\ 2 8
 
 OI,D RIGGIXfi I.OFT.
 
 ANNALS 
 
 NEW YORK METHODISM 
 
 A HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK 
 
 FROM A. D. 1766 TO A. D. 1890. 
 
 SAMUEL A. SEAMAN, A.M. 
 
 NEIV YORK: HUNT df EA TON 
 CINCINNA TI: CRANSTON &f STOWE
 
 Copyright, 1892. by 
 
 HUNT & EATON, 
 
 New York.
 
 13Y 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 This volume contains about all that the writer has 
 been able to gather relating to the history of Methodism 
 ^ in New York city. It is to be regretted that the work 
 § was not taken in hand before, when some of the sur- 
 & vivors of the primitive times could have furnished 
 ti many interesting reminiscences. But what could be 
 gleaned, either from tradition or documents that re- 
 main, has been collected and put in such a shape as it is 
 N hoped will be interesting and useful. Some portions 
 h- niay seem dry, but they contain valuable information; 
 ^ s<une again may seem trivial and gossip}', but they 
 will be interesting. Nothing but what is believed to 
 •2; be fact has been admitted. In some cases what may 
 «@ seem to be of small value is introduced, as being likely 
 , g£ii to elicit something that may give it importance. It is 
 hoped that the volume may at least stimulate others to 
 investigate, and induce those who have material to fur- 
 nish it, and thus lay the foundation of something more 
 perfect by an abler hand. 
 
 The book abounds in references. The author has 
 tried to be accurate, and has given his authorities as far as 
 possible. A great deal, however, has been derived from 
 his own personal knowledge and that of friends, some 
 deceased, and some still living. It is to be lioped that 
 arrangements will be made to preserve such records as 
 still exist, that others may verify or correct the state- 
 ments which have been made. 
 
 418596
 
 iv Preface. 
 
 It is right to say that the woi-k wouhl never have been 
 completed liad it not been for the liberality of Mr. John 
 Bentley, one of the*trustees of the John Street Church. 
 To the Rev. Joseph Longking much credit is also due, 
 for gathering and preserving a good deal of valualjle 
 material. 
 
 Peculiarities of style will be observed in manj' of the 
 quotations given. It has been thought best generally to 
 give the exact words of extracts, as any changes might 
 convey a different meaning from that which was in- 
 tended. 
 
 Brief sketches of the preachers who labored in the 
 city are given down to 1832. These would have been 
 continued to the present time but for want of space. 
 
 It was also proposed to insert notices of prominent 
 lay members, but this, for the same reason, has been 
 abandoned. Much material for the purpose has been 
 collected, which, if desired, may perhaps be given here- 
 after. 
 
 Of the documents used, some of the most important 
 are: 
 
 1. The " Old Book," from which Dr. Wakeley ob- 
 tained so much of the material out of which he con- 
 structed his valuable work entitled Lost Chapters He- 
 covered from the Earhj History of American Methodism. 
 There are about two hundred and seventy pages, 
 nearly half of which are blank. It is of foolscap size, 
 having on some pages a circular water-mark with a 
 crown above it. It contains a copy of the subscription 
 paper and a list of subscribers for the first John Street 
 Church, a number of receipts, the accounts from Au- 
 gust 1, 1769, to May 30, 1V97, and several other mem- 
 oranda. When, where, or how it was discovered it is 
 impossible to say positively, but it is believed that Dr. 
 Wakelev found it either in the John Street or the
 
 Prkface. V 
 
 Forsyth Street church. Of its authenticity there can 
 be no doubt, especially as its entries tally remarkably 
 with what we learn from other sources, furnishing evi- 
 dence much like that of which Dr. Paley makes sucli 
 efficient use in his Ilorm Paidhue. For instance, in the 
 library of the Wesleyan Theological College at Mon- 
 treal is a copy of Cruden's Concordance presented by 
 a granddaughter of Philip Embury, Mrs. J. Rhicard. 
 It is the third edition, (1769,) with a portrait of the 
 author, and is a stout leather-bound quarto, with a 
 leather cover over the binding. It bears the inscription 
 in a clear, bohl hand, "Phil Embury, April, 1770."* 
 Now, under date of Ajn-il 10, 1770, we find in the 
 " Old Book " the entry, " To cash paid Philip Embury, 
 to buy a Concordance, £2. 5. 0." A number of similar 
 coincidences might be noticed. This volume will be 
 referred to either as the " Old Book," or Book 1. 
 
 1. A. This also is of foolscap size, in paper cover, 
 however, and has rather more than eighty pages. It 
 contains the first record of members which has been 
 found, and also, probably, the first record of marriages 
 and baptisms ever kept by the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in New York city, as it begins January 23, 1785. 
 When it came into the author's hands it had evidently 
 been disarranged, the pages not following in proi>er 
 order. This has been rectified, but several leaves are 
 still wanting. 
 
 When Rev. Samuel W. King, late of the New York 
 East Conference, was pastor of the Second Street 
 Church in this city, a book was discovered in a library 
 case there which contained something of interest to 
 Rev. J. J. Matthias, and was therefore handed to him. 
 This must be the volume, as on page 19 we have the 
 
 * See Christian Advocate, vol. Ixi, p. 379.
 
 vi Preface. 
 
 record of the marriage of Barnard Mattliias and Sarah 
 Jarvis (the ]>arents of Rev. J.J. Matthias), and on the top 
 of page 6 is a reference in pencil to Mr. King's grand- 
 parents. The Rev. J. Longking thinks he obtained the 
 book from Forsyth Street. The internal evidence of 
 its authenticity is very clear.* 
 
 There are three lists of members; the first, bearing 
 no name nor date, is apparently in the hand-writing 
 of John Dickins. It is arranged neither according to 
 classes nor alphabetically, but the names are numbered, 
 and the first twenty-five are missing. The last number is 
 one hundred and three. The one that follows, also with- 
 out date, but evidently prior to July 20, 1787, as that is 
 the date of the last of the three, is probably also by 
 Dickins, as he returned to the city in 1786. This is 
 arranged in eleven classes, besides one of children, and 
 some 53 names are added at the close, without assign- 
 ment to any class. In all there are 255 names. If the 
 earlier list were complete it would be well to give it, 
 but it is perhaps sufficient to say that it contains the 
 names of Peter McLain, John Bleecker, Daniel Coutant, 
 and Hannah Baldwin. In the second we have in addi- 
 tion, W, Lupton, Ab. Brower, Wm. Tillou, Paul Heck, 
 Hannah Hei-k, Peter Parks, Andrew Mercein, Robert 
 Snow, Walter McDonald, and Ann McDonald (tlie 
 parties to the first marriage recorded), Charles White, 
 John Staples, Henry Newton, and Cornelius Warner.f 
 The third list is by Woolman Hickson, and is dated 
 
 * The first baptism recorded is " January 23, 1785, James Mills, son of 
 John and Sarah Drinker." The first marriage is " March 27, 1785, "Wal- 
 ter McDonald, of Richmond County, and Ann "Walion, of the city of 
 
 New York. Witnesses: Stephen Sands, Egbert and his wife, 
 
 Phebe Armstrong, and Elizabeth Dickins." 
 
 f If the first list had been complete, no doubt the most of these 
 names would have been found there.
 
 Preface. vii 
 
 July 20, 1787. It gives the names of 228 whites and 
 36 colored, in seventeen classes. There are also several 
 lists of persons read into membership; the first on June 
 27, 1789, and the last, September 5, 1790. 
 
 1. -S. This is also of foolscap size, and has sixty- 
 eight pages. It contains records of members according 
 to their classes, and also of receptions on probation. Its 
 earliest date is 1791 and its latest 1796. 
 
 2. This, too, is of foolscap size. It is bound in parch- 
 ment and contains about one hundred and twenty-four 
 pages. On the outside of the front cover is written, 
 " A memorandum book for the use of the Methodist 
 Society, July — , 179 — , New York, 1802. This book 
 contains an account of persons received on trial, an 
 account of those read in, an account of those excluded, 
 an account of when and where the classes meet." 
 There is also other writing, but it is illegible. Besides 
 the contents as stated above we find within it some 
 accounts relating to the building of the (old) Forsyth 
 Street church, some of the preachers' house-keeping, and 
 also an account of the settlement of the estate of 
 Cornelius Cook, of which John Bleecker and Thomas 
 Morrell Avere executors. It seems to have amounted 
 to less than thirty pounds. Much of the penmanship 
 in this book is in the small, neat hand of Thomas 
 Morrell. This book probably was found at Forsyth 
 Street. 
 
 The books that follow have been obtained from 
 various sources, but there is no reason to doubt their 
 authenticity. They are most of them of foolscap page, 
 and in pretty good order. 
 
 3. "Baptisms in John Street Church from 1796 to 
 1820." This was found among the old books at John 
 Street. 
 
 4. "Marriages from July, 1799, to October 18,
 
 VIH 
 
 Preface. 
 
 1820." This came also from John Street. The signa- 
 tures of John McCIaskey, Thomas Morrell, and Samuel 
 Merwin are on the fly-leaf. Many pages of this book 
 are blank. 
 
 5. " Minutes of the Assistance Society " from its 
 formation in 1808 until 1822. 
 
 6. " Baptisms and marriages, Hudson Church (Duane 
 Street) New York." These are from 1810 to 1820. 
 
 7. " Methodist Church Book, in which the names 
 are recorded in alphabetical order, by Nathan Bangs, 
 February 25, 1811, New York." This book was in 
 use until at least 1817. 
 
 8. Rather more than forty pages of this volume are 
 occupied with minutes of the Leaders' Meetings from 
 May, 1811, to February, 1823. Nearl}^ the same num- 
 ber at the other end of the book contain minutes of the 
 Camp-meeting Committee from May, 1818, to August, 
 1821. 
 
 9. " A Register of Baptisms for the Fourth (Allen) 
 Street Church, New York, October 18, 1811." The 
 latest records of baptisms in this book are in December, 
 1820. In the latter part of this book there is a record 
 of marriages from 1811 to 1820, by L. Clark, S. Crow- 
 ell, Thomas Thorp, Luman Andrus, and Marvin Rich- 
 ardson, preachers in the city at that time. 
 
 10. "A General Register of Trustees, Local Preachers, 
 Leaders and Members." It seems to have been begun 
 about 1813, and was in use as late as 1817. A printed 
 copy of the plan of appointments for 1816 is pasted on 
 the inside of the last cover.* 
 
 11. A Record of Probationers from 1815 to 1822. 
 
 12. Is a book substantially bound in undressed calf, 
 and has a printed title page, which reads, "Register of 
 
 * See Appendix T.
 
 Preface. ix 
 
 the Members of the Metliodist Episcopal Church in the 
 city of New York, taken January 1, 1819. H^" Those 
 who have no date pretixed to their names were mem- 
 bers on the above day. Trustees, Abraham Russel, Paul 
 Hick, Joseph Smith, Gilbert Coutant, John P. Morris, 
 Michael D. Pliggins, George Taylor, George Suckley, 
 James Donaldson. Stationed preachers : Rev. Nathan 
 Bangs, Laban Clark, Seth Crowell, Samuel Howe, 
 Thomas Thorp ; John C. Totten, clerk." The entries 
 in this book are in an admirable hand, but from the 
 appearance of the pages it was not used more than two 
 or three years. 
 
 13. A Record of Probationers from 1821 to 1831. 
 
 14. A Record of Classes in 1826, etc. 
 
 15. Accounts of Stewards from 1827 to 1831. 
 
 16. Marriages from 1819 to 1837. 
 
 17. A Register of Members by Josliua Soule, Janu- 
 ary 1, 1822. Used until 1832. 
 
 18. Minutes of the Board of Trustees from March, 
 1820, to March, 1834.* 
 
 As to printed matter, all histories, biographies, etc., 
 within reach have been consulted. Dr. Wakeley's Lost 
 Chapters, etc., has been of great value, not only as a 
 guide in examining the " Old Book," but because of other 
 material that he had gathered. But his work closes 
 with the end of the last century, covering only about 
 thirty-four years ; for the nearly ninety years that fol- 
 low nothing but the raw material was to be found. 
 Rev. E. Warriner, however, in his Old Sands Street, 
 Brookb/n, has collected a mass of valuable facts, some 
 of which relate to New York city. It is a very 
 thorough work, of much labor, and generally very 
 accurate. Another volume relating to the last century 
 
 * Some of these books Iiave not furnished much material, but tiie 
 list has been given in full that their existence may be known.
 
 X Preface. 
 
 has recently been published, entitled Light on Early 
 Methodism. It is a compilation mainly from the papers 
 of Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, by George A. Phoebus, D.D., 
 and is valuable. The Christian Advocate has been 
 quoted by volume and page, and Asbury's Journal by 
 date, as there are two editions.* 
 
 * The manuscript books referred to above will be found in the 
 library of the Meihodist Historical Society of New York city.
 
 A HISTORY OF METHODISM 
 NEW YORK CITY. 
 
 CHAPTEIl I. 
 
 THE SEED, THE SOWERS, AND THE FIELD. 
 
 The origin of the " United Society," to which the name 
 of " Methodist " was afterward given, is thus described 
 in the first two paragraphs of the General Rules. In the 
 latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to 
 Mr. Wesley, in London, England, for religious instruc- 
 tion. He prayed with and counseled them, and at 
 length a regular meeting was appointed for every 
 Thursday evening. They were persons "having the 
 form and seeking the power of godliness," and were 
 ready to welcome all others of like spirit. 
 
 Thus the work began. Itinerating, preaching in 
 the open air, the employment of lay preachers, the 
 opening of houses for public worship, the instituting of 
 class-meetings, the organizing of circuits, and the hold- 
 ing of Conferences followed in due ordei*. The first of 
 these Conferences met Jime 2, 1744. At the twenty- 
 second session, held in Manchester, August 30, 1765, 
 25 circuits were reported with 71 preachers in England; 
 4 circuits with 4 preachers in Scotland; 2, with 2 preach- 
 ers in "Wales, and 8, with 15 preachers in Ireland :
 
 2 A History of Methodism in New Yop.k City, 
 
 in all, 39 circuits and 92 lay iti^ierants, besides the Wes- 
 leys and their clerical coadjutors, and a numerous body 
 of local preachers.* We have no census of the societies 
 for that year, but in 1766 an attempt was made at a 
 report of numbers, which, however, is so imperfect as to 
 furnish no correct idea of the size of the connection. 
 But in 1767 there were 25,911 members, of which 22,410 
 were in the English societies, 2,801 in the Irish, 468 in 
 the Scotch, and 232 in the Welsh. There were in all 
 40 circuits supplied by 54 ])reachers.f 
 
 As yet, however, there is no report from America. A 
 population of more than two millions was there, most 
 of tlieni using the English language, and continually re- 
 ceiving accessions from various parts of Great Britain 
 and Ireland. Whitefield liad made three visits, pi-each- 
 ing, during the last two, in New York and New En- 
 gland, as well as in the South, and had gained such 
 favor with the people that lie was spoken of as prospec- 
 tive bishop of the Episcopal Church in the colonies.^ 
 He was too intimately associated with Wesley to per- 
 mit us to suppose that the people were ignorant of the 
 character and progress of Methodism. No doubt there 
 were among the immigrants a number who had been 
 connected with Wesleyan societies in the old country, 
 and perhaps some had attempted to keep up such 
 
 * Stevens's History of Methodism, vol. i, p. 432. 
 
 f Stevens's History of 2Itihodism, vol. i, p 436. How lliis num- 
 ber, " fifty-four" is to be reconciled with tlie report of " ninety-two," 
 two years before is not clear, but the figures are given as found. 
 
 X The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury of April 17, 1769, lias 
 under the head of "London News" this paragraph: "It is thought 
 that the Rev. Mr. 'Whitefield would be more acceptable to the 
 Americans for a bishop than the Rev. Mr. Aptliorpe ; not only on 
 account of his pious and unwearied labors in those parts, but the vast 
 number of friends he has among the dissenting party, who prin- 
 cipally oppose this establishment."
 
 The Seed, the Sowers, and the Field, 3 
 
 relio-ious services as they had been accustomed to at 
 home. But we do not knoio of any such cases, and 
 whatever may have been begun seems soon to have 
 ended.* That nothing permanent had been effected 
 was less surprising then than it wouki be now, when 
 immigration is Larger and intercourse more easy ; but 
 it does seem remarkable, that, even then, a quarter of a 
 century had passed since Mr. Wesley organized his first 
 society in England, and no Methodist society was to be 
 found ill America. 
 
 But Providence had been preparing the instruments 
 for the work, and bringing them, by successive steps, 
 to their field of labor. One of the seven ancient Elec- 
 torates of Germany was called the Palatinate of the 
 Rhine. It was divided into the Upper and Lower Pala- 
 tinate. This last subdivision lay on both sides of the 
 Rhine, bordering on France, and among its principal 
 cities were Heidelberg, Mannheim, Deux Ponts, and 
 Darmstadt. Its inhabitants were decided Protestants, 
 and this was sufiicient to awaken the hostility of the 
 bigoted Louis XIV. " Their principal cities were 
 pillaged and burned; the defenseless inhabitants were 
 hunted into the fields and woods, where many of 
 them, stripped of their clothing, were left to perish with 
 cold ; others wei-e driven into the French territory. 
 Thousands fled to the camp of the English general, 
 
 * There were, no doubt, as is asserted by Mr. Dawson and others, 
 Metliodists in this country before Embury preached in New York. 
 But some of these may have been so called because, at that time, 
 any who were zealous in religion had to bear the name as a term 
 of reproach. Others may have been members of Mr. Wesley's 
 Societies in the mother country, but there has yet been found no 
 evidence of the existence of any organized society that could properly 
 claim fellowship with those under the care of Mr. Wesley until 
 Embury held his first class-meeting in New York. See Christian 
 Advocate, vol. Ix, pp. 231, 248, 261.
 
 4 A History of Mkthodism in New York City. 
 
 Mavlborongh. Ships sent by Queen Anne brought more 
 than six thousand to England in great poverty, and 
 thousands more followed. Nearly three thousand were 
 sent by the British government to America in IVIO, 
 settling in New York, Pennsylvania, and North Caro- 
 lina. Of the rest, a small company remained in England, 
 a few went to the County Kerry and other parts of 
 Ireland, but the main body, consisting of about fifty 
 families, found homes in the neighborhood of Rath- 
 keale. County Limerick, Ireland. lu a list of those 
 who settled near each other on Lord Southwell's estates 
 are the names of Embury, Heck, Ruckle, Switzer, 
 Guier, and others associated with the original Method- 
 ists of New York.* An Irish writer says they were 
 " industrious, and better fed and clothed than the gen- 
 erality of Irish peasants," and had " benefited the 
 country by increasing tillage." f 
 
 They soon, however, having no German minister with 
 them, and understanding little or no Engli>h, lost the 
 habit of attending public worship, and gradually " be- 
 came eminent for drunkenness, cursing, swearing, and 
 an utter neglect of religion. "J; But amid this general 
 degeneracy Philip Guier, of Ballingran, magistrate, and 
 master of the German school, seems to have been an 
 honorable exception. § At the first Conference in Ireland, 
 in 1752, he was received as a local preacher, Mr. Wesley 
 intending to make him pastor of the Palatines. || 
 
 One day, in April, 1749, some Palatines from New- 
 market were in Limerick, and heard Thomas Williams 
 
 * Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, pp. 19-26. Stevens's 
 History of the Methodist Einscopal Church, vol. i, pp. 49, 50. 
 
 \ Ferrar's History of Limerick, quoted in Crook's Ireland and Ameri- 
 can Methodism, p. 28. |: Wesley's Journal, June 23, 1758, 
 
 § Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 39. 
 
 II Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 51.
 
 The Seed, the Sowers, and the Field. 5 
 
 preaching in the street. Some of the older ones said, 
 " This is like the preaching we used to hear in Ger- 
 many." They were attracted to hear again and again, 
 and finally invited the Methodists to visit their settle- 
 ments.* Whether Williams or his fellow-laborer, Swin- 
 dells, was the first to accept this invitation is uncertain, 
 but Avithin a few months all the Palatine settlements 
 had been penetrated, and by September, 1749, a society 
 had been formed in Newmarket, of which the celebrated 
 Thomas Walsh was a member, f 
 
 The next summer Mr. Wesley visited them. He 
 says : " I foimd the spirit of the people while I was 
 preaching, but much more in examining the society. 
 Four or five times I was stopped short, and could not 
 go on, being not able to speak, particularly when I was 
 talking with a child about nine years old, whose words 
 
 * Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 46. Dr. Crook says 
 in a note: " I follow Mr. Myles in the above account. I find another 
 account in the handwriting of the late Rev. Jolm Dinnen, who was 
 stotioned on this circuit in 1786: 'How the Gospel was introduced 
 among the Palatines. — Two women who lived in Court-Matrix fell 
 out, and used the woman's weapon, the tongue, very freely. As no 
 strokes were given, one of them heard of a court called the Bishop's 
 Court, in Limerick, which, she was told, took cognizance of abusive 
 language. She set off for Limerick filled with rage and revenge. 
 When she arrived in the city the court was shut for that day. She 
 determined to stay till next day, and as she walked through the 
 street she heard singing in Quay Lane. Curiosity led her to stop, 
 and she heard a sermon which reached her heart. She returned 
 home free from wrath and revenge, told her neighbors what she had 
 heard, and invited them to come to Limerick and hear for themselves. 
 They did so, and as the result a preacher was invited, and preaching 
 has continued there ever since.' " \ Dr. Crook adds : " It is probable 
 that both these statements are correct, as Mr. Dinnen's narrative may 
 refer to the introduclion'of Methodism to Court-Matrix, and Mr. Myles's 
 to Newmarket, where we had the first society among the Palatines." 
 
 ■f- Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 47. 
 
 t Manuscript Sketch of the Rev. John Dinnen, p. 22, 1788.
 
 G A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 astonislied all that heard. The same spirit we found in 
 prayer ; so that my voice was well-nigh lost among the 
 various cries of the people."* 
 
 In August, 1752, Mr. Wesley visited Limerick for 
 the second time, and held there his first Conference in 
 Ireland. \ There is a tradition that Philip Embury 
 traced liis conversion to a sermon from Wesley, proba- 
 bly at this date. J In 1756 Mr. Wesley again came, and 
 now, for the first time, preached in Ballingran, the home 
 of Embury and others who emigrated witli liim. He 
 says: "I found much life among tliis plain, ai'tless, 
 serious people." § In 1758 he was in the neighborhood 
 again, and in his Journal, after speaking of their former 
 degeneracy, through " having no minister," he says : 
 "But they are washed since they heard and received 
 the truth which is able to save their souls. An oath is 
 now rarely heard among them, or a drunkard seen in 
 their boiders." |j July 9, 1 760, a few weeks after Em- 
 bury left, is the date of the last of his visits we shall 
 notice. He then speaks of the German settlers in tliat 
 region being " forced to seek bread in other places ; 
 some of them in distant parts of Ireland, but the 
 greater part in America."^ Among these last were Em- 
 bury and others, God's chosen instruments for begin- 
 ning the work in America. 
 
 Philip Embury Avas born in Ballingran in 1728, and, 
 according to a family record, was baptized on Septem- 
 ber 29 of that year. " He had several brothers, all of 
 whom ultimately found a home and a grave in America. 
 
 * "Wesley's Journal, June 4, 1150. 
 f "Wesley's Journal, August 12, 1752. 
 ij: Crook's Ireland and American Metliodism, p. 79. 
 § Wesley's Journal, June 16, 175G. \Ibkl., June 23, 1758. 
 
 TJ Wesley's Journal, July 16, 1760. Mr. "Wesley ascribes their 
 destitution to " their merciful landlords." (The italics are his.)
 
 The Sked, the Soweks, and the Field. 7 
 
 IIo was educated under the care of good Pliili]) Guier, 
 and was subsequently sent to an English school, prob- 
 ably afRathkeale. After leaving school he was bound 
 apprentice to a carpenter at Ballingran, and was by 
 repute a good tradesman." As already stated, there is 
 a tradition that he traced his conversion to a sermon 
 from Mr. Wesley, probably in 1752. " A small book, in 
 tlie possession of his family, has the following interest- 
 ing entry in his own handwriting : ' On Christmas day, 
 being Monday, ye 25th of December, in the year 1752, 
 the Lord shone into my soul by a glimpse of his redeem- 
 ing love, being an earnest of my redemption in Christ 
 Jesus, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 Phil. Embury.' ''' He was shortly after appointed a 
 h\ader, and was eminently consistent and faithful. 
 Within a brief period he became a local preacher, and, 
 with good Philip Guier, was generally recognized as a kind 
 of pastor of the Palatines.f " At a Conference held at 
 Limerick in 1758 he was recommended for the itiner- 
 ancy, but seems to have been placed on ^\''esley's list of 
 reserves, to be called out when a vacancy might arise. 
 But before the way was opened he was married, on 
 November 27, 1758, in Rathkeale church, to Miss 
 Margaret Switzer, of Court-Matrix. J As an itinerant 
 then could not " lead about a sister, a wife," his mar- 
 riage made it necessary for him to give up all idea 
 of connection with the Conference. He owes it, per- 
 haps, in part to Margaret Switzer that the Methodist 
 
 * For fac-simile of tlie original see Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 3:5. 
 
 f Crook's Ireland and American Methudisjn, p. 79. 
 
 \ On wiiat aiitliorit.y most historians' of Methodism who have 
 spoken of Mrs. Embury's Christian name have called her Mary is not 
 known, but it would seem to be xmreliable. Rev. Dr. B. Hawley 
 ( Christian Advocate, vol Ixiii, p. 240) gives a documeni dated July 1, 
 1775, in which "David Embury, executor, and Margaret PJmbury, 
 exccutri.^, and relict of Philip Embury, Esq., deceased, of Camden, 
 2
 
 8 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Episcopal Church in America holds his name in such 
 honored remembrance.* 
 
 When lie married, Embury probably had no idea of 
 emigrating; but about the year 1760 the rents on Lord 
 Southwell's estate, on which many of the Palatines 
 were tenants, were increased, and a large removal was 
 the result. Some of them, as we know, had already 
 found a home in America; Embury, with the prospect 
 of a family to provide for, decided to follow them.f 
 
 Of the conversion and previous history of the de- 
 voted woman whose holy zeal called Embury into more 
 active work, we have no account. She was j)robably 
 among the early fruits of the labors of the Methodist 
 jDreachers in I> dlingran. This family also came from 
 the Palatinate. J 
 
 In the earl}' part of June, 1700, a party of einigrants 
 Avas at Limerick preparing to embark for America. 
 Among them were Philip Embury and his wife, two 
 brothers of Embury and their families, Peter Switzer, 
 probably a brother of Embury's wife ; a family of Hecks 
 or Hicks, Valer Tettler, Philip Morgan, and a family of 
 Dulmages. Many of their friends and neighbors had 
 gathered round them, and from the deck of the vessel 
 Embury once more si)oke to them the Avord of life. 
 Prayer Avas offered, and the ship left the wharf bear- 
 ing rich gifts of blessing to the NeAV World.§ Mr. Wes- 
 ley, when he visited Ballingran about a month later, 
 
 in Charlotte County." X. Y., transfer certain property known as 
 "Wilson's Patent," probably that referred to in Appendix I. One of 
 the witnessess was John Lawrence, Mrs. Embury's second husband. 
 Mr. Gabriel P. Disosway, in liis HMonj of the Earliest Churches in 
 New York, p. 225, calls her Margaret. 
 
 * Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, pp. 79-83. f Ihid., p. 83. 
 
 \ H. Mann, Christian Advocate, vol. Ix, p. 440. As to the identity of 
 this lady see Appendix A. 
 
 § Crook's Ireland and American Mctlwdism, pp. T4, t5.
 
 The Seed, the Soavers, axd the Field. 9 
 
 found them gone; lie heard from them again before 
 many years. 
 
 And now, wliile the laborers are on their way, let us 
 look at the field in which they are to begin their work. 
 
 ^Vbout one hundred and fifty years had passed since 
 men from Europe began to settle the eastern coast of 
 North America. English Puritans, Cavaliers, and Catho- 
 lics, Scotch and Irish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, 
 Protestants from Holland and Germany and Sweden, 
 came, generally in companies, and found homes Avhere 
 they could enjoy each, other's society. Between the 
 regions which we now call Maine and Georgia, many 
 l^arts of the coast were beginning to put on the appear- 
 ance of civilized shores; villages and even cities were 
 springing up, and forest and plain coming under the 
 hand of cultivation. The population was about two 
 and a half mill'ons. Farming, fishing, trapping, hunting, 
 ship-building and ti'ading, and some little manufactur- 
 ing were their employments. They were mostly Prot- 
 estants; but English Puritans and Episcopalians, French. 
 Huguenots, and Dutch Reformists had their marked pe- 
 culiarities, for which they were ready earnestly to con- 
 tend. Already, however, there was springing up a feel- 
 ing that they had so much common interest as to make 
 it desirable that they should act together, especially 
 where religious liberty Avas at stake. Dissimilar, though 
 not discordant, elements were gradually assimilating 
 themselves to form a people in many respects different 
 from any other on the globe. 
 
 On the 11th of September, 1G09, the ship Half -Moon 
 passed through the XarroAvs, and anchored in the b.iy 
 of New York; the pioneer of the vast fleet of vessels 
 of all nations which in coming centuries sliould find 
 harbor there. Five years lati-r a joint-stock company 
 of merchants in Amsterdam sent out seven ships to trade
 
 10 A History of Methodism in New York City 
 
 with the natives. A rude fort was soon erected at the 
 lower end of Manhattan Island ; after a while rough 
 cottages began to cluster about it, and, under tlic name 
 of New Amsterdam, the metropolis of the Western con- 
 tinent began its history. 
 
 Until 1664 the Dutch retained their control of the 
 colony, and, of course, their speech and habits were in 
 the ascendant. But a change had been going on, and 
 when, in the war with England, the place was surren- 
 dered to the Duke of York, it is said that half of the 
 inhabitants Avere English. The nine years of British 
 supremacy which followed naturally gave greater sway 
 to the Englisli language and customs, and thougli, for 
 one sliort year, tlie Dutch resumed the control, it Avas 
 easy to re-establish the English authority, Avhich Avas 
 contiinied for another century. 
 
 It is not difficult for a native of Xcav York city to 
 become enthusiastic about his birthplacn?. One, not 
 liimself exactly to the manner born, says : " Nature has 
 done every thing for New York to render it the com- 
 mercial capital of North America. Its harbor is uni- 
 versally confessed to be one of the finest on the face of 
 the earth. It is spacious enough to give sea-room at once 
 to all the shipping in the Avorld. Its depth of water at 
 the Avharves is sufficient for the largest \'essels, and in 
 most of the space within the ample area of the bay the 
 largest ship may safely ride at anchor." It is remarka- 
 bly " free from obstructions by ice, so that at all seasons 
 vessels can enter and clear." * Its climate is of that 
 medium temperature best adapted to health and mental 
 groAA-th and activity. In short, its rapid growth, in 
 population, business, and wealth, can be no surprise to 
 one Avho knows its advantages. 
 
 But we must not confound the New York of to-day 
 * The Mdroijolitan City of America, D. Curry, D.D., p. 332, •
 
 
 A PI A V OV 'I'HB: 
 
 CITY OF NEW YORK, 
 
 Pedii fit /roil till acluni ft'iiiYey, 
 bv 
 r VURSCIIAJ.CKil. 
 
 ^ ^ 1703. 
 
 / 7/ie Foi 
 
 B Ir lis ChuicK 
 
 C Old Hutch. CAu.cH 
 D r ench C/u c7i 
 f,Aew Dutr/i C/iuich 
 f , ri'*^s by ( eri.cui.,Veefttuf 
 6 QuijJcers Mec/iiui 
 H Bitplifl Mr.rUng // 
 / Lutheran CJimc, 
 K. Jews SyiLcufaguef/' 
 I S' Geor0t.f Cfiupel 
 M, Mora V iaii ilpfi iiu) 
 N Xew Lutheriutt Meet 
 O Ciis/o,^ 
 f Ooveriivis- House 
 a Secrelfirys OSficr 
 
 H City House 
 
 S Eicchaitge 
 
 T Fish Market, 
 
 V Old Slip Market 
 
 X Mepl Marl<jel 
 
 r Fly Mfiket 
 
 Z.Bui'liiis Market 
 
 1 Osu-ego Market 
 
 Z F.ngl I'sTi. Free Sei o»l 
 
 3 Sulcli. Free .Srjioot 
 
 i. Block, ffaute 
 
 sj, Gates'
 
 The Seed, the Sowers, and the Field. 11 
 
 with that of 1760. On the opposite page is a map dated 
 1763, and from it we can get some idea of what it was 
 then. The space called the " Common," then on the out- 
 skirts of the city, we know now as the City Hall Park. 
 Warren Street was the last on the North River side; 
 Catharine Street on the East River: though on the west of 
 the " High Road to Boston," now tlie Bowery, we find 
 streets, the last of which is called St. Nevin's, now Broome 
 Street, Many of tliese streets were no doubt yet only 
 prospective, and the buildings on them were mostly one 
 or two story cottages, with wide intervals between for 
 gardens and pasturage. Only in the lower p irt of the 
 city was it common to see houses of brick or stone and 
 in continuous rows. The population, as far as we can 
 ascertain, was about fourteen thousand, of whom more 
 than one half were Dutch, and almost all were traders. 
 As to religion aud morality, we have reason to be- 
 lieve that New York in 1760 would have compared not 
 unfavorably with other cities of the day. There were 
 two large Episcopal churches ; old Trinity, a Gothic 
 building with a spire, on the spot occupied by the present 
 edifice, and St. George's, at the corner of Beekman and 
 Clifl: Streets, modeled after some of the new churches 
 in London.* This has been succeeded by the fine build- 
 ing on Stuyvesant Square. A Reformed Dutch church 
 (known afterward as the South Dutch) stood in Garden 
 Street, now Exchange Place.f Another, long known 
 as the Middle Dutch Church, was on Nassau Street, 
 between Cedar and Liberty, since occupied as the post- 
 oftice, and lately taken down to give place to the Mutual 
 
 *St. Paul's was consecrated in 1766. 
 
 f This was destroyed in the great lire of 1835. The congregation 
 afterward, under the pastorship of Rev. Dr. Hutton, built the tine 
 edifice on Washington Square, now occupied by the Asbury Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, formerly Greene Street.
 
 12 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Life Insurance building. Another, called the North 
 Dutch Church, was erected in 1769 at the corner of 
 William and Fair (now Fulton) Streets, which also has 
 given place to buildings for business purposes. The 
 Presbyterians had one church in Wall Street, near 
 Nassau. This was taken down in 1844, and re-erected 
 in Jersey City, the congregation removing to Fifth 
 Avenue, between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets. In 
 1767 another was founded in Bcekman Street, where 
 the Potter building now stands. This, from its material, 
 was known as the Brick Meeting-House, of which the 
 celebrated Dr. Gardiner Spring was pastor for many 
 years. The congregation still worships in a brick edifice, 
 but it stands now on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 
 Thirty-seventh Street. A Scotch Presbyterian Church 
 had lately been organized, which afterward (1768) erected 
 a building in Cedar Street, near Broadway, of which Rev. 
 Dr. John Mason became pastor. There Avas a French 
 Huguenot church on Pine Street, the congregation of 
 which afterward (in 1834) removed to the corner of 
 Church and Franklin Streets, and now worships in West 
 Twenty-second Street, near Fifth Avenue; and a Luth- 
 eran on the corner of Broadway and Rector Street, built 
 mainly through the efforts of the earlier Palatine emi- 
 grants, who came about half a century before Embury 
 and his companions.* This was burned in 1776, and 
 in 1808 the Episcopalians erected a spacious building on 
 the site, under the name of Grace Church, to be suc- 
 ceeded in 1844 by their elegant house of worship on 
 Broadway, near the corner of Tenth Street. Another 
 Lutheran congregation had been organized, which occu- 
 pied for a time a small building on Skinner's (now 
 Cliff) Street, and afterward erected a substantial stone 
 edifice at the corner of Frankfort and William Streets, 
 * Booth's History of New York, pp. 159, 287.
 
 The Seed, the So wees, axd the Field. 13 
 
 long known as the " Swamp Cliurch." The Moravians had 
 a church on Fair (now Fulton) Street, between William 
 and Dutch Streets, and the Baptists had just built one 
 on Gold Street, between Fair (now Fulton) and John 
 Streets. The Friends had a meeting-house in Little 
 Greene Street (now Liberty Place), near Liberty Street, 
 and the Jews a synagogue on Mill Street (now a part of 
 South AVilliam Street). 
 
 And these buildings, we have reason to believe, w^re 
 well filled when public worship was held. "The situa- 
 tion of the inhabitants of New York in religious mat- 
 ters was somewhat peculiar. A professed infidel dared 
 not show himself ; open atheism was only known as a 
 monster of European production." " Nearly every body 
 belonged to some sect, and indifference was viewed 
 with utter dislike. Even the troops that paraded on 
 Sunday morning, in marching down Broadway filed 
 off to the right or left, some to one church and some to 
 another. All were religious, or pretended to be so ; 
 whilst the laws, taking an immediate interest in affairs 
 of conscience, required the strictest attention to the 
 established forms of public worship." * 
 
 This was the field, and now the laborers were ap- 
 proaching, 
 
 * .1 Short Historical Account of the Early Society of Methodvts^ 
 etc. Published by W. &, P. Smith, NewYorls, 1824.
 
 14 A History of ^Ii:thodis:m ix Nkw York City. 
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 Till'] ARRIVAL, TIIK DELAY, AXD THE SOWING. 
 
 Ix the JVew York 3Tercuri/ oi August 18, 17G0, was 
 the following notice : * 
 
 " Tlie ship Perry ^ Captain Hogan, arriA^etl here on Mon- 
 day last in nine weeks fi-om Limerick in Ireland, with a 
 number of Germans, the Fathers of many of them hav- 
 ing settled there in the Year 1710; but not having suffi- 
 cient Scope in that country, chose to try their Fortunes 
 in America. The 26th of July, in Lat. 39, Long. 63, 
 Captain Hogan saw a Snow, which by her motions 
 he had reason to think was a Privateer. Some Days 
 after Captain Hogan spoke with a \Vhaling Sloop fj-om 
 Rhode Island, the Master of which acquainted him that 
 a French Privateer Snow had been seen off the coast." f 
 Elsewhere we have the captain's name in full, Richard 
 Hogan.J That this was the vessel that brought Em- 
 bury and his companions there can be little doubt. The 
 voyage, now made in less than six days, was, in their 
 case, nine weeks, or sixty-three days, long; but three 
 days less than that of the Plymouth pilgrims. The war 
 between Ensfland and France, which resulted in the 
 subjection of Canada to the English government, was 
 about its close, and French privateers were still seeking 
 
 * As August 18 was probably Monday, the date of the arrival was 
 Anp:ust 11. Dr. Crook, p. "74, says August 10. 
 
 \'- Bnow, a vessel equipped with two masts, resemblinp: the main 
 and foremasts of a ship, and a third small mast just abaft the main- 
 mast, carrying a try-sail." — Webster's Dictionary. 
 
 \ Neiu York Mercury, August 23.
 
 The ARpavAL, the Delay, and the Soavixg. 15 
 
 their prey off the coast. How many other perils these 
 voyagers may have escaped Ave know not; but at last 
 they stood on solid ground again, no doubt full of 
 thanks to God for their safe arrival.* 
 
 And now one would have expected that, as this ves- 
 sel bore a Methodist local preacher and several mem- 
 bers of a live Methodist society, such a vigorous offshoot 
 from so healthy a stock Avould have immediately taken 
 root in the new soil and begun to bear fruit. But we 
 are disappointed. "The presumption is that Embury 
 attempted some religious service shortly after landing; 
 but, being constitutionally timid and retiring, and meet- 
 ing with little or no encouragement, and having no 
 suitable place in which to conduct the services, he 
 abandoned the idea." . . . "He joined the Lutherans, 
 and we have the testimony of his son, Mr. Samuel Em- 
 bury, that he never abandoned the practice of family 
 worship." Several of his children were baptized among 
 the Luthei-ans.f 
 
 " In August, 1765, a second party of Palatine emi- 
 grants arrived from Ballingran and the neighborhood. 
 Among them were Paul Ruckle, Luke Rose, Jacob 
 Hick, Peter Barkman, Henry Williams, and their fami- 
 lies. Mr. Ruckle was related to Embury, and brother 
 to Barbara Heck. Jacob Hick and his wife had been 
 
 * " When Kmbury and his fellows landed, Colonel Rut5;ers, surprised 
 to hear Irishmen talk Dutch or German, recognized them as country- 
 men, and took interest in them. One of the daughters of the Svvitzer 
 family, Mrs. E. Coulter, of Cambridge, assured me that her parents 
 usually conversed with each other iuDuicii, and had books in that 
 lang;iage, especiallj' a Bible and hymn-book." :j: 
 
 ■(• Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, pp. 87, 88. "Tlis home 
 for a while was in John Street, where liis son Samuel was born." § 
 
 i Letter from Rev. P. P. narrower. Chrif^tinn Advocate, voL xxxiii. p. 70. 
 § Letter from Samuel Embury. ChrU<tiaH Advocate, voU xxiii, p. 184.
 
 10 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Methodists in IrelanJ, and were among the earliest 
 friends of the infant Methodist Church in New York.* 
 
 Some of these Palatines, whether of the first or sec- 
 ond company is not clear, " had by this time lost even 
 the form of godliness, and had become adepts at card- 
 playing and other sinful amusements." There is not 
 the slightest shadow of evidence that Embury ever 
 played Avith them, or even Avitnessed their playing. 
 Indeed, it is not certain that any of these cards-players 
 were Methodists. "The families who accomjjanied him 
 (Embury) were not all Wesleyans — only a few of them ; 
 the remainder were members of the Protestant Church 
 in Ireland, but made no profession of an experimental 
 knowledge of God."f This was the case also wdth the 
 second company. 
 
 One evening, in the autumn of 17GG, a " company were 
 assembled playing cards as usual, when " a Christian 
 Avoman " came in, and, burning Avitli indignation, hastily 
 seized the cards, and, throwing them into the fire, ad- 
 ministered a scathing rebuke to all the parties con- 
 cerned. She then went to Embury's house, and told 
 him Avhat she saw and Avhat she had done, adding, with 
 great earnestness, ' Philip, you must pi-eacii to us, or we 
 shall all go to hell, and God will require our blood at 
 
 * Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 88. Dr. Crook re- 
 gards this Jacob Hick and liis wife as the founders of the Hick family 
 in New York, and the ancestors of Jonathan (not John as he and 
 others write it) Paul Hick, and thinks slie was the woman who was 
 so long believed to have been the messenger of reproof and awaken- 
 ing to Philip Embury. But Jonathan P. Hick says that he tliiiiks 
 that his great-grandmother came over as a widow. If he was not in 
 error it would seem that there were three families who bore the name 
 of Heck or Hick. As to the Heck and Hick controversy see Appen- 
 dix A. 
 
 f Letter of Dr. Roberts in Stevens's History of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, vol. i, p. 54.
 
 The Arrival, the Delay, and the Sowing. 17 
 
 your hands.' Philip attempted a defense by saying, 
 ' Hov/ can I preach, as I have neither house nor con- 
 gregation ? ' ' Preach,' said she, ' in your own house, 
 and to your own company.' * She, it seems, agreed to 
 get the congregation, and, as nearly as can be ascer- 
 tained, in October, 1 766, he preached the first sermon 
 in his house in what was then called Barracks Street, 
 afterward Augustus Street, now City Hall Place." f 
 
 * Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 89. 
 
 \ Not Park Place, as it is in some narratives. This error, that 
 Embury's house was in what is now Park Place, has been so persist- 
 ently repeated of late, that it will be well lo give the evidence against 
 it. The name of Barracks Street is found on no map of the city whicli 
 the writer has yet seen; but in several, about the date of Embury's 
 sermon, we have tlie Lower Barracks and the Upper Barracks. The 
 lower were in the neighborhood of Bowling Green. Of the upper 
 we are told : "The Barracks, erected about tlie time of the 'Old 
 French War,' extended from the present Chatham Street to Broad- 
 way, along Chambers Street." X There is on the maps an unnamed 
 street, running from near the eastern end of these barracks, north- 
 east, parallel with Chatliam Street; occupying, in fact, the position 
 of the present City Hall Place. This was afterward called Au- 
 gustus (or Augusta) Street, § and finally received its present name. 
 This is also the testimony of Peter Parks, see Appendix A. It 
 is true that some accounts of the old streets of New York say that 
 Barracks Street was afterward called Tryon Row. This was a short 
 block, running from Chatliam Street to the Park, before Center Street 
 was opened through. All that remains of it now is the site occupied 
 by the building belonging to the Slaats Zeitung, a German newspaper. 
 But it seems most likely that the testimony of Peter Parks is correct. 
 Besides, some of the descendants of Peter Embury lived in Augustus 
 Street. | 
 
 But while it may be a question between City Hall Place and Tryon 
 Row, one thing is certain, it was not Pa7'k Place. The error is of late 
 origin, and could only have been committed by someone not familiar 
 with Xew York city. Park Place was certainly neve?- known as Barracks 
 Street. In ma^is of the city of about the date of Embury's first ser- 
 
 t Valentine's Maiinnl, 18")6, p. 451. § A Short Historical Account, p. 4, 
 II See Appendix E, Kate (Embury) Bininger, p. 435.
 
 18 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 That first sermon, in that little cottage, to that small 
 congregation, by that preacher, whose vocation, like 
 that of the reputed father of the great Teacher, was 
 that of a cari:)enter ! Anj^ one familiar with the houses 
 of mechanics in the early part of the century can 
 readily call up a probable view of the room, the " liv- 
 ing-room " of the family, no doubt: kitchen, dining- 
 room, and sitting-room in one. The floor was probably 
 sanded, or if there was a carpet it was, no doid:>t, of 
 woven rags, such as economical housewives of that day 
 took delight in preparing. The chairs must have been 
 either wood or rush-bottomed — most probably the 
 former, or what were known as Windsor chairs;* the 
 table of pine, or perhaps cherry. Two candles, very 
 likely, were all that lighted the room; it may be they 
 were in the candlesticks belonging to 31rs. Hick, of 
 which Dr. Wakeley gives an engraving. The audi- 
 ence, we are told, numbered five, f Paul and Barbara 
 Heck, ]Mrs. End^ury, Mr. John Laurence, who after- 
 ward married Mrs. Embury, and Betty, an African 
 servant. J 
 
 raon it was called Robinson Street. No barracks were ever in that 
 neighborhood. The writer has spoken and written a number of times 
 to correct this error, but liltle heed seems to be given to his testi- 
 mony. Once again, lie says, he challeiiges any one to give a shadow of 
 proof that Park Place ever ivas called Barracks Street. The view of 
 Embury's house given by Dr. "Wakeley is probablj^ not authentic. 
 He says {Lost Chapters, p. 41) he is indebted for it to J. B. Smith, Esq., 
 of Brooklyn, who " obtained it from one of the men of olden times." 
 
 * Such as Peter Emery (Embury), Philip's brother or nephew per- 
 haps, afterward manufactured, as we lind by tlie New York Direc- 
 tory of 1789. 
 
 f A Short Historical Account, p. 4, says six. 
 
 :j: Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 90. No authority is- 
 given for this statement. If it could be verified it might settle the 
 Heck or Hick controversy. Rev. C. Manson, of the Black River 
 Conference, in a letter to the author, adds a hired man of Mr. Lau-
 
 The Arrival, the Delay, and the Sowixg. 19 
 
 Tlie services must have consisted of the usual singino- 
 and praying and preaching. But what did they sing, 
 and what did Embury preach about? From two old 
 \olumes we may get a little light on this question. One 
 of them bears the title, " Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 
 intended for the use of Real Christians, of all Denomi- 
 nations. By John Wesley, M.A., Late Fellow of Lin- 
 coln College, Oxford. Ye have put off, etc. Col. 
 iii, 9. The fourteenth edition. Bristol, Printed ; and 
 Philadelphia, Reprinted by John Dunlap, at the Newest 
 Printing Office, in Market Street. MDCCLXX." The 
 eighth edition of this collection is dated 1761; another, 
 ii: is said, was published in 1777. "It was extensively 
 used in Mr. Wesley's societies." * This book must, 
 therefore, have been familiar to the Palatines before 
 they emigrated, and we caimot be much in error if we 
 suppose that the hymns sung on that occasion are to be 
 found in it. But to what tunes did they sing them? 
 The other old volume has about three hundred and fifty 
 pages, and contains one hundred and twenty-eight 
 hymns, set to appropriate tunes. Music and words are 
 both engraved; the music being generally in two parts, 
 but sometimes in three. The title-page reads: "Sacred 
 Harmony, or a choice Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 
 Set to Music in two and three parts, for the Voice, 
 Harpsichord, and Organ." We find no date, and no 
 name either of compiler or publisher. But on the in- 
 side of the cover, in blue ink, under which there are 
 
 rence. He also suys that Laurence's mother afierward married 
 Tcter Miller, and moved to Canada with the Keeks, etc. This lady, 
 he says, he remembered, and that she lived to the age of one liundred 
 and two years and eight months. Her daughter Catharine became 
 the wife of Samuel Embury, Philip's oldest son. Paul Heck, lie says 
 also, was a soldier one year in a British regiment. See also Christian 
 Advocate, vol. vi, pp. 19, etc. 
 
 * Creamer's Methodist Hijmaolofjy, p. 191.
 
 20 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 traces of pencil-writing, of which only the figures 
 " 1765 " can be clearly made out, we read: "Rev. Jno. 
 Wesley remarks in his preface to Sacred Melody ; pub- 
 lished at Bristol in the year 1765: Some years ago a 
 collection of tunes was published under the title of 
 Harmonia Sacra. I believe all unprejudiced persons 
 Avho understand music allow that it exceeds beyond 
 comparison any thing of the kind which has appeared 
 in England before ; the tunes being admirably chosen, 
 and accurately engraven, not oidy for the voice, but like- 
 wise for the organ or harpsichord." Above this is the 
 name of J. P. Hick, that is, Jonathan Paul Hick, a 
 descendant of the Mrs. Hick, of New York. On the 
 fly-leaf we read, " John Watson, Edinburgh, 5th April, 
 1782." It is now the property of Mr. John Steph- 
 enson. 
 
 The hynnis in this A'olume are mostly by the AYesleys, 
 and, no doubt, the tunes are such as they approved, and 
 were in common use at the time. We may regard it 
 as good testimony as to tlie tunes the emigrants sang 
 before they left Ireland, and which they w^ould be hkely 
 to take up again wlien they resumed their religious serv- 
 ices. Nearly all of them are now out of use; only one 
 will be recognized by its name, Amsterdam; though 
 another, called there " The God of Abraham," is in our 
 books now, somewhat altered, under the title of "Leoni." 
 But Cookham, Ilotham, Islington, Ivingswood, and 
 Portsmouth (there called Trumpet) Y>ill be recognized 
 by all who used the Jfethodist Harmonist forty or fifty 
 years ago. Who can tell but that the words, 
 
 "Wretched, helpless, and distressed, 
 Ahl whither shall I Hy," etc., 
 
 were sung to Kingswood ? And how a])propriate then 
 the verse.
 
 The Arrival, the Delay, and the Sowing. 21 
 
 " lu the wilderness I straj', 
 
 My foolish heart is blind; 
 Notiiincf do I know, the way 
 
 Of peace I ca.nnot find. 
 Jesus, Lord, restore my sight, 
 
 And take, take the veil away ; 
 Turn my darkness into liglit, 
 
 My midnight into day." 
 
 Then, too, tliat hymn, " Jesus, lover of my soul," to the 
 tune Hotham (a beautiful one, as many yet think); and 
 finally, perliaps, :is if in prophesy, the words, "Blow ye 
 the trumpet, blow," totlie tune Trumpet or Portsmouth. 
 Verily, the year of jubilee had come, and all the na- 
 tions, " to earth's remotest bound," were to hear the 
 gospel trumpet.* 
 
 The prayer that followed the opening hymn, we can 
 well believe, consisted, to a g!-eat extent, of humble, 
 penitent confession, and earnest supplication for the 
 reviving presence of the Holy Spirit. The sermon, no 
 doubt, wa< an earnest, faithfid, but tender, expostulation, 
 because of past unfaithfulness, and invitations to return 
 to that God Avho would heal their backslidings and love 
 them freely. Embury, as we learn, generally gave evi- 
 dence of much feeling; he of ten wept while preaching,f 
 and a sense of his own recent neglect of duty must have 
 made him very tender in his dealing with his hearers. 
 Perhaps he used on that occasion the same old Bible 
 from which he afterward preached when the church 
 was opened. J 
 
 * The Germans are generally good singers, and Brotlier J. P. Hick, 
 already referred to, inherited this talent. His voice was long a leading 
 one in the social services at Mount Yernon, N. Y., where lie died. 
 Rev. George Coles writes: '•He had one of the best tenor voices I 
 ever heard." — Coles's Later Years, p. 85. 
 
 ■{• Wakcley's Lost Chajyters, p. 126. ^ See Appendix H.
 
 22 A History of Methodism ix New York City, 
 
 CHAPTER nr. 
 
 GROWTH: THE BLADE, THK EAR, AND THE FULL CORN 
 IN THE EAR. 
 
 As was to be expected, the congregation soon in- 
 creased; more space was needed, and a large upper room 
 was hired in the same street, about ten doors from the 
 barracks, " Here," says Peter Parks, of New York, 
 "a great excitement took place among the people; 
 many were awakened and some converted. Among 
 tliem was my grandmother, Catharine Taylor, and my 
 mother, Mary Parks. At this time Mr. Embury formed 
 a class of all the members then in society, which was 
 twelve. There were three musicians belonging to the 
 Sixteenth Regiment of the British troops, then sta- 
 tioned in the barracks in Barracks Street. Their names 
 were James Hodge, Addison Low, and John Buckley. 
 They were exhorters, and assisted Mr. Embury in the 
 meetings. There were some souls awakened and con- 
 verted in the poor-house. Mrs. Deverick was one; and 
 through her instrumentality Mr. Embury was called to 
 preach in the poor-house. By this means the master of 
 the poor-liouse, Billy Littlewood, was awakened and con- 
 verted."* 
 
 * From a document found among the papers of Rev. Ezekiel 
 Cooper. Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 96. Christian 
 Advocate, vol. xxxv, p. GO. A venerable lady, a granddaughter of 
 Mrs. Deverick, Mrs. McCabe, of White Plains, N. Y., corrects an 
 error or two here. Tiie name should be Devereux, and she was not 
 an inmate of the poor-liousc, but the daughter of a w^ealthy ship- 
 master, who interested herself in the spiritual welfare of tiie poor. 
 We find lier name (spelled Deverix) as a subscriber of eight shillings 
 t') the church building.
 
 Groavth. 23 
 
 About this time Cliarles White and Richard Sause 
 arrived. They liad been Methodists in Dublin, Ireland, 
 and were very valuable additions to the society, espe- 
 cially as ihey had more worldly goods than most of 
 their brethren. One evening, about February, 1767, 
 the congregation was surprised, if not alarmed, by the 
 appearance among them of a stranger in the uniform of 
 a British officer, and wearing a green shade, to conceal 
 the absence of his right eye. They were soon, how- 
 ever, rejoiced to find that he was a Methodist, and a 
 local preacher, and was ready to assist in the work, 
 Thomas Webb was born in England about 1724. He 
 entered the British army, and at the siege of Louisburg, 
 in 1758, lost his eye, and was soon after permitted to 
 retire on half-pay. In 1764 he was awakened under 
 the preaching of John Wesley, and, before long, began 
 to preach. He was appointed barrack-master at Albany, 
 K. Y., and, hearing of Embury's work, paid a visit to 
 the infant society. He preached in his regimentals, 
 with his sword lying on the desk before him, and drew 
 large congregations, who were attracted, not only by 
 the novelty of hearing a soldier preach, but by the 
 earnest eloquence with which he declared the truth. 
 He returned to England in 1771 or 1772, but was in 
 this country again in 1773. He was here also in 1777, 
 as in that year he was suspected of being a spy.* He 
 died suddenly, December 10, 1796, and was buried at 
 Portland Street Chapel, Bristol, England. He was 
 twice married, and had two sons, one by each marriage. 
 They came to this country after his decease, and settled 
 in Canterbury, Orange County, N. Y. One of them be- 
 came a Quaker preacher, but always professed a strong 
 attachment to the Methodists. It is not at all improb- 
 able that, if Embury had not begun his labors when he 
 * Historical Mar/azinc, vol. vii, 1SG3, p. 177. 
 3
 
 24 A IIisToiiY OF ]METnoDisM IX Kew York City. 
 
 did, Captain Webb would have been tlie pioneer of 
 American Methodism. As it was, his labors and con- 
 tributions aided very materially in its establisli- 
 ment. He heads the list of subscribers for the 
 cliapel, and with the largest contribution, and ap- 
 pears to have paid the passage of some of the earlier 
 missionaries. His earnest appeals, also, to Mr. Wesley 
 and the British Conference had great effect in procur- 
 ing the ministerial help needed. His preaching was 
 remarkably effective. Mr. Wesley says, " He is a 
 man of fire, and the power of God constantl}^ accom- 
 panies his word." * John Adams (tlie second Presi- 
 dent of the United States), while attending Congress in 
 Philadelphia, in 1774, hetwd him, and said, " He is one 
 of the most fluent eloquent men I ever heard." f Peter 
 Williams, the old colored sexton of John street, re- 
 garded him as something wonderful. J Out of tlie 
 mouths of these three witnesses, of so widely different 
 positions, the fact of Captain Wel)b's ability as a 
 preacher seems to be fully established. § 
 
 Under the labors of these two faithful fellow-work- 
 ers, Philip Embury, the carpenter, and Thomas Webb, 
 the soldier, many were converted, and the place soon 
 
 * Wesley's "Works, vol. vii, p. 57. 
 
 f .Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 148. Xlhid., p. 441. 
 
 § Rev. George Coles writes in Christian A<!vocate, vol. xxxiv, p. 160 : 
 " Conversing with nn aged member of our Church ilie other day, I liad 
 the curiosity to ask him wJien, where, and how lie was first convicted 
 of sin, etc. He informed me tliat a Mr. Van Patten, a blacksmith, was 
 the means, in the hai.d of God, of opening his eyes. 'Do you know,' 
 said I, ' how the blacksmith was awakened '?' ' Seeing a black man 
 die, happy in the Lord,' said he. 'Do yon know,' said I, 'how the 
 black man came by his serious impressions ? ' ' His master was a 
 religious man, and taught him the fear of the Lord.' ' And where 
 did he (tiie master) meet with his conviction ? ' said I. ' HGaring Cap- 
 tain Webb preach,' said he. Thus ' he, being dead, yet speaketh.' "
 
 Growth. 25 
 
 became too strait for them. Early in 1767, therefore, 
 they removed to the far-famed " Rigging Loft." * 
 This stood in Horse and Cart Street (a section of 
 what is now William Street), between John and 
 Fulton Streets (now Ko. 120), f and had been occu- 
 pied some years before as a place of worship by 
 the Baptists. J It Avas sixty feet long by eighteen 
 feet wide, and was furnished with a desk and benches. 
 Here there was preaching on Sabbath mornings at 
 six o'clock, and on Sabbath evenings, and, after a time, 
 on Thursday evenings also. The singularly early 
 hour of the morning service is accounted for by 
 the fact that Methodists then regarded themselves 
 as a society of the Church of England, and were 
 careful not to interfere with the regular exercises of 
 that Church. § 
 
 But the congreation soon outgrew its new accommo- 
 dations, and the need of a chapel of its own became 
 
 * It is not verj' clear whether this removal took place before or 
 after Captain Webb's arrival, but it seems most likely after. 
 
 f Mr. G. P. Disosway, Christian Advocate, vol. vii, p. 85. 
 
 X Greenleaf's History of the Churches of Ktiu York, p. 225, and 
 Christian Advocate, vol. xxviii, p: 114. 
 
 § During the Revolution this rigging-loft was owned by a Mr. 
 Warner, who was compelled by the British to make sails for them. 
 His grandson, Mr. E. H. Warner, married a sister of the Rev. John 
 Summerfield, || and their daughter is the wife of the Rev. Alexander 
 McLean, of the New York East Conference. The building was 
 standing until 1854. The lower part was used as a store, its last 
 occupant being a card-engraver. The accompanying view gives a 
 good idea of its appearance in its later years, as will be remembered 
 by many now living. 
 
 The following narrative of a visit to the building may amuse and 
 interest: " Passing along a certain street, and seeing the house which 
 had been once occupied as the Primitive Methodist meeting-house, 
 then a small store, I concluded to step in and inquire whether any 
 
 [ Christian Advocate, vol. liv, p. 210.
 
 26 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 evident. Either the same good lady Avho had aroused 
 Embury from his inactivity, or perhaps the other 
 claimant of that honor, made the matter a subject of 
 prayer, and, as she said, " received with inexpressible 
 
 facts concerning its early days had ever been spoken of in the pres- 
 ence of the present occupant. I had taken for granted that the in- 
 tnaies slioidd be New Yorkers; but I was no sooner entered than I 
 perceived it was used by a debonair foreigner, who, with much 
 vivacity and seeming politeness, was already on the qui vive. and 
 earnestly a])proacliing from a back apartment. It struck me instantly 
 as an affair rnal a propos on both sides, for T could readily read 
 in his countenance that he expected in me a guest by whom 
 to make his profit. It was not, perhaps, to the credit of the gen- 
 tleman that I should beforehand conceive that he would revolt at any 
 question about a Methodist meeting-house, let me put it in what form 
 of gentleness I would, but it was so. I had no sooner, in set words of 
 intended brevity, told the object of m'y stepping in, than I perceived 
 ' the hectic of the moment' flush his cheeks, and I began to think that 
 if I could only preserve m}"- self-poss"Ssion I might see the veritable 
 enactment of ' Monsieur Tonson' himself. His first replication was, 
 ' 0, saire! what have I to do wid de Metodist meeting?' "Excuse 
 me, sir,' I replied, ' that is what I cannot answer, because I came to 
 ask you what you might iiave ever heard of this house.' 'Why, 
 saire, what have you to do wid dis house?' 'Very much,' said I, 
 'as a matter of curiosity; for here, it was said, was cradled a re- 
 ligious people, now the strongest in numerical force in the United 
 States.' 'Ah, saire, dat is noting to me; I am no Metodist.' 
 '0, sir,' said I. ' of that I am fully satisfied.' 'Then, saire, what do 
 you want ? ' 'I told you at first, sir, whc!i I introduced myself and 
 subject.' 'I have no interest in the subject,' said he. 'So I per- 
 ceive,' said I, 'and I am only sorry I have engaged so much of your 
 time to so little of mutual profit.' Perceiving him so tempest-tost on 
 so small a subject, all ' to waft a feather or to drown a fly,' I con- 
 strained him to hear me a little longer, while I should tell him a 
 little of the primitive history of the house, under the plausible kind- 
 ness of enabling him to give more direct answers to future in- 
 quirers if ever again questioned concerning his very notable 
 premises. His nervous impatience in the meantime was apparent 
 enough, but he had to bear it to please my humor, for it was im- 
 possible to quarrel with my gentleness and urbanity, and he, possi-
 
 Growth. 27 
 
 sweetness and power the answer, 'I the Lord will do 
 it.'" A plan was suggested, ns she believed, divinely, 
 and was approved by the society, and she thiis became 
 the architect of the iirst Methodist Episcopal church in 
 America. Captain Webb, without whose aid the en- 
 terprise would probably not have been attempted, 
 entered heariily into it, and headed the subscription 
 paper ; land was obtained, and the work of building 
 soon commenced. 
 
 In the early settlement of the city, land was often 
 assigned to individuals or companies, either as a re- 
 ward for services or as an inducement to improve it 
 or use it for some business likely to be a benefit to the 
 community. About 1676, the tan-pits in Broad Street 
 having been declared a nuisance, and the tanners ordered 
 to remove, a tract of land bounded by Maiden Lane, 
 Broadway, Ann Street, and a line between William 
 and Gold Streets was granted, either gratuitously or 
 for a small sum, to a company of shoe-makers, who 
 were also tanners. Their names were John Harpen- 
 dinck (or Harpending), Heiltje Clopper, Charles Lod- 
 wirk, Abraham Santford, and Carsten Luersen. This 
 property became known as the shoe-makers' pasture or 
 land, and in 1696, when Maiden Lane was regulated, 
 the ground was surveyed and divided into lots.* 
 Nearly in the center of this plot rose an eminence which 
 was called Golden Hill.f An event connected with 
 
 bly, could not but be half afraid that lii.s troubler was ' lunatic and sore 
 vexed,' as one too often affected from the glimpses of the moon. "We 
 parted with mutual bows and civilities, and both 'preserved our 
 honors.'" "Watson's Annals of New York, p. 360. 
 
 * See a map of it in Valentiat' s Manual, 1860, p. 526. 
 
 f So called, it is said, because of the rich gold color of the wheat 
 sometimes ripening upon it. Paper by G. P. Disosway in a scrap-book 
 prepared by H. Onderdonk, Esq., iu the Astor Library.
 
 28 A History of Methodism in New Yorac City. 
 
 the agitation preceding the Revolution afterward 
 made the name memorable.* A street cut through this 
 ground, running parallel with Maiden Lane from the 
 East River to Broadway, was named, a part of it, 
 Golden Ilill Street, and a part John Street, after John 
 Ilarpendinck. 
 
 On the south side of this street, between Nassau and 
 William Streets, rather nearer to Nassau, a site was ob- 
 tained for the church. At first it was leased, and the 
 original lease (as printed by Dr. Wakeley, Lost Chap- 
 ters, etc., '[). 51) is given in Appendix B.f The next day 
 a deed of sale was given. J This seems to have been 
 for some technical purpose, as another deed of sale is 
 dated November 2, 1770.§ 
 
 The Mary Barclay from wliom the property was 
 obtained was the widow of the Rev. Henry Bar- 
 clay, second rector of Trinity Cliurch. He succeeded 
 the Rev. William Yesey, in 1746. || After a suc- 
 cessful ministry he died deeply lamented, August 20, 
 17G4.f 
 
 The lease describes the land na in the north ward of 
 the city. This will sound strangely to one familiar 
 with the locality now. It is included in the second 
 ward at j^resent. 
 
 It will be seen, by the paper, that the original 
 deed dates back to 1696, when the Shoe-makers' Ground 
 was divided. An entry in the " old book " corroborates 
 
 * See sketch of Isaac Sears, Appendix E. 
 
 fDr. Wakeley speaks of the paper as iu his possession. But 
 he does not say where it came from, nor has tlie writer been able 
 find it. 
 
 \ See Appendix C. ) Both of these docnments are in the hands of 
 
 § See Appendix D. ) the trustees of the Eighteenth Street Church. 
 
 II Vesey and Barclay Streets bear their names. 
 
 ■[[ Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 54.
 
 Growth. 29 
 
 the statement that the ground was fii-st leased. It 
 reads, "August 1, 1769. To cash paid William Lupton, 
 which he lent to pay the ground rent, £li 105." * Two 
 years and seven months later the land Avas bought. 
 The deed of sale Avas indorsed, " Mr. Joseph Forbes to 
 Rev. llichard Boardman and others. Release, dated 
 2 November, 1770." Who this 3Ir. Joseph Forbes 
 was, into whose hands the title to the property had 
 come, we have no means of ascertaining. It is notice- 
 able, however, that he is called a cordwainer, and was, 
 therefore, an appropriate owner "of "Shoemaker's 
 ground." f 
 
 By what, when we think of it carefully, must seem a 
 remarkable Providence, a copy of the subscription 
 paper and of the list of subscribers to the old church 
 has been preserved to this day. It is found in the 
 " Old Book " already referred to. The paper lias been 
 much and justly praised. Bishop Janes and many 
 others expressed their profound admiration of it.J It 
 is given here strictly according to the original copy as 
 to spelling, contractions, and capitals: 
 
 " Preamble of the Subscription list, with the Names 
 of the Subscribers, and respectives sums given 
 Anext. 
 
 ''A number of persons desirous to worship God in 
 spirit and in truth, Commonly call'd Methodists (under 
 
 * Tliis is our first reference to the old account- book which Dr. 
 Wakel -y uses so interestingly in liirf volume entitled Lost Chapters 
 liecovered, etc. For a description of it see Preface. 
 
 fOn May 1, 1785, the trustees bought additional land in John 
 Street of Leonard Lispenard, Sr., and on April 12, 1786, made 
 another purchase from the Reformed Dutch Church. The deeds for 
 these pieces of property are also in the hands of the trustees of the 
 Eighteenth Street Cliurch. 
 
 if "Wakeley's Lost Chapttrs, p. 68.
 
 30 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 the direction of the Revd. Mr. John Wesley), whom it 
 is Evident God h.is often heen pleased to Bless in their 
 Meetings in New York, Thinking it Avo'd be more for 
 the Glory of God and the good of souls, had they a 
 more Convenient })lace to meet in, where the Gospel of 
 Jesus Christ might be preach'd without distinction of 
 Sects or partys, And as ]\[r. Philip Embery is a mem- 
 ber and helper in the Gospel, they Humbly beg the 
 Assistance of Christian friends, in Order to Enable 
 them to Build a Smal liouse for that purpose, Not 
 doubting But the God of all Consolation will AV)un- 
 dantly Bless all such as are willing to Contribute to the 
 Same." 
 
 The list of subscribers which follows has been care- 
 fully copied from the original, and several errors in 
 that in the Lost Chapters corrected, a few of which 
 will be noted. 
 
 There ax'e two hundred and fifty-nine subscriptions, 
 but some of them are additional amounts to the same 
 name, making the number of subsci-ibers not more 
 than two hundred and fifty. Consideiing the cir- 
 cumstances, and especially the value of money* in those 
 days, they gave liberally. The writing seems to be that 
 of Mr. Lupton. 
 
 The list is given as it stands. There are errors in 
 spelling, etc., but it is thought best to attempt no cor- 
 rection here. The totals denote the footings of each 
 column in the original, except that following the name 
 of Samuel Schuyler. 
 
 £ S. D. ! £ S. D. 
 
 Thomas Webb :-!0 Christopher Stimets ... 5 00 
 
 WilHani Lupton 20 [Stiraets is in different ink.] 
 
 James Jnrvis 10 I. Robuck 10 
 
 Charles White 5 Oliver Delancy 6 10 
 
 Benju. Huget 5 John Crugar 5 
 
 *The poimd at that time was equivalent to two dollars and a half. See 
 p. 99, where we find £4 lOs. reckoaed as twelve dollars.
 
 Growth. 
 
 31 
 
 £ S. D. 
 
 Mr. Abthorp 3 5 
 
 James Delancv 3 5 
 
 Rob't Lake.." 5 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ahnnity 2 
 
 Rev. Mr. Op:velsvie. . . . 1 12 G 
 
 Rev. Mr. English 1 12 6 
 
 104 5 
 
 Grove Bend 3 5 
 
 John Crook 3 5 
 
 Paul Heck 3 5 
 
 Jo.seph Pearson 3 2 
 
 Gose Courtland 2 18 
 
 Mr. Graham 1 10 
 
 James Jauncy 4 13 
 
 Henry Newton 3 5 
 
 Richard Sauce 3 5 
 
 N.B 6 
 
 Mary Arther... . ." 8 
 
 Mrs. Stapel 16 3 
 
 Mrs. Hauser 8 
 
 John Velt House 1 
 
 135 11 3 
 
 Mr. Muson Ward 8 
 
 Mr. Moral 112 6 
 
 Corn. Sebriiig 8 
 
 Isaac Sebrin<r 8 
 
 Wliiteheud Cornal 6 6 
 
 Sebrin^ 4 
 
 Mrs. Johnston 8 
 
 Susanna Letson 8 
 
 Jacob Hick 1 
 
 [without dot.] 
 
 Hanah Holding 4 
 
 Sarah Alboid IG 
 
 Mr. (or M rs.) Glassford . 8 
 
 Lambert Garrison 10 
 
 Kdwd. U<rht 1 
 
 Peter R. Levingston. . . 2 
 
 Alexr. Hulchin 1 10 
 
 Jacob Hollet 1 10 
 
 James Beatm;in 16 3 
 
 Pliilip Levingston 16 3 
 
 Joseph Drake 8 
 
 James Peters 010 
 
 Nicholas Quaekinbush. 16 3 
 
 Cathno. Frank 4 
 
 Mrs. Coipiu 8 
 
 £ s. D. 
 
 John "Wessel 5 
 
 Michl. Howert 8 
 
 Mrs. Lyon 4 
 
 Abni. Mountany 8 
 
 Mr, Bamper 16 3 
 
 Cash 12 <i 
 
 Thos. Petel 8 
 
 Thos. Whaley 8 U 
 
 Sainl.Yeilkin'ham 8 U 
 
 Cash 12 
 
 Mrs. Coolev 8 
 
 Mrs. Comniin 8 
 
 Jasper Cavour 1 
 
 158 16 3 
 
 Thompson & Selby 8 
 
 G. Golet 8 
 
 John Marks 8 
 
 D. Goldsmith, Jr 2 
 
 Wm Bur 1 6 
 
 Wm Rhilander 10 
 
 John Clark 8 
 
 Simon Brastead 10 
 
 Girthy Hodge 10 
 
 Klish. Cusign 10 
 
 John Brandon I 
 
 Wm. Pearson 6 6 
 
 Mr. Rhilander 16 
 
 Goo. Croslev 8 
 
 Mr-. Slyder 4 
 
 Capln. Davis 10 
 
 Rachell 9 
 
 Margrett 7 
 
 Mr. Bartow 1 
 
 Mrs. Deverix 8 
 
 Wm. Williams 10 
 
 Mrs. McCoy 8 
 
 Mrs. Heys 1 4 
 
 Wm. Eustick 1 
 
 Francis Jones 15 
 
 Michl. Cross 1 
 
 Mr. Stryer 4 
 
 Mr. Ranscar 10 
 
 Christian Schulass 10 
 
 l-:iish. Park 2 
 
 James Hollet 10 
 
 Mr. Harvey 8 
 
 Thos. Durham 110 
 
 Henry Van Vleck 2
 
 32 A IIisTORV OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 -Z S. D. 
 
 James Lous-li 4 
 
 Doctor Be:iid 1 10 
 
 Mr. Trimper 4 
 
 182 8 3 
 
 Mr. Miset 4 
 
 AVm. Webb 1 
 
 Geo. Hopson 112 6 
 
 Adam Gilcrist 1 12 6 
 
 Mr. (or Mrs.) Lispeiiard. 2 10 6 
 
 D.ivid Clarksoii 10 
 
 G. W. L 1 
 
 Cish 10 
 
 Tlios. Bell 1 
 
 Rev. Mr. Nizer 16 
 
 A. Beriinger 10 
 
 Xancy CrosfiU 1 
 
 Mary Newton 10 
 
 Joliii Mountany 8 
 
 Mrs. Buller 8 
 
 Mrs. Bell 8 
 
 Tiios. Taylor 10 
 
 ]<:dwd. Caskallen 1 
 
 Vail Tetler 1 
 
 Benjn. Ogderi in work. . 10 
 
 Phiil Couuhraniiido. . . 2 
 
 Mr.s. Burliey 2 
 
 David Grim 8 
 
 Sweeny 2 
 
 Peter Van Skiack 14 
 
 Van Every 1 10 
 
 Vander Vort 1 4 
 
 Meeks 2 3 
 
 Giles 1 10 
 
 David Embury 2 
 
 Jackson 012 
 
 Captn. Thos. Clark 1 
 
 Capln. St. A. Crow 1 12 6 
 
 Danl. Xeal 16 
 
 Chas. McCivers 1 12 6 
 
 Isaac Low 1 4 
 
 David Mathews 16 3 
 
 Thos. Witter 16 3 
 
 221 19 6 
 
 Joseph Read 13 
 
 Garret Beatman 1 
 
 Thos. Elison 16 
 
 Richd. Everts 4 
 
 £ s. D. 
 
 Mr. Grant 6 
 
 Mrs. L. L 16 3 
 
 John Sayre 3 3 
 
 John Marstin 8 
 
 Captn. Randie 16 
 
 Mrs. Read 1 
 
 Mr. Axtell 3 5 
 
 Gilbert Furbiish 13 
 
 Michl. Thody 8 
 
 Mary Ten Eyck h 
 
 Henry Cuyler 16 3 
 
 Mr. King 16 
 
 Chas. Williams 16 
 
 Xich' Steverson 1 
 
 Josepli Read 1 8 
 
 Cash 2 
 
 Thos. Marstin 8 
 
 Thos. Walton 10 
 
 Widow McCivers 14 
 
 John Walts 2 
 
 Doctr. Mallet 16 3 
 
 Abm. Wilson 16 3 
 
 Abm. Lynson 12 
 
 Antliv. Rntcas OK; 
 
 Timothy Hust 12 6 
 
 Thos. Barrow 13 
 
 Doctr. Midleton 16 3 
 
 John Dunscomb 16 
 
 Rachel Creshong 4 
 
 John Mott 13 
 
 Mr. I. Tavlor 8 
 
 Henry While 1 
 
 John Cregear 6 
 
 Jolm Roberts 8 
 
 251 '.) 6 
 
 Thos. Moore 1 1 
 
 Elias Debruce 16 
 
 Jolm Cuk 2 
 
 Mr. Comaline IG 
 
 Doctr. Kisam 13 
 
 Hudulf Ritsmau 1 
 
 Wm. Kelly 16 
 
 NathL Maf-stin 1 12 6 
 
 Tnos. Vandrill 2 6 
 
 Chas. Barrow 8 
 
 James Diiaine 2 
 
 Theod. Van Wyck 2 
 
 Tlios. Jones 1 14
 
 Growth. 
 
 33 
 
 £ s. n. 
 
 John Haris Cruger. . . . 19 6 
 
 Curtracrht 1 12 6 
 
 ';^ 2 
 
 A. U 1 12 6 
 
 B. R. E 1 12 6 
 
 Verpleck 1 4 
 
 Mr. Ludlow 16 3 
 
 Wni. Ludlow 1 4 
 
 C. Ludlow 1 
 
 F. Smith IG 3 
 
 A. Hamsley 1 
 
 T. Atwood 16 3 
 
 P. Rarasoii 16 3 
 
 Mr. Fenton 8 
 
 Mr. Faitly 2 
 
 Mr. Bunvar 1 12 
 
 Mr. Yeats 16 3 
 
 Fredk. Depoister 16 3 
 
 Mr. Bull 10 
 
 Mr. Bead: 1 
 
 Mr. Ludlow 9 
 
 Captn. Lonec 8 
 
 Mr. Van Horn 1 
 
 Henry Holand 16 
 
 Thos. Tucker 112 
 
 Richd. Cursou 10 
 
 Cash 4 
 
 Mr. Cook 4 
 
 294 4 2 
 
 Mr. Raise 4 
 
 David Johnston 112 6 
 
 Isaac Sears 1 
 
 Lawyer Wickham 19 6 
 
 Henry Newton More.. 6 15 
 
 John Casner 1 
 
 Richd. Waldron 16 
 
 Mr. Saml. Schuyler 3 4 3 
 
 
 £ 
 
 S. 
 
 D. 
 
 John Leake 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Jarvis 
 
 10 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 SaiEuel Sellij- 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Georse Hopson. ... 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 William Lupton. . . 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 John Cliavo 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Charles Morse. . . . 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 John Staples 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Steplieii Sands. . . . 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Phihp Kbert 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thomas Diu'lumi. . 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thomas Duncan. . 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 Eliz. De Forreest. . 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 Mrs. Grav 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. Auderson. . . . 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 K. P 
 
 
 
 14 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 Capt. Heclit 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 John Bowden. . . . 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 W. X 
 
 
 
 8 
 16 
 
 n 
 
 Thomas Brinkkr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Xathl. Child 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 H. X 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 Drx. E 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 W. E 
 
 
 
 8 
 4 
 
 
 
 Lewis Faugers. . . . 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Richard Saii.se. .. . 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. Hickev 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Peter Grim 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 William Rliilauder. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Beiijn. and Wm. 
 
 Rhi- 
 
 
 
 lander 
 
 1 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Charles White 
 
 .... 3 
 
 
 
 Thomas "Webb g 
 
 iven 
 
 
 
 m mterest upoi 
 
 his 
 
 
 
 bond 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 418 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 nnr^ -. - ^ Note.— This column Is written in 
 309 lo 6 paler Ink.* 
 
 In looking over the list we will be surprised at the 
 absence of two names. One is that of John Southwell, 
 one of the original trustees, as we learn from the deed. 
 He is there called a merchant, and we cannot help but 
 
 * Such information as can bo obtained in regard to these sub- 
 scribers will be found in Appendix E.
 
 34 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 ask why he is not among the subscribers. In the in- 
 ventory of furniture bought for the preaclier's liouse 
 we read of money jiaid to Mrs. White and Mrs. South- 
 well for a pair of sheets, and also to Mrs. Southwell for 
 a saucepan. Perhaps he failed in duty here, though we 
 would prefer to believe that somewhere among the 
 subscriptions put down as cash, or with merely initial 
 letters, his contribution is hid. In 1773 it is stated in 
 the " Old Book" that Boardman, Pilmoor, Webb, and 
 Southwell had left the province. He must, there- 
 fore, have been a loyalist, but we do not find his name 
 in the pubUshed lists of the loyalists. The Palatines 
 were tenants of Lord Southwell in Ireland; perhaps 
 this John Southwell was a relative of his. It is also 
 singular that the published journals of Mr, Asbury do 
 not contain liis name. 
 
 But Philip Embury's name is not there. That, how- 
 ever, may be easily explained. He was comparatively a 
 poor man, and gave his time and strength to the work. 
 His saw and plane and hammer were diligently used 
 on the timber of the building, and though we find 
 some payments were made to him, amounting in all to 
 £28 I3s. 11(7., we can readily believe that these were but 
 a partial compensation for his labor. No doubt his con- 
 tribution equaled, all things considered, that of any of 
 his brethren. Not the least hint is given that he failed 
 to do his part. Thomas Bell tells us he (Bell) worked 
 six days on the building, whether for wages or gratu- 
 itously he does not say. David Norris, a carpenter, 
 received more than one hundred pounds for material 
 and labor, and John Gasner between ten and eleven 
 pounds for painting and glazing. Samuel Edmonds 
 (the grandfather of Judge Edmonds, a prominent be- 
 liever in spiritualism), received more than five hundred 
 pounds for mason work and material.
 
 Growth. 35 
 
 Mr. Wesley sent fifty pounds collected in England. 
 Under date of October 30, 17G9, which must have been 
 immediately after Mr. Boardman's arrival in New York, 
 we find in the "Old Book" this entry: "By cash re- 
 ceived from Mr, Boardman: 1 moidore, 48^.; ldo.,46.s.; 
 1 If guineas at 36.?. — £25 16s." This is evidently a part 
 of the fifty pounds; all, probably, that was sent in cash, 
 the rest being in books, to be sold, not only for the 
 pecuniary but spiritual benefit of the Church. On the 
 same page, therefore we find this: "1770, 31st March, 
 by cash received from Mr. Pilmoor, on account of books 
 sold, brought from England, seven half jo., at 64s. 
 each, £22 8s." This makes, with the cash above re- 
 ported, £48 4s. Some books no doubt remained unsold, 
 but it speaks well for the intelligence and spirituality of 
 the early Methodists that so many were disposed of in 
 so short a time. But not from England alone did the 
 John Street congregation receive help. The first entry 
 of the current account in the " Old Book " reads : " By 
 cash from Mr. Webb, which he brought from Philadel- 
 phia, £32." The Methodists of the City of Brotherly 
 Love had as yet no church of their own ; they were 
 worshi])ing, as their New York brethren had been 
 doing, in a rigging-loft, but they send a token of Chris- 
 tian affection. From the letter of Thomas Bell* we learn 
 that the building cost six hundred pounds sterling. 
 
 While the church-building enterprise was in progress 
 the society began to feel the need of a pastor who could 
 devote his time exclusively to the work. A letter was 
 written to Mr. Wesley, stating their circumstances and 
 asking for " a man of wisdom, of sound faith, and a 
 good disciplinarian." It was signed T. T., and was no 
 doubt from the pen of Thomas Taylor,f one of those to 
 whom the lease was given in 1768. 
 
 * See Appendix G. f See Appendix F.
 
 36 A History of Methodism is New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THK FIRST GARNER. 
 
 At last Wesley Chapel, the first Methodist church 
 building in America,* stands ready for occupation. To 
 
 * Xevv York Methodists will claim that it was the Jirst. For a 
 disctission of the title of Strawbridgo Chapel to the priority, see 
 "Wul'L-eley's Lost Chapters, chapters xvii, xviii, and xix, and p. 5!)0 ; 
 Daniel's Illustrated Historij of Methodism, p. 376, etc.; Atkinson's Cen- 
 tennial History of American Methodism, p. 1 5, etc. ; Steven.'^'s History 
 of Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 72; Cooper's Funeral Di'^course 
 on the deatli of Bishop Asbury, pp. 72, 73, edition of 1819; TFes/ej/'s 
 Journal, August 3, 1760. The substance of tiie whole is that Wesley 
 heard of none of earlier date than that in New York (he calls it the 
 first Methodist preaching- house in America). Lee, Cooper, Garrett- 
 son, Mvorrell, and Boehm (all early authorities, the first a native of 
 Virginia, the second and third natives of Maryland, and all three 
 familiar with tlie region in which Sirawbridge labored) testify in 
 favor of ]<]mbury and New York; Daniels and Lednum in favor of 
 Sirawbridge and Maryland; Atkinson Is in doubt; and Stevens de- 
 clares himself open to correction. There is uncertainty as to the 
 dates in the Sirawbridge case. As to that of Embury, there is no 
 doubt that it was at least as early as 1766, and some testimony 
 would place it at 1763 or 1760. f The advocates of the Straw- 
 bridge claim lay great stress on the fact that Asbury, " b}'^ a remark 
 in his Journal, in 1801, gives historical precedence to the Marj'land 
 society." At first sight the passage may seem so to do, but. studied 
 with its context, it is capable of another interpretation, which is more 
 in harmony with other testimony from the bishop. He was attending 
 Conference at Pipe Creek in the early part of May, 1801. The peo- 
 ple, he says, "were kind," and he and the preachers "iiad ricli enter- 
 tainmeixt." It may be presimied that he heard at the table and else- 
 where a good deal from this hospitable people about the priority of 
 tJieir society. If it had convinced him, the entry in his Journal 
 
 tWakeley's -Lost CTifljifcr?, p. 179.
 
 The First Garxek, 37 
 
 every genuine Methodist its appearance is of more in- 
 terest than that of the finest cathedral ever erected for 
 Christian worship. Its exterior is familiar to us from 
 the engraving which is given on the opposite page. 
 The ground being higher than the expected level of the 
 
 would probably liave read, "Here Mr. Strawbridge formed the first 
 society in America;" tlie word Maryland would have been superflu- 
 ous. But he writes, " The fir.st society in Maryland," and then, after 
 a hyphen, tlie two words in italics, " and America,'''' (they are hoik 
 italicized in the first edition of the Journal); so it reads "the first 
 society in Maryland — and America,'''' which may be undei'stood, j^os- 
 sihly in America. But whatever lie may have thought about the 
 location of the first society, he says nothing about the chapel. If he 
 believed ihe Pipe Creek building to be the earliest, why did lie leave 
 the preface to the Discipline uncorrected during the nearly fifteen 
 succeeding years of his life, and why leave his intimate friend Cooper 
 in error? and how was it that Henry Boehm, the bishop's traveling 
 companion for five years, who was with him several times at Pipe 
 Creek, never heard, either from the bishop or any one else, "any claim 
 that Methodism in Maryland was earlier than in New Tork," or, 
 "that the log meeting-house in Maryland was erected fir.st?"* Were 
 Asbury's prejudices against Strawbridge so strong that he could not 
 do liim justice? It must be confessed tliat he does show some animus 
 against Strawbridge, especially if the entry in his Journal of September 
 3, 1781, refers to him. It reads: "I visited the Bush Chapel. The 
 people here once left us to follow another. Time was when the labors 
 of their leader were made a blessing to them ; but pride is a busy sin. 
 He is now no more: upon the whole, I am inclined to think tiie Lord 
 took him away in judgment because he was in a way to do hurt to 
 his cause; and that he saved him in mercy because, from his death- 
 bed conversation, he appears to have had hope in his end." " Asburj-'s 
 great military soul could pardon almost any offense but insubordina- 
 tion to authority. Not only Strawbridge's persistence in the admin- 
 istration of the sacraments but his contiiuied charge of the Sam's Creek 
 and Brush Forest congregations displeased the bishop." Stevens's 
 History of Metliodist Ejnscnpal Church, vol. i, p. 79. But we cannot 
 suppose that this woidd lead him to persist in a statement he be- 
 lieved to be false. 
 
 * See, carefully, H. Boebm's letter, Wakclcy's Lost Chajptert-, p. 590. 
 
 41B596
 
 38 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 street, the entrance to the building was placed a few 
 steps below the surface. When the work of grading 
 was done, however, it was found that not sufficient al- 
 lowance had been made, and the building stood above 
 the line of the sidewalk. The house in antique Dutch 
 style on the right of the engraving, and partly in 
 front of the church, was evidently there before the 
 church was erected. It was occupied as a parsonage, 
 and in it also was kept the Methodist library, of whiih 
 the preachers had charge, giving out books on Friday 
 evening after service. The basement was the dwelling 
 of the sexton.* In front was a tight board fence, in 
 which was a gate-way and a small door between it and 
 the parsonage. Within it Avas an area, paved with 
 brick, about thirty feet wide. The edifice was forty- 
 two by sixty feet. It was built of rough stone covered 
 with light blue plaster. The center door-way and cir- 
 cular window above it were arched with brick painted 
 red, as appears from the old colored engraving.f Be- 
 sides this circular window we see three upper windows 
 and a door on each side of the central door, but at a 
 higher level. These communicated with the galleries, 
 the women using that on the right and the men that on 
 
 * Short Risiorical Account of the Early Society of Methodists, Estab- 
 lished in tlie City of Ntiv York, p. 6. 
 
 f The engraving referred to, %yliich is believed to be tlie original of 
 all that liave been published, is the fromispieco of a large pamphlet, 
 fifteen by twelve inches, issued in 1824 by "W. & P. C. Smith, en- 
 titled, A Short Historical Account of the Early Society of Method- 
 ists, Established in the City of New York. It is from a picture 
 painted, I believe, by one of the publishers, who were sons of Joseph 
 Smith, a prominent member who died in 1840, after a membership of 
 more than fifty j^ears. A tablet to his memory is in the present 
 John Street Church. The copy of the pamplilet in the hands of the 
 author of this lacks the engraving, but it may be found in the copy 
 in the library of the New York Historical Society.
 
 The First Garner. 39 
 
 the left. These, hoAvever, are said to have been added 
 at a later period. If so there were probably windows 
 tliei'e when the house was built. Rev. D, Devinne says 
 the picture is a good one, and thinks there was but little 
 alteration from the time it was built.* 
 
 For a view of the interior, however, we have to 
 depend on such meager traditions as have come down 
 to us. The pulpit, built, we are told, by Embury's own 
 hands, stood opposite the door, probably very nearly on 
 the spot occupied by that of the present buildiug. As 
 to its height and general appearance testimonies differ. 
 One witness,! who was familiar with the building from 
 1806 until the close of its history, thinks that from the 
 floor to the book-board it was about seven or eight feet. 
 If so, the elevation of the platform could not have been 
 above four feet. Another,^ wlio, however, was in it 
 but a few times, estimates the platform at about 
 three feet high, with a railing in front. But Dr. 
 N. Bangs § says the pulpit was " so high that a per- 
 son in the altar could stand beneath it, and so narrow 
 that only one person could occupy it at one time. It 
 had three steps in it to accommodate the heights of the 
 several preachers." It always made him dizzy to preach 
 from it. Mr. Disosway thinks three persons could oo- 
 cujjy the pulpit at once. He says it had a flight of 
 steps on the west side which were straight, not wind- 
 ing. It is not probable that any altar rail was put in 
 at first. The Methodists, until 1784, were accustomed 
 to go to the Church of England for the sacraments, 
 and the practice of inviting seekers to the altar was not 
 
 * Methodist, vol. xvi, p. 243. 
 f C. R. Disosway, Esq. 
 \ Mrs. Joseph Loiigking. 
 
 § Address at laying coruer-stone of Yorkville second Church (now 
 Park Avenue), Christian Advocate, vol. xxxiii, p. 137. 
 4
 
 40 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 introduced, at least in New York, until 1806.* For 
 many years the interior was only partly finished. The 
 gallery had neither breastwork, nor stairs, nor seats. 
 Men and boys reached it by a ladder and sat on the 
 floor of the platform. For a long while the seats on 
 the lower floor were without backs and unpainted ; 
 but it was neat and clean, the floor sprinkled with sand. 
 Mr. Disosway says that, barring the pulpit and the gal- 
 leries, it looked like a Quaker meeting-house. f Immedi- 
 ately in front of the pulpit was a square space in which, 
 in cold weather, was a wood stove, with benches around 
 it. J These warm seats were, of course, the favorite resort 
 of the boys; and, just before the preacher commenced 
 his sermon, the sexton would shoo, or drive them away. 
 In warm weather, also, he did the same to the boys on 
 the Avindow-sills of the galleries, as he said they 
 stopped the air from coming in. Mr. Disosway thinks 
 the church had no lamps. § He remembers that, in the 
 center, there was a chandelier, Avith brass sockets, and 
 he tliinks there must have been " branches " against the 
 walls. These were filled with tallow candles, || which 
 the sexton used to snuff at intervals with his fingers. 
 A clock was on the gallery in front of the pulpit. This, 
 
 * See pp. 85, 170. 
 
 f Mrs. Longking says it looked like a country school-liouse. She 
 thinks the seats had straight backs. Tliere was nothing liire pews, 
 as in cliurches generally. The seats and floor were scrubbed %'ery 
 ■white. At Iier first visit she looked in at the door and stood hesitat- 
 ing, when an old lady said to her: "Come in; it's as free as the 
 kingdom of heaven." 
 
 \ This was probably " tiie large square pew in front of the altar " 
 in wliich, Mrs. Mason says, " the phm of Sabbath-school operations 
 ws determined." Life of Mrs. Mary W. Mason, p. 70. 
 
 § Here, however, he is probably mistaken in part. In the '• Old 
 Book " tliere are cliarges for lamps, but it is likely these were used 
 only in the pulpit, as there are also charges for candles. 
 
 II Bat the " Old Book " has charges for spermaceti candles.
 
 The First Garner. 41 
 
 it was said, came from England and was tlie gift of 
 John Wesley.* It is in the lecture-room of the present 
 church, still keeping good time. An inscription on it 
 reads, " Be ye also read}^, for in such an hour as ye 
 think not, the Son of man cometh." Matt, xxv, 44. 
 For more than one hundred years it has been telling 
 the time — those to whom it first told it, and thousands 
 who have looked on it since, have gone to their graves; 
 but it still ticks on, and will probably do so when the 
 writer and his readers have no more to do with time. 
 
 In the Colonies, as well as in England, tnose who 
 Avere not of the "Church as by law established," were 
 dissenters, and not allowed to erect regular churches, at 
 least in the city; the new building was, therefore, pro- 
 vided with a fire-place and cliimney to avoid "the dif- 
 ficulty of the law," making it thereby technically a 
 dwelling-house. 
 
 The building would hold about seven hundred, f and no 
 doubt was well filled when, on October 30, 1768, Philip 
 Embury, having laid aside his saw and plane and hammer, 
 entered the pulpit. The text of that first sermon, we are 
 told, was Hos. x, 12: "Sow to yourselves in righteous- 
 ness, reape after the measure of mercie; break up your 
 fallow ground, for it is time to seeke the Lord, till he 
 come and raine righteousnes upon you." J The breaking 
 up of the fallow ground and the sowing in righteousness 
 
 * But a writer in Chrintian Advocate, vol. Ixi, p. 379, says Embury 
 brought it from Ireland, and C. R. Disosway, Esq., in a note to the 
 autlior, says lie lias doubts about the clock. 
 
 f Mr. Boardman wrote to "Wesley in 1769: "Our liouso contains 
 about 1700 persons." A typographical error no doubt for 700. 
 
 \ This is the reading of the passage as it stands in what is called 
 the Embury Bible, wliich is said to be the book wliich Emburj' used 
 on that occasion. It is now in the care of Mrs. John A. Currier, of 
 Fulton Street, New York. An account of it will be found in the 
 Appendix H.
 
 42 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 was begun; the Lord was souglit, and he was about to 
 rain righteousness upon them. No especial services of 
 dedication seem to have been used, and we Avill all agree 
 with Embury, that " the best dedication of a pulpit was 
 to preach a good sermon in it."* 
 
 The house was soon filled with hearers. In May, 
 1769, Thomas Bell,f speaking of Embury and Webb, 
 writes: " The Lord carries on a very great work b\' these 
 two men." In the following November, shortly after 
 his arrival, Boardman wrote Wesley: "About a third 
 part of those who attend get in, the rest are glad to 
 hear without. There appears such a willingness in the 
 Americans to hear the word as I never saw before." J 
 
 *Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 110. 
 
 f Letter of Tlioinas Bell, Appendix G. 
 
 J Stevens's History of Methodist Episcopal Church vol. i, p. 103.
 
 More Laborers. 43 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 MORE LABORERS. 
 
 The first news of the Avork in America reached Mr. 
 Wesley, probably through the letter of Thomas Taylor, 
 written in April, 1768.* In the Minutes for 1769, when 
 the Conference met at Leeds, he said to the preachers: 
 " We have a pressing call from our brethren of New 
 York to come over and help them. Who is willing to 
 go?" At first, it seems, there was some hesitation 
 about volunteering, nor can we wonder at it. A voyage 
 across the Atlantic Ocean was a serious thing in those 
 days, and it is not improbable that the spirit of inde- 
 pendence, which was beginning to exhibit itself in the 
 Colonies, made them less attractive to men who, like 
 their spiritual father, were loyal to the crown of En- 
 gland. The Conference, we are told, sat in silence, no 
 man answering. The next morning Mr. Wesley, as 
 was his custom, preached at five o'clock, and took for 
 his text, " I have nourished and brought up children, 
 and they have rebelled against me." When Conference 
 re-assembled the appeal was repeated, and then was re- 
 sponded to by Richard Boardraan and Joseph Pilmoor.f 
 
 Richard Boardman had been in the work about six 
 years, and was about thirty-one years of age. Wesley 
 calls him " a pious, good-natured, sensible man, greatly 
 beloved of all that knew him." One Methodist histo- 
 rian I describes him as " a man of great piet}^, amiable 
 
 * Appendix F. 
 
 f Stevens's History of Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 95. 
 :]: Atmore, p. 58; Sievens's Histonj of Mdhodist Episcopal Church. 
 vol. i, p. 95.
 
 44 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 disposition, and strong understanding." Asbuiy says lie 
 was a "kind, loving, worthy man, truly amiable and 
 entei'tainiiig, and of a child-like temper." Two years 
 at least among the fervid Methodists of Yorkshire had 
 added to his zeal, and a season on the rugged circuit of 
 the " Dales," with its hard travel, incessant work, and 
 wintry storms, had trained him for the perils and hard- 
 ships of a new country.* He was mourning the recent 
 loss of his wife, when he set out for Bristol to embark. 
 He preached on the way as opportunity offered, and no 
 doubt excited as much interest among his hearers as a 
 missionary to the heart of Africa would create at the 
 present day. 
 
 Joseph Pilmoor was converted in his sixteenth year 
 through the preaching of Wesley, had been educated at 
 Kingswood school, and had labored about four years in 
 Cornwall and Wales. He was a man of commanding 
 presence, with a ruddy complexion and strong voice, 
 ready of speech, and of much executive ability. 
 
 The two evangelists embarked at Bristol, in the latter 
 part of August, 1769, and, after a rough passage of 
 nine Aveeks, arrived at Gloucester Point, six miles below 
 Philadelphia, on the 24th of October. Captain Webb 
 was in Philadelphia to receive them, and after a few 
 days spent there, leaving Pilmoor to minister to a 
 society of about one hundred members in that city, 
 Boardman hastened to New Y^ork. 
 
 But the Macedonian cry, " Come over and help us," 
 had reached the ears of others besides the members of 
 the Wesleyan Conference. Robert \Villiams,f a local 
 preacher, applied to Mr. Wesley for authority to preach 
 in America, and permission was given, provided he 
 
 * For several interesting incidents in his experience, see Stevens's 
 History of Methodist Ejnscopal CJiurdt, vol. i, p. 96, etc. 
 f Nothing about liis early history- can be found.
 
 Moke Laborers. 45 
 
 would labor under the direction of the missionaries who 
 were about to be sent over. His friend Ashton was 
 preparing to emigrate, and learning that he was about 
 to embark, Williams hurried to the port, sold his horse 
 to pay his debts, and, taking his saddle-bags on his arm, 
 and a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk as his only 
 provision, hastened to the shij), with no money to pay 
 his passage, thus following to the veiy letter the direc- 
 tion of the Master to his disciples, " Provide neither 
 gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; nor scrip for 
 your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet 
 staves." He trusted that his friend Ashton would pro- 
 vide the needed funds, and he was not disappointed. 
 We shall meet with Ashton's name hereafter. 
 
 Williams reached New York in September, 1 V69,* and 
 was preaching there when Boardnian arrived. Going 
 then to Philadelphia and afterwai'd to Maryland, he 
 labored in conjunction Avith Robert Strawbridge. One 
 of the fruits of his ministry there was the conversion 
 of Jesse Lee. He has been called the apostle of Meth- 
 odism in Virginia. For about six years he was one of 
 the most effective pioneers. In 1771 we find him in 
 Xew York again. In the first published Minutes he is 
 appointed to Petersburg, Va. ; in 1774 he married, and 
 in 1775 finished his course. Asbury, liaving preached 
 his funeral sermon, says: "Perhaps no one in America 
 has been an instrument of awakening so many souls." 
 To him also is to be ascribed the distinction of being 
 the first itinerant Methodist preacher in America who 
 published a book, the first to marry, and the first to 
 die. In the Minutes of the Conference held in Phila- 
 delphia, June, 1773 (the first which were published), 
 
 * Dr. "Wakeloy, in liis Heroes of Methodism, says October. But in 
 the " Old Book " we find a charge for a hat for Mr. Williams bought 
 September 20.
 
 46 A History of Methodism in Neav York City. 
 
 among the " rules agreed to by all the preachers present " 
 we have these: "4. None of the preachers in America 
 to reprint any of Mr, Wesley's books without his au- 
 thority (when it can be gotten) and the consent of their 
 brethren. 5. Robert Williams to sell tlie books he has 
 already printed, but to print no more unless under the 
 above restrictions." 
 
 The fact that Williams was but scantily provided for 
 his voyage is illustrated by what we read in the " Old 
 Book." There, as has already been told, we have a 
 charge on September 20, 1769, "for a hat for Mr. Will- 
 iams, £2 5s." On October 9, we find entered " three 
 pair stockings* for Mr. Williams and Mr. Embury, 
 £1 Vs. 9c?.," and finally, on "October 30, a cloak for Mr. 
 Robert Williams, £3 Os. 6f?." Thus he was literally 
 clothed from head to foot — hat and stockings and cloak. 
 To the question of the Master, then, " When I sent you 
 without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any 
 thing ? " he, like the disciples, could say, " Nothing." 
 
 A few more words about Mr. Williams. In March, 
 1770, he is in New York again, as appears from charges 
 in the " Old Book " for horsekeeping, postage, flannel, 
 and medical attendance. In 1771 he is there again, as 
 we find entries of cash paid to himself and for the keep- 
 ing of his horse. To the three particulars in which Mr. 
 WiUiams led the way in this country, as already stated, 
 another must be added — the first love-feast ticket 
 known to be in existence was given by him. It bears 
 the name Hannah Dean (afterward the wife of Paul 
 Hick), and was not printed, but the whole of it written. f 
 
 Boardman, as we have seen, arrived in New York on 
 or before October 30, 1769, and immediately paid over 
 
 * Is this meant for three pair apiece or three pair in all ? If the 
 last, how did the two good men share them ? 
 f See Appendix U.
 
 More Laborers. 47 
 
 to the treasurer, Mr. William Lnpton, the money sent 
 by Mr. Wesley to the church. He also jjromptly began 
 to methodize things. The following minute is found 
 in the " Old Book " on the third page after the list of 
 subscriptions: "Mr. Richard Boardman, Assistant to 
 and Preacher in Connection with the Rev. John Wes- 
 ley, Also Philip Embury, Local preacher, and William 
 Lupton, a Trustee and Steward (in N. York), thinking 
 it Necessary that some regulations should be made for 
 the Preachers in New York, Agreed, on the 1st of No- 
 vember, 1769, in New York, 
 
 " 1. That each Preacher, having Labored three months 
 in N. York, Shall receive three Guineas to provide 
 themselves with Wearing apparel.* 
 
 " 2. That there shall be Preaching on Sunday Morn- 
 ing and Sunday Evening, also on Tuesday and Thurs- 
 day Evenings, and the Preacher to meet the Society 
 Every Wednesday Evening." The hours are not speci- 
 fied, but it is likely that the morning service was held 
 earlier than that of the Church of England. And now 
 the wheels of the itinerant engine begin to revolve. 
 Boardman and Pilmoor spend two or three months al- 
 ternately in New York and Philadelphia, preaching on 
 their way back and forth in diiferent parts of New 
 Jersey. W^e find their names in the old accounts 
 
 * Besides this "quarterage," as it would have been called after- 
 ward, the preachers received their board or housekeepino: expenses. 
 Generally these are set down in one sum under the title of preachers' 
 housekeeping, but we have 1770, September- 10, to cash paid for a 
 Glocester cheese, £0 19s. 2d. "We find, also, payments for their wash- 
 ing, traveling expenses, liorsekeeping, medicine, and medical attend- 
 ance, postage, shaving, poll-tax, and paper. As to this last item, the 
 last page of the " Old Book " is headed " Memorandums," and then 
 follows: "The Preachers are allowed one quire of writing-paper for 
 every Quarter, and no more." If preachers in those days would write 
 sermons they must buy their own paper.
 
 48 A History of Methodism ix Xeav Yoric City. 
 
 frequently in connection Avith payments for traveling 
 expenses, postage, board, and the allowance as had been 
 decided on. 
 
 The name "America" appears in 1770 for the first 
 time in the list of appointments in the English Minutes, 
 Four preachers are assigned to it — Joseph Pilmoor, 
 Richard Boardman, Robert AVilliams, and John King. 
 In the English Minutes of 1771 we have the first report 
 of members, the number being three hundred and six- 
 teen. Another call was made for volunteers in the 
 new iield, and Francis Asbury and Richard Wright re- 
 sponded. But before we take a look at these men, one 
 of whom afterward filled so large a space in the his- 
 tory of American Methodism, it is necessary to glance 
 at one or two mattere of some interest to XeAV York 
 Methodists. 
 
 The first of these is the departure of Philip Embury. 
 The exact date of this cannot be ascertained, but it 
 must have been between April 10 and August 13, 
 1770. Under the earlier date Ave read in the " Old 
 Book:" "To cash paid Philip Embuiy to buy a Con- 
 cordance, £2 55." This was probably a parting gift 
 from the society. Then we have, August 13 of the 
 same year, an entry which tallies Avith a receipt Avhich 
 "will be found in Appendix E (p. 437). It Avould seem 
 that something connected Avith the church proj^erty re- 
 quired his action, and, not being able to come himself 
 to attend to it, he sent his bi'other as his attorney. 
 After this the name of Embury disappears from the 
 " Old Book." 
 
 David Embury's journey Avas from Camden, Albany 
 County, N. Y. To this place Philip and his family and 
 others removed Avhen they left the city. There is 
 reason to belicA-e that this Avas not a sudden departure, 
 as some steps in that direction had been taken nearly
 
 MoKK Lauukkks. 49 
 
 five years before.* But the removal of these Paktines 
 from New York may have been hastened, if it were not 
 caused in part, by the state of public feeling in the city. 
 They were loyalists, and were to be commended for 
 this.f The battle of Golden nill,J had just taken place 
 (January, 1770), and as peaceable citizens, disposed to 
 favor the government, they naturally preferred to be 
 out of the fray. There is no reason to believe that 
 Embury went especially to plant Methodism in a new 
 field; there was nothing that called for his labor there 
 any more than in other places. § 
 
 Embury occupied a house Avith Peter Switzer, his 
 brother-in-law, who owned a farm of two hundred aci'es 
 one mile north of what is now known as East Salem. 
 It was a comfortable frame building, twenty by thirty- 
 five feet, with an old-fashioned piazza in front. The 
 frame was still standing some twenty j^ears ago, though 
 removed from its original site, and used as a barn. 
 
 While laboring on the farm, and at his trade as car- 
 penter, Embury also preached and organized classes in 
 the neighborhood, and to him is generally conceded 
 the honor of forming the first Methodist society north 
 of New York city. Thomas Ashton was, no doubt, the 
 chief pillar in the Ashgrove Society, and his house the 
 home of the itinerant preachers.|| Here, on July 1, 1803, 
 the New York Conference held its session, attended, as Ave 
 learn from Bishop Asbury's Journal, by nearly seventy 
 members. At the Sunday service the bishop thought 
 
 * See Appendix I. 
 
 \ See Appendix J. X Sec Appendix E. (p. 443.) 
 
 § B. Hawley, in ClirisHan Advocate, vol. Iviii, p. 820. 
 
 II He left a legacy of three acres of ground lor a parsonage, also a 
 cow for the use of the preaclier, and, though not a bachelor himself, 
 an annuity of ten dollars to the oldest unmarried preacher of the New 
 York Conference, lie died in June, 1801. Methodist, vol. vii, p. 353.
 
 50 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 they liacl two thousand hearers. " This," says he, " is 
 a very eligible place for Albany, New York, Genesee, • 
 Pittsfield, and Vermont Districts; but the Conference 
 ought to be divided between the two old societies of 
 New York and Ashgrove." Five Conferences now 
 occupy the territory then included in one, to say noth- 
 inof of the whole region of Canada, then attached to the 
 New York Conference. Ashgrove is in the Troy Con- 
 ference of this day. 
 
 Embury became a magistrate, and was familiarly 
 known as "the Squire." In the month of August, 
 1773,* he was mowing beneath a burning sun, and an 
 attempt was made, by some who worked with him, 
 to outdo " the Squire." He imprudently overdid him- 
 self, and was taken with pleurisy, of which he died in a 
 few da^'s, at the age of forty-live. The venerable 
 Abraham Bininger attended him during his illness and 
 officiated at his burial. He found a grave for a season 
 on the farm of Mr. Bininger (not that of his brother-in- 
 law, Peter Switzer, as has been stated f), but in 1832 
 his remains were removed to Ashgrove, and again, during 
 the session of the Troy Conference at Cambridge, in 
 1866, they were transferred to that place with appro- 
 priate services. Embury's widow afterward removed to 
 Canada West with the Hecks and others of the Irish 
 Palatines, and settled in the neighborhood of Augusta. 
 She mariied John Lawrence, one of the little congrega- 
 tion that listened to the first sermon in Barracks Street, 
 New York, and died in 1 807, aged sixty-four years. Em- 
 bury, it is said, was about six feet high, and of well- 
 developed form. 
 
 Turning again to the " Old Book," we find this 
 
 ♦Letter of Rev. B. Hawley, D.D., Christian Advocate, vol. Ixiii, 
 p. 240. 
 
 '^Methodist, vol. vii, p. 329.
 
 More Laborers. 51 
 
 entry: "1770, April 24, to cash paid Mr. Doughty for 
 instruction in singing, £2 6s." Embury, we are told, 
 Avas a good singer, and others of the society, no 
 doubt, could make sweet melody to the Lord; but now 
 they began to feel the need of more harmony in tune 
 and time, and Mr. Doughty leads the list of singing- 
 teachers among the Methodists in America.* 
 
 About this time, also, the people began to supply fur- 
 niture for the parsonage or preacher's house, as it was 
 then called. Board and lodging had been provided by 
 Mr. Sause, as we learn by various payments made to 
 him; but now we have charges for brushes, feather berl, 
 bolster, pillows, sheets, bedstead, safe, blankets, plates, 
 chairs, saucepan, and looking-glass; also for preacher's 
 housekeeping and the wages of Rachel and Mrs. An- 
 derson. The list of articles bought or borrowed will 
 be found in Appendix K. Many a Methodist preacher 
 since that day would have been thankful for as much 
 furniture as was provided for the house in John Street.f 
 
 But the best furnished Methodist parsonage at the 
 present time would not be likely to be supplied with as 
 many as " three wine-glasses." And this item in the 
 " Old Book " is not the only one that suggests thoughts 
 in regard to the changes that have taken place in the 
 sentiments and customs of the Christian community. 
 Those old Methodists not only provided wine-glasses, 
 but something to put in them. We read: "1771, Feb- 
 ruary 11, to cash paid Mr. Staples for sugar and wine, 
 etc., £0 I3s. ddy No other charge of the kind, however, 
 appears until May 15, 1778, when six bottles of wine 
 were bought, and on June 23 six bottles of port wine. 
 On September 11 they got two gallons of spirits, and 
 at least five more charges of the same kind follow, 
 
 * For choristers and singing, see Appendix W. 
 f For a description of the house, see Appendix L.
 
 52 A History of MEXHODisii ix New York City. 
 
 genorally for aboiit the same quantity ; and, lest there 
 should be any mistake as to its use, it is in two cases 
 expressly said to be "for the preachers."* Patriotic 
 Americans may take a little comfort from the fact that 
 all these charges, except the first, are dated in 1778 and 
 1779, when New York was occupied by the British army, 
 and the preachers and people who remained must have 
 been almost Avithout exception loyalists. But it will be 
 safest not to throw stones. 
 
 And in this connection it may be well to introduce 
 another transaction, though of a later date, and for 
 which, therefore, Americans must be held responsible: 
 "1790, March 29, cash paid for a ticket in the lottery, £2." 
 We wonder now that colleges, schools, libraries, and 
 even churches should have been willing to use such 
 means to obtain funds; but the practice is not altogether 
 obsolete even now among Methodists. It does not ap- 
 pear from the book that the venture was ])rofi table, f 
 
 But to return to 1770. Under date of October 29 
 of that year we find in the "Old Book" this entry: 
 "To cash paid for a deed in trust from Mr. Forbes to 
 the seven trustees appointed by Richard Boardman, 
 £3 8.5. bdy This is the charge for preparing the- deed, 
 etc. The amount paid for t'le ground is stated to be 
 "ten shillings cu'rent money of the Province of Ncav 
 York." This, however, must have been only a nomi- 
 nal payment. What the actual cost of the ground was 
 is nowhere stated, but it Av^as, it seems, at least six hun- 
 dred pounds. J 
 
 * " Old Book," April 14 and July 7, 1779. 
 
 f It has been said that some of the funds for the church building 
 were obtained by lottery, but no evidence of this can be found. 
 
 :]: On a page in the "Old Book," giving an account of debts in July, 
 176S, we read: '-To tlie Widow Barlley (Barclay), as per mortgage 
 and bond given, six inmdred poiuids."
 
 The Reapers Begix theik Rounds, 53 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE REAPERS BEGIN THEIR ROUNDS. 
 
 New York and Philadelplii.a were the most promi- 
 nent centers of action for Metliodist worlv. Boardnian 
 began his labors at the first and Pilmoor at the other. 
 Among the first-fruits of Boardman's ministry in New 
 York "was the conversion of John Mann, who became 
 a useful preacher and supplied the pulpit at John Street 
 during the Revolutionary War, when the English preach- 
 ers had either returned home or gone into retirement. 
 He also became one of the founders of Methodism in 
 Nova Scotia, and died there in the peace of the Gospel 
 after nearly half a century of faithful service." * 
 
 After five months Boardman and Pilmoor exchanged, 
 and the two seem to have alternated between the two 
 cities three times a year, in the spring, summer, and 
 autumn, the winter term being five months. f In the 
 spring of 17V0 Pilmoor wrote from New York to Wes- 
 ley and the Conference: "Our coming to America has 
 not been in vain." " Our congregations are large, and 
 we have the j^ious of most congregations to hear us. 
 The religion of Jesus is a favorite topic in New York. 
 Many of the gay and polite speak much about grace 
 and perseverance." " The society here consists of 
 about a hundred members, besides probationers." J 
 
 In April, 1771, Boardman wrote to Wesley: "It 
 
 * Arminian Magazine, 1818, p. 641; Stevens's History of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 10-4. f Ibid., vol. i, p. 104. 
 
 I Armima,n Magazine, 1784, p. 223; Stevens's History of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 106.
 
 54 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 pleases God to carry on his work among us. Within 
 this month we have had a great awakening here." 
 " We have had nearly thirty added to the society, live 
 of whom received a clear sense of the pardoning love 
 of God." He speaks with especial interest of the work 
 am(mg the Negroes." * 
 
 The English Conference of 1771 met at Bristol in 
 the early part of August. The attention of Mr. Wes- 
 ley and that of the preachers generally was no doubt 
 occupied pi'incipally with the Calvinistic controversy, 
 then in progress. He says: " We had more preachers 
 than usual at the Conference, in consequence of Mr. 
 Shirley's circular letter. At ten on Thursday morning 
 he came, with nine or ten of his friends. We conversed 
 freely for about two hours ; and I believe they were 
 satisfied that we were not so 'dreadful heretics' as they 
 imagined, but were tolerably sound in the faith." f 
 
 But something else took place at that Conference, 
 wliich he does not notice in his Journal, but which was 
 of more importance to the Church and the world, and 
 especially to Methodism in America, than an^^ discussion 
 of free-will and foreknowledge. " Our brethren in 
 America call aloud for help," said Mr. Wesley. " Who 
 are willing to go over and help them?" Five volun- 
 teered, and two were appointed. Some of the three 
 who, being called, were not chosen might have been 
 useful in the New World; but surely God's foreknowl- 
 edge directed the election of one of the two that were 
 sent, I He was to do more in molding the character 
 and shaping the economy of American Methodism than 
 
 * Arminian Magazine, 1785. p. 113; Stevens's Ilistory of the Mdhodist 
 Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. in-i. f Wesley's Journal, vol. ii, p. 357. 
 
 X It is worthy of notice that Mr. Wesley, lil<e his great Master, 
 sent out his evangelists in couples: Boardman and Pilmoor, Ashury 
 and Wright, Rankin and Shadford, Dempster and Rodda, Whatcoat 
 and Vasey.
 
 The Reapers Begin their Rounds. 55 
 
 any other human instrument. Under any other direction 
 it is not likely that it would have been exactly what 
 it is, and it would be hardly safe to say that any other 
 liand could have led it to greater success. In the view 
 of the Methodist E[>iscopal Church in the United States, 
 Francis Asbury must always stand next to John AVesley 
 as an object of reverence and gratitude. Dr. Coke was 
 a very appropriate messenger to bear across the sea the 
 authority wnth which Mr. Wesley thought proi)er to en- 
 dow his representatives in this country; but neither he 
 nor any of the men that weie here could have used that 
 authority and performed the labor it involved as wisely 
 and faithfully as the farmer's boy of Staffordshire. 
 
