has a " Committee on Visitation and Infor- 
 mation, through which they seek to find and interest peo- 
 ple in their work, to make a welcome for strangers ; to visit 
 the sick; and to persuade people to accept the Saviour. 
 Hundreds of visit's have been made to the sick and sorrow- 
 ing, the stranger and the wanderer, besides many that are 
 only the expression of common Christian fellowship. It is 
 all the outgrowth of the Woman's Prayer-meeting, which 
 is held every Thursday at 3 p. M." 
 
 The following ladies are the committee on informa- 
 tion and visitation : Mrs. A. S. Hobart, Chairman ; Mrs. 
 Wm. Holme, Secretary ; Mrs. William AfHeck, Mrs. James 
 Affleck, Mrs. Okell, Mrs. Corwin, Mrs. M. J. Sherwood, Mrs. 
 Simpson,. Mrs. William N. Bailey, Mrs. Odell, Miss Matilda 
 Fuller, and Mrs. Sykes. 
 
 The officers and Committees of the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church for 1890 and 1891 are as follows: Deacons, 
 James B. Colgate, William Holme, Isaac G. Johnson, Wil- 
 lim N. Bailey, Samuel Dinsmore ; Treasurer of the Church, 
 W. Holme; Clerk, B. F. Bogart; Assistant Clerk, Rich- 
 ard Edie, Jr. ; Treasurer of Poor Fund, J. W. Ackerman ; 
 Assistant Treasurers of Poor Fund, Luke Simpson and 
 
l84 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Mrs. M. J. Sherwood; Committee on Systematic Benevo- 
 lence, I. G. Johnson, W. H. Baldwin and J. G. Affleck ; 
 Committee on Music, J. B. Trevor, E. O. Carpenter, and 
 C. D. Wyman; Advisory Committee, Rev. Dr. A. S. Ho- 
 bart, James B. Colgate, William Holme, Isaac G. Johnson, 
 William N. Bailey, Samuel Dinsmore, B. F. Bogart, C. D. 
 Wyman, E. L. Manning, and .C. H. Callahan ; Committee 
 on Baptisms, J. W. Arbuckle, W. F. Corwin, Mrs. W. F. 
 Corwin, Mrs. R. O. Phillips, and Mrs. Westcott ; Mrs. Wil- 
 liam Holme, Women's Meeting and Work ; James Howes, 
 Young People's Association ; B. F. Bogart, Committee, on 
 Benevolence ; Committee on Seating, W. F. Corwin and 
 Edward O. Carpenter ; Collector, J. G. Affleck. 
 
 Board of Trustees : John B. Trevor,* William Affleck, 
 John W. Ackerman, James B. Colgate, Isaac W. Maclay, 
 William H. Belknap, E. O. Carpenter, Isaac G. Johnson, 
 and W. F. Corwin. * 
 
 Officers of the Board: James B. Colgate, President; 
 W. H. Belknap, Secretary ; E. O. Carpenter, Treasurer. 
 
 The organist is Willard Carpenter, who has occupied 
 that position since 1880. The choir is composed of the fol- 
 lowing persons : Miss Bertha Odell, Miss Lane, Miss Griggs, 
 and Miss Sherwood, soprano ; Miss Emma Crowther, Miss 
 May Tarbell, and Miss Grace King, contralto ; L. A. Chase 
 and J. Olivet Kipp, tenor ; William T. C. Carpenter and W. 
 G. Youmans, bass. 
 
 " The Gleaner " is the title of a monthly paper which 
 is published by the church under the direction of the pas- 
 
 * Deceased December 2, 1890. 
 Early in January, 1891, the trustees received the following communi- 
 cation from Mr. Henry G. Trevor : 
 
 " Dear Brethren : — Wishing to honor the memory of my father, and 
 to continue the prosperity of the church he loved, I wish to make the fol- 
 lowing proposition : If the church will consent, I will build a parsonage, 
 and give the same to the church, on the easterly side of the present church 
 lot. The building shall be made after plans by a competent architect, 
 and will cost in the neighborhood of not less than |i5,ooo." 
 
 Plans for the new parsonage have been accepted by Mr. Henry G. 
 Trevor, costing several thousands more than the generous offer at first 
 made, and he has sent a communication to the trustees saying that he is 
 now awaiting their advice in locating the house on the lot before taking 
 the final steps for the contract. — ^The Gleaner. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 185 
 
 tor, Alvah S. Hobart, D. D. The first issue of this church 
 paper was in February, 1890. 
 
 The present — March, 1891 — resident membership of 
 this church is 569. 
 
 The first pulpit Bible of this church is now in use in 
 the parlor of the church. It is a Bagster Bible, and on the 
 title-page is printed, " Republished by the American and 
 Foreign Bible Society, 1847." On the cover is inscribed, 
 " Mount Olivet Baptist Church." The second pulpit Bible 
 is now used as the chapel Bible. On it is inscribed these 
 words: "Mount Olivet Baptist Church, August, i860." 
 The third pulpit Bible now in the church has the following 
 inscription in old English: "Warburton Avenue Baptist 
 Church, Yonkers, N. Y., June, 1869." 
 
 The communion-service of this church consists of four 
 goblets, four plates, and one tankard. The tankard for- 
 merly belonged to the first communion set used in the- 
 Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Two of the plates, which 
 are of solid silver, were presented to the church by the 
 rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Yonkers, Rev. A. 
 B. Carter, D. D., and his congregation. On the border of 
 the plates are these texts of Scripture : " Behold how good 
 and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." 
 " Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy pal- 
 aces." In the centre of the plates is inscribed: "The Rec- 
 tor and Congregation of St. John's Church to the Pastor 
 and Congregation of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. 
 The Christian courtesy and brotherly kindness which 
 prompted the offer of their church building during the 
 time St. John's Church was undergoing repairs* will ever 
 be held in grateful remembrance. Yonkers, N. Y., 1853." 
 Two goblets, lined with gold, and two plates, which are of 
 solid silver, were the gift of John B. Trevor ; there are also 
 two goblets and two plates the gift of James B. Colgate, on 
 the former is inscribed : " Presented to the Warburton Av- 
 enue Baptist Church, Yonkers, by John B.Trevor, 1876;" 
 on the latter, " Presented to the Warburton Avenue Bap- 
 tist Church, Yonkers, by James B. Colgate, 1876." 
 
 * The congregation of St. John's Church held their services in the 
 evening in the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. 
 
1 86 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The church ushers: W. H.. Belknap, J, W. Ackerman, 
 W. F. Corwin, W. W. Middlebrook, Carroll Moore, and B. 
 G. Westcott. 
 
 The sexton of this church is Michael Dearman, who 
 has served in that capacity for twenty-four years. 
 
 The annual meeting of the church for the election of 
 officers is held in December, and the officers and commit- 
 tees make reports of their work in January. 
 
 The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated the 
 first Sabbath morning in each month. 
 
 General pj-ayer-meeting Wednesday evening at 8 
 o'clock. 
 
 Sabbath services at 10:45 ^- ^- ^^^ 7= 30 P. M. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 One morning in the month of May in the year 1849, 
 •under the village chestnut-trees, on the north bank of the 
 Neperah River (or rapid waters), Benjamin Franklin Crane, 
 Elias Whipple, Jonathan Odell, Peter F. Peek, and George 
 Van Ness talked the first Baptist Sunday-school of Yonkers 
 into existence. 
 
 As the result of this conference the first meeting of 
 the Sunday-school was held at the residence of Peter F. 
 Peek down by the river-side, in the building now the St. 
 John's Riverside Hospital, on Woodworth Avenue. At 
 this meeting there were present as teachers Miss Amelia 
 Mirinerly, George Van Ness, Benjamin F. Crane, and Peter 
 F. Peek, and five pupils. On the Sunday following they 
 met in a building called Flagg's Hall, located on the north- 
 east corner of Palisade Avenue and New Main Street — . 
 then Factory and Mechanic Streets. 
 
 This building was the first public hall erected in Yon- 
 kers, and was put up and owned by Ethan Flagg. It was 
 in this hall, on May 14, 1849, that the formal organization 
 of the first Baptist Sunday-school in Yonkers was effected. 
 There were present as teachers George Van Ness, Mrs. 
 Van Ness, Miss Minnerly, and Peter F. Peek, and seven 
 pupils. Benjamin F. Crane was elected superintendent. 
 The number of teachers and pupils increased every Sun- 
 day until the room was well filled at the end of the first year. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 187 
 
 Into the new Mt. Olivet Church building the Sunday- 
 school entered on the day of its dedication. The school 
 numbered at this time about 200 pupils. The pastor's wife, 
 Mrs. Lucy E. Miller, had a" class of twelve young ladies. 
 Among the number were the late Mrs. Isaiah Anderson, 
 Miss Manetta Minnerly, Miss Whipple, and Miss Adelia 
 Knififin (now Mrs. William P. Drummon). The latter sub- 
 sequently became the teacher of the infant class, ten in 
 number. The exercises in this little class consisted of the 
 recitation of hymns from the Psalmist (then the church 
 hymn-book), the Sunday-school hymn-book, Scripture ver- 
 ses which they memorized at home, and instruction in the 
 articles of faith adopted by this church. Isaiah Anderson 
 was an efficient and faithful secretary of this school. His 
 term of service in connection with the Sunday-school in 
 the Mount Olivet Church and the Warburton Avenue 
 Church was seven years. He was also a member of the 
 board of trustees and treasurer of the church for eighteen 
 years. 
 
 The pastor, Rev. D. Henry Miller, taught a large 
 •class of young men. The teachers of the Mount Olivet 
 Sunday-school, in addition to those who taught in Flagg's 
 Hall, so far as can be ascertained, were : Mr. and Mrs. 
 Frank Miles, Mr. and Mrs. David Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Robert F. Rich, N. P. Odell, and Mrs. B. Leeds. And 
 those who taught at a still later period were: John B. 
 Trevor, Mrs. Trevor,* James B. Colgate, and Mrs. Colgate. 
 
 * Mrs. Louisa S. S. Trevor, for many years an active and useful mem- 
 ber of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, was an esteemed and very suc- 
 cessful teacher in this school. She had charge of a class of young ladies 
 who were devotedly attached to her and by whom she is joyfully and lov- 
 ingly remembered, because through her instructions they were led to love 
 the Saviour. Said one who was her pupil : " Mrs. Trevor's teachings 
 were always attractive, never monotonous, and she showed by her walk 
 and conversation that her own heart had been touched with the influence 
 of that which she endeavored to teach us. She always seemed to feel the 
 importance and responsibility of her work." Mrs. Trevor was an invalid 
 during the closing years of her life, and in the last weeks and days of her 
 illness she was a great but patient suiferer, throughout which God sus- 
 tained her, and her final hour brought glory to him. A choice memorial 
 tablet of the finest Aberdeen granite is firmly set in the southerly wall of 
 the main audience-room of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church near 
 the southeasterly corner, and a marble vase and flowers of purest vein, 
 
1 88 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The Sunday-school met in the audience-room of the 
 church until the basement was completed, about 1853-4, 
 and then met in the basement until the new church on 
 Warburton Avenue was ready 'for use, in the year 1869. 
 
 The last day the Sunday-school met in the Mount 
 Olivet Church was on the morning of June 20, i86g. 
 
 Superintendent Heman L. White read resolutions ex- 
 pressive of their gratitude and appreciation to John B. Tre- 
 vor and James B. Colgate for providing for them the new 
 Sunday-school room which they were about to enter. 
 These resolutions were adopted by a standing vote, after 
 which a handsome blue silk banner — a gift from the super- 
 intendent — was presented to the school. The donor said : 
 
 " It aifords me pleasure to present to you to-day this 
 beautiful banner which we will follow from our old to our 
 new home. May we through life follow the banner of 
 Jesus, esteeming it our greatest honor and highest joy." 
 
 After the presentation of the banner, the teachers and 
 pupils with the members of the Spring Street Baptist Mis- 
 sion Sunday-school (now the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
 Mission Sunday-school), formed a procession numbering 
 some 600 and marched with their banner floating to the 
 breeze to their new chapel in the Warburton Avenue Bap- 
 tist Church. The ofificers who accompanied the children 
 in the joyful procession to the new church, and who were 
 
 exquisitely carved, set in a projecting Gothic marble frame and fronting- 
 the encased tablet, seems to perpetuate in silent, solid stone the delicate 
 fragrance of her pure Christian life. The^ tablet bears the foUowing^ 
 inscription : 
 
 In JKemovy of 
 
 LOUISA S. STEWART 
 
 WIFE OF 
 
 JOHN B. TREVOR. 
 
 Born May 21, 1836. 
 
 Entered into rest 
 
 September 7, 1867. 
 
 Unwavering in her faith, 
 
 SHE DIED rejoicing IN 
 
 THE Saviour. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 1 89 
 
 connected with the Mount Olivet School, so far as can be 
 ascertained, were : 
 
 Heman L. White, Superintendent; I. Robert Ayres, 
 Secretary ; Isaiah Anderson, Treasurer ; George Umphray, 
 Librarian ; William N. Anderson, first assistant Librarian ; 
 Edward Ferris, second assistant Librarian. The teachers 
 were : R. Button, John W. Ackerman, Thomas Holman, 
 William N. Bailey, Cornelius W. Peek, A. F. Westcott, 
 Mrs. James B. Colgate, A. F. Decker, Miss Julia A. Sanger, 
 Miss Hattie R. Umphray, Miss Alice Taggard, Miss Lucy 
 White, Miss Amanda Cotton, and Mr. J. A. Van Wagner. 
 
 The Superintendent, teachers, and scholars were met 
 at the chapel Sunday-school room by Messrs. Colgate and 
 Trevor. 
 
 The programme of exercises was as follows: Volun- 
 tary. Addresses of welcome by Messrs. Colgate and 
 Trevor. Reports of former Superintendents. Original 
 hymn, "Sing, O sing." Brief addresses by Superintendent 
 and others. Singing, " Sabbath Joys." 
 
 James B. Colgate spoke as follows : 
 
 " Mr. Superintendent, Teachers, and Scholars : 
 We welcome you most heartily to this new Sabbath home. 
 Your looks and smiles indicate a joyful response to this 
 sentiment. The house we have just left is endeared to us 
 by tender recollections of the past. If the ground was hal- 
 lowed where God spoke to Moses from out of the burning 
 bush, ought not that spot to be loved by us where we have 
 so often met our Saviour and where he has spoken peace 
 to s6 many stricken hearts ? Some now present can recall 
 the time when we met, few in numbers and under circum- 
 stances greatly discouraging. But even -then God had a 
 blessing in reserve for us. Year by year we grew stronger, 
 and when that place was too small to hold our increasing 
 numbers He provided us with this, suited to our present 
 necessities, complete in all its appointments, and where the 
 eye rests satisfied. The possession of this house imposes 
 heavier responsibilities ; but, sir, there is no dignity in life 
 without responsibility. God, the church, and the school' 
 will expect of us a consistency, of life and devotedness of 
 purpose corresponding to the position we assume. God 
 
igo CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 requires of us that we teach his truth in simplicity with 
 earnestness and godly fear. The church requires that we 
 be ourselves examples to the children of truth and sobriety, 
 kfeeping the Sabbath as God's day and living in all respects 
 conformably to the gospel we profess to teach. The school 
 requires of us no idle words, no vain shows unbecoming- 
 the house of God, but a decency and propriety which their 
 young minds will not be slow to discern. These responsi- 
 bilities each must meet for himself. My own heart re- 
 sponds to the utterance of Joshua of old in the presence of 
 assembled Israel : 'As for me and my house, we will serve 
 the Lord.' Again we say to you, you are welcome, thrice 
 welcome, to this house about to be dedicated to the service 
 of the Most High God. May it prove to many who now 
 hear me a gate to that upper sanctuary, to that ' building 
 of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens.' " 
 
 John B. Trevor said : 
 
 " Dear Children :— In welcoming you to this beautiful 
 room I am reminded of the old Spanish custom of offering 
 a visitor all the house contains ; and we now offer you all 
 the accommodations afforded by this building, including 
 its furniture and other appliances, as a free gift to you. 
 We hope, also, that you will consider this as your Sunday 
 home, and that you will once a week greet your teachers 
 here just as some of you every day welcome your fathers 
 when they return from their business in the city. You 
 will also be offered here by your teachers and superin- 
 tendent every Sunday far more valuable gifts than those 
 now presented to you — I mean the great truths taught in 
 God's Word. And the only return we all ask of you is, 
 _ that you will show a due appreciation of these latter gifts, 
 which we hope will be blessed to the salvation of your 
 souls. You must not, however, selfishly consider all that 
 has been done as done only to benefit you, but we hope 
 you will realize that the glory of God has been our chief 
 incentive, and that without his aid and blessing all our 
 labor will be in vain." 
 
 These addresses of w.elcome were responded to by 
 Superintendent White as follows : 
 
WARBURTON A¥ENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. IQI 
 
 " We have listened with grateful emotions to the cordial 
 words of welcome with which you have greeted us, and on 
 behalf of the school I thank you. God has blessed us in 
 the past and he smiles upon us to-day. Seven years ago, 
 my first Sabbath in Yonkers, I came to this school where 
 you with your wives were teaching. Three are with us 
 to-day and one has gone before us to the " rest that re- 
 maineth." Our numbers, ' then about 70, are now nearly 
 7CXD and divided in two bands. The Spring Street Mission, 
 a child of six summers and now outnumbering the old 
 school, is here to-day, and prepared, through its efficient 
 superintendent, to speak for itself. Our hearts are full of 
 joy and rejoicing while we say, ' Not unto us, O Lord, but 
 to thy name be all the glory.' We have just been down to 
 say good-by to the old home, and the children and teachers 
 have given me a message, a heartfelt message, to deliver 
 to you, which I will now do." 
 
 The Superintendent then read the following resolu- 
 tions adopted by the school, and presented a copy of the 
 same to Messrs. Colgate and Trevor, severally : 
 
 Resolved, That under a deep sense of gratitude to God 
 who has watched over and so abundantly blessed our Sab- 
 bath-school, we desire to return our grateful thanks to him, 
 the author of every good and perfect gift, who has given 
 to our brethren and fellow-teachers, John B. Trevor and 
 James B. Colgate, the ability and the willing hearts to pro- 
 vide for us this delightful Sabbath-school home. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to our two brethren the 
 heartfelt thanks of every one of our three hundred teachers 
 and scholars, and we pray God to bless them a hundred- 
 fold for this their great gift to us. 
 
 Resolved, That this expression of our gratitude be pre- 
 sented to our two beloved associates by the Superintendent 
 of our school. 
 
 William M. Gray, a former Superintendent of the church 
 school, then followed in a few congratulating remarks; 
 
 Rev. Dr. Bright, Superintendent of the Mission School, 
 said he shared with them the joy and gladness which they 
 felt on this/day, andthat he felt justly proud of the two 
 bands which Brother White had mentioned. 
 
192 CHURCHAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The pastor, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, al§o spoke words 
 of welcome to the school, and expressed the gratitude he 
 felt, and doubtless all felt, to the Great Giver from whom 
 Cometh down every good and perfect gift. 
 
 The singing of the "Children's Te Deum" closed 
 these delightful exercises of the first day in the Sunday- 
 school room. 
 
 Heman L. White continued to be Superintendent until 
 July 18, 1869, when illness compelled him to be away. 
 Mr. Grimwood superintended the school during his ab- 
 sence. Mr. White never attended the school after the 
 above mentioned date. On Sunday evening, September 19, 
 1869, he passed "beyond the regions of the skies to where 
 the heavenly country lies." On the Wednesday following, 
 his funeral was largely attended, and his remains were fol- 
 lowed to the ddp6t by a large -concourse of friends and the 
 members of the school, who walked in procession. The 
 remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery. The Sun- 
 day-school room was heavily draped in mourning and this 
 inscription was suspended behind the superintendent's 
 desk : " He rests from his labors and his works do follow 
 him." 
 
 Thus the school, in a few brief months, from the 
 heights of joy was plunged into the depths of sorrow. 
 
 And the smiles and the tears and the song and the dirge 
 Followed each other like surge upon surge. 
 
 An election to fill the vacancy created by the death of 
 Mr. White was held on Sunday, October 24, 1869, and Wil- 
 liam Holme was unanimously chosen Superintendent. 
 
 Mr.,.Holme was on a Western tour when he received 
 the notice of his election to the superintendency, and the 
 intelligence came to him as a pleasant surprise. He had 
 been for six years the Superintendent of the Berean Bap- 
 tist Sunday-school in New York. He entered upon his 
 duties with the enthusiasm and energy which had always 
 characterized his work. His term of service as Superin- 
 tendent of this school was thirteen years. During these 
 years he several times declined a re-election, as his busi- 
 ness engagements necessitated his frequent absence from 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. I93 
 
 the city, but the school, appreciative of his valuable ser- 
 vices, positively refused to accept his declination, and dur- 
 ing his absence his place was temporarily filled by others. 
 When Mr. Holme was absent he always kept himself in- 
 formed of the work in the school by correspondence, and 
 he was ever on the alert to encourage and help forward 
 Sunday-school work and workers wherever he chanced 
 to be. 
 
 The following is taken from a printed report of the 
 school during the centennial year, December, 1876 : OfiBcers, 
 5 ; teachers, 25 ; scholars on registers, 250; average attend- 
 ance, 170; largest attendance, 215 ; conversions, 23; deaths 
 (teachers), 2; volumes in library, 1,052; receipts, $728 44; 
 expenditures, $609 og. 
 
 The officers of the school are : Wm. H. Holme, Super- 
 intendent ; A. F. Decker, Assistant Superintendent ; W. 
 Affleck, Jr., Secretary ; J. W. Ackerman, Treasurer ; F. S. 
 Ackerman, Librarian. The teachers are : Mrs. James B. 
 Colgate, Miss Florence Parsons, Miss Julia Sanger, Miss 
 Chrystenah Ackerman, Miss Lizzie East, Miss Alice Preble, 
 Miss Laura Youmans, Messrs. John W. Ackerman, Thomas 
 Holman, John A. Amelung, John B. Trevor, Cornelius W. 
 Peek, Thomas H. Messer, Wm. H. Holme, Edward Mar- 
 shall, Harlow Harris, E. L. Manning, James E. Holme, 
 Alonzo B. See, Wm. N. Bailey, Alfred F. Decker, Bailey J. 
 Hathavay, Jr., Wm. Van Kirk, James B. Colgate, and Joseph 
 L. Colby. 
 
 In 1882, Mr. Holme, on account of ill-health and by the 
 advice of his physician, finally resigned the superintend- 
 ency, which resignation was reluctantly accepted. The beau- 
 tiful illuminated Scripture mottoes which adorn the walls of 
 the present Sunday-school room are his gift, and the views 
 representing missionary life among the Teloogoos — which 
 were purchased by the school — were put in neat walnut 
 frames, also his gift. These, with the motto " Watch and 
 Pray," in the Karen language, over the superintendent's 
 desk, add to the attractions of this pleasant Sunday-school 
 room, giving quite an air of a missionary school. 
 
 The first mission band of this school was organized by 
 Miss Lena T. Leeds in 1880, and was the outgrowth of her 
 
 Church and aaDda7<scliD0l Work. I ^ 
 
194 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Sunday-school class of girls, who began their missionary 
 work in the home field in Yonkers, in purchasing Bibles 
 for two little girls who had never been the possessors of one 
 of their own. These girls subsequently became members 
 of the class. 
 
 This first effort kindled in the minds of the girls a 
 strong desire to extend their efforts in behalf of others 
 in other directions, which purpose took definite shape in 
 the formation of the band which took the name of the " Shu 
 Go Sha," or " Band of Gathering Doves," which name was 
 given to them by Miss Eva Munson, a pupil of this school 
 (who had recently taken her departure for Tokio, Japan, 
 there to engage in missionary labors), and was suggested by 
 the gregarious habits of the gentle bird of Japan. 
 
 The band increased in numbers, and the boys and 
 young men of the church and Sunday-school asked to be 
 admitted to its membership. Monthly meetings were reg- 
 ularly held and the interest and zeal of its members in 
 behalf of home and foreign missions increased, and were 
 manifested not only in their large gatherings, but by sub- 
 stantial contributions for varipus benevolent objects. The 
 contributions of the band during the years of its existence 
 were from $25 to $50 annually for foreign missions. It 
 made four of its members — its President, Miss Lena T> 
 Leeds, Miss Ella Andrews (now Mrs. Charles Austin), Miss 
 Eva Munson (now Mrs. White), and Miss Lizzie East — life 
 members of the Foreign Missionary Society of the Baptist 
 Church. Besides these contributions some of its members 
 conducted a service of song at St. John's Hospital weekly, 
 and distributed flowers among the patients in the wards 
 regularly, for several months. 
 
 The first annual meeting of the " Shu Go Sha " was 
 held on Friday evening, April i, 1 881, in the parlor of the 
 church, when the following programme was presented : 
 
 Piano Solo - - Prof. W. Carpenter 
 
 March — " Onward, Christian Soldiers " - Shu Go Sha 
 
 Reading the Scriptures and Prayer Rev. H. M. Sanders 
 
 Chorus — "We are Living, We are Dwelling " - Shu Go Sha 
 
 Annual Report - - - - - Jennie Prote 
 
 Chorus — " Brightly Gleams our Banner" - Shu Go Sha 
 
 Address - - - Prof. Charles W. Sanders 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 195 
 
 Piano Duet Misses Maggie and Florence East 
 
 Address Mrs. J. B. Colgate 
 
 Semi-chorus—" Go Preach My Gospel " Members of Band 
 
 Address — Tokio .... Prof. A. Bickmore 
 
 Piano Duet - Misses Colgate and Boll 
 
 Letter from Miss Munson Miss L. A. East 
 
 Song—" Not Half Has Ever Been Told " Miss A. L. Decker 
 
 Tribute to Miss Munson A. F. Decker 
 
 Remarks Rev. Henry M. Sanders 
 
 Chorus — " Only an Armor Bearer " Shu Go Sha 
 
 REFRESHMENTS. 
 
 The parlor was beautifully decorated with flowers, 
 greens, and ornaments of Japanese design — such as para- 
 sols, lanterns, fans, an elegant quilt, etc. The ornaments 
 were loaned by Mrs. 'G. H. Scribner, Mrs. W. Drummon, 
 Miss Sanger, and Fred Coon, and arranged by Miss M. E. 
 Decker. The flowers were supplied by Mrs. J. B. Colgate. 
 There was also on exhibition an autograph quilt to be sent 
 to Miss Munson, made by members of the church. The 
 ground was of red material and set in with white patches, 
 upon which were w.ritten with a pen the names of friends 
 of Miss Munson, to the number of nearly four hundred, 
 who desired to take part in the gift. The door leading into 
 the pastor's study was thrown open, and over it, framed in 
 greens, was the name of the society, and in Japanese char- 
 acters " Shu Go Sha," meaning the same thing. 
 
 This band at the close of its first year numbered sixty 
 members, and its oSicers were : Mrs. A. F. Decker, Presi- 
 dent ; Miss L. A. East, Vice-President ; Miss Lena T. Leeds, 
 Corresponding Secretary ; John Arbuckle, Recording Secre- 
 tary ; Miss Florence East, Treasurer. 
 
 The monthly meeting of the Shu Go Sha, held August. 
 8, 1883, was of special interest, nearly one hundred of its 
 members being present, besides their friends from their 
 own and other churches. 
 
 Miss Lizzie East, Vice-President, presided and opened 
 the meeting with the reading of the Scriptures and prayer, 
 closing with the Lord's Prayer, in which all united. 
 
 Henry Keeler, Secretary, read his report, also one from 
 the committee in charge of the distribution of flowers in St. 
 John's Riverside Hospital and one from the membership 
 
196 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 committee, which showed gratifying results in that depart- 
 ment of the work of the band. 
 
 Papers prepared by several members of the band, on 
 the Government of China and the various religious beliefs 
 of its people, were read, and were exceedingly interesting 
 and instructive. 
 
 A gratifying and pleasing feature of the meeting was 
 the singing of the hymn, " Hold the Fort," by three China- 
 men in their own -language. Fred Coon, a recent convert 
 to Christianity, leading them, and all present joined in the 
 chorus in the English language. 
 
 The ready and strong support which the young men 
 gave to these meetings, the warm and earnest sympathy 
 manifested by all of the members, was the means of 
 strengthening and increasing their interest in the noble 
 work of foreign missions. 
 
 The members of the Shu Go Sha also accomplished 
 much good by sending papers and tracts to destitute Sun- 
 day-schools among the Indians on the Seneca reservation 
 in the western part of New^ York, near Buffalo. 
 
 The following message in reference to their gift was 
 received by a lady not connected with the band : 
 
 " The box sent by the ' Shu Go Sha ' arrived in due 
 time and touched us deeply by the manifested Christian 
 love of the givers. Side by side, in this box from Baptist 
 friends, were papers of almost every denomination, speak- 
 ing with their utmost power of the love of Christ. I feel 
 more and more how really we are all one in Christ. The 
 box was a very valuable one, and we thank the donors 
 most heartily." 
 
 Some of the members of the Shu Go Sha removed 
 from the city and others entered upon business which re- 
 quired their time evenings. This, with their social and 
 religious engagements in connection with their church and 
 Young Men's Christian Association, prevented their attend- 
 ance at the meetings of the band and they withdrew from 
 its membership. As the attendance at the meetings and its 
 membership decreased, it was thought advisable by some of 
 the members to disband. Others of the young ladies were 
 unwilling to do this, and brought the subject before the 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 197 
 
 Women's Mission Circle of the church with the proposition 
 " that if they would assist in organizing a new band they 
 would give them the books and their missionary banner, 
 also a valuable missionary map, if the new band would 
 take their name." The proposition was accepted and a few 
 of the younger members of the Sunday-school were gath- 
 ered and enlisted in the enterprise. Monthly meetings 
 were held in the church parlor. Miss Olivia Burns took 
 the entire charge of them for several months, attending 
 regularly the meetings and instructing them in missionary 
 work. 
 
 By request of the ladies of the church mission circle, 
 the new band was organized October 2, 1886, taking the 
 name of the "Gathering Doves," and is now under the 
 direction of Miss Mary Colgate and Miss Hattie Middle- 
 brook. All its offices are filled from the members of the 
 band, and much of the executive work of the band is done 
 by the little girls — from ten to twelve years old — who com- 
 pose it. They preside at their meetings, read the Bible, 
 and lead in prayer. They have their nominating commit- 
 tee, their officers are elected annually, and all stand a 
 chance of having active service. 
 
 The " Mission Band Scrap Book," the device of its 
 directors, is an instructive and valuable feature of their 
 work. It contains interesting descriptive and illustrative 
 articles on the manners and customs of heathen lands 
 alphabetically arranged. It is a reference book of incalcu- 
 lable benefit. By this means the whole world is touched 
 by them. The care of this is entrusted to the little girls, 
 who receive contributions from the members of the band. 
 Thus by all the^e methods they are being trained to be 
 useful church workers. 
 
 During the past year they sent a package of books and 
 Scripture cards to the Teloogoo Mission in India, made fif- 
 teen scrap books, which were sent to Madras, and also a 
 number of garments for the Congo children in Africa. Be- 
 sides this they contributed articles towards a missionary 
 box sent by the Women's Mission Circle to India. 
 
 On the afternoon of October 2, 1887, they held their 
 first anniversary in the Nepperhan Mission Chapel and had 
 
198 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 a very delightful time. The girls took part in recitations 
 and singing, and one of the State Secretaries of the Wo- 
 men's Baptist Foreign Mission Society addressed them. 
 
 The band raised, by a sale of fancy articles made by 
 its members, $100, in 1889. 
 
 The following is a brief account of other work accom- 
 plished : " During the year we have studied about Judson, 
 Boardman and his work among the Karens, and have had 
 a few lessona about Carey and the Hindoo people. In Octo- 
 ber a sale was held which was very successful. We have 
 agreed to send $50 of our money to Tokio, Japan, for the 
 education of a child in one of the schools." 
 
 There are twenty-five members. Since the organiza- 
 tion of the Band it has raised $255, of which $32 25 have 
 come from dues of five cents a month from its members. 
 The Band continues under the efficient management of 
 Miss Mary Colgate and Miss Hattie Middlebrook. Its 
 present officers — April, 1891 — are Miss Edna Randall, Presi- 
 dent ; Miss May Tarbell, Secretary ; Miss Miriam Sher- 
 wood, Treasurer. 
 
 The branch of the " King's Daughters " belonging to 
 this Sunday-school was organized by Miss Lena T. Leeds, 
 who was its President, July 13, 1887. Its members are ac- 
 tively engaged in good work. A song service at St. John's 
 Riverside Hospital, conducted by some of its members, is 
 appreciated by the patients of that institution. A note 
 from the matron, Mrs. Sarah J. Rickey, dated August 29, 
 1887, says: 
 
 " King's Daughters— Dear Friends : Your donation 
 of fruits, flowers, and^ clothing for little Alice has been 
 received at the hospital. On behalf of the Ladies' Commit- 
 tee and the Board of Managers I desire to thank you for 
 the kindly interest manifested as well as for the substantial 
 aid given to this charitable work. I also desire to thank 
 you for your service of song." 
 
 The .young people's weekly prayer-meeting which is 
 connected with this church and Sunday-school was organ- 
 ized in October, 1881, and is a means of great usefulness, 
 not only to the Sunday-school, but to the church as well. 
 
 The sixth anniversary of the organization of this 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. I99 
 
 young people's meeting was held in the chapel of the Nep- 
 perhan Avenue Baptist Mission in October, 1887. There 
 were about 325 persons present. James G. Afifleck presi- 
 ded. The exercises were opened by singing the hymns 
 "Tell it Out" and "Redeemed." Prayer was offered by 
 William Smith, President of the Dayspring Young People's 
 Association, at the conclusion of which Charles J. Wallis, 
 of the Westminster Young People's Association, read from 
 the Scriptures the fifteenth chapter of John. 
 
 After singing " Blest be the Tie that Binds," the 
 report for the past year, a most interesting one, was read 
 by James G. Affleck, chairman of the Young People's Meet- 
 ing, who said in substance : The past year's work has been 
 most encouraging, being marked by a large attendance and 
 a lively general interest. Total attendance for the year 
 5,450 ; average attendance at each meeting being a marked 
 increase over that of former years. January 24, 1 887, there 
 was started, as an outcome of our meetings, a Bible Read- 
 ing Union, in which there are 148 members, and the way 
 the work has been followed up and the benefit resulting 
 therefrom has been a source of much gratification. We 
 have good reason to believe that since November i, 1886, 
 nearly fifty young men and women have been led to their 
 Saviour through the efforts put forth in these meetings, 
 and of the forty-seven young people who have united with 
 our church during the year fully thirty, by their own testi- 
 mony, have shown of what value these meetings have been , 
 to them. We cannot ever find out to how many these 
 meetings have been stepping-stones leading them to a 
 higher and nobler life. God has truly blessed us, and he 
 will, we believe, bless us again. 
 
 " Take Me as I Am " was sung. 
 
 Addresses were delivered by Rev. JH. B. Grose and 
 Rev. H. M. Sanders. 
 
 After singing " He that Believeth," Charles E. See, 
 President of the Young People's Society of Christian En- 
 deavor of the Reformed Church, led in prayer. The sing- 
 ing of the doxology, and the benediction pronounced by 
 Mr. Sanders, ended the interesting exercises. 
 
 The quarterly review days in this school are observed 
 
200 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 by Special exercises, and careful preparation by the Super- 
 intendent and teachers is made, so as to have the exercises 
 different in character each review day. 
 
 The Christmas festival of the school for 1887 was an 
 unusually interesting occasion. The chapel of the church 
 was tastefully trimmed with greens and Christmas greet- 
 ings. Much time, patience, and work were expended by 
 the officers, teachers, and pupils in preparing for the ren- 
 dering of the Christmas cantata, " Santa Claus' Mistake, or, 
 a Bundle of Sticks," which was the special feature of the 
 evening's entertainment, and which took forty minutes in 
 rendering. The words were by Clara Louise Burnham 
 and music by George F. Root. Some thirty persons par- 
 ticipated in it. This work was localized, and was under 
 preparation for several months. The east end of the 
 chapel was artistically arranged to permit a full view of 
 the entire performance by all the audience, which not 
 only filled every seat, but occupied all the available stand- 
 ing-room as well. The singing and acting of those who 
 took part was so natural and graceful that frequent and 
 hearty applause was expressed by the audience. There 
 were recitations by Ada Cox, Hattie Fisher, Edna Trom- 
 ley, Belle Ferguson, Thomas PuUen, and Charles Fisher. 
 The infant class sang a carol sweetly. After these exer- 
 cises the disrobing of the Christmas-tree took place, and 
 each schoolar was remembered with an appropriate gift. 
 
 The religious services of this festival were observed in 
 the church on Sunday morning with the following exer- 
 cises: Organ Voluntary. Processional, "Onward, Chris- 
 tian Soldiers." Prayer by the pastor, closing with the 
 Lord's Prayer by the school. Responsive Scripture read- 
 ing. Carol. Sermon. Hymn by congregation and school. 
 Christmas offering. Carol. Baptism. Recessional. 
 
 Rev. H. B. Grose preached on the meaning of Christ- 
 mas and the giving of Christmas offerings by representa- 
 tives of various classes. At the close of the sermon the 
 impressive ordinance of baptism was administered to the 
 following persons: Mrs. Mary J. Wilcox, Miss Mary E. 
 Craft, William Graham, William B. Feakins, Frank O. 
 Freethy, and William H. Ball, Jr. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 20I 
 
 The Christmas offering of the school was $30 60 for 
 the Baptist Ministers' Home, which is located at West 
 Farms in this county. 
 
 The following report of this Sunday-school for the year 
 ending December 31, 1887, was presented at the annual 
 meeting of the church by the Superintendent : 
 
 " Enrolment — Officers, 5 ; teachers, 32 ; scholars — adult 
 and intermediate, 269; primary, 89 ; total, 395, an increase 
 of 43 over 1886. Total number of classes, including pri- 
 mary class, 29; total attendance for the year, 13,287, in- 
 crease of 1,735 over 1886; average Sunday attendance for 
 the year, 255, increase of 33 over 1886; largest Sunday 
 attendance for the year, 310, increase of 30 over 1886; 
 number of deaths during the year, 2 ; members of school 
 who are members of church, 116; volumes in library, 
 I, coo. 
 
 " Our finances show a balance on the credit side, as 
 appears by the report of the treasurer. The annual sum- 
 mer excursion in connection with the Nepperhan Avenue 
 Baptist Mission School was given in July last, also the 
 Christmas services and festival were held at the usual sea- 
 son. A very gratifying interest in the work of the school 
 has been apparent during the year, as evidenced by the 
 regular attendance of the scholars, the fidelity of the teach- 
 ers, and the increased membership, as shown by the enrol- 
 ment. 
 
 " Our greatest cause for rejoicing has been that twenty- 
 three members of the school have given their hearts to the 
 Saviour during the year. Herein lies our greatest encour- 
 agement and incentive to more faithful service, for it may 
 truly be regarded as a mark of the approval of our Lord 
 upon the labors of his disciples as well as the fulfilling of 
 his own promise. In reviewing the record of the year we 
 cannot but feel that the blessing of God has been upon us, 
 and with hearts full of gratitude for past mercies we look 
 forward with faith and hope that the year to come may be 
 one of blessing to all who may come within the influence 
 of the school. 
 
 " Respectfully submitted, 
 
 "GEORGE M. BAILEY, Superintendent." 
 
202 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The room in whicTi the Primary Department of the 
 Sunday-school of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church 
 meets is on the west end of the Sunday-school room, from 
 which it is separated by* a sash partition. It is conveni- 
 ently and attractively furnished with black walnut seats, 
 superintendent's desk and table, and the floor is covered 
 with ingrain carpet of shaded crimson, the same as the 
 Sunday-school room. Charts with the ten commandments, 
 the beatitudes, a map and blackboard and pictures com- 
 plete the adornments of the room. This department is 
 superintended by Thomas H. Messer, who has had it in 
 charge for twelve years. He is assisted by his daughter, 
 Miss Beulah Messer, formerly a pupil of the Primary De- 
 partment of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sun- 
 day-school. She entered that school when but three years 
 old, and has ever since, either as a scholar or a teacher in 
 the Sunday-school, been connected therewith. 
 
 Promotions from this department into the main room 
 are made usually in classes of five or six, and the qualifica- 
 tions of the children are that they shall read fairly well 
 and know the ten commandments, the beatitudes, the 
 twenty-third Psalm, and other portions of Scripture in 
 which instructions are given, together with the regular 
 lessons of the International Series taught in the Sunday- 
 school. 
 
 The teachers in this department give much attention 
 to singing. Besides the hymns in the Sunday-school books, 
 others are selected which are appropriate and popular with 
 the children. The children's paper, entitled " Our Little 
 Ones," is distributed every Sunday. The " Berean Leaf 
 Cluster," consisting of large colored pictures illustrative of 
 the lessons, is also used. After they have been used they 
 are sent with papers contributed by the children to desti- 
 tute Sunday-schools in the South. 
 
 The pleasure afforded to their recipients and their use- 
 fulness is indicated in the following extracts taken from 
 some of the letters received by the Superintendent. 
 
 Rev. E. A. Carter, a colored Baptist preacher, writes 
 from Atlanta, Ga., November 9, 1883: "On my arrival 
 home from the Preachers' Association I found a letter 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 203 
 
 from you which made me say, ' Bless the Lord, and you 
 too !' I have a distinct work assigned me at the Associa- 
 tion to go around and visit the poor Sunday-schools." 
 
 At a still later date Mr. Carter writes : " Yours came 
 to hand some days ago. The papers and books were the 
 right kind sent to the right man. I am sorry though that 
 I delayed the answer. The reason is I have been called off 
 to make temperance speeches for a week, and I thank the 
 Lord that my word accomplished the purpose for which it 
 was sent and that prohibition we have got in ninety-eight 
 counties. You asked me if I am a Baptist. I am the pas- 
 tor of the Friendship Baptist Church, and I hope you are a 
 good Baptist. I hope I am a true Baptist. You need not 
 fear. All is well and the Lord is blessing my work. I am 
 under many obligations to you for all the books." 
 
 Mr. Messer has also received interesting and grateful 
 letters from Rev. A. H. Conway, of Wilmington, N. C, 
 and from Rev. John H. Quiatt, of Virginia. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Quiatt tells about Christmas in his 
 school : " I think you would be interested to know what I 
 did with the pictures you sent me. After I had talked 
 from them the sisters of the church took them, framed 
 them with ivy leaves, and put two by the pulpit, two on 
 each side, and one over the door. That is the way we 
 trimmed the church for Christmas. We had a revival this 
 winter, and there were added to the church seventeen 
 souls. Five of them were Sunday-school scholars." 
 
 The above are specimens of many letters which Mr. 
 Messer has received from those who are either teaching or 
 preaching in the places from whence they came. Nor are 
 these all the letters which are received. That there is 
 great affection between the teachers and pupils of the Pri- 
 mary Department of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sun- 
 day-school is evident from the childish epistles which come 
 to the teachers now and then. One little girl of five years 
 writes in big letters : 
 
 ' ' O wEGo, August 30. 
 
 " Dear Mr. Messer : the last time i was at sunday 
 school you was not there so i could not say good bye. i 
 am in Owego on a farm, i fed the sheap salt last night, i 
 
204 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 went to Sunday school yesterday and learnt the text let not 
 your heart be trembled, if you cant read this my papa will 
 for you, cause i write to him often, there is a river here it 
 is the susqannah but it is not as nice as the Hudson. * * * 
 Papa said I could give my love to Beulah. i did this all 
 alone. Mamma told me how to spell the words. I had 
 some nice drives since i been here, i will be back before 
 Christmas to Sunday school, this is from 
 
 " P. S.— good bye. ****." 
 
 The school, in company with the teachers and pupils 
 with their friends, numbering some 1,500, went on their 
 annual excursion in July, 1887. The steamboat "Sinus" 
 took them to Oscawana Island up the Hudson. The excur- 
 sion was a great success every way, and . to the indefatiga- 
 ble efforts of Chairman Airey, of the committee in charge, 
 must the credit in a large measure be awarded! 
 
 The secretary's report for 1888 is as follows: 
 
 Enrolment 413 
 
 Total attendance ■■ 12,286 
 
 Average " 236 
 
 Largest " 313 
 
 Deaths during the year - i 
 
 Members uniting with the church - 12 
 
 Officers, teachers, and scholars who are members of the 
 
 church - - 126 
 
 The school has a class-attendance banner, which is 
 given to and held by the class for three months which has 
 had the highest average attendance for that length of time. 
 
 Banner awarded for largest percentage of attendance 
 during first quarter, 1889, to Class No. 2, taught by J. W. 
 Ackerman. Second quarter, 1889, to Class No. 28, taught 
 by Miss M. Yerks. 
 
 The Adults' Bible-class, taught by Mr. C. D. Wyman, 
 has grown to be one of the most interesting in the school. 
 Upwards of fifty names are enrolled, and a goodly propor- 
 tion are in attendance each Sabbath. 
 
 The treasurer's report for the year ending December, 
 
 1888: 
 
 Total receipts - - ... I409 85 
 
 Disbursements .... 342 28 
 
 Balance in the treasury January i, 1889 - 67 57 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 20? 
 
 Missionary Fund — total receipts I306 39 
 
 Paid for benevolent purposes - 180 64 
 
 Balance - - - 125 75 
 
 J. VV. ACKERMAN, Treasurer. 
 
 From January to September, 1889, sixteen scholars 
 united witli the church from the Sunday-school. 
 
 The officers of the school in 1887 to September, 1889, 
 were : George M. Bailey, Superintendent ; Stanley H. Ray, 
 Assistant Superintendent; George Ackerman, Secretary; 
 John W. Ackerman, Treasurer ; Orville B. Ackerly, Libra- 
 rian ; Henry Middlebrook, Assistant Librarian ; George 
 Weller, Collector. 
 
 In September, 1889, Superintendent George M. Bailey, 
 " under whose wise and genial direction the Sunday-school 
 has been for several years prospering," was obliged to re- 
 sign on account of failing health. " It was the wish of the 
 teachers to reelect him and wait for him to recover, but he 
 declined to have it so. But he was elected for life to fill a 
 great place in our esteem and affection." 
 
 The spacious Sunday-school room of the Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Church presented a scene of animation at 
 the annual Christmas celebration of 1 888, and the cheerful 
 countenances of nearly 400 happy children lent enchant 
 ment to the scene. On the platform could be seen the res- 
 idence of Santa Claus, the roof covered with snow and the 
 chimney painted a bright red. Superintendent George M. 
 Bailey presided, and Assistant Superintendent Stanley H. 
 Ray assisted. The attendance of friends was very large. 
 Some could not get seats and some could not get within 
 the hall door at all. 
 
 The exercises began by the singing of the carol " Jubi- 
 lant Bells." This was followed by opening remarks by the 
 Superintendent, and Scripture reading and prayer by the 
 pastor. " Once in Royal David's City " was then sung, and 
 Rev. Dr. Hobart made a brief address. The programme 
 was then continued as follows : 
 
 Carol — Oh Sing of His Praise. 
 Recitation — Floe's Letter Clara Carpenter. 
 
 Recitation— Emily Jane - Geraldine Helmsley. 
 
 Performance by the Kazoo Quartette. 
 Dialogue — Colloquy in Church Maggie Monroe and Mary Anderson. 
 
206 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Recitation — Fate of Mary's Two Canaries - - - Arthur Ray. 
 
 Recitation — Japanese Girl in Costume - - Lizzie Ramage. 
 
 Carol — Room for the New-Born King. 
 Recitation— The Granted Wish - Nettie Ewald. 
 
 Recitation — ^Whistling in Heaven . . - - Myra Corwin. 
 
 Kinder Symphony. 
 Recitation — Christmas Dolly Sadie Monroe. 
 
 Dialogue — Practical Lesson in the Beginning of Bad Citizens — 
 
 Jessie Corwin, Master Simpson, Hattie Fisher, and Davy Fisher. 
 Recitation— The Old Woman in the Shoe Fanny S. Bailey. 
 
 Recitation — Our Christmas - Maggie Monroe. 
 
 The several pieces were well spoken, and the* recitation 
 "Whistling in Heaven," by Miss Myra Corwin, deserves 
 special commendation. 
 
 At this point smoke was seen to issue from the chim- 
 ney of the cottage of Santa Claus on the stage, and soon 
 his head was seen peering out of the chimney. He then 
 came out by the door and made a speech. The children 
 were then supplied each with a ticket, and this procured 
 for each a box of candy at the door at the going out. 
 
 The Christmas services of the Sunday-school on De- 
 cember 28, 1890, were held on Sunday afternoon in the 
 church. The Mission School had been invited and occu- 
 pied the rear pews, while the galleries were filled with 
 spectators. Upon the platform were James G. Affleck, the 
 Superintendent, and Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart, the pastor. 
 
 The scholars and teachers marched into the church 
 singing "Jerusalem the Golden." After prayer by the 
 pastor, opening exercises were conducted by the Primary 
 Department. The programme that followed was in four 
 divisions, the scholars reciting or singing their various parts. 
 
 The First Division consisted as follows : 
 Joy Over the Child Jesus — 
 
 Ferdie Hughes, Rose Ewald, John Monroe, Larissa and Ray 
 Carpenter. 
 Childhood of Jesus — 
 
 Maud Cox, Ida Wallin, Willie Wallin, Ida Maltby, Jennie 
 Campbell, Lottie Vought, Susie Weir, Willie Watts, Freddie 
 Mueller, George Beckwith. 
 
 Second Division : 
 The Works of Jesus — 
 
 Nellie Bartlett, Stella Bailey, Ada Newman, Eva Storms, Ber- 
 tie Bell, Myra Corwin. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 207 
 
 Jesus' Power Over Sin — 
 
 Review by pastor and school. 
 
 Third Division : 
 
 The Words of Jesus — 
 
 Sarah Beckwith, Edna Randall, May Tarbell, Emily Kipp, 
 Nellie Drummon, Naomi Rigby, Lillian Howes, Alice Wy- 
 man, Henry Myers. 
 
 Fourth Division — Passion Week : 
 
 The Death of Jesus — 
 
 Miss L. Graham ; solo " He was Despised," Miss Beree. 
 The Resurrection of Jesus — 
 
 Miss Roach; quartette, "Magdalene," Miss Haring, Miss 
 
 Beree, Mr. Gardinier, Mr. Cole. 
 
 Appropriate songs were given by the school. 
 
 After the exercises five young men were united with 
 the church by baptism. ' 
 
 Mrs. James B. Colgate has been connected with this 
 school since 1861, and is among the honorary list of Sun- 
 day-school teachers in Yonkers. She has charge of a 
 bright and intelligent class of young ladies which meets in 
 the church parlor. Some of the teachers in the home and 
 mission Sunday-schools have received their training under 
 her instruction, and a number of the members of this class 
 at the present time are teachers in the afternoon mission 
 school. 
 
 This class and its beloved teacher are especially hon- 
 ored in that one of their number, Miss Lena T. Leeds, was 
 under appointment as missionary by the Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society of the Baptist Church in 1887. Miss 
 Leeds, with this end in view, took a preparatory course of 
 study in Colby Academy, at New London, N. H. At the 
 end of her course, finding that her health would not permit 
 her to labor in a foreign field, she accepted a position as 
 missionary under the Woman's Branch of City Missions in 
 New York. Miss Leeds has abilities which peculiarly fit 
 her for her noble work and is very successful in it. 
 
 The scholars of the home and mission schools cele- 
 brated Children's Day in the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
 Church on Sunday afternoon June 8, 1890. There were 
 about i,cxxD scholars seated in the body of the "church, 
 
2o8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 while the galleries were filled with parents and friends. 
 The platform was richly decorated with palms and bunches 
 of cut flowers. 
 
 James M. Hunt, Superintendent of the home school, 
 presided, and Prof. Edwin Moore led the singing. The 
 order of exercises consisted of singing, "Holy, Holy, 
 Holy;" prayer by Mr. Hunt; hymn, "Grander than Ocean's 
 Story;" responsive reading from Luke 11:1-13, led by 
 Superintendent William H. Baldwin, of the mission school ; 
 prayer by Rev. Dr. Hobart, and chanting of the Lord's 
 Prayer by the children ; semi - chorus, " Great King of 
 Glory, Come!" "Little Children, Jesus Calls You," by 
 infant department of the mission school. Recitations were 
 given as follows: " Springtime," by Grace Narr and Har- 
 old Searles; "Jesus' Little Blossoms," by Fernando and 
 Edwin Hughes ; " Speaking for Jesus," by Ethel Phillips. 
 " Forward Be Our Watchword," was sung by the scholars ; 
 " Sunbeams " was recited by Gertie Church, and " Kind 
 Words," by Willie Hopperton. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart, the pastor of the church, 
 made a short address of welcome to the scholars and 
 friends, and said he was glad to see so many of the chil- 
 dren in the house of God. He asked some review ques- 
 tions on the Sunday-school lessons of the last quarter 
 which were promptly answered by the scholars. He then 
 requested all the scholars present who had come into the 
 membership of the church from the Sunday-schools, and 
 whom he had baptized, to come forward. About fifty re- 
 sponded, and the pastor gave each a small book containing 
 helpful Christian reading. 
 
 Myra Corwin followed with a recitation ; and " Wel- 
 come, Happy Summer," was sung by the semi-chorus. A 
 collection was taken for the benefit of the poor fund of the 
 Mission School, and the exercises closed with the singing 
 of " Coronation." 
 
 The Young People's Association of the Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Church and Mission Chapel was organized 
 October 20, 1889. The work of the Association is divided 
 into four departments: i. Social and Membership. 2. 
 Prayer-meeting. 3. Missionary. 4. Evangelistic. 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 209 
 
 There are seventy-seven names enrolled as charter 
 members. There is a recruiting work going on now in 
 the missionary department of the Young People's Associa- 
 tion. They hold monthly meetings for the study of mis- 
 sions and are doing a very excellent work. Its present 
 officers are the following : J. M. Hunt, President ; James 
 Howes and Miss F. J. Parsons, Vice-Presidents; F. O. 
 Freethy, Secretary ; Miss J. Prote, Treasurer. 
 
 The Treasurer's report of the school for the year end- 
 ing December 1889, is as follows: Receipts $412 31 ; dis- 
 bursements, $288 95; balance, $123 36. Mission Fund: 
 Receipts, $306 87 ; disbursements, $265 ; balance, $41 87. 
 
 The correctness and completeness which mark the 
 record books of this school are worthy of mention. John 
 W. Ackerman has been Treasurer of this school for twenty 
 years, and has performed the duties of the office with ac- 
 ceptability and fidelity. 
 
 The teachers of this school meet every Friday evening 
 with the teachers of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mis- 
 sion School for the study of the lesson. These meetings 
 are conducted by Elmer L. Manning and Franklin Airey, 
 the latter of whom illustrates the lesson by blackboard ex- 
 ercises. At the close of the meeting hektograph copies of 
 the illustrations are distributed which are helpful for the 
 preparation of the lesson. 
 
 This school has not only the privilege of preparing 
 two of its pupils for niissionary work in the foreign field, 
 but also the training of a loved and honored superin- 
 tendent, George M. Bailey,* who from childhood had been 
 
 * On Monday afternoon, October 13, 1890, George M. Bailey entered 
 into life eternal. Funeral services were held in the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church at three o'clock on Thursday afternoon, October 16. Rev. 
 Dr. Alvah S. Hobart officiated, and with Rev. Henry M. Sanders and 
 George D. Mackay spoke fittingly and eloquently of his sweet, manly 
 life. The church was clad in an attire of blossoms white as angels are. 
 Palms, the symbol of our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, overhung 
 the face of the departed. Songs by loving voices long time ago tuned to 
 his not only in earthly songs, but in the higher, holier melodies of Chris- 
 tian faith, a circle of near relatives who in their sorrow lifted up their 
 hearts to Jesus with mingled prayers and thanksgivings — all these made 
 the day a day to be remembered as one of those of which it is said, " It is 
 better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting." "O 
 
 SDDday-Bcbool Wort. 14. 
 
2IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 connected with the school, till his resignation in Septem- 
 ber, 1889. His deep interest in the work and workers was 
 abundantly testified by the fervent prayers and earnest ex- 
 hortations from the superintendent's desk. 
 
 The Superintendent, James G. Affleck organized the 
 Boys' Brigade January, 1891. They have a weekly exer- 
 cise (Monday evenings) in military drill and study of those 
 Scriptures which have to do with the soldierly qualities of 
 Christian life. They drill half an hour and then study 
 half an hour. 
 
 The terms of membership are attendance at the school 
 and abstinence from tobacco and alcoholic stimulants. 
 Mr. Arbuckle, who is sergeant of the Fourth Separate 
 Company, N. G. S. N. Y., is the drill-master of the brigade. 
 There are about forty members of the brigade. 
 
 The number of scholars April, 1 891, is 400. 
 
 The lesson helps used by this school are from the 
 American Baptist Publication Society and are " The Bap- 
 tist Teacher," which is used by the teachers, " The Semi- 
 Quarterly," "The Advanced Quarterly" for the Bible 
 classes, and the " Intermediate Quarterly " and " Primary 
 Quarterly " for the younger members and children of the 
 Primary department. The Sunday-school papers circu- 
 lated in the school are "The Young Reaper" and "Our 
 Little Ones." The singing books used are " The Gospel 
 Praise Book," "The New Alleluia," and ".Select Gems." 
 
 The names of the superintendents in the order of their 
 service are as follows : Benjamin Franklin Crane, Deacon 
 Benjamin Longstreet, Peter F. Peek, who served for 
 nearly eight years, his term of service ending December 
 1862; from 1862 until 1866 James Youmans and Robert 
 Rich were the superintendents, the latter serving a little 
 over two years ; William Gray was elected February 7, 
 1866 ; Heman L. White, who was the superintendent when 
 the Sunday-school entered the new chapel, June 20, 1869; 
 Deacon William Holme, who held the office for thirteen 
 years until 1882 ; Julius B. Briggs, 1883 ; Reuben T. Pettin- 
 gil, 1884-5 ; George M. Bailey, who was elected January, 
 
 grave, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting ?" " Thanks be 
 to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." 
 
WARBURTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 211 
 
 1886, resigned September, 1889; James M. Hunt, elected 
 January, 1890, resigned November, 1890; the present su- 
 perintendent, James G. Affleck was elected December, 
 1890. 
 
 The present officers of the school are : James G. Affleck, 
 Superintendent ; John W. Arbuckle Assistant-Superintend- 
 ent ; Coleman Carpenter, Secretary ; James E. Howes, 
 Treasurer ; Harry Middlebrook, Librarian ; Chester W. 
 Newman, Assistant-Librarian ; Thomas H. Messer, Direc- 
 tor Primary Department, assisted by Miss Beulah Messer. 
 
 Musicians: Miss H. G. Newman, piano; Mr. E. O. 
 Carpenter, Jr., violin ; Mr. C. H. Desgrey, violin. 
 
 Teachers : Miss H. M. Blanchard, Miss G. L. Burns, 
 Mrs. A. M. Beckwith,. Miss E. Coapman, Mrs. W. Sykes, 
 Miss K. A. Graham, Miss C. A. Mann, Miss F. B. Drum- 
 mon, Miss H. E. Bums, Miss H. G. Newman, Miss A. 
 Okell, Miss M. Palmer, Miss D. Drummon, Mrs. A. T. Neil, 
 Miss J. Hull,' Miss M. Colgate, Miss M. Holden, Mrs. A. S. 
 Hobart, Mrs. J. B. Colgate, Miss F. J. Parsons, Mr. C. D. 
 Wyman, Miss Annie Kipp, Miss E. F. Coles, Miss Olivia 
 Bums, Miss E. G. Gault, Mrs. J. Irving Bums, Miss N. 
 Allen, Mr. J. Tackman, Mr. R. Edie, Jr., Mr. G. P. Holden, 
 Mr. M. Sherwood, Mr. J. E. Howes, Mr. G. T. Leeds, and 
 Mr. Frank R. Hathaway. 
 
 Sub-Teachers, etc. : Miss P. Van Tassell, Miss H. A. 
 Middlebrook, Miss M. L. Fuller, Mr. A. D. Ballard, Miss L. 
 East. 
 
212 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 The facts concerning the organization of the First 
 Presbyterian Church of Yonkers have been obtained from 
 the historical discourse preached by Rev. T. Ralston Smith, 
 D. D., on Sunday morning July 2, 1876, and by correspond- 
 ence with several of the early members of the church. 
 
 The sermon was delivered in compliance with the 
 request of the Presbyterian General Assembly "that the 
 first Sabbath in July, 1876, be observed as a day of praise 
 and thanksgiving to God for the manifold blessings with 
 which he has crowned us as a people ; and that the pastor 
 of each church under the jurisdiction of the Assembly de- 
 liver, on that day, a discourse on the history of that particu- 
 lar church." 
 
 After a general introduction in regard to the patriotic 
 and religious observance of this great national anniversary 
 season. Rev. Dr. Smith said : 
 
 "On the 26th of April, 1852, the First Presbjrterian 
 Church of Yonkers was duly organized. The Rev. David 
 Coe, D. D., secretary of the American Home Missionary 
 Society, presided at the meeting at which the church was 
 organized — ^though the certificate of incorporation, signed 
 by David Stewart and Lemuel W. Wells, is dated April 20. 
 It was composed entirely of persons who were then in the 
 communion of the Reformed Dutch Church. They had there 
 found a home which accorded more nearly with their 
 ecclesiastical preferences than any which could be afforded 
 them by the other churches of the village ; but their early 
 associations and preferences prepared them, when the way 
 seemed providentially opened, to seek the communion of a 
 distinct though kindred body. 
 
 " It was at first believed that the entire church was 
 ready to transfer its relations to the Presbyterian General 
 Assembly.* 
 
 * The following minute is from the church record book: " September 
 2, 1851, a meeting was called for full discussion of the point suggested by 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 213 
 
 " At the date already given, a meeting of the church 
 adopted a formal resolution to change its ecclesiastical con- 
 nection. The name which we now bear was adopted, and 
 the standards of the Presbyterian Church were taken as the 
 basis of the new organization, which was duly recognized 
 by the third Presbytery of New York, and received under 
 its care on the loth of May, 1852, just a fortnight after the 
 change had been effected. This transfer included the 
 pastor, the Rev. D wight M. Seward, who had accepted a 
 call to the Dutch Church on the 3d of December, 1850, and 
 had been installed by the Classis of New York on the 1 2th 
 of February, 185 1. The pastoral relation continued there- 
 fore undisturbed, and called for no action on the part of the 
 Presbytery. The members of the Consistory had resigned 
 their places, and Messrs. Lemuel W. Wells and Samuel S. 
 Barry were chosen ruling elders. The term of service of 
 these officers was fixed at two years, and this provision 
 continued in force until the annual meeting of the church 
 in 1875, when the period of service was extended to three 
 years. 
 
 " It soon became apparent, however, that the action of 
 April 26th had not in fact carried with it, or at least had not 
 continued to command, the assent of the entire church. 
 Negotiations followed with a view to the adjustment of all 
 the interests involved, on a basis mutually satisfactory. 
 The church building, the same which still stands on South 
 Broadway, though it has since then been enlarged and 
 beautified, was relinquished to those who desired to per- 
 petuate the old organization. The records were delivered 
 to the custody of the new Consistory. Our own church 
 retained the building then used as a parsonage ; but it was 
 without an established place of worship from the close of 
 Sunday, September 19, 1852, until the 24 of May, 1854." 
 
 After the withdrawal of the members from the Re- 
 formed Church and congregation, who comprised the first 
 congregation of this church, steps were taken to secure 
 a place of worship. The pastor. Rev. D. Henry Miller, and 
 people of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church kindly tendered 
 
 your circumstances and voted with unanimity to change the denominational 
 relations." 
 
214 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 to them the use of their church for Sunday afternoons. 
 This very generous offer was respectfully declined with 
 a vote of thanks. 
 
 They having secured a hall in the Getty House, their 
 services were held there on Sunday morning, September 
 19, 1852. 
 
 When the question of the site was agitated for this 
 new church building some of the friends of the enterprise 
 were in favor of selecting that where the Westminster 
 Presbyterian Church now stands, but the majority decided 
 upon the present location — on North Broadway comer of 
 Quincy Place. The site was very generously given by Mr. 
 Ethan Flagg. David Burns, who for a number of years 
 was the energetic and efficient sexton, under the direction 
 of Mr. Flagg, broke the ground for the foundation of the 
 church building.. 
 
 The present church edifice was commenced November 
 15, 1853, and the corner-stone was laid on June 22, 1853. 
 Of that event a fprmer member of the church writes from 
 Denver, Col., April 30, 1888: "I remember the day was 
 very sultry, followed, at the time of the. ceremony, by a 
 severe storm. So the service was adjourned to the Method- 
 ist Church on North Broadway." 
 
 Rev. Dr. Tyng and the Rev. Dr. Hatfield took part in 
 the services. A dedicatory hymn, written for the occasion 
 by the pastor. Rev. Dr. Seward, was also sung at the laying 
 of the corner-stone. 
 
 The church was dedicated May 24, 1854, Rev. Asa D. 
 Smith, D. D., preaching the dedicatory sermon. At these 
 services the choir chanted the following selection from the 
 24th Psalm : " Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift 
 them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall 
 come in. Who is the King of glory ? The Lord of hosts, 
 he is the King of glory. Selah." 
 
 On a white marble tablet over the main entrance to the 
 church is inscribed, " First Presbyterian Church. Erected 
 A. D., 1853." 
 
 The bell was purchased for the sum of $578, from the 
 proceeds of the sale of pews, on May 29, 1854. The first 
 pew was purchased by Lemuel Watts Wells, for $1,000, 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 215 
 
 The entire cost of the church, incliiding furniture, but ex- 
 cluding the ground, was $32,330. 
 
 The following persons composed the building commit- 
 tee : Ethan Flagg, Robert P. Getty, James Scrymser, John 
 Olmsted and Joseph S. Hawkins. The architect was Thos. 
 C. Cornell and the builders Messrs. Millard & Post, of 
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
 
 The debt of the church after its dedication in 1854 
 was $16,000. The building was originally constructed 
 without galleries, but these were introduced in i860, chiefly 
 to remedy a defect in the acoustics of the building. The 
 work was completed December 8, at a cost, including 
 other changes, of about $3,400. A necessary alteration 
 of these galleries and of the ceiling, completed in Octo- 
 ber, 1868, entailed a farther expenditure of $3,350; while 
 in 1869, by generous private subscription, the pulpit and 
 recess of the church were entirely remodelled at a cost 
 of $422. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Smith, in his brief review of the pastorates 
 and work of the church, spoke as follows of Dr. Seward's 
 ministrations : " During Dr. Seward's ministry, 342 per- 
 sons were received by letter from other churches of Christ, 
 and 178 were added on profession of their faith, a yearly 
 average of nearly 19 by letter and nearly 10 on profession. 
 
 "In January, 1858, eighteen members of the First 
 Church received letters of dismission, and were organized 
 on the 3d of February, by the Third Presbytery of New 
 York, into the ' Westminster Church.' 
 
 " The first period of our history that was marked by an 
 unusual religious interest occurred in 1858, a year memora- 
 ble, as many of you will recall, for a work of grace which 
 spread through the entire land, and which was distin- 
 guished by some peculiar and interesting features — notably 
 among these, the great attention given to prayer, and the 
 striking development of the spiritual power of the laity. 
 In that year 56 professed their faith in Christ in this sanc- 
 tuary. 
 
 " The next most fruitful year in this respect was 1868, 
 when 17 were added on profession; while the following 
 year, 1869, was marked by a similar addition of 15. 
 
2l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " It is a fact which strikingly illustrates the changeable 
 character of our population, that during the ministry of 
 Dr. Seward, i8i communicants were dismissed to other 
 churches, including one who was ordained to the gospel 
 ministry. This number constitutes nearly one-third of the 
 entire list as it stood at the close of his pastoral work. 
 
 " During the same time, also, 42 communicants were 
 called away by death, making the total reduction in num- 
 bers 223, and leaving on the roll, in June, 1870, 343, not 
 a few of whom, however, were no longer resident within 
 the bounds of the church. 
 
 " It is worthy of mention that the number of adults 
 baptized during the period now under review was only 1 8, 
 or about one-tenth of t];ie entire number received on profes- 
 sion ; a fact which shows that by far the greater proportion 
 of all who were so received had been members of Christian 
 households, and had been subjected in greater or less de- 
 gree to those domestic religious influences which God's 
 covenant so greatly honors, and which are so helpful to 
 every pastor. 
 
 " The children baptized by Dr. Seward number 172. 
 
 " It was just at the close of Dr. Seward's labors among 
 you that one of the most important events occurred which 
 distinguish the history of the Christian church in this land. 
 I refer to the union of the two great branches of the Pres- 
 byterian body in these United States, then popularly known 
 as the Old and New School. 
 
 " This reunion involved in its results the erection of 
 the new Synod of New York, and the Presbytery of West- 
 chester, of which latter body the church became a part on 
 the 2ist of June, 1870; the old Third Presbytery of New 
 York having then been dissolved by the reconstruction acts 
 of the Synod of New York. 
 
 " The constitution of the new pastoral relation here de- 
 volved, of course, upon the Presbytery of Westchester. 
 But before it was called to act in such a proceeding, there 
 was an interval of some months, during which the church 
 was without pastoral care. It was exactly half a year before 
 the call was extended to the present pastor, the date of it 
 being December 20, 1870. The installation, however, did 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 2\^ 
 
 not take place until the first of March, 1871. The pulpit 
 was occupied from January of that year, but your pastor 
 did not become resident among you till the end of April. 
 
 " During the interval five persons were received into 
 the communion of the church, three of them by letter, and 
 two on profession of faith, both of whom were baptized. 
 Six were dismissed to other churches, and a like number 
 were removed by death." 
 
 In regard to Rev. Dr. Smith's not completed pastorate, 
 he says in his discourse : 
 
 " Of my own ministry among you it becomes me to say 
 nothing, further than to give you those bare statistics with- 
 out which the requisite history would not be complete. 
 The present pastoral relation has now subsisted just five 
 years and four months. The whole number of additions to 
 our communion during this period has been 165, an ave- 
 rage of almost exactly 3 1 for each year. Of these, 70 have 
 been received from other churches by certificate, and 95 
 have been admitted on profession of faith ; making an 
 annual average of rather more than 1 3 by letter and nearly 
 18 on profession. The two most fruitful years in the way 
 of additions were 1874 and 1875, in each of which, besides 
 additions by letter, 31 who gave hopeful evidences of con- 
 version were received to the privileges of the church. And 
 already, during the present year, 18 have here professed 
 their faith in Christ, The number of adults I have baptized 
 on their admission to the church is 19, and the number of 
 infants baptized during my pastorate is 63. 
 
 " Since my work among you began 69 ' members have 
 left us for other churches, not a few of whom had already 
 removed and were never really under my pastoral charge ; 
 and 21 have deceased. 
 
 " Bringing now all the figures I have so far given into 
 one single statement, we find that to the original number of 
 46 communicants, 415 have been added by letter, and 275 on 
 profession, making a total, of 736. Of these, so far as 
 our records indicate, 256 have been transferred to other 
 churches and 71 have died, leaving still upon the rolls of 
 the church the names of 409 communicants. The average 
 annual addition since the church was organized have been 
 
2l8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 17 by letter, and a little over 10 by profession. The aggre- 
 gate of adult baptisms is 39, and the whole number of chil- 
 dren baptized is 235." 
 
 It was during Rev. Dr. Smith's pastorate that the first 
 manse with its grounds adjoining the church, a valuable 
 property, was purchased April 1 1, 1871. It was also during 
 that year that a Mission Chapel was erected on Nodine Hill, 
 where for some time a devotional Sunday afternoon service 
 had been carried on. The Dayspring Chapel was dedi- 
 cated April 28, 1872. After seven years of missionary labor 
 in connection with this, the Dayspring Church was organ- 
 ized by the Presbytery of Westchester on May 13, 1879. 
 Eighty-two members of the First Church received letters 
 of dismission to the new church. 
 
 We find the benevolent gifts for twenty-three years 
 amounted to $94,438, an average for each year of $4,106. 
 
 In compiling these statistics Dr. Smith said : " I have 
 freely included the private gifts of our members to estab- 
 lished Christian and charitable objects so far as these have 
 been reported, although they may not have passed through 
 the treasury of the church ; yet there are doubtless hun- 
 dreds and possibly thousands of dollars which have thus 
 been given without my knowledge, and which would mate- 
 rially swell the aggregate sums already stated. There is 
 not, however, included in this presentation a dollar of the 
 amounts expended for our own particular congregational 
 uses, which of course would reach a total of many thou- 
 sands more." 
 
 In concluding he said : " Such, dear brethren, is an 
 external view of the history which I am permitted to lay 
 before you. It appeals throughout to our deepest sense of 
 gratitude, and calls upon us to raise our hearts and voices 
 in earnest praise to Him who has given us these Successes 
 and this encouraging prosperity. 
 
 " If you miss anything from this recital, it will only be, 
 I imagine, that element in our church life which pen can- 
 not record upon paper, and to which the voice can give no 
 adequate expression. 
 
 " The self-denial so abundantly practised by the Chris- 
 tion men and women, who have been as careful to shrink 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 219 
 
 from notoriety as they have been laborious and generous 
 in times of need, deprecates and indeed forbids any per- 
 sonal and elaborate recognition. Some of those who have 
 made many sacrifices for the church in its days of early 
 need, have gone up on high to receive the approbation of a 
 Master whose lightest word infinitely outweighs the loudest 
 and most prolonged human applause. Others still remain, 
 to find new joy, I trust, in new labors for the Master. 
 
 " The revivals in the church may be described as to 
 their immediate tangible results, but who can undertake to 
 unfold their actual and far-reaching influences ? 
 
 " And who is able to tell what influences for good have 
 gone abroad from this church, as one after another has been 
 called by his Lord to go to another field, and work out the 
 principles imbibed and the impulses received in this sanc- 
 tuary ? 
 
 " I leave all these things from very necessity to your 
 own thoughts. Written history is a thread upon which 
 every man, woman, and child may hang a jewel that the 
 hand which stretched the thread could not supply ; and so 
 to you and me there is a wealth in the story of our church 
 — some of ,it yours and some of it mine — whicb makes it 
 more precious than any array of facts, however opulent, 
 can render it to a stranger." 
 
 During the summer of 1880 the chapel in the rear of 
 the church was erected. On the first floor is a lecture- 
 room, pastor's study, and session-room. All these are con- 
 veniently and attractively furnished. On the second floor 
 are rooms for the Sunday-school, the Primary Department, 
 and the library. There are two entrances to the chapel, 
 one on the south through the grounds of the manse, and 
 the other, the main entrance, on Quincy Place. 
 
 The interior of the church was at the same time 
 greatly improved and beautified, being frescoed and sup- 
 plied with stained-glass windows, the gift of William Allen 
 Butler. It was newly carpeted throughout through the 
 generosity of Charles Lockwood, and the organ gallery 
 fitted up with pews, the organ having been removed to the 
 rear of the pulpit. 
 
 A meeting of the church and congregation was held 
 
220 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 on Thursday evening, February 14, 1884, in the lecture- 
 room for the purpose of receiving a communication which 
 had been sent to the Board of Trustees by Walter W. Law, 
 Esq. This communication contained an offer by Mr. Law 
 to purchase and cancel the existing indebtedness of the 
 church, amounting to $10,000, provided the pastor's salary 
 be increased by the amount of the interest on the $10,000. 
 
 William Allen Butler was appointed chairman of the 
 meeting and J. W. Skinner secretary. 
 
 After the reading of Mr. Law's proposition it was 
 unanimously 
 
 Resolved, That this magnificent offer of Mr. Law is 
 hereby accepted and the yearly salary of Rev. John Reid, 
 pastor of this church, be increased by the amount of inter- 
 est formerly paid on the loan as long as he shall remain 
 pastor of the church and congregation, this increase to 
 date from the 15th of February, 1884. 
 
 Resolved, That the trustees of this church and congre- 
 gation carry into effect the foregoing resolution. 
 
 Thereupon the bonds were produced, certified checks 
 for the amount passed, and the bonds delivered to Mr. 
 Law. 
 
 At the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Reid that a fire was 
 burning in the study adjacent, Mr. Law took the bonds and 
 committed them to the flames in the presence of the trus- 
 tees and the pastor. 
 
 Mr. Reid then reported to the congregation that the 
 bonds had been offered up as a most acceptable burnt- 
 offering and that nothing was left of them. 
 
 Mr. Butler, the chairman, congratulated the meeting 
 on this happy result. 
 
 Mr. Law said : " It is a matter of satisfaction that my 
 proposition has been attended with such good results. It 
 is a part of our Christian faith that all our talents and 
 property, all we have and ire, belong to the Master. We 
 are commanded to use them for Him who redeemed us. I 
 should be wanting in duty if I should assume this gift as 
 from myself alone. I owe it to the instructions and prayers 
 of a blessed mother, which are always before me, that I am 
 able to give. I want also to sustain our pastor in the 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 221 
 
 preacliing of the word at this time, when there is much of 
 critical and religious doubt and scientific religion. Many 
 are leading some to doubt the existence of a Father in 
 heaven. I want to uphold one who upholds the truth. I 
 hope this will be the beginning of better days, if God gives 
 us the opportunity of doing good. Let us say, ' Not unto 
 us, but unto Thy name,be all the praise.' " 
 
 Mr. Lucius E. Clark said he thought it would be well 
 to follow up the burnt-offering with a thank-oif ering. This 
 could be in the shape of a subscription for a new manse. 
 
 At Mr. Clark's suggestion a subscription was started 
 for the purpose of building a new manse ; contributions 
 were received from fifteen persons, amounting in the 
 aggregate to $3,300, and a committee of five — Lucius E. 
 Clarkj John Watt, Alexander Halliday, William Allen 
 Butler, Jr., and Alonzo H. Johnson — were appointed to 
 solicit subscriptions to the new manse. 
 
 The following notice in regard tp this auspicious event 
 appeared in the " New York Examiner and Chronicle," the 
 organ of the Baptist Church : 
 
 " Mr. Walter W. Law, of the firm of W. & J. Sloane, 
 offered to pay the debt of $10,000 on the First Presbyterian 
 Church of Yonkers, on condition that the amount of inter- 
 est on the loan should be added to the pastor's salary. The 
 condition was promptly met, and under the influence of 
 this deed of generosity a committee was appointed to build 
 a new manse, a thing beautiful in itself and made all the 
 more beautiful in the way in which it was done and what 
 has grown out of it." 
 
 In 1884 the former manse was removed and the pres- 
 ent brick structure was erected in its stead. On the front 
 of this building is a brown stone tablet on which is in- 
 scribed, " A. D. 1884." The members of the Sunday-school 
 contributed $200 to a mantel for the manse. The church 
 property is beautifully located and is entirely free from 
 debt, 1 891. 
 
 The spacious auditorium will seat about a thousand. 
 At the annual meeting of the church and congregation 
 held in April, 1891, steps were taken towards purchasing a 
 new organ and entirely redecorating the edifice. 
 
222 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 223 
 
 The affairs of the Missionary Association, organiz;ed 
 November 2, 1871, are coniided to an executive committee 
 of twelve, composed of the six elders of the church, and 
 six members to be elected annually by the association. 
 The pastor of the church is ex-officio a member of the com- 
 mittee and president of the association. 
 
 The following gentlemen are the members of the exec- 
 utive committee of the Missionary Association having this 
 under their charge : 
 
 The Pastor, ex-officio. 
 
 L. E. Clark, W. W. Law, Chairman, 
 
 Theodore Gilman, W. R. Mott, Secretary, 
 
 Hezekiah King, W. Olmsted, Treasurer, 
 
 G. L. Morse, F. D. Blake, 
 
 R. E. Prime, W. A. Butler, Jr., 
 G. A. Chamberlin, [vacancy]. 
 
 In 1886 it was resolved to erect a mission chapel on 
 Nepperhan Avenue, north of Ashburton Avenue, in which 
 neighborhood Sunday-school and other religious services 
 had for about two years been conducted by members of the 
 church. 
 
 In May, 1887, the services of Rev. John S. Penman 
 were secured as assistant to the pastor in connection with 
 the work of Immanuel Chapel. Rev. Mr. Penman having 
 resigned in January, 1888, his resignation was accepted, 
 and in May, 1888, a call was extended to the Rev. J. Hen- 
 drik de Vries. This call was accepted, and Rev. Mr. de 
 Vries entered upon his labors as assistant to Pastor Reid, 
 and took charge of the Immanuel Chapel work in June, 
 1888. 
 
 In 1887 a beautiful crimson plush mounting was placed 
 around the galleries, and the three rows of cushioned bench 
 seats along the length of the gallery were removed, except 
 a section at the west ends next the pulpit, which remains 
 as before. 
 
 The space occupied by these three rows of seats was 
 apportioned into compartments, furnished with movable 
 chairs ; the floor is level, so that the chairs can be placed in 
 any position the sitter prefers. The compartments are 
 finely carpeted and handsomely finished. They are fur- 
 
224 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 nished with handsome oak chairs, upholstered in brown 
 leather. 
 
 There have been in this church three pastors, including 
 to date thirty-eight years of pastoral labor. They are : 
 Rev. Dwight M. Seward, D. D., May lo, 1852, to June 20, 
 1870; Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., March i, 1871, to 
 March 31, 1879; Rev. John Reid, installed November 6, 
 1879. 
 
 The total membership of the church from the begin- 
 ning has been 1,333. The number of communicants at 
 present is 591 ; 483 have been received during the present 
 pastorate — 222 on profession and 261 by certificate. 
 
 Rev. John Reid, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church, youngest son of Robert and Jean Wallace Reid, 
 was born in St. John, N. B., November 19, 1850. His 
 parents were both of Scotch birth. He attended the 
 public schools of New York city and prepared for college 
 at the University Grammar School under Moses M. Hobby. 
 He entered the University of the City of New York in the 
 fall of 1866, was graduated in June, 1870, entered Princeton 
 Theological Seminary in the fall of 1 870, graduating there- 
 from in April, 1873. He was licensed to preach by the 
 Presbytery of Morris and Orange and ordained by them 
 May 6, 1873. After two brief pastorates, which were both 
 made short by illness in his family, he was installed pastor 
 of the First Presbyterian Church at Hoboken, N. J., where 
 he remained for three years. From there he was called 
 to this church and was installed as its pastor November 6, 
 1879. He was moderator of the Presbytery of Jersey City 
 in 1876, was a commissioner to the General Assembly of 
 1877, held in Chicago, and also to that of 1884, held in 
 Saratoga, and to the Presbyterian Centennial Assembly 
 held in the city of Philadelphia, May, 1888, of which he 
 was made first temporary clerk. He was also appointed 
 one of the representatives of the Presbyterian Church by 
 that Assembly, to the Alliance of the Reformed Churches 
 holding- the Presbyterian System which was held in Exeter 
 Hall, London, July, 1888. The degree of Doctor of Di- 
 vinity was conferred upon him by the University of the 
 City of New York, Jtine 14, 1888, and he was elected a 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 225 
 
 member of the Council of that University, November 9, 
 1889. Rev. Dr. Reid is possessed of gifts which make a 
 strong preacher; With a vivacious intellect well culti- 
 vated and stored with knowledge, his sermons show pains- 
 taking preparation and are models of choice language, 
 being enriched with gleanings from his extensive reading's. 
 They may be characterized as spiritual, the aim of them 
 being to set forth the inner sense of the Word of God, 
 realizing that it is the Spirit which maketh alive. 
 
 His style is elegant and finished, his oratory is grace- 
 ful and effective, his manner is marked by a calm persua- 
 siveness and the dignity of self-control, always regarding 
 the sanctity of the pulpit. This is noticeable in the mo- 
 ments of his most fervent eloquence. Loyal to Christ and 
 his Gospel, he is ready to defend the right as it is given him 
 to know it. 
 
 As a pastor he is faithful and tender, extending his 
 personal ministrations where they are most needed as well 
 as where they are most welcome. 
 
 The standing he has attained where he is best known, 
 and the strong friends he has made, are but an index to 
 the faithful manner in which he has wrought in God's 
 vineyard. During Dr. Reid's incumbency there have been 
 added to the church membership 483, and more than $200,- 
 000 have been contributed to congregational and benevo- 
 lent purposes. 
 
 A commodious chapel has been added to the church, a 
 substantial and beautiful manse erected, and a mission 
 chapel built. The increased membership and large attend- 
 ance of the congregation attest the acceptability of his 
 pastorate. By the request of his congregation. Dr. Reid 
 wears a Geneva gown in his pulpit ministrations. 
 
 On Thursday .evening November 7, 1889, the ladies of 
 the Missionary Society of the church tendered a reception 
 in observance of the tenth anniversary of Rev. Dr. John 
 Reid's installation as pastor. The attendance was large 
 and the pleasures of the evening were continuous. During 
 the evening Dr. Reid was presented with a $1,000 bond as 
 a gift from his people. William Allen Butler made the 
 presentation speech and said : 
 
 Sunday-sclLool Work. 1 1^ 
 
226 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " The object that has brought us together is of interest 
 to all. Ten years is a long time in the history of this 
 church. We have. been greatly favored, in the past, in all 
 the pastors who have served the church. It is not often a 
 layman has an opportunity to publicly talk to his pastor. 
 This is my first opportunity in ten years, and I shall be 
 careful, for I know not what may come during the next 
 ten years. I think the preaching we have had during the 
 last ten years will compare with that from any pulpit in 
 the land. I think I can safely say that we have been in- 
 terested, edified, and profited. Mr. Reid came to us a 
 young man. He was subjected to that criticism always 
 bestowed on one in so public a position. He fairly won 
 our confidence, esteem, and affection." 
 
 Dr. Reid responded in a very humorous vein, and in 
 closing said : 
 
 "This is not the first time I have received loving 
 tokens of affection from this people. It is with the full- 
 ness of love and with all my heart that I say 'Thank 
 you !' May God's blessing cement the ties that bind 
 pastor and people together." 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH FROM THE ORGANIZATION.' 
 Ruling Elders. 
 
 Lemuel W. Wells, Ralph E. Prime, 
 
 Samuel S. Barry, Charles Lockwood, 
 
 Samuel D. Rockwell, William A. Gibson, 
 
 Josiah Rich, Augustus Cruikshank, 
 
 William C. Foote, John W. Skinner,t 
 
 Hudson Kinsley, M. D., Walter W. Law, 
 
 Jesse H. Tyler, Gabriel P. Reevs, 
 
 William G. West, Lucius E. Clark, 
 
 Stephen H. Thayer, Theodore Gilman, 
 
 Jonathan F. Travis, Walter Graves, 
 
 Richard Wynkoop, G. Livingstone Morse,* 
 George A. Chamberlin. 
 