 Asbury was the only son of an intelligent peasant of 
 the parish of Handsworth, Staffordshire, a man of re- 
 markable honesty and industry, having all things need- 
 ful, and who might have been wealthy had he been as 
 saving as he was laborious. The death of an only daugh- 
 ter led the mother to a religious life and a passionate 
 love of books. She trained her only remaining child 
 with religious care. He never " dared an oath or haz- 
 arded a lie." He was early sent to school, and at seven 
 years of age could read the Bible, and "greatly delighted 
 in its historical parts ; " but his school-master, by his 
 severity, made school repulsive to him. He lived some 
 time in one of the wealthiest and most ungodly families 
 in the parish, and there became vain, but not openly 
 wicked. He afterward, when thirteen and a half years 
 of age, went to learn a business, at which he spent six 
 and a half years. A pious man, not a Methodist, came 
 into the neighborhood, and was invited to the house 
 by his mother. Through his conversation and prayers 
 Francis was awakened before he was fourteen years old, 
 and began to pray. Hearing of the Methodists, he asked 
 his mother who and what they were. She gave a favor- 
 5
 
 56 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 able account of them, and directed him to a person who 
 could take him to hear them. He ^yas delighted with 
 their singing, and surprised to hear sermons without 
 notes and wonderful prayers without a pra^'cr-book. 
 While praying in his father's barn he obtained pardon. 
 He soon began to hold meetings at his father's house, 
 exhorting the people there and elsewhere. He was less 
 than eighteen years of age when he became a local 
 preacher, and for nearly five years he continued to labor 
 in the neighborhood, preaching sometimes five sermons 
 a week, until, when about twenty-one, he went out as 
 an itinerant to supply the place of an absent preacher. 
 
 Asbury was about twenty-six years of age when ap- 
 pointed to America, and had spent about five years in 
 hard service on Bedfordshire, Colchester, and Wiltshii-e 
 Circuits. Though studious and thoughtful, and some- 
 what inclined to melancholy, his tem})erament was one 
 of those which can only find rest in labor. He was a 
 rigid disciplinarian, a man of few words, and those to 
 the point; of wonderful insight into character; of a 
 sobriety, not to say severity, of spirit which might 
 have been repulsive had it not been softened by a deep 
 religious humility. He seemed to know no fear, never 
 yielded to discouragement, and never lost his self-pos- 
 session. The rigid discipline which he would impose 
 on others he exemplified in himself, so that his asso- 
 ciates accepted it as a challenge of heroic emulation. 
 He was somewhat attentive to his apparel, and always 
 maintained an easy dignity of manner. In his most 
 familiar poi-trait he has the aspect of a Avar-worn mili- 
 tary veteran; but in earlier life his frame was robust, 
 his countenance full, fresh, and expressive of generous, 
 if not refined, feelings. Six months before the Confer- 
 ence session of 1771 he had been impressed with the 
 thought that America was to be his field of labor, and
 
 The Reapers Begix their Rouxds. 57 
 
 when Wesley asked for volunteers he was ready to re- 
 spond, " Here am I, send me." * Though not eminent 
 as a preacher, lie excelled in prayer and singing. His 
 favorite hymn was that beginning, 
 
 " Still out of the deepest abyss," etc., 
 
 which he was accustomed to sing to the tune called 
 " Light Street." " He used to say that he had raised up 
 many a son in the Gospel M-ho could outpreach him, 
 but never one who could outsing him. He might have 
 added, never one who could outpray him." f 
 
 Richard Wright, his companion, had traveled but 
 one year. We know little of his history. He spent 
 most of his time in Maryland and Virginia, and a j)art 
 of it, in the spring of 1772, in New York. In 1774 he 
 returned to England, and after three years his name 
 disappears from the Minutes. 
 
 After the Conference closed Asbury went to take 
 leave of his friends. He was the only child of his par- 
 ents, yet, he says, " they consented to let me go. My 
 motlier is one of the tenderest parents in the world; 
 but I believe she was blessed" "with divine assistance 
 to part with me." He never saw her again. Some others 
 of the preachers wiio came to America crossed and re- 
 crossed the ocean; Asbury never did. But as long as 
 she lived his mother received from him such remit- 
 tances as he could send; and to contribute thus to her 
 comfort was one motive for his persistent celibacy. 
 
 He arrived at Bristol to embark without a penny for 
 his expenses. But the Lord soon opened the hearts of 
 friends, who supplied him with clothes and ten pounds. 
 He "had but two blankets for his bed, and slept with 
 them on the hard boards during the voyage." 
 
 * Condensed from iitevens'a Illstori/ of the Methudisi Episcopal Church, 
 vol. i, pp. 111-117. j Lednum, p. 311.
 
 58 A HisTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The ship sailed on tlie 2(1 of September, and on Oc- 
 tober 27 tliey handed at Philadelphia. On November 
 V Asbury started for New York, preaching on the way 
 in New Jersey and Staten Island, and reaching the city 
 on the 12th. Boardman Avelcomed him, and the next 
 day he began his ministry with a sermon on the text, 
 " For I determined not to know any thing among you, 
 save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." He had freedom, 
 and says: "I approved much of the spirit of the peo- 
 ple; they were loving and serious; there appeared also 
 in some a love of disci[)line." The next day he preached 
 again, and says: " My heart is truly enlarged, and I know 
 the life and power of religion is here." Again he says: 
 " I feel a regard for the peoj^le, and I think the Ameri- 
 cans are more ready to receive the word than the Englifsh; 
 and to see the poor Negroes so affected is pleasing; to 
 see their sable countenances in our solemn assemblies, and 
 to hear them sing with cheerful melody their Redeemer's 
 praise, affected me much, and made me ready to say, ' Of 
 a truth, I perceive God is no respecter of persons.' " 
 
 One thing, however, dissatisfied him. Boardman and 
 Pilmoor had confined themselves mostly to the cities 
 of Philadelphia and New York. "I am fixed," he says, 
 " to the Methodist plan." From reading what he has re- 
 corded in his Journal, and comparing it with other facts, 
 it seems likely that unless Asbury, or a man of similar 
 views and spirit, had been sent here Methodism in 
 America would have differed far more than it has done 
 from the original Wesleyan model. In doctrine and 
 some other respects it might have followed in the 
 primitive path; but its ministry would have been not 
 as truly itinerant as it has been. 
 
 Asbury pushed out into Westchester County, visiting 
 West Farms, West Chester, East Chester, New Ro- 
 chelle, Mamaroneck, Rye, etc., and laying the founda-
 
 The Reapers Begin their Rounds. 59 
 
 tions there for future laborers to build upon. But we 
 cannot follow him in his work outside of the city. 
 After spending a little more than a month in the coun- 
 try he returned to the city, and, though not well, finding 
 Pilmoor ill, he "preached in the morning " of the Lord's 
 day " and found life." On Monday, January 11, 1772, 
 he " went to the jail and visited a condemned criminal, 
 and preached to him and others with some tender feel- 
 ings." Early in March he set out for Philadelphia.* 
 
 In July, 1772, under Boardman's direction he re- 
 turned to New York, and expresses dissatisfaction with 
 Mr. Wright's management. " He has been pretty strict 
 in the society, but ended all with a general love-feast; f 
 which, r think, is undoing all he has done." " The 
 congregations," he says, " are steady," but he complains 
 of the prevalence of "a party spirit." On Septem- 
 ber 6 he held "a meeting for the better f)rdering 
 of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the society. In 
 this meeting, he says, "I propounded the following 
 queries: 
 
 "1. How often shall there be public preaching? 
 Agreed that it should be on Tuesday, Thursday, and 
 Friday nights, besides the Lord's day; an exhortation 
 on Saturday night. 
 
 " 2, Shall we have morning preaching ? J This was 
 agreed to. 
 
 " 3. Shall we have the society meetings private ? 
 This was doubted by some; but I insisted on it, from 
 our rules and Mr, Wesley's last letter. 
 
 " 4. Shall we make a weekly and quarterly collec- 
 tion ? Agreed. 
 
 "5. Can any other means be devised to lessen the 
 
 *TI)e dates in Asbury's Journal are many of them erroneous, 
 and it is often difficult to ascertain his movements. 
 
 t Witli open doors i^robably. J Probably at five o'clock.
 
 GO A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 debt ? The debt Avas £1,100, but no other means could 
 be found to relieve it. 
 
 " 6. Ought we not to be more strict with disorderly 
 persons ? Very little was said in answer to this. 
 
 " 7. Shall we have three stewards for the satisfaction 
 of the society ? The majority voted against it. 
 
 " 8. Are we as frugal as we can be ? It was 
 thought we Avcre. 
 
 " 9. Will the stewards meet me once a week ? 
 Agreed. 
 
 " 10. Do we endeavor to avoid all partiality iu the 
 things of God ? 
 
 "11. Can we come at the balance of our accounts 
 now or soon ? It was thought we could. 
 
 " 12. Who will stand at the door ? * Not determined. 
 
 "13. Shall we meet the society on Sunday nights? 
 This was opposed by some. But I insisted upon its 
 being the best time, and at last it was agreed to for a 
 season. 
 
 '• 14. Who shall be the collectors ? This was not de- 
 termined, though debated. 
 
 "15. Can the preacher meet the children? Agreed. 
 
 " 10. Can we spread the books ? There was but little 
 said on this head, and it was left undetermined."' 
 
 A few days after Asbury " met the people, to discuss 
 with them about their temporal matters, and appointed 
 Mr. C. (Chave) to take an account of the weekly and 
 quarterly collections. But the two other steAvards refused 
 an exact entry of the money that is not settled. How- 
 ever, the people musthave the same satisfaction concern- 
 ing the other collections." He was determined to have 
 Methodist discipline carried out. The effect, financially, 
 at least, seems to have been good. The collections for 
 about five months preceding were about seventy-three 
 * At love-fcasls, etc.
 
 The Reapers Begin their Rounds. 61 
 
 ])0uir1s. For that same period immediately after they 
 Avere eighty-seven pounds, and in the five montlis next 
 succeeding they were one hundred and sixteen pounds. 
 Even good men will sometimes differ in opinion and 
 get heated in controversy. Tliis was the case with 
 Paul and Barnabas : " And the contention was so sharp 
 between them that they departed asunder one from the 
 other." On Friday, October 9, Asbury writes in his 
 Journal : " I met tlie leaders, and there were some sharp 
 debates. After much had been said, I was charged with 
 using Mr. N. (Newton) ill in saying he opposed my 
 meeting the societj^ ]\[r. L. (Lupton) told me I had 
 already preached the people awa}^, and intimated that 
 the whole work would be destroyed by me. Perhaps 
 this was because I spoke so freely to Mi-. N. (Newton) 
 and desired him to take care what company he kept." 
 But the very next day he says: "I received a letter 
 from Mr. WeslcA', in which he required a strict atten- 
 tion to discipline, and appointed me to act as assistant" 
 — in other words, superintendent of the American soci- 
 eties. "Wesley was evidently discoveiing that the young 
 Asbury, then only about twenty-seven years of age, was 
 better qualitied for the care of the churches than Board- 
 man, who was some seven years older. Boardman, 
 however, seems to have yielded gracefully. They 
 met at Princeton not long after, and Asbury writes : 
 " We both agreed in judgment about the affairs of the 
 society, and were comforted together," * On Lord's 
 day, October 18, he preached in New York twdce and 
 held a love-feast. "Many," he says, "spoke freely, 
 but not long. This I have observed more here tlian 
 in England, that the jieople speak short, and yet very 
 full." The next day he took the stage for Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 *Asbiir,y"s Journal, Monday, October ]9, 1772.
 
 62 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 MORE LABORERS AND MORE THOROUGH ORGAN- 
 IZATION. 
 
 And now raoro help was on the way. Captain Wehh, 
 revisiting England in 1772, appealed to Wesley and the 
 Conferenc;e for more missionaries. Such was his zoal 
 that Charles Wesley regarded him with surprise, 
 and pronounced him fanatical. He demanded two of 
 the ablest men of the British Conference, Christopher 
 Hopper and Joseph Benson.* Charles Weslc}' opposed 
 the demand, but the captain Avent to the Conference 
 at Leeds and there addressed the preachers with an 
 eloquence that kindled their enthusiasm. George Shad- 
 ford heard him, and says: "I felt my spirit stirred 
 within me to go. When I considered that we had in 
 England many men of grace and gifts far superior to 
 mine, but few seemed to offer themselves willingly, I 
 saw my call the more clearly. Accordingly Mr, Rankin 
 and I offered ourselves." 
 
 Thomas Rankin w^as a native of Dunbar, Scotland; 
 he was trained in religious habits, and early resolved to 
 become a minister of the Gospel. For a time worldly 
 amusements took the place of serious subjects, though 
 lie never became openly immoral. Some converted 
 soldiers came to Dunbar, and from them he gained his 
 first acquaintance with Methodism. Sermons from 
 Whitefield deepened the impression and led to his con- 
 version. He was soon employed as a local preacher, 
 and Wesley called him into the itinerancy in 1761. He 
 
 * Stevens's Uktory of the Mdhodist Episcoj)al Church, vol. i, p. 141.
 
 More Laborers, Thorough Organization. 63 
 
 labored with great success in various circuits until he 
 was appointed as general superintendent of the work 
 in America. 
 
 Shadford was a native of Lincolnshire. His parents, 
 though strangers to experimental religion, tried to train 
 him up aright, but he fell into vicious liabits and en- 
 listed in the militia. Impressive sermons and the death 
 of acquaintances aroused serious thoughts from time 
 to time, but it was not until May, 1762, that he was 
 melted and subdued. lie joined the society, soon began 
 to exhort and preach, and in 1768 received an appoint- 
 ment from tlie Conference. He labored successfully in 
 Cornwall, Kent, and Norwich, and, as above stated, at 
 the Leeds Conference he offered himself for America.* 
 On Good Friday, April 9, 1773, with Joseph Yearbry 
 (another preacher) he embarked at Bristol. Captain 
 Webb and his wife accompanied them, the captain 
 providing for all the expenses of their voyage. On 
 the 3d of June they reached Philadelphia, to Asbury's 
 "great comfort." The removal of the burden of the 
 superintendency was a relief to him. He says: "Mr. 
 R. [Rankin] preached a good sermon on these words: 
 ' I have set before thee an open door, and no man can 
 shut it.' f He will not be admired as a preacher, but as 
 a disciplinarian he will fill his place." 
 
 On Saturday, June 12, Asbury and Rankin arrived 
 in New York, where friends met them on the dock. 
 The next day Asbury j^reached at seven o'clock in the 
 morning, to a considerable number of people. His text 
 was appropriate. "Behold, Boaz came from Bethle- 
 hem, and said unto the reapers. The Lord be with you. 
 And they answered him, The Lord bless thee." Ruth 
 
 * Wesley's Missionaries to America, p. 244. 
 
 f H:)d he continued firm in this failh perliaps he would not have 
 left the work in this country as lie did.
 
 64 A IIiSTOKY OF Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 ii, 4. During the service Rankin was for a time 
 anxious, if not deiDressed, reflecting on his motives 
 in coming. But, he says, " I could appeal to God 
 with the utmost sincerity of heart ; I had only- 
 one thing in view, his glory, the salvation of souls, 
 connected with my own. In a moment the cloud 
 broke and the power of God rested on my soul, and all 
 gloom fled away, as morning shades before the rising 
 sun. I had then faith to believe that I should see his 
 glory, as 1 had seen it in the sanctuary." * In the 
 evening Rankin preached, and, Asbury says, "dispensed 
 the word of truth with power." On the 23d Asbury 
 returned to New York from a trip to AVestchester 
 County. He says : " I found Mr. Rankin had been 
 well employed in settling matters pertaining to the 
 Society. This afforded me great satisfaction, and more 
 especially the revival of religion which has lately taken 
 place in this city." 
 
 But the troubled watei's had not been completely 
 stilled. On Friday, the 9th of July, Asbury writes in 
 his Journal : " After intercession I went to see Mr. L. 
 [Lupton]. Mr. S. [Sause], Mr. W. [White], and my- 
 self were charged with winking at the follies of some. 
 We had a little debate on the subject, and Mr. L. was 
 pleased to say, 'he did not know but the church door 
 would be shut against me;' and that 'some persons 
 would not suffer matters to go on so.' He moreover 
 told me ' the preachers' gifts were taken away.' f On 
 the following evening, however, Asbury had a comfort- 
 able time in meeting the leaders and band society, and 
 preached twice the next day ' with great plainness to a 
 
 * Stevens's History of Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 158. 
 
 f Paul and Barnabas were yet sharply contending. It is not pleas- 
 ant to record these things, but an honest history must tell the whole 
 truth.
 
 More Laborers, Thorough Organization. 65 
 
 large number of people.' Perhaps he notes tlie size of 
 his congregations as evidence that he had not ' preached 
 the people away.' " 
 
 Thomas Rankin was probably instructed by Mr. 
 Wesley to call the preachers together for a general 
 conference, and accordingly we find Asbury proceeded 
 to Philadelphia, where, on Wednesday, July 14, the 
 session of the first Conference in America began.* The 
 authority of Mr. Wesley was acknowledged, the doc- 
 trine and discipline as contained in the English Minutes 
 to be accepted, the ordinances of baptism and the 
 Lord's Supper not to be administered, but received at 
 the hands of the clergy of the Established Church ; the 
 love-feasts and society meetings to be select ; none of 
 Mr. Wesley's books to be reprinted without consent, and 
 reports to be made by the preachers once in six months 
 to the general assistant. New York reported one hundred 
 and eighty members, and Thomas Rankin was appointed 
 there " to change in four months" with George Shadford, 
 who was appointed to Philadelphia for the same period. 
 In his Journal of July 16 Asbury says : " I understand 
 that some dissatisfied persons in New York threaten to 
 shut the church door against Mr. R. [Rankin]. If they 
 should be bold enough to take this step, we shall see 
 what the consequences will be." Rankin seems to have 
 been regarded by some of the New York society in the 
 same light as Asl^ury. 
 
 On Sunday, August 29, f Rankin writes: "I preached 
 at the usual hours, morning and evening, and after- 
 ward met the society. In some good degree this has 
 
 *The printed Minutes say June. 1773, but this is evidently an error, 
 if Asbury's Journal is to be relied on. And see Stevens's History of 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 160. 
 
 f Not July 29, as Dr. Stevens reads it, inconsistently with his note, 
 vol. i, p. 160. See "Wesley's Missionaries to America, p. 223.
 
 66 A History of Methodism ii^ ISTew Yoek City. 
 
 been a Sabbath of rest to my soul ! I was assisted 
 by the labors of Pilmoor the ensuing ^n^eek, bavins^ re- 
 turned from a journey in tlie country. He preached 
 with more life and divine power this week than he has 
 done since I landed at Philadelphia. Blessed be God 
 that he is returning to the simplicity of spirit that made 
 him so useful when he first came over to America." 
 Boardraan came to his aid in October. In the same 
 month Rankin went to Philadelphia and Shadford came 
 to New York. 
 
 Shadford was modest even to diffidence, and entered 
 New York with painful self-distrust. He says: "My 
 next remove was to New York, where I spent four 
 months with great satisfaction. I went thither with fear 
 and trembling, and was much cast down from a sense 
 of my own unworthiness and inability to preach the 
 Gospel to a polite and sensible people. But the Lord 
 condescended to make use of his poor weak servant 
 for the revival of religion at that city. I added 
 fifty members in those four months," "and several 
 backsliders were restored to their first love." " I 
 left in New York two hundred and four members in 
 society." * 
 
 We have seen that Boardman and Pilmoor both as- 
 sisted for a season in the work in New York. Their 
 names do not appear in the list of appointnaeiits, and it 
 is supposed that they labored at their own discretion. 
 Not sympathizing Avith the American people in their 
 growing resistance to the British government, they 
 were probably, at the time of the session of the Con- 
 ference, meditating a return to England, and therefore 
 preferred to be left at libei'ty. On Sunday, December 
 26, 1773, Pilmoor preached his farewell sermon in 
 Philadelphia, and the next day set off for New York, 
 * Experiences of Several Methodist Preachers, p. 3-13.
 
 More Labokebs, Thorough Orgais-ization. 67 
 
 from whence he and Boarclmau sailed for England Jan- 
 uary 2, 1774.* 
 
 In March, 1774, Rankin returned to New York. On 
 the 6th, he writes: "The congregations were large, and 
 the j)resence of the Holy One of Israel was in our 
 midst." "I observed that the labors of ray fellow-la- 
 borer, Mr. Shadford, have not been in vain. The spirit 
 of love seems to increase among the people. Sunday, 
 May 22, I found freedom to declare the word of the 
 Loid." " We concluded the evening with a general 
 
 *Boardra;in continued in tlie itinerancy and died at Cork, Ireland, 
 after a brief illness in 1782. Pilmoor's name is found in the list of 
 ai^pointments in England, with little intermission, until 1785, when 
 it disappears witliout explanation. It is said he was not pleased 
 with Mr. "Wesley for leaving his name out of the list of the legal 
 lumdred, and therefore withdrew. Returning to America, lie took 
 orders iu the Protestant Episcopal Churcli, and labored for a time in 
 Philadelphia. About 1791 some members of Trinity Church, New 
 York, petitioned that he be appointed assistant minister in that parish. 
 The request being refused, his friends organized Christ Church, where 
 he labored until 1805, when he was succeeded by Rev. Tlionias 
 Lyell, who had also been a Methodist preacher. The congregation 
 built in Ann Street, but in 1823 tliey removed to Anthony (now 
 Worth) Street, between Broadway and Churcli Street. They now 
 worship at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street 
 
 Pihnoor went from New York to Philadelphia, where he was rector 
 of St. Paul's Church. Asbury, writing in Wilmington, Del., April 2, 
 1814, says: "Joseph Pilmoor is yet alive, and preaches three times 
 every Sabbath." He outgrew bis resentment against Wesley, and 
 never lost his original affection for his Metliodist brethren. Dr. N. 
 Bangs says that at the first Conference he attended in the old John 
 Street Church, in 1804, a tall, dignified old gentleman came in and 
 walked to the altar where Bishop Asbury was sitting. Tiie bi.shop 
 arose and shook his hand, and introduced him to the Conference, say- 
 ing: "This is Brotlier Pilmoor, who used to preach in this pulpit 
 under the direction of Mr. Joliu Wesley." Mr. Pilmoor bowed re- 
 spectfully, paid his annual subscription to the preacher's fund, and, 
 after a while, withdrew. f He lived to a good old age and died greatly 
 venerated. 
 
 tWakeley's .Lost CJiapters, p. 217.
 
 68 A History of Methodism ix Neav York City. 
 
 love-feast, in which the Lord's presence was powerfully 
 felt by many persons." " Some of the poor black peo- 
 ple spoke with power and pungency of the loving-kind- 
 ness of the Lord." * 
 
 Li view of the time of their departure, it is evident 
 that to the latter part of 1773 we are to assign the date 
 of the following minute, found in the " Old Book." 
 Why it is left with the blanks in it cannot be ex- 
 plained: 
 
 At a Meeting of the Trustees of the two Lots of ground and the 
 
 Methodist Meeting-Iiouse thereon erected, Situate in the City of New 
 
 York, now resident in the said City, held in the said Meeting-Iiouse 
 
 this day of in the year of our Lord One thousand 
 
 seven hundred and seventy- three. , Ttr-ir t *. 
 
 •' ( ^^ illiam Lupton, 
 
 Present, j james Jarvis, 
 ' Henry Newton. 
 
 "Whereas, Richard Boardman, Joseph Pilmoor, Thomas "Webb, 
 and John Soutliwell are, togetlier with us, the said William Lupton, 
 James Jarvis, and Henry Newton, named Grantees and Trustees 
 of the said two Lots of ground and Meeting-house, as in [and] by a 
 certain Indenture of Release bearing date the second day of Novem- 
 ber, m the year of our Lord one tlionsand seven hundred and seventy, 
 made and executed liy Joseph Forbc-s unto them and us, as will fully 
 appear. And whereas the said Richard Boardman, Joseph Pilmoor, 
 Thomas Webb, and John Soutliwell have departed from and do reside 
 out of the Province of New York, by means whereof they are become 
 incapable of Executing tiie Trust so as aforesaid reposed in them: 
 Now WE, the said William Lupton, James Jarvis, and Henry New- 
 ton, in order to have the full Number of Trustees for the said two Lots 
 of Ground and Meetiug-House, according to the Tenor of the said re- 
 lease. Do hereb}' choose John Mann, John Staples, Samuel Selby, and 
 David Johnson to be Trustees of and for the said two Lots of ground 
 and Meeting-house, in the Room and stead of them, the said Richard 
 Boardman, Joseph Pilmoor, . . . Thomas Webb, and John South- 
 well. . . . And also Stephen Sands and William Elseworth to be 
 additional Trustees of and for the said two Lots of ground and 
 Meeting-House. 
 
 *Stevens's History of M thod'it Episcopal CJiurcJi, vol. i, p. 211.
 
 More Laborers, Thorough Organization. G9 
 
 The second Conference met in Philadelphia May 25, 
 1774. Two hundred and twenty-two members were 
 reported in Xew York, and Francis Asbury was ap- 
 pointed there " to change in three months." Frona 
 his Journal, however, we find he remained until the 
 last of October. He says : " My old friends in York 
 were glad to see me. But I still fear there is a root 
 of prejudice remaining in the hearts of a few." After- 
 ward he says : " How wonderfully is the language and 
 behavior of Mr. L. [Lupton] changed toward me. 
 Befoi'e I "was every thing that was bad. But now all is 
 very good. This is a mistake ; my doctrine and preach- 
 ing are the same, and so is my manner. But such is 
 the deceitfulness of the man. His favorite [Mr. Pil- 
 moor ?] is now gone. Had I preached like an arch^ 
 angel it would have been to no purpose while I thought 
 it my duty to oppose him." * Asbury was human, and 
 perhaps did not respond to overtures for reconciliation 
 as heartily as he should. On November 4 James 
 Jarvis, one of the original trustees and a class-leader, 
 died, and Asbury appointed Richard Sause to the 
 charge of his class. On the 19th of the same month 
 he learned of the arrival of James Dempster, who, 
 with Martin Rodda, had been sent out by Mr. Wesley. 
 On the 28th Asbury set out for Philadelphia, leaving 
 Dempster in charge at New York. James Dempster 
 Avas a Scotchman, who had studied at the University 
 of Edinburgh. He traveled about ten years in the 
 Wesleyan itinerancy, and was highly esteemed by Mr. 
 Wesley. At the Conference of 1775 he was appointed 
 to New York; but his health failed, and in the same 
 year he retired from the work. He afterward joined 
 the Presbyterian Church, " with a distinct avowal of 
 his adherence to the Wesleyan doctrines, of which his 
 * Journal, July 10, 1774.
 
 10 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 views never changed," and was "an accepted minister 
 of that Church as long as lie lived," He was settled 
 as pastor ot" a congregation at Florida, Montgomery 
 County, N. Y., where he died in 1804.* His son. Rev. 
 John Dempster, D.D., became an eminent minister of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and a leader in the 
 establishment of her theological seminaries. Martin 
 Rodda, who came with Dempster, was never appointed 
 to New York, and returned to England after three 
 years. 
 
 At the Conference of l77o the report of members 
 in New York was two hundred, a decrease of twenty- 
 tv,'o. James Dempster, as Ave have seen, was appointed 
 to the charge without any thing being said of a change, 
 but " Thomas Rankin is to travel till the month of 
 December and then take a quarter in New York." It is 
 probable the plan was carried into effect ; but we have 
 nothing that casts any light on the state of things this 
 year. It would seem, however, not to have been a sea- 
 son of prosperity, as only one hundred and thirty-two 
 members are reported in 1776, a decrease of sixty-eight. 
 The War of the Revolution had begun. f 
 
 The Conference of 177G was held at Baltimore, May 
 21. Daniel Ruff was appointed to New York, the first 
 native American preacher sent to that charge. He was 
 converted in Harford County, Md., and soon became 
 noted as an exhorter and local preacher. Asbury, 
 visiting his neighborhood March 4, 1774, says : " Honest, 
 simple Daniel Raff has been made a great blessing to 
 these people. Such is the wisdom and power of God 
 
 * See references in Stevens's History of Mdhodost Episcopal Church, 
 vol. i, p. 264. 
 
 f From May 20, 1774, to May 11, 1776, the " Old Book" does not 
 give a full account of payments. They are summed up in two en- 
 tries of "Sundries brought from Journal." The items of the receipts, 
 however, are recorded.
 
 More Laborers, Thorough Orgaistiza-tion. 71 
 
 that he has wrought marvelously by this plain man, 
 that no flesh may glory in his presence." Joining the 
 Conference in 1774, he was appointed to Chester Cir- 
 cuit, and in l77o to Trenton. Freeborn Garrettson was 
 converted after hearing one of his sermons, and Ruff 
 first called him into the ministry. He afterward la- 
 bored principally in New Jersey. In 1781 his name 
 disappears from the Minutes. It is said he located.* 
 His name appears for the last time in the "Old Book" 
 August 18, 1776. It is likely that as a native of the 
 country he sympathized with the patriots, and when 
 the British army entered New York deemed it prudent 
 to retire. 
 
 * Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 255 ; Stevens's History of Methodist 
 Episcopal Churchy vol. i, p. 206 ; Bangs's History of MetJijxlist Episcopal 
 Church, vol. iv, Appendix, p. 32. 
 6
 
 12 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THK STORM AND THE CLEARIXG. 
 
 And now for six years the Minutes give no appoint- 
 ments to New York city. In 1777 the members are 
 reported to be ninety-six. In tlie list of stations we 
 liave "New York" followed by a blank, and in the 
 succeeding five years even the name disappears. It is 
 a mistake, however, to suppose that Methodist preach- 
 ing was suspended during that period. Dr. Bangs, in 
 his valuable and generally correct history, says the 
 British troops " had converted tlie meeting-house into 
 barracks for the soldiers, so that it was not possible to 
 occupy it for preaching regularly, oven had a preacher 
 been permitted to reside among them." * Mr. Gabriel 
 P. Disosway says that he always understood that this 
 was the case. The error can easily be accounted for. 
 "All the Presbyterian churches in New York were used 
 for military ])urpo.ses. The Middle Dutch Church, in 
 Nassau Street, was used for a ])rison, in which three 
 thousand Americans were confined. The pews were 
 consumed for fuel, and it was afterward used by the 
 British cavalry for a riding-school. The North Dutch 
 Church, in William Street, was also a prison. The pews 
 were destroyed and two thousand prisoners were con- 
 fined there. The Baptist Church was converted into a 
 horse-stable. The Quaker Meeting-house in Pearl Street 
 was used as a hospital. The Fi-ench Church was used 
 as a prison." f It was natural, therefore, to suppose that 
 Wesley Chapel fared no better. 
 
 *BaDgs's History of Methodist Ejnscopal Church, vol. i, p. 119. 
 ■j- Wakelcy's Lost Chapters, p. 270.
 
 The Storm and the Clearixo. 73 
 
 But here the " Old Book " furnislies vahiable testi- 
 mony. All through the period of the British occupa- 
 tion we have cliarges of payments to the preacher and 
 the sexton, and for supplies of wood and candles and 
 necessary repairs for the chapel and preacher's house. 
 Indeed, it would seem they made some improvements. 
 December 4, 1778, we read: "To carpenter's bill for 
 gallery doors, etc., £4 4s." We are told that at first 
 there were no stairs to the gallery, and that it was 
 reached by a ladder. It is likely that until then there 
 were windows in the lower story in front, on each side 
 of the central door, and that the necessity of a better 
 entrance led to their being changed to doors, with steps 
 on the outside and additional stairs within. But the 
 work, whatever it was, would not have been done if the 
 British troops were in occupation. 
 
 Nor is it hard to account for the favor shown them. 
 Methodism was still regarded as a society in the Church 
 of England. Its founder had strongly opposed the 
 course of the Americans in refusing to be taxed, and his 
 " Calm Address to the American Colonies " was an 
 earnest plea for their submission. The members, 
 especially those who remained in the city at that time, 
 were very generally loyalists. The preachers who had 
 served them were known to be decidedly such, and it 
 is not unlikely that the association of Captain Webb 
 with the chapel, and perhaps his personal influence with 
 army oflicers, led to its protection from the general 
 fate.* " The society in John Street enjoyed so much 
 indulgence as to occupy their church for Sunday night 
 service, while the Hessians had it in the morning for 
 their own chaplains and people." f As the Methodists 
 did not then hold morning service during the usual 
 church hours, it is probable that their worship was not 
 *See Appendix J. f Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 272.
 
 74 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 at all interfered with. Their collections, indeed, seem 
 to have increased. They were much larger during the 
 war than immediately before and after, and they paid 
 their preacher a larger salary. So many other churches 
 being closed, their congregations were increased, and 
 some of the British officers, no doubt, attended and con- 
 tributed liberally to the funds. But it is not to be 
 supposed that they were free from annoyance. Lewd 
 fellows of the baser sort, both in the army and of the 
 populace, have always been ready to disturb a Meth- 
 odist meeting. The writer remembers hearing in his 
 boyhood the incident related by Mr. G. P. Disosway, 
 as received from Hannah Baldwin — a blind lady, for 
 many years the leading female singer in the John Street 
 church. On one occasion a party of English soldiers 
 began to sing, " God Save the King." The Methodists 
 joined in the tune, but with different words.* 
 
 TUE SOLDIERS WORDS: 
 
 ■ God save great George, our king ! 
 Long live our noble king; 
 
 God save tlie kingl 
 Send him victorious, 
 Happy and glorious. 
 Long to reign over us ; 
 
 God save the king ! 
 
 Lord, our God, arise. 
 Scatter his enemies, 
 
 And make them fall ; 
 Confound their politics, 
 Frustrate their knavisli tricks ; 
 On him our hopes we fix ; 
 
 God save us all ! " 
 
 THE METHODISTS' ■WORDS; 
 
 " Come, thou almighty King, 
 Help us thy name to sing, 
 
 Help us to praise: 
 Faljier, all-glorious. 
 O'er all victorious. 
 Come and reign over us, 
 Ancient of daysl 
 
 " Jesus, our Lord, arise, 
 Scatter our enemies, 
 
 And make them fall; 
 Let thine almighty aid 
 Our sure defense be made, 
 Our souls on thee be stayed ; 
 
 Lord, hear o'.;r call ! " f 
 
 *Ree Stevens, vol. i, p. 421. 
 
 f Tliis last verse is not in our present Hymnal, but was in all the 
 books for about a century before.
 
 The Storm and the Clearing. 75 
 
 Mr. Disosway says the Methodists sang after the 
 soldiers had conckided, but the author always under- 
 stood that they took up the tune, singing with thera 
 but with the words of Charles Wesley's beautiful hymn, 
 as related above. 
 
 " Upon a Christmas eve, when the members had as- 
 sembled to celebrate the advent of the world's Re- 
 deemer, a party of British officers, masked, marched 
 into the house of God. One, very properly personify- 
 ing their master, was dressed with cloven feet and a 
 long forked tail. The devotions, of course, soon ceased, 
 and the chief devil, proceeding up the aisle, entered the 
 altar. As he was ascending the stairs of the pulpit a 
 gentleman present with his cane knocked off his satanic 
 majesty's mask, Avhen lo, there stood a well-known 
 British colonel. He was immediately seized and de- 
 tained until the city guard was sent to take charge of 
 the bold offender. The congregation retired and the 
 entrances of the church were locked upon the prisoner 
 for additional security. His companions outside then 
 commenced an attack upon the doors and windows, but 
 the arrival of the guard put an end to these disgrace- 
 ful proceedings, and the prisoner was delivered into 
 their custody." * 
 
 *Mr. G. P. Disosway; "Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 459. These 
 incidents could not liave occurred unless the church was occupied by 
 tiie Methodists. 
 
 Another account of this incident is as follows: " On the last even- 
 ing of 1777 some of tiie officers of Howe's army acted a play'in New 
 York entitled, 'The Devil to Pay in the West Indies.' After it they 
 got drunk and went reeling and yelling through the streets. Passing 
 the Methodist cliapel, where a watch-night was in progress, they 
 went in. The officer that represented the devil had a cow's hide 
 fastened to his shoulders, with the horns painted red, while the tail 
 dragged on the floor. He went up and stood beside the preacher. 
 The preacher stopped and the women screamed. Two strong men 
 laid hold of him and walked him out of tlie house, and if they did not
 
 7G A History of Methodism i^ New York City. 
 
 An entry in the "Old Book" dated March 17, 1779, 
 may have reference to this event. It reads: "To cash 
 paid Mayor Serg't for his attendance, £1 4s." On 
 another occasion, also, they needed protection, as ap- 
 pears from a charge dated Februarj^ 4, 1782: "Paid 
 sentinels for six nights, £2 8s." After the war we find 
 several payments at different times to constables for 
 their services. Within the recollection, indeed, of many 
 now living the aid of the police was needed, especially 
 in the evening, and more especially when watch-night 
 services were held. To disturb a Methodist meeting 
 was rich sport to the rowdy element of the population. 
 
 Though the Minutes, as we have said, give no ap- 
 pointments in New York during the war, tradition, 
 corroborated by the " Old Book," enables us to sup])ly 
 to some extent the deficiency. John Mann and Samuel 
 Spraggs served the Church during that time, John 
 Mann was born in the city of New York in 1743. He 
 was awakened by the truth, and, his mother being a 
 Moravian, he was received into that Church by the 
 Rev. Mr. Gamble. Under a sermon by Boardman he 
 obtained the knowledge of his acceptance with God. 
 He became a class-leader, an exhorter, and a local 
 preacher, and labored with success at Bloomingdale and 
 on Long Island. When Ruff left the city he was de- 
 sired by the trustees and leaders to supply the pulpit, 
 which he did until, when Philadelphia was taken by 
 the British troops, Samuel Spraggs came and took 
 charge, and Mann henceforth acted as his assistant. 
 His name, however, does not a]ipear in the accounts. 
 From the time when Daniel Ruff" left until February 26, 
 1779, the payments are made to or for "the preacher." 
 
 bind him for a thousand years, they put him under arrest. General 
 Howe found it necessary to coucihate the Methodists, setting a guard 
 to protect them, and keeping his men in order." — Lednum, p. 194.
 
 The Stoem and the Clearing. 77 
 
 Mann remained, as it seems, all through the war, but, 
 being a loyalist, left at its conclusion. He was there in 
 May, 1782, but was gone in September, 1783.* Witli 
 other members of the New York society of like political 
 opinion he emigrated to Nova Scotia, where Freeborn 
 Garrettson found him, and makes honorable mention of 
 him ill his letters to Wesley. His name appears in the 
 Minutes of 1786, Mdiere we read, "Nova Scotia, William 
 Black, John Maim." He died in Newport, Nova Scotia, 
 in 1816, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. f 
 
 Samuel Spraggs was received on trial in 1774, and ap- 
 pointed to the Brunswick Circuit, Virginia. The two 
 succeeding years he was in Philadelphia, an evidence 
 that he had met with good success. In 1777 his charo-e 
 was Frederick Circuit, Maryland. Asbury, in his Jour- 
 nal (March 9, 1778), says, "S. S. [Spraggs] came in from 
 the upper circuit, but on Tuesday both he and G. S. 
 [Shadford] left me." He was jH-obably, like Shadford, 
 an Englishman and a loyalist, and may have contem- 
 jilated a return to England with him, but on arriving in 
 New York, while Shadford continued his journey home, 
 Spraggs was perhaps induced to remain and supply the 
 John Street pulpit. His name thus naturally disap- 
 ])ears from the Minutes, as no Conference appointments 
 could be made for New York. In 1783, however, when 
 the city again appears in the list, we find him assigned 
 to the charge, with John Dickins. Then his name un- 
 accoutitably disappears. He afterward became pastor 
 of the Protestant Episcopal church in Elizabethtown, 
 N. J., where a tablet was erected to his memory. He 
 is described as a good preacher, and highly esteemed. 
 In an old volume, containing the family records of Mr. 
 
 * See elections of trustees in " Old Book " for May 3, 1782, and Sep- 
 tember 16, 1783, etc. See further on p. 78. 
 f Wiikeley's Lost Chapters, p. 260.
 
 78 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 John Staples, one of the original trustees, is the entry: 
 " Our son, Samuel Spraggs, was born the 10th of Sep- 
 tember, 1781." * The last payment to Mr. Spraggs men- 
 tioned in the "Old Book" is dated July 10, 1783, and 
 reads, "Paid balance due Mr. Spraggs £18 9^." 
 
 Two other extracts from the " Old Book " relating to 
 the period of the war must find place here. The 
 first is: 
 
 New York, May 3, 1782. 
 At a general meeting of the trustees for the Methodist preaching- 
 house in this city Jolin Staples, Stephen Sands, and Philip Marchin- 
 ton were unanimously chosen as joint trustees with us. 
 
 "William Lupton^, 
 Charles White, 
 John Maxn, 
 Richard Sacse. 
 
 The other is as follows: 
 
 New York, Sept. 16, 1753. 
 At a general meeting of the trustees for tlie Metliodist preaching- 
 house in this city Abraham Russel and Peter McClain, Jr., are ap- 
 pointed as joint trustees with the subsctribers in the room of Charles 
 "Wliite and John Mann, departed the city. 
 
 [A little more than a line is here written and crossed out] 
 
 William Lupton, 
 John Staples, 
 Stephen Sands. 
 
 Philip Marchinton and Richard Sause are not named 
 in this last document. It is probable that they also 
 had " departed the city." f The number of trustees, 
 which in 1782 was seven, is thus reduced to five. 
 
 Though the name of New York re-appears in the list 
 
 *Wakeley, p. 279, etc. 
 
 f Marcliiuton's name is found for the last time in the "Old Book," 
 on July 1, 1783, and that of Sause on July 10 of the same year. 
 Marchinton went to Nova Scotia {Life of Garreltson, pp. 141 and 148), 
 and Sause was in London with Rankin when Thomas Staples died 
 there (see Appendix E, p. 426, note).
 
 The Storm and the Clearing. V9 
 
 of appointments in 1783, no report is given of the num- 
 ber in Society. It no doubt was much reduced, partly 
 because of the removal of loyalists from the city. Yet 
 there were seasons of refreshing, and souls were con- 
 verted. There was, we are told, a great revival in 
 1779.* 
 
 John Dickins, who was appointed with S. Spraggs, 
 was born in the city of London in the year T746. He 
 received a good education, partly at Eton School, and 
 came to this country before the Revolution. He was 
 converted in 1774, and admitted on ti-ial at the Confer- 
 ence of 1777. He traveled extensively in Virginia and 
 North Carolina until 1780, after which his name disap- 
 pears from the Minutes without any explanation.. It is 
 said he located (perhaps because of marriage), but con- 
 tinued to labor diligently. Probably, like Asbuiy, he 
 thought it prudent to remain secluded for a season. 
 On Aj)ril 5, 1783, Asbury, then in North Carolina, 
 writes in his Journal: "I heard the news that peace 
 was confirmed between England and America." " This 
 day I prevailed on Brother Dickins to go to New York, 
 whei-e I expect him to be far more useful than in his 
 present station." Rankin, when he left, had no doubt 
 intrusted the management of affairs to Asbury, and 
 accordingly, at the Conference at Kent County, Del., 
 in April, 1779, the following question was asked : 
 " Ques. 12. Ought not Brother Asbury to act as general 
 assistant in America ? He ought, first, on account of 
 his age;f second, because originally appointed by Mr. 
 Wesley; third, being joined with Messrs. Rankin and 
 Shadford by express order from Mr. Wesley," Action 
 to the same effect was taken also at the Conference of 
 
 *See Memoir of Eliz. Brower, Christian Advocate^ vol. vi, p. 132. 
 f But lie was only aljout tliirty-foiir. If liis age gave liim pre- 
 eriiiiience, the Conference must have been youthful.
 
 80 A History of Methodisii ix New York City. 
 
 1782, and now that New Yoi-k city was again open to 
 receive a Conference preacher Asbuiy tries to secure 
 one who was well qualified for the delicate position. 
 There is something significant, also, in the appointment 
 of two preachers to the charge. This had never been 
 done before, and did not occur again until 1787. It is 
 likely that Asbury felt that Spraggs would not probably 
 remain there, and that, indeed, it was not desirable that 
 he should. Some one Avho could win the affection of 
 the people and command their respect, and wlio could 
 prudently guide affairs in the existing crisis, was 
 needed, and Dickins seems to have been such a man. 
 He was one of the soundest minds and ablest preach- 
 ers of the early Methodist ministry; a good scholar in 
 English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and mathematics; sin- 
 gularly Avise and influential in counsel, and mighty in 
 the pulpit ; " one of the greatest and'best men of that 
 age : as it was said of Whitefield, he preached like a 
 lion." * " He was," says Ware, " not only one of the 
 most sensible men I ever knew, but one of the most 
 conscientious." f Asbury writes: "For piety, probity, 
 profitable preaching, holy living, Christian education of 
 his children, secret closet prayer, I doubt whether his 
 superior is to be found in Europe or America." J He 
 compiled the Scriptural Catechism, which was long used 
 in Methodist families, and has never been excelled. He 
 was the first " book steward," and laid the foundation 
 of the publishing business of the Church. From 1789 
 to 1798 he was both book agent and editor. On Sep- 
 tember 27 of the latter year he died of yellow fever in 
 Philadelphia. His grave is in the ground in the rear of 
 
 * Leduum, p. 198. 
 j- Jlotioir of Thomas Ware, p. 215. 
 
 :]: Asbury's Journal, October 9, 1798; Stevens's History of Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, vols, iii and iv.
 
 The Storh and the Clearixg. 81 
 
 St, George's Church, and a tablet to his memory has 
 been placed on the rear wall.* 
 
 By the 24th of June Dickins was at his post in New 
 York, for then, according to the "Old Book," he re- 
 ceived his first payment of three guineas. Spraggs 
 seems to have left not long after, as his name disappears 
 from the record after the 10th of July, 
 
 Hitherto the " Preachers' House " in New York had 
 been a " Bachelors' Hall ; " now it became the home of 
 a Christian famil}^ That the people api)reciated the 
 fact is evident from the " Old Book," in which are 
 found, among other items of expenditure, charges for a 
 trainil, sheets, table-cloths, towels, articles of kitchen 
 furniture, a chest of drawers, a pair of bellows, bot- 
 toming six chairs, an ax, a saucepan, repairing bedstead, 
 etc. It is not at all unlikely, also, that they appreciated 
 it in another sense. The wife of a preacher newly ap- 
 pointed to a charge is even now an object of curiosity 
 and interest, hardly less than the preacher himself; 
 but this was the first Methodist preacher'' s toife the New 
 York Society had ever seen. It is not likely that Mrs. 
 Dickins ever had to complain of loneliness. 
 
 But however it may have been about the wife, the 
 husband was soon hard at work, Asbury, who had not 
 been in the city for some years, arrived on Monday even- 
 ing, August 25, and writes, "I found Brother Dickins 
 preaching," On Wednesday he says: "I was close and 
 searching ; a few felt it — a little of the good old spirit 
 yet prevails among these people," On Sunday, the 
 31st, he writes: "In the evening I thouglit it necessary 
 to put thenr on an examination whether they were 
 Christians or not. I spoke on 2 Cor, xiii, 15. I was 
 very much led out; a power went forth, and I hope 
 
 * Conference Minutes ; Daniels's Illustrated History of Methodism, 
 pp. 719-722.
 
 82 A IIisTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 some real good was done." The next day lie left the 
 city and turned his face to the South. 
 
 Only sixty members, however, were reported at the 
 Conference of 1784. Dickins was reappointed. Asbury 
 visited the city in August, 1784. Arriving on Friday, 
 the 27th, he says: " We found the people alive to God ; 
 there are about one hundred in Society, and with those 
 in Philadelphia, to my mind, appear more like Method- 
 ists than I have ever yet seen them." On Monday, the 
 30th, he visited, prayed, wrote, met the classes, and in 
 the evening preached. lie " found great consolation 
 and fellowship in the classes." On Monday, September 
 7, he writes : " I took leave of my dear friends in New 
 York. They showed their love in deed and in truth, 
 liberally supplying me with what was necessary." When 
 he came again he was clothed with new authority. 
 
 The close of the year 1784 was a very important era 
 in the history of American Methodism. Mr. Wesley, 
 though he had not looked with favor on the efforts of 
 the American Colonies for independence, modified his 
 views somewhat, and when the contest was over was 
 ready to accept the situation. He therefore took meas- 
 ures to provide for their spiritual wants, and, having by 
 experiment proved the impossibility of securing ordina- 
 tion for his preachers from the bishops of the Church 
 of England, and convinced that he Avas scripturally as 
 much a bishop as any of them, he proceeded to set apart 
 Dr. Thomas Coke as superintendent of the Methodist 
 Societies in America, and Richard Whatcoat and Thomas 
 Vasey as elders. Coke was a clergyman of the English 
 Church who some eight or nine years before had con- 
 nected himself with Mr. Wesley, and had been employed 
 by him in visiting and regulating the Societies, and had 
 ])resided, as Wesley's representative, at the first separate 
 Conference for the Irish preachers in Dublin, in 1782.
 
 The Storm and the Clearing. 83 
 
 Whatcoat and Vasey were members of the English 
 Conference; Whatcoat had traveled fifteen years and 
 Yasey nine. 
 
 The vessel in which they embarked left Bristol on 
 the 18th of September, 1784, and arrived at New York 
 on Xovembcr 3. Inquiring for the Methodist. preaching- 
 house, a gentleman who had no connection with the 
 Methodists took Coke to the house of Mr. Sands, where 
 he " foinid himself in a region of hospitality and friend- 
 liness." Mr. Dickins soon visited him and rejoiced at 
 the tidings he brought. The doctor set out for the 
 South, and on Sunday, the 14th of November, met Mr. 
 Asbury at Barrett's Cliapel, in Maryland. There it was 
 decided to send out messengers to call the preachers 
 together at Baltimore on the day before Christmas. 
 They met, and, as Whatcoat says, '•' agreed to form a 
 Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, in which the Liturgy (as 
 presented by the Rev. John Wesley) should be read 
 and the sacraments be administered by a superintendent, 
 elders, and deacons, who shall be ordained by a presb}^- 
 tery, using the Episcopal form, as prescribed in the 
 Rl'V. Mr. Wesley's prayer-book."* Wesley's choice 
 of Asbury as joint superintendent with Coke was rati- 
 fied, and he was accordingly ordained. 
 
 * Memoirs of Whatcoat, p. 21. Tbe italics are his own. "'Mr. 
 Wesley's prayer-book," referred to by Whatcoat, is a 12ra() volume 
 of 314 pages, entitled •' Tlit Sunday Service of the Methodists in Horth 
 America. With Other Occasional Services, London; printed in the 
 year 1784." (Another edition was afterward published.) Mr. Weslej' 
 says ill the preface : " I believe there is no Liturgy in the World, either 
 in any ancient or modern Language, which breathes more of a solid, 
 scriptural, rational Piety than the Common Prayer of the Cliurch of 
 England. And tlio' the main of it was compiled considerably more 
 tlian Two Hundred Years ago, yet is the Language of it not only pure, 
 but strong and elegant in the higliest Degree. 
 
 " Little Alteration is made ia the following Edition of it (which I
 
 84 A History of Methodism in Xkw Yokk City. 
 
 Had it not been for the action of that Christmas 
 Conference and the adoption of this " Sunday Service," 
 the trustees of John Street would not have found it 
 necessary to incur certain expenses of which we find 
 account in the " Old Book." Two entries under date 
 of January 8, 1785, read : 
 
 To 2 pr.iyer-books for preadiing-hoiise £0 ] 3s. Od. 
 
 To cash pel for the altar-piece 16 16 1 
 
 Up to this time the Methodists had received the com- 
 munion at Trinity, St. Paul's, or St. George's Church; 
 now they could have it in their own spiritual home and 
 from the hands of their own pastors, and their joy be- 
 cause of the privilege is proved by the i)romptness with 
 
 recoiiimeud to our Societies in Amtrica), except in the followiiiLj 
 Instances: 
 
 " 1. Most of tlie Holy-days (so-called) are omitted, as at present 
 answering no vahiable End. 
 
 " 2. The service for the Lord's Day, the Length of which has been 
 often complained of, is considerably shortened. 
 
 "3. Some Scniences in the Offices of Baptism and for the Burial of 
 the Dead are omitted; and 
 
 '• 4. Many Psalms are left out and mtiny Parts of the others, as 
 being highly improper for the Mouths of a Christian Congregation. 
 
 " John Wesley. 
 
 "Bristol, September 9, 1784." 
 
 The forms for ordination arc snbstantially as in the present ritual, 
 except that instead of " consecrating bishops " it reads " ordaining of 
 a superintendent." Bound up with it, at least in the writer's copy, 
 is a collection of psalms and hymns published by John and Charles 
 Wesley; and it is singular that, of the less than one hundred hymns it 
 contains, only about one quarter of them are in use among us at the 
 present day, while of those in the old hymn-book referred to before 
 more llian one half are still in use and about one lialf of the rest were 
 familiar a few years ago. It is said that this liturgy was in use until 
 1792.* The author's copy bears on the title-page the name of Paul 
 Hick in his own liand, and contains some curious peculiarities. 
 * Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. il, p. 198.
 
 The Storm and thi: Clearixg. 85 
 
 which they made the necessary aiTangements.* An 
 entry under the same date reads : 
 
 To cash pd Dr. Coke £2 5s. Od. 
 
 As the doctor was in the city at the time, may he not 
 have administered tliat first communion in old John 
 Street Church ? It is also worthy of notice that up to 
 this period the building was called a " chapel " or a 
 "preaching-house," But on April 29 we read: 
 
 Casli paid for recording election roll of the trustees to the 
 
 church £0 6.s. Of?. 
 
 Yerily, the John Street people were lifting up their 
 heads ! The title " Preaching-House " occurs afterward, 
 but is gradually supplanted by that of " Church." 
 But to that election of trustees which took place in 
 
 * In tlie lecture-room of the present church in John Street is a 
 mahogany allar-rail, whiclx is said to liave been in the first church, 
 and to be the handiwork of Embury. Tiiis last assertion the writer 
 lias long doubted, and at length lie is convinced it is incorrect. 
 
 1. It is not likely that a ver\' plain building, such as the first church 
 was originally, would have had a mahogany altar-rail. 2. There was 
 no reason for putting in any altar at all. The Methodists were accus- 
 tomed to go to tlie Church of England for the Lord's Supper, and the 
 practice of inviting seekers to kneel at the altar was not introduced 
 until many years after. 3. Whether by altar-piece we are to under- 
 stand the altar railing is not clear, but it will be hard to find any other 
 meaning. 4. But, tinally, what seems to be demonstration is found in a 
 passage of Dr. Coke's journal, in the Arminian Magazine (American) 
 of June, 1789. He is speaking of the organizntion of the Church at 
 the Christmas Couference of 1784, and says of New York city: "We 
 expected that this Society would have made the greatest opposition 
 to our plan, but, on tlie contrary, they have been most forward to pro- 
 mote it. They have already put up a reading-desk and railed in a 
 communion-table." (Quoted in Atkinson's Centennial History, p. 32.) 
 There could, therefore, have been no railing before tliis. The altar and 
 book-board in tlie present lecture-roora may be those put in at this 
 time, but they look very much like what were in llie second church.
 
 86 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 the spring of 1785 there is no other reference in the 
 " Old Book," though some at least of the preceding 
 elections (if they might be so called) are recorded there. 
 But here we have light from another quarter. In or 
 before 1845 S. Martindale, Jr., Esq., solicitor for the 
 trustees at that time in regard to a legacy which had 
 been left to them for charitable purposes, brought to 
 light the original certificate of this election. A copy 
 of it will be found among the papers of the Board of 
 Trustees of the Eighteenth Street Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. It is indorsed " Recorded for and at the re- 
 quest of Mr. Stephen Sands, this thirteenth day of 
 April, 1785." Without giving the paper at length, it 
 will be enough to say it states that the election, under 
 the law of April 6, 1784, Avas held in the church, March 
 16, 1785, and William Lupton, John Jacob Staples, 
 Lewis Faugre, Abraham Russell, Henry Xewton, and 
 Stephen Sands were chosen. The paper is signed by 
 John Jacob Staples and Stephen Sands as inspectors of 
 the election, and is recorded in lib. i of Religious 
 Incorporations, p. 13, one of the earliest, it seems, that 
 Avere entered on the record.* 
 
 And now while their stakes are becoming strength- 
 ened they have a mind to lengthen their cords. On 
 May 1, 1785, Leonard Lispenard, Sr., deeded to this 
 Board of Trustees for £700 two lots adjoining the 
 church plot on the south, measuring in front a little 
 over fifty feet, and in depth nearly one hundred feet. 
 The seal to this document looks very much like the head 
 of John Wesley, though it is hardly probable that it 
 was intended to represent him. This deed is recorded 
 p. 509, lib. 43 of Conveyances, September, 1786 ; Robt. 
 Eer.son, clerk. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xx, p. 59.
 
 Sowing and Reaping. 87 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SOWING AND REAPING.— FROM THK CONFERENCE OF 
 1785 TO 1788. 
 
 The Minutes of the Conferences of 1785 state the 
 total membership at eighteen thousand, but do not give 
 a particular report of each charge. John Hagerty was 
 stationed in New York. He was born in Maryland, in 
 1747, and converted under the ministry of John King 
 about 1771. His name first appears in tlie list of ap- 
 pointments in 1779, and he was one of the elders 
 ordained at the Christmas Conference. He was very 
 successful in the work, but in 1794* he was compelled 
 to locate on account of the ill health of his wife. He 
 settled in Baltimore, where he continued to preach with 
 great acceptability, and died in the faith in 1823, aged 
 seventy-six years. f 
 
 In the Minutes of this year we find the first indica- 
 tions of the presiding eldership, and the first name in 
 the list of elders of the district in which New York city 
 was included is that of Thomas S. Chew.J 
 
 At the same Conference Ezekiel Cooper was ap- 
 
 * Not 1792, as Stevens and Sprague say; see Minute.s. 
 
 f Stevens's History of Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 66. 
 
 \ Of Thomas S. Chew we know nothing except what is furnished 
 by the Ust of his appointments in the Minutes. From 1777 to 1784 
 he laVjored in various charges in Baltimore and in the neighborhood, 
 then three years in the eldership, and in 1788 the Minutes say 
 he " desisted from traveling." It is elsewhere stated that he was 
 expelled, § and if so the sun of the first New York presiding elder 
 set under a cloud. 
 
 § Lee's History of Methodism, p. 317 ; Dr. Bangs's History of Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, vol. iv, Appendix, p. 8. 
 7
 
 88 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 pointed to Long Island. He was a native of Maryland, 
 born in 1763. He entered the ministry at the age of 
 twenty-one, and served the Church in Xew York as their 
 pastor, as we shall see hereafter. He was book agent 
 for several years, and died in 1847, the oldest Meth- 
 odist preacher at the time in America. He is said to 
 have been a man of great power in the pulpit, and al- 
 most xmequaled in debate. The preachers called him 
 Lycurgus, because of his profound wisdom. He was 
 at once prudently liberal and liberally conservative. 
 He never married.* In his diary he says: "Friday, 
 June 10, I got into New York about ten o'clock; but I 
 knew nothing of the city, and the name of but one of 
 our people therein, Avhich was Mr. Stephen Sands. 
 Providentially I fell in with a gentleman who con- 
 ducted me to his house. He was in bed and asleep. 
 I then began to think that I should have to go to a 
 tavern for lodging, but by knocking at the door he was 
 aroused and received me kindly. I found much peace 
 of mind to think that, though so far from home, I had 
 found such friends." f 
 
 Mr. Hagerty not having arrived, Mr. Cooper con- 
 sented to remain in the city until he came. He says: 
 " Sunday, 12th, I preached three times with a degree of 
 satisfaction." He also preached on Monday, Wednes- 
 day, and Friday evenings, and Thursday at the poor- 
 house. On Saturday JVIr. Hagerty arrived, and Mr. 
 Cooper departed for Long Island. 
 
 In July, however, they exchanged for two Aveeks. 
 Mr. Cooper says, Saturday, July 10: "I preached in a 
 private house near Fresh Water Pump (near the corner 
 of Pearl and Chatham Streets) at night, on the neces- 
 sity of Avatchfulness." " Sunday, 17th, I preached three 
 
 * J. Kennedy, in Sprague's Annals. 
 \ Light on Early Mtthodism, p. 28.
 
 SowixG AXD Reapixg. 89 
 
 times in tlie cliurch. I believe the Lord touched several 
 hearts." Tuesday, 19th, he dined at Mr. Staples's, and 
 " preached at night from ' Behold the man! ' The Lord 
 struck several hearts. Some dated their conviction from 
 that service; among them Miss Cornelia Anderson." * 
 Thursday, 21st, he jjreaclied at three o'clock in the poor- 
 house, and at night met the Band Society. During the 
 following week he preached three times in the church 
 on the Lord's day, and on Thursday at the poor-house. 
 lie was accompanied by the Rev. Jeremiah Lambert, 
 who was on a visit from the West Indies, and who died 
 not long after. On Saturday he returned to Long 
 Island.f 
 
 On Wednesday, August 31, Bishop Asbury reached 
 New York, and " preached on the three following days, 
 although weak in body and languid in sj^irit." Sunday, 
 September 4, he says: "Notwithstanding I was very 
 unwel], I preached thrice, [and] read prayers twice 
 [Mr. Wesley's Sunday Service was in use, it seems], and 
 held a love-feast." " Our Society here has increased 
 in number and grace; our congregation also grows 
 larger." "My friends here have been liberal indeed 
 in supplying my temporal needs ; may they be abun- 
 dantly rewarded in spirituals!" (The "Old Book" 
 says, "Cash jjaid Mr. Asbury, £6.") After preaching 
 on the morning of Wednesday, September V, he left 
 the city. 
 
 Toward the close of September Cooper was again 
 in New York, preaching very much as he did on the 
 former occasions. Among others visited was the 
 Anderson family. Miss Cornelia, who had been con- 
 victed in July, was now happy in the love of God, and 
 
 *This may have been the daughter of the Mrs. Anderson whose 
 liberal donation is noticed, p. 447. Appendix E. 
 \ Light on Ea7-ly Methodism, p. 31.
 
 90 A HisToiiY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 others were seeking. The duty of providing for the 
 religious instruction of children was beginning to he 
 felt, and Mr. Cooper writes : " Wednesday, Septem- 
 ber 28, At three o'clock I met thirteen or four- 
 teen children in order to catechise them. The Lord 
 met us, and powerfully wrought on the dear children. 
 I believe there was not more than one of them but 
 was in a flood of tears." " I don't recollect that 
 I ever saw a number of children so wrought upon 
 before." * 
 
 Among the charges in the "Old Book," in February, 
 1786, we read: Cash paid for Mr. Lynch's chest, £0 4s. 
 As no traveling jDreacher by the name of Lynch is 
 found in the Minutes, we might ask who is he and why 
 is his baggage paid for, and get no answer if it were 
 not for E. Cooper's Journal. There we learn that Mr, 
 Lynch was a local preacher who came to the city in the 
 early part of October and assisted in the work. Sin- 
 ners were converted and believers sanctified. At the 
 watch-night services, on the last night of the year 1785, 
 five preachers were present, namely, Hagerty, Cooper, 
 Brush, Lynch, and Sands. " It was a season of com- 
 fort, and added to the religious fervor that already 
 prevailed." Among the good results of this revival 
 was an increased interest in the spiritual welfare of 
 the poor and of prisoners. On Sunday, May 14, a 
 note was sent to the church stating that nearly one 
 hundred prisoners desired the prayers of the congre- 
 gation. f 
 
 In the meanwhile the trustees purchased other prop- 
 erty. " The Reformed Dutch Church held a mortgage 
 on a house and lot; they foreclosed, and the property 
 was sold at auction and purchased by the trustees of 
 the John Street preaching-house for three hundred 
 * Light on Early Mdhodwm, p. 32. f Ibid., p. 34
 
 Sowing and Reaping. 91 
 
 pounds. They obtained their deed, which was dated 
 April 12, 1786, from the Reformed Dutch Church." * 
 
 Members in New York: Whites, 178; colored, 23'; so 
 reads the report for 1786. f John Dickins goes to New 
 York again, and John Tunnell is tlie elder. J Jle re- 
 ceived several payments during the year, amounting in 
 all to £25 125. On the 13th August the trustees paid 
 Mr. Cloud (probably Robert Cloud, then at Newark, 
 N. J.) £2 for traveling expenses, and on September 5 
 
 * Wakeley's Lost Chajiters, p. G4. Dr. Wakeley says this was ad- 
 joining their church property, but a reference to the deed, wiiich is in 
 possession of ihe trustees of tlie Eigliteenth Street Methodist Episco- 
 pal Ciiurcli, will show this to be an error. The property bought in 
 1785 of L. Lispenard was adjoining. The author of The Charter 
 Church is also in error when he says (page 19) that this was " the plot 
 on which the old church was situated." No account of payments for 
 this land, nor for that bought the year before, is found in the " Old 
 Book ; " but some entries shortly afterward may explain the use that 
 was made of it. On May 30, as it tells us, Mr. Russell was paid in 
 part for building school-house, £8; on May ?>\, £14; o;i June 17, 
 £10, and on July 1 '-the balance," £33 85. lid; in all £65 8s. lid 
 This may not be tlie whole, however, as some other payments were 
 made to Mr. Russell afterward, though they are not slated to be for 
 the Fchool-house. 
 
 f This custom of reporting the numbers of the colored people sepa- " 
 rately began at this Conference. It is not necessary to believe that 
 it was intended as an invidious distinction. It was desirable to know 
 how tlie work was going on in tlie two different races. The practice 
 ceased about 1852. 
 
 :j:Of him we know little more tlian of his predecessor. Chew. He 
 began his ministry about the same time, and labored mostly in the 
 neighborhood of Baltimore and farther South. He, however, con- 
 tinued in tlie field until his death in July, 1790. In 1787 he was 
 sent with four itinerants, among whom was young Thomas "Ware, be- 
 yond the mountains to the Holston country, now called East Tennes- 
 see, and thus became one of the founders of Methodism in the great 
 valley of the "West.§ He was "a man of solid piety, great sim- 
 plicity, and godly sincerity." || 
 
 § Stevens's History of the Mcthodwt Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 34. 
 II Minutes of 1790.
 
 92 A History of Methodism in Neav York City. 
 
 " toward a liorse for a poor preacher, at the desire of 
 Mr. Asbury, £3 26\" 
 
 Another indication of Asbiiry's presence in New 
 York is found just afterward. They paid his traveling 
 expenses, £2. Looking into his Journal, Ave read that 
 he reached the city on the 31st of August, and was 
 confined about eight days with illness. On Sunday, 
 September 17, he says: "It was a very solemn season 
 at the ordination of Brother Dickins to the eldership. 
 I gave the charge from 1 Tim. iii, 10-14." The passage 
 is signiKcant, and is therefore given in part: "And let 
 these also first be proved; then let them use the office 
 of deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their 
 wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all 
 things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, 
 ruling their children and their own houses well," etc. 
 Mr. Dickins was one of the few married men in the 
 itinerancy, and the bishop no doubt felt it well to give 
 to him and his good wife such counsel as he thought 
 needful. From all we can learn in regard to them 
 both, the text could not be regarded as an innuendo. 
 Tie adds: "I met tlie Society, and opened my mind to 
 them on various subjects." In the following week, 
 having settled some temporal matters relative to the 
 support of the stationed preachers, he dejiarted for 
 Elizabetlitown. 
 
 But another man Avas in the city whose name is less 
 widely known, but whose preaching excited more 
 interest than that of the bishop. The New York Packet 
 (a newspaper of that day) of September 11, 1786, sa^'s: 
 "Lately came to this city a very singular black man, 
 who, it is said, is quite ignorant of letters, yet he has 
 preached in the Methodist church several times to tlie 
 acceptance of several Avell-disposed, judicious people. 
 He delivers his discourses with great zeal and pathos,
 
 Sowing and Reaping. 93 
 
 and liis language and connection is by no means con- 
 tenij)tible. It is the wish of several of our correspond- 
 ents that this same black man may be so far successful 
 as to rouse the dormant zeal of numbers of our slothful 
 white people, who seem very little affected about the 
 concerns of another world." * Those who have ever 
 heard of "Black Harry" will suspect that he was the 
 preacher, and the "Old Book" proves their suspicions 
 correct. Right next to an entry of two pounds paid to 
 Asbury for traveling expenses is one of the same 
 amount paid to Henry Hosier for the same jiurpose. 
 Although he appears here for the first time in connec- 
 tion with New York Metliodism, he had been for several 
 years well known and highly esteemed in other parts 
 of the country, f He was, says Raybold, J "one of the 
 greatest prodigies of those early days among the Meth- 
 odists. He had been a slave in the South, but was 
 manumitted and converted and became a preacher, 
 which, at that time, was considered a most extraordinary 
 affair." When Dr. Coke, having met Asbury at Bar- 
 rett's Chapel, set out to preach and visit the Societies 
 in the interval until the meeting of the Christmas Con- 
 ference, Asbuiy sent with him Harry as a companion 
 and guide. Tlie doctor heard him preacli several times, 
 and was delighted with his African colleague. He says: 
 " I really believe that he is one of the best preachers in 
 the world— there is such an amazing power attends his 
 word, though he cannot read, § and he is one of the 
 
 *This is the first notice of Metliodism in New York which I have 
 found in any of our city papers. 
 
 ■j- " He must not be confounded with 'Black Harry' of St. Eusta- 
 tius. who occupies so romantic a place in Coke's subsequent historj'." 
 — Stevens's History of the Mdhodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. Vji, 
 
 \ Reminiscences of Methodism in West Jersey, p. 1 65. 
 
 § An attempt was niadc to teach him to read, but, to use Harry's 
 words, " when he tried to read he lost the gift of preaching," and so 
 gave it up eniirely. Reminiscences of Methodism inWest Jersey, p. 16G.
 
 94 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 humblest creatures I ever saw." * He afterward trav- 
 eled with Garrettson, and was with him when he met 
 Jesse Lee in Boston in 1790. On his returning journey 
 Garrettson says: "July 29, I rode to Hudson, where I 
 found the people very curious to hear Harry. I there- 
 fore declined preaching, that their curiosity might be 
 satisfied. The different denominations heard him with 
 much admiration, and the Quakers thought that, as he 
 was unlearned, he must preach Ijy immediate inspira- 
 tion, f The celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia — 
 making allowance for his illiteracy — pronounced him 
 " the greatest orator in America." J Harry afterward 
 became temporarily the victim of wine, but had moral 
 strength to recover himself, after wrestling all night in 
 prayer. Thenceforth he continued faithful until his 
 death, which took place in Philadelphia about 1810. 
 A great procession of both black and white admirers 
 followed him to his grave, and buried him " as a hero, 
 once overcome, but finally victorious." § It is said he 
 
 ♦Stevens's Hi-story of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 177. 
 
 f Life of Garrettson, p. 195. It has been siiid that on one occasion, 
 in Wihningion, Del., where Methodism was lono; unpopular, a number 
 of the citizens who did not ordinarily attend Methodist preaching 
 came together to hear Bisliop Asburv. Old Asbury Chapel was, at 
 that time, so full that they could not get in. They stood outside to 
 hear the bishop, as tiiey supposed, but in reality they heard Harry. 
 Before they left the place they complimented the speaker by saying: 
 " If all Methodist preachers could preacli like the bishop wo should 
 like to bo constant hearers." Some one present replied : "That was 
 not the bishop, but the bishop's servant." This only raised the bishop 
 higher in their estimation, as their conclusion was, "If such be the 
 servant, what must the master be?" The truth was that Harrj- was 
 a more popular speaker than Asbury, or almost any one else in his 
 day. Lednum, p. 282 ; Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, vol. ii, p. 175. 
 
 J Stevens's Histwy of the Metliodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 174. 
 
 >^ HAd^, p. 175.
 
 SowixG AXD Reaping. 95 
 
 was of small stature, very black, with eyes of remarkable 
 brilliancy and keenness. * 
 
 " Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil " is 
 a text that it is said a preacher once took as the foun- 
 dation of some severe criticism on the amount of copper 
 money contributed in the collections. Trustees have 
 often been disposed to use the text in the same way, 
 and we find those of John Street entering in their " Old 
 Book" of accounts, August 28, 1V86, "By overplus 
 coppers lying in the chest, £6 ]0s." On January 15 of 
 the following year they write, " To cash paid for osna- 
 burgs for copper bags, £0 3s." f It seems they gath- 
 ered the " overplus " of "coppers into these packages and 
 disposed of them. In June, 1787, also, they report a 
 loss on bad coppers, £1 os., and on December 21a loss 
 on coppers and Jersey money, £2 0^. 1(7. J 
 
 On Wednesday, May 15, 1787, Asbury came to Xew 
 York again, and Dr. Coke Avas with him. The Doctor 
 preached, he says, with great energy and acceptance. 
 " Black Harry " seems to have been in their company, as 
 we find a payment made to him on June 11 of two 
 pounds. On Tuesday, May 16, Asbury says, "After 
 long silence 1 preached on, ' For Zion's sake I will not 
 hold ray peace,' etc." After a short excursion to Long 
 Island, visiting Hempstead Harbor and Moscheto (now 
 Glen) Cove, he came back to the city on the 28th. He 
 
 * Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 174. 
 
 f Osnaburgs are a coarse linen cloth of wliich bags are made for 
 holding shot, etc. 
 
 X New York was flooded about this time with spurious copper 
 money, imitations of British halfpence or of Jersey coppers. These 
 "were manufactured largely in Birmingham, England, of inferior ma- 
 terial and light weight, and imported in casks under the name of 
 hardware. See McMaster's History of the People of the United States, 
 vol. i, p. 401.
 
 96 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 preached at night, and again the next evening, and 
 says, " I delivered a close and awful discourse on, ' They 
 shall come from the east, and from the west, and from 
 the north, and from the south, and sit down with Abra- 
 ham and Isaac and Jacob,' etc. I was in prayer until 
 near midnight. O Lord, make me all life and love; give 
 patience and resignation under the troubles of the 
 Church and disappointment of its ministers." On Sun- 
 day, June 3, he " had a gracious time on 2 Cor. iv, 1-4. 
 Ordained E. Cooper a deacon. In the afternoon my 
 soul had peace while I enlarged on jMatt. xviii, 15, to 
 the end." On Tuesday, the 5th, he " preached on, ' No 
 man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, 
 is fit for the kingdom of heaven,' and felt freedom and 
 power in speaking." On Wednesday he " met leaders 
 and trustees, and, after some explanation, settled mat- 
 ters relative to singing in public worship," and preached 
 at the poor-house. " I keep myself busy," he adds, " in 
 visiting the families of the Society, or the sick, or meet- 
 ing class, if some other business does not call me." On 
 Sunday he preached on Luke iv, 18, and in the aftei*- 
 noon on Matt, xi, 25, The next day he "left the city 
 in great union with the Lord and with the Church." 
 The people settled his bill for horse-keeping, £3 5s.; but 
 we do not find any account of any other jDayraent. To 
 Dr. Coke, however, they gave, on May 21, £19 Bs. 2d.; 
 after which he lel't for Philadelphia, and on May 27 
 sailed for Europe, 
 
 On June 1 1 the trustees paid for a communion table 
 £3 5s., and on the 15th sent to Conference, by Brother 
 Tunnell, eleven pounds. On the 20th they paid for 
 cleaning the preaching-house £3 12s., thus preparing 
 for the next Conference year. 
 
 Mr. Dickins was able to report at the Conference a 
 membership of 235 whites and 40 colored, an increase
 
 Sowing and Reaping. 97 
 
 of T2. Tliis increase, it seems, made it necessary to 
 send an additional preacher, and Henry Willis was ap- 
 pointed. Thomas Foster was the elder.* 
 
 The name of Henry Willis appears first in the Min- 
 utes in 17*79, when he is appointed to Roanoke, He 
 had been at Cliarleston before his appointment to New 
 York. He was afterward in Philadelphia, but became 
 supernumerary in 1791, and so continued until, in the 
 early part of 1808, at Pipe Creek, Frederick County, 
 Md., he died " with triumphant faith in Christ." He 
 was book agent for several years, and one of the dearest 
 friends of Asbury. " He shines forth as one of the 
 most brilliant stars in the galaxy of early Methodist 
 preachers. His memory has much of the .same fra- 
 grance as that of Summerfield." It is said he was the 
 last Methodist preacher Avho wore a gown in the 
 pulpit, f 
 
 But the name of Henry Willis does not appear in the 
 " Old Book " during this Conference year, though it 
 does during the next year, when he was elder. Instead 
 of it we find that of Woolman Hickson. It would seem 
 that after Conference a change w^as made, and Hickson, 
 who in his zeal was bent on going to Nova Scotia, a 
 field for which he was totally unfitted because of his 
 feeble health, was persuaded to sto]) in New York, and 
 some other work was found for Willis. J Samuel Q. 
 Talbot, of New Rochelle, and Peter Moriarty, of Long 
 Island, and Cornelius Cook, of East Jersey, are named 
 
 * Foster was a native of Virginia, entered the itinerancy in 1780, 
 labored principally in the South, and located ia 1792. " No minister 
 ■was more esteemed on account of sound talent and holy life." — 
 Stevens's History of the 3fdhodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 83. 
 
 f Warriner's Old Sands Street, pp. 76, 77, where his portrait, iu 
 gown and bands, will be found facing p. 76. 
 
 X A.shuTy's Journal, May 28, 1787.
 
 98 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 as receiving pajTaents for horse-keeping, etc. ; and it is 
 probable that they frequently came to help.* 
 
 Woolman Hickson's "name is very pi'ecious to the 
 lovers of early Methodism." He was " a man of splendid 
 talents and brilliant genius.f " He was fast hastening to 
 
 *0n October 30, 1787, 6s. Zd. was paid for keeping Brother 
 Cook's horse; and April 16, 1788, 10s. for Mr. Cook's expenses. This 
 must have been the Cornelius Cook who had just been admitted on 
 trial and appointed to East Jersey, and who probably came to help 
 during the illness of the preachers. He was one of the young men 
 who accompanied Garrettson up the Hudson. He died in August, 
 1789, and the nature of liis illness and the place of his burial liave 
 been tlie subject of some discussion. Dr. Stevens's History of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 418, says he died of yellow fever 
 in New York, in 1789; but from articles in the Christian Advocate, 
 vol. xxiv, pp. 161, 175, and 200, it appears that his death took place 
 at Lagrange, Dutchess County, N. T., but of what disease is uncertain. 
 On Xovember 16, 1787, there is a charge of fifteen siiillings for keep- 
 ing and shoeing Brother Talbot's horse, and on December 14, for some 
 necessaries for Brother Talbot, £2 10s. He entered ihe work in 1786, 
 and was first appointed to Kent, in 1787 to New Rochelle, in 1788 to 
 New City, and in 1789 to Dutchess, after which his name disappears. 
 Dr. Bangs (in the list of preachers at the end of vol. iv of his History, 
 13. 39) reports him located. Of the otlier we read: "May 4, 1788, to 
 cash for horse-hire for Mr. Moriarty, £1 Is." This was Peter Moriarty, 
 who was born in Maryland April 27, 1758, and educated a Roman Cath- 
 olic. At the age of sixteen he heard Methodist preaching and was con- 
 verted. He began his ministry in 1781, but his name does not appear 
 in the Miuutes until 1782, when he is reported as continued on trial. 
 At. this time he was laboring on Long Island, and his succeeding ap- 
 pointments were generally up the Hudson River. He died in 1813, 
 while presiding elder of the Ashgrove District. It is said he was 
 " plain in liis dress, plain in his manners, and jalain and pointed in his 
 preaching, upright in all his deportment; in short, his life was a con- 
 slant comment upon the Gospel he preached." (Minutes of 1814.) 
 His son, John Moriarty, w'as afterward a useful minister of Christ, 
 and one granddaughter is the widow of W. B. Worrall, of Flush'p.tr, 
 L. I., and another died in 1885, the widow of W. H. Arthur, of New 
 Tork city. 
 
 f Wakelcy's Lost Chapters, pp. 310, 314.
 
 Sowing axd Reaping. 99 
 
 the grave with consumption when he came to New York. 
 We do not know exactly when he died, but it was before 
 September 30, 1788, as thei'e is an account of liis death 
 in the Minutes of that year, and the Conference began 
 on that day. For six weeks Ann Wheeler nursed him, 
 for which she received two dollars a week, or £4 16s. in 
 all. On November 17 the church paid sixteen shillings 
 for his funeral expenses, but this must have been only 
 a part of the whole sum.* 
 
 In May, 1788, Freeborn Garrettson arrived in New 
 York, intending to enter New England; but the duty 
 and honor of being the pioneer of Methodism in that 
 section was reserved for Jesse Lee. ' Hickson being on 
 his death-bed, and Dickins "in ill health, he was solic- 
 ited by the people to remain with them to supply the 
 pulpits." f He therefore spent most of his time in the 
 city until the ensuing Conference. There is a charge 
 for his horse-keeping, four shillings, and for quarterage 
 paid to him, £6 Ss. 
 
 Few names are more familiar to the student of early 
 Methodism than that of Freeborn Garrettson. Born in 
 Maryland, in 1752, of a family in a good position in 
 the community, and converted in 1775, he was admitted 
 on trial at the Conference of 1776. Before tliis time 
 he had, in obedience to strong convictions of duty, set 
 
 *To 'Woolman Hicksoa we are indebted for the first list of mem- 
 bers with the name of tlie writer and the date. It begins at p. 72 of 
 the book already described (book i, A), and is dated .July 20, 1787. It 
 is arranged in seventeen classes of from eight to twentj^-four members, 
 exclusively male or female. The leaders are John Staples, Jonas 
 Humbert, Daniel Contant, Andrew Mercien, Wm. Tillou, Peter 
 McLean, Abraham Brower, Robert Snow, John Bleeker, Abraham 
 Russel, Stephen Rudd, Cornelius "Warner, David Candles, Geo. Court- 
 Tipy, Among the members besides those alrendy named (Introduc- 
 tion, p. vi) are Lewis Faugeres, Samuel Walagrove, Jacob Grindle- 
 mire, Wm. Ellison, Robert Bonsell, John Peshine, John Sproson. 
 
 \ Life of Gar7-ett!>u7i, p. 171.
 
 100 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 free his slaves. At the Conference of 1784 he vohin- 
 teered as missionai-y to Nova Scotia, from whence he 
 returned in 1787. In 1789, taking with him twelve 
 young preachers, he laid out for them circuits along the 
 Hudson River valley as far north as Lake Champlain. 
 He labored afterward in New York, New Jersey, Penn- 
 sylvania, and New England, and in 1805 and 1806 he 
 was appointed to New York city. He died suddenly 
 in New York, September 26, 1827. In 1793 he married 
 Catharine, daughter of Hon. Robert R. Livingston, who 
 survived until 1849. Though not an eloquent speaker, 
 " tliere was a facility and fervor of expression, and a 
 rich tone of evangelical thought and feelin<i, that often 
 rendered his discourses exceedingly impressive." " Dur- 
 ing the whole course of his ministry, extending through 
 a period of upward of fifty years, he received no pecun- 
 iary recompense, except in a few instances, when it was 
 urged upon him, and then it was either given to necessi- 
 tous individuals or deposited with the funds of the Con- 
 ference."* He left an only child, a daughter, Miss Mary 
 R. Garrettson, who survived her mother and imitated 
 lier father's example in liberality. 
 
 * Dr. Ban£!;s in Spmgue's Aymals of the Methodist Pulpit, p. G2.
 
 Another Garner. 101 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 AXOTHER GARNER— FROM CONFERENCE OF 1788 TO 1790. 
 
 And now John Street Church is to be, for the first 
 time, the place for a session of a Conference. The 
 printed Minutes are silent in regard to it. None had 
 ever been held north of Philadelphia before, and no 
 session had been appointed north of Baltimore for 
 1788, but it is probable that Bishop Asbury had 
 seen the necessity of the case and sent word that 
 he would hold a session in New York. That it 
 was held is proved by the united testimony of the 
 bishop's Journal and certain entries in the " Old Book." 
 The trustees of John Street paid " for four yards of 
 green baize for Conference lis. 4(:?.," and for "sundry 
 expenses at the time of Conference £8 85. Also, for 
 keeping Bishop Asbury's horses £2 5s. 11(7.," and "for 
 a bridle," lis. Asbury's notice is brief, but sufficient. 
 He says, Monday, September 29, "Rode to New York. 
 Next day [Tuesday, 30th] our Conference began, and 
 continued until Saturday, the 4th of October." He 
 appears to have left immediately after its close.* 
 
 At this Conference the city reported 276 white mem- 
 bers and 54 colored; in all 330, an increase of 55. John 
 Dickins was re-appointed, but without a colleague, and 
 Henry Willis was tlie elder. Judging from charges in 
 the "Old Book," Mr. Willis labored a great deal in 
 
 * Rev. Thomas Morrell, in his unpublished journal, says: "At the 
 Conference in New York, in October, 1788, I was ordained a deacon.'' 
 His ordination certificate is dated accordingly. Wakeley's Lost 
 Chapters, p. 320.
 
 102 A History of Methodism in N^ew York City. 
 
 New York ; as they paid him, December 23, 1788, for 
 quarterage, etc., £S Ss. 2d. ; and again on March 21, 
 1789, £6 15s. 6d. Garrettson also, it seems, was fre- 
 quently in the city, as he says, " My custom was to go 
 around the district eveiy three months, and then return 
 to New York, where I commonly stayed about two 
 weeks." * 
 
 Nothing of interest is found, either in the " Old 
 Book " or any other record, in regard to the Conference 
 year of 1788-89. At its close the membership M^as 290 
 whites and 70 colored ; 360 in all, an increase of 30. 
 They sent £21 to the funds of the Conference, and on 
 May 21 paid for whitewashing, etc., £2 16s. 9d., for 
 brushes 9s., for laborers 80s., and for beer and wood 
 12s. and 6d., for "cleaning the church." 
 
 On Tuesday, May 26, 1789, Asbury and Coke reached 
 New York, and it seems, from an entry in the " Old 
 Book," that Whatcoat was with them, as they paid 
 for keejDing Mr. Asbury's and Mr. Whatcoat's horses 
 £5 16s. 6d. Asbury came "under great travail of 
 soul for a revival of religion." On Thursday, the 28th, 
 he says : " Conference began ; all things were con- 
 ducted in peace and ordei\ Our work opens in New 
 York State ; New England stvutcheth out the hand to 
 our ministry, and I trust thousands will shortly feel its 
 influence." This last sentence refers to the fact that 
 Jesse Lee received at this Conference his commission 
 to New England. 
 
 On Sunday, the 31st, Asbury says : "We had a gra- 
 cious season to preachers and people, while I opened 
 and applied Isa. xxv, 6-8." Dr. Coke says of this ses- 
 sion : " A Conference like the others, all peace and 
 
 * Life of Garrettson, p. 174. His district extended from New 
 Rnehelle' to Lake Champlain ; that of Willis included only New York 
 city and Long Island.
 
 Another Garner. 103 
 
 concord — glory! glory be to God! In this city we 
 have a great revival and a great increase, in conse- 
 quence of which we are going to build a second 
 church," * On Friday, June 5, the Doctor embarked 
 for Liverpool, and in the evening Asbury says that 
 while preaching on Isa. xxix, 17-19, "the power of 
 God and a baptizing flame came among the people." 
 Sunday, the 7th, he tells us, " was a good day. I felt 
 inwardly quickened toward the close of my morning's 
 discourse, and the people were moved ; in the afternoon 
 many were divinely drawn, and my own soul was 
 humbled and tilled with the love of God. Several souls 
 have been stirred up this Conference ; I trust the Lord 
 will claim the people of York for Iiis own." On the 
 9th he left for Kingsbridge. 
 
 Asbury, however, says nothing in his Journal of an 
 event of some interest which took place at this Confer- 
 ence. On the 13th of September, 1788, the adoption 
 of the Constitution of the United States had been de- 
 clared, and on April 30, 1789, AVashington w:is inaugu- 
 rated as President in New York. Asbury suggested 
 to the Conference the propriety of presenting a con- 
 gratulatory address to the President. The Conference 
 unanimously approved the measure, and appointed the 
 two bishops, Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury, to draw up the 
 address. It was finished that day and adopted by 
 the Conference. Dickins and Morrell were delegated 
 to wait on the president with a copy, and request him 
 to appoint a day and hour when he would receive the 
 bishops. Dr. Coke, though senior bishop, not being an 
 American citizen, the duty of reading the address de- 
 volved on Asbury. In a few days the address and 
 answer were published in the papers, and the next week 
 there appeared a number of questions. Who was Dr. 
 
 * Steveiis'i Histwy of the Mdhodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, p. 282.
 
 104 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Coke ? How came he to be bishop ? Who consecrated 
 him? etc. The impropriety of a British subject signing 
 such an address was also urged, and heavy charges 
 were made against Coke as an enemy of American in- 
 dependence. " Some of the ministers and members of the 
 other Churches appeared dissatisfied that the Methodists 
 should take the lead in recognizing the new republic. 
 In a few days the other denominations successively fol- 
 lowed our example." * The public prints soon laid 
 aside their spirit of unfair criticism. The A^eio York 
 Packet of June 25, 1789, after giving some statistics 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, says: "From 
 the respectful and affectionate address of the bishops 
 of this new and growing Church to the President of 
 the United States, as well as from other documents, 
 it appears that the whole Society are warmly attached 
 to the Constitution and government of the United 
 States." t 
 
 The nppointments in the Minutes of 1789 for New 
 York are, Robert Cloud, John Merrick, William Phoe- 
 bus.J The Minutes for this year are the first in which 
 we read the title "presiding elder," § Freeborn Gar- 
 rettson holding that office, and Thomas Morrell's name 
 following as elder. This last appointment seems to 
 have been made for a special purpose. Dr. Coke, 
 as we have seen, speaks of the building of a second 
 
 * Letter of Thomas Morrell, Bangs's History of Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, vol. i, p. 280. 
 
 f See Appendix M. 
 
 :|: Each for four moutlis ; but this provisidii for a cliange seems to 
 have been intended to apply only to Merrick and Phoebus; Merrick's 
 name being also found in connection with Elizabethtow.n, and that 
 of Phoebus with Long Island; but Cloud's nowhere else but Xew 
 York. 
 
 § It is dropped, however, next year, and until 1T97 we find merely 
 "elder."
 
 Another Garxer. 105 
 
 cnnrch, and among Morreirs papers is found the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 Thomas Morrell is appointed and ordered by ihe "bishops and Con- 
 ference to raise a subscriplion iu the city of New York, in order to 
 erect a new church on a convenient spot, at tlie nortli or nortli-east 
 part of tlie city ; and shall call to liis assistance any person or per- 
 sons recommended by the bishops or Conference ; or, in their absence, 
 any person he shall judge proper for his assistance. The bishops and 
 Conference do also order that all subscripiions and collections that 
 shall be raised from time to time in the new cluircli, when erected, 
 shall be applied for the benefit, support, and interests of the new 
 chiirol) ; and they do also give Thomas Morrell authority to appoint 
 trustees for the said new church.* Thomas Coke. 
 
 Francis Asbury. 
 
 New York, May 20, iTSO.f 
 
 Thomas Morrell, wliose name now first appears in 
 connection with New York, must find notice here. 
 He was the son of Jonathan Morrell, and was born in 
 New York city, November 22, 1747. His mother had 
 been converted about 1760, and, when Embury began 
 his labors, was among the first to join the society. In the 
 Revolutionary War he was a useful officer of the army. 
 Converted in March, 1786, in the same month of the 
 following year he began his itinerant life. AVith the 
 exception of one year he continued in the work until 
 February, 1804, when he located at Elizabethtown, 
 N. J., where he died August 9, 1838. His funeral ser- 
 mon was preacned by his friend, Dr. Nicholas Murray, 
 of the First Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, He was 
 
 * From these words it is evident that the bishops and Conference 
 intended the new congregation to be independent of the older, as to 
 its finances. How and why this idea was not carried out might be 
 an interesting matter of investigation, if any material could be dis- 
 covered. 
 
 f Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 246. Either the date, liowever, is an 
 error for May 29 or 30, or the bishops anticipated tiie action of the 
 Conference, as tlie session did not begin until May 28.
 
 106 A HisTOEY OF Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 an ardent patriot, a devoted Christian, and a successful 
 minister of Christ. Some of the entries in the " Old 
 Book," at about the date of which we are now writing, 
 and some old records of membership kept during his 
 present term of service and that of 1802 and 1803, are 
 in his peculiarl}^ small neat hand.* 
 
 Of Robert Cloud we can learn but little. His name 
 first appears in the Minutes of 1785. After laboring 
 several years in the States of New Jersey and New 
 York, he located in 1794, and afterward went West, and 
 finally located while a member of the Ohio Conference 
 in 1812. f It is said that on one occasion when he 
 " was preaching there was a great stir among the peo- 
 ])le, and many cried aloud for mercy." John B. Mat- 
 thias, afterward of the New York Conference, was 
 convicted at that time, l 
 
 John Merrick entered the traveling connection in 
 1786, and continued in the work eleven years, locating 
 in 1797. We are told that he was a superior preacher, 
 and very useful. § 
 
 William Phoebus, however, became very closely 
 identified with New York Methodism. Born in Som- 
 erset County, Md., in 1754, he entered the ministry in 
 1783, and was present at the Christmas Conference. In 
 1792 he located, and occupied for a time a house belong- 
 
 * Among the names of those read in by Thomas Morrell, June 21, 
 1789, are those of William Elsworth, John Innis, and Daniel Car- 
 penter; on November 8, William Fosbrook and Jonathan Patterson; 
 on June 27, 1790, William Whiletield and John Midwinter (grand- 
 father of Rev. James M. Freeman, D.D.); on Jnly 18, Samuel Bon- 
 sall, Nicholas Morris, Samuel Wallagrove; on September 5. Gilbert 
 Coutant, Barnet Mattliias (Rev. J. B. Matthias), William Tillou, 
 Susaima Lamplin. Book i, A, pp. 81, 82. 
 
 f For some mysterious things about Robert Cloud, see Warriner'3 
 Old Sands Stree(^. 85. 
 
 X Sacred Memories, p. 12. 
 
 § Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 326.
 
 Another Garner. 107 
 
 ing to the church, Ko. 30 John Street, as we find by 
 the Directory of 1794, His rent, as Ave learn from the 
 "Old Book," was forty-five i^ounds a year. In 1796-97 
 he was again in the work on Long Island, but in 1798 
 he located a second time, and engaged in the practice of 
 medicine, generally pi-eaching, however, every Sabbath. 
 In 1806-7 he was in the itinerancy again, being stationed 
 at Albany, and in 1808 at Charleston, S. C. In 1809 
 we find him on Long Island, and in 1810 at Troy. In 
 18] 1 he is in New York again, and also in 1814-15. 
 In 1818 he served the colored congregations in Zion 
 and Asbury Churches. In 1819-20 he was Conference 
 missionary, in 1821 became supernumerary, and in 1824 
 superannuated. In this relation he continued until his 
 death in New York, November 9, 1831, in his seventy- 
 eighth year. Though a man of much ability, and well 
 informed, and often impressive in his sermons, he was 
 not a popular preacher. One reason of this, Dr. Bangs 
 tells us, " was that in his public discourses, as well as 
 his private conversation, he was much given to enig- 
 matical expressions wliich the mass of his hearers did 
 not comprehend. A striking instance of this I remem- 
 ber occurred in the Conference of 1823. In addressing 
 his brethren on the improbability of his being able to 
 serve the church much longer, he remarked that the 
 lease of his house hnd expired, and therefore he could 
 not tell how soon he mig?it be called to remove, as he 
 was not certain that he could procure a renewal of his 
 lease for any particular length of time, hence he could 
 not pledge himself for any special service in the minis- 
 try. On hearing this, an aged minister, by no means 
 deficient in sngacity, remarked to me, ' I thought the 
 doctor owned the house in which he lives; but it seems 
 I was under a mistake, as he says that the time of his 
 lease has run out ! ' To . this I replied, ' You do not
 
 108 A History of Methodism in^ New York City. 
 
 understand him. He speaks in parables. He is now 
 threescore years and ten, ahnost tlie greatest age God 
 has allotted to man, and therefore cannot calculate on 
 living much longer at most ; and even that little time 
 must be considered a matter of grace! ' To this expla- 
 nation he himself subsequently assented." " His rever- 
 ence for the name and cliaracter of Christ, at least his 
 manner of expressing it, was very unusual. When he 
 had occasion to speak of the Saviour in conversation 
 he would gently incline his head, or, if his head were 
 covered, lift his hat, always using the qualifying word 
 adorable, as the adorable Saviour, the adorable Jestisy * 
 He began the publication of a Methodist magazine, 
 but it was short-lived. He was buried in tlie old Meth- 
 odist cemetery in First Street, whence his remains were 
 afterward removed to Cypress Hills, L. I.f 
 
 Here, perhaps, it may be well to call attention to the 
 fact that the Conferences at that period were not alwavs 
 lield at the same season of the year. That of 1789, for 
 instance, was in May, while that of 1790 did not meet 
 until October. This variation was probably necessary 
 because Bishop Asbury's duties would not permit any 
 other arrangement. 
 
 In the " Old Book," in October and November, 1789, 
 are charges amounting to £9 for paving the street, and 
 in December a rather larger sum for altering stoops, 
 and mason-work for the yard and street. This seems 
 to indicate that the grading, already referred to, was 
 done at this time. Black Harry was in the city in the 
 spring of 1790, as we find on April 12 and May 19 
 charges for his horse-keeping. A good work seems to 
 have been going on, as Asbury, while in Charleston, says 
 
 * Dr. N. Bangs, in Sprague's Annals of the Methodist Pulpit, p. 89. 
 f Sprague's Annals of the Methodist Pulpit; Warriner's Old Sands 
 Street Church.
 
 Another Garxee. 109 
 
 iu liis Journal (Februaiy 10, 1790): " I received good 
 news from Baltimore and New York; about two hundred 
 souls have been brouglit to God within a few weeks." * 
 The most important event in the history of New 
 York Methodism this year Avas the building of a sec- 
 ond church. We have seen that Thomas Morrell was 
 " api^ointed and ordered " by -the bishops and Confer- 
 ence to undertake this work. In entering upon it, how- 
 ever, he met with such serious opposition that he wrote 
 to Bishop Asbury for counsel. The bishop rej^lied : 
 
 My Yert Dear Brother : It is impossible for me to give any de- 
 cided advice in tlie critical circumstances of your case, and the fickle 
 tempers yon have to deal with, that may tack and change more fre- 
 quently than the wind. In brief, I advise you to do the best you can, 
 but build the house. I will cancel your obligation to the Conference 
 and myself. I wish j^ou to be under no shackles on our side. I 
 would not have you outdone. I think those who trouble you will 
 soon be cut off, etc. Ton will take my few hints, etc. 
 
 I am, with great respect, thine, Francis Asbury. 
 
 Another letter, dated Rhinebeck, June 19, says : 
 
 My Dear Brother: If you can only erect and cover, with seats, 
 windows, and doors, ihe new church by the 1st of December, all will 
 be well, I hope. 0, brother, piety, patience, courage, zeal, and indus- 
 try will carry you through. I am in faith, hope, and prayer that 
 God will revive his work in Tork. Do, brother, strive and reform 
 the siug'ng a little in our Church.f 
 
 I am thine, in much esteem, Francis Asbury.;}: 
 
 Dr. Coke, also, on his voyage to Euroj^e, has the new 
 enterprise at heart. He writes: 
 
 On Board the Union, near Ireland, June 6, 1789. 
 
 My Very Dear Brother: I beg your pardon for my great for- 
 getfulness in not leaving behind an address in behalf of the new 
 cluircli we are going to bnild iu New York. I hope you will be able 
 to accomplish that important undertaking. . . . 
 
 Your faithful friend, Thomas Coke.|: 
 
 * See note, p. 113. 
 
 f The bishop himself was a good singer, and wanted improvement 
 in that respect. J Wakeley's Lost Chapters, pp. 347, 355.
 
 110 A History of Methodism in Xew York City. 
 
 Morrell persevered, in spite of all difficulties, and 
 Bishop Asbury writes to him, under date of October 3, 
 1789: 
 
 My Dear Brother : I am pleased you have made out so wonder- 
 fully. I can figure m my own mind the difficulties you have had to 
 struggle with. The hints you gave are very just as to the manage- 
 ment of temporalities. The members are welcome to act, but who 
 are to appoint them? is the question. I find it hard if a preacher 
 cannot draw a collection for a mission or Conference or station with- 
 out complaint. I have nothing at all to complain of, and ic would 
 have been impossible to have carried your great design into execu- 
 tion without your method. . . . 
 
 I am, with great respect, thine, Francis Asbury.* 
 
 The location selected for the new building was in 
 Second (now Forsyth) Street, near Division Street, f 
 The property was originally part of the estate of 
 J:imes Delancey, Esq., a loyalist, and was forfeited and 
 vested in the people of the State of New York by the 
 attainder of said Delancey, and was conveyed to George 
 Workheart by Isaac Stoutenburgh and Philip Van 
 Cortland, Esq., Commissioners of Forfeitures for the 
 Southern District of the State. " An act for the speedy 
 sale of the confiscated and forfeited estates Avithin the 
 State " had been passed May 12, 1784, and four months 
 afterward Mr. Workheart purchased the lots for one 
 hundred and thirty-one pounds and ten shillings. He kept 
 them about five years, and then sold them for two hun- 
 dred and eigliteen pounds and a half more than he gave. 
 Some good speculations in real estate were made, it 
 seems, one hundred years ago. 
 
 The deed to the church is dated August 17, 1789. 
 
 * Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 355. 
 
 f The present church in Second Street is not to be confounded 
 ■with this. That was built more than forty years after. Old Forsyth 
 Street was also sometimes called the Bowery Church. Bowery Vil- 
 lage, now Seventh Street, is another and later organization.
 
 Another Garner. Ill 
 
 Seven lots Avere sold by George "Workheart, gardener, 
 and Eve, his wife, for three hundred and fifty pounds. 
 Eve, in signing it, had to make her mark, not being- 
 able to write her name.* John Sproson and Samuel 
 Stilwell, trustees of John Street Church, were wit- 
 nesses, f 
 
 On August 11, 1789, the first stone of the foundation 
 was laid, and the building was inclosed, floored, and 
 ceiled by Xovember 8, when it was dedicated, though 
 pi-obably not yet finished. Thus, we see, Thomas Mor- 
 rell had met the bishop's expectation, who fixed Decem- 
 ber 1 as the date of completion. Mr. Morrell preached 
 on 1 Pet. ii, 5. 1 
 
 The "Old Book" does not cast much light on the 
 finances of the new church, though we have an entry 
 on January 12, 1791, " To cash advanced for new church 
 last year, £100," and there are some other charges 
 either explicitly or probably for the same purpose; some 
 of them, however, may have been for current exi^enses. 
 But in another old book § there is, apparently in Mr. 
 Morrell's handwriting, an account of money received 
 and paid out by him for the new church. It begins 
 July 27, 1789, and ends July 12, 1790. It is in reality 
 only an account of payments, no account of receipts 
 
 * What a pity that the gardener had not been named Adam 1 The 
 title would then have come from Adam and Eve. 
 
 f Mr. Workheart united witli the church in 1792, and was a mem- 
 ber as late as 1796. We have no evidence that his wife ever joined. 
 She died in October, 1793, and was buried in the church ground, the 
 grave being a gift from the church. (See record of burials in tlie 
 possession of the trustees of Forsyth Street Church.) Dr. Wakeley 
 gives the date as 1795, and says she was seventy years of age, and 
 that lier tombstone was riiiht behind the church. 
 
 I Wakeley's Lost Chapters, pp. 353, 354. Mr. W. gives a sketch 
 of tlie discourse. 
 
 g Marked Bock ii. See preface, p. vii.
 
 112 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 being given, and the enlries nearly all read, " Cash paid 
 Henry Newton." They amount to £872 8s. 2(7. Mr. 
 Morrell lent £150. The total cost was probably 
 $2,500, 
 
 The building was of rough stone, covered with blue 
 stucco; its dimensions fifty by seventy feet. A low 
 stoop of not more than two or three steps gave en- 
 trance to each door.* It stood some ten or fifteen feet 
 back from the street, Avith a door-yard in front inclosed 
 with wooden pickets. There Avere end and side gal- 
 leries. The ceiling was flat. The pulpit was high, 
 with steps on the south side and a sounding-board over 
 it. In the rear was a bur^^ing-ground, wliich at length 
 became filled, and on the rebuilding of the church in 
 183;j the bodies were removed. A two-story frame 
 edifice was afterward erected on the opposite side of 
 Forsyth Street, which was used as a lecture-room and 
 Sunday-school room, and also for the charity day-school, 
 which the Methodists maintained for many years. The 
 Asbury library was also kept in this building. Some 
 idea of the aspect of the neighborhood at the time is 
 furnished by the following extract. Kev. William 
 Thacher says : " During the first year of my residence 
 in New York I saw in the fields eastward from the city 
 a new stone church in the progress of building. What ! 
 a place of worship so far from inhabitants? For 
 what denomination can this be ? A house of God far 
 from home seemed hardly compatible with due honor 
 to him who promised to dwell in the midst of his 
 jieople. Ah! little did I then think this is a Methodist 
 sanctuary, and that this Avas a sample of their pioneer 
 plan, to build a house and then invite sinners to come 
 
 * Externally this and Duane and Allen Streets were much alike. 
 They all also had cellars, which, for a time at least, were used for 
 the storage of ale, etc.
 
 AxoTHER Garner. 113 
 
 there and get their souls converted. And what prophet 
 Could then have made me believe that, in the midst of a 
 dense population, I should ever fill the office of a regular 
 authorized minister in the pastoral charge of an assem- 
 bly of Methodists of that same Methodist meeting-house 
 in Forsytli Street." * When, on October 3, 1 790, Asbury 
 occupied the pulpit, he pronounced the new church 
 " commodious, elegant, yet plain." 
 
 A good work soon followed the completion of the 
 new buildincr. Thomas Morrell, in his unpublished 
 Journal, says : " On the 4th of this month" (January, 
 1790) "a revival began at the prayer-meetings, and on 
 the 12th it broke out in the church and continued, with 
 some small intei'missions, until the latter end of Febru- 
 ary. In this time about two hundred joined the society; 
 perhaps about four hundred were converted in eight 
 weeks." f 
 
 * Wakeley's Lout Chapters, p. 359. 
 
 \ Ibid., p. 367. In Book i, A, p. 50, Morrell gives us a' record 
 of some events about this period. He sa3's: "-itli January, 1790, 
 Monda}' evening, at prayer-meeting, 4 found peace, 4 renewed in 
 love. Tuesday, 5tL, 2 found the Lord, 1 sanctified. Thursday, 6th 
 [should be 7th], 3 found peacfe. Friday, 8 converted. Saturday, 2 con- 
 verted. This week, 20 converted, 14 renewed in love. Sunday, 1 re- 
 newed, 4 found the Lord. Monday, 11th, at a class, 3 converted, 1 
 sanctitied; same evening, 10 converted at a prayer-meeting, 2 at an- 
 other, 3 at another, 2 at another, making 20 on this evening. Tiies- 
 daj', 12th, after preaching, a great cry, many souls were converted — 
 perhaps from 20 to 40. "Wednesday niglit, after prayer-meeting, the 
 people stayed ; the mourners were sought for, prayed with, and ex- 
 liorted; the number converted uncertain; 7 children found the Lord, 
 and a number of men and women ; one Mr. Lawrence, a gay youth, 
 was convinced and converted; not less than 15 found the Lord. 
 Persecution rages; tiie people say we are going mad and threaten to 
 complain to ye [ilie] magistrates for our breaking the peace. This 
 meeting lasted five hours; some suppose 40 were converted this even- 
 ing. Friday evening, no remarkable slir. Sunday, 17th, the work
 
 114 A History of Methodism iv New York City. 
 
 The increased labor resulting from this work led to a 
 throat trouble, which prevented Mr. Morrell from preach- 
 ing sometimes; but he says, "Brother Brush providen- 
 rlally came to this city this month." * 
 
 broke out in the afternoou — a cry through the congregatiou ; a num- 
 ber converted ; cannot ascertain the number. 
 
 " Tuesday evening, a solemn niglit, some converted. Wednesday, 
 20tli, after the meeiing was dismissed, 1 soul cried out. Tliey began 
 praying witli her. A number afterward were found in distress ; prayer 
 was made and manj^ believed and entered into rest. Sunday, nothing. 
 Monday, 25th, evening, 4 found the Lord. Tuesday, 26th, and 
 "Wednesday, 27th, nothing remarkable. Thursday, 28th, powerful 
 time at love-feast, believers filled with joy, 9 or 10 found peace. In 
 tlie month of February we liad three powerful times on the Sabbath 
 evenings, at which meetings, as near as we can judge, about 40 were 
 converted. Marcli 4, at love-feast, a happy time to most believers. 
 Seventy-six joined in January, 62 in Februarj'." Thus we have a 
 glimpse of two months of that winter. Would that we could find 
 otlier records of a similar kind I This accounts for the increase of 264 
 in the report at the next Conference. 
 
 * Mr. Brusli was born on Long Island and spent about leu j-ears in 
 the ministry. His name first appears in the Minutes of 1785, in con- 
 nection with Trenton, N. J. Wlien he came tn New York he had 
 been assisting Lee in Connecticut, and at the Conference of 1790 was 
 appointed to New Rochelle, to wliich lie returned in 1791. In 1792 
 and 1793 he was elder over Long Island and otlier portions of New 
 York State and Connecticut, and in 1794 a supernumerary in New 
 York city. He died there of yellow fever September 25, 1795, and 
 was buried in the ground in tlie rear of Forsyth Street Church. In 
 the Directory of 1795 liis residence is given as at Mr. Courtney's 
 ship-yards, Cherry Street, and it is probable he died there. The Min- 
 utes say, " He was an active man ex God, and a great friend to order 
 and union." From May 13 to November 23, 1790, several payments 
 to him are recorded in the " Old Book." Wakeley's Lost Cliapttrs, 
 p. 368 ; Warriner's Old Sands Street.
 
 The Shoutixg of the Reapeks. 115 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE SHOUTIXG OF THE REAPERS— CONFERENCE OF 1790 
 TO 1793. 
 
 The Conference of 1V90 began on Monday, October 
 4, in the city. It cost the Church £26 6s. 8d., for keep- 
 ing the preachers' horses. The members numbered 522 
 whites and 102 colored, in all 624 — again of 264. As- 
 bury says of the Conference, "All was peace, order, and 
 unanimity." Benjamin Abbott also says, " Our Con- 
 ference went on from day to day in brotherly love and 
 unity; there was preaching by one or another every 
 night. I was sitting one day in the kitchen, where I 
 put up, smoking my pipe, being tired of confinement in 
 Conference so long" (yet the session did not last four 
 days), "and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me in a 
 miraculous, powerful manner, so that I was fully con- 
 vinced that something great would be done at the Confer- 
 ence. Next day Bishop Asbury opened the love-feast; 
 then Brother Whatcoat spoke; and when he had done I 
 arose and told them my experience; the people gave 
 great attention, and when I came to the account of my 
 sanctification down dro])ped one of the preachers, and 
 did not rise until the Lord sanctified his soul. I then 
 claimed the promises, and in a moment the house was 
 filled with cries and screeches and wonderful shouts ! 
 Several went among the people, to those whom they 
 found in distress, to admonish, exhort, and pray with 
 them. Afterward six told me that God had sanctified 
 them, and I think seven that God had justified them.
 
 116 A History of Methodism in" New York City. 
 
 Three had to be carried home that evening, who were 
 not able to go of themselves." * 
 
 Next May, when Abbott was on the way to Conference, 
 he traveled in company with Garrettson and other 
 preachers. As they passed along they held religious 
 services at different places; but Abbott observed he was 
 not called upon either to preach, pray, or exhort. He 
 found there was a difference of sentiment about the love- 
 feast at the last Conference. After Conference opened, 
 all went on very lovingly until the appointment of a love- 
 feast was discussed. " It was brought on the carpet," says 
 Abbott, " by Brother R. Cloud. ... He said that I hal- 
 looed and bawled, and cried ' Fire! Fire ! ' and scared the 
 people. Then Brother G. [Garrettson] got up and sec- 
 onded him, and opposed the work with all the powers he 
 had; Brother J. Lee said he was happy in the love-feast. 
 The bishop said he did not want to hear them ' halloo and 
 shout and bawd ;' but he wanted to hear them speak their 
 experiences. I said, ' Then, perhaps I had better not go to 
 the love-feast.' I was not in the least angry; but I was 
 grieved in soul for the cause. Our appointment Avasup 
 at the new meeting-house, and abundance of people 
 gathei-ed. The bishop ojjcned the love-feast, and when 
 the bread and Avater had gone round, and the people 
 were at liberty to speak, not one spoke for some time. 
 Then Brother Garrettson got up and exhorted the peo- 
 ple, and then Brother Cloud exhorted them likewise, 
 but all to no puri^ose. Among the several hundreds jires- 
 ent, there were but few that spoke. For my part, I 
 kept silence under much depression of mind, not feeling 
 much faith or liberty of spirit. After some exhortations 
 the meeting broke up. Many of the friends afterward 
 told me they felt death in their souls, and came to me 
 to know what was the matter. I told them simply that 
 * Experieace of B. Ahbott, p. 1C3.
 
 The Siioutixg of the Reapees. 117 
 
 Brotlier Cloud had said that there was no good done at 
 the last Conference love-feast ; but there were, to the 
 best of my recollection, six who told me that they were 
 sanctified, and seven that they were justified, at that love- 
 feast. BrotherMorrell said that this last love-feast was 
 the most dead and lifeless love-feast that ever had been in 
 York before, I understood that the preachers,in discours- 
 ing together, acknowledged that they had been wrong in 
 what they had done and said on the subject."* It is vvor- 
 tliy of notice that, notwithstanding this difference of 
 opinion, they were able to keep the unity of the Spirit in 
 the "bond of peace;" for Asbury writes in his Journal 
 (May 30, 1791), " Not a frown, a. sign of sour temper, or 
 an imkind word was seen or heard among us." They 
 had, it seems, a good feast of love, after all. 
 
 But we must return to the Conference of 1790. 
 Thomas Morrell was continued as elder, and Robert 
 Cloud and William Jessop were the stationed preachers. 
 Mr. Jessop came to the city in feeble health, for we find 
 a few weeks after the Conference a charge in the "Old 
 Book," October 2G, " Cash paid for Mr. Jessop's sickness, 
 wine, porter, etc., £2 8s." Again, November 8, "Paid 
 Judah for nursing Mr. Jessop, £2." In the following 
 January also bills for medical attendance were paid 
 amounting to £6 85. Mr. Jessop was born in the State 
 of Delaware, and entered the traveling connection in 
 1784. Though of feeble constitution, he labored much 
 and successfully. After leaving New York he went to 
 Nova Scotia, but returned to the United States, and 
 died in Lancaster County, Pa., the latter end of the 
 year 1795. He was buried in the ground connected 
 with Boehm's Chapel, and Rev. Henry Boehm was a 
 bearer at his funeral. Asbury, in his funeral sermon, 
 preached July 25, 1796, describes him as a "man well 
 * Experience of B. Abbot f, p. iTT.
 
 118 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 known and much beloved, . . . always solemn," and 
 says, "Few such holy, steady men liave been found 
 among us."* 
 
 The Conference of 1790 met October 4; that of 1791 
 on May 20, giving an interval of only about seven months 
 and three-quarters. At this session, at the urgent re- 
 quest of preachers and peo]ile, the bishop preached a 
 sermon on the occasion of Mr. Wesley's death. This 
 he did at the new church in the morning, and at the 
 old in the afternoon, taking for his text, 2 Tim. iii, 
 10, ll.f 
 
 The general good feeling that prevailed at the Con- 
 ference seems to have been somewhat disturbed by a 
 visit from Mr. Hammett, of Charleston, afterward leader 
 of a secession in that city. He preached during the 
 Conference at both the churches, but Asbury tells us his 
 " preaching was not well received." After Conference 
 the bishop started on a tour through New England, re- 
 turning to the city on August 29. He writes then, " The 
 weather is warm, and here is an awful season of afflic- 
 tion." The yellow fever was prevailing. He preached 
 in the new church on Heb. v, 12, and says, " We had an 
 acceptable time and some gracious movings." Again, on 
 Wetlnesday, the 3 lst,he writes, " We had a serious heart- 
 affecting time; many were ready to break out into praises 
 to God. I respect the kindness of the dear people here, 
 and leave New York in faith that the Lord will return to 
 visit them. "J On Friday, September 2, he preached in 
 the new chapel on Jer. li, 50: " Ye that have escaped the 
 sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar 
 
 * Wakeley's Lost Chapttrs, p. 364. 
 
 f Nearly thirty years after the bishop's own funeral sermon was 
 preached from the same text by Rev. E. Cooper. 
 
 1j. The}' had given him a substantial proof of their kindness in a new 
 suit of clothes, surtout, boots, hats, etc., which cost £22 10s. 3d., be- 
 sides two pounds in cash.
 
 The Shouting of the Reapers. 119 
 
 off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind," and in a 
 few days was on his way to the South. 
 
 The number of members reported this year (1791) 
 was, whites, 524; colored, 112; total 636 — an increase of 
 12. R. Whatcoat, T. Morrell, and James Mann, were 
 appointed to the city, with R. Cloud as elder. The ap- 
 pointment of Morrell, however, seems to have been only 
 nominal ; he was about to accompany Asbury on his 
 journey. He writes in his Journal: " On Tuesday even- 
 ing, November 1, 1791, I preached my farewell sermon 
 from Gen. xlii, 36, 'All these things are against me,' 
 to a crowded house." What significance there was in 
 the text we cannot tell ; perhaps he referred to the strug- 
 gle he had in building the new church.* They gave 
 him a new hat, costing £2 16s. He says: " I have now 
 been in New York two years and five months. When 
 I first went to that city there were about three hundred in 
 society. Ileft upward of six hundred. "f He accompanied 
 Asburv as far as Charleston, where the bishop stationed 
 him, that he might undo the mischief that Hammett 
 had done. He was the man for the place, and remained 
 there until June 5, 1792. 
 
 Richard Whatcoat was born in the county of Glouces- 
 ter, England, on February 23, 1736, converted in 1758, 
 and joined the Conference in ] 769. For fifteen years 
 he traveled in England, Ireland, and AVales, and uni- 
 formly proved himself a faithful and zealous laborer. 
 In September, 1784, when Coke was ordained to the 
 superintendency of the societies in America, he received 
 orders as deacon and elder by the hands of Wesley, 
 Coke, and Creighton. He came to America with Dr. 
 Coke, and labored for several years, mostly as presiding 
 elder, in Delaware and Maryland, and afterward trav- 
 
 * See his text on a subsequent occasion, p. 125. • 
 f Wakeley's Lost Chapten;, p. 377. 
 9
 
 120 A IIisTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 eled with Asbuiy. He remained in New York fi-om 
 May, 1791, to September, 1792, and, having filled sev- 
 eral other important positions, was elected bishop in 
 1800. He finished his course at Dover, in Delaware, 
 July 5, 180G, aged seventy years. He "was one of the 
 saintliest men in the primitive itinerancy of Methodism. 
 . . , So much divine majesty and luster appeared in 
 him it made the wicked tremble to behold him ; " yet 
 " his amiable, heavenly, and courteous carriage was such 
 as to make him the delight of his acquaintances. . . . He 
 feared not the face of man, but where there was just oc- 
 casion he would boldly admonish and faithfully reprove, 
 yet with so much prudence and with such expressions 
 of tenderness as made way to the heart." He was "an 
 example to show what a life of peace and holiness 
 Christians may attain on earth." * 
 
 James Mann Avas a brother of John Mann, who sup- 
 plied John Street during the war, before the arrival of 
 Samuel Spraggs. He went Avith John to Nova Scotia, 
 and was a jjrominent member of the Conference there. 
 Joshua Marsden says he was a good man and exceed- 
 ingly useful. This was liis onh^ appointment in the 
 United States ; in 1794 he is set down to Nova Scotia 
 again, f 
 
 Among those received as members this year Avere 
 Thomas Carpenter, William Pinkney, and Ware Bran- 
 son. I 
 
 * Dr. Phoebus, in Stevens's History of the Methodist EjjiscojmI 
 Church, vol. ii, p. 157. 
 
 f Wiikeley's Lost Chapters, p. 379. 
 
 j Book i, B, p. 30. There is also in the same book (p. 52) a list of 
 members, dated aSTovember 10, 1791, by James Mann. There are sjx 
 hundred and twenty-four, divided into twenty-seven classes, all of 
 them., except three, exclusively male or female. There are several 
 new leaders, namely, Philip Arcularius, Jolni Bleeker, Henry Newlon, 
 John Cooper, William Phoebus, John Sprosen, Dnniel Carpenter, 
 William Cooper, William Valleau, Daniel ContHut, Richard Courtney, 
 Elias Vanderlip, Robert Cuddy, Samuel Stilwell, and Joseph Rice.
 
 The Shoutixg of the Reapers. 121 
 
 The Conference of 1'792 was appointed for July 19, 
 but from Asbury's Journal we find it did not meet until 
 Aufjust 28. He arrived on July 17, and says : "I did 
 not find that life and harmony here that there have 
 been in times past." * But he met the " women's classes 
 and found the Lord was among them." He preached 
 on "Who is on the Lord's side ?" and had some life in 
 speaking, but there was little move in the congrega- 
 tion. Sunday, 23d, he says, "was a melting time with 
 many hearts in the old church, my subject 1 John i, 6, 7. 
 In the afternoon, although very unwell, I labored hard 
 in the new church, but the people Avere exceedingly in- 
 sensible. There was a little shaking under Brother 
 Hull (Hope Hull) in the old church in the evening." 
 On the 24th he was on his way to New England. He 
 returned to meet the Conference on August 28. He says 
 twenty-eight preachers were present. On Friday, Sep- 
 tember 1, they "had a solemn love-feast, the lower floor 
 of the house being nearly filled. Several of the breth- 
 ren professed perfect love; others had lost the wit- 
 ness." f On Sunday, preparatory to the sacrament, he 
 preached on 1 Cor. v, 7, 8 ; and at the conclusion of his 
 visit says: "I now leave Xew York for one whole year, 
 under the hope and prophecy that this will be a year of 
 the Lord's power with them." This prediction was 
 fulfilled. 
 
 There were reported at this Conference 511 w^hites and 
 130 colored; total, 041 — an increase of five in the year. 
 Thomas Morreil comes back, v.ith L. Green and G. 
 Strebeck as his colleages. John Merrick was the elder. 
 
 * Perhaps Mann's Tory proclivities had disturbed the society and 
 ' were the cause of liis not receiving another appointment in the United 
 States. 
 
 fB. Abbott says: "Tlie bishop observed that lie never had heard 
 so many speak of sanctification in this place before." — Experience of 
 B. Abbott, p. 194.
 
 122 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Lemuel Green had been about nine years in the 
 work, and was a most sterling man and an able minister. 
 He located in 1800, but in 1823 was re-admitted into the 
 Philadelphia Conference, to which he bore a superannu- 
 ated relation until his death, in 1831 (or 1832). George 
 Strebeck had just been received on trial. He withdrew 
 in a few years, joining the Lutheran Church and after- 
 ward the Episcopal. He was the first pastor of St. 
 Stephen's Church, formerly corner of Broome and 
 Christie Streets, now in West Forty-sixth Street. He 
 was zealous and popular. He died in Charleston or 
 Savannah.* Phoebus, who located this year, received 
 quarterage on August 24, and there is no payment to 
 Strebeck about that time. He was probably supplying 
 Strebeck's place. 
 
 In September of this year Ezekiel Cooper arrived in 
 New York from Charleston, S. C. He describes the new 
 church as " the most complete we have on this continent." 
 He spent two weeks in labor for the cause and pleasant so- 
 cial intercourse. Among others that he visited we find 
 the names of Houseman, Doane, Anderson, Jjrower, 
 Smith, Bleeker, Russel, Staples, Fosbrooke, Clarke, 
 Holliday, Jaques, Hazzard, Wainright, McKenniss — 
 the British agent in New York — Mott, Newton, Val- 
 leau, Humbert, Mei'cein, Ilervey, Matthias, JNIyers, 
 Cooper, Snow, Shatford, Johnson, and Arcularius. On 
 the 9tli of the following January he reached New York 
 again and spent fi\e days, and then went to New En- 
 
 * Up to tliis time we have no evidence that any of the preachers 
 occupied any otiier house than that in John Street adjoining tlie 
 churcli. But the Directory for 1793 gives the residence of George 
 Strebeck as 39 Fratd'cfort Street. Although the preacliers were Joint 
 pastors and preached at all the churches in turn, it soon became llie 
 custom for each to exercise especial supervision over tlie one in tlio 
 neigliborhood of which he lived. As far as possible these residences 
 will be given hereafter.
 
 The Shouting of the Reapers, 123 
 
 gland, to serve as elder on Avliat might be called the 
 Boston District. Wu shall meet him again soon.* 
 
 On November 30 Dr. Coke came and spent twelve 
 da_ys, preaching some twenty sermons to thronged as- 
 semblies. He testifies that the society had " incompa- 
 rably more of genuine religion " than at any former 
 period. By the middle of December he was again at 
 sea on his way to the West Indies, f 
 
 In the meanwhile Asbiiry's jDrediction was in process 
 of fulfillment. Perhaps he had seen indications of im- 
 provement or had confidence in the zeal and talent of 
 the laborers he had sent ; or, it may be, felt those 
 premonitions which not unfrequently come like inspi- 
 rations on men living in close communion Avith God. 
 Whatever it may have been he expected a good result, 
 and was not disappointed. We have no account of the 
 origin and progress of the work; but at the Conference 
 of 1793 the report stood, whites, 639; colored, 154; total 
 793 — an increase of 152.J On March 1, 1793, Mitchell 
 B. Bull, afterward well known as a local preacher in 
 New York city, was received as a member from Ireland. 
 (Book i, B, p. 8.) 
 
 * LigJit 071 Early Metlwdism, p. 152. 
 
 f Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 42. 
 \ A list of the classes, with their leaders, and time and place of 
 meeting, dated February, 1793, will be found in Appendix N.
 
 124 A History of Mi^thodism in^ Xew Yokk City. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SOWrXG- IN IIOrE— CONFERENCE OF 1793 TO 1195. 
 
 TiiE Conference for 1V93 was appointed for August 
 25. Bisliop Asbury arrived on the 21st, but was so un- 
 well that he " kept close house until Sunday, 24th," 
 when he preached on Rom. xiii, 10-12. To his hearers 
 some of the words of his text must have sounded like a 
 prophetic warning: " Now also is our salvation nearer 
 than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is 
 at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, 
 and let us put on the armor of light." The weather was 
 extremely Avarm and unhealthy; some members of the 
 Conference were so unwell that they could not attend; 
 the yellow fever was ringing in Philadelphia. Thomas 
 Morrell was appointed to New York without any col- 
 league, and was to exchange in six months with F. Gar- 
 rettson in Philadelphia, On the 14th of September, 
 however, Mr. Morrell says in his Journal, Daniel Smith 
 and Evan Rogers " came to my assistance. Before they 
 came I had hard labor, and was obliged to employ the 
 local preachers."* 
 
 Daniel Smith was born in Philadelphia in 17G9; was 
 converted at an early age, and admitted into the travel- 
 ing connection in 1789. He began his work in New 
 England with Jesse Lee, and was afterward at Charles- 
 ton, S. C, "whence he came to New York. He was a 
 very able and successful preacher. He located in 1794, 
 and engaged in business in New York, where he married 
 
 ♦Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 395.
 
 Sowing ix Hope. 125 
 
 a daughter of ALraliam Russcl, one of tlic most promi- 
 nent members of the society. He continued, however, to 
 pi-each witli great acceptability until the close of his 
 life. His last sermon was in the John Street Church, 
 about two weeks before his death, on Matt, xvi, 26. He 
 died in great peace October 23, 1815.* Evan Rogers 
 was educated a Quaker, and was received on trial in the 
 Conference in 1790, and labored principally in Delaware 
 and Maryland, until he came to Xew York. He after- 
 ward went into New England, located in 1797, and 
 eventually joined the Protestant Episcopal Church. f 
 
 " On the 26th of September," says Mr. Morrell in his 
 Journal, " there was a day of fasting and prayer held 
 in Xew York in every church. Such a solemn time was 
 never seen in this city. The churches were all crowded. 
 Ours (the Forsyth Street) was not only full, and the house 
 adjacent, but also the burying-yard. I preached from 
 Jonah iii, 5. It was a most solemn season indeed. Three 
 that I knew were awakened. The occasion of the fast 
 was to entreat the Lord to put a stop to the malignant 
 fever in the city of Philadelphia. We had praj'ers at 
 six in the morning, preaching at ten A. M., and at thi-ee 
 and six P. M."t 
 
 In the following March Mr. Morrell took leave of the 
 society in Xew York, to take the jilace of Garrettson in 
 Philadeljihia. He makes this record: " Preached March 
 23, from Rom. Aiii, 28, 'All things work together for 
 good,' etc.§ AT Ij. — This was my last sermon preached 
 in Xew York, on Sunday afternoon, in the old church. 
 On Thursday evening Ave had our love-feast, a gracious 
 time. ... I found about three hundred members, and 
 
 * Stevens's History of the Mdhodisi Episcopal Cfiurch, vol. ii, p. 437 ; 
 Spraprue's Annals. 
 
 fWakeley's Lost Cltapters, p. 397. \Ihid., p. 394. 
 
 § When lie left before his text was, " All these thinji-s are against 
 me." The prospect seems to have brightened. See p. 119.
 
 126 A History of Methodism in Kew York City. 
 
 when I left them above eight hundred and fifty. ... I 
 left Daniel Smith and Evan Hogers as preachers there."* 
 
 Either the last number above given is an error or 
 there Avas great shrinkage before the Conference of 1794, 
 The Minutes report, whites, 575; colored, 135; total 710 
 — a decrease of 83. No doubt a sifting had followed the 
 accession of the preceding year; but it is hard to under- 
 stand how Thomas Morrell, a man of unusual accuracy 
 and integrity, should commit such an error. Perhaps 
 it is due to the transcriber or printer. 
 
 On Sunday, September 21, Bishop Asbury preached 
 in the old house, on Psa. cxxxii, and at the new church 
 in the afternoon on Psa. i. On Monday, 22, he opened 
 Conference, and says, " We sat closely to our business. 
 Tuesday, 23, I preached with liberty; but on Thursday 
 night 1 had a powerful temptation before I went into 
 the church, which sat so heavily on me that I could not 
 preach; yet I trust I was kept from sin. . . . We con- 
 cluded our work, and observed Friday as a day of ab- 
 stinence and prayer, and had a good time at our love- 
 feast." On Sunday afternoon he preached in the new 
 church on ' Woe to them that are at ease in Zion ! ' and 
 ordained seven deacons and five elders. " In the evening 
 at the old church I preached again ; we had the best 
 time at the last; at least it was so to me." The appoint- 
 ments read: " New York and Brooklyn, E. Cooper, L. 
 McCombs ; supernumeraries, W. Phoebus, J. Brush, D. 
 Kendall." Coo]jer, Brush, and Phoebus have already 
 been noticed; let us see what we can learn of the others. 
 
 Laurence McCombs (or Larry McCombs, as he was 
 familiarly called by the Methodists of the time) was 
 one of the giants of those days. He joined the Phila- 
 delphia Conference in 1792, at the age of twenty-three, 
 and beginning his work on the Newburg Circuit became 
 * Wakeley's io5f Chapters, p. 396.
 
 Sowing in IIopk. 127 
 
 exceedingly pojDular. He was full six feet in height, 
 with a finely developed form, and a voice full, clear, and 
 of great flexibility. He was not a close thinker ; his 
 style was diffuse and even wordy, and he had a singular 
 habit of elevating one of his shoulders by sudden jerks. 
 But he had great power with the masses, and his pres- 
 ence at a camp-meeting would attract immense crowds. 
 After laboring in New England and the Middle States 
 until 1806 he located, but re-entered the work in 1815. 
 He filled prominent positions in the Philadelphia Con- 
 ference until, in 1835, he located again. He died in 
 Philadelphia, June 11, 1836, in his sixty-seventh year.* 
 
 All we know of David Kendall is that he entered the 
 work in 1788 and located in 1795, having labored in 
 New York and New England. 
 
 But we read also in the Minutes, " S. and R. Hutch- 
 inson to change every three months with L. McCombs." 
 Sylvester Hutchinson was appointed to Croton and New 
 Rochelle, and Robert, his brother, to Long Island. A 
 third brother, Aaron, who died in 1791, after a brief 
 ministry of about four years, was considered the best 
 preacher of the three. f If so he would have been pre- 
 eminent had he lived, for the other two were men of no 
 ordinary ability. Sylvester Hutchinson began his min- 
 istry in 1789 and continued until 1803, when he was 
 presiding elder on Pittsfield District. Then his name 
 disappears from the list of appointments, and in 1806 
 he located. He was an able and zealous preacher, but 
 sometimes " as rough as a grater."J As a presiding eld- 
 er he exhibited " burning zeal and indomitable energy. 
 Mounted upon his favorite horse he would ride through 
 the entire extent of his district, reaching from New 
 
 ■" Sprrt<rue's Annals of the Methodist Pulpit ; Slevens's History o/tlie 
 Methodift Episcojyal Church, vol. iii, p. 137. 
 
 t Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 528. Xlhid., p. 528.
 
 128 A IIisToiiY OF Methodism ix Xew York City. 
 
 York city to Canada, and from tlie Hudson River to 
 the Connecticut, once every three months, visiting each 
 circuit and invariably filling all his numerous appoint- 
 ments. His voice rung like a trumpet-blast; and with 
 words of fire, and in powerful demonstration of the 
 Spirit, he preached Christ Jesus."* Not unfrequently in 
 those days a preacher's marriage led to his location, but, 
 singular to saj', Mr, Hutchinson's h)catiou resulted from 
 his failure to marry. He was engaged to a young lady 
 of influential family, whose " friends, especially one 
 brother, made such desperate opposition that the engage- 
 ment was broken off the day the wedding was to have 
 taken place. Mr. Asbury reprimanded him severely for 
 not marrying the girl at all liazards ; " and the result 
 Avas he left the Church. He afterward married, and 
 when the Protestant Methodists arose became a minister 
 among them. He died November 11, 1840.f 
 
 Of Robert Hutchinson Av^e know less. His connection 
 with the traveling ministry lasted about ten years, end- 
 ing with his location in 1799, He "was sometimes pa- 
 thetic, then he was terrific. "J These three brothers were 
 grandsons of Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, who was mother of 
 thirteen children, grandmother and great-great-grand- 
 mother of more than three hundred children, and who 
 died when nearly one hundred and two years of nge.§ 
 
 In regard to E. Cooper's appointment to Kew York 
 this year the following letter, lately published for the 
 first time, will be of interest: || 
 
 My Very Dear Brother: I am now satisfied tliat you should take 
 3'our stand here till further orders. It is my wish that you should 
 keep a conference with the preachers in tliis city, stationed and suner- 
 
 * Clark's LiJ'e of Bedding, p. 86. 
 
 fSee Warriuer's Oid Sands Street, p. 138; and Atkinson's Centen- 
 nial Ilistorrj, p. 152. 
 
 \ Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 528. g Asbury's Journal, May 23, 1802. 
 \ Light on Early Methodism, p. 190.
 
 Sowing ix TIorE. 129 
 
 niimeraries. It is my desire that once in live or six vc< cks each one 
 of you should spend a Sabbath in Brooklyn. Brother Phcebus has 
 lieard my mind. I want quarterly meetings to be held at each of the 
 three houses, first at one and then at another. Meet the first day, 
 and then the following day call the leaders and stewards in confer- 
 ence, close conference about the work of God and their souls, the 
 order and harmony of the societies, and their temporal supplies. Have 
 a love-feast for all the societies. Let me hear from you, and you 
 sliall hear from me. I have been greatly employed, preaching three 
 times tliis day, and am going off early to-morrow morning. Thine 
 in love, Francis Asbury. 
 
 Xew York, LorcVs Bay. September 28, 1194. 
 
 I give it as my real opinion that you should have no open love- 
 feast. Attend to this. F. Asbury. 
 
 Accordingly, when Mr. Cooper arrived he called the 
 leaders and stewards togetlier, but " found some opposi- 
 tion to the plans proposed."* There -were three ser- 
 mons in each church, the effective ministers alternating, 
 and after the evening service a general meeting of the 
 wliole society was held, conducted by the pastor. On 
 Monday evening there was a meeting of the select 
 bands ; Tuesday evening, preaching ; Wednesday even- 
 ing, prayer-meeting; Thursday evening, clas.s-raeetings ; 
 Friday evening, preaching; Saturday evening, class- 
 meetings.f On Simday, November 2, he says : " In 
 the evening, after preaching in the old church by 
 Brother McCombs, there broke out a powerful work 
 among the people." J On Christmas day the sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper was administered in both churches, 
 and three sennons preached in each of them.§ At this 
 time, Mr. Cooper tells us, McCombs left, and R. Hutch- 
 inson came from Long Island, as the Minutes directed. || 
 
 The year closed with a watch-night, held in the old 
 cliurch, beginning at eight o'clock. A sermon was 
 preached by Mr. Cooper, and exhortations were deliv- 
 
 * Li'jht on Early Melliodisn, p. 19:'!. f E. Cooper's Manuscript. 
 X Li'jht Oil Early Methodism, p. 19t. § Ibid., p. 19G. || Ibid., p. 195.
 
 130 A riisTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 ered by Messrs. Phoebus, Ilutcliinson, Smith, Valleau, 
 and Brush. The congregation, Avhich remained till 
 after midnight, numbered nearly five hundred.* 
 
 On the 6th day of January, 1795, the various de- 
 nominations of the city held a concert of prayer for the 
 outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Services were held in 
 the Methodist churches at two o'clock. f Mr. Cooper 
 states that Mr. McKenniss, the British agent in New 
 York, was a worshiper with the church and contributed 
 to its funds. J 
 
 It seems that Bishop Asbury had got the idea, for 
 whicli there was probably some foundation, that the 
 visiting of the preachers in New York city was too 
 much of a social character and not enough in a pastoral 
 spirit. In a letter to Mr. Cooper from Charleston, dated 
 January 2, 1795, he says: "I am in hopes that some- 
 thing valuable will take place in New York in the year 
 1795. Your attention ought to be had to discipline and 
 A-isiting from house to house, but not to eat and drink. 
 I am pointedly against that. You have a house to eat 
 in; you need not go to feast Avith the Church of God. 
 "We ought to visit as doctors or as persons to plead the 
 cause of their souls, not as guests to eat and drink. I 
 am convinced it is and will be an evil."§ Sound advice 
 this, and not out of date a century later. 
 
 The Methodists of New York, like the first of that 
 name in Oxford, had " a care for the spiritual interests 
 of the prisoners." "They had preaching regularly once 
 a month, on Friday, and other spiritual counsel."]] 
 February 19, 1795, had been appointed by the president 
 a day of national tlianksgiving. Public Avorship Avas 
 held in the Methodist churches three times, the same as 
 on the Sabbath. Mr. Cooper preached in the forenoon. 
 
 * Liglit on Early JletJwdism, p. 196. \Jhid., p. 198. 
 
 J Ibid., p. 197. § Ibid., p. 199. || Ibid., p. 199.
 
 SowixG IX Hope. 131 
 
 " One person," he says, " wrote me a letter disapprov- 
 ing of my preaching at all on politics, which I touched 
 upon considerably. But I felt a clear conscience ; I did 
 no more than my duty upon such an occasion." * On 
 February 22 he was invited by a company of New York 
 deists to jD reach a sermon for them. They gave him as 
 his text, " But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 
 no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, 
 but the Father." Mark xiii, 32. The letter was so 
 civil and candid that he consented, and saj's he foimd 
 unexpected liberty. He was informed, too, that good 
 was done, the faith of numbers being strengthened, 
 though he did not hear that one deist was convinced. 
 They sent him, however, a letter of thanks, acknowledg- 
 ing that his arguments were superior to any they had 
 seen among the writers against Thomas Paine's Age of 
 Heasoii. A general fast-day, appointed throughout the 
 Methodist connection, was observed in the New York 
 churches on February 27.f 
 
 Undeii date of Monday, March 16, Mr. Cooper says: 
 "This day we bad our election for trustees in the 
 church. Assembled at eleven and finished at one 
 o'clock. There was the greatest election ever known 
 upon the occasion at any time wliatever before. There 
 was a perfect party piece of work, one for putting out 
 the old members and the other for keeping them in. 
 The contention rose so high tlmt I was much grieved. 
 I thouglit that some were quite out of a religious line of 
 conduct. The election caused great uneasiness in tlie so- 
 ciety; unfriendly things were said of each other which 
 I feared would be a means of getting some of them out 
 of the society. However, we settled matters tolerably 
 well. The old trustees were continued in office." J 
 
 * Light on Earhj Methodism, ^. 200. \ Ihid., p. 201. 
 
 X Ibid., p. 203. Who these trustees were, and also who were the
 
 132 A HiSTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The Methodists paid then more attention to Chnveh 
 feast days than they do now. We find in Mr. Cooper's 
 Journal the following : " Sunday, May 24. This being 
 Whitsunday,* I preached from Acts ii, 4, in the new 
 church, and we gave the sacraments. A powerful time 
 we had ; the Lord was with us of a truth. Several 
 were so wrought upon that for some time they could not 
 walk nor stand. We had a small shout of joy and glad- 
 ness at the entrance of the ark into the camp." On 
 Monday he adds: "We had preaching three times — 
 Brother Brush in the morning at the okl church, I at 
 three o'clock P. M. at the new church, and Brother 
 McCombs at six o'clock P. M. in the fields." They had 
 a large company in the fields, and generally good order 
 and considerable power attended the word. On Sunday, 
 May 31, they took up their quarterly collection, amount- 
 stewards, local preachers, and class-leaders in September, 1T95, will 
 be seen from the following list, found in Book i, B, p. 38: 
 
 Trustees: John Staples, Philip Arcularius, John Bleeker, William 
 Snj'der, Henry Xewton, Abraham Russel. 
 
 Stewards: John Sprosen, Henry Newton, Jolm Bleeker, John 
 Staples. 
 
 Local Preachers: Daniel Smith (elder), Jonas Himibert, "William 
 Vallean, Jesse Oakley, Robert Cuddy. 
 
 Class- leaders : Abraham Russel, Philip Arcularins, Henry New- 
 ton, John Bleeker, William Snyder, John Staples (two classes), William 
 Cooper (three classes), William Henry, George Courtnej^ Paul Hick, 
 Daniel Coutant, Ware Branson, Tliomas Hutchinson (two classes), 
 Abraham Brower, Andrew Mercein, Peter McLain, John Davis (two 
 classes), James Sliarack, Ellas Tanderlip, Jonas Humbert, CorneUus 
 Warner, Richard Lecraft, Robert Cuddy, William Mills, David Renny, 
 John Brower, Henry Banker, Samuel Seirs, William Grant, Thomas 
 Kirk, Samuel Elsworth, Barnet Matthias, Bazel Myers, Thomas Lovell, 
 John Vark, John Sprosen. This would give leaders for forty-one 
 classes ; but the list of members which follows is divided into but 
 thirty-four classes, and the last seven names are not found there as 
 leaders. They were probably appointed to fill vacancies which arose 
 afterward. 
 
 * How many Methodists now can tell, on the spur of the moment, 
 what Whitsunday commemorates?
 
 SowixG IX Hope. 133 
 
 ing to more than eighty pounds. Mr. Cooper joreached 
 on Prov. xi, 23-25. Some thought he begged too liard.* 
 At the love-feast on Wednesday evening, June 17, "the 
 Lord was powerfully present. I have not seen so good 
 a time for a great while past." f 
 
 On Monday, June 29, Bishop Asbury, accompanied 
 by Thomas Ware, came to the city, where he remained 
 for a week, and visited all the classes.^ On Saturday, 
 July 4, he, with the other preachers, the trustees, stew- 
 ards, and leaders, had a meeting for the purpose of 
 looking into the state and religious wants of the soci- 
 ety.§ Asbury, in his Journal, says: "I had some close 
 talk on the doctrine and discipline of the Church ; 
 I asked if they wished to be Methodists. But how 
 could I suppose any thing else, when they were a so- 
 ciety of nearly thirty years' standing?" On Sunday 
 he preached in Brooklyn in the morning, and returned 
 to assist in the sacrament in the afternoon at the new 
 church. " I then met the black classes, || and preached at 
 half-past six. I closed my day's work by meeting two 
 men's classes." On Monday he met three classes at ten 
 o'clock, five at three o'clock, and four at eight o'clock. •[ 
 On Sunday, September 6, Mr. Cooper preached his 
 farewell sermon in each church.** 
 
 * Light on Early Mdhodism, p. 211. \ Ihld., p. 211. 
 
 \ There were thirty-four classes in the following Seiitember. 
 
 § Light on Early Methodism, p. 213. 
 
 II Of these there were eiglit. Book i, B, p. 42. 
 
 % So says Mr. Cooper {Lighten Early Methodism, p. 213); but As' 
 bury, in )iis Journal, says lie met nine classes, instead of twelve. 
 Does Mr. Cooper wish to magnify the bishop's activity, or does the 
 bishop in his humility depreciate his own labor? He adds, liovvever: 
 " I have now spoken to most of tlie members l:ere, one by one." 
 
 ** Light on Early Methodism, p. 216.
 
 134 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER XHI. 
 
 A THIRD aARXER— COXFEREXCE OF 1795 TO 1799. 
 
 The yellow fever was ragiiic; in the city, and there- 
 fore the Conference of 1795, which had been appointed 
 to meet there, assembled at White Plains on September 
 22.* The membership in the city Avas reported as 600 
 whites and 155 colored; in all 755 — an increase of 45. 
 The appointments for New York read: " W. Lee, J. 
 Clark, six months." G. Roberts was the ehler. 
 
 The name of Lee has frequently been prominent in 
 the annals of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Jesse 
 Lee was the apostle to New England, Jason Lee was the 
 leader of the band of missionaries to the Pacific coast, 
 and Luther Lee was pre-eminent in the antislavery con- 
 troversy. Wilson Lee, though not as widely celebrated, 
 is entitled to a place of scarcely less honor. Born in 
 Sussex County, Del., in 1764, he entered the traveling 
 connection in 1784. He labored mainly in the West 
 until 1793, when he was appointed to Salem, N. J,, and 
 in 1794 to New London, Conn. On his way from there 
 to New York he was the means of introducing Method- 
 ism into Southold, L. I., under very interesting circum- 
 stances.f After a year in New York he labored for 
 three years in Philadelphia, and then in Maryland, until, 
 in 1804, he became superannuated, and died on the 11th 
 
 *Tlie Supernumerary, from papers of E. "Woolsey, p. 57. 
 
 fBangs's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 300; 
 Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcajml Church, vol. Hi, p. 165- 
 Sprague's Annals of the Methodist Pulpit, p. 91 ; "Wakeley'a Lost Chap. 
 tars, p. 405.
 
 A Third Garxer. 135 
 
 of October following. He Avas " one of the most labori- 
 ous, successful, and self-denying of the early ministers."* 
 Mr. Lee reached New York some M^eeks before the end 
 of the Conference year, and assisted Mr. Cooper, f 
 
 Of John Clark all that we know is that he entered 
 the work in 1791, and after laboring in the South four 
 years, and one year in New York, withdrew in 1796, 
 Plis appointment Avas for six months, and that of Joseph 
 Totten, J in "Brooklyn, was for the same period, no doubt 
 with the understanding that they were to exchange. § 
 
 * Sprague's Annals, p. 91. \ Light onEarlij Methodism, p. 215. 
 
 :j: Mr. Totten was born in Hempstead, L. L, in 1759, entered the 
 work in 1792, and, having labored in prominent appointments and in 
 tlie eldership, died in Philadelphia in 181 8. His brethren say he was 
 "dearly beloved." 
 
 § The " Old Book," whicli might have given ns light, suddenly 
 fails us here. The last explicit entry in it is dated Septem- 
 ber 9, 1795. A few others which read, "To sundries as per 
 Day Book," follow, the latest being May .^0, 1797, when there 
 was a balance of £147 145. in tlie hands of the treasurer. The 
 succession in this ofBce (of treasurership) was as followr : From 
 August, 1769 (when the accounts in the "Old Book" com- 
 mence), until April 15, 1771, Wm. Lupton was treasurer. From 
 May, 1771, to May 19, 1774, James Jarvis. From May 20, 1774, 
 to February 7, 1776, John Staples and Stephen Snnds. From May 
 11, 1776, to September 8, 1778, J. Staples and R. Sause. From 
 September 11, 1778, to March 4, 1783, R. Sause, Charles White, and 
 John Mann. From March 4, 1783, to July 2, 1783, R Sause and 
 C. White. From July 10, 1783, to August 30, 1783, C. White. From 
 September 13, 1783, to July 1, 1785, Stephen Sands and John Staples. 
 From July 1, 1785, to April 8, 1786, S. Sands. (But the name of 
 Henry Xewton has also been written at the head of three pages and 
 crossed ofF.) From April, 1786, to April 18, 1791, J. Staples, H. New- 
 ton, and John Bleecker. From April 18, 1791, to March 14, 1792, 
 Samuel Stillwell is added. From March 14, 1792, to May 30, 1797 
 (when the account ends), John Sprosen is in place of S. Stillwell. The 
 top of the next two pages is opened with the names of Henry New- 
 ton, John Sprosen, Carpenter, and John J. Brower ; but there are 
 
 no entries except on December 9, 1796. "To sundries as per Day 
 Book, £1,068 45. lie/." This is the last entry in place in the "Old 
 Book," but on the preceding pages, as stated above, there are a few of 
 later date. 
 10
 
 136 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 George Roberts, the elder for this year, was a native 
 of Maryland, born May 3, 1766. He must have entered 
 the itinerancy in 1789, as his name appears in the Min- 
 utes of 1790 as "continued on trial." He soon went to 
 New England, where he labored until 1 795, when he 
 became elder on the district including New York city. 
 Six years more were spent in Baltimore and Philadel- 
 phia, and in 1806 he located in Baltimore, where he con- 
 tinued until his death in most decided spiritual triumph, 
 on November 27, 1827. While in Philadelphia he was 
 on intimate terms with the celebrated Dr. Rush, and 
 there commenced the study of medicine, which he after- 
 ward practiced with skill and success, doing very effect- 
 ive service also as a local preacher. He was an able 
 speaker, a vigorous writer, and commanded universal 
 respect. His son, the Rev. Dr. George C. M. Roberts,has 
 been well known for his interest in Methodist history.* 
 
 As has already been stated, that dreadful pestilence, 
 the yellow i'ever, prevailed in New York this year (1 705). 
 It broke out in August, and therefore the Conference 
 met at White Plains, f 
 
 *See "Warriuer's Old Sands Street, p. ]33. 
 
 f Rev. John Kingstou, from the West Indies, vras in llie city assist- 
 ing for a while, and to his pen we are indebted for a description of 
 the ravages of the plague. He says, " Sometimes eighty were buried 
 in a day." " On returning from Wiiite Plains to New York we met 
 great multitudes of people fleeing from tlio fever; the road was al- 
 most covered with coaches and wagons and persons on horseback 
 and on foot, endeavoring to escape from tlie destroyer. About three 
 miles from the city I saw the Potter's Field (now Washington Square), 
 where all who died of the plague were buried. Such a sight of open 
 graves and recently opened [ones] I never beheld. Near this dreadful 
 place we met the dead-cart. No one was permitted to come near it, but 
 only the two drivers, who wore a covering dipped in tar, to preserve 
 them from taking the infection." Referring to the death of Rev. J;icob 
 Brush, he says: " I visited Mr. Brush a short time before his decease, 
 and he gave indubitable proof that he was happy in the favor and
 
 A Thikd Garxer. 137 
 
 During the ensuing Conference year the society was 
 agitated on tlae subject of Universalism. Winchester, 
 a leading preacher of that belief, had drawn away 
 several influential members, including some of tlie trust- 
 ees. Roberts, the elder, began to enforce discipline ; 
 and several applied for certificates of dismission. At 
 length, however, the secession ceased, and the work of 
 God began to revive. About two hundred were con- 
 verted, many of them heads of families and men of in- 
 fluence, and a number of the seceders returned.* Mr. 
 Cooper refers to tliis matter, and says, " There was also 
 an agitation about making new seats for the John Street 
 Cliurch, similar to pews." Being on a visit to the city, 
 both parties opened their minds to him. He preached, 
 therefore, a sermon founded on a portion of Rom. xi\-, 
 showing wherein the kingdon of God consisted, and ex- 
 posing the evil of judging and condemning one another 
 on slight occasions. He wisely avoided the adoption 
 of the views of either party, and by request the sermon 
 was repeated in the new church. f 
 
 On Monday, August 15, 179G, Bishop Asbury crossed 
 the ferry from New Jersey to New York. He met 
 classes and visited from house to house, and on the next 
 
 peace of God. I preached his funeral [sermon] to a serious multitude 
 iu the new churcli ; and what affected me not a httle, the Sunday be- 
 fore I heard him preach a funeral sermon in the same pulpit for a 
 deceased friend. Tlie Tuesday preceding his decease ho was to have 
 been married." — Methodist Magazine for June, 1799, pp. 262, 263. 
 Quoted in E. Cooper's papers. 
 
 " Among otliers who died was tlie pious Mr. John Bleecker, a class- 
 leader, trustee, and steward of the society in John Street. He was a 
 man of devout piety, and in his parting moments expressed the utmost 
 confidence in the Lord and a glorious prospect of everlasting rest 
 in him. It was computed that not less than seven hundred persons 
 died of this malignant fever." — E. Cooper's papers. 
 
 * Article by l^lias Vanderlip, Chrisiian Advocate, vol. xxiii, p. 84. 
 
 f Papers of E. Cooper.
 
 138 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Sunday preached in the morning at Brooklyn, and in 
 the afternoon at New York, to about sixteen hundred 
 l^eople, " some of whom were wild and wicked enough." 
 The next day he " met three living classes, sca' eral among 
 whom professed perfect love." He adds, " The Aveather 
 is excessively warm and dry; people are sickly and 
 dying, es^jecially children." He complains also of the 
 mosquitoes. On Thursday, 25th, after meeting classes 
 and visiting, he preached to a large congregation in the 
 evening, many of whom wept. On Sunday, the 2Sth, he 
 preached in the morning at the old church, in the after- 
 noon at the new, on Heb. ii, 3, and in the evening at 
 the old church again, on Rev. iii, 2, 3, besides meeting 
 six classes. " Brother L. [Wilson Lee?] preached twice 
 in the north end of Broadway ; the congregation ap- 
 peared serious and attentive." This field-preaching Avas 
 probabl}^ on the common, now the City Hall Park. Tues- 
 day, 30th, he delivered his concluding discourse on Isa. 
 Ivii, 18. On Wednesday, 31st, he makes an entry Avhich 
 is an appropriate sequel to the testimony of Cooper and 
 Vanderlip as to the state of things in the society, and 
 for that and other reasons deserves attention: "I had 
 a meeting Avith the leaders in close conference, and 
 found it necessary to explain some parts of our disci- 
 pline to them, particularly that of the right of preachers 
 expelling members, when tried before the society or a 
 select number and found guilty of a breach of the laAV 
 of God and. our rules ; and that if an appeal Avere made 
 it should be brought before the Quarterly Meeting Con- 
 ference, composed of traveling and local preachers, lead- 
 ers, and stewards, and finally be determined by a major- 
 ity of votes. I found it also needful to observe there 
 Avas such a thing as heresy in the Church ; and I know 
 not what it is if it be not to deny the Lord that bought 
 them, and the eternity of the punishment of the damned,
 
 A Third Garner. 139 
 
 as is virtually done by the Universalists. Schism is not 
 dividing hypocrites from h^^pocrites, formal professors 
 from people of their own caste; it is not dividing nomi- 
 nal Methodists from nominal Methodists, or nominal 
 Quakers from nominal Quakers, etc. But schism is 
 dividing real Christians from each other and breaking 
 the unity of the Spirit." lie also met the trustees, and 
 after a day of much labor preached at the new house 
 in the evening on Acts xx, 32 — an appropriate farewell 
 text. 
 
 The next day Asbury left the city for New England, re- 
 turning in time for the Conference. He writes : " Thurs- 
 day, September 29, I preached on Luke xii: ' Who then 
 is a faithful and wise servant,' etc. I began to confer 
 with the brethren as they came in, and do the business 
 by scraps, as we could come at it. We were in doubt 
 whether some of the preachers would come at all, on ac- 
 count of the rumors of the yellow fever, which still ap- 
 peared in parts of the city. On Friday we entered fully 
 into our work, and on Saturday we concluded our short 
 Conference, the preachers being desii-ous to depart. We 
 had a solemn, peaceable sitting, and so also were our con- 
 gregations. I preached at our house in John Street on 
 Mark ix, 1: 'There be some standing here which shall 
 not taste of death until they have seen the kingdom of 
 God come with power;' but I had little opening." At 
 the same place, on the following Sunday, October 2, he 
 had great enlargement on Eph. iv, 11-13. "The feel- 
 ings of the people were touched, and my own also, as if 
 it had been the last time, as it probably may be with 
 some of my hearers if not myself." "In the after- 
 noon at the new house there was also a move in the 
 congregation whilst I enlarged on 1 Cor, iv, 10, 11. I 
 ordained in both houses, in all, eight deacons and 
 seven elders, and was on my feet six hours in the course
 
 140 A History of METHoi)is>r in New York City. 
 
 of tills day." Tlie noxt day he turned liis face to t'le 
 Soutli again.* The report at this Conference was, 641 
 whites, 145 coh)red; in all 78G, 31 more than the year 
 before. There had been a number of conversions, but 
 the losses on account of the Universalist controversy had 
 to be set oif against them. G. Roberts and A. Nichols 
 were the ^^''eachers appointed ; F. Garrettson and S. 
 Hutchinson were the elders, Andrew Nicliols entered 
 Conference in 1791, and traveled in Maryland and Vir- 
 ginia until his appointment to New York in 1796. He 
 afterward spent three years on Long Island and two in 
 New England, and in 1801 located. We are told he 
 *' was an excellent man and a good pastor and preacher."f 
 
 * Official members in September, 1796, from a list in Book i, B, 
 p. 1 5, bj- W. Loo and G. Roberts : 
 
 Local Preachers, William Phcsbus, Daniel Smitli, William Valleau, 
 Jesse Oakley, Thomas Dawson, Flanigan. — — Cody (Cuddy?). 
 
 Trustees, John Staples, Henry Newton, Abraham Russel, John 
 Sproson, William Valleau, William Cooper. 
 
 Stewards, John Sproson, Tliomas Carpenter, John Browcr. 
 
 A list of leaders and members is also given. There were thirty- 
 eight classes, and of course some changes in the leaders. This is the 
 last list we have until tiie new century begins. 
 
 f "Mr. Nichols resided in the parsonage at Second [now Forsyth] 
 Street. The preacher was going to hold a love-feast in the cliurch one 
 evening, and two lads wished to go in. In those days none were ad- 
 mitted unless they had a ticket of membership, or a permit from tiie 
 preacher. Peter Parks was then sexton. The boys concluded if they 
 volunteered to help him bring water and attend to making the fires 
 he would admit them into the love-feast. After they had assisted him 
 they inquired if 'they could not go into the love-feast." "He sent 
 them to Mr. Nichols for a permit." "He treated them very kindly, 
 and talked to them, and then gave them permits. The love-feasts in 
 those days were meetings of great power. One of the boys was deaf 
 and dumb. He was all attention, as one after another gave in their 
 testimony; he watched the mot ion of their lips and saw the expression 
 of joy in their countenances; and though he could not hear a word it 
 had a powerful effect, and was the means of his awakening and con-
 
 A TiiiKi) Gauxer. 141 
 
 Other incident-*, no doubt, besides that related in tlie 
 preceding note, and equally interesting, but of which 
 we have no record, occurred this year, for It was a 
 season of revival. Asbury, in his Journal, under date of 
 February 10, 1797, says, " Glad tidings of great joy from 
 New York. A second glorious work is begun there; 
 twenty souls converted; a great love-feast, and Sabbath 
 evening meeting held until one o'clock in the morning." 
 He characteristically observes, February 17, " I judge 
 that discipline, and the doing away of certain things, 
 have contributed somewhat to the late revival of relig- 
 ion in New York." In the last of July he came to the 
 city and "spent a few painful days, being unable to visit 
 or be visited." He tried to go on to the Conference at 
 "Wilbraham (the only one held north of Philadelphia 
 that year, and therefore that at which the New York 
 appointments were made), but was unable. He re- 
 mained, as it seems, in Westchester County until the 
 last of September, Avhen, with Jesse Lee, he returned 
 to Xew York, " where they were eye-witnesses to the 
 gracious displays of God's power in the conversion of 
 souls." '^" 
 
 Asbury's journey was too much for him. lie found 
 himself " much injured, but was well nursed at the north 
 side of the city. They have a touch of the fever in 
 George [now Cpruce] Street. Sabbath, October 1, we 
 
 version." His young companion, seeing liim so happy, was also led to 
 the Saviour, and both joined liie church. " The one who was deaf and 
 dumb would watch the lips of the preacher, all his soul would be in 
 his eyes, and he would enjoy it apparently as well as others. He 
 continued faithful ' for maiiy years ' and then fell asleep." His young 
 companion was for a long time a steward of the Forsyth Street Church, 
 tlie venerable John Haggadorn. He never forgot the kindness of the 
 preacher, and Peter Parks, the sexton, and that memorable love-feast. 
 — Wakeley's Lost Chaplerf:, p. 485. 
 * Memoir of J. Lee, ed. of 1823, p. 231.
 
 142 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 had much rain. Live or die I preached at the old and 
 new church on Isa. xxxiii, 20, and Deut. xxviii, 9. I 
 liad some disagreeable things, and was but ill-litted in 
 body to bear them." 
 
 There had been a good ];arvest reaped by the labor- 
 ers. The report is 740 whites*, 141 colored; total 881, 
 a gain of 95. The appointments Avere, G. Roberts, 
 J. Wells, W. Beauchamp. Sylvesier Hutchinson was 
 presiding elder and F. Garrettson elder,* 
 
 Here are two new names, both noted in the early his- 
 tory of the Church. Joshua Wells was " an able and 
 successful laborer, and regarded by the Church with pe- 
 culiar reverence through a singularly long life;" but was 
 "so modest, if not morbidly self -diffident, as scarcely 
 ever to have spoken or written any thing I'especting him- 
 self. He was born in Baltimore County in 1V64, joined 
 the itinerancy when twenty-five years of age, and died 
 more than ninety-seven years old. He had traveled and 
 preached in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York, 
 Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, as far as Boston. He 
 became at last the oldest living preacher whose name was 
 on the roll of the itinerancy. He was dignilied and robust 
 in person, his features strongly marked and yet benig- 
 nant. His sermons were noted for their perspicuity and 
 brevity, their masculine sense, clear and vigorous argu- 
 mentation and effect. He was distinguished as a disci- 
 plinaria^j." f 
 
 Joshua Wells had a very high opinion of his colleague, 
 William Beauchamp. At a Genei'al Conference to which 
 they both were delegates Wells asserted in the presence 
 of several brethren that William Beauchamp had more 
 sense than any other member of that General Conference; 
 
 * George Roberts resided at 91 Broad Street, and J. Wells at 10 E. 
 Georse Street. 
 
 f Stevens's History of the Metliodist Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 111.
 
 A Third Garner. 143 
 
 and on being asKed why he thought so his reply was, " He 
 always knows when to speak and when to keep silent."* 
 And this high praise does not exceed the truth. He " was 
 a man of genuine greatness, one of nature's noblemen 
 and God's elect."f Born in 1772, entering the itinerancy 
 in 1793, he labored in the Middle and Eastern States 
 until 1801, when he located. In 1822 he re-entered the 
 work in the Missouri Conference, and, having served one 
 year in St. Louis, Avas made presiding elder of the In- 
 diana District. At the General Conference of 1824 
 "such was the impression produced by his remarkable 
 character and talents tliat he lacked but two votes of an 
 election to the episcopal office. lie would undoubtedly 
 have been elected were it not for the objection that so 
 large a portion of his life had been spent out of the itin- 
 erancy." J He died October 7, 1824, in the fifty-third 
 year of his age. He has been called " the Demosthenes 
 of the West."§ 
 
 Not long before this session of 1797 a new church 
 enterprise was taken in hand. The site selected was in 
 what was then called Barley (now Duane) Street, between 
 Hudson and Greenwich Streets, and seems to have been 
 the property of Trinity Church. The corner-stone was 
 laid June 29, 1797, after a sermon by Rev. George 
 Roberts on Psa. xxiv, 3, 4, " Who shall ascend into the 
 hill of the Lord ? " || etc. But another statement is that 
 the words, were " Lord, I have loved the habitation," 
 etc.*[ This building was at first called the "North 
 River Church " and the " Hudson Church," but after- 
 ward for many years was known among the Methodists 
 
 * Tliomas Scott in Sprague's Annals of the Methodist Pulpit, p. 239. 
 \ Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. iv, p. 29. 
 X Ibid., vol. iv, p. 31. 
 
 § Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 492. || Ihid., p. 493. 
 
 ^ See editorial in Christian Advocate, vol. xxii, p. 1 14.
 
 144 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 as "old Duane Street." It stood until I860, wlieii the 
 property was sold and a small building erected in Hud- 
 son, near Spring Street, and called tlie Duane Church. 
 There the congregation still worships. 
 
 The original edifice was, like all the other Methodist 
 churches in Kew York at that time, built of rough stone 
 covered with blue stucco. It was seventy-five feet long 
 by fifty-six wide, and is said to have cost about $10,000, 
 Its interior, however, was different from that of the 
 others. The upper ceiling over the side galleries was 
 flat, and pillars rose from the front of the galleries; the 
 center part, what might be called the nave, was arched. 
 The pulpit, of course, was on a high pillar. A goblet 
 of octagon shape and a long stem will give the best 
 idea of it. It was entered by stairs on the west side, and 
 had originally a sounding-board over it. There was a 
 side door on the right of the pulpit. The basement was 
 at first used for bottling ale and cider,* but afterward 
 finished for lecture-room and class-rooms. Abraham 
 Russel was the builder. In the rear was a small burial- 
 ground, and in front a small triangular park, which gave 
 it altogether the most attractive location of any Meth- 
 odist church in New York at that time.f 
 
 The trustees in 1798 Avere William Cooper, P. Arcu- 
 
 *T]ie late John Castree, Esq. 
 
 f The society was lively and earnest, and ic is said that a rich and 
 fashionable lady, passinoj in her carriage while the congregation was 
 singing " Turn to the Lord, and seek salvation," was convicted and 
 afterward converted. Soon after it was dedicated a young man at- 
 tended ovit of curiosity. Mr. Roberts preached on Jer. ix, 1 : " 
 that my head were waters," etc. The sei'mon was pathetic and im- 
 pressive ; the preacher and his congregation wept. The young man 
 was awakened and soon converted, and united with the church. He 
 was afterward class-leader, steward, and trustee, and lived to a good 
 old age. The name of Eliphalet "Wheeler is familiar to many of the 
 present generation. — Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 494.
 
 A Third Garner. 145 
 
 larius, P. Hick, Abi-aham Russel, Thomas Carpenter, 
 Israel Disosway, and G. Coutant.* 
 
 Bishop Asbury was in the city in June, and preached 
 in each of the churches and met the classes. He says, 
 "The weather is exceedingly warm, the children are 
 dying, and probably so will the parents, unless God sends 
 rain. I live wholly upon vegetables and wear flannel." 
 " Wt'dnesday, 4. This day we had sermons in all the 
 churches of the Methodists; I had a meeting with the 
 otKciary at the Bowery [Forsyth Street] Church in the 
 afternoon, and gave them a sermon on 1 Peter v, 2." 
 On Sunday he preached in Brooklyn, and at the old 
 church, and on Monday he left for Westchester County. 
 
 Two Conferences were held north of Philadelphia this 
 year; that at Granville, Mass., must have been the one 
 at which the appointments for New York were made. 
 And it was well that no session was held in the city, for 
 at no time were the ravages of yellow fever there greater 
 than in 1798.f 
 
 * Memoir of G-. Coutant, Christian Advocate, vol. xx, p. 4. 
 
 •f Grant Thorburn in his Life and Times, p. 54, says : " The tirst 
 alarm was given on the 26th of July. By the 15tli of August .four- 
 leen cases had terminated fatally. By the 25th the excitement was 
 terrible ; the ciiy was all commotion. Every vehicle, from the hum- 
 ble dung-cart to tlie gilded carriage, was now in requisition, removing 
 families, furniture, and goods; tlie old man of eighty, with tlie strip- 
 ling of one year, the lame, the halt, and the blind, all crowding tlie 
 boats, the lanes, and outlets from the city, fear quickening their 
 pace, and the destroying angel at tlieir heels. Hundreds of them died 
 in the towns and villages around ; but not one instance occurred of 
 any inhabitant of Albany, Bergen, or Brooklyn being seized by this, 
 as it was called, infectious disease. " " Most of the churches were shut 
 up," but he says (p. 62) : " Dr. P. [Pillmoor] stood like a son of thunder 
 and preaclied every Sabbath day in the church in Ann Street. The 
 Methodists, too, in John Street, those sober-sided old fellows wiio 
 almost preach for nothing and tind themselves, stood, as it were, be- 
 tween the living and the dead. Their church doors were seldom
 
 146 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Seven hundred and fifty-three whites and 147 colored 
 raembers were reported in 1798; in all 900 — an increase 
 of 19. J. Wells, G. Roberts, and C. Stebbins, were ap- 
 pointed as preachers,* with S. Hutchinson as presid- 
 ing elder. The only new name among these is that of 
 Stebbins, who joined the connection in 1795, and with- 
 drew to enter the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in 1805. The reason he assigned was disbelief 
 in the doctrine of Christian perfection, f 
 
 Under date of December 3 of this year we have a list 
 of " Furniture bought for the parsonage-house belong- 
 ing to the Methodist Episcopal Church, John Street, 
 New York." It includes crockery of various kinds and 
 wooden and iron ware, spoons, a coffee-mill, a brass can- 
 dlestick, and " one pair of decanters and six tumblers," 
 in all about forty items, valued at £23 125. 3d.l 
 
 closed. In the quietness of the da}' and stillness of the night tlieir 
 notes of prayer and songs of praise could be heard for many blocks 
 around. In this there was something soothing to the poor mortals 
 who were standing round the open graves waiting till death came 
 behind and pushed them in." 
 
 * They are all sec down in Directory to 32 John Street. 
 
 fWakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 500. 
 
 \ Book ii, p. 1.
 
 A Fourth Garner. H7 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A FOURTH GARXER— CONFEREXCES OF 1799 TO 1801. 
 
 The Conference of 1799 was held on June 19, in New 
 York city.* Asbury arrived on Saturday, June 15, and 
 on the next day " gave a short exhortation in the John 
 Street Church; likewise in the North River house. It 
 is an unseasonable day for religion; it is time the Con- 
 ference should come; may Almighty God bless and own 
 their labors to the people! Wednesday, 19. We opened 
 our Conference for New York and all the New England 
 
 *It is undoubtedly of this session that the Rev. William Thacher 
 writes : " As it was the first in which I was ever honored with a place 
 and seat, I will give a brief account. About a dozen of us Methodist 
 preachers, passengers from the East, landed in New Yorlc, and made 
 our way to the old head-quarters in John Street, bearing on our arms 
 our saddle-bags, or portmanteaus. We were horseback men; we 
 did not use trunks for traveling in those days. Not a spice of dandy- 
 ism was seen in all our borders, any more than leaveTi in a Jewish 
 passover; we were all plain men, plain enough. We were welcomed 
 into the little old parsonage in John Street by the venerable Rev. 
 Thomas Morrell and Joshua Wells, ministers in the station. Brother 
 Wells took us as he found us, ' bag and baggage,' formed us rank and 
 file, and placed himself as the captain, at the head of the companj 
 (we were in Methodist preachers' uniform), in military style. Out 
 walk, especially through Chatham Street, seemed to attract attention 
 and excite notoriety. We were soon disposed of. My home was with 
 a good old Welsh brother in Henry Street, named John Davies. 
 June 19. This morning a new scene opened to my view — a Confer- 
 ence at the old hive of Methodism, the old John Street meeting-house, 
 that holy place where I felt, eight years before, the Holy Ghost say 
 to me. for the first time, 'Go thou and preach the Gospel r What a con- 
 gregation of Methodist preachers I what greeting 1 what love beaming
 
 148 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 States. The Conference was crowded with work; con- 
 sequently I had but little rest, and what added to my 
 l^ain was Brother Bostwick's lying sick in the next 
 room; — ^lieat and haste. Sunday, 23. We had a chari- 
 table day at all the houses, and collected nearly |300; bv.t 
 the deficiencies of the preachers were almost 81,000. 
 I attempted to preach a little on Phil, iv, 13, and gave 
 an exhortation at the Bowery Church. I met the society 
 at the old church at night. The excessive heat made 
 
 in every eye! what gratulation, what rejoicing, what solemnity! The 
 clock strikes nine. We are seated in the sanctuary, in Conference 
 order, around tlie sacred altar, within which sits the venerable As- 
 bury, Bible in hand. A chapter read, a hymn sung, we kneel. How 
 solemn, how awful! How devout the prayer! What solemn amcns are 
 responded 1 What a divine effusion ! Inspiration seems to pervade 
 the whole. The prayer closed, we arose and were seated; the secre- 
 tary calls the hst of names; each responded, and how interesting to 
 hear my own name in that book of life ! The various business of Con- 
 ference now engages our prayerful attention, conducted by the bishop, 
 our president. Six hours each day for the transaction of the regular 
 Conference business, from nine o'clock to twelve, and from three to 
 six in the afternoon. K >c\i session opened with reading the Script- 
 nres, singing and prayer, and closed with prayer." — Wakeley's Lost 
 Cliaptirs, p. 490. Mr. W., however, assigns this to 1797, and 
 Stevens's History of the Metliodi-.t Episcopal CJiurch, vol. iii, p. 439, 
 follows him. But the Conference did not meet in New York city 
 that j'oar, nor was it held in tlie mo .th of June, but in September; 
 and Joshua Wells had not yet been stationed there. He came in 1797 
 and continued until 1799. Thomas Morrell, it is true, was not one of 
 the New York preachers when the Conference of 1799 met; neither 
 was he at that of 1797. Either the last 9 has been mistaken for a 7 
 or Mr. Thacher was in error as to his date. It is true he was received 
 on trial in 1797 ; but probationers were not then expected to attend 
 the Conference. 1799, when he was received in full and ordained 
 deacon, was most likely his first introduction to the Conference. It 
 was certainly the first in wliich he could truly say he was '-honored 
 with a spat." As Mr. T. was not received into full connection until 
 this Conference his nanje could not have been called at the opening 
 session unless the usage was ditlcrent then.
 
 A Fourth Garxer. 149 
 
 us wish and haste to leave town," Jesse Lee says, " We 
 had a good Conference;" " a large number of preachers " 
 were present, " and they brought pleasing accounts of a 
 gracious work of God."* 
 
 The bishop's despondent remarks will prepare us for 
 an unfavorable report of members. They stood, whites, 
 646; colored, 172; total 818 — a loss of 82. The preach- 
 ers appointed were J. McClaskey, T. F. Sargent, and M. 
 Coate. S. Hutchinson continued as presiding elder. 
 
 Here are three new names, all worthy of notice. John 
 McClaskey was born in Ireland in 1756, converted in 
 Salem, N. J., admitted on trial in 1786, and had labored 
 in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware before he 
 came to iSTew York, After spending three years there 
 he filled various appointments as preacher and presiding 
 elder, and died in 1814, while on the Chesapeake Dis- 
 trict. He was a large man, of commanding appearance, 
 with fine flowing hair and a manly voice. In 1802f he 
 preached in the old John Street Church before the Con- 
 ference on a fast- day. His theme Avas, " Weeping be- 
 tween the porch and the altar;" and while he showed 
 why ministers should weep a great baptism of tears 
 came upon his hearers. J 
 
 Thomas F. Sargent was born in Maryland, April 10, 
 1776, converted in his eighteenth year, and shortly after 
 entered the ministr}^ After leaving Xew York city he 
 w^ent to Boston, then again to New York in 1802, and 
 to Philadelphia in 1803, He was afterward in Balti- 
 more, Alexandria, Georgetown, and again in Philadel- 
 
 * Memoirs of Lee, p. 252, edition of 1823. 
 
 f Dr. AVakeley in Lost Chapters, p. 509, says ISIO ; but see Asbiiry's 
 Journal, Jnne 5, 1802. 
 
 X Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p 508; Stevens's History of the Meth- 
 odist Episco^ml Church, vol. iii, p. 134; Sprague's Annals of Method- 
 ist Pulpit; Annual Minutes.
 
 150 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 phia. In 1813 he located and began to practice medicine 
 in Philadelphia. In 1832 he re-entered the Conference, 
 and in 1833 was transferred to the Ohio Conference and 
 appointed supernumerary in Cincinnati, where he died 
 of apoplexy December 29, 1833, while preaching from 
 the words, " How shall we escape if we neglect," etc. 
 " His stature was about six feet, his figure portly and im- 
 posing, his features were handsome, and the whole con- 
 tour of his countenance indicated a natural nobility and 
 generosity. He appeared like one born to command." 
 He was highly esteemed as a preacher, especially by the 
 most intelligent and pious of his hearers. He was the 
 father of the amiable and excellent Thomas B. Sargent, 
 afterward of the Baltimore Conference.* 
 
 Michael Coate was of Quaker ancestry, born in Bur- 
 lington, N. J., in 1767, converted .in 1794, and the next 
 year admitted on trial in the Conference. He labored 
 in New York State, New England, and Canada, until 
 his appointment to the city in 1799. He was again in 
 New York in 1801 and also in 1803-4, where his labors 
 were very acceptable. He died in 1814, while presiding 
 elder of the West Jersey District. Bishop Hedding 
 says, " He was a man of great talents." f 
 
 Of the events of the succeeding Conference year not 
 the smallest particle of information can be discovered. 
 It seems not to have been a very successful one, as the 
 report for 1800 is, whites, 645 ; colored, 131 ; total 776 — a 
 decrease of 42. At the Conference, however, which met 
 in the city on Thursday, June 19, Bishop Asbury says 
 
 *Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 511 ; Stevens's Histonj of the Melh 
 odist Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 140 ; Sprague's Annals of the Meth 
 odist Pulpit. 
 
 f Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 476 ; 
 "Wakeley's Lost C/iapters, p. 517; Sprague's Annals of the Methodist 
 Pulpit.
 
 A Fourth Garxer. 151 
 
 " Tuesday, 24. We have liad a mighty stir in the Bowery 
 j Forsyth Street] Church for two nights past, until after 
 midnight; perltaps twenty souls have found the Lord." 
 Pishop Whatcoat, who had been ordained to the epis- 
 copacy at the preceding General Conference, was with 
 Ashury, preaching the ordination sei'mon at the Bowery 
 Church, and departing with him on the 28th for a tour 
 through New England. They reached the city on their 
 return on Saturday, August IG, and, Asbury says, " found 
 our service was wanting in the city, there lieing here 
 only two preachers, and one of them disabled." * The 
 disabled one was probably S. Hutchinson, though we 
 have no positive evidence. Freeborn Garrettson Avas 
 
 *0nly two preachers in New York? But tliree were appointed at 
 the Conrerence — John McClaskey, J. Lee, and S. Hntchinson. Lee 
 gives us light on that matter. He says in Iiis Journal: "Saturday, 
 21, we sat in Conference again, and tlie bishop put a few lines pri- 
 vately into ray hand, which I here transcribe verhathn: 'Jesse Lee is 
 appointed to act as an assistant to the bisliops, at the j^early Confer- 
 ences, and to aid the book interest in every part of the continent 
 where he goes. 
 
 " ' Dear Brother: We wish to close the Minutes in York, if we 
 can; you niust have some place thereiu; will the above do? York 
 will be a blank at present. If you choose to stay uniil you think it 
 meet to go down South you may; and more, you may make your 
 own appointment South, and omit going eastward, or go if you choose 
 to the East, or if you choose you ma^' come to Kentucky. 
 
 " 'Francis Asbuhy. 
 
 " ' Saturday morimig. Richard Whatcoat.' " 
 
 Lee tells us : " I then wrote them a few lines, and informed ihera that 
 I did not feel altogether at liberty to take the Mppointment or to travel 
 at large, but if I had any choice, it was, after making a visit to the 
 I*;ast, to take a single circuit." — Memoirs of J. Lee, p. 273 (edition of 
 1823). His name therefore was put down for New York, and a few 
 days after he started on his New England visit, reaching New York 
 again on October 14, where he remained until the 3d of March 1801, 
 when he left for the South {Ibid., pp. 278-282). Thus there were but 
 two preachers in the city when the bishops arrived in August. 
 11
 
 152 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 presiding elder. Of him, and all the other preachers 
 connected with New York city this year, except Jesse 
 Lee, notices have already been given. 
 
 Lee's connection with New Y^ork Methodism was, as 
 we have seen, hut little more than nominal; yet he is too 
 prominent a figure in the history of the general Church 
 to be left unnoticed. Born in Virginia in 1758, and con- 
 verted in boyhood, he preached his first sermon when 
 about twenty-one years of age, and became an itinerant 
 in 1782, For seven years he labored in Virginia, the 
 Carolinas, and Maryland, and in 1789 entered upon his 
 great work in New England, where his success was so 
 decided that he has properly been regarded as the apos- 
 tle of Methodism in that section. In 1801 he returned 
 to the Virginia Conference, nnd served in that region as 
 preacher and presiding elder until his death, on Septem- 
 ber 12, 1816. For three years he w^as chaplain to the 
 House of Representatives, and one year to the Senate. 
 Plis last appointment was at Annapolis, Md. He was a 
 man of large frame, of impressive appearance, and of 
 great ability and zeal. His tact and humor were re- 
 markable. He lived and died a bachelor. 
 
 Lee gives a statement of tlie condition of Methodism 
 in New York at this time, Avhich may very appropriately 
 come in on this the closing year of the century. After 
 a brief sketch of the origin of the John Street Church 
 he says: "We have now five houses of piiblic worship. 
 The first church is commonlj^ called the Old Chui-ch; the 
 second is called the Bowery; the third, the North River 
 C'hnrch; the fourth is called the Two-mile Stone, being 
 two miles from the center of the city. The fifth is 
 the African Church, wdiich was erected by the people of 
 color for themselves to worship in; yel they are to be 
 governed by the Methodists in all their spiritual mattei'S. 
 But they themselves are to settle their temporal matters.
 
 A FoLRTH Garner. 153 
 
 This church was built in the latter part of the past year. 
 Besides these houses we have a charity school of thirty 
 poor children supported by the society,* and several 
 dwelling-houses belonging to the society. Three travel- 
 ing preachers are stationed in the city, and are assisted 
 by several local preachers."f Among these local i»reach- 
 ei-s were William Phoebus, Henry J, Feltus, James Flan- 
 agan, Thomas Dawson, William Valleau, and others.J 
 
 Here we have notice of two churches of M'hich no 
 history has been given. One of these is what is now- 
 called Seventh Street. 
 
 In the early days of New York the miles were mieas- 
 ured from the site of the old Federal Hall, where the 
 United States Treasury building now stands, at the cor- 
 ner of Wall and Nassau Streets. This brought the two- 
 mile stone in the neighborhood of the present Cooper 
 Institute, and a settlement sprang up there called Two- 
 mile Stone, or Bowery Village or the Forks of the Bow- 
 ery. Shortly after the Revolution some members of 
 the Coutant family removed from New Rochelle and 
 opened a store, nearly, if not exactly, on the ground now 
 occupied by the Cooper building. About 1 788 or 1789 § 
 Mi-s. Jane, the wife of ]Mr. John Coutant, was convert- 
 ed, and soon after Mrs. Giindlemeyer, Mrs. Romaine, 
 and Mrs. Hallet. A local preacher, William Yalleau, || 
 formed a class and preached for them occasionally. The 
 meetings were held in an upper room of the house 
 of John and Gilbert Coutant, and soon they and tlieir 
 
 *This is the earliest notice of the Cliaritj' Seliool to be found. 
 
 f Jlemoirs of Jesse Lee, p. 282, edition of 1823. 
 
 X Wakoley's Lo.it Chapters, p. 524. 
 
 §As there has been some question as to tliis date, it may be well 
 to say that in the oldest Record Book of members (Book i, A. p. 81) 
 we read in a list of " Members received and read in by T. Morrell, 
 1789, June 21," John Coutant, .lane Coutant. 
 
 II Not "Veloe, as the name is frequently spelled.
 
 154 A History of Methodism ix New York City, 
 
 mother, Mrs. Henry Coutant. were added to the little 
 society, and also Southwick Hebbard, Oliver Hebbard, 
 John Vark, Joseph Graham, Oliver Hyde, and their 
 
 wives,* 
 
 *Tlie first class list that survives is found ia a record made by- 
 James Mann, dated November 10, 1791. It is No. 21, the last 
 in the list of classes of whites. It reads: William Valleaii, L'r, 
 Jno. Coutant, Jao. Vark, Jane Coutant, Eliz'th Coutant, Joliu Hal)-, 
 Abigail Grindlemire, Gilbei t Coutant, Aran Coutant, Sarah Hallet, 
 Joseph Graham, Eliz'th Hubberd, Philip Remiiie, Oliver Hubberd, 
 Jno. Fenngan. There are several orthographical errors in this list. 
 Aran should probably be Aaron, the two Hubberds should be 
 Hebard or Hebbard, Reuiiue should be Romaitie, Grindlemire 
 should be Grindlemeyer, and probably for Jno. Fenngan we 
 should' read John Finnegan. One of that name landed in New 
 Yorlc from Ireland August 12, 1791, joined the New York Con- 
 ference in 1795, and died August 14, 1838. Again, in a class list of 
 179:-!, June 1, in the writing of Thomas Morrell — "No. 8 — Two-mile 
 Stone Class." William Valleau is still leader, and besides the names 
 in the first list we liave Gatliroad (probably Gertrude) Varck, Cath. 
 Romine (twice), Mariam Somendyke. Eleanor Hubbard, Abel Hol- 
 brook, John Haj-ley, Fred. Dickerman. In September, 1795, tiie class 
 is numbered 5, and William Cooper is the leader, and we have the 
 additional names of Henry Coutant, Fanny Graham, Peggy Banty, 
 Abby Hebbert, Hanna Headen, Eliz'th Hoglan, Magdelin Sullivan, 
 Wra. Palmer, John Grant, and Frene Romaine. And once again, in 
 September, 1796, we have a list bj' W. Lee and G. Roberts, in wliich 
 class No. 14 has for its leader Joseph Graliam, and its members are John 
 Coutant, Gilbert Coutant, Oliver Hubbert, William Paiyiiore (Palmer), 
 Oliver Hyde, Henry Coutant, James McKeaver, Lewis Cox, John 
 Andrews, Southwick Hubbert, John Steward, William Scott, Nicholas 
 Taylerson. Then follows class 15, with John Yark for leader and the 
 following members ; Hannah Graham, Eliz'th Hubbert, Sarah Hallet, 
 Eliz'tli Coutant, Hannah Heaton, Catharine Romine, Freiiy Romine, 
 Peggy Bantty, Catharine Hyde, Sally Co.x, Margaret Andrews, Catha- 
 rine Boyce, and Catliarine Vark. Tiiese lists have been given as of 
 interest, especiallj^ to the members of Seventii Street. It is the only 
 case in wliich tlie membership connected with any of our old houses 
 of worsliip can be distinguished from the rest. It will be seen that 
 they correct some errors into which several writers on the history ot
 
 A Fourth Garner. 155 
 
 The growing society needed a house in which to wor- 
 ship, and in 1795 a two-story building was erected, the 
 upper part designed for school purposes, and the place 
 became a regular appointment on the plan of the circuit. 
 This house stood on what was called Nicholas-William 
 Street, named after a member of the Stuyvesant family, 
 who owned much of the property in the neighborhood. 
 It ran nearly on the line of the present Eighth Street, 
 from the old Bowery Road toward the East River. 
 Mrs. J. S. Peck, a daughter of Gilbert Coutant, gives 
 the following account of her recollections of this build- 
 ing. She says, " It had a cupola and a bell, to call the 
 children to school" (to use it to summon to public wor- 
 ship would have horrified the Methodists of that day). 
 "The lower floor was a meeting-house" (not a church). 
 " Tiie entrance was a double door to a lobby and a 
 smaller door to the place of worship." There were " a 
 dozen or fifteen seats on each side of the aisle, not 
 painted, and a strip about four inches wide across the 
 back." There were " four windows on each side." The 
 pulpit was reached by three steps. "The side-lights 
 Avei-e of tin, about a foot high and four inches wide, at 
 the bottom a socket to hold the candle." " There was a 
 chandelier, with a center-piece about as large as a quart 
 
 Seventh Street have fallen, because they had to depend on traditions, 
 wliereas these items are from the records. Thus Joseph Graham 
 was not the first class-leader; William Yalleau and William Cooper 
 preceded him. Anthony Tieman was not a member until 1812, and 
 Michael Floy not until 1810; and though Michael Floy, Jr., and 
 James Floy are not directly stated to have been among the earlier 
 members, the position their names occupy would lead to that conclu- 
 sion, whereas M.Floy, Jr., joined in September, 1828, and James Floy 
 in 1831. It may be well also that it should bo known that more 
 exact information on some of these matters of the early liistory of 
 Metliodism in New York is obtainable. — Book 1, B, pp. 54, 59, and 
 39 and 17.
 
 156 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 measure, painted light blue, with three or four branches 
 with candles." Oii one occasion, when Bishop Asbury 
 preached there during Conference, he was so feeble he 
 had to sit, and she was sent home for a bench to place 
 on the seat.* 
 
 During the yellow fever of 119S many of the inhab- 
 itants of the city moved to this neighborhood, and some 
 probably remained, thus adding to the strength of the 
 society. The Rev. Dr. John Livingston, of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, took refuge there, and often preached 
 in the little meeting-house, wearing his black silk gown. 
 But the rest of the history of this church must be left 
 for a future page. 
 
 The other building of which Jesse Lee speaks was the 
 African Church. "In the year 1796 the colored mem- 
 bers of the Methodist churches in the city, feeling a desire 
 
 *Mrs. Peck sajs this was in 1808. But tliut 3-ear the ConTerence 
 met at Ameuia. It was at New York iu 1809, and again in 1811. and 
 then Bishop Asbury writes iu his Journal that lie preached at Two- 
 mile Stone. Perhaps this was the occasion she refers to. 
 
 Tlie following items from tlie note-book of Peter Badeau are given 
 by Dr. Bottome in an historical sermon preaclied in 1864, p. 13: 
 " ' Henry Coutant, t!ie father of tlic Coutant family, died in 1803, aged 
 seventy-six years ; and his wife about seventy. John Coutant died 
 of yellow fever, aged thirty-six; and his wife survived him fifty-six 
 years, dying in 1 854, in the ninety-second year of her age. Joseph 
 Graham died in 1844, aged eighty years; and his wife in 1853, aged 
 eighty-four. Oliver Hebbard died in 1831, aged sixty -three; and his 
 wife outlived liim eigliteen years, dying at jength very suddenly of 
 cholera in 1849, aged eighty-three. Sonthwick Hebbard died a few 
 years ago, a very old man. Brother Vark and his wife have been 
 dead many years, and were aged people. Brother Donaldson died in 
 1845, aged seventy-seven years. Sisters Romaine and Hahet also 
 lived to be very old and much respected.' And to complete the list 
 should be added Mrs. Donaldson, yet with us, in her eightj'-sixth year. 
 Peter Badeau is eight3''-seven years of age, Henry Palmer eighty, nnd 
 liis wile sevent}'-six." Mrs. Peck says that her father, Gilbert Cou- 
 tant, died in 1845, aged eighty.
 
 A P'ouRTii Garner. 157 
 
 to hold meetings among themselves, where they might 
 have opportunity to exercise their spiritual gifts, and 
 thereby, as they hoped, become more useful to each 
 other, obtained permission from Bishop Asbury to hold 
 such meetings in the intervals of the regular preaching 
 hours of the white ministers. Accordingly, a house was 
 hired and fitted up in Cross Street, between Mulberry 
 and Orange Streets, where meetings were statedly held. 
 At this time there were three colored preachers and one 
 exhorter in New York city." In about three years a 
 regular congregation was gathered, and a house of wor- 
 ship called Zion's Church was built on Church Street, 
 corner of Leonard Street, and opened in September, 1800. 
 In 1820 a larger building was erected, which was burned 
 in 1839."^ Til is congregation now occupies a very good 
 edifice, bought of the Reformed Dutch, at the corner of 
 "West 10th and Bleecker Streets. 
 
 Of incidents relating to the current year nothing can 
 be gleaned from the records we have. The " Old Book " 
 had ceased to testify since 1795; the next in order does 
 not begin to give evidence until 1 802 ; so that we are pass- 
 ing through "seven years of famine" as to what oc- 
 curred in tlie Church in New York. The new century 
 was opening ; thirty-four years, about a generation, had 
 passed since Methodism began in the city; instead of 
 the fathers already there were their children; but among 
 all, old or young, nothing but prophetic vision could 
 have discerned the wonderful progress that would be 
 made in the nineteenth century. 
 
 * Greenleuf's History of the Churches of New York, p. 821.
 
 158 A History of Methouism in New York City 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SIX FRUITFUL YEARS— COXFEREXCES OF 1801 TO 1807. 
 
 At the Conference of 1801, which met in New Yoi-k 
 on June 16, the memhership in the city was reported as 
 685 w hites, 150 colored ; total, 835 — a gain of 59 in the 
 preceding year and of 835 since the beginning, to say 
 nothing of those who had finished their course.* For 
 the first time since the organization of the Church, as 
 far as we can learn. Bishop Asbury was not able to at- 
 tend the New York Conference. He was detained in 
 Phihidelphia with a lame foot. The session was held 
 in John Street Church, Bishop Whatcoat presiding.f 
 F. Garrettson remained as presiding elder, and John 
 McClaskey, T. Mon-ell, D. Ostrander, M. Coate were the 
 stationed preachers. J Of these names only one is new. 
 
 The slender limbs, low statui-e, dark complexion, 
 keen eye, and excellent voice of the Rev. Daniel Os- 
 trander will be remembered by many of the older 
 l)reachers and laymen. Born in 1772, converted at the 
 age of sixteen, and entering the traveling connection in 
 1793, he became a prominent member of the New York 
 Conference. He spent five years in all in the pastoral 
 work in the city, and eight years as presiding elder of 
 
 * There were 7 Conferences, 307 preachers, nnd 72,874 members. 
 Tlie total membership in Europe and America was 196,502. — Annual 
 Minutts, 1801. 
 
 f Clark's Life of Hedding, p. 86. 
 
 \ J. McChiskey made liis home at 32 John Street, D. Ostrander at 
 303 Greenwich Street, near tlie North (Diiane Street) Churcli, and 
 Murrell, probably, lived near the Forsyth Street Church.
 
 Six F'ruitful Years. 159 
 
 the New York District. He was an able preacher, and 
 a man of strong will and much influence in the Con- 
 ference. He died December 8, 1843. His son-in-law, 
 Rev. Ira Ferris, will also be remembered as a useful 
 minister of Christ, and the Rev. D. O. Ferris, his grand- 
 son, is a member of the New York East Conference. 
 
 Of the year that followed we have only one or two 
 items of information. " 1802, 9 March. The church 
 debt reported to the society, £2,487 3s. 2c?."* Some 
 time in 1802 the Rev. Joshua Marsden, a distinguished 
 English Methodist jireacher, visited the city for the first 
 time. It would seem that he arrived before the session 
 of the Conference, as he says : " I was greatly surprised 
 to meet, in the preachers assembled at New York, such 
 examples of simplicity, labor, and self-denial. Some 
 of them had come five or six hundred miles to attend 
 the Conference. They had little appearance of clerical 
 costume; many of them had not a single article of 
 black cloth; their good bishops set them the example, 
 neither of whom were dressed in black." " The bish- 
 ops, Asbury and Whatcoat, were plain, simple, vener- 
 able persons, both in dress and manners. Their cos- 
 tume was that of former times, the color drab, the 
 waistcoat with large laps, and both coat and waistcoat 
 without any collar ; their plain stocks and low-crowned, 
 broad-brimmed hats bespoke their deadness to the tri- 
 fling ornaments of dress." "They spoke but little, and 
 appeared utterly avei'se to the frivolous compliments of 
 the world." "Most of the preachers appeared to be 
 young men, yet ministerial labor had impressed its 
 withering seal upon their countenances." He then 
 speaks of the great work Methodism was doing in the 
 United States.f 
 
 * Book ii, p. 120. 
 
 f Stevens's History of iht Mttliodist Episcopal Churcli, vol. iv, p. 186.
 
 160 A History of Methodissi ix Xew York City. 
 
 Tuesday, May 26, 1802, Asbury tells us, "We came 
 to Nevv^ Yoi-k, and took up our lodging at Mr. Suck- 
 ley's." "My first public exercise in the city was in tlie 
 African church, a very neat wooden house, but by far 
 too small. My text was Eph. ii, 11-14," How appro- 
 priate it was will be seen if sought out and read. 
 "Friday, 28, I spoke in John Street upon 1 Thess. 
 ii, 4-9." Another aj^propriate text. "Sunday, 30. 
 The death of Sarah Hutchinson gave occasion to my 
 preaching her funeral sermon at the Bowery (Forsyth 
 Street) Church, in the afternoon. The deceased was 
 the daughter of Frederick Devoue (Deveau), whose 
 house and familj^ in Xew Rochelle wei"e the first to re- 
 ceive and welcome the Methodist i^reachers." She 
 "died very happy in God." "Tuesday, June 1, we 
 opened our yearly Conference in John Street meeting- 
 house, and continued our labors in great peace and 
 union." " Saturday, 5, we had a day of solemn fasting 
 and prayer for the Church, the Conference, the conti- 
 nent, and for the world, upon the eve of which I preached 
 from 2 Cor. ii, 14, 15, with great i^lainness, and so 
 much fire as to make my earthly tabernacle very rest- 
 less through the night. John McClaskey gave us the 
 first sermon on Joel ii, 15-17.* Sunday, 6, we had a 
 love-feast at eight o'clock, preaching at ten o'clock, and 
 sacrament at twelve o'clock; some good shakings went 
 through the house, but there was nothing very signal. 
 The collection for the preachers gave occasion to a 
 sermon, which I must needs preach ; it was done on 
 1 Cor. xvi, 14. I attended and read a letter at the 
 Bowery Church, Avheie a collection for the same pur- 
 pose was also made. At six o'clock I preached in the 
 North River (Duane Street) Church on Luke xi, 13, 
 and so we closed our labors in the city." 
 * See p. 149.
 
 Six Fruitful Years. 161 
 
 The report at this Conference (1802) was 726 wliites 
 and 211 colored ; total 937 — a gain of 102. Thomas 
 Morrell, T. F. Sargent, and J. Wilson were appointed 
 to the charue, and F. Garrettson remained as presiding 
 elder." John Wilson, the junior preacher, was born in 
 England in 1763, came to New York in 1793, and en- 
 tered the traveling connection in 1797. His previous 
 appointments had been in Westchester County and on 
 Long Island, and after his two years' service in the pas- 
 toral woik in Xew York city he was appointed, in 
 1804, assistant editor and general book steward, with 
 E. Cooper as his chief. A severe attack of asthma, 
 which greatly restricted his labors in the pulpit, was 
 probably one reason for this appointment; but he 
 proved eminently qualified for the office. In 1808 the 
 General Conference placed him at the head of the Con- 
 cern, but he died in 1810. He was well educated, an 
 acceptable preacher, and of extraordinary executive 
 ability. He was also an excellent penman, and fre- 
 quently acted as secretary of the New York Confer- 
 ence. At the session of 1804, when Cyrus Stebbins 
 (who afterward withdrew from the Church) attacked 
 the doctrine of sanctification, John Wilson replied to 
 him, and, " as in the case of Stephen, none could 
 ' resist the spirit and wisdom with which he spake.' 
 He sat down to wait a reply, but 'none opened his 
 mouth, or muttered, or peeped.' The victory was 
 complete, the debate was closed ; all seemed love, and 
 the angel of peace brooded over the consecrated 
 assembly."! He died January, 1810, and Avas buried 
 
 * J. "Wilson lived in Bayard Street, near the Bowery (Forsyth 
 Street) Church. 
 
 f Thacher's manuscript autobiography, in Warriner's Old Scmds 
 Street, p. 185.
 
 132 A HisTOKY OF Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 in a vault in the ground behind the old Forsyth Street 
 Church. * 
 
 On the 24th of July Bishop Asbury came to New 
 York again, and on Sabbath, the 25th, " preached at the 
 old church on Rev. iii, 17-20, at three o'clock at the 
 Bowery (Forsyth Street) Church on Isa. Iv, 6, 7, and at 
 th3 African Church at six o'clock on 1 Thess. i, 5. It 
 was a day of life to me." 
 
 Again we have a Conference year, of the events of 
 which no record has come down to us. But there is a 
 " List of the classes, leaders' names, and when and 
 where they met, taken 8th September, 1802, by Thomas 
 Morrell." It will give us a view of the state of the 
 Church at that period, and will be found in A])pendix O. 
 
 On Thursday, May 19, 1803, Bishop Asbury reached 
 New York again. He "signed a memorial for the ob- 
 taining in the court a legal claim to £300, left by Miss 
 De Peyster, for the bishops and clergy of the Method- 
 ist Church, to be appropriated in the best manner for 
 the good of the society." f On Sunday, the 22d, he 
 "preached at the old church from Jas. iii, 17." 
 
 The New York Conference of 1803 met July 1, at 
 Ashgrove, in the neighborhood to which Embury and 
 his friends removed when they left the cit3^J Bishop 
 Asbury presided. The rei)ort from New York city 
 was 747 whites, 248 colored; total, 995 — a gain of 58. 
 Freeborn Garrettson was reappointed as presiding 
 
 ^Wnkcley's Lost Chapters, p. 501; Warriiier's Old Sands Street, 
 p. 1 84 ; Spraccue's Annalx of the Methodist Pulpit. A record of burials 
 at Forsyth Street says he was buried in the achool-house vault, Xo. 1. 
 
 f This was the " De Peysier legacy" (see Appendix E, p. 442)tlie 
 income from which the Xew York Conference applies to its necessi- 
 tous cases. 
 
 :l;Tliomas Ashton wrote May 27, ISOl, inviting the Conference 
 to hold a session there. But he did not Uve to greet them, as he 
 died eleven days after writing. — The Methodid, vol. vii. p. 353.
 
 Six Fruitful Years. 163 
 
 elder, and the preachers were T. Morrell, M. Coate, R. 
 Williston, and J. Wilson, 
 
 Ralph Willis-ton, the only one whose name is new, 
 entered the work in 1796, and had labored in New En- 
 gland seven years, two of them as presiding elder of 
 the ]\[aine District. He afterward spent two years in 
 the Baltimore Conference and withdrew in 1806, and 
 entered the Ejiiscopal Church. Dr. Thomas E. Bond 
 says * he was " a man of more than ordinary talents, 
 and promised great usefulness;" "we knew and loved 
 Mr. Williston, and felt it a bereavement when he left." 
 
 On the 20th of July, 1803, "the Church debt re- 
 ported to the society" was £2,380 8s. 8d. — a decrease of 
 more than £100 since the last report, about sixteen 
 months before. f 
 
 Asbury reached New York on Friday, June 8, 1804, 
 and on Sunday, the 10th, preached in John Street, on 
 Heb. X, 23-25. The Conference, which met on the 
 12th, was, he says, "a happy one and of great business. 
 AYe had sermons every day at noon. Fourteen deacons 
 and eight elders AS'ere ordained, these last at the Bow- 
 ery (Forsyth Street) Church, where I preached upon 
 2 Tim. iv, 1-4. By hard labor I read olf the stations 
 on Saturday night, and our Conference sat on Monday. 
 We proclaimed a fast, with prayer, for the Methodists, 
 the health of the city, the general Church, and the con- 
 tinent. N. Snethen gave us a melting, nervous dis- 
 course on the occasion." 
 
 Whites, 750, colored, 268, is the report for this Con- 
 
 * Ghristian Advocate, vol. xvii, p. 44. 
 
 f Book ii, p. 120. The General Conference met in 1804 at Balti- 
 more, and among other things defined more accurately the limits of 
 the several Annual Conferences. It will be sufficient to our purpose 
 to say that the New York Conference included the territory now in 
 the care of tlie New York, New York East, and Troy Conferences, 
 and the whole of the field in Canada.
 
 164 A History of Methodism in Xew York City. 
 
 ference, a total of 1,018 — an increase of 23. For the 
 first time the membership bad readied 1,000. It fell off 
 next year, but recovered the year after, and never again 
 needed less than four figures. 
 
 The New York District had William Thacher for 
 presiding elder, and the city Nicholas Snethen, M. 
 Coate,* and S. Merwin as preachers. Ezekiel Cooper 
 was editor and general book steward, and John Wil- 
 son assistant. The name of Mr. Thacher bas been 
 met with before, but noAV for the fii'st time he becomes 
 associated with Methodism in New York city. He was 
 born in 1769, in the town of Norwalk, Conn., and con- 
 verted in 1790, in Baltimore. lie began to preach in 
 the city of New Haven in 1795, where liis family 
 formed the nucleus of the Metiiodist Ciiurch in that 
 city. In 1797 he was admitted on trial into the New 
 York Conference, and labored in the States of Connect- 
 icut and New York, until he was placed over the New 
 York District. He afterward filled important appoint- 
 ments in the New York and Philadelphia Conferences, 
 and, becoming superannuated in 1846, made his residence 
 in Poughkeepsie, where he died August 2, 1856. His 
 pul|)it exercises were brief, pointed, and practic il.f 
 
 l)Ut Thacher had on his district men Avhose names 
 were destined to be more widely known than his own, 
 and two of these were in New York city. Nicholas 
 Snethen was born at Moscheto (now Glen) Cove, L. I. 
 In 1791, or shortly after, he was converted, and in 1793 
 was a class-leader in Brooklyn, N. Y.J He entered the 
 itinerancy in 1794, filled various prominent appoint- 
 ments, Avas for a time traveling companion of Bishop 
 
 * Coate resided in Bayard Street. 
 
 f Stevens's History oftlie Mdliodist Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 440 ; 
 "Warriner's Old Sands Street, p. 156. 
 X Warriner's Old Sands Street, p. 493.
 
 Six Fruitful Years. 1G5 
 
 Asljury, and in ]814 located. He wrote ably and 
 warmly in defense of Asbury and the Church against 
 O'Kelly. " He was no ordinary man ; his literary ac- 
 quirements were highly respectable; in the pulpit he 
 was eloquent, and at times overpowering; in private 
 life he was cheerful, sociable, and sympathetic, an un- 
 wavering friend, and a complete Christian gentleman. 
 There was a peculiarity in his mental constitution to 
 which must be referred his unfortunate course in the 
 Church. ' His philosophic mind,' says one who knew 
 him well, ' delighted in theory. He theorized on every 
 subject that came under his investigation; and most 
 of his theories were ingenious, plausible, and cajjtivat- 
 ing, and bespoke a mind of vast compass, great origi- 
 nality, and intense application.' " * Something also of 
 a spirit of ambition must have shown itself, for Asbury, 
 who knew him well, and seems to have had much re- 
 gard for him, says (November 17, 1811), "And O, great 
 Snethen is chaplain to Congress! " It is no wonder, 
 then, that he afterward became a leader in the oi-gan- 
 ization of the Methodist Protestant Church. He died 
 in Indiana, May 30, 1845, "praising the Lord to the 
 last moment of his life." f 
 
 Samuel Merwin, his junior colleague, ran no such 
 eri'atic course. He was a native of Durham, Conn., 
 whence his father removed when Samuel was seven years 
 of age to the State of New York, with five other fami- 
 lies, who formed a settlement which they called New Dur- 
 ham. Converted when about eighteen years old, he 
 
 * Rov. J. B. "Williams, in Stevens's iZf'sto?-?/ of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, vol. iii, p. 2G2. 
 
 f Stevens's Ilistory of the Metlmdist Episcojial Church, vol. iii, p. 
 259; Warriner's OW Sands Street,^. 492. In the book lately re- 
 ferred to (Book ii, p. 117) will be found an account of his housekeep- 
 ing expenses for July and a part of August, 1804.
 
 166 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 was sent by the j^residing elder into the work when he 
 was twenty-two, and at the next Conference, in the 
 year 1800, he was .-idniitted on trial. Ills labors weie 
 mostly in the Xew York Conference, though he spent 
 four years in New England and two years each in the 
 cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia. As presiding 
 elder and stationed preacher he was connected with 
 New York city thirteen years. He died at Rhinebeck, 
 January 13, 1839. He was a man of fine aj)pearance, 
 graceful manners, and charming delivery. " His pul- 
 pit appeals were accompanied by a flowing and sweep- 
 ing eloquence, sometimes rising to wonderful power 
 and majesty." * From the time that he was admitted 
 on trial " t'.U his death he never halted or turned aside 
 from his vocation as a traveling preacher in the Meth- 
 odist Connection"'! — a fact which places him in 
 marked contrast with his senior colleague. 
 
 Ezekicl Coojier and John Wilson, the editors and 
 book stewards, have been sketched already, but the 
 fact that now for the first time these ofllcers are named 
 in connection Avith New York appointments calls for an 
 explanation. The business had been can-ied on in Phila- 
 delphia, but some difficulties had arisen there which 
 made its removal advisable, and it was finally transferred 
 to New York, where it has continued ever since and 
 grown to be the most extensive denominational publish- 
 ing interest in the country. Its officers have done ef- 
 fective service also in the pulpits of the churches in the 
 city and its vicinity.J 
 
 But, even with two editors in the city, very little his- 
 tory has come down to us. Asbury says, " On Satuj-- 
 day (August 4) I came alone to New York. Sabbath, 
 
 * Stevens's History of the 3fethodisi Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 455. 
 
 f Sprajjiie's Aiinals of the Methodist Pulpit, p. 334. 
 
 X^ee Light on Early Methodism, p. 256, and Appendix X.
 
 Six Fruitful Years. 167 
 
 5, I preached at the North (Duane Street) Cliurch upon 
 Matt, xvi, 24, to the end of the chapter. I felt some 
 opening. At the old house in John Street my subject 
 was 1 Tim. vi, 6, 7, 8. York, in all the congregations, 
 is the valley of dry bonesy These words prepare us for 
 some decrease in the report to the next Conference. 
 Two names, however, among those received on trial 
 during this Conference year attract our attention. They 
 are, August 7, Henry Worrall, and November 15, Thomas 
 Treslow (Truslow).* New York Metliodists know who 
 are represented by these names. 
 
 The Conference for 1805 met at Ashgrove on June 12. 
 Asbury passed through the city in May, and " gave them 
 a sermon in John Street Church on Tuesday morning" 
 (May 21). The statistics from what he had called the 
 valley of dry hones the preceding summer could not 
 have surprised him. The report was, 700 Avhites, 240 
 colored; total 940 — a loss of 78. W. Thacher is con- 
 tinued as presiding elder, and the preachers are, F. Gar- 
 rettson, N. Snethen, A. Hunt, and J. Wilson. Here is 
 but one new name, not as widely known as some others, 
 but held in great estimation among old Methodists of 
 the metropolis. 
 
 Aaron Hunt was born in Eastchester, Westchester 
 County, New York, March 28, 1768. While a clerk in 
 the city he heard a Methodist preacher for the first time 
 in the old John Street Church. He was about twenty- 
 one when converted. Admitted on trial in 1791, he 
 located on account of ill health in 1794, but re-entered 
 the work in 1800 and continued until 1823, when he be- 
 came; supcrnumeraiy. He died April 25, 1858, at 
 Sharon, Conn., at tlie age of ninety. He had a clear, 
 strong intellect, was an earnest Christian, and an able 
 and highly successful minister. His name is associated 
 * Book ii, p. 17. 
 12
 
 168 A History of Methodism ix New Yokk City. 
 
 with interesting events in Methodist history in Xew 
 York city, as Ave shall see in clue course. His grandson, 
 Rev. A. S. Hunt, D.D., is one of the financial secretaries 
 of the American Bible Society. 
 
 Mr. Hunt tells us he had " a good home in the par- 
 sonage of Forsyth Street Church," and that he and his 
 colleagues labored "in perfect harmony to build the 
 walls of Zion." During the latter part of September, 
 1805, the yellow fever prevailed again, but instead of 
 awakening it seemed only to harden.* That some in- 
 terest existed, however, is evident, not only f i-om the re- 
 port at the next Conference, but from the testimony of 
 Garrettson, Avho says, " Last evening I attended a i)rayer- 
 meeting in the Bowery (Forsyth Street) Church. Xot 
 less than a thousand people" were present, "and avc 
 had a most extraordinary time. Loud praises rang 
 through the whole church and continued till midnight." 
 
 A remarkable revival, indeed, such as was never 
 before known in the city, prevailed under IMr. Hunt's 
 ministry. It is difficult to decide to which of the two 
 years of his service the following narrative relates. 
 " God, who works in mysterious Avays, aided them by a 
 small incident. As a few parents in the eastern out- 
 skirts of the city were attending church one Sabbath, 
 their children, meeting together at home, commenced 
 conversing upon religion, and, as they felt the need of 
 salvation, they prayed to Jesus Christ to forgive their 
 sins. One little girl was soundly converted, and when 
 the parents returned from church they found the com- 
 pany of children so earnest as not to be diverted from 
 the all-engrossing subject of personal salvation. This 
 led some persons to reflection on the same subject." The 
 fall camp-meeting at Cow Harbor (now Manhasset Bay) 
 was largely attended and many were converted. Some 
 * Papers of Rev. A. Hunt iu hands of Rev A. S. Hunt. D.D.
 
 Six Fruitful Years. 169 
 
 wild fire seems to have been mingled with the true, how- 
 ever, for on the way home some enthusiasts claimed to 
 be able to walk on the water. Mr. Hunt prudently re- 
 plied, " I fear your faith will fail, like Peter's." * 
 
 On Friday, May 16, 1806, the New York Conference 
 commenced its sitting in this city and rose on Thurs- 
 day. The Bishop says : " We sat seven hours each day 
 in great love, order, and peace. I preached three 
 times, and ordained three African deacons. We 
 had preaching in the Park as well as regularly in 
 tlie meeting-houses, and a day of fasting and prayer 
 for the health of the city, the success of our Confer- 
 ence labors, and the prosperity of Zion. I was greatly 
 supported and blest. The preachers were, perhaps, 
 never better satisfied with their stations." This last 
 sentence is worthy of notice. 
 
 The loss reported at the last Conference was more 
 than repaired at this. The Minutes give 691 wliites and 
 365 colored; a total of 1,056 — a gain of 116, A, Hunt, 
 T. Bishop, and S. Crowell were the preachers. The 
 names of F. Garrettson and J, Wilson are also given, 
 but the first was probably but a nominal appointment,! 
 and the last was book steward, W. Thacher remained 
 as presiding elder. 
 
 Truman Bishop's name is first found in the Conference 
 Minutes of 1798, when he was stationed in Litchfield, 
 Conn. He labored in New England until his appoint- 
 ment in New York, and afterward in different charges 
 in the New York and Philadelphia Conferences until 
 1818, when he became connected with the Ohio Confer- 
 ence, in which he continued until his location in 1828. 
 Mr. Hunt says he was " deep, humble, and pious." 
 
 * Papers of Rev. A. Hunt, etc. 
 
 f A uote in the Minutes says: " Freeborn Garrettson requested not 
 to have the charge of the society this year.''
 
 ITO A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Setb Crowell was born in Tolland, Conn., converted 
 wlien about seventeen years of age, and received on 
 trial in tlie New York Conference in 1801. Canada, 
 Vermont, and Albany Circuit, N. Y., were his fields 
 of labor until his appointment to the city. He after- 
 ward traveled in New York State and New England,- 
 was superannuated for a few years, and was again ap- 
 pointed to the city in 1817 and 1818, but located in 
 1819. Five years after, in consideration of his eminent 
 services, though he was incapable of the labor of a 
 chai'ge, he was re-admitted and placed on the superan- 
 nuated list. lie lingered about two years longer, a 
 great sufferer from nervous disease, and died July 6, 
 1826, at the hous^' of his friend, Alex. Banks, in the 
 city. Mr. Crowell was a remarkable man. His ])reach- 
 ing was peculiarly solemn, and his whole manner gave 
 evidence that he was constantly inspired with a sense 
 of eternal realities. In the j^ulpit he was simple and 
 natural, and not at all boisterous. The writer has heard 
 some of his sermons described as producing veiy power- 
 ful effects.* 
 
 During this year Mr. Hunt introduced a practice 
 which soon became general in the Church. He says, 
 "In September, 1806, I appointed a prayer-meeting 
 particularly for those Avho had been at the camp-meet- 
 ing. Many attended at the church in Second (Forsyth) 
 Street. It was a time of great power. Many wept :ind 
 cried aloud for mercy." Several little prayer-meetings 
 were held at the same time in different parts of the 
 house, causing, of course, great confusion. Mr. Hunt 
 had recently received a letter from his former colleague, 
 Rev. N. Snethen, " describing the custom which had just 
 been adopted at the camp-meetings in the South, of 
 
 * Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 478; 
 Sprajyue's Annals of the Methodist Pulpit.
 
 Six Fruitful Ykars. l?! 
 
 inclosing a space in front of the stand, called an altar, 
 where mourners and' those who were considered cnpable 
 of instructing and praying with them were invited to 
 meet, apart from the great congregation." He deter- 
 mined to adopt " a similar course in the church, and at 
 the second camp-meeting prayer-meeting he invited all 
 who were seeking the Saviour to come forward and 
 kneel at the altar, but not one person complied with 
 the request. The three preachers met the next day in 
 consultation. Mr. Hunt assigned as his reason for pro- 
 posing to introduce the altar service that the confusion 
 of previous meetings would thereby be avoided, and 
 the name, residence, and spiritual condition of each 
 convert and seeker could be ascertained, making it pos- 
 sible to watch over them more successfully. Truman 
 Bishop concurred, but Seth Crowell, the other preacher, 
 put in a stern remonstrance, and in the evening took a 
 back seat to watch the result of what he considered an 
 interference with God's order and a steadying of the 
 ark. But the penitents, having reflected on the pro- 
 l)riety of gathering about the altar, pressed forward 
 as soon as the invitation was given, filling the entire 
 kneeling-place about the altar-rail and. several of the 
 front seats." Mr. Crowell " discontinued his opposition 
 and joined zealously in the work." " The custom soon 
 became general." " In later years Mr. Hunt expressed 
 concern lest the usage might degenerate into a form in 
 which some might trust rather than in the Saviour, and 
 of which others might take advantage in hypocrisy to 
 impose upon the Church." * 
 
 Among those who were received into the Church dur- 
 ing this great revival were Dorothea Worrall, John 
 
 * Papers of Rev. A. Hunt; Warriner's Old Sands Street, p. 104; 
 Christian Advocate, vol. vii, p. 148; and Atkinson's Centennial History 
 of American Methodism, pp. 468 and 481.
 
 172 A History of Methodism ix New Yoijk City. 
 
 Buckmaster, Nicholas Scliureraan, Andrew Halstead, 
 Ezekiel Halstead, Nathaniel C. Hart, William Raisbeck, 
 Peter McNainara, Thomas J. Stagg, Alexander Banks, 
 Benjamin Disbrow, James Oakley, Haziel Smith (dumb), 
 John R. jNlidwinter, Simeon Bi'own, John Devon, Ben- 
 jamin Griifin, Nathaniel Jarvis, Abijah Abbot, Gideon 
 Carstang.* 
 
 *Book ii, pp. 19-34.
 
 Five Fruitful Yeaes. 173 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 FIVE FRUITFUL YEARS— COXFEREXCES OF 1S07 TO 1812. 
 
 The New York Conference for 1807 met at Coeyman's 
 Patent, near Albany, May 2. Asbury speaks of the 
 fact that two thousand and one bad been added in the 
 bounds of tliis Conference.* New York city contrib- 
 uted its full proportion to this gain. It reported 1,071 
 Avhites and 392 colored; in all 1,463 — an increase of 407. 
 Naturally, therefore, there was an increase in the work- 
 ing force of the city. T. Bishop, E. Cooper, F. Ward, 
 P. Peck, and S. Thomas were the preachers, with J. 
 Crawford as presiding elder. 
 
 Joseph Crawford was a native of White Plains, N. Y., 
 was received into the traveling connection in 1797, and 
 until 1820 occupied some of the most important posi- 
 tions in the New York and New England Conferences. 
 He was a man of remarkable ability, and very successful. f 
 
 Francis Ward was a native of Ireland, where he was 
 converted and licensed to preach. He came to this 
 country in 1801, and was received into the Conference 
 in 1802. He labored within the bounds of the New 
 York Conference until 1812, when he was appointed to 
 Charleston, S. C, where he was taken ill. Returning 
 North, he went to Suffolk Circuit, on Long Island, where 
 he died in 1813. He " was a studious man, a good En- 
 glish scholar," of extensive reading, sound in doctrine, 
 " fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." 
 
 *Biit the figures of the printed Minutes make the increase 3,171. 
 f Warrhier's Old Sancls Street, p. 175, etc.
 
 174 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Phineas Peck was born in Stratford, Conn., in 1780, 
 entered the Conference in 1801, and spent about twenty 
 years in effective service in the New York and New En- 
 gland Conferences. He died at Watertown, N. Y., April 
 19, 1836. He was a man of more than ordinary ability.* 
 
 Samuel Thomas was converted in e:irly life in New 
 Jersey, and was for many years an acceptable local 
 preacher. He entered the traveling connection in 1796, 
 and after laboring in New York and New Jersey was 
 superannuated in 1808, and died early in 1812, at Cin- 
 cinnati, O. He was a man "frequently tempted and 
 buffeted by the devil," but his end was peace. Many 
 were converted under his ministry, among whom, we 
 are told, were Marvin Richardson, Josiah Bowen, and 
 Charles W. Carpenter, f 
 
 Of the events of this Conference year not a solitary 
 record is to be found except that of the admission of 
 probationers. Among these are the names of Chancey 
 Carter, Mary Carter, John C. Totten, Mary Morgan, 
 Benjamin Burdett, Nicholas Coenhoven, Lancaster S. 
 Burling, John Carr. J 
 
 At the Conference of 1808, which met at Amenia 
 April 6, Bishop Asbuiy presiding, the increase, though 
 not equal to that of the preceding year, was yet very 
 encouraging. The report was, whites 1,330, colored 
 424; total 1,754 — a gain of 291. J. Crawford was con- 
 tinued as presiding elder, and the preachers were W. 
 Thacher, E. Cooper, J. Wilson, F. Ward, L. Andrus, 
 and P. Peck. § 
 
 Luman Andrus, whose name is the only new one in 
 this list, was born in Litchtield, Conn., July 4, 1778, 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. x, pp. 176 and 200. 
 j Warriner" s Old Sands Street, p. 169. :}: Book ii, pp. 34-46. 
 
 § Thacher's residence was ax 400 Pearl Street, and Peck's at 7 Sec- 
 ond (Forsylli) Ptroet.
 
 Five Fuuitful Years. 175 
 
 converted at the age of fourteen, and received on trial 
 in 1801. He was in New York again in 1816. He su- 
 perannuated in 1834, and died July 12, 1851. He was 
 devoted and useful, and, though not very systematic as 
 a preacher, was uncommonly imj)ressive as an exhorter. 
 For the histoiy of this year our material is almost 
 as scanty as tliat of the year before. Bishop Asbury 
 spent but a day or two in the city, and preached Wednes- 
 day, April 27, at the African Church, and ordained 
 D. Coker and W. Miller. Jesse Lee arrived June 19, 
 and remained until the 27th, preaching nine sermons, 
 after which he attended the camp-meeting at Cow Harbor 
 (now Manhasset Bay). He returned October 7, and re- 
 mained until the 11th, preaching to crowded congrega- 
 tions. He found the work prospering. He i'nys, " I be- 
 lieve I never knew so gi-eat a revival of religion in the 
 city of New York before. The work had been great for 
 several months, and many had been converted and joined 
 our society, and the prospect was still pleasing." * 
 
 * Lee's Memoirfi, pp. 313, 323. That this work was something 
 more than a mere excitement is evident from the fact tliat at this time 
 steps were taken lor supplying both the temporal and spiritual wants 
 of the poor.. At a meeting held on November 12, 1808, at a school- 
 room, on the corner of Anthony (now Worth) and Hudson Streets, an 
 "Assistance Society" was organized. The original members were: 
 Francis Ward, James J. Margarum, Abm. Russel, Joseph Riley, 
 Rod'k McLeod, John Shaw, George Innes, S. B. Eonsall, Natiian 
 Whitehead, James Davis, Samuel Elsworth, Samuel Sears, John An- 
 dariese. Christian Bourdeite, Cornelius Polhamus, Jacob Bolmoro, 
 Joseph Wiley, John Westfield, Benjamin G. Barker, M. H. Smith, 
 George Suckley, Jolin Vanderpool, John C. Totten, L. S. Burling, 
 John Russel, William H. Baldwin, Klnathan Raymond, A. J. W. 
 Butler, George L. Birch, Peter Poillon, Isaac Saunders, John Cox,' 
 Robert Mathison, Tliomas Hope. Others, equally worthy of remem- 
 brance, soon joined the society. For many years it did a very good 
 work, but after the citj' became divided into stations the benevolent 
 societies of the different churclies supplied its place.
 
 17G A IIisTOiiY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Among. those received on trial this year were Francis 
 Hall and Samuel Williams.* 
 
 Oil the 10th of Ma}^ 1809, the New York Confer- 
 ence, after two years' absence, again lield its session in 
 the city. Bishop Ashury says, it " continued until the 
 loth; about one hundred and twenty preachers present; 
 we had great peace and good order." f The elders were 
 ordained at the John Street Church on the Sabbath 
 day. I 
 
 A good increase was reported, as was to be expected 
 from what we have already read. Whites, 1,531; col- 
 ored, 469; total, 2,000— gain, 246. The appointments 
 were W. Thacher, E. Smith, W. Keith. J. Crawford 
 was still presiding elder. J. Wilson and D. Hitt were 
 the book agents. 
 
 Eben Smith was born in the town of Lenox, Mass., 
 July 18, 1774, and admitted to Conference in 1804. 
 He did effective work for about thirty years, seven of 
 them as presiding elder, and was a member of four 
 
 * Book ii, pp. 59, 60. 
 
 f According to the Minutes of the New York Conference this was 
 tlie last of ils sessions ;it wliich Asbury presided. 
 
 if Bishop Ashury to Ptter Akxander Allaire, Dr. 
 
 1809, 20th May. To keeping 3 horses from 8th of May on £ s. d. 
 
 hay, at 4s '< ■i 
 
 To 9 quarts oats per liorse per day for eacli horse, say 
 
 27 quarts per day, 324 quarts, at 4fZ 5 8 
 
 To keephig one horse from Stli of May on hay, at 4^. . . 2 8 
 
 To 78 quarts of oats, at 4rZ 1 6 
 
 To bleeding bishop's horse, physick, fetching, etc 10 
 
 £17 2 
 
 $42 75 
 Received payment from Mr. Abraham Ru'^sel. 
 
 Peter Alex. Allaire. 
 — Reminiscences of Henry Boehiii, p. 238.
 
 Five Fruitful Years. 177 
 
 successive General Conferences, from 1812 to 1824. He 
 died May 18, 1844, at Milton, Ulster County, N. Y., 
 in great peace. He " was a man of much zeal, dili- 
 gence, and usefulness," " a great lover of Methodism, 
 ardent in his friendship, and cautious in speaking of the 
 character of absent persons." He endured much labor 
 and privation. 
 
 Tlie life of William Keith was short but useful. 
 Born in Easton, Mass., September 15, 1776, he was con- 
 verted in 1794, and commenced preaching in 1798, 
 Stationed on the Albany Circuit, he traveled three 
 hundred miles in four weeks, sometimes on foot, through 
 storms and snow, and preached forty-three times. We 
 cannot wonder, then, that before thi' year closed he 
 was so enfeebled that he had to retire. His withdrawal 
 from active labor proved unfavorable to his spiritual 
 condition, and some of the preachers, observing it, re- 
 proved him so sharply that he became discouraged and, 
 in 1801, withdrew from the Church. Proposals to re- 
 sume his ministry in some other communion were made 
 to him, but he could not be persuaded to do so. At 
 length he resolved to return to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and he says: "As soon as I consented to bear 
 the cross and join the Methodists again I felt a return 
 of the favor of God and could truly say, ' My Jesus is 
 mine and I am his.' " Two years were spent in the lo- 
 cal ministry, then three years in the traveling work, 
 before he received his appointment to New York, which 
 was to be his last. Consumption had fastened on him; 
 at the Conference of 1810 he became superannuated, 
 and died September 7 of the same year. Dr. Bangs, 
 who came to the city just in time to form acquaintance 
 with him a few months before his death, says: "Once 
 only I heard him preach, but the effort, though made in 
 much bodily weakness, was one of great power, and
 
 178 A History of Methodism in New York Citv. 
 
 left an impression upon my mind which is still fresh 
 after nearly half a century." He adds : " The effects 
 of his preaching were sometimes truly astonishing; his 
 audiences were completely bowed under the power of 
 th'j truth which he proclaimed." * 
 
 Among those received on probation during this eccle- 
 siastical year were Peter Badeau, William B. Skid- 
 more, Wah'ab Seaman, James Raisbeck, Nicholas Ro- 
 niain. f 
 
 At the New York Conference for 1810, which was 
 held at Pittsfield, Mass., Bishop McKendree presided. 
 Bishop Asbury passed through the city in the early part 
 of Ma}^, and says : " Great times here; two new houses 
 within tlie year. I preached at old John Street. This 
 is the thirty-ninth year I have officiated within the 
 walls; this house must come down and something 
 larger and better occupy its place." The two new 
 houses referred to were the Greenwich Village, now 
 Bedford Street, and tlie Allen Sti'eet churches. 
 
 The first of these had originated a few j^ears before. 
 At tliat time the territory north of Canal Street and 
 west of Broadway contained only a few scattered dwell- 
 ings. Prominent among these was the Richmond Hill 
 house, which stood near the present corner of Charlton 
 and Varick Streets; a very fine country mansion, cele- 
 brated as having been tlie head-quarters of GeneralWiish- 
 ington and subsequentl}^ for several years, the residence 
 of Aaron Burr. From the porch of St. John's Church 
 (built in 1807), in Varick Street, below Canal Street, the 
 view to this building was unobstructed. A little above it 
 lay Gi'eenwich Village, between the North River on the 
 west, Greenwich Lane (now Greenwich Avenue) on the 
 east. Bank Street on the north, and a brook (called Amity 
 Water or Minetta Brook), which flowed where is now 
 * Spragiie's Annals of the Mdhodist Pulpit. f Book ii, pp. 60-67.
 
 Five Fruitful Years. 179 
 
 Carmine Street, on the south. The only place of worship 
 within its limits was a Reformed Dutch church, which 
 afterward was replaced by a building at the corner of 
 what are now Bleecker and West Tenth Streets, now 
 occupied by a Methodist congregation of colored people. 
 Meetings of Methodists were first held in this region in 
 the house of Samuel Walgrove, on the north side of 
 Morton (then Arden) Street, about one hundred and 
 fifty feet Avest of Bleecker Street. In a year they 
 needed more room, and Mr. Walgrove opened the first 
 floor of his carpenter-shop, about twenty feet square. 
 This building stood many years after the first church 
 in Bedford Street was built. Early every Saturday 
 afternoon Mr. Walgrove ceased work, swept the shop, 
 removed the surplus lumber to the yard, and arranged 
 seats of rougli planks. The preaching avus by the sta- 
 tioned or local preachers; of these last Jesse Oakley 
 seems to have occupied the pulpit most frequently. 
 The first class was formed by either F. Ward or W. 
 Thacher; a Brother Elsworth, who, it is supposed, came 
 from Duane Street, was the leader. We have the 
 names of Samuel Walgrove and wife, George Suckley 
 and his wife. Sister Schultz, and Wm. C. Tillou as mem- 
 bers. After a time James Demarest was appointed its 
 leader, and Elsworth was transferred to a new class 
 meeting in what was then called the Lower Village, in a 
 j^rivate house in Hetty (now Charlton) Street, near 
 Hudson.* 
 
 * William McLean, for man}' years an active official member of 
 Bedford Street, says his wife's mother Mrs. .Joanna De Groot, wife of 
 Cornelius De Groot, living in Brandon (now Spring) Street, near 
 Greenwich, in what was then called the Lower Village, opened her 
 house for preaching, and obtained permission of lier husband, then 
 unconverted, to fit up a large room for wor.sliip on condition that she 
 should be answerable for the expense. This was in 1804, and for 
 three years she sustained it mostly wiih the avails of iier own labor.
 
 180 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 At lengtli five lots were bought on the corner of Bed- 
 ford and Morton Streets for |1,250,* and in 1810 the 
 church was built. It fronted on Bedford Street, was 
 sixty by thirty feet, and covered with shingles, which 
 were painted a cream color. It had two doors, two 
 aisles, and galleries on each side and the front. The 
 pulpit was a high box. Garrettson once split the book- 
 board with a blow of his hand. There was a window 
 on each side of the pulpit. The seats were high and 
 straight-backed. The galleries were unfurnished until 
 the old John Street Church was taken down, when some 
 of its seats were used for these galleries. There were 
 no class-rooms, A deep cellar was nsed to store cider. 
 The floors were sanded, and when, twenty years after, 
 the altar was carpeted and inside blinds placed on 
 the windows, these were regarded as innovations on 
 Methodist simplicit3\ Two willow trees shaded the 
 front, and on Morton Street was a row of Lombardy 
 poplars. Services were seldom held at night, except on 
 Sabbath evenings, and for years the church ha^l no 
 lamps. The preachers having to take long walks, they 
 were escorted across lots by companies of young men 
 as lar as Broadway, and sometimes farther. The cor- 
 ner-stone was laid by John Robertson, one of the sta- 
 tioned preachers. His text was Prov. xxx, 26, " The 
 conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their bouses 
 in tlie rocks." These " conies " became a rather strong 
 people. The dedication sermon was by Dr. Phoebus, 
 
 It soon became a regular appointment and liad overflowing congrega- 
 tions, and a good revival took place. A class was formed, of vsrliich 
 Rev. S. Grovvell was the first leader. After three years the place be- 
 came too strait for them, and they removed totliree different places ui 
 succession, until finally the first Bedford Street church was erected. — 
 Ohituary of Mrs. Be Groot, Christian Advocate, vol. xvi, p. 112. 
 
 * But a deed at 18th Street says they cost $2,000. It is from 
 Thomas Smyth, and is dated February 21, 1810.
 
 Five Fruitful Years. 181 
 
 but we have no record of the date or text. During the 
 labors of the Rev. S. Howe (1817-19) the death of a 
 young lady in the neighborhood j^roduced a deep im- 
 pression, which was increased by tlie funeral sermon 
 preached by Mr. Howe, and a gracious revival followed, 
 the first of any note in the history of the society. In 
 1H30, while the Rev. S. D. Ferguson was resident 
 preacher, the building was enlarged, giving six feet 
 more in front and nineteen feet on the south side, mak- 
 ing the gallery on that side much wider than the other. 
 The new front was of brick, the sides still were wood. 
 The building continued to be occupied while the work 
 was going on, the rubbish being cleared away every 
 Saturday night. This has been one of the most prosper- 
 ous churches in the city. For more than forty-five years 
 its membership has ranged from eight hundred to twelve 
 hundred. In 1840 the present building was erected, but 
 an account of this must be deferred for the present.* 
 
 Allen Street seems to have been a natural outgrowth 
 from Forsyth Street. Population was coming into the 
 neighborhood. Forsyth Street and Bowery Village, 
 though not very far apart, were sometimes a little dif- 
 ficult to reach, and the first of these was often so 
 crowded that those who got there rather late could not 
 find comfortable seats. Why not have a church in our 
 own neighborhood ? began to be asked. So land was 
 procured in Fourth (now Allen) Street, between Delan- 
 cey and Rivington Streets, f 
 
 * Rev. E. S. Osborn, D.D. Greenwich Village Fair, 1877. — Pa- 
 pers of David Demarest. 
 
 jf It is said tiiat at a meeting in Forsj'th Street, wlien the location 
 of the new cliiircli was under discussion, it was objected that the 
 place selected did not furnish room for a burial-ground. In a«swer 
 to this a brother spoke of the impropriety of interring tlie dead where 
 the living congregated, and, his views beiug sustained by the Rev. W. 
 Thacher, the spot was chosen. — Christian Advocate, vol. xi, page 3.
 
 182 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The house was seventy by fifty-two (or fifty-five) 
 feet, of stone stuccoed, like the others. Rev. Dr. J. 
 Kennaday, who Avas pastor when the succeeding build- 
 ing was erected, in preaching the last sermon in the old 
 edifice, said, "I remember well when this house was 
 building. I was about ten years of age, and was pass- 
 ing on the opposite side of the street when they were 
 singing, about to commence preaching from the scaffold. 
 That was the first Methodist hymn I ever heard, and 
 the first time I ever listened to the voice of a man 
 engaged in that cause to which I owe all I am on earth 
 and all I hope to be in heaven."* The dedication took 
 l^lace on January 1, 1811. "The winter following there 
 was a gracious outpouring of the Spirit." " The house 
 was soon filled to overflowing, and for several years this 
 Avas the largest congregation Ave had in the city."f 
 Afterward the attendance declined, but the great revival, 
 of Avhich we shall read by and by, raised it again, so 
 that for many years it stood pre-eminent for its steady 
 l)rosperity. The cellar of the first building Avas used 
 for the storage of malt liquors; perhaps a bu'-ying- 
 ground Avould have been less objectionable. 
 