 * Deceased January 12, 1891. 
 
 t Extract from the Annual Report, 1889, of the Children's Aid Society 
 of New York : " Mr. Skinner was one of those who lived 'in Christ,' and 
 spent his life for the poorest of New York. He was superintendent of the 
 Industrial Schools of the Children's Aid Society, which place he had filled 
 for twenty-two years, having under his charge in the course of the year, 
 about 10,000 diiferent children, in 21 day-schools and 14 night-schools, with 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 22/ 
 
 Deacons. 
 Duncan MacFarlane, John Thomson, 
 
 John Nairn, Patrick Kelly, 
 
 Ralph Shipman, John W. Rockwell, 
 
 William Thompson, Evert B. Schoonmaker, 
 
 Clinton M. Davis, G. Livingstone Morse, 
 
 Richard Wynkoop, Robert M. Reevs, 
 
 Thomas H. Cuthell, Alonzo H. Johnson, 
 
 Thomas Adam. 
 
 The present officers of the church are as follows : 
 
 • Ruling Elders. 
 
 L. E. Clark, R. E. Prime, 
 
 T. Oilman, G. A. Chamberlin. 
 
 H. King, Clerk and Treasurer. 
 
 Deacons. 
 John Thomson, R. M. Reevs, 
 
 E. B. Schoonmaker, Thomas Adam. 
 
 J. Thomson, Clerk and Treasurer. 
 
 Trustees. 
 
 W. F. Nisbet, Pres. G. A. Chamberlin, Sec. W. Olmsted, Treas. 
 
 John Jardine, W. B. Strang, Adoniram Clark, 
 
 H. H. Thayer, Geo. A. Flagg, J. G. Beemer. 
 
 Members of the Music Committee appointed by the 
 church session : 
 
 The Pastor, Chairman, W. W. Ellsworth, 
 
 Wells Olmsted, Sec. and Treas. Perit C. Myers. 
 
 The following persons, assisted by a chorus of sixteen 
 largely from the membership of the church, composed the 
 choir: Albert E. Greenhalgh, Organist and Conductor; 
 Mrs. A< E. Greenhalgh, Soprano ; Mrs. P. C. Myers, Con- 
 tralto ; Harry Rawcliffe, Tenor ; Frank E. De Frate, Basso. 
 
 more than loo teachers. Every teacher of the large force of the Society 
 has looked upon Mr. Skinner as her personal friend, and the schools were 
 filled with tearful children at the news of his departure. The most touch- 
 ing offering at his funeral was his own chair filled with roses, a gift of the 
 little wandering Italians of the West Side, as if they would say that ' after 
 this no one was worthy to occupy this seat.' Amid all the grief at his 
 death, no tears were so sincere and heartfelt as those among the outcast 
 
 and destitute children of this great city His special qualities were 
 
 faithfulness, disinterestedness, and universal courtesy to others, traits 
 which sprang especially from the deep well of piety of his own heart. He 
 leaves the memories of a life crowned with usefulness, filled with the 
 service of humanity, glorified by patient and disinterested labors, and over- 
 flowing with the love of Christ and of God." 
 
228 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 This choir was succeeded in May, 1 891, by a boy choir of 
 about twenty-five members under the direction of Mr. 
 Le Jeune, of St. John's Church, New York, with Mr. Felix 
 Lamond as organist. 
 
 The organ now in use was built by Hall & Labaugh 
 in 1854, at a cost (as nearly as can be ascertained from the 
 records) of $2,000. It was remodeled by George W. Earle 
 in 1876, at an expense of $1,475. 
 
 The ushers are Messrs. J. E. Jardine and H. G. 
 Waring. • 
 
 The Ladies' Missionary Association of the church was 
 organized in 1882 and is composed of three branches, repre- 
 senting the Home, the Foreign, and the Local mission 
 work of the church. Its first officers were : Miss Mary M. 
 Butler, President ; Mrs. William Allen Butler, Miss Mari- 
 etta Flagg, Miss Anna H. Satterlee, Vice-Presidents ; Miss 
 Kate S. Hawley, Secretary, Miss F. L. Upham, Treasurer. 
 
 The Helping Hand was organized in the fall of 1 887. 
 
 The present ofiicers of the Ladies' Missionary Associa- 
 tion, April, 1 891, are as follows: Mrs. F. D. Blake, Presi- 
 dent; Mrs. G. H. Chamberlin, Mrs,T. M. Lyall, Miss A. H. 
 Satterlee, Vice-Presidents; Miss Kate S. Hawley, Secre- 
 tary; Miss Maria Ewing, Treasurer; Mrs. G. B. Balch, 
 Missionary Visitor. It has a membership of 127. It raised 
 for home, foreign, and local work in 1888-1889, $1,104 83, 
 and in 1889-1890, $1,160. 
 
 SCHEME OF THE BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 
 
 CHURCH. 
 
 Collections are made, on the morning of the first Lord's Day in the 
 month. 
 
 April, - - Aid for Colleges and Academies. 
 
 May, - Education for the Ministry. 
 
 June, Bible Society. 
 
 July. - Sustentation. 
 
 August, - Publication. 
 
 September, - Freedman. 
 
 October, American Tract Society. 
 
 November, - - - Home Missions. 
 
 December; - - Ministerial Relief. 
 
 January, - - Foreign Missions. 
 
 February, - - Church Erection. 
 
 March, - - Immanuel Chapel. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 229 
 
 The first pulpit Bible of this church is now used as the 
 chapel Bible. On the cover is inscribed: " First Presby- 
 terian Church." On the fly leaf is written : " Presented by 
 John Davidson, Yonkers, May 21, 185 1." 
 
 The present pulpit Bible is a very handsome one. It 
 is an Oxford Bible and contains the Apocrypha. On the 
 cover is inscribed : " First Presbyterian Church." It was a 
 present from Philetus H. Holt, May 24, 1854. 
 
 The communion table was presented by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Richard W. Bogart. It bears this inscription in raised let- 
 ters : " This do in remembrance of me." 
 
 The baptismal font was the gift of Mrs. William Allen 
 Butler and it has inscribed thereon : " One Lord, one faith, 
 one baptism." 
 
 Peter H. Havey has been the efficient sexton of this 
 church for the past seven years, prior to which he was the 
 assistant to William H. Veitch, who was the sexton for 
 several years. 
 
 CALENDAR OF CHURCH SERVICES. 
 
 Divine service on the Lord's day at 10:45 A. M. and 4 p. M. 
 ' Sabbath-school at 9:30 A. M. 
 
 Beginning September 4 the hour of morning service is 
 at II o'clock; Sabbath-school, 9:45. 
 
 Weekly service of prayer and praise on Wednesday, at 
 8 P. M. 
 
 The sacrament of the Lord's Stopper on the last Lord's 
 day in January, March, May, July, September, and Novem- 
 ber, in the afternoon. 
 
 Service preparatory to the Lord's Supper, on the 
 Wednesday preceding, at 8 P. M. 
 
 Public baptism of infants on the morning of the Lord's 
 day next succeeding the communion. 
 
 The regular meeting of the church session is held on 
 the first Monday of each month, at 8 P. M. The meeting 
 for admitting members to the church, at the clos^ of each 
 preparatory service. 
 
 The annual meeting of the church for the election of 
 elders and deacons is held on the Wednesday evening next 
 succeeding the second Lord's day in March. 
 
230 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The annual meeting of the church and congregation 
 for the election of trustees and other business is held on 
 the Wednesday evening next succeeding the first Lord's 
 day in May. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This school, the ninth in order of the Sunday-schools 
 of Yonkers, was organized in September, 1852. Lemuel 
 Watts Wells arid Duncan Macfarlane were prominent lead- 
 ers in this new enterprise, and much of the success and 
 prosperity of the school in the early days of its history, 
 were due to the zeal and efficiency of these veteran Sun- 
 day-school workers. The first session of the school was 
 held in the Getty Lyceum, a public hall in the Getty House 
 (which was built in 185 1-2 by Robert P. Getty), located on 
 the southeast corner of Mechanic Street (now New Main 
 Street) and South Broadway. 
 
 Lemuel Watts Wells was the first superintendent, and 
 the following persons, so far as can be ascertained, were 
 among the teachers who taught in the Getty Lyceum : 
 Samuel S. Barry, Ralph Shipman, Ethan Flagg, Dr. 
 Levi W. Flagg, Samuel D. Rockwell,* Miss Lucy Flagg, 
 Mrs. William L. Atwater, Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Under- 
 wood. 
 
 The school was held at nine o'clock in the morning 
 and numbered between fifty and sixty scholars. It contin- 
 ued to meet in this hall until the lecture-room in the base- 
 ment of the church edifice on North Broadway (now the 
 corner of Quincy Place and North Broadway) was com- 
 pleted. May 24, 1854. 
 
 * Samuel Darling Rockwell entered into the rest that remaineth for 
 the people of God, on Friday, March 23, 1888. Mr. Rockwell was born in 
 Ridgefield, Conn., January 23, 1810. In 1845 he came to Yonkers and 
 erected a dwelling house on North Broadway, where the Presbyterian 
 manse now stands. Mr. Rockwell was always intimately connected with 
 all schemes for public improvement and was one of the founders of the 
 Yonkers Sajfings Bank, and became its cashier. He was also especially 
 interested in the welfare of the public schools. He was one of the found- 
 ers of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was an honored and 
 esteemed member. Mr. Rockwell was chosen ruling elder in this church 
 in 1854, and faithfully served the church in this capacity until July, 1876, 
 with the exception of four years, from 1867 to 1871. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 23 1 
 
 The superintendent, Lemuel W. Wells, taught a class 
 ■when the school met in the Getty Lyceum, also Miss Mc- 
 Williams and Rev. Henry M. Baird (now Rev. H. M. Baird, 
 D. D.). The latter having returned in the summer of 1853 
 from a trip to Greece and Italy, resumed charge of the class 
 of girls he had before taught in the Reformed Dutch 
 Church Sunday-school, at the request of the scholars, who 
 were Misses Mary E. Macfarlane, Anna Cantrell, Mary E. 
 Mott, Sadie and Frances Rockwell, the latter being the late 
 Mrs. John H. Riker. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Baird taught this class until he went to be 
 tutor in Princeton College, where he remained for four 
 years — 1855-59. From the time he returned to Yonkers 
 again (having been appointed professor in the New York 
 University in 1859) ^^ ^^^ Bible classes, at one time for 
 young men, and at another for young ladies. The mem- 
 bers of the last class which he taught, in 1883, were Misses 
 Harriet Butler, S. Hermance, Daniels, M. Stewart, Belle 
 Ewing, J. Edgar, Mary Ketcham, Marcia Flagg (now Mrs. 
 Charles H. Butler), and Julia' Baird. Some of the mem- 
 bers of this class are now teachers either in the home or 
 mission school connected with this church, while others of 
 his former classes are filling positions of responsibility and 
 usefulness in other fields of labor. 
 
 The school during its early history was noted for the 
 large number of its adult Bible-classes, Rev. W. W. Rand 
 {now Rev. Dr. Rand), Dr. Kingsley, Benjamin Mason, and 
 George W. Francis* teaching classes either of young men 
 or young ladies. 
 
 * George W. Francis entered into life eternal from his home in Yon- 
 kers on Tuesday afternoon, May i, 1888. He was born at Pittsfield, Mass., 
 September 29, 1799. After being graduated from Williams College in 1826 
 he studied law and was admitted to practice in 1829. In 1845 he came to 
 Yonkers and took charge of a school for boys. He remained the success- 
 ful teacher of this school until i860, when he finally retired from his profes- 
 sion as teacher and entered into business. He was one of the original 
 members of the First Presbyterian Church and for a brief period a teacher 
 in its Sunday-school. After his withdrawal from the Sunday-school he 
 taught a class of young men who were connected with his school which 
 met at his residence. Mr. Francis was a regular attendant at the church 
 prayer-meeting so long as his health permitted. He was one of the few 
 ■who are evergreens in the church and who always stand by its lamp when 
 
232 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Lemuel W. Wells resigned the superintendency of 
 this school and was succeeded by Josiah Rich. 
 
 After his retirement Mr. Wells continued his connec- 
 tion with the school for a number of years, taking charge 
 of a Bible-class, his final withdrawal being occasioned by 
 his failure in health. He ever manifested a warm interest 
 in the work and workers, often encouraging them with his 
 presence in the school and his kind and cheery greetings. 
 He was suddenly summoned into the " presence of the 
 King" in the "New Jerusalem," September ii, 1861, leav- 
 ing behind him a bright and enduring record, not only in. 
 connection with the church and school which he so fondly 
 loved, but as a public citizen as well. He was a man of 
 great geniality in his daily life and one " whom the world 
 did not willingly let die." 
 
 Rev. Wm. C. Foote succeeded Mr. Rich as superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 The order of exercises at the fifth anniversary of the 
 school held in the church on Sunday afternoon, January 
 30, 1859, was as follows : 
 
 Chant by the school. The Lord's Prayer. Prayer. 
 Report of the superintendent, Wm. C. Foote. Singing,. 
 "Sabbath Morning." Address. Singing, "Joyful Ti- 
 dings." Address. Singing, " Rest for the Weary." Prayer. 
 Singing, " The New Jerusalem." Benediction. 
 
 The superintendent in his report dates the anniversary 
 of this school from the time it entered into the basement 
 of this church in 1854, instead of the date of its organiza- 
 tion, in September, 1852. 
 
 Extracts from Superintendent Foote 's report, May, 1862: 
 
 "The past year has been one of progress in many 
 respects, and also one of privilege. It surely is a great 
 privilege to have the treasure of God's truth so richly be- 
 stowed upon us. We have had the opportunity of study- 
 ing its counsels ' with none to molest or make us afraid.' 
 It has not been so in all parts of our land. Large sections, 
 even whole States, have been devastated by the destruct- 
 ive scourge of war. Families and communities have been 
 
 burning the lowest, praying that its oil may not fail. He was a comfort 
 and a blessing to the churches with which he was connected. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 233 
 
 driven out from their homes and made wanderers. Deso^ 
 lation such as we can hardly understand has swept over 
 them. Even the sanctuaries of God have been destroyed 
 or turned to other uses than the sacred purposes for which 
 they were designed. 
 
 " We would remember here especially one of our older 
 scholars, Charles W. Foster, who always loved to be with 
 us, and though coming up to- manhood did not forsake the 
 privileges of the Sabbath-school. He gratefully remem- 
 bers them still, and though now deprived of them and in 
 the midst of temptations, he records his testimony in behalf 
 of the blessed truth he here studied. He heard his coun- 
 try's call and nobly responded to its summons, and is now 
 with that mighty host, we trust heaven called and heaven 
 defended, which shall soon restore union and peace to our 
 now distracted and bleeding country. We shall gladly 
 welcome his return to enjoy with us the blessings of an 
 established government."* 
 
 The secretary's report of this year is as follows; 
 " Whole number of teachers on record, 28 ; average attend- 
 ance of scholars, 160; average attendance of teachers, 20- 
 whole number of Scripture verses learned as reported, 
 37,168 ; largest number of scholars in attendance, 198 ; larg- 
 est number of teachers in attendance, 28 ; smallest number 
 of scholars, 97 ; smallest number of teachers, 15." 
 
 Jesse H. Tyler served as secretary of this school for a 
 number of years. He also took the place of both the 
 superintendent and his assistant during the temporary 
 
 * The brave boys who went out from this school to engage in the 
 defence of our country in the time of its peril in the late war of the rebel- 
 lion were : Victor M. Macfarlane ; Stephen H. Struthers, the assistant sec- 
 retary, who returned after a brief absence ; George S. Rockwell, son of 
 Samuel D. Rockwell, who was killed at the battle of Stone River, Mur- 
 freesborough, Tenn., in 1863; Edward Tyler, son of Jesse H. Tyler, and 
 George Cable, also killed in that war, as well as Charles W. Foster, whose 
 remains were brought home and interred in the family plot in St. John's 
 Cemetery. This school honors the memory of these young patriots, these 
 departed heroes. The service they once rendered can never be forgotten. 
 Indebtedness such as is owed them can never be cancelled. The sacrifice 
 of their lives for the nation's honor and the preservation of the Union can 
 never be overrated, for the work they accomplished was for coming gener- 
 ations. 
 
234 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 absence of those officials. All of these offices he filled with 
 great acceptance. He was greatly beloved for his "St. 
 John-like spirit," which endeared him to all warm-hearted 
 Christians. His pastor, Rev. Dr. Smith, in his mention of 
 the officers and their work in connection with this church 
 said, " It was my pleasant privilege to know him when a 
 student for the ministry. By his lamentable death the 
 church lost an amiable, judicious, and faithful officer, whose 
 name it loves to honor among the worthies of its commu- 
 nion." 
 
 Mr. Tyler was suddenly summoned from his earthly 
 work on March lo, 1863, to enter upon some higher service 
 and grander work in the " city which is above." " And 
 there shall be no more curse : but the throne of God and of 
 the Lamb shall be in it ; and his servants shall serve 
 him." Rev. 22 : 3. 
 
 The secretary's report for May, 1 864, showed : whole 
 number of scholars on record, 209 ; whole number of teach- 
 ers, 32 ; average attendance of scholars, 187 ; average attend- 
 ance of teachers, 28 ; whole number of verses learned, 54,- 
 307 ; largest number of scholars in attendance, 196; largest 
 number of teachers in attendance, 30 ; smallest number of 
 scholars, 109; smallest number of teachers, 15. 
 
 The officers of this school in May, 1 804, were : Wm. C. 
 Foote, Superintendent ; Edgar Strang, Secretary ; Stephen 
 R. Struthers, Assistant Secretary ; Lemuel Wells, Libra- 
 rian; Stephen H. Thayer, Jr., and Julius T. Rockwell, 
 Assistant Librarians. 
 
 The tenth anniversary of the school was held in the 
 church on Sunday afternoon. May 14, 1864, at three o'clock. 
 
 The order of exercises was as follows : Singing, " The 
 Children's Army Song." Prayer by the pastor. Rev. D. M. 
 Seward, D. D. Reports of the superintendent and secre- 
 tary. Singing, " Open Wide the Golden Gate." Address 
 by Ralph Wells, Esq. Singing, " Beautiful Zion." Address 
 by the pastor. Singing, " The True Succession." 
 
 During Mr. Foote's superintendency special attention 
 was given by the teachers to the memorizing of Scripture 
 texts. They were aided in this essential part of Sunday- 
 school instruction by the earnest and hearty cooperation of 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 235 
 
 not only the superintendent, but the parents of the chil- 
 dren as well, and it is worthy of record that the committal 
 of the Bible was not made with the expectation of reward. 
 
 The school contributed $200 annually towards the sup~ 
 port of a missionaiy in the home field. 
 
 The following extracts are taken from the school rec- 
 ord book ; 
 
 " In April, 1864, the children contributed towards pur- 
 chasing a new piano. 
 
 "Sunday, May 15, 1864, Mr. Foote introduced the new 
 superintendent, Stephen H. Thayer. 
 
 "May 22, 1864. Rev. Mr. Rand, in behalf of the 
 school, offered pleasant resolutions expressing their regrets 
 at the loss of their old superintendent, W. C. Foote, thank- 
 ing him for his valuable services. They were unanimously 
 adopted, and on motion it was resolved that the proceed- 
 ings should be recorded at length. Rev. Dr. Seward also 
 expressed his great regret at the loss of the superintend- 
 ent and bore testimony to his efficient and faithful services 
 in the school. 
 
 " After Mr. Foote's resignation he continued to teach 
 in the school for several years." 
 
 Rev. W. W. Rand was the leader of vocal and instru- 
 mental music in this school for several years. 
 
 Miss Margaret Morrison (now Mrs. Albert Putnam) 
 had charge of the Primary Department, numbering sixty 
 pupils, which met in a very pleasant room adjoining the 
 Sunday-school in the basement of the church. The rec- 
 ollections of the pupils of this class, now grown to woman- 
 hood and manhood, of the time spent with their teacher, 
 and her interesting talks to them, are delightful. 
 
 The secretary's book contains this entry under date of 
 Sunday, May 22, 1864: "The new superintendent, Mr. 
 Thayer, entered upon his duties and made his inaugural 
 speech." 
 
 During Mr. Thayer's superintendency special atten- 
 tion was given and preparation made to have the monthly 
 concerts held by the school pleasant and profitable. To 
 this end interesting speakers were secured. 
 
 Not a little of the success and prosperity of the school 
 
236 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 at that time were due to the energy and efficiency of the 
 superintendent's family. His wife had charge of the infant 
 class, which numbered sixty pupils, his daughter and his 
 son Horace were teachers, and his son Stephen H. Thayer, 
 Jr. (now Judge Thayer), was the librarian, and subse- 
 quently became the secretary and treasurer for several 
 years. His son-in-law, Rev. H. Kingsbury, was the leader 
 of the singing. 
 
 While Mr. Kingsbury was connected with the school 
 he compiled, assisted by A. A. Graley, M. D., the Sunday- 
 school music book entitled " Happy Voices," which was 
 published by the American Tract Society and was very- 
 popular, having a large circulation. Many of the tunes 
 and some of the hymns were composed by him. This 
 singing book was introduced into the school in March, 
 1865. 
 
 It was also during Mr. Kingsbury's connection with 
 the school that he prepared for the ministry, 
 
 The school under this superintendent continued to 
 retain its larger scholars. Among the teachers who had 
 classes numbering from twelve to fifteen pupils were Mrs. 
 Hanks, Mrs. Jesse Tyler, Miss Clara L. Okell, Miss C. M. 
 Strang, Miss L. E. Seward (now the wife of Rev. W. H. 
 Gleason, D. E).), Richard Wynkoop, Wm. C. Foote, E. B. 
 Schoonmaker, and Charles Lockwood, the latter having' 
 taught classes of boys and girls. The members of his last 
 class of 1 87 1 were Miss Josephine Sawyer, Miss Eldora 
 Davis (now Mrs. Thomas W. Radford), Miss Isabella M. 
 Shipman (now Mrs. John S. Karr), Miss Lucy Earl, Miss 
 Sarah Clark, Miss Fannie W. Shipman (now Mrs. Samuel 
 M. Wilson), Miss Mary E. Morris (now Mrs. John J. Litte- 
 brandt). Miss Mary E. Littebrandt (now Mrs. A. D. Dor- 
 ward), Miss Carlese Simpson (now Mrs. William R. Mott), 
 Miss Ella Coles, and Miss Rachel Archer (now Mrs. John 
 F. Thompson), all of whom, with one exception, became 
 communicants of the church under his instruction. 
 
 This class met in the square pew in the southwest cor- 
 ner of the church, there being no room for them in the 
 Sunday-school room. Between this teacher and his class 
 there existed a real affection, for he manifested almost 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 237 
 
 a parental anxiety for their proficiency and welfare, and 
 his faithful and practical instructions are recalled with ap- 
 preciation. Said one of his pupils : " I remember Mr. 
 Lockwood's teaching in this one particular. After we be- 
 came members of the church he constantly talked to us of 
 the responsibilities we had assumed and what was required 
 of us. He used to give and loan us books which were help- 
 ful to us in our Christian life. His ideas of questionable 
 amusements were clear and decided, and he endeavored to 
 teach us that there was no room for the church and the 
 world to travel side by side. Some of us used sometimes 
 to think him almost too strict on this point, but now that I 
 have myself a family of boys and girls to train I fully real- 
 ize the value of his instructions." 
 
 The following are extracts from the secretary's record 
 book: 
 
 " May, 1 866. — The Scripture lesson was omitted to-day 
 and the time was occupied by prayer for God's blessing on 
 the school, and in earnest and pointed appeals to the chil- 
 dren, urging immediate attention to their eternal interests. 
 Remarks were made by Messrs. C. Lockwood, William C. 
 Foote, Mr. Littlebrant, Rev. Dr. Rand, anci Dr. Seward. 
 Fervent prayers were offered by them. 
 
 " May 1866. — Communion Sunday. Miss C. L. Okell, a 
 teacher, Margaret and Jennie Burns and E. P. Baird united 
 with the church from the Sunday-school." . ' 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1866 was held on Friday 
 evening at 7 : 30 oclock in the Sunday-school room. The 
 exercises were opened by prayer by the pastor, Rev. 
 Dr. Seward, which was followed by a song written by one 
 of the teachers and arranged to the air of " Tramp, tramp, 
 tramp," by Mr. H. Kingsbury. Addresses were made by 
 William A. Gibson, Dr. Seward, and by the superintendent, 
 who delivered a rhyming address which greatly delighted 
 the children. 
 
 -The Christmas Carol "With Joy the Angels Sing," 
 followed. Then the infant class, under the direction of 
 Mrs. S. H. Thayer, recited in correct concert the i2ist 
 Psalm. The religious exercises closed with an original 
 song written for the occasion by the Superintendent, Ste- 
 
238 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 phen H. Thayer, tlie air of wtiich was sent from Rome, 
 Italy, by the composer, Mr. H. Kingsbury, who wrote it for 
 this festival, and which was, by request, repeated at a sub- 
 sequent Christmas festival. 
 
 The exercises were more than usually pleasant. The 
 musical part was conducted by the new organist, Mr. 
 Brown, who led the singing, and Miss Helen Foote, who 
 presided at the piano. The distribution of gifts by the 
 dear good saint, Santa Claus, ended the festivities of the 
 joyous and memorial festival. 
 
 October 4, 1868. Rev. Dr. Rand read an interesting 
 and appreciative letter from a Sunday-school in Virginia, 
 acknowledging the gift of a library from class No. 15. 
 
 This class was taught by E. Y. Bell, and the boys that 
 contributed this gift were : George E. Upham, William C. 
 Thayer, Frederick Shears, Chauncey Gouch, Bradford Otis, 
 G. B. Calem, I. Harriott, Edward Hill, Frank Simpson, and 
 Charles Tyler. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Seward manifested a very deep interest in 
 the work of the Sunday-school, rarely failing to be present 
 at its sessions either at the opening or closing exercises. 
 He was also always present, if not unavoidably detained, 
 at the monthly concert, taking part in the exercises. He 
 was the faithful loving shepherd of the children of this 
 fold for eighteen years, resigning his charge June 20, 
 1870. ' . ■ , 
 
 Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., in his historical dis- 
 course of this church makes mention of Dr. Seward's min- 
 isterial labors in connection with the church as follows : 
 
 " In thus noting the brief statistics which I have been 
 enabled to gather from the records of Dr. Seward's minis- 
 try, I am deeply sensible of the fact that they exhibit very 
 imperfectly, as all such statistics must, the fidelity of a 
 Christian pastor and the subtle influences which secure 
 him a deep place in the affections of his people. I knew 
 Dr. Seward for years as his co-presbyter, and readily 
 learned to respect him for his personal worth and his min- 
 isterial ability and devotion. But to you, amidst whom he 
 labored so long as a teacher, a helper in trial, a sympa- 
 thizing and tender friend in seasons of afflictions, a par- 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 239 
 
 taker in your joys, a supporter of the aged and weary, a 
 kind and gentle guide of the young — to you his best testi- 
 mony is written on your hearts, or laid away with those 
 sacred feelings and associations of the past with which a 
 a stranger cannot intermeddle. I have no fear that his 
 work will be forgotten. And yet that work can never fully 
 be known until its ripe and perfect fruit is displayed in the 
 church triumphant above." 
 
 J. Fowler Travis succeeded Mr. Thayer as superin- 
 tendent in 1868, and was followed in turn by William -A. 
 Gibson, John W. Skinner, and E. Y. Bell. The latter 
 writes, under date of October 3, 1887, concerning the school 
 under his superintendency and that of William A. Gibson : 
 
 " I wish I could give you the required information of 
 the time I served as superintendent, treasurer, and secre- 
 tary of the school. William A. Gibson was my immediate 
 predecessor as superintendent. I distinctly remember that 
 during my administration the school was in a most flour- 
 ishing condition, that during the years Mr. Gibson and 
 myself were at the head, our missionary contributions were 
 large and no doubt the largest of any school of that time 
 in Yonkers. The number of teachers in active service 
 each Sunday under my term of superintendency, was up- 
 wards of thirty, and I remember how often the teachers 
 met together in social and Christian intercourse at my 
 home. These social meetings contributed largely to the 
 school's unity of work and the building up of the church. 
 During Mr. Gibson's and my terms of office, the member- 
 ship of the church received an increased accession from 
 the Sunday-school. 
 
 " Looking back from over twelve to fifteen years, I can- 
 not recall all the beloved teachers and assistants who gen- 
 erously helped me in the blessed work, yet I remember 
 their manly and womanly devotion to the cause. My dear 
 old and valued friend Mott, who faithfully labored with 
 me, I have very pleasant recollections of. 
 
 " My connection with the First Presbyterian Sunday- 
 school dates back to my fifteenth year and ended when I 
 left Yonkers in 1 874. 
 
 " I am glad you are engaged in the work you outline. I 
 
240 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 have delightful recollections of my early and later connec- 
 tion with the Sunday-school interests of Yonkers. 
 
 " I am yours very truly, E. Y. Bell." 
 
 G. Livingstone Morse was elected superintendent of 
 the school April, 1874, and served two years. After his 
 resignation he served as assistant-superintendent to the 
 pastor. Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., and also had charge 
 of the infant class for several months. The building fund 
 towards the erection of the new chapel was started at his 
 suggestion, the Sunday-school contributing $10 as a nest- 
 egg for this new enterprise. Mr. Morse also suggested the 
 dividing of the Christmas exercises into two gatherings — 
 the religious exercises to be held on Sunday of Christmas 
 week, and the presents to be given upon a week day pre- 
 ceding the Sabbath, or immediately following Christmas 
 day. This pleasant custom has been retained as a distinct 
 feature of the school to this time. 
 
 A very pleasant Christmas festival was held on Sun- 
 day afternoon in 1875 in the church, when the above men- 
 tioned order of exercises was first observed. After the 
 singing of Christmas carols and Scripture recitations, A. D. 
 F. Randolph, after a few introductory remarks appropriate 
 to the occasion, closed his pleasant talk with a poem writ- 
 ten for that festival entitled, " The Night Swept Cool o'er 
 Bethlehem's Plain." 
 
 The secretary's repdrt for June, 1875, shows : Number 
 of officers, 4 ; number of teachers, 26 ; number of pupils, 
 108 ; number of pupils in infant class, 30 ; total, 168. 
 
 The following is from a printed report of the Sunday- 
 school in the centennial year, February, 1876: Officers, 5; 
 teachers, 29 ; scholars on register, 160 ; average attendance, 
 131; largest attendance, 200 ; number in infant class, 30 ; 
 conversions, 7 ; volumes in library, 450 ; receipts, $464 1 5 ; 
 expenditure for general expenses of school and Christmas 
 festival, $365 02 ; donations for missionary purposes, 
 $262 50. 
 
 The officers of this school are : G. Livingstone Morse, 
 Superintendent; W. W. Law, Assistant-Superintendent; 
 W. R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer; J. E. Andrus, Li- 
 brarian ; J. Eddy, Musical Director. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 241 
 
 Tlie teachers are : Miss Kate Willard, Miss Jennie 
 Skinner, Miss Anna Shipman, Miss Marietta Flagg, Miss 
 Julia F. Randolph, Miss Annie McCuUough, Miss Annie 
 Kellogg, Miss C. M. Strang, Miss M. J. Miller, Miss Hattie 
 Smith, Miss Kate Nichols, Miss Lucy Olmsted, Miss E. 
 F. Randolph, Miss Ada M. Daughaday, Miss Isabel Ship- 
 man, Miss Emily Rice, Miss Bain, Mrs. T. R. Smith, Mrs. 
 F. P. Brown, Messrs. W. B. Strang, J. W. Rockwell, J. W. 
 Skinner, S. P. Holmes, W. C. Foote, H. H. Thayer, Allen 
 Taylor, William Worden, Salter S. Clark, Augustus Cruik- 
 shank, E. Y. Bell, Dr. G. Balch, and Mrs. G. Balch. 
 
 The pastor of the church. Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., 
 assumed the charge of the school as its superintendent, 
 April 30, 1876, and served until March 30, 1879. During 
 his superintendency there were several large accessions 
 from the Sunday-school to the communion of the church. 
 
 The following entries are taken from the school record 
 book: 
 
 February 1878. — Report of the secretary of the school 
 to the county secretary : Whole number of officers and 
 teachers, 29 ; whole number of pupils, 199 ; infant class, 20 ; 
 amount contributed, $220. 
 
 March 30, 1879. — Rev. Dr. T. Ralston Smith, superin- 
 tendent and pastor, took leave of the school in a farewell 
 address, having accepted a call to the Westminster Presby- 
 terian Church in BufiEalo, N. Y. There was a unanimous 
 expression of regret on the part of the teachers and 
 scholars at his departure. 
 
 The following resolution was offered by John W. 
 Skinner on behalf of the school, as expressive of their 
 great regret at his departure and of their appreciation of 
 his services while with them : 
 
 Resolved, That the teachers of the First Presbyterian 
 Sunday-school learn with great regret of the departure of 
 Rev. Dr. Smith on this the last Sabbath on which they 
 are to enjoy his services as superintendent. They desire 
 l3ut cannot fully express the sense of the great loss they 
 suffer by his removal. They know that in performing the 
 office of both pastor and superintendent he assumed in the 
 latter a great additional burden. They cannot take leave 
 
 Simday>acbool WorK. lO 
 
242' CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 of the superintendent who has so faithfully performed his 
 duties at great personal sacrifice, without expressing the 
 obligation they are under for the oversight and care he 
 has given to all the departments of the school, and for the 
 interest he has inspired in the study of the word of God 
 and in the spiritual application of its truths. The teachers 
 also wish to assure him of their love and attachment, and 
 that their prayers shall attend him in his new field of 
 labor. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Smith, in his historical discourse delivered 
 Sunday morning July 2, 1876, makes mention of the Sun- 
 day-school as follows : 
 
 " And our Sabbath-school work, though limited in its 
 scope, has been invested with a very high degree of inter- 
 est. I think it would be difficult to find a more devoted 
 and capable band of teachers. Nor do I believe that you 
 could anywhere discover a more attractive assemblage of 
 children and young people. I desire here to give ample 
 recognition to the valuable services of those who have held 
 the office of superintendent, secretary, and librarian, and of 
 all who have here given themselves to the task of Christian 
 instruction. Their labors, past and present, are bearing 
 rich fruit. And this portion of our work demands and 
 deserves more abundant support. I must here express 
 my great regret that the impossibility of obtaining thus 
 far the complete records of the school prevents me from 
 naming those by whose labors it has successively been sus- 
 tained." 
 
 April 6. — Prof. Baird, vice-superintendent, absent from 
 illness. Wm. R. Mott, secretary, absent on account of the 
 death of his mother. J. W. Skinner, acting superintendent. 
 Mr. Ketcham as secretary. 
 
 April 13. — Prof. Baird acting superintendent. Election 
 for superintendent. Edward W. Dwight elected. 
 
 Pastor's report to the Westchester Presbytery for 1880 : 
 Officers and teachers, 29; adult scholars, 36; youth and 
 children, no; total membership, 175; average attendance, 
 118; number united with the church, 9. 
 
 January, 1880. — A communication received from Miss 
 A. E. Kirkwood, the County Secretary of Sunday-school 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 243 
 
 Work and Temperance Literature, referred to the superin- 
 tendent, Edward W. Dwight. 
 
 February 29. — The committee on temperance lessons 
 recommend that the temperance lesson be adopted, and to 
 be selected by the school. Vote taken. Adopted. The 
 committee also recommend that the lesson be taught four 
 times a year, at the end of each quarter. Adopted. 
 
 The new chapel being completed, the school entered it 
 on Sunday, October 14, 1880. The following were the offi- 
 cers of the school at that date : Horace H. Thayer, Superin- 
 tendent ; Howard R. Butler, Assistant Superintendent ; 
 William R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; Charles H. 
 Butler, Librarian. 
 
 April 188 1. — The pastor, Rev. Mr. Reid, begana course 
 of sermons to children, which were delivered monthly at the 
 morning service in the church. The members of the Sun- 
 day-school and the children of the church occupied the body 
 of the church on those instructive and interesting occasions. 
 
 April 17, 1 88 1. — Teachers' meeting held after session. 
 Mr. Charles Collins unanimously chosen Superintendent. 
 Mr. Jasper Van Vleck elected Assistant Superintendent ; 
 Wm. R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; Walter Graves, Li- 
 brarian ; J. Van Vleck and Carey T. Seaman, assistants. 
 
 May I. — Mr. Charles Collins took charge of the school 
 as superintendent. Number of officers present, 4 ; number 
 .of teachers, 20 ; number of pupils, 142 ; number of pupils in 
 the infant class, 20. 
 
 Mr. Collins writes as follows : 
 
 " YONKERS, September 23, 1887. 
 
 " My Dear Miss Kirkwood : In reply to your ques- 
 tions in reference to my connection with the Sunday-school 
 I would say, I was chosen superintendent in the spring of 
 1 88 1, and resigned in the fall of 1883. 
 
 " Soon after I became superintendent Mrs. F. P. Brown 
 was made lady superintendent of the school and Mr. Jessup 
 assistant superintendent. 
 
 " For the new life and interest which came into the 
 school at that time we were largely indebted to the large 
 and admirably arranged rooms for the Sunday-school and 
 
244 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 infant class provided in the chapel recently erected. And 
 for this addition to our church building, with its convenient 
 Sunday-school appointments, we are indebted to the liber- 
 ality, good judgment, and persuasive talent of William 
 Allen Butler, Jr. 
 
 "Our people always entered heartily into our Christ- 
 mas services and festivals, and were most liberal contributors 
 on these occasions. During my term many things were 
 done by the people to make the Sunday-school work pleas- 
 ant and profitable. 
 
 " I have given you a few facts and figures, thinking 
 they may aid you in looking for more important matter. 
 " Respectfully yours, 
 
 "CHARLES COLLINS." 
 
 The Christmas exercises of 1882 were held in the 
 church on Sunday afternoon, December 25. Interesting 
 addresses were delivered by Rev. John Reid and the super- 
 intendent, Charles Collins. 
 
 The following is a brief report of the superintendent's 
 address on that occasion. 
 
 After appropriate and interesting remarks concerning 
 the origin and history of Christmas day he spoke of the 
 manner of its observance in different countries. He said : 
 
 " In later generations the Germans led off with the 
 grotesque and noisy manner of spending the day. The 
 English gave to it more of a domestic religious merry-, 
 making festival. 
 
 " ' 'T was Christmas broached the mightiest ale, 
 'T was Christmas told the merriest tale, 
 A Christmas gambol oft would cheer 
 A poor man's heart through half the year.'" 
 
 Mr. Collins closed his address by a few remarks on the 
 origin and history of Sunday-schools. He said : 
 
 " I have recently received an interesting letter from 
 one who signs himself ' your missionary, Mr. John Cassell,' 
 and to whose support this Sunday-school has been contribu- 
 ting for over twenty years. Mr. Cassell is doing Sunday- 
 school work down in the Indian Territory among the In- 
 dians and poor whites." 
 
 Incident to Mr. Collins' superintendency was his prep- 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 245 
 
 aration and publication for the school of the little book 
 entitled " Precept and Praise," which was published by 
 A. S. Barnes & Co., New York, in 1881. This little vol- 
 ume contains the psalter, the litany, the beatitudes, the 
 commandments, and questions from the " Shorter Cate- 
 chism," " that matchless compendium of Biblical theology 
 of the Westminster divines," and other useful and import- 
 ant matter, helpful not only to scholars but to teachers and 
 superintendents as well. 
 
 He also gave special attention to the singing and to the 
 primary department of the school. John Bright and his 
 son, the cometists, had charge of the singing. Mr. Collins 
 generously contributed $600 towards the expenses of the 
 Sunday-school, which was not all the expense incurred by 
 the school during his superintendency. For the primary de- 
 partment were provided the helps necessary for the success- 
 ful carrying forward of this important branch of Sunday- 
 school work. 
 
 This department at that time was superintended by 
 Miss Armenia P. Baird, who had charge of it for more than 
 three years. Her devotion to her little charge was earnest 
 and untiring. While " busy here and there " about her 
 work, the Master came one day and laid His hand on her, 
 bidding her to service in the upper sanctuary. In loving 
 remembrance of her and her work, the teachers of the 
 Sunday-school placed in the primary class room a beautiful 
 memorial window of cathedral glass, the design of which is 
 a cross, and around it is a vine gracefully entwined. At 
 the base of it is a scroll bearing this inscription : " Armenia 
 Palmer Baird. Obit. May 23, 1884. Feed my Lambs." But 
 those who knew her need no such memorial to perpetuate 
 her name, which is held in affectionate remembrance. 
 The remark is still frequently heard, " She loved the chil- 
 dren and they loved her." In one of the " Last Poems " by 
 H. H. are a few words which beautifully express these 
 thoughts : 
 
 " And when, remembering me, you come some day 
 And stand there, speak no praise, but only say, 
 ' How she loved us ! It was for that she was so dear.' 
 These are the only words that I shall smile to hear : 
 ' How she loved us !' " 
 
246 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The subjoined letter gives a brief resum6 of the work 
 accomplished by Mr. Cassell, to whom Mr. Collins referred, 
 also of the other missionaries during the time they were 
 supported by the school : 
 
 "New York, May 31, 1888. 
 
 " Miss A. E. Kirkwood. 
 
 " Dear Friend : Replying to your note of 28th inst., I 
 am pleased to report the former good deeds of the First 
 Presbyterian Sunday-school, Yonkers. In 1861 about one- 
 third of the salary of one of our missionaries was assumed 
 and paid up to 1885 as follows : 
 
 " First seven years, F. F. Wheeler, Nebraska, 1 5 1 new 
 schools, 688 teachers and 4,375 scholars. First two years, 
 Rev. E. W. Rice, Wisconsin, Tj new schools, 540 teachers 
 and 4,174 scholars. First two years. Rev. N. P. Paxson, 
 Missouri, 71 new schools, 451 teachers and 3,061 scholars. 
 First thirteen years. Rev. John Cassell, Kansas, 518 new 
 schools, 1,548 teachers and 17,807 scholars. Totals — 24 
 years, 817 new schools and 29,417 scholars. 
 
 " Total miles travelled, 1 1 5,486 ; addresses given, 3,195 ; 
 Bibles and Testaments distributed, 5,073 ; families visited, 
 8,695. Aid was given to schools having a membership of 
 over 102,000, to whom the missionary has given an earnest 
 invitation to drink of the water of life freely. The num- 
 ber of souls savingly interested is known only to the dear 
 Lord who saved them. Neither can we give the number 
 of churches grown out of this work. It certainly is among 
 the hundreds. These missionaries have made grants of 
 religious literature to the value of nearly $5,000. 
 
 " The above text with statistics will furnish material 
 for quite a respectable sermon. Shall be glad to furnish 
 anything further if desired. 
 
 " Cordially yours, 
 
 "L. MILTON MARSH, District Secretary." 
 
 RECORD BOOK. 
 " April 8, 1883. — The superintendent absent, Mr. Jessup 
 acting as superintendent. Election of officers after Sunday- 
 school. Charles Collins unanimously reelected as Superin- 
 tendent ; C. N. Jessup, Vice-Superintendent ; Mrs. F. P. 
 Brown, Lady Superintendent ; W. R. Mott, Secretary and 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 247 
 
 Treasurer ; Wells Olmsted and George Flagg, Librarians ; 
 and Walter Graves, Committee on Audit. 
 
 " September 2. — The school resumed its sessions after 
 vacation. Mr. Charles Collins, owing to advice of his phy- 
 sician, oflEered his resignation, to take effect immediately. 
 Mr. Jessup also offered his resignation, to take effect Octo- 
 ber I. 
 
 "Report of school for September, 1883: Officers, 6; 
 teachers, 20; pupils, 162 ; pupils in infant class, 55. 
 
 " September 9. — Mr. Theodore Oilman, Superintendent 
 pro tem. 
 
 " September 23. — Meeting of teachers after session. 
 The committee report in favor of Mr, Walter Graves as Su- 
 perintendent. On motion Mr. Graves was unanimously 
 elected. 
 
 "October 7. — Mr. Walter Graves took charge of the 
 school." 
 
 During Mr. Graves' superintendency of the school 
 there was a large accession to the membership of the church 
 from the Sunday-school. 
 
 November 11. — The committee on Assistant Superin- 
 tendent reported to the church session in favor of nomin- 
 ating W. W. Ellsworth. This is the first record of a school 
 officer being nominated on recommendation of the church 
 session, in the history of this school. 
 
 The pastor's report to the Westchester Presbytery of 
 1885 shows: Officers, 5; teachers, 26; scholars, 256; total, 
 officers, teachers, and scholars, 287; average attendance, 
 172 ; received into the church from school, 3. Are teachers' 
 meetings held? Yes. Amount given to our Board, $181 ; 
 amount given to other benevolent objects, $125. Westmin- 
 ster Lesson Helps are used. 560 books in the library. 
 
 May 9, 1885. — Teachers' meeting held after church ser- 
 vices. Mr. Theodore Oilman, chairman. W. W. Ellsworth 
 elected Superintendent ; William Ketcham, Assistant Su- 
 perintendent ; Mrs. F. P. Brown, Lady Superintendent; 
 William R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; Wells Olmsted, 
 Librarian ; George Flagg and S. Hawley, Assistant Libra- 
 rians. 
 
 Sunday-school statistics when W. W. Ellsworth entered 
 
248 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 upon his duties : Officers present, 4 ; teachers present, 1 6 ; 
 pupils in primary department, 54 ; total number of pupils, 
 172. 
 
 From the pastor's report to the Westchester Presbytery 
 for 1886 we learn: Number of officers, 6; teachers, 27; 
 scholars, 250 ; total, 283 ; average attendance, 172 ; attendance 
 of scholars at church, 200 ; received into church from 
 school, 2 ; books in library, 600 ; Westminster Catechism 
 taught. Amount given to benevolent objects, $225. 
 
 Pastor's report to the Presbytery 1887 : Number of 
 scholars, 288 ; average attendance, 162 ; amount contribu- 
 ted, $212 18 ; number of scholars received into the church 
 from the Sunday-school, 7. 
 
 The branch of the Ministering Children's League con- 
 nected with this school was organized by Mrs. Fayette P. 
 Brown, March 9, 1886, with the following officers: Mrs. F. 
 P. Brown, President ; Miss Getler, Vice-President ; Master 
 Victor M. Elting, Secretary ; Master Carl Collins, Treasu- 
 rer , Miss M. Flagg, Miss Law, Miss K. Atkins, Miss Edna 
 Morse, Master Ernest Bogart, and Master Henry Baird, 
 Board of Managers. 
 
 From the first annual report, presented by Miss Susie 
 Leeds Heermance, are taken the following extracts : 
 
 " Meetings of the League were held during the first 
 year usually on Saturday afternoon of each week. The 
 first work undertaken by the League was the furnishing of 
 one of Miss L. J. Kirkwood's admirably arranged sewing- 
 boxes, which was sent to Mrs. Moore's school at Myaska, 
 Ockmulgee Station, Indian Territory. 
 
 " A strawberry festival was given in June to the Sun- 
 day-school of Immanuel Chapel by Miss Lemon's and Miss 
 Janet Flagg's classes. 
 
 " On October 5, Miss Randolph's class sent $5 to the 
 relief fund for the Charleston sufferers. Ten dollars was 
 contributed to start a fresh-air fund. 
 
 " In December Christmas letters and cards were sent 
 to St. John's Hospital, the county jail, and other places. 
 
 " The Christmas-tree for the Immanuel Chapel Sunday- 
 school was provided for by three boys' classes, viz: Miss 
 Hattie Butler's, Mr. H. Thayer's, and Mr. Ketcham's. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 249 
 
 " Two of the girls' classes had charge of the Christmas 
 department in the home missionary boxes, and the letters 
 received show that their efforts were fully appreciated. 
 
 " In January a box containing toys, books, dolls, etc., 
 was sent to Wilson Mission, New York. A doll from this 
 box was given to a little deformed girl who herself is a 
 member of the Ministering Children's League in connec- 
 tion with that mission. 
 
 " Learning of a dearth of good reading among the poor 
 and neglected children in the tenement districts of New 
 York, the members of the League, through the Wilson Mis- 
 sion, obtained the names and addresses of fifty such chil- 
 dren, to whom they have sent regularly packages of pic- 
 tures and Sunday-school papers. 
 
 " A box of garments was sent to Mr. Moore in Indian 
 Territory. The making of them was given to one of the 
 classes in Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school, who were anx- 
 ious to earn money to give towards the furnishing of the 
 new chapel. 
 
 " In January a box containing bedding, clothing, 
 worsted slippers, dolls, scrap-books, toys, towels, rolls of 
 strips of muslin for bandages, and many other articles 
 necessary for hospital use, was sent to Oroomiah Hospital, 
 Persia, which is under the care of Rev. M. Cochran, M. D., 
 of the Presbyterian Board of Missions. One of the articles 
 in the box was a pretty patchwork quilt from the members 
 of the primary department. Ten dollars was given to 
 Mrs. Balch to start a milk fund to supply poor sick children 
 with good milk. 
 
 " Fifteen dollars was given towards a box of clothing 
 to be sent to Miss Allison's school at Santa F^, New Mex- 
 ico." 
 
 The second annual reports of the Ministering Chil- 
 dren's League of this Sunday-school were read at the close 
 of the session of the school on Sunday morning, March 25, 
 1888. The superintendent read the report of the secretary. 
 Miss S. L. Heermance, and the report of the treasurer was 
 read by Master Carl Collins. It was as follows : 
 
 "The collections this year have amounted to $160 23. 
 This added to the fund of missionary association of the 
 
250 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Sunday-school, $39 74, and the balance from last year's 
 account, $2 86, gives us a credit of $202 83. The expendi- 
 tures have amounted to $141 08, $61 81 of which has been 
 devoted to local work, $39 87 to home work, and $39 40 to 
 foreign work." 
 
 In the last annual report of the parent society the work 
 of the Yonkers branch is thus mentioned : '' In the distri- 
 bution of Sunday-school papers some of the members write 
 to their little unknown friends, who live in crowded tene- 
 ment houses and have very little to make life bright and 
 happy. These letters give great delight to the tenement- 
 house children, for whom perhaps the postman has never 
 before opened his wonderful bag." 
 
 From the third annual report, March, 1889, presented 
 by Miss Elizabeth C. Thayer, Secretary, are taken the fol- 
 lowing items, indicating the objects to which contributions 
 were made : 
 
 A box to Miss Bird, at Abeih, Syria. 
 
 To Mrs. Granger, in New Mexico, was sent a well- 
 filled Christmas box, and at another time a supply of col- 
 lars, neckties, ribbons, etc., for her schoolgirls. Five dol- 
 lars was sent to purchase a lamp for the church in New 
 Mexico, $:io towards the salary of Miss Allison at Santa F6, 
 New Mexico, $15 to the Ladies' Missionary Association, 
 $15 to Mrs. Balch for home relief, Sunday-school papers to 
 a school at Hampton Roads, Va. 
 
 Gift to St. John's Hospital. 
 
 Flowers to missions from May to October, $15 to The 
 Pastor's Helpers in Immanuel Chapel. Toys and articles 
 for Christmas boxes prepared by the Ladies' Missionary 
 Association. 
 
 Report of the Treasurer : 
 
 The amount of the collections, the balance from last 
 year's account, etc., is $206 59. 
 
 The expenditures have amounted to $178 80. Of this 
 amount $104 43 has been expended for local work, $71 87 
 for home work, and $2 50 for foreign work. 
 
 The balance for this year is $27 79. 
 
 Carl Collins, Treasurer. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 2$ I 
 
 Officers from March, 1888, to March, 1889 : Miss Susie 
 L. Heermance, President; Miss Olmsted, Vice-President; 
 Miss Thayer, Secretary ; Carl Collins, Treasurer. 
 
 On the retirement of Mrs. F. P. Brown as Lady Super- 
 intendent of this school in the spring of 1887, she was pre- 
 sented with three beautiful , etchings by the members of 
 the school, as a testimonial of regard and esteem. 
 
 September, 1887, the Sunday-school collected $40 for 
 the starving people of the famine district in Asia Minor, 
 which was most gratefully received by them and paved the 
 way for the more hearty reception of the gospel message 
 which the missionaries were striving to preach. 
 
 In March, 1888, Mr. Ellsworth energetically organized 
 a Sunday-school paper mission, which thus far has been 
 successfully carried out. The object of this new enter- 
 prise was to supply destitute Sunday-schools with religious 
 literature. Three schools in Hampton, Va., have been 
 furnished regularly with papers contributed by the main 
 school. 
 
 Christmas of 1887 should be memorable if for no other 
 reason than for the beauty of the day itself. It was a per- 
 fect winter day of dazzling brightness, the air cold, crisp, 
 and exhilarating. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon the school with the Immanuel 
 Chapel Sunday-school held union Christmas services in the 
 church. The galleries and pulpit were tastefully fes- 
 tooned with Christmas greens entwined with silver tinsel, 
 which glistened in the gas light, producing a beautiful 
 effect. 
 
 The teachers and pupils of the two schools entered the 
 church from the chapel doors on the north and south aisles 
 of the church singing the processional hymn, " Welcome 
 Tidings we are Bringing." Singing, responsive readings, 
 and addresses by the pastor. Rev. John Reid, Rev. Dr. 
 Strobridge, Rev. Mr. Penman, and W. W. Ellsworth, con- 
 stituted the exercises of the occasion. 
 
 The children of the home school met in the chapel of 
 the church on Tuesday evening to receive their gifts. 
 The exercises began by singing a Christmas carol. The 
 pastor spoke of the superiority of Christmas day above 
 
252 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 other holidays, in that its joys and pleasures continued 
 throughout the week. He was interrupted in his pleasant 
 remarks by the clattering of footsteps, and St. Nicholas, 
 who was admirably personated by one of the young men 
 of the church, appeared. 
 
 After the dismantling of the children's tree, the doors 
 of the primary room were opened, disclosing a larger 
 Christmas-tree resplendent in silver ornaments, made more 
 brilliant by the calcium lights thrown upon them. Among 
 the boughs were profusely distributed the lighter though 
 not by any means all of the least valuable gifts, as many 
 were written orders for coal, wood, and groceries. 
 
 Beneath the bending branches of the tree, adding to 
 its wealth, were boxes, bundles, and baskets, all filled with 
 a generous and almost indescribable variety of gifts, things 
 to eat and things to wear, books to read and toys to play 
 with, vases, cups, and cushions, many things which some 
 were done with but very good for others to begin with. 
 
 As the doors rolled open and the lights of different 
 colors were successively thrown upon the tree, there was a 
 burst of admiration from the children. After giving a few 
 moments for this spontaneous expression of surprise and 
 delight, the superintendent led off in the doxology, " Praise 
 God from whom all blessings flow," following which he 
 asked for some Scripture verses on "giving," repeating 
 first his own : " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
 these my brethren ye have done it unto me." 
 
 A teacher followed with the verse : " To do good and 
 to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is 
 well pleased." 
 
 With these exercises closed the festival occasion. 
 The gifts on the tree were contributed by the children of 
 the school, representing about $ioo, and were distributed 
 among sixty-six poor families in the city, by a committee 
 appointed by the Sunday-school, during holiday week. 
 
 The strawberry festivals held by the school were occa- 
 sions of great enjoyment, cultivating a kindly feeling 
 among its teachers and friends. 
 
 Easter Sunday was observed April i, 1888, by a union 
 service of the home and chapel schools held in the church. 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 253 
 
 An elaborate and well arranged programme, consisting of 
 singing and responsive reading by the school, was suc- 
 cessfully carried out, and interesting addresses were made 
 by Rev. John Reid and Charles R. Lef&ngwell. 
 
 Attention was given by Superintendent Ellsworth to 
 the selection of Sunday-school helps, which are approved 
 and extensively used by Sunday-school workers, and in 
 directing the attention of the teachers to the publications 
 which had special reference to their work. 
 
 On Sunday, June 24, 1888, the Sunday-school closed 
 for the summer, to be reopened the first Sunday in Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 The assistant superintendent, George H. Chamberlin, 
 took charge of the exercises. Ten minutes were devoted 
 to class review of the lessons of the last quarter, after which 
 the golden texts for the quarter were recited in concert by 
 the school. 
 
 Mr. Chamberlin spoke on the duty of watchfulness, 
 saying, " Many have learned this lesson well except in the 
 line of religious thought." He urged the necessity of con- 
 stant watchfulness against sin and temptation, also watch- 
 ing for the Lord to come. This duty was often forgotten 
 by many Christians. The Lord will come again to reign 
 on the earth. He will come to judge the earth in right- 
 eousness. Only by this vigilant watchfulness can we be- 
 come little rays of light in the world. 
 
 Horace H. Thayer spoke briefly on the subject of the 
 lessons for the quarter, which he said could be summed up 
 under three general heads— Christ's life and teachings, 
 death, resurrection and the great commission. 
 
 George D. Mackay spoke on the great commission, " Go 
 ye into all the world," etc. 
 
 He said we could get but little idea of the work of 
 foreign missions simply by statistics showing that India 
 to-day had 4,200 missionaries and Africa 10,800; this in- 
 cluded the native missionaries and helpers. 
 
 He gave a graphic and interesting account of the 
 gospel in the little island of New Zealand. In the year, 
 1 8 14 three missionaries went there. The inhabitants of 
 the island had devil worship and sacrificed their children 
 
254 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 to their idols. This was not much like the religion of the 
 meek and lowly Jesus. In the year 1840 the Gospel of 
 Jesus had spread and permeated the whole community, 
 and three of the chiefs of the tribes had been converted, 
 and during the same year a great distribution of Christian 
 literature occurred. There, were distributed 5,000 Bible 
 lesson slips, 6,900 catechisms, and 15,000 testaments. 
 
 To-day, (1888), nine-tenths of the population are nom- 
 inal Christians and the number of children gathered in the 
 Sunday-school is 12,000. Recently a grand missionary 
 meeting had been held at which sixteen native preachers 
 made addresses. Thus in fifty years this island had been 
 changed from barbarism to Christianity. 
 
 In conclusion Mr. Mackay spoke of the great joy of 
 being used as instruments in converting the world to the 
 blessed religion of the Lord Jesus, and of the necessity of 
 continuing in the good work of giving the gospel to the 
 world. The school closed by singing, " The Light of the 
 world is Jesus." 
 
 A unique service was held on Sunday morning, June 9, 
 1889, in the First Presbyterian Church, in which the chil- 
 dren of the home and mission schools took' a leading part 
 in scripture recitations and songs. 
 
 A pleasant feature of the service was the reading and 
 presentation by Rev. Dr. Reid, of the resolutions passed by 
 the teachers and scholars of the home school, in grateful 
 recognition of the fidelity and devotion which ever charac- 
 terized the administration of the retiring superintendent, 
 William W. Ellsworth. 
 
 The newly elected superintendents of both home and 
 mission schools, George H. Chamberlin and Wells Olm- 
 sted, were formally installed in accordance with a new 
 ritual recommended by Sunday-school workers and ap- 
 proved by the Presbyterian Church, and were warmly wel- 
 comed by the pastor and teachers with assurances of faith- 
 ful support. 
 
 The pastor's address to the children was appropriate 
 to the occasion, on the making of vows and the paying of 
 them, bearing the stamp of the doctor's felicitous manner. 
 The singing was spiritedly led by Rev. J. H. de Vries, 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 255 
 
 pastor of Itnmanuel Chapel, the children entering in with 
 enthusiasm and delight as became the occasion. 
 
 • The teachers connected with the First Presbyterian 
 Church Sunday-school, by invitation of their superin- 
 tendent, George A. Chamberlin, gathered in Rev. Mr. 
 de Vries' study in the church Friday evening, November i , 
 1889, 3.t seven o'clock, to their first tea meeting. These 
 meetings are to be held quarterly, and are planned similar 
 to the 'teacher's meetings of the Sunday-school of Rev. Dr. 
 Alexander McLaren's church, England. They are in- 
 tended only for the officers and teachers of the school with 
 the exception of the pastor. Rev. Dr. Reid, and Mrs. Reid, 
 who were especially invited. Topics relating to the con- 
 duct of the school and of Sunday-school work in general 
 are discussed at the table. 
 
 Ralph E. Prime read a paper at the table noting some 
 errors in Sunday-school teaching. Theodore Oilman gave 
 some helpful suggestions as to the conduct of the benevo- 
 lent work of the school according to the plan of the King's 
 Sons and King's Daughters, which with modifications, had 
 been recently adopted by the school. Rev. Dr. Reid, his 
 assistant. Rev. J. H. de Vries, and Theodore Oilman gave 
 their views in relation to catechetical instruction in the 
 Sunday-school, which elicited an interesting and spirited 
 discussion among the teachers. After the bountiful and 
 appetizing but simple meal, which had been provided by 
 the teachers and tastefully spread by the committee, Mrs. 
 E. B. Fancher, Miss Julia Baird, Miss Mary Warner, and 
 the Misses Heermance — the meeting closed with singing 
 the doxology and the benediction by the pastor. There 
 were twenty-eight persons present. 
 
 These meetings, which have been inaugurated by 
 Superintendent G. A. Chamberlin, promise to be a helpful 
 auxiliary to the future work of this Sunday-school. 
 
 The primary department of the school is held in a 
 room adjoining the main room, and is attractively and con- 
 veniently furnished. This department numbered (1889) 
 fifty pupils — at this writing, April 1 891, forty. The inter- 
 national lessons are taught, illustrated by blackboard exer- 
 cises and " Bible Lesson Pictures." 
 
256 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The commandments, the apostles' creed, and the 
 " Child's Short Catechism," are also taught, the latter the 
 first Sunday, in the month in connection with the regular 
 lesson. The paper entitled "Our Little Ones" is given, 
 with Scripture picture cards, for punctuality and de- 
 portment. 
 
 The principles of systematic and cheerful giving are 
 taught according to Scripture precepts, and the children 
 are encouraged to earn their money and " not to offer the 
 Lord that which costs them nothing." 
 
 In 1889 the following change was made in collecting 
 the contributions of the class. The teachers prepared 
 numbered envelopes which were distributed monthly to 
 the children, each child being known on the roll by a cor- 
 responding number on the envelope. This contains the 
 collection money and is placed in a small basket as the 
 child enters the room. This plan obviates the necessity of 
 the ancient custom of calling the roll, which tends to dis- 
 order, and the time thus occupied is used to better advan- 
 tage and at the close of the session the roll is marked from 
 the collected envelopes. This system has doubled the 
 amount of their collections. 
 
 A monthly contribution of the class is given to Im- 
 manuel Chapel mission fund. The children of the depart- 
 ment, from March, 1888, to this date, August, 1891, have 
 sent upwards of 3,000 of their Sunday-school papers — to 
 Jemisontown, Old Town, Salamanca, and Elko, mission 
 stations among the Senacas in the Indian mission, western 
 New York — mailing- at their own expense. 
 
 The former superintendents of the primary depart- 
 ment have been: Miss Margaret Morrison, Mrs. S. H. 
 Thayer, J. W. Skinner, G. Livingstone Morse, Miss Ar- 
 menia Baird, Miss Carlese Simpson, and Mrs. John C. 
 Havemeyer. The present Superintendent is Miss Irene 
 Hine, who has had charge of it since November 6, 1884. 
 She has been assisted in this department since April, 1 887, 
 by Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, who resigned, June, .1891. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, December 22, 1889, the school 
 and the Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school, held union 
 Christmas services in the church. The exercises were con- 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 257 
 
 ducted by the Superintendent, G. A. Chamberlin, and con- 
 sisted of responsive Scripture reading and the singing of 
 carols. 
 
 Addresses were made by the pastor Rev. Dr. Reid, 
 and Superintendent Chamberlin. " The Bethlehem Shep- 
 herd Boy's Song " was beautifully and effectively recited 
 in concert by five little girls, Edith Reid, Hattie Waring, 
 Bessie Johnson, Mabel Canning, and Frederica Cham- 
 berlin — ^the school singing the refrain, 
 
 "Glory to God in the highest, 
 And peace, good-will toward men." 
 
 On Friday evening, December 27, the children of the 
 home school met in the chapel of the church to receive 
 their gifts. The programme was announced by the Super- 
 intendent, G. A. Chamberlin. 
 
 The exercises opened with a carol by the children, 
 after which Prof. Lesher, of New York, played on the 
 zither. Elsie Gilman recited " Hang up the Baby's Stock- 
 ing," which pleased the children very much. A series of 
 stereopticon views was displayed by George D. Mackay, 
 beginning with some humorous pictures. "The Night 
 Before Christmas " was very effectively rendered by Mrs. 
 J. Lindsay Porteous, and illustrated by means of the stere- 
 opticon. The recitation by Hattie Bronson, "The Night 
 After Christmas," was ver>'. pleasing. 
 
 Pretty Japanese baskets filled with mottoes and choice 
 confectionery were distributed to all the scholars. Horace 
 H. Thayer and Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries were recipients 
 of presents from their classes. 
 
 A feature of the entertainments of this school for sev- 
 eral years past has been the bringing of gifts by the chil- 
 dren, to be distributed among the poor. A large table was 
 filled with groceries, toys, books, etc., and orders were re- 
 ceived for coal and flour. Besides these there was $15 in 
 money. 
 
 The pastor's report to the Presbytery, April 1891, was 
 as follows : Number of officers and teachers, 34 ; number 
 of scholars, 243 ; average attendance 163 ; number united 
 with the church in March, 13 ; contributions $450 ; number 
 of books in library, 607. A Young People's Christian En- 
 
 i^unday-Bcbool Work. I^ 
 
258 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 deavor Society was organized April 15, 1891, with a mem- 
 bership of 33. 
 
 The helps, now provided for the teachers are Peloubet's 
 Notes and the "Sunday-school Times." The .Peloubet's 
 graded series of question books are used by the scholars. 
 This series was introduced into the school in December, 
 1886. The Sunday-school hymn books are "Spiritual 
 Songs " and selections from Handel and Haydn. The Sun- 
 day-school paper is " Our Sunday Afternoon " for the main 
 school and the picture paper, " Our Little Ones," for the 
 Primary Department. 
 
 The names of the superintendents in the order of their 
 services are as follows : Lemuel Watts Wells, who was the 
 first superintendent, elected in 1852; William C. Foote, 
 elected in 1858, and resigned May 15, 1864. He was as- 
 sisted by Mr. Donnelson. S. H. Thayer, elected May 22, 
 1864, to 1867; T. Fowler Travis, elected May 23, 1867; 
 William A. Gibson; Ezekiel Y. Bell, elected 1873, to 1874; 
 John W. Skinner, Acting Superintendent during Mr. 
 Bell's absence in 1873; G. Livingston Morse, 1874 to 1876; 
 Walter W. Law, Assistant Superintendent. Rev. T. Ralston 
 Smith, D. D., Pastor, elected April, 1876, to 1879. G- Liv- 
 ingston Morse, Assistant; Edward Dwight, elected April, 
 1879, to 1880. William R. Mott officiated during Mr. 
 Dwight's absence in Europe. Horace H. Thayer, elected 
 April, 1880, to 1881 ; Charles Collins, elected April, 1881, 
 to 1883, assisted by Jasper Van Vleck ; Walter Graves, Sep- 
 tember, 1883, to 1884; William W. Ellsworth, elected May, 
 1885 ; and William E. Ketcham, Assistant Superintendent, 
 elected May, 1885, resigned June, 1889; and George A. 
 Chamberlin, elected June 9, 1 889. Under his superintend- 
 ency the school has met with marked success and is grow- 
 ing in interest and prosperity. 
 
 The present — Jantiary, 1891 — officers and teachers of 
 the school are: George A. Chamberlin, Superintendent. 
 George D. Mackay, Vice-President, was succeeded February, 
 1 89 1, by R. E. Prime. Mrs. Henry A. Blake, Lady Super- 
 intendent, elected November 10, 1889. Mrs. Ezra Fancher 
 succeeded Mrs. Blake, who resigned May, 1890. William 
 R. Mott, Secretary and Treasurer ; George A. Flagg, Libra- 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 259 
 
 rian, who was appointed Assistant Librarian April, 1883, 
 and has had the entire charge of the library since April, 
 1886; J. E. Jardine, Assistant Librarian. 
 
 The record book of the school for 1889-91 shows the 
 following teachers : Theodore Oilman, Horace H. Thayer, 
 George A. Chamberlin, Ralph E. Prime, George D. Mac- 
 kay, Howard Chamberlin, Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, 
 teacher of the Young Men's Bible-class, meeting in the 
 pastor's study in the church ; Miss Frances L. Upham, Miss 
 Julia Baird, Miss Mary F. Randolph, Miss Mariette Flagg, 
 Miss Mary Warner, Miss Hamblin, Miss J. E. Lemon, Miss 
 Susie L. Heermance, Miss Georgie Heermance, Miss Geor- 
 gia Law, Miss Louise J. Kirkwood, Miss Thayer, Miss Kate 
 Prime, Miss Margaret Otis, Miss Lucy Otis, Mary L. Lewis, 
 Dr. Franklin Soper, Prof. Ezra B. Fancher, R. Earl Prime, 
 Jr., Schuyler A. Bogart, Ray Otis, Mrs. E. B. Fancher, Miss 
 Louise D. Pitkin, Miss Edith Elting, Miss Elizabeth Flagg, 
 Miss Strang, Miss Hattie M. Soper, Miss Alta V. Hodges, 
 M'iss Fannie Barnes Blake, and Miss Louise M. Goodrich. 
 Miss Irene A. Hine is Superintendent of the Primary De- 
 partment, and Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, Assistant Super- 
 intendent. 
 
 Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries is the director of music, 
 assisted by Miss Fannie L. Upham. 
 
 The school has a Teachers' Reserve List, the object of 
 which is the suppljdng of the places of any teachers when 
 absent. The following are the present members of this 
 class: Mrs. T. M. Lyall, Mrs. J. Lindsay Porteous, Mrs. 
 Eliza Soper, Mrs. E. M. Heermance, Miss A. E. Kirkwood. 
 
 The school has a birthday-box. December, 1886, the 
 proceeds of it — $13 39 — were appropriated to the Charity 
 Organization Society. February, 1888, in compliance with 
 the suggestion of Mrs. Balch, the amount in the box— 
 |io 58 — ^was " appropriated for the purchase of twenty-five 
 pairs of rubber shoes for those who live in the poorly 
 paved parts of the city and were obliged to go through 
 the slush and mud." One destitute family enumera- 
 ted "nice new rubbers as among the blessings they en- 
 joyed." 
 
 William R. Mott has been the efficient, prompt, and 
 
26o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 genial secretary of this school for twenty years, and for his 
 long term of service in connection with this school stands 
 fifth on the " Honor Roll " of Sunday-school teachers in 
 Yonkers. 
 
 The enrolment list September, 1 887, was as follows : 
 Whole number of officers and teachers, 29 ; scholars, 290 — 
 sixty-two of whom are members of the Primary Depart- 
 ment. During the year ending 1887 seventeen of the 
 scholars from the Sunday-school united with the church on 
 profession of faith. The number uniting with the church 
 from January, 1 888, to September, 1 888, was fifteen. There 
 are 609 volumes in the library. 
 
 The teachers', prayer-meeting is held for fifteen min- 
 utes on Sunday morning before the opening of the 
 school. 
 
 The present membership of the school — January, 1891 — 
 officers and teachers, is 325. 
 
 The school record books show that a large number of 
 the pupils succeeded their parents as teachers in the school, 
 a prophecy of the hymn sung on one of their anniversary 
 occasions, entitled "The True Succession." 
 
 This Sunday-school, like the banyan-tree, bending 
 down its branches to take root on every side, is the parent 
 tree from whose branches have originated three Sunday- 
 schools, some of whose teachers subsequently became the 
 founders of the Westminster and Dayspring Presbyterian 
 churches and the Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school. 
 
 This school has as representative in the foreign mis- 
 sionary field, Miss Ada M. Daughaday, who was a very suc- 
 cessful teacher in the main school, also of the Primary De- 
 partment. She has been laboring with success in Japan 
 for several years. In the report of 1 867 'of the Osaka sta- 
 tion of the Japan Mission of the American Board, in a brief 
 notice of the First Church of the Osaka Mission, her work 
 is thus mentioned : " Great praise is due to Miss Daugha- 
 day, who devotedly and systematically has worked, and is 
 working alone, in this much-crowded school." The school 
 numbers 213 pupils. 
 
 The advisory committee on benevolence of the organi- 
 zation of the " King's Sons and Daughters " of this Sunday- 
 
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 26 1 
 
 school are : Miss Louise J. Kirkwood, Miss Marietta Flagg, 
 Miss Heermance, and Miss Kate Prime. 
 
 The amount raised for home and foreign missions by 
 the King's Sons and Daughters for the year 1890 was 
 $225 50. The President of this organization is Miss Susie 
 L. Heermance, the Secretary Miss Lyla M. Soper, and the 
 Treasurer is H. G. Waring. 
 
262 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SUNDAY- 
 SCHOOL. 
 
 The Westminster Presbyterian Church was the out- 
 growth of the School Street Mission Sunday-school, which 
 was organized September i6, 1855, and the facts concern- 
 ing the organization and history of this church are as 
 follows : 
 
 During the summer and fall of 1857 the Sunday- 
 school was graciously visited with the outpouring of God's 
 Spirit, and in the following January there were some seven- 
 teen conversions among the scholars and as many more 
 were inquirers. The question was then forced upon the 
 teachers as to their duty in the circumstances. A meeting 
 was held at the residence of Archibald Baxter, on Locust 
 Hill Avenue, January ig, 1858. There were present fifteen 
 persons, all but one teachers in the school. 
 
 After careful deliberation it was the unanimous opinion 
 of the meeting that the circumstances in which they had 
 been providentially placed, the past success and present pros- 
 pects of the enterprise, called for a new organization, and 
 the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That we who are here present deem it our 
 duty to form a new Presbyterian Church in Yonkers. 
 
 Resolved, ^hat we apply to the Third Presbytery of 
 iSTew York to effect the proposed organization. 
 
 Resolved, That Messrs. John Davidson, Josiah Rich, and 
 Archibald Baxter be a committee to make application to 
 the Rev. Dr. Hatfield, of New York city, to procure the 
 necessary action of the said Presbytery. 
 
 Resolved, That we, being members of the First Presby- 
 terian Church, Yonkers, address the following communica- 
 tion to the pastor of the said church : " We, the under- 
 signed, members of your church, deeming it to be our 
 duty to form a new church in this village, respectfully 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 263 
 
 request you to furnisti us with the necessary letters of dis- 
 mission. 
 
 Archibald Baxter, Jessie Baxter, 
 
 Henry H. Parsons, Emelia Parsons, 
 
 JosiAH Rich, Carrie M. Rich, 
 
 John Nairn, Janet C. Nairn, 
 
 John Davidson, Anne Davidson, 
 
 H. A. Underwood, Emma P. Underwood, 
 
 Duncan C. Ralston, Mary Ralston, 
 
 William Steedman, Marion P. Steedman." 
 
 To this, at an adjourned meeting, held January 20, 
 1858, there were added the names of Charlotte Baird and 
 Lucy Marsh. 
 
 On January 25, 1858, the Third Presbytery of Ne-\y 
 York received and entertained the application, and on Feb- 
 ruary 3, 1858, the church was organized with the already 
 named eighteen persons as members. Rev. D. B. Coe, 
 D. D., presided, and organized the church under the name 
 of the Westminster Church, Yonkers. Rev. D. M. Seward, 
 D. D., Rev. V. M. Hulbert, D. D., and Dr. Kinsley also ■ 
 took part in the exercises of organization. A congrega- 
 tional meeting followed, when Messts. Archibald Baxter, 
 Henry A. Underwood, and William Steedman were elected 
 elders, the two latter receiving ordination, and Messrs. 
 John Davidson and John Nairn were chosen deacons. Of 
 the original eighteen members but one — Mrs. EmeKa Par- 
 sons — remains in the communion of the Westminster 
 Church to-day, May, 1891. 
 
 In the -historical discourse preached by Rev. L. W. 
 Mudge, in July, 1 876, from which a portion of the history 
 of this church is taken, he says : "As this history is to go 
 on record, courtesy to other denominations demands some 
 explanation of the fact that a union enterprise was so 
 abruptly turned into a Presbyterian Church. The fact is it 
 was never a union Sabbath-school but in name. Its origi- 
 nators and supporters, its missionary and stated supply, 
 and, as far as any record shows, every one of its teachers 
 were Presbyterian. If any members of other churches 
 were connected with the school, the record shows conclu- 
 sively that it was by accident of invitation or personal in- 
 
264 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 terest, and that no other than Presbyterians were ever con- 
 nected with its support or control." 
 
 The first pastor of this church was Rev. Rollin A. 
 Sawyer (now Rev. Dr. Sawyer), who was called to the pas- 
 torate,- February 11, 1858. The ordination and installation 
 services occurred at the Getty Lyceum, February 17. The 
 devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. Wm. Babbit, 
 Moderator of the Presbytery, Rev. Mr. Sawyer resigned 
 the pastorate to accept a call extended to him from the 
 First Church of Dayton, Ohio, April 3, 1862. 
 
 The first persons among the converts who presented 
 themselves to the session and were received into the mem- 
 bership of the church were Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Lorenz, 
 the latter of whom subsequently became an active and 
 efficient worker, both in the church and Sunday-school, 
 until her removal from the city. Thirty-two were added 
 at the first- communion, March 14, 1858, and by the end of 
 the church year, the church reported to the Presbytery a 
 membership of no. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mudge in his historical discourse says re- 
 garding the early history of this church : 
 
 " We have been very particular as to the incidents 
 connected with the formation of the church, but must pass 
 over the years following in more rapid review." 
 
 In the record of October 28, 1858, we find this minute : 
 
 Resolved unanimously, That it is expedient for this 
 church to take immediate steps towards the erection of a 
 house of worship. 
 
 The matter was given into the hands of a committee 
 of five : Messrs. Archibald Baxter, John Davidson, Henry 
 A. Underwood, Josiah Rich, and Frederick Lorenz. In 
 December the Church Manual was published in both En^ 
 glish and German. On the 23d of December, Josiah Rich 
 was chosen elder, and was ordained and installed Jan- 
 uary 2, 1859. 
 
 Concerning the church building, which was in progress 
 at this time, the record is almost entirely silent. Here, as 
 in many other matters, I have been compelled to rely upon 
 information received from former pastors and the older 
 members of the church still in its communion. It seems 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 265 
 
 that the place of worship was changed in June, 1858, to a 
 hall which was known as the lecture-room, corner of 
 North Broadway and Wells Aventfe. For the present 
 building, lots of ground were given by Josiah Rich, on 
 Woodworth Avenue, for which an exchange was made to 
 the two lots , on which the church now stands, the four 
 vacant lots to the north having been purchased at $700 
 apiece. The church building cost in the neighborhood of 
 $8,000, and $3,500 had been raised by April, 1859. This 
 building was a brick structure, and its seating capacity, 
 with the gallery, was between 500 and 600. 
 
 The church was dedicated, a considerable debt remain- 
 ing. On the first Sabbath of May, Mr. Sawyer preached in 
 the morning on a "Plea for Free Churches," a union ser- 
 vice being held in the evening. Interesting exercises were 
 held during the week, especially on Thursday, when Dr. 
 Cuyler preached in the afternoon, and in the evening a 
 number of clergymen spoke, the principal address being 
 by Prof. R. D. Hitchcock, strongly indorsing the objects of 
 the enterprise. Among those who took part in these exer- 
 cises, special mention should be made of Rev. Robert Kirk- 
 wood, R. G. Pardee, and Mr. Edman, then a student and 
 now a minister, having had charge of Mr. Moody's church 
 in Chicago during his absence. It was an evident blow to 
 the now settled church that, immediately after the dedica- 
 tion of the building, the pastor was compelled to take a 
 long vacation of four months on account of the state of his 
 health. During his absence the church was supplied gen- 
 erally by professors of Princeton and New York. 
 
 On August 14, 1862, a call was given for the pastoral 
 services of Rev. H. G. Hinsdale, which was declined. 
 
 October 16 of the same year a call was extended to Rev. 
 Samuel Thorapson Carter, a graduate of Princeton Seminary, 
 which was accepted, and on Thursday, November 13, 1862, 
 he was regularly ordained to the work of the gospel minis- 
 try and installed pastor of the church. Rev. Dr. McElroy 
 presided and preached a sermon from Jer. 23 : 25-29. 
 
 In the early pastorate of Rev. Mr. Carter, the church 
 sustained a severe loss in the removal from t^iis place and 
 country of Mr. and Mrs. John Nairn and Mr. and Mrs. 
 
266 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 William Steedman. To fill the vacancies thus made in the 
 offices of the church, at a meeting of the church and con- 
 gregation held March 26, 1863, G. P. Reevs, M. D., was 
 chosen elder, and E. Curtice and D. C. Ralston deacons. 
 They were ordained and installed the Sunday following. 
 On April 27, 1864, another of the original members, Archi- 
 bald Baxter, having removed to Brooklyn, resigned his 
 eldership and took his letter of dismission ; and on Sep- 
 tember 14, 1865, James E. Goddard was elected elder, and 
 Alexander O. Kirkwood deacon, they being ordained Sun- 
 day, September 24. 
 
 The church during Mr. Carter's pastorate was for some 
 time prosperous, and was especially noted for its delightful 
 social character, and through his efforts in the year 1 864 a 
 considerable sum of money was raised for liquidating the 
 debt upon the church, which, with liberal gifts from others, 
 secured the removal of the entire debt. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Carter continued to be pastor of the church 
 until April 9, 1867, when he resigned. 
 
 At this juncture the church passed through some un- 
 happy experiences which for truth's sake must be noted 
 but need not be dwelt upon. The congregation declined 
 to unite with the pastor in his request, and tendered him a 
 leave of absence for any length of time that might be nec- 
 essary for the complete restoration of his health. Mr. 
 Carter pressed his resignation and the pastoral relation 
 was dissolved by the Second Presbytery of New York, 
 April 16, 1867. 
 
 Mr. Carter's pastorate extended over a period of four 
 years and six months, one month longer than that of Mr. 
 Sawyer, although the latter was in connection with the 
 enterprise for nearly two years previous to the organiza- 
 tion of the church. During Mr. Carter's pastorate eighty- 
 nine were added to the church, forty-six on certificate and 
 forty-three on profession. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Carter after a season of rest assumed the pas- 
 torate of the Yorkville Presbyterian Church, New York, 
 where he remained two years. After this he was called to 
 the pastorate of the First Church, Huntington, L. I., where 
 he still remains, April, 1891. 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 267 
 
 Rev. Mr. Carter was succeeded by Re^^. Lewis Ward 
 Mudge ( now Rev. Dr. Mudge ), also a graduate from 
 Princeton Seminary, who accepted the call extended to 
 him by the church July 11, 1867. The services of ordina- 
 tion and installation took place on Thursday, August i. 
 Rev. Matthew T. Adam was moderator. Prof. W. H. 
 Green, D. D., of Princeton, preached the sermon from 
 Luke 24 : 8 : "And they remembered his words." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mudge continued as pastor until May 6, 1 877, 
 when he resigned his pastorate to accept a call which had 
 been extended to him in April of the same year from the 
 Se'cond Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N. J. Thus was 
 brought to a close a pastorate of nearly, ten years, which 
 covered one-half of the period of the existence of the 
 church. His ministry was most fruitful in addition^ to the 
 church and his labors most abundant in every good word 
 and work both in the church and in the community, and 
 during his pastorate there were added to the membership 
 roll 298, of which 189 were on profession and 109 on cer- 
 tificate. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mudge was followed by Rev. John Dixon, 
 (now Rev. Dr. Dixon). 
 
 Rev. Mr. Dixon served the church until August 10, 
 1884, when the pastoral relation was dissolved by the Pres- 
 bytery of Westchester, he having accepted a call from the 
 First Presbyterian Church in Trenton, N. J., in July of the 
 same year. Mr. Dixon's resignation was accepted reluc- 
 tantly by the church to which he had endeared himself by 
 his tender care and sympathetic feeling, as their pastor, as 
 a Christian gentleman of noble bearing, and as a clear, 
 sound, and powerful expositor of Scripture truth. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Dixon's pastorate was of nearly seven years 
 and was marked by great prosperity in every department 
 of the church, which grew in social influence and financial 
 power. The erection and completion of the new church 
 edifice was largely due to his financial' skill, untiring indus- 
 try and never ceasing faithfulness. 
 
 During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Mudge a building 
 fund for the erection of a new house of wprship was started. 
 In this new project the young ladies of the church were 
 
268 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 most active and efficient. In February, 1875, a fair was 
 held in Radford Hall lasting three days, the proceeds of 
 which and a series of entertainments held about that time, 
 were over $1,500. In the spring of 1878 the subject of a 
 new church building was again agitated and another fair 
 was held in Washburn Hall in December, 1878, under the 
 management of the Ladies' New Church Building Society, 
 of which Mrs. John Dickson was President, Mrs. E. Cur- 
 tice and Mrs. Charles R. Otis, Vice-Presidents, Mrs. A. O. 
 Kirkwood, Secretary, and Mrs. John H. Brown, Treasurer. 
 This fair netted $1,400. 
 
 A festival and tent sale held in a large tent — which 
 pleasantly accommodated a thousand persons — on- the 
 grounds adjoining the church, realized over $400 over and 
 above expenses. 
 
 At the annual meeting in June, 1878, a building com- 
 mittee consisting of Messrs. Charles R. Otis, Norton P. 
 Otis, E. A. Houston, J. T. SprouU, and R. E. Prime were 
 appointed with power to add to their number. Mr. Prime 
 declining to serve, his place was filled and the committee 
 enlarged by the election of Mr. W. T. Crook and Rev. Mr. 
 Dixon. The building committee were prohibited, by the 
 unanimous vote of the congregation, from incurring any 
 debt in the erection of the new building. At this time it 
 was intended to build on the adjoining lots, which had 
 been in the possession of the church from the start, and 
 which were bought for that purpose. The continued 
 growth of the Sunday-school prompted the building com- 
 mittee to recommend to the trustees to exchange their 
 property for a better site immediately opposite. This was 
 done and the plans were altered so as to give accommoda- 
 tions to over 600 scholars. Upon this new site the founda- 
 tion was laid in the fall of 1879. 
 
 The services of the laying of the corner stone of the 
 new church were held in the old church building on Thurs- 
 day afternoon. May 20, 1880, at 2 : 30 o'clock. The follow- 
 ing was the order of exercises : Invocation by Rev. Charles 
 E. Allison. Hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Al- 
 mighty." Reading of the Scriptures by Rev. David Cole, 
 D. D. Prayer by Rev. John Reid. Address by Rev. RoUin 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 269 
 
 A. Sawyer, D. D. Hymn, " I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord." 
 Address by Rev. Samuel T. Carter. Hymn, " Christ is 
 Made the Sure Foundation." Doxology, " Praise God from 
 Whom all Blessings Flow." 
 
 At the conclusion of these services the clergymen and 
 congregation proceeded to the site of the new church edi- 
 fice, near the northeast corner of Warburton and Wells 
 Avenues. After prayer 'was offered, the pastor. Rev. John 
 Dixon, repeated the following words : " Except the Lord 
 build the house they labor in vain who build it. Our help 
 is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. 
 Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, 
 which is Jesus Christ, the chief comer-stone, elect, precious, 
 to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed 
 of men, but chosen of God and precious, and who is God 
 over all blessed for ever more, amen." 
 
 Holding the silver trowel in his hand — which was pre- 
 sented for this occasion by Charles Edwin Otis, son of 
 Mayor Otis — Mr. Dixon said : " In the name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I lay the corner- 
 stone of a building to be here erected under the name of 
 the Westminster Church of Yonkers, and devoted to the 
 worship of Almighty Qod, according to the usages of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States." 
 