 New York reported this year (1810) 1,710 Avhites, 
 490 colored; total 2,200 — an increase of 200. The 
 appointments Avere, N. Bangs, I E. Smith, J. Rob- 
 ertson, J. M. Smith, P. P. S.-indford. J. CraAvford 
 remained in charge of the district, and D. Ilitt was 
 book agent. 
 
 From this time ouAvard almost without interruption 
 for the greater part of fifty years the name of Nathan 
 Bangs is found connected Avith Ncav York city. As 
 pastor, presiding elder, book agent, editor, and mission- 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. x, page 207. 
 
 f Article by Rev. L. Clark in MetJwdid Magazine, vol. x (1S27), p. 124. 
 
 X X. Bang-3 lived at 7 Second (Forsyth) Street,
 
 Five P^ruitfui. Years. 183 
 
 ary secretary he was known as one of the foremost men 
 of Methodism. He was born in Stratford, Conn., May 2, 
 1778; in 1799 he went to Canada as teacher and sur- 
 veyor, and there, through the laljors of James Coleman 
 and Josepli Sawyer, he was led to Christ. In a year 
 after conversion he was licensed as an exhorter, and 
 soon after as a local pieacher, and in 1801 w^e find him 
 in the itinerant work. Some seven years were spent in 
 Canada and two years in New York city. In 1817 and 
 1818 he was in New York again, and in 1819 presiding 
 elder of the New York District. From 1820 to 1827 he 
 was book agent, from 1828 to 1831 editor of the Chris- 
 tian Advocate, ivonx 1832 to 1835 editor of the Quarterly 
 Jievietc and books of the general catalogue, from 1830 
 to 1840 corresponding secretary of the Missionary So- 
 ciety, and in 1841 and 1842 president of the Wesleyan 
 University. Five years were then spent in charges in 
 New York city and Brooklyn, and four as presiding 
 elder of the New York District. He superannuated in 
 1852, and died in New York May 3, 1862, aged eighty- 
 four years and one day. " He was one of the founders 
 of our Missionary Society," and ])robably had more to do 
 in shaping its early history than any other man. "In 
 his }>iime he was a weighty preacher, a powerful debater, 
 an energetic and decisive, if not an elegant, writer." 
 "He had his faults, and like every thing else in his 
 nature they were strongly marked. But if he was 
 abrupt sometimes in his replies, or emphatic in his 
 rebukes, no man was ever more habitually ready to 
 retract an undeserved severity or acknowledge a mis- 
 take. For about ten yeai's after his suj^erannuation he 
 went in and out among our metropolitan churches 
 venerated and beloved as a chief patriarch of Method- 
 ism. As he a})proaehed the grave his character seemed 
 to mellow into the richest maturity of Christian experi- 
 IC
 
 184 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 ence. His favorite theme of conversation and preaching 
 was * entire sanctification.' " * 
 
 John Robertson was l)orn in Xew Providence, N. J., 
 in 1782, joined the Methodist Church in 1800, and 
 the traveling connection in 1803. His labors were 
 in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Penn- 
 sylvania. He died in 1820. "He was a man of great 
 simplicity of manners and kindliness of spirit, and 
 eminently devoted to his Master's work."f Of James 
 M. Smith we know only that he joined the Methodist 
 ministry in 1804, labored for some twenty years in 
 New York and New England, and was expelled in 
 1827. 
 
 But Peter P. Sandford has a nobler record. Born 
 February 28, 1781, in New Jersey, he entered the 
 ministry in 1807, and after some three years' service 
 Avithin the bounds of the Philadelphia Conference came 
 to New York city and continued in the New York 
 Conference until his death. Of his fifty years of min- 
 isterial life he spent six years as stationed preacher in 
 the city, and eight years as presiding elder on the New 
 York District, and nearly three years as assistant book 
 agent. He was delegate to ten successive General Con- 
 ferences, from ISlGto 1852. He died January 14, 1857, 
 having almost completed his seventy-sixth year. He 
 was a j)reacher of remarkable ability ; deep, compact, 
 clear, forcible. He received the degree of D.D. from 
 the University of the City of New York. He was an 
 excellent authority in matters of discipline, and one of 
 the most thorough presiding officers in a quarterly 
 conference the writer has ever known. His preachers 
 could depend on receiving from him the very best coun- 
 sel in difficult cases, and if they followed it faithfully 
 
 *New York East Conference Minutes of 1863. 
 
 f Sprague's Annah, p. 624, note; General Minutes 1821.
 
 Five Fkuitful Yeaks. 185 
 
 lie would sustain tliern at any cost. He alwavs stood 
 for what he believed to be right, at all iiazards. 
 
 Of the events of this Conference year we know 
 nothing except the incidents iilready referred to; the 
 laying of the corner-stone of the Greenwich Village 
 church by the Rev. J. Robertson and the dedication of 
 that in Allen Street, January 1, 1811. In the one 
 case we have the joreacher and his subject, but not the 
 date ; in the other the date, but nothing about the 
 services. Among those received on trial during the 
 year was Michael Floy, father of Rev, James Flov, 
 D.D.; and among those coming by letter was Mary 
 Morgan, afterward Mrs, Mary W. Mason.* 
 
 The first minutes of the general leaders' meeting 
 Avhich have survived bear date May 8, 1811. That 
 meeting was held at the Hudson (Duane Street) Church, 
 the Rev. N. Bangs in the chair, and John C. Totten 
 being secretary. A report of a committee appointed at 
 the last meeting before, held in the Bowery (Forsyth 
 Street) Church, in regard to " revising the laws for the 
 government of the quarterly conferences and general 
 leaders' meetings," was read. Only three items are 
 recorded which were to be added to the rules already 
 existing. Two of these relate to enjoining secrecy on 
 tlie members of those bodies. At the meeting of Jan- 
 uary 12, 1814, we read: "On motion of Brother Car- 
 penter the rule, or so much of it as enjoins secrecy 
 on the members of the leaders 'meeting, was expunged." 
 It should be said, however, tliat these meetings have 
 always been regarded as confidential. Without such 
 an underst.-mding there could be no freedom in discuss- 
 ing many of the matters which come before them. 
 
 The Conference of 1811 met in New York city May 
 20, Bishop McKendree - presiding. Bishop Asbury 
 * Book ii, p. 68.
 
 186 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 says: "Sundiy, 19. As we were preparing to go to the 
 houses of God a dreadful fire broke out, consuming about 
 one hundred houses. I jDreached to some serious sisters 
 in John Street." The brethren were, no doubt, at the 
 fire. " I officiated at Greenwicli in the new chapel 
 after dinner. Thursday, 25. Ordained deacons. Bishop 
 McKendree preached. Sabbath, 27. I preached in the 
 African church, as also in the new (probably Allen 
 Street) and in the Bowery (Forsyth Street) Church. I 
 met the societies in each place of worship. Father 
 Blackborne's case occupied us two days. He was taken 
 into connection and ordained a deacon, although he 
 brought no recommendation to us from the British or 
 any other Conference." This William Blackborne, or 
 Blagborne (as his name is spelled in the Minutes), was 
 stationed in New York at this Conference. He was a 
 native of England, and served in the work there for a 
 time. His stay in America was brief ; in 1815 his name 
 disappears from the Minutes. He returned to England. 
 The Rev. Henry Hatfield describes him as a " large, 
 noble-looking man and a good preacher," It is said the 
 natural color of his hair was white.* Asbury also writes, 
 Thursday, 29: " The society in New York has increased. 
 Our chapels are neat, and their debt is not heavy. They 
 wish to rebuild John Street Church and to build a small 
 house at the Ti>'o Mile Stoned " I preached at Two 
 Mile Stone and retired to George Suckley's." 
 
 * Kev. Elbert Osboni ( Life,p. 38) speaks of liaving heard liini preach 
 from 1 Pel. ii, 2, and mentions his "florid countenance" and his 
 "somewhat peculiar voice and enunciation ;" also liis death in En- 
 gland some years after his return. In the life of Bramwell (cliap. xv) 
 is the following sentence: "0, the blessed state nf that holy man of 
 God, Mr. Blagborne, when he was about to depart! I saw him in 
 London a short time prior to his death, when he exclaimed with joy^ 
 ' Glory, glory be to God, who hath made me fully ready for my 
 change! ' " — Warriner'5 Old Sands Street, p. 413.
 
 Five Fruitful Yeaijs. 187 
 
 Asbury's statement of an increase is sustained by the 
 Conference report. It reads: Whites, 1,924, colored, 530; 
 total, 2,454— increase, 254. The preachers appointed 
 were N. Bangs, W. Phoebus, L. Clark, W, Blagborne, 
 J. M. Smith, P. P. Sandford.* F. Garrettson was the 
 presiding elder, and D. Hitt book agent. Two new- 
 names are here. William Blagborne lias been already 
 noticed. The other is Laban Clark. He was born in 
 Haverhill, N. H., July 19, 1778, was converted at the age 
 of tw^enty-one, and entered the w^ork under the presiding 
 elder in 1800. He was in the effective work about fitty 
 years, occui)ying prominent positions in the New York 
 and New York East Conferences. He served three 
 terms of two years each in~New York city, and was for 
 four years presiding elder on that district, and sixteen 
 years on other districts. He was also a member of eight 
 General Conferences. He shares Avith Nathan Bangs 
 the honor of originating the Methodist Missionary So- 
 ciety, and was regarded as the father of the Wesleyan 
 University at Middletown, being the president of its 
 board of trustees from its inception in 1831 until his 
 death in 1868. During the most of that time his home 
 was in Middletown, and it may be said that " he lived 
 and died and was buried almost beneath its shadow." He 
 finished his course November 28, 1868, in the ninety- 
 first year of his age, and was buried in the cemetery in 
 the rear of the university. The Minutes say: "He was 
 a leader in the old New York Conference and died the pa- 
 triarch of the New York East Conference. As a preacher 
 he was sound, instructive, and, in his prime, frequently 
 powerful." f " He was very tenacious of his political 
 opinions, and it has been affirmed that those who knew 
 
 * Bangs and Plioebns lived at 7 Second. (Forsyth) Slreet, and Claik 
 at Fourth (Allen) Sireet, near Dehtncey. 
 \ General Minutes.
 
 188 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 him well would hanlly recognize a portraiture of LaLan 
 Clark that did not mention the fact tliat lie was a thor- 
 ough-going Democrat of tlie old school, admiring An- 
 drew Jackson in respect to politics as he did John Wes- 
 ley in respect to theology." * In his later years his 
 countenance bore a marked resemblance to that of the 
 old hero of New Orleans. 
 
 Early in this Conference year the leaders' meeting 
 took steps to assist the trustees in "establishing due or- 
 der and regulations" " durino- the time of divine wor- 
 ship." It appears from the language of one of the res- 
 olutions that choirs were not in existence, at least not 
 in all the churches, for it directs that they should get 
 "two or three of the best of our singers to sit together 
 in some suitable place in each church for the purpose of 
 setting the tunes and leading the singing." They were 
 also "to see that the people be properly seated," which 
 was the more necessary as the rule that men and women 
 should sit apart was rigorously enforced, f The Method- 
 ism of our forefathers is also seen in their an-angenients 
 for prayer-met'tings. They were held on Monday even- 
 ing, and the city was laid out in districts, of which there 
 were three, and three or four appointments were included 
 in each district. Each coiiipany consisted of about six 
 members (afterward there were sometimes nine or ten), 
 and they were "to change Aveekly within their districts." J 
 
 * Warriaer's Old Sands Street, p. 235. f Book viii, p. 3. 
 
 :j: These districts and subdivisions as they appear from the lirst rec- 
 ord we have were as follows: 
 
 First District. — John Street Church, Bowery (Forsyth Street) Church, 
 Corlear's Hook (near tlie foot of Grand Street, Kast River; the region 
 now provided for by Willett Street). 
 
 Second District — Greenwich Cliurch (Bedford street), Hudson 
 Church (Duane Street), Almshouse (then on the Common, now City 
 Hall Park). 
 
 Tliird District.— Two Mile Stone (Seventh Street), Fourth (Allen)
 
 Five Fkuitful Years. 189 
 
 Every six months these committees were changed. The 
 plan was well adapted to keep up an interesting variety 
 in the exercises and hind the congregations in closer 
 fellowship. The first named on each list was the leader. 
 The last full list of ajjpointments was made A[>ril 20, 
 1814. Some time between October 13, 1814, and July 
 8, 1816, the meeting was changed to Wednesday even- 
 ing. At the leaders' meeting on the last date only one 
 person was appointed to each meeting, who was to call 
 on others to assist him. The last notice of such an ap- 
 pointment is under date of July 13, 1818, Avhen the city 
 was divided into three districts (but no subdivisions 
 were specified) and nine or ten ])ersons assigned to each. 
 
 Another illustration of the same regard for method 
 is found in the Minutes of the leaders' meeting of Oc- 
 tober 9, 1811. It was the custom for the pre.icher to 
 give to every person received as a probationer a permit, 
 which he Avas to cany to the leader of the class to 
 which he was assigned. It was ordered at this meeting 
 "that when the probationer presents the permit to the 
 leader he shall receive and keep the same ; and when a 
 love-feast is to be, the probationer shall receive from 
 the leader a ticket in these words : ' The bearer, A. B., 
 is a probationer in my class,' signed by the leader and 
 dated, which shall be their admittance to love-feast for 
 that time only, and the ticket shall be delivered to one 
 of the dooi'-keepers." This rule continued for more 
 than twenty years. 
 
 At the meeting of February 12, 1812, a plan was 
 
 Street Churcli, Manhattan Island (the progenitor of Second Street 
 Church), and Jolin Valenthie's, at the ferry. [In the Directory for 
 1811 we find tlie name of John Valentine, a cartman, residing in 
 Columbia Street, near Broome. The same book 'locates the Long 
 Island Ferry (that to WilHamsburg, no doubt) at tite foot of Broome 
 S'reet. This must have been "John Valentine's, at the ferry."]
 
 190 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 presented by the president, Rev. N. Bangs, "for the 
 raising a fund for llie support of poor widows of 
 preachers and their f)rphans, and for the relief of worn- 
 out preachers, etc." A committee, consisting of the 
 Rev. N. Bangs, Jos. Smith, Jolm Davies, Paul Hick, 
 and Geo. Taylor, was appointed to consider the subject, 
 and at an extra meeting held March 25 a report was 
 adopted suggesting to the General Conference to take 
 steps to establish such a fund. This report will be 
 found in the Minutes of that meeting. On May 13, at 
 the suggestion of the president, Rev. N. Bangs, it was 
 decided to appoint a person to keep a record of trials, 
 including the names of the accusers and accused, the 
 names of the committee, and the decision of the same, 
 and also t!ie crime. John Davies was appointed. This 
 record is still in existence.* 
 
 The first delegated General Conference of the Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church was held in New York city Ma}^ 1, 
 1812. Before this all the traveling elders were mem- 
 bers of that body; now, for the first time, only a select 
 number (one in five) from each Annual Conference 
 attended. The sessions were probably held in the John 
 Street church. Asbury says : f "I saw nothing like 
 
 *Some time in 1811 or 1812 a list of local preachers, exhortds, 
 and trustees was put on record. Book vii, p. 287. The names wero : 
 Elders^B&me] Smith, Mitchell B. Bull, Joel Ketclium. Deacons — 
 Robert Bonsel, Jesse Oakley, James Carson. Local Preachers — M. 
 Havalind Smith, Roderick McCloud, Abraham Stag, George Hatfield, 
 Jesse Hunt, Wait Munson, Jesse Merritt. Exliorters — Theodosius 
 Clark, Joseph Smith, Isaac Praul (moved to England), Nathan Wliite- 
 head, J. B. AV. Butler, George Phillips, Robert Beaty. Trustees — 
 Thomas Carpenter, president; Abraham Russell, treasurer: Joseph 
 Smith, Paul Hick, William Mead, Gilbert Coutant, Israel Disosway 
 (deceased), Charles Gilman, George Suckley, Cornelius Polhamus, 
 George Taylor. 
 
 f Jcnirnul, May 1, 1812.
 
 FiTE Fruitful Years. 191 
 
 unkindness but once, and there were many and weighty 
 affairs discussed." He also says (Journal, May 17): "I 
 had seventeen of the preachers to dine with me. There 
 Avas vinegar, mustard, and a still greater portion of oil; 
 but the disappointed parties sat down in peace, and we 
 enjoyed our sober meal." 
 
 On Sabbath, May 10, Asbury preached at the 
 African church in the morning ; also at the Hudson 
 chapel (Duane Street). He says it was an awful time. 
 On the 1 7th, at the Two-mile Stone, his subject was 
 1 Pet. iv, 6-9. He preached also at Greenwich, and at 
 John Street. On Monday he was sick and went to 
 George Suckley's and took to his bed, but on Tuesday 
 began his New England tour. Among the names of 
 those received during this Conference year we find 
 Peter and Hannah Badeau and Mitchell B. Bull, the 
 last by certificate. Also Jas. and Grace Stephenson, 
 the parents of John Stephenson, from Ireland.* 
 
 * Bouk vii, pp. 13, 221.
 
 192 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE OLD GARNER GIVES PLACE TO A NEW ONE— CON- 
 FERENCE OF 1812 TO BUILDING OF SECOND JOHN 
 STREET CHURCH, 1818. 
 
 On the 4th of June, 1812, the New York Conference 
 met at Albany. Bishop Asbury was present, but Mc- 
 Kendree presided. New York city reported 2,054 
 white and 540 colored members ; in all 2,594 — an in- 
 crease of 140. The appointments read : J. Crawford, 
 AV. Phffibus, L. Clark, and P. Cook.* F. Garrettson 
 remained as Presiding Elder, and T. Wara was made 
 assistant to D. Hitt as book agent. The name of 
 Phineas Cook is the only one that appears now for 
 the first time. He was boiii in (ireenfield, Mass., 
 March 10, 1784, converted in 1800, and admitted on 
 trial at the Conference of 1803. He labored in New 
 York State and New England ; was superannuated in 
 1840; and died at Mechanicsville, N. Y., May 26, 1861. 
 He was a good preacher and a faithful, useful, and ac- 
 ce])taljle laborer. 
 
 The leaders' meeting minutes give us tlie only items 
 to be found of the histoiy of this Confei-ence year. 
 On June 24, 1812, it was 
 
 "• Resolved, That it is the wish of this meeting that all 
 the stationed, located, and local preachers and all the 
 licensed exhorters of this city take chnrge of classes, 
 and that the president make this request known to 
 them. The ruling preacher is excepted." 
 
 * Crawford lived at 32 Jolin Street, PhceVms at T Second (Forsyth) 
 Sireet, and Cook at 1 Anthony (Wortli) Street.
 
 The Old Gakxj:r Gives Place to a Xew One. 193 
 
 At the meeting of October 7 a coininittee appointed 
 at the last meeting jjresented a rejiort containing tlie 
 following resolutions : 
 
 ^^ First, That it shall hereafter be deemed the duty 
 of any person or persons who wish to have a child bap- 
 tized in either of our churches or elsewhere, to call on 
 some one of the stationed preachers and obtain from 
 him a certificate, specifying tlie birthday and name of 
 the cliild, also the parents' names. And at the time 
 the child is brought forward to be baptized the certifi- 
 cate is to be presented also, on sight of which the min- 
 ister shall be at liberty to baptize the child, but not 
 without."* 
 
 " Seco)idly, That hereafter it is to be understood, in 
 all cases where it is possible, that the father and mother 
 be present, and that one of them present the child to 
 the minister, cases of widowhood excepted." 
 
 " T/drdli/, That it shall be the duty of the minister 
 who performs the ordinance to see that the certificate 
 is recorded." 
 
 In after years these requirements were somewhat 
 modified, so that it was necessary only that the parents 
 should hand in a statement of the items referred to in 
 the first resolution. The provision was wise, preventing 
 awkward mistakes, such as baptizing a child of one sex 
 with a name appropriate only to the other, and securing 
 the means of a correct record in each case, f 
 
 Among those received during this Conference year 
 
 *A copy of one of these, certificates was found in one of the old 
 record books^ and is now affixed to pajre 127, Book vi. It reads: 
 "Baptise George Washington, son of James and Ruth Pell, born 
 June 30, 1819. Saml. Merwin, N. T., Sept. 16, 1819." The record 
 of the baptism will be found on the same page. 
 
 f A list of the class-leaders at this time will be found in Ap- 
 pendix P; also some rules as to the business of the leaders' 
 meetincr.
 
 194 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 were James and Mary Demarest, and Morris DeCarap ; 
 also John Paradise, by letter.* 
 
 On Thursday, May 20, ]813, the Conference met at 
 Amenia, and again, though Asbury was present, McKen- 
 drce presided. Whites, 1,851, colored, 627 ; in all 
 2,478, is the report — a loss of 116. The appoint- 
 ments were P. Cook, J. Crawford, S. Cochran, f and 
 P. Rice. F. Garrettson remained as presiding elder, 
 and D. Hitt and T. Ware continued as editors and 
 book stewards. 
 
 Samuel Cochran was born August 31, 1778, at Hali- 
 fax, Vt., and converted in 1800. He entered the work 
 in 1804, and had labored in New York State, New En- 
 gland, and Canada. After two years in the city he spent 
 about twenty in the States of New York and Connecti- 
 cut, and in 1834 was again appointed to the city. He 
 died in 1845. "In labors he was abundant and success- 
 ful" t 
 
 No name in this list became more widely and favor- 
 ably known than that of Phineas Rice. No sketch 
 for which we have room here will satisfy those who 
 knew him or make him known to those who knew liim 
 not. Born in 1786 in Vermont, and converted when 
 about sixteen years of age, he soon began to exercise his 
 gifts, and with such success that he was received on 
 trial in 1807. He spent but one year in the city at 
 this time, but returned in 1823, and again in 1839, and 
 again in 1844, on all of which occasions he remained 
 two years. He was also presiding elder of the New 
 York District for seven years. His appointments out- 
 side of the city were prominent and responsible. From 
 1820 to 1856, in every General Conference but one, he 
 was a delegate. He was a man of marked ability in 
 
 * Book vii, pp. 43, 44, 187. 
 
 f Coclirau's home was at 224 Diiaue Street. X Minutes of 1S4G.
 
 The Old Gakner Gives Place to a New One. 195 
 
 the pulpit, of genuine piety and rigid integrity. His 
 humor and eccentricities became widely known, and in 
 some directions perhaps obscured the more solid ele- 
 ments of his character. But those who knew Phineas 
 Rice Avell knew that, like his great namesake, he was 
 " zealous for his God," and that he gave honest testi- 
 mony when, on his dying bed, he said to Bishop Janes, 
 "I feel that God loves me." December 4, 1861, was 
 the date of his decease. 
 
 At a leaders' meeting at John Street, September 8, 
 1813, Phineas Cook, President, "A letter which had 
 been put in the hands of the president, directed to this 
 body, was opened and read," but for want of time the 
 discussion of the matter referred to in it was post- 
 poned. Brother Munson declared himself the author. 
 The minutes of the next meeting, held at the Bowery 
 (Forsyth Street) Church, October 13, say: "As the 
 business of the evening was of a peculiar and interest- 
 ing nature, very few belonging to the body were ab- 
 sent, and several who did not belong appearing in the 
 meeting," the injunction of secrecy was taken off for 
 the evening, and those present who were not members 
 of the meeting were permitted to remain. A motion 
 to read the letter referred to in the minutes of the last 
 meeting was opposed. A motion was carried that the 
 author put his signature to the letter. Brother Munson 
 accordingly signed it. A motion to burn the letter 
 was lost, and finally it was decided that the letter be 
 read. It is given in full, not only because it is a part of 
 the history of the time, but also because it has a bearing 
 on events that occurred a few years later: 
 
 To the President and Leaders of tlie Metliodist Conference in the 
 city of New York, at John Street Church, September 8, 1813, by a 
 member of the body. 
 
 The following questions are respectfidly submitted to the candid
 
 196 A History of Methodism in Nkw York City. 
 
 and impartial consideration of tlie leaders' meeting in the tity of 
 Xew Yorli : 
 
 1. How many traveling preachers have been appointed by tlio 
 last yearly Conference for the service of the city of New Yorlc? 
 
 2. Were more than four prencliers aslted for from the Conference, 
 and was that number deemed sufficient for the ministerial labors of 
 the city? 
 
 3. By whom, and by wliat authority, is a fifth preacher appointed, 
 if not by the Annual Conference ? 
 
 4. Wliose duty is it, agreeable to our Discipline and the laws 
 of this State, to pay tlie salaries and provide for the maintenance 
 and support of our stationed ministers, and their respective families? 
 
 5. Was tlie monthly subscription in our classes nt first in- 
 tended to be set apart as a sinking fund, to pay off the debt of the 
 Church ? 
 
 6. Has the money tlius contributed by the people ever been ap- 
 plied to the end for which it was given and intended ? 
 
 7. Is it not reasonable and just, too, that a yearly report sliould be 
 made to the people who thus voluntarily subscribe to this sinking 
 fund? 
 
 It would be both satisfying and encouraging to them to know how 
 much of the cliurches' debt lias been reduced by their hberality. 
 
 "W. MUXSON. 
 
 This was answered by tlie trustees, as follows: To the first ques- 
 tion tliey replied that four preachers were appointed by the Confer- 
 ence in a formal manner, and one informally. 
 
 2. No; the trustees deeming that number sufficient. The ruHng 
 preaclier being absent: but when informed of the number he was 
 decidedly of the opinion that there ought to be five. 
 
 3. By the request of the presiding elder. 
 
 4. The Discipline directs that tlie stewards on circuits shall pay 
 the preachers. But this being a station, and an incorporated body, 
 tliat rule does not apply to ns, and the law of the State makes it the 
 duty of the trustees to pay the salaries and provide for the mainte- 
 nance of the preachers. 
 
 5. We know of no rule that makes it binding on us to use that 
 money separately and exclusively for that purpose. 
 
 6. We have applied it for the purposes intended, according to the 
 beat of our judgment. 
 
 7. That our yearly reports will show tlie sura collected yearly from 
 the classes.
 
 The Old Garner Gives Place to a New One. 197 
 
 The minutes add: 
 
 After the questions were tlius answered many others relating to 
 tliem were asked and answered. And wlien all were done a motion 
 was made, We, the meeting, are satisfied with the answers given by 
 the trustees. Upon the vote being taken there was not a dissenting 
 voice. 
 
 So complete, indeed, does the satisfaction appear to 
 have been that we find nothing further in the minutes 
 in regard to the matter. 
 
 The purport of questions one, two, and tliree Avill be 
 better understood if we look at a few facts. Bishop 
 Asbury, under date of May 23 of this year, speaks of 
 " Joshua Marsden, a British missionary, who has been 
 present at our Conference." Mr. Marsden had been 
 missionary in Nova Scotia and on the island of Ber- 
 muda, and in the spring of 1812 came to New York on 
 his way to England. AVhen he arrived in New York, 
 however, he found that an embargo had been laid on 
 vessels, forbidding them to leave the port, and this was 
 succeeded in the following June by a declaration of 
 war against England. Being compelled to stay in this 
 country, he naturally did what ministerial work he could. 
 That the city was needing more than four preachers 
 seems to be indicated by the fact that in 1814 six were 
 appointed. Mr. Marsden Avas a member of the British 
 Conference, and could not, therefore, be received offi- 
 cially without a regular transfer ; and this he did not 
 desire, as he was waiting an opportunity to go home. 
 Some understanding, therefore, was probably had that 
 he should be employed in the city, and thus the second 
 question is explained ; only four preachers were ap- 
 pointed by the Conference in a formal manner, and one 
 informally. Perhaps there would have been no trouble 
 had it not been that Mr. Marsden was an exceedingly 
 loyal Englishman, and the country was then at war
 
 198 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 with Great Britain, No doubt there was too much 
 warmth on both sides. In the minutes of the Assist- 
 ance Society* for Februay 24 and March 2, 1814, we 
 find that, having made arrangements with Mr. Marsden 
 to deliver an address before the society, the preachers 
 " would not sanction such a proceeding, nor would they 
 consent (if Mr, Marsden was chosen to deliver the 
 address) to open the meeting by an address to the 
 throne of grace." On motion, however, of Paul Hick, 
 seconded Iby John Wilson, Marsden was requested to 
 deliver the addiess, and at the meeting of April 6 
 thanks were voted to him for it, and also to Mr. James 
 Evans (the chorister of John Street Church) and the 
 liev. Mr. Brady for their assistance.! The questions 
 relating to finances, though apparently amicably settled 
 at the time, were agitated afterward, and helped to 
 prepare the way for the secession of 1820. 
 
 But these discussions did not altogether distract the 
 attention of preachers and people from the work of God. 
 At the Conference of 1814, held in the city. May 5, 1800 
 whites and 763 colored were reported, in all 2,563 — a 
 gain of 85, Bishop Asbury was not present at this 
 Conference, McKendree presided. Garrettson was 
 continued as presiding elder, and Hitt and Ware as 
 book stewards, and the preachers were W. Phoebus, S, 
 Cochran, N. Emery, M. Richardson, T. Drummond, 
 and W. Blagborne. 
 
 Nathan Emery was born in Minot, Me., in 1780, con- 
 verted at the age of fifteen, made class-leader when six- 
 teen, and admitted on trial in the Conference when nine- 
 teen years of age. In 1822 he located, but in 1829 was 
 re-admitted into the Ohio Conference; superannuated in 
 
 * Book V. 
 
 t A Rev. John Brady was at that time connected with St. George's 
 Episcopal Church iu Beekman Street.
 
 The Old Garner Gives Place to a New One. 199 
 
 1838, and died May 27, 1849. Ebenezer Washburn, his 
 colleague in 1804, describes him as a " loving companion, 
 pious, laborious, a good preacher, and a lover of Wes- 
 leyan Methodism.* 
 
 Marvin Richardson lived to be the patriarch of the 
 New York Conference. He was born at Stephentown, 
 N. Y., June 10, 1789, came with his .parents to Brook- 
 lyn while young, Avas converted in 1806, and in 1808, 
 when nineteen years of age, was received on trial in the 
 Conference. He labored in New York in 1814-15, 
 again in 1821-22, and also from 1838-41. For fifteen 
 yearr he was presiding elder, though not on the New 
 York District. He was delegate to seven General Con- 
 ferences. He was a man of fine appearance and most 
 excellent spirit. The record of his labors extended over 
 nearly seventy years. He died in Poughkeepsie, June 
 14, 1876, aged 87. His son-in-law. Rev. L. M. Vincent, 
 has long been a prominent member of the New York 
 Conference; and his grandson, Rev. M. R. Vincent, has 
 been the very able and successful pastor of the Presby- 
 terian Church of the Covenant, New York city, and is 
 now a professor in the Union Theological Seminary, 
 New York. 
 
 Thomas Drummond's career was brief. It begins in 
 obscurity, for we have no record of his birth nor con- 
 version, and it ends in darkness, for he was expelled in 
 1816. He seems to have been very popular and useful 
 in the instruction of children, f 
 
 On July 1, 1814, the trustees leased to Michael Moore 
 a portion of their ground, probably in the rear of the 
 church in John Street. J 
 
 * Warriner's Old Sands Street, p. 203. 
 
 f Warriner's Old Sands Street. He must not be confounded with the 
 Rev. Thomas Drummond who " died at his post " in St. Louis in 1835. 
 X Papers in hands of trustees of Eighteenth Street Church. 
 14
 
 200 A HiSTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The war with Great Britain proved no small tax on 
 the energies and means of the citizens of New York. 
 Not only were many in the army, but much labor and 
 expense were api)lied in improving the fortifications at 
 the Battery and elsewhere; men of all classes and voca- 
 tions, masons, carpenters, shoe-makers, merchants, etc., 
 turned out in distinct bodies to aid in the work. The 
 Methodist Assistance Society in its report (December 
 V, 1814) refers to these facts as calling for increased 
 contributions to help the poor. A treaty of peace was, 
 however, concluded at Ghent, December 24, 1814. The 
 disturbed state of affairs naturally had its effect on the 
 Church, and it is not surprising that the report at the 
 Conference of 1815 showed a decrease. The numbers 
 were 1,680 whites, 763 colored; total 2,443 — loss, 120. 
 
 This Conference met at Albany on May 12. Bishop 
 McKendree presided. Asbury was there, but not able 
 to be present much of the time. He says, " Saturday 
 (2Cth) I paid an hour's visit to my brethren in Confer- 
 ence." He was also with them on Tuesday and Thurs- 
 day, and pi-eached the funeral sermon for Di-. Coke on 
 Svmday, the 21st. This was his last visit to the New 
 York Conference; before its next session he had ended 
 his labors. Ou Sunday, the 14th, before he came to Al- 
 bany, he preached in New York city at the North 
 Church (Duane Street), and on his return, Sabbath, June 
 18, he says, "Attended Fourth (Allen) Street chapel; 
 my subject Zeph. i, 12; time was when I could have 
 preached upon this text." On Tuesday he "spoke a 
 few words at the African cliapel, both colors being pres- 
 ent." The people no doubt felt they should " see his 
 face no more." That evening he left New York forever. 
 
 The appointments for New York were, W. Phoebus, 
 W. Thacher, E. Washburn, iNI. Richardson, and A. 
 Scholefield. S. Merwin was the new presiding elder.
 
 The Old Gakner Gives Place to a Neav One. 201 
 
 Ebenezer Washburn was born in Worcester County, 
 ]VIass., October, 1772, He joined the Conference in 1801, 
 and with the exception of three years remained effective 
 until 1843. After serving in New York two years he 
 Avas presiding elder of the Rhinebeck District, and was 
 again in New York in 1823-24. He died in peace De- 
 cember 29, 1857, at Racine, Wis. "He was an able 
 and successful preacher of the Gospel of Christ, and 
 was universally respected and beloved." His sternness 
 of aspect prepared the way for a surprise to all who had 
 an opportunity to become well acquainted with him, for 
 he was peculiai-ly genial and kind, especially to young 
 preachers, as the writer can testify from experience. 
 
 Arnold Scholefield was born in Nova Scotia, entered 
 the work in 1810, and labored very usefully, part of the 
 time as presiding elder, until he became supernumerary, 
 in 1828. He re-entered the field in 1832, and was ap- 
 pointed presiding elder of the Troy District, but before 
 the year closed had an attack of paralysis, which put 
 a period to all regular effective service. Another stroke 
 in 1836 proved fatal. He was an able and useful min- 
 ister of Christ. 
 
 Mr. Washburn has left the following statement in re- 
 gard to New York Methodism at this period : " There 
 were at that time no church stewards in the city; the 
 board of trustees received all the money raised by the 
 Church, held all property belonging to the Church in 
 trust, and paid the preachers out of the money raised 
 for that purpose."* The trustees, he tells us, were Paul 
 Hick, Thomas Carpenter, Joseph Smith, Ab. Russel, 
 George Suckley, Gilbert Coutant, James Donaldson, 
 George Taylor, and John C. Totten. f 
 
 This Conference year has bequeathed to us very little 
 history. Gabriel P. Disosway and David Demarest were 
 * See p. 196. f Christian Advocate, vol. xvii, p. 137.
 
 202 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 received into the Church, and Daniel DeVinne came by 
 certificate from Albany, and Joseph Harper from New- 
 town, L. I.* But the year was a fairly prosperous one, 
 for the report at tlie Conference of 1816 was 1,769 
 whites, 803 colored; total 2,572 — again of 129. The 
 Conference, at which Bishop Roberts presided, met in 
 New York on June 1, and the appointments were D. 
 Ostrander, W. Thacher, E. Washburn, L. Andrus, and 
 A. Scholefield; S. Merwin was continued on the dis- 
 trict; J. Soule and T. Mason were the book agents. 
 
 The city was one circuit, the preachers going from 
 one church to another in rotation, seldom preaching 
 twice in one day to the same congregation. It was 
 customary at the beginning of the Conference year to 
 prepare a plan, and this was printed for the convenience 
 of the preachers and such of the laity as saw fit to pur- 
 chase copies. A copy of that for 1816-17, the earliest 
 that has been found, is pasted inside the cover of one 
 of the old record books, f 
 
 At the leaders' meeting of October 14, 1816, at the 
 suggestion of L. S. Burling, a committee was appointed 
 to draw up a plan of a school for the education of the 
 children of Methodists. A report was made at the next 
 meeting, which was finally adopted, and a school was 
 established a few years after. 
 
 The Conference of 1817 began at Middlebury, Vt., on 
 June 3, Bishop McKendree presiding. The report of 
 membership in New York stood, 2,010 white, 843 col- 
 ored; in all 2,853 — a gain of 281. The appointments 
 were D. Ostrander, N. Bangs, S. Crowell, and S. Howe. 
 S. Merwin continued as presiding elder, and J. Soule 
 and T. Mason as l)ook agents. Why there should be 
 one preacher less than in the preceding year does not 
 appear. 
 
 * Book vii, pp. 45, 260, 44, 102. f Book x. See Appendix. T
 
 The Old Garner Gives Place to a New One. 203 
 
 Tlie names of all these stationed preachers we have 
 met with before except that of Samuel Howe. He was 
 born in Belchei-, Mass., in 1781, and entered the work 
 in 1802. Nearly thirty years he spent in the effective 
 ranks, for about fifteen he was supernumerary, and the 
 last ten of his life superannuated. On the 16th of 
 February, 1858, he attended the funeral of an old friend 
 at the North Second Street Church in Troy, made a few 
 remarks, and retired to a class-room in the basement, 
 where he died in a few moments. " He was a faithful 
 man and feared God above many."* 
 
 But the preachers were to preach no more in the 
 building that Philip Embury dedicated. In 1810, 
 as has already been stated,t Asbury wrote, " This house 
 must come down, and something larger and better occupy 
 its place." The next year he says, The people " wish to 
 rebuild John Street Church, and to build a small house 
 at the Two-mile Stone." There was strenuous oppo- 
 sition, however, to the rebuilding, particularly by the 
 brethren in the eastern part of the city. The trustees 
 therefore hesitated for a while, but finally gave a condi- 
 tional assent. The Rev. W. Thacher, one of the stationed 
 preachers, had been very successful in raising the neces- 
 sary funds for what are now the Allen Street and Bedford 
 Street churches, and it was agreed that if he could get, 
 in five days, a sufiicient subscription the work should be 
 done. At the end of the five days Mr. Thacher showed 
 a list for §5,000, and this settled tlie question. On May 
 1S,1 1817, the walls were demolished, and on the 22d the 
 
 *0u the 3d of August. 1817, the Wesleyan Female Tract Society 
 was 01 ganized, and some time during the year the Asbury Female 
 Mite Society, to aid the preachers and their widows and orphans, and 
 for missionary work. f See p. 178. 
 
 ^ On the evening of May 12 tlie Inst service (a love-feast) was held 
 in the old building. It vvns " a gracious season." On January 26, 1818,
 
 204 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 corner-stone of the new building was laid, the Rev. D. 
 Ostrander preaching on Zech. iv, 9. On January 4, 1818, 
 it was dedicated. Rev. N. Bangs preached in the 
 morning on Psa. cxxvi, 3: " The Lord hath done great 
 things for us, whereof we are glad;" Rev. S. Merwin 
 in the afternoon, on Matt, xvi, 18: "On this rock I will 
 build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
 against it;" and Rev. J. Soule in the evening, on John 
 iv, 24: "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him 
 must worslnp him in spirit and in truth." * A jubi- 
 late on the One hundredth Psalm, composed for the 
 occasion by Mr. S. P. Taylor, was sung; also an 
 anthem, said to have been one hundred years old, fur- 
 nished by Mr. Phelps, afterward of Hartford, Conn. 
 Rev. J. Soule said "the singing refreshed him."f It 
 is said there were about two thousand hearers, and the 
 collections amounted to six hundred dollars. A part 
 
 the first love-feast was lield in the new cliurch. They ''had a great 
 many people present, but not very lively, owing probably to tlie nov- 
 elty of the situation in a new house, and on a construction so entirely 
 different from wliat they had been used to." — MS. Journal of Rev. 
 D. Ostrander. 
 
 * These sermons wore printed. Dr. Bangs treats his subject under 
 three heads: 1. What the Lord hath done for that branch of his 
 Church called Methodists. 2. By what means he hath done it. 3. What 
 is necessary for us to do, that he may continue to work among us. 
 lu his first division he gives a sketch of the history of Methodism, 
 the second is principally a vindication of Methodist polity, and the third 
 a brief appeal to walk in the old paths. Mr. Merwin spoke of, 1. The 
 foundation, Christ, solid, durable, and immutable. 2. The super- 
 structure, the Church, in which he sketches the history of Chris- 
 tianity down to the origin of Methodism. 3. Its safety ; it has been 
 preserved and will be. (It is worthy of notice that Mr. Merwin's 
 discourse occupies about one half the space of tlie others. Those 
 wlio remember him will perceive how eharacterictic this is.) Joshua 
 Soule gives first a view of the divine cliaracter, and, second, the nature 
 of spiritual worsliip. 
 
 + MSS. of Daniel Ayres.
 
 The Old Garijer Gives Place to a New One. 205 
 
 of the old material was incorporated in the walls of the 
 new building, but the timbers were used in the erection 
 of an edifice at Bowery Village, which was afterward 
 removed to Yorkville (86th Street), where it was occu- 
 pied by the Society now worshiping in the Park Avenue 
 Church. 
 
 This second John Street Church was 62 by 87 feet, 
 and cost about $30,000. The material was stone cov- 
 ered with light-colored stucco. The engraving opposite, 
 will show its appearance. The center door gave en- 
 trance to the gallery stairs, only the side doors com- 
 municating directly with the ground floor of the au- 
 dience-room. The pulpit was between the doors — 
 an arrangement very much in favor at the time, as it 
 gave better facility for a sloping floor, ascending to the 
 rear of tlie building and bringing speaker and hearers in 
 better relation to each other. The walls and the wood- 
 work in front of the galleries and about the pulpit were 
 white, as also the pulpit itself. The book -board and altar 
 were mahogany ; the}^ are in the lecture-room of the 
 present building. The wai?iscot and the pews were 
 green with mahogany-colored trimmings. The pulpit 
 had an elliptical front, and was paneled. It rested on 
 eight fluted Ionic columns, leaving an open space be- 
 neath, and was entered on either side by six steps. 
 Against the wall back of the puljiit were two pilasters 
 which su|)ported a neat frieze and cornice running 
 nearly the whole length of the altar and agreeing with 
 the front of the gallery. The corners of the walls and 
 gallery wore circulai-. In each corner below were 
 niches for stoves, which rested on mai-ble slabs. There 
 were ventilators in the ceiling, covered with green 
 blinds. The gallery went all around the building; that 
 in the rear of the pulpit was small, but that in front 
 was very deep, for the use of the choir and Sunday-
 
 206 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 school. In the rear of this last a double flight of stairs 
 ran about half-way up to the ceiling, uniting there and 
 giving access to the loft above. When the building was 
 crowded these stairs wei-e often filled with hearers, and 
 some, indeed, it is said, ascended to the loft and listened 
 through the ventilators. In the basement were a lect- 
 ure-room and class-rooms, and a pump supplying excel- 
 lent water. On a tablet over the center door in front, 
 in gilt letters, on a black ground, was the inscription: 
 
 This Cliurcli, 
 
 The first erected by tlie 
 
 Methodist Society in America, 
 
 Was built 1768. Rebuilt ]817. 
 
 According to tliis time it shall be said, What liath 
 
 God wrought? Num. xxiii, 23. 
 
 It was, in short, a beautiful though simple building, 
 well adapted to its purpose; easy for speaker :ind hear- 
 ers. Its chief defect was that the basement was too 
 much below the street.* 
 
 On March 23, 1818, the trustees reported that their 
 debt on the six churches amounted to $17,000. f This 
 was about fifty years from the building of the first 
 church. 
 
 *G. P. Disosway, in Christ.'an, Advocate, vol. vii, p. 93. 
 ■(•Manuscript journal of Rev. D. Ostrander.
 
 Clouds and Sunshine. 207 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE— CONFERENCES OP 1818 TO 1820. 
 
 The Conference of 1818, Bishop George presiding, 
 met in the Forsyth Street Church, New York, on May 
 14.* The report of members was 2,195 wliites, 963 
 
 * During this session, on May 18, 1818, the New York Confer- 
 ence adopted a constitution for the Wesleyan Seminary in the city 
 of New York, and in April, 1819, it was incorporated. But it seems 
 to have been unfortunate from its birtii, and did not live much 
 more than ten years. For a time it occupied a hired biiilding on the 
 corner of Pump and Eldridge Streets, and several sites were under 
 consideration, but were rejected, generally because of defective title. 
 At last Mr. GeG. Lorillard (Minutes, April 13, 1820) offered to lease 
 two lots in Crosby Street, between Howard and Grand Streets, at an 
 annual rent of $160. This offer was accepted, and a building of brick 
 was erected, 40 by 65 feet, which cost about $5,000 (Minutes, June 26, 
 1820). But the first male principal proved himself unworthy; the 
 first female principal left the Methodists and joined the Swedenbor- 
 gians, and several collectors proved unreliable. It is not improbable, 
 also, that the secession of 1820 had an unfavorable effect. When it 
 became evident that the building must be sold, the New York High 
 School (which was then about beginning, and which afterward occu- 
 pied a building in the same street on the block above) made proposals, 
 first to rent, and then to buy it. It was finally sold, however, to the 
 book agents for $7,000 (Minutes, February 28, 1825). A lot in Mott 
 Street (No. 157), between Grand and Broome, was then bought for 
 $1,600, and a building begun which cost nearly $2,000. This was 
 43 by 24 feet, and two stories high (Minutes of March 1 6, 1 825, and May 
 1, 1826). But still the sciiool did not prosper, and June 17, 1828, it was 
 resolved to sell the property. It brought $2,975 (Minutes of February 
 23, 1829), and at the last meeting of the board of trustees, March 26, 
 1832, it was resolved to deposit the funds that remained (amount not 
 stated) with the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
 
 208 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 colored; total, 3,158— an increase of 305. The preach- 
 ers were N. Bangs, L. Clark, S. Crowell, S. Howe, and 
 T. Thorp.* S. Merwin continued as presiding elder 
 and Soule and Mason as book agents. 
 
 Thos. Thorp is the only new name in this list. He 
 was born in New Brunswick, in 1792, converted at the 
 age of sixteen, licensed in 1811, and admitted on trial 
 at tlie Conlerence of 1812. He had labored in New En- 
 gland and New York State, and was in feeble health 
 when appointed to the city. He finished his course 
 January 17, 1819. Tradition testifies that he was an 
 able and useful man. 
 
 Some opposition having arisen among the preachers 
 to the action of certain Sunday-schools, at a leaders' 
 meeting held January 11, 1819, Rev. S. Ciowell offered 
 the following resolutions: 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That this leaders' meeting consider 
 that it is very improper for Sunday-school instructors 
 to teach children on the Lord's day that attend regular 
 schools all the week. 
 
 " 2. That we disapjn-ove of teaching at all in time of 
 divine service in our churches." 
 
 After considerable debate the meeting adjourned with- 
 out voting on them. The secretary adds that after the 
 
 city to be used for tlie benefit of the Church, unless the seminary 
 should again require them. The White Plains Academy had begun 
 not long before, and was under tlie charge of Rev. J. M. Smith, for 
 some time the very successful principal of the New York institution, 
 and this, l>y supplying to some extent the wants of New York Meth- 
 odists in this regard, had probably hastened the downfall of the city 
 school. The minutes of this institution nearly fill a small quarto 
 book, and, though unsatisfactory as to the object sought, are very 
 satisfactory to the historian, in that they give all the important facts 
 frcm beginning to end. 
 
 * Their residences were, Bangs, 216 Duane Street; Clark, Allen, 
 near Rivmgton; Crowell, 12 Forsyth; Thorp, Delancey, near Orchard.
 
 Clouds and Sunshine. 209 
 
 meeting tlie preachers and superintendents made sxicli 
 arrangements as to do away all uneasiness, and the 
 resolutions were not revived.* 
 
 The New York Conference for 1819 met at Troy, on 
 May G, Bishop George presiding. The report of mem- 
 bers at first sight shows a decided decrease in the city. 
 It was 2,339 whites and 50 colored; total, 2,389 — a de- 
 crease of 769. But we have just below it a report from 
 " Zion and Asbury, 791 colored." These were two soci- 
 eties of colored people in the city, which in 1818 became 
 a separate charge under the care of W. Phoebus. The 
 proper figures, therefore, are, 2,339 whites and 841 col- 
 ored; totnl, 3,180— an increase of 22. The name of 
 William M. Stilwell, the pastor appointed to these Afri- 
 can churches at this Conference, became more promi- 
 nent soon, and will be noticed hereafter. 
 
 The appointments for 1819 were, A. Hunt, S. Merwin, 
 L. Clark, B. Ilibbard, T. Spicer, N. Morris. N. Bangs 
 was presiding elder, and F. Garrettson's name follows 
 his as supernumerary, and W. Phoebus missionary. 
 J. Soule and T. Mason continue as book agents, f 
 
 *Bo()k viii, in loco. Some explanation, however, is necessary in re- 
 gard to these resolutions. At that time Sunday-schools were re- 
 garded rather as charity-schools, and their principal work was sup- 
 posed to be to furnish education for those who could not obtain it on 
 week-days. Such was the design of Robert Raikes in instituting 
 them, and it is only since the early part of the present century that 
 they have fully assumed their present character. As to the second 
 resolution, some of the schools held in buildings not connected with 
 the cluu-clies, though they took tlie children to public worship in the 
 forenoon, were disposed to continue their afternoon sessions during 
 the hours of service. This practice did not cease until some years 
 after. The debt at this time was $27,438 27. 
 
 •j- The residences are. Hunt, 12 Forsyth Street; Merwin, 216 Duane; 
 Clark, Allen, near Rivington ; Hibbard, First Street, near Second 
 Avenue ; Spicer, 22 Nassau, and Morris, who is called in the directory 
 a teacher, is located at 38 Pump (now New Canal) Street, and at
 
 210 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 B, Hibbarcl is one of the new names in the list for 
 this year. What does the B. stand for? is a question 
 naturally suggested; and the uninitiated will fail in find- 
 ing a correct answer. Not Benjamin, nor Bai-nahas, 
 nor Bartholomew, nor Bezaleel, nor any other of the 
 ordinary swarm of B's which buzz around, but sim])ly 
 Billy. Once, wlien the secretary, in calling the roll of 
 the Conference, gave his name as William, he rose and 
 objected to answering, insisting that his name was 
 " Billy." " Why, Brother Hibbard," said Bishop As- 
 bury, " Billy is a little boy's name." " Yes, bishop," he 
 replied, " and I was a little boy when my father gave 
 it to me." * This incident, as well as the name itself, is 
 characteristic of the man. Anecdotes of his wit and 
 readiness at repartee are plentiful, and were a constant 
 source of amusement to preachers and laymen of former 
 days. But, though his sermons frequently provoked 
 smiles, they perhaps as often drew tears and melted 
 the heart.f "He was a devout man and had his heart 
 earnestly set upon the promotion of the great interests 
 of Christ's kingdom." J He was born in Norwich, 
 Conn., February 24, 1771, entered the itinerancy in 
 1798, and spent more than twenty-five years in active 
 service. He died August 17, 1844. His son, F. G. Hib- 
 bard, D.D., is a prominent member of the Genesee 
 Confei'ence. 
 
 Strikingly in contrast with him in many respects was 
 Tobias Spicer. While in Hibbard humor predominated, 
 tempered with gravity, in Spicer the gravity had so 
 
 the Collect (now Center Street) near Franklin. Wm. Phoebus was at 
 7 Forsyth Street; N. Bangs, 69 Crosby Street; J. Soule, 70 Allen 
 Street, and T. Mason, 88 Chrystie Street. Garrettson's home was at 
 Rhinebeck. 
 
 *Rev. F. G. Hibbard in Sprague's Annals, p. 305. 
 
 ^ Ibid. X L- Clark, Hid., p. 303.
 
 Clouds and Sunshine. 211 
 
 much the upper hand that humor, though present, was 
 not often exhibited. T. Spicer was born in Kinder- 
 hook, N. Y., November 7, 1788, converted in 1803, and 
 received on trial in 1810. He served the Church ef- 
 fectively for more than thirty years, occupying prom- 
 inent positions, and for eight years that of presiding 
 elder. Six times he was a delegate to General Confer- 
 ence. He was a man of much ability, very faithful, and 
 very successful. Though grave in aspect and manner, 
 the writer can testify, from personal experience, that he 
 could be genial and pleasant. He died November 18, 
 1862, in strong faith and great peace.* 
 
 Nicholas Morris had served one year at Jamaica, 
 L. I., before he came to the city. In 1820 he was ap- 
 pointed principal of the Wesleyan Seminary, and it 
 seems likely that his appointment this year was to that 
 institution, as T. Spicer, in his Autobiography, page 67, 
 does not name him as one of his colleagues. Perhaps, 
 however, Mr. Spicer thought it best to pass over in si- 
 lence the name of one who was expelled in 1821. 
 
 On the 15th of March, 1820, the board of trustees 
 consisted of James Donaldson, Abraham Russel, George 
 Suckley, George Taylor, Jr., Samuel Stilwell, Gilbert 
 Coutant, Michael D. Higgins, John Bartine, and Abra- 
 ham Coddington. f Of these S. Stilwell and A. Cod- 
 dington had just been elected in place of Paul Hick and 
 John P. Morris, whose term had expired, as had also 
 that of James Donaldson, who was re-elected. J From 
 the minutes of the board, of which those of this date 
 are the first that have come down to us, Ave shall learn 
 a number of interesting facts. Among the records of 
 this meeting we find the appointment, according to 
 their usual custom, it would seem, of a steward for 
 
 * Minutes of 1863. f Trustees' Book, opposite p. 1. 
 
 :j; Trustees' Miuutes of March 15, 1820.
 
 212 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 each church, one general steward of the class collec- 
 tions, stewards of section class collections, and steward 
 of the poor fund, and school treasurer. This last ap- 
 pointment needs no explanation, except that the school 
 treasurer had charge of the funds, for the support of a 
 charity or free school, which was carried on in Forsyth 
 Street, nearly opposite the church. The other offices 
 call for some remark, especially needful in view of 
 events about to be related. The steward for each 
 church was a member of the board, who was expected 
 to attend at the church to which he was assigned, re- 
 .ceive the plate collections, and keep a general oversight 
 of its affairs. The stewards of the section class collec- 
 tions received those collections from the leaders in 
 their sections, and paid them to the general steward of 
 the class collections, whose business it was to jiay the 
 preachers. These entries and the fourth resolution in 
 the paper presented in the leaders' meeting September 
 8, 181.3, and the answer to it,* will illustrate each other, 
 and show how completely at that time the trustees con- 
 trolled all the finances of the Church. 
 
 The debt at this time was $32,558 53, having increased 
 rather more than $5,100 during the preceding year.f 
 
 Nothing of interest is preserved in regard to this 
 year except what relates to the schism then rapidly 
 coming to maturity, and to be related hereafter. Con- 
 ference met at Forsyth Street, New York, June 1, 1820, 
 Bishop George in the chair. J The report was, whites, 
 
 * See p. 196, etc. 
 
 •}■ Trustees' Minutes of April 4, 1820. 
 
 :j: Bishop George met tlie New York Conference eight years in suc- 
 cession—from 1818 to 1825 inclusive. In 1826 Bishop McKendree 
 presided, and then for two j-ears Bisliop George again, ten years out 
 of eleven. (See New York Conference Minutes.) The plan of alter- 
 nating, by wliich no bisIiop mee's the same Conference two j-ears in 
 succession, did not seem to be then observed.
 
 Clouds and Sunshine. 213 
 
 2,440 — an increase of 101; colored, 88 — an increase of 
 38; Zion and Asbury, 690— a decrease of 101; total 
 3,218 — a net increase of 38. The preachers were, A. 
 Hunt, J. Soule, B. Hibhard, T. Spicer, and E. Hebard. 
 W. M. Stilwell was re-appointed to Zion and Asbury, 
 and P. P. Sandford was the elder.* 
 
 Those familiar with the history of American Method- 
 ism need not be told that the name of Joshua Soule 
 occupies a prominent place therein. Born in Bristol, 
 Hancock County, Me., August 1, 1781, he was con- 
 verted in 1797, and in 1799 began his ministerial Avork- 
 In the seventh year of his service he was made presid- 
 ing elder, which office he filled nearly all the time until 
 his election as book agent in 1816. lie did good 
 service in that position, and as editor of the earlier 
 volumes of the 3Ietho(list Ifagazme. His two years in 
 New York were followed by two in Baltimore, and in 
 1824 he was elected bishop. After the division of the 
 Church in 184t he went with the southern section, and 
 died near Nashville, Tenn., March 6, 1867. "He was 
 erect and slender in person, and dignified in bearing. 
 His discourses showed more breadth than depth, but 
 were often overwhelmingly impressive. The dignity 
 of his bearing, frequently verging on majesty itself, 
 gave to his sermons at times an imposing solemnity, 
 but on occasions less congruous with it had the disad- 
 vantage of appearing, to the fastidious at least, pompous 
 and repulsive." f The simple, natural dignity of his 
 colleague, Elijah Hedding, elected to the episcopacy at 
 the same time, was made more vivid by the contrast ; 
 and when, twenty years after, one went with the South 
 
 * Hunt and Hibbard :md Spicer occupied the same houses as they 
 did tlie year before. Soule resided in Allen, near Stanton Street. 
 Ilebard's address is not fonnd, but it was probably at Diiane Street. 
 
 f Stevens's History of the Methodist Episcopal Cnurch, vol. iv, p. 48.
 
 214 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 and the other stood firm with the North, the old Church 
 felt that her loss in parting with Soule was fully bal- 
 anced by the faithful adherence of Hedding. 
 
 Elijah Ilebard was born in Coxsackie, N. Y., Septem- 
 ber 8, 1788, converted when thirteen years of age, and 
 joined the New York Conference in 1811. In 1834 he 
 was transferred to the Genesee Conference, and in 1846 
 became superannuated, and died in Geneva, Ontario 
 County, N. Y., January 25, 1858. He "was character- 
 ized for his simplicity, frankness, honesty, and sound 
 sense." * 
 
 At some period during the two years of T. Spicer's 
 term, most probably the last, there was " a gracious re- 
 vival in the vicinity of John Street Church." f 
 
 * General Minutes, 1858. f Spicer's AutoUograi)hy, p. 71.
 
 Tares Spkingixg Up. 215 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 TARES SPRINGIXG UP— THE STILWELLITE SECESSION. 
 
 The report at the Conference of 1821 showed a 
 sad decrease. It reads, 2,094 whites and 61 colored — 
 a total of 2,155; 1,063 less than the year before. Of 
 this loss, however, 690 is due to the setting off of the 
 colored churches, Zion and Asbury, into an organization 
 of their own ; but there was, besides, a falling off of 
 373. This was owing to the Stilwellite secession, which 
 took place during this year, but which had its origin in 
 causes which can be traced back to the earliest times 
 of New York Methodism. It was the most considera- 
 ble division that ever occurred in the Church in New 
 York city and its vicinit}-, and will be described as im- 
 partially and completely as possible. 
 
 John Street Church was founded as an independent 
 society, and its government continued to be congrega- 
 tional in respect to its temporalities until near the close 
 of the century, and some traces of its original character 
 continued for many years longer. Mr. Asbiiry's attach- 
 ment to and zeal for Mr. Wesley's methods were not a 
 little disturbed by the self-assertion of the trustees as 
 the chosen representatives of the membership. Their 
 finances were not managed as he wished. In his Jour- 
 nal of Friday, September 11, 1772, he wrote : "I met 
 the people in the morning to discourse with them 
 about their temporal matters, and appointed Mr. C. 
 (Chave) to take an account of the weekly and quar- 
 terly collections. But the other two stewards refused 
 15
 
 21G A liisTOKY OF Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 an exact entry of the money that is not settled." The 
 " Ohl Book " of accounts contains entries of receipts 
 and expenditures for all kinds of church expenses, 
 mingled together. There are payments for interest on 
 the society's debts, and for the preachers' board and cloth- 
 ing, for beds and bedding for the dwelling-house, for 
 lamps and oil for the church, for sexton's Avages, and 
 the traveling expenses of the preachers. On the other 
 hand, receipts from public collections and from class 
 collections follow each other without discrimination. 
 This order of things continued until nearly 1820, at 
 Avhich date there were in the city six congregations, 
 with each its house of worship, all held and managed, 
 as to their finances, by one board of trustees,* who were 
 incorporated by the laws of the State. 
 
 Tliis state of things was the occasion of no little fric- 
 tion, and efforts were made from time to time to secure 
 a more satisfactory arrangement. At a general leaders' 
 meeting (at which the trustees seem to have been pres- 
 ent) held at the Bowery (Forsyth Street) Cliurch, Oc- 
 tober 13, 1813, a paper Avas read f containing a series 
 of questions, one of which was, " (4.) Whose duty is it, 
 agreeable to our Discipline and the laws of this State, 
 to pay the salaries and provide for the maintenance and 
 support of our stationed ministers and their respective 
 families?" To this it was answered: " The Discipline 
 directs that the stewards on circuits shall ]»ay the 
 preachers. But this being a station, and an incorpo- 
 rated body, tliat rule does not apply to us, and the law 
 of the State makes it the duty of the trustees to pay 
 the salaries and provide for the maintenance of the 
 preachers." This answer Avas declared to be satisfac- 
 
 *Tliis board, thougli elecled by the joint vote of all the members, 
 bad one or more representatives from each congri^ation. 
 f Given in full on pp. 195, 196.
 
 Tares Springing Up. 217 
 
 tory by the meeting without dissent.* Six years later, 
 at the beginning of Rev. Aaron Hunt's second term 
 of service in the city (1819), he says: "One body of 
 trustees transacted all the financial business of the 
 societies, receiving the class collections from the leaders 
 and distributing the same to i>ay the preachers." f 
 During his administration as senior preacher, and while 
 the Stilwellite movement was in progress, as will be seen 
 in the sequel, a board of stewards was set in operation 
 for the whole city, which continued in existence down 
 to 1882, when the division into two circuits made two 
 boards necessary. J Another statement is found in the 
 autobiograithy of Rev, T. Spicer, page 67. He says the 
 sciiism " was occasioned chiefly by the appointment of 
 a board of stewards. Before this the board of trustees 
 had taken charge of all moneys collected in the con- 
 gregation ; and if the amount was not siifiicient to pay 
 the salaries of the preachers and the current expenses 
 of the Church they would obtain a loan, and thus in- 
 crease the Church debt. In this way mattei's had gone 
 on until the Church had become burdened with an 
 enormous debt, which was constantly accumulating." 
 " It was, therefore, thought best to appoint stewards, 
 according to Discipline, to take the class collections and 
 pay the preachers' support, and let the trustees have 
 charge only of such property as belonged to the Cliurch. 
 But this arrangement, although in perfect accordance 
 with our Discipline, met witii strong opposition from 
 
 * Minutes of the General Leaders' Meeting from May 8, 1811, to 
 February — , 1823. See also the statement of Rev. E. Wasliburn, 
 p. 201. 
 
 f Papers of Rev. A. Hunt in hands of Rev. A. S. Hunt, D.D. 
 
 J The property continued to be lield, however, by one board of 
 trustees until 1835, except the "Wesleyan Chapels in Vestry and AIul- 
 berry Streets (now the Central and Saint Paul's Churches), which were 
 never included in the general corporation.
 
 218 A History of Methodism in Xew York City. 
 
 several (a minority, it seems) of the trustees. They 
 contended that the laws of the State required trustees 
 to have charge of all chureli property, and therefore 
 they must receive the class collections and disl)urse them. 
 But the others contended that the class collections were 
 not church property, hut the jiroperty of the ministers, 
 raised especially for them, and therefore the trustees 
 had nothing to do with them." "After a long discus- 
 sion the Quarterly Conference " (then including all the 
 Churches) " decided " by an overwhelming majority " in 
 favor of a board of stewards being appointed." 
 
 " In the course of this discussion it was remarked " 
 " that the general laAV under which the various religious 
 societies were incorporated was not exactly suited to 
 our economy, and therefore it might be well to apply 
 to the Legislature for a law wliich would recognize our 
 ])eculiar economy. This remark was immediately seized 
 on by some, and they set about making their brethren 
 believe that the preachers were going to take measures 
 to get all church property into their possession and 
 under their entire control, and that ultimately they 
 would take all the churches and parsonages away from 
 the people and convert them to their own use. These 
 strange and unfounded insinuations produced consider- 
 able influence on many persons."* 
 
 This concentration of the governing power, and es- 
 pecially of the administration of the finances of so many 
 distinct congregations in a single board, while it may 
 have had its advantages, was very liable to be misused, 
 and was sure to occasion not only lack of interest, but 
 also distrust and ill-feeling. The receipts and expendi- 
 tures of each of the several local churches could not fail 
 
 ♦This extract, though agreeing substatitiiilly with what is written 
 above, gives a view of the matter under a little different light, and, 
 therefore, is worthy of preservation.
 
 Tares Springikg Up. 219 
 
 to be criticised by the others. John Street Church 
 naturally claimed a kind of maternal pre-eminence, 
 which her younger sisters were not always inclined to 
 concede. All extraordinary expenses, either for new 
 buildings or repairs, had to be paid from the common 
 treasury, and the several chur<-hes were not disposed to 
 contribute liberally for objects in which they had no 
 direct interest. 
 
 It was not, therefore, surprising that there was stren- 
 uous opposition to the rebuilding of John Street Church. 
 It was objected that there was already" a heavy debt, 
 which had increased during the preceding year more 
 than $600, and that a suit in chancery, then pending, 
 was likely to add to their embarrassment, and that the 
 quarterly and class collections had fallen considerably 
 short of paying the expenses of the preachers. For 
 these reasons the up-town party objected to rebuilding. 
 
 But, as Ave have seen, the trustees decided to rebuild. 
 That the new house should be superior to any of the 
 others and better fui-nished was to be expected ; but its 
 attractive appearance and carpeted altar (then not com- 
 mon) seemed to the good brethren up-town a serious 
 departure from the primitive simplicity of Methodism.* 
 The fact, also, that this was done, in part at least, with 
 funds Avhich were common j^roperty added greatly to 
 the warmth of the objectors. The breach between u^)- 
 town and down-town became wider. 
 
 * This statement, fouuded on the writer's own recollection of the 
 talk of old people that the Stilwellites left partly because John Street 
 Ciiurch was too fine and because it had a carpet on the altar, is cor- 
 roborated by a passage in a letter from Mrs. Bishop Clark. She says : 
 "We have a tree of Methodism. The tiny branch representing the 
 Stilwellites has the record, 'Organized by Wm. Stilwell in 1817, in 
 New York; cause, the difference of opinion in regard to the furnish- 
 ing of the old John Street Church.' " The date (1817) is, however, an 
 error. See also Life of Nathan Bangs, D.D., p. 225.
 
 220 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Just at this time, unfortunately, as it seems to us now, 
 certain measures were inaugurated by the General Con- 
 ference and followed up by the action of the New Yoi-k 
 Annual Conference which added to the excitement. It 
 is not necessary to attempt to refute the old outcry, 
 " The churches are deeded to the Conference ; " there 
 has been far more need to quiet the anxieties of those 
 who feared that their houses of worship might be taken 
 from them by treacherous trustees or seedling major- 
 ities.* To prevent such disasters the General Confer- 
 ence passed the following resolution : "That in future 
 we will admit no charter, deed, or conveyance for any 
 house of worship to be used by us unless it be provided 
 in such charter, deed, or conveyance tliat the trustees of 
 said house shall at all times permit such ministers and 
 preachers belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 as shall from time to time be duly authorized by tha 
 General Conference of said Church, or by the. Annual 
 Conference, to preach and expound God's holy word and 
 to execute the rules and Discipline of the Church, and to 
 administer the sacraments therein, according to the true 
 meaning and purport of our deed of settlement. f Ac- 
 cordingly the New York Conference, at its session of 
 1820, appointed a committee of five "to prepare a 
 memorial to the Legislature of this State praying for a 
 specific act of incorporation for our Church throughout 
 the State in conformity to the rules and regulations of 
 our Discipline. This committee was to supply the pre- 
 siding elders with printed copies of the memorial, and 
 they were to furnish each preacher with a copy, that all 
 the members might be asked to subscribe. J 
 
 * Tliisanxiet_v, however, has decreased, for it is beheved that where 
 the Vniildiu.u: is evidently intended to be a Methodist Episcopal Church 
 the property can be held only for such purpose. 
 
 \ Banors's History of the Methodi-si Episcopal Church, vol. iii, p. 140. 
 
 J Christian Advocate, vol. viii, p. 123.
 
 Tares Springing Up. 221 
 
 Nothing in all this warranted the outcry of the dis- 
 affected party in New York; indeed, it is not likely that 
 at any other time it would have excited much objection. 
 Ill an address " to the raemhers and friends of the 
 Methodist E. Church in New York " it is very truly said, 
 " Considering that no alteration has taken place with re- 
 spect to the charter by which the property of the Church 
 is held, and that no change can take place till it is fully 
 and specifically before the people for their examination 
 and approval; and considering, further, that such change 
 or alteration must be made by a wise and patriotic Legis- 
 latui-e, ever tenacious of the rights and prerogatives of the 
 people, we must submit to an enlightened community to 
 judge what ground of present alarm can be found in 
 the act either of the General or Annual Conference." * 
 
 But the objection seems to have been not so much to 
 the resolution as to the preamble passed by the New 
 York Conference. This pi-eamble (which is to be found 
 in the Journal of the Nevv^ York Conference) is given as 
 italicized by the objectors that we may see on what por- 
 tions especially they founded their objections. It reads, 
 "That in order to obviate the difficulties which do now, 
 and have for some time past, existed in this city in re- 
 spect to the appointment of trustees, it is both expedient 
 and necessary for the Conference to recommend to the 
 ]>eople of their charge to petition the Legislature of this 
 State at its next session for an act of incorporation tohich 
 shall recognize the peculiarities of our fonn of govern- 
 ment, and thereby enable us more fdly and effectualli/ 
 to execute the Discipline of our Church." " Such is the 
 
 * Conclusion of a paper dated August 11, 1820, and signed by 
 Enocli George, Freeborn Garrelisou, Xathan Bangs, P. P. Sandford, 
 Josliua Soule, Alexander McCaino, Thomas Mason, Aaron Hunt, B. 
 Hibbard, T. Spicer, E. Hebard. The seven preachers wliose names 
 stand first were members of the General Conference. — Christian Ad- 
 vocate, vol. viii, p. 123.
 
 222 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 present law of this State in respect to the incorporation 
 of religious societies that the trustees of our Church, 
 in the exercise of their function, either cannot or vrill 
 not conform to the requirements of our Discipline." * 
 The objectors add, " Now let any impartial person 
 read the above and say whether they would suppose that 
 trustees were to be elected as formerly if an act of in- 
 corporatioi, according to their own resolution, should 
 be obtained." f Thus the note of alarm was raised that 
 the preachers were seeking to gain control of all the 
 property, and that they were trying to have the churches 
 deeded to the Conferences. 
 
 In order that the case of the seceders may be fully 
 stated a few more sentences will be quoted from their 
 publications. They say: "The clergy formed a Disci- 
 pline without consulting the laity, and took the govern- 
 ment of the Church upon themselves, Avhich they retain 
 to this day; although the people have frequently peti- 
 tioned the Conference for a lay representation they have 
 not yet obtained it; and from recent acts of the Con- 
 ferences it will appear as if, instead of the clerg}^ being 
 willing to have their power diminished, they wish to 
 have it increased.";]; Again: " We were not of those 
 who reiterated their complaints in memorials and peti- 
 tions to the General Conference without effect for a lay 
 representation in that body. . . . Nor did we complain 
 of having preachers stationed among ns without our 
 advice or consent, nor of contributing toward their sup- 
 port, nor of supporting presiding elders, whom we con- 
 sider worse than useless, until those preachers pretended 
 to have jurisdiction over the temporal as well as spirit- 
 ual concerns of the Church, and to act accordingl3^ But 
 
 * Historical Sketches of the Rise and Progress of the Methodist Society 
 in the City of New York, pp. 37-38. By Samuel Stilwell. 1821. 
 j/WfZ., p. 38. X Ihid., ]}. \2.
 
 Tares Springing Up. 223 
 
 we first began to remonstrate against the procedure of 
 the trustees when, with a lieavy debt on the Church and 
 a suit in chancery undetermined, they resolved to take 
 down the oki meeting-liouse in John Street and build a 
 new one, and another at the Bowery Village. We ob- 
 jected because we thought the commencement prema- 
 ture, and because, from the disposition of the leading 
 men in the board of trustees at that time, we were 
 afraid that they would build too expensively, and the 
 event proved that our fears were not groundless. . . . 
 The debt was increased to more than $30,000. . . . 
 When the term expired for which those trustees were 
 elected, who were considered the most forward in un- 
 necessary expenses, other persons were elected in their 
 places, who, it was confidently believed and expected, 
 Avould conduct the affairs of the Church with better 
 economy. The prudent, plain part of the society began 
 to think of devising some means of decreasing the ex- 
 penses of the Church and instituting a sinking fund for 
 paying the debt. . . . Tranquillity, it was hoped, was 
 now restored, and the pi-ospect began to brighten ; but 
 this was of short duration, for soon those who had 
 been the cause of increasing the debt . . . began to call 
 select meetings for the purjiose, it was said, of altering 
 the mode of nominating and electing trustees. The 
 preacher in charge and others were very active in en- 
 couraging and attending these meetings. In the mean- 
 time the following letter was written (probably by Mr. 
 Samuel Stilwell, the author of tlie sketches from which 
 it is taken) and a<ldressed to a person who had been ap- 
 pointed a member of a committee on this subj.'Ct." * It 
 
 * Historical Sketche.% etc., pp. 14-16. There is nothing to indicate to 
 whom thi.s leiter was addressed nor l)y whom tlie committee was ap- 
 pointed. Tiie trustees' minutes give no light. Mr. Stilwell was at tliat 
 lime a member of the board, having been elected in Marcli preceding.
 
 224 A History of Methodism ix New Yokk City. 
 
 is dated April 10, 1820 (before the session of the Gen- 
 eral Conference). Only one sentence can be given: 
 "The trustees have recently resolved not to make any 
 farther provision for the preachers after the rising of 
 the Annual Conference in June next than that which 
 they are allowed by the Discipline, which is the quar- 
 terly collections and the privilege of making collections 
 in the classes." * The tone of this statement seems to 
 indicate a determination on the part of the trustees to 
 refuse to do any thing thereafter for the preachers; but 
 the resolution as it stands in the trustees' minutes 
 sounds rather more like a friendly assent to the disci- 
 jDlinary plan of putting the support of the preachers in 
 the hands of the stewards. It reads: "Resolved, 
 unanimously, that at the adjourning of the Annual Con- 
 ference in June next the trustees will relinquish the 
 quarterly and class collections that maj' be made after 
 that time to stew^ards appointed or that shall be np- 
 ]iointed according to the Discipline of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church to take charge of the same, and pro- 
 vide for the pi'eachers appointed for the city of New 
 York according to the Discipline of the said Church; 
 and that from that time the trustees will relinquish the 
 charge of providing for the preachers." f 
 
 At the Conference of 1819 Rev. Aaron Hunt had 
 been ajjpointed to New York as preacher in charge. 
 lie had served in the city some thirteen years before, 
 and was very generally held in high estimation, and it 
 was hoped he would be able to guide affairs safely. 
 Even the malcontents declared their purpose to pro- 
 mote peace and harmony, and a brighter da}' appeared 
 to be dawning. But when, in March, 1820, an election 
 
 * Hi-itorical Sketches, elc, p. 22. 
 
 f Trustees' minuets, Miircli 24, 1820. Their action, however, on 
 June 30, lias a different tone. See p. 225, nolo.
 
 Tarks Springing Up. 225 
 
 for trustees was held and the candidates of the up-town 
 party were chosen, the down-town brethren proposed 
 not to take up class collections. Mr. Hunt advised 
 them to continue their regular contributions, depositing 
 the money with some trusty person till stewards should 
 be appointed. At the next official meeting the newly 
 elected stewards were present, and also the trustees. 
 The preacher in charge read the Discipline relating to 
 the duties of stewards and trustees severally, and di- 
 rected the stewards to be seated at the t;)ble to receive 
 the money from the leaders. Some of the leaders, how- 
 ever, i-efused to pay their money to the stewards, but 
 handed it to a trustee seated at the same table. The 
 amount paid to the trustees was small, and they offered 
 to pass it over to the stewards provided they would 
 give them (the trustees) a receipt for the whole amount 
 received.* This the stewards refused to do, and the 
 preacher again called attention to the Discipline, say- 
 ing, "As Methodists this is our rule." A leader an- 
 swered that he did not "care what the Discipline said; 
 we shall act according to the law," referring to the char- 
 tered autliority of the board of trustees. Mr. Hunt re- 
 plied by demanding the class-book of the leader, add- 
 iu'T, " If you do not care for the Discipline you are not 
 fit to be a leader." 
 
 Soon alter this a paper was sent to the preacher 
 signed by about thirty names, some of them those of 
 
 * A. Hunt's papers, in the liands of Rev. A. S. Hunt, D.D. This 
 seems to have taken place on or after June 30, 1820, as on thai date 
 we find in the minutes of the trustees this resohition: "That the 
 trustees will receive the quarterly and class collections in the usual 
 way and pay the same to the preachers' stewards for the use of tlie 
 preachers, on the stewards giving a receipt for the amount of the 
 sura so paid, in conformity to a resolve of this board to appropriate 
 the quarterly and class collections for the payment and support of 
 the preachers." This resolution was rescinded August 14.
 
 220 A History of Methodism in Xew York City. 
 
 trustees and leaders, requesting certificates of with- 
 drawal from the church. This request was declined by- 
 Mr, Hunt, who earnestly besought the applicants to re- 
 consider the subject, but told them tliat if they per- 
 sisted he would, though not immediately, write the word 
 " withdrawn " opposite their names on the church 
 records. Most of them adhered to their purpose, and 
 before long their number was swelled to nearly three 
 hundred, including probationers.* 
 
 The most considerable man among the seceders, and, 
 indeed, the leading spirit in the whole movement, was 
 Samuel Stilwell, a native of the town of Jamaica, Long 
 Island, born October 22, 1763. It was said that his pa- 
 ternal ancestor who first came to this country was a 
 member of the " High Court of Commission " which 
 tried and condemned King Charles the First, and that to 
 avoid arrest he changred his name when he eraiwrated. 
 
 * Araonp; other incidents connected with this secession the preacher 
 
 in charge learned that a Brother P (a class-leader in Allen Street) 
 
 intended to join the new movement and take all his class with him. 
 Tiie meeting of tlie class had been appointed at a new place, but the 
 street and number could not be ascertained. He sent a message to 
 one of his colleagues, J. Soule, to go in search of the meeting, and he 
 would do the same. He arrived in time to open the class and lead it, 
 Mr. Soule coming in just before the close. The leader was told that 
 they had heard of liis intention, and he admitted that the iuformation 
 was correct.^ "These sisters," said the preacher, "have long met 
 in your class, and tliey, with us, would like to know your reasons for 
 going." He replied: "You know I have long thought it my duty to 
 preach the Gospel ; I have asked for license and could not get it, 
 and Mr. Stilwell says he will give it.'" " The best reason I have 
 heard from any one for leaving us," said Mr. Hunt; " and now I wish 
 to know if any of the class desire to go." Sister Susan Brewer said, 
 " When I joined tlie Methodists it was for life, and I am determined 
 to remain in the old ship as long as there is one plank left." None of 
 the sisters proposed to leave, and the class was put in the charge of 
 Mr. Soule, Sister Brewer leading in his absence. — Papers of Rev. Aaron 
 Hunt.
 
 Tares Springing Up. 227 
 
 Samuel came to New York city in 1783, and was some- 
 what prominent in municipal affairs. In 1799 he was 
 appointed one of the assessors for the second division 
 of the State of New York, and the same year was 
 elected a member of the State Assembly. In 1803 he 
 ■was commissioned as city surveyor, and took part in 
 the preliminary surveys and preparation of the map ac- 
 cordiniT to which the city has since been laid out. He 
 was intimate with De Witt Clinton and other eminent 
 men of the day.* It is not known exactly when he 
 joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in 1791 
 he was leader of a class of colored people, of which 
 Peter Williams, the celebrated sexton of John Street, 
 was a member. He died in February, 1848.f 
 
 Rev. William M. Stilwell, the nephew of Samuel, 
 was admitted to the New York Conference on trial in 
 1814, and after serving in several charges up the North 
 River was appointed to Zion and Asbury, two churches 
 of colored people in New York city. It was no doubt 
 in part through the influence of his uncle that he con- 
 sented to become the ministerial leader of the new or- 
 ganization. It does not appear that any other travel- 
 ing preacher followed his example. Rev. Seth Crowell, 
 a located minister, a most excellent man and a superior 
 preacher, but of a peculiarly nervous and impulsive tem- 
 perament, had some sympathy with the movement, but 
 never formally united with it, and in 1824 was re-admitted 
 to the Conference and died two years later. The eccentric 
 Lorenzo Dow became a member, and his name is in their 
 minutes as general missionary. Rev. .James Covel, M.D. 
 (whose two sons, Samuel and James, became traveling 
 ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church), Rev. Mr. 
 Miller, of Rochester, and Kev. George Phillips are also 
 * Life of Samuel Stiboell, by Samuel Stilwell Doughty. 1877. 
 f Jbi'I.
 
 228 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 iu their list; but all these appear to have been local or 
 located preachers. Of prominent laymen there were, 
 besides Samuel Stilwell, Messrs. Taylor, Higgins, Sher- 
 man, De Camp, Sutton, and Miller, men of good repu- 
 tation and abilities and of fair social standing. 
 
 In July, 1820, a meeting of the Separatists was held 
 and a rough draft of articles of association was made 
 and adopted to serve as a bond of union till a better 
 organization could be prepared.* A school-room was 
 hired in Chrystie Street for a place of worship, and there, 
 on the l<jth of July, Rev. W. M. Stilwell i)reached, and 
 afterward gave notice that he had withdrawn from the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and now j(nned the " Meth- 
 odist Society." He then invited all who wished to join to 
 come forward. About one hundred came^ and the num- 
 ber soon increased to three hundred. Legal incorpora- 
 tion was secured, and on the 8th of August, 1820, 
 George Taylor, Jr., Michael D, Higgins, Edward Stur- 
 man, Morris De Camp, Daniol Sutton, and Richard 
 Miller were elected trustees, and on the next day the 
 certificate of incorporation was recorded with the name 
 of "The Methodist Society in the City of New York," f 
 
 * Articles of Association: 1. Tlie Bible will be their rule of disci- 
 pline. 2. P^ach member, mule and female, shall have a vote in the 
 choice of preachers and the allowance to be made for their services. 
 3. Disputes or disagreements between members to be settled bj' tliree, 
 five, or seven members of the society, as may be agreed on. If the 
 dispute is between men, it shall be left to men to settle ; if between 
 women, to be left to women. 4. Persons to be tried for transgress- 
 ing against the good order of the society shall have the fairest op- 
 portunit}^ possible of obtaming an impartial jury. 5. The members 
 will all be classed in classes of about twenty members e;ich. and will 
 be met once a week by a leader of iheir own choice. 6. The mem- 
 bers, having equal rights, may form such rules for regulating and 
 promoting the good of the society as may be thought expedient by a 
 majority of the members. — Historical Sketches, p. 24. 
 
 iHwtofical Sketches, p. 26.
 
 Tares Springing Ur. 229 
 
 Ground was purchased on Chrystie Street, between 
 Pump (now Canal) and Hester Streets, and a brick 
 building, fifty by seventy-eight feet in dimensions, with 
 a basement story, was erected, which was dedicated on 
 the last day of the same year. During the next year 
 the number of members, including probationers, rose to 
 about six hundred. Two additional places of worship 
 were opened, one in Sullivan Street, which grew into a 
 Avell-established Church ; and societies were planted on 
 Long Island and in other ]:>arts of New York State, 
 and in Connecticut and New Jersey.* A regular form 
 of discipline was adopted, and in 1825 the body num- 
 bered 8(j4 members in New York city, and 2,187 in the 
 whole connection, being an increase of 386 during the 
 year ]) receding. 
 
 15ut the question of congregational independence or 
 connectional unity with an itinerant ministry now 
 began to be agitated. The church in Chrystie Street 
 declared itself independent, and chose Mr. Stilwell as 
 its minister. A conference held in the Sullivan Street 
 Church, November 8, 1826, at which Dr. James Covel 
 presided, was not attended by Mr. Stilwell and his 
 people, and they were henceforth left to themselves. 
 Of the two churches that yet remained, that in Sulli- 
 van Street had considerable prosperity. It afterward 
 passed into the hands of the " Methodist Protestants," 
 and in 1839 a new and much more commodious edifice 
 was built further north on the same street. In 1846 
 this church, its members and property, passed over to 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Washington 
 Square Church in Fourth Street is its successor. 
 
 * There is no evidence of the existence of societies m any other 
 State ; but in their Minutes of 1S24 and 1825 there is reference lo the 
 "Wesleyan Methodist Conference" held at Cincinnati, reporting 288 
 members.
 
 230 A History of Methodism i?^- New York City. 
 
 In faith and discipline and general economy the new 
 organization agreed substantially with the old, except 
 that it included neither bishops nor presiding elders, 
 and was intensely democratic. Every member, male 
 and female, had a vote, and every question was decided 
 by a vote of the society. The only exceptions were 
 the court of appeals, for reviewing judicial proceedings, 
 which was composed of all male members over twenty- 
 one years of age, and the "committee of examination," 
 which was selected by lot. 
 
 Had the Protestant Methodist Church never arisen 
 it is not at all improbable that this " Methodist So- 
 ciety" would have had a wider influ-ence and a longer 
 existence. Whether the leaders in that movement 
 failed to pay to Mr. Stilwell the respect to which he 
 thought himself entitled, or whether he did not sympa- 
 thize w^ith all their methods, is not knoAvn. Many of 
 his societies became associated wuth the Protestants, 
 but have since either died out or become Congrega- 
 tionalist. It is believed that not one now exists in its 
 original character. Mr. Stilwell remained in charge 
 of the Chrystie Street society, where he had good con- 
 gregations. In 1846 there were about three hundred 
 members.* 
 
 In 1847 a church w^as erected on First Street, near 
 First Avenue, to which the Chrystie Street society re- 
 moved, and here Mr. Stilwell passed the last years of 
 his ministry in absolute ecclesiastical independence. 
 He died at Astoria, Long Island, August 9, 1851, and 
 his Church died with him. There is every reason to 
 believe that, if he did not regret the step he had taken, 
 he at least was satisfied that the causes that led him to 
 it no longer existed. His own children became mem- 
 bers of the mother-Church, and there is good authority 
 * Greenleaf's History of New York Churches, p. 308.
 
 Tares Springing Up. 231 
 
 for saying that, when about to retire from labor, he 
 entered into correspondence with a presiding elder in 
 New York in regard to transferring his society to the 
 care of the old organization. The project failed, how- 
 ever, most probably because no other Methodist church 
 was needed in tliat vicinity. 
 
 In the New York City Directory for 1890 there is 
 not named a single Methodist place of worship for 
 Avhite people except those of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. This episode in New York Metliodist history, 
 which began with the " Stilwellite Secession " is now 
 tlierefore complete. It was, no doubt, harmful to some 
 of those engaged in it, as is inevitable in all church 
 controversies, but it may not have been wholly unpro- 
 ductive of good to the Church at large. The case is 
 especially instructive in respect to the unwisdom of 
 seeking the reform of supposed abuses or the correction 
 of infelicities in the affairs of the Church by going out 
 from its communion. The actors in the affairs of which 
 we have written have nearly all passed away. They 
 were not perfect either in mind or heart, but lor the 
 most part they were good and well-meaning people. 
 
 Mr. Stilwell is described as a man of about middle 
 size, rather stout, and of ruddy countenance, M'ith blue 
 eyes and auburn hair. As a public speaker his manner 
 was easy, his voice and deliveiy good, and his preach- 
 ing Avas pleasing and impressive. During the years of 
 his service in the New York Conference he had become 
 well and favorably known for one of his age; had he 
 remained he would probably have attained a good posi- 
 tion in the Church.* 
 
 * The hymn-book used by the " Methodist Society " contained rather 
 more than four hundred hymns, about two thirds of which were in 
 the book in use in the Methodist Episcopal Cliui-ch. There is no at- 
 tempt at classification according to subjects. 
 16
 
 232 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. • 
 
 RAIN ON THE MOWN GRASS— CONFERENCES OP 1820 
 TO 1827. 
 
 Except tliis secession, little of importance seems to 
 have taken place between the Conferences of 1820 and 
 1821. On July 12, 1820, Samuel Stilwell, George 
 Taylor, Jr., Michael D. Higgins, and James Donaldson 
 resigned as trustees, and at the meeting of August 11 
 it was reported that Joseph Smith, Paul Hick, John C. 
 Totten, and Eliphalet AYheelcr were elected to fill the 
 vacancies.* At the meeting of December 4 it was re- 
 solved to occupy the second story of the Wesleyan 
 Seminary as a place of worship if the preachers would 
 supply it in rotation with the other appointments. This 
 arrangement, however, does not seem to have lasted 
 long. In March, 1821, the regular election for trustees 
 was held, and Abraham Russel, Gill)ert Coutant, and 
 George Suckley were unanimous!}' re-elected. The debt 
 at that time was $33,V49 55, having increased during 
 the year nearly |l,200.f 
 
 The Conference of 1821 met at Troy, N. Y., May 30, 
 and Bishop George presided. | The aj^pointments for 
 the city were: J. Soule, E. Hehard, M. Richardson, W. 
 Ross, H, Bangs, J, Summcrfield. P. P. Sandford was 
 
 * Paul Hick had been trustee iip to the preceding- Marcli, but Iiad 
 then failed of re-election, probably througli the op[iosition of the up- 
 town party. The other three were new men in the board. 
 
 f Trustees' minutes. 
 
 :j:For report of numbers see p. 215,
 
 Raix OS THE Mown Grass. 233 
 
 continued as presiding elder. Three of these names 
 are new. * 
 
 William Ross was born in Tyringliam, Mass., 
 February 10, 1792, converted at the age of seventeen, 
 and entered Conference in liis twentieth year. His 
 earlier fields of labor were in Canada and the north- 
 ern parts of New England and Xew York. In 1818 
 he was sent to Brooklyn, in 1819 to Troy, whci-e 
 he spent two years, and after his two years in Xew 
 York city he was re-ap])ointed to Brooklyn in 1823, 
 where he died February 10, 1825. lie was buried in 
 the old Sands Street church-yard, but about fifty years 
 after his remains were removed to Greenwood. He 
 was " a gifted young preacher," " a natural orator," " a 
 man of power in the pulpit." f Tradition jndeed places 
 him very nearly on a level with his colleague, John 
 Summerfield, who finished his course but a few months 
 later, and was also buried in the Sands Street ground. 
 At the General Conference of 1824 he "signalized him- 
 self as the author of a very able and luminous report on 
 missions." J A daughter, Mary E., was the wife of Rev. 
 Thomas H. Burch, of the New York East Conference. 
 
 Ileman Bangs was a younger brother of the Rev. Dr. 
 Nathan Bangs. He was born in Fairfield, Conn., April 
 15, 1790, converted in 1808, and received on trial at the 
 Conference of 1815. From that time until the Confer- 
 ence of 18G9, with the exception of one year in which 
 he was supernumerary, he was steadily employed — 
 eleven years in New York city and fourteen years as 
 presiding elder on different districts, eight of wiiich 
 
 * Richardson's residence is set down as Second Avenue ; Ross's, 
 Duane Street, next the church; Bangs's, 57 Gold, and Summerfleld's, 
 Waltcer Street. 
 
 f Revs. M. Breckenridge, X. KeUogg, and L. Clark, in Warriner's 
 Old Sands St7ret, p. 209. 
 
 J Sprague's Annals, p. 525.
 
 234 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 weie on the Xew York District. He was a man of 
 marked personality, and made himself felt in every 
 f)ositioii he occujjicd. The rules of homiletics were lit- 
 tle regarded by him; but his preaching was simple, 
 practii-al, and earnest, and often accompanied with 
 much divine power. A faithful and laborious pastor, 
 he Avas the mainspring of all the activity in his charge; 
 so much so, indeed, that when he left it was sometimes 
 difficult to keep things revolving in the orbit which he 
 had marked out. In his family relations he was exceed- 
 ingly happy, but Avas deprived of both his sons in their 
 early manhood. One was lost at sea, the other. Rev. 
 Stephen B. Bangs, died after a brief career of great 
 brilliance and promise. Two daughters survive him. 
 He finished his course in Xew Haven, November 2, 1869, 
 in great peace and triumph. The last entry in his jour- 
 nal (under date of August 4) closes with the words, '• I 
 am saved by grace, through faith." 
 
 Perhaps no contrast could be greater than that be- 
 tween Heman Bangs and John Summerfield. The one 
 was of large frame and vigorous constitution; the other 
 exceedingly delicate and fragile. The one with sturdy 
 blows assaulted successfully the strongholds of sin; the 
 other with sweet persuasive speech melted and won the 
 hearts of his hearers. Bangs banged his wa^^ ; Sum- 
 merfield suggested a delightful field, beautiful Avith all 
 the fertility of early summer. There Avas truly here a 
 diversity of gifts, but the same S^^irit. 
 
 John Summerfield AA^as born in Lancashire, England, 
 January 31, 1798. Converted at Dublin, Ireland, he 
 soon began to exercise his gifts publicly, and in 1819 Avas 
 received into the Irish Conference, though on account 
 of his feeble health he AA'as not immediately appointed 
 to a circuit. Rev. (afterAvard Bisliop) John Emory met 
 him at the British Conference at Liverpool, and, it is
 
 Raix on the Mown Grass. 205 
 
 believed, had much to do with inducing him to come to 
 this country. A speech delivered shortly after his ar- 
 rival, at the anniversary of the American Bible Society, 
 was regarded as one of the very finest specimens of 
 platform eloquence. From that time his career was 
 brilliant. Crowds flocked to hear him, and men of all 
 classes and denominations delighted to do him honor. 
 But no brief sketch like that permitted here can do 
 justice to his memory. Those who wish to know more 
 must read his life by John Holland, or the sketch in 
 Sprague's Annals of the Meihodist Pulpit. lie was a 
 burning and a shining light, but the Church rejoiced in 
 that light for only a brief season. He died June 13, 
 1825, and was buried in the grave-yard of the Sands 
 Street Church, Brooklyn, L. I. Perhaps no pulpit 
 had been occupied by him more frequently than that 
 of the John Street Church, and after his death arrange- 
 ments were made to erect a tablet there to his memory. 
 Strange as it may seem, very decided objections were 
 made to its admission to the interior of the building, 
 and it was therefore atHxed to the outer front wall, 
 where it could be read from the street. When the 
 present building was erected it Avas removed to the 
 intex-ior.* 
 
 The year seems not to have been marked with any 
 events of much special interest. A society room was 
 built in the rear of the preacher's house in Allen Street, 
 and steps were taken to provide similar accommoda- 
 tions in the basements of the Greenwich Church and of 
 that at Duane Street. The watch-night at the close 
 of 1821 "was solemn and powerful."! A seeker's 
 prayer-meeting, held by Rev. H. Bangs at liis house 
 on Monday afternoons, was very profitable. Of that of 
 
 * See p. 285. 
 
 •(• H. Barigs's Autohiocjnrpliij, p. 107.
 
 2:56 A History of Methodism ix Xe"\v York City. 
 
 February 18, 1822, he says, "It was the most powerful 
 time I have seen since I have been in New York." * 
 
 At the election in March, 1822, Paul Hick, John 
 Bartine, and James Donaldson Avere chosen trustees. 
 The debt of the church was nearly $35,500, having in- 
 creased during the year nearly $1,V00. 
 
 On Ma}^ 29, 1822, Conference met in New York, Bishop 
 George in the chair. The report from the city was 
 2,370 whites, 67 colored; total, 2,437 — again of 282. 
 The appointments Avere E. "Washburn, M. Richardson, 
 S. Martindale, W. Ross, H. Bangs, J. Summerfield.f 
 Only one of these names is new. 
 
 Stephen Martindale was a native of the Eastern Shore 
 of Maryland, and born in 1788. His grandfather was 
 a minister of the Church of England, and his father a 
 Methodist local preacher. He entered the itinerancy 
 in ] 809, and soon obtained prominent appointments. 
 Besides some six years in all in New York lie s])ent two 
 years in Philadelphia and two in Boston, and for twenty 
 3'ears was presiding elder. After fifty years of unin- 
 terrupted effective service he superannuated in 1860, and 
 died May 23 of the same year, at Tarrytown, West- 
 chester County, N. Y. Tall and well-proportioned, 
 with a countenance fair and ruddy, a voice whose rich 
 intonations flowed and rippled like a brook, action 
 marked by vivacity and gracefulness, a diction always 
 correct and often elegant, he possessed, esi^ecially in liis 
 early days and in his prime, a natural eloquence which 
 made him a popular preacher. He was a sound theo- 
 logian and remarkably gifted in prayer. His oldest 
 daughter, the late Mrs. Dr. A. S. Purdy, of Xew York, 
 said, " I considered my father a perfect Christian, a 
 
 *H. Baiigs's AutobiograpJiij, p. 109. 
 
 f All we can learn of their residences is, Washburn, 12 Fors.vth 
 Street; Martindale, Allen, next church; Ross, Duane, next church.
 
 Raix ox the Mown Grass. 2;)'? 
 
 beautiful example — it was this that made me a Chris- 
 tian." * 
 
 As to spiritual matters this year, we learn nothing 
 except that on the evening of October 26 they had a 
 good love-feast, f As to temporals, Joseph Smith, Ab. 
 Coddington, and John Bailey w^ere elected trustees 
 in March, 1823. The debt at that time was about 
 $36,400 — an increase of about 1(950.;]: On the 17th of 
 April a plan of a sinking fund to reduce the debt was 
 presented, and on April 23, at a joint meeting of 
 trustees and preachers, it was adopted, nearly all the 
 preachers being present. 
 
 "Malta Balston, East Line," Avas the place of the 
 New York Conference of 1823, May 28 the date, and 
 Bishop George the presiding officer. The membership 
 in the city stood 2,499 whites, 73 colored, Asbury Afri- 
 can, 134; total, 2,706 — a gain of 269. The appointments 
 ■were E. Washburn, S. Martindale, P. Rice, J, B. Strat- 
 ten, S. Bushnell, E. Brown. Tliree of these names we 
 have not met Avith before. § 
 
 John B. Stratten was in many respects a contrast to 
 his colleague, S. Mai'tindale, who came to the city the 
 preceding year. Not as tall, nor as graceful, nor as 
 fluent, he was exceedingly original, and often deeply 
 impressive. Born in Stratford, Conn., and converted in 
 early life, he entered the Conference in 1811. He also 
 
 * Annual Minutes. 
 
 f II. Bangs's Autobiography^ p. 121. He tells us also (p. 122) that 
 with a family of six persons he was allowed only $500, and had to 
 borrow money to remove to his next charge, New Rochelle. 
 
 \ It should be said, however, that of this about $750 had been ex- 
 pended on the lecture-room in Duane Street, and the receipts for the 
 year exceeded ordinary expenses by about $75. 
 
 § The residences, as far as we can ascertam them, were, "Washburn, 
 12 Forsyth Street ; Rice, Amos (now "West Tentli Street), near Herring 
 (now Bleecker); Stratten, 59 Gold; and Busiinell, 216 Duane.
 
 238 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 labored uninterruptedly for about tifty years, ten years in 
 New York cily and seven in other cities, and twenty-two 
 as presiding elder. He died in great peace June 23, 1863. 
 
 Samuel Bushnell probably little thought that in coming 
 to New York city he was entering upon his last charge. 
 He was born in Massachusetts, November 28, 1782, con- 
 verted when about sixteen years of age, and received on 
 trial in 1810. His appointments had been in various 
 parts of the States of New York and Connecticut. To 
 his general character high testimony is given in the 
 Minutes, but nothing is said of his ability nor the precise 
 date of his death. It was, however, in 1824 or 1825. 
 
 Ebenezer Brown entered the work in 1818 and labored 
 six years, one of which was as missionary to Louisiana.* 
 He located in 1825 and engaged in secular business in 
 Troy, New York, and Philadelphia, but in his later 
 y^ears made his home with his only surviving daughter 
 in Baltimore, where he died January 3, 1889, in his 
 ninety-fourth year.f 
 
 In March, 1824, Abraham Russel, George Suckley, 
 and Gilbert Coutant wei'e re-elected as trustees. The 
 debt at that time is reported as about $36,106, being a 
 decrease of nearly |300. 
 
 Just, here we have an opportunity of looking at the 
 Church in New York city through foreign eyes. The 
 British Wesleyan Conference appointed two of its 
 members, Richard Reece and John Hannah, delegates 
 to the American General Conferencs of 1824. Mr, 
 Reece, in a letter in the Weslei/an 3Iagazine of 1825 
 (page 46), speaks of preaching in Duane Street, March 
 14, and says: "The singing was peculiarly sweet, its 
 
 * He was the first missionary appointed by the Missionary Society 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. See Dr. Reid's History of Mis- 
 sions, vol. i, p. 80. 
 
 \ Christinn Advocate, vol. l.xiv, pp. 24 and 41.
 
 Rain ox the Mown Grass. 239 
 
 character Avas simple melody, yet few of the congrega- 
 tion join in tliis part of public worship, but left the 
 pleasure and the duty mostly to the choir. This I 
 found to be the case in all the eastern States where I 
 had opportunity of attending the churches. I felt it a 
 great defect and disadvantage." Again, he says: "At 
 night I preached in Jolm Street; the church was over- 
 flowing. The men and the women sit apart in all our 
 places of worship, on benches with railed backs, no 
 pews being allowed by the Conference anywhere." 
 He also attended a love-feast in the same cliurch where 
 there was a lai"ge company, and the people spoke freely. 
 Some of them had received perfect love and others 
 were seeking it. He speaks of the custom of the choir 
 to sing while the collection was taken, and says: "The 
 last time I pieached in that city I was much charmed 
 and afiected. My subject was the privilege of believers 
 to have Christ living in them by his Spirit. A special 
 influence accompanied the word. The singers, joined by 
 most of the people, in sounds as much resembling the 
 melody of heaven as I expect to hear on earth, began — 
 
 " ' joyful sound of Gospel grace ! 
 
 Christ shall iu me appear; 
 I, even I, shall see his face, 
 
 I shall be holy here.' 
 
 The words were well chosen, the voices, male and female, 
 melodious and impassioned, the tune soft and devotional, 
 so that the blessing of perfect love seemed within reach, 
 or rather in possession of every worshiper."* 
 
 * Rev. George Coles (in his First Seven Years in America, pp. 281- 
 282) says this was in John Street Church, and that tiie tune wag 
 Pleyel's C. M. D. On page 45 of the xMeihodist Harmonist, the tune- 
 hook in use at that time, may be (bund a tune by Pleyel set to these 
 words, called " Devotion." For a description of Methodist worship 
 about this time see Appendix Q.
 
 240 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 At the Conference of 1824 Bisliop George presided, 
 but Elijah Hedding, just elected to the episcopacy, was 
 I^resent ; tliis being, therefore, his first Conference in 
 his new office.* It met on June 1 at the Wesleyan 
 Seminaiy in Crosby Street, New York, f The report 
 at this session was 2,4S0 wliites and 59 colored, in 
 all 2,539 — an apparent loss of 167. This is in part, 
 however, to be ascribed to the absence of any report from 
 the Asbury African churches. P. P. Sandford, P. Rice, 
 T. Mason, J. B. Stratten, S. Bushnell, and E. Brown were 
 the preachers, and L. Clark presiding elder. The General 
 Conference, which had met in May, had also made a 
 change in the book agency, app linting John Emory 
 as assistant to N. Bangs. J 
 
 Thomas Mason was well known and highly appre- 
 ciated already in New York, having often preached 
 in the churches during his eight years of service as book 
 agent. He began his labors about 1808 in South Caro- 
 lina, where he continued until hisfiist appointment to the 
 Book Concern. After filling various charges in the New- 
 York Conference he was again (in 1832) chosen agent 
 — a position for which his business ability well qualified 
 him. He died in New York city, June 10, 1R43, aged 
 fifty-seven. His excellent and devoted wife, Mrs. Marj' 
 
 * Clark's Life of Htdding, p. 30G. 
 
 f It may seem strange to New York Methodists of the present day, 
 accustomed as they are to attend the Conference sessions in some 
 large church edifice, often filled to its utmost capacity, that a school- 
 room, capable of holding not more than two hundred persons, should 
 be selected for the place of meeting. But then, and for some years 
 afterward, the general public was not admitted, and room for only 
 about one hundred and twenty-five persons was needed. The sessions 
 were regarded as private and confidential, especially ns the character 
 of the preachers was one of the questions to bo considered. 
 
 \ Sandford's home was at 12 Forsyth Street, Mason's at 11 Crosby 
 Street, Bangs's at 92 Eldridge, and Emory's at Asylum (West Fourth), 
 nenr Amos (West Tenth). The rest we cannot 1( cate.
 
 Rain on the Mown Grass. 241 
 
 W. Mason, has left lamemoiy very precious to the Church 
 in New York. 
 
 In October, 1824, the venerable Freeborn Garrettson 
 preached the funeral sermon of Mrs. Carpenter, wife of 
 Thomas Carjjenter, and mother of Rev. Charles W. 
 Carpenter. * During the following March also he was 
 in the city, and says: "Brother Paul Mick and Brotlier 
 Arcularius, two of the oldest members of the Church 
 in the city, have just gone to lieaven, and I fear Brother 
 Carpenter will not continue long." Thomas Carperiter 
 died soon after in great peace. f 
 
 James Donaldson, John Bartine, and Robert Math- 
 ison were elected trustees in March, 1825. The debt at 
 that time was $35,657 — a reduction of nearly $450 dur- 
 ing the year. 
 
 In 1825 the Conference met at Troy, N Y., (m May 
 3, Bishop George again presiding and Bishop Hedding 
 assisting.J Methodism was gaining a little in the city 
 of New York ; it repoi'ted 2,567 whites and 56 colored; 
 in all, 2,623 — an increase of 84. L. Clark continued in 
 the eldership, and the preachers were P. P. Sandford, 
 H. Stead, W. Jewett, J. Youngs, D. De Vinne, H. 
 Chase — all new names but one. § 
 
 Henry Stead's life and ministry began in England, 
 where he was born April 10, 1774, and after his con- 
 version spent two years there as a local preacher and 
 two as an itinerant. Coming to this country Avlien 
 about twenty-eight years of age, he was received on 
 
 * Life of Garrettson, p. 265. 
 
 f At the meeting of the trustees, November 2, 1824, a complaint was 
 made that some persons liad placed cushions in seats in the John 
 Street Ciairch, and the matter was referred to a committee. No 
 report of tliis committee is on record. 
 
 X Clark's Life of Hedding, p. 320. 
 
 § Tiieir homes were, Sandlord. 12 Forsyth Street; Stead, 190 Allen; 
 rotuigs, 4 Amos ; Chase, 216 Duane; and Clark, Amos, near Herring.
 
 242 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 trial in the New York Conference in 1804. More than 
 thirty years he spent in the effective service, mosi of 
 thetn in responsible positions, of which seventeen were 
 as presiding elder. Though not ranking " among the 
 great men and orators of his day, there was a charm 
 and efficiency about his ministrations altogether un- 
 common, and he was an example of a truly sanctified 
 man." He died in connection with the Troy Conference, 
 October 18, 1854.* 
 
 William Jewett's muscular form, ruddy visage, and 
 strong, clear voice, will long be remembeied on both 
 banks of the Hudson River, where nearly all of his 
 ministerial life was spent. Born in Sharon, Conn., 
 converted at the age of seventeen, he entered the New 
 York Conference in 1808, and spent more than forty 
 consecutive years in effective work, eighteen of them as 
 presiding elder. He was plain, simple, and practical as 
 a preacher, and wise, diligent, and faithful as a pastor. 
 He died in Poughkeepsie, June 27, 1857. 
 
 Daniel De Vinne was born in Londonderry, Ireland, 
 February 1, 1793, of Roman Catholic parents, who 
 brought him to this country in his childhood and 
 trained him in profound veneration for their Church. 
 But his spiritual yearnings were not satisfied; and when 
 fifteen years of age he visited in tui-n all the churches 
 in Albany except the Methodist, which was thought 
 too heretical to be worthy of notice. A year later, still 
 unsatisfied, he went into a watch-meeting in the North 
 Pearl Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and immedi- 
 ately felt " These are the people." He was converted 
 the next evening, and on the 7th of January united 
 with the Church. During the next five years he studied 
 Latin and Greek and French and Hebrew and the 
 sciences, and afterward taught a school in Brooklyn, 
 * Annual Minutes.
 
 Rain on the Mown Grass. 243 
 
 N. Y., for three years. He then went to Woodville, 
 JNJiss., and took charge of a school, and opened a Snn- 
 day-school to teach the slaves to read the Sci'iptnres. 
 But this could not be permitted, and the school was 
 broken up. In IS J 9 he was received on trial in the 
 Mississippi Conference, and at his own request sent to 
 labor among the French in Lower Louisiana, where he 
 traveled a circuit of five hundred and sixty-four miles 
 around. In 1824 he was transferred to the New York 
 Conference, and in the division of that body in 1848 his 
 lot fell with the New York East Conference, with which 
 he remained connected until his death. Besides this 
 appointment to New York he was again in the city (at 
 Duane Street) from 1834-36, and during the two 
 years following labored on the Harlem Mission. The 
 most of his appointments, however, were circuits, and 
 many of them places of hard labor and poor support — a 
 fact which his friends ascribed in a good degree to his 
 sturdy antislavery position. He was a thorough stu- 
 dent, an able, though not popular, preacher, and a man 
 of decided convictions, and ready to maintain them at 
 any cost. He lived to see his views of slavery triumph 
 in Church and State, and died September 26, 1882, in 
 the midst of a truly devoted famih^ 
 
 James Youngs came this year to his native city, where 
 he was born in 1785. He was converted at the age of 
 twenty-four, and admitted on probation in the New 
 York Conference in 1815. He was able to render 
 tliirty years of effective service, four of which were 
 spent in New York. He was an original and practical 
 preacher and a faithful pastor. He died at Peekskill, 
 April 28, 1850. 
 
 Henry Chase, the last in the list, spent nearly the 
 whole of his sti'ictly ministerial career in one charge. 
 He was born in Rensselaer County, N, Y., and joined the
 
 244 A HisTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church when about eigliteen years 
 of age. After a few years in itinerant labor under a pre- 
 siding elder he engaged in teaching, in which he was 
 employed until 1825, The superintendency of the Wes- 
 leyan Academy brought him to the city, and before 
 that institution was suspended he had found his right 
 field of labor among the seamen of the city. In 1826 
 iie was specifically appointed to the Mariner's Church 
 oi New York, an undenomi^iational church belonging 
 to the New York Port Society, and continued in that 
 position until his location in 1852. His labors were at- 
 tended with marked success, and he was to the sea-faring 
 population of New York almost what Edward T. Taylor 
 was to the same class in Boston, He died in New 
 York, July 8, 1853. 
 
 In the latter part of the year there was some commo- 
 tion in regard to private meetings in reference to holi- 
 ness. Some of the preat-hers thouglit that erroneous 
 views of the nature of faith were taught in them. About 
 fifteen worthy members withdrew.* 
 
 In March, 1826, Joseph Smith, John Westfield, and 
 John Bailey were elected trustees for the term of three 
 years, and Nathaniel C. Hart for two years. The debt 
 was $31,883, having decreased more than $3,700. Ar- 
 rangements were made shortly after to light the church 
 in John Street with gas, the lamps heretofore in use 
 there being transferred to the new edifice in Willett 
 Street. 
 
 The year liad been a prosperous one. When the 
 Conference met it found a new building just dedicated,! 
 and a good increase in membership. It assembled in 
 the Forsyth Street Church on May 10, 1826. Bishop 
 McKendree was in the chair, and Bishops George and 
 
 *D. De "Vinnp, in The Methodist, vol. xvi, p. 257. 
 f That ill Willett Street. See p. 297.
 
 Raix on the Mown Grass. 245 
 
 Heckling were both present,* The report was 2,867 
 whites and 63 colored, a total of 2,930, showing a gain 
 of 307. Under the same presiding elder, L. Clark, the 
 city was to be served by H. Stead, W. Jewett, J. Youngs, 
 N. White, R. Seney, J. Field, and H. Chase at the 
 Mariners' Church. f Three of these were new men in 
 the city work. 
 
 Nicholas White was born in Middletown, Vt., June 
 8, 1786, joined the Church in 1810, and entered the 
 New York Conference in 1813. He rendered nearly 
 forty years of effective service, six of which Avere spent 
 in New York, four in Brooklyn, and nine as presiding 
 elder. Twice he was a delegate to the General Con- 
 ference. In 1854 he superannuated. He was a good 
 man and a faithful and successful minister of Chi'ist. 
 He died in Brooklyn, February 14, 1861. 
 
 Robert Seney was born October 12, 1797, graduated 
 at Columbia College, New York, in 1817, and soon aft- 
 erward united with the Church. In 1820 he was re- 
 ceived on trial in the Conference, and 'for thirty years 
 was in active service. Besides these two years, begin- 
 ning with 1826, he labored five years in New York 
 and five in Brooklyn. In 1852 he became supernumer- 
 ary, and died of paralysis, in Brooklyn, July, 1854. To 
 his son, George I. Senej-, Esq., the Church owes the in- 
 itiation and a large share of the endowment of the 
 Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. 
 
 " For some years one of the most venerable figures 
 on the floor of the New York East Conference was 
 that of the Rev. Julius Field. With a form tall and 
 singularly straight, with strongly marked features, and 
 
 * Clark's Life of Hedding, p. 326. 
 
 f Their residences were, Youngs, 211 Bowery; "White, 216 Diiane 
 Street; Seuey and Field, 130 Allen; Chase, 137 Cherry; and Clark, 
 rear of 81 Amos Street.
 
 246 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 with a tender yet resonant voice, he attracted attention 
 whenever he souglit the floor. To the last he was heard 
 with a reverent silence due to his pure charactei-, his long 
 service, and his many years." He was born April 2, 
 1799, and entered the itinerancy in 1821. In 1839 he 
 was transferred to tlie Wisconsin Confei'ence, but re- 
 turned in 1846. His active service covered a period of 
 about forty years, four of which were in New York 
 city and four in Brooklyn. "As a preacher he was 
 eminently scriptural. Few men have equaled him 
 in the power of apt and exact Scripture quotations." 
 He was also a faithful pastor. After some years of 
 gradual mental decay he died September 22, 1884, in 
 his eighty-sixth year.* 
 
 *New York East Conference Minutes, 1885.
 
 Great Sheavks — The Ali,en Street Revival. 247 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 GRKAT SHEAVES— THK ALLEN STREET REVIVAL— CON- 
 FERENCES OF 1S27 TO 1829. 
 
 At tlie annual election in March, 1827, Gilbert Cou- 
 tant, Abraham Russel, and Nathaniel Jarvis were chosen 
 trustees for three years, and Samuel B. Harper for one 
 year. The debt at that time was 136,441 — an increase 
 of more than $4,500 during the year. 
 
 The Conference of 1827 met at Troy, N. Y., on May 
 9. Bishop George presided, and Bishop Hedding was 
 present. The membership in New York was 3,219 
 white and 70 colored; total 3,289— a gain of 359. The 
 appointments were T. Burch, N. White, R. Seney, J. J. 
 Matthias, N. Levings, and J. Field. H. Chase remained 
 at the Mariners' Church, and L. Clark continued as pre- 
 siding elder,* Again Ave have three new names, all of 
 which are held in honorable remembrance. 
 
 Thomas Burch was born in Ireland, August 30, 1778, 
 and was awakened in 1801, under the preaching of 
 Gideon Ouseley, the celebrated Irish missionary. He 
 came to the United States in 1803, and in 1809 was ad- 
 mitted on trial in the Philadelphia Conference. In that 
 and the Genesee and Baltimore Conferences his time 
 was spent until 1825, when he wms appointed to Brook- 
 lyn, N. Y. He was again in New York in 1841, and 
 some twenty years were also spent in other cities. He 
 died suddenly from an affection of the heart, August 
 
 * The resideuces were, Burch, 12 Forsyth Street; White, 216 
 Duane; Seney, 130 Allen ; Matthias, 59 Gold; Levinga, GO Bedford; 
 Field, 130 Allen, 
 17
 
 248 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 22, 1849. As a preacher be held a high rank. His 
 sermons were marked with a charming simplicity, but 
 were solid, well arranged, and admirably expressed. 
 His son. Rev. Thomas H. Biirch, is a prominent member 
 of the New York East Conference.* 
 
 Noah Levings was a native of New Hampshire, born 
 September 29, IVQG. At the age of sixteen he was ap- 
 prenticed to a blacksmith in Troy, N". Y., and here he 
 nnited with the Church in 1813. He entered the Con- 
 ference in 1818, and soon became very popular. Up to 
 the time of his appointment to New York city he had 
 been in various charges in the northern part of the 
 State, and in Vermont, but from that period onward 
 he labored continuously in prominent cities until, in 1844, 
 he succeeded Rev. E. S. Janes, then recently elected 
 bishop, as financial secretary of the American Bible 
 Society. He died at Cincinnati, January 9, 1849, after a 
 short illness. He w^as a superior preacher; his sermons 
 contained good thoughts well arranged and v/ere Avtll 
 delivered. He was also very successful on the platform. 
 
 On the last page of an old book in raanuscrii)t, con- 
 taining the earliest records of baptisms and marriages of 
 the Church in New York city,t and also the earliest 
 list of members that has come down to us, we find, 
 among those received September 5, 1790, the name of 
 Barnet Matthias. This was John B. Matthias, known 
 for some fifty years as a successful minister of Christ. 
 In the same book, under date of December 15 of the 
 same year w'e have a record of his marriage to Sarah 
 Jarvis. John Jarvis Matthias, a son of this marriage, 
 born in New York, January V, 1796, is one of the three 
 preachers appointed to the city this year. He entered 
 the work in 1817, and spent ten years in various distant 
 
 * Annual Minutes ; Sprague's A7ina Is ; Warriner's Old Sands Street. 
 ■j-Eook i, A. Sec prc.'acc, p. v.
 
 Great Sheaves — The Allen Street Revival. 249 
 
 cliarges, but from 1827 onward his appointments wero, 
 almost without exception, to positions in prominent 
 places; seven years were spent in the eldership. I;i 
 18-37 he was appointed governor of Bassa Cove, Africa 
 — a post which he filled with ability. His first wife 
 died there of the African fever, and he barely escaped. 
 From 1855 to 1858 he was chaplain to the Seamen's 
 Retreat, Staten Island. He died at Tarrytown, N. Y., 
 September 25, 1861.* 
 
 On Friday, August 17, 1327, Freeborn Garrettson 
 k'ft his home for New York, expecting to return the 
 following week. On Sunday, the 19th, he preached his 
 last sermon in the Duane Street Church, on the words, 
 " Grow in grace," and administered the Lord's Supper to 
 a laro-e company. A divine unction attended the word, 
 wh.ieh was delivered with unusual waiinth and energy. 
 Soon after he was taken ill, and on September 26, in the 
 seventy-sixth year of his ago, he died at the house of 
 his long-tried friend George Suckley.f 
 
 In the latter part of January 1828, Bishop George 
 arrived in the city and spent the time until April in 
 visiting the societies and preaching in New York and 
 Brookl^m.J He also presided at the Conference held in 
 Forsyth Street Church on June 25, Bishop Hedding 
 assisting. Then these two chief pastors parted, to meet 
 no more on earth. Bishop George dying on the 23d of 
 August of this year. § Bishop George preached at the 
 (Greenwich Church and ordained the deacons, and Bishop 
 Hedding at Duane Street and ordained the elders, f 
 
 * Annual Minutes; Warriaer's Old Sands Street. The accounts of 
 the board of stewards from the Conference of 1827 to that of 18H1 
 are still extant. Some extracts will be found in Appendix R. 
 
 f Life of Garrettson, p. 27 7. X ^eihodist Magazine, vol. xii, p. 4 1 9. 
 
 § Clark's Life of Hedding, pp. 359, 361. 
 
 I Christian Advocate, vol-, ii, p. 174.
 
 250 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The year Avas one of spii'itual prosperity. At a 
 prayer-meeting at Allen Street shortly after the camp- 
 meeting of 1827, more than 2,000 persons were present, 
 and at a love-least at Greenwich the house was filled. 
 The venerable Ezekiel Cooper closed this last service with 
 an address and prayer.'*' These seemed to have been 
 premonitions of the great revival that soon followed. 
 
 In March, 1828, James Donaldson, Samuel B. Har- 
 per, and Andrew C. Wheeler were elected trustees. 
 The debt was about $32,500, having increased nearly 
 $4,000. t 
 
 The statistics of 1828 were 3,410 whites and 67 col- 
 ored; total 3,477 — an increase of 188. The General Con- 
 ference of 1828 had apjDointed J. Emory and B. Waugh 
 book agents and N. Bangs editor. D. Ostrander be- 
 came presiding elder, and the preachers were T. Burch, 
 C. Carpenter, J. Hunt, J. J. ]\[atthias, N. Levings, and 
 G. Coles. H. Chase remained at the Mariners' Church. J 
 Again we have three now men in the city pastorate. 
 
 Coles Carpenter Avas born in Westchester County, 
 N. Y., March 17, 1784, of Methodist parents. Converted 
 at the age of seventeen, he was soon licensed to preach, 
 and in 1809 entered the work in the New York Con- 
 ference. After his term in the city he was appointed to 
 Schenectady, and in 1833 became presiding elder of the 
 Troy District, He entered on his work with every pros- 
 
 * Chrifitian Advocate, vol. ii, p. 6. 
 
 •)- Trustees' minutes. On April 11 the ladies of the Jolin Street 
 Churcli formed a Dorcas Society, for the purpose of supplying food, 
 clothing, etc., to the Indian schools under the care of the Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 X The residences were. Hunt, 32 Pitt Street; Matthias, 59 Gold; 
 Coles, 216 Duane. Levings is set down in the Directory at Brooklyn. 
 Carpenter, whose name is not in that book, lived in Allen Street, and 
 Burch, also not mentioned there, probably remained at 12 Forsyth. 
 Ostrander was at 81 Amos Street.
 
 Gbeat Sheaves — The Allen Street Revival. 251 
 
 jDect of success, but on February 17, 1834, died at Cam- 
 bridge. He was a man of pleasing appearance and win- 
 ning manner, an excellent pastor, and a good preacher. 
 But he was especially powerful in exhortation. Rev. S. 
 Luckey, D.D., says: " In direct appeal to the heart and 
 conscience, and in a sustained course of hortatory re- 
 marks, I am not aware that I have ever met his superior. 
 There was the greatest appropriateness of thought, and 
 sometimes even sublimity of language." * 
 
 Jesse Hunt's birth-place was Mamaroneck, Westches- 
 ter Count}-, N. Y.; the time July 22, 1787. He Avas 
 converted in New York, joined the society in John 
 Street, May 22, 1803, and entered the itinerancy in 1 811. 
 He filled a number of respectable appointments, and for 
 four years was presiding elder. He died November 5, 
 1848, He was a modest, faithful, and useful man. 
 
 The name of George Coles will live long in the mem- 
 ory of New York Methodists and of the Church at 
 large. Born in Stewkley, England, June 2, 1792, he 
 was converted at the age of twelve, and at twenty-two 
 was licensed as a local preacher. In 1818 he came to 
 America, and was immediately employed under the pre- 
 siding elder and admitted on trial at the Conference of 
 1819. He soon occupied prominent and responsible 
 positions. In 1837 he became assistant editor of Tlie 
 Christian Advocate, and the fact that he remained in 
 that office eleven years is itself sufficient testimony of his 
 success. The earlier numbers of the Sundaij- School 
 Advocate were edited by him, and he did much useful 
 work in other lines of Sunday-school literature. A 
 simple-hearted, sincere, amiable Christian gentleman, 
 original and persuasive in his preacliing, he Avas beloved 
 by all. He took great interest in sacred music, and com- 
 posed several tunes, among them " Greene Street " 
 * Sprague's Annals.
 
 252 A IIisTORv OF Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 and " Diiane Street." He died in Kew York, May 1, 
 1858. One of his daughters was the wife of Rev. George 
 Woodruff, D.D., late of the New York East Conference, 
 and another is the widow of Bisliop E. O. Haven.* 
 
 As far as can be ascertained it was under the labors of 
 these men and their colleagues that there appeared de- 
 cided indications of that great rcA'ival which seemed to 
 have its center in Allen Street, but was felt throughout 
 all the Methodist Churches in the city. There is confu- 
 sion in dates as tradition has transmitted them, but of 
 the general facts there is no doubt. 
 
 From an editorial in The Christian Advocate of Sep- 
 tember 19, 1828, we learn that during the j^receding 
 three weeks there had been unusual interest in the 
 Churches in the city, principally under the preachiTig of 
 Rev. J. N. Mailitt.f Meetings were held every day of 
 the week, sometimes twice a day. At a prayer-meeting 
 
 * During the term of Mr. Coles's service some of the brellircn of the 
 Duaue Street congregation had fallen into the practice of loitering about 
 the church doors until the singing of the second hymn. This was 
 of course a trial to him, and one Simdaj afternoon lie gave out the 
 first hymn, which was sung, and then, after the opening prayer, an- 
 nounced his text, omitting the second hymn, and preached, as he 
 usually did, a short sermon. The brethren outside supposed he was 
 still at prayer, and when, during the singing of the closing l^'mn, 
 they marched in, they were soon astonished to hear the benediction 
 pronounced. — Lttttr of W. B. Worrall. 
 
 f John Newland Maffitt was born in Dublin, Ireland, December 28, 
 1794:, and joined the Methodists at the age of nineteen. He came to 
 this country in 1819, and in 1822 was received on trial in the New 
 England Conference. His appointments were all in that Conference 
 until he located, in 1832, and from that time lio was engaged chiefly 
 in revival services, though holding positions as editor, agent and 
 professor at La Grange College, and chaplain to the national House 
 of Representatives. In his prime he was a man of unusual power in 
 the pulpit, having a pleasant voice and a graceful delivery. But 
 during the latter part of his life many lost confidence in him. He 
 died at Mobile, May, 1850, in his fifty-sixth year. — Spragut^s Annals.
 
 Great Sheaves— The Allen Street Revival. 253 
 
 on Monday evening, September 8, at Allen Street, the 
 house was crowded. Not less than one hundred and fifty 
 persons were at the altar, of whom thirty-four professed 
 conversion. On the following Saturday evening at a 
 meeting in Forsyth Street there were nearly two hundred 
 at the altar, of whom twenty were converted. Tiiese 
 meetings were attended witli no extravagances, but were 
 marked with deep solemnity and much weeping. In 
 February, 1^^30, the preachers reported that more than 
 three liundred had been received on probation since the 
 preceding Conference, the most of them during the last 
 three weeks. What were called four-days meetings were 
 held m the different churches. Beginning on Tuesday 
 morning there was preaching three times a day for four 
 days, and prayer-meetings in the intervals, generally 
 kept up without intermission, the brethren i-elieving 
 each other when a short season for rest and refreshment 
 was necessary. Notices of these meetings and their re- 
 sults will be found in the columns of The Christian Ad- 
 vocate from time to time. In February, 1832, we are 
 told that between seven and eight hundred had been 
 received on probation since the last Conference.* 
 
 During the progress of this work a number of remark- 
 able sermons were preached, and many interesting inci- 
 dents occun-ed. Some time in January, 1831, Rev, Dr. 
 Fisk preached on Isa. xii, 1 : " O Lord, I will praise thee: 
 though thou wast angry with me," etc. The sermon 
 produced a great impression. He preached again on the 
 following Wednesday evening. The Rev. Dr. N. Bangs 
 and Rev. E. T. Taylor, of Boston, were with him in the 
 pulpit. He opened the services with the first hymn, 
 "0 for a tlioiisaiid tongues, to sin<r," etc. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. vi, p. 90. Dr. ¥\oy says that over twelve 
 hundred were converted, and more than one thousand added to the 
 Church. — Christian Advocate, vol. xxxv, p. 7.
 
 254 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 During the reading many were in tears.* Dr. Bangs 
 followed with an earnest prayer for the outpouring of 
 the Holy Spirit. In the midst of almost breathless and 
 impressive silence Dr. Fisk announced as his text 
 1 Thess. V, 19: "Quench not the Spirit." His first 
 utterances were heart-searching and effective, and fixed 
 the attention of his hearers. A clear and forcible argu- 
 ment followed and prepared the way for an application. 
 As he drew to a close his words appeared unearthly. 
 His manner was calm, liis voice not loud, his gestures 
 few. Suppressed sighs and groans were heard in every 
 direction, and at length, without any invitation, uncon- 
 verted persons, with loud cries and Aveeping, began to 
 move to the altar, which was soon more than filled. The 
 preacher continued his discourse, increasing in power 
 and pathos until his voice was almost drowned in the 
 cries of the seekers. Finally he paused, and, lifting up 
 his eyes and hands, said solemidy, "• When God begins 
 to speak it is time for me to stoj)." He sat down, 
 and in an instant Samuel Halsted was on his feet and 
 burst forth singing in loud tones, " Come, ye sinners, 
 poor and needy," etc., the people joining heartily. There 
 was no more room at the altar, and a preacher (Rev. H. 
 Bangs, it is thought) suggested that a prayer-meeting 
 be held in the gallery. One was started in the singers' 
 seats, and then anotlier near the door on the main floor. 
 These three meetings did not seem to interfere with 
 one another. Shouts of praise were soon mingled with 
 cries for pardon, and it was estimated that two hundred 
 were converted on that evening. 
 
 One Sunday morning Rev, S, Merwin, preaching on 
 John viii, 12, "I am the light of the world," appeared 
 
 * This statement is jjiven as received ; but the liymn seems so much 
 more appropriate to the subject of the former sermon as to suggest 
 the question whether our informant may not be in error.
 
 Great Sheaves — The Allen Street Revival, 255 
 
 to be inspired. His congregation was greatly moved, 
 and he closed in an outburst of rapture and sank back 
 apparently exhausted.* D. Ostrander also, on another 
 Lord's day morning, delivered a memorable discourse 
 on the need of an atonement, founded on Isa. liii, 7-10. 
 
 On another Sabbath morning IJev. S. Merwin entered 
 the church followed by a stranger of prepossessing ap- 
 pearance. But in reading the hymn and first Scripture 
 lesson there was considerable apparent hesitation, and a 
 disagreeable twang in his voice, and his congregation did 
 not seem to be favorably impressed. His prayer, how- 
 ever, tliough marred by the same defects, abounded in 
 rich thought and melting pathos. His text was the 
 Song of Solomon iii, 2-4. As he proceeded his manner 
 changed, he suddenly seemed to grasp a great thought, 
 and in a moment he was another man. The disagree- 
 able twang disappeared, his voice rose, his eyes glowed, 
 and his gestures Avere easy and natural. For nearly an 
 hour he held his hearers enchained, and closed with an 
 address to young Christians in which he referred to his 
 own experience and the teaching and example of a godly 
 grandfather. No one Avho remembers Rev. John P. 
 Durbin will need to be told that he was the preacher. 
 Another remarkable discourse was preached on a Sun- 
 day afternoon by Rev. B. Goodsell on blowing the 
 rams' horns around Jericho. By his power of vivid de- 
 scription the people were wrought up to a great pitch 
 of excitement and at length burst forth in loud shouts, f 
 
 At another time, the preacher who was to occupy 
 
 * There is also a tradition of a prayer of unusual power offered by 
 Mr. Merwin at tho opening of a Sunday morning service. Some say 
 that the revival began under its influence. 
 
 f Mopt of the above incidents are from a letter of the late Rov. Will- 
 iam M. Chipp, of the New York Conference. Mr. Cliipp was one of 
 the subjects of the revival.
 
 256 A History of Methodism ix New Yopjc City. 
 
 the pulpit being unable to do so, Rev. Heman Bangs 
 gave a very effective sermon on Luke x, IS, " I beheld 
 Satan as lightning fall from heaven."* One Sunday 
 morning Lewis Pease preached with great power on Isa. 
 Ix, 1, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and tlie 
 glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." When the meet- 
 ings had continued some months and the interest was 
 apparently decreasing S. Luckey preached an effective 
 discourse on Neh. vi, 3, " Why should the work cease ?" 
 a sermon which kindled the fire anew, f 
 
 One evening a lady came to the altar in gi'eat distress. 
 Her husband, hearing of it the next day, resolved to put 
 a stop to it. He took his seat in the gallery, and, see- 
 ing her go forward, came down-stairs in great anger, 
 walked rapidly up the aisle, and when within a few feet 
 of the altar fell prostrate on the floor and cried for 
 mercy. Some of the brethren knew him and gathered 
 round him, and his wife, recognizing his voice, was soon 
 at his side. They were both soon converted, and Jon- 
 athan Purdy became an active member of the Church. 
 
 At that time there were many slaughter-houses and 
 rope- walks in the neighborhood, and a large number of 
 butchers and rope-makers, regarded as among the hard- 
 est classes of societ}^, were converted. Many of the 
 converts, however, were young men of education and 
 talent, some of whom became ministers of Christ. The 
 list includes such names as John McClintock, Robert 
 Emory (son of the subsequent Bishop Emory), James 
 Floy,'^Elijah Crawford, William M. Chipp, Charles C. 
 Keys, Samuel W. King, Charles B. Davis. 
 
 At their meeting on June 4, 1S2S, the trustees voted to 
 enlarge the lecture-room of the Greenwich Church at an 
 expense of about $400. The death of Bishop George has 
 already been referred to. At the trustees' meeting of 
 
 * The late Joseph Sandford. f I'Rtter of Rev. E. S. Hebbard.
 
 Great Sheaves — The Allen Street Revival. 257 
 
 October 21 it was proposed to put tlie clmrclies in 
 mourning for the event, but " they were unanimous in 
 oi)inion it was best to decline the proposition, and 
 tliought it l)est to discontinue the practice to put our 
 churches in mourning on account of our deceased 
 bretliren." 
 
 On tlie 4th of February, 1829, official notice was 
 received of the passage of an act by the State Legisla- 
 ture inci-easing the number of trustees from nine to fif- 
 teen. At the election, therefore, in the following 
 ]March, Joseph Smith, John Westfield, and John Urmy 
 were chosen in the old course for three years, and L. S. 
 Burling, Andrew L. Halstead, Daniel Sutton, William 
 McLean, Leonard Regur, and James B. Oakley were 
 elected as the additional six.* Tlie debt at this time 
 was more than |36,200, having increased during the last 
 year more than i|i53,700. At their meeting of April 8, 
 1829, the trustees a{)pointed a committee to inquire 
 concerning a church at Munhattan Island which was to 
 let. This was the first official action towaixl what is 
 now the Second Street Church. At the next meeting 
 the committee reported that the building would not 
 answer. 
 
 *Tlie object of this increase seems to have been to give to eacli 
 church at least two representatives in the board. Tliese were ap- 
 pointed a committee of repairs to the churcli wliere they attended, 
 and one of them was the trustees' steward, to receive the ordinary 
 coilections. Tlie following list will show how they were distributed 
 this year, the first name in each cuse being that of the trustees' stew- 
 ard : John Street, Samuel B. Harper, Joseph Smith ; Forsyth Street, 
 James Donaldson, L. S. Burhng; Willett Street, John Urmy, Daniel 
 Sutton; Allen Street, Andrew L. Halstead, Andrew C. Wheeler; 
 Bowery, Gilbert Coutant, Leonard Regur; Greenwich, Nathaniel 
 Jarvis, W. McLean ; Duane Street, Abraham Russel, James B. Oak- 
 ley. John Weslfield, who was not on any of these committees, was 
 cliairman of tlie committee for the burying-ground.
 
 258 A History of Methodism in Xkw York Citv. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE FIELD DIVIDED— CONFERENCES OF 1829 TO 1832. 
 
 The Conference of 1829 met on May 13 at Troy, 
 N. Y., Bishop Roberts presiding, assisted by Bishop 
 Hedding. The city, as well as the Conference gener- 
 ally, reported a good increase, Tlie number in the city 
 was 3,783 whites, 56 colored; total, 3,839 — a gain of 
 3G2. Book agents, editor, and presiding elder were not 
 changed. The preachers were S. Luckey, C. Carpenter, 
 J. Hunt, 11. Bangs, G. Coles, S. D. Ferguson. Of these 
 the first and the last are the only new names.* 
 
 Samuel Luckey was born in Rensselaerville, X. Y., 
 April 4, 1791, and converted before he was fifteen years 
 old. He joined the Xew York Conference in 1811. He 
 had already occupied responsible positions before his ap- 
 pointment to the city, and afterward as presiding elder, 
 principal of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and editor of 
 The Christian Advocate he did good service. He died 
 October 11, 18G9. He was a very able and laborious 
 minister of the word. 
 
 Samuel D. Ferguson was born in the city of New 
 York in 1798, and died there December 30, 1855. He 
 was converted at the age of fourteen, and entered the 
 itinerancy in 1819. As preacher, pastor, and presiding 
 elder he did faithful and successful work, and exhibited 
 much skill and tact in developing the resources of a 
 charge. He was delegate to three General Conferences. 
 
 * The Directory gives their residences as follows : Luckey, 1 2 For- 
 sytli Street; Coles, 216 Duane Street; Bangs, 59 Gold Street; Fergu- 
 son, 69 Bedford Street.
 
 The Fiki.1i Divided. 259 
 
 In 1844, hw bealtli having become impaired, lie became 
 superintendent of the Leake and Watts Orphan House 
 in New York city, wliich position he hekl four y<?<'ii"s. 
 Afterward he conducted a boarding-school at Fergu- 
 sonville in the valley of the Charlotte River.* 
 
 * Iiiventoiy of the property of the Church approved by the trustees 
 August 5, 1829, and ordered to be reported to the city recorder: 
 
 PR (PEUTY BELONGING TO THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IX THK 
 CITY OF NEW YORK, WITH THE AMOUNT OF ANNUAL INCOME. 
 
 Four lots of ground in Jolin Street, on which is a churcli and 
 
 a dwelling-house. The dwelling-house rents for .$600 
 
 Plight lots of ground between Fonsyth aud P^ldridge Street?, 
 fronting on both streets. On this ground tlierc is a church 
 and a dwelling-house occupied by the minister. There are 
 also three other buildings, which, including the cellar of 
 the church, rent for $315. On this ground there is an 
 engine-house, erected by the Corporation, for which until the 
 present year no remuneration has been received. In future 
 an annual rent of $50 is to be paid. Part of the ground is 
 also leased out at an annual rent of ^TO, making altogether 
 the sum of 495 
 
 Two lots on lease in Forsyth Street, on which is the free school 
 and the teacher's residence. 
 
 Four lots on lease in Nicholas William Street, on which is a 
 church, an academj^, and another building. The buildings 
 rent for 142 
 
 Four lots in Duaue Street, on which is a church, a dwelling- 
 house for the minister, and a house occupied by the sexton ; 
 the rent of the latter is 100 
 
 Eight lots on the Second Avenue, corner of First Street, used 
 as a burying-ground. On this ground there is a dwelling- 
 liouse, which rents for 150 
 
 Four lots in Allen Street, on which is a church, a house occu- 
 pied by the minister, and a house in which the sexton re- 
 sides. The rent of the latter is $100. The cellar of the 
 church is rented for $50, and a piece of ground in the rear 
 is leased for $15, making altogether 165 
 
 Five lots at Greenwich, on which is a church. 
 
 Foiu- lots in "Willett Street, on which is a churcli. ■ 
 
 Total of revenue $1,G52
 
 2G0 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 On November 4, 1829, the trustees autborized a com- 
 mittee to bire a scbool-room fur public Avorsbip in 
 upper Greenwicli. In Marcb, 1830, Abrabam Russel, 
 Gilbert Coutant, Nathaniel Jarvis, Thomas Truslow, and 
 Joseph Johnson were elected trustees. The debt was 
 about $34,700, baving been reduced about $1,500. 
 
 The Conference for 1830 met at Forsytli Street, New 
 York, May 6, Bii^hop Iledding presiding. The report 
 was 3,886 whites, G9 colored; in all 3,955 — an increase of 
 116. D. Ostrandcr remained as presiding elder, and the 
 preachers were, S. Luckey, S. Merwin, L. Pease, S. Mar- 
 tindale, B. Goodsell, II. Bangs, S. D. Ferguson. The 
 Ilarlein Mission also now first appears in the Minutes. 
 It included all Manbattan Island nortb of about Twenty- 
 third Street. Ira Ferris was tbe preacher.* 
 
 Lewis Pease, who came to the city this year, was born 
 in Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y., August 7, 1786, was 
 converted in 1805, licensed to preacli in 1806, and en- 
 tered the traveling work in 1807. lie had already been 
 stationed in Albany, Brooklyn, Hartford, and Philadel- 
 phia, and had served two years as presiding elder. His 
 health was feeble, and he never did effective work after 
 the close of his term in New York city. For a time he 
 was chaplain to the City Hospital. He died Septem- 
 ber 5, 1853, aged fifty-seven. He was a very impress- 
 ive and pathetio preacher, and had great power as an 
 exhorter.f 
 
 Buel Goodsell was born at Dover, Dutchess County, 
 N. Y., July 25, 1793, Avas converted at the age of sixteen, 
 and received on trial at the New York Conference of 
 1814. His labors before coming to the city had been 
 
 * Their liomes, as far as we can ascerta'n, were, Luckey and Mer- 
 win, 12 Forsyth Street; Pease, 176 Diiane; Martindale, Bowery, 
 near Vaiixhall; Goodsell, 8 Willett Street; Banprs, 43 John. 
 
 f Spraguc's J.HKafe; Warriner's Old Sands Street.
 
 The Field Divided. 261 
 
 mainly within the bounds of wliat is now the Troy Con- 
 ference. In 1838-9 lie was at John Street, New York, 
 and in 1846-7 at Willett Street. Eight years were spent 
 in the eldership, and twice he was a delegate to the Gen- 
 eral Conference. He died in Brooklyn, May 4, 1863, 
 after an uninterrupted effective service of nearly fifty 
 years. He was faithful and successful, and especially 
 excelled in exhortation and prayer. Bishop D. A. Good- 
 sell and Rev. Geoi'ge H. Goodsell, of the New York 
 East Conference, are worthy sons of so excellent a 
 father. 
 
 Ira Ferris, who came to the Hai-lem Mission, was born 
 in Roxbury, Delaware County, N. Y., July 6, 1804, and 
 was convez'ted in the fall of 1818. He began his ministry 
 in 1824, and continued in the active work without inter- 
 ruption for forty years. In 1865 he became supernumer- 
 ary, in 1868 superannuated, and died at New Hamburg, 
 N. Y., March 12, 1869. He was an able minister, labor- 
 ing cheerfully and successfully in some of our hardest 
 fields. He married a daughter of Rev. D. Ostrander, 
 and a son of his, Rev. D. O. Ferris, has held responsi- 
 ble positions in the New York East Conference.* 
 
 The resival already described was still in. progress. 
 On the 6th of February, 1831, Broadway Hall, between 
 Howai-d and Grand Streets, was hired and opened for 
 worship,' and it is said four persons were awakened at the 
 first services.! This was the l)eginning of the Greene 
 Street charge, now the Asbury Church, on Washington 
 Square. • 
 
 On March 10, 1831, Samuel B. Harper, James Donald- 
 son, L. S. Burling, A. C. ^\ heeler, and James B. Oakley 
 were elected trustees. The debt was $37,657 — an in- 
 crease of §2,950. 
 
 * History of St. James Church, by Rev. W. B. Silber, LL.D. 
 •j- Chrislian Advocate, vol. v, p. 98.
 
 262 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The propose<l universitj^ at Middletown, Conn., prob- 
 ably led to the selection of that place as the seat ot the 
 Conference of 1831. It met on May 4, Bishop Soule 
 presiding, Bishop Hedding being also present.* The 
 report of membersliip was 4,889 whites and 64 colored, 
 and 66 whites and 2 colored on the Harlem Mission ; 
 5,021 in all — an increase of 1,066. D. Ostrander was 
 continued as presiding elder, and S. Merwin, L. Pease, 
 S. Martindale, B. Goodsell, S. Landon, J. Clark, B. Sil- 
 lick, and C. Prindle wei"e the preachers. R. Seaman 
 was appointed to the Harlem Mission.f 
 
 Seymour Landon Avas born in Grand Isle, Lake Cham- 
 plain, Vt., May 3, 1798. His father, Asahel Landon, was 
 a very useful local preacher. J Seymour was converted 
 under the ministry of Rev. William Ross, received on 
 probation in the church in 1815, and the same day ac- 
 companied the preacher to his appointments. On the 
 third day he Avent with him to a camp-meeting, and on 
 the Avay his pastor told him that he believed God had 
 called him to preach. He Avas licensed to exhort watli- 
 out his knowledge or consent, and soon after to preach. 
 In 1818, at the age of twenty, he entered the New 
 York Conference on trial. Fifty-five years of effect- 
 ive service without a break followed, then eight years 
 in the superannuated ranks, from which he removed 
 to his everlasting rest on July 29, 1 880. In the anti- 
 slavery struggle he was one of the honored seventeen 
 who voted at the NeAv York Conference of 1838 against 
 the censure of P. R. Brown and the suspension of James 
 Floy for attending an antislavery convention. He 
 
 * Clark's Life of Hedding, p. ,^85. 
 
 ■)■ The residences will be found in an aHsiract from the printed plan 
 of the appointments for 1831-2, Appendix T. 
 
 X Stevens's Memorials of Methodism in New England, Second Series, 
 p. 248.
 
 The Field Divided. 263 
 
 was a man of prepossessing appearance and graceful 
 manners. Notwithstanding an excessive — almost raor- 
 l,i,| — diffidence or self-depreciation, and occasional fits 
 of despondency, he was an able and earnest pi-eacher, and 
 exceedingly attractive in social intercourse. One son, 
 D. S. Landon, M D., died in Brooklyn, N. Y., 1874, 
 aged fifty-two, and another, Rev. Thompson Landon, 
 A.M., is an honored member of the Newark Confer- 
 ence,* and principal of the Military Institute, Borden- 
 town, N. J. 
 
 The John Clark who came to New York city this 
 year, it is hardly necessary to say, was a different man 
 from the one appointed in 1795. He was born in 
 Hartford, Washington County, N. Y., July 30, 1797, of 
 Baptist parents, converted in 1817, and entered Confer- 
 ence on trial in 1820. In 1832 he offered himself as a 
 missionary to the Indians of our land, and was appointed 
 to Green Bay. He labored in that region until 1841, 
 Avhen he went to Texas ; but, having voted with the 
 North at the General Conference of 1844, the Texas 
 Conference passed a resolution disapproving of his 
 course, and he was therefore transferred to the Troy 
 Conference. In 1852 he went to the Rock River Con- 
 ference, and was appointed to Clark Street Station, Chi- 
 cago. He died of cholera, July 1 1, 1854, aged fifty-seven 
 years. He was well adapted to the missionary work, 
 devout, laborious, and mighty in prayer. Sometimes 
 in the pulpit he was remarkably powerful and impress- 
 ive, but at other times seemed to have little command 
 over his own powers, and his audience was disappointed.f 
 
 Bradley Sillick was born in Danbury, Conn., August 
 23, 1784, converted at the age of twelve, and was soon 
 distinguished for his piety and religious activity. He 
 became a local preacher before he reached his twentieth 
 
 * Warriner's Old Sands Street. f Sprague's Annals. 
 
 18
 
 264 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 year, and in 1822 entered the itinerancy. He labored 
 in the bounds of the New York Conference until 1851, 
 when he became supernumerary, and in 1853 superan- 
 nuated. He died in New York, November 4, 1860, in 
 his seventy-seventh year. He was an active laborer, and 
 excelled in appeals to the conscience and the application 
 of the truth in powerful exhortation.* 
 
 Cyrus Prindle was born in Canaan, Litchfield County, 
 Conn., April 11, 1800. He was converted at the age of 
 sixteen, and entered the itinerancy in 1821. His appoint- 
 ments up to the time he came to New York city had 
 been within the bounds of what was afterward the 
 Troy Conference, and in 1833 he returned to that Con- 
 ference, where he labored until 1843, when he withdrew 
 and joined the Wesleyan Methodists. He returned, 
 however, in 1867, joining the Erie Conference, and the 
 cordiality with which he was received is indicated by 
 the fact that he was immediately assigned to a charge 
 in Cleveland, Ohio, and two years after was made pre- 
 siding elder of the Cleveland District, In 1873 he be- 
 came supernumerary, and in 1875 superannuated, and 
 died December 1, 1885. He was a man of intellectual 
 vigor, of positive convictions, of rare purity of charac- 
 ter, of sound practical sense and quiet force, with an 
 intimate knowledge of human nature. f 
 
 The appointment to Harlem Mission w^as Richard 
 Seaman. Born at Merrick, Queens County, L. I., April 
 28, 1785, when a little over fourteen years of age he 
 came to New York and became a clerk in a drug-store. 
 He also began to study medicine, and Avhen about 
 nineteen he was licensed to practice, and at the age of 
 twenty-one became resident physician at the Alms- 
 house, He had been, like too many of the medical 
 
 * Sacred Memories, p. 135 ; and Annucd Minutes. 
 \ General Minutes of 1 886.
 
 The Field Divided. 265 
 
 profession, somewhat skeptical, but in the fall of 1812 
 he devoted himself to the service of God. In 1823 he 
 abandoned a large and remunerative practice and was 
 received on trial in the New York Conference. His 
 connection Avith the Harlem Mission, which began at this 
 time, continued until the end of his life, and to his 
 labors and contributions the work in that section of the 
 city is greatly indebted. It may truly be said that he 
 gave his life and property to the cause of God in that 
 region. After suffering greatly for thirteen years from 
 rheumatism he died at the house of his brother in New 
 York, November 6, 1864, aged eighty, exclaiming, " O, 
 my Saviour, how I love thee ! " * 
 
 During this Conference year the revival continued, 
 though with less impetus. The church in Greene Street 
 was begun and completed, and the corner-stone of that 
 in Second Street was laid on January 23, 1832.f 
 
 On November 9, 1831, Dr. AV'illiam Phcebus died 
 and was buried from the Forsyth Street Church, the 
 services being conducted by Rev. S. Merwin. 
 
 In March, 1832, Joseph Smith, Andrew L. Halsted, 
 AVilliam McLean, Peter Pinckney, and William Smith 
 were elected trustees. The debt was reported to be 
 $67,339, being an increase of nearly $30,000. But this 
 was to be expected because of the two new churches. 
 The ground in Greene Street had cost $10,000, $10,750 
 had been paid on the building, and for the ground in 
 Second Street they had paid $3,200 — in all nearly 
 $24,000. 
 
 This being the year for General Conference the ses- 
 sion of the New York Conference was delayed till June 
 6. It was held in the new church in Greene Street, 
 
 * Saa~ed Memories, p. 164. 
 
 f Full accoums of the origin and progress of those enterprises will 
 be triven hereafter.
 
 266 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Bishop Roberts presiding, Bishop Hedding being pres- 
 ent also. The report of members in New York city for 
 this year was, whites, 5,2.'^5; colored, 120; with 73 whites 
 and 5 colored on the Harlem Mission; in all 5,433 — an 
 increase of 412. This, though not as large as that of 
 the preceding year, was no doubt indicative of nearly, 
 if not quite, equal success, as the work of sifting must 
 liave already begun. 
 
 This Conference of 1832 marks an era in New York 
 Methodism. Up to this time in the city proper there had 
 in fact been but one church. The preachers went their 
 rounds on the circuit. One, the preacher in charge or sen- 
 ior preacher, was the fountain of authority and the exec- 
 utor of discipline; one board of stewards attended to the 
 support of the ministry and the wants of the poor, one 
 leaders' meeting* and one Quarterly Conference repre- 
 sented all the congregations, and one board of trustees 
 held all the property. This plan, while it had no doubt 
 many advantages, was becoming cumbersome, and at this 
 Conference the city vv^as divided into two charges, called 
 the East and ^Vest Circuits. Thenceforth there were 
 two preachers in charge, two leaders' meetings, two 
 Quarterly Conferences, and two boards of stewards, 
 though one board of trustees still held the property. 
 Including the Harlem Mission there were, therefore, 
 properly three charges within the corporate limits of 
 the city, and, as might well be expected, it was not long 
 before the work of disintegration proceeded until the 
 various congregations became separate, each with its 
 own pastor and official boards. Hitherto it has been 
 "The History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 New York; " henceforth it must in a sense be called 
 
 * Sectional or preparatory leaders' meetings were held, however, in 
 the different churches to receive tlie class collections and facilitate 
 the business of the general leaders' meeting.
 
 The Field Divided. 26 7 
 
 " The History of the Methodist Episcopal Churches in 
 New York." About sixty-six years (two generations) 
 have passed since its organization, and the little one has 
 become a thousand. The five liearers that listened to 
 Philip Embury are now succeeded by a membership of 
 nearly 5,500 ; instead of one local preacher there are 
 eleven traveling preachers, besides the book agents and 
 editors and a large body of local preachers, exhorters, 
 and class-leaders; one little room has given place to 
 nine church edifices and another nearly completed, be- 
 sides several rooms occupied for worship; Methodism 
 throughout the land is taking its place in the front rank 
 in point of numbers and endowing schools and colleges 
 and using the press for periodical and other literature 
 more extensively than any other denomination. Hence- 
 forth those who have " peeped and muttered " against 
 her begin to sink into a respectful silence.* 
 
 *The "Wesleyan University at Middletown was just oro:anized, and 
 the o-round for tlie new building of the Methodist Boole Concern in 
 Mulberry Street had recently been bought.
 
 268 A History of Methodism in New York Citv, 
 
 CHAPTER XXHI. 
 
 THE FIELD SUBDIVIDED— CONFERENCES OF 1832 TO 1838. 
 
 As the division of the city into two circuits was fol- 
 lowed in a few years by the separation of the churches 
 into distinct stations, only a very brief view of the gen- 
 eral work in these years of transition will be given, 
 reserving particulars for the special history of each 
 charge. S. Merwin was presiding elder, N, Bangs, J. P. 
 Durbin, and T. Merritt editors, and B. Waugh and 
 T. Mason book agents. The "West Circuit had P. P. 
 Sandford, S. Landon, J. Bowen, G, Coles, and C. Prindle; 
 and the East, T>. Ostrander, B. Griffin, B. Sillick, P. 
 Chamberlin, and P. R. Brown. R. Seaman continued 
 in the Harlem Mission.* 
 
 The new arrangement produced little visible change. 
 The people did not have quite so much variety in the 
 pulpit, though the preachers not unfrequently crossed 
 the line and made exchanges. The difference was main- 
 ly in the transaction of business. In one respect, how- 
 ever, there was a marked alteration in the appearance 
 of a Methodist congregation in New York city. The 
 rule that men and women should sit apart had been 
 rigidly enforced, though its inconvenience had long been 
 felt. A year or so before. Rev. J. Kennaday, D.D., had 
 suggested to a church in Newark, N. J., the plan which 
 at this time was introduced in New York, but after a 
 short experiment it was relinquished in deference to old 
 prejudices.! When the Greene Street Church was 
 
 * Memoirs of new appointees will hereafter be omitted. 
 f Christian Advocate, vol. vi, p. 191, and vol. xiv, pp. 69 and 83.
 
 The Field Subdivided. 
 
 269 
 
 opened the people were permitted to go in at an}'^ door 
 and find a seat, so that families and friends need not be 
 widely separated. A diagram will explain the arrange- 
 ment: 
 
 
 
 WOMEN 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 AISLE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^^^^ 
 
 
 
 MEN 
 
 
 / 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 MEN 
 
 
 / 
 
 ^ 
 
 5 
 
 o 
 
 
 > 
 
 7". 
 
 > 
 
 
 AISLE 
 
 ■< 
 
 " 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 \ "^ \ 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 WOMEN 
 
 
 \ 
 
 V^ 
 
 
 
 WOMEN 
 
 
 \ 
 
 >«» 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 v,^ 
 
 
 
 AISLE 
 
 
 
 ^•^ 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 MEN 
 
 
 
 
 The advantages of this plan were so obvious that it 
 was soon adopted by the other churches in the city. 
 About the close of 1837, however, the custom of pro- 
 miscuous sitting was introduced on the West Circuit. 
 When the practice began on the East Circuit is not ex- 
 actly known. 
 
 The summer of 1832 is memorable as that in which 
 the cholera made its first and most fearful visitation to 
 the city. Dwellings and stores were closed, and many 
 people fled into the country, and the congregations 
 were of course much diminished. Many members weie 
 victims of the disease, but by a good providence all the 
 Methodist preachers of the city escaped.* 
 
 * An idea of the state of the city during the prevalence of this 
 pestilence can be obtained from an article in Tlte Christian Advocate^ 
 vol. vi, p. 197. The writer was Rev. George Coles.
 
 270 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Early in this year, after examining the Forsyth Street 
 Church with the view of making needful rejjairs, it wr.s 
 thought best to rebuild as early as practicable in the 
 ensuing spring.* The corner-stone of the new edifice 
 was accordingly laid April 27, 1833. Bishop Hedding 
 gave an address. f On October 18, 1832, the new church 
 in Second Street was dedicated. 
 
 In January, 1833, the Quarterly Conference of the West 
 Circuit recommended an application to the Legislature 
 for a change in the plan of electing trustees, so that 
 each church could choose two. In March, Gilbert Cou- 
 tant, Joseph Johnson, Richard Kirby, Louis King, and 
 William S. Hunt were chosen trustees for three years; 
 William Gale for one year, in place of S. B. Harper, and 
 Nicholas Schureman for two years in place of A. L. 
 Halsted.J The debt was reported at 178,773 — an in- 
 crease of $11,434. 
 
 On May 8, 1833, the Ncav York Conference met at 
 Poughkeepsie, Bishop Hedding presiding. Tlie reports 
 of members were. New York West Circuit, 2,123 whites 
 and 46 colored; New York East, 2,924 whites and 58 col- 
 ored ; Harlem Mission, 73 whites; in all 6,224 — a de- 
 crease of 209. The church had no doubt lost a number 
 in the cholera, and was then feeling the effects of the 
 reaction after the great revival. S. Merwin remained 
 as presiding elder, and the preachers were. New York 
 East, L. Clark, D. Ostrander, B. Griffin, P. Chamberlin, 
 
 * Trustees' mimites, June 11, November 16 and 23, and December 
 5 and 19, 1832, and January 16, February 6, and Marcli 6, 1833. 
 
 f Christian Advocate, vol. vii, p. 1 38. 
 
 :|: The full board at that time was as follows: Joseph Smith, James 
 Donaldson, Gilbert Coutaut, Andrew C. Wheeler, James B. Oaklev, 
 Jospph Johnson, L. S. Burling, Wm. McLean, Peter Pinckney, Wm. 
 Smitli, Nicholas Schureman, Louis King, Wm. S. Hunt, Wm. Gale, 
 R chard Kirby. — Minutes of trustees, July 10, 1833.
 
 The Field Subdivided. 271 
 
 P. K Brown; New York West, P. P. Sandford, F. Reed, 
 J. Bowen, J. C. Green, C. W, Carpenter; Harlem Mis- 
 sion, R. Seaman, sup., and S. Hueston.* 
 
 The first pewed Methodist church in New York city- 
 was built this year in Vestry Street, and another soon 
 after in Mulberry Street. They were never included in 
 the circuits. Their history will be given hereafter. In 
 March, 1834, James Donaldson, John Carr, William 
 Gale, George Higgins, John Shaw, and Andrew C.^ 
 Wheeler were elected trustees. The debt was $89,798 — 
 an increase of more than |1 1,000 during the year.f 
 
 New Haven, Conn., was the place of meeting of the 
 Conference of 1884, May 7 the date, and Bishop An- 
 drew the presiding officer. J The New York East Cir- 
 cuit reported 2,816 whites, 9 colored; New York West, 
 2,302 whites, 45 colored, and Harlem Mission, 75 whites 
 and 2 colored; in all 5,249 — an increase, it is true, but 
 only of 25. S. Merwin remained as presiding elder. 
 On the East Circuit w^ere L. Clark, S. ('ochran, J. 
 Youngs, N. Bigelow, and J. Law; on the West, J. B. 
 Stratten, F. Reed, J. C. Green, D. De Vinne, and J. C. 
 Tackaberry. Vestiy Street, the pewed church, received 
 Joseph Holdich, and Harlem Mission was to be served 
 by R. Seaman, supernumerary. W. E. Hawley, a local 
 preacher of the city, assisted in the work on the mission. § 
 
 * A written copy of the plan of the West Circuit for 1833-4 gives 
 the following list of local preachers: J. Lyon, J. Smith, W. Lake, 
 R. Roof, M. Standish, W. Lomas, S. Davenport, Z. Davenport, C. Burd, 
 H. P.iyne, C. Dye. We have no list of the local preachers on the Kast 
 Circuit, and they have no appointments on the plan. 
 
 f This is tlie last official report of trustees' election and of debt of 
 the united Churcli to be found. Tlie trustees' minutes in the hands 
 of the writer cease at March 12, 1834. 
 
 X This was the only time ho met the New York Conference. 
 Bishop Hedding was with him. Clark's Li/e of Heddiiiy, p. 431. 
 
 i^ See Christian Advocate, vol. ix, pp. 70, 139.
 
 272 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The Conference of 1835 met at Sands Street, Brook- 
 lyn, on May 6, Bishop Emory presiding.* The New 
 York East Circuit reported 2,853 whites and V colored; 
 New York West, 2,162 whites and 40 colored; Vestry 
 Street, 124 whites; Harlem Mission, 94 whites and 7 
 colored; in all 5,287 — a small increase again, only 38. 
 S. Merwin still continued as presiding elder, and the 
 preachers were, New York East, J. Kennaday, S. Coch- 
 ran, J. Youngs, N. Bigelow, and J. Law. On the 
 West Circuit, J. B. Stratten, D. De Yinne, J. C. Tack- 
 aberry, L. Mead, E. E. Griswold. For Vestry Street 
 and Mulberry Street the Minutes read, "one to be sup- 
 plied,! ^- Seney." Harlem Mission, J, Luckey, one to 
 be supplied. J 
 
 The session of the General Conference in 1836 deferred 
 the New York Conference to June 22. It met at Forsyth 
 Street, Bishop Hedding presiding. The East Circuit 
 reported 2,975 whites and 1 colored; the West, 2,112 
 whites and 40 colored; Vestry Street, 150 whites; Mul- 
 berry Street, 106 whites, and Harlem Mission, 109 
 wliites; a total of 5,493 — an increase of 206. There was 
 a new presiding elder, D, Ostrander, and the preachers 
 were, East Circuit, J. Kennaday, S. Merwin, S. Jleming- 
 ton, H. Brown, and D. Smith; West Circuit, C. W. Car- 
 penter, J. Covel, Jr., J. Z. Nichols, L. Mead, E. E. Gris- 
 wold, and L. Pease, supernumerary. F. Hodgson re- 
 turned to Vestry Street and R. Seney to Mulberry 
 Street. On the Harlem Mission were J, Luckey and 
 D. De Vinne. Besides the Mariners' Church, at which 
 H. Chase still continued, as he had through the preced- 
 ing years, though it was not thought necessary to note 
 
 *This was the only time he met the Xew York Conference. 
 Bishop Hedding was also present. See Clark's Life of Hedding, p. 440. 
 \ The supply for Yestry Street was F. Hodgson. 
 X W. C. Havvley, it is believed, was the supply for Harlem Mission.
 
 The Field Subdivided. 273 
 
 it, as the charge was not a Methodist, but a Union, 
 church, we also find a Floating Bethel in the list, to 
 which W. Scott was appointed. 
 
 On Ji^ly 1 of this year the corner-stone of the new 
 building for the Book Room in Mulberry Street was laid 
 after an address by Dr. Bang^. On Tuesday evening, 
 August 9, 1836, the last sermon was preached in the 
 Allen Street C'Durch, the building being about to be 
 torn down to be replaced by another.* 
 
 The year was one of spiritual prosperity. Revivals 
 took place in Duane, Greene, Second, Willett, and For- 
 syth Street churches, and there was some religious in- 
 terest in other congregations. About 180 were con- 
 verted in Willett Street, f 
 
 In 1837 the Conference met at Washington Street, 
 Brooklyn, on May 17, Bishop Waugh presiding. Bishop 
 Hedding being also present. The New York East Cir- 
 cuit reported 3,394 whites and 9 colored ; the West 
 Circuit, 1,981 whites and 40 colored ; Vestry Street, 
 160 wdiites; Mulberry Street, 119 whites. Harlem 
 Mission makes no report. The total is 5,703 — an in- 
 crease of 2 1 0. J D. Ostrander was re-appointed presiding 
 elder, and the preachers of the West Circuit were C. W. 
 Carpenter, J. Covel, Jr., J. Z. Nichols, A. S. Francis, C. 
 K. True, and N. Bigelow and R. Seaman, supernumera- 
 ries. The East Circuit was divided into separate sta- 
 tions, as follows: Forsyth Street, D. Smith; Allen Street, 
 J. B. Stratten ; Seventh Street, R. Gilbert; Willett Street, 
 S. Remington; Second Street, H. Brown. The Harlem 
 Mission had D. De Vinne and J. Floy; Vestry Street had 
 B. Creagh; Mulberry Street, F. Hodgson. 
 
 * See history of Allen Street, p. 294. 
 f Christian Advocate, vol. xi, p. 102. 
 
 X If Harlem had reported there would probably liave been at least 
 100 more.
 
 274 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 On June 22, 1837, the new church in Seventh Street 
 was dedicated, and on July 2 that in Yorkville. The 
 columns of The Christian Advocate report seasons of 
 revival in almost all the churches. 
 
 On May 16, 1838, the Conference assembled in Greene 
 Street, Bishop Hedding presiding.* The total returns 
 of membership in the city were 5,477 whites and 56 col- 
 ored; in all, 5,533 — a decrease of l70.f At this Con- 
 ference the West Circuit, following the example of the 
 East, was divided into separate charges. Harlem Mis- 
 sion was to be served by J. C. Tackaberry and J. Floy. 
 C. W. Williamson was appointed missionary to the 
 French population of the city, and D. Ostrander re- 
 mained as presiding elder. 
 
 As has been already stated, the division of the city 
 into two circuits in 1832 made no change in the board 
 of trustees, and the property was still held in common. 
 But, as was to be expected, the difficulties arising from 
 such a system were increastid, and there was a growing 
 feeling that new financial arrangements were necessary. 
 A very warm contest arose. Those who advocated a 
 continuance of the old system called themselves "union 
 men," and gave to their opponents the title of "nulli- 
 fiers" — a name of peculiar reproach in those days because 
 of the recent nullification movement in South Carolina. 
 At the meeting for the election of trustees, March 4, 
 1834, a vote was taken on the question, which stood, 
 
 *This Conference is memorable as tbat on which several of its 
 members were dealt with for attending an antishivery convention at 
 Utica. 
 
 f This seetns inconsistent with tlie reports of revivals just referred 
 to. It is probable that the controversy about the division of the 
 church property wiiich was in progress at this time was a serious 
 drawback. It was also a time of great pecuniary embarrassment, 
 and many moved out of the city.
 
 The Field Subdivided. 275 
 
 51] for union and 286 for division.* But on August 
 20, 1834, a committee, previously appointed by the 
 trustees to consider the matter, recommended the calling 
 of meetings of the male members in each of the churches 
 at the same hour, to which the question was to be sub- 
 mitted. These meetings were held on August 25, and 
 the result was : 
 
 For Against 
 
 Division. Division. 
 
 John Street 17 7 
 
 Forsyth Street 36 18 
 
 Willelt Street 20 4- 
 
 Allen Street 21 .38 
 
 Second Street 27 5 
 
 Bowery Village (Seventh Street) 6 7 
 
 Twentieth Street (Eighteenth Street) 18 1 
 
 Bedford Street 27 26 
 
 Greene Street 12 15 
 
 Dnane Street 11 29 
 
 195 150f 
 
 In October, 1834, it was resolved to apply to the chan- 
 cellor for permission to divide, and that a commission of 
 "six judicious persons " be appointed to value the prop- 
 erty. The permission was granted in March, 1835, and 
 on the 27th of that month articles of agreement were 
 concluded, which were signed on the 30th. Of the value 
 of the property we find no record, but the debt was es- 
 timated at 189,950 34. J At the meeting of May 6, 1835, 
 letters of resignation from the trustees connected with 
 the East Circuit were received and accepted. § The West 
 Circuit retained the original charter, probably because 
 it included John Street Church. 
 
 The East Circuit, however, continued to work with a 
 joint board only a little more than a year. On Septem- 
 
 * Trustees' minutes. f See Charter Church, p. 24. 
 
 X Ibid, p. 25. § lUd., p. 28.
 
 276 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 tei- 15, 1836, the property and debt were divided be- 
 tween the several cliurches within its bounds. A record 
 at Willett Street values the entire property at $144,000, 
 and gives the debt at about 146,000. A paper at Forsyth 
 Street, however, gives items of property which amount 
 to $151,100, but no statement of the debt. Nor can 
 there be found, except in two instances, any account of 
 the portion of property and debt assigned to each 
 church. 
 
 But the West Circuit ke|)t up the union until 1838, 
 On January 2 of that year, at a meeting in the Greene 
 Street Church, it was resolved by a vote of 93 to 5 to 
 divide,* and on November 16 warrantee deeds were 
 given to the churches in John Street, Duane Street, 
 Greene Street, and Bedford Street. f Naturally the 
 duty of setting off the others would have devolved on 
 John Street, but the trustees of that church declining 
 to take the responsibility it Avas done by Eighteenth 
 Street, and thus the youngest of the five became pos- 
 sessed of the original charter and seal, and is " The 
 Methodist Episcopal C-hurch in the city of New York." 
 We have no account of the value of the churches at the 
 time, but the debt was estimated at 163,000, and there 
 was loose property (grave-yards, vaults, and lots and 
 houses not used for church purposes) amounting to 
 $17,750, leaving a net debt of $45,250. This was ap- 
 portioned as follows: Greene Street, $9,500; John 
 Street, $10,900; Duane Street, $8,800; Bedford Street, 
 $6,300; Eighteenth Street, $9,750. J 
 
 Not long before this (probably in the latter ])art of 
 1837) promiscuous seating had been introduced. A 
 departure from the old system, which drew a dividing 
 line between the sexes through the middle of the church, 
 had been ma-le when the building in Greene Street was 
 
 * Charttr Church, p. H8. f Ihid., p. 42. % ^^'^•' P- ^l-
 
 The Field Subdivided. 277 
 
 opened,* and was immediately adopted throughout the 
 city. But this was only a step toward the removal of 
 all barriers. There was much and no doubt honest op- 
 position to this change, as will be seen by the following 
 extract from the minutes of the List Quarterly Confer- 
 ence of the united churches of the West Circuit, held 
 April 4, 1838. It is the last item in the minutes, and 
 seems like a final protest uttered by the lovers of good 
 old customs just as the circuit system in New York 
 city was expiring. One of the preachers present offered 
 the following resolution: 
 
 '' Resolved, That the trustees of the West Circuit 
 who have seated the congregations promiscuously in 
 their churches have violated the order and discipline of 
 the Church." 
 
 After debate it was laid on the table, and the Con- 
 ference never met again to take it up. The middle 
 wall of partition then broken down has never been 
 built up again, and it is doubtful if any one wishes it 
 should be. 
 
 *See p. 2ii9.
 
 278 A History op Methodism in Xew York City. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIY. 
 
 CHURCHES: JOHN" STREET— FORSYTH STREET— DU AXE 
 STREET. 
 
 JOHN STREET. 
 
 {Wesley Chapel — First MetJwdist Episcopal Church — The First Meth- 
 odifit EpiscojMl Centennial Church in the City of New York.) 
 
 When, in 1832, the city was divided into two charges, 
 John Street was included in the West Circuit.* George 
 Coles was the preacher who resided there. Fitch Reed 
 followed in 1833-4, E. E. Griswold in 1835-6, and 
 Charles K. True in 1837. In 1838 the West Circuit was 
 divided into separate charges. Up to this time the 
 statistics of the whole circuit were reported in one sum, 
 so that there are no means of ascertaining precisely what 
 membership was connected with the old church. In 
 the division of the church property we have no account 
 of the value of that assigned to John Street, but its 
 share of the debt was $10,900. In July, 1836, the build- 
 ing narrowly escaped destruction by fire. A quantity 
 of shavings placed under some benches in the basement 
 were burning, and a man was found on his knees in the 
 room saying his prayers. He gaA'e his name as John 
 P. Kelly, and said he was a printer from Philadelpliia. 
 A number of Catholic tracts and a mahogany crucifix 
 were found on him. He gave no explanation of his 
 conduct, and it was afterward learned that he was de- 
 
 * It would therefore naturally have come within the bounds of ilie 
 New York Conference when the Conference was divided in 1848, but 
 the boundary was then so run as to place it within the New York East.
 
 John Street. 279 
 
 ranged.* It has been remarked that the John Street 
 Church is one of the few buildings which has escajied 
 the successive conflagrations which have swept away tlie 
 landmarks of old New York. 
 
 Buel Goodsell was the first pastor of the independent 
 charge, and in 1839, at the close of his first year, it had 
 238 whites and 22 colored members; in all 260 — very 
 nearly what it was in 1787, about fifty years before, when 
 it stood 275. The preacher remained another year, and 
 when he left, in 1840, the membership was 233. The 
 population of the neighborhood was decreasing, dwell- 
 ings being rapidly supplanted by stores, and the pros- 
 pect became so discouraging that at the General Confer- 
 ence of 1840 the trustees offered to sell the property for 
 missionary premises. The proposal was laid on the table.f 
 
 But a better view of the history of this and the other 
 churches Avill be obtained if the appointments and stji- 
 tistics are presented in a tabular form. J 
 
 YEAR. ; 
 
 IIEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1838 
 
 — 
 
 B. Goodsell. 
 
 1840 
 
 233 
 
 Wm. K. Stopford. 
 
 1839 
 
 260 
 
 
 1841 
 
 274^ 
 
 ? 
 
 It was during Mr. Stopford's pastorate that the pres- 
 ent church edifice — the third on that site — was erected. 
 The widening of the street made it necessary that some 
 change should be made, and the trustees state that three 
 plans had been under consideration — 1. To tear down 
 a part, and put up a new front. 2. To sell, and build 
 
 * Christian Advocate^ vol. x, p. 191. 
 
 f General Conference Journal, p. 72. 
 
 X In these tables, and in those of all the other churches, the number 
 of members is first given, showing \\o\v many there were when the 
 pastor began the year. The number at the close of his year will be 
 found on the next line below. No distinction is made between white 
 and colored, or members and probationers. 
 
 § A revival during tliis j'ear resulted iu tlie addition of about 100. 
 Christian Advocate, vol. xvi, p. 159. 
 1!)
 
 280 A History of Methodism in Neav York City. 
 
 elsewhere. 3. To rebuild, " and thus secure to the Meth- 
 odist E2yiscopal Church forever that sacred spot, toward 
 which converge all the pleasing recollections of early 
 Methodism. The last-named plan the trustees have 
 decided upon." Therefore they asked " aid from their 
 brethren at home and abroad, to enable them to prose- 
 cute their enterprise, believing as they do that by per- 
 petuating to other and distant generations the privilege 
 of worshiping their fatliers' God where tJiey first erected 
 the standard of the cross and proclaimed a free and pres- 
 ent and full salvation they do what the voice of the 
 whole Methodist Episcopal Church w^ould demand at 
 their hand." The name of James Harper is signed as 
 president of the board of trustees and Ira Perego as sec- 
 retary.* This building is forty feet by eighty, and has 
 a gallery on three sides and a convenient basement. It 
 was dedicated on Tuesday, April 27, 1 841, at three P. M., 
 by Bishop Hedding, who preached on 1 Thess. i, 8, " For 
 from you sounded out the word of the Lord," etc. 
 
 For a few years after the new building was occupied 
 nothing of especial interest occurred in its history. Its 
 reports and appointments were : 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBEBS 
 
 
 FASTDR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1842 
 
 377 
 
 V. 
 
 Buck. 
 
 1849 
 
 333 
 
 V. Buck. 
 
 1843 
 
 419 
 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 247 
 
 G. Brown. 
 
 1844 
 
 373 
 
 A. 
 
 Rogers. 
 
 1851 
 
 275 
 
 " 
 
 1845 
 
 388 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 217 
 
 W. K. Stopford. § 
 
 1846 
 
 347 
 
 E. 
 
 Crawford, f 
 
 1853 
 
 189 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1847 
 
 353 
 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 167 
 
 G. S. Hare. 
 
 1848 
 
 327 
 
 V. 
 
 Buck. X 
 
 
 
 
 * Christian Advocate^ vol. xv, p. 27. 
 
 ■)■ Mr. Crawford was born in the old John Street parsonage about 
 thirty-five years before. 
 
 \ This year the old New York Conference was divided, and John 
 Street was thenceforth in the New York Blast Conference. 
 
 § Mr. Stopford died on the 25th of June, 1852. Hiram Mattison, a 
 superannuated member of tlie Black River Conference, supplied dur- 
 ing the rest of the year and the whole of the next.
 
 THIRD JOHN SIUKLT CHL'RCn.
 
 JoHX Street. 281 
 
 But about this time a very warm and unfortunate 
 controversy arose. A majority ot the board of trustees 
 took action for the sale of the property and the use of 
 the proceeds to erect a new house in the neighborhood 
 of Madison Square. It was argued that the member- 
 ship and congregation were small ; that many of them 
 lived at a distance and could be better accommodated 
 elsewhere ; that the current expenses were not met, and 
 that, the property being valuable, its proceeds could be 
 better employed for the work in some other locality. 
 The tirst three of these statements were undoubtedly 
 correct, and the last had sufficient foundation to entitle 
 it to attention. But on the other side it was urged that 
 a church was still needed in that section of the city, 
 that it could be sustained, that it was entitled to the 
 help of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 not only in Xew York city but throughout the whole 
 connection, and that, being the site of the first oNIeth- 
 odist Episcopal church edifice on the continent, it 
 should be preserved. The other party replied that it 
 was not the spot where Methodist preaching began in 
 this country; that the rigging-loft and Embury's own 
 house preceded it, and that a portion of the property 
 (a lot on each side of the present building) had already 
 been sold ; and that no sentimental attachment or rev- 
 erence for the locality ought to interfere with such use 
 of the property as would most tend to the glory of God 
 and the salvation of men. On the other hand was the 
 fact, not made as prominent, however, as it deserved to 
 be, that in the erection of the present building appeals 
 had been made for aid from the whole Church, not only 
 in Kew York, but in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and else- 
 where, on the plea that the property was to be preserved 
 perpetually as a place of Methodist worship.* This 
 * Seo p. 280.
 
 282 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 made it seem almost like a breach of faith to sell it and 
 apply the proceeds to the erection of a building elsewhere. 
 
 The controversy was a protracted and painful one. 
 A decision of one of the bishops in favor of the up- 
 town party, though no doubt honestly given, proved to 
 be unfortunate; tlie down-town membership, male and 
 female, literally intrenched themselves in the building 
 to hold it against all assaults. The result was that the 
 property in John Street was not sold, and remains now, 
 and there is reason to hope ever will remain, a place of 
 worship for " the people called Methodists." In the 
 conflict, however, the Church lost more than |20,000,* 
 and was left in an embarrassed condition. In 18G6, by 
 the aid of Bishop Janes, $13,000 was raised to pay off 
 indebtedness, and the property was conveyed to a new 
 corporation under a special charter passed in the same 
 year. The corporate title is " The First Methodist 
 Episcopal Centennial Church in the City of New York." 
 No sale of the property can be made without consent of 
 the General Conference and the Supreme Court of New 
 York. The trustees are elected by the General Confer- 
 ence, a majority of them being connected with the John 
 Street Society, and are subject to the direction of the 
 General Conference. 
 
 In 1855 the Minutes report 146 members and "John 
 Street, to be supplied." Rev. N. Tibbals was the 
 supply. At the Conference of 1856, 134 members were 
 reported; but in the list of appointments of the New 
 York East Conference for that year the name of this 
 old church is not to be found. In the Minutes of the 
 New York Conference, however, we have " Fii-st Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, George S. Hare," this being 
 evidently the name of the new organization; and in the 
 Minutes of the New York East Conference we read, 
 * C. Shaffer, Esq., in Christian Advocate, vol. Ix, p. lol.
 
 JoHX Street. 283 
 
 "South New York Mission, V. Buck." But in 1857 
 this disappears, and we have "John Street " again, with 
 Charles E. Harris as pastor,* but no report of members 
 either of that or of the "South New York Mission," but 
 the "First Methodist Episcopal Church" in the New 
 York Conference reports 1-38 members, and is left to 
 be supplied; it also reports a church worth |40,000.f 
 In 1858, however, the "First Methodist Episcopal 
 Church " disappears finally from the Minutes of the 
 New York Conference, and in those of the New York 
 East, John Street reports 116 members, a church prop- 
 erty valued at $40,000, and Charles E. Harris again as 
 preacher. In 1859 he reported 112 members, and a 
 church worth $22,000. Since then the record runs: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTCIK. 
 
 YEAR. ■ 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1859 
 
 112 
 
 E. L. Janes. 
 
 1875 
 
 171 
 
 X. 
 
 G. Cheney. 
 
 1860 
 
 130 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 J80 
 
 M. 
 
 L. Scudder. 
 
 1861 
 
 147 
 
 W. H. Milbuni. 
 
 1877 
 
 118 
 
 B. 
 
 T. Abbott. 
 
 186-2 
 
 170 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 186 
 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 167 
 
 J. M. Carrol. 
 
 1879 
 
 201 
 
 
 " 
 
 1864 
 
 124 
 
 S. C. Keeler. 
 
 1880 
 
 209 
 
 L. 
 
 S. Weed. 
 
 1865 
 
 131 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1881 
 
 199 
 
 C. 
 
 C. Lasby. 
 
 1866 
 
 136 
 
 To be supplied.:]: 
 
 1882 
 
 219 
 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 150 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 234 
 
 A. 
 
 B. Saiiford. 
 
 1868 
 
 117 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 203 
 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 137 
 
 W. P. Corbit. 
 
 1885 
 
 235 
 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 92 
 
 L. S. Weed. 
 
 1886 
 
 171 
 
 J. 
 
 L. Peck. 
 
 1871 
 
 110 
 
 •' 
 
 1887 
 
 170 
 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 164 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 164 
 
 W 
 
 . W. Bowdisli. 
 
 1873 
 1874 
 
 138 
 155 
 
 X. G. Cheney. 
 
 1889 
 1890 
 
 235 
 230 
 
 
 !; 
 
 The church is valued at $50,000. No parsonage and 
 no debt. Pastor's total salary (including rent), $2,000. 
 Other collections, $758.§ Current expenses, $1,400. The 
 Sunday-school numbers 154. 
 
 * Mr. Harris had been supplying the charge during most of the 
 previous year. f Evidently the John Street property. 
 
 X W. H. De Puy, a member of the Genesee Conference and assistant 
 editor of The Christian Advocate, was the supply. 
 
 § This total is from the Minutes of 1890, and hero and in all otlicr
 
 2Fi4 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Scarcely a week passes in which there are not visitors, 
 some from distant parts of our own country and other 
 hands,* who not unfrequently leave a substantial token of 
 their interest in a contribution to its funds. That these 
 are needed it is hardly necessary to say, as the society 
 has to make every effort to meet expenses. But it is 
 doing a good work, and now, after more than one hun- 
 dred and twenty years, the old cradle bids fair to be 
 preserved until the end of time. Except Trinity and 
 St. Paul's it is the only Protestant church edifice below 
 Chambers Street, and although the region is principally 
 occupied for business purposes there is still consider- 
 able population. There are a number of large buildings 
 which are in the charge of persons of intelligence, 
 many of whom, witli their families, are not inclined to 
 attend ritualistic services, and John Street furnishes 
 such opportunities as meet their desires. If the church 
 were properly equipped and endowed, f it is believed 
 that its future history would equal if not excel the past. 
 Surely Methodism in the United States is able to supply 
 the means for this, and most certainly it ought to do so. 
 The anniversary of the original dedication is cele- 
 brated every year on the last Sunday in October. The 
 old clock, said to be a gift from Mr. Wesley, still ticks 
 in the basement, and the altar-rail and desk in the 
 
 cases includes the sum for bisliops, presiding elders, Conference 
 claimants, and all collections for benevolent purposes, but not those 
 for debt, repairs, and miscellaneous objects. The current expenses 
 are for sexton, fuel, light, etc. 
 
 * A book is kept in which these visitors are requested to enter 
 their names. Many fail to do so, but from the time when the Rev. 
 W. W. Bowdish came to the charge (April, 1888) until the last of 
 October, 1889, 864 wrote their names. 
 
 f In 1872 an endowment fund was inaugurated by Rev. L. S. 
 "Weed; but it has not yet reached the amount necessary to make it 
 available.
 
 John Street. 285 
 
 lecture-room were in the auilience-room of the second 
 church.* There are also monumental tablets to John 
 Summerfield, Philip Embury, Barbara Hick, Bishop 
 Asbury, Joseph Smith, Mrs. Maria Harper (wife of 
 James Harper), Rev. Elijah Crawford, Rev. W. K. 
 Stopford, and Rev. L. S. Weed (former pastors), and 
 Bishops Janes and Harris (resident bishops in New 
 York at the time of their death). 
 
 The baptismal-bowl bears an inscrijjtion stating that 
 it was a gift from Thomas Carpenter in 1799, and the 
 vessels for communion wine are inscribed, " For the use 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church in John Street, 
 1818," the year of the erection of the second church. 
 
 FORSYTH STREET. 
 
 (Second Street — Boivery Church.) 
 
 From 1832 to 1837 Forsyth Street Church was part 
 of the New York East Circuit, and the preachers resid- 
 ing there were, 1832-3, D. Ostrander; 1834-5, S. Coch- 
 ran; 1836, D. Stnitli. In 1837 the circuit was divided 
 into separate charges, and D. Smith remained in Forsyth 
 Street. 
 
 Early in tliis period a new church edifice was erected. f 
 The last sermon in the old building (probably early in 
 1833) was from the text, "Lord, it is good for us to be 
 here," and in tin; prayer-meeting which followed six 
 conversions took place. J The corner-stone of the new 
 
 * It has been sa'd that they were built by Embury in the first 
 church; but this is beheved to be an error. See p. 85. 
 
 f There seems to be an idea that this was a partial rebuilding of 
 the old one. But this is an error; the building was new, though some 
 of the old material was probably used. 
 
 I Christian Advocate, vol. vii, p. 129.
 
 286 A IIisToKV OK Metiiodjsm ]N' Nkw YoiikCitv. 
 
 edifice was laid in April, 1833, Bishop Heddiiig givinir 
 an address.* The dedication was in October. The 
 venerable Thomas Morrell, through whose efforts the 
 first church was built, and who preached its dedication 
 sermon, was invited to officiate, but, being too feeble, 
 Daniel Ostrander delivered the opening discourse, tak- 
 ing as his text 1 Cor. iii, 9. 
 
 The building was one of the largest owned by the de- 
 nomination in the city at that time. It was a little 
 longer than that recently erected in Greene Street, but 
 not quite as Avide, and nearly after the same model. It 
 cost about S20,000.f In 1837, therefore, with a church 
 edifice nearly new, and a membership, as reported in 
 1838, of 914, Forsyth Street began its independent his- 
 tory. A revival in the early part of 1838 resulted in 
 the conversion of more than one hundred.| Daniel 
 Smith, as we have seen, was the pastor; his successors 
 and the reports they made are given below : 
 
 VKAB. 
 
 MEMBEK3. 
 
 PASTOK. 
 
 VKAB. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 s. 
 
 PASTUK. 
 
 1838 
 
 914 
 
 J. Lindsay. 
 
 1851 
 
 417 
 
 R. 
 
 Jessop. 
 
 1839 
 
 854 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 418 
 
 J. 
 
 B. Wakeley. 
 
 1840 
 
 853 
 
 Jolin Crawford. 2<i. 
 
 1853 
 
 342 
 
 
 " 
 
 1841 
 
 936 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 370 
 
 W 
 
 . H. Norris. 
 
 1842 
 
 1,070§ 
 
 H. Bangs. 
 
 1855 
 
 326 
 
 
 " 
 
 1843 
 
 980 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 342 
 
 R. 
 
 M. Hatfield. 
 
 1844 
 
 828 
 
 S. Washburn. 
 
 1857 
 
 360 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1845 
 
 655 
 
 " 
 
 1S58 
 
 390 
 
 T. 
 
 H. Biirch. 
 
 1846 
 
 622 
 
 J. B. Striitlen. 
 
 1859 
 
 394 
 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 535 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 361 
 
 J. 
 
 Miley. 
 
 1848 
 
 57511 
 
 J. W. B. Wood. 
 
 1861 
 
 265 
 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 523 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 252 
 
 J. 
 
 Peofcr, .Tr. 
 
 1850 
 
 502 
 
 R. Jessop. 
 
 18G3 
 
 245 
 
 
 '' 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. vii, p. l.'!9. Tr\iPtees' raiuiites. Apiil 17, 
 1833. 
 
 f Greenleaf s History of the Churches of New Ym-k. 
 
 X Christian Advocate, vol. xii, p. 106. 
 
 § The largest membership in the city at the time. 
 
 II Ninety-four were converted in a revival in tlio early part of 
 1848, Christian Advocate, vol. xxiii, p. 38.
 
 FoHSYTii Strkkt. ^s' 
 
 1854 
 
 243 
 
 G. 
 
 A. Hubbell. 
 
 1878 
 
 99 
 
 R. S. Putney. 
 
 1865 
 
 206 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1879 
 
 86 
 
 A. C. Moreliou.so, 
 
 186H 
 
 247 
 
 F. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 1880 
 
 146 
 
 '> 
 
 isr,? 
 
 264 
 
 
 •• 
 
 1881 
 
 138 
 
 
 1868 
 
 280 
 
 
 
 1882 
 
 107 
 
 '• 
 
 18G9 
 
 288 
 
 J. 
 
 A. Roc-lie. 
 
 1883 
 
 ISO 
 
 
 1870 
 
 189 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1884 
 
 189 
 
 W. W. Gillies. 
 
 1871 
 
 170 
 
 G. 
 
 Stlllmun. 
 
 1885 
 
 154 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 147 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Baniliart. 
 
 1886 
 
 73 
 
 J. A. Roolie. 
 
 1873 
 
 182 
 
 
 
 1887 
 
 75 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 162 
 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 82 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 161 
 
 J. 
 
 B. Mervviii. 
 
 1889 
 
 72 
 
 T. Stephenson. 
 
 1876 
 
 105 
 
 A 
 
 Ginliam. 
 
 1890 
 
 70 
 
 W. H. Lawrence, 
 
 1877 
 
 84 
 
 X. 
 
 Hubbell. 
 
 
 
 
 From more than one tlioiisaiul nearly iit'ty years ago 
 the membership has, therefore, gone down to less than 
 one hundred. Of course, the large church edifice became 
 a burden, and during Mr. Barnhart's term of service it 
 was thought advisable to make such changes in the 
 property as would adapt it to the change of circum- 
 stances. About two thirds of the front portion was 
 taken down, and tenement houses erected in its place; 
 the remaining one third was left as a place of worship, 
 the seating being changed. But unfortunately the tene- 
 ments did not rent to advantage, and the society found 
 its burdens increased. There had been a surplus of 
 $8,000, but now there was a debt of some $70,000.* 
 But this has been reduced, and when it is extinguished 
 tlie pi-oceeds of the property can be used for the work 
 in the neighborhood. The trustees are elected by the 
 New York East Conference. The whole property, in- 
 cluding the tenement houses, is valued at $125,000. 
 Debt, $7,000. Total salary, $1,200. Other collections, 
 $130. Current expenses, $500. Sunday-school, 140. 
 
 * The prospects of tliis church liave very mucli improved now 
 (January, 1892). The membership has increased fifty per cent., the 
 collections have nearly doubled, the debt is less than $3,000, and the 
 preaclier's salary $2,000.
 
 288 A HisTOiiY OF Mkthodism IX New York City. 
 
 DUANE CHURCH. 
 
 {North. Church — North River Church — Hudson Church — Duane Street 
 Church) 
 
 Duane Street became part of the West Circuit, and 
 S. Landon was the resident preacher. He was succeeded 
 in 1833 by C. W. Carpenter, in 1834-5 by D. De Vinne, 
 and in 1836-7 by J. Z. Nichols. In 1838, when it be- 
 came a separate charge, -18,800 was its sliare of the debt, 
 and M. Richardson was appointed pastor. The build- 
 ing in which tlie congregation was worshiping was the 
 oldest Methodist Church edifice in the city. Though 
 improved in some respects it still retained a somewhat 
 antiquated aspect. A number of the members were of 
 French ancestry, descendants of the Huguenot settlers 
 of Staten Island and Westchester County, and some 
 were. from the island of Guernsey. The attendance, 
 though not equal to what it had been, was still good, 
 and its social meetings were of a lively character. From 
 the Minutes Ave get the following items as to its pas- 
 ters and membership: 
 
 1888 
 
 
 
 M. Rieluirdsoii. 
 
 1857 
 
 322 
 
 B. 
 
 M. Adams. 
 
 1889 
 
 427 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 314 
 
 
 " 
 
 1840 
 
 457 
 
 S. D. Ferguson. 
 
 1859 
 
 284 
 
 M 
 
 . D'C. Crawford. 
 
 1841 
 
 401 
 
 S. Luckey. 
 
 1860 
 
 215 
 
 T. 
 
 B. Smitli. 
 
 1842 
 
 436 
 
 S. Vanduseu. 
 
 1861 
 
 265 
 
 
 " 
 
 1843 
 
 603 
 
 J. Law. 
 
 1862 
 
 245 
 
 Z. 
 
 N. Lewis. 
 
 1844 
 
 607 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 178 
 
 J. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 1845 
 
 601 
 
 J. roisal. 
 
 1864 
 
 215 
 
 
 " 
 
 1 84 fi 
 
 627 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 210 
 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 512 
 
 L M. Yincent. 
 
 1866 
 
 277 
 
 T. 
 
 B. Smitli. 
 
 1848 
 
 554 
 
 '• 
 
 1867 
 
 230 
 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 490 
 
 0. Y. Anierman. 
 
 1868 
 
 270 
 
 A. 
 
 , McLean. 
 
 1850 
 
 460 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 317 
 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 402 
 
 R. A. Clialker. 
 
 1870 
 
 302 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 381 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 332 
 
 J. 
 
 G. Oakley. 
 
 1853 
 
 372 
 
 Z. N. Lewis. 
 
 1872 
 
 275 
 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 350 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 280 
 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 310 
 
 L. H. King. 
 
 1874 
 
 220 
 
 
 
 1856 
 
 295 
 
 " 
 
 
 

 
 DuANE Church. 289 
 
 At the Conference of 1874Duane Church and Greene 
 Street wei-e united under the charge of E. S. Osbon, and 
 so continued in ISlo under J. A. Edmonds. In 1876, 
 however, the union ceased, and C. M. Eggleston was 
 appointed to Duane Cliurch. 
 
 1876 
 
 
 
 C. 
 
 M. Egglestoii. 
 
 1884 
 
 207 
 
 •J. 
 
 Rowe. 
 
 1877 
 
 155 
 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 109 
 
 S. 
 
 Lowllier. 
 
 1878 
 
 135 
 
 J. 
 
 "W. Ackerly. 
 
 1886 
 
 104 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1879 
 
 158 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 107 
 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 1 35 
 
 
 It 
 
 1888 
 
 100 
 
 J. 
 
 J. Dean. 
 
 1881 
 
 137 
 
 Ct. 
 
 , W. Terbtish. 
 
 1889 
 
 92 
 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 171 
 
 J. 
 
 Rowe. 
 
 1890 
 
 84 
 
 F. 
 
 Hamlin. 
 
 1883 
 
 190 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 This churcli, Uke all others iu the lower part of the 
 city, found its congregation decreasing, and in the early 
 part of 1863 the property was sold. On April 19, dur- 
 ing the session of tlie New York Conference, Avhat were 
 expected to be the closing services were held. Rev. J. 
 Z. Nichols and others officiating. At that Conference 
 Rev. John Parker was appointi?d to the charge, and, no 
 arrangements having yet been made for a place of wor- 
 ship, the use of the old building was obtained for 
 another Lord's day. Accordingly, Mi-. Parker began his 
 labors in that house, and thus preached the last sermon 
 in it on Sunday evening, April 26, 1863. Part of a 
 dwelling-house in Hudson Street, opposite what was then 
 St. John's Park (now the Hudson River R. R. Depot), 
 was hired, and there the services were held until the 
 new building was prepared. 
 
 The sale of the property was made under unfavorable 
 circumstances, and was believed to be at less than its 
 real value, although tliis may be a question. It brought 
 .!>56,500,* and after paying assessments and about |5,00() 
 for reTuoving and re-interring the dead from its vaults 
 
 * Letter of Mr. S. L. Russell, in Christian Advocate, vol. Ix, pp. 848, 
 Biijned " A Member of the Diiane Cluirch."
 
 290 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 there was only about $25,000 left for new proi)erty; of 
 this -$19,000 was paid for land on which stood two 
 stores in Hudson Street, near Spring, leaving only 
 $6,000 for the building. This cost about $33,000, the 
 balance being provided for before the dedication. Rev. 
 J. McClintock, D.D., preached the sermon on the words, 
 " God is love." * 
 
 The " Duane Church," as it is now called, has property 
 valued at $30,000. No debt, no parsonage. Salary, $800; 
 rent, $420. Other collections, $231. Current expenses, 
 $450. Sunday-school, 75. 
 
 * Letter of Rev. .T. Parker.
 
 Seventh Stkeet, 291 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 CHURCHES: SEYEXTH STREET— BEDFORD STREET— 
 ALLEX STREET ME>,IORIAL— A\'ILLETT STREET. 
 
 SEVENTH STREET. 
 
 {Tiuo-Mile Stone — Bowery Village.) 
 
 As has already been stated,* in 1795 a small building 
 for a school-house and place of worship was erected at 
 Two-Mile Stone, or Bowery Village. This stood on the 
 south side of Nicholas William Street, which ran diag- 
 onally across the block between Seventh and Eighth 
 Streets and Second and Third Avenues, parallel with the 
 present Stuyvesant Street. When tlie second John 
 Street Church was built (1817) some of the material of 
 the old building was used in a church which stood by 
 the side of the school-house, f About 1830 this last 
 building Avas removed a short distance, but after a few 
 years the owners of the adjoining property offered a gift 
 of lots on Seventh Street, if the church would remove 
 again. This offer was accepted, and on Thursday, Sep- 
 tember 26, 1836, the corner-stone of the new building 
 was laid, Rev. John Kennaday preaching on Psa. 
 cxviii, 22, and on Thursday, June 22, 1837, the dedica- 
 tion took place. Rev. N. Levings preached in the 
 afternoon on Psa. Ixxxix, 15, and Rev. F. Hodgson in 
 the evening on 2 Chron. vi, 18. J 
 
 The building is a substantial brick edifice seventy-two 
 by fifty-four feet, and cost $17,500, and is still occupied 
 
 *See p. 155. + See p. 205. \ GhrMian Advocnte, vol. xi, p. 179.
 
 292 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 by the congregation. The resident preachers while it 
 was part of the East Circuit were : 1832-3, P. Charaber- 
 lin; 1834-5, K Bigelow; 1836, S. Merwin. In 1837 it 
 became a separate charge and its pastors and statistics 
 from that time were: 
 
 VEAH. 1 
 
 HKMEERS 
 
 1. 
 
 PASTOB. 
 
 YBAR. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 S. PASTOR. 
 
 1837 
 
 
 R. 
 
 Gilbert. 
 
 1864 
 
 556 
 
 F. Boliome. 
 
 1838 
 
 161 
 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 512 
 
 ■' 
 
 1839 
 
 211 
 
 J. 
 
 Trippett. 
 
 1866 
 
 516 
 
 G. W. Woodruff. 
 
 1840 
 
 252 
 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 470 
 
 " 
 
 1841 
 
 219 
 
 J. 
 
 B. Wakeley. 
 
 1868 
 
 440 
 
 " 
 
 1842 
 
 250 
 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 440 
 
 H. Cooke. \ 
 
 1843 
 
 280 
 
 A. 
 
 M. Osbon. 
 
 1870 
 
 310 
 
 C. Backmau. 
 
 1844 
 
 308 
 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 343 
 
 " 
 
 1845 
 
 311 
 
 0. 
 
 N. Smith.* 
 
 1872 
 
 350 
 
 J. Parker, 2d. 
 
 1846 
 
 371 
 
 D. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 1873 
 
 420 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 381 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1874 
 
 835 
 
 W. P. Corbii. 
 
 1848 
 
 400 
 
 N. 
 
 , Mead. 
 
 1875 
 
 260 
 
 J. S. Willis. 
 
 1849 
 
 408 
 
 B. 
 
 Creagh. 
 
 1876 
 
 216 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 363 
 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 184 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 377 
 
 M, 
 
 . L. Scudder. 
 
 1878 
 
 160 
 
 J. L. Gilder. 
 
 1852 
 
 380 
 
 
 . " 
 
 1879 
 
 170 
 
 C. S. Williams. 
 
 1853 
 
 421 
 
 J. 
 
 M. Reid. 
 
 1880 
 
 198 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 379 
 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 121 
 
 J.H. Lightboiirne. 
 
 1855 
 
 408 
 
 B. 
 
 Pillsbury. 
 
 1882 
 
 100 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 417 
 
 
 i( 
 
 1883 
 
 115 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 412 
 
 C. 
 
 Fletcher. 
 
 1884 
 
 125 
 
 A. C. Morehouse. 
 
 1858 
 
 495 
 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 209 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 394 
 
 F. 
 
 S. De Hass. 
 
 1886 
 
 204 
 
 11 
 
 1860 
 
 494 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 198 
 
 W. A. Layton, 
 
 1861 
 
 613 
 
 J. 
 
 Floy. 
 
 1888 
 
 235 
 
 ■' 
 
 1862 
 
 496 
 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 218 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 503 
 
 F. 
 
 Bottome. 
 
 1890 
 
 167 
 
 " 
 
 The membership of this church, as will be perceived, 
 has never been as large as that of some others, and of late 
 years has diminished. It is now a " down-town " church. 
 
 Church, $.55,000. Parsonage, $10,000. No debt. 
 Salary, $1,500. Rent, $800. Other collections, $377. 
 Current expenses, $800. Sunday-school, 250. 
 
 *Mr. Smith died October 15. 1845, and his place was supphed by 
 L. H. King. 
 
 fMr. Cooke withdrew during the year, and C. Backman supplied.
 
 Bedford Street. 
 
 293 
 
 BEDFORD STREET. 
 
 {Greenwich Village.) 
 
 When Bedford Street became part of the West Cir- 
 cuit, C. Prindle had ah-eady been resident preacher there 
 for one year, and he continued a second. He was fol- 
 lowed in 1833-4 by J. C. Green; in 1835-6 L. Mead 
 was pastor; and in 1837 A. S, Francis, who was also 
 pastor for the first year of its independent career.* 
 Since then the reports and appointments have been : 
 
 1839 
 
 901 
 
 P. Rice. 
 
 1865 
 
 740 
 
 S. D. Brown. 
 
 1840 
 
 750 
 
 u 
 
 1866 
 
 762 
 
 " 
 
 1841 
 
 800 
 
 B. Griffin. 
 
 ■ 1867 
 
 714 
 
 " 
 
 1842 
 
 900 
 
 ■' 
 
 1868 
 
 740 
 
 J. E. Cookman. 
 
 1843 
 
 1,197 
 
 L. C. Clieney. 
 
 1869 
 
 1,049 
 
 ■' 
 
 1844 
 
 1,108 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 1,125 
 
 
 1845 
 
 1,057 
 
 J. Seys. . 
 
 1871 
 
 1,110 
 
 W. H. Ferris. 
 
 1846 
 
 915 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 980 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 768 
 
 0. V. Amerinan. 
 
 1873 
 
 990 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 776 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 900 
 
 G. H. Gregory. 
 
 1849 
 
 783 
 
 S. Yau Deusen. 
 
 1875 
 
 860 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 985 
 
 •' 
 
 1876 
 
 925 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 905 
 
 A. Lee. 
 
 1877 
 
 871 
 
 E. S. Osbon. 
 
 1852 
 
 875 
 
 D. L. Marks. 
 
 1878 
 
 891 
 
 " 
 
 1853 
 
 960 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 673 
 
 G. Van Alstyne. 
 
 1854 
 
 930 
 
 W. C. Smitli. 
 
 1880 
 
 783 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 840 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 833 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 760 
 
 J. Z. Nichols. 
 
 1882 
 
 929 
 
 "W. McK. Darwood. 
 
 1857 
 
 717 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 576 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 816 
 
 To be supplied, f 
 
 1884 
 
 592 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 932 
 
 J. P. NewniHii. 
 
 1885 
 
 651 
 
 J. E. Cookman. 
 
 1860 
 
 1,002 
 
 J. Poisal. 
 
 1886 
 
 629 
 
 It 
 
 1861 
 
 875 
 
 " X 
 
 1887 
 
 627 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 728 
 
 J. B. Hagaiiy. 
 
 1888 
 
 728 
 
 J. S. Chadwick. § 
 
 1863 
 
 671 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 663 
 
 J. J. Reed. 
 
 1864 
 
 785 
 
 J. W. Lindsay. 
 
 1890 
 
 552 
 
 " 
 
 * Its share of the debt was $6,300. f The supply was J. P. Neuinau. 
 
 \ Mr. Poisal resigned during his second year because of bis sympatliy 
 with the South. 
 
 § Mr. Chadwick resigned during tiie year, and became Assistant 
 Corresponding Secretary of the Freednien's Aid and Southern Educa- 
 tion So?iely.
 
 294 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 During the term of Rev. P. Rice he preached the last 
 sermon in the old building on Isa, xlix, 20. The corner- 
 stone of the new edifice was laid on Saturday, June 6, 
 1S40, Rev. Robert Newton, of the Wesleyan Conference 
 (Eng.), pi-eaching on Psa. xxvi, 8. In the interval the 
 congregation met in a hall on the south-east corner of 
 Hudson and Grove Streets, and on November 19 the new 
 house was dedicated, Bishop Hedding preaching in the 
 afternoon. Its cost was |20,000. In 1866 a two-story 
 building was put up on the north-east corner of the 
 property, the first floor being prepared for the infant- 
 class and the second for class-rooms. This cost $2,500. 
 A parsonage was purchased in 1874. 
 
 The building is of brick, with a basement, above ground, 
 and is valued at 160,000 ; the parsonage, $12,000. Debt, 
 $800. Salary, $2,500. Rent, $1,000. Other collections, 
 $2,540. Current expenses, $8,000. Sunday-school, 371. 
 
 ALLEN STREET MEMORIAL. 
 
 (Fourth Street — Allen Street.) 
 
 When the New York East Circuit was set off^ Allen 
 Street was enjoying the fruits of its great revival. 
 Bradley Sillick was the resident preacher. Laban Clark 
 followed in 1833-4, and J. Kennaday in 1835-6. Dur- 
 ing the latter year a new church was built. On Tues- 
 day evening, August 9, 1836, Rev. John Kennaday 
 preached the last sermon in the old building on Neh. 
 ii, 18.* The new house was dedicated on Thursday, 
 February 9, 1837, when Rev. W. Fisk preached on Hag. 
 ii, 9. The building was of brick, 74 feet by 62. f When, 
 therefore, in 1837, Allen Street began its independent 
 
 * See p. 182. 
 
 f Cliristian Advocate, vol. xi, p. 102. A paper found ;iiii()iig 
 the old records of Allen Street gives the following items: Allen
 
 ^Vllen kSiKEKT Memorial. 
 
 295 
 
 history, it was with a new edifice, and no Methodist 
 cluirch in the city had a more able and zealous band of 
 laborers. It included Nicholas Schureman, Samuel Hal- 
 stead, Schureman Halstead, Dr. W. C. Palmer, Henry 
 Moore, Samuel Martin, Joshua Martin, Andrew C. 
 Wheeler, Francis M. Godine, Samuel Patterson, William 
 Miller, and others of great ability. 
 
 Its pastors and membership during the succeeding 
 years were: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBEKS. 
 
 
 J-ASTOR. 
 
 YBAR. 1 
 
 HKMBEBl 
 
 5. PASTOR. 
 
 1837 
 
 
 
 J. 
 
 B. Stratleii. 
 
 1864 
 
 680 
 
 J. A. Roche. 
 
 1888 
 
 661 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1865 
 
 625 
 
 " 
 
 18.39 
 
 762 
 
 J. 
 
 L. Gilder. 
 
 1866 
 
 570 
 
 L. S. Weed. 
 
 1840 
 
 1,005 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1867 
 
 520 
 
 '• 
 
 1841 
 
 1,012 
 
 J. 
 
 Poisal. 
 
 1868 
 
 476 
 
 '• 
 
 1842 
 
 1,050 
 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 460 
 
 G. L. Taylor. 
 
 1848 
 
 1,225 
 
 R. 
 
 Seney. 
 
 1870 
 
 479 
 
 W. McAllister. 
 
 1844 
 
 945 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1871 
 
 516 
 
 " 
 
 1845 
 
 955 
 
 L. 
 
 M. Vincent. 
 
 1872 
 
 485 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 916 
 
 
 ■ 1. 
 
 1873 
 
 515 
 
 W. D. Thompson. 
 
 1847 
 
 968 
 
 B. 
 
 CreagU. 
 
 1874 
 
 308 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 825 
 
 
 ^'^ 
 
 1875 
 
 250 
 
 C. E. Harris. 
 
 1849 
 
 732 
 
 S. 
 
 S. Strong. 
 
 1876 
 
 367 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 750 
 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 299 
 
 G. W. Woodruff. 
 
 1851 
 
 722 
 
 c. 
 
 H. Whitecar. 
 
 1878 
 
 303 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 720 
 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 262 
 
 C. P. Corner. 
 
 1853 
 
 610 
 
 M, 
 
 . L. Scudder. 
 
 1880 
 
 202 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1854 
 
 536 
 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 224 
 
 u 
 
 1855 
 
 436 
 
 H 
 
 . Bangs. 
 
 1882 
 
 191 
 
 J. Suinsbury. 
 
 1856 
 
 "625 
 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 257 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 504 
 
 J. 
 
 A. Roche. 
 
 1884 
 
 253 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 664 
 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 227 
 
 S. H. Smith. 
 
 1859 
 
 660 
 
 T. 
 
 G. Osborne. 
 
 1886 
 
 161 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 591 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 134 
 
 C. M. Pegg. 
 
 1861 
 
 041 
 
 S. 
 
 H. Smith. 
 
 1888 
 
 136 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 694 
 
 
 " 
 
 1889* 
 
 174 
 
 I. M. Foster. 
 
 1863 
 
 729 
 
 J. 
 
 A. Roche. 
 
 1890 
 
 114 
 
 " 
 
 Street was organized as a separate church July 5, 1836. It re- 
 ceived as its share of the property four lots and the church and par- 
 sonage and one fifth of the burial-ground corner of First Street and 
 Second Avenue, and of the property and burial-ground at Williams- 
 burg, L. T. It assumed as its portion of the debt $4,535 21. The 
 new church and two houses cost $26,885 78. 
 * Name changed to Allen Street Memorial. 
 20
 
 296 A History ok Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The cliatige in tlie character of the population in the 
 neighborhood had greatly reduced the congregation, 
 and the trains on the elevated road in front were a se- 
 rious annoyance, and on April 29, 1888, the last services 
 were held in the building. Bishop Foss preached in 
 the morning and Rev. M. D'C. Crawford, formerly a 
 member of the society there, in the evening.* The 
 property was sold for a Jewish synagogue. The so- 
 ciety has been consolidated with that of Attorney 
 Street, and a Jewish synagogue on Rivington Street, 
 between Ludlow and Orchard Streets, has been pur- 
 chased and reconstructed by the City Church Extension 
 Society. The old name will be kept in recollection in 
 the new title, which will be " The Allen Street Memo- 
 rial." 
 
 The property is valued at $108,000. Debt, $8,000. 
 Salary, $1,160. Rent, $900. Other collections, $104. 
 Current expenses, $900. Sunday-scliool, 329. 
 
 \V I L L E T T STREET. 
 
 {Mission Ilou^e.) 
 
 In the minutes of the leaders' meeting of June 16, 
 1813, among the appointments for prayer-meetings is 
 one apparently new, at the house of James Woods. 
 This, we are told,f was in Lewis Street, between Grand 
 and Broome Streets, a part of the city then very thinly 
 settled, and not generally graded. In a short time the 
 rooms and staii--way and hall of the dwelling became 
 crowded, and in the early part of 1819 a school-room 
 was rented in Broome Street, near Lewis, and regular 
 preaching was begun. Not long before March, 1820, J 
 
 * ChrisHan Advocate, vol. Ixiii, p. :'i01. 
 
 f Paper ut' W. G. Boggs. X Trustees' miiiuLes of date.
 
 WiLLETT Street. 297 
 
 the trustees had bought four lots at Mount Pitt, but the 
 debt incurred in tlie building of John Street and Bow- 
 ery Village, together with the embarrassment in business 
 at the time, led the board to hesitate. Just then the 
 Presbyterian Missionary Board had erected a house on 
 Broome Street, but the mission not meeting with much 
 success they proposed to lease it to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. This offer was accepted in May, 18in, 
 and the building known as the ^lission House was im- 
 mediately filled to overflowing. It was occupied for 
 about six years, and in 1823 a veiy gracious Avork be- 
 gan and continued for several years. On October 16, 
 1825, the corner-stone of the new building was laid on 
 the site in Willett Street between Grand and Broome 
 Streets, bought in 1819, and on May 7, 1826, the dedi- 
 cation took place. Bishop McKendree preaching in the 
 morning. Bishop Hedding in the afternoon, and Bishop 
 Soule in the evening. The house was of stone, stuc- 
 coed, seventy-two by fifty-four feet, with a basement 
 more above ground than any of the other Methodist 
 Episcopal churches in the city at that time. The pulpit, 
 like that of John Street, Avas between the doors. The 
 good Avork continued, and by the close of the year more 
 than one hundred had been received on trial. Before 
 the Conference of 1827 there Avere twelve classes and 
 five hundred and forty members.* 
 
 When, in 1832, the city Avas divided into two circuits, 
 B. Griffin was the resident preacher in Willett Street. 
 He returned in 1833, and Avas folloAved in 1834-35 by 
 J. Young, and in 1836, b}^ S. Remington. During 
 that year it became, like the other churches on the East 
 Circuit, an independent charge. It received, in the divis- 
 ion of tlie pro[)erty, its church building, valued at 
 
 * L. Clark, in Methodist Magazine of 1827, p. 126. Paper of W. G. 
 
 BORKS.
 
 208 A History ok Methodism in New York City. 
 
 122,000, its parsonage at $4,500, a mortgage of #3,000 
 on property in Williamsburg (Brooklyn, E. D.), and 
 in cash #496 50. It had also an interest in the burying- 
 ground, estimated to be worth #2,500 — in all #32,496 50. 
 It assumed as its share of the debt #0,783 50, so that it 
 started with a net property of #25, '713.* 
 The appointments and reports have been: 
 
 YEAR. ^ 
 
 .lEMBKRS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1837 
 
 
 
 S. Remington. 
 
 1864 
 
 517 
 
 C. Kelsey. 
 
 1838 
 
 736 
 
 N. Kellogg. 
 
 1865 
 
 445 
 
 " 
 
 T839 
 
 741 
 
 •' 
 
 1866 
 
 517 
 
 " 
 
 1840 
 
 612 
 
 M. Richardson. 
 
 18GT 
 
 440 
 
 J. W. Home. 
 
 1841 
 
 570 
 
 '• 
 
 1868 
 
 448 
 
 " 
 
 1842 
 
 830 
 
 P. 0. Oakley. 
 
 1869 
 
 510 
 
 " 
 
 1843 
 
 933 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 375 
 
 J. S. Haugh. 
 
 1844 
 
 700 
 
 P. Rice. 
 
 1871 
 
 319 
 
 " 
 
 1845 
 
 664 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 386 
 
 G. Taylor. 
 
 1846 
 
 631 
 
 B. Goodsell. 
 
 1873 
 
 327 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 576 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 343 
 
 J. \". Saunders. 
 
 1848 
 
 639 
 
 J. G. Smith. 
 
 1875 
 
 360 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 675 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 378 
 
 Tobesnpplied.f 
 
 1850 
 
 606 
 
 W. K. Stopford. 
 
 1877 
 
 390 
 
 J. E. Searles. 
 
 1851 
 
 638 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 465 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 516 
 
 H. F. Peuse. 
 
 1879 
 
 450 
 
 J. S. Siansbury. 
 
 1853 
 
 513 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 450 
 
 ti 
 
 185-1 
 
 475 
 
 J. E. Searles. 
 
 1881 
 
 344 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 454 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 331 
 
 J. E. Searles. 
 
 1856 
 
 459 
 
 W. McAllister. 
 
 1883 
 
 288 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 521 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 270 
 
 " 
 
 1 858 
 
 576 
 
 C. Kelse}-. 
 
 1885 
 
 289 
 
 W. H. Boole. 
 
 1859 
 
 575 
 
 '• 
 
 1886 
 
 333 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 562 
 
 J. E. Searles. 
 
 1887 
 
 287 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 615 
 
 '• 
 
 1888 Xo rep't 
 
 . M. F. Compion. 
 
 1862 
 
 650 
 
 W. McAllister. 
 
 1889 
 
 312 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 635 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 304 
 
 " 
 
 This church has been favored with frequent revivals, 
 and has been the scene of many interesting incidents. 
 In 1827 Rev. V. Buck preached on the general judg- 
 ment, and at the close of the sermon, when the invitation 
 was given to come to the altar, the whole congregation 
 seemed to be on their feet. The altar was soon crowded, 
 and a gracious revival followed, among the subjects of 
 
 * Record at Willett Street. f The supply was J. E. Searles.
 
 Wii.i.ETT Strekt. 299 
 
 which was Rev. O. G. Hedstrom.* One Sunday after- 
 noon Rev. G. Coles took for his text, "Give attendance 
 to reading " (1 Tim. iv, 13). After telling the peoi)le 
 what books were best adapted to the old and to the 
 young, to the married and to the unmarried, to the 
 impulsive and to the phlegmatic, he added, "These 
 books can all be bought at the Book Room," and closed 
 with the benediction. f 
 
 The singing was for many years conducted by Joseph 
 Johnson, who sat in the body of the church. The state 
 of his mind could always be known by his singing. If 
 he was in a happy frame it would be so fast that 
 it was difficult to keep up with him; but if not, it 
 would be so slow that it was equally difficult to drag 
 along at the same pace. A choir was at length intio- 
 duced, and on a Sunday morning not long after its 
 appearance the presiding elder (D. Ostrander) occupied 
 the pulpit. Ho gave out the hymn and the chorister 
 began to i)lay on a bass-viol. " Who brought that 
 liddle into the church?" shouted the elder; "take it 
 right out! " And he would not preach until it was 
 removed.]; 
 
 The society still occupies the building erected in 
 1826, and which is the oldest Methodist church edifice 
 in the city. With the exception of the removal of the 
 pulpit from between the doors to the other end, and 
 various improvements from time to time, it remains sub- 
 stantially the same as when erected. 
 
 Church, $60,000. Parsonage, i?9,000. No debt. 
 Salary, |1,500. Rent, 1600. Other collections, |!624. 
 Current expenses, $1,450. Sunday-school, 250. 
 
 * A sermon by Rev. D. Ostrander on Rev. iii, 20, produced a sim- 
 ilar effect. Paper of Rev. S. W. King. 
 
 f Paper of W. G. Boggs. t ^^"^-
 
 300 A History ^>f Methodism ix New Yopac City 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. 
 
 CHURCHES: HARLEM MISSIOX— TWEXTT-SEYEXTH 
 STREET— SAIXT JAMES— FORTY-THIRD STREET- 
 PARK AYEXUE. 
 
 HARLEM MISSION. 
 
 {Tiuenty-seventh and Forty-first Streets — Manhattan Mission — Harltm 
 and Yorkville.) 
 
 Before 1830 more than one half of New York Isl- 
 and was without regular Methodist preaching. Sev- 
 enth Street (or Bowery Village), on the east side, and 
 Eighteenth Street (or Upper Greenwich), on the west 
 side, were the frontier churches. At the House of Ref- 
 uge, which stood on what is now Madison Square, there 
 was pi'eaching, it is true, generally by local preachers, 
 attended, no douht, hj some of the inhabitants of the 
 neigh Vjorhood, and there are indications of visits to 
 Rose Hill by the stationed preachers of the city. From 
 Twenty-third Street to Harlem River there weie no 
 houses of worship of any denomination except two 
 Reformed (Dutch) churches, one at Bloomingdale and 
 one at Harlem, and a few, perhaps four, Protestant 
 Episcopal churches. But as far as Methodism was con- 
 cerned this region, in which are now some of her larg- 
 est congregations and most of her finest church editices, 
 was virtually uncultivated. 
 
 In 1830, however, a beginning was made, and the 
 honor of being pioneer in the work fell to Rev. Ira 
 Feiris. School-liouses and private houses were occupied 
 for public worship, and before long small churches 
 M'cre erected and preparations made for supplying the
 
 IIaki.em Mission, 301 
 
 spiritual wants of tlie multitudes who were soon to oc- 
 cupy the ground. A general account of this field un- 
 til it became divided into separate charges is necessary, 
 but many particulars will be more appropriately intro- 
 duced in the history of the several churches. 
 
 For about ten years its boundaries remained as at 
 first. Its statistics and preachers weie: 
 
 YEAH. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOE. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1830 
 
 
 
 Tra Ferris. 
 
 1837 
 
 No rep't 
 
 ;. D. De Vinne, 
 
 1831 
 
 68 
 
 R. Soamati. 
 
 
 
 J. Floy. 
 
 1832 
 
 78 
 
 " 
 
 1838 
 
 162 
 
 J.C.Tackaberry, 
 
 1833 
 
 73 
 
 R. Seaman, Slip., 
 
 
 
 J. Floy. 
 
 
 
 S. Hueston.* 
 
 1839 
 
 230 
 
 J. C. Tackaberry, 
 
 1834 
 
 77 
 
 R. Seaman, snp. 
 
 
 
 S. H. Clark. 
 
 1835 
 
 101 
 
 J. Luckey, one 
 
 1840 
 
 238 
 
 E. Osborn. 
 
 
 
 10 be supplied. 
 
 1841 
 
 267 
 
 
 1836 
 
 109 
 
 J. Luckey, 
 D. De Vinne. 
 
 
 
 
 At the Conference of 1841 the circuit was divided, 
 Twenty-seventh Street and Forty-first Street becoming 
 one charge, and Harlem (including Yorkville) another. 
 The reports for Twenty-seventh and Forty-first Street 
 were: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1841 
 
 
 
 B. Howe. 
 
 1842 
 
 163 
 
 J. Z. Nichols. 
 
 VEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1843 227 J. Z. Nichols. 
 
 In 1844 Twenty-seventh Street had 210 members, 
 and Forty-first Street had 65 members. At the Con- 
 ference of 1844 the charges separated, E. Andrews be- 
 ing appointed to Twenty-seventh Street and W. B. 
 Hoyt to Forty-first Street. 
 
 In 1841 Harlem received S. U. Fisher. We have also the 
 name Manhattan Mission, which it is believed included 
 Yorkville :ind Manhattanville. To this R. Seaman is ap- 
 l>ointcd as supernumerary. In 1842 the Minutes read, 
 
 * Mr. Hueston did not enter on the work. He was an officer in 
 the navy and could not get his discliaroe. Dr. "W. Booth seems to 
 liave -jupplied. See trustees' minutes, Sept. 18, 1833.
 
 302 A History of Methodism in New Youk City. 
 
 " Harlem German Miss. 71." Whether this was the re- 
 port of the German work or of tlie Harlem society it is 
 impossible to tell. We have also, " Manhattan Miss. 25." 
 In 1842 it is, " Harlem and Yorkville, R. Seaman." 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. YKAR. MKMBKKS. PASTOR. 
 
 1843 123 R. Seaman, sup., 1844 113 
 
 S. A. Seamau. 
 
 At this Conference of 1844 Harlem and Yorkville 
 became separate charges. 
 
 Other Methodist organizations which have come in 
 on this territory had no connection with the old Har- 
 lem Mission. Sixty years have passed and there are 
 now on this ground twenty-three churches (not includ- 
 ing the German Avork), with a membership of nearly 
 7,500 and a property of more than two millions of dol- 
 lars (churches, $1,881,000; parsonages, 82-33,000). Such 
 results the writer ktiows were not anticipated by those 
 who at first toiled and sacrificed in tliis field. 
 
 twenty-seven Til stkeet. 
 
 (/?o*e mil.) 
 
 About 1823 a Sunday-school had been organized in 
 the neighborhood of Rose Hill, under the care of the 
 New York Female Union Society. In 1827, by which 
 time it seems to have come under Methodist control, it 
 met at a school-house belonging to Mr. Benjamin Dis- 
 brow, on the south side of Twenty-eighth Street, be- 
 tween Third and Lexington Avenues. Here also there 
 was preaching occasionally, generally by local preachers, 
 though sometimes the stationed preachers of the city 
 officiated,* When the first class was formed is uncer- 
 tain. One statement is that it was in May, 1827; an- 
 
 *In the stewards' accounts of April, 1829 (book 15), Rose Hill is 
 credited with a quarterly collection of $4 46, and there are also reports 
 of three sacramental collections iu the same year.
 
 Twenty-seventh Street. 303 
 
 other witness (Thomas Vaughn) says it was organized 
 by Thomas Burch in the fall of 1828, and I lev. S. 
 Luckey assigns it to November, 1829. Benjamin 
 Disbrovv appears to have been the first leader, but was 
 soon succeeded by Thomas Vaughn. When Ira Ferris, 
 tlie first pi-eacher appointed to the Harlem Mission, came 
 to his work in 1830 this was the only class he found,* 
 
 During the ministry of Rev. John Luckey a small 
 church was put up across the rear of two lots on the 
 south side of Twenty-seventh Street, a little east of 
 Third Avenue, costing about |2,000. It was opened 
 in May, 1836, with a sermon by Rev. J. Kennaday, 
 followed by one from Rev. J. C. Tackaberry. 
 
 As already stated, at the Conference of 1841 Twen- 
 ty-seventh Street and Forty-first Street were set oif as 
 a self-sustaining charge. f 
 
 In 1842 three lots on the north side of Twenty- 
 seventh Street, between Second and Third Avenues, 
 were bought for |2,700, and on Monday, August 15, 
 the corner-stone of a new building was laid by Dr. N. 
 Bangs, after a sermon by Rev. J. Poisal, on 2 Cor. 
 ii, 14. On January 20, 1843, it was dedicated by Dr. 
 Bangs. Rev. S. Olin, D.D., recently returned from 
 Europe, preached at 2:30 P. M., on 1 Cor. i, 22-25. 
 Rev. J. Dempster, D.D., ofticiated in the evening, and 
 Dr. Bangs, Rev. J. Sewell, and Rev. J. B. Wakeley 
 on the following Sunday. The building was 48 by 60 
 feet, and cost, exclusive of the ground, but including 
 the parsonage, about $7,000. But on Saturday night, 
 November 19, 1848, during the ministry of Rev. J. B. 
 Stratten, the church and parsonage and public school 
 
 *For the appointments and statistics while this society was con- 
 nected with the Harlem Mission, see Harlem Mission. 
 
 f For the appointments and statistics for the time tliey were to- 
 gether, see Harlem Mission.
 
 3c»4 A History of Methodism ix I^Tew York City. 
 
 and other buildings in the neighborhood, and also the 
 old church on the other side of the street, were burned 
 to the ground.* On June V, 1849, however, a new edifice 
 was dedicated by Bishop Janes. He preached at three 
 P. M. on 1 Chron. xvi, 29. J. B. Wakeley preached 
 in the evening, and on the following Sunday Dr. N. 
 Bangs, Rev. D. W. Clark, and Rev. E. E. Griswold. 
 
 This last building, which is still occupied by the con- 
 gregation, is of brick, 50 feet by 75, with a basement 
 nearly above ground. The cost of rebuilding the church 
 and parsonage was about $11,000. The following are 
 the statistics and pastors: 
 
 YKAR. 
 
 MRM&EKS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 member: 
 
 5. PASTOR. 
 
 1844 
 
 210 
 
 E. Andrews-! 
 
 1867 
 
 487 
 
 C. B. Sing. 
 
 1845 
 
 209 
 
 D. Curry. 
 
 1868 
 
 460 
 
 it 
 
 1846 
 
 211 
 
 S. C. Perry. 
 
 1869 
 
 432 
 
 11 
 
 1847 
 
 241 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 414 
 
 J. E. Searles. 
 
 1848 
 
 236 
 
 J. B. Stratteii. 
 
 1871 
 
 359 
 
 J. Dici<inson. 
 
 1849 
 
 209 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 309 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 310 
 
 J. J. Matthias. 
 
 1873 
 
 287 
 
 W. H. Warden. 
 
 1851 
 
 385 
 
 u 
 
 1874 
 
 290 
 
 11 
 
 1852 
 
 406 
 
 J. Floy. 
 
 1875 
 
 251 
 
 W. W. Clark. 
 
 1853 
 
 405 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 300 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 410 
 
 D. Currv and V. 
 
 1877 
 
 305 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 Riick.'j 
 
 1878 
 
 300 
 
 C. E. Glover. 
 
 1855 
 
 394 
 
 G. Taylor. 
 
 1879 
 
 286 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 312 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 280 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 336 
 
 T. (1. Osborne. 
 
 1881 
 
 253 
 
 J. Dickinson. 
 
 1858 
 
 708 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 242 
 
 
 1859 
 
 553 
 
 C. Fletcher. 
 
 1883 
 
 265 
 
 C. J. North. 
 
 1860 
 
 571 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 226 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 543 
 
 W. F.Watkins. 
 
 1885 
 
 273 
 
 •' 
 
 1862 
 
 602 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 249 
 
 M. Y. Bovard. 
 
 186.3 
 
 588 
 
 S. A. Seaman. 
 
 1887 
 
 262 
 
 
 1864 
 
 504 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 276 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 . 475 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 275 
 
 B. F. Kidder. 
 
 1866 
 
 503 
 
 G. L. Thompson. 
 
 1890 
 
 286 
 
 
 * This and a small frame building in Twenty-fourth Street are tlie only 
 Metliodist Episcopal churches in New York city which have been burned. 
 
 f Mr. Andrews was drowned in the summer of 1844. D. Curry 
 supplied. 
 
 :{;Tiiis appointment includes Thirty-seventh Street, as does also the 
 statistical report for 1855.
 
 Twenty-seventh Street. ;^()5 
 
 This church has been favored with many gracious 
 revivals, that during the ministry of Rev. T. G. Os- 
 borne, in the fall of 1857, being probably the most re- 
 markable. For many years the congregation filled the 
 building, but the influx of a foreign population has led 
 to a decrease. But it is still vigorous and successful. 
 
 On the wall at the west side of the pulpit is a tablet 
 to the memory of Rev. Amos W. Brown, for many 
 years a local preacher and class-leader. Fifty-three 
 members of this church served in the war of the re- 
 bellion, seven of whom laid down their lives in the serv- 
 ice. The ladies organized the Rose Hill Soldiers' Aid 
 Society, which did good service in providing for the 
 inmates of the military hospitals. For many years 
 also teachers from this church conducted the Sunday- 
 school at the Colored Orphan Asylum (Fifth Avenue, 
 between Forty-third and Forty-fourth Streets), until its 
 destruction by the rioters in 1863 caused its removal 
 to a distance too great to permit of their continuing 
 their work. 
 
 Church (which has lately been much improved), 
 $30,000. Parsonage, 18,000. No debt. Salary, *1, 500. 
 Rent, $600. Other collections, $674. Current expenses, 
 $2,146. Sunday-school, 285. 
 
 s t. j a m e s. 
 
 {Ilarleni.) 
 
 The first place occu])ied for Methodist preaching at 
 Harlem was the house of Mr. John James, in 125th 
 Street, between Third and Lexington Avenues.* Thence 
 
 *For til is and many other particulars see Hifttory of St. Jaines, 
 Harlem^ by W. B. Silber, LL.D. Mr. James was for many years a 
 class-leader and trustee of the Harlem church, and his widow is still 
 a member of St. James (1890).
 
 306 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 the services were removed to the store part of a buiM- 
 ing on the north-east corner of Third Avenue and 125th 
 Street, and in May, 1831, to the Academy, on 120th 
 Street, between Second and Third Avenues. Prayer- 
 meetings and class-meetings were held at the house of 
 Mrs. Lloyd, near the corner of Third Avenue and 121st 
 Street. On June 4, 1832, trustees were elected,* and 
 soon after eight lots, having on them a house and barn, 
 were purchased of Daniel P. Ingraham, Esq., on 125th 
 and 126th Streets, between Third and Fourth Avenues, 
 for $2,000. The corner-stone was laid July 18, 1833, 
 Rev. N. Bangs, D.D., preaching on 1 Cor. iii, 10-15, and 
 the dedication took place on Thursday afternoon, De- 
 cember 12, Rev. John Kennaday officiating and taking 
 as his text Col. i, 28. The building was of frame, 45 
 by 60 feet, with a basement not much below the level 
 of the street, and without galleries.f Its pastors and 
 statistics until it became an altogether separate charge 
 have already been given. | Since that period they were 
 as follows : 
 
 1844 
 
 '"T 
 
 G. Taylor. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 1857 
 
 MEMBRRS 
 105 
 
 J. C. Washburn. 
 
 1845 
 
 70 
 
 M. K. Willing. 
 
 1858 
 
 245 
 
 
 1846 
 
 76 
 
 S. D. Ferguson, sup 
 
 1859 
 
 270 
 
 B. M. Adams. 
 
 1847 
 
 59 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 228 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 132 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1861 
 
 236 
 
 J. B. Wakeley. 
 
 1849 
 
 135 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 112 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 121 
 
 T. Baiiibridge. 
 
 1863 
 
 133 
 
 J. E. Cookman. 
 
 1851 
 
 94 
 
 
 1864 
 
 227 
 
 " 
 
 18.52 
 
 103 
 
 A. S. Lakin. 
 
 1865 
 
 217 
 
 J. L. G. McKown. 
 
 1853 
 
 101 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 230 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 105 
 
 .J. B. CocaQ:iie. 
 
 1867 
 
 290 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 95 
 
 P. Ward. ■ 
 
 1868 
 
 272 
 
 G. H. Corey. 
 
 1856 
 
 138 
 
 '' 
 
 1869 
 
 262 
 
 *^ 
 
 * They were Joseph Smith, Andrew C. Wheeler, Benjamin Disbrow, 
 Isaac Piatt, Thomas Vaughn, John Van Wart, and John James. 
 
 f It was removed to the south-east crrner of 125lh Street and Lex- 
 ington Avenue, wliere it is occupied as a court-room. 
 
 I See Harlem Mis-ion.
 
 
 
 
 St. 
 
 Jamp:s. 
 
 
 
 
 VEAK. 
 
 lEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1870 
 
 268 
 
 G. H. Corey 
 
 
 1881 
 
 523 
 
 J. 
 
 M. King. 
 
 1871* 
 
 254 
 
 H. B. Ridga 
 
 way. 
 
 1882 
 
 605 
 
 A 
 
 D. Vail. 
 
 1872 
 
 305 
 
 " 
 
 
 1883 
 
 645 
 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 331 
 
 " 
 
 
 1884 
 
 675 
 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 323 
 
 C. D. Foss. 
 
 
 1885 
 
 727 
 
 H. 
 
 Baker. 
 
 1875 
 
 351 
 
 " 
 
 
 1886 
 
 670 
 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 386 
 
 W. R. Davis 
 
 
 1887 
 
 673 
 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 406 
 
 
 
 1888 
 
 643 
 
 0. 
 
 H. Tififany 
 
 1878 
 
 405 
 
 " 
 
 
 1889 
 
 720 
 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 427 
 
 J. M. King. 
 
 
 1890 
 
 573 
 
 J. 
 
 E. Price. 
 
 1880 
 
 554 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 307 
 
 In 1859 it was proposed to enlarge the old l>uilding, 
 but the plan was abandoned. In 1869, however, the 
 opening of Lexington Avenue through the property 
 made a removal necessary, and lots were obtained on 
 the coi-ner of Madison Avenue and 126tli Street. The 
 corner-stone was laid April 9, 1870, by Bishop Janes ; 
 and on November 13 the chapel was opened with a ser- 
 mon by the pastor, Rev. G. H. Corey. The dedication 
 took place May 14, 1871, Bishop Janes preaching in 
 the morning on Is;i. vi, 1-8, Rev. B. I. Ives in the 
 afternoon on 2 Cor. iv, 4, and Rev. J. P. Newman in 
 the evening on Isa. xxi, 11. The cost of land, build- 
 ing, parsonage, and furnishings was '1^123,000, of which 
 $46,500 had been raised, 140,000 was to be funded 
 as a debt, and the congregation was asked to con- 
 tribute $36,500. Of this $33,000 was subscribed in the 
 morning, and the rest before the close of the evening 
 services. 
 
 The building is a very fine one and well located. It 
 is of brown stone, and has a chapel on 126ih Street and 
 a parsonage on Madison Avenue. 
 