 Prayer was then offered, and the benediction closed 
 the interesting exercises.* 
 
 The copper box which was placed in the comer-stone 
 contained the following articles : A Bible, a copy of the 
 Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, photo- 
 graphs of the pastors of the church, the names of the offi- 
 cers of the church and Sunday-school, the Church Manual, 
 a catalogue of the Sunday-school library, the programme 
 of exercises of the laying of the comer-stone, copies of the 
 "New York Observer," the " New York Evangelist," the 
 "Yonkers Gazette," and the "Yonkers Statesman." 
 
 The church is built of gray stone and has a spire 145 
 
 * Through the enterprise of Alexander O. Kirkwood, photographs of 
 the scene of the laying of the corner-stone of this building were taken by 
 H. S. Wyer, the proceeds of the sale of which went into the church build- 
 ing fund. 
 
270 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 feet high. The entire cost of the building, including the 
 furniture and the plot of ground, which is 81 by 125 feet, 
 was about $35,000, of which all except about $5, 000 was 
 paid during Mr. Dixon's pastorate. The dimensions with 
 the chapel in the rear are 62 by 107 feet. The auditorium 
 is built in amphitheatre style and has a seating capacity of 
 600. It has five aisles, four of which extend the length of 
 the auditorium, the fifth extending half way up the centre 
 of the church. The pews and pulpit furniture are of ash 
 and varnished to correspond with the other woodwork. 
 A door at either side of the pulpit communicates with a 
 small vestibule which opens into the chapel in the rear of 
 the church. The pastor's study, session room, and library 
 are in the chapel. There are eight class-rooms in the 
 chapel, which are separated from the main room by sliding 
 sash windows. The kitchen is in the basement of the 
 church. The architect of this building was L. B. Valk, of 
 New York. The stonework was done by George Frazier, 
 and the woodwork, under several separate contracts, by 
 A. O. Kirkwood and John Brown. 
 
 The last sermon in the old church * building was de. 
 livered by the pastor. Rev. John Dixon, on Sunday morn- 
 ing, July 17, 1 88 1. 
 
 On Sunday morning, July 24, 1881, the first sermon 
 was preached in the chapel of the new church by Rev. 
 John Dixon, from Matt. 22 : 5. 
 
 At the evening service a number of the resident cler- 
 gymen occupied seats on the platform. The opening prayer 
 was offered by Rev. H. M. Baird, D. D., and addresses were 
 made by Rev. Dr. Cole, Rev. John Reid, Rev. Dr. De Los 
 Lull, and Rev. Charles E. Allison. Singing, and the bene- 
 diction by Rev. John Dixon, closed the interesting exercises. 
 
 The new church was dedicated on Monday evening, 
 October 23, 1882. The front of the pulpit and the altar- 
 stand were profusely decorated with flowers artistically ar- 
 ranged. Seated in the pulpit were Rev. John Hall, D. D., 
 * The original German and English Testament deposited by Rev. Dr. 
 Sawyer in the northeast corner of the old church building, is now in the 
 possession of A. O. Kirkwood. It was found in the demolition of the 
 church building at the erection of Dr. Charles A. Miles' house, which is 
 located on the site of the old church building, No. 72 Warburton Avenue. 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 27 1 
 
 of New York, Rev. Dr. Wilson Phraner, of Sing Sing, Rev. 
 Mr. Birch, of New York, Rev. Dr. Niven, of Dobbs Ferry, 
 Rev. H. M. Baird, D. D., Rev. Dr. Cole, Rev. I. S. Davison, 
 Rev. C. E. Allison, Rev. John Reid, Rev. P. R. Hawx- 
 hurst, and Rev. John Dixon. A quartette, composed of 
 Miss Josie Sanders, alto, Mrs. Johnson, soprano, J. W. Ho- 
 worth, tenor, and Walter Thomas, bass, with Miss Sanders 
 as organist, furnished the music. 
 
 The services opened with a brief prayer by Rev. Dr. 
 Phraner, which was followed with the reading of a portion 
 of Scripture by Rev. C. E. Allison, and prayer by Rev. Dr. 
 Baird. Previous to the dedicatory sermon, which was de- 
 livered by Rev. John Hall, D. D., of New York, Rev. John 
 Dixon stated that the present cost of the building was 
 $33,000, of which $24,000 had already been raised, leaving 
 a balance of $9,000 to be paid. He said that to-night he 
 would like $1,000 from his people. While the collection, 
 which amounted to upwards of $1,000 was being taken, the 
 choir sang " Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness." 
 
 Dr. Hall then delivered the dedicatory sermon, from 
 the text : " Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of 
 Zion." Psa. 2:6. It was an able effort. Rev. Dr. Cole 
 prayed, the choir sang again, and the services closed with 
 the benediction by Rev. Alexander Scotland. 
 
 The church held a sociable in the chapel on Tuesday 
 evening, when there was vocal and instrumental music, 
 readings, and brief addresses by Rev. Dr. Cole and Rev. 
 John Dixon. 
 
 The next pastor of the church was Rev. Charles P. 
 Fagnani, a graduate of the Union Theological Seminary, 
 New York. 
 
 In February, 1886, Rev. Mr. Fagnani began to fail in 
 health, in consequence of over-exertion in his previous 
 charge, and February 17 of the same year the congregation 
 granted him a leave of absence for eight months, hoping 
 for his complete and permanent restoration to health there- 
 by. July 31, 1886, Rev. and Mrs. Fagnani sailed for Europe. 
 At a farewell meeting previous, his congregation presented 
 him with a purse of $300, accompanied with expressions of 
 sincere regret at his departure and hopes for his safe re- 
 
2/2 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 turn. During his absence the pulpit was supplied for a few 
 months by ministers from other churches. Rev. Mr. Fag- 
 nani resigned his pastorate in March, 1887. 
 
 During Mr. Fagnani's leave of absence the interior 
 of the church and chapel was destroyed by an accidental 
 fire which occurred on Sunday morning, February 28, 1886, 
 at 7:30 o'clock. Through the efficient efforts of the fire de- 
 partment the fire was entirely subdued by ten o'clock, but 
 the beautiful church was in ruins and its people in tears, 
 pastorless and homeless. Under these peculiarly trying 
 circumstances they did not lose heart or hope, but through 
 their energetic efforts, even while the church was burning, 
 arrangements were made for an evening service and notice 
 given to that effect. The first to reach the scene of disaster 
 among the Yonkers pastors was Rev. John Reid, pastor of 
 the First Presbyterian Church, who offered the use of his 
 church, and the regular evening service was held at his 
 special request in that church. 
 
 At the close of the evening service the congregation 
 joined in devotional exercises, which were characterized by 
 deep feeling. At a meeting held the day after, the follow- 
 ing minutes were prepared, which were adopted and sent to 
 the various churches of the city who had kindly placed 
 their respective places of worship at their disposal : 
 
 " In the providence of God we have been called upon to 
 pass through deep waters. The elements have destroyed 
 our house of worship and ' our gates are burned with fire.' 
 In the midst of our sorrow and tears our Christian brethren 
 of the city have thrown open their church doors to us, 
 and have pressed upon us all that God has given them, and 
 desire -that we should work and worship therein. They 
 have withheld nothing from us. We desire to assure all 
 those who have so kindly visited us in our trouble that we 
 appreciate and are grateful for all this courtesy and kind- 
 ness, and we know that it is the expression of their love in 
 Christ for us, and while we cannot make use of all that has 
 been offered, our hearts are full and we treasure this kind- 
 ness as the sure proof of the one faith and one Lord which 
 always draw brethren together. We are constrained espe- 
 cially to thank the officers of the First Presbyterian Church 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 273 
 
 for their prompt and urgent invitation, placing at our 
 disposal their church edifice for our use for worship, 
 particularly on the day of the fire, for last evening, and 
 the basement for the storage of all that we saved from the 
 fire." 
 
 At the same meeting resolutions of thanks to the mem- 
 bers of the fire department and the police department for 
 their efficient efforts in our behalf were passed. 
 
 The following minute was entered upon the sessional 
 records and a copy thereof sent to Rev. John Reid, pastor 
 of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, as expressive 
 of the feeling of the church and congregation towards him 
 for his kindly sympathy, warm interest in, and personal 
 service to the church during the time they were without 
 their church home and without a pastor : 
 
 " Happy in the constant enjoyment of the new relation 
 consummated between the pastor and the people of West- 
 minster Church, the memories of elders and people alike 
 revert to the last four months now immediately past, and 
 recall the leadings of our Heavenly Father and the paths 
 in which we have walked. We exercise our hearts for new 
 w'ork with the recollection of the loving words and works 
 of those who have shown warmest affection for and interest 
 in us. None have been more kind and loving than our 
 brother. Rev. John Reid, pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church. We recall his interest and his wise counsel in the 
 study, the prayer-meeti-ng, and in the pulpit. We owe to 
 him a debt of love we cannot hope to repay. To wish him 
 well in any and all his interests seems too much like formal 
 words and a perfunctory act. We assure him that his affec- 
 tion has not been sown in cold hearts. We shall not forget 
 the close Christian fellowship which with him we have en- 
 joyed, but wish it may grow and ripen with years." 
 
 The Sunday following the fire, church services were 
 held in the hall of the Woman's Christian Temperance 
 Union, North Broadway, it having been secured until the 
 completion of the reconstructed church. In the interim the 
 congregation nobly held together and all the departments 
 of the church work were efficiently and successfully car- 
 ried on. 
 
 Church and Sunday-flchool Work. ' I § 
 
274 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The loss on the church was $30,000, and the insurance 
 $31,000. The work of restoring the church building was 
 begun promptly and its formal rededication took place on 
 Thursday evening, November 4, 1886. T he ma i n audie nce- 
 room jwas__^2wded^ _and__ jiiany . were turned "away ^being 
 un able to get in. The church presentedlTbrilliiEfappear- 
 ance, the shining of the gas upon the handsome stained- 
 glass windows producing a charming eif ect. It was taste- 
 fully adorned with flowers, the presentations of members 
 of the Baptist, Methodist, and other churches. 
 
 Seated in the pulpit were Rev. Dr. Taylor, of the 
 Broadway Tabernacle, New York, Rev. John Dixon, of 
 Trenton, N. J., Rev. Dr. Cole, Prof. H. M. Baird, D. D., 
 Rev. Charles E. Allison, Prof. I. S. Davison, and Rev. Ed- 
 ward C. Moore, temporary pastor of the church. 
 
 The services commenced with a voluntary on the 
 organ, played by George Jardine, after which a doxology 
 was sung, the congregation rising. The prayer of invoca- 
 tion was then given by Rev. Mr. Dixon. Rev. Mr. Allison 
 read the fourth chapter of St. John. An eloquent sermon 
 was preached by Rev. Dr. Taylor from these words : " For 
 where two or three are gathered together in My name, 
 there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18 : 20. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole read the hymn " I Love Thy Church, O 
 God," after singing which, the congregation remaining 
 standing, Rev. Mr. Moore said, " In the providence of God, 
 this church has been called to pass through deep waters. 
 The long and trying illness to which its pastor was sub- 
 jected had but fairly passed when the church was in ashes. 
 The hand of God has been laid on heavy. The discipline 
 of God has been for the development of our powers to a de- 
 gree that we hitherto were not aware of. God has gone 
 before. He it is who gives the hope to this people of the 
 restoration of its pastor. He it is that brings them both 
 face to face with a new epoch. God goes before us. The 
 ark of God goes before us. The goodness of the Lord is 
 now seen and this, people gives praise and thanksgiving to 
 God. This is the offering of this church unto God. Let it 
 be the beginning of the renewal of their service. Let them 
 hereafter give to Him the best they have, to His honor and 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 275 
 
 glory." Mr. Moore concluded his remarks with a prayer of 
 consecration. Rev. Mr. Dixon followed in congratulatory 
 remarks. The hymn, " The Church's One Foundation," was 
 sung, after which Rev. Mr. Davidson pronounced the bene- 
 diction. 
 
 The reconstructed edifice was formally opened for 
 public worship on the first Sunday of November, i886. In 
 the evening a special communion service was held. 
 
 In the rebuilding of the new edifice the main plan of 
 the burned structure was adhered to. But the additional 
 improvements were many and important, both as to appear- 
 ance and convenience. First and foremost of these is the 
 organ, which was built by George Jardine, of New York, at 
 a cost of $3,500, and is a fine piece of mechanism. It is 
 placed behind the pulpit in the east end of the church, 
 with a mechanical connection of keyboard which is placed 
 in the centre of the church, thus making the organist and 
 choir a part of the congregation. 
 
 The next important improvement is the new gallery 
 which extends around three sides of the main audience- 
 room. The incline is moderate and the pews are so ar- 
 ranged that in all parts of the gallery the sitter directly 
 faces the pulpit. The front guard is low, and is surmounted 
 by a bronzed galvanized iron rail. 
 
 There are four entrances to the gallery — one in the 
 north and one in the south tower, and one leading to each 
 of the staircases into the lecture-room. Its seating capacity 
 is two hundred and fifty, which added to that of the main 
 auditorium makes the entire seating capacity of the church 
 between seven and eight hundred. 
 
 The corrugated iron ceiling is thirty-eight feet above 
 the floor, and is painted a turquoise blue, while the walls 
 are fawn-colored and trimmed with olive. The cellars 
 were excavated and laid with concrete, and everything 
 in the way of protection against fire was seen to. 
 
 The glass of the handsome windows is opalescent. 
 There are three principal windows — one in the front facing 
 Warburton Avenue, one on the north side and one on the 
 south. Over each of these three windows is a group of 
 smaller windows of peculiar shape. 
 
2/6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The centre of the group on Warburton Avenue contains 
 a dove, that on the south side of the church a cross and 
 crown, and that on the north side an open Bible. The 
 principal ornaments of each of the large' windows are two 
 vines reaching nearly the length of the central compart- 
 ments. The windows were built by Otto C. Falck, of New 
 York. 
 
 The church is sixty-two feet square, and the lecture- 
 room is twenty-five by seventy-four, with extensions. 
 
 The pulpit is new and of chaste design. It is built of 
 ash and cherry. 
 
 The auditorium is lighted by three chandeliers in the 
 ceiling. The large one in the centre has eighty jets, and 
 the two smaller ones forty jets each. The jets are lighted 
 by electricity. 
 
 In the chapel but few changes were made, a fire-escape 
 having been added and a new session-room. The edifice is 
 a picturesque one ; the green ivy leaves with which it is al- 
 most covered and the rough-hewn stone form a pleasing 
 contrast. 
 
 Charles R. Otis, Norton P. Otis, and Ralph E. Prime 
 constituted the building committee of the reconstructed 
 edifice ; and Walter Thomas, Charles R. Otis, and Col. 
 Womersley the furniture committee. S. Francis Quick did 
 the carpenter work. 
 
 On June 14, 1888, a Mendelssohn concert was held in 
 the church, the proceeds of which were appropriated to the 
 liquidation of the church debt. 
 
 The late pastor. Rev. Edward C. Moore, came as a 
 stated supply to the church October, 1886. May 5, 1887, he 
 received a unanimous call from the church to become their 
 pastor, which was accepted, and the installation services 
 were held in the church on Thursday evening, June 30, 
 1887. They were conducted by Rev. William Hart Dexter, 
 Moderator of the Presbytery. 
 
 The sernaon was delivered by Rev. George F. Moore, 
 brother of the pastor, professor of Oriental languages and 
 Old Testament exegesis in Andover Theological Seminary. 
 The charge to the pastor was by his father, Rev. Wm. E. 
 Moore, D. D., pastor of the Second Church, of Columbus, 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 277 
 
 Ohio. Rev. John Dixon, D. D., of. Trenton, N. J., deliv- 
 ered the charge to the people. The services throughout 
 
 WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 were very interesting and were listened to by a very large 
 audience. 
 
278 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Rev. Edward Caldwell Moore was born in West Ches- 
 tei:, Pa., September i, 1857. He is the son of Rev. Wm. E. 
 Moore, D. D., and grandson of the Rev. George Foote, D. D. 
 He was graduated from Marietta College in 1877, and re- 
 ceived his master's degree from the same institution in 
 1880. He taught Latin and Greek in the Public High 
 School, Columbus, Ohio, 1877 to 1881, studied theology in 
 Union Seminary, New York city, 1881 to 1884, was gradua- 
 ted as fellow of the seminary, and spent the next two years — 
 1884 to 1886 — in the study of church history in the universi- 
 ties of Giessen, Goettingen, and Berlin, in Germany. On 
 May 5, 1887, he was called to the pastorate of Westminster 
 Church, Yonkers. 
 
 In November, 1 888, Rev. Mr. Moore received a call to 
 the pastorate of the Central Congregational Church of 
 Providence, R. I. The call was accepted and the Westches- 
 ter Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relations December 
 10, 1888, to take effect January i, i88g. Rev. Mr. Moore 
 preached his farewell sermon as pastor of the Westminster 
 Presbyterian Church, December 30, 1888, taking his text 
 from 2 Corinthians 4:18. 
 
 The congregation of the Westminster Church greatly 
 regretted Mr. Moore's departure, and the best wishes of his 
 many friends in Yonkers followed him to his new field of 
 labor. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Moore's pastorate of the Westminster Church 
 was richly blessed, and under his care and leadership 
 the church actively and efficiently prosecuted its work. 
 Three thousand two hundred dollars on the debt of the 
 church property of $8,800, which was incurred in the recon- 
 struction of the new church edifice, was paid February, 
 1888, and during his pastorate of but two years, one hun- 
 dred and four persons were received into the commun- 
 ion of the church. 
 
 Rev. Zebulon B. Graves was temporary pastor of this 
 church from October 6, 1889 till January 19, 1890. A unan- 
 imous call was extended by the church on September 10, 
 1890, to Rev. George R. Cutting, of Lake Forest, 111., which 
 was accepted September 24 of the same year. The fol- 
 lowing notice of the pastor elect is taken from the " Yon- 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 279 
 
 I 
 
 kers Gazette "of October 4, 1890, also from the " Waukegan 
 (111.) Gazette" of September 27, 1890: 
 
 " The pastor elect was prepared for college at the Wal- 
 tham (Mass.) High School, and graduated from the classical 
 course at Amherst College with high honors. Later on he 
 took a theological course at Auburn Theological Seminary. 
 In 1887 he was called as principal of Lake Forest Academy, 
 entering the faculty of Lake Fqrest (111.) University when 
 William C. Roberts, LL. D., became president of the latter 
 institution. From 1888 to 1890 he held the chair of ora- 
 tory in Lake Forest College. In this line of effort he ex- 
 cels, not only possessing the faculty of imparting the art to 
 others, but also being a concrete exemplar of modern ora- 
 tory. 
 
 " Rev. Mr. Cutting is a man of diversified gifts. His 
 executive ability, as evinced by his management of Lake 
 Forest Academy, was of the highest order ; his qualities as 
 a gentleman of society are specially noticeable ; he pos- 
 sesses a temper sunshiny, kindly, and entertaining. He 
 was widely sought after in and about Chicago, as a pulpit^ 
 supply, and he has occupied the leading pulpits thereabouts. 
 He is not less favorably known in the churches of central 
 New York. As a pastor he has a reputation for tact and 
 the understanding of human nature that makes him valu- 
 able. During his short sojourn in the West he was promi- 
 nently identified with State and National educational inter- 
 ests. He was president of the Presbyterian Ministers' Asso- 
 ciation of Chicago, an influential union of ninety prominent 
 clergymen of Chicago and its vicinity. 
 
 " His reason for leaving the college professorship was 
 that he felt specially called to the work of the pastorate." 
 
 The installation of Rev. George R. Cutting as pastor 
 of the Westminster Presbyterian Church took place on 
 "Thursday evening, November 6. 1890. Rev. John H. Tru- 
 sell, of Brewsters, Moderator of the Westchester Presbytery, 
 presided and propounded the constitutional questions ; Rev. 
 Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, preached the sermon ; 
 Rev. Dr. Reid of the First Presbyterian Church, delivered 
 the charge to the pastor, and Rev. William H. Dexter, of 
 Thompsonville, Conn., delivered the charge to the people. 
 
28q church and SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 A reception to the new pastor was given in the church 
 the following evening. 
 
 The membership of the church at this writing. May, 
 1 891, is 379, as shown by the revised membership roll in 
 the manual issued May, 1891. 
 
 The Westminster Presbyterian Church has always 
 taken a great interest in missionary work and continues un- 
 ceasingly to do so. Sprung itself from a mission, it has 
 been ever forward in good works, not only in foreign fields, 
 but here at home as well. Its third pastor, Rev. L. W. 
 Mudge, D. D., was for years the pastor of the city for those 
 who had no pastor, or were of no church, and thus it be- 
 came the leader of the churches in mission work. 
 
 In the spring of 1866 the church secured the services 
 of Mrs. Elizabeth Russell (now Mrs. McKenzie) as Bible- 
 reader. Her labors in connection with this church and, 
 the community were abundantly blessed. Mrs. Russell 
 continued in the service of the church for several years. 
 
 Early in the year 1868 Mrs. Margaret J. Herron, a 
 teacher in the Sunday-school, and sister of J. H. Brown, 
 left with her husband, Rev. David Herron, for their mission 
 field, Dehra, India. A farewell missionary meeting was 
 held in the church on Thursday evening, January 2, of that 
 year. In her work among the heathen she was indefatiga- 
 ble and no higher human compliment could be passed upon 
 it than that given by Rev. J. S. Woodside. In his address 
 upon "Woman's Work in India," before the Evangelical 
 Alliance in New York, he spoke of the girls' boarding-school 
 in Dehra and the results of Mrs. Herron's work as the no- 
 blest specimen of what woman could do for woman in 
 foreign lands. Mrs. Herron after five years of devoted 
 service died at her post. 
 
 The Ladies' Missionary Association of this church has 
 supported a Bible-reader, Mrs. Esteer Hadad, in Abeiah, 
 Syria, for thirteen years, since its organization, January 10, 
 1878, and continues to do so at the present time. The 
 church also assumed the entire support of Miss S. Bell 
 Sherwood — a niece of Elder John H. Brown— for a number 
 of years. Miss Sherwood was appointed missionary to 
 Hamadan, Persia, by the ladies' Board of Missions of the 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 28 1 
 
 Presbyterian Church in 1883, and sailed for her mission 
 field September 26, 1883. On Sunday evening, Septem- 
 ber 15, of the same year, a deeply interesting farewell 
 meeting was held in the church. 
 
 The missionary service will long be remembered as 
 one of peculiar privilege and interest. Miss Sherwood, now 
 Mrs. Hawks, with her husband, Rev. James Hawks, is still 
 laboring with great success in Hamadan, the place where 
 Queen Esther was laid to rest. 
 
 In the spring of 1885 Miss Georgiana Hicks began her 
 labors as missionary visitor, and still continues an earnest 
 and successful worker in the duties of that position. Rev. 
 Mr. Moore, recent pastor of this church, bears grateful 
 testimony to the efficiency and usefulness of her labors in 
 connection with his pastorate. 
 
 The Westminster Presbyterian Church was the first 
 to begin Christian work among the German population of 
 Yonkers, and was largely instrumental in the formation of 
 the First German — now the German Lutheran — Church of 
 this city. It also did efficient work among the colored 
 people of the city in the year 1867. 
 
 OFFICERS WESTMINSTER CHURCH. 
 Elders. Deacons. 
 
 Ordained: Ordained: 
 
 May 12, 1867. John H. Brown, July 8, 1883. Morton W. Newman. 
 
 June 20, 1880. Charles R. Gtis, Oct. 25, 1891. Wm. P. Constable. 
 
 Sep. 30, 1883. Wm. McKim, Clerk, Oct. 25, 1891. Charles H. Haight. 
 Sep. 30, 1883. J. R. McWilliam, Treas., Oct. 25, 1891. G. A. Englehardt, Jr. 
 Oct. 25, 1891. Alexander O. Kirkwood, Oct. 25, 1891. William Ewing. 
 Oct. 25, 1891. William L. Odell, Oct. 25, 1891. Thomas L. McKim. 
 
 Oct. 25, 1891. Arthur S. Machin, 
 Oct. 25, 1891. H. Beattie Brown, M. D. 
 
 Trustees. 
 Began Service: 
 
 1887. F. B. Hickey, 1866. Charles R. Otis, 
 1890. R. O. Kirkwood, 1877. William McKim, 
 1884. W. H. Scott, i886. N. A. Warren, M. D., 
 
 1888. J. J. Littebrandt, 1882. Norton P. Otis, 
 
 1878. Walter Thomas. 
 
 William McKim, President, Walter Thomas, Secretary, 
 
 Frank B. Hickey, Treasurer. 
 
 The present officers of. the Woman's Missionary So- 
 
282 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ciety, 1 89 1, are: Mrs. A. O. Kirkwood, President; Mrs. John 
 H. Brown, First Vice-President; Mrs. John F. Pierce, 
 Second Vice-President; Miss Josie Sanders, Treasurer; 
 Mrs. Edward Clarke, Secretary. 
 
 Miss Josie Sanders, as organist, served the church 
 gratuitously « for a period of nineteen years and a half. 
 Miss Lizzie Biggerstaff is the present organist. The con- 
 gregational singing is led by Walter Thomas, with a vol- 
 unteer choir of twenty voices. 
 
 The ushers are William P. Constable, James Austin, 
 Robert O. Kirkwood, and George Engelhardt, Jr. 
 
 George Fitzsimmons served as sexton from June, 1 886, 
 until 1889, prior to which time George Ryder was the sexton 
 for several years. The present sexton is Ambrose S. Havey^ 
 who has iilled the position efficiently since March 18, 1889. 
 
 Mrs. George Ryder presented the church with a hand- 
 some pulpit Bible in January, 1 872, which is now used as 
 the chapel Bible. The present pulpit Bible was presented 
 by Rev. Dr. Phraner — formerly pastor of the First Presby- 
 terian Church of Sing Sing — in place of his former gift, 
 destroyed by fire, February 28, 1886. On its cover is in- 
 scribed : " Pulpit Westminster Presbyterian Church, 
 Yonkers." 
 
 The communion service was presented by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Alexander O. Kirkwood, as a thank-offering, July 28, 
 1 88 1. The first communion service was presented to a 
 Presbyterian church in Colorado, of which Rev. Alexander 
 Scotland was the pastor. 
 
 The baptismal font, which is of gray marble, was pre- 
 sented by Hon. Norton P. Otis, July 28, 1881, and has in- 
 scribed thereon : " One Lord, one faith, one baptism." 
 
 The floral tables for the pulpit were presented by 
 Edward Newton Brown. 
 
 The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in. 
 this church on the last Sunday morning of January, March, 
 May, July, September, and November. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 At a union meeting of the Baptist, Methodist, Presby- 
 terian, and Reformed churches, held in the First Methodist 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 283 
 
 Church in the spring of 1855, Richard G. Pardee, agent of 
 the New York Sunday-school Union, by invitation of a few 
 gentlemen connected with the First Presbyterian Church, 
 delivered an address on Sunday-school work, and urged 
 the formation of a mission Sunday-school in Yonkers, stat- 
 ing that there were at that time at least 700 children who 
 did not attend Sunday-school. The result of this meeting 
 was the organization of a Union Sunday-school Association 
 in the month of May, 1855. 
 
 At one of the monthly meetings of this association it 
 was proposed to form a union mission Sunday-school. In 
 pursuance of this ,decision, on September 16, 1855, a num- 
 ber of Sunday-school teachers met at School No. 2, on 
 School Street, and organized the School Street Mission Sab- 
 bath-school, appointing Ebenezer Curtice Superintendent, 
 and' John Davidson * Assistant Superintendent. 
 
 On the following Sunday there were present as teach- 
 ers, Josiah Rich,f John, Davidson, John Nairn, James 
 Montgomery, Henry A.. Underwood, Mrs. Emma P. Under- 
 
 * By the will of John Davidson, one of the original members of the 
 church, who died in the city of New York, January 16, 1884, the sum of 
 $1,000 was left to the Westminster Church, which was appropriated to the 
 organ fund of the new church. An extract from resolutions offered by the 
 session of the Westminster Church, in reference to Deacon Davidson, 
 deceased, reads : " Quiet, unassuming, and gentle, he faithfully discharged 
 the duties and met the responsibilities that came to him ; his life was pure, 
 honorable, and devoted." 
 
 t Josiah Rich, one of the founders of the Westminster Church, also of 
 the First Presbyterian Church of this city, was born in Cedar Street, New 
 York City, February 4, 1809. When a resident of that city he was elected 
 to several important public offices. , He was president of the Board of Edu- 
 cation, in 1842 alderman of the Seventh Ward, and in 1844 he was nomi- 
 nated for mayor, but declined to accept. He was recognized as a man of 
 more than ordinary ability as a speaker, and a ready and discriminating 
 writer. And his indorsement of an applicant for a State office under 
 Governors Marcy, Brouck, and Wright was conceded almost equivalent to 
 an appointment. He was single minded and sincere, asking nothing for 
 himself, and under no circumstances or pressure, political or personal, 
 would he commend an applicant unless he was satisfied that he was capa- 
 ble and worthy. In all of his business relations he won an envied reputa- 
 tion for integrity and uprightness. 
 
 April 30, 1850, Mr. Rich came to reside in Yonkers and was intimately 
 associated with the rise and progress of the place, being ever active and 
 efficient in every movement to improve the condition of the people finan- 
 
284 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 wood, Mrs. James Montgomery, Mrs. E. Curtice, and Miss 
 Carrie Rich, and between twenty and twenty-five scholars. 
 A few weeks afterward Archibald Baxter, William Steed- 
 man, and Duncan C. Ralston were added to the list of 
 teachers. James Montgomery was among the first schol- 
 ars of the school, being present with his father, William 
 Montgomery, at its organization. 
 
 Duncan C. Ralston was the first secretary of the Sun- 
 day-school, and subsequently served as its librarian for 
 eleven years, which office he filled with great acceptance. 
 
 In May, 1856, the average attendance of the school 
 was about fifty children, when RoUin A. Sawyer, then a 
 member of the middle class in the Union Theological 
 Seminary, New York City, was invited to act as missionary 
 in connection with the school. He spent vSaturday after- 
 noons in visiting, organized a young men's Bible-class, and 
 at the close of the exercises of the school usually addressed 
 the scholars. The result of Mr. Sawyer's Saturday after- 
 noon visits among the parents of the scholars was soon 
 manifest in an increased interest on the part of both teach- 
 ers and scholars, so that on Christmas of 1856 the roll 
 showed 150 scholars and twenty-five teachers connected 
 with the school. 
 
 The school continued to meet in the district school- 
 
 cially and morally. In 1854 he was prominent in founding the Yonkers 
 Library Association and became its first president. He was ordained and 
 installed ruling elder of Westminster Church, January 2, 1859, which place 
 he held until September 25, 1884, when he became a member of the 
 Broadway Tabernacle Church, New York, of which Rev. Dr. Taylor is 
 pastor. 
 
 Mr. Rich was kind in deportment and cheerful in temperament, and 
 his consistent Christian example rendered his residence in Yonkers a 
 continual agency for good. In his private and public life he was con- 
 siderate and unselfish, generous and noble hearted, a man whose friend- 
 ship was an honor, whose companionship was always an enjoyment, and 
 there are not a few who will cherish his name in loving remembrance. 
 
 On the evening of January 12, 1886, he joined Baxter, Davidson, and 
 Nairn, the departed office-bearers of this church, who with the " elders 
 round about the throne "sing the new song: "Worthy is the Lamb that 
 was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and 
 honor and glory and blessing." On his departure the session of West- 
 minster Church adopted resolutions expressive of their loss, which were 
 entered upon the records of the church. 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 285 
 
 house until April 5, 1857, when it was removed to the 
 Getty Lyceum. After the removal, Archibald Baxter, 
 William Steedman, A. O. Kirkwood, Mrs. Duncan C. 
 Ralston, Miss Jennie Underwood (now Mrs. John Mor- 
 rison), Miss Mary Lapham (now Mrs. M. E. Saunders), 
 and others whose names cannot now be recalled, became 
 teachers. 
 
 On Sunday evening, April 26, 1857, preaching was 
 commenced, the Rev. Victor M. Hulbert (now Rev. Dr. 
 Hulbert) officiating. The attendance was alDout fifty. On 
 the 1 8th of October in the same year, upon the invitation 
 of the teachers and the advice of the Presbytery, Mr. Saw- 
 yer became the stated supply and preached regularly each 
 Sunday. The attendance of the school at this date aver- 
 aged 300 scholars. 
 
 On Thursday evening, July 16, 1857, a weekly prayer- 
 meeting was begun at the house of John Fisher, on Brook 
 Street, twenty-seven persons being present. This meeting 
 was attended by many of the scholars and some of the 
 teachers of the school. The attendance at the prayer- 
 meeting increased so rapidly that the place of meeting 
 was changed to Grant's Hall, a room in the then skin fac- 
 tory, near the corner of Mechanic Street (now New Main 
 Street), and Nepperhan Avenue. The attendance at this 
 meeting was from eighty to 100 every Thursday evening. 
 At Christmas, 1857, .there were 287 scholars and thirty- 
 seven teachers present, and the name was theh changed to 
 the First Mission Sabbath-school, Yonkers. 
 
 In April, 1859,* the Sunday-school was removed from 
 the Getty House to the new church building, or chapel as 
 
 * In 1859-60 a Sunday-school was opened by William F. Lee, who 
 was a much beloved teacher in the Westminster Sunday-school, and who, 
 after his removal from Yonkers, became the president of the Young Men's 
 Christian Association in New York City. This school was held in a room 
 in the nine buildings opposite the old pistol factory near Vark Street. 
 He was assisted by Messrs. Charles R. Otis, Alexander O. Kirkwood, and 
 Ebenezer Curtice. After occupying that building for several months this 
 school was removed to Teutonia Hall, near Brook Street. Among the . 
 interesting and profitable exercises of this little school was the singing^ 
 of Scriptural verses arranged by the teachers. It numbered about fifty 
 pupils and was continued a little over a year. Mr. Lee passed to his 
 heavenly reward in 1888. 
 
286 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 it was called, on Warburtoii Avenue. Archibald Baxter 
 was the superintendent at that date. The school continued 
 -to increase in numbers and interest and quite a number 
 from it were added to the church on profession of their 
 faith. 
 
 The Sunday-school in the years of 1861-62 was in an 
 unusually prosperous condition. At that time there was a 
 large number of adult classes, either of young men or 
 young ladies, among the teachers of which are recalled 
 Mrs. E. P. Underwood, Josiah Rich, James E. Goddard, 
 Miss Jennie Underwood (now Mrs. John Morrison), and 
 Miss Margaret Bloomer, the latter of whom had a class of 
 young ladies. Her plain, practical instruction, her sound 
 Scriptural teachings, having a " Thus saith the Lord " for 
 every statement, is well remembered by the writer, who 
 was a member of her class. Miss Bloomer subsequently 
 became a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and 
 was largely instrumental in the formation of the Ladies' 
 Missionary Society of that church, being elected its first 
 president. 
 
 The pastor's wife, Mrs. A. P. Carter, had a class of 
 young ladies, most of whom were her former pupils in 
 Public School No. 6, of which she was the first lady prin- 
 cipal, in 1861 (then Miss Alantha P. Pratt). Mrs. Carter's 
 emphatic teachings in regard to the pleasantness and joy- 
 ousness of the Christian life are well remembered by the 
 writer, who was privileged to be under her instruction. 
 Mrs. Carter was in her Christian life a living epistle of 
 the reality and power of the religion of Jesus Christ. She 
 always let her light shine, and never from any motive or 
 any reason concealed it. She was eminently successful in 
 winning the confidence and love of her scholars. Amid 
 the cares and responsibilities incident to her position as 
 principal of her day-school department, she ever preserved 
 a calmness which was unrufiied, and possessed a peace which 
 was undisturbed. Her calm face, both in the Sunday and 
 day school, seemed to speak the words, " In patience pos- 
 sess ye your souls," and " Thou shalt keep him in perfect 
 peace whose mind is stayed on Thee." 
 
 In a letter received from her occurs this paragraph : 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 287 
 
 " There is no service so noble as tlie service of our Saviour, 
 there is no choice so blessed as the Christian's choice, there 
 is no hope so glorious as that which renders bright the 
 darkest. day, there is no peace so abiding as that which God 
 gives his loved ones." Her utterances in the weekly 
 prayer-meeting, which she formed for the benefit of her 
 Sunday-school scholars and the young members of her 
 husband's congregation, are recalled as being especially 
 helpful, encouraging, and comforting. And her prayers, 
 which were characterized by earnestness, simplicity, and 
 directness, showed that she walked in intimate communion 
 with her Father in heaven. And her sweet voice, as she 
 led in the songs of praise and thanksgiving, was an inspira- 
 tion to all who heard it. In general it may be truly said 
 that her character was one of beauty and strength most 
 happily blended, most remarkably developed. 
 
 She ever kept her eye on her high calling and ran the 
 race, and could not stop to walk or look back. Her Lord 
 gave her the five talents and she did not hide one of them. 
 "And so he that had received five talents came and brought 
 other five talents, saying. Lord, thou deliveredst unto me 
 five talents : behold, I have gained beside them five talents 
 more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and 
 faithful servant : thou hast been faithful over a few things, 
 I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into 
 the joy of thy Lord." Those words of welcome came to 
 her as she passed from her earthly life from the manse at 
 Huntington, L. I., October 7, 1874, and entered the heav- 
 enly life "to be for ever with the Lord." 
 
 The pastor. Rev. Samuel T. Carter, started a weekly 
 Bible-class of young ladies in April, 1865, which was held 
 at his residence in Glenwood on Friday afternoons. These 
 gatherings were a source of much pleasure and profit to all 
 who attended. The pastor's father, Robert Carter, was 
 occasionally present, and added a few words of counsel and 
 encouragement. On one occasion, in the course of his 
 remarks on Bible study, he said, " Young ladies, you have 
 here a rich mine ; be sure you get all the ingots." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Carter's teaching, as was his preaching, was 
 characterized by great simplicity and earnestness. The 
 
288 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 constant reiteration of proving all things by the Word of 
 God and " comparing spiritual things with spiritual," was a 
 marked feature of his instructions, as he led his scholars in 
 the study of the Word, " bringing things new and old " 
 from the exhaustless treasury of Scripture knowledge, ex- 
 amining and unfolding each verse in its textual, contextual, 
 and Scriptural status, first getting the sense, then in a clear 
 and concise manner making them to see the truth with 
 vividness and force, so that they left the class each week 
 with a distinct and positive addition to their Scriptural 
 knowledge, thus furnishing them with strength - giving 
 food, so that they were prepared and the better fitted to 
 fulfil their mission. The members of the class were devo- 
 tedly attached to him and still warmly cherish his memory. 
 
 Special preparations were made by the Sunday-school 
 for their Christmas festivals. The music and words of the 
 carols were always new, being composed and arranged for 
 several years by musical composers in New York city, Mrs; 
 M. E. Sangster and Miss Fanny Crosby, the blind poetess, 
 being among the writers of the words of the carols sung on 
 several occasions. The refreshments at these festivals were 
 given in abundant measure. The fruit, nuts, and cake were 
 entirely supplied for the whole school for many successive 
 years by Josiah Rich and John Davidson. 
 
 The eleventh Christmas festival was held in the assem- 
 bly hall of School No. 6 on Christmas day, 1 866. The hall 
 was densely crowded by the friends and teachers of the 
 school. The exercises commenced by the children — 481 in 
 number— singing a very pretty hymn entitled " Good Will 
 and Peace to Men " written, as were also three other hymns 
 for this meeting, by Miss Fanny Crosby. After the sing- 
 ing, the pastor. Rev. Samuel T. Carter, offered prayer, 
 which was followed by the reading of the Scriptures and 
 the singing of another carol. 
 
 The superintendent, Henry A. Underwood, read his 
 report, which reflected great credit on the thirty-seven 
 teachers, who were most efficient and faithful in their work. 
 A very pleasant address by Robert Carter, father of the 
 pastor, followed. Christmas Carol No. 4 was sung. A brief 
 address was made by the pastor, who returned his thanks 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 289 
 
 for the beautiful presents lie had received from his congre- 
 gation. 
 
 Then came the distribution of the gifts to the scholars, 
 "who each received a handsome book, and cake, fruit, and 
 confectionery in abundance. Edward Fuller, on behalf of 
 the school, presented the superintendent with a beautiful 
 illustrated copy of Bunyan's " Pilgrim's Progress." The 
 musical part of the exercises was under the -supervision of 
 "William B. Taylor, the chorister of the church. These 
 pleasant exercises closed with singing and the benediction. 
 
 The following statistics of the Sunday-school are taken 
 from a printed annual report of the school of January, 
 1867: 
 
 "The superintendent's report >(H. A. Underwood) 
 shows the total number of scholars 481. Of this number 
 263 meet in the Westminster Church, and the remaining 
 number — 218 — attend the infant-class room on Broadway, 
 between Wells Avenue and Dock Street, under the able 
 and very eiEcient 'management of Mrs. E. Curtice and 
 Mrs. James E. Goddard. The number of teachers and offi- 
 cers connected with the school at this date is thirty-seven, 
 ■with an average attendance of thirty. The average attend- 
 ance of pupils is 254." 
 
 The treasurer reports the sum of $289 collected for 
 missionary purposes, and $1,200 paid for the expenses of 
 the school during the past year. The library contains 600 
 volumes, and has, under the care of the librarian, Duncan 
 C. Ralston, attained an unusual degree of perfection, both 
 in the condition of the books and the system of circula- 
 tion. 
 
 Henry A. Underwood, to whom the school owes much 
 for his unceasing labors in its behalf, was unanimously re- 
 elected Superintendent ; for Assistant Superintendent John 
 Morrison was also reelected. Edward S. Sumner was cho- 
 sen Secretary, Robert Reeves was elected Librarian in place 
 of Duncan C. Ralston, who resigned, and George A. Arrow- 
 smith, Assistant Librarian. William B. Taylor, under 
 whose management the singing has been conducted and 
 which has attained to a rare degree of excellence, continued 
 to lead the singing for the coming year. ' 
 
 Sunday-school Work. IQ 
 
290 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The church building is no longer large enough to ac- 
 commodate the increasing number of scholars. 
 
 The report of the superintendent, H. A. Underwood, 
 showed the following statistics of the school Christmas, 
 1867 : Number of teachers, 39 ; number of pupils, 521 ; 40^ 
 more than the preceding year. 
 
 For the Christmas festival of 1869 four of the carols 
 were composed by the following teachers in the school, 
 Mrs. E. Curtice, Miss M. Mason, Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, 
 and Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, the latter of whom arranged 
 the music for that and for other festivals and anniversaries 
 for a number of years. 
 
 Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, immediately on assuming the 
 pastorate of the church in August, 1867, established a 
 young men's Bible-class. With the growth of the school 
 young women were admitted, and it was taken to the gal- 
 lery in the old church. ' The membership of this class at 
 one time was forty-four. Mr. Mudge retained the class some 
 months after he was made superintendent, in December, 
 1 868, at a meeting of the teachers, and by the advice of the 
 session of the church remained both teacher and superin- 
 tendent until May, 1877, when he received a call from the 
 Second Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N. J., which he 
 accepted- 
 
 Before the advent of lesson-leaves Mr. Mudge prepared 
 regularly a series of questions on the " History of Israel 
 from the Birth of Moses to the Settlement in Canaan." 
 These lessons were printed and ran through two years, be- 
 ginning in 1 868. They were finely illustrated by large col- 
 ored crayon pictures, which were drawn by Joseph M. 
 Alvord with truly artistic skill. The pictures in size and 
 finish were similar to the " Bible Lesson Pictures " which 
 were extensively used and are so popular in the primary 
 department of the Sunday-schools of to-day. Mr. Alvord, 
 by these pictures, rendered valuable service to the school, 
 as he also did in his efficient work as secretary. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mudge was appointed superintendent of the 
 Superintendents' Normal Class in New York, in February, 
 1876. His resignation of the superintendency, consequent 
 upon his call to Princeton, was a matter of " sincere regret 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 29I 
 
 not only to the churcli but to the Sunday-school which he 
 had so lovingly and faithfully served as their superintend- 
 ent during the greater part of his ministry, and to every 
 member of which he had endeared himself by qualities of 
 mind and heart rare and shining." 
 
 Anson D. F. Randolph succeeded Mr. Mudge as teach- 
 er of the large Bible-class in the gallery in 1872, and re- 
 tained it until his removal from Yonkers. He prepared a 
 series of lessons, especially for this class, on the English 
 Bible, which were of exceeding interest and were greatly 
 enjoyed by the members of the class. His genial and lov- 
 ing disposition, his intense earnestness, and his fidelity to 
 the work set before him, made him eminently successful in 
 winning the affection and confidence of the members of his 
 class. 
 
 The following incident referring to this esteemed 
 teacher is taken from an article entitled " Sunday-school 
 Work a means of Culture," in the "Evangelist," May i, 
 1879, under the signature of A. W. Kirkwood : "Two old 
 schoolmates, middle-aged men, met upon an anniversary oc- 
 casion of a charitable institution. Full of interest in his 
 subject and in sympathy with the work, one of them made 
 an address, finished, eloquent, and effective. The friend 
 listened with pleasure and surprise, and at its clqge said, 
 ' A , I did not know you could make such a good speech.' 
 
 " ' Do you know why I can make a speech and you 
 can't ? Because I stayed in the Sunday-school and you 
 cleared out.' 
 
 ".The rejoinder, though uttered in a joke as the two 
 friends grasped hands warmly, contained more than a grain 
 of sense. 
 
 " One cannot handle year after year the grand and 
 wonderful doctrines of the Bible, become familiar with its 
 glowing imagery and its simple and beautiful stories, with- 
 out a widening and growing development of mind which 
 will naturally brighten and beautify one's style and give 
 ease and grace in discourse upon all other subjects and 
 questions. 
 
 " As a student with no particular sense of responsibil- 
 ity, one is often dull to learn and slow to grasp even the 
 
292 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 outline of a subject, but in the effort to make another see 
 clearly one's own ideas become better defined. 
 
 ' Thoughts disentangle passing o'er the lip.' 
 
 In seeking to unfold a subject in its length and breadth, 
 and to bring out its important 'points, one's mind becomes, 
 gradually it may be, but surely, a well-ordered storehouse 
 instead of a heterogeneous mass of rubbish." 
 
 John H. Brown also had a large and interesting class of 
 young ladies at this time, numbering over twenty. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mudge, in his historical discourse of the 
 Westminster Church, delivered in the centennial year, 1876, 
 mentions the Sunday-school as follows : 
 
 " As this church grew from this most useful church 
 agency, so it has always commanded its special attention, 
 and in turn has constantly received from it large accessions. 
 The school has always been large for the church and com- 
 munity. Its most prosperous years, judging by statistics, 
 were the four years from 1868 to 1 871, in each of which the 
 aggregate of teachers and scholars was over 500. In 1 869 
 the report records 528, and one Sunday in that year 498 
 scholars and teachers were present. These years are the 
 second to fifth of the present pastorate. Since 1871 the 
 school has gradually declined in numbers, owing mainly to 
 the establishment of new schools — there having been no 
 less than five new enterprises started since that year in the 
 district from which our scholars have largely been gath- 
 ered. During the prosperous years we had also the con- 
 stant and efficient efforts of a Bible-reader. The last report 
 of the school gives the number enrolled for the year at 
 
 399-" 
 
 The membership of the Sunday-school has increased 
 since the above mentioned report in July, 1876, as is shown 
 by the following figures taken from the statistical report 
 presented by the Westminster Presbyterian Church to the 
 Westchester Presbytery for the year ending April, 1884: 
 1864,310; 1865,325; 1866,300; 1867,481; 1868,521; 1869, 
 528; 1870, 512; 1871, 501; 1872,498; 1873,490; 1874,489. 
 1875,450; 1876,389; 1877,393; 1878,345; 1879,381; i88o| 
 474; 1881,390; 1882,417; 1883,509; 1884,508. 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 293 
 
 The following is taken from a printed report of the 
 school in the centennial year, April i, 1876: 
 
 " The Westminster Presbyterian Sunday-school in Yon- 
 kers is one of the most flourishing and ably conducted Sun- 
 day-schools of that city. The attendance is uniformly large 
 and the children pay the closest attention to the explana- 
 tions of the lessons given by their teachers. 
 
 " The following statistical information speaks for itself 
 and reflects great credit on its superintendent, Rev. L. W. 
 Mudge, who is devoted to his charge and never so happy as 
 when doing something for the children, and upon the devo- 
 ted band of teachers who take so much pleasure in leading 
 the children to Him who said, ' Suffer little children to 
 come unto me.' 
 
 " The report is as follows : Officers, 6 ; teachers, 3 1 ; 
 scholars on register, 399 ; number in infant class, 73 ; uni- 
 ted with the church, 6 ; volumes in library, 800 ; receipts, 
 $240 S3; expenditures, $133 50. 
 
 " The officers of the school are : Rev. L. W. Mudge, Su- 
 perintendent ; John H. Brown, Assistant Superintendent ; 
 Miss Josie Sanders, infant class Superintendent ; J. J. Beck, 
 Secretary ; John Hargraves, Treasurer ; Edward Newton 
 Brown, Librarian ; William P. Constable, Assistant Libra- 
 rian. The teachers are: Miss L. M. Fuller, Mrs. O. A. 
 Benedict, Miss Jennie Scotland, Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, 
 Miss Augusta Cruikshank, Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, Miss 
 Grace Randolph, Miss Louise J. Kirkwood, Miss Sarah J. 
 Brown, Miss May Williams, Mrs. Frederick Lorenz, Miss 
 Sarah Kennedy, Miss Amelia Cutbill, Mrs. E. A. Houston, 
 Mrs. E. Johnson, Rev. L. W. Mudge, Messrs. A. D. F. Ran- 
 dolph, John H. Brown, Ralph E. Prime, Charles R. Otis, 
 Alexander O. Kirkwood, Josiah Rich, William R. Kirkwood, 
 Alanson J. Prime, James Biggerstaff, Augustus Cruikshank, 
 J. M. Alvord, O. A. Benedict, and A. Taylor." • 
 
 The Young People's Association for Christian Work, 
 connected with the Westminster Presbyterian Church and 
 Sunday-school, was regularly organized in 1867 by Rev. 
 Lewis W. Mudge, the second pastor of the church. A few 
 months previous to the above mentioned date the young 
 men of the church were accustomed to meet irregularly in 
 
294 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the gallery of the church. In June, 1867, the young people 
 of the church, including young men and women, were or- 
 ganized into a society with the above name. Rev. Mr. 
 Mudge took a very deep interest in its welfare, and was 
 most efficient and successful in advancing its interests in 
 every department. At the close of 1867 the Association had 
 a membership of 112. 
 
 In December, 1886, and following the Week of Prayer 
 in January, 1887, the church and Sunday-school were richly 
 blessed in " the time of refreshing from the presence of the 
 Most High," and the longings and prayers for the salvation 
 of souls by the members of the Association found practical 
 expression and personal work, and not a few from the Sun- 
 day-school were through their instrumentality brought into 
 the church. 
 
 In June, 1868, the Association met with a severe blow 
 in the sudden removal of one of its chief pillars of strength, 
 George A. ArrowSmith, a noble, true, and earnest Christian 
 young maij, who had not only endeared himself to the 
 members of the Association, but to all who knew him. His 
 funeral services were held at the church and were largely 
 attended by the members thereof, and of the Sunday-school 
 and Association, the pastor, Rev. L. W. Mudge, officiating. 
 
 At a meeting of the Young People's Association of the 
 Westminster Church, held Tuesday evening, June 30, 1868, 
 the following resolutions were unanimously passed : 
 
 Whereas, God in his ajl-wise providence has seen fit to 
 remove from our number, by death, our esteemed brother 
 member, George A. Arrowsraith : 
 
 Resolved, That we deeply feel our loss, as well from our 
 love for him as that by his decease our society is deprived 
 of one of its most valuable members, whose counsel and ac- 
 tive interest it has enjoyed since its organization. 
 
 Resolved, That we do sincerely sympathize with his be- 
 reaved parents in their great loss, and heartily rejoice that 
 notwithstanding the deep affliction they have experienced 
 in his loss, they have the assurance that he was a servant of 
 God and that he has been delivered from the evils of this 
 world to enjoy henceforth the blessedness of the redeemed 
 in heaven. 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 295 
 
 Resolved, That in the sudden and unexpected death of 
 our brother we feel the solemn warning, " Be ye also ready, 
 for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh," 
 come to us with renewed earnestness, and we trust it will 
 not be unheeded ; so that oiir ranks, though they are broken 
 here, it will only be that in the world to come we may unite 
 in bonds that can never be sundered. 
 
 Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the 
 family of the deceased, published in the local papers, and 
 entered upon the permanent records of the Association. 
 
 By order of the Board of Managers, 
 
 E. S. Sumner, President. 
 
 Walter H. Underwood, Secretary. 
 
 The twenty-first anniversary of the Association was held 
 June 5, 1888, in the lecture-room of the church. Frank B. 
 Hickey, President, presided. The exercises were opened 
 by singing, after which the Scriptures were read by Frank 
 J. Esser, of the Baptist Young People's Association, fol- 
 lowed by prayer by William Smith, of the Dayspring 
 Association, and singing by a double quartette com- 
 posed of Messrs. Thomas, NicoU, Howorth, and Craft, and 
 Mrs. John A. Dow, Mrs. J. W. Goodale, Miss Josie Sanders, 
 and Miss Minnie Mott. The reports of the committees fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 After the reports of the committees, the President, 
 Frank B. Hickey, addressed the Association, and was fol- 
 lowed by a pleasing and encouraging address by Rev. Dr. 
 Prime, his subject being " Desire." 
 
 The interesting exercises closed by the quartette- sing- 
 ing, " The King of Love my Shepherd is." 
 
 The officers of the association in 1888 were Frank B. 
 Hickey, President ; Walter Thomas, Vice-President ; Rob- 
 ert Ogilvie Kirkwood, Recording Secretary; Walter Tal- 
 madge, Corresponding Secretary; Miss Agnes McMahon, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The Association celebrated its twenty-third anniversary 
 on Tuesday evening, June 3, 1890. The pulpit was taste- 
 fully decorated with daisies, ferns, and other wild flowers. 
 In front of the desk was a beautiful pillar of daisies and 
 ferns. Over the pulpit were the figures 1867 — the year in 
 
296 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ■which the Association was organized. Robert O. Kirkwood, 
 the President, presided. 
 
 The services were opened by the singing of the hymn, 
 " Holy, Holy, Holy," after which Rev. Charles E. Allison, 
 of Dayspring Church, offered prayer. The President then 
 read the 103d Psalm. 
 
 The various committees presented their reports, which 
 show very gratifying results during the past year. 
 
 The Lookout Committee, the Visiting Committee, 
 the Religious Work Committee, the Social Committee, and 
 the Missionary Committee are the several committees of 
 the Society. 
 
 The chairman of the Lookout Committee reported 36 
 new members had joined the Association, 16 active and 
 20 associate. 
 
 The, Missionary Committee^Mrs. William P. Con- 
 stable, Chairman — ^had furnished four speakers on mis- 
 sions, and the sum of $106 06 had been given for mission 
 work. 
 
 William P. Constable, the Secretary, reported that 47 
 prayer-meetings were held, with a total attendance of 4,335 ; 
 average, 85 ; the attendance during the last five months 
 will average over 100. The report of the Treasurer, Miss 
 Ida Bell, showed a balance on hand, June 4, 1889, of $10 90 ; 
 dues, $47 90; disbursements, $47 75 ; balance, June 3, 1890, 
 $11 05. 
 
 The President, Robert O. Kirkwood, reviewed the 
 work of the year, and congratulated the Association on the 
 result of its labors, after, which he introduced Rev. Dr. 
 L. W. Mudge as the founder of the Association. Dr. 
 Mudge said in part : 
 
 " I take no honor to myself for the founding of this 
 Association ; it was through no wisdom or sagacity on my 
 part that it was formed. It was born during a revival ; it 
 was a necessity. Necessity is the mother of invention. It 
 was from the Philadelphian Society of Princeton that I 
 first conceived the idea of this Society. While I do not 
 claim that this was the first Young People's Association in 
 the country, I think it is the oldest organization of its kind 
 in the United States. 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 297 
 
 " Societies of young people were, no doubt, in existence 
 for purely social objects. Other societies were formed for 
 occasional prayer-meetings, but this Association was the 
 first permanent one of which I have any knowledge. On 
 February 4, 1868, a number of the young people of this 
 church met and organized into a permanent organization, 
 although the Association was really in existence for one 
 year previous ; and you have continued to grow and now 
 you are celebrating the twenty-third anniversary. 
 
 " Remember what Paul said to Timothy : ' Let no man 
 despise thy youth.' The hope, of the church is in its 
 young people. Consecrated youth has always been in 
 favor with God. From the time of Paul down to the pres- 
 ent day consecrated youth has taken an important part in 
 the work of the church. The reports of the last year are 
 the best I have heard from your Association for any year 
 previous. May God's blessing rest upon your work in the 
 future." 
 
 Rev. P. S. Allen, of Saratoga, followed with a short 
 address, complimenting the young people of Westminster 
 Church on being among the pioneers in such organizations, 
 and expressing his appreciation of the work of Young Peo- 
 ple's Associations and Societies of Christian Endeavor 
 throughout the world. 
 
 The hymn beginning " Now the day is over " was 
 sung, and Dr. Mudge pronounced the benediction. 
 
 A weekly prayer-meeting of the Association is held 
 every Tuesday evening in the lecture-room of the church 
 at 8 o'clock, and once in three months the meeting is de- 
 voted to the subject of missions and missionary work. 
 Usually the meeting is addressed by those who are en- 
 gaged in mission work, and not unfrequently the presence 
 of a missionary, either from the home or foreign field, is 
 secured. 
 
 The Association at this writing, November, 1890, 
 maintains the largest young people's prayer-meeting. Its 
 membership is one hundred and fifty. 
 
 Officers of the Young People's Society for 1891 : Presi- 
 dent, Louis W. Archer ; Vice-President, William P. Hickey ; 
 Secretary, Allan S. Kirkwood; Treasurer, Mrs. J. R. Mc- 
 
298 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 William. Chairmen of Committees: Lookout, Frank B. 
 Hickey; Devotional, James H. Jackson; Visiting, Miss 
 Ida Jewell ; Missionary, Mrs. Edward Clark ; Social, Mrs. 
 Walter Thomas. The officers and chairmen constitute the 
 Board of Managers. 
 
 The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Sunday-school was 
 held in the old church building on September 16, 1880. 
 Rev. John Dixon, the pastor, conducted the exercises. A 
 number of papers recalling early incidents of the school 
 were read. Those who took part in the exercises were 
 Mr. Archibald Baxter, a former superintendent of the 
 school, Alexander O. Kirkwood, and others whose names 
 cannot now be recalled. 
 
 The mission band connected with the Westminster 
 Church and Sunday-school was organized by Miss Agnes 
 E. Kirkwood. A meeting for the purpose of perfecting 
 the organization was held on Wednesday afternoon, No- 
 vember 16, 1 88 1, in the chapel of the church, under the 
 conduct of the pastor. Rev. John Dixon. Charles R. Otis, 
 Superintendent of the Sunday-school, Mrs. Stanton Cady, 
 of Sing Sing, and Mrs. E. Curtice, of Yonkers, took part. 
 A letter was read from Mrs. A. F. Decker, of the War- 
 burton Avenue Baptist Church, who was expected to have 
 addressed the meeting, expressing her regret for her ab- 
 sence on account of illness, and of her warm interest and 
 sympathy in the object of the meeting. 
 
 The officers and committees, which had previously 
 been chosen, were : Miss Agnes E. Kirkwood, President ; 
 Miss May Alvord, Vice-President; Robert O. Kirkwood, 
 Secretary ; Kate Prime, Corresponding Secretary ; Edith 
 Beck, Treasurer ; Lizzie Hoar, Alice Christie, May Biggter- 
 staff, Alice Smith, Earl Prime, and William C. Prime, 
 Chairmen of Committees. 
 
 Meetings of the band were held monthly in the 
 chapel of the church, and the earnest desire and effort of 
 the officers was not so much to raise a large amount of 
 money, but to endeavor to interest and inform the chil- 
 dren in the progress of missions at home and abroad, to 
 advise them of the work which was being done by the 
 mission Boards of the Presbyterian Church and of the state 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 299 
 
 of the treasury of these Boards, and to train them to give 
 intelligently and in effective methods of carrying on mis- 
 sion work. 
 
 The first anniversary of the band was held in the 
 chapel, November 13, 1882. Letters of congratulation to 
 the band were read from the former pastors of the church, 
 viz., Rev. Samuel T. Carter, Rev. Dr. Sawyer, and Rev. 
 Dr. Mudge. 
 
 The secretary's report, by Robert O. Kirkwood, and the 
 treasurer's report, by Miss May Alvord, were read. The 
 treasurer reported receipts of $25 50; expenditures, $25. 
 
 Recitations followed by Miss Emma Hoar, Miss Em- 
 ma Menzer, Harold Thomas, and Fred Coon, a recent 
 Chinese convert, and singing of missionary hymns, and 
 benediction by the pastor, Rev. John Dixon. 
 
 The second anniversary was held in the chapel on 
 Tuesday afternoon, November 13, 1883, when they were 
 entertained by the Rev. John Dixon, the pastor, Mrs. New- 
 ton, a returned missionary from India, Myron T. Scudder, 
 and others. 
 
 The band sent a beautiful Scripture quilt to a Bible- 
 reader in India who is supported by the Ladies' Missionary 
 Association of the church. Upon this quilt were written 
 the names of the officers of the band and the Scripture 
 text, " God so loved the world that he gave his only-begot- 
 ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 
 but have everlasting life," John 3:16; also the names of 
 the former pastors of the church and their wives, with the 
 text, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to 
 •every creature," Mark -16: 15 ; also the names of the officers 
 of the Woman's Missionary Society of the church and the 
 names of the officers of the Sunday-school, with Scripture 
 texts. 
 
 The amount raised by the band during the year was 
 $28 50. They had also sent leaflets and papers to an 
 Indian mission in the western part of New York State. 
 The membership of the band was then sixty. The ages of 
 the boys and girls who composed it were from three to 
 twelve. The pastor's little daughter, Marion Dixon, three 
 years old, was the youngest member. 
 
300 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 After the president's resignation in November, 1883, 
 the attendance was quite irregular, and it was disbanded 
 for several months. It was reorganized by Mrs. Ebenezer 
 Curtice, October, 1886, who was assisted by Miss Josie San- 
 ders, and they had the charge of it until March, 1887, when 
 these officers were elected : Miss G. Hicks, President ; Miss 
 E. L. Smith, first Vice-President ; Miss Eva Mackrell, sec- 
 ond Vice-President; Miss G. 'Stone, Secretary; Miss E. 
 Hoar, Treasurer. 
 
 Meetings were held every week on Tuesday after- 
 noons until June. The exercises at these meetings con- 
 sisted of singing, repeating the Lord's Prayer in concert, 
 and a missionary story on the country assigned for the 
 month. The children worked also for a fair which was 
 held on the afternoon and evening of June 7, 1887. The 
 proceeds of this fair were $46, $36 of which was donated to 
 the building of a new schoolhouse for Miss Allison in 
 Santa F6, New Mexico, and $10 to local work. The aver- 
 age attendance at this date was fifty and the enrol- 
 ment 141. 
 
 In January, 1888, mite boxes were given to the band 
 with the request that all the money which they earned 
 which they wished to give for mission purposes be put in 
 them. The sum of $8 50 was realized by this plan. 
 
 In March, 1888, an entertainment was given by the 
 band called " Little Missionaries," which was a great suc- 
 cess in every way. Charles R. Otis presided, Miss Lizzie 
 Biggerstaff was the organist, and the pastor. Rev. E. C. 
 Moore, Adelaide Nichols, Sarah Fleming, Emily Kipp, 
 Minna Smith, Harold Thomas, Harold Danforth, Grace 
 Chapman, Nettie Logan, Emma Carson, Howard Austin, 
 John Fleming, and others took part. The proceeds of this 
 entertainment were $150, which was donated to the follow- 
 ing objects : $50 to the Board of Foreign Missions and $50 
 to the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, 
 and $50 to Miss Allison, in Santa F6, New Mexico. 
 
 The officers at the time were : Miss Georgiana Hicks, 
 President ; Miss Adelia Nichols, Vice-President ; Miss Em- 
 ma Hoar, Secretary; Miss Ida Jewell, Treasurer. And 
 their assistants were Miss Josie Sanders, Miss *Davidson, 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 30I 
 
 Miss Eva Mackrell, Miss Susie Biggerstaff, Mrs. Frank 
 Hickey, and Miss Nettie Moir. The membership was 145. 
 
 The present work of the band is the preparing of a 
 box of clothing for Esteer Hadad and her family, a Bible- 
 reader in Syria, who- was educated in Rev. Dr. Bird's 
 school in Sukit Ghrub, ten miles south of Beirllt, Syria. 
 
 The officers of the band January, 1 890, were : Miss 
 Georgiana Hicks, President, Miss A. A. Nichols, Vice- 
 President ; Miss Sadie Carson, Corresponding Secretary ; 
 Miss Ida Jewell, Recording Secretary ; Miss Lulu Reed, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 From the report of the pastor, Rev. John Dixon, to 
 the Presbytery of Westchester, for the year ending April i , 
 1880, these statistics of the Westminster Sunday-school are 
 gleaned : Officers and teachers, 40 ; adult scholars, 80 ; 
 youths and children, 354; total membership, 474 ; number 
 uniting with the church, 19 ; missionary offerings, $85 ; 
 other benevolence, $213; expenses of the school, $69. 
 
 On Sunday, July 24, 1881, the Sunday-school met for 
 the last time in the old church building, at 2 p. M. After 
 singing and brief remarks by several of the teachers, and 
 prayer by the pastor, Rev. John Dixon, the members of 
 the school marched to the chapel of the new church edifice 
 over the way, singing as they went. 
 
 Addresses in the chapel were made by Rev. Dr. Ken- 
 yon, Rev. John Dixon, and the superintendent, Charles R. 
 Otis. The secretary gave a report of the school, the mem- 
 bership of which was 390, at that date the largest school in 
 the Westchester Presbytery, in which there were forty- 
 three churches. 
 
 Officers of the school, September, 1882, were: Charles 
 R. Otis, Superintendent ; Walter Thomas, Assistant-Super- 
 intendent; J. Sproull, second Assistant - Superintendent ; 
 Hiram S. Wiggins, Secretary ; J. W. Goodale, Treasurer ; 
 Norton P. Otis, Librarian. 
 
 In consequence of the burning of the church chapel, 
 February 28, 1886, the Sunday-school met in the hall of the 
 Woman's Christian Temperance Union on the following 
 Sunday, March 7, and occupied that hall until June 20 of 
 the same year. During the interim between the burning 
 
302 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 and restoration of the chapel the teachers and scholars of 
 the school continued wonderfully faithful in their attend- 
 ance and in their contributions to benevolent objects, thus 
 proving their love for the school. 
 
 The Constant Workers, a class of boys of this school, 
 besides giving to the regular collections, contributed to the 
 Cot of the Ministering Children in St. John's Riverside 
 Hospital and to other benevolent objects, making a total of 
 
 $175 50. 
 
 The following extract is from a letter received from 
 Rev. Henry M. Scudder, D. D., who was formerly a mis- 
 sionary in India and one of the founders of the Arcot 
 Mission, in acknowledgment for money received from this 
 class for a mission school in California : 
 
 "San Francisco, August 20, 1867. 
 " To THE Constant Workers : 
 
 "My dear young Friends: — I received the very kind 
 letter from your dear teacher with the inclosure. I sent 
 the whole amount to a lady named Miss Gary, who lives 
 in Solano County in a place where there is no church and 
 no minister and no gentleman capable of conducting a 
 Sabbath-school. She is herself the superintendent and 
 conducts the work with singular energy and great devoted- 
 ness. That little school needs books very much, and I 
 thought I could not dispose of your money in any better 
 way. Very truly yours, 
 
 "H. M. SCUDDER." 
 
 The lady, Miss Elizabeth D. Gary, to whom Rev. Dr. 
 Scudder refers, was permitted to see as the result of her 
 labors and of her co-workers' a large and flourishing church 
 which was the outgrowth of that little mission school. 
 
 The class took for their motto, "To do good and to 
 communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well 
 pleased," and the following verse : 
 
 "A fruitful life for man and God 
 Eternity will well reward ; 
 What 's done for time ends by-and-by, 
 What's done for God can never die." 
 
 It met in the old church building. Only Wm. P. Con- 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 303 
 
 Stable, of its original members, is now connected with 
 the Sunday - school. This class committed to memory- 
 six thousand eight hundred and ninety - nine Scripture 
 verses. 
 
 Twenty-two of the members of this class became com- 
 municants in the Westminster Church and other churches 
 in Yonkers. Four have " entered into the rest that remain- 
 eth." One is preparing for the ministry ; another became 
 a Sunday-school superintendent. H. Beattie Brown, M. D., 
 a member of this class, was appointed House Physician in 
 St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, June, 1890. And 
 George B. Terrell, another member, was the founder of the 
 Chinese department in the First Methodist Sunday-school 
 of Yonkers. 
 
 The class taught by Walter Thomas contributed towards 
 the education of a pupil in Persia for ten years. 
 
 The class the Royal Workers, order of the King's 
 Sons, taught by Miss A. A. Nichols, which began in No- 
 vember, 1887, with five young men, now numbers one hun- 
 dred with an average attendance of seventy-five, and is the 
 largest Bible-class of young men in the city. From this 
 class a large number have been received into the commu- 
 nion of the church. An effort is now being made by some 
 of the members of the class to enlarge their class-room at 
 their own expense. 
 
 In 1887 it contributed towards the debt of the church 
 $50. And in 1888 to 1889 the contributions amounted to 
 $150. 
 
 H. Beattie Brown's class of young ladies supported 
 a girl in the Girls' Orphanage in Canton, China, which is 
 under the care of Rev. B. C. Henry, D. D., for three years, 
 contributing $25 per year. Miss Nettie Brown's (now Mrs. 
 B. F. Parliman) class also did the same. Both of these 
 classes contributed besides to the benevolent fund of the 
 Sunday-school. , 
 
 The " Society for Christian Work," composed of young 
 ladies taught by Miss Georgiana Hicks, the missionary vis- 
 itor of the church, contributed $25 to the Tulsa school, 
 Indian Territory, $10 for the Wilson Mission in New York, 
 $10 for local charities, and $50 towards the church building 
 
304 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 fund. The class also donated the proceeds of an entertain- 
 ment towards the same object. 
 
 Mrs. E. Curtice was chosen superintendent of the pri- 
 mary department of this school in April, 1857, previous to 
 which she taught a class of girls. Mrs. Curtice possessed 
 gifts which peculiarly fitted her for her work and she was 
 very successful in it. She was superintendent of the pri- 
 mary department for fourteen years. In 1869 this depart- 
 ment numbered nearly two hundred scholars, and at one of 
 the anniversaries it had two hundred and fifty in attend- 
 ance. The exercises of this department wete always a 
 prominent feature of the order of exercises and gave great 
 pleasure to all who listened to them. The songs sung by 
 this department on several of these occasions were com- 
 posed by Mrs. Curtice. 
 
 Mrs. Curtice, from a need of rest, resigned her place in 
 January, 1871. Her department at this time numbered 
 one-third of all the children in the school. The teachers 
 of the Sunday-school at her resignation presented her 
 with an elaborately engrossed copy of complimentary 
 resolutions, the work of J. M. Alvord, Secretary of the 
 school. In it were set the photographs of twenty-seven 
 teachers. It was in every respect a work worthy of the 
 teachers and deserving on the part of Mrs. Curtice's faith- 
 fulness. 
 
 For twenty years Mrs. Curtice had charge of the First 
 Industrial School connected with the Westminster Church. 
 All those years its success was steady and uninterrupted, 
 and it left an impress for good on the minds of the girls 
 who attended it. Its anniversaries were always occasions 
 of public interest, and invariably received extended notice 
 in the city papers. 
 
 Mrs. Curtice did not labor alone for Sunday-school 
 work. She had a deep and warm interest in foreign and 
 home missions, as well as in temperance work, to all of 
 which she gave her prayers and help. In all these depart- 
 ments of Christian work she was an intelligent, efficient, 
 tireless, and cheerful toiler. Mrs. Curtice was also one of 
 the secretaries of the Presbyterian Missionary Society of 
 the Westchester Presbytery. A few days prior to her sud- 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ~ 305 
 
 den death slie addressed the children's mission band of 
 Westminster Church. And thus the higher life came to 
 her in the full tide of activity on December 16, 1886. Her 
 funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. Edward 
 C. Moore, at the Westminster Church on Saturday, Decem- 
 ber 18. 
 
 In February, 1871, Miss Sarah J. Brown was appointed 
 Superintendent of the primary department, and Miss Josie 
 Sanders Assistant Superintendent. The department at 
 this time met in the hall of the Sons of Temperance on 
 North Broadway, there being no room for them in the 
 chapel. Miss Josie Sanders succeeded Miss Brown as su- 
 perintendent. The class at this time numbered 140. 
 
 In 1885 the department was under the direction of O. 
 Benedict and his daughter, and numbered 127 scholars. 
 Miss J. Jackson succeeded Mr. Benedict. 
 
 This department is efficiently taught by its present 
 superintendent, Mrs. Amelia Walker, has an enrolment of 
 ■ eighty and an average attendance of sixty.. The Interna- 
 tional Lessons are taught, with Scripture verses. The col- 
 lections of this department are given towards the general 
 fund of the school. Each pupil is furnished with a small, 
 numbered envelope, which is placed on the teacher's desk 
 as the pupils pass to their seats on entering the room. 
 The " Little Folks' Paper " is distributed. 
 
 The pastor's report — Rev. Charles P. Fagnani — to the 
 Westchester Presbytery for the year ending April i, 1885, 
 shows this record of the school: Number of officers, 7; 
 number of teachers, 43 ; number of scholars, 506 ; total 
 membership, 556; average attendance, 287 ; number united 
 with the church, 6 ; number of volumes in library, 740 ; 
 amounts given to the Boards, $251; amounts to other be- 
 nevolences, $47. 
 
 In September, 1885, the following officers were unani- 
 mously elected : Ralph E. Prime, Superintendent ; Charles 
 R. Otis, Assistant Superintendent; Miss Amelia Cutbill, 
 Treasurer ; Miss Josie Sander, Secretary ; M. W. Newman, 
 Librarian ; Messrs. W. P. Hickey and George Fitzsimmons, 
 Assistant Librarians. 
 
 Mr. Prime continued to serve as superintendent until 
 
 Saoday'School Work. 20 
 
306 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 October, 1886, wlaen he resigned, C. R. Otis succeeding- 
 him. Mr. Prime, in assuming the charge of the school, 
 abolished all lesson helps, either by the teachers or scholars, 
 during the session of the Sunday-school, requiring every 
 teacher and pupil to have their own Bible. This method 
 induced increased attention, preparation and study of the 
 lesson, both by teachers and scholars. He also inaugurated 
 written examinations and reviews of the lessons, asking 
 questions from the desk, each pupil being obliged to write 
 answers in the class without assistance. By this S3'stem of 
 examination and reviews the progress and proficiency of 
 the scholars in Bible study was ascertained. 
 
 Mr. Prime was assisted in his work by the pastor. Rev. 
 Charles P. Fagnani, who was declared by the session of the 
 church (ex-of&cio), superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
 Mr. Fagnani took immediate charge of the instruction of 
 the teachers in the use of the blackboard in analyzing and 
 teaching Scripture lessons. He introduced the use of paper 
 and pencil in all the classes, thereby occupying both mind 
 and fingers so as to prevent opportunities for amusement. 
 There was never such attention of the scholars at any time 
 as was obtained by these methods. 
 
 In August, 1885, the hour of session was changed from 
 2 p. M. to 9:30 A. M. This change was made after consulta- 
 tion with the teachers and members of the session and after 
 careful deliberation was unanimously adopted. The object 
 of this change was to secure the attendance of non-church- 
 going children to a church service. 
 
 The attendance of the children at the morning church 
 service was increased for a time by this change, but the 
 school decreased considerably in numbers — as shown by the 
 report in April, 1887. 
 
 For the Christmas of 1885 the children of the Sunday 
 school unanimously agreed to forego their usual presents, 
 and bring gifts to be sent to others less fortunate than 
 themselves. The result of this determination was that two 
 large boxes, filled with toys, confectionery, fruit, groceries, 
 and clothing, and two barrels of books, including picture 
 papers and Christmas cards, were sent to Rev. Mr. Waugh, 
 in Charlotte, N. C, who had charge of a colored church at 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 307 
 
 that place. These gifts were highly appreciated by the re- 
 cipients. One little girl — Nellie Thomas — was so enthusi- 
 astic in the matter of bringing gifts that she gave her only 
 doll, a handsome one and a recent gift to her and which she 
 prized highly. 
 
 The pastor's report — Rev. Edward C. Moore — of the 
 Sunday-school to the Presbytery of Westchester for the 
 year ending April, 1888, shows: Number of officers, 7; 
 number of teachers, 30 ; number of scholars, 332 ; total, 369 ; 
 average attendance of scholars, 213; average attendance of 
 scholars at church, 87. 
 
 The Sunday-school contributed for benevolent purposes 
 from January, 1887, to November, 1888, $404 64. 
 
 From October, 1886, to December, 1888, sixty-one of 
 the members of the Sunday-school were admitted to the 
 communion of the church on profession of faith. 
 
 In September, 1887, the superintendent and the 
 children of the Sunday-school assumed the expense of 
 the education of Dora Chatter jee, in the Woodstock 
 Seminary, India. Her course of study will comprise six 
 years. 
 
 The Sunday-school has also a circle of " King's Sons " 
 and several circles of " King's Daughters." The King's 
 Sons, " Royal Workers ;" the King's Daughters, the " Right- 
 hand Circle ;" the " Obedient Circle," motto : " For me to 
 live is Christ;" the "Good Shepherd Circle," the "Reap- 
 ing Circle;" and the "Whatsoever Circle." 
 
 This school, in company with the Reformed Church, 
 First Methodist, and Central Methodist Sunday-schools, 
 went on their annual excursion in August, 1888. The 
 steamboat " Cygnus " took them to Hazzleton Grove, Long 
 Island,. about four hours' sail from Yonkers. There were 
 about nineteen hundred persons on this excursion. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1888 was of. an unusually 
 entertaining character. Departing from the usual custom 
 of singing of carols and addresses, the children interested 
 their friends with a pleasing cantata entitled " Santa Claus' 
 Home ; or, the Christmas Excursion," the words of which 
 were by Miss Fanny Crosby, and the music and dialogue 
 by W. Howard Doane. The exercises were held in the 
 
308 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 church, which was crowded with an appreciative audience. 
 The school marched into the church from the chapel keep- 
 ing step to a lively march which was played on the organ 
 by Miss L. Biggerstafif. 
 
 The exercises began by singing the doxology, which 
 was followed by Scripture reading of Psalm 145, "I will 
 extol thee, my God, O King," by Superintendent Charles 
 R. Otis, and prayer by Elder McKim, after which the excel- 
 lent programme prepared for the occasion was gone through 
 with in good style. 
 
 At the close of the entertainment there was the pre- 
 sentation of -a number of gifts by classes to their teachers. 
 Miss A. A. Nichols was presented with Rev. Dr. F. C. 
 Cook's Commentary, in ten volumes, handsomely bound, 
 from her class of young men, Walter Thomas received a 
 fine etching. Miss G. Hicks a gold pencil, Frank Hickey a 
 handsome inkstand. A gift worthy of note was the pre- 
 sentation of twelve dollars towards the debt on the church 
 by Col. Womersley's class. It is also pleasant to record in 
 connection with this gift that there are others " who are 
 working in the shade," who, by repeated acts of self-denial 
 and self-sacrifice, known only to a few, are contributing 
 towards this same object, thereby proving their devotion 
 and love for this church. 
 
 At the close of the exercises the school, to the number 
 of 420, adjourned to the chapel and each scholar received 
 a paper bag containing fruits, nuts, and confectionery, the 
 boys of the infant class getting in addition humming 
 tops, and the little girls dolls. And thus ended one of the 
 most enjoyable Christmas entertainments the school ever 
 held. 
 
 The amount raised by the school for benevolence from 
 January, 1889, to November, 1889, was $188 84. 
 
 The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor of 
 the Westminster Church and Sunday-school, composed of 
 young ladies who meet Sunday evenings at 7 o'clock, was 
 organized on September 22, 1889. The object is to promote 
 an earnest Christian life among its members, to improve 
 their mutual acquaintance, and to make them more useful. 
 The officers are Miss G. Hicks, President ; Miss Ida Bell, 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 309 
 
 Vice-President; Miss Ejnma Hoar, Secretary; and Miss 
 Sarah Machin, Treasurer. 
 
 The Westminster Presbyterian Church was crowded 
 with scholars and friends, Wednesday evening, December 
 25, 1889, when the festival of the Sabbath-school took place. 
 
 Superintendent Charles R. Otis presided. The pro- 
 gramme was very interesting, all who took conspicuous 
 parts being the smaller children of the school. The little 
 tots made especial hits. After Scripture reading and 
 prayer by Rev. Mr. Graves, the Superintendent made his 
 report and read the report of the School Secretary, Miss 
 Sanders. 
 
 Recitations were given by the following children : 
 Charley Otis, Rose Effie Kirkwood, Ada Stone, Edna 
 Abrams, AUie Stone, Arthur Ovenden, Burgess Hodges, 
 Tina McKimm, Birdie Moore, Jessie Ewing, George Lan- 
 caster, Maggie Wilson, Harvey Slade, and Gertrude Flem- 
 ing. 
 
 The proceedings were varied with the singing of 
 carols by the school. Miss Biggerstaff at the organ, Miss 
 Sanders at the piano, and William H. Briggs with his cor- 
 net accompanied, Walter Thomas being leader. A song 
 by the infant class, marked by eccentric outbursts of child- 
 ish vim, produced happy smiles on appreciative counte- 
 nances. 
 
 " How the Story was Told " was the most elaborate 
 feature of the entertainment. The heathen nations were 
 represented by young people, in appropriate costumes, who 
 spoke and sang. The Hottentots deserve special mention 
 for accuracy of detail. This feature, though it had a 
 humorous character, was nevertheless quite impressive. 
 
 The event of the evening, of course, was the presenta- 
 tion of gifts. Every child received from the school a bag 
 of good things to eat ; and there was much exchanging of 
 remembrances between teachers and classes. 
 
 Great attention has been given by the superintendents 
 of this school to securing the best singing books of the day. 
 
 The patriotism of the school was abundantly shown in. 
 the late war of the Rebellion, no less than eleven of its 
 members taking part therein, namely, John W. Ackerman, 
 
3IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 James Harvey, Richard Cook, James Montgomery, Thomas 
 Hampson, Garret Majorie, Solon Lapham, Charles Wilde, 
 Charles Austin, George Barker, and Alex. O. Kirkwood, 
 all of whom, with the exception of the latter, who was a 
 member of the Forty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, 
 were members of New York regiments, some of whom 
 became officers therein. 
 
 Miss Matilda Fuller officiated as pianist in the Sunday- 
 school for ten years. Miss Lizzie Biggerstaff , the present 
 excellent organist of the church, received her first as well 
 as more advanced instructions from Miss Fuller. 
 
 Charles R. Otis has served the school as its superin- 
 tendent from May, 1877, with the exceptions of a few years, 
 until the present writing. The Sunday-school under his 
 leadershiji has met with marked success, and for his long 
 term of service in connection with this school as teacher 
 and superintendent his name is on the honorary list of 
 Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 Three pupils of this school were prepared for the min- 
 istry, namely, Alexander Scotland and George Gallagher, 
 both of whom graduated from Princeton Theological Sem- 
 inary, and Frederick Benedict, who graduated from Park 
 College, Parkville, Mo. John C. Goddard, now the talented 
 and popular young pastor of the Congregational Church 
 in Salisbury, Conn., one of the oldest churches in that 
 State, was also a member of this Sunday-school. 
 
 The superintendents in the order of their service have 
 been as follows : Ebenezer Curtice, who was the first super- 
 intendent, elected September, 1855, and serve^ until April, 
 1856; William Montgomery ; Archibald Baxter ; Ebenezer 
 Curtice, from October, 1859, until October, i860; Henry A. 
 Underwood ; James Smith ; G. P. Reevs, M. D. ; Henry A. 
 Underwood, resigned 1868 ; Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, Decem- 
 ber, 1868, until May, 1877; Charles R. Otis, elected May 6, 
 1877, until September, 1884; Walter Thomas, elected Sep- 
 tember 9, 1884, to January,- 1885 I Ralph E. Prime, elected 
 January, 1885, resigned October, 1886; Charles R. Otis, the 
 present superintendent, reelected October, 1886. 
 
 The second Sunday in May is observed as Children's 
 Day. The morning service in the church is especially 
 
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 3 II 
 
 devoted to them, the pastor usually addressing the Sunday- 
 •school, which attends in a body. The collection taken at 
 that time is devoted to the support of the Sunday-school. 
 
 The lesson helps used by the school are the Peloubet's 
 ■Graded Series of Question Books and the " Sunday-school 
 Times." The Sunday-school hymn book is " Gospel Songs, 
 No. 5," by Messrs. Sankey, McGranahan, and George Steb- 
 bins. 
 
 The teachers' meeting is held immediately after the ' 
 weekly prayer-meeting of the church on Wednesday even- 
 ings. The session of the Sunday-school is immediately 
 after the morning service of the church, from 12 M. to i 
 p. M. 
 
 Report of school for the year ending April, 1891 : 
 Ofl&cers, 7; teachers, 35 ; scholars, 540; amount contributed 
 for benevolence, $300; number united with the church, 31. 
 
 Miss Josie Sanders has served as secretary of the Sun- 
 day-school for seven years. 
 
 The "Sunday-school records for 1889, 1890, 1891 include 
 the names of the following teachers : Mrs. John H. Brown, 
 Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs. Col. Womersley, Miss Lucy Rob- 
 erts, Miss Bogart, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Nellie Bartlett, 
 Miss Amelia Cutbill, Miss Lizzie Smith, Miss Helen Cou- 
 zens, Miss Lizzie Biggerstaff, Miss Agnes McMahon, Miss 
 Lillie Bartlett, Miss Mary Hicks, Miss Ada Parsons, Miss 
 Georgiana Hicks, MisS Jennie Wiggins, Miss Amie Stone 
 <now Mrs. E. R. Holden), Miss A. A. Nichols, Miss Minnie 
 Hickey, Miss Louise Smith, Messrs.. William McKim, A. O. 
 Kirkwood, Col. Womersley, McWilliams, H. Beattie Brown, 
 Walter Thomas, Frank Hickey, and Mrs. Wm. P. Con- 
 stable. 
 
 The present officers of Westminster Sabbath-school 
 are : Superintendent, Charles R. Otis ; Assistant Superin- 
 tendent, Frank B. Hickey ; Secretary, Miss Josie Sanders ; 
 Treasurer, Miss Amelia Cutbill ; Librarians, William P. 
 Hickey, J. B. Austin, Geo. A. Englehart. 
 
 The teachers are : primary class, Mrs. Amelia Walker ; 
 Assistant, Miss Alice Christie. The teachers in the main 
 school are : Miss Allen, Mr. J. Loring Arnold, Miss Nel- 
 lie Bartlett, Miss Libbie Biggerstaff, Mrs. J. H. Brown, 
 
312 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Miss Susan M. Bogert, Mrs. Robert L. Calkins, Miss M. 
 E. Couzens, Miss Lilla Clark, Mrs. Mary E. Clark, Miss 
 Amelia Cutbill, Mr. Wm. P. Constable, Mrs. Wm. Eddy, 
 Miss Minnie Hickey, Miss Georgie Hicks, Miss Mary 
 Hicks, Miss Emma Hoar, Mr. Allan S. Kirkwood, Mr. 
 Robert O. Kirkwood, Miss Sarah McMabon, Miss Liz- 
 zie McMahon, Mr. Wm. McKim, Mr. J. R. McWilliam, Mrs. 
 J. R. McWilliam, Miss Adelia A. Nichols, Miss Ada Par- 
 sons, Miss Lucy H. Roberts, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Lib- 
 bie Smith, Miss Grace Stone, Miss Maude Synyer, Mr. 
 Walter Thomas, and Mrs. Col. Womersley. 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 313 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The First Unitarian Congregational Church of Yon- 
 kers owes its establishment to the efforts of Messrs. Gil- 
 man Dudley, Cyrus Cleveland, George Macadam,* James M. 
 Drake, and Gorham Parks. 
 
 June 30, 1856, printed invitations were sent to all those 
 interested in the cause of liberal Christianity to meet for 
 religious services, which were to be held in the Getty Ly- 
 ceum, in the Getty House, on Sunday, July 6, 1856. 
 
 About two hundred persons, residents of Yonkers, 
 Riverdale, Spuyten Duy vil, Fort Washington, Hastings, and 
 Irvington, responded to the invitation, and met at the time 
 appointed to listen to the first Unitarian sermon preached 
 in Yonkers. It was delivered by Rev. Samuel S. Osgood, 
 D. D., then pastor of the Church of the Messiah in New York. 
 
 Occasional services were continued, with the assistance 
 of various clergymen, until 1857, whea Rev. A. A. Liver- 
 more, D. D., author of the Commentaries, and editor of the 
 New York " Christian Inquirer," came to reside in Yonkers. 
 As no hall could be procured, preaching services were held 
 for several weeks at the residences of Cyrus Cleveland, Dun- 
 can Smith, Mr. Homans, and others. Rev. Dr. Livermore 
 officiating. Rev. Mr. Cook, a Presbyterian clergyman, who 
 was conducting a boys' school at the corner of South Broad- 
 
 * George Macadam was untiring in Iiis devotion and faithfulness to ad- 
 vance its interests in the early days of its history. He also was an active 
 and efficient worker in all eflForts for the improvement and intellectual cul- 
 ture of young men of the community, and earnestly sought by every means 
 in his power to promote their happiness without regard to caste or con- 
 dition. He was prominent in the organization of the Yonkers Circulating 
 Library Association which was incorporated in 1859, of which he was Pres- 
 ident. He was a member of the first lecture committee of the Yonkers 
 Debating Society, oganized in May, 1854. He was suddenly called from 
 his labors March 29, 1857. His memory lingers in the hearts of those who 
 knew and loved him for his many virtues and respected him for his philan- 
 thropy. 
 
314 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 way and Hudson Street, kindly offered the use of his school- 
 room to the congregation, and preached himself several 
 times very acceptably. 
 
 The society was organized September 7, 1858, and the 
 first board of trustees was elected on that day. The names 
 of the gentlemen who composed the board are as follows : 
 James M. Drake, Cyrus Cleveland, Everett Clapp, Oilman 
 Dudley, and Joseph Mattison, and they signed the certifi- 
 cate of incorporation under the laws of the State of New 
 York. Of these gentlemen all are still alive except Mr. 
 Dudley and Cyrus Cleveland. 
 
 About this time the society secured Flagg's Hall, on 
 Palisade Avenue, corner of Mechanic Street (now New Main 
 Street), and worshipped there three years, until the present 
 church edifice on North Broadway, between Irving Place 
 and Lamartine Avenue, was erected in 1861. Baldwin & 
 Bradley did the mason work, Ackert & Quick were the car- 
 penters, John McLain did the painting, and J. Wray Mould 
 was the architect and superintended the work. The edifice 
 was so well built that it has required no repairs since its 
 construction, except outside painting. The stained glass 
 windows came from the Morgan establishment. 
 
 The dedication of the new house of worship took place 
 on Wednesday morning, October 30, 1 861,. at eleven o'clock. 
 The programme of exercises on that occasion was as follows : 
 
 Voluntary on the organ. Chant. Invocation by Rev. 
 Samuel Osgood, D. D. Duet — " Come, thou Fount of 
 every blessing." Prayer of dedication by Rev. Frederick 
 A. Farley, D. D. Hymn, read by Rev. Eben Francis. 
 Sermon by Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D. D. Anthem — 
 Jubilate. Address by Rev. A. A. Livermore, D. D. Con- 
 cluding prayer by Rev. O. B. Frothingham. Hymn, read 
 by Rev. N. A. Staples, formerly chaplain of the Sixth Wis- 
 consin Regiment and pastor of the Second Unitarian 
 Church of Brooklyn. Benediction by Rev. Mr. Shepard, of 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 The following brief notice of this interesting occasion 
 appeared in the " Yonkers Examiner:" 
 
 "This beautiful little church, so pleasing to the eye 
 both in its outward and inner appearance, was solemnly 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 315 
 
 dedicated to God's service on Wednesday morning last, 
 October 30. The exercises began at eleven o'clock, but 
 long before tliat hour the church was crowded to its utmost 
 extent. The singing from the quartet choir was excellent, 
 especially the duet 'Come, thou Fount of every bless- 
 ing,' and the anthem Jubilate. The sermon was preached 
 by Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D. D., from the text 'I am the 
 door : by me if any man enter, he~ shall go in and out and 
 find pasture.' John 10:9. It was listened to with pro- 
 found attention and vras most impressive and solemn, yet 
 in its influence it was elevating and joyous." 
 
 The address of the pastor, Rev. A. A. Livermore, was 
 listened to with no less interest. He spoke of the church 
 as the great preventive of natural crime and disorders, as the 
 foundation stone of all private and public excellences, and 
 said that although Hope Church had gone up amid the 
 clangor of arms, still it was a part of the great work to 
 save our country by advancing the cause of God. Speaking 
 •of the building, he said the edifice was planted in the spring- 
 time, the summer had witnessed its growth, and now in 
 the autumn the golden sheaves, the finished reality, stood 
 before them. He spoke of the spirit which had animated 
 the members of the church in erecting so beautiful an edifice. 
 They had given time, labor, money, not grudgingly, but 
 with that free spirit which has faith, hope, and charity for 
 its basis and the advancing of God's kingdom for its object. 
 His allusion to those " who had lingered with them but a 
 short time, and then passed on, but who although absent in 
 body were still with them in spirit," was touchingly beauti- 
 ful. He referred to the beautiful decorations of the walls 
 and explained the meaning of the symbols thereon. They 
 were language to the eyes by which the spirit would receive 
 3. dim vision of its future immortality. He closed the 
 address by referring to the objects for which the church was 
 dedicated and urged that all would keep such ever in view 
 as the surest way to become blessed of God both_as a 
 people and a church. 
 
 The following notice descriptive of the church edifice 
 appeared in the " New York Evening Post :" 
 
 " The church itself is truly a gem in its way. Built in 
 
3l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the form of a Latin cross, its outline is ingeniously varied 
 by the introduction of porches and side entrances so as to 
 give it an appearance of breadth, as well as superior ele- 
 gance. A delicate spire appropriately springs from the 
 central portion of the roof. 
 
 "Within, the decorations seemed in some degree a 
 reflex of nature's coloring without, the crimson, orange, 
 and gold being tastefully introduced in the ornamentation 
 of apsis, pulpit, organ loft, and windows. Over the arch 
 spanning the pulpit is inscribed in golden letters the words t 
 ' Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good- will 
 towards men.' And over the arched windows on either 
 side of the pulpit are the following inscriptions : on the 
 right, ' The truth shall make you free ;' on the left, ' I know 
 that my Redeemer liveth.' In the recess over the stained 
 glass windows in the rear of the pulpit are the words 
 ' Faith, Hope, Charity,' and on the ceiling above them are 
 symbols expressive of the faith of the church. 
 
 " We attempt no technical description, but simply re- 
 cord an agreeable impression. To J. W. Mould, the archi- 
 tect, is to be given the credit of the happy designs of this 
 beautiful and cheerful Christian church, a fitting religious 
 home for those who have a btight and courageous faith." 
 
 Rev. Frederick C. Farley, D. D., a retired clergyman 
 of Brooklyn, has always manifested a very deep interest in 
 the growth of the church ever since its organization. Rev. 
 Thomas Starr King also gave a lecture, the proceeds of 
 which he very generously donated towards the building 
 fund of the church. 
 
 The twenty-fifth anniversary of the church was held 
 on Sunday .Evening, July 6, 1 88 1 , at the residence of Thomas 
 F. Gane, on North Broadway. 
 
 Rev. Stephen H. Camp, of Union Church, Brooklyn, 
 presided. 
 
 Letters of congratulation were read from Rev. A. A. 
 Livermore, D. D., the first pastor and founder of the church, 
 Rev. Joseph May, Rev. G. L. Stowell, former pastors of the 
 church, and from Rev. Frederick C. Farley, D. D., of Brook- 
 lyn, eighty-eight years of age, who was present at the dedi- 
 cation of Hope Church. An address was made by Rev. 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 317 
 
 Theodore C. Williams, of All Souls' Church, New York, 
 and Rev. Mr. Camp. 
 
 Mr. Fretwell, of Brooklyn, made a few remarks. Hymn 
 463, " One holy church of God appears," was sung. Mr. 
 Camp pronounced the benediction, and the exercises of 
 the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hope Unitarian Church 
 were brought to a close. 
 
 The first pastor of this church was Rev. A. A. Liver- 
 more, D. D., who served for six years and resigned in 1863, 
 when he accepted a call to the Presidency of the Meadville 
 Theological School in Pennsylvania, which position he now 
 holds. 
 
 He was succeeded by Rev. Israel F. Williams, a prom- 
 ising young clerg'yman from Taunton, Mass. The war of 
 the Rebellion was raging at that time, and before assuming 
 the pastorate Mr. Williams entered the service of the United 
 States Sanitary Commission to fulfil an engagement that 
 he had made. There he was taken sick, and died on the day 
 on which he was to have been installed as pastor, in 1864. 
 
 From that time the services were conducted by different 
 preachers until September 14, 1865, when Rev. Joseph May 
 was ordained and installed as pastor. Rev. Mr. May re- 
 signed after two years' service, and accepted a call from 
 Newburyport, Mass., and from thence to the First Unitarian 
 Church of Philadelphia, over which he is settled at the 
 present time. 
 
 He was followed by Rev. Rushton D. Burr, who min- 
 istered to the society for nine years. Mr. Burr is now 
 preaching in London, England. 
 
 After Mr. Burr left lay services were carried on for two 
 years, during which time the best printed sermons of the 
 denomination were read by Duncan Smith and Fisher A. 
 Baker. 
 
 The next settled pastor was Rev. George L. Stowell, 
 who remained four years, and left on account of failing 
 health. 
 
 Rev. John Haddaeus was his successor in 1884, and re- 
 mained with the society until 1886. 
 
 The present pastor. Rev. James Thompson Bixby, Ph. 
 D., was installed on Sunday evening, March 7, 1887, and is 
 
3l8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 serving the church with great acceptance. He is the second 
 son of Clark S. and Elizabeth C. Bixby, was born in Barre, 
 Mass., July 30, 1843, and is of native American stock on both 
 his father's and mother's side, one of his ancestors being 
 the Mistress Rebecca Nourse who was executed at Salem, 
 Mass., during the witchcraft delusion, she steadfastly refus- 
 ing to confess to charges made against her. 
 
 Mr. Bixby was prepared for college at the Cambridge 
 High School in i860, and graduated in 1864. For three 
 years he was engaged in private teaching in New York 
 city. In 1 870 he graduated at the Harvard Divinity School. 
 After nine years of service as pastor of the First Parish, 
 Watertown, Mass., and secondly of the First Parish, Bel- 
 fast, Maine, he became professor of religious philosophy in 
 the Meadville Theological School in Pennsylvania, filling 
 at the same time the post of minister to the Independent 
 Congregational Church at Meadville. 
 
 In 1876 and in 1883 he delivered courses of lectures be- 
 fore the Lowell Institute in Boston, Mass. In 1876 he pub- 
 lished, through D. Appleton & Co., a work on the relations 
 of science and religion entitled " Similarities of Physical 
 and Religious Knowledge." In 1883 a European trip for 
 the purpose of travel- and study at the German universities 
 was undertaken, and in 1885 he received the degree of 
 doctor of philosophy from the University of Leipzig. 
 
 On his return to the United States he filled for some 
 time the pulpit of the Unitarian Church in Ann Arbor. 
 In January, 1887, he accepted the invitation of the Uni- 
 tarian Congregational Church of Yonkers to become its 
 pastor. 
 
 The following is the order of exercises of the service 
 of welcome to Rev. James T. Bixby, on Monday evening, 
 March 7, 1887 : Voluntary. Invocation. Reading of the 
 Scriptures, Rev. A. D. Smith. Hymn. Sermon, Rev. 
 Theodore C. Williams. Installing prayer, Rev. Robert 
 CoUyer. Hymn. Right hand of fellowship. Rev. Russell 
 N. Bellows. Charge to the pastor, Rev. Robert Collyer. 
 Address to the congregation. Rev. Stephen H. Camp. 
 Hymn. Benediction by the pastor. 
 
 This society, after the close of the war, supported a 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 319 
 
 teacher for the Freedmen of the South for three years at an 
 expense of $600 per year. It also contributed generously 
 to the Sanitary Commission during the Civil War. 
 
 The church property is beautifully located, is valuable, 
 and free from debt. The present board of trustees is com- 
 posed of Cyrus Cleveland,* President, Duncan Smith, Hal- 
 cyon Skinner, Fisher A. Baker, and Miss Emma Herzog, 
 who is also Secretary. 
 
 Divine worship on Sunday is held in this church at 
 10:45 A.M. The sacrament of the. Lord's Supper is celebrated 
 on the first Sunday in January, April, July, and October. 
 The pulpit Bible, which is a handsome Oxford one, was 
 presented to the church October, 1861, by Rev. Mr. Word- 
 ly's church, of Providence, R. I. 
 
 The baptismal font of the Unitarian church was pre- 
 sented by Mr. Oilman Dudley, of Hastings. 
 
 The communion service was presented by Mr. James 
 M. Drake, of New York. 
 
 The organist of the church is Miss Joanna W. Williams. 
 
 Abner C. Gault, the present sexton of the church, has 
 occupied that place for eighteen years. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The Sunday-school of the First Unitarian Congrega- 
 tional Church was begun in September, 1856, and was held 
 at irregular intervals from that date until the erection of 
 the present church edifice in 1861, at which time a more 
 complete organization of the school was effected by Rev. 
 A. A. Livermore, D. D., the first pastor of the church. 
 The school has been regularly maintained since that date. 
 
 Previous to that time the school was held in the Getty 
 Lyceum, a hall in the Getty House, which it occupied for 
 several months. From that place it was removed to Flagg's 
 Hall, corner of Palisade Avenue and New Main Street — then 
 Factory and Mechanic Streets — which place it continued to 
 occupy until the completion of the present house of wor- 
 ship. 
 
 The pastors of the church have always manifested a , 
 deep interest in its welfare, and some of them have served 
 
 * Deceased. 
 
320 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 as its superintendent. Mrs. A. A. Livermore -was the first 
 superintendent. Among the early teachers are recalled 
 the following: George Macadam, Miss Sophia A. Mac- 
 adam, the Misses Cleveland, Miss Elizabeth W. Putnam, 
 Miss A. W. Warren, David R. Jaques, and those 'of a still 
 later date are Mrs. Duncan Smith, Miss Swazy, Miss M." C. 
 Osborne, Mrs. Thos. F. Gane, Rev. G. L. Stowell, Henry 
 Jones, Miss Emma Herzog, and Miss J. W. Williams. 
 
 The school, though never large, has had on its enrol- 
 ment list forty pupils. Its regular session is held at 12 105 
 o'clock, noon, immediately after the morning service. , 
 
 The following is from a printed report of this Sunday- 
 school in the centennial year, February, 1 876 : 
 
 " The Sunday-school connected with the Unitarian 
 Church on North Broadway has made good progress since 
 its organization and had an able and efficient corps of 
 teachers. The superintendent kindly furnished us with the 
 following exhibit of the school during the past year : Offi- 
 cers, I ; teachers, 7 ; scholars on register, 54 : average attend- 
 ance, 24 ; largest attendance, 32 ; deaths, i ; volumes in 
 library, 335. Mr. Pelham W. Warren acts in the capacity 
 of superintendent, treasurer, and librarian. The teachers 
 are, Mrs. Duncan Smith, Miss T. Cleveland, Miss Sophia 
 Macadam, Miss L. Montgomery, Miss Ann Osborne, and 
 Miss M. Swazy. 
 
 " The teachers of this school are interested in all efforts 
 for the advancement of Sunday-school work. Mrs. Warren, 
 a former teacher of the school, has been appointed to pre- 
 pare an essay on methods of Sunday-school work, which is 
 to be read — and is one of the subjects for discussion — at the 
 fall convention of the Women's League, which association 
 has been recently formed by the Unitarian Church, and 
 which has for its object the spread of ' liberal Christianity ' 
 and the furtherance of practical methods of benevolence in 
 connection with church work." 
 
 The pastorate of Rev. Rushton D. Burr, in connection 
 with this Sunday-school, is held in pleasant remembrance 
 from his interest in the choral services, of which he had 
 the immediate supervision. 
 
 The following extract from a letter received from a 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 32 1 
 
 former pastor and superintendent, Rev. Joseph May, gives 
 reminiscences of the Sunday-school while under his charge : 
 
 "York Harbor, Maine, July ir, 1888. 
 
 " Miss A. E. Kirkwood : 
 
 " Your favor called up some of my happiest memories, 
 but I regret that my recollections in respect to the particu- 
 lars about which you inquire are, I find, too vague to be of 
 use to you. My congregation, though strong in spirit and 
 life, was small in numbers, and contained, even for its size, 
 proportionally few children. Our school was maintained 
 with earnest devotion and the children were happy. I re- 
 member especially one grand Christmas eve festival when 
 we built an evergreen bower from which a fairy emerged, 
 recited a Christmas poem, and presently unveiled another 
 who assisted her in distributing the previously hidden 
 gifts. But I can give you few details — hardly any except 
 that Mr. David R. Jaques, now of New York, and' Miss 
 Elizabeth Putnam, now deceased, were the most responsible 
 active workers in the school while I was there. I have no 
 doubt that the school was organized by Rev. Dr. Liver- 
 more. I think Mr. George Macadam assisted him. Regret- 
 ting to serve you so poorly, and hoping you may from 
 others get more of what you desire, believe me, 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 "JOSEPH MAY." 
 
 Rev. A. A. Livermore, D. D., the founder of this Sun- 
 day-school, writes as follows : 
 
 " Wilton, New Hampshire, August 24, 1888. 
 " * * * After the erection of Hope Church on North Broad- 
 way the Sunday-school wAs regularly established. The 
 number of teachers and scholars was always small, but 
 they were interested and devoted, and made up in fidelity 
 and zeal what was lacking in size. 
 
 " Besides the .children of the church, a few from out- 
 side families attended, making it, in part, a mission-school. 
 I remember members from the families of Macadam, Drake, 
 Cleveland, Cromwell, Homans, Osborne, Mattison, Gourlie, 
 and others were enlisted either as teachers or pupils. One 
 of the younger classes used the Calvary Catechism, and 
 
 Sunday-acbool Work. 21 
 
322 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Others Fox's Questions on the Four Gospels. The Uni- 
 tarian Service Book was used to conduct the devotional 
 exercises. A weekly children's paper, 'The Dayspring,' 
 was distributed. An address was usually delivered. 
 
 "The number of pupils at one time was forty. They 
 have long since been scattered by removal and death. 
 Some have grown up to be influential members of society, 
 some found an early grave, and some are still members 
 of Hope Church, and help to maintain the cause of liberal 
 Christain faith. They have all, I trust, become followers of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, and tasted the exceeding sweetness 
 of his loving spirit, and been made happier for the lessons 
 of the Hope Church Sunday-school and better fitted for 
 their immortal career as the children of God. 
 
 " We also, as children of Hope Church, had another, 
 not Sunday-school, but evening week-day school, in which 
 we were all much interested. It was open to all children 
 of both sexes who could not attend the common school be- 
 cause of their employment. It was held on Tuesday and 
 Thursday of each week in a hall over a saloon on the street 
 opposite the Getty House, near Broadway. The number of 
 pupils who attended was between eighty and ninety. The 
 teachers were all volunteers and their services were gratu- 
 itous. They came from all the churches in town — Episco- 
 pal, Baptist, Methodist, and Unitarian — without regard to 
 denomination. The hours were from seven until nine o'clock. 
 The exercises began with a brief address of from five to 
 ten minutes from persons invited for the occasion. Minis- 
 ters, lawyers, and merchants were among the number who 
 interested the children. One evening the Unitarian min- 
 ister addressed them ; another >3vening the Catholic priest, 
 for many Catholic children attended. Rev. Dr. Seward, 
 the Presbyterian clergyman, also delivered an address. 
 The laymen who were also present and gave interesting 
 talks were Messrs. Robert P. Getty, Drake, Cleveland, 
 Clapp, and others. 
 
 " The school was thoroughly enjoyed by us, and many 
 pupils expressed their gratitude for it. It was unsectarian, 
 broadly humanitarian, yet endeavored to be thoroughly 
 Christian. The common branches were taught. The open- 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 323 
 
 ing address was designed to open the practical theme of 
 their life-work to the boys and girls. 
 
 " The school was conducted for about eighteen months. 
 Then the town of Yonkers took it under their patronage. 
 If Hope Church* had done nothing else than to start the 
 evening school for the poor and toiling children of Yonkers, 
 she has done something to be remembered with gratitude 
 by her citizens. May she ever be fruitful in works of 
 philanthropy and Christian faith. No interest on earth is 
 greater than the moral and intellectual and Christian nur- 
 ture of the young. If you, by your sketches, can fan into 
 life a livelier flame, the love and zeal of the disciples of 
 Christ, in this great cause, you will have done something to 
 receive the blessing of Him who said, ' Feed my lambs.' 
 
 "Very respectfully, 
 
 "A. A. LIVERMORE." 
 
 The seventeenth anniversary of this Sunday-school 
 was held in the church on Sunday evening, June 29, 1873, 
 at which the audience-room was well filled with the scholars 
 and their friends. It was elegantly decorated with flowers. 
 Addresses were made by Mr. Cromwell, of Brooklyn, and 
 John E. Williams, of Irvington, and a beautiful banner, the 
 gift of Joseph Lamb, of New York, was presented by Prof. 
 D. R. Jaques, of New York, to the class — Miss Cleveland's — 
 which had made the best average attendance during the 
 year. 
 
 A new cabinet Mason and Hamlin organ, costing $250, 
 has just been placed in the church. It is a fine one, the 
 tones very sweet and powerful. The Misses Swazy led the 
 congregational singing. 
 
 The annual picnic of the school was held June 14, 
 1873, at Dudley's grove, when the children had a very 
 pleasurable time. 
 
 The Sunday-school has contributed towards the en- 
 dowment fund of the "Cot of the Ministering Children" 
 in St. John's Hospital, and towards the Society for the 
 Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The school also assisted 
 
 * This name was given to the church by Rev. Dr. Livermore. In the 
 certificate of incorporation the church is named the First Unitarian Con- 
 gregational Society of Yonkers, N. Y. 
 
324 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the ladies of the church in their noble work in connection 
 with the Flower and Fruit Mission, which was begun in 
 New York in May, 1869, in a hall No. 239 Fourth Avenue, 
 which was generously given and fitted up, free of expense 
 to the society, for their headquarters, by the trustees and 
 congregation of All Souls' Church. The earnestness and 
 fidelity of those connected with this church and Sunday- 
 school and of others who have been associated with them 
 in this beautiful charity for many years — some of whom 
 have passed away — are well remembered. Though they 
 have gone from our sight they still live in the affectionate 
 recollections of many. 
 
 From the seventh annual report of the Flower and 
 Fruit Mission is the following in regard to the work of 
 the Yonkers friends of the mission : 
 
 " To our earliest friend, Mrs. Cleveland, and through 
 her to the ladies of Yonkers, we feel especially grateful. 
 During the past six summers they have sent us regularly 
 every week two large boxes of flowers, packed so beauti- 
 fully that they reached the rooms looking as fresh as if 
 just picked. Rain or shine, they always came, and what- 
 ever else failed, the Yonkers flowers were always there." 
 
 For more than twenty years has Mrs. Cleveland, of 
 the Unitarian church referred to above, superintended the 
 work of sending flowers twice a week to this mission. 
 
 The Flower Mission recently took out eleven thousand 
 four hundred and twenty-five bunches of flowers, the lar- 
 gest number ever distributed in a single day. From forty 
 to fifty ladies distributed them in the worst tenement houses 
 from Water Street to the park, attending to the sick at first 
 among them. 
 
 The closing session of the Sunday-school for the sum- 
 mer season t)f 1888 was held on Children's Day, Sunday 
 morning, June 24. The floral decorations on this occasion 
 were in abundance, a beautiful arch of field daisies spanning 
 the pulpit, five feet in height, the base of which rested on 
 the pulpit desk. The communion table with its crimson 
 velvet cover strewn with roses, and the delicate white blos- 
 soms of the dutzie, in the centre of which stood a cross of 
 daisies and grasses, the windows festooned with roses, ferns, 
 
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 325 
 
 and trailing vines, and the baptismal font entwined with 
 honeysuckle and white roses, presented a scene of rare beauty 
 and attractiveness. 
 
 The order of exercises observed on this occasion was 
 from a service prepared for " Children's Sunday " by Rev. 
 Henry G. Spaulding, and was entitled " Festival of Flowers." 
 
 These exercises began by singing of " Summer Days," 
 and a prayer in which the school and congregation united 
 in concert. Then " Heavenly Shepherd, who art feeding 
 all Thy flock with kindest care," was sung, after which the 
 impressive ordinance of baptism was administered to Irene 
 Best, a member of the Sunday-school. After this came a 
 responsive reading from Psalm 104. The pastor. Rev. James 
 T. Bixby, read and there was a responsive singing of " O 
 all ye works of the Lord." Next was a responsive reading 
 from the Song of Solomon, followed by the Apostles' Creed. 
 Singing, " In holy contemplation." Responsive reading 
 from Genesis. Singing, " Hark the lilies whisper." 
 
 Sermon by the pastor from these words : " Blessed be 
 the Lord God of our fathers which hath put such a thing 
 as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord 
 which is in Jerusalem." Ezra 7 : 27. 
 
 After alluding to the building and beauty of the temple 
 at Jerusalem, and of art as displayed in the adornment of the 
 temples of worship of the present day, Mr. Bixby in closing 
 said : " Seek to make your hearts fit temples for the indwell- 
 ing of the Holy Spirit. Strive to exhibit in your daily 
 lives all the spiritual graces. These flowers which surround 
 us in such abundance are symbols of God's divine love and 
 exhibit his boundless care for his creatures, his overflowing 
 love in providing so beautiful an earthly home for them 
 to dwell in. Strive to build up the temple of your charac- 
 ter with moral beauty, serenity, gentleness, faith, and cour- 
 age, which make the beauty of the soul. Learn a lesson 
 from the flowers. Consider the lilies, and seek to make 
 your lives as pure as they. Keep your faces upward and 
 towards the light. Do good. Seek not human applause. 
 Well do I recall one who possessed great gentleness of 
 character, who lived a consecrated life, and who brought 
 peace and good cheer and brightness into the lives of others. 
 
326 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 She was engaged one day, in her quiet and unobtrusive 
 way, in the distribution of bouquets of flowers— thousands 
 of which she had given annually to the patients in the 
 hospitals of Cambridge — when one said to her, ' What is 
 your creed?'' 'To make everybody as happy as I can,' was 
 her reply." 
 
 At the close of the sermon by the request of Mr. Bixby 
 the congregation engaged for a few moments in silent 
 prayer, which was followed by a brief prayer by the pastor, 
 and the service closed by singing " Lord, dismiss us with 
 thy blessing," and the benediction, after which bouquets of 
 flowers were distributed by the pastor to the children of 
 the Sunday-school, and each member of the congregation 
 also received a beautiful bouquet of roses, as a memento of 
 the pleasant and interesting occasion. 
 
 The children- of the Unitarian Sunday-school met at 
 the home of Miss Herzog, 238 North Broadway, at half-past 
 three on Saturday, Christmas, December 22, 1888, and passed 
 the afternoon by playing games and in other amusements. 
 At six o'clock a fine supper was served which was greatly 
 enjoyed. A big pie, containing a useful gift for each child, 
 was discussed with special zeal. After supper the pastor. 
 Rev. Dr. James T. Bixby, presented the regular gifts, con- 
 sisting of albums, books, games, toys, and candies. 
 
 Miss Sophia Macadam, in connection with this Sunday- 
 school, is among the honorary list of Sunday-school work- 
 ers in Yonkers. 
 
 The following persons, in the order of their service, 
 have filled the office of superintendent of the school since its 
 organization : Mrs. A. A. Livermore, Rev. A. A. Livermore, 
 D. D., Rev. Joseph May, Miss Elizabeth W. Putnam, David 
 R. Jaques, James Warren, Pelham W. Warren, Henry W. 
 Jones, Downing Vaux, Rev. John Haddaeus, and the present 
 pastor, Rev. James T. Bixby,who is now the superintendent. 
 
 The secretary, treasurer, and librarian of the school is 
 William Thome, Jr. 
 
 The Sunday-school helps used by the school are the 
 Sunday-school Service Book and Dole's Bible Stories. The 
 hymn book is " The Sunny Side," a book of songs for Sun- 
 day-schools and families. 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 327 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 Early in the summer of 1858 the Young Men's Mis- 
 sionary Association of St John's parish furnished a room 
 in Mechanic Street (now New Main Street) for holding 
 mission services. About the same time the Rev. Darius R. 
 Brewer, rector of Immanuel parish, Newport, R. I., who was 
 passing a few days with relatives in Yonkers, was invited 
 to take charge of the mission. He accepted and entered 
 upon its duties on the first Sunday in September, 1858. 
 
 A few weeks previdus to this date the Rev. Mr. Brewer 
 conducted a service under the auspices of the Young Men's 
 Association in a brick building which was on the site now 
 occupied by the Yonkers Savings Bank. This building 
 was erected in 1839 by Lemuel Wells, and was the oldest 
 brick building in Yonkers with the exception of Manor 
 Hall. It was in this building that the first religious services 
 in connection with St. Paul's Church were held. 
 
 The mission was so successful as to give rise to the de- 
 sire for the organization of a new parish. The rector of St. 
 John's Church, the Rev. Abraham B. Carter, D. D., cordially 
 gave his canonical consent, and on the 15th of December, 
 1858, the parish was legally incorporated under the title of 
 " The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of St. Paul's Church," 
 and the following gentlemen were elected wardens and 
 vestrymen: Henry Anstice and Dr. J. Foster Jenkins, 
 wardens ; Edward W. Candee, S. Emmet Getty, Thomas 
 F. Morris, William Beal, Charles Martin, Thomas Furniss, 
 Thomas W. Birdsall, and R. W. Nesbitt, vestrymen. Henry 
 Anstice is the only remaining one of the original founders 
 of St. Paul's parish who is now— June, 1889 — connected 
 with it. 
 
 " Dr. J. Foster Jenkins, who in God's providence was 
 removed to paradise in October, 1 882, was firmly attached 
 to the parish until the day of his death, and gave himself 
 earnestly to its interests in his wise counsel, his self-sacrific- 
 
328 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ing labors, his generous giving, and in his pure Christian 
 life. His name is most honored in St. Paul's parish and his 
 memory is blessed." 
 
 In the spring of 1859 the Getty Lyceum, in the Getty 
 House, was obtained for the better accommodation of the 
 congregation. In the autumn of the same year another 
 removal was made, to meet the needs of the growing con- 
 gregation, to Farrington Hall, in the brick building erected 
 .by Thomas O. Farrington on Getty Square, which was after- 
 wards destroyed by fire, January 3, 1866, and which was 
 replaced by the Radford (now Hawley) building. 
 
 A permanent location for the church was obtained the 
 same year by the purchase of land on North Broadway, be- 
 tween Ashburton Avenue and Irving Place, and on Sep, 
 tember 16, 1859, less than one year after the organization 
 of the parish, the corner-stone of the church was laid, 
 according to the usual form of the diocese, by Bishop Potter. 
 The Rev. Dr. Tyng, rector of St. George's, New York, 
 the Rev. Dr. Carter, rector of St. John's Church, Yonkers, 
 and. the Rev. D. R. Brewer, the rector of the parish, made 
 addresses. 
 
 The architects of the church edifice were R. Upjohn & 
 Co. The foundation of the building was laid by Hugh Cur- 
 ran, the mason work was done by Daniel Blauvelt, and 
 the carpenter work by Ackert & Quick. 
 
 The church was opened for worship on Easter, April 
 8, i860. The consecration of the church was necessarily 
 postponed until the building should be free from debt. 
 
 The Rev. Darius Richmond Brewer was invested with 
 the office of rector of St. Paul's parish on Sunday, April 22, 
 i860, by Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island. 
 
 The beautiful ritual for the burial of the dead was used 
 for the first time in St. Paul's Church, June i, i860, when 
 the remains of Ellen G^ Brewer, the rector's only daughter, 
 not quite three years of age, were taken into the house of 
 the Lord to be borne thence to the house appointed for 
 all the living. 
 
 The support of the parish since its organization had 
 been provided for on the free church system, or the volun- 
 tary contributions of the congregation. April 14, 1862, a 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: 329 
 
 meeting of the male members of the congregation was held 
 for the consideration of the question, " Shall the means for 
 maintaining public worship in this church be provided by 
 renting the pews?" At this time there was a strong party 
 for continuing the church as it had been founded, which 
 promised to contribute largely to that end ; but the question 
 was decided in the affirmative and the pew-renting system 
 was established, and has ever since been continued. 
 
 This change in the mode of meeting the expenses of 
 the church was approved by the rector. Rev. D. R. Brewer. 
 The change, however, was not carried into effect until April 
 I, 1863. This action appears to have been attended by an 
 increase of the congregation. In that year the church 
 building was enlarged by the addition of a south aisle, 
 whereby the original design of the architect was completed, 
 and twenty-three pews were added ; also an addition was 
 built on the west end of the church to receive a new organ. 
 The money to meet the cost of these improvements was 
 advanced by Messrs. Anstice and Mulford. 
 
 In the spring of 1864 the rector, the Rev. Mr. Brewer, 
 resigned his charge on account of impaired health. A meet- 
 ing of the parishioners was immediately called, at which a 
 resolution was passed asking the rector to withdraw his res- 
 ignation and requesting the vestry to offer him a vacation 
 and continue his salary during the same. A purse of over 
 $1,200 was made up by voluntary contributions and present- 
 ed to him. Influenced by these proofs of the good-will and 
 affection of his people, he decided to remain if his health 
 should be restored. During Mr. Brewer's indisposition he' 
 was assisted in the Sunday services by Lyman Cobb, Jr., 
 who for a brief period was the lay reader, and subsequently 
 was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Horatio Potter. Mr. 
 Brewer resumed his duties on the first of October, after an 
 absence of four months. In the year 1865 the debt, amount- 
 ing to $S,ooo, was paid. The effort for this object was begun 
 by the ladies of the church, who raised $1,900. , The in- 
 terior of the church was greatly improved by coloring the 
 walls and graining the woodwork. A floating debt of $1 ,500 
 was also paid. A little volume entitled "The Rector's 
 Offering," containing selections from sermons of the rector, 
 
330 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the Rev. D. R. Brewer, was published by Anson D. F. Ran- 
 dolph, New York, and the proceeds of its sale were con, 
 tributed by the rector towards this good work. 
 
 The building, entirely free of debt, was consecrated to 
 the service of Almighty God on Thursday, December 28, 
 1865, by the Bishop of the diocese, the Right Rev. Horatio 
 Potter, D. D., who was assisted by the Rev. Dr. Washburn 
 and the Revs. Guilbert, Dickinson, Syle, Hepburn, and 
 Brewer. After the services at the church the Bishop and 
 clergy, with the vestrymen and others, assembled at the 
 house of the rector. No 53 Ashburton Avenue, where an 
 elegant collation had been prepared by the ladies of the 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Brewer did not remain long to enjoy the fruit 
 of his labors. His removal to another parish he hoped 
 would be the means of invigorating his health and impart- 
 ing greater efficiency to his ministrations. He also believed 
 that the parish had reached the point where its growth and 
 strength would be more successfully promoted by another 
 rector. And so on June i, 1866, he tendered his resignation 
 to take effect on the last day of July. His ministry had 
 been most successful. During his rectorship a congregation 
 had been gathered, the parish had been organized, a house 
 of worship had been built and consecrated free of debt. 
 He was much beloved by his people. 
 
 " It is not too much to say that he was the model pas- 
 tor going before the flock, not only pointing out the road 
 to heaven, but also leading the way. He preached by 
 his example, by his daily walk and conversation. One 
 could hardly tell what it was that made him so attractive. 
 It was not brilliant talking ; he never seemed to make any 
 special effort to please ; but there was a sort of quiet mag- 
 netism about him which drew others and made one feel 
 that he was a friend worth having. 
 
 " Mr. Brewer possessed in a rare degree the real gift 
 of sympathy. It did not show itself in gushing words and 
 violent protestations, but in those gentle acts of kindness 
 that are precious to one who feels that the hand of God is 
 laid heavily upon him, and as he went from house to house 
 ministering to the poor, supplying both their temporal and 
 
ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 33 1 
 
 their spiritual wants, comforting tjie bereaved in their afflic- 
 tion, talking to the dying of Him who went down to the 
 grave to rob death of its sting and the grave of its victory, 
 and leading the burdened sinner to the blessed Saviour, 
 who said ' Come unto me, and I will give you rest,' gath- 
 ering the children around his feet and making their eyes 
 glisten with his bright and cheery words — thus it was that 
 he found his way into the hearts of his people." 
 
 " There was never any doubt as to his position on 
 any question, which was always clearly defined." 
 
 In a local paper occurs the following paragraph in re- 
 gard to a sermon delivered by the Rev. Mr. Brewer during 
 the troublous times in our late civil war. The writer says : 
 " Although diifering from the Rev. Mr. Brewer in our polit- 
 ical views, he has, during his residence among us, in all 
 places and at all times proven himself to be a truly refined 
 and courteous gentleman as well as a faithful and assiduous 
 minister of the gospel of Christ. There are few men whom 
 we have more delight to honor." At that time the Rev. Mr. 
 Brewer was the first clergyman who took an active part in 
 Yonkers in the raising of funds for the United States Sani- 
 tary Commission, and was also among the first of the citi- 
 zens to unfurl the stars and stripes from the flagstaff which 
 he erected himself on the rectory of St. Paul's. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Brewer died in the rectorship of Christ 
 Church at Westerly, R. I., March 18, 1881. 
 
 The parish register from the time the Rev. Mr. Brewer 
 commenced his labors, in September, 1858, until January, 
 1866, gives these statistics: Baptisms, 106; confirmations, 
 57 ; admitted to the Holy Communion, 256 ; marriages, 46; 
 burials, 60. 
 
 The Rev. Uriah T. Tracy succeeded the Rev. Mr. Brewer 
 as rector of the parish, October, 1 866, and resigned July, 1 869. 
 After a vacancy of two months the Rev. S. G. Fuller was 
 elected as rector of the parish. In February, 1871, he 
 resigned to become the rector of St. Paul's Church, Syra- 
 cuse, N. Y., where he died a few years after. The Rev. 
 David F. Banks was called to the rectorship of the parish 
 in April, 1871. After a ministry of about five years he 
 resigned. He died at l^is home in Connecticut. The 
 
332 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Banks was assisted for one year by the Rev. Ar- 
 thur Sloan. The Rev. C. Maurice Wines succeeded Mr. 
 Banks as the rector of St. Paul's and entered upon his 
 charge on Sunday, May i, 1876. He resigned in October, 
 1879. 
 
 The Rev. William Hammond Mills, D. D., the present 
 rector of St. Paul's, was born in Newton, Mass. He gradu- 
 ated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1849, and 
 studied theology with Bishop Henshaw, of the same city. 
 He was admitted into the order of deacon by Bishop Hen- 
 shaw, in Grace Church, Providence, July i, 1852, and into 
 the order of the priesthood, in the same church, by Bishop 
 Williams of Connecticut, August 30, 1853. Dr. Mills was 
 called to his first charge as rector of St. Peter's, Mauton, 
 R. I., where he continued for eight years, and then became 
 rector of the Church of the Messiah, in Providence, remain- 
 ing less than two years. In November, 1 860, he became 
 rector of St. Mary's, Dorchester, Mass., where he remained 
 for fourteen years, and in 1874 removed to Erie, Pa., and 
 was rector of St. Paul's in that city for nearly six years. 
 He became rector of St. Paul's, Yonkers, February i , 1 880. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Mills is known as a faithful and assiduous 
 minister of the gospel of our blessed Lord. During his 
 rectorship St. Paul's Church has greatly increased in mem- 
 bership, and the present spiritual and temporal prosperity 
 of the church is due largely to his energy, fearlessness, and 
 tireless activity. His characteristics as a man and as a 
 Christian pastor are summed up in these four words — ear- 
 nestness, constancy, unselfishness, and fidelity. Dr. Mills 
 has not only the loving regard of the members of his own 
 church and congregation, but that of a large circle of 
 friends outside of his own parish, who esteem him for his 
 faithful and energetic labors for the Master. 
 
 When the Rev. Dr. Mills entered upon the rectorship of 
 St. Paul's parish the indebtedness of the church was $5,000, 
 which had been incurred since the consecration of the 
 church in 1865, to meet its annual expenses. During his 
 rectorship the floating debt of about $2,000 has been paid, 
 and the yearly expenses of the church have been prompt- 
 ly met. Provision was also ma4e for the mortgage debt. 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 333 
 
 ■which is being paid at the rate of $1,000 per year. There 
 is no other debt upon the church property. 
 
 The interior of the church has been greatly improved 
 by the addition of a new and much larger and more con- 
 venient chancel, which was removed from the east to the 
 west end of the auditorium. A new Sunday-school room 
 has also been added, with a library room and a guild room, 
 and extensive repairs were made in the old building. The 
 cost of these improvements was $7,000. The church was 
 opened for service, after the last improvements, on Sunday, 
 November 20, 1887, when an appropriate sermon, from 
 Psalm 26:8, on "the love of God's house," was preached 
 by the rector. 
 
 A bazaar for the benefit of the church was held at " Sunny 
 Bank," Locust Hill Avenue, for three days, beginning Mon- 
 day, April 22, 1889. The decorations were an attractive 
 feature of this fair. The young ladies in attendance were 
 dressed in peasant costumes of different countries. ■ The 
 St. Agnes Guild had a very attractive table and was one of 
 thp prettiest features of the bazaar. The art room also at- 
 tracted much attention. The various committees filled 
 their respective places with dignity and grace. This was 
 the first fair held by St. Paul's parish, and was in every 
 way a great success : $900 were realized therefrom and ap- 
 plied to the liquidation of the debt of the church. 
 
 A brief centennial service of praise was held in St. 
 Paul's Church on Monday, April 29, 1889, the Rev. Dr. Mills, 
 rector of the church, conducting it. This service was ap- 
 pointed by Bishop Horatio Potter. 
 
 St. Paul's Church is the parent of the prosperous Christ 
 Episcopal Church of this city. In February, 1871, the cor- 
 difil sanction of the vestry of St. Paul's was given for the 
 organization of another parish in the town of Yonkers, 
 now known as Christ parish. 
 
 St. Paul's Church has always been distinguished for its 
 liberal giving and for its power to rise above discourage- 
 ment. Its people are now interested and are earnestly 
 engaged in Christian work. It has excellent material and 
 many elements of strength, and has before it, if true to 
 its object, a career of great usefulness. There are con- 
 
334 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 nected with the church several societies, viz : the " Wo- 
 men's Auxiliary to the General Missionary Society," the 
 " Parochial Society," the " Saint Agnes Guild," and the 
 "Girls' Friendly Society." It also has an industrial school, 
 which is efficiently carried on by the rector's wife and 
 members of the parish. A very successful mothers' meet- 
 ing has been held by Mrs. Mills for a number of years, 
 which has been productive of great good to those who 
 attended it. 
 
 The Yonkers " Nursery and Home," which has become 
 one of the most beneficent and u-seful public institutions 
 in the city, was founded by Mrs. J. H. Clark, who was a 
 member of St. Paul's parish, and who promised to be re- 
 sponsible for the rent of rooms for the purpose proposed. 
 It was opened in a small house on Carlisle Place, near the 
 factories, on St. Paul's Day, January 25, 1881. A little boy 
 named, Paul entered on that day as its first boarder. The 
 plan of its founder was to provide a place where children 
 too young to go to school might be safely left and cared 
 for while the mother was away from home at her day's 
 work. 
 
 On the first of May, about four months from the open- 
 ing, the nursery was removed to a house finely located on 
 the corner of Ashburton and Palisade Avenues, and a 
 home for old women was provided, and it soon came, by 
 common consent, to be called the " Nursery and Home." 
 Three hundred and twenty -five children under eight years 
 of age have been received as its inmates since its organ- 
 ization. The Rev. Dr. Mills, rector of St. Paul's Church, has 
 always taken a deep and active interest in its prosperity 
 and continues so to do. For several years he always pre- 
 sided at the monthly meetings of the Board of Manager^. 
 
 This charitable institution was incorporated in May, 
 1884, under the title of " The Yonkers Nursery and Home." 
 The following persons were the incorporators : the Rev. W. 
 H. Mills, D. D., Dr. Samuel Swift, E. M. Le Moyne, Chas. 
 W. Seymour, S. E. Simonds, Mrs. John'H. Clark, Mrs. O. E. 
 Hosmer, Mrs. A. M. Brereton, and Mrs. H. G. McDonald. 
 
 Its officers are, President, the Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D.; 
 Vice-President, the Rev. A. B. Carver ; Secretary, Thomas 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 335 
 
 G. Hillhouse ; Treasurer, Henry A. Smith ; Auditing Com- 
 mittee, JacolD R. Reese, Thomas G. Hillhouse. 
 
 Board of Trustees, the Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D., the 
 Rev. A. B. Carver, Mrs. A. M. Brereton, Mrs. H. G. Mc- 
 Donald, Jacob R. Reese, Henry A. Smith, Thomas G. Hill- 
 house, Allen L. Smidt, J. Halsey Curtis. 
 
 Officers of the Board of Managers are : President, the 
 Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D.; Secretary, Mrs. J. Foster Jen- 
 kins; Treasurer, Mrs. H. G. McDonald; House Mother, 
 Mrs. Ellen Dundas. Board of Managers : Mrs. A. M. Bre- 
 reton, Mrs. W. H. Mills, Mrs. H. G. McDonald, Miss L. R. 
 Brereton, Miss F. M. Middleton, Mrs. J. Foster Jenkins, 
 Mrs. A. C. Curtis, Mrs. Isabella E. Burnham, Mrs. August 
 Ulmann, Mrs. Jay C. Smith, Mrs. V. P. Humason, Miss 
 Edith E. Belknap, Mrs. Edward Tatum, Mrs. A. B. Carver. 
 Dr. Samuel Swift and Dr. A. C. Benedict, consulting phy- 
 sicans. Dr. Henry Moffat, attending physician. 
 
 The church has also a " Helping Hand Society." 
 
 The rectors of St. Paul's Church since its organization 
 have been : Rev. D. R. Brewer, from January 11, 1859, to 
 July 31, 1866; Rev. U. T. Tracy, from October i, 1866, to 
 October 4, 1869 ; Rev. S. G. Fuller, from December 9, 1869, 
 to February i, 1871 ; Rev. D. F. Banks, from April 21, 
 1 87 1, to January 31, 1876; Rev. C. Maurice Wines, from 
 May 2, 1876, to October 27, 1879; Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D., 
 from February i, 1880, to date. 
 
 The parish register, at the twenty-fifth anniversary of 
 the church, 1883, gives the following statistics: baptisms; 
 414; confirmations, 261 ; marriages, no; burials, 220; pres- 
 ent number of communicants, 216. 
 
 PAROCHIAL STATISTICS SEPTEMBER I, 189O. 
 
 Number of souls - 503 
 
 Baptisms - - - 3° 
 
 Confirmed' - - - 13 
 
 Marriages ... 2 
 
 Burials - - - - 19 
 
 Communicants - - - 232 
 Expenditures. Total for all objects, 1890, fS.oio 96. 
 
 The officers of* the church are: William H. C. Bartlett 
 and W. Delevan Baldwin, wardens ; J. Foster Jenkins, A. 
 
336 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 P. W. Kinnan, Robert H. Neville, J. W. Clark, Jr., A. L. 
 Walker, Charles P. Easton, J. Halsey Curtis, and W. J. 
 Wright, vestrymen. The clerk of the vestry, A. L. Walker ; 
 the treasurer, J. Foster Jenkins. 
 
 The number of communicants in St. Paul's to the pres- 
 ent date, 1 89 1, is 240 ; number of souls, 520. 
 
 The following are the officers and members of the 
 Altar Society of St. Paul's parish, January, 1890: Mrs. H. 
 McDonald, President; Miss S. C. Miller, Secretary; Miss 
 Helen R. Croes, Treasurer. 
 
 The communion service is of solid silver, and consists 
 of a flagon, two chalices, paten, and service plate. On the 
 flagon is inscribed : " Ladies of the Prescott Seminary to 
 Saint Paul's Church, Yonkers," and the Scripture verse, in 
 old English : " On earth peace, good-will to men." The 
 service plate has the following inscription: "The gift of 
 Mrs. Charlotte S. Brewer." In the centre is the monogram 
 " I. H. S.," and on the border, " Holy, holy, holy, Lord God 
 of Hosts." The paten bears this inscription : " The gift 
 of Mary Rhinelander Stewart to St. Paul's Church. ' Glory 
 to God in the highest.' " The chalices bear the following 
 inscriptions : " The gift of Mary Rhinelander Stewart. ' I 
 will receive the cup of salvation.' " " The gift of Catherine 
 D. Spalding to St. Paul's Church. ' And I will call upon the 
 name of the Lord.' " 
 
 The pulpit Bible is from the Cambridge Press. It is 
 elegantly bound in red morocco and was the gift of the 
 ladies of the church. On the altar service books is in- 
 scribed : " Given Easter, 1883. St. Paul's Church." On the 
 baptismal font, which is of white marble, is inscribed these 
 words : " By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." 
 
 The recipient alms basin, which is of gold, bears the 
 inscription : " To St. Paul's Church, Yonkers, N. Y. Easter, 
 1883. In loving memory of Charlotte Louise Jackson." In 
 the centre of the basin on a large star is the monogram * 
 " I. H. S." On the border is inscribed: "The Lord remem- 
 ber all thine offerings." On the alms basins, which are of 
 silver, are these inscriptions : on the one : " Ladies of Pres- 
 cott Seminary to St. Paul's Church. ' He that soweth plen- 
 teously shall reap plenteously,' " which sentence is placed 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 337 
 
 between two Greek crosses. And on the centre is the 
 monogram " I. H. S." And on the other : " Gift of Mary 
 Anstice to St. Paul's Church, Yonkers. ' Give alms of thy 
 goods and never turn thy face from any poor man,' " 
 between two Greek crosses, and the monogram " I. H. S." 
 
 The handsome windows in the chancel, representing 
 " Luke, the beloved physician," " Saint Elizabeth of Hun- 
 gary," and "the conversion of St. Paul," which forms 
 the centre of the group, were erected in memory of J. 
 Foster Jenkins, M. D., and his wife by their friends. Un- 
 derneath the first two mentioned is inscribed : " May, 1885, 
 October, 1882." They are rich in design and were made 
 in London, England, by Messrs. Eaton, Baine & Butler. 
 
 The brass memorial cross on the re-table was presented 
 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Seymour. On it is inscribed : 
 " In loving memory of our son, Charles Holmes Seymour ; 
 baptized August 30, 1868 ; confirmed June 7, 1882 ; entered 
 into rest September 16, 1883. ' Glory be to the Father and 
 to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Amen.' " In the centre 
 of the cross is the monogram " I. H. S." 
 
 The brass altar desk bears this inscription : " In me- 
 moriam. Helen Robertson Croes. Presented by her chil- 
 dren, 1885." In the centre is a star upon which is inscribed 
 " I. H. S." 
 
 A recent gift are the brass altar flower vases, given in 
 memory of S. Howard Howes, Jr., who entered into life 
 everlasting on the evening of February 15, 1889. They bear 
 this inscription : " In memoriam. S. Howard Howes, Jr., 
 February 15, 1889. I. H. S." 
 
 In 1876 a choir of men and boys was established by 
 Mr. Le Jeune. It subsequently was under the direction of 
 Edward P. Chase, who for a number of years served the 
 church as its organist most efficiently and acceptably. Mr. 
 Chase was succeeded by Alfred W. Griffin, who received 
 his first as well as his more advanced instruction from 
 Prof. Chase. Mr. Griffin served five years. Miss Eliza- 
 beth Edmonston is the present organist and director. The 
 music is led by a boy choir of thirty voices. 
 
 Sunday services at St. Paul's Church are at 10:45 A. M. 
 and 4 P. M. The communion, first Sunday of each month. 
 
 Sunday-Bchool Work. 22 
 
338 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The seating capacity of the church is between six 
 hundred and seven hundred. 
 
 William Nugent, sexton, has served the church in that 
 capacity efficiently since January, 1882. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 St. Paul's Sunday-school owes its establishment largely 
 to the efforts of Henry Anstice, senior warden of the 
 church, by whom it was organized _in the summer of 1858. 
 
 Mr. Anstice was appointed superintendent by the rec- 
 tor, the Rev. D. R. Brewer, and was assisted by the follow- 
 ing teachers : William Beal, Henry Beal, John N. Stearns, 
 Edward Martin, Mr. Oakley, William Woodworth, Miss 
 Davids, Miss Kate Woodworth, Miss Annie Anstice, Miss 
 Clara Pettie, and the Misses Atkins. 
 
 The first session of the school was held in Humboldt 
 Hall, opposite the Getty House, in Mechanic Street, now 
 New Main Street. 
 
 In the spring of 1859 the school removed to a hall in 
 the Getty House. In its early days it was largely a mis- 
 sion school in its character, gathering in many who did not 
 attend any Sunday-school. It numbered the first year one 
 hundred scholars. 
 
 In the autumn of 1859 i^ '^^^ removed to Farrington 
 Hall, Getty Square, and occupied that hall until it was 
 removed to the new church in the spring of i860. 
 
 At the beginning of the second year the number of 
 pupils increased to nearly two hundred. After the second 
 year the numbers decreased considerably, owing to the re- 
 moval of teachers and the establishment of other Sunday- 
 schools in the town. 
 
 After its removal to the new church edifice, the Sun- 
 day-school increased in numbers and in influence. A Sun- 
 day-school library was gathered in response to an appeal 
 from the rector from the pulpit, who requested the children 
 to bring their own books for the foundation of the library. 
 The children of Mrs. Harriet A. Johnston donated one 
 hundred volumes, nearly all the books being received 
 from their respective teachers, either in Sunday or day- 
 school. Some of them were also books which had been 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 339 
 
 given them on Christmas. Others in the congregation re- 
 sponded willingly and liberally, and by this means quite a 
 handsome library was procured for the Sunday-school 
 without expense. The school now became self-supporting. 
 
 The first singing book used by the school was " Sabbath 
 Bells," by William Bradbury, and the Sunday-school paper 
 distributed was the "Sunday-school Banner," published by 
 the American Sunday-school Union. 
 
 The interesting little daughter of Edward and Harriet 
 Johnston, who was a member of the primary class of this 
 school, and who took special interest in contributing books 
 for the library, was very suddenly summoned to the " Happy 
 Land " which she loved to talk and sing about. A tender, 
 impressive, and large funeral was held in St. John's Church, 
 on Saturday, April 28, i860. The members of St. Paul's 
 and St. John's Schools attended in a body, and of the class 
 in the day school of which she was a loved member. The 
 Rev. Dr. Carter, rector of St. John's Church, and the Rev. 
 D. R. Brewer, her own rector, officiated. 
 
 The Sunday-school for nine years numbered from 175 
 to 200. In 1865 it numbered 265. 
 
 The school has enjoyed many pleasant hours spent in 
 Frederick Shonnard's woods. One picnic, held there on 
 Tuesday, August 25, 1868, will long be remembered with 
 pleasure. "The day was gloriously fine. A gentleman 
 who had occasion to watch the weather indications observed 
 that there had been but two such days since April. The 
 school assembled at the church at nine o'clock. At ten 
 o'clock they started for a straw ride in five large wagons. 
 The first of these carried their beautiful school banner, 
 designed and made especially for them by Capt. E. W. 
 Jenkins, and the last wagon carried the stars and stripes. 
 Accompanying them were the rector, the Rev. U. T. Tracy, 
 and the superintendent, Charles W. Seymour, and a large 
 representation of the teachers and ladies of the congre- 
 gation. After a charming ride, which was enlivened by the 
 glad notes of their young, tuneful voices, awakening the 
 echoes of the green fields and harvest-laden country as they 
 proceeded merrily on their way, they shaped their course 
 to some woods belonging to Mr. Shonnard, which he had 
 
340 ^ CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 generously and kindly placed at their disposal for the pur- 
 pose, and where a collation was supplied by the ladies of 
 the church and parents of the children, which was speedily 
 spread out in a cool, shady, and mossy spot. After enjoying 
 themselves among the woodlands and with various games, 
 in which some of the older persons united, at four o'clock 
 they started for home, returning about five o'clock, p. m., 
 well pleased with their day of rare enjoyment, not a single 
 thing occurring to mar the pleasure of their trip." 
 
 Another picnic held by the school was at lona Island 
 on the Hudson River. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1868 was held in the church 
 on Tuesday evening, at 6 : 30 o'clock. At the entrance of the 
 chancel and facing the centre aisle stood the Christmas tree, 
 charmingly ornamented with gifts for the scholars. Its 
 beauty was enhanced by skilful manipulation of the cal- 
 cium light with which it was illuminated, causing it to 
 assume a variety of colors. The care which had been taken 
 in the dressing of the tree was anything but lost in the 
 effect which its beautiful appearance produced. Carols 
 were sung by the scholars. The rector, the Rev. U. T. Tracy, 
 addressed the children, as did also the superintendent, 
 Charles W. Seymour. The exercises closed with the singing 
 of the recessional carol, and' old and young were seemingly 
 well pleased with the evening's entertainment. 
 
 The following is a printed statistical report of St. Paul's 
 School in the centennial year, December, 1876: Officers, 4; 
 teachers, 17 ; scholars on register, 212 ; average attendance, 
 160; largest attendance, 200; number in primary depart- 
 ment, 68; volumes in library, 600; receipts, $550; expen- 
 ditures, $548. Chas. W. Seymour, Superintendent; J. P. 
 Williams, Secretary ; George lies. Librarian ; Thomas Bre- 
 reton. Assistant Librarian ; Mrs. D. F. Banks, teacher of Bi- 
 ble class ; Mrs. Thomas B. Pitman, Mrs. Orphen, Mrs. Seat- 
 cey, Mrs. Chandler, Mi^s M. Curran, Miss Middleton, Miss 
 Brereton, Miss Julia Ritter, Miss Belle Runk, Miss Mary 
 McCoy, Miss Getty, Miss E. Getty, J. P. Wells, J. McCoy, 
 and Mr. Orphen, teachers. 
 
 The Young Men's Guild connected with St. Paul's 
 Church and Sunday-school was organized March 16, 1886. 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 34I 
 
 Its object is to promote the spiritual, intellectual, and social 
 benefit of its members and interest them in the work of 
 the parish. The officers of the Guild, February, 1889, were : 
 Charles Philip Easton, President ; Wm. J. Wright, Vice- 
 President ; Wm. J. Moore, Secretary ; Upson Van Varick, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The Young Men's Guild sustained a severe loss by the 
 sudden removal by death of one of its members, S. Howard 
 Howes, Jr., on February 15, 1889. Mr. Howes was a youth 
 of excellent Christian character, and a most useful and 
 efficient member of the Guild. He was greatly beloved by 
 all who knew him. It was a large and tender funeral on 
 Sunday afternoon, February' 23, 1889, in St. Paul's Church, 
 all sorrowing because they should see his face no more. 
 About forty of his fellow railroad attaches at Forty-second 
 Street came to Yonkers in a body and attended the funeral, 
 bringing with them a floral broken column. The Rev. Dr. 
 Mills, his rector, officiated. 
 
 A meeting of the young men of the parish of St'. Paul's 
 Episcopal Church was held in the Guild room Thursday 
 evening, September 26, 1889, at which the parish Guild was 
 reorganized upon a new basis. The Rev. Dr. W. H. Mills 
 presided. A Constitution was adopted, and the following 
 officers elected : the Rev. Dr. Mills, President ; Charles P. 
 Easton, Vice-President ; Wm. J. Moore, Secretary ; Wm. J. 
 Wright, Treasurer. Meetings of the organization are held 
 on the first, second, and fourth Thursdays in each month. 
 
 St. Paul's Church and Sunday-school has also a young 
 women's guild which is called the " St. Agnes Guild," and 
 which was organized in the autumn of 1880. It is man- 
 aged by a committee of ladies from the Parochial Society. 
 Mrs. J. Q. A. Johnson, Mrs. W. H. King,, and Mrs. Val- 
 entine Marsh are the managers. The first work of the St. 
 Agnes Guild was to make clothing for the needy children 
 of the "Yonkers Nursery and Home," and since to do 
 other missionary work connected with the parish under 
 the direction of the managers. The present officers of St, 
 Agnes' Guild are : Mrs. J. Q. A. Johnson, President and 
 Chairman of. Committees •, Miss W. H. King, Secretary 
 and Treasurer. 
 
342 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The Christmas festival for 1887 was held on Thursday- 
 evening in the church as usual. The children with the 
 teachers entered the church from the basement singing 
 the processional, "Christ is born." After an address by 
 the rector, Rev. W. H. Mills, D. D., and the singing of the 
 carol, " Joyfully, joyfully, silvery clear," the rector, assisted 
 by the superintendent, W. J. Wright, distributed the gifts 
 to the pupils. 
 
 The presentation of a fine etching, representing one of 
 the beautiful paths leading to Christ College, England, by 
 the superintendent, Mr. Wright, in behalf of the teachers, 
 to the rector, was a pleasant feature of the celebration. A 
 beautiful Christmas tree, made still more beautiful by the 
 calcium light, carols well sung, and the happy faces of 
 the children, made a very bright setting for the joyous occa- 
 sion. 
 
 The teacher of the young ladies' Bible-class, which 
 numbered at one time from twelve to fifteen young ladies, 
 is Miss Mary A. Neilson. This class, assisted by others, 
 held a fair on April 18, 1888, the proceeds of which were 
 given towards providing a home in the country for a number 
 of poor children during part of the heated term.' This is a 
 private charity undertaken by Miss Neilson, who is assisted 
 by some of her personal friends who have been engaged in 
 this benevolent work for five years. This fair was under 
 the direction of Mrs. Samuel Swift, Mrs. J. Fowler Trow, 
 Mrs. Stephen H. Thayer, Jr., Miss M. A. Neilson, Miss 
 L. G. Crocker, and Miss H. HoUister. It was a great suc- 
 cess, financially and socially, about $300 clear of expenses 
 being realized. 
 
 The primary department of this school was taught by 
 Miss Florilla Wells Johnston (now Mrs. F. W. Thomas) 
 very successfully for more than fifteen years. It numbered 
 between forty and fifty pupils. The efficient superintend- 
 ent of the department now is the rector's wife, Mrs William 
 H. Mills, who has had charge of it for five years. It meets 
 in a small room adjoining the main Sunday-school room, 
 and numbers thirty-five pupils. Instruction is given from 
 the " Christian Primer for Little Ones." The Command- 
 ments, Creed, and the Lord's Prayer are also taught. The 
 
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 343 
 
 contributions of this class are given to the general funds of 
 the Sunday-school. 
 
 At the Christmas festival held Friday evening, Decem- 
 ber 27, i88g, a full choral service was rendered: organist 
 Alfred Griffin and a chorus of eighteen boys and ten young 
 gentlemen composing the excellent choir. The Rev. Dr. 
 Mills, the rector, was assisted by the Rev. Alexander 
 Forbes. 
 
 Appropriate addresses were made by Dr. Mills, and 
 the Superintendent, Charles P. Easton. 
 
 There was a beautiful Christmas tree, illuminated with 
 calcium lights^ and the scholars were made happy with 
 handsome gifts of books, games, toys, fruits, and cornu- 
 copias of candy. 
 
 The rector received a handsome book from the teach- 
 ers of the school. 
 
 There is also a branch of the King's Daughters called 
 the Wayside Workers' Branch, which is composed of some 
 of the members of the young ladies' Bible-class and which is 
 also under the direction of Miss M. A. Neilson. This branch 
 gave an entertainment, which consisted of tableaux and 
 vocal music, at Music Hall, March 2, 1 889, which was under 
 the management of several prominent Yonkers ladies and 
 George B. Bartlett. The proceeds were given to Miss 
 M. A. Neilson's annual summer work 6f taking destitute 
 children into the country. The members of the Way- 
 side Workers are also doing excellent work in other direc- 
 tions. 
 
 The Easter festival of 1889 was observed with appro- 
 priate exercises in the church on Sunday afternoon. The 
 children and teachers marched from the Sunday-school 
 rooin into the church singing the processional carol. 
 They were preceded by the members of the choir, one of 
 whom carried a beautiful floral cross, which was placed in 
 the choir. Brief remarks were made by the rector, Dr. 
 Mills. 
 
 An interesting feature of that festival was the presen- 
 tation to the children of the Sunday-school, by their super- 
 intendent, Charles Philip Easton, of centennial certificates. 
 ■" These certificates were issued that year by the Domestic 
 
344 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, 
 and were given to each member of the Sunday-school in the 
 church as a reminder that they, as baptized members of 
 the church, are declared to be members of the Domestic and 
 Foreign Missionary Society of the church, and therefore 
 are bound to support its work. The especial reason for 
 issuing the certificate that year was because it was a hundred 
 years since the church was organized in America and the 
 centennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church — 
 which convention assembles once in every three years. For 
 this reason it was called a centennial certificate, and is to be 
 kept as a memento of the centennial birth of the Episcopal 
 Church and of our country." The whole number of centen- 
 nial certificates issued to children of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church Sunday-schools was 190,50x3. St. Paul's Sunday- 
 school was well represented in this grand missionary offer- 
 ing of the Sunday-schools of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 A part of the Lenten offering on Easter day was also 
 appropriated for decorating the walls of their Sunday- 
 school room and for procuring new furniture for it. When 
 these improvements are made, their Sunday-school room 
 will be as pleasant and attractive an any in the city. 
 
 Miss Mary A. Croes has been connected with St. Paul's 
 Sunday-school for seventeen years, and is among the hon- 
 orary list of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 This Sunday-school supported a pupil in Bishop Tut- 
 tle's school in Utah for five years. 
 
 A fair for the benefit of the Sunday-school was held 
 at the residence of Miss Lucy G. Crocker, 1 87 North Broad- 
 way, April 3, 1889. ^ beautiful organ and a fine library 
 consisting of five hundred volumes was purchased with the 
 proceeds of this fair. 
 
 The Christmas festival of the Sunday-school of 1890 
 was held in the church Tuesday evening, December 29, at 
 7 o'clock. The church was well filled and looked beautiful 
 in its Christmas decorations. Standing in front of the 
 chancel was a stately tree, reaching almost to the very 
 top of the building, and resplendent in glittering orna- 
 ments and presents. 
 
 The children entered the church from the Sunday 
 
ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 345 
 
 school room, headed by the choir, largely composed of boys 
 belonging to the school, and singing the processional carol. 
 The services consisted of the carols, a lesson from the Bible, 
 and prayers. The Rev. Dr. William H. Mills conducted the 
 services, and was assisted by the Rev. Alexander Forbes 
 and Alfred W. Griffin. 
 
 Dr. Mills, the rector, and Charles Philip Easton, the 
 Superintendent of the school, made appropriate addresses. 
 The lights were then turned down, and a calcium light was 
 thrown upon the tree. The colors of light were frequently 
 changed by the operator, much to the delight of the chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Before distributing the gifts to the children, Mr. Eas- 
 ton, on behalf of the school, presented to Dr. Mills a hand- 
 some set of books, and to Miss Edmonston, the organist, 
 who had kindly trained the children in singing the carols, 
 a silver pen- 
 
 The children each received a present, and beside, fruit 
 and confectionery. The gifts consisted of skates, games, 
 books, dolls, plush boxes, and all kinds of toys. Superin- 
 tendent Easton received a handsome silver pencil from 
 the school. 
 
 The children marched back to their room singing 
 the recessional, " Oh, blessed Lord," and thus ended one 
 of the most enjoyable and profitable Christmas festivals 
 St. Paul's Sunday-school ever held. 
 
 St. Paul's Sunday-school represents for the most part 
 those children of the church who were baptized in infancy 
 and who have been instructed in the confirmation class by 
 the rector. Therefore a very large proportion of the com- 
 municants in the parish were instructed in the Sunday- 
 school. More than one hundred of the communicants of 
 St. Paul's Church during the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. Mills 
 have come from the Sunday-school. 
 
 Alfred W. Griffin, a former pupil of the Sunday-school, 
 entered the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal 
 Church in New York, September, 1889. 
 
 The number of scholars in Sunday-school is 180, Jan- 
 uary, 1890. 
 
 The superintendents of St. Paul's Sunday-school are 
 
346 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 always appointed by the rector of the parish. The names 
 of the superintendents of St. Paul's Sunday-school, in their 
 order of service, are as follows : Henry Anstice, who was 
 the first superintendent, elected in 1858; John N. Steams, 
 William Beal, Charles W. Seymour, who served for eighteen 
 years — 1868 to 1886 — W. G. Wright, and the present superin- 
 tendent, Charles Philip Easton, who was appointed under 
 the rectorship of the Rev. William H. Mills, D. D., Decem- 
 ber, 1887. 
 
 The officers of the school are Charles Philip Easton, 
 Superintendent; Wm. J. Moore, Secretary and Treasurer; 
 Miss Kittie Harris, Organist, Miss Mary Croes, Librarian, 
 Thomas Hale, Assistant Librarian. The teachers are Mrs. 
 William H. Mills, Miss Mary A. Neilson, Miss E. D. Brere- 
 ton. Miss Emily C. Brereton, Miss H. S. Warren, Miss 
 Helen HoUister, Miss C. Whitney, Miss Hattie McDonald, 
 Miss Annie J. Watson, Miss Marion Scribner, Miss S. C. 
 Mills, Miss Mary S. Jenkins, Miss Knapp, Miss M. Clark, 
 Miss Sophia Shonnard, and Messrs. William J. Moore and 
 William J. Wright. 
 
 The young men's Bible-class is taught by William J. 
 Wright. 
 
 The Sunday-school helps used by the school are " Sun- 
 day-school Service Book," the " Complete Manual of Sun- 
 day-school Instruction," by Rev. E. L. Stoddard, Ph. D., 
 the " Church Catechism," and the " Christian Primer for 
 the Little Ones," approved by Right Rev. Henry A. Neely, 
 D. D., Bishop of Maine. The Sunday-school hymn book 
 is "The Children's Hymn Book," arranged in the order of 
 the church year and published under the revision of the 
 Right Revs. Drs. Howe, Oxender, and EUerton. The Sun- 
 day-school paper is " The Young Christian Soldier." 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY^CHOOL. 347 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE NEPPERHAN AVENUE BAPTIST MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL.* 
 
 This Sunday-school, formerly known as the Spring 
 Street Mission Sunday-scliool, was founded in November, 
 1863, under the following interesting circumstances. Rev. 
 Edward Bright, D. D., Editor of the " New York Examiner," 
 who had a few months previously become a resident of Yon- 
 kers, being impressed with the necessity of Christian ^effort 
 in the behalf of the residents in the eastern part of what 
 was then the village of Yonkers, proposed the starting of a 
 mission Sunday-school in that locality. This proposition 
 was warmly seconded by his three daughters. 
 
 Preparatory to the organization of the school, Rev. 
 Dr. Bright, in company with Isaiah Anderson, spent the 
 evenings of several weeks in ascertaining the number of 
 children occupying the houses in that district and in con- 
 sidering plans how to reach them. At the suggestion of 
 Dr. Bright practical measures were taken to ascertain the 
 number of children without Sunday-school instruction liv- 
 ing in the district, and Rev. Henry Bromley, now the mis- 
 sionary pastor of the Greenwood Baptist Church at Brook- 
 
 * The Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Church was organized June 22, 1891, 
 with forty -one members, all of whom came from the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 On August 26 of the same year twenty-five took letters of dismission 
 from the mother church. On June 25, iSgijthe first church prayer-meeting 
 was held ; Deacon Dinsmore, of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, led 
 it. Forty were in attendance. On July 7, 1891, trustees were elected un- 
 der the law of 1813. 
 
 On Sunday evening, July 26, 1891, the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
 Church closed its evening service, and its pastor, the Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, 
 D. D., preached the opening sermon at the new church to the united con- 
 gregations. The organization of the new church met the hearty approval 
 of the pastor and deacons and trustees of the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
 Church. The free use of the building has been granted to the new church, 
 and services are now regularly held. A call has been extended by the 
 church to the Rev. H. M. Warren, of New York, to become its pastor, 
 which has been accepted. The present — September, 1891 — membership of 
 this church is seventy-five. The Rev. Mr. Warren was ordained Nov. 5, '91. 
 
348 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 lyn, N. Y., was invited to make a personal visitation at the 
 homes and to present the subject of the formation of a 
 Sunday-school. 
 
 The proposal met with a cordial response among the 
 families in that vicinity. At the same time, in accordance 
 with the suggestion of Dr. Bright and others, Mr. Bromley 
 invited the children to a picnic which was held in a large , 
 grove of oak-trees on the south side of Nodine Hill, on 
 Saturday afternoon previous to the opening of the school 
 on the following Sunday. Every one enjoyed the picnic 
 and it inspired much interest and enthusiasm among the 
 children and youth, who came together one hundred strong. 
 The first place' of meeting of the Sunday-school waa in a 
 small room in a brick building which was known as the 
 skin factory, located near the corner of Nepperhan Avenue 
 and Mechanic Street (now New Main Street). This room 
 was called Grant's Hall, and became memorable in connec- 
 tion with the history of the organization of the Westminster 
 Presbyterian Church of this city. 
 
 The first day of the gathering of the children was spent 
 in considering plans for organization and brief addresses to 
 the children, and was known as a children's meeting. The 
 Sunday-school was opened for active work on the second 
 Sunday of November, 1863, with one hundred pupils, and 
 the following persons who can be recalled, were present on 
 that occasion : Rev. Dr. Bright, Misses Mary, Matilda, and 
 Amelia Bright, Miss Caroline H. Tripler, Mrs. Emeline 
 Manny, Deacon Peter F. Peek, Elias Whipple, Isaiah An- 
 derson, John B. Trevor, and Mrs. Louisa S. S. Trevor, all of 
 whom offered their services as teachers with the exception 
 of the last three mentioned persons. Mrs. S. S. Trevor took 
 a warm interest in this new enterprise and aided the work- 
 ers with words of cheer and encouragement and financial 
 support, and continued so to do until her decease. John 
 B. Trevor and Mr. and Mrs. James B. Colgate also pledged 
 an annual sum for the support of the school, which they 
 continue to this time. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Bright was chosen superintendent and served 
 nine years. Isaiah Anderson was elected secretary and 
 treasurer, which offices he filled for eight years. 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 349 
 
 The Sunday-school occupied Grant's Hall for a few- 
 Sundays only, and then y^as removed to a small building 
 located on the corner of Brook and Spring Streets, which 
 was enlarged twice during the occupancy of the school to 
 accommodate the increasing number of scholars. The build- 
 ing is at present known as Teutonia Hall. The school 
 remained in that building until its removal to the Mission 
 Chapel it now occupies on Nepperhan Avenue, near Elm 
 Street, and which was constructed of the materials of the 
 Mount Olivet Baptist Church, which was left by its people 
 for their new church edifice on Warburton Avenue. 
 
 The following is from a printed report of the Spring 
 Street Mission Sunday-school for the year ending April, 
 1 871: "Num.ber of pupils, 518; in Bible-class, 122; infant 
 class, 132; the largest attendance at any one session, 343. 
 School was addressed by Deacon Wm. Holme, the superin- 
 tendent of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sunday-school, 
 Mr. Eddy, and Mr. Wescott. The officers are : Rev. Dr. 
 E. Bright, Superintendent; A. F. Holmes, Assistant Su- 
 perintendent ; A. F. Wescott, Treasurer ; George Umphray, 
 Sr., Secretary ; Cornelius N. Peek, Librarian ; J. E. H. Fer- 
 riss, Assistant Librarian. The teachers are : Mrs. S. T. White, 
 Misses Matilda Bright, Caroline H. Tripler, A. B. Cook, A. 
 Terpening, Agnes Holme, Lucy Peek, Ella Cady, Mary 
 Carey, Sarah Clark, Almira Austin, Hattie R. Umphray, 
 Ida Hazen, Messrs. F. Wescott, William N. Bailey, M. Hull, 
 James Holme, John Whitney, William Halsey, J. P. Taylor, 
 and A. B. See. Miss Mary Bright and Miss Florilla N. John, 
 ston (now Mrs. F. W. Thomas) teachers of the primary 
 department. Rev. Dr. Bright teacher of adult Bible-class. 
 A. F. Decker teacher of the young ladies' class. Mr. Eddy 
 leader of the singing. This school is in a flourishing con- 
 dition and is doing a most excellent work on the eastern 
 border of our town." 
 
 The Sunday-school was removed to the Mission Chapel 
 erected on Nepperhan Avenue and which was opened early 
 in the summer of 1872. 
 
 A printed report of the school, December, 1 874, shows : 
 " Scholars on roll, 327 ; average attendance during the past 
 year, 263, an increase of 49 over preceding year; teachers, 
 
3SO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 27 ; volumes in library, 453 : contributed to the poor fund, 
 $212 62; shoes for the poor, .$99 20; dry goods, $85 50; 
 garments distributed, no Officers, John A. Amelung, 
 Superintendent ; Thomas H. Messer, Assistant Superintend- 
 ent ; Joseph C. Holme, Secretary ; C. W. Peek, Treasurer ; 
 Wm. N. Anderson, Librarian ; Miss C. H. Tripler, Treas- 
 urer of the Poor Fund." 
 
 The annual Christmas festival was held on Tuesday even- 
 ing, December 29, 1874. The walls of the chapel were hand- 
 somely festooned with evergreens and frames of the same 
 material bearing the inscriptions respectively, " Bethle- 
 hem," "Nazareth," "Messiah," "Emmanuel," with the 
 figures 1863 in evergreen, being the year in which the 
 school was started, and 1874, the present year. The frames 
 were each suspended by cords of evergreen. Over the 
 platform near the ceiling, " Glory be to God in the highest," 
 were the words in evergreen, and under this inscription 
 was the star of the east and the words " Merry Christ- 
 mas." 
 
 The large tree loaded with presents stood upon the 
 platform from which Santa Claus supplied the children. 
 Addresses were made by Rev. Wm. T. Burns, pastor of 
 the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, and Rev. Dr. Ed- 
 ward Bright. Singing by the school and recitations by a 
 number of the pupils completed the programme of exer- 
 cises on that pleasant occasion. The whole f^te reflected 
 most creditably upon John A. Amelung, the superintend- 
 ent, and his coadjutors. 
 
 The following is from a printed report of this school 
 during the centennial year, February, 1876: "We visited 
 the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school last 
 Sunday afternoon and found the room crowded with one 
 of the best and most orderly assemblies of scholars we 
 have ever looked upon. Every teacher was at his or her 
 post, and every scholar in his or her seat. The opening of 
 the school was a most pleasing feature, and the children 
 sang their hymns very sweetly. 
 
 " From John A. Amelung, the superintendent, we obtain 
 the following exhibit of the school for the present year : 
 Officers, 7; teachers, 28 ; scholars on register, 416; average 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 35 1 
 
 attendance, 286; largest attendance, 416; in infant class, 
 180; conversions, 35 ; deaths (one teacher and three pupils), 
 4; volumes in library, 458 ; receipts, $338 71 ; expenditures, 
 $322 70 ; receipts for benevolence, $277 39 ; expenditures 
 for benevolence, $235 19; cast-off garments distributed, 50. 
 
 " The officers of the school are : John A. Amelung, 
 Superintendent ; Thomas H. Messer, Assistant Superintend- 
 ent ; Cornelius W. Peek, Secretary ; William Anderson, 
 Librarian ; Miss C. H. Tripler, Treasurer of the Poor Fund. 
 The teachers are Mrs. John A. Amelung, Miss C. H. Trip- 
 ler, Mrs. John S. White, Mrs. W. H. Baldwin, Miss Lillian 
 Earl, Miss H. E. Earl, Miss Amy Halsted, Mrs. A. J. Feak- 
 ins, Miss Ella See, Miss Lena Leeds, Miss Marilla Star, Miss 
 Fannie Austin, Miss Carey, Miss Estella Depew, Miss Flor- 
 ence Parsons, Miss Belle Van Wagner, Miss Eva Munson, 
 Messrs. A. F. Decker, Thomas H. Messer, W. H. Baldwin, 
 Ezra L. Manning, Harold Harris, Wm. Papps, Wm. Hal- 
 sey, A. J. Feakins, C. H. Callahan, and Wm. Van Kirk." 
 
 In November, 1879, Miss, Eva J. Munson, a teacher in 
 this school, left Yonkers for San Francisco, from which 
 place she sailed for Tokio, her mission field in Japan. On 
 October 25 of the same year a farewell reception was given 
 to her by the Women's Mission Circle of the Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Church. After an hour of social inter- 
 course in the church parlor the company repaired to the 
 chapel, where the farewell exercises took place. They were 
 informal, impressive, and appropriate. 
 
 After singing a hymn. Rev. H. M. Sanders, the pastor, 
 stated the object of the gathering, saying that in his esti- 
 mation the departure of one of their number to a foreign 
 field of labor called for some such an expression of sympa- 
 thy and regard. He then introduced Rev. Dr. Burlingham, 
 of Brooklyn, District Secretary of the Missionary Board, who 
 congratulated the church on having one who was thought 
 worthy by the Master to engage in this labor. Brief ad- 
 dresses followed by Mrs. Robert Harris, of New York, Mrs. 
 James B. Colgate, President of the Women's Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society of the Southern New York Baptist Asso- 
 ciation, Mr. M. F. Decker, Miss Munson, and the benediction 
 by Rev. Mr. Sanders. 
 
352 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Miss Munson was formerly a member of the mission 
 band of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, and the 
 contributions of the band made four of its members life- 
 members of the Foreign Missionary Society of the Baptist 
 Church, Miss Munson being one of those so honored. She 
 subsequently became the wife of Rev. W. T. White, an 
 English missionary laboring in Japan. 
 
 In a quarterly meeting of the Women's Baptist For- 
 eign Missionary Society of the Southern New York Associa- 
 tion, held in the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church June 
 14, 1889, Miss Anna H. Kidder, of Tokio, Japan, who ad- 
 dressed the society, gave the following pleasing and grateful 
 tribute to the worth of Miss Munson 's character and work 
 in her missionary home : " At her marriage with Rev. W. J. 
 White she was obliged to relinquish some of her work, 
 and we regretted parting with her, for she was a delightful 
 church worker, a faithful and hearty worker in everything 
 so far as the cares of her large family would permit. She 
 has proven a loving and faithful mother to the five mother- 
 less children of her husband, besides one of her own. She 
 still continues to assist her husband in his work, taking 
 charge of the day-school and the Sunday-school in his ab- 
 sence. We are proud of her as a mother and as an earnest 
 Christian worker." 
 
 Miss Munson was formerly a pupil in Miss Caroline H. 
 Tripler's class, as was also Miss Kitty Van Kirk, who is 
 now the wife of Rev. Mr. Gillette. The members of her 
 class are now bright and active boys, who are making their 
 lives tell in works of usefulness. One of them, Elmer J. 
 Craft, was formerly the president of the Boys' Branch of 
 the Young Men's Christian Association of Yonkers. 
 
 Miss Tripler has been connected with the school for 
 over a quarter of a century, as teacher and treasurer of the 
 Poor Fund of the school. Her labors in connection with 
 the latter department have been most arduous, for all those 
 years the care and disposal of the benevolent funds of the 
 school have been under her supervision and direction. Dr. 
 Phillips, a recent superintendent, speaking of her work, 
 observed that " the shoes and dry-goods which had been 
 given under hei direction for supplying the needs of the 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 353 
 
 destitute scholars of the school here were sufficient to stock 
 a large store with either of these commodities." Rev. Dr. 
 Bright, in his address at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 
 school, remarked that "the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
 Mission School would never know the obligations they were 
 under to Miss Tripler, who had been a tower of strength 
 to 'it through all the past twenty-five years." A most be- 
 fitting recognition of her worth and work was the placing, 
 by her associate teachers and the scholars of the school, of 
 her picture beside that of Rev. Dr. Bright's, the honored 
 founder of the school. The likeness of this revered teacher, 
 and that of her missionary pupil, Miss Eva J. Munson, 
 which likewise adorns the walls of the chapel, will in the 
 coming years be memorials of the work and alms-deeds 
 which they have done. 
 
 Miss Caroline H. Tripler's name stands second on the 
 honor roll of Yonkers Sunday-school teachers, the late Miss 
 Emeline Hoyt, of the Reformed Sunday-school, being the 
 first, for her long and faithful service of forty-three years 
 in connection with that school. 
 
 The Mission Chapel was enlarged twice to meet the 
 growing demands of the school. The first time of its en- 
 largement — which was by an addition to the rear of the 
 building — the school, through an arrangement of the build- 
 ers, still continued to meet in the chapel. The second time 
 it was enlarged the school was held in an unoccupied por- 
 tion of the building then known as the " Waring Hat Man- 
 ufactory," on Elm Street, which it occupied for three 
 months. The committee appointed for the extension of the 
 building was composed of Messrs. Decker, Amelung, Feakins, 
 Manning, Baldwin, Mrs. John A. East, and Mrs. John White. 
 
 The chapel was reopened, after extensive repairs and 
 improvements, on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 1884, 
 when a large congregation assembled. Dr. R. Oliver Phil- 
 lips, superintendent, presided, Edwin Moore conducted the 
 singing, accompanied by John Bright on the cornet. Ad- 
 dresses were made by Superintendent Phillips, E. L. Man- 
 ning, T. R. Pettingill, Colgate Hoyt, James B. Colgate, 
 John B. Trevor, and Rev. Dr. Weston. 
 