 Church, $120,000. Parsonage, $15,000. Debt, $31,000. 
 Salary, $3,600. Rent, $1,500. Other collections, $3,969. 
 Current expenses, $6,532. Sunday-school, 583. 
 
 * In 1871 the name was changed to Si. James.
 
 3U8 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 FORTY-THIRD STREET. 
 
 {Fortii-first Street — Bloomivgdale MethodiM Episcopal Church.) 
 
 The Rev. Ira Ferris, the hrst preacher appointed to 
 the Harlem Mission (1830), says, in a letter to the au- 
 thor, that one of the places where he established pi'each- 
 ing was at " Brother William R. White's, between the 
 large glass factory and old chemical works on the 
 Eighth Avenue." At the meeting of the board of trust- 
 ees of the churches of New York city on September 18, 
 1833, application was made for the use of a building in 
 Forty-third Street on ground lately purchased by them. 
 This was granted, and also on October 2, $100 was allowed 
 to assist in removing the building and preparing it for 
 public worship. The site selected was on the north side of 
 Forty-first Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, 
 and the congregation occupied the house about January 1, 
 1835.* Until 1841 the appointment continued to be a 
 part of the Harlem Mission. At that date it was set off 
 with Twenty-seventh Street, and so continued until 
 1844, when it became an independent charge. 
 
 The corner-stone of the present church in Forty-third 
 Street was laid September 20, 1850, after an address by 
 Dr. Kennaday.f The dedication took place on Wednes- 
 day, October 1, 1851, Bishop Janes officiating. The 
 building cost $15,000. It is of brick, with a basement 
 ])rincipally above ground. The appointments and mem- 
 bership have been: 
 
 YEAR. I 
 
 1IEMB£RS 
 
 1. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 1. PASTOR. 
 
 1844 
 
 65 
 
 W. B. Hoyt. 
 
 1850 
 
 114 
 
 J. W. Maeumber. 
 
 1845 
 
 94 
 
 '• 
 
 1851 
 
 155 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 85 
 
 E. S. Stout. 
 
 1852 
 
 163 
 
 J. N. Shaffer. 
 
 1847 
 
 251 
 
 " 
 
 1853 
 
 181 
 
 P. L. Hoyt. 
 
 1848 
 
 248 
 
 T. Bainbridge. 
 
 1854 
 
 216 
 
 H. Louusbury. 
 
 1849 
 
 137 
 
 ■' 
 
 1855 
 
 165 
 
 " 
 
 Christian Advocate, vol. ix, p. 70. \ Ibid., vol. xxv, p. 154.
 
 Forty-third Street. 309 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 1. PASTOB. 
 
 1856 
 
 248 
 
 J. 
 
 B. Wakeley. 
 
 1874 
 
 575 
 
 W. H. Mickle. 
 
 1857 
 
 210 
 
 
 '■ 
 
 1875 
 
 455 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 267 
 
 L. 
 
 W. Peck. 
 
 1876 
 
 530 
 
 i( 
 
 1859 
 
 320 
 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 524 
 
 G. H. Gregory. 
 
 1860 
 
 387 
 
 A. 
 
 Davis. 
 
 1878 
 
 540 
 
 '• 
 
 1861 
 
 367 
 
 H, 
 
 . J. Fox. 
 
 1879 
 
 604 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 430 
 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 587 
 
 W. H. Mickle. 
 
 1863 
 
 418 
 
 L. 
 
 H. King. 
 
 1881 
 
 622 
 
 " 
 
 1864 
 
 490 
 
 
 ■' 
 
 1882 
 
 598 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 525 
 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 600 
 
 M. S. Terry. 
 
 1866 
 
 650 
 
 R. 
 
 C. Putney. 
 
 1884 
 
 513 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 460 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1885 
 
 553 
 
 J. S. Chadwick 
 
 1868 
 
 543 
 
 J. 
 
 P. Hermance. 
 
 1886 
 
 604 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 521 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 565 
 
 .' 
 
 1870 
 
 489 
 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 598 
 
 B. Lane. 
 
 1871 
 
 471 
 
 L. 
 
 H. King. 
 
 1889 
 
 575 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 615 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1890 
 
 573 
 
 F. L. Wilson. 
 
 1873 
 
 590 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 Church, $70,000. Parsonage, ll 5,000. Debt, 84,000. 
 Salary, $2,500. Rent, |1, 100. Other collections, $1,972. 
 Current expenses, $1,697. Sunday-school, 480. 
 
 PARK AVENUE. 
 ( Tin-kvilk — Eighty-sixth Strett.) 
 Yorkville (or Harlem Heights, as it was frequently 
 called) was, no doubt, one of the first places selected 
 on the Harlem Mission ground as a place for preaching. 
 It would seem, however, that the services had not been 
 regularly kept up, for the Rev. Daniel De Vinne says 
 that shortly after he came on the circuit, in the summer of 
 1836, "having no place for morning service I procured 
 a vacant room on Third Avenue, nearly opposite Haz- 
 ard's Tavern (corner of Eighty-fifth Street), over a rum- 
 selling grocery.* The first congregation consisted of 
 five persons."! Afterward, the place of meeting was 
 
 *An engraving of Hazard's Tavern can be found in Valentine's 
 Manual for 1859. 
 
 f Letter of Rev. D. De Vinne in Forty Years of Methodism in Eighty- 
 sixth Street, New York, p. 26.
 
 ,310 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 cliansred to tlie house of Gilbert Bates, on the cor- 
 ner of Third Avenue and Eighty-fourth Street, and 
 there, it is said, on March 6, 1837, the first election of 
 trustees was held.* The society at Bowery Village 
 being about to erect a new^ church, offered for sale 
 that Avhich they had been occupying, a small frame 
 edifice, in which some of the material of the original 
 John Street Church had been used. This, which was 
 about 60 feet by 40 feet, was bought for |i350, and at 
 an expense of §1,400 it was taken down and re-erected 
 in Eighty-sixth Street, between Third and Fourth 
 Avenues. The dedication took place on July 2, 1837, 
 Rev. C. "VV. Carpenter ]>reaching the first sermon. 
 
 Although the purchase and removal and consequent 
 preservation for a time of that historic building is 
 matter of congratulation, yet under the circumstances 
 it proved, at first, unfortunate for the society at York- 
 ville. AVhile the Avork was in progress serious business 
 embarrassments arose; property depreciated in value, 
 and money could not be collected. The expansion of 
 the citv was also checked, so that the population of the 
 neighborhood did not increase as rapidly as had been 
 expected. But services were kept up, the place retain- 
 ing its connection with the Harlem Mission until the 
 Conference of 1844. During the preceding winter a 
 revival of unusual depth and ])ower took place, resulting 
 in the conversion of between thirty and forty persons. 
 Its subjects were, many of them, persons of middle age 
 or past the prime of life; one was the keeper of a prom- 
 inent tavern on Third Avenue, and another a leader in 
 mischievous rioting. The converts were unusually 
 faithful ; some of them died in great peace and triumph, 
 
 * Rev. D. De Yinne, in Christian Advocate, vol. xi, p. 170, gives the 
 date Marcli 1, and Rev. J. M. King says the place was Third Avenue 
 and Eighty-sixth Street (Historical Address at the jubilee services).
 
 Park Avenue. 
 
 311 
 
 and others have been useful in various places. As a 
 result the society asked that the junior preacher should, 
 confine his labors to that charge. At the ensuing Con- 
 ference he was returned, and the charge began its in- 
 dependent existence. From the Minutes we obtain the 
 following reports of members and appointments: 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS 
 
 !. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. N 
 
 lEUBEBS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1844 
 
 
 
 S. A. Seaman. 
 
 1868 
 
 261 
 
 S. D. Brown. 
 
 1845 
 
 35 
 
 W. McK. Bangs.* 
 
 1869 
 
 248 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 30 
 
 A. H. Molvneux. 
 
 1870 
 
 245 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 46 
 
 B. Redford. 
 
 1871 
 
 255 
 
 De Los Lull. 
 
 1848 
 
 66 
 
 B. M. Genung. 
 
 1872 
 
 318 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 53 
 
 B. Silleck. 
 
 1873 
 
 346 
 
 (t 
 
 1850 
 
 64 
 
 It 
 
 1874 
 
 353 
 
 A. D. Vail. 
 
 1851 
 
 48 
 
 P. C. Oakley. 
 
 1875 
 
 376 
 
 It 
 
 1852 
 
 80 
 
 u 
 
 1876 
 
 386 
 
 A. J. Palmer. 
 
 1853 
 
 67 
 
 W. G. Browning. 
 
 1877 
 
 462 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 78 
 
 L. B. Andrus. 
 
 1878 
 
 488 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 73 
 
 S. C. Perry. 
 
 1879 
 
 450 
 
 A. D. Vail. 
 
 1856 
 
 69 
 
 K 
 
 1880 
 
 471 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 94 
 
 A. M. Osbon. 
 
 1881 
 
 546 
 
 " 
 
 1858} 
 
 184 
 
 ti 
 
 1882 
 
 602 
 
 A. J. Palmer. 
 
 1859 
 
 186 
 
 P. Ward. 
 
 1883t 
 
 610 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 230 
 
 It 
 
 1884 
 
 712 
 
 ti 
 
 1861 
 
 199 
 
 S. D. Brown. 
 
 1885 
 
 687 
 
 J. M. King. 
 
 1862 
 
 197 
 
 H. Lounsbury. 
 
 1886 
 
 781 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 203 
 
 A. M. Osboa. 
 
 1887 
 
 680 
 
 tt 
 
 1864 
 
 185 
 
 tt 
 
 1888 
 
 763 
 
 J. R. Boyle. 
 
 1865 
 
 204 
 
 J. E. Gorse. 
 
 1889 
 
 670 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 250 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 638 
 
 ti 
 
 1867 
 
 278 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 In 1858 it became necessary to provide a new build- 
 ing. The work of destruction of the old edifice began 
 on the 2d of August. In uncovering the old tim- 
 bers it was discovered that some of them bore evi- 
 dence of having had place in the first John Street 
 
 * Mr. Bangs resigned on account of ill health, and A. H. Ferguson, 
 then a local preacher in the city, and since an honored member of 
 the New York Conference, served to the close of the year. 
 
 f In 1858 the name was changed to Eighty-sixth Street. 
 
 X In 1883 the title became Park Avenue. 
 21
 
 312 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Church.* On the 30th of January, 1859, the house was 
 dedicated by Bishop Janes. It stood on the site of its 
 pi'edecessor, was of brick, 100 feet by 44, and cost, with 
 the fitting up, about $9,800. A debt ot |;7,000 remained, 
 for the payment of wliich subscriptions were raised dur- 
 ing the second pastorate of Rev. S. D. Brown. 
 
 But this building, after all, answered but a tempo- 
 rary purpose. Lots were bought on the corner of Park 
 Avenue and Eighty-sixth Street in April, 1882; plans 
 for a new chuich were adopted on June 20, the old 
 property was sold in July, and the contracts were made 
 on September 14. Ground h:id been broken early in 
 August, the corner-stone Avas laid by Bishop Harris on 
 November 13, and on March 23, 1884, the edifice was 
 dedicated by Bishop Warren. It is of brown-stone, and 
 the whole property, church, chapel, and parsonage, occu- 
 pies 102 feet on Park Avenue and 108 feet on Eighty- 
 sixth Street. The church is 60 feet by 90, and tlie 
 chapel 42 feet by 95. 
 
 Church, $150,000. Parsonage, 125,000. Debt, $40,000. 
 Salary, $3,000. Rent, $1,500. Other collections, $4,093. 
 Current expenses, $5,000. Sunday-school, 726. 
 
 *Tlieyliad been shaped and put together in a manner different 
 from what has been usual since the day of PJiilip Embury. The 
 builder also remarked immediately, " That timber has been in a stone 
 building," and pointed out certain marks of this. He did not know- 
 that the first John Street Church was of stone. There was, there- 
 fore, as good evidence as could be expected at that time that these 
 were some of the timbers shaped by Philip Emburj'. Gilbert Cou- 
 tant saw the beams taken from the old John Street Church and 
 placed in the church at Bowery Village, and Rev. D. De Tinne was a 
 witness that those beams were replaced in the building at Kighty- 
 sixtli Street.f A piece of this old material is under the spot wliere 
 the preacher stands in the present Park Avenue Church. Some as- 
 sistance to the funds for the new church was obtained by tiie sale of 
 other portions for canes and otlier purposes. 
 
 t Christian Advocate, vol. xxxili, p. 118.
 
 ASBURY. 313 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIL 
 
 CHURCHES: ASBURY— SECOXD STREKT— EIGHTEPZXTH 
 STREET— CENTRAL— ST. PAUL'S. 
 
 ASBUKY. 
 
 {Broadxvay Hall — Greene Strmt.) 
 
 For several years it had been felt that a Methodist 
 house of woi'ship was needed in what was then about 
 the center of the city, and on December 4, 1820, the trust- 
 ees voted to occupy the second story of the Wesleyan 
 Seminary (in Crosby Street, between Howard and Grand 
 Streets) as a place of worship, if the preachers would 
 supply it regularly. This arrangement, however, does 
 not seem to have continued long, and in 1824 the room 
 was occupied by the printing-office of the Book Con- 
 cern. On the 6th of February, 1831, Broadway Hall 
 was opened for religious services, and it is said four 
 persons were awakened at the first meeting.* During 
 the summer land was bought for 1 1 0,000 in Greene 
 Street, between Broome and Spring Streets,! and on 
 
 * This building was on the east side of Broadway, between Howard 
 and Grand Streets, Xo. 444. A view of it will be fbuud in Valentine's 
 Manual, 1861, p. 452, and 1865, p. 628. There it bears the name of 
 '• Olympic." 
 
 f After an agreement had been made to take this property some of 
 tiie trustees feared that, as a part of the lot was made ground, it might 
 not furnish a sufBciently solid foundation. Another site was thsie- 
 fore bought in Mulberry Street, also between Broome and Spring 
 Streets; but finally it was thought best to return to the plot in Greene 
 Street, and the land in Mulberry Street was sold to the Methodist 
 Book Concern, and was occupied by that establishment for more than 
 tifty years.
 
 314 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 the 19th of September the corner-stone of the new 
 building was laid, after a sermon by Rev. S. Merwin.* 
 On the first Sabbath of February, 1832, the lecture- 
 room was occupied, and the audience-room was dedi- 
 cated on Good Friday, April 20, Rev. N. Bangs, D.D., 
 preaching in the afternoon, on Psa. cxxxii, part of 
 verse 14, and Rev. S. Merwin in the evening. On the 
 following Sunday Bishop McKendree preached in the 
 morning, on Hos. vi, 3, Rev. B. "VVaugh in the afternoon, 
 on Matt, xi, 5 (latter j^art), and Rev. H. B. Bascom in 
 the evening, on Matt, xxviii, 9. A hearer says this last 
 was " most grand." f The building was 83 feet by VO, 
 of brick, with a basement largely above ground. ;j; 
 
 In the lecture-room of this new church the New York 
 Conference of 1832 began its session June 6. Greene 
 Street became the especial field of the preacher in 
 charge- of the West Circuit, and the men who occupied 
 that position were: 
 
 YEAR. PASTOR. YEAR. PASTOR. 
 
 18H2-3 Peter P. Sandford. 183(J-7 C. W. Carpenter. 
 
 1834-5 J. B. Stratteii. 
 
 In 1838, like all the other churches on the west side, 
 it became independent.! From that time the Minutes 
 give the following particulars: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MKMBKK 
 
 s. PASTOU. 
 
 VEAK. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 5. PASTOR. 
 
 1838 
 
 
 
 S. D. Ferguson. 
 
 1843 
 
 688 
 
 J. C. Green. 
 
 1839 
 
 359 
 
 " 
 
 1844 
 
 598 
 
 N. Bangs. 
 
 1840 
 
 399 
 
 H. Beings. 
 
 1845 
 
 462 
 
 " 
 
 1841 
 
 438 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 470 
 
 P. R. Brown. 
 
 1842 
 
 493 
 
 J. C. Green. 
 
 1847 
 
 412 
 
 " 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol vi, p. 15. 
 
 \ Note-book of Texts, Mrs. "W. Truslow, and Christian Advocate, 
 vol. vi, p. J ^9. 
 
 I Two others were afterward built on tlie same model; that in 
 Second Street still stands. A new plan of seating was aiso adopted 
 ill tiiis house, of which a description will be found on p. 268. 
 
 § It had as its share of tiie debt $9,500.
 
 AsBURY. 
 
 ^15 
 
 VEAR. MEMBERS, 
 
 PiSTOB. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 5. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1848 
 
 418 
 
 D. Smith. 
 
 1862 
 
 562 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Beach. 
 
 1849 
 
 388 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 483 
 
 J. 
 
 K. Wardle. 
 
 1850 
 
 435 
 
 D. Stocking. 
 
 1864 
 
 516 
 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 496 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 468 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 503 
 
 R. S. Foster. 
 
 1866 
 
 447 
 
 J. 
 
 S. Inskip. 
 
 1853 
 
 454 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 498 
 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 454 
 
 J. P. Hermance. 
 
 1868 
 
 405 
 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 414 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 412 
 
 A 
 
 . K. Sanford. 
 
 1856 
 
 376 
 
 J. T. Peck. 
 
 1870 
 
 442 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 388 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 325 
 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 406 
 
 W. P. Corbit. 
 
 1872 
 
 325 
 
 E. 
 
 S. Osboii. 
 
 1859 
 
 475 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 306 
 
 
 u 
 
 1860 
 
 546 
 
 C. K. Harris. 
 
 1874 
 
 177 
 
 
 
 1861 
 
 630 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 At the Conference of 1874 Greene Street and Duane 
 Street were united under the charge of E. S. Osbon, 
 and so continued in 1875, J. A. Edmonds being pastor. 
 The report for the united churches was, for 1875, 434 
 members, and for 1876, 343. During the last year the 
 property was sold for |100,000, and the Reformed 
 church on Washington Square bought for |80,000. 
 The name was also changed to Asbury. At the Confer- 
 ence of 1876 the union between this congregation and 
 the Duane Church was dissolved, and from that period 
 the reports of Asbury are: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 I. PASTOR. 
 
 1876 
 
 J. A. Kdmonds. 
 
 1884 
 
 250 
 
 P. R. Hawxhurst. 
 
 1877 
 
 154 
 
 1885 
 
 165 
 
 F. Boltome. 
 
 1878 
 
 203 J. F. Richmond. 
 
 1886 
 
 134 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 240 
 
 1887 
 
 111 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 250 
 
 1888 
 
 78 
 
 De Los Lull. 
 
 1881 
 
 228 "W. H. Ferris. 
 
 1889 
 
 95 
 
 J. Rowe. 
 
 1882 
 
 275 
 
 1890 
 
 82 
 
 J. S. Stone. 
 
 1883 
 
 277 " 
 
 
 
 
 The church in Greene Street was the scene of some 
 very interesting events. At the session of the New 
 York Conference in 1838 Rev. Paul R. Brown was 
 called to account for taking part in a Methodist Anti- 
 slavery Convention at Utica, New York, The mem- 
 orable General Conference of 1844 was held within its
 
 316 A History of Methodism in New Vork City. 
 
 walls. Being for many years one of the largest and 
 most central of our churches, it was the favorite place 
 for missionary anniversaries and other general meetings. 
 
 A Bible-class conducted for many years by Joseph 
 Longking became somewhat famous in its day for fur- 
 nishing to the Church an unusual number of useful 
 laborers. The membership of the church was never as 
 large as that of some other churches, nor did the con- 
 gregation generally fill the building. But it held on its 
 course of usefulness until the influx of business into 
 the neighborhood made a removal necessary. It is to 
 be hoped that there is yet a prosperous future before 
 this historic church. 
 
 Church, Sl30,00(). Parsonage, $17,000. Debt,$12,000. 
 Salary, $1,350. Other collections, $142. Current ex- 
 penses, $2,075. Sunday-school, 245. 
 
 SECOND S 1' R E E T. 
 
 (Mav}talt<in Idand.) 
 
 The amount of labor expended on the site occupied 
 by New York city in prei)aring it for building can 
 scarcely be imagined by any one who now visits it for 
 the first time. Hollows and salt meadows and ponds 
 have been filled in, hills dug down and rocks blasted, 
 that the streets might be as nearly level as possible. 
 On the East River side, north of Houston Street, were 
 extensive salt meadows, in the midst of which Avas a 
 spot rather more elevated, which was known as Man- 
 hattan Island, and occupied by ship-builders. Some- 
 where in that vicinity Abraham Stagg, a contractor for 
 opening streets, put up a row of buildings which became 
 known as Stagg's Barracks, and the neighborhood was 
 called Staggtown, About 1816 a large garret in Stagg's
 
 Second Street. 317 
 
 Barracks was opened for a Sunday-school, and })robably 
 also for prayer-meetings and preaching. Annie Fitz- 
 gerald, or Aunt Annie, as she was called, a devoted 
 woman, the wife of William, or Uncle Billy, Fitzgerald, 
 was in the habit of visiting through the neigliborhood, 
 taking her knitting and talking to young and old. 
 Meetings were also held in a carver's shop at the junc- 
 tion of East Houston and Second Streets, where the 
 bell-tower afterward stood. Thomas Evans and 
 Abraham Stagg are said to have been leaders in the 
 work. This is about all we can learn in reg.ird to it, 
 however, until at a meeting of the trustees, April 8, 
 
 1829, a committee was appointed to inquire concerning 
 a church which was to let at Manhattan Island. At a 
 subsequent meeting they reported that the building 
 would not answer. At the meeting of November 3, 
 
 1830, the subject was again taken up, and at that of 
 December 1 it was resolved to build in the neighbor- 
 hood. On March 19, 1831, the committee reported the 
 purchase of four lots of ground on the north side of 
 Second Street, between Avenues C and D, for |800 a 
 lot. On January 23, 1832, the corner-stone was laid, 
 Rev. D. Ostrander preaching on the occasion eitlier 
 from Psa. cxviii, 23, or Matt, xxi, 42.* On October 18, 
 1832, the building was dedicated. Rev. J. P. Durbin 
 preaching on 2 Chron, vi, 18.f It is of brick, some- 
 what after the model of that recently erected in Greene 
 Street, 58 feet by 15.1 It is still occupied by the con- 
 gregation. 
 
 In 1832-3 P. R. Brown was the resident preaclier, in 
 1834-5 J. Law, and in 183G H. Brown. In 1837 it be- 
 came a separate charge, and from that time its mem- 
 bership and ])astors have been: 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. vi, p. 09. f Ilfid., vol. vii, p. ;{4. 
 
 J Trustees' minutes, October 21, 1831.
 
 318 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 YKAK. J 
 
 ilKMBEBS 
 
 PAHTOB. 
 
 YKAK. .\ 
 
 IFMBKRR. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1837 
 
 
 
 H. Brown. 
 
 1864 
 
 393 
 
 R. H. Loomis. 
 
 1838 
 
 596 
 
 J. W. Le Fevre. 
 
 1865 
 
 380 
 
 W. F. Collins. 
 
 1839 
 
 701 
 
 ■' 
 
 1866 
 
 541 
 
 " 
 
 1840 
 
 759 
 
 J. Lindsay. 
 
 1867 
 
 564 
 
 J. L. Peck. 
 
 1841 
 
 830 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 535 
 
 " 
 
 1842 
 
 900 
 
 W. M. Ferguson.* 
 
 1869 
 
 460 
 
 F. Brown. 
 
 1843 
 
 970 
 
 N. Bangs. 
 
 1870 
 
 433 
 
 " 
 
 1844 
 
 849 
 
 F. W. Smith. 
 
 1871 
 
 457 
 
 H. Aston. 
 
 1845 
 
 793 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 444 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 800 
 
 A. S. Lakin. 
 
 1873 
 
 407 
 
 W. McAllister. 
 
 1847 
 
 700 
 
 •' 
 
 1874 
 
 370 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 700 
 
 P. Cliamberlin. 
 
 1875 
 
 335 
 
 '• 
 
 1849 
 
 515 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 230 
 
 F. Brown. 
 
 1850 
 
 462 
 
 H. F. Pease. 
 
 1877 
 
 232 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 566 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 276 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1852 
 
 489 
 
 R. Jessop. 
 
 1879 
 
 266 
 
 " 
 
 1853 
 
 392 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 259 
 
 \V. T. Pray. 
 
 1854 
 
 337 
 
 To be supplied. f 
 
 1881 
 
 251 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 420 
 
 0. Shelling. 
 
 1882 
 
 231 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 320 
 
 S. W. King. 
 
 1883 
 
 224 
 
 R. T. McNicholl. 
 
 1857 
 
 341 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 195 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 485 
 
 To be supplied.:]: 
 
 1885 
 
 222 
 
 Geo. H. Goodsell, 
 
 1859 
 
 534 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1886 
 
 130 
 
 C. S. Williams. 
 
 1860 
 
 628 
 
 W. F. Collins. 
 
 1887 
 
 180 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 589 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 139 
 
 "W. A. Dickson. 
 
 1862 
 
 580 
 
 G. Dunbar. 
 
 1889 
 
 115 
 
 R. Wasson. 
 
 1863 
 
 625 
 
 R. H. Loomis. 
 
 1890 
 
 100 
 
 " 
 
 Church (including a school-building in the rear), 
 $70,000. Parsonage, |8,000. Debt, $5,000. Salary, 
 $800. Rent, $540. Other collections, $195. Current 
 expenses, $1,866. Sunday-school, 400. 
 
 eighteenth street. ■% 
 
 ( Upper Greenwich — TiuentiAh Street.) 
 
 Although the church in Eighteenth Street originated 
 some years before the division of the city into two cir- 
 cuits, it had no resident preacher, the services being 
 
 * Mr. Ferguson's health failing, he resigned his charge during the 
 year, and died June 3, 1843, Rev. N. Bangs supplied. 
 
 \ C. Siielliug was tlie supply. If. R. C. Putney was the supply.
 
 Eighteenth Street. 319 
 
 conducted mostly by local preachers. In 1828 Rev. 
 N. Levings, then in Bedford Street, formed a class at 
 the house of Richard Winthrop, in Eighteenth Street, 
 nearly opposite tlie present church. It met at the 
 homes of the different members, David Demarest being 
 leader at first, but he was soon succeeded by Stephen 
 Merritt. In 1829 a Sunday-school was established in 
 Twentieth Street, east of Eighth Avenue, with S. Mer- 
 ritt and William S. Hunt as superintendents, and other 
 religious services were held in the same place.* In 
 1830 a small frame church was erected on the south 
 side of Twentieth Street, west of Eighth Avenue,f at 
 the cost of $1,200, which was known as the Twentieth 
 Street or Upper Greenwich Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 In 1832, when the circuit was divided, it received its 
 first resident preacher, Josiah Bowen, who remained two 
 years. John C. Tackaberry succeeded him in 1834, and 
 James Covel, Jr., in 1836, each continuing two years. 
 
 In 1835 the present church edifice was undertaken, 
 on the north side of Eighteenth Street, a little west of 
 Eighth Avenue. The corner-stone was laid August 
 13, 1835, by Bishop Hedding;}; after addresses by the 
 Bishop and Rev. S. Merwin. The dedication took place 
 on Thursday, February 25, 1836, sermons being preached 
 by Revs. B. Waugh and Fitch Reed. 
 
 When, in 1838, ihe property of the churches of the 
 West Circuit was divided it would have been appropriate 
 that John Street should retain the old charter and set 
 off its younger sisters ; but the brethren in that so- 
 ciety were not willing to assume the responsibility of 
 doing this, and it was finally arranged that Eighteenth 
 Street should receive the charter and assign to each 
 of the rest its portion. Thus, though the youngest 
 
 * Trustees' minutes, Dec. 2, 1829. \ Ibid., Juue 2, 1830. 
 
 :{; Chrisliun Advocate, vol. ix, p. 207.
 
 320 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 organization at the time, it became the legal mother (or 
 mother-in-^a^o) of the others. It retains that charter 
 to the present day, and is " The Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of the city of New York." 
 
 The building erected in 1835 was of brick, 64 by 82 
 feet, with a basement very much above ground. Its 
 front closely resembled that of the church in Seventh 
 Street. In 1885 (after fifty years) it was remodeled, 
 and an entirely new front of brown-stone and brick 
 erected, and material changes made in the interior. 
 
 Eighteenth Street has been one of the most prosper- 
 ous churches in the city. Its congregation has been 
 good, and many interesting revivals have kept up its 
 membership in spite of the effects of emigration, so 
 that now it is as large as it was forty years ago. It has 
 numbered among its members some most faithful and 
 successful laborers. Its resident preachers before it be- 
 came a separate charge have already been given. After 
 that its record is: 
 
 YEAR. N 
 
 IKMBEKS 
 
 PASTOB. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 ilEMBEES 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1838 
 
 
 
 S. L. Siillmaii. 
 
 1859 
 
 535 
 
 J. 
 
 Poisal. 
 
 1839 
 
 404 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 549 
 
 M. 
 
 D'C. Crawford. 
 
 1840 
 
 452 
 
 J. Youngs. 
 
 1861 
 
 542 
 
 
 " 
 
 1841 
 
 604 
 
 " 
 
 1 862 
 
 440 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Lindsay. 
 
 1842 
 
 752 
 
 D. Stockinsj. 
 
 1863 
 
 463 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1843 1,003 
 
 " 
 
 1864 
 
 470 
 
 R. 
 
 S. Foster. 
 
 1844 
 
 851 
 
 S. Martindale. 
 
 1865 
 
 441 
 
 
 " 
 
 1845 
 
 819 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 486 
 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 770 
 
 N. "White. 
 
 1867 
 
 442 
 
 L. 
 
 H. King. 
 
 1847 
 
 700 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 500 
 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 610 
 
 A. M. Osboii. 
 
 1869 
 
 510 
 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 611 
 
 '• 
 
 1870 
 
 495 
 
 M. 
 
 D'C. Crawford. 
 
 1850 
 
 456 
 
 M. D'C. Crawford. 
 
 1871 
 
 449 
 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 479 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 397 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 522 
 
 J. P. Hermance. 
 
 1873 
 
 437 
 
 M. 
 
 S. Terry. 
 
 1853 
 
 568 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 449 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1854 
 
 568 
 
 C. B. Sing. 
 
 1875 
 
 429 
 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 547 
 
 
 1876 
 
 408 
 
 W 
 
 . F. Hatfield. 
 
 1856 
 
 556 
 
 J. W. Beach. 
 
 1877 
 
 532 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 448 
 
 '• 
 
 1878 
 
 510 
 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 473 
 
 J. Poisal. 
 
 1879 
 
 495 
 
 G. 
 
 E. Rtrobridgo.
 
 ElGHTKENTH StRKET. 321 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 1880 
 
 547 
 
 G. E. Strobridy:e. 
 
 188G 
 
 525 
 
 G. 
 
 E. 
 
 Strobridge. 
 
 1881 
 
 625 
 
 '• 
 
 1887 
 
 482 
 
 C. 
 
 R. 
 
 North. 
 
 1882 
 
 631 
 
 J. M. King. 
 
 1888 
 
 583 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 1883 
 
 748 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 546 
 
 0. 
 
 A. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 1884 
 
 653 
 
 '• 
 
 1890 
 
 514 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 1885 
 
 540 
 
 G. K. Sirobtidge. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Church, $100,000. Parsonage, 815,000. Debt, 18,000. 
 SaLar}', ^2,500. Rent, |1,500. Other collections, $1,832. 
 Current expenses, $2,000. Sunday-school, H80. 
 
 CENTRAL CHURCH. 
 
 {First Weskyan CJiapeL — Vestry Stre-t.) 
 
 At the trustees' meethig of January 26, 1830, Rev. H. 
 Bangs was present by invitation, and, having set forth 
 the necessity of additional churches in the city, and the 
 inability of the trustees to build them on account of the 
 heavy debt under which they labored, he proposed that 
 some should be built with pews or slips, to sell or to 
 rent, reserving, however, a certain number of free seats. 
 The proposal M'as referred to a committee, which on 
 March 3 reported the plan to be "not lawful nor ex- 
 pedient." But the matter was afterward taken up by 
 some of the laity, and on Monday, June 3, 1833, the 
 corner-stone of the " First Wesleyan Chapel " was laid in 
 Vestrj' Street, near Greenwich. It was erected by 
 joint-stock subscription on leased ground, at a total 
 cost of about $26,000.* Rev. N. Bangs, D.D., preached 
 on the occasion. On the following Christmas day it 
 was dedicated, Avhen Rev. W. Fisk, D.D., preached on 
 Heb. i, 1, 2. f The building was modeled after that of 
 Washington Street, Brooklyn, and was similar to that 
 
 * Article by L. Skidmore. Esq., in the Central Star, December, 1888. 
 f Christian Advocate, vol. viii, p. 74.
 
 322 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 afterward erected in Mulberry Street, near Bleecker, 
 now occupied by a Roman Catliolic congregation of 
 Italians. Dr. Bangs took charge until the following 
 Coni'erence, Avhen Rev. Joseph Holdich, D.D., was trans- 
 ferred fiom the Philadel})hia Conference to the ap- 
 pointment. Its record is as follows : 
 
 1834 
 
 
 J. Holdich. 
 
 1862 
 
 283 
 
 A. Cookman. 
 
 1835 
 
 124 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1863 
 
 307 
 
 H. J. Fox. 
 
 1836 
 
 150 
 
 F. Hodjison. 
 
 1864 
 
 309 
 
 " 
 
 1837 
 
 160 
 
 B. Creagb. 
 
 1865 
 
 293 
 
 " 
 
 1838 
 
 160 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 280 
 
 G. S. Hare. 
 
 1839 
 
 151 
 
 C. A. Davis.f 
 
 1867 
 
 305 
 
 " 
 
 1840 
 
 206 
 
 n 
 
 1868 
 
 311 
 
 " 
 
 1841 
 
 170 
 
 T. Burch. 
 
 1869 
 
 284 
 
 A. Longacre. 
 
 1842 
 
 153 
 
 W. H. Norris.t 
 
 1870 
 
 313 
 
 " 
 
 1843 
 
 175 
 
 N. Leviiigs. 
 
 1871 
 
 321 
 
 " 
 
 1844 
 
 200 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 315 
 
 F. Bottome. 
 
 1845 
 
 216 
 
 M. L. Sciidder. 
 
 1873 
 
 312 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 253 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 346 
 
 a 
 
 1847 
 
 259 
 
 G. F. Kettel. 
 
 1875 
 
 360 
 
 C. S. narrower. 
 
 1848 
 
 251 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 240 
 
 i( 
 
 1849 
 
 220 
 
 D. W. Clark. 
 
 1877 
 
 281 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 197 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 285 
 
 J. P. Newman. 
 
 1851 
 
 208 
 
 J. B. Hagany. 
 
 1879 
 
 411 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 182 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 414 
 
 11 
 
 1853 
 
 171 
 
 E. E. Bragdf)!!. 
 
 1881 
 
 426 
 
 To be supplied.** 
 
 1854 
 
 140 
 
 T. F. R. Mercein. 
 
 1882 
 
 363 
 
 J. S. Chad wick. 
 
 1855 
 
 76 
 
 To be supplied.^ 
 
 1883 
 
 304 
 
 " 
 
 1856|| 
 
 125 
 
 A. Steele. 
 
 1884 
 
 319 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 152 
 
 To be supplied, 
 
 1885 
 
 311 
 
 B. Lane. 
 
 
 
 A. Steele, sup'y.lf 
 
 1886 
 
 299 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 233 
 
 S. D. Brown. 
 
 1887 
 
 305 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 220 
 
 G. S. Hare. 
 
 1888 
 
 298 
 
 C. S. narrower. 
 
 1860 
 
 255 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 232 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 226 
 
 A. Cookniati, 
 J. P. Newman. 
 
 1890 
 
 234 
 
 It 
 
 * G. T. Cox supplied until September. 
 
 f Mr. Davis resigned in February, 1841, and T. Burch supplied. 
 
 :j: Mr. Norris left during the year. J. Dempster supplied. 
 
 § The supply was A. Steele. 
 
 II Name changed to Ceutral Church. 
 
 T[ S. D. Brown, of Troy Conference, was transferred to supply. 
 
 ** B. Lane supplied.
 
 Central Church. 323 
 
 When the congregation had worshiped in Vestry 
 Street about twenty years it became evident that a 
 change of location was necessar3^ Land was bought 
 on the Avest side of Seventh Avenue, just below Four- 
 teenth Street, and on April 27, 1854,* Rev. J. Hoklichi 
 the first pastor, preached the last sermon in the old 
 building on Exod. xv, 13.f The new edifice is of 
 brown-stone, in Romanesque style, 67 feet by 90, and 
 has a tower 125 feet high. A chapel adjoins it on the 
 south, and a parsonage on the north. It was dedicated 
 Sunday, June 15, 1856, Bishop Janes preaching in the 
 morning. Dr. McClintock in the afternoon, and Rev. 
 W. H. Milburn in the evening.;); 
 
 Church, $110,000. Parsonage, 115,000. No debt. 
 Salary, $2,400. Rent, $1,400. Other collections, $3,108. 
 Current expenses, $2,000. Sunday-school, 191. 
 
 ST. paul's.§ 
 
 {Second Wesleyan Chapel — Mulberry Street.) 
 
 In the year 1834 Mr. Ezekiel J. Moore, a merchant 
 and a member of the Seventh Street Church, had his 
 attention attracted to a vacant piece of land in Mul- 
 berry Street, near Bleecker, which he thought would be 
 a good location for a church. On Wednesday evening, 
 June 11, a meeting was held at the house of Mr. Jacob 
 P. Bunting, in Crosby Street, and Staats M. Mead, Lan- 
 caster S. Burling, Benjamin Disbrow, Ezekiel J. Moore, 
 and Ralph Mead were appointed a committee to secure 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xxix, p. 73. 
 
 •)■ Dr. Holdich has given the writer the privilege of reading his copy 
 of this discourse. It is an interesting review of the history of the 
 chnrch, with references to prominent lay members. 
 
 \ Christian Advocate, vol. xxxi, p. 98. 
 
 § Principally from a paper prepared by the late Lemnel Bangs, Esq.
 
 324 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 the property and erect the building. The design of 
 the First Wesleyan Chapel, recently erected in Vestry 
 Street, was adopted in the main, and on July 10, 1834, 
 the corner-stone was laid, with an address by Dr. Dur- 
 bin. It was dedicated on March 5, 1835, Dr. N. Bangs 
 preaching at three P. M. on Luke i, 79,* and Rev. S. Mer- 
 win, the presiding elder, in the evening.f The total 
 cost was 130,560, of which $10,500 was for the land. J 
 A house nearly opposite the church was bought for a 
 parsonage for |9,000, making in all |39,560. The prop- 
 erty, like that of Vestry Street, was originally held by 
 shareholders, who paid |! 10,500, leaving a debt of 
 $29,060. The title of the incorporation was, " The 
 Second Wesleyan Chapel of New York City." The 
 building could seat nine hundred. It was carpeted and 
 cushioned, and had a pulpit of mahogany from the fac- 
 tory of Staats M. Mead. 
 
 Until the Conference of 1835 Rev. N. Bangs, D.D., 
 then the general editor of the Methodist Book Concern, 
 supplied the pulpit. After that the record is: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBEB 
 
 :s. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBKRS. PASTOR. 
 
 1835 
 
 
 
 R. 
 
 Sciiey. 
 
 1843 
 
 297 
 
 J. Dempster. 
 
 1830 
 
 lOB 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1844 
 
 285 
 
 " 
 
 1837 
 
 119 
 
 F. 
 
 Hodgson. 
 
 1845 
 
 277 
 
 E. L Janes. 
 
 1838 
 
 145 
 
 
 
 1846 
 
 296 
 
 " 
 
 1839 
 
 155 
 
 E. 
 
 S. Janes. 
 
 1847 
 
 295 
 
 C. B. Sing. 
 
 1840 
 
 197 
 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 277 
 
 E. E. Griswold. 
 
 1841 
 
 201 
 
 J. 
 
 H. Perry. 
 
 1849 
 
 257 
 
 " 
 
 1842 
 
 305 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1850 
 
 238 
 
 To be supplied. § 
 
 About this time the debt had increased so as to be- 
 come a serious embarrassment. To relieve this and 
 simplify their finances a mortgage on the building was 
 permitted to be foreclosed, and it was sold in Novem- 
 
 * Memoranda of Mrs. W. Truslow. 
 •j- Christian Advocate, vol. ix, p. 118. 
 ^ Christian Advocate, vol. ix, p. 162. 
 § Tlie supply was R. S. Foster.
 
 St. Paul's. 325 
 
 ber, 1849. Mr. Ralph Mead boiight it, and the congre- 
 gation paid him $25,000 for the property. A new or- 
 ganization was effected under the title of "The Mul- 
 berry Street Methodist Episcopal Church." 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1851 
 
 280 
 
 R. 
 
 S. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 1854 
 
 263 J. B. Hagany. 
 
 1852 
 
 264 
 
 E. 
 
 0. 
 
 Haven. 
 
 1855 
 
 257 A. M. Osbou. 
 
 1853 
 
 261 
 
 J. 
 
 B. 
 
 Hagany. 
 
 1856 
 
 251 
 
 In 1856 the question of removal began to be agitated. 
 On October 6 St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church * 
 offered to purchase the property, deliverable May 1, 
 1857, and the offer was accepted. On November 23, 
 1856, it was decided to buy the property on the corner 
 of Fourth Avenue and Twenty-second Street. On the 
 ground was a wooden chapel which had been used by 
 the Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church. This was 
 fitted up for temporary use, the congregation in the 
 meanwhile meeting in the chapel of the Fourth Avenue 
 Presbyterian Church. The corner-stone was laid by 
 Dr. Bangs on September 9, 1857, Rev. Alfred Cookman, 
 of the Philadelphia Conference, and Rev. A. M. Osbon 
 speaking on the occasion. 
 
 The walls of the new church went up around the 
 old building, and the chapel in Twenty-second Street 
 was completed and occupied December 27, 1857, the 
 opening sermon being by Bishop Janes. The church 
 was dedicated May 9, 1858, by Bishop Ames, after 
 a sermon by Dr. J. P. Durbin on John i, 29. Dr. 
 J. McClintock preached in the afternoon, and Rev. 
 Thomas Sewall, of Baltimore, in the evening. This 
 building (St. Paul's Church) is so well known to Meth- 
 
 * This was a congregation of colored people, once under tlie pastoral 
 care of Rev. Peler Williams, son of Peter Williams, the old sexton of 
 John Street Clnirch. See Appendix V, p. 489. It has since been 
 sold to a Catholic congregation of Italians.
 
 326 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 odists in the city and to many elsewhere that no de- 
 scription is necessary. 
 
 Since the church removed to its new location its pas- 
 tors and membership have been: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1857 
 
 216 
 
 J. McClimock.* 
 
 1874 
 
 520 
 
 J. 
 
 A. M. Cliapman. 
 
 1858 
 
 275 
 
 a « 
 
 1875 
 
 574 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1859 
 
 294 
 
 A. C. Foss. 
 
 1876 
 
 655 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1860 
 
 340 
 
 J. B, Hagany. 
 
 1877 
 
 655 
 
 0. 
 
 H. Tiffany. 
 
 1861 
 
 354 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 665 
 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 332 
 
 H. B. Ridgaway. 
 
 1879 
 
 734 
 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 357 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 751 
 
 J. 
 
 A. M. Chapman. 
 
 1864 
 
 388 
 
 J. McClintock.f 
 
 1881 
 
 702 
 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 351 
 
 C. D. Foss. 
 
 1882 
 
 694 
 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 392 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 675 
 
 J. 
 
 R. Day. 
 
 1867 
 
 434 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 669 
 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 444 
 
 H. B. Ridgaway. 
 
 1885 
 
 689 
 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 480 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 638 
 
 E. 
 
 , McChesney. 
 
 1870 
 
 483 
 
 u 
 
 1887 
 
 384 ^ 
 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 502 
 
 C. D. Foss. 
 
 1888 
 
 409 
 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 517 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 415 
 
 G. 
 
 , H. McGrew. 
 
 1873 
 
 533 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 406 
 
 
 " 
 
 Chiircli, $175,000. Parsonage, 125,000. Debt, $4,000. 
 Salary, $4,000. Rent, $2,000. Other collections, 
 $6,156. Current expenses, $2,297. Sunday-school, 239.§ 
 
 * E. L. Prentice was assistant pastor in 1857, and A. C. Foss in 1858. 
 In 1858 the name was changed to St. Paul's. 
 
 \ B. B. Otheman assistant. 
 
 :j: This reduction arose partly from a revision of the list, and partly 
 from the removal of a number of members to tlie newly organized 
 church on Madison Avenue. 
 
 § Since the above was written the property has been sold for 
 $300,000 and the building taken down. The new location has not yet 
 been selected.
 
 Chelsea. 327 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 CHURCHES: CHELSEA— WASHINGTON SQUARE— A SBURT, 
 NORFOLK STREET— JANE STREET— ALANSON— MADISON 
 STREET— MADISON AND CATHARINE STREET— CHERRY 
 STREET— ELEVENTH STREET. 
 
 CHELSEA. 
 
 {Twenty-fourth Street— TJiirtieth Street.) 
 
 The Chelsea Methodist Episcopal Church owes its 
 origin to the foresight and energy of Rev. Joseph 
 Longkitig. In 1838 it occurred to him that a mission 
 should be established in the upper part of the city, 
 west of Eighth Avenue, in what was then a sparsely 
 settled district, but likely soon to be densely populated. 
 He therefore secured a basement in Tenth Avenue, 
 between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Streets, 
 next door to the residence of Gerry Walker, at a 
 rent of $60 a year. A Sunday-school was organ- 
 ized, the teachers being principally young people from 
 the churches in Greene and Vestry Streets. Prayer and 
 class-meetings were begun, and also preaching on Sun- 
 day evenings, generally by local preachers, but occa- 
 sionally by Rev. George Coles, then Assistant Editor of 
 77ie Christum Advocate. Gerry Walker and James 
 Scott, members of the Church in Eighteenth Street, 
 and John Crouch, a member of that in Vestry Street, 
 were active co-laborers in the work. In 1841 the mission 
 was removed to the second story of a building at 
 the south-west corner of Twenty-seventh Street and 
 Ninth Avenue, the lower part of which was a carpen- 
 22
 
 328 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 ter's shop. In July or August, 1843, the society was 
 incorporated under the title of "The Chelsea Methodist 
 Episcopal Church of the City^ of New York," and a lot 
 on the north side of Twenty-fourth Street, a little east 
 of Ninth Avenue, was leased from Joseph Longking 
 at a yearlj'- rent of $56. Here a house was erected, 
 24 feet 6 inches by 50 feet. It was a frame building 
 with a basement, costing $1,600, and was dedicated on 
 Friday, January 5, 1844, the first sermon being preached 
 by Rev. N, LeviuL^s, on Matt, xviii, 20, and that in the 
 evening by Rev. J. Dempster, on 2 Cor. iv, 5. Rev. 
 Bezaleel Howe, a supernumerary preacher of the New 
 York Conference, was the first pastor, and at the en- 
 suing Conference (1844) reported fifty-nine mem- 
 bers. Rev. N. C. Lewis was then appointed in 1844, 
 and S. A. Seaman followed in 1845, and remained two 
 years. 
 
 The building in Twenty-fourth Street had been in- 
 tended to be but temporary, the design being to locate 
 eventually some five or six streets above. That region, 
 however, had not been graded, an elevation known as 
 Strawberry Hill occupying the ground between Twenty- 
 sixth and Thirty-third Streets and Eighth and Ninth 
 Avenues. The society, however, was growing even 
 more rapidly than was expected, and it was proposed to 
 enlarge the little church ; but on Jnly 20, 1846, it was 
 decided that this would not be advisable, but that a 
 new location should be sought and a new house erected. 
 Lots were secured on the north side of Thirtieth Street, 
 midway between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, for $3,560, 
 and collections begun. 
 
 At the Conference of 1847, for various reasons, the 
 charge was left to be supplied. The Rev. John Hewit 
 occupied the pulpit for about six months. In Decem- 
 ber Rev. Samuel Meredith, since of the Troy Confer-
 
 Chelsea. 329 
 
 ence, succeeded Mr. Hewit. Rev. E. O. Haven, after- 
 ward Bishop, then became pastor. On Monday, June 
 29, 1848, the corner-stone of the new house was laid 
 after addresses from Bishop Janes and Rev. Charles 
 Pitman.* The basement was opened on Sunday, January 
 21, 1849, with a sermon by Bishop Janes.f On July 11 
 the audience-room was dedicated, Rev. Joseph Holdich, 
 D.D., preaching the first sermon, and Rev. W, K. Stop- 
 ford the second. The dedication was by Rev. B. Griffin, 
 the presiding elder.J 
 
 This building is of brick, 60 by 80 feet, with a 
 basement above ground, and though plain is one of 
 the most attractive of the older style of church edi- 
 fices in the city. The total cost, including land and 
 furnishing, was about .^17,500. In the spring of 
 1853 a parsonage was completed at the cost of about 
 $4,500. 
 
 The Minutes give the following statistics: 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR, 
 
 VEAR. MEMBERS, 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1844 
 
 59 
 
 N. C. Lewis. 
 
 1856 
 
 458 
 
 A. 
 
 C. Foss. 
 
 1845 
 
 105 
 
 S. A. Seaman. 
 
 1857 
 
 470 
 
 
 ■' 
 
 1846 
 
 120 
 
 " 
 
 1858 
 
 588 
 
 J. 
 
 Millard. 
 
 1847 
 
 135 
 
 To be supplied.§ 
 
 1859 
 
 715 
 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 160 
 
 E. 0. Haven. 
 
 1860 
 
 770 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Lindsay. 
 
 1849 
 
 179 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 832 
 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 290 
 
 J. B. Beacli. 
 
 1862 
 
 732 
 
 C. 
 
 K. True. 
 
 1851 
 
 345 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 768 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 391 
 
 C. Isham. 
 
 1864 
 
 765 
 
 J. 
 
 B. Hagany. 
 
 1853 
 
 434 
 
 •' 
 
 1865 
 
 560 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 854|| 
 
 339 
 
 D. Buck. 
 
 1866 
 
 692 
 
 A. 
 
 , C. Foss. 
 
 1855 
 
 493 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 588 
 
 
 
 * ChrisHan Advocate, vol. xxiii, p. 103. 
 
 f Ihid., vol. xxiv, p. 10. 
 
 X Christian Advocate, vol. xxiv, pp. 110, 114, and Coles's Later 
 Years, p. 282. 
 
 § J. Hewit ana S. Meredith were the supplies. 
 
 II This loss of about one hundred members was caused by the 
 organization of the Trinity Church in Tiiirty-fourth Street. 
 
 •'Mr. Hagany died suddenly, June 28, 1865. A. C. Foss supplied.
 
 330 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 YEAR. ( 
 
 .lEMBEKS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 TEAR. MEMBERS, 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1868 
 
 547 
 
 A. D. Vail. 
 
 1880 
 
 400 
 
 "W". H. Ferris. 
 
 1869 
 
 651 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 425 
 
 C. R. North. 
 
 1870 
 
 633 
 
 
 1882 
 
 469 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 667 
 
 H. H. Birkins. 
 
 1883 
 
 441 
 
 11 
 
 1872 
 
 699 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 445 
 
 C. Wright. 
 
 1873 
 
 560 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 510 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 543 
 
 E. S. Bishop. 
 
 1886 
 
 491 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 450 
 
 G. H. Corey. 
 
 1887 
 
 456 
 
 J. G. Oakley. 
 
 1876 
 
 408 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 425 
 
 •' 
 
 1877 
 
 492 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 325 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 492 
 
 W. P. Abbott.* 
 
 1890 
 
 330 
 
 W. S. Winans, Jr. 
 
 1879 
 
 385 
 
 W. H. Ferris. 
 
 
 
 
 Church, 138,000. Parsonage, $15,000. No debt. Sal- 
 ary, $1,800. Rent, $1,200. Other collections, $625. 
 Current expenses, $2,100. Sunday-school, 300. 
 
 WASHINGTON SQUARE. 
 
 (Sullivan Street.) 
 
 A branch of the Methodist Society organized by 
 Rev. W. M. Stilwell in 1820 built a house of worship 
 in Sullivan Street, near Spring, which Avas opened in 
 1824. In 1826 a division took place in the Methodist 
 Society ; the congregation in Sullivan Street became 
 independent, and finally united with the Methodist 
 Protestant Church. In 1839 the building was sold 
 and a new one erected in the upper part of the same 
 street, near Bleecker. In 1841, however, the debt be- 
 ing heavy, the larger j^art of the members (all but 
 about twenty) chose to unite with the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and in 1842 the transfer took place. 
 The Rev. G. N. Smith, whose health had compelled 
 him to become supernumerary at the preceding Con- 
 ference, was appointed to the charge (January, 1843). 
 
 *Mr. Abbott died December 26, 1878. W. H. Ferris supplied.
 
 Washington Square. 331 
 
 Its reports and subsequent appointments were as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 YEAR. MKMBEKS. 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. » 
 
 lEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1843 
 
 200 
 
 G. 
 
 X. Smitli. 
 
 1852 
 
 418 
 
 S. Fitch. 
 
 1844 
 
 300 
 
 
 " 
 
 1853 
 
 379 
 
 L. M. Vincent. 
 
 1845 
 
 320 
 
 J. 
 
 Law. 
 
 1854 
 
 315 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 370 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1855 
 
 295 
 
 W. H. Ferris. 
 
 1847 
 
 400 
 
 D. 
 
 W. Clark. 
 
 1856 
 
 300 
 
 '• 
 
 1848 
 
 392 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 236 
 
 J. B. Hafrany. 
 
 1849 
 
 400 
 
 W 
 
 . H. Ferris. 
 
 1858 
 
 261 
 
 C. Shelling. 
 
 1850 
 
 476 
 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 259 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 425 
 
 S. 
 
 Fitch. 
 
 
 
 
 By this time it had become evident that the building 
 was not such as the congregation needed, and that its 
 location was unfavorable. Land was, therefore, bought 
 in Fourth Street, between Sixth Avenue and Washing- 
 ton Square, and here, on August 17, 1859, the corner- 
 stone of a new edifice was laid b}^ Bishop Janes, Rev. 
 Dr. McClintock assisting in the services.* This was 
 dedicated on Sunday, June 10, 1860, Rev. J. P. Dur- 
 bin, Bishop Simpson, and Rev. R. S. Foster (the pastor) 
 officiating.! The house is a very attractive one, about 65 
 feet by 90, Avith a front of marble and a basement very 
 much.above ground. It cost 175,000. In the Minutes, 
 therefore, the name "Sullivan Street" gives place to 
 that of Washington Square. J From that time its ap- 
 pointments and reports are: 
 
 YEAR. I 
 
 JEMEERS 
 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1860 
 
 238 
 
 R. 
 
 S. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 1868 
 
 413 
 
 R. 
 
 S. Foster. 
 
 1861 
 
 254 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 404 
 
 A. 
 
 H. Wyatt. 
 
 1862 
 
 236 
 
 J. 
 
 P. 
 
 Newman. 
 
 1870 
 
 434 
 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 255 
 
 
 
 
 1871 
 
 422 
 
 
 •t 
 
 1864 
 
 273 
 
 H. 
 
 B, 
 
 , Ridgaway. 
 
 1872 
 
 460 
 
 W, 
 
 . P. Abbott. 
 
 1865 
 
 321 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 460 
 
 
 " 
 
 18H6 
 
 362 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 1874 
 
 556 
 
 
 » 
 
 1867 
 
 361 
 
 R. 
 
 S. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 1875 
 
 556 
 
 W 
 
 . Lloyd. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xxxiv, p. 127. 
 •f Ibid., vol. XXXV, p. 95. 
 
 I The Asbury Church, on the eastern side of the sqnare, is another 
 organization.
 
 332 A History of Methodism ix New York City, 
 
 YEAR. > 
 
 lEMBERS 
 
 PASTOK. 
 
 YEAR. \ 
 
 lEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1876 
 
 670 
 
 W. Lloyd. 
 
 1884 
 
 539 
 
 M. Hulbnrd. 
 
 1877 
 
 547 
 
 J. M. King. 
 
 1885 
 
 566 
 
 '• 
 
 1878 
 
 606 
 
 
 1886 
 
 624 
 
 J. R. Thompson. 
 
 1879 
 
 645 
 
 W. F. Hatfield. 
 
 1887 
 
 537 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 670 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 595 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 750 
 
 J. J. Reed. 
 
 1889 
 
 591 
 
 C. H. Me.Aimey. 
 
 1882 
 
 788 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 515 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 650 
 
 u * 
 
 
 
 
 Church, 1100,000. Parsonage, $15,000. No debt. 
 Salary, $2,500. Rent, $1,300. Other collections, $8,795. 
 Current expenses, $3,300. Sunday-school, 625. 
 
 ASBURY CHURCH IN NORFOLK STREET. 
 
 It is not at all surprising that, after the circuit system 
 had been abandoned and the propert}' divided among 
 the several charge?, the attention of each should be 
 turned more especially to its own interests. It Avas in 
 some degree necessaiy indeed that their stakes should 
 be strengthened, but for a Avhile little regard was paid 
 to lengthening the cords, and several years elapsed be- 
 fore any new chuich enterprise was undertaken. Some 
 of the congregations — as Allen Street, Willett Street, 
 and Second Street — were overflowing. About 1842, 
 principally through the instrumentality of Rev. J. M. 
 Howe, M.D., John Harper, Daniel and Stephen Barker, 
 Crandall Rich, and William Mackrell, the " Asbury 
 Society " was organized " for the purpose of increasing 
 the number of churches where they were most needed." 
 Under its auspices two enterprises were undertaken, the 
 first of which was the Asbury Church in Norfolk Street. 
 Columbian Hall, in Grand Street, a little east of the 
 Bowery, was hired, and Rev. E. Withey began services 
 there. It was soon filled and a number of conversions 
 
 * Mr. Reed was transferred during the year to the Cincinnati Con- 
 ference and Mr. Hulburd supplied.
 
 AsBURY Church in Norfolk Street. 333 
 
 took place. Four lots of ground were bought on the 
 west side of Norfolk Street, near Stanton Street, and 
 on May 16, 1843, the corner-stone of -a new building 
 was laid by Rev. J. Dempster, Rev. S. Olin giving an 
 address.* The report of membership in 1843 was 330, 
 of which all but 100 were on trial. Mr. Withey re- 
 turned for a second year, and on October 5 the house 
 was dedicated. Dr. Olin preaching in the afternoon on 
 John xiv, 1, and Dr. Levings in the evening on Heb. 
 ii, 10. f Its record is: 
 
 VEAE. 
 
 MEMBKES 
 
 ;. PASTOE. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 184;{ 
 
 330 
 
 E. Withey. 
 
 1853 
 
 500 
 
 A. 
 
 S. Francis. 
 
 1844 
 
 590 
 
 N. White. 
 
 1854 
 
 515 
 
 H. 
 
 Bangs. 
 
 1845 
 
 475 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 335 
 
 A. 
 
 H. Rnhinson, 
 
 1846 
 
 551 
 
 S. Martindale. 
 
 1856 
 
 300 
 
 J. 
 
 E. Searles. 
 
 1847 
 
 501 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 305 
 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 439 
 
 J. Field. 
 
 1858 
 
 318 
 
 A. 
 
 S. Francis. 
 
 1849 
 
 479 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 323 
 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 400 
 
 To be supplied. :j: 
 
 1860 
 
 284 
 
 W 
 
 . Lawrence. 
 
 1851 
 
 609 
 
 J. S. Mitchell. 
 
 1861 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 1852 
 
 527 
 
 A. S. Francis. 
 
 
 
 
 
 In the Minutes of 1861 the name of this charge is not 
 found in the list of appointments. The house was 
 sold to a German Reformed congregation. 
 
 JANE STREET, 
 
 (Home Mission.) 
 
 Wlien, in 1844, Mr. Withey's term of service at Nor- 
 folk Street had expired, he w^as appointed home mis- 
 sionary in the city of New York, with the design of 
 getting up a new church between Bedford and Eight- 
 eenth Streets. A hall was occupied for a sliort time, 
 and then the use of a piece of ground bounded by 
 West Twelfth Street and Greenwich and Seventh 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xvii, p. 172. \ Ibid., vol. xviii, p. 34. 
 \ J. S. Mitchell supplied.
 
 334 A History of Methodism in New Yokk City. 
 
 Avenues, used for storing water-pipes, was secured. 
 This was known as the " Pipe Lot," and liere Mr. 
 Withey preached every Sunday afternoon at five 
 o'clock. Wlien the cold weather came on the serv- 
 ices were removed to the old Merchants' Bank build- 
 ing, at the junction of Jane and Fourth Streets and 
 Eighth Avenue. In the meanwhile lots had been pur- 
 chased on the north side of Jane Sti-eet, between 
 Eighth and Greenwich Avenues, and Kentucky Hall 
 hired until the basement of the new church was com- 
 pleted. The corner-stone of this building was laid Oc- 
 tober 22, 1845, Bishop Janes and Drs. N. Bangs and 
 P. P. Sandford taking part in the services.* The base- 
 ment was occupied about August 1, 1845, and the dedica- 
 tion took place May 10, 1846, Avith a sermon by Bishop 
 Janes. The edifice is of brick, with a basement above 
 ground. Its record in the Minutes is: 
 
 YEAR. ^ 
 
 lEMBERS, 
 
 rASTl.R. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 184-1 
 
 
 
 E. Withey. 
 
 1865 
 
 435 
 
 J. Croft. 
 
 1845 
 
 211 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 395 
 
 T. M. Curry. 
 
 1846 
 
 275 
 
 W. Gothard. 
 
 1867 
 
 340 
 
 " 
 
 1847 
 
 285 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 262 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1848 
 
 212 
 
 D. Stocking. 
 
 1869 
 
 284 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 290 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 297 
 
 W. C. Smith. 
 
 1850 
 
 290 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1871 
 
 300 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 322 
 
 ti 
 
 1872 
 
 300 
 
 F. Hamblin. 
 
 1852 
 
 393 
 
 H. Lounsbury. 
 
 1873 
 
 313 
 
 " 
 
 1853 
 
 380 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 480 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 405 
 
 J. B. Wakeley. 
 
 1875 
 
 462 
 
 W. W. Sever. 
 
 1855 
 
 326 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 375 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 495 
 
 R. C. Putney. 
 
 1877 
 
 347 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 525 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 354 
 
 A. Schriver. 
 
 1858 
 
 659 
 
 H. Lounsbury. 
 
 1879 
 
 326 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 594 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 325 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 500 
 
 W. H. Evans. 
 
 1881 
 
 263 
 
 P. Gerraond. 
 
 1861 
 
 628 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 307 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 478 
 
 D. Buck. 
 
 1883 
 
 300 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 458 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 211 
 
 N. B. Thompson. 
 
 1864 
 
 422 
 
 J. Croft. 
 
 1885 
 
 215 
 
 " 
 
 * Christian Adrocate, vol. xx, p. 43.
 
 Jaxe Steeet. 335 
 
 YKAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR, MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1886 21-t N. B. Thompson. 
 
 1889 581 Supplied by S. Mer- 
 
 1887 222* 
 
 ritt. 
 
 1888 701f Supplied by S. Her- 
 
 1890 758 Supplied by S.Mer- 
 
 ri tt. 
 
 ritt and W. C. 
 
 
 Willing. 
 
 A few years ago this church seemed to be declining, 
 but a gracious work has added largely to it, and it is 
 to be hoped it has entered on a new career of prosperity. 
 
 Church, $50,000. Two parsonages, $24,000. Debt, 
 $22,000. Salary, $1,000. Other collections, $892. Cur- 
 rent expenses, $2,250. Sunday-school (in 1889), 325. 
 
 MADISON AND CATHARINE STREETS. 
 
 In the Minutes of the New York Conference of 1843 
 we find among the city appointments, " Church corner 
 of Madison and Catharine Streets, R. Gilbert, sup." 
 This congregatiqn originated in the efforts of Mr. Ste- 
 phen Barker and others, who bought a building erected 
 by the Fourth Presbyterian Church, for $13,000, and 
 began with a membership of twelve.J Its succeeding 
 appointments and reports were: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1844 
 
 216 
 
 J. 
 
 Floy. 
 
 1850 
 
 273 
 
 J. Floy. 
 
 1845 
 
 270 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1851 
 
 242 
 
 " 
 
 1846 
 
 275 
 
 J. 
 
 L. Gilder. 
 
 1852 
 
 240 
 
 To be supplied. t^ 
 
 1847 
 
 S.37 
 
 
 " 
 
 185.3 
 
 351 
 
 J. S. Inskip. 
 
 1848 
 
 290 
 
 J. 
 
 Crawford. 
 
 1854 
 
 385 
 
 W. P. Corbit. 
 
 1849 
 
 284 
 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 315 
 
 " 
 
 The name then disappears from the Minutes, the 
 charge having l)een disbanded. The building is now 
 
 * Jane and Franklin Sireets supplied by S. Merritt. 
 
 f In the two churches. 
 
 :|:Greenleaf's History of the Churches of New York, p. 300. 
 
 g Supplied by J. S. Inskip.
 
 336 ^i. HISTORY OF Methodism in New York City, 
 
 occupied as a mariners' church, the successor to that 
 in Roosevelt Street, of wliich the Rev. Henry Chase was 
 so long pastor. 
 
 CHERRY street. 
 
 (Mariners' Methodist Episcopal Church.) 
 
 During the session of the General Conference of 
 1844 the corner-stone of a building was laid in Cherry 
 Street, between Clinton and Montgomery Streets.* It 
 was originated by some members of the Willett Street 
 Church, and bore the title of " First Mariners' Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church." The chapel was completed and 
 occupied until the dedication of the mahi building-, 
 which took place October 31, 1844. Rev. S. S. Roszell, 
 of the Baltimore Conference, preached in the afternoon, 
 and Rev. E. T. Taylor, of Boston, in the evening. The 
 building was 57^ by 75 feet, of brick. Its history, as 
 given in the Minutes, is: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YKAK. 
 
 MKMBKK8. PASTOR. 
 
 1844 
 
 151 
 
 J. 
 
 Poisal. 
 
 1853 
 
 193 
 
 J. H. Perry. 
 
 1845 
 
 400 
 
 R. 
 
 Seiiey. 
 
 1854 
 
 131 
 
 J. Law. 
 
 1846 
 
 260 
 
 L. 
 
 H. King. 
 
 1855 
 
 100 
 
 *' 
 
 1847 
 
 260 
 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 357 
 
 W. P. Corbit 
 
 1848 
 
 240 
 
 J. 
 
 A. Sillick. 
 
 1857 
 
 415 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 216 
 
 J. 
 
 H. Perry. 
 
 1858 
 
 363 
 
 J. S. Inskip. 
 
 1850 
 
 216 
 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 415 
 
 
 18.51 
 
 154 
 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 404 
 
 J. 0. Rogers. 
 
 1852 
 
 162 
 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 400 
 
 
 In 1861 the name is not found in the list of appoint- 
 ments, and J. O. Rogers goes to Alanson Church. The 
 enterprise had not been successful, though collections 
 were taken for several years throughout the Conference 
 to sustain it. The property was sold to Mr. Alanson 
 Briggs, who used it for a cooper's shop and storage.f 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xviii, p. 183. \ Ibid., vol. xliv, p. 97.
 
 Alanson Church, Norfolk Street. 337 
 
 ALANSON CHURCH, NORFOLK STREET. 
 
 This church was the successor of Cherry Street. 
 A building erected by the Baptist Church, of which 
 Rev. Dr. Armitage was pastor, was bought princi- 
 pally through tlie liberality of Mr. Alanson Briggs. It 
 stood between Grand and Broome Streets, and was a 
 very good edifice of brown-stone. 
 
 Tlie reports of the Alanson Church were : 
 
 YBAB. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 S. PASTOR. 
 
 1861 
 
 
 
 J. 0. Rocfer.'i. 
 
 1874 
 
 415 
 
 C. E. Harris. 
 
 1862 
 
 380 
 
 J. E. Searles. 
 
 1875 
 
 369 
 
 W. P. Estes. 
 
 1863 
 
 360 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 386 
 
 " 
 
 1864 
 
 330 
 
 W. P. Corbit. 
 
 1877 
 
 361 
 
 R. Crook. 
 
 1865 
 
 366 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 232 
 
 •' 
 
 186G 
 
 393 
 
 C. E. Harris. 
 
 1879 
 
 242 
 
 F. C. Hill. 
 
 1867 
 
 406 
 
 " 
 
 1880* 
 
 270 
 
 " 
 
 1 868 
 
 484 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 235 
 
 To be supplied.! 
 
 1869 
 
 495 
 
 G. W. Woodrutt'. 
 
 1882 
 
 267 
 
 D. W. Couch. 
 
 1870 
 
 440 
 
 J. Parker, 2d. 
 
 1883 
 
 271 
 
 J. Pilkiugtou. 
 
 1871 
 
 525 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 213 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 535 
 
 N. G. Cheney. 
 
 1885 
 
 137 
 
 R. A. Sadlier. 
 
 1873 
 
 572 
 
 C. E. Harris. 
 
 1886 
 
 57 
 
 
 The name disappears fi'om the list of appointments in 
 1886, the propei'ty having been sold to the Jews, who 
 now occujty it as a synagogue. In its stead we have the 
 
 MADISON STREET MISSION, 
 
 " to be supplied." J This mission reported : 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1887 23 M. F. Cumpton. 
 
 1888 31 To be supplied. ' 
 
 YEAR MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1889 18 To be supplied. I 
 
 1890 62 " il 
 
 The building is a dwelling (No. 209), the upper 
 stories occupied as a parsonage. It was dedicated Oc- 
 
 * In 1880 tlie property passed into tlie hands of the City Churcli 
 Extension Society. 
 
 f D. VV. Couch supplied. :]: M. F. Coinpion supplied. 
 
 § G. N. Cnmpion supplied. || J. S. Stone supplied. 
 
 ^ S. Merritl supplied.
 
 338 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 tober 19, 1886, .and is valued at $25,000. No debt. 
 Salary, $1,800. Rent, $1,200. Other collections, |47. 
 Current expenses, $121. Sunday-school, 100. 
 
 DRY dock. 
 
 (Ninth Street.) 
 
 On April 20, 1845, a Sunday-school was opened in a 
 room over a lager-beer saloon in East Tenth Street, be- 
 tween Avenues B and C, and on the second Sunday in May 
 preaching was begun. An association of ladies, known 
 as the Ladies' Methodist Home Missionary Society, had 
 the enterprise in charge, employing Rev. Joseph Long- 
 king as missionary.* A shanty was afterward erected 
 and occupied until a substantial brick building Avas put 
 up on the corner of Ninth Street and Avenue B. The 
 corner-stone was laid August 24, 1846, by Bishop Janes, 
 after addresses by Rev. Dr. Roberts, of Baltimore, and 
 Rev. W. H. Milburn.f The dedication took place on 
 Thursday, January 21, 1847, Bishop Hamline preaching 
 on Psa. Ixxxiv, 1. The building was of brick, 48 feet 
 by 70.J Mr. Longking continued in charge until the Con- 
 ference of 1846. After that its record was as follows: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1846 
 
 34 
 
 0. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 1854 
 
 246 
 
 \Y 
 
 '. McAllister. 
 
 1847 
 
 110 
 
 
 •• 
 
 1855 
 
 301 
 
 
 " 
 
 1848 
 
 290 
 
 M. 
 
 D'C. Crawford. 
 
 1856 
 
 270 
 
 J. 
 
 Henson. 
 
 1849 
 
 214 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 294 
 
 
 " 
 
 1850 
 
 237 
 
 E. 
 
 E. Griswold. 
 
 1858 
 
 438 
 
 S. 
 
 C. Keeler. 
 
 1851 
 
 268 
 
 
 11 
 
 1859 
 
 356 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 239 
 
 T. 
 
 C. Youngs. 
 
 1860 
 
 378 
 
 J. 
 
 S. Inskip. 
 
 1853 
 
 303 
 
 
 " 
 
 1S61 
 
 352 
 
 
 " § 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xx, p. 86. \ Ibid., vol xxi, p. 14. 
 
 \Ibid., vol. xxii, pp. 7, 15. 
 
 § In the summer of 1861 Mr. Inskip was appointed chaplain in the 
 army, and the pulpit was supplied from various sources during the 
 rest of the year.
 
 Dry Dock. 339 
 
 YE*E. MEMBERS. PASTOR. YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1862 293 J. B. Merwin. 1864 — ■ To be supplied. 
 
 1863 229 A. H. Mead. 
 
 In 1865 the name disappears from the Minutes. The 
 foreign population was rapidly gaining ascendency in 
 the neighborhood, and the congregation became discour- 
 aged. The property was sold and the proceeds reserved 
 for a future enterprise in that vicinity. 
 
 ELEVENTH STREET. 
 
 (^Avenue A Mission.) 
 
 After the church in Ninth Street had been sold it 
 was felt that something should be done for that neigh- 
 borhood, and on May 13, 1866,* a Sunday-school was 
 organized at 145 Avenue A, near Tenth Street, and 
 preaching and prayer-meetings begun. Not long after 
 a lot, 40 feet by 103, was obtained in Eleventh Street, 
 near Avenue B, and the corner-stone was laid in the 
 autumn of 1867.f The dedication took place on Sun- 
 day, January 12, 1868, Bishop Janes preaching.^ The 
 building is of brick, in simple Gothic style, costing 
 $25,000, of which $9,697 50 was provided for by the 
 proceeds of old Ninth Street. In addition to this 
 $5,000 had been raised, leaving about $10,000 to be 
 obtained. Of this amount $9,000 was subscribed on the 
 day of dedication, and J. B. Cornell became responsible 
 for the rest. 
 
 For several years this charge was under the care of 
 the city missionaries on the east side, and its name does 
 
 * Another report says August 7. 
 
 f Letter from Rev. G. Hollis. 
 
 X Chruilian Advocate, vol. xliii, p. 21.
 
 340 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 not appear on the Minutes until 1873. From that date 
 its record is: 
 
 YPAE. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PjlSTOB. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1873 
 
 50 A. 
 
 Graham. 
 
 1875 
 
 93 A. Graham. 
 
 1874 
 
 84 
 
 '• 
 
 1876 
 
 73 
 
 In 1876-78 Wesley Chapel and Eleventh Street 
 were united under the charge of A. C. Morehouse, and 
 also in 1879 under S. H. Smith. But in 1880 they sep- 
 arated, and we have: 
 
 YEAR, MEMBERS. PASTOR. YEAR. MEMBERS, PASTOR. 
 
 1880 S.H.Smith. 1886 182 A. A. Lathbnrj. 
 
 1881 171 " 1887 172 L. Ricliardsou. 
 
 1882 183 D. McMullen. 1888 156 
 
 1883 151 " 1889 128 " 
 
 1884 147 A. A. Lathbury. 1890 98 To be supplied by 
 
 1885 169 " R. C. Manly. 
 
 Church, $30,000. No parsonage. Debt, $10,000. Sal- 
 ary, $880. Rent, $420. Other collections, $113. Cur- 
 rent expenses, $383. Sunday-school, 369.
 
 Lexington Avenue. 341 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 CHURCHES: LEXINGTON AVRNUE-SEYENTEENTH STREET 
 —THIRTY-SEVENTH STREET— TRINITY (34ih Street)— 
 FORTY-FOURTH STREET— ST. JOHN'S— TWENTY-FOURTH 
 STREET— TRINITY (118th Street)— BEEKM AN HILL. 
 
 LEXINGTON AVENUE. 
 
 (Fiftieth Street.) 
 
 In tlie Minutes of 184Y we have for the first time the 
 name of " Fiftieth Street Mission." In connection with 
 Twenty-seventh Street a class of ten members had 
 been formed in November, 1844, and a Sunday-school 
 organized and preaching begun on the second floor of an 
 old building in Forty-fourth Street, near Tliird Avenue.* 
 In the spring of 1846 land was obtained in Fiftieth 
 Street, west of Third Avenue, and a frame building 
 erected 32 by 45 feet with a basement. It was dedi- 
 cated December 3, 1846, by Bishop Janes.f In the 
 following spring Thomas Carter was appointed to the 
 charo-e, and we find its record to be as follows: 
 
 1847 
 
 _ T.Carter. 1854 80 J. H. Romer. 
 
 1848 56 " 1855 80 
 
 1849 
 
 ,„.„ 52 J. W. Macoraber. 185G 65 R. Kortright. 
 
 1850 63 S. C. Perry. 1857 CO S. Orciitt. 
 
 1851 01 " 1858 171 " 
 
 1852 56 O.E.Brown. 1859 136 W. P. Strickland. 
 
 1853 GO ■• I860 140 W. M. Cliipp. 
 
 At this time the Beekman Hill enterprise was begun, 
 and it was proposed that Fiftieth Street should be 
 
 *Greenlears History of the Churches in New Yr/rk, p. 293. 
 f Christian Advocate, vol. xxiii, p. 3.
 
 342 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 united witli it. The property was sold, but ?, majority 
 of the membership refused to go into the new organ- 
 ization. The report in 1861 was 114 members. In 
 1861-02 J. C. Washburne was appointed, and a hall 
 was hired in whicli the congregation met. In 1862 the 
 membership had fallen to 85. A new church edifice, 
 however, was undertaken at the corner of Lexington 
 Avenue and Fifty-second Street. The corner-stone 
 was laid June 5, 1862, by Bishop Janes,* and the lect- 
 ure-room was opened December 1. The audience-room 
 Avas not dedicated until May 27, 1866, when Rev. C. D. 
 Foss preached in the morning and Rev. M. D'C. Craw- 
 ford in the evening. Its record since has been: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBKB: 
 
 S. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS, 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1863 
 
 120 
 
 A. xM. Hough. 
 
 1876 
 
 200 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Selleck. 
 
 1864 
 
 125 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 169 
 
 W 
 
 . H. Mickle. 
 
 1865 
 
 146 
 
 A. McLean. 
 
 1878 
 
 232 
 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 167 
 
 W. H. Evans. 
 
 1879 
 
 229 
 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 120 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 165 
 
 H, 
 
 , H. Birkins. 
 
 1868 
 
 164 
 
 11 
 
 1881 
 
 163 
 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 135 
 
 R. M. Siratton. 
 
 1882 
 
 146 
 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 211 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 161 
 
 C. 
 
 Wright. 
 
 1871 
 
 218 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 163 
 
 R. 
 
 Wheatley. 
 
 1872 
 
 209 
 
 F. S. De Hass. 
 
 1885 
 
 122 
 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 286 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 80 
 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 204 
 
 J. B. Wakeley. 
 
 1887 
 
 119 
 
 
 
 1875 
 
 206 
 
 J. W. Selleck. 
 
 
 
 
 
 The property then passed into the hands of the City 
 Church Extension Society, and is now occupied by the 
 Swedish Mission. 
 
 seventeenth street. 
 
 {Sixteenth Street Mission — Hedding Mission.) 
 
 This church owes its origin to the Ladies' Home 
 Missionary Society, and is one year younger than the 
 New York East Conference. In the Minutes of the 
 first separate session of that body (1849) we find, at 
 
 * Christian Advocate^ vol. xxxvii, p. 184.
 
 Skventeenth Street. 
 
 343 
 
 the end of the appointments of the New York East 
 District, " Sixteenth Street Mission, to be supplied." 
 Their first place of worship was a dwelling on the east 
 side of First Avenue, between Sixteenth and Seven- 
 teenth Streets. In 1851 we have the first report of its 
 membership, and it then took the name of Hedding 
 Mission. The Minutes give us these items: 
 
 YEAK. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1851 
 
 36 
 
 W. Silverthorn. 
 
 1871 
 
 359 
 
 J. S. AViUis. 
 
 1852 
 
 40 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1872 
 
 336 
 
 W. H. Boole. 
 
 1853 
 
 181 
 
 S. Rowland. 
 
 1873 
 
 287 
 
 '' 
 
 1854 
 
 190 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1874 
 
 366 
 
 " 
 
 1855 
 
 220 
 
 Joha Crawford. 
 
 1875 
 
 356 
 
 J. H. Lightbourn. 
 
 1856 
 
 230 
 
 t( 
 
 1876 
 
 202 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 271 
 
 G. R. Crooks. 
 
 1877 
 
 163 
 
 P. D. Ware. 
 
 1858 
 
 304 
 
 t< 
 
 1878 
 
 160 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 291 
 
 J. A. Roche. 
 
 1879 
 
 142 
 
 G. H. Goodsell. 
 
 1860 
 
 340 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 159 
 
 A. B. Sauford. 
 
 1861 
 
 274 
 
 A. Stevens. 
 
 1881 
 
 152 
 
 <t 
 
 1862 
 
 285 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 139 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 323 
 
 G. R. Crooks. 
 
 1883 
 
 108 
 
 N. Hubbell. 
 
 1864 
 
 275 
 
 i< 
 
 1884 
 
 150 
 
 11 
 
 1865 
 
 282 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 214 
 
 I. E. Smith. 
 
 1866 
 
 238 
 
 W. P. Corbit 
 
 1886 
 
 168 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 275 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 183 
 
 A. C. Moreliouse. 
 
 1868 
 
 310 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 134 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 308 
 
 J. S. Willis. 
 
 1889 
 
 152 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 331 
 
 u 
 
 1890 
 
 121 
 
 " 
 
 The church is on the north side of Seventeenth 
 Street, between First and Second Avenues. The corner- 
 stone was laid December 6, 1852, by Bishop Janes,f 
 and the lecture-room was opened May 15, 1853, with a 
 sermon by Bishop Simpson.J The dedication was on 
 March 27, 1854, Rev. J. P. Durbin officiating. A 
 parsonage was built in 1854, 
 
 Church, 140,000. Parsonage, 1(18,000. Debt, 17,000. 
 Salary, 11,200. Rent, |1,000. Other collections, $340. 
 Current expenses, $990. Sunday-school, 1,018. 
 
 * A. Steele supplied. f ClirwHan Advocate, vol. xxvii, p. 195. 
 
 Xlbid., vol. xxviii, p. 75. 
 23
 
 344 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 THIRTY-SEVENTH STREET. 
 
 {Kipp's Bay.) 
 
 In the Minutes of tlie New York East Conference of 
 1854 we read, " Twenty-seventh Street and Thirty- 
 seventh Street, D. Curry, V, Buck." The society in 
 Twenty-seventh Street established a Sunday-school 
 about December, 1853, and, not long after, ground was 
 obtained on the north side of Thirty-seventh Street, 
 about half-way between Second and Third Avenues. 
 A shanty which stood on the rear of the lot was occu- 
 pied for a season, and in the fall of 1854 a brick dwell- 
 ing was put up on the eastern part of the property, in- 
 tended for a parsonage, the first floor of which was 
 occupied for a Avhile as a place of worship. At length 
 a chui-ch Avas built of brick, with a basement mostly 
 above ground. This was dedicated March 13, 1859, 
 with services conducted by Rev. J. Kennady, Hev. 
 Thomas De Witt, of the Reformed Church, and Rev. 
 J. Porter. Its record is as follows: 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 IIEMBKRS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 5. PASTOR, 
 
 1854* 
 
 
 Y. Buck. 
 
 1870 
 
 402 
 
 T. H. Burch. 
 
 1855* 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 376 
 
 •' 
 
 1856 
 
 98 
 
 H. Hiisled. 
 
 1872 
 
 350 
 
 •' 
 
 1857 
 
 80 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 286 
 
 R. Meredith. 
 
 1858 
 
 90 
 
 J. S. Mitcliell. 
 
 1874 
 
 240 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 137 
 
 '' 
 
 1875 
 
 208 
 
 W. H. Russell. 
 
 1860 
 
 284 
 
 AV. McAllister. 
 
 1876 
 
 205 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 285 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 182 
 
 C. P. Corner. 
 
 1862 
 
 257 
 
 D. Curry. 
 
 1878 
 
 217 
 
 
 1863 
 
 255 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 2G6 
 
 E. A. Blake. 
 
 1864 
 
 260 
 
 W. H. Boole. 
 
 1 880 
 
 2 ('5 
 
 " 
 
 1865 
 
 310 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 221 
 
 •' 
 
 1866 
 
 322 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 208 
 
 G. H Goodsell. 
 
 1867 
 
 318 
 
 W. McAllister. 
 
 1883 
 
 598 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 380 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 250 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 391 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 219 
 
 J. S. AVliedon. 
 
 * Reported witli Tvveiitj^-seventli Street.
 
 Thirty-seventh Street. 345 
 
 VEAK. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. ] 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1886 
 
 218 J. S. Whedon 
 
 1889 
 
 194 R. T. McNicholl. 
 
 1887 
 
 188 
 
 1890 
 
 232 
 
 1888 
 
 201 R. T. McNicholl. 
 
 
 
 In 1879, the congregation, finding itself heavily 
 burdened, made over the property to the City Church 
 Extension Society. The debt has been paid, and the 
 church is now valued at 140,000. The parsonage, how- 
 ever, has been sold. 
 
 Salary, |1,500. Rent, |600. Other collections, $569. 
 Current expenses, |1,221. Sunday-school, 281. 
 
 trinity. 
 
 {Frte Tabernacle — Thirty-fourth Street.) 
 
 In the statistics of the Chelsea (Thirtieth Street) 
 Methodist Episcopal Church for 1854 there appears a 
 loss of nearly one liundred members. An unfortunate 
 controversy in regard to the renting of pews resulted 
 in the withdrawal of a number, many of whom had been 
 among the most zealous friends of the Church. They 
 met for a time in a hall on Eighth Avenue, near Thirty- 
 fourth Street, and finally erected a building on the 
 south side of Thirty-fourth Street, a little east of 
 Eighth Avenue, which was called the Trinity Church.* 
 The corner-stone was laid on July 12, 1855,f by Bishop 
 Janes, addresses being delivered by E. O. Haven, Dr. A. 
 M. Osbon, etc. The dedication took place on June 29, 
 1856, Bishop Janes j^reaching in the morning. Rev. H. 
 Mattison in the afternoon. Dr. R. S. Foster in the even- 
 ing. The building was of blue stone, 65 feet by 99, 
 with a tower 90 feet high, and was both externally and 
 
 *TIiis must not be confounded witli tlie present Trinity Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in East 118th Street. 
 
 f Christian Advocate, vol. xxx, pp. Ill, 115.
 
 346 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 internally a very fine edifice, 
 statistics were : 
 
 Its appointments and 
 
 VEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1854: 58 To be supplied.* 
 
 185.5 105 " 
 
 1856 119 R.S.Foster. 
 
 1857 155 M. D'O. Crawford. 
 
 1858 181 
 
 1859 193 To be supplied.f 
 
 1860 246 J. L. McKown. 
 
 1861 247 G. S. Hare. 
 
 1862 259 " 
 
 1863 251 A. Cookman. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 1864 276 A. Cookman. 
 
 1865 291 T. F. Hildreth. 
 
 1866 300 
 
 1867 267 
 
 1868 215 C. D. Foss. 
 
 1869 257 " 
 
 1870 240 " 
 
 1871 238 J. E. Cookman. 
 
 1872 241 
 
 1873 251 
 
 During Mr. Cookman's last term the members, finding 
 their burdens too heavy, and the organization of St. 
 Luke's, in Forty-fir.^t Street, near Sixth Avenue, prob- 
 ably drawing largely on the material of which their 
 congregation was composed, concluded to abandon the 
 enterprise, and gave the property to the City Church 
 Extension Society. The seats were made free and 
 the name changed to Free Tabei-nacle. Mr. Cookman 
 remained, and the record after this is : 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 i. PASTOR. 
 
 1874 
 
 318 L. H. King. 
 
 1878 
 
 311 
 
 W. N. Searles. 
 
 1875 
 
 290 J. Johns. 
 
 1879 
 
 367 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 300 
 
 1880 
 
 303 
 
 
 1877 
 
 318 
 
 
 
 
 During this last year, however, the Church Extension 
 Society concluded to sell the property. After cancel- 
 ing a mortgage of 838,000, $11,000 was used to pur- 
 chase lots in Seventy-first Street for the St. Andrew's 
 Church, $6,000 to purchase lots in 109tli Street for the 
 Cliurch of the Saviour, and Sixty-first Street, Fifty- 
 third Street, and Beekman Hill were each aided to the 
 amount of $5,000. Thus, though a fine building was 
 lost, its proceeds seem to have been used judiciously 
 to strengthen other entei'prises of more promise. 
 
 * Supplied by H. Mattison. f Supplied by J. L. McKown.
 
 FOBTY-FOURTH SXREET. 347 
 
 FORTY-FOURTH STREET. 
 {Janes Church.) 
 The Janes Church originated in a Sunday-school be- 
 gun by members of the Forty-third Street Church, in 
 Eleventh Avenue near Forty-fourth Street, about 1857. 
 City missionaries supplied it for several years, until 
 1863. On Sunday, June 25, of that year, the build- 
 ing was deilicated with a sermon by Rev. C. D. Foss. 
 It is near Eleventh Avenue, is 32 feet by 70, and cost, 
 including the ground, 120,000.* It has a stone front, 
 and is pleasant and commodious. Its record is : 
 
 YKAB. 1 
 
 VTEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YKAH. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1863 
 
 
 
 J. C. Washburn. 
 
 1877 
 
 203 
 
 S. I. Ferguson. 
 
 1864 
 
 63 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 176 
 
 G. H. Curey. 
 
 1865 
 
 58 
 
 i( 
 
 1879 
 
 175 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 110 
 
 J. F. Richmond. 
 
 1880 
 
 202 
 
 J. E. Gorse. 
 
 1867 
 
 135 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 200 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 175 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 195 
 
 J. G. Oakley. 
 
 1869 
 
 208 
 
 TJ. Messker. 
 
 1883 
 
 193 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 195 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 240 
 
 11 
 
 1871 
 
 190 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 215 
 
 L. H. King. 
 
 1872 
 
 185 
 
 W. Ostrander. 
 
 1886 
 
 190 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 180 
 
 •' 
 
 1887 
 
 205 
 
 " + 
 
 1874 
 
 270 
 
 11 
 
 1888 
 
 192 
 
 J. Rovve. 
 
 1875 
 
 216 
 
 S. I. Ferg:iison. 
 
 1889 
 
 188 
 
 W. E. Ketcham, 
 
 1876 
 
 222 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 166 
 
 H. C. Earl. 
 
 Church, #35,000. Parsonage, $10,000. Debt, $6,000. 
 Salary, $1,200. Rent, $800. Other collections, $183. 
 Current expenses, $1,250. Sunday-school, 150. 
 
 ST. John's. 
 
 {Fifty-third Street.) 
 
 In May, 1858, the second story of a frame building 
 
 at the corner of Fifty-eighth Street and Eighth Avenue 
 
 was hired and fitted up for public services, and the first 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xl, p. 205. 
 f Mr. King died November 18, 1887.
 
 348 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 sermon was preached by Rev, J. liOiigking on May 22. 
 In October of the same year a Baptist church, in Fifty- 
 tliird Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, 
 of which the brick basement had been roofed over and 
 fitted for a place of worship, was bought for $12,000. 
 The last service in this building was held April 9, 1870, 
 after which it was torn down and the corner-stone of 
 the present edifice laid by Bishop Janes on June I3n, 
 1870. The charge was for a time a part of the mission 
 work on the west side, and its name first appears on the 
 Minutes in 1862, after which its record is: 
 
 1862 
 
 
 A. McLean. 
 
 18(;:! 
 
 145 
 
 ('. 1';. Harris. 
 
 1864 
 
 104 
 
 T. Lodge. 
 
 1865 
 
 92 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 100 
 
 G. C. P:sray. 
 
 1867 
 
 100 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 186 
 
 W. Ooss. 
 
 1869 
 
 126 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 133 
 
 u 
 
 1871 
 
 122 
 
 A. D. Tail. 
 
 1872 
 
 209 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 227 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 245 
 
 J. M. King. 
 
 1875 
 
 277 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 3;-;8 
 
 " 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1877 
 
 306 
 
 J. 
 
 F 
 
 McOldlnnd, 
 
 1878 
 
 298 
 
 (t. 
 
 V 
 
 an Alslyne. 
 
 1879 
 
 344 
 
 A. 
 
 P. 
 
 Lyon. 
 
 1880 
 
 246 
 
 J. 
 
 J. 
 
 Dean. 
 
 1881 
 
 192 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 176 
 
 U. 
 
 , K 
 
 . Strobridge 
 
 1883 
 
 329 
 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1884 
 
 402 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 375 
 
 J. 
 
 W 
 
 . Ackerly. 
 
 1886 
 
 345 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 310 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 i'35 
 
 J. 
 
 K. 
 
 Gorse. 
 
 1889 
 
 237 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 189ij 
 
 248 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 The elevated railroad runs in front of the building and 
 seriously interferes with the prosperity of the Churcli. 
 
 Church, $75,000. No parsonage. Debt, $10,000. 
 Salary, $1,500. Other collections, $427. Current ex- 
 penses, $1,600. Sunday-school, 230. 
 
 TWENTY FOURTH STREET. 
 
 (Second Church on that site.) 
 
 After the Chelsea Church removed to its new edifice 
 
 in Thirtieth Street the building in Twenty-fourth Street 
 
 was used by a congregation of Universalists. At the
 
 Twenty-fourth Street. .349 
 
 New York Conference of 1859 Rev. W. H. Ferris was 
 appointed to the New York City Mission. In the 
 basement of a churcli building in Twenty-fourth Street, 
 between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, the audience-room 
 of which was occupied b}^ a society of the "Evangel- 
 ical Association," generally known as Albrights, he 
 found a congregation which invited him to take them 
 under his care, and he accordingly organized them as 
 a Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Joseph Longking 
 was assisting Mr. Ferris, and finding the accommoda- 
 tions not all that was desirable, and learning that the 
 old building near Ninth Avenue was unoccupied, at hi« 
 suggestion it was obtained for the use of the society. 
 On September 11, 1859, it Avas re-opened with a sermon 
 by Rev. James Porter; but on Sunday morning, October 
 29, a little before the hour of service, it was burned 
 down. A hall on Eighth Avenue was occupied for a 
 season; but at length two lots, that on which the 
 church had stood and one adjoining it, on the east, were 
 bought for 88,(300. The corner-stone of a new building 
 was laid August 8, 1860, by Bishop Janes,* and on 
 October 25, the basement stor}^ having been finished and 
 covered with a temporary roof, was dedicated by the 
 same bishop.f On Sunday, July 21, 1866, the building, 
 having been completed, was dedicated. Bishop Janes 
 again officiating.^ The following is its record from 
 the time of its appearance in the Minutes as a separate 
 charofe: 
 
 VEAB. 1 
 
 .lEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 VKAR. > 
 
 lEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1862 
 
 T. Lodge. 
 
 1866 
 
 372 
 
 A. K. Sniiford. 
 
 1863 
 
 245 
 
 1867 
 
 3-18 
 
 T. W. Cliadvvick. 
 
 1864 
 
 262 A. K. Saiiford. 
 
 1868 
 
 375 
 
 J. E. Gorse. 
 
 1865 
 
 252 
 
 1869 
 
 415 
 
 " 
 
 * Christian Adcocafe, vol. xxxv, p. 130. 
 
 \ Ibid., vol. xxxv, p. 187. j^ Ibid., vol. xlii, p. 237.
 
 350 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 ;. PASTOR. 
 
 1870 
 
 366 
 
 J. 
 
 E. Gorse. 
 
 1881 
 
 363 
 
 0. Haviland. 
 
 1871 
 
 377 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Selleck. 
 
 1882 
 
 358 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 402 
 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 328 
 
 W. X. Searles. 
 
 1873 
 
 315 
 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 350 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 281 
 
 T. 
 
 Lodge. 
 
 1885 
 
 372 
 
 A. K. Sanford. 
 
 1875 
 
 350 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1886 
 
 386 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 290 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 390 
 
 u 
 
 1877 
 
 267 
 
 B. 
 
 H. Burch. 
 
 1888 
 
 358 
 
 J. E. Cookman 
 
 1878 
 
 312 
 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 389 
 
 "* 
 
 1879 
 
 321 
 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 370 
 
 R. M. Stratton. 
 
 1880 
 
 354 
 
 0. 
 
 Haviland. 
 
 
 
 
 Church, $50,000. Parsonage, $12,000. Debt, $14,500. 
 Salary, $1,533. Rent, $1,000. Other collections, $785. 
 Current expenses, $2,236. Sunday-school, 300. 
 
 TRINITY, EAST ONE-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHTEENTH STilEKT. 
 
 {Second Avenue.) 
 
 On a pleasant Sunday in July, 1859, a little company 
 met for religious services in the basement of the house 
 of Mrs. Hester Ann Clark, on East li:Oth Street. In 
 September of the same year four lots were bought on 
 116th Street, east of Second Avenue, and preparations 
 made to put up a temporary building at a cost of $4,000. 
 On October 10, the Rev. Heman Bangs, presiding elder, 
 formed a society, and about the same time Rev. Valen- 
 tine Buck was appointed pastor. Land was afterward 
 secured at the corner of 119th Street and Second Av- 
 enue, and the corner-stone of a brick edifice was laid 
 August 27, 1860, by Drs. Kennady and Scudder.f The 
 
 * Mr. Cookmau resigned shortly afler Conference to enter tlio 
 Protestant Episcopal Church. R. M. Stratton supplied, 
 ■f Christian Advocate, vol. xxv, p. 142.
 
 Trinity, East 118th Street. 
 
 351 
 
 basement was occupied in December, I860,* and the 
 building was dedicated on September 15, 1861, Rev. 
 J. H. Perry preaching on Isa. xlvi, 13.f In 1882, the 
 elevated railroad in Second Avenue proving a serious 
 disturbance to the congregation, this property was sold 
 for 127,600, and on June 12 the corner-stone of a new 
 church was laid on the north side of 118th Sti-eet, east 
 of Second Avenue. This was dedicated October 28, 
 1883. The total cost was $105,000. Its statistics and 
 pastors have been: 
 
 YKAE. MKMBKKS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1860 
 
 40 
 
 G. S. Gilbert. 
 
 t 
 
 1876 
 
 561 
 
 T. H. Burch. 
 
 ISfil 
 
 101 
 
 11 
 
 
 1877 
 
 555 
 
 >i 
 
 1862 
 
 119 
 
 J. L. Peck. 
 
 
 1878 
 
 551 
 
 L. S. Weed. 
 
 1863 
 
 126 
 
 u 
 
 
 1879 
 
 609 
 
 11 
 
 1864 
 
 140 
 
 A. H. Mead. 
 
 
 1880 
 
 585 
 
 J. Johns. 
 
 1865 
 
 140 
 
 " 
 
 
 1881 
 
 633 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 92 
 
 To be supplied. § 
 
 1882 
 
 665 
 
 " 
 
 1867 
 
 224 
 
 John Parker, 
 
 2d. 
 
 1883 
 
 594 
 
 T. H. Burch. 
 
 1868 
 
 315 
 
 " 
 
 
 1884 
 
 607 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 370 
 
 W. C. Steele. 
 
 
 1885 
 
 596 
 
 a 
 
 1870 
 
 440 
 
 " 
 
 
 1886 
 
 •717 
 
 M. Hulburd. 
 
 1871 
 
 440 
 
 (1 
 
 
 1887 
 
 833 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 457 
 
 W. W. Bowdish. 
 
 1888 
 
 945 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 455 
 
 " 
 
 
 1889 
 
 837 
 
 T. H. Burch. 
 
 1874 
 
 569 
 
 " 
 
 
 1890 
 
 689 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 631 
 
 T. H. Burch. 
 
 
 
 
 
 This is at present the most flourishing church in the 
 city under the cai-e of the New York East Conference. 
 
 Church, $97,000. Parsonage, $13,000. Debt, $23,900. 
 Salary, $2,400. Rent, $800. Other collections, 
 $2,610. Current expenses, $4,100. Sunday-school, 885. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xxxvi, p. 5. 
 
 f Ibid., vol. xxxvi, p. 296. 
 
 j J. B. Merwin was appointed to Second Avenue, and G. S. Gil- 
 bert to Walerbury, Conn., but immediately after Conference an ex- 
 change was made. 
 
 § J. Parker, 2d, supplied.
 
 352 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 BEEKMAN HILL. 
 
 {FiftMh Street.) 
 
 On Tuesday, March 20, 1860, a class of twelve per- 
 sons was oruanizecl in the Beekman Mansion* by the Kev. 
 J. S. Mitchell, then pastor of the Thirty-seventh Street 
 Church. On April 5 a board of trustees was elected, 
 and on May 9 the first quarterly conference was held. 
 On the morning of September 16 a Sunday-school of 
 seventeen scholars was organized in a carpenter's shop 
 near the corner of Second Avenue and Fifty-first Street. 
 In the afternoon, at four o'clock, Rev. F. S. De Hass 
 preached on Num. xiii, 30: " Let us go up at once, and 
 possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." On 
 the next Sunday the school had doubled and the con- 
 gregation had greatly increased. This " shanty," as it 
 was called, was occupied by the school and congrega- 
 tion for more than a year. Ground was bought, and 
 on October 14, 1861, a chapel was begun, the lower 
 part of which was occupied on January 26, 1862, 
 and the upper part on July 20, Bishop Janes preach- 
 ing the first sermon on the last occasion. In the 
 meanwhile a gracious revival added nearly forty pro- 
 bationers. 
 
 * This building, in the neighborhood of what was once called 
 Turtle Bay, an inlet from the East River, stood near First Avenue 
 not far from Fifty-tirst Street. It was built by Dr. James Beekman 
 in 1764, and during tiie Revolution was occupied in turn by the 
 British commanders as a country-seat. Here the unfortunate Xaihan 
 Hale was tried and sentenced to death, and confined in the green- 
 house in the garden on tlie night before his execution. — Booth's His- 
 tory of New York, p. 620. An engraving of it can be seen in Vulen- 
 tine's Manual of 1861, pp. 496, 502. S. W. Dunscomb, a local preach- 
 er, occupied it at the time, and to his labors the church owes its 
 origin.
 
 Beekman Hill. 
 
 .'?53 
 
 The reports and appointments have been; 
 
 ITEAR. MEMBEKS. 
 
 1860 
 18(51 
 1862 
 186:i 
 1834 
 1865 
 1866 
 1867 
 1868 
 1869 
 1870 
 1871 
 1872 
 1873 
 1874 
 1875 
 
 10 
 38 
 123 
 142 
 123 
 154 
 188 
 209 
 195 
 181 
 144 
 129 
 104 
 172 
 195 
 187 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 J. S. Mitcliell. 
 J. Flov.f 
 C. B. Ford. 
 
 F. Bottome. 
 
 W. H. Boole. 
 W. C. Steele. 
 
 W. H. Thomas. 
 
 1876 
 1877 
 1878 
 1879 
 18S0 
 1881 
 1882 
 1883 
 1884 
 1885 
 1886 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 1890 
 
 157 
 
 133 
 
 69 
 
 81 
 
 88 
 
 100 
 
 92 
 
 126 
 
 137 
 
 143 
 
 201 
 
 180 
 
 210 
 
 290 
 
 285 
 
 W. H. Thomas. 
 D. 0. Ferris. 
 W. P. Corbit. 
 To be supplied. 
 L. R. Streeter. 
 
 D. W. Couch. 
 
 J. Johns.t 
 
 J. Parker, 2d. 
 
 During the term of Rev. C. B. Ford the first par- 
 sonage was commenced, and during that of Rev. W. 
 C. Steele a new church was built, and in connection 
 with it the present parsonage. The corner-stone was 
 laid November 19, 1872, by Bishop G. Haven, after ad- 
 dresses by himself and Rev. John Hall, D.D., of the 
 Presbyterian Church. The building was opened April 
 13, 1873, with a sermon by Rev. Thomas Guard, and 
 dedicated one week later by Bishop Janes.§ The church 
 and parsonage cost $46,000. || 
 
 Church, $50,000. Parsonage, 110,000. Debt, 14,000. 
 Salary, 82,000. Rent, $1,000. Other collections, $623. 
 Current expenses, $1,581. Sunday-school, 1,000. 
 
 * In September H. L. Bray, of East Maine Conference, took charge. 
 ■}■ Mr. Floy died suddenly in October, 1863. In the following Jan- 
 uary A.. H. Mead took cliarge until Conference. 
 
 J Mr. Johns died September 25, 1888. J. Parker, 2d, supplied. 
 
 § Christian Advocate, vol. xlviii, pp. 125, 133. 
 
 II Presiding elder's report to New York East Conference, 1874.
 
 354 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 CHURCHES: THIRTY-FIFTH STREET— PERRY STREET— 
 SIXTY-FIRST STREET— ST. ANDREW'S— WESLEY CHAP- 
 EL—FRANKLIN STREET— WASHINGTON HEIGHTS. 
 
 thirty-fifth street.* 
 
 {Tenth Avenue Mission.) 
 
 On October 11, 1863, a mission school was organized 
 in a vacant store on Tenth Avenue near Thirty-seventh 
 Street. In 1865 it appears in the Minutes as the Tenth 
 Avenue Mission, and V. Buck is appointed to the charge, 
 and in 1866 he reports fifty-two members. It then 
 came under the care of the New York City Mission, in 
 which D. L. Marks, A. K. Sanford, J. F. Richmond, 
 W, E. Ketcham, and A. McLean labored jointly or suc- 
 cessively. In 1872 A. McLean is assigned to Thirty- 
 fifth Street, and in 1873 reports one hundred and 
 forty-seven members. Then, until 1878, it is again in- 
 cluded in the general mission, A. C. Morehouse, W. S. 
 Bouton, and J. F. Richmond being the preachers. In 
 1878 it again stands alone, and has so continued until 
 the present time. Its appointments and statistics have 
 been as follows: 
 
 YE»R. 1 
 
 tIEMBEKS, 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. ? 
 
 HKMBEES. 
 
 
 PASTOB. 
 
 1878 
 
 
 
 G. W. Terbush. 
 
 1885 
 
 192 
 
 W. 
 
 . C. Smith. 
 
 1879 
 
 162 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 180 
 
 H. 
 
 C. Earl. 
 
 1880 
 
 177 
 
 A. Stephens. 
 
 1887 
 
 213 
 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 186 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 208 
 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 203 
 
 i> 
 
 1889 
 
 204 
 
 
 K 
 
 1883 
 
 193 
 
 W. C. Smitli. 
 
 1890 
 
 176 
 
 A. 
 
 K. Sanford. 
 
 1884 
 
 192 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Principally from reports of the City Church Extension and Mis- 
 sionary Society.
 
 Thirty-fifth Street. 355 
 
 The church is in West Thirty-fifth Street, near Ninth 
 Avenue. It is 25 feet by 82, and of brick. When it 
 was dedicated on October 21, 1866, it was presented to 
 the society by W. W. Cornell. It cost about $11,000. 
 
 Church, 120,000. No parsonage. No debt. Salary, 
 $900. Rent, $300. Other collections, $103. Current 
 •expenses, $293. Sunday-school, 222. 
 
 PERRY STREET.^ 
 
 {Bank Street.) 
 
 On November 1, 1863, a Sunday-school was opened at 
 693 Washington Street, near Charles Street. This was 
 afterward removed to 111 and 113 Bank Street, on the 
 first floor of a large, old-fashioned building known in 
 the neighborhood as " Noah's Ark," from the fact that 
 it was once the country residence of Mordecai M. Noah, 
 a celebrated editor of the city, of Jewish descent. At 
 length a plot of ground, 42 by 97 feet, in Perry near 
 Greenwich Street, was bought for $13,000. On this a 
 building was erected 42 by 81 feet, with an end gallery 
 separable from the audience-room by glazed sliding- 
 doors, to be available for the infant- class and other 
 purposes, and two class-rooms beneath. A two-story 
 addition in the rear also furnished a room on each story 
 16 by 20 feet. The front is of brown and yellow free- 
 stone and brick, in early English Gothic. The corner- 
 stone was laid August 21, 1868, by Bishop Janes, after 
 addresses from himself and Rev. Drs. Curry and Fer- 
 ris. f The dedication took place on December 20, 1868, 
 
 * Principall}' from reports of tlie City Church Extension and Mis- 
 sionarj' Society. 
 
 t Christian Advocate, vol. xhii, p. 277.
 
 356 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Bishoj> Janes preaching in the morning.* The total 
 cost, inchiding the ground, was about $40,000. Until 
 this time the pulpit had been generally supplied by 
 local preachei's, the Rev. S. Merritt having charge. la 
 1869 its name lirst appears in the Minutes, and its sub- 
 sequent history is as follows: 
 
 VEAR. MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOE. 
 
 VEAE. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 18G!) 
 
 
 S. M. Vernon. 
 
 1880 
 
 310 
 
 J. 
 
 M. Bnrgar. 
 
 1870 
 
 346 
 
 0. S. Brown. 
 
 1881 
 
 272 
 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 240 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 260 
 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 277 
 
 '• 
 
 1883 
 
 246 
 
 0. 
 
 Havilaad. 
 
 1873 
 
 260 
 
 W. H. Evans. 
 
 1884 
 
 249 
 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 195 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 205 
 
 T. 
 
 Lodge. 
 
 1875 
 
 87 
 
 W. Ostrander. 
 
 1886 
 
 222 
 
 
 •' 
 
 1876 
 
 120 
 
 '• 
 
 1887 
 
 236 
 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 120 
 
 To be supplied.! 
 
 1888 
 
 225 
 
 S. 
 
 Lowther. 
 
 1878 
 
 243 
 
 '• 
 
 1889 
 
 269 
 
 
 u 
 
 1879 
 
 285 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 248 
 
 
 11 
 
 Church, $40,000. No parsonage. 
 $1,600. Other collections, $220. 
 $650. Sunday-school, 297. 
 
 No debt. Salary, 
 Current expenses, 
 
 sixty-first strket. 
 
 Somewhere al)out 1840, at the request of the managers 
 of the Colored Orphan Asylum, then in Twelfth Street, 
 near Sixth Avenue, the Bible-class of the Greene Street 
 Methodist Episcopal Church assumed the charge of the 
 Sunday-school of the Asylum. The writer was the first 
 supei-intendent, and when, about twenty-three years 
 after, he became pastor of the Twenty-seventh Street 
 Church he found the school in the care of some of the 
 young people of that congregation. During the draft- 
 riots, in the summer of 1863, the building then occupied 
 
 * Ghrisliaa Advocate, vol. xUii, p. 413. 
 f S. Merritt supplied these three years.
 
 Sixty-first Street. 357 
 
 by tlie institution in Fifth Avenue, between Forty-third 
 and Foi-ty-tourth Streets, was destroyed by the mob, 
 and the chiklren were temporarily accommodated on 
 Blackwell's Island. Here the teachers from the Twen- 
 ty-seventh Street Church still conducted the school, but 
 when the institution was removed to its present location 
 on Washington Heights the distance was too great to 
 admit of their continuing the work. ■ Looking around 
 for a field where they might be useful, they concluded 
 to begin a school under the auspices of the City Sunday- 
 school Society, in the neighborhood of Third Avenue 
 and Sixtieth Street. A hall over Dingeldein's lager- 
 beer saloon, No. 932 Third Avenue, was hired, and 
 here, on December 6, 1863, the school was opened. On 
 January 10, 1864, the writer preached the first sermon, 
 on Num. x, 29. 
 
 The school prospered, and two lots were bought on 
 Sixty-first Street, between Second and Third Avenues, 
 and a small frame church was put up, which was dedicated 
 November 18, 1866. Other property adjoining was 
 afterward secured, and in 1873 steps were taken for a 
 new edifice. The corner-stone was laid in May, 1874, 
 and on Sunday, March 14, 1875, the house was dedi- 
 cated by Bishop Janes, after a sermon by Bishop An- 
 drews. The building is of Philadelphia brick, with 
 Nova Scotia stone trimmings, and covers 75 feet by 
 130. The main audience-room is 65 feet by 85. The 
 chief Sunday-school room is in the front of the second 
 story, 75 feet by 47, and opens with sliding-doors into 
 the audience-room, forming an end gallery. Beneath 
 this, on the first floor, are rooms for the infant class and 
 for prayer and class meetings. The cost of building 
 and furniture was $69,000. 
 
 For several years the charge was under the care of 
 the City JNEission, Messrs. Hollis, Ross, and Piatt being
 
 358 A History of jVIethodism ix New York City. 
 
 the preachers. In 1871 it first appears in the Minutes, 
 and its record from that time is : 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS, 
 
 
 PiSTOB. 
 
 YBAB. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOB. 
 
 1871 
 
 
 
 J. 
 
 Pullman. 
 
 1881 
 
 268 
 
 L. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 1872 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 1882 
 
 252 
 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 134 
 
 
 <l 
 
 1883 
 
 246 
 
 E. 
 
 S. Todd. 
 
 1874 
 
 153 
 
 R. 
 
 Crook. 
 
 1884 
 
 249 
 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 144 
 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 254 
 
 
 u 
 
 1876 
 
 152 
 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 258 
 
 H. 
 
 Henderson. 
 
 1877 
 
 220 
 
 J. 
 
 E. Cookm.an. 
 
 1887 
 
 240 
 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 256 
 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 298 
 
 
 u * 
 
 1879 
 
 250 
 
 
 u 
 
 1889 
 
 323 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Johnston. 
 
 1880 
 
 252 
 
 L. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 1890 
 
 200 
 
 
 " 
 
 Church, 1125,000. Parsonage, $15,000. No debt. 
 Salary, |2,500. Rent, §15,000. Other collections, $890. 
 Current expenses, $2,100. Sunday-school, 500. 
 
 ST. ANDREW S. 
 
 {Sixty-seventh Street — Sixty-eighth Street — Bloomingddle Mission — 
 Broadway Mission — Seventy-first Street.) 
 
 Rev. J. N. Shaffer, at that time pastor of the Forty- 
 third Street Church, gives the following extract from 
 his journal under date of July 16, 1852: "This evening 
 held meeting at the house of Brother Garbrant, in Bloom- 
 ingdale. Brother G. Walker, a local preacher, preached. 
 After he closed I made some remarks, and appointed 
 another meeting. There were some Methodist meet- 
 ings held in that vicinity about eight years ago. We 
 hope to see in a few years a flourishing church estab- 
 lished in that neighborhood." Mr. Shaffer organized a 
 class, of whicli William Ellis was appointed leader. 
 Three lots were leased in Sixty-seventh Street, near the 
 Boulevard, and the people of Forty-first Street fur- 
 
 * Mr. Henderson resigned during the year. J. W. Johnston took 
 charge.
 
 St, Andrew's. 359 
 
 nished funds for the buiMing. This cost about |1,000, 
 and was dedicated on April 30, 1853, after a sermon by 
 Rev. James H. Perry.* But in 1857 the property was 
 sold under foreclosure, and the little society was dis- 
 solved, some of the members connecting themselves 
 with the new enterprise which resulted in the St. 
 John's Church on Fifty-third Street. 
 
 But there was living in the neighborhood a zeal- 
 ous local preacher named Townsend H. Farrington, 
 Through his means on a Wednesday evening in May, 
 1864, a little company of twelve met in a small room in 
 a building owned by Walter Waldron, on Sixty-eighth 
 Street, between the Boulevard and Tenth Avenue. On 
 September 17, 1865, a Sunday-school Avas opened. f It 
 was known at first as the Bloomingdale Mission, and 
 then, on October 21, 1866, becoming located at the 
 corner of Broadway and Sixty-ninth Street, it was 
 named the Broadway Mission. On Sunday, February 
 2, 1868, it removed to tlie south-west corner of Sixty- 
 eighth Street and the Boulevard, where a building was 
 specially fitted up for the purpose, which was opened 
 with a sermon by the presiding elder. Rev. W. H. 
 Ferris.J At length a suitable site was secured on the 
 north side of Seventy-first Street, west of Ninth Avenue. 
 The corner-stone was laid April 26, 1881, by Bishop Har- 
 ris, Revs. M. D'C. Crawford and J. P. Newman assist- 
 ing.§ The dedication took place June 4, 1882. The 
 lots cost 123,000; the chapel and furniture a little more 
 than 124,000. The building was 38 by 90 feet. || 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xxviii, p. 63. 
 
 f Report of City Sunday-School and Missionary Societ}' for 1866. 
 \ Tiiis building is now occupied as an express office. 
 § Christian Advocate, vol. Ivi, p. 281. 
 
 II While the building was in contemplation a little boy in the Sun- 
 day-Echool, having heard soinelhing about people having a brick in 
 24
 
 360 A History of Methodism in New York City, 
 
 This charge being at first under the general care of tlie 
 City Mission its name does not appear in the Minutes 
 until 1876. Fi-oin tliat time its record is as follows: 
 
 YEAR, MF.MEKRS. PASTOB. YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1876 — W. y. Bouton. 1884 110 J. N. Rnmscv. 
 
 1877 60* 1885 102 C. S. Harrower. 
 
 1878 1886 91 
 
 1879 To be snpplied.f 18S7 117 " 
 
 1880 67 E. B. Lofkwood4 1888.147 J.M.King. 
 
 1881 85 C. W. McPlieison. 1889 216 " 
 
 1882 90 J. N. Ramsev. 1890 250 G. E. Strobridge. 
 
 1883 108 
 
 This congregation has recently completed a new build- 
 ing on the south side of Seventy-si.xth Street, between 
 Ninth and Tenth Avenues, on a plot 129 feet by 102, 
 The material is Indiana limestone, and the architecture 
 early Romanesque. Church, chapel, and parsonage are 
 closely connected, and the whole is unique and attract- 
 ive. The corner-stone was laid on September 14, 1889. 
 by Rev. .1. M. Buckley, and after a sermon on Sunday 
 morning, June 8, 1890, by Bishop D. A. Goodsell, on 
 2 Sam, xxiv, 24, the building was dedicated by Bishop 
 Andrews. 
 
 Church, $200,000. Parsonage, 137,000. Debt, $90,000. 
 Salary, $3, COO. Rent, |1, 2.50. Other collections, $1,161. 
 Current expenses, 12,000. Sunday-school, 190, 
 
 the chnrcli, went to where some houses were in progress in the 
 neighborliood and asked one of the workmen for a brick, telling him 
 what he was going to do with it. He bore his prize home and told 
 his mother, and was not satisfied until she permitted him to take it 
 to the school and give it to the s\iperintendent. His brick is in tlie 
 western wall of the building in Seventy-first Street. 
 
 * Connected with Grace Church, with N. 0. Lent as pastor. 
 
 f E. B. Lockwood was the supply. 
 
 t On June 11, 1880, Mr. Lockwood finished what promised to be 
 a career of great usefulness in a collision between tlie steamers 
 Narragansett and Sioni'ngton, on Long Island Sound. His place was 
 supplied by C. W. McPherson.
 
 Wesley Chapel. 361 
 
 wesley chapel. 
 
 (Cannon Street— Rivington Street — Tortvpkins Street — Attorney Street.) 
 