 The recent improvements to the chapel, planned by John 
 
 ObUTCh and Sunday-school Work. 23 
 
354 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Jardine, architect, consist of a new gallery, an enlargement 
 of the main gallery, etc., by which nearly three hundred 
 more pupils can be accommodated. The cost of these im- 
 provements was $3,500, of which the Sunday-school con- 
 ^tributed $315. D. and J. Jardine, of New York, were the 
 contractors, the mason work was done by J. and G. Stewart, 
 and the carpenter work by S. F. Quick. 
 
 Upon the recommendation of R. Oliver Phillips, M. D., 
 superintendent, a visiting committee was appointed January, 
 1884, the chairman of w^iich was Mrs. A. J. Feakins, who 
 was assisted by Misses Lena Leeds, Lizzie East, and Florence 
 J. Parsons, who comprised the standing advisory visiting 
 committee. Miss Anna Hathaway subsequently was made 
 a member. The committee were authorized to appoint a 
 sub-committee, the members of which held office for one 
 month. The members of the sub-committee collected the 
 class cards every Sunday. Upon these cards were written 
 the teachers' names and the names and addresses of the ab- 
 sent scholars, and the cause of absence, and reported the 
 following Sunday to the advisory committee. 
 
 These committees did laborious and excellent work 
 which produced a marked effect in retaining and maintain- 
 ing the regular and punctual attendance of the scholars. 
 Clothing, fuel, and employment were in some cases provi- 
 ded for those unable to obtain them. These committees 
 continued in the service of the school until the appoint- 
 ment, October, 1887, of Miss E. Holmes as the missionary 
 visitor of the school. 
 
 The Christmas festival held December 25, 1885, was 
 reported as follows : On Tuesday evening the exercises of 
 the main school were held. Dr. R. O. Phillips presided in 
 his usual cheery manner. Rev. E. P. Farnham, pastor of 
 the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, made some very 
 happy remarks. After recitations by the children and music 
 by John Bright, Santa Claus appeared from a little house 
 on the back of the stage. Many presents were given to 
 different teachers in the school, and a huge stocking for 
 the pastor created a great deal of amusement. After pull- 
 ing out any quantity of paper, a box was found containing 
 a handsome Waltham gold watch. 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 355 
 
 On Wednesday evening the primary department had 
 their festival. About 240 little children filed into the room, 
 and the friends of the little ones crowded the house. The 
 exercises were opened by the reading of the Scriptures by 
 one of the children, and prayer by the pastor, after which , 
 singing and speeches by the little children filled up a happy 
 hour. Then Santa Claus appeared from a house that had 
 been built upon the platform and made some presents. 
 The last one was a large, handsome picture of a little child 
 listening to the ticking of a watch. This was given to 
 Thomas H. Messer, the superintendent of this department. 
 One of the pupils, Ella Manning, made the presentation. 
 It was a gift from the children. 
 
 In 1886 an entertainment for the benefit of the Baptist 
 churches of Charleston, injured by the earthquake, was given 
 u-nder the auspices of the members of the mission and home 
 schools in the Mission Chapel. As the result of their efforts 
 the young people realized abotit $60 above expenses. 
 
 In January, 1886, R. Oliver Phillips, M. D., found it 
 imperative to resign the superintendency of the school, as 
 he was unable to give the time which was necessary to it 
 on account of his increasing professional duties. His res- 
 ignation was exceedingly regretted and very reluctantly 
 accepted by both the teachers and scholars, to whom he 
 had endeared himself by his faithful services in their be- 
 half. He was succeeded by William H. Belknap. 
 
 The enrolment of pupils in the Sunday-school for 1 888 
 showed 700 scholars, and the average attendance for each 
 Sunday for the first six months of the year was 500 pupils 
 and 6"] teachers, besides officers. 
 
 A young ladies' prayer-meeting was started by Miss 
 S. Jennie Holme (now Mrs. D. Stanton Cady), one of the 
 teachers of the school, in December, 1887, which was held 
 at 4: 10 P. M., immediately after the close of school, lasting 
 not quite an hour. On one Sunday there were more than 
 forty present of the teachers and young ladies from the 
 Bible-classes of the school. The meeting was led by Miss 
 C. L. Manning, the subject being " Trust." Verses from 
 the Bible bearing on the subject were given, and the ex- 
 ercises were of a deeply interesting character. 
 
356 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The twenty-fourth anniversary of this school was held 
 at the Mission Chapel on Nepperhan Avenue on Sunday 
 afternoon, November 13, 1887. 
 
 The programme of exercises was unique and original, 
 quite unlike that which it usually presented on such occa- 
 sions. There were no addresses by either clergymen or 
 laymen. Brief reports of the work accomplished during 
 the past year were presented by the officers, which were 
 full of facts interestingly and graphically stated, and were 
 listened to with pleasure and profit by all who heard them. 
 
 On the wall, behind the superintendent's desk, inscribed 
 in old English, were the words, " Twenty-fourth Anniver- 
 sary." Underneath this inscription hung the portrait of 
 Rev. Dr. Edward Bright, one of the founders . and the 
 first superintendent of this school, who will ever be held in 
 grateful remembrance for his labor of love in this field ; 
 also the portrait of John A. Amelung, the superintendent 
 greatly beloved, who has " entered into the joy of his Lord " 
 and is now before the throne of God among those who 
 have been redeemed from the earth and who sing the " new 
 song" " unto God and unto the Lamb." 
 
 On the platform were Rev. H. B. Grose, acting pastor 
 of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. R. Oliver 
 Phillips, a former superintendent, Edwin Moore, leader of 
 the singing, John Bright and his son, William Bright, cor- 
 netist. Miss Hattie Middlebrook, who presided at the piano, 
 and the superintendent, William H. Belknap. 
 
 The primary department, with its superintendent, 
 Franklin Airey, and teachers, occupied the front seats of 
 the audience-room and the seats under the north and south 
 galleries, while the remaining space of the audience-room 
 and the east gallery was filled to its utmost capacity by the 
 adult menibers of the school and their friends and visitors 
 from other Sunday-schools. 
 
 The number of teachers and scholars of the school who 
 were present was 702. 
 
 The exercises began promptly at 2 : 30 o'clock, and 
 were opened by singing the first hymn on the programme, 
 beginning : 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 357 
 
 We gather rejoicing, we gather once more, 
 Where Jesus so kindly has met us before. 
 
 This was followed by the reading of the Scriptures 
 from the second chapter of Second Timothy, 1-15, by Dr. 
 Phillips, after which prayer was offered by Rev. H. B. 
 Grose, acting pastor of the Warburton Avenue Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 Hymn No. 2, " Praise ye the Lord," was then sung, 
 followed by questions " On Our School," which were asked 
 by the superintendent and which were answered by W. 
 W. Middlebrook, A. • J. Feakins, Augustus Desgrey, Elmer 
 Manning, Roland Belknap, Charles Ackerman, E. L. Man- 
 ning, Wm. Papps, Miss Bertha Odell, Miss Annie Kipp, Miss 
 Beulah Messer, and Miss Newman. 
 
 The primary department then sang "Our Work for 
 Jesus." Miss Mattie Warren presided at the piano, and 
 W. W. Middlebrook led them in singing. 
 
 Then followed the report of the primary department 
 by its superintendent, Franklin Airey, who stated the full 
 attendance of that department for 1887 to be 11,701 ; aver- 
 age, 188 ; highest, 281. The collections during the year 
 were $185 13, divided as follows: Christmas offering for 
 Home for Aged Ministers, $23 ; piano fund, $17 55 ; Sunday 
 collections, $144 58. 
 
 The report of the secretary, George T. Leeds, stated 
 that the school had so increased that it became necessary 
 to create a new office, that of assistant superintendent, to 
 which Albert J. Feakins was duly elected. The total num- 
 ber attending for the past year was 28,455 I largest attend- 
 ance, 670: smallest, 228; average, 545. Four scholars 
 had removed from the city, three died during the year, and 
 sixy-one had left the school. There were forty-four classes 
 on the main floor, seven in the galleries, and twenty-three 
 in the primary department. Among the interesting items 
 of this report was the following : " And as evidence that God 
 is ever guiding and prospering us as a school, thirty mem- 
 bers thereof have joined the church by baptism, and others 
 to our knowledge are ready to follow those who have led 
 the way." 
 
 The hymn " Oh sing the passing years " followed, after 
 
358 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 which the report of E. L. Mannmg, Treasurer of the school, 
 for the year ending November 13, 1 887, was read, giving 
 these figures: Total expenses, $634 10, of which $217 78 
 went to the Baptist Publication Society for books, papers, 
 etc., other items being for music, missionary work, and 
 $101 57 for minor sundries. Income, $662 02, being balance 
 last report, $1 32 ; church collections, $282 31 ; school collec- 
 tions, $232 ig; and through the superintendent, $150. Bal- 
 ance on hand, $31 92. 
 
 The report of Miss C. H. Tripler, who ever since the 
 organization of this mission has been Ireasurer of its Poor 
 Fund, was read by Superintendent Belknap. Receipts, 
 $676 75 ; expended for the poor of the school, $628 53. 
 Ninety-four children have received assistance. The la- 
 dies' sewing society of the school has made ninety-one 
 garments for these children. 
 
 Superintendent Belknap read his report. He said : " It 
 has been the policy of this school to reach out when money 
 is required to make the work a success, believing that, so 
 long as it is the Master's work and we give ourselves to the 
 cause, He will make the way clear for us. We have suffer- 
 ed in a marked degree as a school for years from the 
 fact that it was absolutely impossible for the great ma- 
 jority of our teachers to visit the scholars. Various plans 
 as regards visiting committees have been tried, with good 
 results therefrom ; but still we could see that a great many 
 wandered away from the school who we thought should 
 be present. And this was the source of uneasiness to the 
 teachers and officers of the school as the situation was re- 
 viewed from time to time. A plan was suggested long ago 
 that if a lady could be engaged to visit the absentees, it 
 would prevent, in a great measure, this continual leak 
 from our school. But while the plan was approved, we 
 could not see our way clear towards its accomplishment 
 until quite recently, when your superintendent, with the 
 consent of the executive committee and advice of the ad- 
 visory board, engaged Miss Lizzie Holmes, who gives her 
 whole time and attention to visiting the absentees of the 
 school, and the result of this work is, so far, quite beyond 
 our expectations, and we feel assured that the spiritual 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 359 
 
 welfare of the school will, through this work, advance 
 steadily and earnestly. The reports you have listened to 
 have shown you that prosperity has attended every depart- 
 ment of this school. We as a school have been most 
 wonderfully blessed." 
 
 The semi-chorus entitled "What reward shall I give 
 unto the Lord ?" was sung by Misses Annie Kipp, Gussie 
 King, May Stimpson, Priscilla Van Tassel, Lillian Halsey, 
 and Bertha Odell. 
 
 The superintendent then said, " We have had a few 
 faicts given to us about ' Our School ' past and present, and 
 as we are but a part of a vast system of Sunday-schools 
 throughout the world, it may be of interest to us to hear 
 something of Sunday-schools in general and of the work. 
 Miss Gault, by whom, when, and where was the first Sun- 
 day-school organized under our present system ?" 
 
 Answer — By Robert Raikes, Gloucester, England, 1781. 
 
 Question No. 2 — How many were present when organ- 
 ized? 
 
 Answer — Number unknown ; but we do know that 
 there were four small classes. By Miss Carrie Manning. 
 
 Question No. 3 — What is the present number in the 
 Sunday-schools of our land ? 
 
 Answer — Census of 1880 gave 7,509,452, of which 886,- 
 328 were teachers. By Miss Lizzie East. 
 
 Question No. 4 — How many in the world ? 
 
 Answer — 14,184,880. By Miss Etta Burns. 
 
 The superintendent added: This includes 1,504,613 
 teachers. 
 
 Question 5 — What is the object of Sunday-school 
 work? 
 
 Mr. Callahan answered : To give instruction in the 
 Word of God, and to prepare the scholars for the reception 
 of Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 
 
 Is that all. Brother Holden ? 
 
 Answer — No ; also that we be rooted and built up in 
 Him and established in the faith as we have been taught, 
 abounding therein with thanksgiving. 
 
 The school then united in singing : 
 
360 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " In a little while more these rolling years 
 No more will come and go ; 
 In a little while more our busy hands 
 No more the seed will sow." 
 
 Seven little girls from the primary department, each 
 representing a day of the week, told how they were to 
 spend each day. The seventh little girl told why Sunday 
 was the brightest and best day of all the week. , 
 
 The school then united in responsive reading of a 
 selection of verses from the Bible, subject. Love, beginning 
 " For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begot- 
 ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 
 but have everlasting life," John 3 : x6, and ending with the 
 verse from Rev. 1:5, 6, in which all the school united, 
 " Unto Him that loved us, and has washed us from our sins 
 in his own blood, be glory and dominion for ever and 
 ever." 
 
 Then followed a most excellent recitation on the doc- 
 trines of the Bible, viz. : What is sin ? What is salvation ? 
 What is faith in the Lord Jesus? What is repentance? 
 What is God ? What are the promises to those who trust 
 in the Lord ? Why is our Lord called Jesus Christ ? What 
 is prayer ? What authority have we for our work ? 
 
 These questions were answered by the members of the 
 different classes, the answers to them being given in a verse 
 of Scripture. It was a deeply instructive exercise, showing 
 that the children of this school are being carefully in- 
 structed in the fundamental truths of the Word of God. 
 
 The closing ^ymu was then sung : 
 
 " Praise ye the Lord ! joyfully shout Hosanna ! 
 
 Praise the Lord with glad acclaim ; 
 Lift up your hearts unto his throne with gladness. 
 
 Magnify his holy name. 
 Marching along under his banner bright, 
 Trusting in his mercy as we go, 
 His light divine tenderly o'er us will shine ; 
 We shall be guided by his hand now and for ever. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 " Steadily marching on with our banner waving o'er us, 
 Steadily marching on, while we sing the joyful chorus, 
 Steadily marching on, pillar and cloud going before us, 
 To the realms of glory, to our home on high." 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 361 
 
 The school was dismissed by classes. 
 
 The primary department of the school is in the base- 
 ment of the chapel. Its first teacher was Miss Mary Bright, 
 who was its efficient leader for a number of years. Miss 
 Bright introduced object lessons with the use of the black- 
 board. She was succeeded by Mrs. Thomas Post. Capt. 
 Holmes was also a faithful teacher and was assisted by Miss 
 F. N. Johnston (now Mrs. F. W. Thomas). Mr. and Mrs.. 
 John A. Amelung were also associated in the work of this 
 department. Miss Bogart also taught for a brief period. 
 
 For upwards of fifteen years Thomas H. Messer had 
 charge of this department. A former teacher of the school 
 writes as follows in regard to Mr. Messer's labors in con- 
 nection with the department : " Never was one so loved as 
 he by the children. There seemed a magnetism about him 
 that the children could not resist. Every Sunday found 
 him in his place. A more faithful teacher I never knew. 
 He knew each scholar by name. He often meets his former 
 pupils, now grown, keeps track of. them, and keeps up his 
 interest in them. He loved that class and his afEection was 
 warmly reciprocated by his pupils. Several years ago the 
 children purchased a picture called 'Tick Tack,' hand- 
 somely framed, and presented it to him. That child's face 
 attentively listening will always silently remind him of the 
 great love of the little children whom he so devotedly loved 
 and faithfully cared for and watched over." 
 
 Mr. Messer was succeeded by Franklin Airey, who is the 
 present superintendent. His labors have also been most 
 successful, and the department under his leadership contin- 
 ues to prosper. He is held in affectionate esteem by his 
 pupils and co-laborers. The department, through Mr. 
 Airey's suggestion, was first divided into classes, and at this 
 writing, July, 1889, has twenty-six classes. A prominent 
 and efifective feature of Mr. Airey's teaching is his excel- 
 lent and instructive blackboard exercises. 
 
 The largest and advanced Bible-class in the school is 
 taught by Ezra L. Manning and is held in the east gallery 
 of the chapel. This class numbers from fifty to sixty mem- 
 bers of men and women, many of whom are heads of fami- 
 lies. Prominence is given to this class in that a notice in 
 
362 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the vestibule of the chapel reads, " Strangers' class up stairs. 
 Welcome." Not a few strangers in the city visiting the 
 school have availed themselves of the invitation and have 
 been encouraged, strengthened, and blessed -in the weary 
 march of life by the helpful and comforting words of its 
 teacher. 
 
 Mr. Manning is a close Bible student and possesses rare 
 gifts of imparting Scripture knowledge. He has been 
 a teacher in the school for a period of fifteen years and has 
 had charge of his present class for five years. He has been 
 solicited to serve as superintendent to the school, but has 
 declined the office, believing that he can best serve its in- 
 terests in his present capacity. His labors have been abun- 
 dantly blessed, and he has the warm affections of all who 
 have been privileged to sit under his instruction. From 
 this class many have been received into the communion of 
 the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church. Mr. Manning has 
 also been an interesting and successful leader of the weekly 
 teachers' meeting of this and the home school. 
 
 George P. Holden, a teacher in the school, gave, in the 
 " Gazette," the following interesting account of the teach- 
 ers' meeting under Mr. Manning's leadership during several 
 months of the year 1 887 : 
 
 " The Palestine excursion of the attendants of the Fri- 
 day night meeting, held at the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
 Mission Chapel, which left New York about two months 
 ago and has been journeying, in imagination, along the 
 shores of the Mediterranean Sea, has landed at Jaffa and 
 proceeded overland as far as Jerusalem. In the course of 
 their imaginary journey, under the leadership and guid- 
 ance of Ezra L. Manning, members of the party have been 
 dropped at various points along the route, who are expected 
 to note the present appearance of, and to search out matters 
 of interest in ancient and especially Biblical history per- 
 taining to, those places, and to communicate to the other ex- 
 cursionists the result of their observations. The first re- 
 port, from Elmer J. Manning, described his landing at 
 Pozzuoli, in the Bay of Naples, and journey to Rome, along 
 nearly the same course as that travelled by the Apostle 
 Paul. The old Bible history was made very graphic and 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 363 
 
 interesting as he described tlie points of interest, illustrated 
 by photographs, as seen by him from the windows of a rail- 
 road car. On Friday evening, 23d instant, the resident at 
 Egypt described his experience at Alexander and Cairo, 
 illustrated by photographs of street scenes and general 
 views. Miss Charlotte Taylor gave a description of Corinth 
 as she saw it in imagination and cited many interesting 
 historical events associated with that place. Franklin Airey, 
 the resident of Athens, told the tourists how he roamed 
 over the old battlefields and stood where Xerxes stood to 
 witness the great naval battle renowned in Greek history. 
 The excursionists meet every Friday evening to hear from 
 one or more of their representatives in different places. 
 Aside from this unique feature, recently introduced, the 
 primary object of the meetings, the study of the Sunday- 
 school lesson is never slighted, but under the able direction 
 of Ezra L. Manning, whose standing as a Bible student and 
 successful teacher is well known to many, these lessons are 
 studied with much profit. But an exceedingly attractive 
 feature of this study yet remains to be mentioned. At the 
 close of Mr. Manning's remarks Franklin Airey skilfully 
 draws in colors an ingenious blackboard illustration or 
 adaptation of the lesson, and to his active brain and deft 
 hand those teachers present are weekly indebted for a 
 forceful presentation of Scripture truths which otherwise 
 would be hidden to many. At the close of the meeting 
 hektograph copies of this illustration, with explanatory 
 notes, are distributed." 
 
 Cornelius H. Callahan has charge of a Bible-class which 
 gathers in the northwest gallery, numbering some twenty 
 young men. Mrs. Dr. Sarah E. Post is teacher of a wo- 
 men's Bible-class in the southeast gallery. These, with Mr. 
 Manning's class, are the more advanced Bible - classes. 
 There are eighty-eight Bible-classes in the school, most 
 of which are taught in the main room. 
 
 The school occupied two evenings for its Christmas 
 celebration of 18.87. On Thursday evening Rev. H. B. 
 Grose, on behalf of the school, presented a handsome gold 
 medal to William J. Bright as a token of the appreciation 
 felt for his gratuitous services as cometist. The medal is a 
 
364 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 handsome piece of workmansliip and on the face are the 
 words " Xmas, 1887," with a monogram of the recipient. 
 The reverse side bears this inscription, " Presented by the 
 Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school." Dur- 
 the evening the school was presented with a handsome 
 crayon portrait of Miss Caroline H. Tripler, who has been 
 treasurer of the Poor Fund of the school since its organiza- 
 tion, twenty-four years ago, which had been obtained to 
 adorn the chapel walls through the contributions of the 
 various classes. Miss Tripler had not been photographed 
 for forty years, and it was only after much persuasion that 
 she would consent to have the picture taken from which the 
 portrait was copied. Rev. H. B. Grose, acting pastor of the 
 Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, made the presentation 
 speeches. 
 
 The annual midsummer excursion of this school and 
 the home school took place on Thursday, July 12, 1888, 
 when the steamboat " Sirius " carried them down the Hud- 
 son River, through New York Bay, around Staten Island, 
 through Raritan Bay to Boynton Beach, N. J., where ample 
 apportunity was afforded for luncheon, games, and boating. 
 
 The twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of this 
 school was observed with an interesting service in the 
 chapel on Sunday afternoon, November 11, 1888. The aud- 
 ience-room was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Upon 
 the wall, back of the superintendent's desk, hung three 
 large portraits, those of Rev. Dr. Edward Bright, the foun- 
 der of the school, John A. Amelung, a former superintend- 
 ent, and Miss C. H. Tripler, treasurer of the Poor Fund. 
 Upon either side in colored letters a foot long were the 
 years covered by the organization of the school, 1863 — 1888. 
 There were 802 children present, while the visitors swelled 
 this number to about one thousand. Among those seated 
 upon the platform were William H. Belknap, Superintend- 
 ent ; Rev. Dr. Edward Bright, editor of the " New York Ex- 
 aminer ;" James B. Colgate, John B. Trevor, Rev. Henry 
 Bromley, George M. Bailey, Dr. R. Oliver Phillips, Rev. 
 Dr. David Cole, Rev. William H. Doane, and Rev. Dr. Alvah 
 S. Hobart. Acting Superintendent W. W. Middlebrook 
 presided. 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 365 
 
 The exercises were opened with the hymn, " Heavenly 
 Father, send thy blessing," Prof. Edwin Moore leading, 
 with accompaniment by John Bright and W. J. Bright on 
 comets, and by Miss Hattie Middlebrook on the piano. 
 The primary department sang sweetly, "Tell it to Jesus," 
 accompanied by Miss Mattie Warren at the piano, Cornelius 
 H. Callahan directing. After a responsive reading ex-su- 
 perintendent Phillips offered prayer. A triple quartette — 
 composed of Misses Bertha Odell, Lillie Halsey, and Annie 
 Kip, soprano ; Misses Priscilla Van Tassel, Grace King, 
 and Clara Mott, alto ; C. H. Callahan, Wilber Hammond, 
 and Charles Manning, tenor ; and Charles W. Ackerman, 
 Charles E. See, and Wilson D. Youmans, bass — then sang 
 very pleasantly an anthem. Miss Odell taking the solo part. 
 
 E. L. Manning, treasurer, read his report for the year, 
 showing a balance on hand of $72 10. The church and 
 school collections amounted to $418 54; $875 was received 
 from friends. Missionary work took $550, and the Publica- 
 tion Society, $245 48. 
 
 Miss C. H. Tripler presented her twenty-fifth annual 
 report of the Poor Fund. Receipts, $707 12 ; expenditure 
 for clothing, etc., $657 80; balance, $49 32. -During the 
 year 102 scholars have been aided. Cast-off garments were 
 donated by friends of the school, and fifty garments were 
 made by the ladies of the- society from material purchg,sed 
 by the school. 
 
 The Secretary, George T. Leeds, followed with his re- 
 port, which showed the total attendance for the year as 
 31,298, against 28,455 for 1887; enrolment for 1887, 885; 
 for 1888, 958; average attendance for 1887, 545 ; for 1888, 
 €01; number of classes for 1887,74; in 1888, 78. The 
 average attendance during the year was 601 ; the largest on 
 any one Sunday, 746 ; the smallest, 238. ' 
 
 " Learning we ,had one scholar during the past year who 
 had been present every Sunday for a long time led the offi- 
 cials to look up records of the other pupils on the main 
 floor, with the following results : Miss Vinnie Button had 
 been present every Sunday during four and a half years. 
 Miss Minnie Hull had been absent only once each year for 
 the past five years. Minnie Feakins present every Sunday 
 
366 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 for four years. Frank Ryer, Johnnie Simpson, Nellie Yerks 
 have each been present every Sunday for the last year. 
 Miss Maggie Jones, Annie Hull, Mary Hull, Wellie Kellock, 
 Frank Brady, Harry Walsh, and William Bright were ab- 
 sent but once during the past year. The following were ab- 
 sent but twice in that time : Emma Grose, Lillian Yerks, 
 William Graham, George Wright, Wilbur Feakins, and 
 William Wright. Ella Manning and Paul Hogan, from the 
 primary department, have each been absent but one Sun- 
 day during the past year. Twenty-four scholars have joined 
 the church by baptism." 
 
 Wm. P. East, librarian, reported that during the year 
 there had been no additions to the library. Total number 
 of volumes, 445. He said that there was a real need of 
 more books. During the year 4,500 lesson helps were dis- 
 tributed. " Just here," said Mr. East, " it seems fitting to 
 acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered by Messrs. 
 Henry S., Frank R., and Halsey A. Hathaway in library 
 work during the past year." 
 
 After a solo by Miss Minnie Warren, entitled, " Jesus 
 Found Me," with chorus by the primary department, Frank- 
 lin Airey, director of that department, reported the full at- 
 tendance for 1888 as 13,619, against 1 1,701 for 1887 ; average 
 per Sunday: 1888,262; 1887, 225 ; enrolment, 433. He said 
 that there was one thing that caused a feeling of great sat- 
 isfaction, the fact that the average attendance had im- 
 proved. " There is great need of four or five more teachers. 
 The department is overcrowded. In my judgment, what 
 the school most needs is an intermediate department, to 
 take at least 100 scholars from the primary department at 
 once, but this will require alterations and cost." 
 
 The report of Miss E. Holmes, the visitor, showed that 
 during the year the number of absentees called upon was 
 4,193 ; scholars brought into the school, 104 ; scholars sent to 
 Miss Tripler, treasurer of the poor department, for aid, 83. 
 
 The acting superintendent, W. W. Middlebrook, read a 
 long and interesting report. He referred to the establish- 
 ment of the school in 1863, and to the remarkable coinci- 
 dence that the sum of the figures in 1888 is 25. "We are 
 twenty-five years old, and I do not think we are very small 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 367 
 
 of our age, but I hope that when we shall have rounded out 
 a half a century, the school will not only have doubled 
 but quadrupled in size. I presume you have listened with 
 interest to the reports of the officers of our school. They 
 give you, in brief, the work accomplished and the present 
 standing and equipment of the school. The school has 
 been a success and a power for good in this community 
 from the very start. Each year has been marked by prog- 
 ress in one direction or another." 
 
 Pleasant references were made by Superintendent Mid- 
 dlebrook to teachers W. L. Halsey and W. Papps, who have 
 been connected with the school about 23 years. 
 
 " Death has visited our school twice the past year, once 
 taking a little one and again one over whose head many 
 years had passed. Our primary department has steadily 
 increased in membership and gained in average attendance. 
 I hope that what the superintendent said of his needs may 
 fall on fruitful ground. We can't afford to slight the little 
 ones, as upon them we must depend in the years to come. 
 Our Poor Fund report is very interesting and encouraging. 
 I am told that the collections are larger than ever before. 
 
 " Prior to this year the finances of the school have been 
 attended to by the executive ofiicers, but circumstances 
 made it so that the treasurer had the responsibility of that 
 matter. A finance committee consisting of the following 
 gentlemen has been appointed, viz. : Messrs. William H. 
 Belknap, chairman, Frank Airey, C. H. Callahan, A. J. Fea- 
 kins, and E. L. Manning, treasurer. 
 
 " That item of donations by friends of $857 is grand. It 
 costs us $1,500 a year to run our school in addition to the 
 expense of janitor, coal, gas, and repairs on the building, 
 which are met by the church." 
 
 Superintendent Middlebrook in conclusion said, " I 
 close with the prayer that He who rules above will guide 
 us as a school and individuals and bring us all at last to the 
 rest prepared for those who have been washed in the blood 
 of the Lamb." 
 
 Rev. Dr. A. J. F. Behrends, of Brooklyn, a former pas- 
 tor, had been expected at the anniversary, but his duties at 
 home prevented his attendance. 
 
368 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 After the singing of the hymn, "Glory, Praise, and 
 Honor," and the dismissal of the primary department, Rev. 
 Dr. Bright was introduced and spoke briefly of the early 
 history of the school. 
 
 A part of the school then joined, with Miss Leaa Gracie 
 as leader, in the responsive reading of " Twenty-five years' 
 work for Jesus." Rev. Henry Bromley also gave personal 
 reminiscences of its early history. 
 
 The singing of the hymn, " May every Year," was fol- 
 lowed by a recitation from Miss Edna Randall, entitled 
 " Not in Vain." Rev. Dr. Hobart followed with brief re- 
 marks. 
 
 The service was closed with hymn, " Forward, Be Our 
 Watchword," and the Lord's Prayer recited in unison, led 
 by George M. Bailey, superintendent of the Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Sunday-school. 
 
 The school has a printed Constitution and By-laws, 
 adopted in 1885, by which it is governed. The superintend- 
 ent, assistant-superintendent, and treasurer constitute an 
 executive committee, and no important decision is reached 
 and carried into effect without the entire approval of this 
 committee. Another important and noteworthy article of 
 the Constitution states that the qualifications required for a 
 teacher shall be a practical experience of religion and 
 membership in an evangelical church. 
 
 An interesting meeting of the Yonkers Bible and 
 Prayer Union was held at the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist 
 Mission Chapel on Monday evening, November 12, 1888. 
 James G. Affleck presided. Miss Emma Copeman read a pa- 
 per on the Epistle of Titus, Miss Parsons on ist Timothy, 
 Miss Graham on 2d Timothy, and Miss Jewel on the Epistle 
 of Philemon. The papers read were very instructive and 
 evinced careful study and preparation on the part of the 
 writers. 
 
 The spacious auditorium of the chapel was filled with 
 the children of the school who had met to celebrate the 
 Christmas festivities of 1888. The exercises were interest- 
 ing, the various recitations being interspersed with carols 
 by the school. Dr. R. O. Phillips read a portion of Scrip- 
 ture and George M. Bailey offered prayer. 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 369 
 
 Each boy had a parcel and. Santa Clans opened each of 
 the parcels. They contained presents for the officers and 
 teachers of the school. One was a handsome portfolio con- 
 taining a set of resolutions, an exceptionally fine specimen 
 of artistic penmanship, from the school to Superintendent 
 Belknap, on the occasion of his retiring from ofiice. Per- 
 haps all the children did not know that Santa Claus was 
 their good friend Charles W. Ackerman. 
 
 A general distribution of toys and bags brought the 
 festival to a close. The presents were designed with a lib- 
 eral hand, and of about a thousand children in the whole 
 school not one was overlooked. 
 
 Interesting services were held in the chapel on Mon- 
 day, December 31, 1888. The services were as follows: 
 S to 8 :45, Bible-reading, led by Mrs. A. S. Hobart, the pas- 
 tor's wife, subject being " Watch ;" from 9 to 9 : 45, song ser- 
 vice ; from 10 to 10 : 45, consecration ; from 11 : 50 to 12 : 05, 
 prayers. Several of the members of the Young People's 
 Prayer-meeting of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church 
 took part in the services, which were very solemn and im- 
 pressive. 
 
 A delightful reception was given by the officers and 
 teachers of this and the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sun- 
 day-school to Rev. Dr. A. S. Hobart, pastor of the Warbur- 
 ton Avenue Baptist Church, previous to his departure for 
 Europe on his summer vacation, on Friday evening, June 
 28, 1889, in the Nepperhan Avenue Mission Chapel. Dr- 
 Hobart sailed on the Cunard steamer " Umbria " July 6, to 
 be absent two months. 
 
 On Tuesday,. July 16, 1889, the annual picnic day of 
 the two schools was spent at Oscawana Island, about three 
 hours' sail up the Hudson River. 
 
 The elder scholars of the school had their Christmas 
 festival on Thursday evening, December 26, 1889, in con- 
 nection with the home school in the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church,. The exercises began with the singing of 
 " Caroling Glory," by the school. Dr. R. Oliver Phillips 
 read a portion of Scripture, and Rev. Dr. Alvah S. Hobart 
 offered prayer. After another carol, Stanley H. Ray read 
 part of the second chapter of St. Luke. 
 
 Clmrch and Banday-ecbool Work. 2 A. 
 
370 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Twenty young ladies and gentlemen sang together, 
 and Dr. Hobart followed with an appropriate address. 
 
 A cantata, " The Crown of the Year," was participated 
 in by about fifty scholars, twelve of whom represented the 
 months of the year. Father Time sat on a large throne, 
 with hour-glass and scythe, and was to judge which month 
 should wear the golden crown for bringing the best bless- 
 ing to men. Each month came before Judge Time, and, 
 with speech and song, laid before him its claim upon the 
 crown. When all the months had shown forth their glories, 
 Father Time stepped down from the throne and placed the 
 crown upon the head of December, for in that month the 
 Lord was born — the greatest blessing to men. 
 
 The singing was led by Prof. Edwin Moore ; Miss Mid- 
 dlebrook, piano, and W. J. Bright, cornet. Besides bags of 
 nuts, candy, and oranges, many of the scholars received 
 books and Christmas cards from their teachers. Elmer J. 
 Manning received a handsome parlor lamp from his class of 
 young ladies. James G. Affleck received a gold pen and 
 pearl penholder from his class of. boys. Miss Manning re- 
 ceived a handsome embossed-leather writing-case from her 
 scholars. There were a number of other class presenta^ 
 tions. . 
 
 The festival of the primary department was held the 
 following evening, Friday, December, 27, 1889, in the 
 Mission Chapel. Frank Airey, director of the primary 
 school, presided and introduced the several actors in the 
 programme of exercises. 
 
 The Bible-reading was by Stanley H. Ray, and prayer 
 was offered by T. H. Messer. The hymn, " Hosanna in the 
 Highest," was sung by the school, and recitations were 
 given by the following children : Millie Niel, Gracy Bailey, 
 Lulu Armstrong, Ida Graham, Nettie Handley. A dia- 
 logue, exercise, and song, " We All Can Do Good," was 
 spoken by a number of boys and girls, and " Golden 
 Keys " was recited by Florence Ball. 
 
 The appearance of Santa Claus, in costume, was gTeet- 
 ed with enthusiastic applause by the children. 
 
 After the presentation of a gift to Superintendent Airey 
 from the children of the primary department, the order of 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 37 1 
 
 exercises was then resumed. "Christmas Is Coming " was 
 recited by Emma Crombley. " My Speech," by Fernando 
 Hughes, Jr., was so well given that it was encored. A song, 
 " Little New Years," was sung by Kittie Allison ; a recita- 
 tion, " Lost Doll," was given by Nettie Button. After a 
 carol, " Welcome the Saviour," by a number of boys and 
 girls, came the following recitations: "Christmas," by 
 Jennie Clapperton ; " Little Boy's Piece," by Lanney See ; 
 " Fol de Rol," by Daisy Hatfield ; and " I Can Speak," by 
 Edwin Hughes. 
 
 Exercises, with singing and tableaux, followed, show- 
 ing the young Christian putting on the armor of right- 
 eousness and starting on his journey to the celestial land. 
 The tableaux illustrated respectively his arrival at the gate 
 of heaven, his admission there among the shining throng, 
 and his receiving a crown of glory. 
 
 The exercises of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the 
 Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mission Sunday-school were 
 held on Sunday afternoon, November 10, 1889. Wm. H. 
 Baldwin the Superintendent, presided. There was some 
 excellent singing, and a blackboard illustration of the lesson 
 by Frank Airey, director of the primary department. 
 
 The annual report was read, showing 998 on the roll, in- 
 cluding officers and 72 teachers, and that the average attend- 
 ance was 597. It needed but two more names to make 
 the number enrolled 1,000. The school is divided into 
 seventy-nine classes. The enrolment for the year 1888 was 
 as follows; Bible-classes, 91; intermediate, 436; primary, 
 374 ; teachers, 72 ; ofiicers, 12 ; total, 995. The treasurer, E. 
 L. Manning, reported: Receipts, $1,548 20; disbursements, 
 $1,407 27; balance, $140 93. 
 
 The visitor. Miss Lizzie Holmes, had made 3,221 visits 
 during the year. 
 
 The Sunday-school library had been enlarged last year 
 by a generous gift of Dr. Phillips. Books full of truth, 
 wide awake, modern, dealing with subjects of common 
 interest, but written with a reverent Christian spirit, were 
 added, and the result has been that they are constantly in 
 use. In the course of the year two deaths had occurred 
 among the pupils, and 3 1 had been baptized. 
 
372 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 A reception was given at the Nepperhan Avenue Bap- 
 tist Mission, in February, 1890, by the officers of the Sunday- 
 school to the teachers. 
 
 There was a very happy gathering ; and Miss Bertha 
 Odell, Miss Fuller, Miss Stapleton, Willard Carpenter, 
 William J. Bright, and Winfield S. Van Wagner furnished 
 an excellent musical programme. 
 
 The feature of the evening was a presentation to Mr. 
 and Mrs. A. J. Feakins, who, after twenty years of labor in 
 the Mission School, have removed to New York City. The 
 gifts were a handsome clock and two bronze ornaments rep- 
 resenting Music and Poetry, which rested on a table and 
 were profusely ornamented with roses, and handsomely 
 engrossed resolutions, passed by the teachers and scholars 
 of the school in grateful recognition of their services in 
 the school. 
 
 The duties of the secretary of the Teachers' Association 
 of this school is as follows ; " The secretary shall keep care- 
 fully and in good order the register and minute books of 
 the school, and report weekly to the superintendent the ab- 
 sence of officers and teachers, together with the statistics 
 of the school ; also he shall keep the minutes of the business 
 meetings and do all the necessary writing of the association." 
 Henry Skinner Hathaway — a graduate of the College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and a recent 
 graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College and Hos- 
 pital of that city, filled this office with great acceptance for 
 over six years. 
 
 Rev. W. Crozier, now a professor in Colgate Univer- 
 sity, was a former pupil of this school. 
 
 The lesson helps used by the school are all from the 
 American Baptist Publication Society, in four grades, viz ; 
 " The Baptist Teacher" and advanced, intermediate, and 
 primary lesson quarterlies. The singing books are " The 
 Alleluia" and " Our Sunday-school Songs," edited by E. H. 
 Johnson. 
 
 The Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Sunday-school is the 
 leading one in the city, and the largest Sunday-school in 
 Westchester County. It has been remarkably blessed in that 
 it has had from its organization for its superintendents most 
 
NEPPERHAN AVENUE MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 373 
 
 devoted, earnest, and faithful men, who in their ministry 
 as helpers and friends, rejoiced to spend and be spent in 
 their service for the Master and for others. 
 
 This school, in its general management, is character- 
 ized by promptness, method, heartiness, and attention to 
 details that testify to the controlling influence of its chief 
 officer, the superintendent. Everything works with' the 
 regularity of a clock, without friction. There is no hesita- 
 tion, no confusion, and little matters which are apt to be 
 despised or overlooked in some Sunday-schools, : receive 
 attention and added zest. In these particulars it is similar 
 to the renowned Bethany Sunday-school of Philadelphia 
 which is superintended by Postmaster-General John Wana- 
 maker. From this school many have been gathered into 
 the communion of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, 
 and some have become communicants of other churches in 
 the city and elsewhere. 
 
 The superintendents who have served successively this 
 school are as follows : Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., who was 
 the first superintendent and served nine years, elected No- 
 vember 2, 1863 ; Mr. Van Kirk ; Mr. Eddy ; John A. Amelung, 
 in office for, six years ; A. J. Feakins, acting superintendent ; 
 R. Oliver Phillips, M. D. ; William H. Belknap ; W. W. Mid- 
 dlebook, acting superintendent ; and W. Henry Baldwin, 
 elected January i, 1889. Resigned 1890, succeeded by Ster- 
 ling F. Haywood. 
 
 The present officers of the school are: Sterling F. 
 Haywood, Superintendent ; W. W. Middlebrook, First As- 
 sistant Superintendent ; George T. Leeds, Second Assist- 
 ant Superintendent ; Willard S. Sherwood, Secretary ; E. L. 
 Manning, Treasurer ; Frank Airey, Director Primary De- 
 partment ; H. Alexander Hathaway, Librarian ; William 
 Halley, Assistant Librarian ; Miss C. H. Tripler, Treas- 
 urer Poor Fund. 
 
 The Sunday-school record book includes the follow- 
 ing teachers, for 1889-90: James G. Affleck, Mrs. Sarah M. 
 Archer, Miss Jennie M. Arbuckle, Miss Jessie Austin, 
 Arthur D. Ballard, Miss H. Etta Burns, Miss Olivia Burns, 
 Miss Gertrude L. Burns, Cornelius H. Callahan, Mr. Chadl 
 bum. Miss Emma Coapman, Miss Jane C. Davis, Gustave 
 
374 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Desgrey, Miss Donnelly, Miss Susie E. Drinkwater, Miss 
 Dunlap, Miss Lizzie East, Miss Mary Hudson East, Josiah 
 East, Richard Edie, Jr., Miss Maggie Farmer, Mrs. M. J. 
 W. Feakins, Mrs. Nancy Frankenburg, Mrs. A. E. Freethy, 
 Miss L. Matilda Fuller, Miss Christena Fulton, Miss Emily 
 Gault, Miss Kate Gracy, Miss Kate A. Graham, Miss Anna 
 Grieve, Miss Jennie Hadden, Wm. S. Halsey, Mrs. Halsey, 
 George P. Holden, Miss Mary Holden, Miss Sarah E. 
 Holmes, James E. Howes, Miss Jennie D. Hull, Howard T. 
 James, Miss Effie May Jackson, Miss Jennie B. Jewell, Miss 
 Eva Mackey, Miss Annie Mathews, Miss Mary McHenry, 
 Ezra L. Manning, Elmer J. Manning, Miss Carrie Manning, 
 Charles E. Manning, Miss Beulah S. Messer, Miss Hattie 
 A. Middlebrook, Harry R. Middlebrook, Miss Grace New- 
 man, Mrs. L. H. Odell, Mrs. Emma Oliver, William Papps, 
 Miss Jennie W. Papps, Miss Florence Parsons, Dr. Sarah 
 E. Post, Miss Mattie L. Prote, Miss Jennie Prote, Miss 
 Elvina Robinson James C. Scott, Miss Mary O. Scott, Mrs. 
 Catherine A. Sherwood, Marcus W. Sherwood, Mrs. Martha 
 J. Sherwood, Miss Lulu Smith, William G. Stahlnecker, 
 Jr., Miss Tillie J. Stapleton, William S. Southerland, Miss 
 Addie Swan, Miss Cornelia L. Tarbell, Miss Charlotte Tay- 
 lor, Mrs. Catherine A. Thomas, Miss Caroline H. Tripler, 
 Miss Priscilla Van Tassell, Miss Emma Van Wagner, Mrs. 
 Eliza Walsh, Miss Minnie Warren, and Miss Amy L. Wolf. 
 
WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 37S 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 In the cfid district schoolliouse located on tlie comer 
 of the Sawmill River and Tuckahoe roads, two and a half 
 miles from the Yonkers City Hall, which was the birth- 
 place of the first Sunday-school in Yonkers, a Sunday- 
 school was opened in the spring of 1858 by Cornelius W. 
 Thomas, a prominent member of the Baptist Church of 
 Hastings, N. Y. 
 
 This school was opened at nine o'clock in the morning. 
 Mr. Thomas was assisted by the following teachers : Mrs. 
 Abram Baxter, Mrs. Thomas Smith, Mrs. Wyckoff, Mrs. 
 Frederick Conklin, Miss Amanda Pulver, Miss Jane Sher- 
 wood, Miss Lena Miller, Miss Jane Hains, Wallace Pulver, 
 and Nicholas Furzman. Mr. Pulver was chosen secretary 
 and filled the of&ce with great acceptance for four years. 
 Mr. Thomas was elected Superintendent and Treasurer. 
 
 The school, which opened with not more than twelve 
 or fifteen pupils, in a few months numbered between forty- 
 five and fifty scholars in its average attendance, and during 
 Mr. Thomas' superintendency of three years the enrol- 
 ment was over eighty scholars. Superintendent Thomas 
 was a fine singer and took much pleasure in cultivating the 
 musical talents of the children. He was ably assisted in 
 this department of work by Mr. Pulver, an attractive 
 and prominent feature of the school being its good sing- 
 ing. 
 
 The lesson helps used by the school' were the publica- 
 tions of the American Sunday-school Union and the Amer- 
 ican Tract Society. 
 
 After Mr. Thomas' resignation Wallace Pulver was 
 elected Superintendent, and served two years. During this 
 time a considerable amount of money was raised for benev- 
 olent purposes, and the monthly missionary meetings held 
 by the school were full of interest and enthusiasm. Pleas- 
 ant remembrances are recalled of the addresses of Rev. W. 
 
376 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 W. Rand, D. D., of Yonkers, who favored the school with, 
 his presence on several of those occasions. 
 
 After Mr. Pulver's resignation the school declined con- 
 siderably in its attendance and was finally discontinued 
 during the following winter. 
 
 In the spring of 1864 the school was reopened by 
 Henry B. Odell, who resided one mile beyond the old 
 school building. Mr. Odell gave the use of his dining- 
 room for the school, which at its reopening numbered 
 twelve scholars. He was assisted in this enterprise by 
 Mrs. Odell, who led the singing and presided at the par- 
 lor organ which they kindly loaned for the use of the 
 school. 
 
 Mr. Odell's house was nearer the homes of the chil- 
 dren who resided in that locality and of those who attend- 
 ed the school from the country district of Hastings than its 
 former location. In a few months the dining-room became 
 too small, and the school adjourned to an out-building be- 
 longing to Mr. Odell. 
 
 Rev. Thomas R. . G. Peck, then the pastor of the Re- 
 formed Church at Hastings, became very much interested 
 in the work of the Sunday-school and proposed the holding 
 of religious services on Sunday evenings. Mr. Peck's prop- 
 osition met with a cordial response from the people of that 
 section, and a Sunday evening service was begun and for a 
 number of weeks was conducted by Rev. Mr. Peck, who 
 was assisted by some of the members of his church at Has- 
 tings. 
 
 The attendance at these Sunday evening meetings 
 increased until the building was too small to accommodate 
 those who desired to become attendants. This led to the 
 suggestion of building a mission chapel. To further this 
 plan a fair was held in a tent on the grounds of Cornelius 
 M. Odell, adjoining the present site of the chapel. The 
 fair was held for three days and netted the sum of $1,300. 
 Another fair and entertainments followed, from which 
 were realized $1,000. Among the number who took an 
 active and prominent part in these fairs and entertain- 
 ments are recalled Mr. and Mrs. Henry Odell, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Abram Odell, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Odell, Miss Fannie Dud- 
 
WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 377 
 
 ley, Wallace Pulver, Mr. and Mrs. James Varian, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Abram Baxter. 
 
 In due time, from the proceeds of these fairs and other 
 entertainments, a chapel was built on a quarter of an acre 
 of ground which was near the residence of Henry Odell, 
 and which was given by hir;i for that purpose. The chapel 
 was a neat wooden structure with a small belfry. The 
 seating capacity was three hundred. The cost of the build- 
 ing was a little over $3,000, including the furniture. 
 
 The chapel was opened without any formal dedication 
 in 1868. Services were held there on Sunday evenings for 
 a number of years, usually conducted by Rev. Thomas R. ' 
 G. Peck, who was assisted by some of the pastors of the 
 Yonkers churches and some of the laymen connected with 
 the churches of Yonkers and the church at Hastings. 
 Monthly services of song were held and the interest in the 
 work at the chapel deepened. The attendance averaged 
 one hundred and fifty on Sunday evenings. 
 
 Pleasant entertainn^ents were held, the receipts of 
 which were devoted to the payment of the expenses of the 
 chapel and Sunday-school, which then took the name of 
 " Woodhill Union Sunday-school." 
 
 Luther Chambers, John B. Wells, James Varian, Dan- 
 iel Curry, Wallace Pulver, and Henry B. Odell were ap- 
 pointed trustees of the chapel. 
 
 The Sunday-school, under the leadership of its Super- 
 intendent, Henry B. Odell, increased to 116 scholars, and 
 before Mr. Odell's removal to Yonkers had on its record 
 book 125 pupils. During Mr. Odell's absence on account 
 of ill-health Wallace Pulver acted as Superintendent, and 
 also had charge of the young ladies' Bible-class. James 
 Austin was the Secretary of the school for a brief period at 
 this time. 
 
 Oliver Chambers (now Dr. Oliver Chambers, of Scran- 
 ton, Pa.), who was a teacher in the school, was also Acting 
 Superintendent, for a brief period. Mr. and Mrs. John B. 
 Wells, Miss Tompkins, Miss Mary Odell (now Mrs. Abram 
 Austin), Mrs. James B. Haines, Mrs. Stomenger, Mrs. 
 Drinkwater, Mrs. Moore, Miss Gussie Austin, Miss Jose- 
 phine Wells, Miss Rachel Martin, James Austin, Abram 
 
3/8 ■ CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Austin, Henry Curry, and others -whose names cannot be 
 recalled, were teachers in the school at this time. 
 
 The International Series of Lessons was then used in 
 the school and "The Child's Paper," published by the 
 American Tract Society, was circulated. The singing 
 books used were " Happy Voices " and " Brightest and 
 Best," by William Bradbury. 
 
 The contributions of the school were donated to the 
 American Tract Society. 
 
 In 187s, owing to the removal of a number of the 
 prominent supporters of the work at Woodhill, the chapel 
 services were discontinued. During this year Henry B. 
 Odell and family and some of the teachers changed their 
 residence to Yonkers and others moved to New York, 
 which greatly reduced the attendance of the school. 
 
 In the winter of 1875-76 Oliver Chambers took charge 
 of the school. He was assisted by G. Livingston Morse, 
 an officer in the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, who 
 also had entire charge of the school during 1877-78. At 
 this time, owing to the decrease of the population in the 
 surrounding neighborhood, the numbeit of pupils had de- 
 creased to about fifty, and the school was discontinued for 
 two years. 
 
 In the spring of 1881 William Allen Butler, Jr., a 
 member of the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, 
 assumed by request the charge of the school, and contin- 
 ued in charge until the autumn of the same year, when it 
 was again closed for want of helpers to properly carry it on. 
 
 In 1883-84 H. C. Fuller, of Hastings, carried on the 
 school during the summer months, after which it was 
 again closed. 
 
 The latest information of this little Sunday-school is 
 given in the following note : 
 
 North Yonkers, March 4, 1888. 
 " Miss Kirkwood : I received a letter from you some 
 time ago asking for information concerning the Woodhill 
 Chapel Sunday-school. The liUle Sunday-school has not ' 
 amounted to very much this winter. The chapel has been 
 so damp that we could not succeed in getting it. dry and 
 warm enough to be safe for the little children, so I invited 
 
WOODHILL UNION CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 379 
 
 them to come and have Sunday-school in my parlor until 
 ■warm weather. I live in the house, just in the rear of the 
 chapel, formerly occupied by Henry B. Odell. On pleasant 
 Sundays we have quite a number present. Our Superin- 
 tendent is Dr. J. W. Nobles, who also has charge of the 
 Bible-class, Mrs. Austin of the intermediate class, Mrs. 
 Johnson of the boys' infant-class, and Mr. Richards and 
 myself have the girls' infant-class. The entire infant-class 
 numbers fourteen. The total number of pupils is thirty. 
 Our school is held at three o'clock in the afternoon. It 
 was reopened in October, 1887. We hope we will have a 
 larger school next summer. Wishing you success in your 
 excellent work, I am, 
 
 " Yours very respectfully, 
 
 " MRS. M. C. RICHARDS." 
 
 Wallace Pulver is on the honorary list of Sunday- 
 school teachers from this school. 
 
 The Superintendents of Woodhill Sunday-school in 
 their order of service have been : Cornelius W. Thomas, 
 who was the founder of the school and its first Superin- 
 tendent, 1858 ; Wallace Pulver, 1862 ; Henry B. Odell, 1864; 
 Wallace Pulver, Acting Superintendent ; Oliver Chambers, 
 1875; G. Livingston Morse, 1877; William Allen Butler, 
 Jr., 1881 ; H. C. Fuller, 1883; J. W. Nobles, M. D., 1887. 
 The year in which these gentlemen began their services is 
 given, not their entire term. 
 
 Later than Mrs. M. C. Richards' note, the report has 
 been received that Woodhill Sunday-school is flourishing, 
 and is at present under the superintendency of Mr. Abram 
 Austin, and has an enrolment of sixty scholars and eight 
 teachers. 
 
 In connection with the school is a society called " The 
 Epworth League." The hour of session of the school is 
 2 : 30 P. M., which is followed by preaching services at 
 3 : 30 P. M. 
 
 The present Trustees of Woodhill Chapel are Messrs. 
 C. L. Kirk, J. R.. Breese, James Austin, Firman Lawrence, 
 Mr. Parker, and Mr. Chamberlain. 
 
380 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. • 
 
 On September 23, 1870, a meeting was held at the resi- 
 dence of William Jackson on Riverdale Avenue, to con- 
 sider the expediency of forming another Methodist society 
 in the south part of Yonkers. The following persons were 
 present : William Jackson, John Embree, John C. Camp- 
 bell, Searing Howell, Orange Webster, Reuben Barnes, 
 Sylvanus Cokalete, and C. F. Moulton, who resolved to 
 secure a place of worship and to secure the services of a 
 Methodist clergyman. They appointed a committee to 
 procure a place of worship, and the hall over the Yonkers 
 Savings-Bank, on South Broadway, nearly opposite Hud- 
 son Street, was secured at a rental of $600 per annum. 
 This hall was furnished at an expense of $400. 
 
 Presiding Elder Ferris gave his approval of the new 
 organization and appointed Rev. George W. Lord as their 
 pastor. The first prayer-meeting service was held in this 
 hall on Thursday evening, October 20, 1870, and was 
 largely attended. The first preaching service was held on 
 Sunday, October 23, of the same year. Rev. Edmund A. 
 Hill supplied the pulpit in the morning, preaching from 
 the text, "Worship God," Rev. 19:10. Rev. Loyal B. 
 Andrus preached in the evening. The hall, which accom- 
 modated 200 persons, was well filled at these services. 
 
 On the following Sunday, October 30, 1870, Rev. 
 George W. Lord read from the pulpit the names of sev- 
 enty-two members from the First Methodist Church on 
 North Broadway, Yonkers, Rev. Frank Bottome, D. D., 
 pastor of that church, having readily granted them letters 
 of dismission. These seventy-two members constituted 
 the first membership of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of Yonkers. ' 
 
 The congregation increased so rapidly that the hall 
 became too small to accommodate the growing congrega- 
 tion, and Getty Hall, on Main Street, was secured. Much 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 38 1 
 
 diversity of opinion existed in regard to a permanent site 
 until the present central and eligible one on Hudson 
 Street, near Riverdale Avenue, was purchased in Septem- 
 ber, 1 87 1. The lot is 72 by 120 and cost $7,000. The 
 comer-stone of the new church edifice was laid on Thurs- 
 day afternoon, June 13, 1872. The presiding elder of the 
 district, Rev. Dr. Brown, conducted the exercises. The 
 programme was as follows : 
 
 Exhortation by the pastor. Rev. Frederick S. Barnum ; 
 hymn, read by Rev. John G. Oakley ; prayer by Rev. L. W. 
 Walworth ; responsive reading by the presiding elder and 
 the congregation; Scripture reading by Rev. David Cole, 
 D. D.; address by Rev. D'C. Crawford, D. D.; hymn, read 
 by Rev. L. W. Mudge ; address by Bishop Peck ; laying of 
 the comer-stone by the presiding elder, assisted by the 
 pastor; prayer by Bishop Peck; benediction by Rev. R. 
 M. Stratton, D. D. 
 
 A metallic box was placed in the corner-stone, contain- 
 ing the following articles : a copy of the names of the 
 pastor, trustees, stewards, class - leaders, Sunday-school 
 superintendent, architect, builders, building committee, 
 the names of the clergymen present, copies of the New 
 York " Christian Advocate," the " Methodist," the" Yonkers 
 Gazette," the " Yonkers Statesman," the " Yonkers Herald," 
 "Methodist Almanac" for 1872, a letter from Rev. T. Ral- 
 ston Smith, D. D., regretting his absence, the programme 
 of services, and an old Methodist hymn-book presented by 
 Mrs. Searing Howell, formerly owned by one of the first 
 members of the First Methodist Church of Yonkers. 
 
 On Sunday, April 27, 1873, the first services were held 
 in the lecture-room, of the new church. Rev. Dr. Ridge- 
 way preached in the morning, Rev. Dr. R. M. Stratton in 
 the afternoon, and Rev. Dr. Brown in the evening. On 
 Sunday morning, July 6, 1873, the church was dedicated. 
 The pulpit and altar were occupied by a number of visit- 
 ing clergymen and laymen from New York and elsewhere. 
 Rev. F. S. Barnum began the solemn service with the fol- 
 lowing exhortation : 
 
 Dearly Beloved : — The Scriptures teach us that God 
 is well pleased with those who build temples to his name. 
 
382 CHURCH AiSTD SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 We have heard how he filled the temple of Solomon with 
 his glory, and how in the second temple he manifested 
 himself still more gloriously. And the Gospel approves 
 and commends the centurion who built a synagogue for 
 the people. Let us not doubt that he will also favorably 
 approve our purpose of dedicating this place in solemn 
 manner for the performance of the several oflBces of reli- 
 gious worship ; and let us now devoutly join in praise to 
 his name that this godly undertaking hath been so far 
 completed, and in prayer for his further blessing upon all 
 who have been engaged therein, and upon all who shall 
 hereafter worship his name in this place. 
 
 A hymn of dedication written for the occasion by Rev. 
 Dr. Bottom e, beginning " Praise ye the Lord, ye people, 
 praise," was read by the venerable Rev. Dr. Joseph B. 
 Wakely ; prayer by Rev. Dr. John M. Reid ; Scripture lesson 
 read by Rev. Dr. R. M. Stratton ; hymn read by Rev. 
 George W. Lord. 
 
 Rev. Bishop Simpson preached the sermon from 
 St. John 20 : 29 — " Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because 
 thou hast seen me thou hast believed ; blessed are they 
 that have not seen and yet have believed." 
 
 At the conclusion of the sermon Rev. Dr. Reid stated 
 that the cost of the building, lots, and furniture was 
 $40,000, and that there was a funded debt of $15,000 and a 
 floating debt of $13,000. Subscriptions were then received 
 for over $10,000, and the services were closed with the 
 benediction by Rev. Dr. Wakely. 
 
 At the afternoon service Rev. J. H. Lent, of Ashford, 
 read the opening hymn, and Rev. Dr. Smith, of the First 
 Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, offered prayer. Rev. Dr. 
 John M. Reid preached the sermon from Mark 6 : 3 — "And 
 they were offended at him." It was an able effort. 
 
 The evening service was opened by the reading of a 
 hymn by Rev. David Cole, D. D. Rev. Dr. Cyrus D. Foss 
 preached from John 4 : 38 — " Other men labored, and ye 
 are entered into their labors." 
 
 At the close of this service additional subscriptions 
 were received, the total amount raised being $23,250. 
 
 The dedicatory service then took place conducted by 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 383 
 
 Bishop Simpson. William Jackson, Joseph L. Proseus, 
 Searing Howell, Charles Jayne, Charles P. Bynon, Abram 
 S. Radcliff, B. F. Hawley, and John Forsyth, trustees, took 
 places in front of the altar. The 1226. Psalm was read in 
 alternate verses by Bishop Simpson and the congregation, 
 at the close of which the venerable William Jackson, in 
 behalf of the trustees, said : " We present unto you this 
 building to be dedicated as a church for the service and 
 worship of Almighty God." The Bishop repeated the 
 declaration used in the dedicatory service according to 
 usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The service concluded with prayer, doxology, and the 
 benediction. In addition to the clergymen taking part 
 there were present Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., rector 
 of St. John's Episcopal Church, Yonkers, Rev. E. A. Hill, 
 and Rev. J. H. Hartwell. 
 
 The church building is of brick with blue-stone trim- 
 mings. It has a frontage of sixty-five feet -on Hudson 
 Street, including the two towers, and is ninety feet deep. 
 The tower on the east side is surmounted by a spire 150 
 feet in height. 
 
 The size of the auditorium on the second floor is 56 by 
 73 feet, with an end gallery 16 feet wide. The height of the 
 ceiling in the auditorium is 35 feet. There are three aisles 
 and at either side of the pulpit is a door — the one on the 
 right leading to the Sunday-school room in the basement, 
 and the other, on the left, into a small lavatory. 
 
 The Sunday-school room in the basement is 56 by 60 
 feet, with two class-rooms 18 by 20. The ceiling is twelve 
 feet high. The auditorium was finished by J. and G. Stew- 
 art. The other mason work was done by John C. Camp- 
 bell and Son. The' carpenter work was by David and Mar- 
 vin Oakley. The architect was Richard Jones, of Brooklyn. 
 
 The cost of the edifice, including the ground, was 
 $42,000. The church was erected when building material 
 was at a high rate. The white marble tablet between the 
 towers bears the following inscription: "Central Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. Erected 1872." The church is a 
 substantial, convenient, and comfortable edifice. 
 
 Rev. Frederick S. Barnum succeeded Rev. Mr. Lord, 
 
384 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Rev. A. H. Ferguson was the next pastor. During his pas- 
 torate the current expenses were promptly met and $9,000 
 of the bonded debt of $15,000 was paid off. Rev. Ezra 
 Tinker succeeded Rev. Mr. Ferguson, who was succeeded 
 by Rev. Alexander McLean in 1878. During his pastor- 
 ate $7,000 of the mortgage debt was paid, a small strip of 
 land in the rear of the church lot was purchased, and the 
 floating debt was paid. 
 
 At the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the 
 church in 1880, the sum of $1,000 was raised by subscriptions 
 and in cash. At the close of the session of the New York 
 Conference, which met in the Central Methodist Church in 
 1 88 1, Rev. P. R. Hawxhurst was appointed pastor. He was 
 followed by Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D., who resigned on 
 account of ill-health in 1885. In April, 1885, Rev. Charles 
 W. Millard became pastor. Several needed improvements 
 were made during his pastorate. In September, 1887, the 
 pulpit platform was extended and a new organ-loft was 
 made for the members of the volunteer choir. The new 
 organ was secured principally through the efforts of J. 
 Warren Goodale. It cost $1,500. 
 
 The walls were rekalsomined, the floors were newly 
 carpeted, and the vestibule was supplied with new matting. 
 The principal improvement was the substitution of ten 
 handsome stained glass windows for the old ones. The 
 subscriptions for these windows were made through the in- 
 defatigable efforts of Mrs. Abram S. Radcliff, assisted by 
 Mrs. C. P. Bynon. 
 
 Six of these beautiful windows were donated by Messrs. 
 Alfred W. Serrell, A. T. Serrell, Marvin Oakley, David 
 Oakley, Hamlin J. Andrus, Norton P. Otis, Charles R. Otis, 
 and Solomon Oakley, and the remaining four were pur- 
 chased by the contributions of others in the congregation. 
 Noticeable among them is the beautiful memorial window 
 to the late Searing Howell, who was a liberal contributor 
 towards the church building fund, and an active, useful, and 
 devout Christian, member of the church. This window is 
 of a floral design. On the right panel is inscribed : " Bless- 
 ed are the dead who die in the Lord." On the left : " I 
 have fought a good fight." And on scrolls: " In memory 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 385 
 
 of Searing Howell." These windows were from the estab- 
 lishment of Otto C. Flack, New York. 
 
 At the expiration of Rev. Mr. Millard's pastorate the 
 official board passed the following preamble and resolution, 
 February 23, 1888: 
 
 Whereas, Rev. Charles W. Millard has for the past 
 three years been the pastor of the Central Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church in this city, and, according to the usages of 
 our governing body, our relations as pastor and people are 
 about to cease ; therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That we, as official members of the Central 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, assembled in our fourth quar- 
 terly conference, do express our warm appreciation of th§ 
 valued services he has rendered to us as a church ; and we 
 sincerely regret that we must so soon lose the companion- 
 ship of so accomplished a gentleman, so congenial a bro- 
 ther, and so effective a preacher and pastor : and wherever 
 he may be called for future work, we wish him the highest 
 degree of success and prosperity in his new associations. 
 
 A farewell reception was given by the congregation to 
 Rev. and Mrs. Millard previous to their departure to Mor- 
 risania, in May, 1888. 
 
 Addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Cole, Rev. Dr. Stro- 
 bridge, and . Rev. C. E. Allison, paying a high tribute to 
 the work and influence of Rev. and Mrs. Millard. 
 
 During the evening a vote of thanks was read from 
 the Ladies' Aid Society to Mr. Millard for his kindness in 
 delivering his lecture, " On and Beyond the Sea." 
 
 In November, 1888, the Ladies' Aid Society, assisted by 
 others connected with the church, held a fair in Warburton 
 Hall, which was handsomely decorated. Booths represent- 
 ing the twelve months of the year were located about the 
 hall. The result of five days and nights of labor was net 
 proceeds of $1,200. The fair paper, the voting, and the 
 sales were instrumental in about equal parts in producing 
 this grand result. The money was applied towards paying 
 the debt on the parsonage. 
 
 The financial crisis of the year 1873 was the occasion 
 of the loss of many of the subscriptions which were made 
 at the erection of the church, and consequently much of 
 
 Church and Sunday-school Work, 25 
 
386 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 its indebtedness remained, from which it is gradually re- 
 covering, and at this date there is a protnising future for 
 this persevering and enterprising people. 
 
 The church has been graciously favored with several 
 revivals which have resulted in large ingatherings, not 
 only of the members of the congregation, but others from 
 without, who were not attendants on any church organiza- 
 tion. 
 
 The first year, in the spring of 1870, fifty-eight proba- 
 tioners were received. The second ingathering occurred 
 under the pastorate of Rev. Ezra Tinker, in 1 877, who was 
 assisted in the special services by Rev. E. P. Hammond. 
 Another was under the pastorate of Rev. Alexander Mc- 
 Lean. Others followed during the pastorate of Rev. P. R. 
 Hawxhurst in the years 1881-84, all of which added to the 
 membership. 
 
 The pastors of the Central Methodist Church and their 
 terms of service have been: Rev. George W. Lord, 1870- 
 1872; Rev. Frederick S. Barnum, 1872-1874; Rev. A. H. 
 Ferguson, 1874-1877; Rev. Ezra Tinker, 1877-1878; Rev. 
 Alexander McLean, 1 878-1 881; Rev. P. R. Hawxhurst,. 
 1881-1884; Rev. Lucius H. King, D. D., 1884-1885; Rev. 
 Charles W. Millard, 1885-1888 ; Rev. W. McKendree Dar- 
 wood, D. D., 1 888-1 89 1. 
 
 The present pastor of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
 Church— Rev. W. McKendree Darwood, D. D. — was born 
 near Cambridge, England, and came with his parents to 
 this country and settled in Indiana in 1849. He was admit- 
 ted to the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, in 1868, and was ordained an elder by 
 Bishop E. R. Ames in 1871. In 1887 the degree of D.'D. 
 was conferred upon him by Baker University, of Kansas, 
 the oldest university in that State. Dr. Darwood has filled 
 the following appointments. Northwest Indiana Confer- 
 ence: 1868-1869, Frankfort; 1870-1871, Delphi; 1872-1874, 
 Laporte; 1875-1877, Centenary, Terre Haute; 1878, South 
 Bend ; 1879, Asbury, Terre Haute. New York Conference r 
 1 880-1 88 1, St. Paul's, Peekskill; 1 882-1 884, Bedford Street, 
 New York; 1885-1887, Washington Heights; 1888-1891, 
 Central Church, Yonkers. 
 
I I 
 
 CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 387 
 
 Rev. Dr. Darwood's style of delivery, Yrithout notes, 
 is one that cannot fail to hold attention and make deep 
 impressions. 
 
 The number of communicants at present is 325 ; 148 
 have been received during his pastorate since April, 1888. 
 The attendance at the weekly prayer and praise meeting 
 held by this church is three hundred. It is the largest 
 prayer-meeting maintained by the churches of the city at 
 this writing. 
 
 The valuation of church property is $43,000. The 
 value of the church parsonage is $8,000. 
 
 Twelve thousand dollars has been paid on the debt of 
 the church during Rev. Dr. Darwood's pastorate to this 
 date. May, 1891. The amount of the present indebtedness 
 on the church is $12,000, on the parsonage $5,500. 
 
 The first trustees of the church, elected September 14, 
 1870, were William Jackson, Charles T. Brush, Reuben 
 Barnes, Orange Webster, John Embree, John C. Campbell, 
 Joseph L. Proseus, Searing Howell, and Sylvanus Cokalete. 
 
 The official board of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
 Church is composed as follows : Trustees — M. R. Oakley, 
 John Forsyth, A. W. Serrell, A. S. RadclifE, J. W. Goodale, 
 F. O. Hartshoiti, Thomas Caddoo, W. A. Frost, and J. C. 
 Campbell, Jr. Stewards— A. T. Serrell, J. C. Stillwell, J. 
 W. Bynon, Robert Nickerson, C. P. Bynon, S. D. Oakley, 
 John Mathews, John P. Lewis, J. D. Van O. Linda, E. W. 
 Fols, G. W. Christian, M. S. Bradt, and A. E. Eldredge. 
 
 The class-leaders are John Forsyth, Benjamin Sullard, 
 Ambrose Hill, Mrs. A. M. Darwood, and Mrs. Charles P. 
 Bynon. 
 
 The officers of the Ladies' Aid Society are : Mrs. W. 
 McKendree Darwood, President ; Mrs. A. S. Radcliff, Vice- 
 President ; Mrs. B. J. Berrian, Jr., Secretary ; Mrs. George 
 Coddington, Financial Secretary ; Mrs. Wm. H. Veitch, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 On Wednesday, September 10, 1890, the Lend-a-Hand 
 Society was organized to prosecute the social money-raising 
 work of the church. Officers were elected as follows : Miss 
 Mary Barnes, President ; Miss Evie Serrell, Vice President ; 
 Miss Julia Barnard, Secretary; Miss Fannie E. Radcliff, 
 
388 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Treasurer. Chairmen of Committees — Mrs. J. D. Van O. 
 I^inda, Social and Entertainment ; Miss Medora M. Whea- 
 ton, Printing and Advertising- ; Miss Susie B. Radcliff, Re- 
 freshments. There are about twenty charter members. 
 
 Another society connected with this church is the Ep- 
 worth League, recently organized. 
 
 J. Warren Goodale served the church as its organist 
 efficiently and acceptably for a period of fourteen years, 
 beginning in 1872. The present organist is John B. For- 
 syth. 
 
 The volunteer choir of ten voices is under the excellent 
 leadership of Alfred W. Serrell. 
 
 The present pulpit Bible was presented by the Ladies' 
 Aid Society. On it is inscribed, " Central M. E. Church, 
 Yonkers." It has the following imprint : " Carlton and 
 Lanahan, New York, 1868." 
 
 The communion service was presented to the church 
 in 1870 by Mrs. Wm. H. Veitch. 
 
 The handsome pulpit-scarf was presented by Miss Susie 
 B. Radcliff. 
 
 The church clock was the gift of a young ladies' Bible- 
 class in the Sunday-school, composed of Misses Lillie Ste- 
 phens, Minnie Stephens, Gertie Odell, and Edith Barnes, 
 who also presented the pastor's pulpit chair. 
 
 The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated on 
 the first Sunday in each month. All pews are free. 
 
 The parsonage is on the corner of Buena Vista Avenue 
 and Hudson Street. 
 
 The present sexton of the church is Edward J. Earl, 
 who has served in that capacity since December, 1884. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The Sunday-school connected with this church was or- 
 ganized in the same hall in which the church was organ- 
 ized, the first session being held on Sunday afternoon, 'Octo- 
 ber 20, 1870. It opened with forty-five scholars and fifteen 
 teachers, the latter of whom were : Mr. and Mrs. Searing 
 Howell, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Bynon, Miss Helen Mas- 
 ten, Miss S. Campbell, Miss Mary Scott, Miss Kate Carpen- 
 ter, Miss Ida Carpenter, J. W. Devlin, I. Travis, Charles 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 389 
 
 Oakley, John Forsyth, J. Doremus, and 'Miss Hannah Coka- 
 lete. Cyrus F. Moulton was elected its first superintendent. 
 
 A printed report of the school in May, 1871, gives the 
 following statistics : " Since the formation of this Sunday- 
 school the promoters have met with a success which has ful- 
 filled all their expectations. Commencing about seven 
 months ago with a few scholars, they have gone on increas- 
 ing so rapidly that now the roll is over one hundred and 
 forty scholars. The school is held in the Grand Army Hall, 
 south of the Yonkers Savings-Bank, at two o'clock p. m. 
 The following are its officers and teachers : C. F. Moulton, 
 Superintendent ; J. W. Devlin, Assistant Superintendent ; 
 Mrs. Sarah Howell, Lady Superintendent ; Charles P. Bynon, 
 Secretary; Searing Howell, Treasurer; J. Willet Bynon, 
 Librarian ; Obadiah Eddy, Assistant Librarian. Teachers — 
 Mrs. Sarah Howell, Miss Martha Bynon, I^iss Mary Morris, 
 Miss Helen Masten, Miss Jennie Burnett, Miss S. Campbell, 
 Miss Kate Carpenter, Miss Ida Carpenter, Messrs. Searing 
 Howell, J. W. Devlin, I. Travis, Charles Oakley, J. B. Oak- 
 ley, John Forsyth, J. Doremus, and David Phillips. Miss 
 Hannah Cokalete, infant class teacher. There are thirty 
 pupils in this class." 
 
 The school occupied the Grand Army Hall until its re- 
 moval to the basement of the new church in the summer of 
 1873. This room is attractively furnished, with reversible 
 settees and Scripture mottoes and pictures, a large Scripture 
 map, and a clock. To the southwest of the main room is 
 the room occupied by the primary department and at the 
 southeast is the room of the largest adult Bible-class. 
 
 During the years it was without a permanent place of 
 meeting the school continued to increase in influence and 
 usefulness, and many were added to the church from the 
 school through the precious revival with which the church 
 was visited in 1871 and the years which followed. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1875 was held in the Sunday- 
 school room in the basement of the church. The walls 
 were tastefully decorated with stars and wreaths of ever- 
 green and the pillars were entwined with the same. 
 
 The service began with singing by eight young ladies. 
 The pastor's address by Rev. A. H. Ferguson, and recita- 
 
390 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 tions by Misses C. Hill and B. Hill, N. Bynon, and F. Rad- 
 cliff, and Masters E. Hill, S. Carpenter, and G. Morris, fol- 
 lowed. Four little girls from the primary department re- 
 peated in concert the first twelve verses of the fifth chapter 
 of Matthew. 
 
 A box of confectionery containing $5 was presented to 
 
 the chorister. The pastor was presented with a large box 
 
 marked " Family Groceries." Books were presented to the 
 
 . children and the closing address was made by Master John 
 
 B. Forsyth. 
 
 The following printed report of the school in the cen- 
 tennial year, 1376, gives an accurate account of its condition 
 at that time : " The Sunday-school connected with the Cen- 
 tral Methodist Episcopal Church on Hudson Street is rapid- 
 ly growing in numbers. It meets every Sunday afternoon 
 at 2:30 o'clock, and the children are always prompt in their 
 attendance and all take a lively interest in the exercises. 
 The following figures show the statistics of the school at 
 the close of the year 1876: Officers, 8; teachers, 19; schol- 
 ars on register, 150; average attendance, 117; largest at- 
 tendance, 142 ; number in primary class, 35 ; deaths, i ; 
 volumes in library, 340. The officers of the school are : J. 
 Willet Bynon, Superintendent; Ambrose Hill, Assistant 
 Superintendent ; Miss Sarah Beckham, lady Superintend- 
 ent ; Charles P. Bynon, Secretary ; Obadiah Eddy, Treas- 
 urer ; Charles Hill, Librarian ; O. C. Eddy and Charles 
 Peck, Assistant Librarians. The teachers are : Miss Sarah 
 Beckham, Miss Mary Hill, Miss Matilda Duff, Miss Kate 
 Carpenter, Miss Martha J. Bynon, Miss Julia Kipp, Miss 
 Etta Stephenson, Miss J. V. Bynon, Mrs. Hewlett, Mrs. Geo. 
 Halsey, Miss E. J. Morris, Mrs. Ellen E. Masten, Mrs. David 
 Oakley, Messrs. Searing Howell, John Forsyth, George Car- 
 ter, George Halsey, Edward Slade, John Cajrpenter, William 
 Briggs, and J. Relyea. Searing Howell has a large Bible- 
 class of young men, and Mrs. Sarah Howell is the earnest 
 teacher of a large class of adults which gathers in the gal- 
 lery of the church." 
 
 In 1884 the school had on the record-book 241 scholars 
 and twenty-seven officers and teachers. 
 
 In May, 1888, at the suggestion and through the efforts 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 39 1 
 
 of the pastor, a young people's society was organized. It 
 was called the " Lyceum of the Central Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of Yonkers, N. Y." The object of this lyceum is 
 the spiritual, moral, and intellectual improvement, the en- 
 largement of personal influence, and the enjoyment of 
 Christian fellowship, and to develop facilities for religious 
 culture, mental improvement, and social intercourse of its 
 members. Devotional, membership, entertainment, and vis- 
 itation committees were appointed. 
 
 The first entertainment of the lyceum was held Thurs- 
 day evening, January 3, 1889, before a large audience, in the 
 lecture-room. President John C. Stilwell announced the 
 programme, in which Dr. R. A. Fones, Mrs. James Dykes, 
 Miss Darwood, Charles H. Crow, and S. C. Van Tassell took 
 part. The reading of the first number of the " Ventilator," 
 the society paper, by its editor, S. Joseph Lawrence, con- 
 cluded the entertainment. The reading of the first number 
 consumed over half an hour of time. The contents were 
 all original. Among the contributed articles was an inter- 
 •esting account by S. C. Van Tassell of his experiences be- 
 fore Charleston at the close of the war, in 1 865 — ^the writer 
 having been in service on the monitor " Mahopac." 
 
 This paper is issued bi-monthly and read at the lyceum 
 •entertainments. Its contents are made up of essays, sketch- 
 es, poems, etc., by any members who desire to contribtite. 
 The proceeds of these entertainments are devoted to the 
 society's expenses and are contributed to the church work. 
 The lyceum now numbers eighty members. Its ofiicers 
 are : John Matthews, President ; John C. Stilwell and Miss 
 Jennie Serrell, Vice-Presidents ; Miss Fannie Radcliff; Sec- 
 retary ; Mrs. R. Nickerson, Treasurer. 
 
 The circle of the King's Daughters connected with 
 this school is called "The Central Circle." The officers 
 are : Miss Ida Skipper, President ; Miss Nellie Bynon, Sec- 
 retary. The members of this circle contributed $50 towards 
 the parsonage fund in November, 1888. They are now con- 
 sidering plans for future work. 
 
 At the Christmas festival of 1888 Alfred W. Serrell, 
 Superintendent, presided, and after an interesting pro- 
 gramme of music and readings, in which Eddie Bynon, 
 
392 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Jolin B. Forsyth, Rev. Dr. Darwood, Miss Alice Codding-- 
 ton, Emma Serrell, Ena Serrell, Lillie Stevens, Evie Serrell, 
 Ida Skipper, Edith Barnes, Gertie Odell, Susie B. Radcliff, 
 Carrie Van Tassell, Jennie Serrell, Bessie Eldredge, Louise 
 Frost, Harold Hobson, Willie Littebrandt, and others took 
 part, candies and fruits were distributed among the schol- 
 ars and there were reciprocal presentations among teach- 
 ers and their classes. Superintendent Serrell received a 
 handsome gold-headed ebony cane, and Assistant George 
 W. Christian an elegant silk umbrella, from the school. 
 
 Children's Day is observed by the school, the services 
 being held in the church usually and sometimes conducted 
 by the pastor. On Sunday morning, June 9, 1 889, the chil- 
 dren filled two-thirds of the room, and their pretty summer 
 dresses and happy faces, combined with the abundance of 
 beautiful flowers on person and on pulpit, made a very 
 pleasing scene. Superintendent A. W. Serrell was in 
 charge, and the children sang with spirit and took part in 
 the responsive readings. 
 
 Recitations were given by Nellie Veitch, Louise Frost, 
 Emma Paulding, Ella Miller, and Willie Littebrandt, and 
 Ena and Lulu Serrell sang a duet with chorus. Several, 
 infants were baptized. Rev. Dr. Darwood's address was 
 short, appropriate, and interesting. Six young ladies 
 passed around the contribution baskets, and a goodly sum 
 was raised for the work of educating boys for the min- 
 istry. 
 
 The school enjoyed another of its delightful annual 
 excursions on Wednesday, July 10, 1889, going by the iron 
 steamer "Sirius " to Laurelton Grove, Cold Spring Harbor, 
 Long Island Sound. The music was furnished by Bright's 
 band. The Sunday-schools of the Reformed and First and 
 Central Methodist Churches united on that excursion. 
 
 The Christmas festival for 1889 was given in the lec- 
 ture-room of the church. Superintendent Alfred W. Ser- 
 rell presided and directed the singing of the school, of 
 which there was considerable, which was well done. Miss 
 Serrell at the organ and Edward Bynon at the piano ac- 
 companied. 
 
 Presiding Elder A. J. Palmer made the opening prayer. 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 393 
 
 Recitations were given by Georgie Gorse, Jessie Stilwell, 
 Herbert W. Stilwell, Charlie Stevens, Clifford Stevens, Lot- 
 tie Starr, Blanche Hepenstal, and Jessie Hepenstal. 
 
 The second part of the entertainment consisted of a 
 cantata of " Santa Clans and Mother Goose," in which the 
 following costumed characters were represented : 
 
 Santa Claus ... . Peter Soetemon. 
 
 Mother Goose - ... Miss Dora Wheaton. 
 
 Jack - - - Alfred Serrell. 
 
 Jill - - - Miss Ena Serrell. 
 
 Daflfy-Down-Dilly - - Miss Nellie' Veitch. 
 
 Humpty Dumpty ..... William Caddoo. 
 
 Bo-Peep ... ... Miss Louise Frost. 
 
 Jolly Miller - Harry Pickens. 
 
 Jack Homer .... . Leslie Stevens, 
 
 Sky Sweeper - - - Miss Laura Hubbell. 
 
 Polly Flinders - - - - Miss Lulu Serrell. 
 
 Boy Blue .... . William Littebrandt. 
 
 Miss Muffet ... Miss Emma Serrell. 
 
 Mother Hubbard - - - Miss Alice Coddington. 
 
 Mistress Mary - - - Miss Lillian Stevens. 
 
 Tommy Tucker - - Edward Bynon. 
 
 King Cole - - E. M. Yerks. 
 
 Little Child - Miss Bessie Eldredge. 
 
 Santa Claus Soetemon, at the close of the cantata, pre- 
 sented the prizes and gifts to scholars and teachers. Rev. 
 Dr. Darwood, the pastor, pronounced the benediction. 
 
 A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was 
 organized Wednesday night, January 29, 1890, with about 
 thirty-five members and these officers : J. D. Van O. Linda, 
 President; J. C. Stilwell, Vice-President; Miss Longley, 
 Corresponding Secretary ; Miss Fannie E. Radcliff , Record- 
 ing Secretary ; Miss Darwood, Treasurer. 
 
 The musical and literary exercises of the Christmas 
 festival of the Central Methodist school were held in the 
 church on December 30, 1890. They consisted of a cantata 
 by W. Howard Doane, entitled " Santa Claus," performed 
 by about fifty young ladies, young gentlemen, and children, 
 upon a large platform which had been erected over the 
 altar. Although an admission fee of twenty-five cents was 
 charged to all non-members of the school, the church was 
 nearly filled. 
 
394 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Theodore Courtright was the musical director; Miss 
 Lillian P. Courtright, piano accompanist. The best sing- 
 ing in the cantata was done by the chorus, which had 
 been well drilled by the director ; the volume and quality 
 of tone was excellent. Prominent parts were taken as fol- 
 lows, the solo singing being sweet and pleasing : 
 
 Duet — When the Shepherds - - Miss Carrie Van Tassell and Miss 
 
 Medora M. Wheaton. 
 Solo — Invocation to Joy Miss Jennie Serrell. 
 
 Quintette — 'Tis Merry Christmas Miss Louise Worden, Miss Grace 
 
 Eldredge, Miss Alice Coddington, Alfred W. Serrell, and Harry Picken. 
 Solo — The Wonderful Song - Miss Ena Serrell. 
 
 Duet — Gentle Hope, Your Pretty Secret Miss Evie Serrell and Miss 
 
 Laura Hubbell. 
 Solo— Sombody 's Coming - Miss Nellie Hubbell. 
 
 The Prayer Song Carrie Oakley, Florence Coddington, Olie Otis, Ethel 
 Jackson, Grace Barker, Clifford Stevens, and Willie Maloy. 
 Solo — The Lullaby Song - Miss Louisa Frost. 
 
 Trio — The Fairy Blessing - - Bessie Eldredge, Jessie Stilwell, and 
 
 May Bradt. 
 Piano Solo— Reindeer Galop - - - Miss Lillian P. Courtright. 
 
 Solo — Santa Claus' Greeting - Alfred W. Serrell. 
 
 Nellie Veitch, Lulu Serrell, Emma Paulding, Ella Mil- 
 ler, and Willie Fox had prominent parts also. 
 
 After the cantata the school descended to the lecture- 
 room, where all the children were made happy with gifts 
 of books, candies, oranges, etc. There were a number of 
 special presents. 
 
 The Primary Department meets in a small room ad- 
 joining the main room. It is properly equipped and fur- 
 nished with an organ, blackboard, and all that is necessary 
 and which is convenient to impart instruction in this in- 
 teresting class of Sunday-school work. Its teachers have 
 been Miss Hannah Cokalete, Miss Helen Masten, and Mrs. 
 Dinsmore, who was assisted by Miss Mildred Kear. It is 
 now under the guidance of Mrs. Charles P. Bynon, who is 
 assisted by Miss Evie -Serrell, who acts as organist and 
 leader of the singing, and Miss Courtright. 
 
 Mrs. Bynon has had charge of this department since 
 January, 1883. She is deeply interested in her work. That 
 her lessons are intelligently and conscientiously prepared 
 is evident from the interest and attention which are mani- 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 395 
 
 fested by her class. Under her prayerful instructions it 
 has met with marked success. The International Series of 
 Lessons is taught with the Methodist catechism and com- 
 mandments. The contributions of the class are donated to 
 the benevolent fund of the school. The " Picture Lesson 
 Paper" is circulated in this department. The present 
 attendance is 115. 
 