 On the second floor of a building at the corner of 
 Rivington and Cannon Streets a school was opened 
 June 18, 1865. On May 20, 1866, it was removed to 
 313 Rivington Street. In May, 1872, it became home- 
 less for a while, meeting in a tent, but in the fall secured 
 a place at 15 Tompkins Street, near Broome Street. At 
 last, however, a more permanent habitation was ob- 
 tained on the corner of Stanton and Cannon Streets. 
 But in 1877, the colored congregation which had occu- 
 pied the building 87 Attorney Street having been dis- 
 banded, this society, now called Wesley Chapel, occupied 
 that building. During the eai-lier period of its history 
 it was under the care of the City Mission, and its name 
 does not appear in the Minutes until 1873, when Tomp- 
 kins Street reports a membership of thirty-five, and 
 Rivington Street receives R. Roden as its pastor. Its 
 sulisequent history is: 
 
 YEAR. M 
 
 EMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 MEMBEK8 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1874 
 
 45 
 
 Supplied by R. Ro- 
 
 1884 
 
 167 
 
 J. V. Saunders. 
 
 1875 
 
 81 
 
 '' [den. 
 
 1885 
 
 136 
 
 W. Platts. 
 
 1876* 
 
 93 
 
 
 1886 
 
 131 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 
 
 T. M. Terry. 
 
 1887 
 
 147 
 
 Supplied by G. N. 
 
 1881 
 
 213 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 Compton. 
 
 1882 
 
 201 
 
 J. V. Saunders. 
 
 1888 
 
 63 
 
 
 1883 
 
 187 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 In 1888 it was united with Allen Street, with C. M. 
 Pegg as pastor. 
 
 FRAXKLIN STREET. 
 
 On November 26, 1865, a Sunday-school was opened 
 at No. 21 Worth Street, on the second floor of a dilapi- 
 
 * 1876, 1877, 1878, Wesley Chapel and Kleventli Street, A. C. 
 Morehouse; 1870, Wesley Chapel and Eleventh Street, T. H. Smith,
 
 362 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 dated building, of which the owner gave the use.* On 
 June 2, 1868, it was removed to 168 Franklin Street, near 
 Greenwich, and a church was organized. Afterward a 
 house and lot were bought at 176 Franklin Street, for 
 816,000, and more than $3,000 spent for alterations. 
 
 The name first appears in the Minutes of 1876, in 
 connection with other divisions of the City Mission 
 work. In 1878 it stands alone, and is "to be supplied," 
 and so continued until 1888, Rev. S. Merritt generally 
 having charge. In 1888 T. Lodge was appointed, and 
 in 1889 F. Hamlin succeeded him, but in 1890 it is 
 again "to be supplied." 
 
 The reports of its membership, as far as they can be 
 given separately from those of other charges, have been: 
 
 YEAR. MHMBEKS. 
 
 YEAB. 
 
 MEMBER!!. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBEI 
 
 1879 41 
 
 1882 
 
 284 
 
 1885 
 
 331 
 
 1888f 
 
 1880 39 
 
 1883 
 
 265 
 
 1886 
 
 372 
 
 1889 213 
 
 1881 156 
 
 1884 
 
 318 
 
 1887 
 
 394 
 
 1890 250 
 
 The property is valued at 130,000. No debt. Salary, 
 $1,500. Other collections, $193. Current expenses, 
 $750. Sunday-school, 320. 
 
 WASHINGTON HEIGHTS. 
 
 (152c^ Strtet.) 
 
 The first effort to found a Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in this neighborhood began in 1853, through the instru- 
 mentality of C. C. North, John Bellamy, and J. M. 
 Holland. But after a few years the removal of several 
 of the most prominent members so discouraged those 
 that remained that on April 1, 1867, the services were 
 
 * Report of City Church Extension Society, 1866, p. 14. 
 f No distinct report.
 
 WASHixGTO>r Heights. 363 
 
 suspended. Of this prehistoric period we get from 
 the Minutes of the Conference the following items: 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 lEMBEKS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1859 
 
 
 
 S. C. Perry. 
 
 1861 22 J. J. Harrison. 
 
 1860 
 
 17 
 
 C. W. Lyon. 
 
 1862 19 
 
 But the name is not found in the list of appointments 
 for 1862, nor does it appear in the Minutes again until 
 1865, when we have, " Riverdale and Washington 
 Heights, W. H. Smith and A. L. Culver." In 1860, 
 A. N. Mulnix (properly Molyneaux) was appointed. It 
 makes no report in 1867, and is left to be supplied. In 
 the fall of 1867, however, through the liberality of 
 W. W. Cornell, a building belonging to the Reformed 
 Dutch Church, in 152d Street, east of Tenth Avenue, 
 was leased, and on November 8 regular services were 
 begun under the charge of Rev. J. D. Blain, of the 
 California Conference. In Fel)ruary, 1868, Mr. Cornell 
 bought four lots on the corner of 153d Street and 
 Tenth Avenue, at the cost of $12,000, $3,000 of which 
 was a donation from the Carman estate. The corner- 
 stone was laid December 17, 1868, by Bishop Janes, 
 and the dedication took place on November U, 1869, 
 Bishop Foster preaching in the morning and Bishop 
 Janes in the evening. Bishop Morris was also present. 
 The building and furnishing cost rather more than 
 $48,000, making a total of above $60,000, of which Mr. 
 Cornell gave in all $22,000. Mr. Rembrandt Lock- 
 .wood, the architect, gave his services, valued at $2,150. 
 The material is brick, with brown-stone trimmings, and 
 is 55 by 85 feet, with a spire 135 feet high, and a base- 
 ment above ground. It will seat about six hundred. 
 In March, 1874, under the ministry of Rev. T. Lodge, 
 a parsonage was completed on the south side of the 
 church, at a cost of $8,500.
 
 364 A History ok Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Until tlie Conference of 1809 the place was entered 
 on the Minutes "to be supplied." From November, 
 1867, to November, 1868, J. D. Blain was the supply, 
 and W. G, Browning the rest of the year. For the 
 following years the record is: 
 
 YEAH. 
 
 Mb.MBtRS. PASTOn. 
 
 YEAR. : 
 
 me.mbek; 
 
 i. PASTUB. 
 
 1869 
 
 40 
 
 J. Millard. 
 
 1880 
 
 82 
 
 G. Dntper. 
 
 1870 
 
 80 
 
 "W. G. Browning. 
 
 1881 
 
 107 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 59 
 
 "\^^ M. Henry. 
 
 1882 
 
 125 
 
 a 
 
 1872* 
 
 48 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 116 
 
 A. Stephens. 
 
 1873 
 
 62 
 
 T. Lodge. 
 
 1884 
 
 102 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 60 
 
 H. H. Birkiiis. 
 
 1885 
 
 114 
 
 W.McK. Darwood, 
 
 1875 
 
 77 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 153 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 71 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 208 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 86 
 
 T. Lodge. 
 
 1888 
 
 228 
 
 W. N. Searles. 
 
 1878 
 
 87 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 230 
 
 W. H. Mickle. 
 
 1879 
 
 85 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 219 
 
 " 
 
 Church, 170,000. Parsonage, |!l 5,000. Debt, |14,000. 
 Salary, $1,800. Rent, $1,000. Other collections, $544. 
 Current expenses, $840. Sunday-school, 22 7. f 
 
 *In October, 1872, Mr. Henry was transferred to the Wyoming 
 Conference, and W. P. Corbit supplied for the rest of the year. 
 
 f Mr. E. B. Treat has been superintendent since its formation, more 
 than twenty years ago.
 
 St. Luke's. 365 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 CHURCHES: ST. LUKE'S— CORNELL MEMORIAL— CHURCH 
 OF THE SAVIOUR — GRACE CHURCH — ST. MARK'S— 
 COLORED MISSION- EIGHTY-SECOND STREET— MADISON 
 AVENUE-BETHANY— CALVARY— FIFTY-SIXTH STREET. 
 
 KT. Luke's. 
 
 Ix 1856 or 1857 the Rev. Hiram Mattisoii, who had 
 been a useful and respected minister of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, established an Independent Method- 
 ist Society under tlie name of the New England Con- 
 gregational Church. A neat building was put up on 
 the south side of Forty-first Street, a little west of 
 Sixth Avenue. But the enterprise failed, and the con- 
 gregation was disbanded. 
 
 In October, 1868, a Sunday-school was begun in 
 Hosack Hall, No. 5 7 West Forty-fourth Street. On 
 November 12 of the same year a meeting was held at 
 the house of J. B. Cornell, Esq., to consider the organ- 
 ization of a new Methodist Episcopal Church some- 
 where near Fifth Avenue, and between Fortieth and 
 Fifty-ninth Streets. In the following April (1869) the 
 New England Congregational Church was bought for 
 ^30,000, and $7,000 was spent forrepairsand furnishing. 
 It was opened for public worship on May 9, with services 
 conducted by Bishop Janes and Drs. McClintock and 
 Foster,* and the two last named, both connected with 
 Drew Theological Seminary, supplied the pulpit until 
 the session of the New York Conference of 1870, 
 The Sunday-school, already mentioned, being called St. 
 * Cltriitiiin Advocate, vol. xliv, p. 157.
 
 366 A History of Methodism in^ New York City. 
 
 Luke's, the newly organized Church adopted that title. 
 From the Minutes we get this list of statistics and 
 appointments: 
 
 TBAR. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 S. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1870 
 
 86 
 
 C. S. Harrovver. 
 
 1881 
 
 236 
 
 M. 
 
 D'C. Crawfor 
 
 1871 
 
 138 
 
 
 1882 
 
 199 
 
 C. 
 
 S. Harrower. 
 
 1872 
 
 156 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 207 
 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 183 
 
 J. F. McClelland. 
 
 1884 
 
 215 
 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 209 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 218 
 
 A. 
 
 , D. Vail. 
 
 1875 
 
 216 
 
 W. P. Abbott. 
 
 18S6 
 
 216 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1876 
 
 297 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 121 
 
 E. 
 
 S. Tipple. 
 
 1877 
 
 300 
 
 '' 
 
 1888 
 
 174 
 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 266 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1889 
 
 202 
 
 
 a 
 
 1879 
 
 252 
 
 M. D'C. Crawford. 
 
 1890 
 
 224 
 
 
 II 
 
 1880 
 
 210 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 Church, $30,000. No parsonage. No debt. Salary, 
 $2,000. Kent, 1500. Other collections, $4,071. Current 
 expenses, $4,200. Sunday-school, 458. 
 
 CORNELL MEMORIAL. 
 
 {Stventy-sixth Strett.) 
 
 In October, 1868, a Sunday-school was begun in a 
 small store on Second Avenue, near Seventy-seventh 
 Street. There also, in April, 1869, the church was or- 
 ganized, and shortly after the services wei'e removed 
 to a frame building belonging to Mr. Edward Kilpat- 
 rick, on the corner of Second Avenue and Seventy- 
 seventh Street. Ground was at last bought on the 
 north side of Seventy-sixth Street, a little west of Sec- 
 ond Avenue, and a chapel erected, which was dedicated 
 on Sunday, December 31, 1871, Revs. Thomas Guard, 
 C. D. Foss, and J. B. Merwin officiating.* This l)uild- 
 ing is still occupied by the Sunday-school, but by the 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. .xlvii, p. 4.
 
 Cornell Memorial. 367 
 
 side of it stands a very commodious and tasteful edi- 
 fice, called the " Cornell Memorial Church," in memory 
 of the late W, W. Cornell, to whose liberality the con- 
 gregation is much indebted. This was dedicated March 
 25, 1883, Bishop Warren preaching on the occasion. 
 The cost of the building and furniture was |45,600.* 
 The New York East Conference held its session for that 
 year within its walls. For several years the charge 
 was under the general care of the New York City Mis- 
 sion, though in 1871 Rev. F. Brown seems to have been 
 especially assigned to that field. In 1873 we have its 
 first report of membership and its first separate appoint- 
 ment, and the record from that time is: 
 
 VKAE. 
 
 MEMBBRS 
 
 1. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 ;. PASTOR. 
 
 1873 
 
 147 
 
 J. S. Haugh. 
 
 1882 
 
 400 
 
 W. W. Bowdish, 
 
 1874 
 
 180 
 
 •' 
 
 1883 
 
 427 
 
 H. E. Barnes. 
 
 1875 
 
 183 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 448 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 246 
 
 G. H. Goodsell. 
 
 1885 
 
 476 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 226 
 
 •' 
 
 1886 
 
 471 
 
 J. B. Hamilton. 
 
 1878 
 
 234 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 446 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 257 
 
 "W. McAllister, f 
 
 1888 
 
 288 
 
 D. 0. Ferris. 
 
 1880 
 
 247 
 
 W. W. Bowdish. 
 
 1889 
 
 282 
 
 H. W. Byrnes. 
 
 1881 
 
 397 
 
 ■' 
 
 1890 
 
 370 
 
 " 
 
 Church, $125,000. No parsonage. No debt. Sal- 
 ary, $1,600. Rent, $660. Other collections, $579. 
 Current expenses, $2,000. Its Sunday-school has been 
 remarkably prosperous. For two years (1886-87) it 
 reported nearly 1,650 scholars, and though in 1890 it 
 numbered but 1,254 it is still the second in size in the 
 Conference and the largest Methodist Sunday-school in 
 the city. Much of its success is due to the labors of 
 Mrs. E<lward Kilpatrick. 
 
 * Chrvitian Advocate, vol. Iviii, p. '200. 
 f Mr. McAllister died Januury 3, 1880.
 
 368 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHURCH OF THE SAVIOUR. 
 
 (^Soidli Harlem — East Oiie-Hundred-and-Tenth Stred — Rxst One- Hun- 
 dred-and- Eleventh Street — East One- Hundred-and- Thirteenth Street 
 — East One- Hundred- and- Ninth Street.) 
 
 Ill tlie spring of 1869, under the auspices of the Sec- 
 ond Avenue (now Trinity) Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 services were begun in a vacant lot near the corner of 
 110th Street and Second Avenue. An old pear-tree 
 furnished shade, and a cart was the pulpit from which 
 Rev. W. C. Steele preached to the people. On June 6 
 a Sunday-school was organized, which met on Third 
 Avenue, near 109th Street, but on September 5 was re- 
 moved to the basement of a dwelling, 229 East 112th 
 Street, occupied by Dr. Cox. More room being needed, 
 the Second Avenue Church leased two lots on the west 
 side of Second Avenue a little south of 110th Street, 
 the site of the open-air services already mentioned. 
 Here a frame building was put up, 30 feet by 60, into 
 which the school, then numbering one hundred and seven 
 scholars, removed October 10, 1869. It being evident 
 that a church was needed in the neighboihood, the 
 trustees of the Second Avenue Chui'ch offered the build- 
 ing to the New York City Church Extension Society. 
 On October 23, 1870, the chapel was dedicated by 
 Bishop Janes, and on November 13 a society of seven- 
 teen members was organized by Revs. W. Ross and 
 W. Platts, city missionaries of the New Y'ork East 
 Conference, the first class-leader being John W. Lyon. 
 Better accommodations both for the school and con- 
 gregation being needed, and no suitable location offer- 
 ing on the east of Third Avenue, it was thought ad- 
 visable to cross the line into the New Y'^ork Conference, 
 and a site was selected on the south side of 113th
 
 Church of the Saviour. 369 
 
 Street, west of Third Avenue, for which $12,000 was 
 paid. At the Conference of 1873 the charge appears 
 in tlie Minutes of the New York East Conference as 
 South Harlem, with a membership of eighty-eight, and 
 W. Ross is appointed pastor. In May, 1873, a more 
 desirable site came into the market on the south side of 
 111th Street, west of Third Avenue, which was bought 
 for 120,000, For nearly a year, however, the ground 
 on 113th Street remained unsold, and finally was dis- 
 posed of for $11,750, a loss of $250. In 1874 the report 
 was one hundred and four members, and John L. Gilder 
 was appointed ])astor. The finances were at this time 
 discouraging, and at the close of the year the church 
 found itself with an indebtedness of $21,000 and a 
 membership of but seventy-two. The Minutes left it 
 to be supplied, and Rev. Albert Van Camp, of the Erie 
 Conference, filled the vacancy. The society was re- 
 organized, a new board of trustees was elected, and in 
 the early part of June the building at Second Avenue 
 and 110th Street was moved to the 111th Street prop- 
 erty. On June 27 the dedication took place. Rev. John 
 Miley officiating. No report of numbers can be found 
 for 1876. South Harlem disappears from the Minutes 
 of the New York East Conference, and in its place we 
 have in those of the New York Conference, "111th 
 Street, George H. Smith." His term of three years, 
 though one of financial embarrassment, was spiritually 
 prosperous. The reports were: 
 
 VEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. y-ASTOB. 
 
 1877 
 
 147 George H. Smith. 
 
 1880 
 
 301 F. M. North, 
 
 1878 
 
 200 
 
 1881 
 
 282 
 
 1879 
 
 261 F. M. North. 
 
 
 
 During Mr. North's administration the present church 
 edifice in 109th Street was erected. It was dedicated 
 October 29, 1881, by Bishop Andrews. J. B. Cornell
 
 370 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 gave largely in cash besides contributing the stained- 
 glass windows. The building is intended as a chapel 
 for a larger edifice. It stands on the eastern part of a 
 plot 118 feet by 100. The land cost $19,500, and the 
 building about |25,000, including furnishing. It is very 
 comfortable and attractive. It will be seen that the 
 congregation led for some years a migratory existence, 
 and had no small difficulties to overcome, but it seems 
 now to be well established, with prospects of great suc- 
 cess and usefulness. 
 
 Since Mr. North's departure its reports and pastors 
 have been: 
 
 YEAR. MEMBEBS. 
 
 PASTOE. 
 
 YEAE. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1882 361 G. 
 
 H. Gregory. 
 
 1887 
 
 490 C. Wright. 
 
 1883* 880 G. 
 
 Van Alstyne. 
 
 1888 
 
 52(5 
 
 1884 434 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 577 J. Y. Bales. 
 
 1885 426 J. 
 
 G. Oakley. 
 
 1890 
 
 444 " 
 
 1886 540 
 
 ■' 
 
 
 
 Church, $40,000. No parsonage. Debt, $7,500. Sal- 
 ary, $1,820. Rent, $480. Other collections, $4G1. 
 Current expenses, $600. Sunday-school, 1,035. The 
 school has been especially successful, being the second 
 Methodist school in size in the city, and the largest in 
 the New York Conference. 
 
 GRACE CHURCH. 
 
 In June, 1867, five lots were bought on the north side 
 of 104th Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, for 
 $6,000. On July 2, 1869, the first prayer-meeting was 
 held at the house of F. B. Utter, M.D., on the corner 
 of 107th Street and Broadway, at which ten persons 
 were present. The same number also composed the 
 congregation at the first sermon, which was preached 
 
 * In 1 883 the name was changed to " Church of the Saviour."
 
 Grace Church. 371 
 
 at the house of Peter Coe, in 101st Street, near Ninth 
 Avenue. On April 3, 1870, the chapel in West l()4th 
 Street, which cost $17,000, Avas dedicated, W. H. Ferris, 
 H. B. Ridgaway, and D. L. jVIarks preaching on the 
 occasion. 
 
 For several years the pulpit was supplied by the 
 preachers of the City Mission, and therefore the name 
 is not found in the Minutes until 1872. From that time 
 its record is : 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBEF 
 
 ts. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1872 
 
 
 
 D. L. Miirks. 
 
 1882 
 
 39 
 
 T. 
 
 Lodge. 
 
 1873 
 
 54 
 
 R. Wheatley. 
 
 1883 
 
 65 
 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 71 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 79 
 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 80 
 
 " 
 
 1885 
 
 78 
 
 A. 
 
 Stephens. 
 
 1876 
 
 71 
 
 G. N. Pratt. 
 
 1886 
 
 78 
 
 W 
 
 . E. Kelchnm. 
 
 1877* 
 
 57 
 
 
 1887 
 
 88 
 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 
 W. S. Blake. 
 
 1888 
 
 99 
 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 34 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 99 
 
 F. 
 
 L. Wilson. 
 
 1881 
 
 26 
 
 C. S. narrower. 
 
 1890 
 
 196 
 
 F. 
 
 Hermance. 
 
 This church, though young, has already furnished 
 laborers for the missionary field. In 1874 John E. 
 Robinson and his wife and F. A. Goodwin went out to 
 assist Rev. W. Taylor in India. 
 
 The property is now valued at $70,000. This in- 
 cludes a new chapel, very attractive and commodious, 
 costing $30,000. No parsonage. Debt, $12,000. Sal- 
 ary, $1,500. Rent, $750. Other collections, $262. 
 Current expenses, $800. Sunday-school, 338. 
 
 ST. MARK S. 
 
 The first public services of this congre<ration Avere 
 held on July 1, 1871, in Washington Hall, on Broad- 
 Avay, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets, 
 
 * In 1877 and 1878 it was united with Si.xty-eighth Street, under 
 the charare of X. 0. Lent.
 
 372 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Rev. W. F. Butler, formerly of the Zion African Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, being in charge. A building 
 on Thirty-fifth Street, a little east of Sixth Avenue, was 
 afterward bought for $50,500, and dedicated on Jan- 
 uary 4, 1873, Bishop Foster preaching on the occasion. 
 Its history as found in the Minutes is : 
 
 1882 335 W. P. Ryder. 
 
 1883 240 
 
 1884 267 J. A. Holmes. 
 
 1885 257 
 
 1886 261 
 
 1887 166 H. L. Monroe. 
 
 1888 230 
 
 1889 307 " 
 
 1890 346 " 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1872 
 
 
 
 W. F. Butler. 
 
 1873 
 
 102 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 114 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 104 
 
 E. W. S. Peck. 
 
 1876 
 
 193 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 204 
 
 " 
 
 1878 
 
 219 
 
 R. A. Reid. 
 
 1879 
 
 292 
 
 
 1880 
 
 310 
 
 
 1881 H88 W. P. Ryder. 
 
 A building in Forty-eighth Street, between Sixth and 
 Seventh Avenues (ibrmerly All Souls Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church), has recently been bought by the City 
 Church Extension Society, and was occupied by the St. 
 Mark's congregation on February 9, 1890. Connected 
 with the church is a very flourishing lyceum with a 
 membership of 350, said to be the largest literary associ- 
 ation among the colored people of the city. 
 
 Church, 170,000. No parsonage. Debt, $26,000. 
 Salary, $1,000. Rent, $400. Other collections, $175. 
 Current expenses, $1,200. Sunday-school, 270. 
 
 COLORED MISSION. 
 
 (Bronine Sired — Ridge Street — Emanuel Church — Attorney Street.) 
 
 In July, 1867, the City Mission and Church Extension 
 Society opened a room for worship for colored people at 
 121 Broome Street, near Willett Street. In 1869 this 
 was removed to 67 Ridge Street, and again in May,
 
 Colored Mission. 373 
 
 1870, to 95 Allen Street, where it took the name of 
 " Emanuel Church," and reported, in 1873, 104 members. 
 Kev. T. Veitch had charge. In 1873 or 1874 a church 
 at 87 Attorney Street (formerly occupied by the Prot- 
 estant Methodists) was purchased for them for $30,000. 
 Its report in 1874 was 125, and it was to be supplied. 
 In 1875 the number was 120, and in 1876 153, T. A. 
 Davis being appointed the preacher both years. But in 
 1877 the congregation had diminished so much that it 
 was disbanded, and the building was occupied for a 
 time by a congregation of white people, which is now 
 united with the Allen Street society at the Allen Street 
 Memorial Church. 
 
 EIGHTY-SECOND STREET. 
 
 In the Minutes of the New York East Conference for 
 1878 we find, "Eighty-second Street, to be supplied," 
 and it stands the same for two successive years. Its 
 report of membership in 1879 was fifty, and it was 
 again left to be supplied, the supply being M. J. Ryan. 
 There is no report for 1880, and it is again "to be sup- 
 plied," and M. J. Ryan and Philip Bartlett are named 
 as sui>plies. Their number in 1881 was 50. In 1881 
 D. Curry was appointed, and reported, in 1882, 53. 
 The appointment for that year reads, " Eighty-second 
 Street and South Harlem," with D. Curry as preacher. 
 In 1883 its report was twenty-five members, and it is 
 again left to be supplied, but in 1884 it disappears from 
 the Minutes. 
 
 MADISON AVENUE. 
 
 The Madison Avenue Church originated in the efforts 
 of several persons, the most of whom were connected
 
 374 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 with St. Paul's and St. Luke's Churches, wlio wished to 
 provide for themselves a place of worship in their 
 neighborhood. On October 16, 1881, a meeting was 
 held at the Rev. Dr. Chapin's Collegiate School, 24 East 
 Sixtieth Street, attended by about fifty. Rev. M. 
 S. Terry, the presiding elder, acting as pastor, re- 
 ceived the certificates of membership of Mr. and Mrs. 
 W. H. Falconer. On November 1, twenty-eight more 
 were added, and a board of trustees elected. At the 
 laying of the corner-stone on July 31, 1882, Bishops 
 Simpson and Harris officiated. Services were held for 
 a while at the school-room before mentioned. Rev. J. M. 
 Buckley acting as pastor, and the chapel was opened by 
 liim on January V, 1883. On November 11 of the s;ime 
 year worship was held in the audience-room for the 
 first time, Rev. 0. H. Tiffany, the pastor, preaching, 
 and on the following Sunday, November 18, the build- 
 ing was dedicated by Bishop Harris, Bishop Simpson 
 having preached in the morning. Tlie edifice is of 
 stone, in the Romanesque style, extending 100 feet on 
 Madison Avenue and 89 on Sixtieth Street, with a spire 
 128 feet high. The land and building cost about 
 6!250,000.* Its record is as follows: 
 
 PASTOR. YEAR. MEMBERS, PASTOR. 
 
 188:^ 75 0. H. Tiffany. 1887 309 C. P. Masden. 
 
 1884 137 " 1888 336 
 
 1885 174 " 1889 306 E. McChesney. 
 
 1886 224 C. P. Masden. 1890 312 
 
 Church, 1262,000. Parsonage, $35,000. Debt, $65,000. 
 Salary, |4,000. Rent, |2,500. Other collections, |6,342. 
 Current expenses, $4,700. Sunday-school, 115. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. Ivi, p. 664; vol. Ivii, pp. 8, 152, 264, 488; 
 vol. Iviii, pp. 24, 724, 744.
 
 Bethany Chapel. 375 
 
 bethany chapel. 
 
 In the report of the City Church Extension Society 
 for 1882 we are told that "Faith Mission, in 123d 
 Street and First Avenue," came under its management 
 in the preceding February, and its name was clianged 
 to " Bethany Methodist Episcopal Chapel,'' Its 
 record is : 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBEE 
 
 ;S. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1882 
 
 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1887 
 
 33 To be supplied.f 
 
 1883 
 
 21 
 
 D. Curiy. 
 
 1888 
 
 33 
 
 1884 
 
 18 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1889 
 
 38 " 
 
 1885 
 
 24 
 
 a 
 
 1890 
 
 37 
 
 1886 
 
 30 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 The building, which is in 123d Street, near First 
 Avenue, is small, but neat and comfortable, and the 
 congregation is growing. 
 
 Church, 12,000. No parsonage. No debt. Salary, 
 $400. Other collections, $55. Current expenses, $260. 
 Sunday-school, 240. 
 
 CALVARY. 
 
 ( West Ha7-lem.) 
 
 As early at least as 1843 preaching services were held 
 in a hired room on what is now the Boulevard, near 125th 
 Street, provided for by the contributions of D. F. Tio- 
 mann, Esq., (afterward mayor of the city), and iiis broth- 
 er-in-law, Rev. J. C. Tackaberry. On June 1, 1851, a small 
 frame church was dedicated on 131st Street, near the 
 Boulevard, capable of accommodating about two hun- 
 dred persons. Two lots were given, and the building, 
 
 *G. N. Compton supplied in 1882, 1884, and 1886, and, perhaps, 
 in 1885. 
 
 fT. B. Smiili supplied in 1887 and tiic three succeeding years.
 
 370 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 costing over $1,400, was dedicated free of debt, R. S. 
 Foster, D.D., officiating.* Sometime about 1861 this 
 was removed to 125th Street, near Sixth Avenue, 
 where, under the titles of West Harlem, Hope Church, 
 and One-hundred-and-twenty-firth Street, it continued 
 until 1881, when the presiding elder reported it dis- 
 banded.f It stood on leased ground and the lease could 
 not be renewed, and for this and other reasons it was 
 thought that an altogether new enterprise would be 
 most advisable. It was called at first Manhattanville 
 Mission, and its statistics and appointments were: 
 
 MKMBERS. 
 
 1852 — To be supplied. 18.55t 50 O.E.Brown. 
 
 1853 29 R. T. Pearson. 1856 47 To be supplied. 
 
 1854 — O. E. Brown. 1857 — " 
 
 In 1858 no report, and the name Manhattanville dis- 
 appears from the list of appointments. In 1859, how- 
 ever, we have Washington Heights, which was the suc- 
 cessor to Carmansville. 
 
 About 1861 a colony from the old Harlem church 
 (now St. James) began services in a frame building in 
 123d Street, near Fifth Avenue, and shortly after 
 bought the old edifice at Manhattanville and removed 
 it to 125th Street. This was called West Harlem, and 
 its statistics and appointments were: 
 
 1861 To be supplied.§ 
 
 1867 
 
 112 
 
 V. X. Traver. 
 
 1862 79 E. B. Otheman. 
 
 1868 
 
 41 
 
 P. Germoud. 
 
 1863 109 
 
 1869 
 
 141 
 
 " 
 
 1864 116 A. H. Wyatt. 
 
 1870 
 
 147 
 
 " 
 
 1865 121 
 
 1871 
 
 118 
 
 " 
 
 1866 129 To be supplied. 
 
 
 
 
 * Letter of Rev. C. C. Leigh, 
 
 and Christian 
 
 Advocate, vol. xxvi, 
 
 p. 102. 
 
 
 
 
 \ Minutes of New York Conference, presiding elder's report. 
 I Name changed to Manhattanville and Carmansville. 
 § Supplied by a. L. Taylor.
 
 Calvary. 377 
 
 In 1871 the appointments read, " West Harlem, to be 
 supplied," and immediately after, " Hope Church, N. B. 
 Thompson." In a little while this "Hope Church "be- 
 came the occupant of the building of the West Harlem 
 congregation, and its history was: 
 
 1871 X. B. ThompsoQ. 1877t 106 To be supplied. 
 
 1872 74 " 1878 130 H. W. Bvrnes. 
 
 1873 75 " 1879 108 L. C. H. Adams. 
 
 1874 98 J. G. Oakley. 1880 97 
 1875* 100 " 1881 103 
 1876 92 To be supplied. 
 
 At this Conference, as already stated, it was dis- 
 banded. It reported a property of Si, 500, of the dispo- 
 sition of which we have no record. 
 
 But the field was one that.coixld not long remain un- 
 occupied. In the fall of 1882 the matter was talked of, 
 but no suitable place of meeting could be obtained. In 
 1883, however, a hall was erected on 125th Street, near 
 Eighth Avenue. Tliis was leased for two years and a 
 half, and on December 23 public services were held in 
 it for the first time. Rev. J. R. Day preaching in the 
 morning, and Rev. F. S. Upham, of Drew Theological 
 Seminary, in the evening. Rev. A. K. Sanford, super- 
 intendent of the City Church Extension Society, acted 
 as pastor until the session of the ensuing Conference, 
 when Rev. F. Mason North w:is appointed. Under his 
 labors the membership and congregation increased, and 
 the need of a church edifice became pressing. Ground 
 was secured on the north-west corner of 129th Street 
 and Seventh Avenue for $40,000, and a contract made 
 for the erection of a church, chapel, and parsonage for 
 $75,450. The corner-stone was laid October 14, 1886, 
 by Rev. J. M. Reid, after an address by Rev. J. M. 
 
 * Name changed to Ono-hundred-aud-twenty-fifth Street. 
 f H. W. Byrnes supplied.
 
 378 A HiSTOBY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Buckley, and on Sunday, October 23, 1887, it was 
 opened for worship. Rev. Dr. Buttz, president of 
 Drew Theological Seminary, preached in the morning, 
 Rev. J. R. Day in the evening, and at 10:30 P. M. the 
 house was dedicated by Rev. J. M. Reid. The entire 
 cost was 1146,471 80. Of this $80,000 had been already 
 raised, and |23,000 was subscribed on that day, leaving 
 a debt of little more than t;40,000. The building is an 
 admirable one, capable of seating more than one thou- 
 sand, with a chapel which can accommodate a school of 
 nine hundred, and with pleasant church pai-lors and 
 library and reading-room. Already, however, the con- 
 gregation is outgrowing its accommodations, and since 
 the Conference of 1890 the building has been consider- 
 ably enlarged. In June, 1889, the name was changed 
 to " Calvary Church." Its reports and appointments 
 have been: 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOB. YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1884 60 F. M. North. 1888 451 E. S. Osbon. 
 
 1885 234 " 1889 483 J. R. Day. 
 
 1886 266 " 1890 633 
 
 1887 379 E. S. Osbon. 
 
 Church, 1160,000. Parsonage, $20,000. Debt, $54,300. 
 Salary, $3,000. Rent, $1,500. Other collections, $4,461. 
 Current expenses, $1,240. Sunday-school, 905. 
 
 riFTY-SIXTH STREET. 
 
 In October, 1883, a Sunday-school was organized in 
 a little building on leased ground in Fifty-sixth Street, 
 near Tenth Avenue, under the care of Mr. G. H. Can- 
 non, but shortly after Mr. A. G. Newman was appointed 
 superintendent. In a httle while church services Avere 
 begun, those in the morning consisting of the usual ex-
 
 FiFTY-sixTii Stkekt. 379 
 
 ercises and the reading of a sermon by the superintend- 
 ent, the evening being supplied by such preachers as 
 could be obtained. In 1884 Rev. Thomas B. Smith, a 
 supernumerary preacher, was appointed pastor, and in 
 June a church was organized. During the Conference 
 year the building was enlarged at a cost of $3,000. In 
 February, 1887, Mr. A. G. Newman retired from the 
 superintendence, and his son, A. S. Newman, was 
 elected in his place. The school is said to be unusually 
 orderly and efficient, and the membership of the church 
 is steadily growing. A better building in a better loca- 
 tion is needed. When these are secured the charge bids 
 fnir for great prosperity. From the Annual Minutes 
 we get the following items: 
 
 VBAB. MEMBtES. PASTOR. YEAR. MtMBERS. PASTOE. 
 
 1884 T. B. Smith. 1888 85 J. W. Sweetman. 
 
 1885 31 " 1889 85 "f 
 
 1886 44 " 1890 102 To be supplied.:!: 
 
 1887 51 To be supplied.* 
 
 Church, $2,000. No parsonage. No debt. Salary, 
 $1,200. Other collections, $78. Current expenses, $217. 
 Sunday-school, 317. 
 
 * W. H. Leatherinan supplied. 
 
 f Mr. Sweetman died March 6, 1890. 
 
 i R. C. Bell supplied.
 
 380 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXn. 
 
 THE ANNEXED DISTRICT. 
 
 CHURCHES: ST. STEPHEN'S— MORRISAXI A — FORDHAM— 
 TREMONT — NORTH NEW YORK — WOODLAWN— WEST 
 FARMS— MOTT AVENUE— WOODSTOCK. 
 
 ST. Stephen's. 
 
 {Kingshridge — South Tankers — Rivtrdale — North New York Mission.) 
 
 The name of Kingsbi'iclge appears first in the Min- 
 utes of 1826, but at that time it represented a circuit, 
 including Yonkers, East Chester, West Chester, West 
 Farms, etc. At least fifty years ago there was a small 
 church about 25 feet by 40. It did not become a 
 separate charge until 1853, when it is put down to be 
 supplied. Richard Wheatley, then a young local 
 preacher just arrived from England, was the supply, 
 and being received at the Conference of 1854 he was 
 returned. He reported, in 1854 38 members, and in 
 1855, 57. In the fall of 1853 the church Avas enlarged 
 and renovated, and a lot was given by B. F, Howe for 
 a parsonage. At the re-opening Rev. R. S. Foster 
 preached, and J. B. and W. W. Cornell, J. B. Har- 
 riott, J. W. Kellogg, Anthony Civill, and others from 
 the Greene Street Church and elsewhere contributed so 
 as to pay the whole debt. 
 
 For four years after this it was united with Fordham, 
 but in 1859 it again stands alone with R. H. Kelley 
 as pastor. In 1860, the name was changed to South 
 Yonkers, and in 1864 to Riverdale, in 1873 to Kings- 
 bridge, in 1874 to North New Yoik Mission, and in 1876 
 to St. Stephen's. Its appointments and reports have been:
 
 St. Stephen's. 381 
 
 VEAB. MEMBER! 
 
 5. PASTOK. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOE, 
 
 1859 
 
 — 
 
 R. H. Kellev. 
 
 1875 
 
 38 
 
 D. W. C. Van 
 
 1860 
 
 92 
 
 (t 
 
 
 
 Gaasbeek. 
 
 1861 
 
 73 
 
 W. G. Browning. 
 
 187611 
 
 33 
 
 u 
 
 1862 
 
 64 
 
 J. G. Shrive. 
 
 1879 
 
 — 
 
 To be supplied.Tf 
 
 1863 
 
 43 
 
 " 
 
 1880** 66 
 
 " 
 
 1864 
 
 40 
 
 W. H. Smith. 
 
 1881 
 
 No re- 
 
 tc 
 
 1865* 
 
 56 
 
 " 
 
 
 pon 
 
 t. 
 
 1866 
 
 79t 
 
 A. Ostrander. 
 
 1882 
 
 " 
 
 S. Lowtlier. 
 
 1867 
 
 56 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 45 
 
 R. H. Kelley. 
 
 1868 
 
 51 
 
 A. C. Gallahue. 
 
 1884 
 
 51 
 
 I. H. Lent. 
 
 1869 
 
 51 
 
 W. M. Henry. 
 
 1885 
 
 55 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 43 
 
 L. B. Andrus. 
 
 1886 
 
 39 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 40 
 
 R. Tarlton. 
 
 1887 
 
 43 
 
 N. B. Thompson. 
 
 1872 
 
 43 
 
 C. F. Wixen. 
 
 1888 
 
 63 
 
 " 
 
 1873t 
 
 41 
 
 J. Croft. 
 
 1889 
 
 122 
 
 " 
 
 1874^ 
 
 36 
 
 D. W. C. Van 
 Gaasbeek. 
 
 1890 
 
 121 
 
 " 
 
 The corner-stone of the present building was laid in 
 December, 1875, by Bishop Janes. It was dedicated 
 May 14, 1876, by Rev. A. M. Osbon. The total cost of 
 ground, building, and furniture was |10,000. 
 
 Church, $11,000. No parsonage. Debt, |2,500. 
 Salary, $1,000. Rent, $.300. Other collections, $108. 
 Current expenses, $496. Sunday-school, 144. 
 
 MORRISANIA. 
 
 ( Centenary.) 
 
 Somewhere about 1850 a frame church about 75 feet 
 by 35 or 40 was erected on the west side of Fordham 
 
 * United with Washinpfton Heights, 
 f Tliis includes "Washington Heights. 
 X Name changed to Kingsbridge. 
 § Name changed to Nortli New York Mission. 
 II St. Stephen's and "Woodlawn, and in 1877-78 with Fordham also, 
 A. Coons pastor, but in 1879 St. Stephen's becomes independent. 
 T[ D. Tasker supplied. 
 **S. Lowther supplied, and also in 1S81.
 
 .382 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 (now Third) Avenue, about 100 feet north of 168th 
 Street. This was sold in 1866, when the present church 
 was erected on the corner of Washington Avenue and 
 East 166tli Street, at the cost of §50,000. The material 
 was concrete or artificial stone, and some of this that 
 was used in the tower appears to have been not prop- 
 erly prepared or not sufficiently hardened, and soon 
 after its erection the tower fell. About |« 10,000 was 
 needed to repair damages, and, as a result, the church 
 had to ask aid fi-om tlie City Church Extension So- 
 ciety. The appointments and reports have been as 
 follows : 
 
 VKAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 i. PASTIiR. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 Mli.MBERS 
 
 1. I'ASTOR. 
 
 
 1850 
 
 
 
 C. C. Kevs. 
 
 1871 
 
 128 
 
 T. B. Smith. 
 
 
 1851 
 
 51 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 123 
 
 a 
 
 
 1852 
 
 80 
 
 G. Coles. 
 
 1873 
 
 127 
 
 a 
 
 
 1853 
 
 80 
 
 T. F. R. Jleiceiii. 
 
 1874 
 
 130 
 
 J. P. Swift. 
 
 
 1854- 
 
 150 
 
 A. C. Foss. 
 
 1875 
 
 121 
 
 11 
 
 
 1855* 
 
 142 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 143 
 
 11 
 
 
 1856 
 
 110 
 
 W. C. Smith. 
 
 1877 
 
 136 
 
 D. W. C. Vau Ga; 
 
 IS- 
 
 1857 
 
 164f 
 
 0. E. Browa. 
 
 
 
 beck. 
 
 
 1858 
 
 120 
 
 D. 0. Ferris. 
 
 1878 
 
 137 
 
 " 
 
 
 1859 
 
 91 
 
 E. B. Shurter. 
 
 1879 
 
 113 
 
 " 
 
 
 1860 
 
 76 
 
 J. W. Miicomber. 
 
 1880 
 
 123 
 
 R. H. Kelley. 
 
 
 1861 
 
 97 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 127 
 
 " 
 
 
 1862 
 
 54 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1882 
 
 117 
 
 " 
 
 
 1863 
 
 96 
 
 A. C. Gallahue. . 
 
 1883 
 
 137 
 
 S. Lowther. 
 
 
 1864 
 
 90 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 187 
 
 " 
 
 
 1865 
 
 84 
 
 A. C. Fields. 
 
 1885 
 
 179 
 
 J. Rowe. 
 
 
 1866 
 
 105 
 
 a 
 
 1886 
 
 172 
 
 " 
 
 
 1867 
 
 99 
 
 u 
 
 1887 
 
 198 
 
 " 
 
 
 1868 
 
 128 
 
 T. Lodge. 
 
 1888 
 
 204 
 
 C. W. Millard. 
 
 
 1869 
 
 120 
 
 a 
 
 1889 
 
 269 
 
 " 
 
 
 1870 
 
 123 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 270 
 
 " 
 
 
 Church, $40,000. Parsonage, $10,000. Debt, $13,000. 
 Salary, $1,500. Rent, $700. Other collections, $429. 
 Current expenses, $900. Sunday-school, 359. 
 
 * The appointment reads, " Morrisaniaand Upper Morrisania ; " this 
 last became Tremont. 
 \ Including Tremont.
 
 FORDHAM. 383 
 
 FORDHAM. 
 
 The name of Fordhiim appears in the Minutes for the 
 first time in 1854, when Thomas Bainbridge was ap- 
 pointed there as supernumerary. He reported seven 
 members in 1855. From that time, however, it stands 
 connected with Kingsbridge or Tremont, or is left to be 
 supplied until 1S63. Thenceforward its record is: 
 
 YEAR. MEMBEKS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. M 
 
 EMBERS 
 
 t. PASTOR. 
 
 1863 
 
 
 
 N. Hubbell. 
 
 1877f 
 
 54 
 
 A. Coons. 
 
 1864 
 
 83 
 
 A. P. Lyon. 
 
 1879 
 
 — 
 
 W. G. Browning. 
 
 1865 
 
 32 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 51 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1866 
 
 40 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 53 
 
 T. B. Smith, sup. 
 
 186-7 
 
 34 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1882 
 
 49 
 
 " 
 
 1868 
 
 34 
 
 J. C. Washburn. 
 
 1883 
 
 34 
 
 T. S. Bond. 
 
 1869 
 
 17 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 35 
 
 " 
 
 1870* 
 
 23 
 
 W. M. Henry. 
 
 1885 
 
 34 
 
 u 
 
 1871 
 
 22 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1886 
 
 32 
 
 S. H. Scott. 
 
 1872 
 
 18 
 
 D. E. White. 
 
 1887 
 
 53 
 
 " 
 
 1873 
 
 12 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1888 
 
 51 
 
 To be supplied.]: 
 
 1874 
 
 17 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 50 
 
 F. Bottonie. 
 
 187.5 
 
 19 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 76 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 19 
 
 A. Coons. 
 
 
 
 
 The church, as far as can be ascertained, was built 
 before 1862, and is a neat and comfortable frame house. 
 
 Church, $0,000. No parsonage. No debt. Salary, 
 $1,200. Other collections, $82. Current expenses, $234. 
 Sunday-school, 100. 
 
 TREMONT, 
 
 ( Upper Morrisania.) 
 
 Somewhere about 1855 a few members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church at Morrisania proceeded to 
 organize the congregation now known as that of Ti-e- 
 
 * United with Highbridgeville. 
 
 flu 1877 and 1878 it was united witli Si. Stephen's and Wood- 
 lawn, with A. Coons as preacher. % F. Boltoine supplied.
 
 .384 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 moiit. They occupied for awhile "a little meeting- 
 liouse by the way -side," but in 1885 a new and better 
 location was secured on the corner of Washington Ave- 
 nue and East 178th Street, 110 by 108 feet. Plans 
 and specifications were prepared, but the builder's esti- 
 mate of the cost exceeded that of the architect by 
 about $10,000, and the enterprise was necessarily de- 
 layed.* On September 16, 1886, however, the corner- 
 stone was laid by the presiding elder. Rev. G. II. Greg- 
 ory, after addresses by Revs, J. M. King and I). W. 
 Couch. f The cliapel was opened on March 20, 1887, 
 with a sermon by the pastor, Rev. P. Germond,J; and 
 on June 26 the audience-room was dedicated by 
 the presiding elder, Rev. A. J. Palmer, after a sermon 
 by Rev. A. S. Hunt.§ It is a brick building, very 
 much after the model of that erected a little while be- 
 fore at Mount Vernon, and will seat five hundred per- 
 sons, and the lecture-room and its class-rooms, which 
 are so arranged as to communicate with the audience- 
 room, will accommodate about five hundred more. The 
 land cost |4,000, and the building about 130,000. || 
 
 Originally it was connected with Morrisania, but in 
 the ]Minutes of 1857 the name first appears. Its rec- 
 ord is: 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOK. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1857 — S. 
 
 C. Perry. 
 
 1865 
 
 100 J. W. Ackerly. 
 
 1858 82 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 95 
 
 1859T[ 80 
 
 
 1867 
 
 77 
 
 1862 Y. 
 
 Buck. 
 
 1868 
 
 102 N. B. Tliomp.soti. 
 
 1863 111 A. 
 
 C. Field. 
 
 1869 
 
 134 
 
 1864 100 
 
 ** 
 
 1870 
 
 166 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. Ix, p. 716. \ Ihid., vol. Ixi, p. 622. 
 
 \ Ibid., vol. Ixii, p. 173. § Hid., vol. Ixii, p. 436. 
 
 II Ibid., vol. 1x1, p. 558. 
 
 T[ In 1859 and 1860 it was united with Fordham, under the care 
 of J. A. Sellick. and in 1861 witli V. Buck as preacher.
 
 
 
 
 
 i REMOXT. 
 
 
 3 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1871 
 
 163 
 
 P. 
 
 R. Brown. 
 
 1881 
 
 212 
 
 F. Bottome. 
 
 1872 
 
 150 
 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 166 
 
 N. B. Thompson. 
 
 1873 
 
 131 
 
 A. 
 
 M. Osbon. 
 
 1883 
 
 169 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 127 
 
 T. 
 
 B. Smith. 
 
 1884 
 
 174 
 
 P. Germond. 
 
 1875 
 
 126 
 
 T. 
 
 Lamont. 
 
 1885 
 
 251 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 130 
 
 D. 
 
 L. Marks. 
 
 1886 
 
 242 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 131 
 
 
 '• 
 
 1887 
 
 243 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1878 
 
 127 
 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 246 
 
 J. Y. Bates. 
 
 1879 
 
 182 
 
 F. 
 
 Bottome. 
 
 1889 
 
 255 
 
 C. Wright. 
 
 1880 
 
 190 
 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 294 
 
 " 
 
 385 
 
 Church, $35,000. No parsonage. Debt, |8,500. 
 Salar}^, $2,000. Rent, $400. Other collections, $304. 
 Current expenses, $1,000. Sunday-school, 297. 
 
 NORTH NEW YORK. 
 
 In 1865 three members of St. James Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church residing in Mott Haven, Brothers Adam 
 Barton and John Archibald, and Sister Frances P. 
 Wilson, established a prayer-meeting. The first meet- 
 ing Avas held at the house of Mrs. Wilson on July 5, 
 and was followed by others of increasing interest. 
 Sliorth' after it was proposed to hold services in 
 the open air on what was called "the green," at the 
 junction of Garden and Main Streets (143d and 144th 
 Streets). The first appointment was made for August 
 6, but, the weather being unfavorable, nothing was 
 done until the following Lord's day, wlien Rev. J. H. 
 Baker, a local preacher, conducted the services. These 
 were kept up during the warm weather, and early in 
 tlie fall a society was oi-ganized by Rev. A. H, Mead, 
 of the Second Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 J. H. Baker was appointed leader. A dwelling was 
 hired on 144th Street, east of Third Avenue, where a 
 Sunday-school was held and regular preaching main- 
 tained every Sunday afternoon. 
 
 *R. M. Stralton supplied for a time, and tlien J. Y. Bates.
 
 386 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Before the society was organized Mr. Willis offered 
 to give two lots and a sura of money for the erection 
 of a church. Some delay took place, but finally the 
 offer was accepted, and two lots on the corner of Willis 
 Avenue and 141st Street were selected, and a third 
 was afterward purchased. Mr. W^illis also added a 
 donation of $250. 
 
 At the Conference of 1866 Rev. William H. Bangs 
 was appointed to the charge, and steps were taken to 
 erect a chapel capable of accommodating two hundred 
 persons. This was dedicated on Sunday, September 
 11, 1866. On Thursday, July 9, 1868, the corner-stone 
 of the church Avas laid by Rev. H. F. Pease, the pre- 
 siding elder,* and on September 1 the building was 
 dedicated by Rev. W. L. Harris (afterward bishop). 
 The building was 44 feet by 67, and cost in all $14,000.t 
 In 1873 a parsonage was built on Willis Avenue, ad- 
 joining the church. 
 
 The Minutes furnish these items: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER."!. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1866 
 
 
 
 W 
 
 . H. Bangs. 
 
 1879 
 
 197 
 
 G. 
 
 Stillinan. 
 
 1867 
 
 66 
 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 222 
 
 
 i( 
 
 1868 
 
 83 
 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 210 
 
 T. 
 
 N. Laine. 
 
 1869 
 
 80 
 
 L. 
 
 P. Periv. 
 
 1882 
 
 316 
 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 118 
 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 351 
 
 
 " 
 
 1871 
 
 115 
 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 368 
 
 M. 
 
 Y. Bovard. 
 
 187-2 
 
 122 
 
 J. 
 
 L. Hall. 
 
 1885 
 
 381 
 
 
 >i 
 
 1873 
 
 149 
 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 394 
 
 R. 
 
 W. Jones. 
 
 1874 
 
 174 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 423 
 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 144 
 
 C. 
 
 B. Ford. 
 
 1888 
 
 366 
 
 
 u 
 
 1876 
 
 123 
 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 414 
 
 J. 
 
 Baird. 
 
 1877 
 
 134 
 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 423 
 
 
 " 
 
 1878 193 G. Stillman. 
 
 Church, $-20,0'00. Parsonage, $6,000. Debt, $1,350. 
 Salary, $1,600. Rent, $500. Other collections, $348. 
 Current expenses, $850. Sunday-school, 597. 
 
 ^Christian Advocate, vol. xiiii, p. 229. f Ihiil, vol. xliii, p. 281.
 
 WOODLAWN. 387 
 
 WOODLAWN. 
 
 In July, 1874, Rev. D. W. C. Van Gaasbeck, the 
 preacher on the North New York Mission of tlie New 
 York Conference, began services at Woodlawn in a 
 tent loaned by J. M. Cornell. In the following win- 
 ter the house of Mr. Peter Curry became the place 
 of meeting. At length E. W, Willard, Esq., gave four 
 lots, on which a chapel was erected and dedicated, free 
 of debt, by Bishop Janes on April 16, 1876. The lots 
 were valued at $1,100, and the building cost about 
 13,000.* 
 
 For several years this church was associated with St. 
 Stephen's and Fordhara, but in 1879 it became a sepa- 
 rate charge. Since then its appointments have been: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. >. 
 
 EMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 r879 
 
 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1885 
 
 68 W. D. Fero. 
 
 1880 
 
 43 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 66 
 
 1881 
 
 28 
 
 T. Lodge. 
 
 1887 
 
 66 De Los Lull. 
 
 1882 
 
 34 
 
 J. 0. Kern. 
 
 1888 
 
 43 J. M. Burgar. 
 
 1883 
 
 40 
 
 a 
 
 1889 
 
 51 
 
 1884 
 
 38 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 60 
 
 Church, 13,000. Parsonage, |3,000. Debt, 1745. 
 Salary, |900. Rent, |300. Other collections, |49. 
 Current expenses, |125. Sunday-school, 64. 
 
 WEST FARMS, f 
 
 Among the writer's earliest recollections is that of 
 attending Methodist preaching in the village of West 
 Farms in a room in a private house. Though quite a 
 
 * See reports of City Sunday-school and Church Extension Society. 
 
 •j- In the Minutes of the New York city preachers' meeting of July 
 16, 1825, we read : " Resolved, That the superintendent of this station 
 address a letter to the preachers in New Rochelle Circuit in reference 
 to forming a class in West Farms and West Chester, and that he lay
 
 388 A History op Methodism in New York City. 
 
 village, the only church edifice was one belonging to 
 tlie Presbyterians, which stood a little out of the center 
 of the place. At least fifty-five years ago, however, a 
 small building was put up by the Methodists, but the 
 congregation was not large. It was originally con- 
 nected with the New Rochelle Circuit, afterward Avith 
 Kingsbridge, and at length became associated with 
 Westchester and Bronxville. In 1860 the building was 
 improved at a cost of $2,000. By the annexation of 
 the district north of the Harlem River it has been 
 brought within the city, and in 1882 it is included for 
 the first time in the list of New York appointments, 
 being left to be supplied. In the following October 
 Rev. G. C. Spencer, a local preacher of the city, took 
 charge of the society, and when received as a proba- 
 tioner in the Conference in the following spring he was 
 appointed to the place, and also for the years 1884-85. 
 In 1886 E. O. Tree succeeded him until 1890, when R. 
 I. B. Illman was appointed. Mr. Spencer gave his 
 services without a salary, and had the pleasure of see- 
 ing the beginning of what it is hoped will be perma- 
 nent and increasing prosperity. The reports of mem- 
 bership have been: 
 
 1890 54 
 
 tlie result before the preacliers' meeting." At the meeting of July 27 
 a letter was read from Rev. S. Martindale, of New Rochelle Circuit, 
 " stating that it was out of their power to do any thing for "West 
 Farms or to preach anywhere in that country on the Sabbath, and 
 that if we can do any thing for them it will be well ; therefore, Re- 
 solved, That the superintendent, either in person or by some one he 
 may think proper to appoint, proceed 'to organize a class in "West 
 Farms and "West Chester.' " No further notice of action is found, but 
 no doubt it was taken, as the writer remembers being present at a 
 quarterly meeting at West Chester a few years after. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 1884 
 
 28 
 
 1886 
 
 39 
 
 1888 
 
 60 
 
 1885 
 
 27 
 
 1887 
 
 47 
 
 1889 
 
 78
 
 West Farms. ' 389 
 
 The church is on Tremont Avenue, and is valued at 
 $3,500, No parsonage and no debt. Salary, $800, 
 Other collections, $88. Current expenses, $100. Sun- 
 day-school, 150, 
 
 MOTT AVENUE. 
 
 In June, 1882, Rev. A, N. Molyneaux, a superan- 
 nuated member of the New York Conference, liaving 
 lately moved into the neighborhood, began a prayer- 
 meeting at his house on Mott Avenue. 
 
 Henry Lewis Morris, Esq., sold to the church a plot 
 valued then at $8,000 for $4,000. It is on the corner of 
 Mott Avenue and East 150th Street, a little more than one 
 hundred feet square. A chapel has been built fronting 
 150th Street, capable of seating a congregation of more 
 than two hundred, and containing a study for the pas- 
 tor and class-rooms. It cost $13,000, of which the late 
 J. B. Cornell, Esq., gave $3,000, It was opened on 
 February 13, 1887, with a prayer-meeting at 8:15 A. M., 
 after which Rev. G. H. Gregory, presidiiig elder of the 
 district, preached on John xvi, 7, and Rev. J. S, Whe- 
 don in the evening on Zech. xiv, 9, and the building 
 was dedicated by Bishop Harris, this being the last 
 occasion on which he performed such a service. There 
 is space on the corner for a church fronting on Mott 
 Avenue.* 
 
 The statistics and appointments have been: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1885 
 
 D. L. Marks. 
 
 1888 
 
 78 W. r. Anderson. 
 
 1886 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1889 
 
 100 
 
 1887 
 
 45 W. F. Anderson. 
 
 1890 
 
 115 R. E. Wilson. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. l.xii, p. 173, and letter from Rev. W. F. 
 Anderson.
 
 390 A History of JNIethodism ix Neav York City. 
 
 Chui-ch, 126,000. No parsonage. No debt. Salary, 
 |1,400. Other collections, |219. Current expenses, 
 $575. Sunday-school, 200. 
 
 WOODSTOCK. 
 
 This youngest sister of the household of New York 
 city Methodism was born just in time to have a place 
 in this family record. On October 13, 1889, services 
 were begun by Rev. Joseph F. Jones in a dwelling- 
 house on 161st Street, a little east of Third Avenue, and 
 a Sunday-school organized. At the Conference of 1890 
 it is set down "to be supplied." The supply Avas R. 
 Pierce.* A chapel is in j^rogress at the corner of 161st 
 Street and Prospect Avenue. The audience-room will 
 seat about three hundred, and when necessary two class- 
 rooms and an infant-class room can be thrown open to 
 furnish additional accommodation. One hundred years 
 hence, or less, some future historian may be able to give 
 an interesting record of this charge.
 
 German. 391 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING CHURCHES. 
 
 GERMAN: SECOND STREET — FORTIETH STRKKT— 158TH 
 STREKT — FIFTY-FIFTH STREET— 114TH STREET— PORT 
 MISSION— BLINN MEMORIAL. MISCELLANEOUS: SWED- 
 ISH—FRENCH—WELSH—ITALIAN—CHINESE. 
 
 GERMAN. 
 
 {Second Street.) 
 
 The first German Methodist Episcopal Clmrcli in 
 New York city began its services in 1841 in a hired 
 room on the corner of Essex and Stanton Streets. On. 
 April 5, 1842, a board of trustees was elected, and an act 
 of incorporation was obtained on April 9. About the 
 last of August land was bought on Second Street, near 
 Avenue C, for $4,800, and the corner-stone of the church 
 building was laid Monday, November 7, by the venerable 
 Henry Boehm. Rev. J. C. Lyon, the pastDr, preached 
 on the occasion on Eph. ii, 20, 21, and Rev. J. Sewell 
 gave an address in Enghsh.* The church was dedicated 
 May 4, 1843, Bishoi) Morris preaching in English on Tit. 
 ii, 14, and Rev. J. C. Lyon in German. Bisliop Hedding 
 was also present.f The building is 44 feet by 70. 
 
 The Annual Minutes of the New York Conference for 
 1842 contain the first official notice of this charge, and 
 there we read, "Harlem German Mission, seventy-one 
 members." J From that time the reports read : 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. PASTOR. YEAR. .MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1842 71 J. C. Lvou and C. 1843 130 J. C. Lvon. 
 
 H. Doering. § 1844 122 J. C. Lyon, sup. 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xvii, pp. 47, 55. f Ibid., pp. 147, 154. 
 :}: The introduction of the name Harlem is an error. 
 § Mr. Doering supplied during the preceding year. 
 2(i
 
 392 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER! 
 
 i. Pastor. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER5 
 
 
 PASTOB. 
 
 1845 
 
 184 
 
 J. C. Lyon, sup. 
 
 1868 
 
 295 
 
 C. 
 
 Blinn. 
 
 1846 
 
 135 
 
 A. Miller. 
 
 1869 
 
 306 
 
 C. 
 
 F. Grimm. 
 
 1847 
 
 164 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 266 
 
 
 11 
 
 1848 
 
 160 
 
 C. H. Doeriug. 
 
 1871 
 
 190 
 
 
 " 
 
 1849 
 
 160 
 
 " 
 
 1872 
 
 210 
 
 J. 
 
 C. Deininger. 
 
 1850 
 
 175 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1873 
 
 200 
 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 220 
 
 C. Jost. 
 
 1874 
 
 210 
 
 
 " 
 
 1852 
 
 219 
 
 W. Schwartz. 
 
 1875 
 
 233 
 
 C. 
 
 Jost. 
 
 1853 
 
 260 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 215 
 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 251 
 
 C. F. Grimm. 
 
 1877 
 
 208 
 
 
 u 
 
 1855 
 
 227 
 
 J. C. Lyou. 
 
 1878 
 
 210 
 
 J. 
 
 W. Freund. 
 
 1856 
 
 160 
 
 "" 
 
 1879 
 
 211 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 156 
 
 C. A. E. Hertel. 
 
 1880 
 
 218 
 
 
 n 
 
 1858 
 
 173 
 
 S. F. Zimmerman. 
 
 1881 
 
 230 
 
 L. 
 
 Wallon. 
 
 1859 
 
 197 
 
 " 
 
 1882 
 
 220 
 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 205 
 
 C. Jost. 
 
 1883 
 
 235 
 
 
 u 
 
 1861 
 
 253 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 227 
 
 H. 
 
 Kastendieck. 
 
 1862 
 
 235 
 
 C. H. Afflerbach. 
 
 1885 
 
 217 
 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 247 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 213 
 
 
 u 
 
 1864 
 
 247 1 
 
 F. W. Dinger. 
 
 1887 
 
 200 
 
 P. 
 
 Quattlander. 
 
 1865 
 
 248 
 
 " 
 
 1888 
 
 198 
 
 
 " 
 
 1866 
 
 272 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 214 
 
 
 K 
 
 1867 
 
 316 
 
 C. Blinn. 
 
 1890 
 
 216 
 
 
 " 
 
 This is the mother-church of the German work in 
 New York city and its vicinity. It has enjoyed many 
 revivals, has furnished some useful ministers, and, like 
 all our German churches, is noted for its liberality. 
 
 Church, $35,000. Parsonage, $5,000. Debt, |5,000.J 
 Total salary, $1,600. § Other collections, $1,412. Cur- 
 rent expenses, $720. Sunday-school, 240. 
 
 GERMAX. 
 [Thirty -sixth Street — Fortieth Street — Blooming dale.) 
 The Second German Methodist Episcopal Church of 
 New York city oi'iginated in a mission sustained by the 
 Ladies' Home Missionary Society. In 1843 a Sunday- 
 school was opened and preaching begun in the oj^en 
 air, near Eighth Avenue and Thirty-eighth Street, 
 
 *C. Jost supplied. f 147 in the printed minutes. 
 
 \ This was on their cemetery, and has been paid. 
 
 § Tins sum, in the case of all tlie German churches, includes rent.
 
 German, 393 
 
 by Rev. Mr. Ilartmann. In 1845 Rev. Jacob Graw 
 preached in Temperance Hall, on Eighth Avenue, near 
 Forty-second Street, and during the summer in a t<hanty 
 on the cemetery ground in Forty-fourth Street, near 
 Eighth Avenue. In 1849, w hen Rev. W. Schwartz was 
 pastor, an old frame chapel and one lot were bought 
 for $1,050 on Thirty-sixth Street, near Ninth Avenue. 
 This lot was afterward exchanged for two lots on 
 Fortieth Street, near Ninth Avenue, and the chapel 
 was removed to the rear of these lots. In 1864, under 
 the administration of Rev. C. Bliiin, the present church 
 edifice was erected, and was dedicated by Bishop 
 Janes on the first Sunday of 1866, and the old chapel 
 was altered into dwellings. These were destroyed by 
 fire in 1884, and then an extension to the Sunday-school 
 room was built, and al§o several dwellings above it, 
 which proved a profitable investment. The church is 
 of brick, 42 by 68 feet, and cost $12,000, besides the lots, 
 which cost about $4,000. While Mr. Blinn was with 
 them a parsonage was bought for $5,100. 
 
 From the Annual Minutes we have these items : 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 ,S. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 1 
 
 UKMBERi 
 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1846 
 
 
 J. J. Graw. 
 
 1859 
 
 51 
 
 J. 
 
 C. Deiniuger. 
 
 1847 
 
 31 
 
 " 
 
 1860 
 
 82 
 
 F. 
 
 W. Dinger. 
 
 1848 
 
 35 
 
 W. Schwarts. 
 
 1861 
 
 108 
 
 
 « 
 
 1849 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1862 
 
 144 
 
 C. 
 
 Jost. 
 
 1850 
 
 100 
 
 C. F. Grimm. 
 
 1863* 
 
 135 
 
 
 " 
 
 1851 
 
 98 
 
 u 
 
 1864 
 
 150 
 
 c. 
 
 Blinn. 
 
 1852 
 
 74 
 
 C. H. Afflerbach. 
 
 1865 
 
 163 
 
 
 " 
 
 1853 
 
 84 
 
 F. G. Gratz. 
 
 1866 
 
 168 
 
 
 " 
 
 1854 
 
 66 
 
 J. Week. 
 
 1867 
 
 148 
 
 L. 
 
 Wallon. 
 
 1855 
 
 74 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1868 
 
 155 
 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 64 
 
 J. Kindler. 
 
 1869 
 
 137 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 50 
 
 J. C. Lyon. 
 
 1870 
 
 129 
 
 H. 
 
 Kastendieck. 
 
 1858 
 
 60 
 
 J. C. Deiiiinger. 
 
 1871 
 
 144 
 
 
 " 
 
 * In 1863 Melrose was united with Fortietli Street, and .'<o con- 
 tinued for four years. The members reported at the close of each of 
 these years, therefore, indude both charges.
 
 394 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBER 
 
 s. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1872 
 
 130 
 
 G. 
 
 Abole. 
 
 1882 
 
 130 
 
 P. 
 
 Quattlander. 
 
 1873 
 
 132 
 
 
 " 
 
 1883 
 
 162 
 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 134 
 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 165 
 
 J. 
 
 C. Deiiiinger. 
 
 1875 
 
 137 
 
 C. 
 
 F. Grimm. 
 
 1885 
 
 177 
 
 
 " 
 
 1876 
 
 127 
 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 172 
 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 125 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 168 
 
 P. 
 
 Haendiees. 
 
 1878 
 
 120 
 
 J. 
 
 Kolb. 
 
 1888 
 
 147 
 
 
 u 
 
 1879 
 
 103 
 
 
 " 
 
 1889 
 
 157 
 
 
 " 
 
 188(1 
 
 110 
 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 152 
 
 H. 
 
 Kasteudieck. 
 
 1881 
 
 101 
 
 P. 
 
 Quattlander. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Churcli, 135,000. Parsonage, -|8,000. Debt, $2,500. 
 Total salary, $1,600. Other collections, $823. Cur- 
 rent expenses, 1772. Sunday-school, 175.* 
 
 ONE-UUNDRED-AND-riFTY"-EIGHTH STREET, GERMAN. 
 
 (^Melrose, One-hundred-and-fifty-sixth Street.) 
 As early as 1852 a circuit was organized in the Ger- 
 man work, which extended from the Harlem River to 
 Mount Vernon. In 1856 the name was changed to 
 Melrose and Mount Vernon, and in 1868 Melrose was 
 attached to Fortieth Street. It seems to have con- 
 tinued so connected for four years, tliough the Minutes 
 of 1865 and 1866 do not state it, but in 1867 Melrose 
 appears by itself, and is left to be supplied. From that 
 time we have the follovvini; items: 
 
 YBAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 1867 
 
 — 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1871 
 
 62 
 
 P. Stahl. 
 
 1868 
 
 43 
 
 F. C. Hartmau. 
 
 1872 
 
 52 
 
 " 
 
 1869 
 
 53 
 
 F. Gleuk. 
 
 1873 
 
 58 
 
 " 
 
 1870 
 
 56 
 
 " 
 
 1874 
 
 58 
 
 W. Schwartz. 
 
 * About 1850 two youug men were converted and united wiiii this 
 church. At the General Conference of 1888 some of the ladies of 
 the society under whose auspices the mission was organized were 
 present and could see among tlie delegates these same persons repre- 
 senting their Conference in the great council of the Church. They 
 were Rev. P. Quattlander, pastor of the German Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in Second Street, and P. K. Keller, now a prominent lay mem- 
 ber of the Fortieth Sircet charge.
 
 
 
 German. 
 
 
 3< 
 
 YEAR. MKMBBRS. PASTOK. 
 
 YKAR. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1875 61 
 
 J. Kiudler. 
 
 1883 
 
 92 
 
 J. Lange. 
 
 1876 74 
 
 " 
 
 1884 
 
 100 
 
 C. H. Hoffrogge. 
 
 1877 87 
 
 F. Rey. 
 
 1885 
 
 108 
 
 '< 
 
 187S* 77 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 106 
 
 " 
 
 1879 80 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 115 
 
 J. Kolb. 
 
 1880f 101 
 
 P. Haendiges. 
 
 1888 
 
 127 
 
 " 
 
 1881 96 
 
 J. Lange. 
 
 1889 
 
 117 
 
 " 
 
 1882 91 
 
 " 
 
 1890 
 
 113 
 
 G. H. Mayer. 
 
 Church, $9,000. Parsonage, $3,000. Debt, $1,800. 
 Total salary, $1,200. Other collections, $444. Cur- 
 rent expenses, $424. Sunday-school, 210. 
 
 FIFTY-FIFTH STREET. 
 (St. Paul's, German.) 
 On May 17, 1874, Rev. Christian Blinn began serv- 
 ices in the German language in Uinkeldein's Hall, No. 
 1000 Third Avenue, assisted by William Giesregen. 
 In 1876 lots Avere bought on Fifty-fifth Street, be- 
 tween First and Second Avenues, and in April of 
 the same year the corner-stone was laid by Mr. Blinn. 
 On the 20th of October the basement was occupied, 
 and on the 19th of November the building was 
 dedicated by Bishop Harris. The Revs. C. Jost and 
 P. Quattlander gave addresses also in German, and 
 Rev. M. D'C. Crawford and General Clinton B. Fisk 
 in English. The building and ground were given to the 
 society free of debt by Rev. C. Blinn. | The appoint- 
 ments and reports have been: 
 
 1874 — C. Blinn, W. Gies- 1875 19 C. Blinn, W. Gies- 
 regen. regen. 
 
 *Name changed to One-huudred-and-fifty-sixtli Street. 
 
 f Name changed to One-liundred-and-fifty-eighth Street. 
 
 X Such gifts have not been uncommon elsewhere, but except in the 
 libera! donations of the Cornell brothers nothing of the kind had oc- 
 curred before in New York city.
 
 396 A History of Methodism in New York City 
 
 YEAK. 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1876 
 
 31 
 
 C. Bliim, W. 
 res:en. 
 
 1877 
 
 32 
 
 W. H. Kurth. 
 
 1878 
 
 44 
 
 " 
 
 1879 
 
 46 
 
 " 
 
 1880 
 
 43 
 
 C. F. Grimm. 
 
 1881 
 
 45 
 
 C. Reu.-. 
 
 1882 
 
 76 
 
 (( 
 
 1883 
 
 94 
 
 C. 
 
 Reus. 
 
 1884 
 
 116 
 
 G. 
 
 Hauser. 
 
 1885 
 
 125 
 
 
 " 
 
 1886 
 
 114 
 
 
 " 
 
 1887 
 
 93 
 
 F. 
 
 Gleuk. 
 
 1888 
 
 71 
 
 
 i( 
 
 1889 
 
 73 
 
 
 (1 
 
 1890 
 
 70 
 
 
 (1 
 
 The church building is the most vahiable owned by 
 German Metliodists in the city, being estimated at 
 $40,000. In 1885 a parsonage was bought, which is 
 vahied at $8,000, and on this is a debt of $4,500. Total 
 salary, $1,3'20, of which $100 is from tlie Missionary 
 Society. Other collections, $403. Current expenses, 
 $564. Sunday-school, 194. 
 
 ONE-HUXDRED-AND-FOURTEENTH street, GERMAN. 
 
 (Ha/iem.) 
 The commencement of this enterprise was the open- 
 ing, in 1879, of a Sunday-school, whose services were 
 for some time held in a hall. The church was built 
 in 1882. For several years the charge formed part of 
 a circuit with Morrisania and Melrose. In 1881 it ap- 
 pears in the Minutes as Harlem, and from that time its 
 record reads : 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAH. 1 
 
 MBMEEKS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1881 
 
 — To be supplied. 
 
 1886 
 
 67 A. 
 
 C. Gaebeleiu. 
 
 1882 
 
 22 " 
 
 1887 
 
 66 J. 
 
 Flad. 
 
 1883 
 
 33 * C. Brofkmeier. 
 
 1888 
 
 59 
 
 11 
 
 1884 
 
 55 A. C. Gaebelein. 
 
 1889 
 
 61 J. 
 
 Lange. 
 
 1885 
 
 37 
 
 1890 
 
 50 
 
 a 
 
 Church, $13,000. No parsonage. Debt, $1,500. 
 Total salary, $1,000 (of which $500 is from the 
 Missionary Society). Other collections, $216. Current 
 expenses, $277. Sundaj^-school, 200. 
 
 *Tlie reports of 1883 and 1884 are from Harlem and Yonkers.
 
 German. 397 
 
 german, blinn memorial. 
 
 ( West Side Mission.) 
 
 In 1886 the West Side Mission first appears in the 
 list of appointments. Its statistics are: 
 
 YEAE. 
 
 MEMBEB 
 
 S. PASTOR. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1886 
 
 
 
 H. Miller. 
 
 1889 
 
 10 G. Hausser, Jr. 
 
 188Y 
 
 15 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1890 
 
 29 
 
 1888 
 
 17 
 
 G. Hausser, Jr. 
 
 
 
 Mrs. Blinn, widow of the late Rev. C. Blinn, to whose 
 liberality the German Methodists of New York are 
 indebted for the building in Fifty-fifth Street, called 
 St. Paul's, gave land in Ninety-ninth Street, near 
 Tenth Avenue, for church purposes, and in 1890 the 
 name "West Side Mission" was changed to "Blinn 
 Memorial." * 
 
 Salary, $400 (contributed by the Missionary Society). 
 Other collections, |46. Current expenses, $20. Sunday- 
 school, 35. 
 
 GERMAN, MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Besides these there have been other enterprises, such 
 as the City Mission, the Seamen's Church, the Port 
 Mission, Washington Street, Twelfth Street, and Chrj'^s- 
 tie Street. But these have been abandoned or merged 
 into other organizations, except the Port Mission, which 
 is still carried on, having its head-quarters at 27 State 
 Street, in the same building with the Battery Park 
 Mission. G. H. Simons is in charge. 
 
 * Tliis lias since been sold, and a new site purchased at the corner 
 of Lexington Avenue and 103d Street, and a building is about to be 
 erectedatacost of about $-40,000. The societj' in 114th Street has also 
 sold its property, and will unite willi tiiis new enterprise.
 
 398 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 SWEDISH. 
 
 {North River Mission — Swedish Bethel.) 
 
 In the spring of 1845 the Asbniy Society bought 
 the Bethel sliip Joh)i Wesley, which had been used for 
 a time by the Wesleyan Methodists as a center of 
 missionary work among seamen. At the Conference of 
 that year Rev. O. G. Hedstrom, a converted Swede 
 who had been in tlie itinerancy about ten years, was 
 appointed to the charge, and held service there for the 
 first time on May 25. Exercises were also carried on 
 in German and English. In 1857 a new vessel was 
 bought, which in 1876 was removed from the foot of 
 Carlisle Street, on the North River, to the foot of Harri- 
 son Street, Brooklyn. Some years after, however, this 
 Avas sold, and from that time the mission work Avas car- 
 ried on in various places in New York and Brooklyn. 
 At first it Avas entitled the North River Mission; in 1847 
 it became the Nortli River Bethel Mission; and from 
 1849 it Avas known as the Swedish Bethel. Mr. Hed- 
 strom continued in cliarge until 1860, having, hoA\"eA'er, 
 helpers, among Avhom Avere S. B. NeAvman, in 1851, 
 1852, and 1856, and S. V. N. Newman, 1857-59. O. P. 
 Petersen took charge in 1860, and remained until 1864, 
 when Mr. Hedstrom returned and continued until 1875. 
 Then D. S. Sorlin Avas appointed, and in 1876, as already 
 stated, the vessel was removed to Brooklyn, and after- 
 ward to Jersey City, for we read in the Ncav York 
 Tribune of October 31, 1890, p. 12 : "The old Bethel 
 ship Johfi Wesley, which for many years had been used 
 for mission work at Fifteenth Street and was patronized 
 by boatmen principally, Avas sold yesterday at auction 
 for $295 15. This included the altar, bell, pews, and 
 the old blue Bethel ilasr."
 
 Swedish and French Missions. 399 
 
 The reports during the period just described were as 
 follows : 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBKES. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 YEAR, 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 YEAH. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 1846 
 
 55 
 
 1854 
 
 77 
 
 1862 
 
 87 
 
 1870 
 
 176 
 
 1847 
 
 47 
 
 1855 
 
 72 
 
 1863 
 
 83 
 
 1871 
 
 177 
 
 1848 
 
 40 
 
 1856 
 
 97 
 
 1864 
 
 114 
 
 1872 
 
 269 
 
 1849 
 
 50 
 
 1857 
 
 120 
 
 1865 
 
 135 
 
 1873 
 
 119 
 
 1850 
 
 81 
 
 1858 
 
 125 
 
 1866 
 
 144 
 
 1874 
 
 114 
 
 1851 
 
 61 
 
 1859 
 
 143 
 
 1867 
 
 130 
 
 1875 
 
 110 
 
 1852 
 
 81 
 
 1860 
 
 75 
 
 1868 
 
 150 
 
 1876 
 
 98 
 
 1853 
 
 97 
 
 1861 
 
 83 
 
 1869 
 
 153 
 
 
 
 From that date no distinct account of the work in 
 New York can be found, New York and Brooklyn be- 
 ing united. In 1883, however, the Swedish Mission in 
 New York became a separate appointment. A. G. 
 Johnson was the preacher, and the reports were: in 1883, 
 114 members; 1884, 127; 1885, 126; 1886, 115. In 1886 
 it was supplied by W. Swenson, who reported, in 1887, 
 110. In 1887 Holjer Olsen was appointed and is still 
 in charge. His reports were: 1888, 187; 1889, 208; 
 1890, 181. 
 
 In 1887, the Methodist Episcopal church in Lexing- 
 ton Avenue having been disbanded, the property was 
 bought by the Swedish congregation with the aid of 
 the City Church Extension Society. It is valued at 
 $52,000, but after paying $5,000 during the year there 
 is still a debt of $36,000. There is no parsonage. Total 
 salary, $400. Other collections, |143. Current ex- 
 penses, |5C8. Sunday-school, 60. 
 
 FRENCH MISSION. 
 
 A number of members of French descent have been 
 connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 New York city and its vicinity. The society in New
 
 400 A History of Methodism ix New York City, 
 
 Rochelle, Westchester Count}^, is composed largely of 
 this material, and the Disosway family, from Staten 
 Island, became an important element in the Church in 
 the city, Duane Street and Bowery Village seem to 
 have had the largest representation of this nation- 
 ality. 
 
 At one time there were two French classes in Duane 
 Street, of which M, Queripel and Vincent Le Compte 
 were leaders.* But w^e have no intimation of any reg- 
 ular Methodist services in the French language until 
 1838, when Charles H, Williamson Avas appointed 
 "missionary to the French population in the city of 
 New York." He was continued in the work in 1839 
 and 1 840, but no reports of membership are to be found. 
 In 1841 no appointment is made to this work; Mr, 
 Williamson is given "liberty to go to France to visit 
 his friends," and in 1842 he withdrew. 
 
 But in 1851 the enterprise was again taken in hand. 
 Thomas Carter was appointed, who was succeeded in 
 1852-53 by John B. Cocagne. But again we have no 
 reports of membership, and in 1854 the work is left to 
 . be supplied, and in 1855 the name again disappears 
 from the Minutes. In ]888, however, Paul Desjnrdins 
 was appointed, who reported in 1889 seven proba- 
 tioners, and Avas re-appointed to the work. The serv- 
 ices are held at 58 West Third Street, In 1890, also, 
 seven probationers were reported, and T. Leveque Avas 
 aj^pointed. 
 
 WELSH mission. 
 
 About 1853 a mission to the Welsh population in the 
 city was begun. It continued but a few years, and little 
 
 *D. De Viime in The Mtthodist, vol. xvi, p. 257.
 
 Welsh, Italian, axd Chinese Missions. 401 
 
 can now be learned of its history. Its statistics and ap- 
 pointments were : 
 
 YEAS. 
 
 MEMBKES. PASTOE. 
 
 YEAE. 
 
 MEMBERS. PASTOR. 
 
 1854 
 1855 
 
 44 To be supplied. 
 54 T. Thomas. 
 
 1858 
 1859 
 
 .38 J. Ellis. 
 47 
 
 1856 
 185 7 
 
 51 
 
 4(3 J. Ellis. 
 
 1860 
 
 ;>9 To be supplied. 
 
 The name tlien disappears from the Minutes. It was 
 connected with the New York East Conference. 
 
 ITALIAN mission. 
 
 In 1889 an Italian mission is found among the ap- 
 pointments of the New York Conference to be " sup- 
 plied by V. L. Calabrese." He reported, in 1890, 55 
 probationers and a Sunday-school of 130. The serv- 
 ices are held at No. 1 Varick Place. It is to be hoped 
 that the work among this people will be a success. 
 
 CHINESE MISSION. 
 
 {Seventh Avenue and Twenty-third Street.) 
 
 In several Methodist Sunday-schools in the city there 
 have been classes of Chinese for some years, but not 
 until May 1-3, 1888, was there a distinct mission for that 
 people. It has pleasant accommodations. Mr. E. Rein- 
 hart and Miss Mary A. Lathbury are superintendents, 
 and Chu Bok resident missionary. The average at- 
 tendance at the Sunday-school has been about thirty, 
 and there is a Young Men's Christian Association. 
 Teachers are greatly needed.
 
 402 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV, 
 
 FIVE POINTS MISSION — BATTERY PARK MISSION — 
 CHURCH HOME— ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOME— DEACON- 
 ESS HOME— CHURCH EXTENSION WORK. 
 
 FIVE POINTS MISSION. 
 
 {Centre Street Mission.) 
 
 A GOOD deal of woik in the way of city missions has 
 been done in New York city, but the most of it resulted 
 in the establishment of churches, and, therefore, is in- 
 cluded in their history. But the Five Points Mission 
 is unique. Ever since early in the century the neigh- 
 borhood had had a reputation for poverty and crime 
 almost equal to the famous St. Giles of London. It Avas 
 dangerous to pass through it,' especially at night, for 
 debauchery, robbery, and murder prevailed. But Chris- 
 tian women of the Methodist Episcopal Church, believing 
 that Christ had died for even such wretches as inhab- 
 ited that den of iniquity, resolved to institute a mission 
 there. In 1848 some gentlemen were requested to sur- 
 vey the ground, but they reported that no suitable room 
 could be obtained. In 1850, however, at the request of 
 the ladies, a missionary Avas appointed and a room ob- 
 tained at the corner of Little Water Street (now Mis- 
 sion Place) and Cross (now Park) Street.* It was 
 about 20 feet by 40, and cai:)able of accommodating 
 two hundred persons. On the first Sunday it was filled 
 with what a lady described as " a more vivid represen- 
 
 * This is nearer to where Embury's house stood than any Meth- 
 odist clnircli.
 
 Five Points Mission. 403 
 
 tation of hell than she had ever iiuagined." The Sun- 
 day-school was opened with seventy scholars, and was, 
 of course, foi- some time a scene of great confusion, but 
 gradually improved. A day-school Avas also started and 
 temperance work and other means of relief and refor- 
 mation instituted. 
 
 A building called " the Old Brewery," erected in 1792, 
 but changed into tenements in 1837, stood facing the 
 little triangular park called (it would seem satirically) 
 Paradise Square. A part of it was known as the " Den 
 of Thieves;" a passage beside it bore the name of 
 " Murderers' Alley." When one of the ladies* named 
 this as the best site for a mission-building the proposi- 
 tion Avas received with a burst of laughter. But before 
 long the wisdom of the suggestion became evident. 
 The property was bought for -tl6,000, and on December 
 2, 1852, the work of demolishing this stronghold of 
 sin began. On the 27th of the following January the 
 corner-stone of the mission-building was laid by Bishop 
 Janes, and on June 17 the house was opened with a 
 sermon from Rev. James Floy on Exod. xxxiii, 18. 
 The building was of brick, five stories high, 75 feet 
 front and 45 feet deep, and cost $30,000. Additions 
 were afterward made in the rear and front. The 
 chapel will seat five hundred persons, and there are 
 also a school-room, an infant-class room, a dwelling for 
 the missionary, a number of tenements for poor and 
 deserving families, and a circulating library. 
 
 That this is a peculiar field ami needs peculiar men 
 to cultivate it need hardly be said. It is matter of great 
 thankfulness that so many have been found who have 
 labored so successfully. With scarcely an exception 
 they have proved themselves fitted for the place. 
 
 For two years the work was known as the Centre 
 ' * Mrs. C. R Deuel, now Mrs. Governor Wright.
 
 404 A HisTOKY OF Methodism in Neav i^o rac City. 
 
 Street Mission. Although in the following items from 
 the Annual Minutes there are statements of the number 
 of members, it will easily be understood that these are 
 by no means to be regarded as a proper estimate of the 
 harvest. Some of the saved are on their death-beds, 
 and soon leave their squalid tenements for heavenly 
 mansions; those who have health better their condition 
 before long and remove to more respectable neighbor- 
 hoods. Thus the sheaves are generally soon garnered 
 elsewhere, and the numbers reported here are but the 
 handfuls dropped by the way. 
 
 YEAR. M 
 
 EMBEES. PASTOB. 
 
 YEAR. MEMBERS. 
 
 PASTOR. 
 
 1850 
 
 
 
 L. M'K. Pease. 
 
 1869 
 
 19 
 
 J. 
 
 N. Shaffer and D. 
 
 1851 
 
 
 
 J. Luckev. 
 
 
 
 
 W. C. Van Gaas- 
 
 1852 
 
 15 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 beck. 
 
 1853 
 
 30 
 
 B. M. Adams. 
 
 1870 
 
 48 
 
 J. 
 
 N. Shaffer. 
 
 1854 
 
 31 
 
 A. S. LakiQ, B. M. 
 Adams, sup. 
 
 1871 
 
 1872 
 
 35 
 
 28 
 
 
 u 
 
 1855 
 
 — 
 
 To be supplied. 
 
 1873 
 
 26 
 
 
 " 
 
 1856 
 
 35 
 
 N. Mead. 
 
 1874 
 
 21 
 
 
 " 
 
 1857 
 
 36 
 
 " 
 
 1875 
 
 10 
 
 C. 
 
 S. Brown. 
 
 1858 
 
 62 
 
 A. K. Sauford. 
 
 1876 • 
 
 15 
 
 
 " 
 
 1859 
 
 49 
 
 " 
 
 1877 
 
 21 
 
 
 u 
 
 1860 
 
 40 
 
 To be supplied.* 
 
 1878 
 
 27 
 
 
 " 
 
 1861 
 
 32 
 
 A. K. Sauford. 
 
 1879 
 
 26 
 
 
 1( 
 
 1862 
 
 31 
 
 J. N. Shaffer. 
 
 1880 
 
 35 
 
 
 " 
 
 1863 
 
 5 
 
 " 
 
 1881 
 
 — 
 
 s. 
 
 I. Ferguson. 
 
 1864 
 
 8 
 
 J. N. Shaffer and J. 
 W. Maeomber. 
 
 1882 
 1883 
 
 14 
 16 
 
 
 u 
 
 1865 
 
 6 
 
 J. N. Sliaffer and C. 
 Battersby. 
 
 1884 
 1885 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 . R. Boutou. 
 
 1866 
 
 14 
 
 J. N. Shaffer and J. 
 Maeomber. 
 
 1886 
 
 1887 
 
 40 
 30 
 
 
 u 
 
 1867 
 
 8 
 
 J. N. Shaffer and G. 
 W. Knapp. 
 
 1888 
 1889 
 
 22 
 24 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 13 
 
 J. N. Shaffer and G. 
 W. Kiiapp. 
 
 1890 
 
 20 
 
 
 (( 
 
 The whole property is now valued at $65,000, but is 
 really worth nearly 1100,000. Nodebt. Salary, $1,800. 
 Rent, $700. Other collections, $39. Current expenses, 
 $300. Sunday-school, 500. 
 
 * N. Mead and A. K. Sanford supplied.
 
 Five Points Mission. 405 
 
 This enterprise is carried on by the Ladies' Home 
 Missionary Society of New York city, and is of course 
 dependent on the public generally for support. Besides 
 the ordinary expenses there is great demand for aid to 
 the destitute in the way of clothing, food, fuel, etc. 
 The children in the day-school are provided with din- 
 ner every school-day, and clothes when needed. Many 
 farmers on Long Island and elsewhei'e send an annual 
 contribution of potatoes and other articles, and pack- 
 ages of clothing, or materials for it, come from different 
 parts of the country. It is all needed, and much more, 
 indeed, and in the midst of other claims for aid the 
 Church should not forget this.* 
 
 BATTERY PARK MISSION. 
 
 In July, 1886, the Rev. G. H. Goodsell, tract agent 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, visited Castle Gar- 
 den and became impressed with the importance of mis- 
 sionary work among the immigrants. An office was 
 opened at 25 State Street, which in December, 1887, 
 was superseded by a chapel and office at No. 27, under 
 the auspices of the New York City Church Extension 
 Society. Mr. Goodsell was appointed superintendent. 
 A class was formed January 15, 1888, and a church or- 
 ganized on April 28. About the same time also Rev. 
 Charles Samuelsen Avas employed to labor among the 
 Scandinavians. Three public services are held on Sun- 
 day, besides an open-air service in the afternoon, and 
 there are meetings on four evenings during the week. 
 The Woman's Home Missionary Society occupies the 
 upper floors as a girls' lodging-house. 
 
 * The materials for this sketch are derived from a htlle vohime, is- 
 sued some tliirty-five years ago, called The Old Brewery, and from a 
 paper published by the mission called A Voice from the Old Brewery.
 
 40G A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 The object is to supply food for the hungry, clothing 
 for the naked, lodging for the homeless, work for the 
 unemployed, counsel for those needing it, and the tid- 
 ings of salvation for all. It reported, in 1890, 119 mem- 
 bers and ^15 collections. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOME. 
 
 A number of the female managers of the benevolent 
 societies attached to the several churches in New York 
 city, having seen the necessity of some better provision 
 for the aged and infirm members of the Church, called 
 a meeting on March 4, 1850, at Mrs. Farrar's, 459 
 Broadway, at which steps were taken to organize the 
 Ladies' Union Aid Society. Several other meetings fol- 
 lowed, and on August 5, at the Greene Street Church, 
 a board of directors was elected; Mrs. M. \V. Mason 
 being chosen first directress and Mrs. Farrar the second 
 officer. An act of incorporation was obtained from the 
 Legislature on June 19, 1851. 
 
 The institution began its operations in a hired 
 house at No. 16 Horatio Street. In 1854 or 1855 
 Mr. AVilliam S. Seaman gave two lots of ground in 
 Forty-second Street near Eighth Avenue, where the 
 corner-stone of a building was laid on September 16, 
 1856. The house was dedicated on April 27, 1857, by 
 Bishop Janes. 
 
 In 1884 ground was bought on Tenth Avenue, ex- 
 tending from Ninety-second to Ninety-third Street, and 
 on November 4, 18n5, the corner-stone of a new build- 
 ing was laid by Bishop Harris. This was formally 
 opened, with appropriate exercises on November 30, 
 1886. It is about two hundred feet in front by about 
 one hundred in depth. The basement is of stone, and 
 the four upper stories of brick, with gray sand-stone
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church Home. 407 
 
 trimming. Besides more than one hundred rooms for 
 inmates and the necessary dining-rooms, offices, etc., it 
 has a very fine chapel, whicli will accommodate about 
 five hundred hearers. Its total cost was about 8200,000. 
 There are at present about one hundred and ten inmates, 
 of whom about one hundred are females. Applicants 
 for admission must have been members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church for ten years, for the last five in the 
 city of New York. 
 
 Mrs. M. W. Mason held the office of first directress 
 until 1868. Miss R. H. Tittle succeeded her. In 1881 
 Mrs. Bishop Harris was elected, and in 1888 Mrs. 
 Lemuel Bangs. 
 
 ST. Christopher's home. 
 
 St. Christopher's Home for orphan and destitute 
 children was incorporated in 1885. The building it 
 now occupies on Riverside Drive, near ir2th Street, 
 is leased, but it is trying to accumulate a building 
 fund, of which $5,000 has been secured. Preference 
 is given to children from Methodist Sunday-schools, 
 but others are not excluded. It is hardly necessary 
 to say that it is supplying an evident want, and only 
 needs means to do much good. Mrs. J. A. Kennedy, 
 135 West Twenty-second Street, is the president. 
 
 NEW YORK deaconess HOME AND TRAINING-SCHOOL. 
 
 This institution, recently organized under the action 
 of the last General Conference, will no doubt soon do 
 effective service among the poor and suffering and sin- 
 ful of the city. The house at 241 West Fourteenth 
 Street Avill accommodate from twenty to twenty-five. 
 Miss M. E. Lay ton, formerly principal of the girls' 
 school in Calcutta, is superintendent. 
 27
 
 408 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 CHURCH extension WORK. 
 
 Various enterprises designed to originate and build up 
 new organizations have existed in the city. The As- 
 bniy society has ah-eady been noticed (see p. 382). It 
 gave birth to the Asbury churches in Norfolk and Jane 
 Streets. In 1844 the Ladies' Home Missionary Society 
 was formed, and to it the Dry Dock Mission (Ninth 
 Street, now Eleventh Street) and the Second German 
 Church in Fortieth Street owe their existence. It also 
 founded and still sustains the Five Points Mission. 
 
 Somewhere about 1820 a Sunday-school society w^as 
 formed. This afterward became the New York City 
 Sunday-school and Missionary Society, and Avas incoi'- 
 porated under that name April 14, 1866. On March 
 14, 1871, the title was changed to the New York City 
 Church Extension and Missionary Society, and the act 
 of incorporation so amended as to enlarge the sphere 
 and increase the usefulness of the society. The first 
 president was W. W. Cornell, at whose death A. V. 
 Stout Avas elected. In 1872 J. B. Cornell was chosen, 
 and in 1886 Bowles Colgate. The object of the society 
 is to found and sustain new church enterprises and to 
 assist those which are weak. For a complete view of 
 the work it has effected its reports must be examined. 
 It is sufficient here to say that it has organized or as- 
 sisted Kingsbridge (St. Stephen's), Woodlawn, St. Marks, 
 Thirty-seventh Street, Thirty-fifth Street, Perry Street, 
 St. Andrew's, Sixty-first Street, Morrisania, Chui-ch of 
 the Saviour (109th Street), Grace Church (104th Street), 
 Eleventh Street, Washington Heights, Cornell Memo- 
 rial (East Seventy-sixth Street), Calvary (West Harlem), 
 Seventeenth Street, Mott Avenue, Franklin Street, Bat- 
 tery Park Mission, Woodstock, etc. It is also sustain- 
 ing the French, Italian, and Chinese work in the city.
 
 Appendix A. 409 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 HECK OR HICK. 
 
 Tt will be seen that in the text tlie writer was non-committal as to 
 the identity of the good lady who aroused Philip Kitibiiry to his duty. 
 This was because he then believed it impossible to solve the problem 
 satisfactorily, though he was inclined to favor tlie claim of the Hicks 
 of New York. Since then, however, he has become convinced of the 
 superiority of the claim of the Hecks of Canada; and if the pages in 
 which the account is given had not been already stereotyped the 
 name of Barbara Heck would have been inserted as entitled to the 
 honor. Even in that case, however, some explanatory remarks 
 would have been necessary. The controversy itself has become an 
 item in the history of New York Methodism, and is a curious illus- 
 tration of the unreliability of traditions. Besides, the parties in New 
 York citj- have a rig-Jit to a fair statement .of their case, as a decision 
 against them would seem almost like an impeachment of their iuteg- 
 ritj', which would be altogether undeserved. 
 
 Until 1858 New York Methodists supposed that there was no 
 doubt that the mother of their honored and excellent brother, Paul 
 Hick, was Embury's reprover. When, therefore, it was asserted that 
 she removed to Canada and died there, it seemed to them at first pre- 
 posterous; but it sum appeared that there was something to be said 
 in favor of this claim. After a long controversy Rev. J. B. Wakeley, 
 of New York Conference, and Rev. John Carroll, of Canada, with 
 John and George Heclc, grandsons of Barbara Heck, of Canada, met 
 ill the presence of Bishop Junes and Rev. A. Stevens and agreed on 
 the following points: 
 
 '• 1. That Paul Heck, late of Canada, was one of the original trust- 
 ees of John Street, because his name occurs in the original lease, 
 and he was a contributor to the erection of the church ; and his 
 name occurs once in the accounts, and his signature to a receipt for 
 £1 Gs. received for boards corresponds with autographs of his in sun- 
 dry books preserved in the family, as well as testimony of friends and 
 neighbors who came with him from Ireland and lived by him first in 
 Nl'W York, then in Camden, and finally settled with him in Canada.
 
 410 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 " 2. He and Mr. P. Hick, who became trustee in 1786, and died in 
 New York, 1825, were two different persons. 
 
 " 3. That liis wife was Barbara Ruckle, as is plain from tea-spoons 
 and the testimony of many living witnesses. 
 
 " "We leave it to tlie public to decide whether the above Mrs. Heck 
 or Mrs. Hick, mother of him who died in New York, 1825 (and whose 
 Christian and maiden name are not certainly known), w^as the person 
 wlio threw the cards into the fire, etc. 
 
 " 1.) On the Canada side are the professions of Mrs. Barbara Heck 
 herself, whom many living witnesses represent as incapable of fabri- 
 cation, the testimony of all the German-Irish Methodists, wlio knew 
 her in Ireland, Camden, and Canada: pariiciilarly the late John Law- 
 rence, of Augusta, second husband of Mrs. P. Emburj^, who was at 
 the card-table mentioned, and one of the six persons of the first 
 congregation. 
 
 " 2.) On tlie New York side that the late Mr. and Mrs. P. Hick, of 
 New York, son and daughter-in-law of the New York claimant, both 
 eminently good, as testified by hundreds, claimed that their mother 
 was the person. 
 
 " Jointlj' agree, we know of no one on either side who would will- 
 fully misrepresent facts. 
 
 " N. B. — Dr. Bangs was waited on, but was in the country. J. P. 
 Hick, of Mount Vernon, was requested to be present, but found it 
 inconvenient to attend. J. B. Wakeley, 
 
 "John Carroll."* 
 
 With these points mutually admitted let us see what further is 
 to be said. Let it be observed, however, that no stress is to be 
 laid on tlie spelling of the name. In the list of subscribers to 
 the church-building in the " Old Book " it is plainly Heck ; but the 
 li.st is a copy, and, therefore, no autliority on this point. His signa- 
 ture to a receipt in that book is Hick ; the second letter is so indefi- 
 nite that it may be either an e or an i without a dot. In the old rec- 
 ords of the New York church we have Hick and Heck, where it is ev- 
 ident that the family of Paul Hick is intended. And some members of 
 the Heck family in Canada have been called Hick— the Rev. John Hick, 
 for instance. These differences will not surprise any one who has 
 had any experience in the spelling of proper names. He wiU know 
 that they are subject to the widest variations. As a case in point, 
 ■the name Embury is spelled Embree, Embry, Emmery, and in the Pa- 
 
 * Christian Advocate, vol. xxxiv, p. 108.
 
 Appendix A. 411 
 
 latiiiale, whence the family came, it is Emniericli* While, therefi)re, 
 it may be true that in tlie Palatinate, though "you fiud the family 
 name Heclv very often," " the name Hick is not known," f it is evi- 
 deiictlial if Emmerich lias been translbrmed into Embury and Emory 
 it would not be surprising if Heck sliould be evolved into Hick. 
 
 The New York claim seemed certainly to have a solid foundation. 
 The recollections of Paul Hick reached back to nearly tlie date of the 
 events; he lived fifty years after, and he was not a "man to be easily 
 misled, nor puri.osely mislead." X Among the papers left by Dr. 
 Wakeley is a certificate from Eliphalet Wheeler, a most worthy offi- 
 cial member of the Church in New York city for many years, testifying 
 strongly to the excellence of Paul and Hannah Hick. From them 
 Dr. Bangs says he got "several of the facts" he relates; among 
 others, as it would seem, that the lady was the mother of Paul 
 Hick.§ And some five years after he writes the memoir of " Mrs. 
 Ann Bonsell, daughter of the late Paul Hick, and granddaughter 
 of Mrs. Hick, who was so active in the formation of the first Meth- 
 odist society in the city of New York in the year 1766."! And 
 it must he remembered that Dr. Bangs wrote thus, knowing that 
 there was another story in Canada. He tells us he received the ac- 
 count there before he came to New York, that when he came to the 
 city he heard the New York story, and was " inclined to believe that 
 Paul Hick of New York, who professed to k7iow the facts," "which 
 were corroborated by his wife, was correct in his statements," and 
 that notliing he had heard or read since had caused him to change his 
 mind concerning their truth.^ Indeed, nothing but such strong con- 
 viction of the truth of the New York accounts could justify Dr. Bangs 
 in keeping silence as to what he heard in Canada. 
 
 Again, the Rev. P. P. Sandford, a man of remarkably good judgment 
 and unimpeachable integrity, in his Memoirs of Mr. Wedty's Mission- 
 aries to America, says (page 8): "Among the emigrants of his latter 
 
 * Letter of Rev. L. Nippert to the author. The question is naturally sug- 
 gested whether Bishop Emory may not have been of the same slock. Rev. 
 George R. Crooks, D.D., son-in-law of the bishop, says there is a tradition in 
 the family that it is of German origin, and that the primitive spelling was 
 Emmerich. In Webster's Unahridoed Dictionarjl, among English names 
 we And, " Emery, Emmery, Emory. [A. S.] Powerful ; rich. Lat., Almericus; 
 It., Amerigo ; Fr., Emeri." Was Amerigo Vespucci of the same stock ? 
 
 t Rev. H. Mann, Christian Advocate, vol. Ix, p. 40. 
 
 * D. Curry, D.D., in airistian Advocate, vol. xli, p. 402. 
 
 § Bangs's Hfetorjy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. 1, p. 51, note. 
 II Christian Advocate, vol. xvii, p. 144. 
 1 1bid., vol. xxxiii, p. 170.
 
 412 A HisTOUY OF Methodism in Xew York City, 
 
 period (1766) there were two fiiinilies of tlie names of Hick and Dea", 
 who seem to have retained more .of the influence of the rehgion they 
 had experienced in Ireland tlian any of tlieir predecessors ; and from a 
 member of each of these families, who were very young at the time of 
 their emigration, the writer received some of the facts recorded in 
 this introductor}' article. Mrs. Hick, especially, appears to have been a 
 very pious woman; and it was tlirough her earnest importunity that 
 Mr. Embury was prevailed upon to preach." * 
 
 Still further, in a commimication to The Christian Advocate^ vol. 
 XXXV, p. 60, Rev. Ignatius T. Cooper gives a copy of a paper found 
 among the manuscripts of Rev. Ezekiel Cooper. He thinks it was 
 written when Mr. Cooper was stationed on Long Island in 1785, or 
 subsequently in New York. It is entitled, " Peter Parks's True 
 Statement of the First Rise of tlie Metiiodists in America," etc. 
 " Philip Emmery, a local preacher from Limerick, Ireland, hired an 
 upper room in Barracks Street, where he lived ten doors from tiie 
 Barracks, now called Augusta Street (later City Hall Place). Sister 
 Hick, mother of Paul Hick, who resided opposite the Barracks, per- 
 suaded Mr. Emmery to have preaching in his house," etc. The New 
 York tradition is evidently very old. f 
 
 Once more. Bishop Asbury must have been perfectly familiar with 
 the New York view. Peter Parks speaks of it as a familiar thing be- 
 fore the close of the eighteenth century. On July 5, 1811, the bishop 
 was in Canada, and he writes in his Journal : " I preached at the Ger- 
 man settlement." "Here is a decent, loving people; my soul is much 
 tuiited to them. I called upon Father Dulinage, and on Brother 
 Hicks — a brancli of an old Irish stock of Methodists in New York." 
 Did they say nothing to him about the matter, or did he think what 
 they said not worth notice ? The omission is significant. 
 
 But, wliile all this is true, the Hecks of Canada give a more particu- 
 lar account of the affair, and are able to produce a larger amount of 
 corroborative testimony. Mrs. Barbara Heck, they say, was a Ruckle. 
 Dr. Crook:]: writes: "Mrs. Heck sent a letter to a friend in Ballin- 
 
 *In the Short Historical Account (page 3) it is said she was of the flrst 
 company, and the card-players of the seooud. Mr. John P. Hick, of Mount 
 Vernon, N. Y., says he thinks his ancestress came with the second company in 
 1766. He adds that she had two sous, Paul and John, and that John died early. 
 Of Paul's children the oldest was named William Spraggs, after the preacher, 
 Samuel Spraggs. This was the father of J. P. Hick. 
 
 i-Dr. Wakeley says : " Peter Parks was one of the purest of men. His testi- 
 mony cannot be 6o:]hU'(]."'— Christian Advocate, vol. xxxv, p. 72. 
 
 $ Ireland and A.iiicricaa Methodusm, note, p. 95.
 
 Appendix A. 413 
 
 gran, in which slie gave an account of tlie transaction identical witii 
 the above [that is, the statement Dr. Crook gives]. This letter was 
 preserved lor many years, and old Mrs. Ruckle told me she had ofien 
 read it. . . . It was subseqnently taken to America by Mr. Christopher 
 Ruckle, who emigrated some years ago, and settled, I tliink, in Ohio." 
 Mr. Ruckle settled in Maumee, 0., and a daughter is now living at 
 Presqne Isle, in that State. She says the letter is lost; that it con- 
 tained but a few words, but lier father could give it almost word for 
 word. The writer has asked for a statement of its contents, but has 
 not obtait]td it. But the bare fact that such a letter was written, 
 and that it was in the hands of the Ruckle family, argues tliat she 
 was of that family. But there is at least no evidence that Mrs. Hick, 
 of New York, was a Ruckle. Tiie Cansida people say tliat their ances- 
 tress was a cousin of Embury's, that the card-playing took place in her 
 kitchen, and she came in, swept tlie cards into her apron and threw 
 them into the fire. John Lawrence, who afterward married the widow 
 of Embury, said he was one of tlie players, and testified to the fact. 
 Mrs. Heck lived until 1804, and adliered to her statement to the last. 
 Her descendants and other witnesses in Canada saj' they often heard 
 it from her lips. The face also that this family went with Embury to 
 Camden, N. Y., and afterward to Canada with Embury's widow in 
 their company, is presumptive evidence in their favor. 
 
 But what to the writer has been the most decisive evidence is what 
 follows. Somehow tliere was a tradition in New York that tlie 
 Christian name of the lady was Barbara. Dr. Wakeley gives it so in 
 Lod Chapters, etc. (p. 117), and this was written before tiie Canada 
 claim was known. He says also in a letter to Mr. George Heck, 
 dated Harlem, N. Y., May 12, 1862: " Wlien I wrote the Lost Chap- 
 ters I had never heard of the Heck family in Canada, or that any one 
 claimed to have the power of stirring up Embury except Paul Hide's 
 mother, of New York." But Mr. Jonathan P. Hick, of Mount 
 Vernon, N. Y., grandson of Paul Hick, in a letter to the writer, 
 dated January 11, 1885, in answer to certain questions, says: 
 "My great-grandmother, b}' all that I liave heard, came over a widow 
 with two children, Paul and John." "I do not know what her 
 e.xaet Christian name was; it somehow or other got to be called 
 Barbary." Here is an obscurity which must be admitted to be a fatal 
 flaw in the evidence. 
 
 The house in which Barbara Ruckle was born was standing at least 
 as late a? 1866, at Ballingran, Ireland, as was also that of Mr. Heck, 
 where she lived after lier marriage. " It is an ordinary comfortable
 
 414 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 cottage, with a nice garden before tlie door." Methodist ministers 
 were slill hospitably entertiiined there.* 
 
 About midwa}- between the town of Prescolt and the village of 
 Maiiland, in Canada, is "the old Blue Church Burying-ground.'' The 
 old building has gone, but the ground is still used for burials. Rev. W. 
 W. Bowdiah, lately pastor of old John Street, has recently visited the 
 place, and sends a copy of the inscription on the graves of Paul and 
 Barbara Hock: "In memory of Paul and Barbara Heck. Paul Heck, 
 born 17H0. died 1795. Barbara Heck, wife of Paul Heck, Born 1734, 
 died August 17, 1804." 
 
 In tlie burying-ground connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Ch\irch at Upper New Rociielle, Westchester County, N. Y., is a stone 
 inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of Paul Hick, who died in the city 
 of New York, March 16, 1825, in the 73d year of his age. Hannah 
 Hick, his wife, who died July 28, 1826, in the 76th year of her age. 
 They sustained the character of deep piety and usefulness, and were 
 early connected with the formation of the first Methodist church in 
 the city of New York, and finally died in the triumph of faith. 
 'They rest from ilieir labors, and their works do follow them.' " 
 
 Even if these were not of the family of the genuine Mrs. H. they de- 
 serve remembrance as early and active members of the Church in New 
 York city. Mrs. Hick, of New York, was buried in Trinity church- 
 yard. Tlie exact place of her interment is not known. 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 THE LEASE.f 
 
 "This Indenture, made this twenty-ninth day of March, in the 
 year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, between 
 Mary Barclay, executrix, and Andrew Barclay, Leonard Lispenard, 
 and David Clarkson, executors of the last will and testament of 
 Henry Barclay, late of the city of New York, clergyman, deceased, 
 on the one part, and Philip Embury, "William Luptou, Ciiarles Wliite, 
 Richard Sause, Henry Newton, Paul Hick, and Thomas Taylor, all of 
 the city of New York, and Tliomas Webb, of Queens County, of the 
 other part: Witnesseth, that they, the said parties of tJie first part, for 
 
 * Crook's Trelanfl and American Methodism, p. 78. 
 
 + The oriffinal of this paper has not been found by the writer. It is given on 
 the authority of Dr. Wakeley, who does not say where he got it or what has 
 become of it.
 
 Appendix B. 415 
 
 and ia consideration oFllie sum of five shillings, lawful money of New 
 York, to tliem in hand well and truly paid at or before the sealings 
 and delivery of these presents by the said parties of the second part, 
 the receipt whereof they, the said parties of the first part, do hereby 
 acknowledge, have bargained, granted, and sold, and by these pres- 
 ents do fully, fieely, and absolutely grant, bargain, and sell unto them, 
 the said parties of the second part, All those two certain lots of ground 
 situate, lying, and being in the Xorth Ward of the said city of New 
 York (being part and parcel of the estate oC Anthony Rutgers, deceased, 
 and upon a division of the said estate fell to the part and share of the 
 said Henry Barclay) and known and distinguished in a certain map 
 bearing date the fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand six hundred and ninety-six, made of tlie land commonly 
 called Shoemaker's Ground, by lots No. 112 and No. 113, containing 
 in breadth, in front and rear, each of them twenty-five feet, be 
 the same more or less, and in length on both sides each of them 
 ninety-five feet, be the same more or less; the lot No. 112, bounded 
 north easterly in front on John Street, north-westerly by the house and 
 lot of ground in the tenure and occupation of Jonathan Bleeker, 
 south-westerly in the rear ground in the tenure and occupation of 
 Jacob Van Woert, and south-easterly by the said lot No. 113; and the 
 lot No. 113, bounded north-eastetly in front by John Street aforesaid, 
 north-westerly by the said lot No. 112, south-westerly in the rear by 
 groiuid of Anthony Rutgers, and south-easterly by ground of the said 
 Leonard Lispeiiard; together with all and singular tlie houses, out- 
 houses, stables, gardens, water-wells, curtilages, easements, profits, 
 commodities, emoluments, hereditaments, and appurtenances to the 
 same belonging or in any wise appertaining; and tlie reversion and 
 reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and services 
 thereof, and every part and parcel thereof, with the appurtenances, 
 to have and to hold, all and singular the said hereby granted prem- 
 ises, and every part and parcel tlierewith the appurtenances, unto 
 them, the said parties of the second part, their executors, adminis- 
 trators, and assigns, for and during and until the full end and term 
 of one whole year from the day of the date of these preserits next 
 ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying 
 therefor unto tlie said parties of the first part, their executors, admin- 
 istrators, or assigns, the rent of one peppercorn, on the last day of the 
 said term, only if lawfully demanded, to the intent and purpose, that 
 by virtue of these presents, and by tlie force of the statute for trans- 
 ferring of uses into possession, the said parties of the second part may
 
 416 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 be in the actual possession of all and singular tiie hereby granted 
 premises, and every part and parcel tlierewitli the appurtenances, and 
 be tliereby enabled to accept and take a grant and release of the 
 reversion and inheritance thereof to them, their heirs, and assigns 
 forever, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of them, their 
 heirs, and assigns forever, b}' indenture, intended to be made between 
 the said parties to these presents, and to bear date the day next after 
 the day of the date of these presents. 
 
 " In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have here- 
 unto set their hands and seals, the day and .year first above written. 
 "Mary Barclay, [l. s.] Leonard Lispenard, [l. s.] 
 " Andrew Barclay, [l. s.] David Clarksox. [l. s.] 
 "Sealed and delivered in presence of Thomas Barclay, Egbert 
 Benson." 
 
 Tliis paper is indorsed: " Mary Barclay and others, 1 
 
 to > Lease." 
 
 Philip Embury and others. ) 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 THE FIRST DEED OF SALE.* 
 
 " This Indenture, made this thirtieth day of March, in the year of 
 our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, between Mary 
 Barclay, executrix, and Andrew Barclay, Leonard Lispenard, and 
 David Clarkson, executors of the last will and testament of Henry 
 Barclay, late of the city of New York, clerk, deceased, of tiie one part, 
 and Philip Embury, William Lupton, Charles White, Richard Sause, 
 Henry Newton, Paul Heck, and Thomas Taylor, all of the city of 
 New York, and Thomas Webb of Queens County, of the other part ; 
 Wliereas, the said Henry Barclay, in and by his last will and testa- 
 ment in due form of law made and executed, bearing date the nine- 
 teenth day of Jinie in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- 
 dred and sixty-four, did, among other tilings therein contained for the 
 better improving his estate, fully authorize and impower his execu- 
 tors or any two of them, and the survivor and survivors of them (it 
 being with the approbation of his wife), either to demise for a terra 
 of 3^ears, or to grant, bargain, sell, and convey in fee simple, to such 
 person and persons, and for such price and sums of money as could 
 
 * This paper is in the hands of the trustees of the Eighteenth Street Church, 
 New York. Dr. Wakeley does not give it.
 
 APPENDlk C. 417 
 
 be had or gotten for the same, All his messuages, lands, tenements, 
 and real estate whatsoever and wheresoever, or any part or parcel 
 thereof, and to make, seal, and execute good and sufficient deeds and 
 conveyances in the law to the purchaser or purcliasers thereof, his, 
 her, and their heirs and assigns forever ; And whereas also the said 
 parties of the first part have agreed, by virtue of the power and au- 
 thorit}' to them in and by the said last will and testament given for 
 the consideration hereinafter mentioned, to convey to the said parties 
 of tiie second part the said two lots of ground hereinafter particularly 
 mentioned and described, the approbation of the said Mary Barclay 
 tliereof being signified by her sealing and delivering this indenture 
 as a party tliereto; Now therefore this indenture witnesseth that the 
 said Mary Barclay, Andrew Barclay, Leonard Lispenard, and David 
 Chirkson, for and in consideration of the sura of six hundred pounds 
 lawful money of New York to them in hand well and truly paid at or 
 before the sealing and delivery of these presents hy the said par- 
 ties of the second part, the receipt whereof they, the said parties of 
 the first part, do hereby acknowledge, and thereof and therefrom and 
 of and from every part and parcel thereof do hereby exonerate, acquit, 
 and discharge the said parties of the second part and each and every 
 of them, their and each and every of their heirs, executors, and ad- 
 ministrators, have granted, bargained, sold, ahened, remised, released, 
 enfeoffed, conveyed, assured, and confirmed, and by these presents 
 do fully, freely, and absolutely grant, bargain, sell, alieue, remise, re- 
 lease, enfeoff, assure, and confirm unto them tlie said parties of the 
 second part (in their actual possession by now being virtue of a bar- 
 gain and sale to them thereof made for one whole year by indenture 
 bearing date the day next before the day of the date of these presents 
 and by virtue of the statute for transferring of uses into possession) ; 
 All those two certain lots of ground situate, lying, and being in the 
 North "Ward of the said city of New York (being part and parcel of 
 the estate of Anthony Rutgers, deceased, and upon a division of the 
 said estate fell to the part and share of the said Henry Barclay), and 
 known and distinguished on a certain map bearing date the fourteenth 
 day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred 
 and ninety-six, made of the land commonly called Shoemaker's 
 Ground, by lots No. 112 and No. 113, containing in breadth in front 
 and rear each of them twenty-five feet, be the same more or less, and 
 in length on both sides each of them ninety-five feet, be the same 
 more or less; the lot No. 112 bounded north-easterly iu front on John 
 Street, north-westerly by the house and lot of ground in the tenure
 
 418 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 and occupation of Jonathan Bleeker, south-westerly in the rear by 
 ground in the tenure and occupation of Jacob Van Woert, and south- 
 easterly by the said lot No. 113; and the lot No. 113 bounded north- 
 easterly in front by John Street aforesaid, north-westerly by the said 
 lot No. 112, south-westerly in the rear by ground of Anthony Rut- 
 gers, and south-easterly by ground of the said Leonard Lispenard, 
 together with all and singular the houses, out-houses, kithins, stables, 
 fences, gardens, water- wells, solars, curtilages, easements, profits, 
 commodities, emoluments, hereditaments, and appurtenances whatso- 
 ever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the re- 
 version and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and 
 services thereof and of every part and parcel thereof, with the appur- 
 tenances, to have and to liold all and singular the said hereby granted 
 premises, and every part and parcel thereof, with the appurtenances 
 unto them, the said parties of the second part, their heirs, and assigns 
 forever, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of tliem, their 
 heirs, and assigns forever; And the said parties of the first part do 
 for themselves and each of them doth for herself and himself, their 
 and each of their heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant and 
 grant to and with the said parties of the second part, their heirs and 
 assigns, by these presents that they the said parties of the first part 
 have not nor hath either of them done, committed, executed, or suf- 
 fered or caused to be done, committed, executed, or suffered any act 
 or acts, thing or things whereby the hereby granted premises or any 
 part or parcel thereof may be impounded, defeated, or incumbered in 
 title, charge, estate, or otherwise; And the said Mary Barclay doth 
 for herself, her heirs, executors, and administrators covenant and 
 grant to and with the said parties of the second pnrt, their heirs and 
 assigns, by these presents, that the said Mary Barclay, her heirs, and 
 assigns the said hereby granted premises and every part and parcel 
 thereof with the appertainings against all and every person and per- 
 sons lawfully claiming or that shall or may lawfully claim the same 
 by, from, or under nny person or persons will warrant and forever by 
 these presents defend. In witness whereof the said pwrties to tiiese 
 presents have hereto set their hands and seals the day and year first 
 above written. 
 