 A handsome certificate, upon which is the figure of 
 John Wesley holding a Bible on which is inscribed his 
 dying utterance, " The best of all is, God is with us," is 
 presented to each pupil upon his becoming a member of 
 the school, and a certificate of dismission is also given to 
 each scholar upon leaving the school to enter another. 
 The late Superintendent, A. W. Serrell, has in his posses- 
 sion the certificate of his admission to his first Sunday- 
 school. 
 
 The pastors' wives have always been identified with 
 the school, and often the classes taught by them have been 
 the largest in the school. Mrs. Alexander McLean, a for- 
 mer pastor's wife, had charge of a large adult class during 
 her husband's pastorate. She was eminently successful in 
 her work, and is held in loving remembrance by her for- 
 mer pupils, some of whom became teachers in the school. 
 Mrs. Charles W. Millard also had a large adult class, and 
 from that class a large number were added to the commu- 
 nion of the church while under her charge. The present 
 pastor's wife, Mrs. W. McKendree Darwood, has a class of 
 twelve young ladies. 
 
 The largest adult Bible-class is composed of men and 
 women, some of whom are heads of families, and at pres- 
 ent is taught by Alfred T. Serrell. From these classes the 
 classes of teachers who are temporarily absent are supplied 
 with teachers. These classes are the training classes of 
 the future teachers of the school. 
 
 The teachers who have been connected with the school 
 ever since its organization and who are still there are John 
 Forsyth, J. Willet Bynon, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. 
 Bynon ; the latter, since her connection with the school, 
 being absent but one year on account of serious illness. 
 These teachers and officers, for their long-continued servi- 
 
396 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ces in the school, are enrolled upon the honorary list of 
 Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 During the year 1888 and in the early part of 1889 
 there was received into the communion of the church 
 quite a large accession from the Sunday-school as the result 
 of the faithful and prayerful efforts of the pastor, Rev. Dr. 
 Darwood, and the superintendent and teachers. 
 
 The members of the Sunday-school presented the 
 church with a handsome Chickering piano in 1888 for use 
 in the weekly services of the church as well as for the 
 Sunday-school. 
 
 The school is self-supporting and contributes from 
 $150 to $200 annually for missionary purposes. Teachers' 
 meetings are held monthly. 
 
 During Mr. Serrell's superintendency special attention 
 was given by him to the cultivation of the musical talents 
 of the children and in the selection of the best and most 
 appropriate hymns for Sunday-school use. His administra- 
 tive and business ability was manifested in the manage- 
 ment of the school, which under his superintendency 
 nearly doubled in numbers. A noteworthy item in con- 
 nection with his work in the school is that he was never 
 late at any of its sessions nor absent unless out of the city. 
 
 Mrs. William H. Veitch served the school, as its lady 
 Superintendent, efficiently for nine years. 
 
 The Junior Epworth League — recently organized — is 
 composed of the younger members of the Sunday-school. 
 Under the excellent leadership of the pastor's wife, Mrs. 
 McK. Darwood, they are being trained in methods of Chris- 
 tian work. 
 
 George W. Christian was the Assistant Superintendent 
 of the school for three years, also the Secretary of the Mis- 
 sionary Society for three years. 
 
 The superintendents in the order of service, so far as 
 can be ascertained, have been : Cyrus F. Moulton, elected 
 October 23, 1870, J. Willet Bynon, Morris Valentine, Solo- 
 mon D. Oakley, Acting Superintendent, Sherburne C. Van 
 Tassell, Alfred W. Serrell, who was elected in May, 1884, 
 and served till April, 1891, and Theodore Courtright, 
 elected May, 1891. 
 
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH. 397 
 
 The present officers, May, 1891, are: Theodore Court- 
 right, Superintendent; Alfred W. Serrell, Vice-Superin- 
 tendent ; Mrs. J. C. Wheaton, Lady Superintendent ; S. C. 
 Van Tassell, Secretary ; Harry Picken, Assistant Secretary ; 
 J. W. Bynon, Treasurer ; Charles Lindale, Librarian ; Les- 
 lie Stevens, first Assistant Librarian ; J. Irving Van Tas- 
 sell, second Assistant Librarian ; Edward Bynon, third As- 
 sistant Librarian ; Edward Bynon, Organist. 
 
 The record book of the school for 1889-91 includes the 
 following teachers : Mrs. R. Barnes, Miss Barrett, Miss S. 
 Beckham, Mrs., Charles P. Bynon, Mrs. Dinsmore, Mrs. W. 
 McK. Darwood, Mrs. F. Howlett, Miss Laura Hubbell, Mrs. 
 A. T. Kear, Mrs. J. W. Bynon, Miss A. Pickens, Mrs. Rhodes, 
 Mrs. J. C. Wheaton, Miss A. Webb, Miss Ada Webb, Mrs. 
 John Woodruff, Miss L. Worden, Miss E. Serrell, Mrs. G. 
 W. Christian, Miss Cora Otis, Miss N. Bennett, Miss Sadie 
 Woodruff, Miss Codington, Miss Dora Wheaton, Miss M. 
 M. Wheaton, Mrs. J. Slim, Mrs. H. 5. Meeks, Mrs. A. 
 Tompkins, Miss C. A. Van Tassell,, Miss E. Barnes, Miss A. 
 Barnard, Miss S. Radcliff, Miss F. Radcliff, Mrs. A. E. 
 Eldredge, Charles P. Bynon, J. W. Bynon, A. E. Eldredge, 
 John Matthews, S. D. Oakley, John Slim, William J. Tomp- 
 kins, John Van Winkle, Sherburne C. Van Tassell, G. W. 
 Christian, Chas. Oakley, Ambus Hill, John Breen, and M. 
 Diets. Primary Department : teachers, Mrs. C. P. Bynon, 
 Superintendent ; Assistant, Miss Lillian Courtright. 
 
 The number of officers and teachers is 38 ; number of 
 pupils, 325 ; number of library books, 470. 
 
 The singing books used by the school are the " Ep- 
 worth Hymnal " and " Songs of Joy and Gladness." 
 
 The lesson helps are the Berean graded series of ques- 
 tion books, published by Hunt & Eaton, New York, and 
 the " Sunday-school Journal." 
 
398 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH AND 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The first religious effort put forth in Yonkers in behalf 
 of the colored people was in the year 1 860-61, when William 
 Griffin, a member of the First Methodist Church, assisted 
 by several others whose names cannot be recalled, hired a 
 small room in a cottage on Guion Street, in the vicinity of 
 the Mansion House. How long meetings were held there 
 cannot be ascertained. 
 
 In the years following a small company of these people 
 gathered in a room in the skin factory building, near the 
 corner of Nepperhan Avenue and Mechanic (now New 
 Main) Street. This room has become historic in connection 
 with church and Sunday-school history in Yonkers, as be- 
 ing the birthplace of the Nepperhan Avenue Baptist Mis- 
 sion Sunday-school and of the Westminster Church. 
 
 Their next place of meeting was in Flagg's Hall, on 
 Mechanic Street. At that time the meetings were under 
 the auspices of the Union Church Society (colored) of New 
 York city, which sent members to conduct these meetings. 
 How long they were held it cannot be definitely ascertained, 
 but some time after their discontinuance the enterprise was 
 again re-commenced by William Griffin, James Lawson, and 
 Warren Purdy, who succeeded in obtaining the fire engine 
 house on Chicken Island, which was located on what is 
 now Post Lane. 
 
 It was there the enterprise began to grow, and the 
 meetings were well attended. The services of members 
 from other churches were secured, and prominent among 
 them was Dr. Gabriel P. Reevs, who rendered them valua- 
 ble services, as he did also in Townsend Hall, No. 50 North 
 Broadway, which was their next place of meeting. It was 
 in this hall that Francis J. Moultrie began his work in con- 
 nection with this mission enterprise and rendered efficient 
 service. 
 
AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 399 
 
 The Westminster Presbyterian Church shortly after 
 took up the work, as stated by Rev. Lewis W. Mudge in 
 his historical discourse of the Westminster Presbyterian 
 Church, from which we quote : " The work was commenced 
 by the efficient Bible-reader, Mrs. Lizzie Russell, who was 
 in the employ of our church from the summer of 1867 to 
 the beginning of 1870. Owing to the great success of this 
 work, Mr. Theo. Leggett, now Rev. Theo. Leggett, pastor 
 of the Presbyterian Church of Chester, N. Y., was engaged 
 two years during the vacations of the seminary and a con- 
 siderable portion of one term: He preached regularly to this 
 people on the Sabbath, first in a store on the west side of 
 North Broadway, between Wells Avenue and Dock Street, 
 afterwards in the hall on the east side opposite. After the 
 close of his engagement, at the request of the colored 
 people, the gallery in the rear of the church was accorded 
 to them. During all this time also a weekly prayer- 
 meeting was held for them at the house of Mrs. Russell; 
 and under the charge of Mr. Rich, the pastor generally 
 being present. In 1870, against the advice of myself and 
 others, they determined to organize a church. For five 
 years they have been struggling, but can hardly be called 
 established as yet. This church is also properly a child of 
 ours." 
 
 Such were the steps which led to the organization of 
 the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the first col- 
 ored church in Yonkers. After leaving Townsend Hall, 
 the little congregation worshipped in Rooney Hall, on 
 North Broadway. This hall was formerly over what is 
 now known as Weller and Welsh's large dry-goods store. 
 After remaining there for a time they returned to Town- 
 send Hall. 
 
 It was also in Townsend Hall that we learn, from the 
 testimony of one who attended these meetings, that the first, 
 communion service which was administered to a colored 
 congregation in Yonkers was conducted by Rev. David 
 Cole, D. D., pastor of the Reformed Church of Yonkers. 
 The mission was then known simply as the Colored Church 
 of Yonkers, although no formal organization had been 
 effected. 
 
400 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The church was organized with ten members in Town- 
 send Hall in May, 1871, by Rev. Jacob Thomas (now Rev. 
 Dr. Thomas) of the New York Conference of the A. M. E. 
 Zion Church of America. From here they went to a build- 
 ing erected for them on North Broadway, near Wells Ave- 
 nue, by Thomas C. Cornell. After this was removed, they 
 occupied for a brief period the basement of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church from 1884 to 1885, kindly tendered to them 
 by the trustees of that church, until they found a perma- 
 nent resting-place in their church which was erected on 
 New Main Street near Kellinger Street. 
 
 William Griffin* was chairman of the organization 
 meeting. 
 
 * Bom in 1811, passed out of earth life to a heavenly on January 5, 
 1888, William H. Griffin, of Yonkers, in the 77th year of his age. 
 
 Funeral services were held in the chapel of the First Methodist Church, 
 on Sunday, January 8. They were conducted by his pastor. Rev. George 
 E. Strobridge, D. D., who said : 
 
 We are called to the funeral of no ordinary man, and we are gathered 
 here as sincere mourners. We are not here to eulogize his character. 
 The best thing we can say of him is that he gave his heart in early man- 
 hood to his Saviour. He listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit and gave 
 his heart to Christ and his hand to His church. He became a member of 
 this church under the pastorate of the Rev. J. D. Bangs, in the year 1837, 
 and he has outlived almost all the members of this church at that time. 
 
 He was a good man. That is a great thing to say of any man. We 
 may say of a man that he is a rich, a learned, an honorable man ; but to 
 say of a man that he is a good man means much. He was remarkable for 
 his cleanness of hand and heart. He was never known to cheat any one 
 out of a single dollar, nor injure by a single word the reputation of 
 any one. 
 
 A Christian friend, while visiting him during his last illness, asked 
 him in regard to his faith in the Saviour, when he replied, " I trust in the 
 blood of Christ. I can do no more. He saves, and he alone. Jesus' 
 blood cleanses from all sin." He was a generous man, and gave to this 
 church liberally. He was not a rich man. All he secured was a little two- 
 story frame house ; but he was a hard-working man, as you well know, and 
 every dollar he dug out of the earth by hard labor. He never declined 
 an appeal for money. A sister in this church once asked him for a con- 
 tribution towards a benevolent object. He put a sum into her hand which 
 surprised her, and she said, " Have n 't you made a mistake ?" He replied, 
 " No, I want you to have all of it." 
 
 He gave steadily and conscientiously. When I came to Yonkers he 
 came to see me, as I thought, to call upon me as his pastor, as I had so 
 recently come. I well remember how he came tremblingly up the steps, 
 leaning upon his cane, and put his contribution for the new church into 
 
AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 40I 
 
 James Lawson, Madison Milford, Francis Moultrie, Isaac 
 Peeke, Albert Skinner, and Harrison Ward composed the 
 first board of trustees of the church. Of the original ten 
 members, but one— James Lawson — remains in the com- 
 munion of the church at this time. 
 
 _ The corner-stone of their church building was laid on 
 Wednesday afternoon, October 15, 1884. Rev. R. H. G. 
 Dyson, of New York, announced the opening hymn, and 
 Rev. G. E. Smith, of Brooklyn, offered prayer, which was 
 following by Scriptural readings by Rev. J. Thomas, of New 
 York. Rev. John Reid delivered the address and was fol- 
 lowed by Rev. C. E. Allison. The corner-stone was laid 
 by Rev. Dr. David Cole, of the Reformed Church of Yon- 
 kers. Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., who by their request acted as 
 treasurer of the building fund of this church, was also in- 
 vited to participate 'in these exercises, but was unable to be 
 present. On the corner-stone is simply inscribed " 1884." 
 Within the stone was placed a copy of the Scriptures and 
 names of the former pastors and officers of the church. 
 
 The dedicatory exercises were held on Sunday after- 
 noon, April 12, 1885. Right Rev. S. S. Jones, Bishop of 
 the first district, and Rev. H. W. Decker, Presiding Elder 
 of the district, conducted the exercises. The music was 
 furnished by the choir of Little Zion Church, of New York, 
 J. H. Davis, organist ; Mrs. A. Smith, first soprano ; Miss 
 E. Grier, second soprano ; Miss Jenef er, alto ; Mrs. Decker, 
 alto ; Mr. Morris, basso. 
 
 my hands. He loved this church, and it is proud to ha\te the name of 
 William Griffin inscribed on its record book, as it was written years ago 
 in the " Lamb's Book of Life " when he gave his heart to Jesus. 
 
 A few days before his decease he said to a member of his family, and 
 one whom he loved as a son and who loved him as a father, " There are 
 two things I would like to do. I would like to go out to the cemetery 
 where I used to work, and look around and see if everything is right. 
 And I Would like to go down and see the new church." But God did not 
 gratify his wishes. 
 
 You know what his occupation was, and how often he could say with 
 the old sexton, "I gather them in, I gather them in." And he did his 
 work very tenderly, as many know. 
 
 William Griffin was a simple, modest, earnest working Christian. 
 "Servant of'God, well done." His character can be epitomized in these 
 wprds : ," Let me die the death of tlie righteous." . ' 
 
 SuDday-Bchool Work. 26 
 
402 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The church was filled to overflowing, many being un- 
 able to obtain seats long before the exercises began. The 
 dedicatory sermon was by Rev. John Reid, the pastor of 
 the First Presbyterian Church, Yonkers, from the text, 
 " Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the 
 Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" i Cor. 3:16, which was 
 followed by an address by William Allen Butler. A finan- 
 cial statement of the church was read by Walter W. Law, 
 after which the Bishop proceeded with the dedicatory ser- 
 vice according to the ritual of the church. The services 
 closed with singing, and the benediction by Rev. David 
 Cole, D. D., of the Reformed Church. 
 
 At the dedication of the church there was a debt of 
 $1,500 upon it. The building is 28^ by 54 feet. It is a neat 
 wooden structure with colored glass windows. The audi-- 
 torium will seat five hundred persons. A small gallery is 
 at the west end. It has two aisles extending the length 
 of the auditorium. The cost of the church building was 
 $6,500. James and George Stewart were the builders. The 
 building committee was composed of Wm. Allen Butler, 
 Ethan Flagg, and Walter W. Law, all members of the First 
 Presbyterian Church of Yonkers. 
 
 The pastors of this church have been : Rev. Isaac Jen- 
 kins; Rev. Adam Jackson; Rev. George E.Jackson, 1875 
 until 1877; Rev. J. Davis, six weeks; Rev. J. C. Dodge, 
 one year ; Rev. E. J. Miller, 1879 to 1881 ; Rev. William Dor- 
 sey, seventeen months ; Rev. J. A. Evans ; Rev. George E. 
 Jackson, 1 883-1 885 ; Rev. Charles H. Teneyck, 1886 to 1890. 
 
 The late pastor of the church. Rev. Charles H. Ten- 
 eyck, eldest son of Theodore and Susan Teneyck, was born 
 in Athens, Greene County, N. Y. He received his early 
 education at the public schools. 
 
 After varied experiences in the service of the United 
 States and also in the British employ, he was converted in 
 a church in Brooklyn, and served as class-leader in that 
 church for three years. 
 
 He began the study of theology under Rev. Nathaniel 
 Stubbs. In 1883 Mr. Teneyck joined the itineracy and 
 was ordained elder in 1885. He came from his former 
 charge in Fishkill to his late charge in Yonkers, May 
 
AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 403 
 
 17, 1886. On entering upon this charge he found the 
 church in debt to the amount of $900. Through the vigor- 
 ous efforts of his congregation he succeeded in paying it 
 off. The church is, at this writing, free from debt. Rev. 
 Mr. Teneyck's pastorate was very successful. 
 
 Improvements which have added to the value of the 
 church have been made which have cost $273. The mem- 
 bership has gradually increased and the Sunday-school has 
 been built up. There 'has been a good attendance at the 
 Sunday and weekly services. 
 
 The church contributed for the cause of benevolence 
 in 1888, as reported in the minutes of the sixty-seventh 
 session of the A. M. E. Zion Church Conference, $52 61. 
 
 The present membership of the church is fifty-four, 
 twenty-five of whom were received during the pastorate 
 of Rev. Mr. Teneyck. The present pastor is Rev. T. T. 
 Thomas, settled May, 1891. 
 
 The present valuation of the church property is $9,000. 
 The board of trustees is composed of these gentlemen : F. J. 
 Moultrie, President ; William Lee, Secretary ; A. Whedon, 
 Treasurer ; Jacob Peel, A, Skinner, J. Lisby, Jere. Webb. 
 
 The class-leaders are Thomas Brooks and Francis J. 
 Moultrie. 
 
 The stewardesses are Mrs. Sarah Jackson, Mrs. G. 
 Brown, Miss Annie Johnson, Miss Jennie Maxwell, and 
 Misses Cornelia and Gertrude Stewart. 
 
 The communion service was presented by a member 
 of the First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The pulpit Bible was presented by the American Tract 
 Society, October 13, 1883. Inscription upon it, "A. M. E. 
 Zion Church, Yonkers, New York." 
 
 The organist is William Henry Oliver, who has effi- 
 ciently served in that position for seven years, three years 
 of which were free of charge. 
 
 The Sunday services are at 10 : 45 a. m. and 7 : 30 p. M. 
 Sunday-school at 3 : 30 P. M. General prayer-meeting Wed- 
 nesday evening at 8 o'clock. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. / 
 
 This Sunday-school was organized July 12, 1874, in. 
 
404 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Townsend Hall, No. 50 North Broadway, by Gabriel P. 
 Reevs, M. D., an elder in the Reformed Church, with 
 about ten scholars. Dr. Reevs was assisted by his sons 
 Gabriel and Bethune M., and his daughter Mary subse- 
 quently served as organist for a brief period. 
 ; The following printed notice of this school gives ac- 
 count of their first Christmas festival : " The praiseworthy 
 work in the A. M. E. Zion Church Sunday-school is carried 
 on most efficiently yet very quietly by its superintendent, 
 Gabriel P. Reevs, M. D. A very pleasant Christmas festi- 
 val was held on December 25, 1875. Addresses were made 
 by Rev. David Cole, D. D., of the Reformed Church, and 
 Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, of the Westminster Presbyterian 
 Qhurch. The children, who numbered thirty-nine, were 
 made happy by an abundant supply of grapes, nuts, oranges, 
 and candy." 
 
 The following is from a printed report of the school in 
 February of the centennial year, 1 876 : " This Sunday-school, 
 still in its infancy, is well attended every Sunday in the 
 hall over Rooney's store, on North Broadway. The follow- 
 ing are its statistics for the past year : Officers, 2 ; teachers, 
 4 ; scholars on register, 40; average attendance, 25; deaths, 
 2; volumes in library, 10: receipts, $15; expenditures, 
 $40. All moneys collected have been expended for Sun- 
 day-schools in Liberia, Africa. The officers of the school : 
 Gabriel P. Reevs, M. D., Superintendent and Treasurer ; 
 Gabriel Reevs, Librarian. These, with Miss A. M. See and 
 Robert Reevs, constitute the corps of teachers." 
 
 In 1878 Dr. Reevs resigned the superintendency of the 
 school, thinking that its interest would be best served by 
 having a superintendent from among their own people. 
 The resignation was accepted, and the pastor. Rev. George 
 Jackson, took charge, and appointed Wm. F. Marshall as 
 his assistant. Miss Young acted as secretary. The number 
 of teachers was six, and number of scholars sixty. The 
 infant-class numbered eighteen. The names of teachers at 
 that time cannot be ascertained, as the school record was lost. 
 
 The next record of this school is in November, 1887, 
 the superintendent being Wm. H. Lee. At that date the 
 School occupied their present room in the basement of the 
 
AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 405 
 
 church on New Main Street. The teachers were Mrs. 
 Thornton, Mrs. Adam, Mrs. Wilford, Miss Oliver, Miss A. 
 Wood, Miss Hicks, and Messrs. Whedon, Jones, Thornton, 
 and Lisby. Number of scholars on record-book, forty-five. 
 
 The school, had a very pleasant picnic in 1886 at Fort 
 Lee on the Hudson River. In 1887 an enjoyable day was 
 spent at Coney Island. They realized by this excursion above 
 expenses $5, which was appropriated to the school expense?. 
 
 The annual picnic was held in \ 888 in September, in 
 a grove on Central Avenue, Yonkers, to which place they 
 were taken by stages. The day was pleasantly spent in 
 games and social intercourse with friends of the school ahd 
 church. This also was a financial success. i 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1888 was held in the church 
 on Friday evening. The programme of exercises was as fol- 
 lows : Singing — "Christmas Bells." Prayer — Rev. Charles 
 Bass. Scripture reading by pastor. Rev. Chas. H. Teneyck. 
 Singing, " Strike, Strike for Victory." The following mem- 
 bers of the school took part in these exercises: Mary De 
 Forest, Mary Holland, Violet Oliver, Anna Wood, Louisa 
 Wood, Francis Jennett, Henry Hart, Samuel Houston, and 
 Wm. Brooks. The closing hymn, " Joy to the World," was 
 sung, after which the Christmas gifts were distributed by 
 the superintendent, John Lisby. 
 
 Children's Day is annually observed by the school with 
 appropriate exercises. On Sunday afternoon, July 21,1 889, 
 these consisted of singing by the children and an excellent 
 address by the pastor, Rev. Charles H. Teneyck, who spoke 
 of the work and needs of Livingstone College, N. C, which 
 institution of learning is under the direction and control 
 of the A. M. E. Zion Church in America, and of the advan- 
 tages which this institution afforded to indigent students 
 who desired to procure an education. The collection tak- 
 en, which was $8, was appropriated to this object. ■ 
 
 The pastor was followed by Francis J. Moultrie, who 
 gave personal reminiscences of his early Sunday-school 
 days, and urged upon the children to earnestly and faith- 
 fully improve their advantages, which were far superior to 
 what he enjoyed. 
 
 The church was tastefully decorated with flowers, and 
 
406 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the exercises on that occasion will long be remembered 
 with pleasure by all who were present. 
 
 The scholars of this Sunday-school enjoyed their Christ- 
 mas festival on Thursday evening, January 2, 1890, at the 
 church. The attendance of friends was lai;ge. W. H. Lee, 
 the Superintendent, presided ; Miss Carrie Oliver led the 
 singing, and Henry Oliver played the organ. The opening 
 prayer was offered by Thomas Brooks. 
 
 Besides the singing of carols by the school, a soprano 
 solo was sung by Mrs. Madison ; and recitations were given 
 as follows : " The Brook Song," by Frances Washington ; 
 " Take These Flowers," by Ettie Cornell ; " Break, Break," 
 by Willie Brooks. Four little girls, Frances Washington, 
 Ettie Cornell, Sarah Oliver, and Mary Jones, spoke a dia- 
 logue. 
 
 After the distribution of the gifts, which consisted of 
 candies, cakes, and oranges, and the presentation of the 
 books, etc., given as prizes for good attendance and good 
 work, the scholars were treated to ice-cream and cake. 
 
 The school has a local missionary society which was 
 organized by the pastor. Rev. Charles H. Teneyck, in July, 
 1888. The membership fee is five cents per month. If a 
 member is ill he receives $1 per month as long as his ill- 
 ness lasts. In case he dies his parents receive $10 towards 
 the funeral expenses. The present officers of the society 
 are : William Brooks, President ; Etta Cornell, Treasurer ; 
 Sarah Oliver, Secretary. 
 
 The school contributed, in 1887, $10 50 towards home 
 missions, and in 1888 $14 towards the same object. 
 
 The school is self-supporting. It has a handsome silk 
 banner upon which are embroidered a cross and a crown 
 and the words "Zion A. M. E. Sunday-school." The class 
 banner is also silk and is held by the class which contrib- 
 uted the most money during the preceding month. This 
 banner was presented by Mrs. William Hicks. 
 
 In 1887 five from the school united with the church, 
 and in 1888 three. 
 
 Teachers' meetings are held monthly. 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Madison is among the honorary list of 
 .Sunday-school teachers in connection with this school. 
 
AFRICAN ZION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 407 
 
 The entertainments which have been held from time 
 to time for the benefit of this church and Sunday-school 
 have been especially delightful in cultivating a kindly 
 social feeling among the congregation and its friends. They 
 have also always proven financial successes, considerable 
 money being raised over and above their expenses. They 
 have reflected much credit upon the executive ability of 
 the committees who have had them in charge, and also in- 
 dicated the liberality of those who have attended them. 
 
 The teacher of the primary class is Miss Maggie Hicks, 
 who is assisted by Miss Florence Oliver. It numbers ten 
 pupils. "The Children's Picture Paper" is distributed. 
 The total number of pupils is seventy, with an average 
 attendance of forty-eight. 
 
 The pastor delivered two sermons to children during 
 1889, one being on the subject of temperance. 
 
 There are three hundred volumes in the Sunday-school 
 library. The singing book used by the school is " Pure 
 Gold." The lesson helps are the " Sunday-school Worker," 
 by Bishop J. J. Moore, and the " Sunday-school Quarterly," 
 the publications of the A. M. E. Zion Church Society. 
 
 The International Lesson Series is taught in the school. 
 
 The school is governed by a board of directors, who 
 assist the superintendent and attend to the business mat- 
 ters of the school. This board consists of George B. Jones, 
 Isaac B. Lewis, and Miss Young. 
 
 The superintendents in their order of service, so far as 
 can be ascertained, have been Gabriel P. Reevs, M. D., 
 Rev. George Jackson, Willam F. Marshall, William Lee, 
 John Lisby, and the present superintendent, William Lee, 
 elected August, 1889. 
 
 The present officers of the school are, William Lee, 
 Superintendent, George Jones, Assistant Superintendent; 
 Henry Oliver, Secretary ; and Miss M. Cornell, Treasurer. 
 The teachers are: Rev. T. T. Thomas, of adult Bible- 
 class; Mrs. Rebbeca Madison, Miss Maggie Young, Miss 
 Maggie Hicks, Miss Florence Oliver, Mrs. Mary B. Ganie, 
 Mrs. A. Cornell, Alex. Whedon, and George Jones. Teach- 
 ers of primary class: Miss Maggie Hicks and Miss Flor- 
 ence Oliver. The leader of the singing is Miss Oliver. 
 
408 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 
 
 The first religious effort put forth among the German 
 population of Yonkers was by the Westminster Presby- 
 terian Church of this city, which is noted in the historical 
 sermon of that church delivered by the Rev. Lewis Ward 
 Mudge, in July, 1 876, as follows : 
 
 "Early in the spring of i860, under the pastorate of 
 Rev. Mr. Sawyer, the collection of the church for ministe- 
 rial education was voted to Mr. (now Professor) H. D. 
 Wrage, then a student in the senior class of New York Sem- 
 inary, and he was invited to come to Yonkers and preach 
 to the Germans on the Sabbath, at 4 p. m. Between fifty 
 and sixty were present. Mr. Wrage was requested to 
 continue his services at a stated stipend, and he did soi 
 as a rule, on alternate Sabbaths,, until the early fall, when, 
 being free from other engagements, he made a thorough 
 canvass of the village, finding over one hundred German 
 families, averaging three adults, most of whom did not un- 
 derstand English sufiiciently to follow a sermon. Mr. 
 Wrage was then engaged from the ist of November, i860, 
 at a salary of $800 per annum. The use of the hall corner 
 Wells avenue and Broadway was given by the church to 
 the Germans. Archibald Baxter agreed to give $250 if the 
 church would give the same, the remainder to be secured, 
 if possible, from the Germans. Mr. W. F. Lee was ap- 
 pointed treasurer, Messrs. Baxter and Nairn advisory com- 
 mittee, and John Davidson solicitor of subscriptions. This 
 enterprise resulted in the formation of an independent 
 German church, which, after several years' experiment, 
 failed. Shortly after my coming to Yonkers the aid of our 
 church was again sought, and a number of conferences 
 were held between the Germans and myself in which they 
 were encouraged to keep their organization. On our part 
 cottage prayer-meetings were established at Mrs. Lorenz's 
 and Mrs. Arold's. Finally it was decided, after advice with 
 
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 409 
 
 others, that a change of organization alone would make the 
 church a success. At my suggestion application was made 
 to organize them into a Presbyterian church, to be cared 
 for until they should succeed in establishing themselves. 
 Accordingly, September 2, 1868, this was done in this build- 
 ing. Rev. B. Kruesi, of New York, preached the sermon in 
 German. A sketch of the past history of work among the 
 Germans was read by your pastor, who afterwards in the 
 name of the Presbytery effected the organization, Rev. J. 
 C. Wirtz acting as interpreter. The address of welcome 
 was given by Rev. Wilson Phraner, of Sing Sing. This 
 church started with thirty-nine members, many of whom 
 were gathered and led to Christ through the instrumentality 
 of this church. After one year's existence in this form the 
 opportunity long desired came. The orthodox Lutheran 
 body agreed to take the church and see to its support." 
 
 The St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church 
 was founded September 16, 1869, by the following persons: 
 Maximilian Joseph Reinfelder, M. D., William E. Beutler, 
 Peter Hagen, C. Weltzien, C. Deator, and Charles Kruger. 
 Of these original founders but one, William E. Beutler, re- 
 mains in the communion of the church. 
 
 The first service of the church was held on September 
 18, 1869, in the Mount Olivet Baptist Church on North 
 Broadway. The clergyman who officiated was the Rev. 
 J. H. Sommer, who also preached in the German church at 
 Hastings on Sunday afternoons. Miss Hopke, from Hast- 
 ings, presided at the organ and conducted the singing. 
 
 The second place of meeting of this little congregation 
 was in a hall now occupied by the Westchester Telephone 
 Company, corner of South Broadway and Main Street. 
 Rev. J. H. Sommer then became their stated pastor, begin- 
 ning his pastorate near the end of 1870. The first baptism 
 by Rev. Mr. Sommer was that of a child, Maria Johanna 
 Gugle, on September 11, 1870. The first confirmation by 
 him also occurred in this hall in the same year, when these 
 persons were confirmed : Miss Louise MuUer, Miss Sophia- 
 Kruger, Herman MuUer, Julius Weltzien, and Augustus 
 Weltzien. 
 
 The next place which was occupied by this church was 
 
4IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 in a hall over the building on South Broadway, formerly 
 occupied by the Yonkers postofl&ce, opposite Hudson Street, 
 on the site now occupied by the station of the New York 
 and Northern Railway. The congregation occupied this 
 hall for six months ; then they removed to the chapel of St. 
 John's Church, which was kindly tendered to them by that 
 church, where they worshipped for over a year, until their 
 new church edifice on Hudson Street, near Hawthorne 
 Avenue, was ready for occupancy. 
 
 On Sunday, August 30, 1874, a large assembly of per- 
 sons of all denominations witnessed the ceremony of the 
 laying of the comer-stone. A temporary platform was 
 erected and was occupied by the choir of the church, Rev. 
 Dr. Berkemier, Rev. Mr. Richards, Rev. Leo Koenig, pas- 
 tor of the church, and Dr. Maximilian J. Reinfelder, elder 
 of the church. F. MuUer, Jr., presided at the small church 
 organ at the back of the platform. The Sunday-school 
 teachers and scholars formed a semi-circle in front of the 
 platform. 
 
 The ceremony was opened with prayer by the pastor. 
 Rev. Leo Koenig. Dr. Berkemier delivered an address in 
 German maintaining the dignity and power of the church 
 against the world were it full of devils, because God was its 
 founder and Jesus Christ its comer-stone. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Koenig then introduced Rev. Mr. Richards, 
 who delivered an earnest discourse in English from these 
 words : " For other foundation can no man lay than that is 
 laid, which is Jesus Christ." i Cor. 3:11. At the conclusion 
 of the discourse Rev. Mr. Richards made an earnest appeal 
 to the citizens of Yonkers to support and uphold the new 
 church undertaking which was started in their midst, for it 
 rested on the truth of Jesus Christ. 
 
 The act of laying the corner-stone was performed by 
 Rev. Leo Koenig, the pastor of the church. In the box 
 which was placed in the cavity of the stone were the fol- 
 lowing articles : Copies of the " Yonkers Gazette," the 
 " Yonkers Statesman," and the " Westchester Zeitung," a 
 catechism by Martin Luther, a German Lutheran singing- 
 book, a German Bible, " Lutheran Oherold," " Lutheran 
 Misser," " Lutheran Zeitochriff," charter, constitution, and 
 
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 41I 
 
 by-laws of Lutheran Emigrant House of New York, the 
 Minutes of the last Synod of the Lutheran Missionary Soci- 
 ety of the State of New York, and a copy of the " Jugen 
 Frerend." 
 
 The corner-stone, which is of granite, bears this in- 
 scription in gilt letters: "St. Johannis Deutsche Evang. 
 Lutherische Kirche, Anno Domini 1874." 
 
 On Sunday, December 13, 1874, the church was dedica- 
 ted. Notwithstanding there was a severe storm prevailing 
 at the time, the church was completely filled and many were 
 obliged to go away unable to obtain entrance.. 
 
 The dedicatory service was at ten o'clock in the morn- 
 ing, and was conducted in the German language. Rev. 
 Justus Ruperti, D. D., pastor of the German Evangelical 
 Church of St. Matthew, New York, preached the sermon. 
 A service in the English language was held in the after- 
 noon at three o'clock. Rev. G. F. Kortel, D. D., President 
 of the New York Ministerium, preached the sermon. 
 
 The singing of the children of the Sunday-school on 
 this occasion was generally admired. The council of the 
 church at the dedication was composed of Rev. Leo Koenig, 
 pastor; Dr. Maximilian J. Reinfelder,* elder; F. MuUer, 
 Sr., F. Muller, Jr., Wm. Beutler, J. Dietrich, J. Kolpin, D. 
 Jurgens, H. Meinhardt, J. Heinrich, and E. R. Wicht, trus- 
 tees. 
 
 The church is a small brick structure with a belfry. It 
 stands on Hudson Street, near the corner of Hawthorne 
 Avenue. It has a single auditorium with two aisles. The 
 
 * Dr. Maximilian Joseph Reinfelder, one of the founders of this church, 
 passed away very suddenly at his residence in Yonkers, on Friday morn- 
 ing, November 30, 1888. He was one of the best known and oldest physi- 
 cians in the city of Yonkers. He was bom in Munich, kingdom of Bavaria, 
 March 4, 1812. His father, Ferdinand Reinfelder, was a surgeon in the 
 military academy of that capital, where he was in active service thirty-three 
 years. Dr. Reinfelder came to the United States in 1854, and practised 
 medicine in Yonkers for thirty-three years. He was a man of acknowl- 
 edged reputation in the profession, and was consulting physician to St. 
 John's Riverside Hospital. He was liberal and kind to the poor, lend- 
 ing a helping hand in time of need, and ^erving them professionally with 
 little or no remuneration. The remark of one of them, " I will shed many 
 bitter tears when Dr. Reinfelder dies," touchingly expresses the estimation 
 in which he was held by them, and it was fully manifested at his funeral. 
 
4i;2 CHURCH And sunday-school work. 
 
 four chancel windows are of stained glass and those in the 
 auditorium of ground glass. The seating capacity is three 
 hundred. The gallery at the south end of the auditorium 
 was added five years after the building of the church. The 
 second pastor of the church, Rev. Leo Koenig, and Herman 
 Mullet collected for the building of the church from their 
 English-speaking friends $5,000. William Beutler and 
 Henry Deitrich collected from their German friends $500 
 for the same object. The lots cost $2,000. The church 
 cost $10,000. The present valuation of the church prop- 
 erty is $14,000. 
 
 The successive pastors of this church have been : Rev. 
 J. H. Sommer, from December, 1870, to 1872. Rev. Leo 
 Koenig, from December, 1872, to 1877. Rev. Armindus Vol- 
 quarts, from 1877 to November, 1878. Mr. Volquarts died 
 March 11, 1882, at Egg Harbor, N. Y. The next and pres- 
 ent pastor of this church preached his first sermon to this 
 people on Advent Sunday, 1878, when he was called to be- 
 come its pastor, but was not installed until April, 1879. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Foehlinger at the time of his call to this pas- 
 torate preached in Hastings on Sunday afternoons. He 
 took part in the dedicatory exercises of the German church 
 there in February, 1887. He gave up his charge in Hast- 
 ings after assuming the entire charge of this church, and 
 preached his first sermon to this people as has been stated. 
 In April, 1878, the following clergymen, members of the 
 New York Ministerium, took part in the service of installa- 
 tion : Rev. R. Keyl, Rev. L. Koenig, and Rev. Mr. Cowls. 
 
 Rev. Frederick William Foehlinger was bom in Rhen- 
 ish Prussia, near Coblentz, was educated at the University 
 of Bonn, and came to this country in 1 848. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Foehlinger's pastorate of this church has been 
 successful both spiritually and temporally. He has suc- 
 ceeded in reducing a mortgage debt of over $6,000 to $2,000, 
 and the , membership has increased to 168, which is the 
 present number of communicants. He is much beloved by 
 his people. 
 
 The church has connected with it a society called " The 
 Young Folks' Friendly Society.". 
 
 The present officers of the church are : Wm. Beutler, 
 
ST. JOHN'S (;;erman Lutheran church. 413 
 
 John Hailfinger, Frederick Bode, Frederick Griender, and 
 Charles Miller, Elders ; Wm. Beutler, John Hailfinger, and 
 Frederick Bode, Trustees. 
 
 The communion service was a gift from the ladies of 
 the church. 
 
 The inscription on the Bible is as follows : " Von den 
 Frauen der Deutschen Evang. Lutherischen St. Johannis 
 Gemeinde in Yonkers, A. D. 1873." 
 
 The white marble baptismal font bears the following 
 inscription : " Zum Andenken An Frau U. Merz und ihre 
 enkelin B. Reinfelder." 
 
 The organist is Miss Louise MuUer. 
 
 The sexton is Mrs. Reitzaumaner. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This Sunday-school was organized September 11, 1869, 
 in a room located on Broadway, next door to the Yonkers 
 Savings' Bank, opposite Hudson Street. 
 
 The following persons were present at its organization : 
 Miss Louise MuUer, Herman MuUer, who subsequently be- 
 came Dr. MuUer; Miss Gretchen Gaul, Peter Hagen, and 
 Frederick Deator. These persons, with twenty pupils, were 
 present at the first session of the school. About six months 
 after the school was removed to a room in a building on the 
 southwest corner of South Broadway and Main Street, now 
 the office of the Westchester Telephone Company. Peter 
 Hagen was chosen the first superintendent. 
 
 The school remained in this building for three years, 
 after which it was taken to St. John's Chapel on Hudson 
 Street, and remained there till the day of the dedication of 
 the church, in December, 1874. 
 
 The school has held many pleasant picnics. Their first 
 annual picnic was held in Dr. Herriot's grounds on South 
 Broadway, which he most generously tendered to them on 
 that occasion, in August,' 1875.. 
 
 The annual picnic in August, 1888, was held on South 
 Broadway on Christfield's farm. The school to the number 
 of 140 went in stages from Getty Square. The proceeds of 
 this picnic were $63, which went into the school fund. 
 
 The first Christmas festival which the school celebrated 
 
414 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 was held in the hall over the building which occupied the 
 site where the Yonkers station of the New York and North- 
 ern Railway now stands. At this pleasant gathering there 
 were present twenty-nine pupils with their teachers. 
 
 The first Christmas festival held in the new church 
 was on December 25, 1874, in the morning. There was 
 good speaking and excellent singing by the children. 
 
 The following is from a printed report of the school in 
 the centennial year, December, 1 876 : " This Sunday-school 
 meets in the church at two o'clock in the afternoon, under 
 the superintendency of William Beutler. It is composed of 
 the German children of our city. Officers, 3 ; teachers, 14 ; 
 average attendance, 80; largest attendance, 100; volumes 
 in library, 100 ; receipts, $250; expenditures, $225. Officers 
 of the school are: William Beutler, Superintendent; N. 
 Kolpin, Secretary. The teachers are : Miss Louise MuUer, 
 Miss L. Klein, Miss E. Stokl, Miss R. Mockel, Miss Bertha 
 Beutler, Miss M. Kuster, Miss A. Weltzien, Miss Barum- 
 bach. Miss B. Fuhrman, and Messrs. Herman MuUer, Kerl, 
 Meinhardt, Litz, Weltzien, and J. Kolpin." 
 
 The Christmas festival in 1888 was held on Christmas 
 night in the church. The attendance was large. There 
 could be no mistaking the nature of the service, or that 
 Kris Kringle was around, for, on opening the church door, 
 the most prominent object that met the gaze was a mam- 
 moth Christmas-tree, illuminated from top to bottom with 
 dozens of burning tapers. 
 
 There was some good singing, and an excellent address 
 was made by the pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Foehlinger. A 
 distribution of presents followed, and the children went 
 home filled with gladness and loaded with good things. 
 
 Children's Day is regularly observed by the school. 
 
 A monthly collection is taken up and is devoted to the 
 cause of missions, and averages $100 per year. 
 
 A donation from the Sunday-school is given annually 
 to the Wartburg Orphans' Farm School, an institution of 
 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 
 
 In 1886 the school had on its roll one hundred schol- 
 ars and sixteen officers and teachers, six of the latter being 
 ladies. The present membership is one hundred and ten. 
 
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 415 
 
 This scliool has decreased in membership on account of the 
 establishment of another German Sunday-school in the 
 city. Bruno Hailfinger has been the efficient secretary of 
 this school for five years and still holds that office. 
 
 In 1888 fifteen pupils from the Sunday-school were re- 
 ceived into the church and in 1889, nine. 
 
 The Primary class is taught by Miss Heinrichs, and 
 numbers fifteen scholars. 
 
 The lessons taught are from the historical books of the 
 Bible and the Lutheran Catechism. The singing book is 
 " The Sunday-school Harmony." The Sunday-school help 
 is " Der Bibelforscher," which is used by the teachers for 
 the larger classes. The papers distributed are " Der Mitar- 
 beiter " and " Lutherifches Kinderblatt." 
 
 Number of volumes in library, go. 
 
 The school meets at nine o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The present superintendent, William Beutler, has held 
 that place for nineteen years and for his long term of ser- 
 vice in connection with this Sunday-school is among the 
 honorary list of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. He is 
 held in warm affection by his teachers and the scholars of 
 his school: As a testimonial of his valuable services he was 
 presented by the school with an elegantly bound copy of 
 the Scriptures in 1882. And on- Christmas of 1887 he re- 
 ceived a handsome volume of the sermons of Rev. Carl 
 Wm. Frederick Wallers, the founder of the Lutheran 
 Church in America. 
 
 The superintendents of this school in the order of their 
 service have been Peter Hagen, Frederick Deator, and Wil- 
 liam Beutler. 
 
 The present officers of th'e school are : William Beutler, 
 Superintendent ; Pastor Foehlinger, Treasurer ; Bruno Hail- 
 finger, Secretary; Louise Lohr, Librarian. The teachers 
 are : Misses Anna Vangerow, Ida Schieper, Katie Schloss- 
 han, Maria Sievers, Katie Koch, Annie Jurgens, Helen 
 Heinrichs, Christrane Reutler, Louise Lohr, Minnie Gaul, 
 Messrs. Frederick Keil, Frederick Bitter, Albertina Berger, 
 Bruno Hailfinger, and Superintendent William Beutler. 
 The leader of the singing is Katie Koch, who is also the or- 
 ganist for the school. 
 
4l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 ' This church, formerly known as St. Mary's Free Epis- 
 copal Church, was founded by Miss Caroline Jones, daugh- 
 ter of William Jones, who was senior warden of St. 
 John's Episcopal Church of Yonkers from 1 841-1843. Miss 
 Caroline Jones, desirous of founding a free Episcopal 
 Church in Yonkers, gave the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., in 
 1867, the sum of one thousand dollars as the nucleus of a 
 fund to that end. Shortly after the before-mentioned date 
 she made a will and appointed the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., 
 and her sister. Miss Louisa Jones, as executors of said will. 
 She left a plot of land on Ashburton Avenue, near the cor- 
 ner of what is now Jones' Place, and authorized the Rev. 
 Mr. Cobb to sell the ground if not desirable for the object 
 stated. After her death, in 1868, the plot was sold, and the 
 proceeds, with the one thousand dollars previously men- 
 tioned, were deposited in the Yonkers Savings-Batik. 
 
 In 1 87 1 the Rev. Mr. Cobb selected Messrs. J. Foster Jen- 
 kins, M. D., S. Emmet Getty, Geo. W. Cobb, Britton Rich- 
 ardson, Charles W. Seymour, and the Rev. M. R. Hooper, 
 four of whom were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 
 to join with him in organizing a free church. These gentle- 
 men composed the first board of trustees of the church. 
 
 In the year 1872 the eligible site which the church 
 occupies, corner of Elm Street and Nepperhan Avenue, was 
 purchased. " At that time the savings-bank investment had 
 grown to about $6,000. The lot was purchased for $4,000. 
 A mortgage was given for the whole amount. On Tues- 
 day, April 24, 1872, the service of the laying of the corner- 
 stone of this church took place, in which the Rev. William 
 S. Langford, D. D., rector of St. John's Church, the Rev. 
 Darius Richmond Brewer, a former rector of St. Paul's 
 Church, the Rev. Angus M. Ives, of Tuckahoe, the Rev. M. 
 R. Hooper, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., took part. Brief 
 and appropriate addresses were made by the Rev. Dr. 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 417 
 
 Langford and the Rev Mr. Brewer. In the absence of the 
 Bishop the Rev. Wm. S. Langford, D. D., officiated in his 
 place. Within the corner-stone waS placed a copper box 
 containing a copy of the Bible, a Prayer Book, a Church 
 Almanac of 1872, the names of trustees and officers of the 
 church, a photograph of Miss Caroline Jones, and an ex- 
 tract from her will. 
 
 The sweet-sounding bell in the belfry for the first 
 time rang out its invitation to worship in the church on 
 Sunday afternoon, July 14, 1872. The exercises were con- 
 ducted by the Rev. William S. Langford, D. D., rector of 
 St. John's Church, the Rev. David F. Banks, of St. Paul's 
 Church, the Rev. M. R. Hooper, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, 
 Jr. After a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Banks the holy com- 
 munion was celebrated. 
 
 The church is constructed of wood with the outer walls 
 filled in with brick, with deafened floors, slate roof, and 
 stained glass windows. A wide aisle extends through the 
 auditorium from the vestibule to the altar, having seats 
 arranged on both sides. There are fixed settees, neat and 
 comfortable. Upon the chancel window, back of the altar, 
 some Scripture scenes are represented, which are Mount 
 Sinai, Jerusalem, and a rustic cross bearing the inscrip- 
 tion I. N. R. I., and before which a female figure is 
 kneeling in the act of worship. 
 
 The light from the morning sun breaking in upon this 
 window produces a singular and beautiful effect. It is a 
 memorial donated by Miss Louisa Jones. A marble tablet 
 in the form of a Maltese cross is on the wall to the right of 
 this window, commemorating the memory of Miss Caro- 
 line Jones, who after a life of faith and good works entered 
 into the rest which remaineth for the people of God on 
 October 30, 1868. The tablet bears this inscription : 
 
 |n ^emory of 
 
 MISS CAROLINE JONES, 
 
 BY WHOSE LIBERALITY 
 THIS CHURCH WAS FOUNDED. 
 The building is 25 by 64 feet. The vestry room, which 
 is 12 by 12 feet, contains two large windows, and is in a 
 
 SODtey-scbool Work. 27 
 
41 8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 wing off from the chaticel. The porch is 6 by lo feet and 
 has a belfry on it. The finishing and furnishing of the 
 church building was evidently ordered with a view to neat- 
 ness and comfort rather than elegance and show. John A. 
 East was the builder. 
 
 Owing to adverse circumstances, in i88o the mortgage 
 on the church was foreclosed and the property bought in 
 by James C. Bell, who subsequently deeded it to the Rev. 
 Lyman Cobb, Jr., who assumed the payment of a new 
 mortgage by giving his personal bond. 
 
 In 1884, during Mr. Cobb's absence in Europe, the 
 church was offered for sale, and his son, having power of 
 attorney for the purpose, sold it to Mrs. Virginia Clark, 
 widow of John H. Clark, a member of St. John's parish, 
 who assumed the mortgage of $4,800 which encumbered 
 it and liquidated a floating debt of $700. This most gen- 
 erous and timely assistance stimulated the members and 
 friends of the church to a wonderfully vigorous and suc- 
 cessful effort to pay its remaining indebtedness, which 
 they succeeded in accomplishing under the leadership of 
 their rector, the Rev. August Ulmann, who was untiring in 
 his personal effort and unwearied in planning measures 
 which finally resulted in bringing about this most desira- 
 ble object. 
 
 The church was then put in the hands of the Bishop, 
 cooperating with an advisory board. 
 
 The church property was considerably enhanced in 
 value by the gift of a portable building for church and Sun- 
 day-school purposes, in October, 1885, from Mrs. Virginia 
 Clark, a member of St. John's Church of Yonkers. The 
 building was manufactured at Corona, L. I., and is two 
 stories high, 17 by 40 feet in its dimensions, and will accom- 
 modate between two hundred and three hundred persons. 
 It was erected in the rear of the church, a portion of which 
 faces Nepperhan Avenue. This buildng was erected in 
 I memory of Mrs. Clark's parents. It is known as the 
 " Parish House," and is most convenient, and has become 
 a necessity in carrying forward church and Sunday-school 
 work. 
 
 Sunday, December 9, 1888, marked a most important 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 419 
 
 and memorable event in the history of this church. On that 
 day the church was consecrated to the use and service of 
 Almighty God with the impressive ritual of the Episcopal 
 Church. Promptly at eleven o'clock Bishop Henry C. Pot- 
 ter, of New York, the Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith, Arch- 
 deacon of New York, the Rev. Wm. S. Snively, of Brooklyn, 
 and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., met the wardens and vestry- 
 men of the parish at the door of the church and proceeded 
 up the aisle to the chancel while the twenty-fourth Psalm 
 was being .read. The floral decorations of the church were 
 elaborate. In front of the font, which was richly decorated, 
 stood a beautiful cross, while the altar was hidden beneath 
 a mass of fragrant flowers. The instrument of donation 
 was read by John W. Alexander, and the consecration ser- 
 vice by Dr. Snively. The anthem " Rejoice in the Lord, 
 ye righteous," was then sung. Morning prayer was read 
 by the rector, assisted by Dr. Snively and Mr. Cobb. A 
 powerful and eloquent sermon was preached by the Arch- 
 deacon from St. Maltthew 11 : 16-19. After the sermon the 
 Bishop, in a few fitting words, touched upon the past history 
 of the church and its future prospects. James Pearce, Mus. 
 Doc, of Yonkers, presided at the organ, supported by a full 
 choir. The music was well rendered and appropriate to 
 the occasion. 
 
 After the dedication of the church in 1872, the Rev. 
 Lyman Cobb, Jr., officiated for several months, holding 
 morning services, afternoon services being conducted by 
 the clergymen of Yonkers, Hastings, and Riverdale. The 
 Rev. S. S. Lewis ofiiciated for two years and was succeeded 
 by the Rev. William Hyde, who served for one year. Next 
 came the Rev. R. H. Barnes, who was succeeded by the 
 Rev. Samuel B. Moore. The Rev. Charles Ferris was the 
 next rector, for a brief period, and was followed by the 
 Rev. Robert S. Carlin, a student in the General Theologi- 
 cal Seminary of New York. On June 16, 1886, the Rev. 
 August Ulmann, who from June i, 1884, had ofiiciated as 
 assistant minister of St. John's Church, was elected rector. 
 His pastoral career was marked with great success, as man- 
 ifested in its various forms of work, and under his charge 
 the parish greatly prospered. 
 
420 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 In June, 1890, the Rev. August Ulmann tendered his 
 resignation as rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Yonkers, 
 and is now Rector of Trinity School, New York city. 
 
 The vestry and congregation passed resolutions expres- 
 sive of their regret at his departure from Yonkers, which 
 were placed on the records of the church. 
 
 The Rev. E. S. Widdemer, formerly of the church of 
 the Messiah, Philadelphia, preached his inaugural sermon 
 at Christ Church on Sunday morning October 6, 1 890. He 
 created a very favorable impression. The subject of his 
 sermon was "Prayer," the text being the first clause of 
 Psalm 122:6 — "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," and he 
 emphasized the point that to make his ministry a success 
 in Yonkers he needed the prayerful cooperation of his 
 whole congregation. 
 
 The Rev. Ephraim SoUiday Widdemer, rector of Christ 
 Episcopal Church, Yonkers, is one of those fortunate clergy- 
 men who knew and did something else in life before he 
 entered the ministry. Mr. Widdemer came from the law 
 to the gospel. He is a native of Philadelphia, where he 
 was a law-student in the office of the late Benjamin Harris 
 Brewster, ex-Attorney General of the United States. But 
 he was admitted to the practice of law in New York, and is 
 still in full standing as a member of the Bar of this State. 
 
 Mr. Widdemer, who is now in late middle life, was 
 ordained by Bishop Horatio Potter in St. Luke's Church, 
 New York city, in June, 185 7. His opening work was in 
 Northern New York, where he for several years was rector 
 of St. John's Church, Stillwater, Saratoga County. Thence 
 he went at the Bishop's request to inaugurate a new work 
 in the city of Troy, N. Y. Here he began a parish de novo. 
 There were in the section of the city selected neither Epis- 
 copal Church, Sunday-school, vestry, congregation, nor any- 
 thing else except people. At the end of four years St. 
 Luke's Church of Troy, N. Y., was thoroughly established, 
 a handsome stone edifice built (and paid for) at an ex- 
 pense of $25,000, parsonage, 150 members, and a large Sun- 
 day-school. Mr. Widdemer was called from Troy to Phil- 
 adelphia, where within two years he repeated the same work 
 in effect, leaving the present Church of the Annunciation, 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 42 1 , 
 
 (then called tlie Churcli of the Merciful Saviour) fully 
 established. The next ten years were spent in very success- 
 ful work in New York city. He was then, in 1883, recalled 
 to Philadelphia, where as rector of the Church of the Mes- 
 siah he spent eight years, leaving there last October, against 
 the personal solicitation of his Bishop, to become rector of 
 Christ Church, Yonkers. Rev. Mr. Widdemer is a rapid, 
 fluent, and extempore speaker. He has the faculty of build- 
 ing up and holding a congregation. 
 
 The parish register gives the following statistics : From 
 January 27, 1878, to July 2, 1885: Baptisms, 34; confirma- 
 tions, 22; marriages, 3; deaths, 9. From July 2, 1885, to 
 July I,* 1889: Baptisms, 165 ; confirmations, 66; marriages, 
 67; deaths, 103 ; number of communicants, 158. 
 
 On Easter Monday, 1886, Theodore J. Bayer and Henry 
 Stengel were elected Wardens, and William Webb, W. 
 C. Pool, Henry Gaul, John Braithwaite, Samuel Hayward, 
 Henry Back, Albert Hanson, and George Taylor, Vestry- 
 men. 
 
 The present officers are. Wardens : Henry Stengel, John 
 W. Alexander. Vestrymen : E. R. Gardiner, John H. Rein, 
 William Roberts, William H. Scriven, John Brazier, Henry 
 Gaul, Jeremiah Simmonds. 
 
 Improvements are contemplated in the enlargement of 
 the church building. A memorial fund in memory of Raf- 
 faelle Cobb, Jr., has been created, May, 1891, by subscrip- 
 tions of a specified amount till the same shall have reached 
 the required amount for the said enlargement. 
 
 Parochial statistics, September i, 1890: Number of 
 souls, 318 ; baptisms, 51 ; confirmed, 25 ; marriages, 15 ; bur- 
 ials, 24; communicants, 160; expenditures, total for all ob- 
 jects, 1890, $3>372 77- 
 
 Christ Church Chapter 302 of the Brotherhood of St. 
 Andrew was organized May, i88g, with a membership of 
 twenty-two. Its officers were John W. Alexander, Presi- 
 dent ; William Roberts, Secretary ; John Braithwaite, Treas- 
 urer, and Rev. August Ulmann, chaplain. 
 
 Christ Church Chapter is still young, but its work al- 
 ready shows abundant and blessed fruit. 
 
 The first organist of the cliurch was Mrs. James B. 
 
422 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Silkman, who served gratuitously for a number of years. 
 The following persons composed the first choir of this 
 church : Miss Sarah Hill, soprano ; Miss Mollie Hill, alto ; 
 John Lovette, bass ; Theodore Bayer, tenor. Robert Walsh 
 was the organist for ten years until his removal from 
 the city, in June, 1881. The choir were assisted by several 
 persons who were also volunteers. Miss Libbie Bigger- 
 staff succeeded Mr. Walsh as organist. Theodore Bayer 
 was the director of the singing for a number of years, and 
 led the volunteer choir, which was composed of ten voices, 
 mainly of members of the church. Miss Flora Stengel is 
 the present organist. The choir, 1890, consisted of Mrs. 
 Irene Hartt, and Misses Emma Blair, Emma G. lies. Chap- 
 man, and Watson, soprano ; Mrs. Henry Bark and Miss 
 Watson, alto ; Wm. Pierpoint, Jr., tenor ; and Henry Bark 
 and Samuel Hayward, bass. ^ 
 
 The pulpit Bible was presented by the children of 
 Samuel Emmet Getty. The Bishop's chair, the rector's 
 chair, the lectern, the stalls, the pulpit, and the altar-cloths 
 were presented as memorials by Miss Louisa Jones. The 
 first communion service was also presented as a memorial 
 by Miss Sarah Jones, another sister. This service was re- 
 cently donated to a destitute church in the West, after a 
 very handsome service had been presented by Mrs. Vir- 
 ginia Clark, in 1888. The font was presented by the Rev. 
 Lyman Cobb, Jr., as a memorial of his father, Lyman 
 Cobb, A. M., author. 
 
 A handsome new organ, manufactured by Mason and 
 Risch, of Worcester, Mass., was placed in the church in 
 1888. 
 
 The present sexton is Charles Hanson. 
 
 The outlook of this church is bright, encouraging, and 
 hopeful. The work of its members, as well as of those who 
 have officiated in the pulpit, and whose influence and pa- 
 tient continuance in well-doing have contributed towards its 
 present prosperity, and whose faithful and self-sacrificing 
 efforts as they toiled to build up this church are still cher- 
 ished and cannot be forgotten. Some have passed into 
 the other world, while others are still toiling in other fields, 
 yet this church is reaping the benefit of their fruitful lives 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 423 
 
 May tlie record of what has been accomplished in the 
 past be a spur and an incentive to those who remain to do 
 more even in the future than has been done, that they 
 may bear aloft with steady hands the banner of the Cross 
 in the midst of a careless world, strengthened, encouraged, 
 and upheld as they recall the words of the Lord Jesus how 
 he said : " And herein is that saying true. One soweth and 
 another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye be- 
 stowed no labor ; other men labored, and ye are entered into 
 their labors. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and 
 gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that sow- 
 eth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 To Samuel Emmet Getty was given the privilege 
 and honor of founding the Sunday-school connected with 
 this church. It was organized the day the church build- 
 ing was ready for occupancy, July 14, 1872, and took the 
 name of the church, which was then " St. Mary's." 
 
 S. Emmet Getty, who was at that time the superin- 
 tendent of St. John's Church Sunday-school, was chosen 
 the superintendent. The session was held in the afternoon 
 at three o'clock. School was flourishing from its start ; schol- 
 ars from St. John's Sunday-school attended it in the after- 
 noon, and many from the immediate neighborhood, and 
 the attendance in a few weeks was about one hundred 
 scholars. 
 
 Among the early teachers are recalled Mrs. Lyman 
 Cobb, Jr., Miss Gertrude Cobb, Miss M. J. Hill, Miss Rebecca 
 Fisher, Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. Silkman, 
 and others, who were volunteers from St. John's Sunday- 
 school. At a later date Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde, Miss Anna 
 Teresa Bate, Miss Sarah J. Beebe, Miss Anna Wells, and 
 Messrs. Wells, Raffaelle Cobb, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, 
 Jr., became teachers. 
 
 The young ladies' Bible-class was taught by the Rev. 
 Ljonan Cobb, Jr. The first library was the generous gift 
 of the Rev. Mr. Cobb. The first hymn book used contained 
 a collection of hymns without music and a service for 
 opening and closing the school. The tunes for the hymns 
 
424 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 were selected from all sources. They were familiar church 
 tunes. The collections were devoted to home missions of 
 the church, and contributions were given from time to 
 time by the children to St. John's Riverside Hospital. 
 
 " The Sunday-school of the Free Episcopal Church of 
 St. Mary's held a very pleasant Christmas festival in De- 
 cember, 1875. The main feature of the exercises was a 
 magic lantern exhibition by the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., 
 which delighted the children and gave enjoyment to all. 
 An interesting address was made by the rector, the Rev. 
 Charles Ferris." 
 
 A printed report of this school during the centennial 
 year— December, 1876 — gives the following statistics: Offi- 
 cers, 3 ; teachers, 1 1 ; scholars on register, 140 ; average 
 attendance, 80; volumes in library, 200; receipts for the 
 year, $45 ; expenditures, $45. The officers of the school 
 are : Rev. S. S. Lewis, Superintendent ; F. Eugene Cobb, 
 Librarian ; the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., Treasurer. The 
 teachers are : Mrs. Newlin, Mrs. Lyman Cobb, Jr., Mr. S. 
 S. Lewis, Misses Mjnnie P. Cobb, Gertrude Cobb, E. M. 
 Cook, Stengel, Thomas, Messrs. Theodore Silkman, John 
 Wells, and the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr. Theodore Silkman 
 succeeded Mr. Getty as superintendent, and during his su- 
 perintendency the school was well attended and did good 
 work. 
 
 The school celebrated its Easter festival on Sunday 
 afternoon, April 26, 1878, at two o'clock. The children sang 
 their carols very sweetly, and addresses were made by the 
 Rev. William Hyde, rector of the church, Theodore Silk- 
 man, superintendent of the school, and the Rev. Alexander 
 Forbes, of Scarsdale. 
 
 On a large red arch were the words " I am the resur- 
 rection and the — " and as each class presented its offering 
 it also furnished a tiny white bouquet, which were success- 
 ively placed in a wire framework. And when the last class 
 had given its bouquet, the floral word " life " was completed 
 in the centre of this arch, finishing the quotation. 
 
 The amount of the Easter offering was $20, which was 
 devoted to the church fund. 
 
 More than ordinary preparation was made by the 
 
CHRIST' EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 425 
 
 church to give the children a generous treat at their Christ- 
 mas celebration, December, 1878. The bright young faces 
 of the children wore a look of anticipation as they gathered 
 in the church, and the sight of the handsome tree laden 
 with good things and gleaming with the lights was not 
 calculated to lessen their pleasure. The beautiful carols 
 were well sung and the remarks of the rector were listened 
 to with great attention, which they merited, after which the 
 children received their gifts. • 
 
 The school under the superintendency of the Rev. Ly- 
 man Cobb, Jr., was in a very prosperous condition. 
 
 The following incident is related showing the great 
 interest and attachment the children manifested for their 
 superintendent and teachers. A few weeks previous to 
 their Christmas entertainment they were informed that the 
 Sunday-schools of the city would hold their Christmas fes- 
 tivals on the same evening, and those who belonged to this 
 school and who were also members of other Sunday-schools 
 could choose which school they desired to be identified with 
 on that occasion. 
 
 The choice was made, and only three scholars out of 
 the entire school (a number of whom also attended other 
 schools) decided not to remain. 
 
 This was indeed a trial test of their devotion to the 
 school, inasmuch as the other schools had greater attrac- 
 tions on that occasion. 
 
 The school under the superintendency of the Rev. 
 Robert S. Carlin continued to prosper for a time. After 
 his resignation it declined in numbers and interest in a 
 marked degree, so that the record roll when the Rev. Mr. 
 Ulmann assumed charge, July, 1885, showed but fifty-six 
 scholars and six teachers. The number of scholars at the 
 preceding Christmas festival, 1884, was about one hundred. 
 
 Twice a year the list of scholars is corrected, at Christ- 
 mas and Trinity Sunday. In consequence of this the at- 
 tendance compared with the number of scholars on the roll 
 record is large. This Sunday-school carries no dead wood 
 on paper. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Ulmann, on assuming the charge of the 
 school, prepared an " honor roll." The names of the pupils 
 
426 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 who are perfect in punctuality, deportment, and in their 
 Bible lesson and catechism during six months are placed 
 on the roll according to their standing, and a number deno- 
 ting the number of times they were perfect in all the re- 
 quirements necessary for their names to appear on the 
 honor roll is placed after their name. The honor roll at 
 the Christmas festival held Wednesday, December 30, 1885, 
 shows the following names : 
 
 First Grade — James Van Varick, 20 ; Upson Van Var- 
 ick, 20; Susie Tyrrell, 19; Bertina Watson, 19. 
 
 Honorable Mention — Emma Archerd, Jennie Back, 
 Amelia Betts, Alice M. Edgar, Gertrude Laforge, Libbie 
 Martin, Edith Oakley, Lillie Taylor, Marie White, Millie 
 White, Arthur Hyde, Frank Hyde, Willie Hyde, John Mar- 
 tin, William Martin. 
 
 Second Grade — Lillian Fisher, 18; Marion Fisher, 18 
 Susie Ingalls, 18; Lavinia Jenkins, 18; Miriam Mottram, 18 
 Sadie Simmonds, 18; Dora Underbill, 18; Josie Bayer, 18 
 Clara Mellor, 17; Willie Bruce, 17; Neville Williams, 17. 
 
 Third Grade— Annie Bell, 16; Sarah Mellor, 16; Amy 
 Archerd, 1 5 ; Nellie Perry, 1 5 ; Gertie Underbill, 1 5 ; Sadie 
 Borland, 14 ; Emma Crowther, 14 ; Rosa Gabriel, 14 : Gussie 
 Taylor, 14 ; Mamie Taylor, 14 ; Raffaelle Cobb, Jr., 14 ; Sam- 
 uel Mellor, 14. 
 
 The honor roll on Trinity Sunday, 1886, was as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 First Grade, 20-— Susie Tyrrell, Marie White, Marion 
 Fisher, Nellie Hurd, William Martin, Arthur Hyde, James 
 Van Varick, Charles Eisenhut, Ida Holberton, Millie White, 
 Lillian Fisher, Charles Mellefont, Willie Hyde, Raffaelle 
 Cobb, Jr. 
 
 Honorable Mention — Cogen Marran, Charles Johnston, 
 Upson Van Varick. 
 
 Second Grade — Miriam Mottram, 1 8 ; Sadie Borland, 
 17; Bessie Gardiner, 18; Libbie Martin, 19; Anna White, 
 17; Nellie Gardiner, 19; Gertrude Underbill, 17; Emma 
 Sibert, 18; Sadie Simmonds, 18; Lavinia Jenkins, 18; Liz- 
 zie Borland, 18; Sarah Mellor, 19; Lizzie Myers, 17; Alice 
 Edgar, 1 8 ; Sadie Perry, 1 7 ; Gussie Taylor, 1 7 ; Edith Oak- 
 ley, 18; Emma Blair, 17; Susie Ingalls, 17; Clara Mellor, 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 427 
 
 18; John Martin, 19; Edward Underhill, 18; Willie Pen- 
 nell, 17; David Chambers, 18; John Dietrich, 18; Eva 
 Mitchell, 18; Hattie Mellefont, 17; Clara Hurd, 17; Amelia 
 Betts, 18; Howard Rich, 17-; Josie Bayer, 18; N. Summer- 
 ville, 17; Henry Borland, 19; Charles Imhold, 17. 
 
 Third Grade — Laura Bruce, 15 ; Annie Bell, 14; Fred- 
 erick Myers, 16; Emma Crowther, 16; Agnes Lankester, 
 15; Annie Higgins, 15; M. Wellinghausen, 14; Martha 
 Haslett, 15 ; Eddie Simmonds, 14; James Moshier, — ; Lau- 
 ra Simmonds, 15 ; Gertrude Laforge, 16, Jennie Back, 16; 
 Nellie Perry, 14; Minnie Eisenhut, 14; Grace Pennell, 16; 
 Louise Henf, 14; Maggie Dietrich, 15 ; Richard Gabriel, 16. 
 
 Primary Department, Honorable Mention — Frank 
 Hyde, Bertha Lent, Eva Benson, Cornelia Cobb, Barbara 
 Kruppenbacher, Maud Gardiner, Emma Oakley, EUery 
 Rich, Robert Pennell, Willie Bruce, Dora Underbill, Grace 
 Borland, Marie Kruppenbacher, Frank Gardiner, Esther 
 Pennell, Maud Moshier, Fannie Higgins, Lois Dunero. 
 
 The church was crowded on Thursday evening, De- 
 cember 30, 1886, when the Sunday-school assembled to cele- 
 brate the Christmas festival. The exercises began at seven 
 o'clock under the direction of the rector, the Rev. August 
 Ulmann. The programme was as follows : 
 
 Carol Lo, He Comes ! Jehovah Jesus. 
 
 Lord's Prayer and Collects and Scripture. 
 Carol . - - Hark ! a Burst of Heavenly Music. 
 
 Address. 
 Carol While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night. 
 
 Scripture. 
 Carol - . - Hark ! the Hosts of Heaven Are Singing. 
 
 Reading of Honor Roll and Address. 
 Carol Holy Night, Peaceful Night-— By Primary Depart- 
 
 ment. 
 Carol - - Our Christmas Tree is Decked Once More, 
 
 Distribution of Presents. 
 Carol - - - Farewell to Thee, O Christmas Tree. 
 
 Collects and Benediction. > 
 
 The honor roll showed the following names : 
 First Grade, 16 — Annie Bell, Lillian Fisher, Marion 
 Fisher, Hattie Mellefont, Sarah Mellor, Marie White, Har- 
 ry Borland. 
 
428 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Honorable Mention — Jennie Back, Eva Black, Gracie 
 Borland, Jennie Borland, Susie Williams, Fr. Bruce, Willie 
 Bruce, Raffaelle Cobb, Jr., Alexander Cook, James Mosbier, 
 Neville Williams. 
 
 Second Grade, 15 — Amelia Betts, Emma Blair, Susie 
 Ingalls, Frederike Meyers, Sadie Simmonds, Anna White, 
 Millie White, Lena Weisendanger, Willie Hyde, Cogan 
 Marran, Charles Mellefont, Eddie- Simmonds, James Van 
 Varick. 
 
 Third Grade, 14 — Sadie Borland, Lena Dahn, Ida Hol- 
 bertson, Julia Kerling, Eva Mickle, Susie Tyrrell, Bella 
 Weisendanger, Josie Bayer, Charles Imhold. 
 
 A very interesting and impressive service was held in 
 this church on Friday evening, May 18, 1888, being the 
 dedication of two circles of the King's Daughters. The 
 church was well filled, mostly with the members of the sis- 
 terhood of the King's Daughters, who all joined heartily in 
 the service and listened with the closest attention. 
 
 The service commenced with the singing of the hymn, 
 "The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord," 
 and then the rector, the Rev. August Ulmann, led in prayer 
 and the versicles. Psalms 45 and 144 were read, followed 
 by the lesson from St. Luke 10 : 21-42. The Benedicite was 
 sung and the Creed and Collects were recited. Then fol- 
 lowed the hymn commencing, " Nearer, my God, to Thee," 
 and after that Mrs. F. Bottome, the President of the King's 
 Daughters, made an address. 
 
 Mrs. Bottome's address, which was the result of the in- 
 spiration found in the 13th, 14th and 15th verses of the 45th 
 Psalm, awakened deep interest. 
 
 The selection from the oratorio of " The Messiah " be- 
 ginning, " He shall feed His Flock," was impressively ren- 
 dered by Mrs. Dimock. The rector made a few appropriate 
 remarks and then the King's Daughters, kneeling at the 
 chancel rail, received each her little silver cross, the badge 
 of the order. Twenty-one were thus dedicated to the work 
 of the Great King. 
 
 The service was brought to a close by singing the 
 hymn, " Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear," and by the 
 blessing pronounced by the rector. The occasion will long 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 429 
 
 be remembered by all who bad tbe privilege of being pres- 
 ent, and proved an impulse and a stimulus for good to many 
 hearts. 
 
 Since that date two other circles have been formed, 
 which makes four circles of King's Daughters connected 
 with this school — the " Remembering Circle," of which 
 Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde is the President, and whose motto is 
 " Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ;" 
 the " Little Gleaners Circle," of which Miss Marion Hyde is 
 President ; " The Rector's Ten," of which Mrs. August Ul- 
 mann was elected President ; " The Faithful Ten," of which 
 Mrs. Robert Edgar is President. These circles contributed 
 $150 in 1888 towards paying off the church debt and helped 
 in many ways the poor and needy. 
 
 Every Sunday afternoon at five o'clock one of the cir- 
 cles goes to St. John's Riverside Hospital and furnishes the 
 music for a service which has been held there for many 
 years by the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., who was also assisted by 
 the Rev.> August Ulmann, who officiated when Mr. Cobb was 
 necessarily absent. The King's Daughters go about the 
 wards and gladden the hearts of the patients by kind and 
 encouraging words and gifts of flowers and fruit. 
 
 Mrs. E. Edgar has charge of a Bible-class for young la- 
 dies and Mr. W. Gaul a Bible-class for young men, both of 
 which meet in the church, there being no room for them in 
 the parish house. 
 
 Under the leadership of the superintendent, the Rev. 
 August Ulmann, the school steadily increased in numbers 
 and under his care and guidance met with marked success in 
 all the departments of work. He was especially devoted to 
 his work. The little children gathered around him, for 
 whom he always had a kind message and some new 
 thought, not only for those in the Sunday-school, but also 
 for those in the pews at the church service. 
 
 According to the revised list, 1 890, the school numbered 
 295 scholars, thirty-two teachers, and five officers. It is self- 
 supporting. The weekly . off erings are sufficient not only 
 for the lesson leaflets and teachers' helps, but have procured 
 a steady increase of the number of books in the library. 
 By their special offering at Easter the teachers and scholars 
 
430 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 have materially helped the church in paying oflf its mort- 
 gage and lately have contributed largely for missions. 
 
 For some years the International Lessons were used, 
 but for reasons which made it necessary a change was made 
 and now the leaflets are used which contain the uniform 
 lessons prepared by the joint diocesan committee for the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church. For all more important re- 
 ligious exercises the Prayer Book is used, and for the 
 music — except Christmas and Easter carols — the Church 
 Hymnal is the only book in use. 
 
 The contributions of the school for the year 1888 were 
 $244 74, of which a part was given by friends for the Christ- 
 mas festival; in 1889, $301 49. 
 
 Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb was the first teacher of the 
 infant class of this school. She was succeeded by Miss 
 Anna Terese Bate, who took charge of it for a brief season, 
 and was followed by Miss Sarah Higginbotham. Its next 
 teacher was Miss Lizzie Borland, who was followed by Miss 
 Mary Irwin (now Mrs. John H. Crowther). These teachers 
 all took a deep interest in their work and in the children of 
 their charge. Their labors were abundantly rewarded by 
 the affectionate regard of their scholars. In March, 1875, 
 John Brewster Hyde, an interesting and very lovable little 
 boy, was suddenly called from this class to enter that 
 " school where Christ himself doth rule." 
 
 At present there is no infant class proper where one or 
 two teachers endeavor to control and instruct a large num- 
 ber of the younger scholars. The little ones are divided 
 into small classes. The result of this plan, so far as disci- 
 pline and actual instruction are concerned, has been most 
 gratifying. This department meets in the parish house in 
 the rear of the church. 
 
 The record book of this school shows no more efficient 
 and devoted service rendered by its teachers than that of 
 Miss Minnie Putnam Cobb and Miss Sarah J. Beebe, who 
 are now where the splendor of the white-robed multitude is 
 seen, and where are the music and the worship and the peace 
 and the rest of the redeemed, in the " Palace of the King." 
 
 The children of this Sunday-school, with others from 
 St. Paul's Sunday-school, made a delightful excursion up 
 
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 431 
 
 the Hudson River a few miles beyond West Point, by the 
 steamer "Governor Safford," on Friday, June 28, 1889. 
 
 Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde had charge of one of the largest 
 Bible-classes in the school, her second class during her ten 
 years' connection with the school, during which time she 
 was never absent from her class except on account of an ill- 
 ness of a few months, when her place was supplied by Miss 
 Sarah J. Bebee. Her class was composed of young ladies 
 who have grown up to womanhood while under her care, 
 and two of whom have recently become teachers in the 
 Sunday-school. Mrs. Hyde for her faithful and continuous 
 service in this school is enrolled on the honorary list of 
 Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 The Superintendents of this school have been : Samuel 
 Emmet Getty, who was its first, elected July 14, 1872, Theo- 
 dore Silkman, John B. Copcutt, the Rev. S. S. Lewis, the 
 Rev. Charles S. Ferris, the Rev. Lyman Cobb, Jr., the Rev. 
 Robert S. Carlin, and the Rev. August Ulmann, who took 
 charge of the school the first Sunday in May, 1885. 
 
 The present officers of the school are : Superintendent, 
 the Rev. E. S. Widdemer; Assistant Superintendent, Raf- 
 faelle Cobb ; Secretary, William Roberts ; Treasurer, Raf- 
 faelle Cobb, Jr. * Librarians, Fred. J. Warren, Charles Mes- 
 sitter, C. W. Hanson. Teacher of young ladies' Bible-class, 
 Mrs. Irene W. Hartt. Teacher of young men's Bible-class, 
 Henry Gecox. 
 
 Teachers in the Adult Department : Mrs. Minnie Banker, 
 Miss Sedwell W. Batten, Miss Jennie N. Jenkins, Miss Mary 
 A. Turley, Mrs. Isabelle Karr, Miss Augusta Revinious, 
 Miss Bertina Watson, Mr. William Catherson, Mr. Raffaelle 
 Cobb, Jr., Miss Emma Crowther, Mrs. Carrie Ackert, Mr. 
 John Brazier. 
 
 Primary Department: Superintendent, Lewis H. 
 Haight. Teachers — Mrs. J. H. Rein, Miss Emma Archerd, 
 Miss Edna Stengel, Miss Lillie B. Taylor, Miss Emma 
 lies, Miss Lizzie Jenkins, Mrs. L. H. Haight. 
 
 Present . number scholars enrolled, 246; teachers and 
 officers, 29. Sunday-school offering September, 1890, $287- 
 99. Number books in library, 300. 
 
 * Since deceased. 
 
432 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK.. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PARISH- 
 SCHOOLS.* I 
 
 St. Joseph's Church was divided from St. Mary's in 
 1 871. The old church had become crowded, and the dis- 
 tance from the north part of the village was considerable. 
 Some of the people desired that a new parish might be set 
 off in the neighborhood of Ashburton Avenue. The Arch- 
 bishop approved of this, and in June, 1871, the Rev. Albert 
 A. Lings, until then assistant at St. Mary's, was made pas- 
 tor of the new parish of St. Joseph. Early in July he hired 
 the Assembly Room of Public School No. 6 for the Satur- 
 day evening and Sunday services of the new church. 
 
 In July Father Lings bought the lot now occupied by 
 the church, 1 1 5 feet on the north side of Ashburton Ave- 
 nue and 2 1 7 feet on the east side of St. Joseph Avenue, for 
 $17,000, and in September laid the comer-stone of a brick 
 building 45x82 feet, two stories with basement and attic, 
 placed on the north part of St. Joseph Avenue front, and 
 designed ultimately for a schoolhouse, but temporarily 
 fitted up for a church, v/ith schoolrooms in the upper story. 
 J. and G. Stewart did the mason-work, and included the fur- 
 nishing of the church and of the school. The whole cost 
 was about $20,000. The first mass was said in the new 
 building on December 8, 1871, although it was not finished 
 until the following spring. 
 
 The congregation proved so large that galleries were 
 put up before the church was completed, and it had eighty- 
 six 'pews on the ground floor, seating 420 persons, and 
 thirty-six pews in the galleries, seating 180, making a total 
 of 600 seats. Father Lings was liberally supported in his 
 work by the contributions not only of his own people, but 
 also of his Protestant neighbors. 
 
 * Most of the facts in this chapter are reprinted by kind permission of 
 the author, Thomas C. Cornell, from the Catholic Home Almanac of 1887. 
 
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 433 
 
 During 1886 the parish increased so that it was no 
 longer possible to defer the building of the new church. 
 The school, too, had become so large that it was necessary 
 to give the whole building to its original purpose. The 
 digging out of the cellar of the new church was begun on 
 Washington's Birthday, 1886. The Sunday previous it had 
 been announced that ground would be broken, and on that 
 day over 200 men, with picks and shovels, gathered on the 
 ground and began the work. With such enthusiasm did 
 they go to work and persevere that it was nearly all done 
 by their efforts. 
 
 The corner-stone of the new Church of St. Joseph's 
 was accordingly laid on the i6th day of May, 1886, on the 
 feast of the patronage of St. Joseph, by Archbishop Corri- 
 rigan. Fully 4,000 people climbed the steep streets Sun- 
 day to witness the ceremonies. 
 
 The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Father Dough- 
 erty, of Kingston, after which the high mass was celebra- 
 ted in the open air by the Rev. Father Byron, assisted by 
 Fathers Coffey and Eagan as deacon and sub-deacon. The 
 ceremonies were concluded with the benediction by the 
 Archbishop. 
 
 The church is in the early Gothic style, built of red 
 brick with terra cotta trimmings. It is 150 feet long and 
 71 feet high, and fronts on Ashburton Avenue, one of the 
 most elevated positions in town, commanding an extensive 
 view of the surrounding country and Hudson River. 
 
 The walls are twenty-five feet high, surmounted by a 
 Gothic roof, and the front, ornamented by a steeple, when 
 completed, will be 174 feet high. 
 
 The splendid doors, the grand Catherine-wheel win- 
 dow, the small side towers, and the more than life-size 
 statue of St. Joseph, make the wide frontage of sixty-five 
 feet very imposing. 
 
 The interior is finished in sage green and heliotrope 
 colors, with pillars and ornamental cornices of gold. The 
 middle aisle may be justly called an architectural master- 
 piece. The vaulted ceiling, the arch of which is sixty-five 
 feet from the floor, rising on slender columns, is very impo- 
 sing. On either side of the sanctuary are the altars of the 
 
 28 
 
434 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, of wood, in the Gothic style. 
 There are many beautiful windows, the work of F. H. Zet- 
 tler, proprietor of the Royal Bavarian Art Institute, Mu- 
 nich. 
 
 The church is. furnished with antique oak pews, and 
 there are confessionals for Rev. A. A. Lings, Rev. J. F. 
 Coiiey, and Rev. H. F. Zavier. 
 
 The architect was William Schickel, New York. The 
 chief contractors were Anthony Imhoff and Denis Murphy. 
 
 The seating capacity of the main floor is 1 1 50, and in 
 addition to this number, the gallery at the back of the 
 church will accommodate 250. 
 
 Sunday, January 29, 1888, occurred the solemn and 
 impressive exercises of the dedication of the new church 
 building of St. Joseph's Church, Yonkers. 
 
 The sermon was preached by Rt. Rev. T. S. Preston, 
 V. G., from Eph. 4 : 4, 5, 6, " One spirit, one Lord, one faith, 
 one baptism, one God and Father of all." 
 
 All the services were conducted in Latin but the ser- 
 mon, which was well pronounced in good modern English. 
 
 The old house on St. Joseph's property at the time of 
 the purchase" was made the parochial residence for some 
 years, but was not suitable for the purpose and was too old 
 to be worth repairs, and in 1877-78 a new residence of brick 
 was erected at a cost of about $6,500, on the east side of the 
 lot, fronting on Ashburton and St. Joseph Avenues. 
 
 The property of St. Joseph's Church was purchased in 
 the name of the Archbishop, but in accordance with his 
 wish the church was incorporated in 1876 under the gen- 
 eral law, and all the property was vested in the corporation. 
 The original trustees were Cardinal McCloskey, the Arch- 
 bishop, the Right Rev. Monsignor Quinn, Vicar-General,, 
 the Rev. Albert A. Lings, pastor. 
 
 ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOLS 
 
 were opened in the class-rooms over the church under lay 
 teachers in September, 1872, with about 300 pupils. The 
 school was discontinued at the end of June, 1879, ^^^ in 
 September, 1881, it was reopened under the charge of the 
 Sisters of Charity, for whose use Father Lings had bought 
 
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 435 
 
 the adjoining house and lot north of the school, and fitted 
 it up at a cost of about $7,000. The sisters have the boys' 
 school as well as the girls', but in separate class-rooms, with 
 separate yards and entrances. 
 
 Sister Stephen, of the Academy of St. Aloysius, who 
 had for several years had charge of St. Joseph's Sunday- 
 school, was put in charge of the new house at St. Joseph's, 
 where she now has eight assistant sisters besides the lay 
 assistance in the school. 
 
 In the autumn of 1 882 the school numbered 203 boys 
 and 281 girls. Total, 484. The .registered number for the 
 year 1887 was 680. The number in attendance in Septem- 
 ber, 1 889, was goo. 
 
 Father Lings estimated the number of people belong- 
 ing to St. Joseph's, including children, January i, 1887, 
 about 4,000. 
 
 The record of the marriages and baptisms in this 
 church during the following years reads thus : Baptisms—^ 
 1882, 120; 1883, 148; 1884, 176; 1885, 162. Marriages-^ 
 1882,46; 1883,36; 1884,36; 1885,45. 
 
 The census in 1889 of the members of the congrega- 
 tion, taken by the priests attached to the church them- 
 selves, showed the large number of 5,857 souls. 
 
 The attendance at the various masses is 4,000. 
 
 St. Joseph's has several societies and sodalities. The 
 Child of Mary, the Sacred Heart Society, the Sodality of the 
 Holy Angels, the Holy Infancy Sodality for boys, and an- 
 other for girls, the St. Aloysius Society of boys, the Tem- 
 perance Society, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul ; 
 but the last named is not confined to St. Joseph's parish. 
 St. Joseph's Church has also a Young Men's Catholic Asso- 
 ciation and the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph's. 
 
 ST. JOSEPH'S CLERGY. 
 
 The work of the parish has made necessary the servi- 
 ces of an assistant priest for several years, and the Rev. 
 Anthony MoUoy has occupied the position since November, 
 1876, and was acting pastor, with the Rev. Michael Mont- 
 gomery as assistant, during the absence of Father Lings in 
 1 88 1 in Europe, Egypt, and Palestine. Before Father Mol- 
 
436 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 loy, the Rev. Father Shadier, now pastor of St. Joseph's 
 Church, Charleston, S. C, was assistant of Father Lings for 
 about three years. 
 
 Father Lings was born at Baden in 1844. He made 
 his theological studies in the seminary at Troy, and was 
 ordained by Bishop Bacon, of Portland, on the i6th of June, 
 1867, and sent as assistant to St. Michael's Church, New 
 York, where he remained but three months, when he was 
 sent as assistant at St. Mary's, Yonkers, in September, 1 867, 
 and in June, 1871, was put in charge of the new parish of 
 St. Joseph's, of which he is now in the nineteenth year of 
 his pastorate, January, 1890. 
 
 The erection of the new church edifice was largely due 
 to his tireless energy and perseverance. 
 
 Father Lings is assisted in his labors as the head of 
 St. Joseph's Church by Rev. Fathers Henry Xavier and 
 John F. Coffey. 
 
 The choir of St. Joseph's Church is composed as fol- 
 lows : Prof. J. J. Kaiser, organist and director. Chorus of 
 twenty voices. 
 
 The sexton is John A. Weis. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The following is from a printed report of the school in 
 the centennial year, 1 876 : 
 
 "The flourishing Roman-catholic Sunday-school con- 
 nected with St. Joseph's Church, the corner of Oakhill and 
 Ashburton Avenues, is under the supervision of Father A. 
 A. Lings, and has a large attendance. 
 
 The following are the statistics for the past year: 
 Officers, I ; teachers, 35 ; pupils on register, girls 350, boys 
 230 ; average attendance, girls 300, boys 200 ; number in 
 primary department, 20. Total number of pupils, 600. 
 
 " Receipts, $130; expenditures, $75. 
 
 " The Sunday-school in 1887 had two sessions a day. 
 
 "Instructions explanatory of the Church Catechism 
 were given. 
 
 "The Catholic hymn-book was used, and the Sunday- 
 school paper distributed was ' The Young Catholic' 
 
 " The number of pupils at that date was 750. 
 
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 437 
 
 "The number reported in the beginning of 1890 was 
 900. 
 
 " The school at that date was in charge of Sister M. 
 Stephens and eleven assistant sisters, besides five lay 
 assistants. 
 
 " We have been informed at this writing — November, 
 1890 — that the regular session of the Sunday-school is not 
 held, but a short morning and afternoon service for the 
 children is held, which is at present conducted by Father 
 Lings and his assistants." 
 
438 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 " On the east side of the city of Yonkers, three-quarters 
 of a mile from the City Hall, is an eminence called Nodine 
 Hill, or Viewville. From the brow of this hill three val- 
 leys outspread their rival glories, and each has a charm of 
 its own. The commanding hill has doubtless suggested 
 the name Viewville. Towards the north lies the tranquil 
 vale of the winding Nepperhan — ' rapid running water.' 
 Eastward are the blue hills of Long Island, against which 
 glide the glistening sails of ships, oceanward or homeward 
 bound. Nearer, the historic hills where a patriot army has 
 left its footprints uplift their sombre forests and smiling 
 fields. Tibbets Brook goes seaward between these heights 
 and Nodine Hill. To the west the superb valley of the 
 Hudson outspreads its purple glories. Sloops and yachts 
 and proud steamers sail into sight from behind the hills, 
 and miles of the massive Palisades stand out against the 
 western horizon. In the south is seen in the distance 
 Bartholdi's statue of Liberty, and at night the southern sky 
 reflects the gleams of a thousand city lamps, while the 
 many colored lights of sloops and steamers, and bright rays 
 from the windows of happy Yonkers homes, sparkle like 
 stars." 
 
 On the western slope of this beautiful hill stands 
 the Dayspring Presbyterian Church, its surroundings call- 
 ing to remembrance the words of the Psalmist, " Beautiful 
 for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mt. Zion," etc. 
 The church on this beautiful hill is the outgrowth of cot- 
 tage prayer-meetings. 
 
 Between 1855 and i860 prayer-meetings were held at 
 the house of Mrs. Sarah A. Berrian.* Cottage prayer- 
 
 * The following tribute to the memory of Mrs. Berrian was written by 
 her pastor, Rev. Charles E. Allison : "Mrs. Sarah A. Berrian died Satur- 
 day morning, February 11, 1888. Her husband, John Devoe Berrian, died 
 many years ago while the family lived at Mosholu. Forty-three years ago 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. %^g 
 
 meetings were also held at the houses of John Craft, Clark 
 Nodine, Solomon Corsa, Dewitt Taylor, Messrs. Eddy, 
 Alexander, Banks, Kelly, Ferguson, Mottram, and others. 
 The pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. 
 Dr. Sawyer, led some of the meetings at the home of Mrs. 
 L. M. Cutbill. For many years these cottage meetings 
 were held, until at last the rooms in private houses could 
 not accommodate those who desired to attend. The older 
 citizens speak with gratitude of the labors of Rev. Robert 
 Kirkwood, a _ Presbyterian clergyman, who, in the spring 
 of 1857, began holding open-air services in the then sparsely 
 settled region in which the church now prosecutes its work ; 
 and Rev. Pelatiah Ward, who shortly afterward was ap- 
 pointed to the pastorate of the First Methodist Church, 
 joined Mr. Kirkwood * in his labors. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ward served the First Methodist Church as 
 its pastor in 1859 ^^^ i860. During his brief pastorate the 
 church received a large ingathering of precious souls. 
 During the war for the Union he was appointed captain 
 
 the widowed mother removed with her family to Nodine Hill, Yonkers. 
 Only one resident has lived on the hill longer than this aged mother. So 
 many outside of her own family circle have rejoiced in her motherly kind- 
 ness and gentleness, that with grateful affection all have called her Grand- 
 ma Berrian. She was indeed a mother in Israel. For many years her 
 name was on the roll of the First Methodist Church, and for many years 
 the neighborhood prayer-meetings were held at her house. In July, 1882, 
 she became a member of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church, enrolling 
 her name among those of her children and grandchildren. Her life was 
 a benediction, her death an entering into rest." 
 
 * Rev. Robert Kirkwood — the writer's father — was born in Scotland 
 and educated in the University of Glasgow ; was led by the Spirit to labor 
 in America, first in New York and later in the mission-fields in the valley 
 of the Mississippi, where two churches and a number of Sunday-schools 
 were organized under his labors. The spiritual needs of the world being 
 uppermost in his mind, his influence was always felt in the community in 
 which he lived. After a long and useful life as pastor, missionary, and 
 author, this servant of God was removed to the upper sanctuary in 1866. 
 His funeral services were held in the Westminster Presbyterian Church 
 on Wednesday afternoon, August 28, 1866. Rev. Samuel T. Carter, the 
 pastor, preached the sermon from these words : "Thou shalt come to thy 
 grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season." Job 
 5:26. Rev. David Cole, D. D., pastor of the Reformed Church, Yon- 
 kers, and Rev. Darius Richmond Brewer, rector of St. Paul's Church, Yon- 
 kers, also took part in the services. 
 
440 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 of a company which he was largely instrumental in organ- 
 izing, and afterwards chaplain of the regiment to which 
 this company was attached. At the second battle of Bull 
 Run two of the color-bearers of the regiment were shot 
 and instantly killed. As the second one fell Mr. Ward 
 sprang forward and seizing the flag waved it and urged 
 the regiment forward. In so doing he received five 
 wounds which in a few hours resulted in his death. Rev. 
 Mr. Ward was a man of commanding presence and genial, 
 earnest manner. His memory has left the most kindly 
 impression on the hearts of those who knew him and with 
 whom he was associated. 
 
 In 1864, Judge T. Astley Atkins, John N. Steams, and 
 Britton Richardson, members of the Episcopal Church, 
 invited John McCoy, who then lived in New York, to be- 
 come city missionary in Yonkers. Mr. McCoy accepted 
 their invitation and was at work in that capacity when a 
 Yonkers home missionary society was organized in the 
 lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church, October 4, 
 1865. 
 
 In this society were represented seven churches — two 
 Presbyterian (First and Westminster), two Episcopalian 
 (St. John's and St. Paul's), one Reformed (Reformed of 
 Yonkers), one Baptist (Mt. Olivet), and one Methodist 
 (First). 
 
 He continued his work under the auspices of that 
 society until September, 1871. 
 
 During those patient years of unheralded service his 
 kind face brightened many homes, and under many roofs 
 his voice was heard in prayer. The sick man knew him, 
 and the poor to whom he preached the gospel. His was a 
 wayside ministry.. He conversed with thousands of men, 
 women, and children, and distributed many Bibles and 
 tracts. Not a few to-day remember how he counselled 
 them to keep the Sabbath and reverence the sanctuary. 
 
 The Yonkers Home Missionary Society prosecuted its 
 good work from 1865 to September 18, 1871. 
 
 In 1866 the Westminster Presbyterian Church, then 
 under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel T. Carter, engaged 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Russell (now Mrs. MacKenzien) as Bible- 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 44I 
 
 reader. Mrs. Russell organized a weekly prayer-meeting 
 which was sustained by the Session and members of the 
 Westminster Church. In 1867, Rev. Lewis W. Mudge 
 (now Rev. Dr. Mudge) pastor of the Westminster Church, 
 took charge of the meetings and for several years was 
 never absent except when called away by pressing duties. 
 The meeting was held on Friday evening and was the only 
 service on the hill at that time. It was almost always held 
 at the home of Mr. Corsa. Dr. J. H. Pooley, A. O. Kirk- 
 wood, Duncan C. Ralston, James Biggerstaff, and James E. 
 Goddard (the latter had formerly been an elder in the 
 Westminster Church, but was then a member of the First 
 Presbyterian Church), took great interest in this meeting 
 and rendered earnest and faithful service. These were 
 years of constant blessing on the overflowing meetings, and 
 so abundant were the fruits that, at one time, upwards of 
 forty therefrom were in the communion of the Westmin- 
 ster Church. 
 
 At this time there were fifty-two houses on the hill, 
 " one for each Sunday in the year." In 1868-69, A. V. Witt- 
 meyer, a student in Union Theological Seminary, was also 
 at work in Yonkers under the direction of the Home Mis- 
 sionary Society. The Yonkers Home Missionary Society, 
 expended from $600 to $1,000 a year. In September, 1871, 
 this society was discontinued. 
 
 In 1870, owing to the exception taken to the Yonkers. 
 Home Mission by some of the churches that had no weekly 
 meeting and no result to show, the Session of the West- 
 minster Church having so much on their hands (sustaining 
 at that time five meetings in different parts of the town), 
 offered to transfer this meeting to the care of the mission, 
 there being an understanding with some of the members 
 of the First Presbyterian Church actively engaged in mis- 
 sion work that they would be responsible for its contin- 
 uance and support. 
 
 When the Yonkers Home Missionary Society ceased 
 to exist, the work on Nodine Hill came into the hands of 
 the First Presbyterian Church. On Thursday evening, 
 November 2, 1871, the First Presbyterian Missionary Asso- 
 ciation was organized. The pastor of the church. Rev. T. 
 
442 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Ralston Smith, D. D., Prof. Henry M. Baird, D. D., Lucius 
 E. Clark, James E. Goddard, William Allen Butler, Rich- 
 ard Wynkoop, William C. Foote, Charles Lockwood, and 
 Augustus Cruikshank participated in that meeting. 
 
 William Allen Butler submitted a plan of organization, 
 which was adopted. The executive committee consisted 
 of twelve members, six of whom were the elders of the 
 church, the pastor to be a member of such committee and 
 president of the Association. Among the members of the 
 First Presbyterian Association were Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. 
 Dr. Baird, Rev. Dr. W. W. Rand, Rev. W. C. Foote, 
 Charles Lockwood, William Allen Butler, H. M. Schieffelin, 
 Ethan Flagg, W. W. Law, William R. Mott, P. Kelly, G. L. 
 Morse, L. E. Clark, J. W. Skinner, Messrs. Rockwell, 
 Holmes, Gibson, Wynkoop, Bogart, Cochran, Newell, 
 Adams, Cuthell, Heermance, Nichols, Thompson, Farnum, 
 Dr. Levi W. Flagg, Johnson, Olmsted, Cruikshank, Par- 
 sons, Travis, Harper, and others. 
 
 At the first meeting of the executive committee, held 
 in the Session room of the First Presbyterian Church, No- 
 vember 3, 1 87 1, there were present Rev. Dr. Smith, William 
 C. Foote, Samuel D. Rockwell, Richard Wynkoop, Charles 
 Lockwood, William Allen Butler, William F. Cochran, 
 Patrick Kelly, Ethan Flagg, and William R. Mott. Wil- 
 liam Allen Butler was chosen chairman, R. Wynkoop, sec- 
 retary, and William R. Mott, treasurer. Messrs. Lockwood 
 and Kelly were appointed a committee to select the field of 
 labor, Messrs. Lockwood, Foote, and Skinner, a committee 
 to secure a missionary, and' Messrs. Gibson and Mott, a 
 committee on finance. The pastor. Rev. Dr. Smith, and 
 the chairman of the executive committee were made ex- 
 officio members of the last committee. The following was 
 adopted : 
 
 Resolved, -That this executive committee consider it 
 desirable to occupy Nodine Hill as a field of labor, and 
 that the subject of that field be made the special order of 
 the next meeting. 
 
 At a meeting of the executive committee, Novem- 
 ber 16, 1 87 1, Charles. Lockwood made an oral report as to 
 the number of families on Nodine Hill. A general and 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 443 
 
 extended discussion followed, after which it was unani- 
 mously 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of this executive com- 
 mittee it is expedient to erect a building suitable for public 
 worship upon Nodine Hill at an expense of not more than 
 two thousand dollars. 
 
 On November 23, 1871, the executive committee re- 
 ported plans, specifications, and estimates. They also re- 
 ported that a suitable site could be obtained from Ethan 
 Flagg on a lease for five years with a prospect of a grant 
 of land at the expiration of that time, with the privilege of 
 the removal of the building. December 7, 1871, the mis- 
 sionary association held a meeting and it was unanimously 
 decided, by a standing vote, to approve an appeal made by 
 the executive committee to the congregation of the church 
 for the sum of three thousand dollars towards the employ- 
 ment of a missionary and for the erection of a chapel. 
 
 Thursday evening, January 2, 1872, George W. Francis, 
 who had volunteered to canvass for contributions, reported 
 that $1,332 had been subscribed for the work, and it was 
 unanimously 
 
 Resolved, That the committee on location hereafter con- 
 stitute a building committee, and be authorized to proceed 
 at once to the erection of a building on Nodine Hill of 
 such dimensions as the funds will warrant. 
 
 On January 11, 1872, a plot of land fifty feet by one 
 hundred, corner of Oliver Avenue and Walnut Street, was 
 selected as the site for the building. The name selected 
 was the Dayspring Chapel, which was suggested by Wil- 
 liam Allen Butler, " and is especially appropriate for a tab- 
 ernacle which is pitched towards the sunrising, and for a 
 house within the walls of which is preached the gospel of 
 Christ, the soul's Dayspring." This building, with the 
 lots, cost $5,250, of which $1,250 was paid by the Dayspring 
 congregation in April, 1879. 
 
 The building committee were Messrs. Ethan Flagg, 
 Charles Lockwood, William Allen Butler, and Patrick 
 Kelly. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Smith took a very deep interest in the work 
 in its inception and progress. William Halsey & Brothers 
 
444 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 were the builders. The building is a woodeij structure of 
 Gothic architecture. Over the main entrance a tablet with 
 the following inscription in gilt letters was placed in 1879 • 
 " Dayspring Presbyterian Church, organized April 21, 1879. 
 Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. 
 I am the Lord. Lev. 19:30." After the enlargement of 
 the chapel two additional entrances were made in the right 
 and left wings of the building. Over the pulpit are the 
 words, " The Dayspring from on high hath visited us." 
 The Commandments and the Lord's Prayer are in the re- 
 cess behind the pulpit. 
 
 The seating capacity of the original building was about 
 two hundred. Between one and two hundred persons con- 
 tributed for the building and furniture of the chapel. 
 Messrs. William Allen Butler, Charles Lockwood, Lucius 
 E. Clark, H. M. Schiefielin, Ethan Flagg, Union Adams, 
 W. F. Cochran, D. R. Newell, R. W. Bogart, and William 
 A. Gibson were among those who gave the largest 
 amounts. 
 
 The dedicatory services were held Sunday, April 29, 
 1873, at 3 P. M., arid were opened with an invocation by 
 Rev. Henry M. Baird, D. D. Hymn, " I love thy kingdom, 
 Lord." Reading of the Scriptures and prayer by Rev. 
 Henry M. Baird, D. D. Historical statement by Charles 
 Lockwood. Hymn, "All hail the power of Jesus' name." 
 Sermon by Rev. T. Ralston Smith, D. D., pastor of the 
 First Presbyterian Church. The following hymn, written 
 by William Allen Butler, was then sung : 
 
 Light of the world, the shadows fly, 
 The morning breaks with thy bright beam ; 
 
 Oh let the Dayspring from on high 
 With quickening ray our souls redeem ! 
 
 On this our humble hillside shrine 
 
 Thy seal of benediction set, 
 Saviour of sinners, Friend divine, 
 
 Who watched and wept on Olivet. 
 
 Our open doors on this glad day 
 
 Enter, O risen, reigning Lord; 
 Abide with us, thy love display. 
 
 Thyself reveal, thy name record. 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 445 
 
 Here crown our work, our worship own, 
 Here guide the souls that seek thy face, 
 
 And here to contrite liearts make known 
 The riches of redeeming grace. 
 
 So may the dawn and Dayspring here 
 
 Brighten and bless our upward way, 
 Till in thy likeness we appear 
 
 To share thy perfect endless day. 
 
 Address by William Allen Butler, the chairman of the ex- 
 ecutive committee of the First Presbyterian Church Mis- 
 sionary Association. The text from which Dr. Smith 
 preached the dedicatory sermon was, "The Dayspring 
 from on high hath visited us." Luke i : 78. 
 
 At the time the chapel was dedicated there were be- 
 tween sixty and eighty dwelling-houses east of Walnut 
 Street. In the fall of 1868 the Missionary Association of 
 the First Presbyterian Church engaged- the services of 
 Mr. A. V. Wittmeyer,* a theological student, to visit the 
 families on Nodine Hill and to preach on Sunday after- 
 noons. He officiated for about a year very acceptably, but 
 finding that his work was interfering with his studies, he 
 was compelled to relinquish it. While he was acting as 
 missionary, plans were drawn for building the chapel, 
 which would have been constructed but for his sudden re- 
 moval from the city. After his departure the meetings on 
 the hill at various houses were discontinued. But they 
 were resumed at the urgent request of the residents there, 
 and were held regularly at the residence of Mrs. Berrian. 
 Evening services were also held in the chapel. 
 
 In the fall of 1868 the secretary engaged the services 
 of Mr. A. J. Titsworth, a student in the Union Theological 
 Seminary, to visit the families and to preach on Sunday 
 afternoons. 
 
 Rev. Charles Elmer Allison, also a student of Union 
 Seminary, succeeded Mr. Titswortb- Mr. Allison preached 
 his first sermon to this people on Sunday afternoon, April 
 27, 1873, from the text, " Oh that there was such a heart in 
 them that they would fear me and keep all my command- 
 
 * Rev. A. V. Wittmeyer is now the rector of the French Church Du 
 Saint-Esprit, of the city of New York, in West Twenty-second Street near 
 Fifth Avenue. 
 
446 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ments always, that it might be well with them and with 
 their children for ever." Deut. 5 : 29. 
 
 The rapid growth of the church under Rev. Mr. Alli- 
 son, and of the Sunday-school under the superintendency 
 of Charles Lockwood, made it necessary, in 1875, to en- 
 large the building, and from April 1 1 to May 23 the chapel 
 was closed for enlargement and repairs. At that time two 
 wings were added, a belfry built, and a bell hung, at an 
 expense of $2,400. On the bell, which is very sweet in tone, 
 is inscribed the text, " Let him that heareth say, Come." 
 
 DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL, 
 
 William Allen Butler, who was on the eve of the cele- 
 bration of his silver wedding, sent to the chapel as a thank- 
 offering a check for $1,000. This donation, increased by 
 contributions from Messrs. Lockwood, Law, Clark, Kelly, 
 and others, enabled the executive committee of the First 
 Church Association to enlarge and improve the house of 
 worship and provide separate rooms for the Bible and 
 infant classes. Previous to 1 878 there was but one public 
 service in the chapel on the Lord's day. By the enlarge- 
 ment of the building, accommodation was made to seat 325 
 persons, which is the present capacity. 
 
 The first communion service was held June 20, 1875. 
 Twelve united at that time with the church, each one re- 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 447 
 
 ceiving a beautiful copy of the New Testament and Psalms, 
 with the name of member and date of uniting with the 
 church lettered thereon. These books, the gift of William 
 Allen Butler, were designed to commemorate the first 
 communion. Just after the revival under the labors of 
 Rev. E. P. Hammond, the evangelist, in 1877, the member- 
 ship was increased by the addition of twenty-two. 
 
 In January, 1878, the afternoon service at the chapel 
 was discontinued, and morning and evening services were 
 regularly established, beginning with the first Sunday of 
 January. 
 
 In the spring of 1879 steps were taken towards the 
 organization of a Presbyterian Church on Nodine Hill. It 
 was thought wise not to organize until the mortgage on 
 the land was paid. Through the self-sacrificing activity of 
 Miss Ida Belknap and Miss M. E. Bradford, who with other 
 friends of the chapel had months before held a fair for the 
 benefit of the chapel, and who had also given an entertain- 
 ment in Washburn Hall in which they were aided by the 
 young people of the chapel, a considerable sum of money 
 was raised. With this money, and subscriptions from 
 people on the hill, the mortgage was paid April 13, 
 1879. 
 
 From April, 1872, to April, 1879, the First Presbyterian 
 Church Association expended for the work on Nodine Hill 
 about $20,000. 
 
 " Previous to the organization of the Dayspring Church 
 more than 100, through the services and instructions in its 
 house of worship and among the homes on the east side of 
 the city, were added to the First Presbyterian Church, 
 which had so generously fostered its early life. These 
 were years of plenty." 
 
 " So rapid the growth of this religious work, and so 
 continually ' the foot of the reaper trod on the heel of the 
 sower,' that the friends of the chapel, believed the time had 
 come for independent church life. Such belief and the 
 desire of the east-side residents were expressed to the exec- 
 utive committee of the First Church Association, and on 
 April 13, 1879, the committee assembled to take action in 
 the matter. William Allen Butler was in the chair, and J. 
 
448 CHIJRCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 W. Skinner acted as secretary. The following resolution 
 was adopted unanimously : 
 
 "' Whereas, The congregation worshipping in Day- 
 spring Chapel has paid off the mortgage on the lots on 
 which the chapel stands, and now proposes to apply to the 
 Presbytery of Westchester for organization as a church ; 
 
 " ' Resolved, That the committee hereby approves of 
 such application, and in case the same is granted by the 
 Presbytery, will recommend to the Missionary Association 
 of the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers to vest in the 
 church to be so organized all its property on Nodine Hill 
 for the purposes of such church, and so long as it shall be 
 used for a Presbyterian church.' 
 
 " The meeting of the Presbytery was held in Stamford, 
 Conn., on April 15. The request of the Dayspring Chapel 
 congregation was presented. Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. John 
 Dixon, W. C. Foote, and C. E. Allison were present from 
 Yonkers. Presbytery referred the application of the chapel 
 congregation to the Committee on Church Extension with 
 power. 
 
 "On Monday, April 21, the Church Extension Com- 
 mittee met at the house of Charles Lockwood. After due 
 inquiry and deliberation the Committee decided to proceed 
 with the organization, and at eight o'clock Monday even- 
 ing, April 21, met the congregation in the chapel. The 
 members of the Committee of Presbytery who took part in 
 the services were Rev. Dr. Baird of Rye, Rev. Dr. Phraner 
 of Sing Sing, Rev. Mr. A. R. Macoubrey of Brewsters, Ed- 
 ward Wells of Peekskill. 
 
 " After singing by the choir. Rev. Charles W. Baird, 
 D. D., read the seventeenth chapter of John. He then an- 
 nounced the action of Presbytery, and' followed the report 
 with prayer. Mr. Allison read the list of names of those 
 who had been dismissed from other churches in order to 
 organize a new church. As the names were read the mem- 
 bers arose. Eighty-five were from the First Presbyterian 
 Church, five from the Westminster, two from St. John's, 
 one from the Presbyterian church in Melville, Long Island, 
 and one from the Reformed church, West Farms— ninety- 
 four in all. 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 449 
 
 " Rev. Dr. Phraner, of Sing Sing, then proceeded with 
 the ordination of church officers. The following persons 
 were nominated as elders : William Bates, Thomas Moore, 
 and H. H. Ferguson ; and for deacons, Alfred Hill, Samuel 
 Granger, and William Smith. The voting was by uplifted 
 hands, and they were all chosen. 
 
 " After the ordination of elders and deacons brief ad- 
 dresses were made by Rev. Wm. C. Foote and Charles 
 Lockwood. 
 
 " Rev. Dr. Charles Baird spoke of his regret at the ab- 
 sence of Rev. Dr. Smith, who had always cherished this 
 chapel work and rejoiced in its prosperity. He said, ' You 
 are the thirty-eighth church in our Presbytery — the last 
 one on the roll, but not the least in our affections.' The 
 benediction was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Henry M. Baird, 
 of Yonkers. 
 
 " So was consummated an organization for which many 
 good men prayed and labored. So was placed on the east- 
 ern borders of our city, towards the sun-rising, a golden 
 candlestick to hold up for years to come the light of the 
 world, to bless the present generation, and to illuminate 
 the hearts and lives of children and children's children." 
 
 The next step of this newly organized church was to 
 call a pastor. Accordingly on April 24, 1879, ^t a meeting 
 of the congregation held in the Dayspring Church, at 
 which Rev. John Dixon, pastor of the Westminster Pres- ' 
 byterian Church of Yonkers, presided, a unanimous call 
 was extended to Rev. Charles E. Allison, who had labored 
 so faithfully and so successfully for six years as a stated 
 supply to this people, to become their pastor. The call 
 was accepted,. and on Wednesday evening, April 30, 1879, 
 Mr. Allison was ordained and installed as their pastor in 
 the First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Carson W. Adams, of West Farms, the Mod- 
 erator of the Westchester Presbytery, presided. The ser- 
 vices were opened by singing the hymn, " I love thy king- 
 dom. Lord." Rev. Ezra F. Mundy read the fourth chapter 
 of Nehemiah. Rev. Charles W. Baird, D. D., followed 
 with prayer. The hymn, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me/' 
 was then sung. Prayer was offered by Rev. John Dixon. 
 
 Cbnrch and Snaday-Bchool Work. 20 
 
450 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Rev. Wilson Phraner, D. D., of Sing Sing, preached the 
 sermon from the words, " So built we the wall ; and all the 
 wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for the peo- 
 ple had a mind to work." Neh. 4:6. 
 
 At the close of the sermon Mr. Allison came forward 
 and knelt before the pulpit, when the members of the 
 Presbytery and 'other Presbyterian clergymen in the con- 
 gregation placed their hands upon his head while Rev. Dr. 
 Adams offered the prayer of ordination. 
 
 Rev. Rollin A. Sawyer, D. D., pastor of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church of Irvington, delivered the charge to the pas- 
 tor, and Rev. J. Ritchie Smith, of Peekskill, delivered the 
 charge to the people. After the singing of the doxology, . 
 Rev. C. E. Allison pronounced the benediction. 
 
 Rev. Charles Elmer Allison, second son of Isaac W. 
 and Teresa A. Allison, was born at Slate Hill, Orange 
 County, N. Y. His mother's surname before her marriage 
 was Elmer. Rev. Mr. Allison was prepared for college at 
 Chester Academy, Chester, Orange County, N. Y., and was 
 graduated at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., in 1870, and 
 at Union Theological Seminary, New York city, in 1874. 
 At Hamilton College he was one of the six Clark Prize 
 Orators of his class. He was licensed to preach the gospel 
 by the Hudson Presbytery in session at Middletown, N. Y. 
 He was ordained by the Presbytery of Westchester in ses- 
 sion at Yonkers, N. Y., on the 30th of April, 1879. ^^ 
 the same day he was installed pastor of the Dayspring 
 Presbyterian Church in Yonkers. Six years before, while 
 he was a student in Union Theological Seminary, he had 
 been placed in charge of the Dayspring Chapel, which was 
 organized as a church, April 25, 1879. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Allison has carried on a successful ministry to 
 this church for eighteen years. He is known as an untiring 
 and devoted worker, and his labors have been abundantly 
 blessed, not only in his own church, but in neighboring fields 
 to which he is frequently called, being especially acceptable 
 in conducting evangelistic services. He is pleasing and 
 entertaining in his addresses to the children. Rev. Mi. 
 Allison is a zealous and active laborer in the tempeirance 
 cause and has given to it gifts of his time and talents. He 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 45 I 
 
 has taken the high ground that the Bible and the ballot 
 are the two great weapons for the overthrow of intemper- 
 ance, and his public utterances on this subjei-t indicate that 
 he is fixed in purpose and strong in faith in the progress 
 and final triumph of temperance through moral and legal 
 measures. Mr. Allison was Moderator of the Presbytery 
 of Westchester in 1886. He is the author of the " History 
 of Hamilton College " recently published. The new Day- 
 spring Presbyterian Church edifice was erected under Rev! 
 Mr. Allison's pastorate. 
 
 The first Board of Trustees was elected May 13, 1879. 
 It was composed of Charles R. Culver, Samuel Berrian, 
 Thomas F. Hope, Chas. H. Pease, Joshua Smith, Benjamin 
 Sutherland, John A. Smith, Leonard Mapes, and John Poole. 
 The church was incorporated on the same day. 
 
 At a meeting of the First Church Association, held 
 November 20, 1879, the following preamble and resolution 
 were adopted : 
 
 Whereas, The congregation worshipping in the Day- 
 spring Church, having organized a church which has been 
 admitted in the Presbytery of Westchester, under the name 
 of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church in Yonkers, and 
 having purchased and paid for the lots on which the chapel 
 is situated, all of which has been with the approval of the 
 committee and in anticipation of the action now proposed ; 
 it is therefore 
 
 Resolved, That the executive committee recommend to 
 the Association that they approve of and confirm what has 
 there been done, and donate to the said Dayspring Presby- 
 terian Church all the property of the Association in the 
 chapel and its appurtenances and the furniture and articles 
 therein, the same to be included in the conveyance to be 
 made by the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church 
 pursuant to the right of the trustees to make such convey- 
 ance under declaration of trust executed by Patrick Kelly 
 and Robert Harper, dated March 14, 1878, in liber 946 of 
 deeds, page 306, in the register's office in Westchester 
 County. And the committee recommend that such convey- 
 ance be upon condition that the property conveyed shall be 
 used only for the purpose of a church of the Presbyterian 
 
452 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 denomination, and that no mortgage shall ever be placed 
 on said property. 
 
 At this meeting it was also resolved to pay the expenses 
 necessary to complete the church organization, also to meet 
 so far as necessary any deficiency in the resources of the 
 Dayspring Church for its proper support for the year. 
 
 The following statistics show the number added to the 
 Dayspring Church since its organization : Ninety-four were 
 organized as a church in 1879 ; 8 were added to the church 
 in 1879, 7 ill 1880, 33 in 1881, 17 in 1882, 8 in 1883, 5 in 
 1884, 33 in 1885, 19 in 1886, 38 in 1887, 11 in 1888, 31 in 
 1889, 33 in 1890. The present membership, April, 1891, is 
 268. 
 
 In December, 1880, the church enjoyed a time of re- 
 freshing from the presence of the Lord. " The silent power 
 of the Holy Spirit uplifted scores of weary and heavy laden 
 hearts and His sacred influence daily won many to the 
 Saviour." 
 
 In June, 1880, a festival and floral fair was held in large 
 tents in Flagg's Grove, opposite the Dayspring Church, for ' 
 the benefit of the church. The committee in charge pub- 
 lished a paper known as the " Hillside Echo." The profits 
 of the fair were $800. 
 
 In June, 1882, the church again enjoyed gratifying 
 evidence of the presence of God's Spirit. Special meet- 
 ings were appointed and on Sunday evening, June 18, the 
 interest had so deepened and widened that between forty 
 and fifty asked for remembrance in the prayers of the 
 church. " The history both of the seven years of chapel 
 life and the seven years of church life testifies that the 
 good hand of the Lord has been upon its people." 
 
 January 27, 1887, the Board of Trustees of the church 
 established a building fund for the erection of a new church 
 edifice. In November, 1 887, a large fair was held in War- 
 burton Hall, lasting for three days, for the benefit of the 
 new church building fund, when another edition of the 
 " Hillside Echo " was published. 
 
 The members of the present session of the Dayspring 
 Church are : Rev. Charles E. Allison, William Smith, John 
 H. Cutbill, and Thomas F. Hope. The trustees are, Thomas 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 453 
 
 F. Hope, John H. Cutbill, James M. Rhys, Edwin Graham, 
 John Rose, Roderick Ross, Charles R. Culver, Robert 
 Field, and John Ross. The clerk of the Session is Wil- 
 liam Smith and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees is 
 John H. Cutbill. 
 
 " Dayspring Presbyterian Church occupies an import- 
 ant field of labor in Yonkers. Its services are well at- 
 tended and the problem of how to reach the masses is 
 here solved. It is the church of the people and for the 
 people. All enter into its work with hearty zeal and de- 
 votion." 
 
 Two young- men, members of the Dayspring Church, 
 are preparing for the ministry, one in the Grammar School, 
 (Kirkland Hall), Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y., and the 
 other in Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y. 
 
 The following statement regarding the site of the 
 new church building is from the annual report of the 
 church, January, 1889: 
 
 " When a decision to build a new church was reached, 
 the question of a site arose. Realizing that a church on a 
 main avenue has great advantages over one on a side 
 street, the board of trustees selected the corner of the two 
 principal thoroughfares on the east side. A half-acre of 
 ground at the corner of Elm and Walnut Streets, the choi- 
 cest site for a church on the hill, was secured by the Board 
 of Trustees for $5,000. It was ' purchased of a generous 
 gentleman who was willing to sell it for church purposes 
 for less than its value. Last year, in addition to giving 
 $2,200 for current expenses and missions, the people, by a 
 fair and other means, increased their building fund to 
 $3,200. The old church site, which the Dayspring people 
 purchased years ago for $1,250, is now worth $5,000. A 
 friend has informed the Board that he has set aside $500 
 for the new church. Several substantial citizens, who are 
 accustomed to contribute liberally, have given the trustees 
 assurances of their sympathy with the building project and 
 their readiness to assist. As soon as practicable, plans are 
 to be prepared, and if appeals for more contributions are 
 responded to, in the near future ' a people's church ' will 
 crown the eastern hill, and the Sabbath-going bell, swing- 
 
454 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ing in its graceful spire, will ' sprinkle with holy sounds ' 
 the air of the three beautiful valleys below." 
 
 The "Yonkers Statesman" of April 26, i8go, contains 
 the following article, which indicates that the hopes of the 
 Dayspring Presbyterian Church, in regard to a new build- 
 ing, are about to be realized : 
 
 f)t».v»P'"'no PrcafavCcr.a.n Churcft 
 
 THE NEW DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 The new house of worship for Dayspring Presbyterian Church, of 
 Which the above is a good representation, is to be located on half an acre 
 of ground on Walnut Street. The edifice will practically front on both 
 streets, with a double entrance through the tower on the comer, and an en- 
 trance on Walnut Street, both of whicli give access to a broad vestibule 
 extending entirely across the Walnut Street front. The Walnut Street 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 455 
 
 entrance also gives access to the recture-room, parlors, Sunday-school 
 room, etc., which are located to the north and adjoining the main building. 
 
 The main auditorium is 64 feet wide and 74 feet long, with a seating 
 capacity of about 700, exclusive of the gallery over the vestibule, which wilt 
 be so arranged that it can be extended on both sides when occasion re- 
 quires. The lecture-room, adjoining the church proper, is 38 by 42 feet. 
 The partition on one side will be arranged in sections, so that, in case of 
 an overflow meeting, it can be utilized in connection with the main auditcfc- 
 num. Near the Walnut Street entrance, and connected with the lecture- 
 room by large sliding partitions, is the Trustees' room, 14 by 24, and par- 
 lor, 20 by 24. 
 
 To the rear of the lecture-room is a hallway having two outside en- 
 trances, by which access is had to a generous serving room, underneath 
 which, in the basement, will be the kitchen. Adjoining this hallway is the 
 pastor's study, 14 by 16 feet, with a private doorway to the'yard and to the 
 pulpit platform. 
 
 Access is had to the second story by two broad platform staircases, 
 one near the Walnut Street entrance, and one from the rear hallway. The 
 second story contains the Sunday-school room, 40 by 42 feet, a Primary 
 class room 24 by 28, and four class-rooms 10 by 20, the partitions being so 
 arranged that the entire second floor can be used as one large room, having 
 a total length of 104 feet. Connected with the Sunday-school and Primary 
 class room is the librarian's room, 8 by 12. 
 
 The extreme size of the edifice will be 118 by 106 feet. The extension 
 walls will be pressed brick and Massachusetts freestone. The interior fin- 
 ish will be quartered oak. The windows will have stained glass of subdued 
 tints. The pews will be arranged in amphitheatre style, with a gentle de- 
 scent to the platform. At the left of the platform will be the choir and 
 organ gallery, having a private entrance from Elm Street. The ceiling of 
 the auditorium will be 44 feet high, Sind the total height of the spire from 
 the sidewalk at the street corner to the apex of the cross will be 106 feet. 
 
 The architect of this new church is Edwin A. Quick ; and Rev. Charles 
 E. Allison and his people of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church may take 
 a just pride in the fact that they will soon have one of the most beautiful, 
 commodious, and convenient places of worship in the city. The estimated 
 cost of this new house of worship is ^45,000. 
 
 Tuesday, September 2, 1 890, ground was broken for the 
 foundations of the new Dayspring Church. At six o'clock 
 in the morning a goodly number of the xeongregation met 
 in the present house of worship and repaired to the site of 
 the proposed new church. " Praise God from whom all 
 blessings flow," was sung. The pastor, Rev. Charles E. 
 Allison, read appropriate selections from Scripture, among 
 them the loth verse of the 28th chapter of i Chronicles — 
 " Take heed now, for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a 
 house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it." The peo- 
 ple sang : 
 
4S6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 " I love thy kingdom, Lord, 
 The house of thine abode.'' 
 
 Prayers were offered by Thoraas F. Hope and William 
 Smith, and two more hymns were sung. 
 
 The Session were represented in the assembly by all 
 the Elders ; the Board of Trustees by the President, John 
 H. Cutbill, and other members ; the choir by John W. Craft, 
 the leader, H. L. Huntington, the organist, and others ; the 
 Sunday-school by many teachers and scholars. '^ 
 
 After the brief but touching and impressive early 
 morning service the benediction was pronounced by the 
 pastor, and many went direct to their shops and factories 
 and schools to take up with glad hearts their daily work. 
 
 The first choir was composed of Samuel J. Berrian, or- 
 ganist ; John Craft, tenor ; George Williamson and Frank 
 Steadman, bass ; Miss Ida Sugden and Miss Mary Mitchell, 
 soprano ; and MisS Valeria Ryder, alto. Mr. Berrian was 
 faithful as a deacon of the church and rendered cheerful 
 and effective service as organist until his failing health 
 compelled withdrawal from the position. His death oc- 
 curred in May, 1886. James Tong succeeded Mr. Berrian 
 as organist. 
 
 Miss Libbie Berrian has frequently presided at the or- 
 gan and Miss Julia Wharmby,has also rendered the church 
 acceptable service as organist. Samuel Manoah Berrian 
 also served as organist for a number of years. Robert 
 Walsh was organist in 1887 and served the church without 
 compensation. He was succeeded by Frederick E. Hubbell. 
 The present organist is H. L. Huntington. There are 
 about fifteen members in the choir, the leader being John 
 W. Craft. He has been a member of the choir about eleven 
 years and leader about five years. His assistant is James 
 M. Rhys. Mr. Craft and his assistant have rendered valu- 
 able aid in the choral services of the church. 
 
 Charles R. Culver served the church as treasurer from 
 its organization, April, 1879, until May, 1884. He was suc- 
 ceeded by William Smith. When Mr. Smith's term of 
 office expired Mr. Culver was reelected and still occupies 
 that place. 
 
 The first wedding in Dayspring Church was on the 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 457 
 
 evening of September 12, 1883, when William S. Granger 
 and Miss Carrie Mason Tanner were married by Rev. 
 Charles E. Allison. 
 
 Dennis Nodine acted as sexton for a number of years 
 most faithfully. He was succeeded by John A. Smith, and 
 he by James Reynolds. The present sexton is John W. 
 Craft, who has served since January, 1887. 
 
 The pulpit Bible was presented by William Allen But- 
 ler, as was also the communion servicf . The latter is a 
 handsome, plain set, a small cross upon the lid of the tank- 
 ard being almost the only ornamentation. The goblets are 
 gold lined and upon each piece is engraved " Dayspring 
 Presbyterian Church. May 13, 1879." 
 
 The baptismal bowl was presented by Wm. H. Veitch, 
 September 25, 1879. 
 
 The Lord's Supper is observed on the last Sunday 
 morning in January, March, May, July, September, and No- 
 vember. 
 
 In connection with the work of Rev. Charles E. AUi, 
 son on Nodine Hill, the opening of a reading-room and li- 
 brary, in the latter part of 1879, bears an important part. It 
 is under the care of an organization distinct from the Day- 
 spring Church. In its incorporation, however, it is provi- 
 ded that the pastor of Dayspring Church, or if at any time 
 there be no pastor, one of the elders of that church, shall be 
 a member of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 On January 9, 1880, Charles Lockwood, of Yonkers, 
 presented this Association with a lot and a building which 
 he had erected on it for its meetings and reading-room, with 
 the expression of a wish that the institution might promote 
 growth in Christian manhood and cojinteract evil influences 
 which wreck character. 
 
 The building is on Oliver Avenue, a short distance in 
 the rear of the present house of worship of the Dayspring 
 Church. It is the property of the " Viewville Literary 
 Association." The opening exercises were held in the 
 Dayspring Church, January 16, 1880, after which the audi- 
 ence repaired to the reading-room. The first book carried 
 into it was a copy of the Holy Scriptures, " the Book of the 
 Great King and the great king of books." 
 
458 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 In September Mr. Lockwood presented the reading- 
 room one hundred and seventy-five new books, and a cata- 
 logue of the circulating library was printed. Henry Bow- 
 ers presented $20. In addition to historical and biographi- 
 cal works the library has the works of Irving, Scott, Eliot, 
 Black, Warner, Mulock, and Cooper. It also has the daily 
 papers, and a stereoscope, double lenses, revolving views. 
 The society gives literary and musical entertainments, and 
 holds meetings froiji time to time for debates. 
 
 April 13, 1888, a fine portrait of Charles Lockwood, the 
 generous donor of the reading-room, was presented to the 
 Viewville Literary Association. 
 
 The first officers were the five trustees who were incor- 
 porated as the Viewville Literary Association : Rev. C. E. 
 Allison, President ; Wm. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer ; 
 Samuel Granger, P. Kelly, and Robert Harper. Messrs. H. 
 H. Ferguson, William Webb, Samuel Granger, Thomas 
 L. Mottram, Henry Gaul, James E. Martin, and Louis W. Ar- 
 cher have also served as its presidents. Messrs. William 
 Smith, William Bates, Rev. C. E. Allison, and others have 
 served as secretaries. Messrs. William Webb and Thomas 
 W. lies served two terms as treasurers. The annalist of 
 the society for 1 889 was John B. Lees. He was succeeded 
 by Henry Gaul, and he by Louis W. Archer. 
 
 The following are its present officers : Louis W. Archer, 
 President ; James E. Irvine, Secretary ; Rev. C. E. Allison, 
 Treasurer. These officers, with Edwin Graham and Theo- 
 dore Wicht, constitute the present Board of Trustees. 
 
 The societies at work in and for the Dayspring Church 
 and Sunday-school are: Young People's Association, the 
 _ King's Daughters, Bir.thday Society, the Armor - Bearers" 
 (Mrs. Eva Field's class), the Willing Ten, the W. F. D. 
 (Miss Christina Ryder's class), L. B. C. S. (Miss Lizzie 
 Bruce's class), the Young Men's Bible-class Society, and 
 the " Little Maids' " Society. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 At a meeting held in Dayspring Chapel on Sunday af- 
 ternoon, May 19, 1872, at which William Allen Butler pre- 
 sided and Charles Lockwood acted as secretary, it was 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 45g 
 
 resolved to establish a Sunday-school. On the following 
 Sunday, May 26, 1872, Charles Lockwood, an elder in the 
 First Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, was chosen superin- 
 tendent, and Arthur Hay elected secretary and librarian. 
 
 At this meeting classes were organized and the follow- 
 ing persons offered their services as teachers : John W. 
 Skinner, William C. Foote, Charles Lockwood, Richard 
 Wynkoop, J. F. Travis, John Edwards, Arthur Hay, Mrs. 
 Marie C. Hughes, Miss Irene Newdll (now Mrs. A. C. Bene- 
 dict), Miss Anna E. Smith, Miss Helen Foote, and Miss 
 Annie Phillips. The school was opened with thirty-one 
 scholars and the twelve teachers above mentioned. Nearly 
 all of these teachers were either members of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church or connected with the congregation. 
 
 Mr. Lockwood in his superintendency of the Dayspring 
 Sunday-school studiously avoided introducing any sensa- 
 tional methods, either to retain the pupils or to draw chil- 
 dren from other Sunday-schools in the city. He also aimed 
 to secure the services of teachers who would instruct and 
 interest their scholars in the study of the Scriptures, and 
 not simply amuse or entertain them, but impart practical 
 and doctrinal knowledge of the Word of God. In addition 
 to his duties as superintendent, Mr. Lockwood frequently 
 taught classes in the absence of teachers, sometimes divid- 
 ing his time between the classes. 
 
 The expense of sustaining the school for the year 1873 
 was $145 60, which was generously met by the Missionary 
 Association of the First Presbyterian Church, as was that of 
 the following year, 1874, when the expenses of the school 
 were $380 99. 
 
 The attendance steadily increased so that the gallery 
 of the chapel was occupied, the main room being filled. 
 It numbered, in 1874, 140 pupils. At the close of the 
 year the number so increased that the chapel could not 
 comfortably accommodate all who came to the school. In 
 April, 1875, steps were taken to enlarge the building. The 
 chapel was closed from April 1 1 to May 23 in order to make 
 the proposed enlargement. 
 
 October 7, 1875, Mr. Lockwood reported that the Sun- 
 day-school had donated $184 towards purchasing a bell for 
 
460 ' CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the chapel. The attendance at the close of 1875 was 149 
 scholars and twenty-three teachers. At a communion ser- 
 vice held June 20, 1875, nine scholars made a public confes- 
 sion of their faith in Christ, uniting with the First Presby- 
 terian Church. The school held a Christmas festival in 
 December and a strawberry festival in March. Three hun- 
 dred volumes were added to the Sunday-school library in 
 1875. A large Bible-class was sustained. H. M. Schieffelin 
 kept the school supplied with question books. 
 
 At the anniversary of the Presbyterian Missionary 
 Association, held Sunday afternoon, November 12, 1876, in 
 the First Presbyterian Church, the Sunday-school was pres- 
 ent and occupied the gallery of the church. Wm. Allen 
 Butler expressed his gratification at the spectacle of a school 
 so large and prosperous. Lucius E. Clark and Rev. Dr. 
 Bulford, of Charleston, made addresses on that occasion. 
 Superintendent Lockwood reported that the average attend- 
 ance of the school was 204, and the largest attendance 227. 
 There were twenty-six teachers, with an average attendance 
 of twenty-three. Rev. C. E. Allison reported that there 
 were 526 books in the library, that the school had been reg- 
 ularly supplied with Sunday-school papers, and that fifty 
 copies of the "American Messenger" were distributed 
 monthly among the congregation. 
 
 In 1876 the young men's Bible-class, taught by the pas- 
 tor. Rev. C. E. Allison, began the study of the life of Christ, 
 upon which questions were prepared by the pastor. These 
 questions " were upon the end, the means, and the methods 
 of Bible study, also upon the social, political, and religious 
 characteristics of Chrisfs day." The aim was to " make the 
 questions direct as to the general and essential facts and 
 doctrines, and suggestive as to those less essential." The 
 questions were printed in circular form and on the title- 
 page were the following suggestive sentences : " To know 
 about Christ is one thing, to know Christ and to become 
 like him is quite another. Pilate and Judas knew about 
 him, Peter and John knew him." The class continued the 
 study of the subject for two or three years, finishing " Rob- 
 inson's Harmony of the Gospels." In 1 877 the class num- 
 bered from twenty-five to thirty young men. 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 461 
 
 The following report of the Sunday-school is for the 
 centennial year, 1876: Officers, 4; teachers, 23; number of 
 pupils on register, 250; average attendance, 176; largest 
 attendance, 231; number in infant class, 50; conversions, 
 1 1 ; deaths, 2 ; volumes in library, 250. The school is pro- 
 vided with the pastor's Bible-class for men and four Bible- 
 classes for women. 
 
 The officers of the school at that time were: Charles 
 Lockwood, Superintendent ; P. Kelly, Treasurer and Libra- 
 rian, with Chauncey Gouch and Henry Butler, assistants. 
 And the teachers were : Mrs. H. C. Balch, Mrs. Christian 
 Ryder, Miss Helen S. Foote, Miss Ida Belknap, Miss Mary 
 B. Daniels, Miss M. C. Valentine, Miss Belle Parsons, Miss 
 Sarah S. Clark, Miss Mary E. Beasley, Miss Sarah Ains- 
 worth. Miss Annie McCuUough, Miss Emma Clark, Miss 
 Emma W. Hoyt, Miss Isabel Shipman, Miss Mary Bradford, 
 Miss Tupper, Miss Williams, Miss Alice Kniffin, Miss Mary 
 F. Sleight, Messrs. G. W. Farnum, J. F. Travis, Walter W. 
 Law, P. Kelly, Henry Butler, Chauncey Gouch, and Rev. 
 Charles E. Allison. 
 
 In April, 1887, the chapel was so overcrowded that the 
 pastor relinquished his class which he had taught for so 
 many years, in order that the room it occupied might be 
 assigned to classes of children. The young men's class was 
 afterwards reorganized and is still taught by the pastor. 
 
 The women's Bible-class, which was taught by Mrs. 
 Marie C. Hughes, was also overcrowded, and more room 
 was needed to accommodate its increasing numbers in 
 1877. Mrs. Hughes was most faithful in her devotion to 
 her class. 
 
 In 1 876 Jonathan T. Travis, who had been a faithful 
 and efficient teacher in the school since the day of its organ- 
 ization, removed to Brooklyn. The school also sustained a 
 great loss by the removal of Richard Wynkoop from the 
 city. He had rendered valuable service both to the school 
 and chapel. The pastor at an entertainment given by the 
 friends of the chapel and school in June, 1 877, was present- 
 ed with an elegant gold watch. 
 
 The Young People's Association of the Dayspring 
 Presbyterian Church came into existence under the follow- 
 
462 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 ing interesting circumstances : William Smith, the founder, 
 (who subsequently became its President) one evening in 
 the month of May, 1876, while strolling in the neighbor- 
 hood of Sixth Avenue and Twenty-third Street, New York 
 city, attracted by singing, entered a young men's prayer- 
 meeting of a Presbyterian church. He was deeply inter- 
 ested in the service and impressed by the evident sincerity 
 of the young leader and of those who took part therein. 
 At the close of the meeting he received a cordial welcome 
 from the young men which made him feel at once thor- 
 oughly at home. He continued while in New York to 
 attend the weekly meetings and induced some friends to 
 attend them also. 
 
 On his return to Yonkers he wondered whether a simi- 
 lar meeting could not be established here. He gave the 
 subject much thought, and resolved to make the attempt. 
 One day he invited three of his friends to meet at his house 
 on a certain evening. When they arrived he astonished 
 them somewhat by informing them that they were to hold 
 a prayer-meeting. After failing two or three times in their 
 attempt to open the meeting, a hymn was sung and a prayer 
 offered. The friends parted with serious impressions. The 
 following week a meeting was held at another house, and 
 this time two more had gathered, making a total of six. 
 The meetings were held weekly, continuing to increase in 
 numbers until parlors were crowded to their greatest capa- 
 city. Application was made and granted for the use of a 
 wing of the Dayspring Church, and finally the main build- 
 ing was thrown open. 
 
 As time passed, desiring to further extend their useful- 
 ness, it was decided to admit to the meetings, which had 
 heretofore been exclusively for young men, young persons 
 of both sexes. A meeting was held and the Young Peo- 
 ple's Association of the Dayspring Presbyterian Church 
 was organized to succeed the young men's meeting. 
 
 May 12, 1884, the pastor. Rev. C. E. Allison, suggested 
 to the Association the advisability of establishing a fund for 
 the erection of a new church building. The suggestion 
 was adopted and the first contribution was then made. 
 
 The twelfth anniversary of the association was held in 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 463 
 
 the church Monday evening, May 24, 1888. There were 
 present representatives from all the young people's associa- 
 tions in the city. The President of the society, William 
 Smith, presided. After singing, Frank B. Hickey, of the 
 Westmihster Church, offered prayer. A selection from the 
 Scriptures was read by Richard Edie, of the Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Church, which was followed by the report 
 of the secretary, Walter .Reynolds. The average attend- 
 ance was fifty-eight. One death had occurred during the 
 year, and the membership had been increased by the addi- 
 tion of four new members. The membership at that time 
 was seventy-five. 
 
 Miss Libbie Berrian, the treasurer, reported that $88 
 had been expended during the year. Balance in treasury, 
 $12. Addresses were made by William Smith and Rev. C. 
 E. Allison. The meeting was closed by singing, and prayer 
 by William M. Dick, of the Reformed Church. 
 
 It has been the custom of the society to go for an out- 
 ing each Fourth of July, games of various descriptions and 
 refreshments being indulged in, and also contests in various , 
 athletic sports for appropriate trophies. This annual fea- 
 ture was in no small measure the cause of an increase in 
 the popularity and beneficial influence of the Association 
 
 The weekly meeting of the Association is held every 
 Monday evening. Every two months a missionary meet- 
 ing is held, the topic under consideration being either 
 home or foreign missions. The Association entered upon 
 its sixteenth year last May. It rendered efficient service at 
 the church fair held in November, 1887. 
 
 With appropriate exercises the Association celebrated 
 its next anniversary Monday evening, May 21, 1889. Wm. 
 Smith, an ex-President of the Association, presided. The 
 reports of the officers showed that the members had not 
 been weary in well-doing. Interesting remarks were made 
 by George D. Mackay, President of the Y. M. C. A., and 
 Rev. Charles E. Allison. 
 
 The Association celebrated on Monday evening. May 
 21, 1890, its fourteenth anniversary with a pleasant gather- 
 ing. Theodore Ross, the President, presided. William 
 Smith, the founder, offered prayer. Mr. Ross read from 
 
464 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 the Scriptures, and Rev. Charles E. Allison and Franklin 
 Soper, M. D., made addresses. Representatives from the 
 sister societies of the Westminster and Reformed churches 
 were present. 
 
 The singing book used by the Association 'in their 
 weekly prayer-meetings is the " Gospel Hymns," by Messrs. 
 Moody and Sankey. 
 
 The officers of the Young People's Association for 1889 
 were : William B. Jones, President ; John Ross, Vice-Presi- 
 dent ; Jerome Kollmer, Secretary ; Rev. C. E. Allison, ex- 
 officio member of board. William Smith, Walter Reynolds, 
 Thomas Woodruff, Libbie Berrian, Anna L. Graham, Grace 
 Banks, and Annie Young, with the four officers above 
 mentioned, constitute the Board of Trustees. The commit- 
 tees were : Miss A. Graham, Miss L. Berrian, Miss G. Banks, 
 W. Smith, T. Woodruff, and W. Jones, visiting; Miss 
 Webb, Miss Young, Miss Graham, Mr. Ross, Mr. Reynolds, 
 and W. Smith, introduction ; Messrs. Reynolds, Ross, Smith, 
 and Woodruff, employment. 
 
 June I, 1879, Charles Lockwood assumed the entire ex- 
 pense of supporting the Sunday-school, about $320 a year. 
 For several years he continued to bear this expense. The 
 following figures give some idea of the standing and condi- 
 tion of the school from 1872 to 1879 '• 1872, 82 scholars on 
 the roll and 12 teachers ; 1873, 150 scholars, average attend- 
 ance, 100; 1874, average attendance, no, teachers, 21 ; 1875, 
 attendance, 149, teachers, 23 ; 1876, attendance 204, teach- 
 ers, 23 ; 1877, attendance 208, teachers, 26 ; 1878, attendance 
 178, teachers, 22; 1879, attendance 167, teachers, 20. 
 
 The following persons taught in the Sunday-school be- 
 tween 1872 and 1879: Messrs. Lockwood, Kelly, Gouch, 
 Butler, Allison, Wynkoop, Travis, Van Norden, Allen, Tay- 
 lor, Farnum, Law, Foote, Smith, L. Morse, A. J. Prime, Sal- 
 ter, Clark, Wainwright, Van Tassell, and Henry Taylor, 
 Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. M. C. Hughes, Mrs. Balch, Mrs. Bate, 
 Mrs. Mapes, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Bates, Misses Ida Belknap, 
 M. E. Bradford, Tappen, M. McCartey, Helen Foote, Emma 
 Clark, Mary Willard, Annie McCuUough, M. Flagg, B. Par- 
 sons, G. Cruikshank, Josie Sawyer, B. Shipman, Cora Mack- 
 rell, Mary Butler, Harriet Butler, Kellogg, Valentine, Smith, 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 465 
 
 Hoyt, McMillan, Mary B. Daniels, Beasley, Ryder, Newell, 
 and Hipson. 
 
 On Wednesday evening, June 7, 1882, the Sunday- 
 school enjoyed, its annual strawberry and ice-cream festi- 
 val. An interesting feature of the exercises was the pre- 
 sentation of books as rewards for Bible study and regular at- 
 tendance during the year. Sarah Smith, Julia Hill, Emma 
 Button, Katie Archer, Louise Webb, James Andrews, and 
 Lena and Belle Weisendonger received books for regular 
 and punctual attendance, and Lena Weisendonger a volume 
 of poems for learning Scripture verses. She had committed 
 to memory 927 verses. 
 
 " The pen of the historian cannot record all the names 
 of those who were the true friends of the church and Sun- 
 day-school. The record of their fidelity is above on the 
 books of Him whose reward is sure." But it seems peculiar- 
 ly fitting to note briefly the work of one who was identified 
 with the interests and success of the church and Sunday- 
 school from its organization. At the time of the building of 
 a house of worship on Nodine Hill no one took deeper in- 
 terest, nor discharged more efficiently and faithfully his du- 
 ties as a member of the building committee, than did Pat- 
 rick Kelly. In the Dayspring Church Annals,* written by 
 Rev. C. E. Allison, is the following : " He was a generous 
 and faithful friend. If anything was to be attended to in 
 connection with enlarging, repairing, trimming, or caring 
 for the chapel, Mr. Kelly was the man to do it, or to see that 
 it was well done. He was unassuming as he was faithful." 
 
 Mr. Kelly served as librarian, secretary, and treasurer 
 of the Dayspring Sunday-school. He died suddenly, Sep- 
 tember 16, 1882, on the morning of his return from Europe, 
 whither he had gone for the restoration of his health. 
 
 Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon, 
 September 20, in the First Presbyterian Church. The ser- 
 vices were conducted by Rev. John Reid, assisted by Rev. 
 Charles E. Allison. Rev. Mr. Reid, in his address, said 
 
 * The Dayspring Church has a book entitled " Annals." It is kept by 
 the pastor, who has recorded important events in the growth of the church 
 and of the east side of the city. It has come to be greatly valued by the 
 people. 
 
 Sanday-scliool Work. ^O 
 
466 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 with much feeling : " Here is a man whom I knew — whom 
 I loved — a man of usefulness and of sterling integrity. His 
 liffe-work was one of consistency, bringing honor to the 
 church. He was a trustee and deacon, and as such respect- 
 ed. In all the efforts to improve this church he was ready 
 to do his part. Being dead he yet speaketh." 
 
 In September, 1886, prizes were offered to the mem- 
 bers of the Sunday-school who should collect the lal-gest 
 amount towards the building fund. A meeting was held 
 to hear the names of those who had collected the largest 
 amount and to enjoy the refreshments which the ladies 
 had provided. Congratulatory remarks were made by 
 Charles Lockwood, William Smith, and Rev. C. E. Allison. 
 The first prize, an elegant dressing-case, was presented to 
 Emma Menzer, who had collected $80 20. The second prize, 
 also a beautiful dressing-case, was given to Florence Wharm- 
 by, who had collected $25 05. George Thomas received the 
 third prize, a riding whip. He had collected $21 55. A 
 doll, which was offered to the member of the infant class 
 who should bring the largest amount, was given to little 
 Susie Percival, who had collected $5 06. A large cake was 
 given to industrious Jacob Minnerly, who had found time, 
 although his daily work was heavy and wearisome, to fill 
 nearly four of the little collection barrels. " Honor to 
 whom honor is due." The whole amount collected by 
 this effort was $300. 
 
 The Dayspring Churchy Boys' Society was organized 
 April, 1887. In July, 1887, it numbered fifty members. 
 The boys, in connection with this society, established a 
 prayer-meeting in April, 1 887. 
 
 A class taught by Miss Cora W. Mackrell, known as 
 the " Willing Ten," consisting of ten young ladies, gave a 
 very pleasant entertainment at Temperance Hall, in Octo- 
 ber, 1887, in behalf of the church building fund. The class 
 also raised by their floral arbor at the church fair, held 
 November, 1887, $150. 
 
 The King's Daughters is another society which raised 
 $243 85 for the building fund at the fair. The Birthday 
 Society presented the treasurer of the church with $60 for 
 this object. James M. Rhys' singing class also worked 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 467 
 
 for the church building fund. The Heart and Hand So- 
 ciety, organized January, 1 887, of which Miss Emma Menzer 
 was President, Miss Julia Wharmby, Treasurer, and Miss 
 Amelia Menzer, Secretary, in January, 1887, presented the 
 church with $63, and on Christmas, 1888, a fine Decker 
 piano. The Cup of Water Society raised $89 for the church 
 building fund in 1887, and the Golden Seal Society also 
 contributed. 
 
 In 1884 the following ' teachers were in the Sunday- 
 school: Messrs. Robert Harper, Herbert Claxton, Ogden 
 Wilson, James Smith, Henry Gaul, George K. Gilbert, 
 McKittrick, Miller, Granger, Field, and Benjamin F. Parli- 
 man ; Misses Joyce, Ainsworth, Williams, Stewart, Dwigtit, 
 Kittie Goddard, Armenia Baird, Fannie Upham, Carson, 
 Knifiin, Jordan, Haight, Hall, Gray, Worden, May Tappen, 
 Ella Coles, Latham, Ada Daughaday, and Churchill, and 
 at a later date. Misses Davidson, Louisa Webb, Eliza Smith, 
 Lockwood, Gould, Lizzie Graham, and Underbill. 
 
 The first teacher who had charge of the primary depart- 
 ment of the school was Miss Ida Belknap. In addition to 
 her duties as superintendent of the department she foster- 
 ed by patient and faithful work the musical exercises, which 
 are not the least important feature of the work of the Sun- 
 day-school. She also, for many years, led the singing in the 
 Friday evening prayer-meeting and on Sunday afternoon 
 in the church. In the festivals, fairs, and entertainments 
 held for the benefit of the church she was suggestive and 
 efficient in methods and ways to make them attractive and 
 successful. Hers was long-continued service. In 1880 this 
 department, under Miss Belknap's charge, had more than 
 one hundred names enrolled. 
 
 Mrs. Robert Harper succeeded Miss Belknap. She was 
 succeeded by the superintendent, Charles Lockwood, who 
 taught for a year. He was succeeded by Miss Sugden, as- 
 sisted by Miss Cora Aldrich. Miss Cora Mackrell taught it 
 for a brief period. The department at present is efficiently 
 taught by Miss Mary Chapman. It enrolls about one hun- 
 dred pupils (May, 1891). The International Lessons are 
 taught, also the Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and 
 " Child's Short Catechism," edited by Rev. J. Haddington 
 
468 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Brown. The " Little Folks' Paper " is distributed. This 
 department meets in the Viewville Reading-room, at 2 : 30 
 p. M., there being insufficient room for it in the church. 
 
 On Thursday, July 12, 1888, the Dayspring Sunday- 
 school, with the Warburton Avenue Baptist Sunday-school 
 and the Nepperhan Avenue Mission Sunday-school, went on 
 an excursion to Boynton Beach, N. J. On this grand union 
 Sunday-school excursion were over sixteen hundred persons. 
 
 Report to Presbytery for 1880: Officers and teachers, 
 27; adult scholars, 24; youth and children, 251 ; total mem- 
 bership, 302; average attendance, 170; number united with 
 the church, 4. 
 
 Report of Session to Presbytery for 1885 : Officers, 4; 
 teachers, 24; scholars, 223 : total, 251; average attendance, 
 165 ; average attendance of scholars at church, 60 ; number 
 received into church, 4 ; books, 600 ; amount given to our 
 Boards, $20 ; to other benevolent objects, $70. 
 
 Report to Presbytery for 1886 : Officers, 4 ; teachers, 27 ; 
 scholars, 269: total, 300; average attendance, 185 ; average 
 attendance of scholars at church, 100 ; received into church, 
 10; books in the library, 500; amount given to our boards, 
 $254; to other benevolent boards, $150. 
 
 Report to Presbytery for 1888: Officers, 4; teachers, 
 29; scholars, 289: total, 322; average attendance, 210; 
 average attendance of scholars at church, 125 ; scholars 
 members of church, 60 ; books in library, 340. 
 
 The following is the statistical report of the Session for 
 twelve years, to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church : The number of scholars in the school in 1880 was 
 280; in 1881, 325: in 1882, 335; 1883, 305; 1884, 310; 1885, 
 251; 1886,300; 1887,299; 1888, 322; 1889, 300; 1890, 330; 
 1891, 310. 
 
 Charles Lockwood, after sixteen years of uninterrupted 
 service as superintendent of Dayspring Sunday-school, re- 
 signed in April, 1888. On his retirement the officers and 
 teachers, as an expression of their estimation of him as an 
 honored and valued associate, and as an earnest and faith- 
 ful Christian worker in the Master's vineyard, passed the 
 following resolutions, which were subsequently beautifully 
 engrossed and presented to him. 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 469 
 
 A TESTIMONIAL. 
 
 Whereas, The organization and growth of both Day- 
 spring Sunday-school and Dayspring Presbyterian Church 
 are largely due to the long-continued labor and generosity 
 of Charles Lockwood ; and 
 
 Whereas, He has served the Sunday-school as superin- 
 tendent from its organization (May, 1 872) up to the present 
 day, and has been deeply interested in the welfare of Day- 
 spring Presbyterian Church from the time it was founded 
 (April, 1 879) ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That we, the oSicers and teachers of the Sab- 
 bath-school, together with the pastor and elders of the 
 church, by formal and joint resolution, assure Mr. Lock- 
 wood of our esteem and great gratitude, realizing as we do 
 that hundreds of children and youth who have been mem- 
 bers of the Dayspring Sunday-school have received inesti- 
 mable instruction in the Word of God by reason of Mr. 
 Lockwood's profound interest in their highest welfare, 
 many of them having been taught regularly for years by 
 teachers brought from their distant homes at his expense. 
 
 Resolved, That we congratulate him upon the pleasure 
 he must enjoy as he reviews these many years of efficient 
 service for that divine Master who regards what is done for 
 the least of his brethren as done for him, and who assures 
 his people that whosoever giveth even a cup of cold water 
 in the name of a disciple shall not lose his reward. 
 
 Resolved, that we also congratulate him upon the en- 
 during and ever-widening influence which the Sunday- 
 school and the Dayspring Presbyterian Church he has done 
 so much to establish and strengthen promise to exert for 
 promoting God's glory and man's good long after he and 
 his associates have been called to their reward. 
 
 Resolved by the Session, That these resolutions be spread 
 upon the Sessional records, and by the officers and teachers 
 of the Sunday-school that they be engrossed and presented 
 to Mr. Lockwood on the day he retires from the ofi&ce of 
 superintendent. 
 
 YoNKERS, May, 1888. 
 
470 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 When Mr. Lockwood resigned he assured the school of 
 his undiminished interest is its welfare, and said that he 
 expected to remain as a teacher. He suggested that com- 
 mittees be formed to have oversight of the various depart- 
 ments, such as library, music, entertainments, special meet- 
 ings, visiting, etc. 
 
 In the year 1881 the Dayspring Sunday-school was the 
 second largest Sunday-school in the Westchester Presbytery, 
 which numbered at that date thirty-nine churches. The 
 enrolment in April, 1 889, was three hundred scholars. The 
 number of scholars who were received into the communion 
 of the church in 1887 was twenty-one. 
 
 The Christmas festivals of the Dayspring Sunday- 
 school, with their snow-covered ship, their North Pole 
 railroad, their chimney and reindeer and sleigh, have 
 always been very enjoyable. The last one was celebrated 
 by the Dayspring " Magi and Midgets " on December 27, 
 1890. 
 
 After the Scriptures were read, prayer was offered by 
 Charles Lockwood and an address was made by Rev. 
 Charles E. Allison. Sweet carols were sung during the 
 evening, among them one by the infant-class. Carrie Bate 
 recited a Christmas poem. A cantata was rendered by a 
 dozen or more lads and lassies. It represented the Christ- 
 mas of a sailor's family and was greatly enjoyed by the 
 large audience of little folk. Then another company of 
 midgets presented a Christmas piece entitled "The Old 
 Woman who Lived in a Shoe." Both this piece and the 
 cantata were under the direction of Mrs. Eva Field, Miss 
 Lizzie Wharmby, and Miss Hattie Howarth, who for many 
 weeks had been training the participants. 
 
 At the close of the exercises presents were distributed. 
 From a beautiful Christmas-tree very pretty dolls arrayed 
 in lovely dresses were taken and passed over to the eager 
 little girls. The boys received tool-chests, and the next 
 day Nodine Hill abounded in juvenile carpenters. Wil- 
 liam Smith, the superintendent, received a beautiful chair 
 and wall-pocket ; and John Craft, the choir-leader, an ele- 
 gant clock. Many other gifts were distributed. 
 
 The school contributes annually towards foreign mis- 
 
DAYSPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 47 1 
 
 sions, and helps support a Sunday-school in the South for 
 poor whites. 
 
 Miss Ada M. Daughaday, a former teacher of th^s 
 school, is now a missionary at the Osaka station of the 
 Japan Mission. 
 
 The energetic and devoted pastor of the Presbyterian 
 Church at Shelter Island, N. Y., Rev. Benjamin F. Parli- 
 man, and Rev. F. B. Dwight, subsequently pastor of the 
 First Presbyterian Church at Sing Sing, N. Y., were also 
 teachers in this Sunday-school. 
 
 Dayspring Sunday-school has been the child of "prayer 
 and of faith. It has been and is now the hope of the 
 church. Never was a more faithful or self-denjdng body 
 of teachers gathered together. 
 
 The Sunday-school hymn-book is "Select Hymns." 
 The school sessions are at 2 : 30 p. m. ; teachers' meetings 
 are held Saturday evenings. 
 
 There have been but two superintendents of this Sun- 
 day-school since its organization — Charles Lockwood, 
 elected May i, 1872 (resigned April, 1888), and William 
 Smith, elected May, 1888. The present officers are: Wil-. 
 liam Smith, Superintendent ; Charles Lockwood, Assistant 
 Superintendent; Miss Annie L. Graham, Lady Superin- 
 tendent ; John H. Cutbill, Treasurer and Librarian ; Robert 
 L. Field, Assistant Librarian ; Miss Libbie Berrian, Organ- 
 ist ; John W. Craft, Precentor. 
 
 The teachers are Mrs. Annie A. Howell, Mrs. I^nnie 
 E. Davis, Mrs. Allen Taylor, Mrs. Mary E. Van Tassell, 
 Mrs. Henry Steadman, Mrs. Harry Hipson, Mrs. Eva Field, 
 Miss Amelia Menzer, Miss Martha Curran, Miss Lizzie 
 Wharmby, Miss Libbie Berrian, Miss Lottie Percival, Miss 
 Annie Graham, Miss Eliza Smith, Miss Julia Lichtenber- 
 ger. Miss Edith Kendall, Miss Christina Ryder, Miss Mae 
 Lillian Cutbill, Miss Leila Sugden, Miss Lizzie Bruce, Miss 
 Louisa Desgrey, Miss Mary Chapman, -Messrs. Charles 
 Lockwood, Uriah Wilson, Thomas H. Smith, Theodore 
 Wicht, George A. Waechter, Joseph Smith, and Rev. 
 Charles Elmer Allison. 
 
 " These officers and teachers, constrained by the love 
 of their great Teacher, are earnestly endeavoring to impart 
 
472 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 to their classes such, instruction out of God's Word that 
 the children and youth of Dayspring Sunday-school, while 
 increasing in stature, may also 'increase in wisdom and in 
 favor with God and man,' and may ' go before the face of 
 the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salva- 
 tion unto his people by the remission of their sins through 
 the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from 
 on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in 
 darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into 
 the way of peace.' " 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 473 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 In the montli of July, 1872, Mrs. Henry Peel, Mrs. 
 Grace Purdy, and Henry E. Duets organized the prayer- 
 meeting which was held at the house of Mrs. Henry Peel 
 in Ritter's Lane, near East Ashburton Avenue, from which 
 sprang the Messiah Baptist Church. In 1874 Henry E. 
 Duers, of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, sent a 
 note addressed to the congregation of the A. M. E. Zion 
 Church, who at that time were worshipping in Rooney 
 Hall, on North Broadway, requesting their pastor to read it 
 at the evening service. The note contained the following 
 request : 
 
 " Members of Baptist churches in Yonkers who are pres- 
 ent are requested to attend a meeting to be held in Town- 
 send Hall on the following Tuesday." 
 
 After reading this notice the pa'stor gave his unquali- 
 fied disapproval of it in words which could be plainly under- 
 stood by his hearers. In response to the invitation three 
 persons — Frederick Gilliam, Deacon Roberts, and Henry 
 E. Duers — met in Townsend Hall at the time appointed. 
 A Sunday service was held in that hall two weeks later 
 and a sermon was preached by Rev. H. Dennis, a student 
 in the Richmond Institute, Va. 
 
 The next Sunday, A. F. Decker, a member of the 
 Warburton Avenue Baptist. Church, addressed the little 
 gathering. Townsend Hall was secured for continued ser- 
 vices at a rental of $20 per month. In the month of May 
 there was considerable difficulty in raising the amount re- 
 quired. Said one of the congregation, in recalling this ex- 
 perience, " The time was dark for us, very dark. The rent 
 was called for, but there was no money in the treasury. 
 Two days after the rent was due $22 was handed to us. It 
 was the contribution of nineteen different persons. From 
 that day we decided to call our mission ' Immanuel,' by 
 
474 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 which name it was known until July, 1876, when it was 
 changed to ' Messiah.' " 
 
 During the year 1874-75 the prayer-meeting was held 
 with some irregularity at the home of Mrs. Peel. Those 
 who were always present whenever it was held were Thom- 
 as Peel, Henry Evans, Joseph Maltby, James White, Charles 
 Mann, Richard Bailey, and Henry Travis, all of whom may 
 be considered the founders of the new Baptist society which 
 subsequently became an established church organization. 
 Of the above mentioned persons all but two — Henry Evans 
 and Richard Bailey — remain in the communion of the Mes- 
 siah Baptist Church to-day. 
 
 There appear to be conflicting opinions in regard to 
 the exact date of the organization of this church. Some of 
 the early members assert that it was organized in the spring 
 of 1875. 
 
 Whereas the fifteenth anniversary of the organization 
 of this church was held in the new church building in the 
 month of July, 1 889, in accordance with that date we give 
 the time of its organization a,s above. Rev. William Spel- 
 man, of New York city, was present at its organization, 
 which was accomplished in Townsend Hall, North Broad- 
 way, with twenty members. 
 
 We find in the statistical record of the fifteenth annual 
 meeting of the New England Baptist Missionary Conven- 
 tion, held in Philadelphia. Pa., June 19, 1882, the word "uni- 
 ted" in connection with this church, and the date 1879. As 
 this is an official church record, we give 1879 ^^ the year 
 when this Baptist society was officially recognized as an 
 organized church. 
 
 Sunday services were regularly held after the organiza- 
 tion, and the stated services of Rev. R. D. Wynn were se- 
 cured. For a number of years church services were held 
 in Townsend Hall under unpleasant and serious disadvan- 
 tages which were unfavorable to the growth and prosperity 
 of the church. An effort was made to purchase the build- 
 ing with a view to its enlargement and improvement for 
 church purposes. The amount required was $600. An 
 appeal was made to friends in Yonkers for assistance to 
 raise that sum, provided the members of the church and 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 475 
 
 congregation would raise half of the money needed. The 
 matter was taken into consideration by a committee from 
 the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, consisting of J. W. 
 Ackerman, William Holme, and Samuel Dinsmore, who 
 approved of the plan, provided the money needed for the 
 purchase of the property could be secured. 
 
 The congregation, through great effort, succeeded in 
 purchasing a lot on Woodworth Avenue, near the corner 
 of Ashburton Avenue, upon which they hoped to erect a 
 church building, the former plan being abandoned. An 
 effort was made to start a building-fund, and to this end 
 several entertainments and concerts were given. Their 
 efforts were not as successful as they had Hoped, and at 
 times they feared that this plan also would have to be 
 given up. But a few of their number with undaunted cour- 
 age, energy, and pluck determined to press onward despite 
 the unceasing and almost insurmountable obstacles which 
 ever and anon arose in their pathway. 
 
 At this period of the church's history the hearts of its 
 members were made to rejoice by the announcement that 
 James B. Colgate had purchased a portion of the Dr. Levi 
 W. Flagg estate on Ashburton Place, with the- building 
 thereon, formerly known as the " Leighton Academy," 
 which was to be remodelled for a church for their use. 
 
 The church is an attractive wooden structure and is 
 entered from the north through wide folding doors, open- 
 ing into a vestibule which is 1 1 feet wide and 32 feet long, 
 from which two doors communicate with the main audi- 
 torium, which has two aisles, one on each side. The seat- 
 ing capacity is about 260, divided into sixty-four pews, 
 made of white ash, as is also the pulpit desk, which is rich- 
 ly panelled and ornamented and finished with a movable 
 upholstered top. The rostrum occupies a recess at the 
 south end of the room. It is furnished with three hand- 
 somely upholstered white oak chairs. 
 
 Beneath the rostrum is the baptistry, reached by stairs 
 at either side, and communicates with robing and toilet 
 rooms, and also with the pastor's study, from the latter 
 of which exit is had to the yard in the rear of the church. 
 
 A broad and easy flight of stairs in the main vestibule 
 
476 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 leads to the second story, whicli is divided into three rooms, 
 the larger one being 30 by 36 feet, and the two smaller ones 
 14 by 18 feet each. There are glass partitions between 
 these rooms, so arranged that the entire floor can be thrown 
 into one large room whenever necessary to so use it. 
 
 The cost of the property, including the improvements, 
 was $15^000. The work of reconstructing and completing 
 the building was done by the following firms : Edwin A. 
 Quick, architect ; J. and G. Stewart, mason work ; S. F. 
 Quick, carpenter work. 
 
 The presentation of this church edifice by Mr. Colgate 
 occurred in the same month, June, nineteen years after, 
 as the presentation of the princely gift of the beautiful 
 Warburton Avenue Baptist Church by him and his associate 
 and -friend, John B. Trevor, to the Mount Olivet Baptist 
 Church of Yonkers. 
 
 The new church was opened on Sunday morning, June 
 3, 1888. Rev. E. Bird preached the introductory sermon. 
 At the dedicatory services, held in the afternoon at 2 : 30 
 o'clock, a large congregation of colored and white people 
 were present. The services were opened with the singing of 
 the doxology, and the pastor. Rev. A. B. Brown, repeated 
 the Lord's Prayer. The choir of the Mount Olivet Baptist 
 Church, New York city, were present, with their leader, 
 Samuel Jackson, and assisted by Miss Virginia E. Hunt, 
 who presided at the organ, led the congregation in singing. 
 Dr. Perry read the following Scripture selections : Exodus 
 25 : i-io, and i Kings 8 : 12-30. Rev. E. Bird, of Brooklyn, 
 offered the prayer of dedication. 
 
 After the prayer James B. Colgate made the presenta- 
 tion address. After referring briefiy to the early history 
 of the church and to the unattractiveness and difficulties 
 which surrounded them in their former place of worship, 
 Mr. Colgate said : 
 
 " You are now situated at a central point, in the centre 
 of the religious influence of the city of Yonkers. You have 
 on the south of you the Presbyterian Church, where is con- 
 centrated wealth and learning. To' the north is St. Paul's 
 Church, with its very beautiful service and ritual. To the 
 east is the Methodist Church, burning with zeal for Christ 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 477 
 
 and Methodism. And near by is the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church, whose members love the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 These surroundings ought to be an incentive to you to do 
 better things. Every one of these churches will watch you. 
 If you behave yourselves and follow the precepts of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, they will respect you. No one; however, 
 will respect you unless you respect yourselves. 
 
 " Now I have given this property to the Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Church, in trust for you. The trustees of 
 that church are to lease this property to you for twenty 
 years at $1 a year. The gift has been made, however, under 
 certain restrictions. The lease is to be made in accordance 
 with the spirit of a letter. That letter says that this build- 
 ing shall never be encumbered with a mortgage or any 
 other debt. Again, this place cannot be sublet, except for 
 use as a church of Christ. Among the expenses you will 
 have will be those produced in keeping the property in 
 repair and in insuring it. And if this property is burned 
 or condemned by the authorities, the money received from 
 the insurance or the sale must be used to build another 
 Baptist church for the colored people. 
 
 " Another clause says that this lease is made for a 
 church of Christ. It is not made to quarrel in, and if dis- 
 sensions arise among you and they do not cease after the 
 trustees of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church have 
 notified you, the trustees can take possession and close the 
 house. The church of Christ is not made to quarrel in — ' a 
 new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one an- 
 other.' While it is stated here that it cannot be sublet; 
 another clause says that you may lease it to a society for 
 an evening for such purposes as are not unbecoming a 
 church of Christ. The lease may be renewed at the end 
 of twenty years. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Chairman, I am done. I present this lease 
 and this letter to you. I present to you also the key to 
 this building. And may God bless you ; may the spirit of 
 Christ dwell within you ; and may you abundantly prosper 
 and increase like a fruitful vine." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Brown, the pastor, responded briefly to Mr. 
 Colgate's remarks, and read resolutions which had been 
 
478 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 unanimously adopted at a meeting of the churcli on Sun- 
 day, December i8, 1878, expressive of the gratitude of the 
 congregation to James B. Colgate for his liberal gift of a 
 building suitable for a church and Sunday-school, which 
 were signed by the pastor, deacons, and trustees of the 
 church. Thanks were also extended to Mrs. James B. Col- 
 gate for the beautiful pulpit Bible ; to Theodore Gaul for 
 a handsome clock ; to E. A. Quick, the architect, who plan- 
 ned and carried out the reconstruction of their building to 
 the entire satisfaction of all concerned ; and finally to all 
 who had in any way helped them to better their condition. 
 
 A hymn was then sung, after which Rev. Dr. R. L. 
 Penney, of Brooklyn, preached the dedicatory sermon from 
 the text Mark 9 : 5-7 : " And Peter answered and said to 
 Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here ; let us make 
 three tabernacles, one for thee and one for Mo^es and one 
 for Elias." Rev. Dr. Wisher, of the Mount Olivet Bap- 
 tist Church, Brooklyn, preached the evening sermon. 
 Preaching services were held every evening the following 
 week. The meetings were well attended and were the 
 means of stimulating the congregation to renewed activity 
 and devotion to church work. The committee of arrange- 
 ments for those and also for the dedicatory services were : 
 C. S. Fariess, chairman : H. Evans, R. Pollard, J. Scott, 
 R. R. Bailey, and R. Pollard, Jr. 
 
 The successive pastors of the church have been : Rev. 
 R. D. Wynn, Rev. Joseph Francis, Rev. William S. Bass, 
 Rev. Joseph Miller (deceased). Rev. Joseph Bailey, and 
 Rev. Abraham B. Brown, the latter from August i, 1886, 
 to September 5, 1889. 
 
 The present pastor of this church. Rev. Alexander M. 
 Conway, was born in Virginia, July 5, 1846. After a varied 
 experience he became converted and was baptized and uni- 
 ted with the First Colored Baptist Church of Danville, Va., 
 in 1 866. He obtained his early education while working at 
 his trade as a carpenter and attending night-school. 
 
 In 1870 he was admitted to the theologicaV class of 
 the Richmond Institute, Va., where he remained for four 
 years, during which time he organized four Sunday-schools 
 and spent his vacation in preaching. In 1875 he was or- 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 479 
 
 dained to the gospel ministry in the First Colored Baptist 
 Church of Danville. In July of the same year he became 
 pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church of Salisbury, 
 N. C, and served as its pastor for four years. During those 
 years the membership of the church and Sunday-school was 
 greatly increased and the church property was purchased. 
 It was during his pastorate of that church that he served 
 as secretary of the Rawan Baptist Association. In 1879 ^^ 
 was called to the pastorate of the. First Colored Baptist 
 Church of Wilmington, N. C. 
 
 His pastorate of more than eleven years of that church 
 was most successful in its results ; many precious souls 
 were added to the church. One thousand dollars was ex- 
 pended in improvements on the church property, and on 
 his resignation of the pastorate $1,700 was in the church 
 treasury towards the erection of a new church edifice. 
 During this pastorate two churches and four Sunday-schools 
 were organized. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Conway was twice the Secretary of the Col- 
 ored Baptist State Convention, and at one time its Vice-Pres- 
 ident. He was also the Vice-President of the Middle Dis- 
 trict Baptist Association. He also served as President of 
 the Wilmington Colored Missionary Association, and was 
 appointed delegate by that association to represent it in 
 the North Carolina Missionary Association at their annual 
 convocation. In February, 1890, Mr. Conway was called 
 and accepted the pastorate of the Messiah Baptist Church 
 of Yonkers. His brief pastorate of this church has been 
 fruitful in its results. Twenty-five persons have been added 
 to the membership of the church, and he has succeeded in 
 uniting the church in active, aggressive Christian effort. 
 His superintendency of the Sunday-school has been espe- 
 cially gratifying and successful. 
 
 The officers of the church are : Albert Roberts, Henry 
 Evans, Reuben Pollard, Heath Scay, and E. Thornton, dea- 
 cons; Wm. Holme, J. W. Ackerman, Samuel Dinsmore, 
 Charles S. Fariess, Richard Pollard, Nelson Jaycox, and 
 H. H. Howard, trustees. The officers of the board of trus- 
 tees are : Rev. C. S. Fariess, President : J. W. Ackerman, 
 Treasurer; Richard Pollard, Secretary. The membership 
 
48o CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 of the church, as reported in the minutes of the annual 
 meeting of the New England Baptist Missionary Conven- 
 tion, 1890, is 81. 
 
 The Woman's Missionary Circle of the church was 
 organized by Mrs. J. B. Colgate, in July, 1888, with Mrs. 
 Lucy Scay as President, and Mrs. Mary E. Maltby as Secre- 
 tary and Treasurer, and twelve contributing members. The 
 circle is still in its infancy, but gives promise of usefulness 
 and growing stability. 
 
 The communion service was presented by Rev. R. D. 
 Wynn. The organist of the church is Miss Josephine Malt- 
 by. The sexton is Edward Bush. 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This Sunday-school was founded in the summer of 1874 
 by Mrs. Harriet Moore, who was assisted in her work by 
 John H. and Agnes Travis. The first place of meeting 
 was Townsend Hall, on North Broadway. The school was 
 opened with six pupils. Mrs. Moore, with her associate 
 helper, had charge of this school for one year. She was 
 an earnest, faithful worker. Under her labors the school in- 
 creased to about twenty pupils. The school appears to have 
 decreased in number after Mrs. Moore removed from the 
 city in the following year, until it was abandoned altogether. 
 
 R. D. Cheek succeeded Mrs. Moore as superintendent. 
 A letter received from him, under date of Philadelphia, July 
 7, 1889, contains this statement : " I found no Sunday-school 
 work among colored children at Yonkers at all. In the 
 month of May, 1881, 1 organized the present Messiah Baptist 
 Sunday-school. Miss Lucy Peel was chosen secretary. 
 Henry Peel, P. Scott, and Mrs. H. Peel and Mrs. R. Bailey, 
 and one or two others were my teachers. The school when 
 I left it numbered about thirty-five scholars." 
 
 Henry Travis followed Mr. Cheek as superintendent. 
 Rev. Thomas Scott was the next superintendent, and the 
 school prospered under his care. His assistants were Misses 
 Rittick, Louisa Wheaton, Lucy Brown and Eva Samuels, 
 and others whose names cannot be ascertained. Mr. Scott's 
 successor was Rev. Charles S. Fariess, who entered the 
 school as a pupil in July, 1 88 1 . 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 48 1 
 
 Mr. Fariess assumed the superintendency of the school 
 at the urgent request of the friends of the church and Sun- 
 day-school in January, 1882, which had at that time again 
 decreased rapidly in numbers, there being then but thir- 
 teen regular scholars. Under the efforts of Mr. Fariess 
 and of the helpers, the school has attained to its present 
 prosperous condition, its number having increased to sev- 
 enty-eight pupils, as the record-book shows. 
 
 Rev. Charles S. Fariess, for his long term of service 
 in connection with this school, is among the list of honorary 
 Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 In November, 1887, the school numbered thirty-five 
 and the officers were : H. Howard, Superintendent ; Miss 
 Lucy Scay, Secretary; Matthew Davis, Librarian. There 
 were nine in the infant class. 
 
 The number who united with the church from the 
 school in 1887 was four. 
 
 The following account of the exercises of the Sunday- 
 school anniversary, which was held Monday evening, May 
 21, r888, is written by William H. Duers : 
 
 The anniversary was held in Townsend Hall. It was 
 doubly interesting and important as being the work of sev- 
 eral years' growth, and it being the last time that the school 
 would meet there previous to the occupancy of their new 
 Sunday-school room on Ashburton Place, which they hoped 
 to occupy the following Sunday. 
 
 Quite a large gathering was present at the opening 
 prayer, a number having to stand. The exercises con- 
 sisted of singing, recitations, and readings, which were 
 carried on by the children in a very pleasant and lively 
 manner. The school sang from their Sunday-school book, 
 " The Fount of blessing," " Let us shine," and " Must I go 
 empty-handed ?" 
 
 Henry E. Duers read an essay on the " History of the 
 church and Sunday-school." 
 
 Rev. William Smith Bass, the pastor of 1881, spoke of 
 the school from his date and of the joyful change which 
 was about to take place. He gave excellent advice to the 
 younger scholars, and exhorted the parents to set a good 
 example perpetually before their children. He also spoke 
 
482 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 of the advantages we were about to enjoy as a people in 
 the new church. His words were very instructive and 
 helpful to his audience, which showed their appreciation 
 by their earnest attention. 
 
 Charles S. Fariess, the superintendent, spoke of his seven 
 years' experience in the school. He said the school had 
 suffered many changes in its membership, and that in the 
 present audience he could not see any one who had been 
 there steadily since he had been connected with it. Sad 
 was the ever-changing spectacle every year, the old famil- 
 iar faces dropping out and strangers taking their places. 
 " When I first came to Yonkers, though having formerly 
 been a teacher, I took my place as a scholar in the class of 
 a lady whom I now see before me (then Miss Eva Samuels, 
 now Mrs. John Lisby). After a while I came up to the 
 office that I now hold through the kindness of my friends. 
 In this position I have endeavored to do my duty as well as 
 I could. It makes me happy to know that a change is about 
 to take place, and that we will all be very happy, and I trust 
 useful, in our new Sunday-school room." 
 
 These very enjoyable exercises were closed by a duet 
 by Henry H. Duers and his son, William Duers. 
 
 The school occupied their room in the new church 
 edifice for the first time on Sunday afternoon, June lo, 1888. 
 The opening exercises began by singing "Come to the 
 Saviour," whicti was followed by the reading of the Scrip- 
 ture lesson for the day. Matt. 28: 16-25, ^^^ prayer by the 
 assistant superintendent, Wm. Meekly. Charles S. Fariess, 
 the superintendent, made a few remarks upon the subject 
 of the lesson, " The Great Command : Go ye therefore and 
 teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 
 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," and mentioned that 
 at the morning service three of the pupils and others from 
 the congregation " had been buried in the likeness of Christ 
 in baptism and rose to newness of life." 
 
 The persons referred to were Mrs. Henrietta Thornton, 
 Catherine Johnson, Rebecca Rose, and Mrs. Wilson, the' 
 former being a teacher and the latter pupils in the school, 
 and those of the congregation were Mr. Qeenan and Rich- 
 ard Pollard. 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 483 
 
 At the close of the lesson the superintendent introduced 
 Thomas H. Messer as one of their old and tried friends, 
 who had assisted them so many times by his presence, in- 
 structions, and gifts in their old building. 
 
 Mr. Messer responded in brief congratulatory remarks. 
 Cornelius Callahan, a Bible-class teacher in the Nepperhan 
 Avenue Baptist Mission School, was called upon to make a 
 few remarks, which he did in a very pleasant and interest- 
 ing manner. 
 
 Elder Christopher Brown, of New York, was introduced 
 and made a short address. He was followed by Elmer 
 L. Manning, who was the last speaker on this auspicious 
 occasion. " This is a great surprise to me," said Mr. Man- 
 ning. " I wonder if I am not lost ? Is this the right room 
 I have gotten into, Mr. Superintendent ?" 
 
 " Yes," replied the superintendent. " You are all right. 
 This is our new Sunday-school room." 
 
 " Some one has whispered to me," continued Mr. Man- 
 ning, " that James B. Colgate gave you this beautiful house 
 of worship, this splendid Sunday-school room, which my 
 brother has well said ' is second to none of all the Sunday- 
 school rooms in Yonkers. Now Mr. Colgate is a very be- 
 nevolent, a religious, a liberal and large-hearted man ; but 
 in one sense he did not give you this room. Mr. Colgate's 
 Heavenly Father and your Heavenly Father gave it to you. 
 And why did he give you this place ? Because you have a 
 soul. God's object is to save souls in giving you this house. 
 He wants you to grow up strong men and women in Christ 
 by the teaching you receive here. What a wonderful differ- 
 ence there is between this room and the old room where 
 you used to meet ! This, with its Bible-class room and all its 
 appointments, is so superior. God did this for you. And 
 he used his honored servant, Mr. Colgate, to give it to you. 
 Your place is changed, but not your faces ; they are just 
 the same as in the old place. Do you know you have re- 
 newed responsibility ? God will certainly expect more of 
 you here than there. Be more faithful ; study your Bible 
 more ; be more devoted in prayer and do better work. I 
 feel confident that you will. God expects abundant fruit. 
 Christ is your example. He is a loving Saviour. His life 
 
484 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 would have been utterly worthless if he had not risen. 
 Paul is a great theologian. Hear what he says : ' If in 
 this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most 
 miserable.' ' If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those 
 things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right 
 hand of God.' Be faithful servants in God's vineyard. 
 You have a great field of usefulness here. We have some- 
 times heard that a second Baptist Church is wanted in 
 Yonkers. This is the second Baptist Church. God bless 
 you all ! God be with you !" 
 
 A very profitable and pleasing feature of this memorable 
 occasion was the recitation of Bible verses by the teachers 
 and pupils. And the members of the primary department 
 recited each individually. One little girl of five years 
 recited clearly and readily the verse, " In my Father's house 
 are many mansions," etc. 
 
 The impressive exercises closed by the singing of 
 " I am nearing the gates of the city, yon city so bright and 
 so fair." 
 
 The first Christmas festival in their new Sunday-school 
 room was held December 27, 1888, when after a programme 
 of singing, recitations, etc., the distribution of gifts to the 
 primary class by Superintendent Fariess closed the pleas- 
 ant exercises. 
 
 The school contributed for benevolence during 1888, 
 $10 sd and in 1889, $11. 
 
 The eighty members of the school had a merry time 
 at their festival on Christmas, 1889. Many of the children 
 recited or sang, and there was much caroling by the school. 
 Superintendent C. S. Fariess presided. Books and toys 
 gladdened the young people's hearts. 
 
 The superintendents of this school, so far as can be ascer- 
 tained, in the order of service have been : Mrs. Sarah Moore, 
 1873-74; R. D. Cheek, Rev. Thomas Scott, Henry Travis, 
 Rev. Charles S. Fariess, elected January i, 1882. Mr. Far- 
 iess was ordained to the gospel ministry at the Messiah 
 Baptist Church, April 18, 1889. Rev. Alvah S. Hobart, D. D., 
 pastor of the Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, was the 
 moderator of the council, and Rev. J. G. Shrive, clerk. The 
 sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. F. R. Morse, Rev. E. T. 
 
MESSIAH BAPTIST CHURCH. 485 
 
 Curtice offered the prayer of ordination, Rev A. B. Brown 
 gave the hand of fellowship, and Rev. J. H. Bailey the 
 charge to the candidate. On November 16, 1889, Rev. 
 Charles S. Fariess was appointed by the New England 
 Baptist Missionary Convention, held in New York city, 
 missionary to the second district, with headquarters at 
 Yonkers. 
 
 Rev. Charles S. Fariess resigned the superintendency 
 of the Sunday-school in January, 1890, and was succeeded 
 by William H. Duers. 
 
 The officers of the school are : Rev. Alexander M. Con- 
 way, Superintendent ; Miss Kittie L. Mills, Assistant Su- 
 perintendent ; Mrs. Wesley Allen, Secretary; Miss Kittie 
 L. Mills, Assistant Secretary ; Albert H. Roberts, Treasurer ; 
 Albert Davis, Librarian ; William Mann, Assistant Libra- 
 rian. 
 
 The record-book for 1889, '90, '91, includes the follow- 
 ing teachers : Miss May B. Henderson, Mrs. Eston Thorn- 
 ton, Miss Julia Hill, Mr. Albert Roberts, Mr. Aaron Bolden, 
 Miss Kate Mills, Miss Celia Jones, Miss Sarah White, Miss 
 Gertrude Lyon, and Miss Allen. 
 
 The primary class is taught by Mrs. Eston Thornton, 
 and numbers sixteen pupils. The paper, " Our Little Ones," 
 is distributed in the class every Sunday. 
 
 The present enrolment of scholars is seventy-five ; 
 average attendance fifty. The lesson helps used are from 
 the American Baptist Publication Society. The singing 
 books used are "The Gospel Praise Book," "Vineyard 
 Songs," and " Moody and Sankey Hymns." 
 
486 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE GLENWOOD SUMMER SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This Sunday-school was organized by Henry Steams, 
 July II, 1875, for the purpose of giving Sunday-school 
 advantages to the children who resided in the upper part 
 of the town of Yonkers, and who did not attend any Sun- 
 day-school. The first session of the school was held in the 
 parlor of the residence of Mr. Steams, on Glenwood Avenue 
 near Warburtori Avenue. Its meetings were held in the 
 " Bloomer Cottage" until October of the same year, when 
 Mr. Stearns removed to New York. It was then closed for 
 the winter and was reopened the following summer at the 
 residence of Henry Bowers, on Warburton Avenue. At Mr. 
 Stearns' especial request, Mrs. Louise W. Bowers and her 
 sister Miss Kate Willard assumed the charge of it. These 
 ladies took a very deep interest in this mission enterprise. 
 
 An adult Bible-class was conducted by Wm. A. Gibson. 
 Among the reports gathered of the Sunday-schools of Yon- 
 kers during the centennial year, February, 1876, the follow- 
 ing statistics are given of this little school : Officers, i, teach- 
 ers, 8 ; scholars on register, 65 ; average attendance, 50 ; in 
 adult Bible-class, 20. The teachers are : Mrs. Henry Bow- 
 ers, Mrs. Thomas Franklin, Mrs. Sophia A. Shonnard, Miss 
 Kate Willard, Miss Margaret Bloomer, Messrs. Wm. A. Gib- 
 son, Allen Taylor, and Richard W. Bogart. William A. 
 Gibson acts in the triple capacity of superintendent, treas- 
 urer, and librarian. Miss Nellie Wetmore, Miss Bowers, 
 Miss Emma Utter, and John N. Stearns, Jr., also taught in 
 this school during its history. The lessons taught were 
 from the Old Testament history, and the hymn-book used 
 was " Winnowed Songs." 
 
 The school was undenominational in its character. The 
 Rev. H. M. Sanders, the pastor of the Warburton Avenue 
 Baptist Church, is recalled as taking a hearty interest in it. 
 How long the school was maintained cannot be definitely 
 ascertained, but probably at least three years, and was held 
 only during the summer months. 
 
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 487 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 This church was the outgrowth of its Sunday-school, 
 which was organized in 1880. Its first religious services 
 were held early in the autumn of that year, in the hall 
 occupied by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
 in a building on South Broadway, opposite Hudson Street, 
 the site of which is now occupied by the handsome station 
 of the New York and Northern Railway. 
 
 The first sermon to this society was delivered by Rev. 
 John J. Messmer, of Mount Vernon, N. Y. This discourse 
 was listened to by three auditors, Mr. and Mrs. Herman 
 H. Kroenke and Mrs. Augusta Krah. The congregation 
 worshipped in that hall for about two years, when they re- 
 moved to Humboldt Hall, New Main Strefet, which place 
 they occupied for five years, till their removal to their 
 new and attractive church building, located on the corner 
 of Waverly and Maple Streets, on Sunday, December 11, 
 1887. 
 
 The morning service was conducted by Rev. G. Abele, 
 presiding elder of the German Methodist Conference of 
 New York. 
 
 An instructive and impressive discourse was preached 
 by Mr. Abele from these words : " And he was afraid, 
 and said : How dreadful is this place ! This is none other 
 but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 
 Gen. 28: 17. 
 
 The dedicatory exercises took palce at 3 : 30 P. M., and 
 were conducted by Presiding Elder Abele. They com- 
 menced with singing, in German, by the choir, of three 
 selections from the church hymn-book, " Psalter and Harp." 
 
 Rev. Charles E. Allison offered the dedicatory prayer, 
 which was followed by the singing of " All Hail the power 
 of Jesus' Name." 
 
 Addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. David Cole, 
 Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge, Rev. John Reid and Rev. 
 Charles E. Allison. 
 
488 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Rev. George H. Geiger, the pastor, read the financial 
 statement of the work on the new building and its cost. 
 The church purchased three lots for $2,400. Rudolph 
 Eickemeyer bought one lot from them to aid the enter- 
 prise. Marvin R. Oakley contracted to build the church 
 for $2,350, and he had contributed $200 towards the fund. 
 The mason work had been done by James Scott at a cost 
 of $739 88. The amount yet to be raised was $2,700. The 
 First Methodist Church of Yonkers donated their old church 
 building, portions of which, the pulpit, pews, gallery, and 
 altar rail, were used in the construction of their new build- 
 ing. 
 
 The exercises closed with the doxology, and a benedic- 
 tion by Rev. Dr. Strobridge. 
 
 In the evening the preaching was in German, as it 
 was in the morning. Rev. H. Kastendieck, of Brooklyn, 
 N. Y., delivered the sermon. 
 
 In response to the third appeal the people subscribed 
 over $300 towards the church building fund, the entire 
 amount raised during the three church services being about 
 $900, of which the members of the congregation contrib- 
 uted $600. 
 
 Many of the collections towards this new church enter- 
 prise were made by the pastor and a few of his church 
 members, gathered after many a weary day of hard work, 
 much of it in small sums of five and ten cents. 
 
 The following resolutions were unanimously passed by 
 the Trustees of this church on December 14, 1887 : 
 
 Whereas, The trustees of the German Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church acknowledge the deep sympathy which the 
 citzens of Yonkers manifested towards them in the work of 
 erecting their church edifice ; therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That we extend our heartiest thanks to the 
 Yonkers public for the liberal support given us in our efforts 
 to secure a home in which we can worship God in our own 
 tongue and lead our fellow-countrymen to the Saviour of 
 men ; to the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of 
 Yonkers for the use of their pews for five years ; to the 
 Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Yon- 
 kers for the gift of the church in which they worshipped 
 
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 489 
 
 for many years, the material of whicli was utilized in the 
 erection of said German M. E. Church. 
 
 The debt on the church property in December, 1887, 
 was $1,800. Through the efforts of the congregation, who 
 were assisted by a number of their friends from other 
 churches in the city, among whom were several from the 
 First Presbyterian Church who contributed liberally, the 
 debt was paid in the spring of 1888, under the pastorate 
 of Rev. George H. Geiger. His pastorate of two years was 
 a very successful one in building up the church to a health- 
 ful spiritual state and in improving its financial condition. 
 The payment of the indebtedness was due in a great degree 
 to his energy and financial skill. The present valuation of 
 the church property is $7,000. 
 
 The pastors of the church have been: Rev. John J. 
 Messmer, its first pastor, 1880-81 ; Rev. Ernest Hartmann, 
 1882-83; Rev. Chas. A. Brockmeier, 1883-84; Rev. Henry 
 Miller, 1885-86; Rev. George H. Geiger, 1887-89; Charles 
 A. Brockmeier, 1889-go; Rev. Emil Peglow, August, 1889, 
 to date. 
 
 The late pastor, Rev. Chas. A. Brockmeier, was born 
 in Hilli, county of Minden, kingdom of Prussia, Germany, 
 August 28, 1827. He came to this country in 1852, studied 
 for a number of years in the cities of Schenectady and 
 New York, was ordained a deacon April 17, 1864, at the 
 annual Conference in Newburgh, N. Y., and ordained an 
 elder in Philadelphia in April, 1869. He has been a travel- 
 ling preacher in the East German Conference for the last 
 twenty-five years, and was sent in the spring of 1889 
 from Greenfield, Mass., to the German M. E. Church of 
 Yonkers. 
 
 The church was incorporated in 1882, the first trustees 
 being J. William Bauer, Henry Bauer, Herman H. Kroenke, 
 Ja{?ob Genzlinger, and Sida H. Wicht. 
 
 The present Board of Trustees is composed of Otto 
 Schulz, President ; John William Bauer, Secretary ; Charles 
 Losell, Treasurer ; Rudolf Eickemeyer, Herman H. Kroenke, 
 Otto Schulz, Henry Wicht, and George Aulenbacker. 
 
 The membership of the church is fifty. 
 
 The officers of the Ladies' Aid Society are : Mrs. Otto 
 
490 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Schulz, President; Mrs. Henrietta Kroenke, Secretary; 
 Mrs. Henry Wicht, treasurer. 
 
 The first Bible was loaned to the church by Henry 
 Kroenke. It was a family Bible and was returned well 
 worn when the present Bible was presented by John Kopp, 
 in commemoration of his wedding, 1884. Miss L. Genz- 
 linger gave a handsome Bible bookmark. 
 
 Miss Henrietta Kroenke served as organist for seven 
 years. The present organist is Miss Theresa Schulz. The 
 choir consists of Mrs. Bertha Miller, Miss Henrietta Klein, 
 and Miss Dena Miller, soprano; Miss Emma Neininger 
 and Miss Amelia Genzlinger, alto : Rev. Emil W. Peg- 
 low and Albert Losel, tenor ; and Jacob and John Zoeller, 
 bass. 
 
 The sexton is Herman H. Kroenke, who has served 
 the church in that capacity for seven years. 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This Sunday-school was organized on Sunday after- 
 noon, August 29, 1880, by Rev. John J. Messmer, of Mount 
 Vernon, N. Y., in the hall of the Woman's Christian Tem- 
 perance Union. The following persons were present be- 
 sides Pastor Messmer : Herman H. Kroenke, Albert Teck- 
 lenburg, John Johnson, Frank Knapper, Mrs. August 
 Krah, Mrs. Dorothea Kroenke, Mrs. Dorothea Schrag, and 
 Louise Krumlauf, all of whom offered their services as 
 teachers. John Kopp was chosen superintendent. The 
 number of scholars was four. The pastor remarked to 
 these willing workers that it was rather an unusual cir- 
 cumstance that a Sunday-school began with more teach- 
 ers than scholars, and bade them not to be discouraged, 
 that in due time their services would be required for the 
 classes which were being prepared for them. His proph- 
 ecy was soon fulfilled, for on the second Sunday the num- 
 ber of scholars was doubled, and after that three more 
 pupils were added to the school each successive Sunday 
 until Christmas of 1880, when the school numbered fifty- 
 two pupils. 
 
 A few week previous to the celebration of their first. 
 Christmas festival one of the teachers remarked to the 
 
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 49I 
 
 superintendent, " We have the scholars, but where are the 
 presents for them to come from?" The superintendent 
 replied, " The Lord has given us the children, and he will 
 provide the gifts needed." The faith and efforts of the 
 superintendent and others, who also possessed a like faith 
 and trust, were rewarded, for on the day of the celebration 
 of this festival they had more gifts than were required to 
 supply the children, some of them receiving two gifts and 
 several three. 
 
 The Sunday-school met in Temperance Hall fgr about 
 two years, when they removed to Humboldt Hall, where 
 they remained for five years. 
 
 The Sunday-school during the superintendency of 
 Henry Bauer, in Humboldt Hall, was in a very prosperous 
 condition. It had an enrolment of one hundred pupils in 
 1 886, and a number were added to the church from the 
 school during that year. In 1887 the school decreased con- 
 siderably in its attendance. Three pupils from the school 
 united with the church during that year. 
 
 On December 11, 1887, at 2 : 30 o'clock in the afternoon, 
 the Sunday-school gathered for the first time in the new 
 church. Pastor Geiger, as superintendent, gave out the 
 hymn " Rock of Ages," and addresses were made by Henry 
 M. Rudolph and John Kopp; of Mount Vernon, and by the 
 pastor. These interesting services were closed by singing 
 the hymn " O wondrous love !" 
 
 The first Christmas festival of the schpol held in the 
 new church was on Christmas afternoon of 1 888. The ex- 
 ercises consisted of carols and recitations by a number of 
 the children of the school. A Christmas cantata was well 
 rendered by Misses Amelia and Clara Genzlinger, Emma 
 Neininger, Barbara Zoeller, Theresa Schulz, and Minnie 
 Genzlinger, the latter of whom presided at the organ. 
 
 A dialogue entitled " Our Christmas Tree," by a teach- 
 er and her class of boys, was a pleasing feature of this oc- 
 casion. It was followed by the carol " Christmas Offering." 
 
 A little girl of five years, Fannie Boehmer, who- recit- 
 ed very sweetly, " I am little and my heart is true ; nobody 
 shall live in it but Jesus alone," and the singing of the carol 
 " Hosana in the Highest," followed. 
 
492 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The handsome transparency of a beautiful star; which 
 was placed behind the pulpit on the wall, contained the 
 words " The Song of the Angels," and was a marked at- 
 traction of the decorations of the church on that occasion. 
 
 The distribution of the Christmas gifts from the hand- 
 somely decorated tree, by Superintendent Kroenke, closed 
 the exercises. 
 
 The annual picnic of 1888 was held on July 1 1. Stages 
 from Getty Square conveyed the children and friends of 
 the school to Coddington's farm, South Broadway. The 
 number in attendance was about three hundred. The 
 amount raised that year was $25. 
 
 The Christmas festival of 1889 was held in the church 
 on Christmas day. Herman Kroenke, the superintendent, 
 presided. Rev. Charles Brockmeier, the pastor, made the 
 opening prayer. Recitations were given by Annie Bern- 
 hardt, Theresa Schulz, Barbara Zoeller, Millie Genzlinger, 
 Annie HafEner, Oscar Bauer, Annie Marks, Rudolph Bauer, 
 Emil Wohlfart, Henry and John Zoeller, Lena Miller, 
 and Mary Bush. Charles Brockmeier, Millie Genzlinger, 
 Paul Schulz, and Henrietta Kroenke sang the quartette 
 " Honor to the Lord on High." Another quartette was sung 
 by Charles Brockmeier, Paul and Theresa Schulz, and Clara 
 Genzlinger. " The Christmas Tree in Heaven" was sung 
 by Annie Marks. 
 
 Sixty-three children were made happy by Christmas 
 presents. Superintendent and teachers were remembered. 
 A handsome framed picture of " Christ Before Pilate" was 
 presented to the pastor, and the organist. Miss Kroenke, 
 received a silver watch. 
 
 The amount given by the school for benevolent pur- 
 poses in 1887 was $30; in 1888, $25 ; from January, 1889, 
 to August, 1889, $9 91- On Children's Day in June, 1889, 
 the amount contributed was $5. The school contributes $i(X) 
 annually for benevolent objects. 
 
 The Literary Society of this church and Sunday-school 
 was organized by Pastor Henry Miller in 1 886. The pres- 
 ent officers are : Paul Schulz, President ; Miss Sophia Reitz, 
 Secretary ; Charles Eberley, Treasurer. The present mem- 
 bership is thirty. Meetings of the society are held monthly. 
 
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 493 
 
 On Thursday evening, March 14, 1889, that society held a 
 concert for the benefit of the church. The instrumental 
 music was under the direction of Miss Libbie Biggerstaff, 
 Grover G. Cox, and James Pearce, M. B. The selections 
 were from Schubert, Pinsuti, and Thomas. The exercises 
 consisted of songs, duets, and recitations, the following per- 
 sons taking part : Mrs. A. F. Barrett, Sophia Reitz, Amelia 
 Genzlinger, Lillie Sclumbs, Jennie Allen, Lizzie Gorman, 
 the Misses King, Austin, and Nealy, Misses Kroenke and 
 Rudolph, Wm. C. Hoff, Frank Beer, Charles Eberley, Otto 
 and Paul Schulz, Jacob Zoeller, and Rev. Charles E. Allison. 
 The proceeds were $75. 
 
 The primary department of the school is taught by 
 Miss Henrietta Kroenke, and numbers thirty pupils, with 
 an average attendance of twenty. The helps used in this 
 department are the " A. B. C. Reading Lessons " and " Scrip- 
 ture Charts." 
 
 The enrolment of scholars in August, 1889, was 135, 
 with an average attendance of 90. 
 
 Herman H. Kroenke, of this school, is on the honorary 
 list of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 The Sunday-school help is " Der Bibelforschei:," or 
 " Bible Teacher." The singing book is the " Psalter and 
 Harp." The paper distributed is " Die Glocke." 
 
 Teachers' meetings are held monthly. Number of 
 books in the library, 1 56. 
 
 The following persons, in the order of their service, 
 have filled the office of superintendent of the school since 
 its organization : John Kopp, Herman H. Kroenke, Henry 
 Bauer, Otto Schulz, Rev. George H. Geiger, and Herman H. 
 Kroenke, the last being elected January, 1888. 
 
 The present officers of the school are : Herman H. 
 Kroenke, Superintendent ; Otto Schulz,, Vice-Superintend- 
 ent ; Franz Koenig, Secretary ; Henrietta Kroenke, Treas- 
 urer ; Paul Schulz, Librarian. 
 
 The teachers are Rev. Emil Peglow, adult Bible-class, 
 Mrs. Catherine Wohlfarts, Mrs. H. H. Kroenke, Mrs. Losell, 
 Miss Mina Haas, Miss Minnie Genzlinger, Miss Clara Genz- 
 linger, William Bauer, Mr. Losell, Mr. Foeller, and Miss 
 Henrietta Kroenke, teacher of the primary department. 
 
494 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 The chapel building is located on Ludlow Street. It 
 was erected in the autumn of 1884, principally through 
 the enterprise and liberality of George Stewart, an elder in 
 the Reformed Church. Others connected with this church 
 also aided him in this new mission enterprise by their 
 efforts and gifts. ' 
 
 The building is a neat wooden structure of Gothic 
 architecture, 34 by 60 feet, with an extension at the rear, 
 and the plot of ground upon which it stands is 75 by 100. 
 It has two front entrances between which is an arched 
 stained glass window, under which are three small stained 
 glass windows. There is also an entrance at the west side 
 of the building. 
 
 The interior is finished in yellow pine. On the wall 
 behind the pulpit is inscribed the Scripture text, "The 
 entrance of thy word giveth light." On the wall to the left 
 of the pulpit are inscribed the Commandments, while on 
 the right hand side appear the Lord's Prayer and the Apos- 
 tles' Creed. 
 
 At the right and left hand sides of the pulpit are the 
 library and infant-class rooms. The audience-room is fur- 
 nished with reversible seats. 
 
 The value of the property is $10,000. 
 
 The dedicatory exercises of the chapel took place on 
 Sunday afternoon, November 9, 1884. They were con- 
 ducted by Rev. Dr. David Cole, who preached the dedica^ 
 tory sermon from Genesis 28 : 17 : " This is none other but 
 the house of God." Rev. William Anderson, of Fordham, 
 Rev. Dr. Henry M. Baird, and Prof. Isaac S. Davison, of 
 Yonkers, took part in the exercises. A collection was 
 taken and subscriptions were received in aid of the chapel 
 building fund. 
 
 The Consistorial chapel committee were George Stew- 
 
LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 
 
 495 
 
 art, Virgil Myers, Hyatt L. Garrison, Isaac N. Cook, and 
 Walter A. Drinkwater. 
 
 On the day of dedication $250 was ^iven by friends of 
 the mission. An organ was also presented. The pulpit 
 Bible was also given on that occasion by Mrs. James W. 
 Beebe. 
 
 When the chapel was dedicated there was a debt of 
 $3,000 on it : this still remains. 
 
 THE LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEE. 
 
 A Sunday-school was opened in the chapel at 2 : 30 P. M. 
 on Sunday, November 16, 1884, its organization and direction 
 
496 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 being under the control of the Consistory of the Reformed 
 Church. The following were elected as the officers of the 
 school at its first session : George Stewart, Superintend- 
 ent; Virgil Myers, Assistant Superintendent; Walter A. 
 Drinkwater, Secretary ; Frank H. Cole, Librarian ; Joseph 
 Hover and Belding A. Hoyt, Assistant Librarians ; J^e Grand 
 W. Ketcham, Treasurer. 
 
 These persons offered their services as teachers : Misses 
 Lillian Dealing, Dora L. Costello, Emma L. Crane, Ada 
 E. Thompkins, Mary E. Berston, Jennie Edgar, Jacob D. 
 Wood, and Virgil Myers. 
 
 Forty children were present at its first session. 
 
 Miss Agnes E. Edgar, Miss Ray A. Campbell and Miss 
 Sarah J. Beebe were subsequently added to the list of teach- 
 ers. Among these early teachers, the last was the first who 
 was called from her earthly work to her heavenly reward. 
 The following extract is from a tribute to her memory 
 which appeared in the " Christian Intelligencer," written 
 by her pastor. Rev. Dr. David' Cole : 
 
 " Miss Beebe was by nature, character, and culture such 
 an ornament to her home, and so fitted and willing to be 
 useful in her church and general sphere, that her removal 
 in the prime of life is felt by her mother and her pastor 
 and friends to be a severe stroke. Having accepted her 
 Saviour when very young, with clear intelligence and with- 
 out any reserve, her Christian life throughout was one of 
 ever-growing strength and consecration. She was a faithful 
 and exceedingly useful member of the Ladies' Missionary 
 Spciety of her church, kept herself acquainted with mis- 
 sionary work at home and abroad, and gave life to meet- 
 ings by her contributions and suggestions. And she loved 
 to render any service in her power in any department of 
 church or Sunday-school work." 
 
 Sunday, October 29, 1 887, was a marked occasion for the 
 members and friends of the school, as they welcomed the 
 return of their pastor from a recent European trip. The 
 exercises were opened by singing the hymn " Jesus High 
 in Glory." The Superintendent — George Stewart — then 
 read the Scripture lesson, during the reading of which Dr. 
 Cole entered the room, whereupon the teachers and scholars 
 
LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 497 
 
 rose and remained standing as he passed up the aisle to the 
 Superintendent's desk. Dr. Cole thanked them heartily 
 for their kind greeting. 
 
 At the Christmas festival, December 30, 1 887, the chapel 
 was filled with the pupils and friends of the school. Special 
 presents were given to the thirteen pupils who had been 
 present at every session during the year. Dr. Cole gave 
 an interesting account of the work already done. 
 
 Sunday, May, 20, 1888, was an interesting day in the 
 Reformed Church and its Sunday-school, it being the last 
 Sunday before the departure of the pastor and George 
 Stewart, the Superintendent of the primary department 
 of the home school, who had been appointed delegates 
 by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in Amer- 
 ica to the Alliance of the Reformed Churches holding the 
 Presbyterian system, also delegates to the World's Mis- 
 sionary Conference, by the Reformed Church Board of 
 Missions. Both of these great convocations were held in 
 Exeter Hall, London, the former June 9 to 19, the latter 
 July 3 to 12. 
 
 The exercises began by singing " Jesus, Lover of my 
 soul," the recitation of the Commandments, the Beatitudes, 
 and the twenty-third Psalm in concert. 
 
 Dr. Cole asked the children to join their hands and 
 bow with him in asking that God would protect and watch 
 over the school during the absence of its Superintendent, 
 and for the care of the travellers when on the ocean and 
 while travelling in foreign lands. 
 
 Superintendent Stewart said: "I begin to think, children 
 what a good thing it is to go away from home, for this rea- 
 son : we receive so many kind expressions and good words 
 from our friends. Ever since I have thought of going away 
 I have heard these words, ' I do not know how we are going 
 to do without you,' ' I shall miss you.' Up at the church 
 they have told me this ; my brother in his business has 
 said this. And so it has been all along up to this moment. 
 And, dear children, I want it to be so. That is just the 
 way I want to live, so after I am gone I shall be missed. 
 I do not speak these words from personal pride. I desire 
 to be useful, and to do my Master's work. And now good- 
 
 Chnrch aod Sonday-achool Work, '22 
 
498 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 by. I know God will watch over you and take care of you 
 while we are absent from you." 
 
 The school joined in singing, heartily and spiritedly, 
 under the direction of their leader and organist, Bethune 
 
 Reevs : 
 
 " Would you gain the best in life, 
 Win the prize 'mid all the strife ?" 
 
 The usual quietness and serenity of Ludlow Street was 
 agreeably interrupted on Monday evening, July 30, 1888, the 
 occasion being a reception given by the Sunday-school of 
 the Ludlow Street Church to the Superintendent, George 
 Stewart, and the pastor. Rev. Dr. Cole, on their return from 
 Europe. Walter A. Drinkwater, Secretary and Treasurer, 
 presided. Dr. Cole offered prayer and the exercises pro- 
 ceeded according to programme. 
 
 A " Welcome . to Our Pastor and Superintendent," 
 written by Mrs. Corbett, was delivered by Miss Nesbit; 
 Messrs. Reevs and Dick played " Larboard Watch" as a 
 piano trio ; the Misses Costello sang " Gently Sighs the 
 Breeze ;" the Chapel Quartette (composed of Misses Cos- 
 tello and Nealy and Messrs. Reevs and See) sang " Mem- 
 ories ;" eight children of the Sunday-school were heard 
 in a " Welcome Song," words by Mrs. Corbett ; the exercises 
 closed with the quartette singing, " Oh, be thou faithful." 
 
 A few remarks by Dr. Cole were requested, and they 
 were cheerfully given. Superintendent Stewart was then 
 sought and found. He remarked that he preferred to re- 
 main as a spectator and to take the part in silence ; but 
 he was brought to the front, and made an excellent prac- 
 tical address, admirably suited to the event. 
 
 After prayer by Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, assistant 
 pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, the whole party 
 were invited to seats at tables spread on the lawn, where 
 ice-cream and cake were served. 
 
 The exercises of the Christmas festival for 1888 began 
 with a voluntary by Messrs. Reevs and Steadmah on the 
 piano and violin, followed with prayer by Rev. Dr. Cole. 
 The singing of the " Happy Christmas Bells " by the 
 school was succeeded by responsive Bible-reading, and 
 recitations were given by Ethel Wisedell, Miss Bunetta Gil- 
 
LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. 499 
 
 bert, Charles A. Hoyt, May Christian, Hattie Walsh, and 
 Gracie Jones. Perhaps the most interesting part of the pro- 
 gramme was the distribution of Christmas presents by Santa 
 Claus. Sixteen prize books were given to the scholars for 
 punctual attendance during the year, and Rev. Dr. Cole, on 
 behalf of the teachers, presented to George Stewart, the 
 Superintendent, a handsomely framed photograph of the 
 Ludlow Street Chapel, with a group of its officers and 
 teachers. 
 
 Children's Day was celebrated June 17, 1889. An at- 
 tractive feature of the occasion was the missionary recita- 
 tion entitled " The Mystic Cable," spoken by twelve little 
 girls, who represented, respectively, " Heathendom," 
 "Christendom," " Wisdom," "Unity," "Effort," "Wealth," 
 "Sacrifice," "Bible," "Prayer," "Faith," "Grace," and 
 " Missions." Each girl, after reciting a verse in turn, clasp- 
 ed hands with the next, and so, successively, a chain was 
 formed, the right end of which was held by the little girl 
 representing " Christendom," who stood leaning against a 
 large floral cross on the platform. At the left end of the 
 platform stood a little girl who held a black banner repre- 
 senting " Heathendom." As the chain was completed she 
 dropped the banner, thus showing the dispersion of the 
 darkness at the entrance of Christianity. The dialogue 
 was designed to show how the "mighty cable" " Christen- 
 dom" may send "the glad message" to the dwellers in 
 darkness. 
 
 An interesting exercise of the primary department 
 was the recitation "Word Building," under the direction 
 of Miss Dora L. Costello, which consisted of the arrange- 
 ment of lettered blocks, which, when placed in proper order 
 by the children, formed the sentence " Suffer little chil- 
 dren to come unto me," and the singing of the carol, " The 
 little birds filled the air with glee," with other pleasing 
 recitations by the members of the department, followed. 
 
 In response to the names of the various classes which 
 were called by the secretary, Alden C. Tompkins, a child 
 from each class presented its offerings, some of which were 
 placed in the centre of small baskets of flowers. The offer- 
 ings were given to the cause of missions, and the flowers 
 
500 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 which decorated the platform were distributed among the 
 sick. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cole made a short address appropriate to the 
 hour, after which the carol, " Praise the Lord for child- 
 hood days," was sung and the audience dismissed. 
 
 Union services were held regularly on Sunday after- 
 noons, conducted in turn by clergymen of the different 
 denominations in Yonkers. This movement was begun 
 very promisingly on Sunday, January i8, 1889.* 
 
 The primary department of the school was formed 
 from a small class taught by Miss Dora L. Costello at the 
 opening of the school. She has had charge of it ever since, 
 having no assistant. The lessons taught are the Interna- 
 tional Sunday-school Series. The catechism is also taught. 
 Miss Costello is very enthusiastic and very successful in 
 her work, and the department under her efficient manage- 
 ment has increased to thirty-five pupils, with an average 
 attendance of twenty-five. The attendance of the class is 
 increasing, and very soon a larger room will become neces- 
 sary. 
 
 The officers of the school are George Stewart, Superin- 
 tendent ; Virgil Myers, Assistant Superintendent ; Edwin 
 C. Stewart, Librarian ; Bethune M. Reevs, Music Director ; 
 Alden B. Tompkins, Secretary and Treasurer. The teach- 
 ers are : Mrs. Nesbit, Mrs. Flansburgh, Mrs. E. T. Corbett, 
 Misses Edith A. Doren, Lillian Dealing, Sarah Geagen, 
 Nettie Moir, Edith Hamblet, Bemetta Van Wagenen, An- 
 nie A. Christian and Dora L. Costello, Messrs. H. Miller, 
 A. B. Hoyt, John G. Reevs, Virgil Myers, and Christian F. 
 Tietjen. 
 
 The school has had but one superintendent, George 
 Stewart, whose work has been characterized with singular 
 
 * The Rev. Robert White preached in this chapel regularly on Sunday 
 afternoons about eighteen months. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. 
 Armitage Beardslee, a graduate of the Theological Seminary at New 
 Brunswick, N. J. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Beardslee is also assistant to the pastor of the Reformed 
 Church, and preached his first sermon under his engagement as assistant 
 to the Rev. Dr. David Cole, in the Reformed Church, on Sunday evening, 
 October 14, 1891, from the text in Matthew 17:25, "What thinkest thou, 
 Simon ?" 
 
LUDLOW STREET REFORMED CHAPEL. SOI 
 
 energy and rare devotedness. He holds a large place in 
 the affections of the teachers and children whom he delights 
 to serve. The school under his leadership has prospered 
 temporally and spiritually. Mr. Stewart is on the honor 
 roll of Yonkers Sunday-school teachers. The accessions 
 from this and the home school to the communion of the 
 Reformed Church in 1887 were thirty-two, and in 1888 
 from this school seven. 
 
 Walter A. Drinkwater, the first secretary of the school, 
 filled the place with devotedness and rare efficiency. His 
 resignation, in May, 1889, was reluctantly accepted. He 
 was succeeded by Alden C. Tompkins, the present secre- 
 tary, who is serving with great acceptableness. 
 
 In December, 1887, through the eflEorts of R. J. Dick, 
 the librarian, the library received a valuable addition of ' 
 books. The present number of books is 230. 
 
 The present number of scholars. May, 1 891, is one hun- 
 dred and fifty. 
 
 There was contributed January i, 1888, $51 32 for the 
 expenses of the school, and $22 for missions. 
 
 The singing book used is "Spiritual Songs." The 
 lesson helps are obtained from the International Lesson 
 Quarterly. 
 
502 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This Sunday-school is the history of the day of small 
 things, and was started under the auspices of the " Ladies' 
 Missionary Association of the First Presbyterian Church of 
 Yonkers." The establishment of a mothers' meeting by 
 Mrs. G. B. Balch, in the house of Mrs. Mary E. Myers, No. 6 
 Moquette Row, near the Moquette Mills, Nepperhan Ave- 
 nue, was an important aid to this mission enterprise. 
 
 The Sunday-school was opened in this house on the 
 afternoonr of January 6, 1885, with three teachers — Miss 
 Ma:ry Randolph, Miss F. D. Baird, and Miss J. W. Flagg, 
 and twelve scholars. Wells Olmsted was chosen superin- 
 tendent. In February Miss Mary Ewing and Miss Julia 
 F. Baird joined them in the work. 
 
 The second year of the school's life was one of con- 
 tinued encouragement and uninterrupted progress, and a 
 third room was hired in Moquette Row to accommodate the 
 rapidly increasing attendance. 
 
 It soon became evident that something must be done 
 to increase still further the facilities of accommodation or 
 the work would be greatly retarded. The difficulties and 
 discouragements can only be realized by the laborers in 
 the crowded rooms. It was no .light task to teach a class 
 of infant scholars in a small kitchen where the stove ne- 
 cessarily occupied a^ large part of the room. It is darkest 
 just before the dawn. The needs of the work aroused an 
 increased interest among the congregation of the First 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The following is the report of Rev. John Reid of the 
 school to the Westchester Presbytery, April, 1886: Num- 
 ber of officers, two ; teachers, three ; scholars, fifty-five ; 
 average attendance, forty ; attendance of the school at 
 church services, forty; number of scholars received into 
 
IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 503. 
 
 the communion of the First Presbyterian Church on pro- 
 fession of their faith, ten. 
 
 During Easter week, 1886, the teachers, with the val- 
 uable assistance of Mrs. Charles Waring (now Mrs. E. M. 
 Hermance) arranged a cake sale and concert, the proceeds 
 of which were $1 50. This proved a " nest egg " for the build- 
 ing fund of Immanuel Chapel. A fair was also held June 
 12, 1886, in the house of Mrs. J. C. Havemeyer. This was 
 given by several of the classes of the Sunday-school con- 
 nected with the First Presbyterian Church. Another fair 
 was held at the residence of G. Livingston Morse, which 
 was given by his children, and realized $9 87. 
 
 A tent sale on the Peabody House grounds, North 
 Broadway, was given, the proceeds of which amounted to 
 $500, and a musicale was held at " Hillcrest," the residence 
 of Mrs. W. W. Law, Palisade Avenue, in October, the pro- 
 ceeds of which — $300 — were donated towards the building 
 fund. 
 
 The members of the congregation of the First Presby- 
 terian Church became deeply interested in this new mission 
 enterprise, and subscription books were circulated through 
 the church and the people very generously responded. 
 Messrs. Theodore Gilman and W. W. Law did much to 
 hasten the progress of the work of the erection of the 
 chapel, both by their liberal gifts and kindly interest. 
 
 In October, 1886, a request from his congregation was 
 sent to Rev. John Reid, asking him to deliver a lecture on 
 his late travels in Russia, the proceeds of which might be 
 devoted to the building fund of the mission, to which Mr. 
 Reid very cordially responded. The proceeds of the lecture 
 amounted to $165. 
 
 The Missionary Association of the First Presbyterian 
 Church assumed the charge and care of the " Moquette" 
 Mission now named "Immanuel," in 1886. The Associa- 
 tion purchased a plot of ground, 75 by 100, on Nepperhan 
 Avenue, near Ashburton, in the spring of 1887, and began 
 the erection of a suitable chapel which would meet all the 
 requirements of the work of the Sunday-school and the 
 meetings of the mission. 
 
 The chapel building is of Queen Anne style, 26 by 46 
 
504 
 
 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 feet in dimensions. Tlie main room is about 20 by 36 
 feet, and the infant-class room 18 feet square. There are 
 two Bible-class rooms, 10 by 15 feet, and a library room of 
 the same size. The infant-class room and the main hall 
 are divided by four long sliding doors. The floors are 
 of oiled Georgia pine. The walls are sand finished and 
 decorated, the main room being Pompeii red and the rest 
 of the rooms of olive hue. On the southern exposure of the 
 building is a window in commemoration of a pleasing event. 
 On the twenty-first anniversary of his coming to Yonkers, 
 William Allen Butler added to his subscription already 
 
 IMMANUEL CHAPEL. 
 
 made a gift which has been embodied in five windows, of 
 mottled and marbled glass, surmounted by a spreading oak, 
 under which is the benediction, " God's peace be with you, 
 one and all." These beautiful windows were constructed 
 by the Tiffany Glass Company of New York. The remain- 
 der of the windows are of rolled cathedral glass, Queen Anne 
 style. J. C. Cady & Co., of New York, were the architects ; 
 E. K. Baldwin, mason ; Isaac Van Steenbergh, carpenter ; 
 and Thomas M. Lyall, painter. The cost of the building 
 and grounds was $5,300. 
 
IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 505 
 
 The dedicatory exercises of the chapel took place on 
 Sunday afternoon, March 13, 1887. The building was 
 crowded to its utmost capacity, some being turned away 
 for want of room. The divine blessing was invoked by 
 Rev. Prof. H. M. Baird, D. D. After singing, the Scriptures 
 were read by Rev. I. Davison, when the pastor offered the 
 prayer of dedication. Addresses were delivered by Theo- 
 dore Gilman, chairman of the building committee. Rev. 
 Charles E. Allison, Rev. Edward C. Moore, and William 
 Allen Butler. Rev. John Reid conducted the exercises. 
 
 Sunday evening meetings were conducted in Moquette 
 Row by Rev. John Reid, the pastor of the First Presby- 
 terian Church, for several months previous to the engage- 
 ment of a stated missionary pastor. The Sunday-school 
 was transferred to the chapel in March, 1887. 
 
 The officers of the school, June, 1888, were: Wells Olm- 
 sted, Superintendent ; Miss Janet Flagg, Infant Class Teach- 
 er; Schuyler Bogart, Secretary and Treasurer; Howard 
 Chamberlain, Librarian ; Victor M. Elting, Assistant Libra- 
 rian. 
 
 The teachers were : Miss Margaret B. Otis, Miss Mar- 
 garet C. Butler, Miss Fermine D. Baird, Miss Ella R. King, 
 Miss Mary Ewing, Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, Miss Janet 
 W. Flagg, Miss E. P. Flagg, Miss Mary Randolph, Miss 
 Carrie A. Law, Miss Julia F. Baird, Miss Deyo, Mrs. H. C. 
 Balch, Miss H. E. Balch, Messrs. A. O. Kirkwood and John 
 P. Brown. 
 
 In January, 1887, the services of William T. Gouch were 
 secured as cometist to assist in the service in the Sunday- 
 school and the evening church service. Mr. Gouch served 
 very acceptably in this capacity for eighteen months. 
 
 The services of Rev. John S. Penman, a student of the 
 Union Theological Seminary in New York, were engaged 
 in May, 1887. Prior to Mr. Penman's engagement, students 
 came at different times from the Seminary in New York 
 and conducted Sunday evening meetings in Moquette Row 
 and in the chapel. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Penman was ordained in the First Presby- 
 terian Church, June 29, 1887. 
 
 A strawberry and ice-cream festival was given to the 
 
5o6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 children of the Sunday-school on the grounds of Mrs. Ethan 
 Flagg in June, 1 887. The first Christmas exercises in the 
 new chapel were held on Saturday evening, December 25, 
 1 887. There were singing of Christmas carols by the chil- 
 dren, addresses by Rev. John Reid and Rev. J. S. Penman, 
 followed by the distribution of gifts. The religious ex- 
 ercises were held on Sunday afternoon in the First Pres- 
 byterian Church, in connection with the Sunday-school of 
 that church. 
 
 A very pleasant literary and musical entertainment was 
 held in the chapel on the evening of November 10, 1887, 
 the proceeds, $55 25, being for the benefit of the Young 
 Men's Reading-Ropm of the chapel. 
 
 The communion service at the First Presbyterian 
 Church, Sunday, January, 27, 1888, was deeply impressive. 
 There were on that occasion received into the church fel- 
 lowship thirty-two persons. Twenty-six of these came on 
 profession and six by certificate. Of the former eight re- 
 ceived baptism. The coming in of many of these was the 
 result of patient and faithful Sunday-school and ministerial 
 labor in connection with Immanuel Chapel, where services 
 have been conducted by the pastor, Rev. John Reid, his 
 assistant, Rev. John S. Penman, Rev. Dr. David Cole, and 
 Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge. In an especial degree it 
 resulted from the efforts made for many months in con- 
 nection with the mothers' meetings held there under the 
 Ladies' Association and aided by their devoted lady mis- 
 sionary, Mrs. Balch. There were received into the commu- 
 nion of the church from January, 1888, to September, 1888, 
 eighteen scholars. 
 
 In January the attendance of the school had reached 
 164, with an enrolment of 225, together with twenty officers 
 and teachers. In the meantime the school had been thor- 
 oughly furnished with record books, papers, and other 
 Sunday-school appointments. Through the kindness of 
 William F. Cochran a carefully prepared library was placed 
 at the disposal of the scholars. 
 
 In February, 1888, another entertainment for the ben- 
 efit of the Young Men's Reading-Room was held, which 
 netted $46, and was given to the chapel fund. 
 
IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 507 
 
 Rev. John S. Penman, whose labors were most success- 
 ful in connection with the work of Immanuel Chapel since 
 January i, 1887, received and accepted a call to the pastor- 
 ate of the First Presbyterian Church, Irvington-on-the-Hud- 
 son, December 16, 1888, and was installed pastor of that 
 church May 29, 1889. He was succeeded by Rev. J. Hen- 
 drik de Vries, A. M., who was ordained to the gospel nain- 
 istry in the First Presbyterian Church, June 19, 1888. The 
 ordination sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Mabon. 
 The charge to the candidate was given by his brother, Rev. 
 Henry de Vries. Prayer of ordination by the Rev. Dr. Reid. 
 Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, A. M., ybungest son of Hendrik 
 de Vries and Wilhelmina Louise Diephuizen, who was 
 born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 8, 1859, ^^s grad- 
 uated from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., in June, 
 1 88 1, and after spending the succeeding years as teacher 
 in classics and music, took his master degree in 1885. In 
 the fall of 1885 he entered the Theological Seminary of 
 the Reformed Church in America, and upon graduation in 
 May, 1 888, he accepted the call as assistant to the Rev. John 
 Reid, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Yon- 
 kers; in April, 1 891, he was elected Moderator of the Pres- 
 bytery of Westchester, and at the fall session of Presby- 
 tery, October 18, 1891, was appointed Commissioner to 
 Synod for two years. 
 
 In January, 1889, Samuel Archer, who had served as 
 Treasurer of the collections of the chapel from June 18, 1887, 
 resigned, and Wm. House was appointed and served for a 
 brief period. The present Treasurer, Charles Hitzelberger, 
 was elected September i, 1889. 
 
 Clarence Tice is the present Secretary. 
 
 In June, 1888, another strawberry festival was held on 
 the Peabody grounds, North Broadway. A pleasant feature 
 of this occasion was the photographing of the teachers 
 and scholars of the school in separate groups, by George 
 D. Mackay. 
 
 A large congregation assembled in the First Presby- 
 terian Church on Sunday morning, June 2, 1889. The 
 pastor. Rev. Dr. John Reid, was assisted by Rev. J. Hen- 
 drik de Vries, of Immanuel Chapel, and the services bore 
 
508 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 chiefly upon that missionary branch of the church. The 
 sermon by Rev. Dr. Reid was appropriate and telling. 
 It was based on the words in Ecclesiastes 4 : 9 — " Two are 
 better than one, because they have a good reward for their 
 labor." The encouraging report of the chapel work for the 
 past year, by Mr. de Vries, was listened to with great interest. 
 
 The report for the year ending May 31, 1889, reads: 
 
 " Regular preaching services have been held on the 
 evening of every Lord's day, with a growing attendance, 
 the average from ninety to one hundred and twenty, the 
 largest attendance being one hundred and fifty-three. The 
 evening service has beeh prefaced during the winter months . 
 by a thirty-minutes' service of song and prayer led by gen- 
 tlemen of the Session and church. 
 
 " The Sunday-school has been held every Sunday 
 afternoon, and shows encouraging signs not only of life but 
 healthful growth. Owing to the faithful labors and patience 
 of superintendent and teachers, the school now numbers 
 from one hundred and eighty to two hundred in attendance, 
 many of whom have made profession of their faith in Jesus 
 as their Saviour. 
 
 " A few words in grateful remembrance of a teacher. 
 Miss Anna W. Kirkwood, who began ' the year with us, but 
 whose abundantly useful earthly life ended and the heav- 
 enly life entered upon April 24, 1889, where a grander field 
 was opened before her, giving full scope for the develop- 
 ment of all her powers and the exercise of all her best and 
 noblest affections. From nearly the beginning of Sunday- 
 school work in connecjtion with Immanuel Chapel she 
 was identified with it, and the voluntary expressions of 
 feeling from her class of boys help to tell the story of 
 our loss. 
 
 "A prayer - meeting has been held every Tuesday 
 evening of the year, and the deepening interest in these 
 has been evinced by a faithful attendance of from fifty as 
 the minimum to eighty-five and ninety-nine. 
 
 " In October a Thursday night Bible-class for men was 
 started, the membership of which soon reached the num- 
 ber of eighteen, with a regular attendance of from ten to 
 fourteen. Bible study was the main object of these gather- 
 
IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 509 
 
 ings of men, while efforts were also crowned with some 
 measure of success in training the members to take part 
 in prayer. 
 
 " On Wednesday afternoon at 2 : 30 o'clock the ' Help- 
 ing Hand' has regularly convened during the winter 
 months; having a membership of sixty-four women and 
 sixteen teachers. Two hundred and seventy-five garments 
 have been made this season and the Dorcas class earned 
 over $33 by other voluntary labor. 
 
 " At 4 : 30 p. M. the mothers' meeting, now in its fifth 
 year, has been attended fully by 200 women, mostly mo- 
 thers, as the name implies. 
 
 " A series of Friday evening entertainments have been 
 given successfully, George D. Mackay, Ralph E. Prime, 
 Col. William L. Heermance, and Dr. Robert N. Flagg 
 contributing to the entertainment of those who attended. 
 Careful visitation has been continued in the homes of those 
 concerned with chapel interests. Measures have been 
 adopted which have aroused interest in the direction of a 
 personal effort on the part of those who worship in the 
 chapel to provide for some portion of the expenses them- 
 selves. 
 
 " By an entertainnlent on April 9, which netted $79, 
 together with a $25 contribution, the King's Daughters 
 have procured a 250-pound bell, and the men, by the per- 
 sonal contributions of nioney and manual labor, have made 
 excellent improvements in and around the buildings, this 
 work showing their grateful appreciation of the benefits 
 the church has conferred upon them by erecting and sup- 
 porting so generously the chapel in their midst. 
 
 "After the report was read. Dr. Reid made a brief 
 appeal, asking for $1,200 to carry on the work for the en- 
 suing year. The people have always felt the warmest in- 
 terest in their chapel work, and at once an amount was 
 contributed to carry it successfully on." 
 
 Children's Day — June g, 1889 — was celebrated by a 
 union service in connection with the home school, which 
 was held in the First Presbyterian Church on the morning 
 of that day at 1 1 o'clock. The superintendents of both home 
 and mission schools, George H. Chamberlin and Wells 
 
5IO CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Olmsted, were installed in accordance with a new ritual 
 recommended by Sunday-school workers and approved by 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 In October, 1889, an entertainment was given through 
 the efforts of a blind girl, Miss Sophia Hitzelberger, the 
 proceeds of which were devoted to the purchasing of a 
 carpet for the chapel. 
 
 The Young. Men's Immanuel Pioneer Society was or- 
 'ganized August, 1889, to aid the chapel. 
 
 There was a very large attendance at Immanuel Chapel 
 on Thursday night, September 27, 1890, the principal fea- 
 ture being the presentation of a piano and an organ to the 
 Church by the Immanuel Pioneer Society. The chapel 
 was very prettily decorated with flags and flowers. Rev. 
 Dr. John Reid presided and made the presentation speech. 
 The organ was made by Story & Clark, and the piano 
 is a Mathushek instrument. 
 
 The officers are Charles Hitzelberger, President ; Thom- 
 as Spink, Vice-President; David W. Magee, Secretary; 
 Harry B. Tice, Treasurer; Clarence L. Tice, Manager; 
 Oliver Inson, Joseph Tidaback, Fred Nodine, and William 
 Mackey. 
 
 Easter Sunday, April 7, 1890, immediately after the 
 Sunday-school service, seventeen children were offered in 
 baptism. Rev. J. H. de Vries, the pastor, officiated. A 
 new oak font, given to the chapel by the King's Daughters, 
 was used on the occasion. The font is inscribed with the 
 words, " One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism," and is sur- 
 mounted by the King's Daughters' cross, bearing the letters 
 I. H. N. — " In His Name." The chapel clock was pre- 
 sented by the King's Daughters, and the communion table 
 also. This organization is under the direction of Miss 
 Mary Randolph. 
 
 Miss Janet Flagg was the first teacher of the primary 
 department, and continued her acceptable work until the 
 spring of 1 888, when she was succeeded for a brief period 
 by Mrs. H. C. Balc^i, follo\/ed by George D. Mackay, Miss 
 Georgiana R. Law, Miss F. L. Upham. 
 
 The present superintendent is Miss Hattie B. Blake, 
 and Miss Margie Brendlinger, assistant. The International 
 
IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 51I 
 
 Lessons are taught with pictures and Scripture illustrations. 
 The collections' of the class are given to the general fund 
 of the school. The " Little Folks' Paper " is circulated. 
 The class numbers sixty-five. 
 
 Large adult Bible-classes of women are in charge of 
 Miss Mary Randolph and George D. Mackay. These 
 teachers have been earnest and successful in their labors, 
 which have appeared in the additions to the communion of 
 the First Presbyterian Church from their classes. 
 
 Alexander O. Kirkwood has charge of the men's Bible- 
 class. 
 
 The scholars of the Immanuel Chapel Sunday-school 
 were made happy on Saturday evening, December 28, 1889, 
 at their Christmas festival. The exercises consisted of 
 caroling by the school and addresses by the Rev. Dr. John 
 Reid, Rev. John S. Penman, of Irvington, and Rev. Hen- ■ 
 drik de Vries. Wells Olmsted, the Superintendent, presid- 
 ed. . There was a handsome Christmas-tree. The gifts con- 
 sisted principally of baskets of confectionery. 
 
 Immanuel Chapel was crowded with merry children and 
 visitors on Saturday evening, December, 27, 1 890, when the 
 Sunday-school festival was held. The room was decorated 
 with greens, and on the wall was the greeting. Merry Christ- 
 mas ! A large tree was laden with candies, dolls, toys, etc. 
 
 Wells Olmsted, the superintendent, presided. After a 
 carol by the school. Miss Oxholm presiding at the piano, 
 prayer was ofifered by the pastor. Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries. 
 A recitation, " The Night Before Christmas," was well 
 given by Mrs. J. Lindsay Porteous. The Rev. Edwin A. 
 Schell, pastor of the First Methodist Church, addressed the 
 school, and Robert O. Kirkwood played the r61e of St. 
 Nicholas, giving much pleasure to the children with his 
 stories and gifts. 
 
 The presents consisted of knives, mufflers, and sleds, 
 for the boys; books, dolls, cups and saucers, and pretty 
 vases, for the girls. Rev. Mr. de Vries received a hand- 
 some set of books, nine volumes, works of Motley, the his- 
 torian. 
 
 The amount raised annually by the Sunday-school for 
 benevolent purposes is $125. 
 
512 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 The school has recently undertaken the support of a 
 pupil in the orphanage under the care of the Rev. B. C. 
 Henry, Canton, China, in memory of a lately deceased 
 teacher bearing her name, Anna W. Kirkwood. 
 
 The school has had iDUt one superintendent, Wells 
 Olmsted, who was elected in January, 1885. Mr. Olmsted 
 has filled his position with marked fidelity and has won the 
 esteem and regard of his co-laborers by his unceasing efforts 
 to advance the best interests of the school. He is on the 
 honor roll of Sunday-school workers in Yonkers. 
 
 The present officers of the school are : Wells Olmsted, 
 Superintendent; Robert Ogilvie Kirkwood (elected 1891), 
 Vice - Superintendent, Theodore Oxholm, Secretary and 
 Treasurer ; John E. Jardine, Librarian. 
 
 The school record-book includes the following teach- 
 ers for 1889, 90, 91 : Miss Mary Randolph, Miss Fannie 
 L. Upham, Miss Georgiana R. Law (now the wife of Rev. 
 John Penman), Miss Harriet Oxholm, Miss E. P. Flagg, 
 Miss Jessie Heermance, Miss Ella R. King, Miss Bessie 
 May Otis, Miss Van Orden, Miss Crane, Mrs. Johnson, 
 Miss L. Birch, Miss A. Lee, Miss Goodrich, Miss Heer- 
 mance, Miss Janet W. Flagg, Miss M. Balch, Rev. J. H. 
 de Vries, Prof. E. B. Fancher, George D. Mackay, T. L. 
 EUenthorpe, Alexander O. Kirkwood, John P. Brown, John 
 G. Reevs, Henry A. Blake, James Fancher, Edward R. 
 MeLaury, Thomas W. Moore, and Robert O. Kirkwood. 
 The teachers of the primary department are Miss Harriet 
 B. Blake, Superintendent, Miss Margie Brendlinger, Assist- 
 ant Superintendent. 
 
 The number of books in the library is 248. The lesson 
 helps are Peloubet's graded question books and quarterlies 
 and the " Sunday-school Times." The singing book is 
 " Gospel Songs." 
 
 The membership of the school is 225. The organist 
 of the Sunday-school is Miss Harriet Oxholm. The singing 
 in the chapel services is led by Rev. J. Hendrik de Vries, 
 , who is assisted by Misses Lottie Mason, Lizzie Wilson, and 
 Eliza Dunn. Miss Addie Swan is the organist, who has 
 very faithfully and efiiciently occupied that place since 
 March, 1887. 
 
IMMANUEL CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 513 
 
 Thomas A. Spink served faithfully as sexton of Im- 
 manuel Chapel from January, 1888, till January, 1891. He 
 was succeeded by William Doyle. Through the faithful min- 
 istrations of those who have been active in the work of 
 Immanuel Chapel, 108 persons have been received into 
 the First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The work of Rev. Mr. de Vries in connection with the 
 chapel has met with marked success. The steadiness of 
 its growth and the warm attachment of his people for him 
 all go to prove the superior character of his service. Fifty- 
 six persons have been received into the communion of the 
 First Presbyterian Church as the result of his labors. 
 
 Church und Snndnj-Bchool Work. 33 
 
SI4 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 
 
 During the year 1871 five of the churches united in 
 celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 The total number of resident communicants as re- 
 ported of the various Protestant Churches in Yonkers is 
 
 4.715- 
 
 Several of the churches of the city keep a list of their 
 non-resident members who have not taken their letters of 
 dismission to other churches. 
 
 If that number was added to the given number of com- 
 municants, the membership would be considerably larger. 
 The average attendance of the Protestant Churches in 
 Yonkers as reported is 5,551. 
 
 The attendance as reported at the various masses at 
 the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Roman-catholic Churches 
 is over 9,000. 
 
 The names of the sextons of the several Churches in 
 Yonkers have been simply mentioned, with no record of 
 their work in connection with the Churches and Sunday- 
 schools. If it were possible the writer would gladly give 
 the sextons of the different Churches the honor due them. 
 Though their lives may be unwritten and their deeds of 
 faithful and kindly ministry be unrecorded, their works do 
 follow them and shall not be unaccounted of by Him who 
 reckons the services of men by the spirit which stands be- 
 hind and inspires them. 
 
 One of these faithful souls, who served as sexton in 
 one of the churches for a period of twenty-five years, said : 
 " I always try to hallow my work with prayer ; lowly as it 
 appears, I think God accepts it, even as he did the preach- 
 ing of the preacher. I always try to make the house of 
 God comfortable and inviting, so that the people will like 
 to come to church and hear the gospel preached, and I am 
 
A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 515 
 
 sure ' I would rather be a doorkeeper in tlie house of the 
 Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.' " 
 
 The Yonkers Sunday-school Teachers' Association was 
 organized on February 22, 1867. Meetings of the Asso- 
 ciation were held the second Wednesday of each month, 
 and were the means of bringing, out the experience and 
 working of each particular school for the general benefit 
 and improvement of the whole, and of cultivating a social 
 feeling among superintendents and teachers of the different 
 Sunday-schools. The clergymen of , the various Churches 
 also took a deep interest in these meetings and as often as 
 they could were present and took part in the discussions of 
 the subjects presented. These meetings were also the 
 means of the development of an earnest and aggressive 
 missionary spirit among the Churches and Sunday-schools. 
 They were full of interest and enthusiasm, of suggestion 
 and instruction. 
 
 The President of the Association held office for three 
 months. Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., was the first President, 
 and Stephen H. Thayer, Jr. — now Judge Thayer — was its 
 first Secretary. The executive committee consisted of a 
 gentleman from each of the various churches. The first 
 executive committee was composed as follows : Chas. L. x 
 Cozzens, St. John's Episcopal Church ; John W. Oliver, 
 First Methodist Church ; Dr. Gabriel Reevs, Reformed 
 Church ; Richard Wynkoop, First Presbyterian Church ; 
 Charles Seymour, St. Paul's Church ; John H. Brown, West- 
 minster Presbyterian Church ; William Holme, Warburton 
 Avenue Baptist Church ; C. F. Moulton, Central Methodist 
 Church. 
 
 Essays and poems, composed by several of the Superin- 
 tendents and teachers of the different Sunday-schools, were 
 read at the monthly meetings. Among the Superintend- 
 ents who can be recalled were William A. Gibson, who 
 read an essay entitled " The Perplexities of the Sunday- 
 school Superintendent," Peter Haulenbeck, an essay on 
 " Opportunities." Mrs. J. H. Uhl, a teacher in St. John's 
 Sunday-school, and Miss Lucy Earl, of the First Presby- 
 terian Church, contributed original poems. Rev. L. W. 
 Mudge — now Rev. Dr. Mudge — took an active part in the 
 
5l6 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 work of the Association, and contributed a number of valu- 
 able papers on several of the subjects discussed. 
 
 At the monthly meeting in August, 1870, a poem en- 
 titled " Christ at the Sea of Galilee," composed by Miss 
 Anna W. Kirkwood, was read by the Vice-Superintendent 
 of the First Mission Sunday-school, also an essay entitled, 
 " Elements of a Successful Sunday-school," by J. H. Brown, 
 the Vice-Superintendent of that school, and these were 
 afterwards printed in the "Yonkers Statesman" by re- 
 quest of the Association. 
 
 The elements constituting a successful Sunday-school 
 were considered under three heads. First, " A properly 
 qualified superintendent and other officers ;" second, " Prop- 
 erly qualified teachers ;" and third, " Sundry agencies to 
 bear upon the entire body — ofl&cers, teachers, and scholars." 
 The subject under the three points was very ably handled 
 and was considered most comprehensive and satisfactory, 
 being helpful towards practical results. The subject of 
 temperance was also discussed at several of the meetings 
 and elicited very spirited and earnest debates. 
 
 The first anniversary of the Association was held in 
 the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday afternoon, Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1868, when the following programme was an- 
 nounced : Festive Song ; Reading of Scripture, Rev. Lewis 
 W. Mudge ; Prayer, Rev. Dr. Behrends ; Song, " Sabbath 
 Bells ;" Address, Rev. J. Hyatt Smith ; Song, " Battling for 
 the Lord;" Address, Rev. Dr. David Cole; Song, "Uni- 
 versal Praise ;" Address, Rev. U. T. Tracy ; Song, " Ban- 
 ner of Jesus ;" Address, Rev. Dr, D. M. Seward ; Benedic- 
 tion, Rev. Dr. Crawford. 
 
 The Association represented nine different Sunday- 
 schools. The children of these schools in attendance num- 
 bered twelve hundred, and when seated filled all the pews 
 and aisles and space around the pulpit. The exercises were 
 deeply interesting. The several sacred songs of the chil- 
 dren filled the church with a melody which touched the 
 hearts of all present. The solos by Miss Reynolds, of 
 Brooklyn, Miss Jennie Fuller, soprano of the First Presby- 
 terian Church, and by Miss Josie Sanders, alto of the 
 Westminster Presbyterian Church, were beautifully sung. 
 
A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 517 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Wise, of New York, and the Rev. J. 
 Hyatt Smith held the attention of the audience in a charm- 
 ing manner. All the addresses were to the point and were 
 listened to with great satisfaction. 
 
 There could have been no more interesting religious 
 occasion in Yonkers than the gathering together of twelve 
 hundred Sunday-school children and Sunday-school work- 
 ers. It showed the extent to which the noble work of 
 training the young in the right way was carried on in our . 
 then village, and it was a suggestive feature of the exhibi- 
 tion that it took place on a day sacred to the memory of 
 Washington, the chief among the founders of a republic 
 the stability and prosperity of. which most depend on all 
 of its citizens being well grounded in their youth in the 
 principles of virtue and religion. 
 
 A most enjoyable sociable of the Association was held 
 on Tuesday evening, June 20, 1 871, at Radford Hall, from 
 eight o'clock to nine o'clock being spent in greetings, con- 
 gratulations and promenading. The Misses Buckley and 
 Messrs. Becket and Brush, of the Weber Quartette of New 
 York, sang selections. The meeting closed with the hymn, 
 " Work, for the night is coming." The event was one of 
 the most happily conceived and thoroughly enjoyable 
 affairs of the season. There were 425 cards of invitation 
 sent out, of which more than half were accepted, although 
 it rained very hard all the evening. One of the speakers 
 said it was "a very bright affair except the evening." The 
 Rev- Dr. Bright presided as President. Excellent speeches 
 were made by John W. Oliver, an ex-president of the Asso- 
 ciation, the Rev. Dr. Langford, rector of St. John's Church, 
 and William A. Gibson. 
 
 It cannot be definitely ascertained when the Associa- 
 tion ceased to exist, on account of its later records being 
 lost. It is thought about the year 1875 or 1876. 
 
 The fifth Annual Convention of the Hudson River 
 Sunday-school Teachers' Association convened in the War- 
 burton Avenue Baptist Church of Yonkers, October 12, 
 1869, and continued in session for three days. 
 
 There was an array of fine speakers. Among them were 
 the Rev. John Hall, D. D., the pastor of the Fifth Avenue 
 
5l8 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Presbyterian Church of New York, who made the opening 
 address. He was followed by the Rev. Howard Crosby, 
 D. D., who spoke on the " Philosophy of Teaching." 
 
 Other addresses were made by the Rev. Dr. Duryea, 
 the Rev. George H. Mandeville, D. D., the Rev. Alfred 
 Taylor, Albert Woodruff, and other prominent Sunday- 
 school workers. 
 
 The occasion was helpful to Sunday-school interests in 
 Yonkers. 
 
 In the spring of 1871 William Allen Butler gave a se- 
 ries of lectures which embraced the leading subjects on the 
 earlier portions of the Bible. The meetings were held in 
 the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church in the 
 afternoon at 3 : 30 o'clock. This course of Bible lessons was 
 exceedingly profitable and instructive. The meetings were 
 largely attended by the representative members of the 
 different churches, thus proving their freedom from secta- 
 rian and denominational doctrines. At their close in 
 April, 1 874, Rev. Wm. C. Foote moved a vote of thanks, 
 which was heartily seconded by all present. Rev. Dr. T. 
 Ralston Smith, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, 
 made brief remarks expressive of his approval and appreci- 
 ation of their great value to those who had been privileged 
 to attend. 
 
 The following statistics of the Sunday-schools of Yon- 
 kers, with the exception of the Roman-catholic Sunday- 
 schools and of the Tuckahoe schools, from which no report 
 could be obtained, were gathered by Walter Underhill, a 
 former superintendent of the Reformed Church Sunday- 
 school, by the request of the Secretary of the New York 
 State Teachers' Association, for the year ending January, 
 1872: Number of Sunday-schools, 11; number of officers 
 and teachers, 275 ; number of scholars, 2,453 ; number of 
 conversions, 58 ; number of volumes in library, 6,303 : 
 amount expended for books, $880 ; amount expended for 
 benevolent objects, $1,613 ; amount expended for other 
 objects, $2,586. 
 
 The following figures show some of the work of Sunday- 
 schools in Yonkers in the centennial year. They, were 
 gathered and prepared with great care. The totals of the 
 
A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION. 519 
 
 seventeen Sunday-schools which existed at that time, inclu- 
 ding the boys' department of St. Mary's Roman-catholic 
 Sunday-school, is as follows : Number of Sunday-schools, 
 17 ; number of officers, 75 ; number of teachers, 345 ; num- 
 ber of scholars on register, 4,241 ; average attendance, 2,945 ; 
 largest attendance, 3,590; in infant classes, 953; conver- 
 sions, 116; deaths, 25 ; volumes in libraries, 7,325 ; reported 
 receipts, $4,398 22 ; reported expenditures, $4,096 73. 
 
 In regard to the statistics of the Sunday-schools, as given 
 in this history, the writer would state that they have in 
 every case been recorded as they were received from the 
 Superintendents, Secretaries, and record-books of the 
 Sunday-schools, also from the reports of the pastors at 
 their annual meetings of the Synods and General Con- 
 ferences of their respective Churches, and no pains nor time 
 has been spared to make them as accurate as possible. 
 
 There is no doubt that the reports and statistics of the 
 Sunday-schools of Yonkers could be made more valuable 
 if some uniform system were adopted by which the mem- 
 oranda of all the schools should be kept. 
 
 If a yearly record were kept of the number of members 
 uniting with the Churches from the Sunday-schools, the 
 growth of the Church from the Sunday-school would be 
 shown. 
 
 A committee from the Young Men's Christian Associ- 
 ation of Yonkers, in November, 1883, was appointed to 
 inaugurate a union Sunday-school teachers' meeting, to as- 
 semble in the parlor of the Association in Getty Square on 
 Saturday afternoon. These meetings were- well attended, 
 being alternately conducted by the city pastors, and contin- 
 ued through the winters of 1883-86. 
 
 The Sunday-school Union of Yonkers, auxiliary to the 
 New York State Sunday-school Association, was organized 
 in June, 1890. Its officers were: Dr. Franklin Soper, Presi- 
 dent ; Walter Thomas, William Smith, and Virgil Myers, 
 Vice-Presidents; George T. Leeds, Recording Secretary; 
 Mrs. E. C. Paton, Treasurer ; Charles E. Manning, Corre- 
 sponding Secretary. 
 
 In response to a general invitation the pastors of the 
 several churches met at the Rectory of St. John's Church, 
 
520 CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. 
 
 Monday evening, February i6, 1890, and organized a Clerical 
 Association. The Rev. Alexander B. Carver was elected 
 President, Rev. J. H. de Vries Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 Monthly meetings of the Association are held, and 
 topics of general community interests are discussed. 
 
 There have been many connected with the Churches 
 and Sunday-schools of Yonkers whose names are not re- 
 corded in these pages. Many of these early workers, as 
 well as those of a later date, are successfully engaged in 
 other fields of labor, and some have passed away from 
 earth ; but death cannot put an end to their beneficent in- 
 fluence, and the extent and result of their work will never 
 be known in its entirety till the " books " be opened. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 THE ST. JOHN'S FOUNTAIN. 
 
 Benjamin Silliman, arcliitect, designer of this beauti- 
 ful fountain, furnishes the following description of it : 
 
 The St. John's Ice Water Fountain stands six feet 
 back from the corner of South Broadway and Hudson 
 Street, on a raised platform of rubbed bluestone tile about 
 eighteen feet across, and is flanked on either side by curved 
 walls of stone, three feet high, and by two circular stone 
 piers, two feet four inches in diameter by five feet high. 
 
 The fountain itself is five feet six inches in diameter, 
 is cylindrical in form, is built of Mile Square rock face stone, 
 with moulded brick base and foliated red terra-cotta cornice, 
 with conventional honeysuckle ornament, and is surmount- 
 ed by a sloping roof of solid cut stone in three courses, 
 the whole terminating in an ornamental bronze Runic cross 
 three feet six inches high. From the sidewalk to the cor- ' 
 nice is a height of nine feet, and to the top of the cross 
 fifteen feet. 
 
 On the face of the fountain, fronting Broadway, is a 
 bronze panel two feet wide by three feet nine inches high, 
 slightly concave, and finished at the top with a semi-circular 
 head, set in an operfing in the stone-work with brick quoins 
 and brigk voussoirs. The bottom of the bronze panel is a 
 large shell, or basin, to receive the drip from the faucet, 
 which is arranged as a lotus flower growing up from among 
 lotus leaves and buds, which are modelled across the whole 
 width of the panel over the shell to the height of about six 
 inches ; and over them is a slightly projecting curved shelf. 
 On this shelf stands a figure of St. John the Apostle, twenty- 
 two inches high, modelled in bas relief, with the conven- 
 tional eagle at the feet and a nimbus around the liead. 
 
522 APPENDIX. 
 
 In the semi-circular head of the panel is the inscription : 
 " St. John's Ice Water Fountain, Erected MDCCCXCI ;" and 
 running down the panel, on either side of the figure, are 
 the words of the text from John 4:13, 14: "Whosoever 
 drinketh of this water shall thirst again," etc. 
 
 At the back of the fountain, facing the church, is an 
 antique oak door studded with bolt-heads, and having a 
 cross of bolt-heads and ornamental black iron strap-hinges 
 and circular knob, all made from special designs. This 
 door conceals the refrigerator, which is built into the foun- 
 tain in such a way that it can easily be got at and repaired, 
 should occasion for such work arise. The refrigerator is 
 built of alternate layers of wood and felt, is asphalted 
 inside and out, and is lined with copper. It is two feet in 
 diameter, seven feet eight inches high, and contains a coil 
 of two hundred and twenty-five feet of galvanized iron pipe 
 suspended beneath three hundred pounds of ice. 
 
 The fountain is supplied from a water meter, and has 
 the most perfect system of drainage and convenient arrange- 
 ment for turning the water off and on. The ice does not 
 come in contact with the water, but only cools the space 
 around the pipe containing it, so that no danger can accrue 
 to health from germs carried in the ice. It is expected that 
 the temperature of the water will be forty degrees Fahren- 
 heit as it runs from the faucet. 
 
 The stone-work and brick-work were done by J. and G. 
 Stewart ; the carpenter work and ornamental hinges by S. F. 
 Quick ; the plumbing was by Linehan Brothers ; the model- 
 ling and casting of the bronze panel and cross by the Tif- 
 ^fany Glass Company, of New York city; the bluestone 
 tiling by J. and R. Kellock ; the iron doors to pit by Noble 
 Walsh. 
 
 The fountain and boundary wall have been designed 
 so as to be entirely in keeping with the style of St. John's 
 Church and Parish buildings. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 523 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL HONOR ROLL. 
 
 The following persons have been connected with their 
 respective schools as of&cers or teachers from the date of 
 organization of the later schools or for the longest period 
 in the earlier ones : 
 
 Miss A. Emeline Hoyt * 
 Miss Helen A'. RoUins.f 
 Mrs. Anna S. Burgess,f 
 Miss Caroline H. Tripler,f 
 Mrs. James B. Colgate,f 
 Mr. William R. Mott, 
 Mr. Horace H. Thayer, 
 Mr. Samuel A. Moore, 
 Mrs. George W. Cobb, 
 Mrs. Dewitt C. Kellinger, 
 Mr. John P. Groshon, 
 Miss Caroline Jones,* 
 Mr. Charles R. Dusenberry, 
 Mr. L V. Underbill, 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Merritt, 
 Miss M. Arsenia, 
 Mr. Charles R. Otis, 
 Mr. A. O. Kirkwood, 
 Miss M. Josie Sanders, 
 * Deceased. 
 
 Miss Mary A. Croes, 
 Miss Sophia Macadam, 
 Mr. John Forsyth, 
 Mr. J. Willet Bynon, 
 Mr. Charles P. Bynon, 
 Mrs, Charles P. Bynon, 
 Mr. Wallace Pulver, 
 Mrs. Rebecca Madison, 
 Mr. William Beutler, 
 Mr. Charles Lockwood, 
 Mrs. A. E. C. Hyde, 
 Miss M. Stephens, 
 Rev. Charles S. Fariess, 
 Mr. Herman H. Kroenke, 
 Mrs. Henry Bowers, 
 Mr. George Stewart, 
 Mr. Wells Olmsted. 
 Miss Mary Randolph, 
 Miss Janet W. Flagg. 
 
 t These ladies have been engaged in Sunday-school work in Yonkers 
 about the same number of years, and their names stand second in the list. 
 
St. John's Episcopal Church in 1872 reconstructed 
 under the rectorship of the Rev. William S. Langford, 
 D. D., at a cost of eighty thousand dollars. And the first 
 rectory built within the present church grounds during the 
 rectorship of the Rev. Henry L. Storrs, A. M. 
 
Page 47, line 3. Names of Societies omitted in St. John's Church in 1891. 
 
 The Church Periodical Club, Mrs. Mary L. Sandford, Librarian. 
 
 St. John's Home. Established, September, 1890.' 
 
 St. John's Kitchen Garden. Teacher, Mrs. L. C. VVray. 
 
 St. Andrew's Brotherhood, J. Fowler Trow, President. 
 Page 55, lines 6 and 7. For Clayton, read Claxton. 
 
 Page 61, line 22. Omitted in names of Officers in St. John's Sunday-school, 
 Frederick Von Storcb, Treasurer since 1874, still in service, earnest and faithful. 
 Mr. Von Storch's name should precede that of Mr. Samuel A. Moore on the 
 Sunday-school Honor Roll. 
 
 Page 6r, line 42. Teacher, Miss Jennie A. Fowler. 
 
 Page 63, line 8. Sixty-four acres, which is evidently an error in Bolton's 
 History, should read six hundred and forty acres. 
 
 Page 103, line 38. Omitted in names of teachers in Chinese Department, 
 Miss Amelia Campbell, and Helen B. Kirkwood. 
 
 Page 142, line 2. For Anna May Dick, read Anna May Drinkwater. 
 
 Page 142, line 3. For Florence Estelle Drinkwater read Florence Estelle 
 Dick. 
 
 Page 256, line 32. Omitted in names of Teachers in Primary Department, 
 Miss Margaret M. McNab, now Mrs. Charles E. Gorton. 
 
 Page 283, line 18. For James Montgomery read William Montgomery. 
 
 Page 284, line i. For Mrs. James Montgomery read Mrs. William Mont- 
 gomery. 
 
 Page 372, line 24. For Henry Skinner Hathaway read Dr. Henry Skinner 
 Hathaway. 
 
 Page 412, line — . In an address at the dedication of the new Teutonia 
 Hall, February 15, 1892, Rudolph Eickemeyer stated that " the German Lutheran 
 Evangelical Church of Yonkers was in its early history indebted to the Yonkers 
 Leider Kranz Society, now the Yonkers Teutonia Society, who gave the gratui- 
 tous use of their forn^er hall for their meetings for two years. Also that the 
 Rev. J. C. Wiete came to Yonkers to organize a German Lutheran Church," 
 which facts are not given in the " History of Church and Sunday-school Work 
 in Yonkers." 
 
 Page 463, line 38. For Theodore Ross read James Ross. 
 
 Page 467, line — . Omitted in names of Superintendents of Primary Depart- 
 ment, Miss Margaret M. McNab, now Mrs. Charles E. Gorton. 
 
 Page 505. Omitted in names of Teachers, Miss Annie Cumming. 
 Page 512. Omitted in names of Teachers, Mrs. Thomas Sykes. 
 Page 523. The name of Anson B. Hoyt should appear second on the Sun- 
 day-school Honor Roll. 
 
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