 " Mary x Barclay, Leonard X Lispkxard, 
 
 " Andrew x Barclay, David X Clarksox."- 
 
 Indorsement on deed: " Mary Barclay and others, 1 
 
 to y Releiise." 
 
 Philip Embury and others. J
 
 Appendix C. 419 
 
 " Received on the day and year within mentioned of the grantees 
 within mentioned the consideration within mentioned. 
 
 "(TcAt) Thomas Barclay, Andrew Barclay, 
 " Egbert Benson, Leonard Lispenard, 
 " Mary Barclay, David Clarkson. 
 
 " Sealed and delivered in the presence of, the words [now being] 
 and [part] being first interlined, Thomas Barclay, 
 
 " Egbert Benson." 
 
 " City of Ntiu York; ss : Be it remembered that on the fifth day of 
 April in tiie year of onr Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty- 
 eight personally appeared before me, William Smith, Esquire, one of 
 his majesty's judges ot the Supreme Court of Judicature for the Prov- 
 ince of New York, Egbert Benson, wiio, being duly sworn, deposed 
 and said, that he saw the within named Mary Barclay, Leonard Lis- 
 penard, Andrew Barclay, and David Clarkson execute the within 
 indenture by sealing and delivering the same as their voluntary act 
 and deed, and that he, the deponent, hath signed his name as a wit- 
 ness thereto and saw Thomas Barclay sign his name as another wit- 
 ness, and I, having inspected the same and finding no material era- 
 sures or interlineations therein other than are noted on the back 
 thereof, do allow the same to be recorded. William Smith." 
 
 APPENDIX D. 
 
 THE SECOND DEED OF SALE.* 
 
 "This Indenture, made the secoud day of November, in the year of 
 our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy, in tlie eleventh 
 year of the reign of our most gracious Sovereign Lord, George the 
 Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and. Ireland, 
 King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth : 
 
 " Between Joseph Forbes, of the City of New York in North Amer- 
 ica, cordwainer, of the one part, and Richard Boardman and Joseph Pil- 
 moor, ministers of the Gospel; William Lupton, merchant; Thomas 
 Webb, gentleman; John Soulhwell, merchant; Henry Newton, shop- 
 keeper; and James Jarvi.s, hatter, all of the said city of New York 
 (trustees appointed for the uses and purposes hereinafter nieiuioned), 
 of tlie other pait: 
 
 * This paper is in the hands of the trustees of the Eighteenth Street Church, 
 New York.
 
 420 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 " Witiies=eth, that tlio said Josepli Forbes, for divers good and 
 valuable considerations him ihereunto especially moving, and also for 
 and in consideration of the sum of ten siiillings current money of the 
 province of New York, to him in hand well and truly }>aid by the 
 said Richard Boardman, Joseph Pilmoor, William Luptou, Thomas 
 Webb, John Southwell, Henry Newton, and James Jarvis, the receipt 
 whereof he, the said Joseph Forbes, doth hereby fully acknowledge, 
 liath granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, conveyed, assured, 
 and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, aliene, 
 enfeoff, convey-, assure, release, and confirm luito the said Richard 
 Boardman. Joseph P.lmoor, WiUiara Lupton, Thomas Webb, John 
 Sontiiwell, Henry Newton, and James Jarvis (in their actual posses- 
 sion now bt-ing by virtue of a bargain and sale to them tliereof, made 
 for one whole year by indenture of lease, bearing date the day next 
 before tlie day of the date of these presents, and by the force of the 
 statute made for transferring uses into possession), and to their heirs 
 and assigns, all those, two certain lots of ground situate, lying, and 
 being in tlie city of New York aforesaid, and distinguislied in a cer- 
 tain map or chart made of the ground of the late Reverend Doctor 
 Henry Barclay, deceased, by lots number one hundred and twelve 
 and number one hundred and thirteen, which said lots are particularly 
 described in a certain conveyance made tliereof by Mary Barclay, 
 widow and executrix of the said Doctor Henry Barclay, reference to the 
 said conveyance thereof being had, will fully appear, together with the 
 meeting-house on the said two lots of ground erected and built for 
 the service of Almighty God after the manner of the people called 
 Methodists. And also ail other erections, buildings, and improve- 
 ments, ways, paths, passages, water, water-courses, lights, easements, 
 emoluments, hereditaments, and appurtenances to the said two lots of 
 ground, meeting-house, and premises belonging, or in any wise apper- 
 taining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, 
 renis, issues, and services thereof, and of every part tliereof. And 
 also all the estate, right, title, interest, possession, property, claim, 
 and demand whatsoever of him, the said Joseph Forbes, of, in, and to 
 the same, with all deeds, evidences, and writings which in any way 
 or maimer relate thereunto. To have and to hold the said two lots 
 of ground, meeting-house, and premises hereinbefore mentioned and 
 described, and hereby granted and released, with all and every the 
 appurtenances, unto the said Richard Boardman, Joseph Pilmoor, 
 William Lupton, Tliomas Webb, John Southwell, Henry Newton, 
 and James Jarvis, their heirs and asr^igns, forever. Nevertheless,
 
 Appendix D. 421 
 
 upon special trust and confidence, and to the intent that they and 
 the survivors of them, and all other trustees for the time beiug, do, 
 and shall permit John Wesley, late of Lincoln College, in the Univer- 
 sity of Oxford, clerk, and such other persons as he, the said John 
 "Weslej^, shall from time to time appoint, and at all times during his 
 natural life, and no other person or persons, to have and enjoy the 
 free use and benefit of the said meeting-house and premises. That 
 the said John "Wesley, and such other person or persons as he shall 
 from time to time appoint, may therein preach and expound God's 
 holy word; and alter his, the said John Wesley's decease, upon 
 further trust and confidence, and to the intent that the said trustees 
 and the survivors of them, and the trustees for the time being, do 
 and shall permit Charles Wesley, late of Christ's Church College, 
 Oxford, clerk, and such other person or persons as he shall from 
 time to time appoint, and at all times during his life, and no other, 
 to have and enjoy the full use and benefit of the said meeting- 
 liouse and premises for the purposes aforesaid; and after the decease 
 of the survivors of the said Jolm AVesley and Charles Wesley, then 
 upon further trust and confidence that the said Richard Board- 
 man, and the rest of the hereinbefore mentioned trustees, or the 
 major part of them, or the survivors of them, and the major part of 
 the trustees for the time being, shah, and from time to time, and for- 
 ever thereafter will, permit such person or persons as shall be ap- 
 pointed at the yearly Conference of the people called Methodists in 
 London, Bristol, Leeds, and the city of New York aforesaid, and no 
 others, to liave and enjoy the said premises for the purposes afore- 
 said, provided always that the said person or persons so from time to 
 time to be chosen as aforesaid, preach no other doctrine than is con- 
 tained in the said John Wesley's Notes upon the New Testament, 
 and his four volumes of Sermons; and upon further trust and con- 
 fidence, that as often as any of the trustees hereby appointed, or the 
 trustees for the time being, shall die or cease to be a member of the 
 society commonly called Methodists, the rest of the said trustees 
 hereby appointed or of the trustees for the time being, as soon as con- 
 veniently may be, shall and may choose another trustee or trustees, 
 in order to keep up such a number of trustees tliat there may at no 
 time hereafter be less than seven nor more than nine. And tlie 
 said Joseph Forbes doth by these presents covenant, promise, and 
 agree to and with the said Richard Boardman, and the rest of the 
 trustees hereby appointed, that he hath not done, committed, exe- 
 cuted, or suffered, or caused, or piociired to be done, committc-d,
 
 422 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 executed, or suffered, any act, matter, or thing whatsoever, wherebj' 
 to charge or encumber tlie said premises hereby granted and released, 
 either in title, estate, or otherwise howsoever. 
 
 " In witness whereof the said Joseph Forbes, hath hereunto set and 
 affixed his hand and seal the day and j'^ear first above written. 
 
 " Joseph Forbes, [r-. s.] 
 " Sealed and delivered in the presence of us, 
 
 " And'w Gautier. 
 " Jno. C. Knapp. 
 " Received the day and year first within written, of the within named 
 Richard Boardman, and the rest of the trustees within mentioned, the 
 sum of ten shillings, current money oftlie Province of New York, being 
 the full consideration money within mentioned. Joseph Fokbes. 
 "Witness: And'w Gautier, Jno. C. Knapp." 
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS TO THK FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Dr. Wakeley has given sketches of some of these subscribers, and 
 liis example is worthy of imitation. The substance of what he says, 
 and whatever else can be learned, will be staled as briefly as possible.* 
 
 Notices of Captain Thomas Webb and the Hicks and Hecks will 
 be found elsewhere.f Captain Webb, it will be observed, stands first 
 and with the largest subscription, £30. He also closes the list with 
 £3 4s., the interest due on his bond for money lent the church. 
 Paul Heck gives £3 5,s., and Jacob Hick £1. 
 
 After Captain Webb, William Liipton is the largest subscriber, giv- 
 ing £20, and afterward £10 more. He was the youngest of three 
 brotlicrs, and was born in Crofstone, Lancashire, Eng., March 
 11, ll'lS. In 1753 he came to America as quarter-master in the 
 Fifty-tifih regiment of foot. He served during the French War under 
 Captain Webb. That ho remained in America is duo probably to the 
 charms of Miss Joanna Schuyler, daughter of Brant Schuyler, a rela- 
 tive of General Schuyler. On the 31st of August, 1761, tlie Rev. 
 John Ritzman, of the Reformed Dutch Church, transformed Miss 
 Joanna Schuyler into Mrs. William Lupton, the groom being about 
 thirty-three years of age, the bride nineteen. They had five children. 
 The oldest, Brant Schuyler, became a minister of the Reformed Dutch 
 
 ♦Unless otherwise specifled Dr. Wakeley's Lost Chapters, etc., \s the au- 
 thority for most of these sketches. + S'ie p. 23, and Appendix A.
 
 Appk>I)I.\; E. 423 
 
 Church, and died in 1790. The name of Samuel, another son, is in 
 the "Old Book," signed to a receipt for money for his father. He 
 was a promising young mnn, and either a preacher or preparing for the 
 work, when by the sliiftiiig of the boom of a sloop, on which he was 
 sailing on the Hudson River, he was knocked overboard and drowned. 
 This was on June 8, 1789, when he was twenty-two years of age. 
 
 Mrs. Lupton died December 27, 1169, at the age of twenty-seven. 
 On October 19, 1770, Mr. Lupton married as his second wife Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Roosevelt, tlie dauglner of Lancaster Sj'ms, a vestryman of 
 Trinity Church. Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, assistant rector of that cliurch, 
 married another daughter of Mr. Syms. B}^ this second wife Mr. 
 Lupion had six children. Tiie oldest, William, was boru October 
 12, 1771. He was a man of very fine talents, and after a life spent 
 sometimes in plenty and sometimes in povert}^ died in peace in "Wis- 
 consin, March 3, 1853. 
 
 Mr. Lupton died in New York April 3, 1796, and was buried in a 
 vault luider John Street Church. Of lliat vault wo find a notice in the 
 '•Old Book." Under date of 1st of March, 1770, we read, " by boards 
 and carpenters work for the door of mj- vault, which Mr. Embury did 
 not separate from his ace, brot in £0 18s. 3(/." 
 
 Mr. Lupton was a little less tlian six feet liigh, of massive frame 
 and very imposing appearance.* He had a very large head, which 
 was bald in his later years. He wore a red velvet cap, and ruffles 
 around his wrists. Some of the old Methodists did not like this; it 
 seemed to them to savor too much of conformity to the world. But he 
 was ver}- much set in his way and somewhat eccentric, iliongh a good 
 man, and one wlio served the cause of God noblj' and commanded 
 great respect. He had the habit of uttering a sliort groan, or deep 
 guttural sound, which the people used to call " Lupton's grunt." f 
 
 * Miss Mary Snethen, sister of Rev. N. Snethen, lived with her brother in 
 the old parsonage in John Street in 1805-6. During that period slie went into 
 the vault under the church and saw the ooflln of Mr. Lupton. She said it was 
 the largest she ever saw. 
 
 + In 1817, when the old building in John Street was taken down, the vault 
 where the body of Mr. Lupton lay had necessarily to be disturbed. Dr. 
 William Phoebus, who was present at the removal, says that two Irishmen 
 were employed in the work. They had just taken hold of Mr. Lupton's coffin 
 when they let go and rushed out of the vault greatly terrified. Dr. Phoebus 
 a,sked, "What is the matter?" They answered, " We heard a noise, we heard a 
 man groan.'" " Tut, tut ! " said the doctor ; " go back and move the coffin ; there 
 is nothing there that will harm you." Dr. Phoebus afterward said, "I heard 
 the noise distinctly, and I recognized Father Lupton's groan."— Wakeley's Lost 
 Chapters, p. 331. The reader must explain this to suit himself. 
 38
 
 424 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 Mr. Luptoii was one of tlie original trustees, a merchant, and prob- 
 ably the most wealthy man in tlie society. For several years he 
 was treasurer, and the earlier entries in the " Old Book " are proba- 
 bly in liis handwriting, and are a model of neatness and correctness. 
 He was read}' to advance mone_v for the use of the ch\ircli when nec- 
 essary, as is proved by the following receipt: 
 
 "Received, New York, December 0th, 1786, of the Stewards of the 
 Methodist Church, twenty-one pounds, for one j^ear's interest due the 
 31st of August last, for a bond of three hundred and fifty pounds at 
 six percent. For my father, William Lupton. 
 
 "£21. Sam'l LuPTOX." 
 
 This is in the " Old Book," from which also we learn that as late as 
 1791 the clnirch still owed him £350, and paid the interest annually. 
 
 In the earlier directories of New York city William Lupton is re- 
 ported as living at Xo. 22 John Street. This was next to the parsonage, 
 which was No. 20, and it is said that the property is yet, or was a 
 fevv years ago, owned by Judge Samuel E. Johnson, of Brooklyn, to 
 whom it was bequeathed by Peter Roo?evelt, who inherited it from 
 his stepfather, Mr. Lnpton. While Mr. Lupton occupied it a fire in 
 tlie neighborhood put tiie church and his hooie in peril. The firemen 
 were trj'ing to protect the house, but he told them to save tlie church 
 first, tiius proving faitliful to what was said to have been his motto, " The 
 church first, and then my family." At the dedication of a church 
 Bishop Scott once pronounced a splendid eulogium on William Lup- 
 ton and the motto he adopted. He said: "Mr. Lupton's motto should 
 be that of every child of God. It should be written in our dwellings 
 over our firesides; it should be written upon the walls of our houses 
 of worship and upon our shops, stores, and offices, and especiall}-- 
 should it be written upon the hearts of the members of the mystical 
 body of Christ, in bold capital letters — The Church first and then 
 
 MY FAMILY."* 
 
 Mr. Lupton was a loyalist, and, there is reason to believe, left the 
 city for a while after the British army evacuated it, but returned 
 in 1784.f 
 
 Next we have the name of James Jarvis, witli a subscription of 
 £10, to which he afterward added another £10. Mr. Jarvis was a 
 
 ♦A copy of tbe Suuday Scrcice, prepared for the Methodists of North Amer- 
 ica, commonly called Mr. Wesley's Prayer Book, which once belonged to Mr. 
 Lupton, was afterward m the possession of the late Rev. Dr. Johnson, rector 
 of the Protestant Episcopal church at Jamaica, L. I. Mrs. McCabe, of White 
 Plains (see note p. 22), has a piece of needle-work said to be by the hands of 
 Mrs. Lupton. + Sabine's Histo)>/ of the Loitalist».
 
 Ai'PEXDix E. 425 
 
 liatter, tlioiigli lie seems to have also dealt in various other articles, 
 as did the New York merchants generally at that time, like country 
 store-keepers of the present day.* He supplied Robert Williams 
 with his first new hat in America, as we see by an entry in tlie " Old 
 Book." f In December of the same year, shortly after Richard Board- 
 man arrived, he also, it seems, needed a new liat, which no doubt 
 came from the same shop, as its price was the same. 
 
 Mr. Jarvis succeeded Mr. Lupton as treasurer. He kept the ac- 
 counts accurately and beautifully until 1774. Then his name disap- 
 pears, but in the Me?-cury of November 14, 1774, Mary, widow of 
 James Jarvis, advertises to continue the hatter's business. He died 
 November 4, 1774, at 8 A. M., at the age of forty-two years, leaving 
 a widow and six children. Mr. Asbury was with him in his last hours 
 and attended his funeral, and next Monday met the class wliich Mr. 
 Jarvis used to lead. He says he '" found much love among them, 
 and by general consent appointed R. S. (Richard Sause) to act as 
 their leader." ;}: 
 
 Ciiarles "White gave £5. He and R. Sause were natives of Ireland, 
 were converted there, and came over together from Dublin at the 
 close of 1766. What his business was we do not know, but we find 
 in the "Old Book," "Received, New York, 6th of April, 1770, of 
 Mr. Wm. Lupton, seven pounds 5s. Gd. for Branches for the Methodist 
 preaching-house. £7 5s. 6c^. Charles White." 
 
 His friend, R. Sause, dealt in cutlerj-, and it is probable, therefore, 
 that White was a worker or dealer in metals. He was one of the 
 original trustees, was treasurer of the board during the Revolutionary 
 War, and at its close, being a loyalist, went to Nova Scotia with 
 John Mann. It seems, however, that he afterward returned to the 
 United States and lived near Lexington, Ky. Bishop Asbury, in his 
 Journal (May 13, 1790), after preaching at Lexington, says, "After 
 
 dinner I rode about five miles in company with poor C W . 
 
 Ah ! how many times have I eaten at this man's table in New York, 
 and now he is without property and without grace ! When about to 
 part I asked him if he loved God. His soul was in his eyes ; he burst 
 into tears and could scarcely speak — ' he did not love God, but he 
 desired it.' " Three years later, April 29, ] 793, tlie same Journal 
 
 * He advertises in the New York Mercurii of January 7, 1771, " Enplish 
 sail-cloth, gold loops and buttons, and spermaceti candles sold in French 
 Church Street " (now Pine, between Broadway and William Street) ; and on 
 December 1(5 of the same year he and Arthur Jarvis advertise their glass and 
 earthen store, between Barling's and Beekman's Slips, in the Fly. 
 
 t See p. 46. t Asbury's Journal, November 7, 1774.
 
 426 A History of Methodism ix New YopavC'iTY. 
 
 says, " Rode through the rain to Lexington. I stepped at C. Wliite's 
 once more. that God may help him safe to glory! " We hear no 
 more of him, but these words of tlie bisliop have a tone of hope. 
 Let us trust that he has found his wish fulfilled.* 
 
 Richard Sause, White's fellow-immigrant, was, as already stated, a 
 native of Ireland, was converted there, and came over at the close of 
 1766. He gave £10 at first, and afterward £3 5s. He also was 
 treasurer for a time. With him Mr. Boardman, and probably the 
 other preachers, made tlieir home while in the city. In the "Old 
 Book" are the following entries: 
 
 "Jan. 30, MIO. To cash paid Mr. Sause for board and lode Mr. 
 Boards £12. 
 
 " Ap. 24. To cash paid Mr. Rich*! Sause for preacher's board, £12." f 
 
 Mr. Sause's name has been introduced out of its regular order in 
 the list, as it seemed appropriate to bring him in close connection 
 with his old associate. They appear to have been the most intimate 
 friends of Mr. Asbury in tiie New York societ}-, going with him fre- 
 quently on his preaching excursions to Long Island and Westches- 
 ter County, as we learn from frequent references in the bishop's 
 Journal. From the same source it appears that Asbury did not har- 
 monize as well with Lupton and Newton at first, though afterward 
 there is apparently a better feeling. Even good men do not always 
 agree perfectly in judgment. 
 
 Benjamin Huget, who subscribed £5, was, it is said, a grocer and 
 liquor-dealer on the corner of Nassau and Fair (now Fulton) Streets. 
 He was an assistant alderman and a loyalist.}: 
 
 Ciiristopher Stimets also subscribed £5. He was an alderman in 
 
 1763. § 
 
 Oliver Delancy, whose subscription is £6 lOs., and James Delancy, 
 
 * Jonathan P. Hick, late of Mount Vernon, N. Y., says that Charles White 
 was brother-in-law to his grandmother, Hannah (Dean) Hick. 
 
 + His name, being peculiar, is often spelled incorrectly, as Sauce, Sourse, Souse, 
 etc. A fac-simile of his signature v/ill be found In Wakeley's Loxt Chapters, 
 p. 86. He was a cutler, and in the Mercuni, a newspaper of that day, are a 
 number of his advertisements. November 27, 1775, he has for sale a portrait 
 of John Hancock, Esq. This would seem to indicate a leaning- to the patriotic 
 side, but it is a question if it continued. After 1783 his name disappears, and 
 It is probable that he went to Nova Scotia with his friend C. White, and per- 
 haps, after that, to Encland. In a letter by Mr. Rankin to Mr. J. J. Staples, in 
 reference to the death of a son, Thomas Staples, at Mr. Rankin's in England, 
 he speaks of a Mr. Sause as assisting in the care of the young man. See p. 446. 
 
 i Sabine's HMoni of the Lo>intixts. 
 
 8 In the list his surname is wi itten In darker ink, and apparently by a differ- 
 ent hand.
 
 Appendix E. 427 
 
 who gave £3 55., were wealthy and aristocratic loyalists, owning a 
 large piece of property through which Delancey Street was opened. 
 James was a son of ihe lieutenant-governor of the same name, who 
 died on the 30th of July, 1760, a little while before Embury reached 
 New York. Oliver was a brother of the lieutenant-governor, " and 
 one of the most zealous adherents of the royalist party. At the close 
 of the Revolution his estates, as well as those of his nephew James " 
 (in which ihe site of the Forsyth Streec Church was included), " were 
 confiscated and he went to England, where he died leaving numerous 
 descendants." * 
 
 We read the name of John Crugar for £5, and afterward that of 
 John Haris Crugar for £0 19s. 6d. Dr. Wakeley seems to regard 
 them as intended for the same person, but here he is probably in 
 error. One John Cruger was mayor of the city from 1739 to 1744, 
 holding that office during the celebrated Negro plot of 1741. His 
 son, who was known as John Cruger, Jr., was probably the sub- 
 scriber of £5, and was also mayor from 1757 to 1766. He was, at 
 least for a time, in sympathy with the people. He boldly withstood 
 the British officials iu tlieir attempts to quarter troops on the inhab- 
 itants of the city; was a delegate to the first colonial Congress, and 
 acted with R. R. Livingston and otiiers in behalf of the people in 
 the controversy aljout the stamps in 1765. John Haris Cruger, his 
 nephew, was chamberlain of the city at the beginning of the Revolu- 
 tion. He entered the royal army in 1777, and performed much re- 
 sponsible duty in South Carolina and Georgia, but does not seem to 
 have been as bitter a partisan as some of his fellow-loyalists. His 
 property, however, was confiscated, and he died in London in 1807, 
 aged sixty-nine. f 
 
 The Mr. Althorp who subscribed £3 5s. Od. should, no doubt, bo 
 A-pthorpe, the name of a family which owned a fine mansion on the 
 Bloomingdale road.:]: It was here that after the battle of Long Island 
 "Washington waited for some of his retreating troops, leaving only 
 fifteen minutes before the arrival of the British force. § 
 
 The names of several of the clergy of the Episcopal Church, as well 
 as of the laity, will be found in this list. No doubt their liberality 
 was partly due to tiie fact that the Methodists were regarded as con- 
 
 * Booth's Histm-y of yew Forfr, p. 5ti. 
 t Sabine's Histuru of the Loijalistn. vol. i, p. 343. 
 
 i Lamb's Hmtoru oj New York, vol. ii, p. ?.">. It was standing near Ninth 
 Avenue and Ninety-first Street until 1893, when it v.-as taken down. 
 8 Booth's HMorii of New York, p. S.it.
 
 428 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 iiected with the Church of England, and, until IT 84. were accustomed 
 to receive the communion at her altars. But none the less should 
 we recognize their gifts and remember their names with gratitude. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Auchinuty gave £2. He was rector of Trinity Church, 
 succeeding the Rev. Dr. Henry Barclay. For nearly thirty years he 
 ministered to that charge and was greatly beloved. He died in New 
 York Mareli 4, 1777. Like most clergymen of tlie Church of England, 
 he was a decided loyalist. 
 
 Rev. John Ogilvie (not Ogvi-lsvie), who was Dr, Auchmuty's assist- 
 ant, subscribed £1 125. 6d. He was a man of uiuHual excellencp, a 
 graduate of Yale College, and an eloquent preacher. He could 
 preach in the Dutch language, and was for some time missionary 
 among the Mohawk Indians. His wife, as has alreadv been staled, 
 was a sister of the second Mrs. Lupton. He was smitten with at'o- 
 plexy in tlie pulpit, and died a few days after (November 26, 1774). 
 at the age of fifiy-one. A portrait of him by Copley is in the vestry 
 oBBce of Trinity Church. 
 
 Tlien we have Rev. Mr. English as a subscriber to the same ' 
 amount. Tiiis was, evidently, the Rev. Charles Inglis, who was also 
 assistant to Dr. Auchmuty, and succeeded him as rector of Trinity 
 Cliurch in 177*7. Ho resigned November 1, 1783. It was he to 
 whom General Washington, when in possession of tli.e city in 1776, 
 sent a message, stating that he '' expected to be at church on such a 
 Sabbath, and slioidd be glad if the violent prayers for the king and 
 royal family were omitted on that occasion." Mr. Inglis paid no re- 
 gard to the request, but prayed in the usual form. He made himself 
 peculiarly offensive to all who favored the cause of tiie colonies, and, 
 on the return of peace, went, with some royalists of his congrega- 
 tion, to Annapolis, Nova Scotia. He was consecrated bishop of that 
 province August 12, 1787, and died iu 1816, aged eighty-two years. 
 
 Grove Bend, who subscribed £3 5s., was a vestryman of Trini'y 
 Church from 1773 to 1778. In the Directory of 1786 he is put down 
 as a shop-keeper at 16 Smith Street.* 
 
 Of John Crook, who gave the same amount, we know nothing ex- 
 cept that in the "Old Book" we read, "1773, Nov. 2. To cash 
 paid Mr. John Crook, a draft in his favor by Mr. Webb, being for in- 
 terest due on his bond, £9 IGs. OfZ." In the same book, in the list of 
 furniture given for the preacher's house, we find "three table-clolhs 
 and two towels and two pillow-cases" put to the credit of Mrs. J. 
 
 * Either Cedar Street or William Street, between Maiden Lane and Hanover 
 Square.
 
 Appendix E. 429 
 
 Crook. Mr. Pilmore, iti his Journal, June 6, 1770, speaks of going to 
 Harlem with Mr. Crooke.* 
 
 The name of Paul Heck (not Hick as it is printed in Dr. Wakelcy's 
 volume) stands next as a subscriber also for £3 Ss.f 
 
 Joseph Pearson, who gave £3 2s., may have been of the firm of 
 Pearson & Minthorne, to wlioui, on April 24, 1770, 15 shillings was 
 paid for lamps.J 
 
 Gose Courtland gives £2 18s. In the Directory of 1786 we read G-. 
 Courtland & Co., iron-mongers, 42 Dock Street (now Pearl Street, be- 
 tween Whitehall Street and Hanover Square). 
 
 Mr. Graliara gave £1 lOs. A Joseph Graham, and Hannah liis 
 wife, were among the members of the little flock at Bowery Village, 
 now Seventh Street, about the close of the last century. Perhaps 
 this was a sou of the donor here named. ^ 
 
 James Jauncey, who subscribed £4 13s., was a prominent roy- 
 alist, though at first lie seemed inclined to take the side of the people. 
 He was a member of the Assembly. He afterwaid went to London, 
 where he was well known for the practice of relieving the poor at the 
 chapel doors and in the streets. Ho died suddenly at tlie door of the 
 Providence Chapel, London, leaving property worth £100,000. 
 
 The next name is that of a prominent member of the society, one 
 of the original trustees, and, next to Mr. Lnpton, perhaps the most in- 
 fluential. He gives £3 5s., but, unlike his brethren, ho is credited with 
 no second subscription. It may be suspected, however, that when 
 we read farther dowu the list Henry Newton More we arc to imder- 
 stand it not as the name of another person, but that the word more 
 is intended to indicate an additional subscription from Henry Newton. 
 And this seems the more probable as the amount of the second sub- 
 scription, £G 15s., makes, with that of the first, the round sum of £10. 
 He also lent money to the trustees, for which he received a bond. 
 He was the principal collector of the subscriptions, and treasurer 
 from 1786 to 1796. Among the receipts to wiiich his name is signed 
 is the following, which sounds strangely to us: 
 
 " Rec. New York, 4th of September, 1769, of Mr. Wm. Lupton fif- 
 teen pounds three shillings and one penny for candles for the house 
 and rum to workman. £15 3s. Id. Henry Newton." 
 
 * Methodist, vol. XX, No. 43, p. 6. 
 
 + Fartlier on we liave Jacob Uicli for £1. There the letter looks more like 
 an i, thouRh there !■! no dnt over ll. Of the Hecks and Hicks, for what can be 
 deflnitely learned see Appendix A. 
 
 t "Old Book." § Wakeley's Loxt Chapters, p. 525.
 
 430 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 But then, and for many years after, in work or amusement, joy or 
 sorrow, winter or summer, intoxicating drink vvas tliought to be 
 necessary. 
 
 Mr. Newton was a bachelor and familiarly known as Harry New- 
 ton. In the deed of the land he is called a siiop-keeper. He was a 
 man of considerable influence and property, one of the original siock- 
 holdcrs of the Bank of New York, the oldest bank in the cit}-, hold- 
 ing two shares of $500 each.* He attended the old church in John 
 Siret-r,, until the building of iIjc new one in Second (now Forsyth) Street. 
 He and Mrs. Courtnc}-, an English lady of wealth, with whom he 
 boarded, occupied a pew in tiie .^onth-east corner of the church, 
 known as the high-back pew, being the only one of the kind in tJiu 
 house. It had a very high back and a crimson cnsliion. Mr. New- 
 ton died many years aj,o, and was buried in the church-yard at 
 Forsyth Stn er.f 
 
 Mary Newton, whose name stands farther down the list as a sul)- 
 scriber of £1, is probably the Mrs. Newton who afterward gave 
 crockery for the preaclier's house. She may have been,' as Dr. 
 Wakelev surmises, the mother or sister of Henry Nev/ton. 
 
 The Mr. Moral who subscribed £1 12s. Gd. Dr. Wakcley supposes 
 to be Jonathan Morrell. Ho was a man of some property and influ- 
 ence, and his wife was a member of the first class formed by Embury. 
 Thomas Morrell, afterward a preacher in the city, was their son. 
 
 Isaac Sebring, whose subscription was eight shillings, was a sol- 
 dier of the Revolution, and was at the battle of Long Island. Witli 
 Theodosius Van \V3'ck, named below, he formed the firm of Sebring 
 & Van Wyck. He was a leading federalist, and got up the subscrip- 
 tion to build Washington Hall, which covered most of the ground 
 on the east side of Broadwa\ between Chambers and Reado Streets, 
 afterward occupied by Stewart's dry-goods store. lie tinally be- 
 came very poor. He was an elder in the Reformed Dutch Church.:}: 
 
 Six shillino:s and sixpence is the subscription of Whitehead Cornal 
 (or rather Cornell). lie was a butcher living in Brooklyn, and a loy- 
 alist, who, after the war, went to Nova Scotia, but returned in n84.§ 
 
 Of Lambert Garrison, who gave ten shil iiigs. all we know is that 
 he was a merchant and connected with tiie Chamber of Commerce.|| 
 
 * Historil of the Bank of New York, p. 137. 
 
 + Dr. Wakeley says he was the first steward, but Ashury's Journal (Septem- 
 ber 11, 1772) seems to g^ive that honor to Mr. C. (John CliaveK See p. 60. 
 i Old Merrhnnfs of New Yni-k, vol. iii. pp. 16. 18. 30. 
 g /f/sf. Ma(i!izi)tc, 1867, p. 361. II ( 'hamlier uf Commerce Memorial, p. 47.
 
 Appendix E. 431 
 
 Edward Light no doubt should be Edward Laiglit. He gave £1. 
 He was a vestryman of Trinity Church from 1762 to 1784. He was 
 one of the leaders of the Sons of Liberty, an association for the pro- 
 tection of the people's rights. Laight Street was named after this 
 family. 
 
 Then we have Peter R. Levingston for £2, and afterward Philip 
 Levingstou for sixteen shillings and threepence. The Livingston 
 family descended from the Rev. John Livingston, a Scotch dissenting 
 minister, and became prominent in the history of New York. Philip 
 was a leader of the Revolutionary party and a signer of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence. He died June 12, 1788, aged si.xty-two. Peter 
 was, perhaps, his brotiier, a mercliant in the city. Tiieir cousin, Robert 
 R., afterward the first chancellor of the State of New York, was 
 the father of Calliariue, wife of tlie Rev. Freeborn Garrettson. 
 
 We have the name of James Boatman for sixteen shillings and 
 threepence, and afterward that of Garret Boatman for £1. It is likely 
 that for Beatman we should read Beckman. The family was promi- 
 nent among the citizens of New York, giving its name to Beekman 
 Street. Gerard W. (who would be called Garret) and James were 
 among its lepresentativesat that time. James, in 1763, built a man- 
 sion, which was still standing in 1874, near the corner of Fifty-tirst 
 Street and First Avenue.* Gerard lived at the corner of Hanover 
 Square and Sloat Lane f (now Beaver Sireet). 
 
 Of James Peters, who gave ten shillings, we only know that, after 
 the war, he went to New Brunswick. | 
 
 Abr'mMountany subscribed eight shillings. In the Directory of 1786 
 we find that to be the name of a brass-founder at 13 King (now Pine) 
 Street. A " Montague," however, whose first name seems to have 
 been Abrara, kept a tavern in Broadway, near Murray Street, which 
 was the liead-quartcis of the Sons of Liberty during the Revolution- 
 ary agitation. § 
 
 There are two joint, or partnership, subscriptions. One is that of 
 Thompson & Selby for eight shillings. || Afterward we have the name 
 of S;imuel Selby for £10. Asbury in his Journal, under date of April 
 23, 1780, writes, apparently at Mr. Gough's in Maryland: "Met 
 Brother Selby, whom I have not seen for near six years, one of my 
 old friends from New York, driven about by the commotion of the 
 present times; he, with great joy, fell upon my neck and wept." 
 
 * See p. 352. t Lamb's HiMoru of New York City, vol. i, pp. 569, 7.59. 
 
 X Sabine's Hixt. of the TM\inJi!<ts. S Booth s Hixt.of Neic York, p. 447. 
 II Tliey were saddlers, as we learn from advertisements of the period.
 
 4:32 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 New York was tlieu occupied by British troops, and Selby, it seems, 
 was not comfortable, perliaps not safe, there. In 1773, during the 
 excitement preceding ilie Revohition, when Boardman, Pilmore, Webb, 
 and Sou til well had left, he was chosen to fill one of the vacancies in 
 the board of trustees.* 
 
 Four subscriptions stand to the name of Rhilander, namely, "Will- 
 iam Rhilander, £1; Mr. Rhilander, sixteen shillings, and William 
 again, £1, and Benjamin and William, £1. They contribute altogether 
 nearly £4, and certainly deserve at least to be called by their right 
 name. It should be Rliinelander ; but all that can be said besides is 
 that a William Rliinelander subscribed for one share of Tontine stock 
 in I794.f 
 
 Captair> Davis subscribed ten shillings. In Holt's New York Ga- 
 zette and Weekly Post- Boy, Ocloher 24, 1765, we read: "On Tuesday 
 evening (October 22) arrived the ship Edward, Captain William Davis, 
 in nine weeks from London, and six weeks and three days from 
 Falmouth. . . . Captain Davis, who brought us last voyage the news 
 that tlie Stamp Act was passed, has brought tlie stamps themselves, 
 intended to enslave us." Was this the man ? 
 
 Rachel gave nine shillings, and Margaret seven. What other names 
 they Iiad, if any, we are not told. They were probably colored 
 women, and, from some entries in the "Old Book," appear to have 
 been afterward liired to take care of the preacher's house, for which 
 they received wages. Perhaps, though tlie amount they subscribed 
 was little, the good Master, who saw their gift cast into the treasury, 
 said, " Tliey have cast in more than they all," and their names, though 
 like that of the poor widow, not known on earth, will be remembered 
 by him, Rachel as a ewe of the flock of the Good Shepherd, and Mar- 
 garet as a precious pearl among the jewels of the King. X 
 
 Mrs. Deverix gave eight shillings. This, as we have said, should 
 be Devereux. Her husband was, it is believed, the captain of a 
 vessel. § 
 
 William Eustick (or Ustick), whose gift was £1, advertises m the 
 Mercury of October 5, 1767, as an "Iron-monger, at the sign of the 
 Lock and Key, between Burling's and Bcekman's Slips." October 15, 
 1785, the church paid him Is. Gd. for nails. Bishop Henry Ustick 
 Onderdonk, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, derived his second 
 name from the family, to wliom he was related on the side of his 
 mother. They were said to be inveterate foes to American freedom. 
 
 * See p. 68. + 0?f? Merchants of New Yorlu vol. lii, p. 224. 
 
 t Rachel means e've, and Margaret a pearl. § See p. 22, note.
 
 Appendix E, 433 
 
 Henry Van Vleck gave £2 from the earnings of bis ships. He 
 was part owner of a line of vessels to London, among which was 
 the Snoiv Mercury, of wliich Capuiin Cornelius Haight was master, 
 who was probably the Captain Hecht who gave £3 4.s. Tiie Haight 
 family was prominent in New York and Westchester County.* 
 
 Dr. Beard subscribes £1 10s. Tliis was probably Dr. Bard, a 
 prominent physician of the time, who, with Drs. Middleton and Jones, 
 originated the Xew York Hospital.f Drs. Bard and Middleton are 
 also said to have been the first who dissected a human body in Xew 
 York, tiie subject being a criminal. J 
 
 Besides Racliel and Margaret, already referred to, some thirty other 
 names of maids, wives, or widows are to be found on the list. Xext to 
 the largest subscriber among them is Mrs. Lispenard, for £2 10s. 6c?. 
 Dr. Wakeley is probably right in saying that this was Mrs. Leonard 
 Lispenard, though I do not know on what authority. The Lispenards 
 were a French family, and Mr. Leonard Lispenard owned a farm ex- 
 tending from vrhat is now Centre Street to the Xorth River, througli 
 which Canal Street now runs. A part of it was famous as tlie Lis- 
 penard Meadows, of which a view has often been published. Lispen- 
 ard Street was within its limits. In the lease he is named as the 
 owner of land adjoining the plot obtained by the church. He was 
 one of the " Sons of Liberty," and a delegate to the first colonial 
 Congress.g He loaned to the trustees £600 on a mortgage. || 
 
 David Clarkson, who was one of the signers of the lease of the land 
 on whicli the churcli was built, gave £1. He also was of a family of 
 property-owners wliioli gave its name to one of the streets. He was 
 a vestryman of Trinity Churcli for eighteen years. He seems to have 
 been a sturdy advocate of the rights of the people.^ His brother 
 Matthew was a popular ofScer of the American army.** 
 
 Tliomas Bell, who gave £1, was probably the author of the letter 
 which Dr. "Wakeley gives from the Arminian Magazine.\\ 
 
 A little farther on, right after the subscription of Mrs. Buller, we 
 have that of Mrs. Bell for eight shillings. She may have been the 
 wife of Thomas Bell. J:}: 
 
 * Old Merchants of New Yor};, vol. iii, p. 182, etc. 
 + Lamb's History of New York, vol. i, p. 761. 
 t Iliiftorical Magazine, 1859, p. 97. 
 
 § Booth's History of New York, pp. il2, 477 ; Lamb's JJistory nf New York, 
 vol. 1, p. 223. U " Old Book," May 29. 1773. 
 
 TI Lamb's History of New York, vol. li, passim. 
 ** Ibid., vol. li, pp. 101, 103. 
 ++ See Appendi.x G. ti Dr. Wakeley has overlooked this name.
 
 434 A IIisTOiiY OF Methodism in New Yokk City, 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Nizer who gave sixteen shiJliugs was uadoubtedly 
 tlie pustor of the Moravian Church in the city, as we leara that a 
 llev. Gr. Neiser held that position from 1765 to 1775.* Among tlie 
 n;unes of the P;ilalines who settled on Lord Southwell's estate in 
 Ireland in 1709 we have that of Neizer.f He may liave been an old 
 acquaintance of some of the Methodist families. 
 
 A. Beuinger gave £1. All that Dr. Wakeley tells us of him is thnt 
 he WHS well acquainted witli Philip Embury, and used to relate many 
 characteristic anecdotes of him. If, however, the author of Old Mrr- 
 chants of New York is to be relied on this Beninger (or Bininger) fam- 
 ily had a very close relation to tlie founders of Methodism in the 
 United States. He says : J "Christian Bininger, witii his wife and 
 son Abraham, came to Savannah in the vessel \i'\t\\ J. Wesley. 
 Within two days' sail of port Christian and his wife died. Abraham 
 was educated in Whitcfield's orphan house, Savannih. A large com- 
 pany of Morav'ans had petlled in that city. They afterward camo 
 north to Philadclphin, and carried young Bininger with them. Tliey 
 settled at Nazaretii, near Bethlehem, Pa. Young Abraham Bininsrer 
 was educated in the Moravian faith, with the intention of becoming a 
 preacher. When of age he settled at Christian Spring, a mile from 
 Nazareth, and there began preaching. At the same time he married 
 and becam? the father of four sons. He went as a missionary to St. 
 Thomas, in the West Indies. There he was told that 'none but 
 slaves were allowed to preach to slaves.' He forthwith sent a letter 
 to the governor of St. Thomas offering to become a slave in order to 
 save the souls of the Negroes. His letter was transmitted to the 
 King of Denmark, who, to show his appreciation of such devotion, 
 gave him permission to preach to any class in St. Thomas. On his 
 return from the West Indies he went as a missionary to the Indians. 
 He came to New York the year of Embury's arrival. He went with 
 Embury to Salem, took up a large quantity of land there, and erected 
 a lamily mansion, afterward in possession of A. M. Bininger, of New 
 York, his grandson. In 1760 Abraham, the eldest son, came to New 
 York to begin his apprenticesliip as tanner and leather-dresser in the 
 Swamp. He served seven years, but did not like the business. He 
 then commenced getting his 1 ving bj' day's work. Peter Embury, a 
 nephew of Philip, was learning chair-making. Peter had a sister, 
 Kate, who married xV. Bininger. Kate was a beautiful, buxoin 
 girl, and as smart as a steel-trap. Slie soon discovered that it was 
 
 * Greenleaf's Wv&tory of the Churches in New York, p. 279. 
 
 + Cro^ik'a Trclaiul mvl American Mcthodi'fm, p. 26. J Vol. i, p. 144.
 
 Appendix E. 435 
 
 up-hill work to support a faiuily ou the earnings of a day -laborer, 
 aim she proposed to assist by taking in washing and ironing. She 
 then bought a table to stand outside of the door and supplied it wiih 
 cakes and sugar-plums, and wlnle she was working she could keep 
 lier eye on it. Then cabbages, potatoes, fruits, tobacco, snuff, and, 
 finally, a few groceries were added. Tiiis was the foundation of the 
 great Bininger grocery house." * "When Peter Embury, his brother- 
 in-law, built liis store in Beekman Street Abraham carried the hod. 
 After a while he bought a horse and cart. Meanwhile his grocery 
 prospered. Isaac, liis brother, lived with the old people at Camden 
 Valley. He opened a store there which afterward became the greatest 
 between Albany and Montreal, and a wonder to the public. Rev. Dr. 
 Matthews, once pastor of the Garden Street Dutch Reformed Church 
 and chancellor of the New York University, said that the great event 
 of his boy-life was wlien he was dressed up in clouded stockings and 
 rode five miles from home on a load of wheat to see the great store 
 of Bininger. Isaac sent to New York for Abraham to come and join 
 him. He went, leaving Kate in charge of the shop in Augustus 
 Streetf At length it was decided that Abraham should come back 
 to New York and sell or barter away the produce, potash, etc., and 
 buy return goods. It was a journey of two weeks. After a few years 
 tliey dissolved, and Abraham opened a small grocery in Maiden Lane 
 and prospered." Perhaps this same smart Kate was the Mrs. Ben- 
 inger who lent " one green window-curtain " for the preacher's house ; 
 and when we read in the " Old Book," 1770, June 12, "To cash laid 
 out by Mr. Newton and Mrs. Bininger for the preacher's house-keep- 
 ing, £5 13s. 5c?.," it may be that at least a part of it was for goods 
 purchased at her store. 
 
 Abraham Bininger, Sen., it is said, became disgusted with the Mo- 
 ravians, having witnessed scenes such as are related by Jolin Wes- 
 ley.:): He left them, but never joined the Methodists, tliough his wife 
 did. He and Embury were the leaders of the band which moved to 
 Camden. § He attended Embury on his death-bed, || officiated at liis 
 funeral, gave him a grave on his ground, T[ and died at the age of 
 
 * In several of the earlier Directories we find his name, sometimes as a 
 Windsor chair-maker and sometimes as a grocer. 
 
 t Tliis was Barracks Street, now Cit.v Hall Place, where Philip Embur.v's housft 
 was. In the Directory of 1789 we have A. Bininger, grocer, 14 Augustus Street. 
 
 t ^Xes]ey's Journal . February 10, 1744, and December 32, 1751. 
 
 § Letter of Rev. P. P. Harrower, Christian Advocate, vol. xxxiil, p. 76. 
 
 II Crook's Ireland and American Methodism, p. 133. 
 
 t The Methodwt, vol. vii, p. 329,
 
 436 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 ninetj'-one.* The name of Bininoer was for a long time associated 
 with tliat of a celebrated brand of gin. The Abraham Bininger who 
 carried on this business died in New York, October 14, 1870, having 
 accumulated some $250,000. 
 
 Tlie Nancy CrosfiU who subscribed £1 was probably the Mrs. Cros- 
 field who gave two table-cloths for the preachers house. She, or her 
 husband, also lent the church at least £100 on bond.f We learn 
 also that Ann Crossfield (probably the same person) " departed this 
 life in triumph of taith, Friday, December 16, 1785." ;}: 
 
 Thomas Taylor, who gave £1, had been a Methodist in England, 
 and reached New York October 26, 1767. About six months after 
 he wrote a letter to Mr. Wesley. (See Appendix F.) He was one of 
 those to whom the lease was given in 1768, but not one of the trustees 
 who took the deed of sale in 1770. One of that name was a member 
 as late as 1796.§ 
 
 Mrs. Bartley, who subscribed £2, was no doubt Mary Barclay, the 
 widow of Rev. Henrj' Barclay, the former owner of the church 
 ground. 1| 
 
 One David Grim was known in New York as tlie Antiquarian tav- 
 ern-keeper. We owe to him much of ihe knowledge we have of the 
 city about the time of the Revolution.^ He was probably the person 
 wiio gave eight shillings. 
 
 Peter Van Schaick, whose subscription is £1 4s. must have been 
 about twenty-two years old at that time. Some two or three years 
 before, while a student at King's (now Columbia) College, he privately 
 married a daughter of Henry Cruger, a relative of the Crugers already 
 mentioned. He was a loyHli,«t, and went to England, but returned 
 after the war. He is describeil as an estimable man, an accomplished 
 scholar, and an eminent lawyer. He received tiie title of LL.D., and 
 was for many years a vestryman of Trinity Church. He died in 1832, 
 at the age of eighty-six.** 
 
 David Embury, who snb-^cribed £2, was a brother of Philip, ff and 
 removed witli him to Camden. 
 
 * Letter of G. G. Saxe, Christian Advocate, \o\. xli, p. 353. 
 
 t " Old Bcjuk," May 27 and October 7, 1793. 
 
 $ See Book i, A, p. 29. 
 
 § Book i, B, p. 18. II See p. 28. 
 
 t Old Moxhants of New York, vol. iii, p. 10; Sabine's History of the 
 Loyal ids. 
 
 ** Sabine's Historji of the Loi/alists; Historical Magazine, 1883, p. 343; 
 1873, p. 220 ; Wakeley's Lost Chaiitcr.% p. 99. 
 
 t+ G. G. Saxe, ChrMian Admcate, vol. xH, p. 353.
 
 Appendix E. 43'7 
 
 Among the receipts in the "Old Book" we have the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 " Rec'd, New York, 13th Augt., 1770, of Mr. William Lupton, five 
 pounds in full, being allow'd me for loss of time and traveling ex- 
 penses in coming from Camden in the Coimtj^ of Albany to N. York 
 in order to execute an instrument relative to the Methodist Preaching- 
 liouse. £5. David Embuht." 
 
 In the aconnts we also have an entry of the payment, but nothing 
 to give any light as to what the instrument was. David was prob- 
 ably acting as attorney for Pliilip, and the business had no doubt 
 some connection with the deed of sale of the ground, which is dated 
 November 2, 1770. 
 
 Captain Thomas Clarke, who gave £1, was probalily the father- 
 in-law of Bishop Moore. 
 
 Charles McCivers (properly McEvers), a subscriber of £1 12s. 6d., 
 was one of tlie founders of the New York Ciiamber of Commerce.* 
 The Widow McCivers, whose name appears afterward for £1 4s., 
 was no doubt the widow of James McEvers, who was appointed dis- 
 tributer of tlie obnoxious stamps, but refused to take them on their 
 arrival, and resigned. His house, vvliere is now No. 50 Wall Street, 
 was broken into and the furniture destroyed. He died September 8, 
 1768, just before tlie church was completed.f 
 
 Isaac Low, who contributed £1 4s., was a prominent citizen of New 
 York. He lived on Dock Street,:^ where there were then many 
 handsome residences.^ From 1775 to 1783 he was president of the 
 Chamber of Commerce. || At first he favored the popular cause very 
 earnestly, but was afterward charged witli bad faith and dividing and 
 distracting tlie people und giving comfort and assistance to tlie British 
 government. His property was confi.scated, and he went to England, 
 where he died in 1791. 
 
 David Matthews, who gave sixteen shillings and threepence, 
 was ma3'or of tlie city from 1776 to 1784, the period of the Revo- 
 lution. He was a tory, was arrested by the patriots, and after 
 the war was president of the council and commander-in-chief at Cape 
 Breton. T[ 
 
 * Lamb's Historjl of Neiv York, vol. i, p. 740. 
 
 + 7bi(?., vol. 1, pp. 7;i2-737; Stevens's Chamber of Commerce Memorial, 
 Biographical Sketches. 
 i Now Pearl Street, between Whitehall Street and Hanover Square. 
 § Lamb's History of New York, vol. i, p. 758. 
 
 II Stevens's Chamber of Commerce Memorial, Biographical Sketches. 
 % Sabine's History of the Loyalists.
 
 438 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Of Thomas Witter, who gave sixteen shiUings and threepence, we 
 know only that he was one of the original members of the Masonic 
 Society of the city of New York.* 
 
 The name of Josepii Read is found twice, first for tliirteen shillings, 
 and then for £1 8s. He was a gentleman of property, for fifty-four 
 years an officer of Trinity Church, and his family gave name to Reade 
 Street.f 
 
 Thomas Elhson was vestryman of Trinity Church from 1781 to 
 1784. His subscription is sixteen sliillings. 
 
 Mrs. L. L., giving sixteen shillings and tlireepence, may be intended 
 for Mrs. Leonard Lispenard, giving an addition to the £2 10s. Qd. sub- 
 scribed before. 
 
 We find three subscribers bearing the surname of Marstin, John 
 and Tliomas each giving eight shillings, and Nathaniel £1 I'^s. dd. 
 John and Thom;is were both members of the committee of one him- 
 dred, and Thomas represented New York in tiie provincial Congress. 
 He married a daugliter of Leonard Lispenard. :j: 
 
 The name of Captain Randle is entered for sixteen shillings. In 
 1801 Captain Robert Richard Randall made a will, leaving the farm 
 of twenty-one acres on which he lived, in what is now the Fifteenth 
 Ward, and about seventeen thousand dollars' worth of other properly,- 
 to found a hospital or retreat for sailors. This was the origin of the 
 Sailors' Snug Harbor ou Slaten Island. This farm was in the neigh- 
 borhood of Grace Episcopal Church. Captain R. R. Randall was a 
 bachelor.g There was also a Captain Thomas Randall, who died in 
 1797, and was buried in Trinity church-yard. || 
 
 Mr. Axiell, who gave £3 5s., married a sister of James De Pey- 
 ster.^f He lived on part of the site now occupied by the Astor 
 House.** It is said he was a descendant of David Axtell, a colonel 
 in Cromwell's army, who was beheaded at the Restoration. Ho is 
 described as "a gentleman of high honor and integrity." But he was 
 a tory, his property was confiscated, and he went to England and 
 died there. ff 
 
 Mary Ten Eyck, who gave eight shillings, was no doubt the Mrs. 
 
 * Old Merchants of New Yorh, vol. iii, p. 61. 
 
 + Lamb's HMory of New York, vol. i, p. 692. 
 
 $ Ihi.d., vol. U p. 723, and vol. ii, p. 26. 
 
 g Old Merchants of New York, vol. i, p. 212. 
 
 II Stevens's Chamber of Commerce Memorud, p. 157. 
 
 f Lamb's HMoru of New York, voL i, p. 756. 
 
 ** Ibid., vol. li, p. 207. 
 
 +t Sabine's Historu of the Lojyafiate.
 
 Appendix E. 439 
 
 Ten E}-ck who afterward contributed •' one bed sprey " to the parson- 
 age furniture. 
 
 Next on the list is Henry Cuyler, witli a subscription of sixteen 
 shillings and threepence. This was probably Henry Cuyler, Jr., who 
 m 1769 built a massive structure on the corner of Rose and Duane 
 Streets for a sugar-house, and which was still standing in 1890.* It 
 is said he died in England.f 
 
 Charles Williams, a subscriber for sixteen shillings, was a vestry- 
 man of Trinity Church from 1747 to 1774. 
 
 Nich's Steverson, who gave £1, is probably Nicholas Stuyvesant, 
 a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutcli governor of N'ew 
 Amsterdam. He was a vestryman of Trinity Church from 1760 lu 
 1763. 
 
 The Walton House, built in 1752, in Pearl Street, was long a cele- 
 brated memorial of tlie family of that name.| Whether Thomas Wal- 
 ton, who subscribed £1, was one of that race we cannot tell. A gen- 
 tleman of tliat name, a patriotic merchant, died about 1773. § 
 
 John Watts, who gave £2, was probably the last city recorder un- 
 der the English government. || Tlie Watts family owned a fine estate 
 called tlie Rose HJl Farm, extending from about Twenty-third to 
 Thirtieth Street, and crossed by Second, Third, and Fourth Avenues. 
 The Rose Hill (Twenty seventh Street) Methodist Episcopal Cinirch 
 is on this property. The family lived at No. 3 Broadway. Watts 
 was a loyalist, and left the country, and died in Wales in 1789.^ 
 The Leake and Watts Orplian Asylum owes its existence to a be- 
 quest of a yoiuiger John Watts, who died in 1836. 
 
 Al)r'm Lynson, wlio gave twelve shillings, was a merclinnt.** 
 
 Probably not to Anth'y Rntcas, but to Anthony Rutgers, should we 
 credit the sixteen shillings subscription that follows. Tlie estate of 
 which the church plot formed a part is said to have been the property 
 of " Anthony Rutgers, deceased." Rutgers Street derives its name 
 from the family. 
 
 Dr. Middleton gave sixteen shillings and threepence. He was a 
 loyalist, a professor in King's (now Columbia) College, and died in 
 New York about 1781. ff 
 
 * Lamb's HUst. of New Ywk, vol. 1, p. 760. + Sabine's Hist, of Loyalists. 
 
 i Booth's History of New York, pp. 385, 388, 389. 
 
 8 Stevens's Chamber of Commerce Memoi'ial, p. 170. 
 
 II Lamb's History of New York, voL 1, p. 757. 
 
 llbid., vol. li, p. 66; Sabine's History of the Loyalists. 
 
 ** Stevens's Chamlier of Commerce Memorial. 
 
 ttSabine's Hist, of the LoyalMs ; also, notice of Dr. Bard, in this Appendix. 
 
 20
 
 440 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Heury White gave £1. He was an eminent merchant, who in 
 17G9 did business at the "De Peyster House on the Fly," where he 
 sold " nails, tea, glass, sail-cloth, medicine, wine," etc. He was pres- 
 ident of the Chamber of Commerce and one of the consignees of the 
 obnoxious tea. His property was confi.scated, and he went to England, 
 and died in London in 1786.* 
 
 Thomas Moore gave £1 Is. He was a vestryman of Trinity Church 
 for Ave years. 
 
 The name of Elias Debruce, whose subscription was sixteen shil- 
 lings. Dr. Wakeley translates (and it would seem correctly) into 
 Elias Desbrosses. He was alderman of the East Ward for many 
 years, and warden and vestryman of Trinity Cliurch for a long time, 
 and distinguished for his benevolence. He left by will £500 for 
 clothing and eduftiting poor ciiildren of tlie Charity School. Desbros- 
 ses Street was called after the family ; but no descendants of his per- 
 petuate his name in the New York Directory of the j-ear 1890. 
 
 For Mr. Comaline, wlio gave sixteen shillings, we should prob- 
 ably read Crommeline; but wliether Daniel or Charles or Roljert 
 is uncertain. Robert was a vestryman of Trinity Church from 
 1750 to 1784. They were merchants and connected with the Lud- 
 lows.f 
 
 Dr. Kissam, whose snl)scripti(in was tliirteen siiilHngs, was an emi- 
 nent physician of the day, and of a family which has furnished many 
 prominent members of that profession. 
 
 On the 15th of May, 1775, at a meeting of the citizens of New York a 
 committee of one hundred was appointed to take charge of municip;d 
 afEairs until different arrangements should be made by tlie continental 
 Congress. Among the.se we find the name of Rudolphus Ritze- 
 man, evidently the same person as Rudolf Ritsman, who gave £1. 
 Shortly after, when four regiments were raised in New York at the 
 order of Congress, the lieutenant-colonel of the first was "Adolph 
 Ritzma, the son of the dominie of the Dutch Church," Rev. Johannes 
 Ritzema. Sad to say, he and another officer of the regiment proved 
 traitors. :[: 
 
 Thomas Vardell (not Tandrill) should probably be the name of the 
 donor of £2 6s. He was warden of the port and a loyalist.§ 
 
 James Duane spared £2 from his lawyer lees as his contribu- 
 
 * Sabine's Histori) of the lyOi/a/i'sfs. 
 
 + Ofd Merchants of New Ynrlu vol. iil, pp. 107, 108-11-^. 
 
 $ Booth's Hwtnr^i of New York, pp. 481-487. 
 
 § Sabine's Hlst<mi <>f the Loyalists.
 
 Appendix E. 441 
 
 tiOn. He was one of the most eminent in his profession, a mem- 
 ber of the old Congress, and tirst mayor of the city under the State 
 government. From Washington he received the lionor of being 
 tlie first judge of the United States District Court, under the pres- 
 ent Coiistituliou of the country. He was a vestryman of Trinity 
 Churcli from 1772 to 1777, warden from 1784 to 1794, and mayor 
 of the city from 1783 to 1788. Duane Street derives its name from 
 the family. 
 
 Theodore Yan Wyck also gave £2. He was assi^stant alderman of 
 the Dock Ward iu 1756 and alderman in 1764. 
 
 Thomas Jones, a lawyer, was recorder of the city 1769-72. His 
 property was couliscated, but the £1 14«. which he gave to the Meth- 
 odist chapel was safely invested where it could do good.* 
 
 The Yerpleck who gave £1 4s. must have been one of the 
 
 Verplanck fan ily well-known to New Yorkers. 
 
 Three Ludlows follow. Mr. Ludlow gives sixteen shillings and 
 threepence, William Ludlow £1 4s., and C. Ludlow £1. Afterward we 
 have another Mr. Ludlow giving nine shillings. Dr. Wakeley reads 
 G. for C. in the third name, but it is evidently C. However, one of the 
 two who are entered as Mr. Ludlow was probably Gabriel, a vestry- 
 man of Trinity Church from 1742 to 1769. He was afterward in the 
 British army, and went to New Brunswick and died in 1808 But the 
 C. Ludlow was no doubt Cary Ludlow, who about that time bought 
 a fine liouse, No. 9 State Street, near tlie Battery. In 1776 he went 
 to England, where he remained until 1784, but died in New York in 
 1815. His descendants must have deserted loyalism, as in 1824 some 
 of them gave a grand ball at the house in State Street to Lafayette, 
 then visiting this coinitry. The William Ludlow may have been his 
 brother, as he had one of that name.f Ludlow Street owes its title 
 to tills family. 
 
 Andrew Hamersley (for so, no doubt, we should read A. Hamsley) 
 is also commemorated by a short street. He, too, was a vestryman 
 of Trinity Church, holding that ofHce for twenty years, and gave 
 £1. He once held a commission in the army. The Directory of 
 1786 reports him as an iron-monger and dry-goods merchant, at 
 
 ♦ This is on Dr. Wakeley 's authority. But there was another Thomas Jones, 
 a physician, and one of the founders of the New York Hospital. He married 
 a daughter of Philip Livingstone, and it is not unlikely that he was the con- 
 tributor. 
 
 + Sabine's Historu of llie LoijnlMs; Lamb's HMory of New Ym% vol. 
 11, p. 446.
 
 442 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 46 Hanover Square ; he was assistant alderman of the Dock Ward in 
 1773. One of that name died in May, 1819, aged ninety-four.* 
 
 Peter Remsen was a dry-goods merchant, and died in 1771.-)- His 
 subscription was sixteen shillings and threepence. 
 
 Mr. Banyar, who subscribed £1, was no doubt Goldsbrow Banyar, 
 who was auditor-general in 1746 and deputy clerk of the council, etc., 
 for some time. On a placard in the library of the New York His- 
 torical Society is a paper from his hand: 
 
 " The Lteutenant-Governor declares he will do nothing in rela- 
 tion to the St.\mps, but leave to Sir Henry Moore to do as he pleases 
 on his arrival. Council Chamber, New York, Nov. 2, 1765. 
 
 "By order of his Honour, G. W. Banyar, D. CI. Ccmy 
 
 The D. CI. Cou. signifies deputy clerk of the council. Mr. Banyar 
 died ut Albanj' in the year 1815. Sabine classes him among the loy- 
 alists. 
 
 The Mr. Yeats who gave sixteen shillings and threepence was 
 probably Richard Yates, a vestryman of Trinity Church, also classed 
 as a loyalist by Sabine. In 1786 one of that name was m business 
 at 28 Maiden Lane. 
 
 Fred'k Depoistor no doubt should be De Peyster. He gave six- 
 teen shillings and llireepence. But some thirty-five years after a 
 Miss De Peyster, perhaps a daughter, left a legacy of £300 to the New 
 York Conference, which yields about $00 annually to the fund for 
 Conference claimants. He was said to be of noble descent. He was 
 a loyalist, and went to New Brunswick, but afterward returned. | 
 
 Thomas Tucker gave £1 12s. He was a vestryman of Trinity 
 Church in 1784. 
 
 Cook is a name so common that when it has no prefix but Mr. it 
 is hard to identify the owner. Perhaps the Mr. Cook who gave four 
 shillings is the one referred to in the " Old Book," " 1784, February, 
 15. To cash pd Mr. Cook for the preacher's horse, £2 2s. 0(/." 
 
 David Johnston, whose subscription was £1 12s. 6tZ., was probably 
 the David Johnson who, in 1773, was elected a trustee. Some, at 
 least, of the preachers boarded with him, as is evident from entries in 
 the "Old Book." The Directory of 1786 gives the name, with ap- 
 pendage of Esq., at 17 Wall Street. 
 
 Of Isaac Sears, who gave £1, we learn that lie was one of tlie 
 
 * Histiirieal Magazine, 1873, p. 41 ; New York Spectator, May 2i, 1810. 
 ■'i- Oiamher of Commerce Memorial, p. 158. 
 t SablDtt's History of the Loyalists.
 
 Appendix E. 443 
 
 most ardt nt leaders of the Sons of Liberty.* At tl* battle of the 
 Liberty Pole, on the Common (now the City Hall Park), August 10, 
 1766, he was seriously wounded. In January, 1770, he and Waltt-r 
 Quackenbos detected three soldiers in the act of posting scuirilotis 
 placnls throughout the city, and each grasped a man by the col- 
 lar. The third soldier rushed upon Sears with his bayonet, attempt- 
 ing to free his comrade, but the Son of Liberty finding a ram's horu 
 near at hand, hurled it with such force in the face of his assailant 
 as to make him reel bnck from the shock, so that the captors made 
 their way with their captives to the mayor's office. This was the 
 beginning of the battle of Golden Hill, immediately in tlie neighbor- 
 liood of the Methodist church, in which the first blood was shed in 
 the Revolutionary War, anticipating, by some weeks, the celebrated 
 Boston massacre. In 1775 Sears was arrested for instigating the 
 people to resistance, but they rescued him on the way to prison. He 
 was a deleirate to the first provincial Congress and an officer in the 
 American arn)y.f 
 
 A lawyer, named William Wickliam, flourished about one hundred 
 years ago in the city. Perhaps he was the Lawyer Wickham 
 who gave nineteen shillings and si.xpence, and perhaps he was an 
 ancestor of Mayor Wickham. But why did he not give the additional 
 sixpence and make it Just £l.:j: 
 
 John Casuer gave £1. It is probable that he was the John Gassnar 
 whose name is signed to the first receipt in the " Old Book." It reads: 
 
 "Rec'd, Xew York. 17th Augt., 1769, of Mr. Wm. Lupton, £10 
 12s. 10(7. for painting and glazing done to Method't preaching-house. 
 
 "£10 12.S. 10*Z. John Gassx.^r." § 
 
 * Fresneau, in his political squib upon Gaine, editor of the New York 
 Mcrcurii, write:; : 
 
 *■' At thi'^ time arose a certain King SEARS, 
 Who made it his study to banish our fears. 
 He was witliout doubt a person of merit. 
 Great knowledge, some wit, and abundance of spirit. 
 Could talk like a lawyer, and that without fee, 
 And threatened perdition to all who drank Tea." 
 
 —Stevens's Chnmhcr of Commerce Memorial, p. 160. 
 + Booth's Bistorij of New Torli, pp. 412, 417, 43i, 435, 448-450, 479, 480, 487. 
 X Lamb's Hiatoril of New York, vol. ii, pp. 32, 300. 
 
 § About fifty years after one Peter Gassner, probably a descendant of John, 
 has dealings with the trustees of the Methodist Church. But he is in another 
 line of trade, not painting and glazing, but clothing. He sends in a bill for 
 
 4 J yds. coating, lis S") 63 
 
 Hose and bombazine [probably for one of the bishops or preachers], 1 81 
 
 Oct. 2'1. 1819. $~ ^^4
 
 444 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 Of Riclmrd Waldrou, who gave sixteen shillings, we know nothing. 
 But il is worthy of notice that of ail die subscriptions this is the 
 only one the payment of which is entered in the regular account. 
 Most probably the others were paid in before the account was begun. 
 It is under date of August 1, 17G9. 
 
 It is a pity we can say nothing of Mr. Samuel Schuyler, who gave 
 £3 4s. 3d. All we know is that he was of the Schuyler family, and 
 was probably related to Mr. Luptou's first wife. 
 
 And here tlie original subscription-list seems to have ended, and 
 t?ie amount is footed up, being £309 15s. Id. What follows is in 
 paler ink, and there is some difference in the penmanship, though 
 the hand may be the same. It seems to have been the result of a 
 renewed effort, and several of tlie names are the same as in tlie first 
 hst. 
 
 John Leake, however, who leads this rear-guard with a subscrip- 
 tion of £15, is a new name. Twenty years later a Jolin G. Leake, 
 gentleman, lived at No. 5 Fair Street (now Fulton, between Broadway 
 and Pearl Streets). This name is associated with that of Watt in the 
 Leake and Watt Orphan Asylum. 
 
 For what we know of Jolin Chave, who subscribed £5, we are in- 
 debted mainly to a letter to Dr. Wakeley from the Rev. Dr. S. R. 
 Johnson, of the General Theological Seminary, New York.* We 
 there learn that he was a British officer who came to America about 
 the time of the French war. He was converted while in the army, 
 and was noted, even among the Methodists themselves, for his very 
 strong attachment to Mr. Wesley. Having been in the army with 
 Captain Webb and Mr. Lupton, he entertained a warm affection for 
 them, and his intimacy with the Lupton family continued after the 
 death of his friend. He lived for some years at Newark, N. J., using 
 his property, wliicli was quite sutEcient for his support, frugally as 
 to his own wants, but generously to others. His property became 
 involved by the misfortunes of William Lupton, Jr., with wiiom an 
 arrangement was afterward made for his support. He resided for 
 some time in Greenwich Village, then a suburb of New York, now a 
 part of tlie city. Afterward he joined Mr. William Lupton in Wal- 
 ton, Delaware County, N. Y., where, about 1816, when not far from 
 eighty-si.x years old, he died and was buried. One who knew him 
 (Klbert Herring, Esq.) saj'S : " I never knew a man more entirely 
 devoted to the Lord ; his Christian spirit manifested itself in all he 
 did ; he seemed to live for Christ alone." It was his custom, when 
 * Lost Ch<ipters, etc., p. 539.
 
 Appendix E. 445 
 
 lie :i\voke at night, to spond tlie time in prayer. A few weeks before 
 he ilifd he was ht-ard at niidiiignt siiiginu; his favorite liymns In the 
 morning- Mr. Lupton said to hun, '■ You felt qnite Hke singing last 
 night, Fatlier Chave?" " 0, yes," said he, " I felt so happy in the Lord 
 I could not help singing." He was a useful member of the Church, 
 occupying official position^. In Bishop Asbnry's Journal, under date 
 of September 1 1, 1772, he says, " Appointed Mr. C. to take an account 
 of the weekly and quarterly collections."* That this was Mr. Chave 
 is made certain by the following entry in the " Old Book," under date 
 of Augn.^t 12, 1773: "By class collections Rec'd by Mr. Chave be- 
 tween September, 1772, and Augt. 12th, 1773, £60 lis." At least one 
 entry of a similar kind is found afterward. Mr. Chave's name. ap- 
 pears also in the " Old Book," in another series of transactions, in 
 wiiich we sec his association with tlie financial affairs of the Church, 
 and those of the Lupton family. We read : " Sept. 5, 1787. To cash 
 paid Wm. Lupton, one year's interest, £21." - In September, of the 
 following year, the name of Mr. Chafe is substituted for that of Lup- 
 ton, and these payments continue from year to year, except that in 
 1791 William Lupton receives the mono}^, and that in the last entry in 
 1795 tiie name is spelt Chave. " I remember him in my childhood," says 
 Mr. Johnson, " sitting in his arm-chair on the piazza of Peter Roose- 
 velt's farm-house at Newtown, in 1807, and my memory yet brings 
 up to the mind his venerable form and whitened locks." f 
 
 John Staples subscribes £1. He was a native of Prussia, and his 
 wife, before he married her, is said to have been the widow succes- 
 sively of two sea-captains (Lynn and Lovegrove), both of whom were 
 lost at sea. Mr. Staples, as we learn from the " Old Book," was 
 elected trustee in 1773, :[: and in May, 1774, his name is found as joint 
 treasurer with Stephen Sands. He held this position witii different 
 colleagues most of the time covered by the accounts of tiiat book.g 
 He introduced into this coimtry the business of sugar refining. His 
 first refinery was in Rector Street ; the second, which was much 
 larger, was in Liberty Street, near tlie Middle Dutch Church. This was 
 afterward the famous sugar-house whore American prisoners suffered 
 so much during the Revolution. It appears also from the Directory 
 of 1786 that he carried on business as a grocer at No. 5 Maiden Lane. 
 In the "Old Book " we have the entry: " 1771, 11th Feb. To cash 
 pd. Mr. Staples Ibr sugar and wine, etc., 135. 9cZ." 
 
 Mr. Staples became wealthy, and moved in the best society. He 
 
 * See p. 60. + Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 541. 
 
 i See p. 68, note. § See treasurers, note, p. 135.
 
 440 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 was an intimate friend of the Rev. F. Garrettson, and it is said that 
 at his liouse Mr. Garrettson first met Miss ('atharine Livingston, who 
 afterward became his wife. A son of Mr. Staples, named John 
 Jacob, had a great genius for invention. He learned the trade of 
 watch-maker witli his father's intimate friend. Stephen Sands.* His 
 first patent was taken out under the presidency of Washington, and 
 after that he obtained one, at least, under every successive adminis- 
 tration down 10 that of W. H. Harrison. He was a very accomplished 
 gentleman and of great conversational powers. He married a beautiful 
 Quakeress, the daughter of Colonel De Courcy, who brought with her 
 S80,000. For a time he was very successful in business, but, having 
 speculated lieavily and indorsed imprudently, he finally became a 
 bankrupt, and involved his father also. The old gentleman had given 
 up business and retired to his country-seat at Newtown, L. I., liaving, 
 as he supposed, property sufficient to enable him to spend tlie evening 
 of liis life without care. But this sudden calamity overwhelmed him, 
 and he died in 1806, and was buried in Xewlown. His widow sur- 
 vived until 1821, and then died at the age of ninety, and was buried 
 by lier liusband's side. The son, in his old age, became a member 
 of ihe Willetl Street Clmrch, New York, and died in 1851, at the age 
 of eighty-two, and was buried witli his father. 
 
 Of two other sons of John Staples we have some account. One 
 was born while Rev. Tiiomas Rankin was in New York — that is, be- 
 fore June, 1778, and was named after him. He grew up to be wild 
 and reckless, a cause of much grief to his father, who would often 
 say, as the tears ran down his cheeks, '' Thomas, my son, the course 
 you are pursuing will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the 
 grave." The young man's health failing, lie visited England and died 
 there, at the house of Mr. Rankin, attended by Dr. "Whitehead, Mr. 
 Sause, and Mr. and Mrs. R inkin. From his death-bed he sent this 
 message: "Tell my father that tlie son whom lie said would bring 
 down his gray hairs witli sorrow to the grave will reach heaven be- 
 fore lie does." He died February 6, 1795, and was buried in London, 
 it is sai I, at City Road. Anotlier son was born during the Revolu- 
 tion, while Samuel Spraggs was pastor, and was named after him.f 
 
 * In tlie Directory of 1789 we have "John J. Staples, Jr., watch and clock 
 maker, 40 Water Street." 
 
 t Mrs. Marsraret Cooper, the mother of Peter Cooper, became a member of 
 Mr. Staples' class in 178H. Perhaps the Mrs. ?tapel whose name we And ear- 
 lier in the list giving sixteen shillings and threepence was the wife of this 
 John Staples.
 
 Appendix E. 447 
 
 Stephen Sands, whose u;ime lias been mentioned in tlie sketch of 
 Staples, stands very properly in the list next to his old friend, sub- 
 scribin<i: also the same sum, £1. Of his birth and early Iiistory we 
 know nothing, but it is probable that he was a son of Joshua Sands, 
 of Sands Point, L. I. He was elected trustee in 1773, and he 
 and Staples succeeded James Jarvis as treasurer in 1774.* His 
 house was the tirst in America to receive Dr. Coke when he came, in 
 November, 1784. Drew, in his life of Coke, says that there he 
 "found himself in a region of hospitniity and tViendship." Whatcoat, 
 also, who was witii Dr. Coke, says in his Journal, '"We were kindly 
 received by our Christian friends, Messrs. Sands and others." He 
 also boarded the preachers, as appears by the following receipt, 
 wi ich, Dr. "Wakele}- says, "now lies belbre me, in his own handwrit- 
 ing, on a little piece of paper that has been singularly preserved: 
 
 " Rec, January 9th, 1776, of Mr. Eichard Sause, five pounds fiteon 
 shillings and sevenpeuce, being part of the class collections to pay the 
 preacher's board. £5 1 5s. Id. Ftiiphen Sands." 
 
 Mr. Sands was a watc-h-niaker, and advertises (September 2, 1779,) 
 1' om 189 Queen S'reet. Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, in liis Journal, says, 
 '•Mr. Sands was a local preacher." 
 
 Philip Ebert, £1. All tliat we know about him besides is what we 
 find in tliis entry : 
 
 "1772, Nov. 24. To cash paid Mr. Boaidman, the £10 that was bor- 
 rowed from Philip Ebert. and is now p^id by order of Philip. £10." 
 In 1787 a Pliilip Eliert was excluded for slandering the preachers. 
 
 Thomas Dimcan was a celebrated m< reliant of that day. In 
 February, 1767, his house in Hanover Square was burned, and his 
 wife and four children, who were sick with the small-pox, lost their 
 lives. One daughter threw herself from the window, and escaped, 
 and another was out at nurse. Tt is SMid that Mr. Duncan never 
 smiled afterward. f Perhaps his donation of £1 12s. was partly the 
 result of his affliction. 
 
 The largest contribution from a woman is that of Mrs. Anderson, 
 £3 45. This in itself entitles her to remembrance; but if we do not 
 misinterpret two entries in tlie " Old Book " she is worthy of greater 
 credit than nt first appears. TTe read: "1772, July 16. To cash 
 paid Mrs. Anderson, part of her wages, 16 — " (sixteen shillings). 
 And again, " Nov. 5, to cash paid Mrs. Anderson, her wages in full, 
 
 * Of his .service as treasurer see note, p. 135. 
 
 + O'd Mnrhdiifii of New York, vol. ill, pp. iaS-110; New Yoilc Mcrcur)j 
 and Gazette. February 10, 1707.
 
 448 A History of Methodism ix New York City. 
 
 £3 lis." She seems to have eaiued her livuig by labor, and perhaps 
 her contribution was that of a widow, and siiould be set down bj' the 
 side of tliat of her who gave the two mites, the most liberal subscrip- 
 tion of all. 
 
 John Bowden, like Philip Ebert, gave £1 ; and of him also we 
 know nothing except what we find in the " Old Book." Under date 
 of November 22, 1770, we have the entry: 
 
 " To cash pd. By Mr. Bowden to take Mr. Boardman and Bring 
 Mr. Pil'e (Pihnore) from P. Town, £0 4s. Od" (P. Town is Piiila- 
 delpliia or Princeton.) But the name of Miss Elizabetii, or Betsey, 
 Bowden appears frequently from May 15, 177S, onward. Slie re- 
 ceived interest for money loaned to the church. At first the amount 
 was £600, but in a year or two it would seem that some payments 
 liad been made on the principal, and at last we have an entry of the 
 p.ij'ment of £50, with whicli the transaction apparently, closes. She 
 nia}' liave been the sister or daughter of Mr. Bowden. 
 
 Thomas Brinkloy, whose subscription was sixteen shillings, was 
 born in Pliiladelpliia, and married Mary, tiie sister of Jolin Staples. 
 He' was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and one of tlie guard 
 who watched over Major Andre and conducted him to the place of 
 execution. He died February 5, 1795, aged forty-six years. His 
 wife survived him several years, and was buried in the same grave, 
 in tlie burying-ground of the old Forsyth Street Clnirch. A portrait 
 of liim is said to be in the possession of his granddaughter. His son 
 John was an honored member of the Allen Street Church, and left a 
 legacy of a thousand dollars to the Missionary Society. 
 
 Lewis Faugers is set down for £3 4s. In the list of trustees 
 chosen in 1785 (see page 86) we find the name Lewis Faugre. The 
 correct orthography is undoubtedly Faugere, as we find it most fre- 
 quently in the "Old Book," most generally with the prefix Doctor. 
 He held a bond for which he received annual interest. 
 
 A few names follow, but they are eicher those that we have had 
 before or such as we c.ui get no information about. 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 LETTER OF T. T. (THOMAS TAYLOR) TO MR. WESLEY. 
 
 This letter was found by Rev. Charles Atmore among the papers 
 of Rev. Christoplier Hopper. Little is known of the aut'.or. He 
 probably did not remain long in the city, as his name, though in the
 
 Appendix F. 449 
 
 li.sl of trustees to whom the lease and the first deed of sale were 
 given, is not among tliose who took the deed of 1870. We might 
 suppose the Mrs. Taylor who lent certain articles for the furnish- 
 ing of the preachers' house (see Appendix K) was his wife, but he 
 writes as if his family were not with him. 
 
 ••New York, Ajnil 11, 1768. 
 
 "Rev. and Very Dear Sir: I intended writing to you for several 
 weeks pasr, ; but a few of us had a very material transaction in view. 
 I iliereforo postponed writing until I could give you a particular ac- 
 count tliereof; this was the purchasing of ground for building a 
 preacliiug-house upon, which, by the blessing of God, we have now 
 concluded. But before I proceed I shall give you a sliort account of 
 the state of religion in tliis citj-. By tiie best intelligence I can col- 
 lect, there was little either of the form or power of it until Mr. 
 Whitefield came over, thirtj' years ago ; and even after his first and 
 second visits there appeared but little fruit of liis labors. But during 
 his visit fourteen or fifteen years ago there was a considerable shak- 
 ing among the dry bones. Divers were savingly converted; and this 
 work was much increased in his last journey, about fourteen years 
 since, wheu his words were realh' like a hammer and like a fire. 
 Most part of tlie adults were stirred up ; great numbers pricked to 
 the iieart, and, bj^ a judgment of charity, several found peace and joy 
 ill believing. The consequence of this work was, churches were 
 crowded, and subscriptions raised for building new ones. Mr. White- 
 lield's example provoked most of tlie ministers to a mueli greater de- 
 gree of earnestness. And by the multitudes of people, old and 
 j'oung, rich and poor, flocking to the churches, religion became an 
 honorable profession. There was now no outward cross to be taken 
 up therein. Nay, a person wiio could not speak about the grace of 
 God, and the new birtli, was esteemed unfit for genteel compan3\ 
 But in a wjiile, instead of pressing forward, and growing in grace, 
 (as ho exhorted tliem), the generality were pleading for the remains of 
 sin and the necessity of being in darkness. They esteemed tlieir 
 opinions as the very essentials of Chrislianitj', and regarded not lioli- 
 ness, either of heart or life. 
 
 " The above appears to me to be a genuiue account of the stale of 
 religion in New York eighteen months ago, when it pleased God to 
 rouse up Mr. Embury to emf)loy his talent (vvhicli for several years had 
 been hid, as it were, in a napkin) by calling sinners to repentance, and 
 cxliorting believers to let their light shine before men. He spoke at
 
 450 A History of Methodism ix Neav York City. 
 
 first only in his own house. A few were soon collected togeilier and 
 joined into a little societ}', chiefly his own countrymen, Irish Germans. 
 In about three months after, Brotlier Wliite andBroiher Sause, from 
 Dubhn, joined them. They then rented an empty room in their 
 nei.u'hboi-hood, which was in the most infamous street in the city, ad- 
 joining the barracks. For some time few thought it worth tlieir while 
 toiiear: but God so ordered it by his providence, that about fourteen 
 months ago Captain "Webb, barrack-master at Albany (who was con- 
 verted three years since at Bristol), found them out, and preached in 
 his regimentals. The novelty of a man preaching in a scarlet coat soon 
 brought greater numbers to liear than the room could contain. But his 
 doctrines were quite new to tlie hearers ; for lie told them point 
 i)lank, ' tliat all their knowledge and religion were not worth a rush, 
 unless their sins were forgiven, and thej- had " the witness of God's 
 Spirit with theirs that they were the children of God." ' Tins strange 
 doctrine, witli some peculiarities in his person, made liim soon taken 
 notice of; and obliged the little society to look out for a larger house 
 to preach in. They soon found a place that had been built for a rig- 
 ging-house, sixty leet in length and eighteen in breadth. 
 
 "About tliis period Mr. Webb, whose wife's relations lived at 
 Jamaica, Long Island, took a house in that neighborhood, and began 
 topreacii in his own house and several other places on Long Island. 
 Within six months, about twenty- four persons received justifying 
 grace, nearly half of them wiiites — the rest negroes. While Mr. 
 Webb was (to borrow liis own plirase) 'felling trees on Long Island,' 
 Brotlier Embury was exhorting all wlio atieuded on Tiiursday even- 
 ings, and Sundays, morning and evening, at the rigging-house, to 
 flee from tlie wrath to come. His hearers began to increase, and 
 some gave heed to his report, about the time the gracious providence 
 of God brought me safe to New York, after a very favorable passage 
 of six weeks from Plymouth. It was the 26ili day of October last 
 wlieu I arrived, recommended to a person for lodging; I inquired of 
 my host (who was a very religious man) if any Methodists were in 
 New York ; he answered that there was one Captain Webb, a strange 
 sort of man, who lived on Long Island, and who sometimes preached 
 at one Embury's, at the rigging-house. In a few days I found out 
 Emburj'. I soon found of what spirit he was, and that he was person- 
 ally acquainted with you and your doctrines, and that he had been 
 a helper in Ireland. He had formed two classes, one of the men, 
 and the other of the women, but had never met the society apart 
 from the congreg-ation. although there were six or seven men, and as
 
 Appendix F. 451 
 
 many women, who had a. clear sense of their acceptance in the Be- 
 loved. 
 
 " You will not wonder at my being agreeably surprised in meeting 
 with a few here who have been and desire again to be in connection 
 with you. God only knows the weight of affliction I felt on leaving 
 my native couutrj-. But I have reason now to conclude God intevided 
 all for my good. Ever since I left London, my load has been re- 
 moved, and I have found a cheerfulness in being banished from all 
 near and dear to me, and I made a new covenant wiili my God, that 
 I would go to the utmost parts of the earth, provided he would raise 
 up a people witli whom I might join in liis praise. On the great deep 
 I found a more earnest desire to be united with the people of God 
 than ever before. I made a resolution that God's people should be 
 my people, and their God my God; and, bless his holy name, I have 
 since experienced more heartfelt happiness than ever I thought it 
 possible to have on this side eternity. All anxious care about my 
 dear wife and children is taken away. I cannot assist them, but I 
 daily and hourly commend them to God in prayer, and I know he 
 hears ray prayers, by an answer of love in my heart. I find power 
 daily to devote myself unto him ; and I find power also to overcome 
 sin. If any uneasiness at ah affects me, it is because I can speak so 
 little of so good a God. 
 
 "Mr. Embury lately has been more zealous than formerly; the 
 consequence of which is that he is more lively in preachmg; and 
 his gifts as well as graces are much iucreascd. Great numbers of 
 serious persons came to hear God's word as for tlieir lives; and their 
 numbers increased so fast that our house for six weeks past would 
 not contain half the people. 
 
 " We had some consultations how to remedy this inconvenience, 
 and Mr. Embury proposed renting a small lot of ground for twenty- 
 one years, and to exert our utmost endeavors to build a wooden tab- 
 ernacle ; a piece of ground was proposed ; the ground-rent was agreed 
 for. and the lease was to be executed in a few days. We, liowever, in the 
 meantime, had two several days for fastiug and prayer for the direction 
 of God and his blessing on our proceedings; and providence opened 
 such a door as we had no expeciaiion of. A young man, a siucere 
 Christian and constant hearer, though not joined in society, not giving 
 any thuig tov/ard this house, offered leu pounds to buy a lot of ground, 
 went of his own accord to a lady who had two lots to sell, on one of 
 which there i.s a house that rents for eighteen pounds per annum. Ho 
 found the purchase money of the two lots was six hinidrcd pounds.
 
 452 A History of Methodisji in New York. City. 
 
 which she was willing should remain in the purchaser's possession, 
 on good security. We called once more on God for his direction, 
 and resolved to purchase the whole. There are eight of us who are joint 
 purchasers: among whom Mr. Webb and Mr. Lupton are men of 
 propert}'. 1 was determined the house should be on the same foot- 
 ing as the orphan house at Newcastle, and others in England ; but as 
 we were ignorant how to draw tlie deeds, we pnrcliased for us and 
 our heirs, until a copy of the writing is sent us from England, which we 
 desire may be sent by the first opportmiity. 
 
 " Before we began to talk of building, the devil and his children 
 were very peaceable: but since this affair took place many ministers 
 have cursed us in the name of the Lord, and labored with all their 
 might to stop their congregations from assisluig us. But He that 
 siiteth in the highest lavighed them to scorn! Many have broken 
 through, and given their friendly assistance. We have collected above 
 one hundred pounds more than our own contributions ; and have 
 reason to hope in the whole we shall have two hundred pounds ; but 
 the house will cost us four hundred pounds more, so that unless God 
 is pleased to raise up friends we shall yet be at a loss. I believe Mr. 
 AVebb and Mr. Lupton will borrov/ or advance two hundred pounds, 
 rather than the building should not go forward; but the interest of 
 money here is a great burden — being seven per cent. Some of our 
 brethren proposed writing to you for a collection in England; but I 
 was averse to this, as I well know our friends there are overbiu-dened 
 already. Yet so far I would earnestly beg: if yon would intimate our 
 circumstances to particular persons of ability, perhaps God would open 
 their hearts to assist this infant society, and contribute to the first 
 preaching-house on the original Methodist plan in all America (ex- 
 cepting Mr. Whitefield's orphan house in Georgia); but I sliall write 
 no more on this subject. 
 
 " There is another point far more material, and in which I must 
 importune your assistance, not only in my own name, but also in the 
 name of the whole society. We want an able and experienced 
 preacher, one who has both gifts and grace necessary for the work. 
 God has not, indeed, despised the day of small tilings. There is a 
 real work of grace begun in many hearts by the preaching of Mr. 
 Webb and Mr. Embury; but altiiougii tlicy are both useful, and their 
 hearts in the work, they want many qualifications for sncli an un- 
 dertaking; and the progress of the Gospel here depends nuich upon 
 the qualifications of preachers. 
 
 " In regard to a preacher, if possible we must have a man of wis-
 
 Appendix F. 453 
 
 dora, of sound faith, and a good di-^ciplinarian: one whose heart and 
 soul are in tlie work ; and I doubt not but by the goodness of God such 
 a tlame will be soon kindled as would never stop until it reached the 
 great South Sea. We may make many shifts to evade temporal in- 
 conveniences ; but we cannot purchase such a preacher as I have de- 
 scribed. Dear sir, I entreat you, for tiie good of tliousands, to use 
 your utmost endeavors to send one over. I would advise him to take 
 shipping at Bristol, Liverpool, or Dublin, in the montii of July, or 
 early in August: by embarking at this season he will have fine 
 weather in his passage, and probably arrive here in the month of 
 September. He will see before winter what progress tlie Gospel lias 
 made. 
 
 " With respect to money for the payment of the preachers' passage 
 over, if they could not procure it, we would sell our coats and shirts 
 to procure it for them. 
 
 " I most earnestly beg an interest in your praj'ers, and trust you, 
 and many of our brethren, will not forget the church in tliis wil- 
 derness. 
 
 "I remain with sincere esteem. Rev. and dear sir, your very aff^^c- 
 lionate brother and servant, T. T." 
 
 APPHNDIX G. 
 
 LETTER OF THOMAS BELL. 
 
 The following letter, Dr. Wakelcy says,* is copieij from the Ar- 
 minian Magazine. The writer seems to have bei'ii .-i lucclianicf 
 
 "Charlestox, S. C. Mnj i:!, 1769. 
 
 "Very Dear and Affectionate Brother: WJicu 1 came to New 
 York I Ibund that our business was not very ploutiful for strangers. 
 Though there is a good deal of business in the toA n it is entirely 
 overstocked with trades-people ; but what added iiio<t lo my satisfac- 
 tion was, I found a {'ew of the dear people of Ciod iu it. There is 
 one Mr. Emmery, one of our preachers, that catue from Ireland nine 
 years ago. Latelj"^ there were two that came froui Dulilin. They 
 have met together, and tlicir number has increased; ind they have 
 built a large new house, which cost them six luiudicd ]iounds ster- 
 ling. Tliey are very poor iu this world. Theyexix-c .issisiauce from 
 England, but I often used to tell them they need not. for many of Die 
 
 * Lost Chapters, p. 113. tSec Apixuilix E.
 
 45-i A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 people of England were very poor themselves; and tliey that had of 
 ihis world's goods did not care to part with them. There is another 
 of our preachers who was a captain in the army; he was convinced 
 of the truth before he left England : his name is Mr. Webb. God 
 has been pleased to open his mouth. So the Lord carries on a very 
 great work by these two men. They were, however, soon [sore ?] 
 put to it in building their house: they made several collections about 
 tiie town for it; and they went to Philadelphia, and they got part of 
 the money there. I wrought upon it six days. 
 
 " New York is a large place : it has three places of worship of 
 the Church of England in it, two of the Church of Scotland, three of 
 the Dutch Church, one Baptist meeting, one Moravian chapel, one 
 Quakers' meeting, one Jews' synagogue, and one French Reformed 
 chapel. Among all these, there are very few that like the Methodists. 
 The Dutch Calvinists have preached against them. Many of tlie peo- 
 ple of America have been stirred up to seek the Lord by Mr. White- 
 field ; but what his reason could be for not forming them into clnsses 
 I do not know. Thomas Bkll." 
 
 APPENDIX H. 
 
 THE EMBURY BIBLE. 
 
 This is an octavo volume, nine inches long by si.v and three quar- 
 ters wide, and has been rebound. Inside the cover we liave the fol- 
 lowing statement, in the neat hand so well known to all who were 
 acquainted with the writer : 
 
 " THE EMBURY BIBLE. 
 
 " This precious Book was owned and brought to this country by 
 Phili}^ Embury, who emigrated from Ireland in 1760. He was the 
 First Methodist Preacher in America, and built with his own hands, and 
 preached in, the First Methodist Church on this Continent. He formed 
 the first Methodist Socictj'-in the City o^ New York, and subsequently, 
 the first in the town of Ashgrove, where he died in Christian peace 
 Aug., 177.3. 
 
 " In the division of his personal effects among his children. This 
 Book fell to the lot of his son Samuel, who removed to St. Armand, 
 Canada East, where I found liira in 1819 while traveling on Durliam 
 Circuit, and of whom I purchased this Priceless Volume. 
 
 " Laudo Deum Veruin. Fitch Reed."
 
 Appendix H. 455 
 
 The type is what is called black letter, or old English, very much 
 like the Germuu type, and the paper is thick. T!ie title-page reads: 
 
 " THE BIBLE, 
 
 translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke and conferred with 
 the best Translations in diners Langnages. With most profitable 
 Annotations upon all the hard places and other things of great im- 
 portance as may appear in the Epistle to the Reader. And also a 
 most profiiable Concordance for the ready fuuling ont of any thing in 
 the same contained. 
 
 " ^ Imprinted at 
 
 " London by Robert Barker 
 
 " Printer to the King's most 
 
 " Excellent Majestic 
 
 "1611." 
 
 On the title-page to tlie New Testament is written the name 
 "Phil. Enibnry." It is a copy of what is called tlie Geneva Bible, a 
 version higlil}' prized by the old Puritans, who clnng to its use some 
 time after King James's translation was issued. Its fir.«t edition was 
 dated 1560, and between that year and 1616 more tlian thirty editions 
 were printed. The last of which we have any account was pub- 
 lished in 1644. It is worthy of remark that this Embury Bible was 
 printed in ihe same year with the first edition of the King James, or 
 Authorized Version. 
 
 At first sight there appears to be little difference between this and 
 the translation we have been accustomed to use, but a closer exami- 
 nation will reveal many variations besides the one observable in Em- 
 bury's text. It is the celebrated " Breeches Bible," so called because 
 Gen. iii, 7, is rendered, " They sewed figge-leues togetlier and made 
 themselves breeches." 
 
 The Rev. Fitch Reed, through whom this volume came into the 
 possession of the John Street Church, was pastor there in 1833-4. 
 At the centenary meeting, in 1868, he gave a more particular ac- 
 count of the way in which he obtained the book. In 1819 he was 
 sent to Durham Circuit, Lower Canada. It was a wild country, 
 sparsely settled, terrible roads, and hard fare, with plenty of work. 
 He went one night to stay with a family by the name of Embury, 
 not dreaming of any connection between them and Philip Embury. 
 At bed-time he was asked to lead in family worship, and a Bible was 
 handed to him. It was very dilapidated — ready to drop to pieces. 
 It was printed in German text, and on the title-page of the New Tes- 
 30
 
 456 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 lament he found tlie name " Pliil. Embury." " Brollier Embury," 
 said he, "was Philip Embury any relaliou to you?" "Why, yes; 
 he was my father, and I am tlie oldest sou." Being asked to give 
 the history of tlie book, he said his father brought it with him to this 
 country in 1760, that it was the only copy of the Scriptures he had 
 till the day of his death, and also that he took it into the pulpit with 
 him to use at the dedication of the Jolin Street Church, taking as his 
 text on that occasion Hos. x, 12. Being asked, "You have no doubt 
 on that question?" "None at all," said he. "I know it was so; 
 and after his death, I being his eldest sou, the Bible lell to my lot." 
 Mr. Reed bought it of him for the price he would have to pay for a 
 
 new copy.* 
 
 ♦ 
 
 APPENDIX 1. 
 
 EMBURY'S LAND PURCHASE. 
 
 In the Colonial Hli<tory of the State of New York. vol. vii, p. 902, is 
 to be found tlie following item. It is given in full, as some of the 
 names may lead to the discovery of other facts of interest in connec- 
 tion with it: 
 
 Governor's nAine, 
 and tlate of grant. 
 
 Lieutenant- 
 Governor Col- 
 den, 31st Oct., 
 1765. 
 
 s of the grantees 
 
 Qnit rent in 
 sterling money. 
 
 Philip Embury. 
 Peter Embury. 
 Jas. Wilson. 
 Jo* n Wilson. 
 George Wilson. 
 Moses Cowen. 
 iTIiomas Proctor. 
 
 2s. %d. per 
 100 acres. 
 
 Situ.ation of the land, and quality. 
 
 A tractot land in the C' 'un- 
 ty of Albany, backward of 
 and adjoining lolandsgrant- 
 ed to Ryer Schenueiliorn 
 and others, etc., containing 
 8,000 acres, and the usual 
 allowance. \ 
 
 As far back, then, as 1765, before he began to preach in New York, 
 Embury had been arranging for a country home. When Thomas 
 Aslitou, of Dublin, came, in 1769, his attention was perhaps directed 
 to the same neighborhood through Embury's instrumentality, and he 
 formed a settlement near Cambridge, to which was given tlie name 
 
 * John Street Centenary Memorial, p. 21. 
 
 + " The tract on which they settled was leased from Hon. James Duane,- after- 
 ward Mayorof New York, and was known as Duane's Patent. Tlieywere at 
 first to pay annually $1 per KKI acres ; afterward, ten bushels of wheat on the 
 1st of February, at Troy. Embury always paid in money, and never came into 
 the wheat arranpfement."— 7Vie Methndi.st, vol. vii, p. :^~'9. How this state- 
 ment can be made to harmonize with that above u not clear.
 
 Appendix I. 457 
 
 of Asligrove. Embury went to " the town of Salem, in a section 
 then known as West Camden, a little to the south and west of Cam- 
 den Valley, and about six miles north of Asligrove." * Many others 
 of the Irish Palatines, including David Embury, Paul and Barbara 
 Heck, the Dulmnges, Tellers, Laurence, Morgan, and other families 
 followed. 
 
 On July 1, 1775, after Embury's death, Mrs. Embury sold this 
 properly for one hundred and thirty pounds, f 
 
 APPENDIX J. 
 
 WERE THE EARLY METHODISTS TORIES? 
 
 Not long after the Revolution a Methodist preacher, at the close of 
 a sermon at White Plains, N. Y., invited those who wished more par- 
 ticular religious instruction to remain for a while. Among those 
 who accepted the invitation was an old gentleman wiio was a very 
 zealous tory. He had got the idea that Metliodist preachers were 
 employed by the government of Great Britain for political purposes, 
 and that If tliey succeeded in bringing the colonies back to their al- 
 legiance they were to receive the tithes or tenth of every thing. 
 Having opened the meeting, the preacher proceeded to question each 
 in turn, and this old gentleman, happening to be the first he ad- 
 dressed, replied, " I am a friend to government." Tlie preacher told 
 him that he had nothing to do with that subject ; his inquiry related 
 to his religious state. The old man, supposing he liad not been ex- 
 plicit enough, replied, " I am a friend to King George." After the 
 preacher had satisfied him that his mission was of a religious char- 
 acter, and liad nothing to do with politics, he took his hat and lelt 
 the room, saying, "If that is the case I am done with you.":|: 
 
 This old gentleman was not alone in his mistake. Tlie idea that 
 the Methodists were loyalists, or tories, was very prevalent, and no 
 doubt often obtained for them the favor of partisans of the British 
 government and the hostility of tlie patriots. A paper dated at 
 Baltimore, May 4, 1777, saj-s, "It is a certain truth that all the de- 
 
 *G. G. Saxe, Cltristian Adnncate, vol. xli, p. 2.53. 
 
 + Letter of Rev. B. Hawley, D.D., Cltristian Advocate, vol. Ixlii, p. ;J40. 
 
 t Memoir of Ab. Miller, of White Plains, by tlie Rev. P. P. Sandforil, Chris- 
 tian Advocate, vol. xxi, p. 72. See also Methodist QuarlerUj Review, 1833, 
 p. 206.
 
 458 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 nomination called Metliodisis (with us) are enemies to our cause, 
 under the mask of religion, and are countenanced by the tories. 
 One of their preachers did lately, in this place, tell his hearers tliat 
 every man killed in battle would certainly go to hell." * This is no 
 doubt a misrepresentation, but it must be admitted that there was 
 some ground for the opinion, especially as to Xew York city and its 
 vicinity. And when we consider the facts there does not seem to be 
 any reason to be ashamed of the truth. 
 
 It must be remembered that no moral principle was directly in- 
 volved in the Revolutionary conflict; the question was a political 
 one. The American part}^ claimed that the country was wronged 
 and oppressed by the English government, and that therefore it was 
 right and wise to resist. The rest of the people were no doubt 
 divided in seniiment. Some probably fully sympathized with the 
 British government, and were willing to submit to anj^ thing rather 
 than risk breaking the ties that bound them to tiie land that still was 
 regarded as home. Otliers, acknowledging that there was cause of 
 complaint, still hoped that peaceable measures would bring relief at 
 last, and yet others, as the Quakers and many oiher devout Chris- 
 tians, believed it their dutj' to submit to any thing rather than en- 
 gage in a civil war. This may have been timidity in some cases, but 
 in others it was conscientious abiiorrence of bloodshed. The Meth- 
 odists were naturalh^ of tliis class, though outside of New York and 
 its vicinity their sympalliies were generally with the cause of Amer- 
 ican freedom. 
 
 Again, Mr. Wesle}- was a zealous loyalist. \ His views were pub- 
 lished and had their influence. Most of the preachers, too, were but 
 recently from the old country and generally expected to return before 
 long. If, therefore, the Methodists, next to tlie members of the 
 Church of England, were among the warmest adherents to the British 
 crown it is cause neither of surprise nor censure. 
 
 And tiiis is especially true of Xew York Methodists. "When the 
 Palatines were driven out of German}' they were kindlv received by 
 the British government and homes provided for tiiem in Ireland and 
 elsewhere. Gratitude made them loyal, and their descendants were 
 not to be censured if they erred in that direction. Thomas Webb and 
 
 * Historical Magazine, 1863, p. 177. 
 
 + But not bitter nor obstinate. There Is evidence that he desired the gov- 
 ernment to use milder means, and that after the conflict was over he wished 
 his brethren In America to "stand fast in that liberty wherewith God had 
 so strangely made them free." See Ch7-it<tian Advocate, vol. Ixiii, p. ii4.
 
 Appexdix J. 459 
 
 William Luptou had been officers of the Britisli army, and their alle- 
 giance to the government tliey served was not discreditable.* 
 
 In tlie library of the New York Historical Society will be found cop- 
 ies of the poll-lists for 1761, 1768, and 1769. We read there how James 
 Jarvis, Peter Embury, William Lupton, Henry Newton, David Em- 
 bury, Philip Embury, Paul Heck, Richard Sause, and Thomas Webb 
 voted. Though the lines of party division were not very clearly 
 drawn at those dates it is observable that they voted for men who, 
 almost without exception, were afterward prominent loyalists. 
 
 Now, having admitted so much, we must be allowed to claim that 
 mnny of the Methodists of that day, probably the most of those of 
 native birth, were true patriots. There is evidence that William 
 Watters, Philip Gatch, Richard Ivy, Joseph Everett, Thomas Morrell, 
 Thomas Ware, and William Mills were true-hearted Americans, and 
 that Asbury was in heart with the patriots, f Morrell, it is well 
 known, served faithfully and honorably in the American army. The 
 record of the Metliodist Episcopal Church has been such that she can 
 well afford to admit any such drawbacks as are implied in the facts 
 above stated. 
 
 For many reasons American Methodists should thank God for 
 Francis Asbury. But another is added when we review the political 
 question. He alone, of all Mr. Wesley's earlier missionaries to this 
 country, seems to have rightly imderstood the matter. He evidently 
 became very soon an American at heart. :]: Others, as Rankin, Shad- 
 ford, and Rodda, would not, and perhaps could not, stay. He remained, 
 tliough compelled to spend some of the time in jjartial retirement. 
 His unwillingness to accept the office of superintendent without the 
 vote of the Conference shows how fully he had imbibed the spirit of 
 his adopted country. The Rev. H. Boehm, for some time his travel- 
 ing companion, says: "Though he loved the land of his birth, yet he 
 loved most ardently the land of his adoption." "When I was with 
 him in Canada he said to me, 'England always had the wrong foot 
 foremost in regard to America.' " § 
 
 Asbnry's notice of the death of Washington is simply eloquent: 
 "Slow moved the northern post on the eve of New Year's day, and 
 
 ♦Watson, in his Annals of New Yor-k, says the Methodists were deemed 
 loyalists. 
 
 ■\- Clirlfitian Advocate, vol. xxxix, p. 3.54. 
 
 i May it not be that this was one cause of the unfriendliness of Lupton and 
 Newton ? 
 
 ^ Re miniscences of Rev. H. Boehm, p. 45:5. See also an article by T. V.'arc, 
 in Methodist Qiinrterly Review, 1832, p. 103.
 
 460 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 brought the heart-distressing information of the death of Washing- 
 ton, who departed this hfe December 14, 1799. 
 
 "Washington, the calm, intrepid chief, the disinterested friend, 
 first father and temporal saviour of his countrj- under divine protec- 
 tion and direction ! . . . Matcliless man ! At all times he acknowl- 
 edged the providence of God, and never was he ashamed of his 
 Redeemer. We believe he died not fearing death. In his will he 
 ordered the manumission of his slaves — a true son of liberty in all 
 points." * 
 
 APPENDIX K. 
 
 FURNITURE FOR THE PREACHERS' HOUSE. 
 
 "One page of the "Old Book'" is headed, •" Furniture bought for 
 the Preaching House." The list is: 
 
 " ] Bedstead and Safe, £2. 
 
 " 1 Feather Bed, Boulster and Pillow. | 
 
 " 1 Safe. I 
 
 "Small Furniture, 15s. 
 
 " Pr. new Sheets. "§ 
 
 On the next page is a list of "Furniture borrowed for the Preach- 
 ing House, and from whom." It reads: 
 
 "4 chairs, 1 night-chair, 5 pictures, 3 tables, pr. And Irons, 
 Chaving-dish, || Tongs and shovel, and two Iron pots, from Mrs. 
 Taylor. 
 
 "1 Set. of Bed curtains and a Snial Looking-glass, from Mrs. 
 Trigler. ^ 
 
 " 2 Blankets, from Mrs. Newton. 
 
 " 1 green window curtain, from Mrs. Jarvis. 
 
 " 1 green window curtain, from Mrs. Biuinger. 
 
 "4 Tea spoons, from Mrs. Sauce." 
 
 Turning over the leaf we find "An Acct. of Household Furniture 
 belonginar to the House aloted for the Methodists Preachers to live in 
 in New York: " 
 
 * Asbury's Journal, January 4, 1800. 
 
 + Tbese, according to the treasurer's account, weighed 67 pounds, at 2s. 4(7., 
 costing £7 16s. 4d. 
 t Probably an error— a repetition of the first entry. 
 
 § The treasurer records that these were 11 yards at Us. M. Total, £1 Cs. 7(J. 
 II Chaflnj? or shaving [?1. 
 II This was an ancestress of Mrs. Henry C. AVeelis, now of Bayside, L. I.
 
 Appendix K. 401 
 
 A gridiron and pair of Bellows,* from Mrs. Sennet. 
 " 6 China Cups and Saucers, from Mrs. Earnest. 
 " 6 Ciiiua Soup plates, pr. Salts, and B]-ead Basket, from a friend gone 
 
 to England, f 
 " Tea Chest and Canisters, from Mrs. Ledbetter. 
 " Washhand Basin and Bottle, Cham'r Pot and Sauce Boat, from 
 
 Mrs. Newton. 
 "•| doz. cream-color plates and a Dish, from Mrs. Jarvis. 
 " 1 Dish, Swine-glasses, pr. emits. Table Cloth and Towel, from Mrs. 
 
 Moore. 
 " 3 Burnt China plates, 2 Do. cups, 4 Silver teaspoons and 1 picture, 
 
 from Mrs. Harrison. 
 " 6 knives and forks, from Mrs. Sauce. 
 " 1 Copper Tea Kettle, from Mr. Clias. Wliite. 
 " 2 Table Cloths, from Mrs. Crosfleld. 
 " 1 Bed Qnilt, from Lupton. 
 
 " .3 Table Cloths, 2 Towels, and 2 Pillow Cases, from Mrs. J. Crook. 
 " 1 VVinsor chair and ci'.shion, from Mrs. Heckey. 
 " 3 Pictures, from Mr. Newton. 
 " 1 Bed Sprey, from Mrs. Ten Eyck. 
 " Red Rug. 
 " Knive Box, from Wm. Deane." 
 
 APPENDIX L. 
 
 PREACHERS' HOUSE. 
 
 The old building, in antique Duicli style, seen in the engraving of 
 the church (p. 37) which stood partly in front of the chapel, was the 
 " Preachers' House." ^ It was a small frame building, one story and 
 a half high, with a basement partly above ground, which was the 
 home of the sexton, whose wife generally kept house for the preach- 
 ers. Stairs in the rear connected it with the chapel. It was a 
 gloomy place, with very few windows, and cold as a barn in winter. § 
 It was, however, better furnished than many a Methodist parsonage 
 fifty years later. || It contained a small library for the preachers, 
 
 * How many now know what this article is? t Perhaps Thomas Taylor. 
 i The name " Parsonage " was not used then ; indeed, in the writer's recol- 
 lection, some fifty years ago, that title was rather strange to Methodist ears. 
 § W^akeley's Lost CliaiJtcrs, p. 2~0. II Appendix K.
 
 402 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 among which were Prideaux's ConnecfAons and Coke's Commentary* 
 There was also a ch'culating Ubrary for the people, consisting of re- 
 ligions biographies and the writings of Wesley, Fletclier, etc. Most 
 of it is now scattered, tliough a few old books still remain which 
 probably belonged to tlie original collection. t 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 THE DATES OF THE ADDRESSES OF RELIGIOUS BODIES 
 TO PRESIDENT WASHIXGTOX. 
 
 This question has given rise to some discussion. Tlie following is 
 the result of an examination of the matter: 
 
 In the Gazette of the United States, of May 20, n89, we have an 
 " Address of the ministers, church wardens, and vestrymen of the 
 German Lutheran Congregations in and near tlie city of Philadelphia." 
 This was, therefore, as far as we can learn, the first action of any 
 church officials in this line. Only a portion of the Lutheran Churcii 
 was represented in it; but the same may be said of the action of the 
 Conference in New York, though ilie participation of the two bi.-^hops 
 gave it wider significance. 
 
 The address of the General Assembly of the Presliyterian Church, 
 then in session in Philadelphia, representing the wliole of that body, 
 is dated May 26 ; that of the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in Xew York city. May 29. Both are published in the Ga- 
 zette of June 6, where it is said that the address of the Presbyterians 
 was presented "yesterday; " but the date of the presentation of that 
 of the Metliodists is not specified. In the New York Daily Adver- 
 tiier, however, of June 3, is the address of the Methodists, while that 
 of the Presbyterians is not given until June 8, when it is said to have 
 been presented on -'Friday last " (June 5). It therefore appears that 
 the Lutherans were altogether the first ; the Presbyterians the second 
 in taking action, but the third in presentation; the Methodists the 
 third in action, but the second in presentation. A full account of the 
 affair will be found in Dr. Bangs's History of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, vol. i. pp. 280-286. It may be well to add that, as Dr. Coke 
 embarked for England on June 5, any action in which he participated 
 must have been of an earlier date. 
 
 Mr. Mon-ell (Bangs's History, vol. i, p. 281) refers to certain strict- 
 * Old Book, Jan. 2.5, ITVO. + Wakeley's Last OmiAers, p. 220.
 
 Appendix ^I. 403 
 
 ures on Dr. Coke's connection with the matter. No doubt he had in 
 view the following: communication. It is in the Daihj Advertiser of 
 June 17, 1789. The italics and tiie spelling of Mr. Wesley's name 
 are given as found. 
 
 ■'to the printer. 
 
 "Sir: Observing ilie name of Thomas Coke to an address to the 
 President assuming the title of Bishop of tlie Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of America, I beg leave to inquire, llirough the medium of 
 your paper, of .'■ome well-informed and patriotic member of that 
 Church, whetlier Bishop Coke was the same man that was known in 
 England hj ilic name of Doctor Coke, and particularly during tlie war 
 by tlie name of Utie Dr. Coke, and who was connected with and an 
 assistant to Mr. Jolm Wesly^ boili in the pidpit, pen, and press, when 
 lie preached and wrote most vehemently against the Rebels, as they 
 tlion thought proper to term us ? I am induced to this inquiry from 
 a regard to consistency and the interests of religion. If the same 
 little Dr. Coke I refer to lias translated himself from Mr. Weshfs so- 
 cieties iu England to the Bishopric of tlie Metliodist Episcopal Ciiurch 
 in America, he ought to give us full proof of his political conversion. 
 Doctor Coke in England taught the highest Toi-y doctrine — the king was 
 the Lord's anointed, and our righteous resistance, although sanctioned 
 liy the wisest and best citizens of that country, was, in liis opinion, Re- 
 hdlion. He supported Mr. John Wesley in all that he chose to advance 
 in support of Lord North's ndm\mRlr-dtion. Tlie sword and desolation 
 was his motto— :/b?- America; and it was of the king and ministers' 
 mercy that the advocates of America in Englaiid were not consumed. 
 
 •'If BisJiop Coke is this snme Doctor Coke, no American, but a Brit- 
 ish suliject, uniformly opposed to us in principle and conduct througli 
 the whole of tlie war, is it not the extreme of hypocrisy for such a man 
 to take the lead of the Episcopalians in an address to the President of 
 our republican Government? I am sir. An Inquirer. 
 
 ''June 16." 
 
 To this there is an answer on June 19, nearly a column long, by 
 " A Member of the Methodist Episcopal Church," who says he was 
 not a member during the war. He admits that it is the same little 
 Doctor Coke, but as to the doctor's present sentiments he refers ; 
 
 1. To the twenty-third Article of Religion in the Discipline brought 
 over by Dr. Coke for adoption at the Christmas Conference. It relates 
 to the rulers of the United States. 
 
 2. To tlie liturgy, of which he was also the bearer, containing a 
 prayer for "the supreme rulers of the United States."
 
 404 A History of JVIethodism ix New York City. 
 
 3. To tlie doctor's own extemporaneous prayers. 
 
 4. To sermons preached by him in the city, and one in particular 
 on "the commencement of the millennial year." 
 
 On June 24 " Inquirer " replies to tlie length of more tliaii a column. 
 He admits tlie loyalty to America of many members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. In a postscript he asks, " When, where, and by 
 whom Dr. Colo and Mr. A sbury received episcopal consecration?" 
 
 APPENDIX N. 
 
 CLASSES m FP:BRUARy, 1793.* 
 
 Only two of these classes are mixed. Nearly one half of tliem meet 
 on Sunday, and two of these at an early hour in the morning. Only 
 three meet in the evening, except those held aftei' preacliing. 
 
 WUITl'; CLASSES. 
 
 Days of 
 
 Meeting. 
 
 Sunday-. 
 
 8i Monday.. 
 
 lOj " .... 
 ll;Tuesday.... 
 
 12 " 
 
 1.3 " .... 
 
 14 Wednesday. 
 
 15 ;; 
 
 16 Thursday . . 
 
 i7j ;' 
 
 18 '• 
 1 " 
 
 19 Friday 
 
 •20 
 
 Leaders' Na.mes. 
 
 Abraham Russel.. 
 Stephen Rudd 
 
 Wm. Cooper 
 
 Jonas Humbert. . . 
 
 Wm. Valleau+ 
 
 Wm. Henry... . 
 
 Dan'l Carpenter t 
 George Courtney 
 Henry Newton... 
 Peter McLean... 
 
 John Cooper... 
 John Bleecker 
 Philip Arcularius 
 
 John Staples 
 
 Daniel Coutant. . 
 John Staples. . . - 
 William Cooper. 
 John Sprosen — 
 John Bleecker §. 
 
 Wm. Grant 
 
 Dan Carpenter. . 
 Andrew Mercein 
 Abm. Brower . 
 
 Female. 
 
 Male. 
 
 Female. 
 
 Male. 
 
 Time and Place of Meeting. 
 
 Old church, 7 o'clock winter, 6 in 
 summer 
 
 Old church, 8 winter, 7 in the 
 summer 
 
 Bro. Sands, 9 o'clock 
 
 Old church, aftermorningpreach- 
 
 ino 
 
 New church, after morning 
 
 preaching 
 
 Mr. Daniel's school-house, 2 
 
 o'clock 
 
 In ye poor House at i o'clock . . . 
 New church, before preaching. 
 
 Old church, 3 o'clock 
 
 Old church, 4 in winter, 5 in sum- 
 mer 
 
 Mrs. Coflfman, 4 o'clock 
 
 Old church, 3 o'clock 
 
 Mrs. Gethen, 4 o'clock 
 
 After preachiuf: 
 
 Female. [New church, 4 o'clock 
 
 " ] After preaching 
 
 " iNcar his dwn house, 4 o'clock.. 
 
 Female. 'Olil cliurcli, 3 o'clock. 
 
 " !4 (I'cldck, (lid church 
 
 Mixt. Evcuinsj: at liro. ('rum's 
 
 Female. Tliursil:iy at Cailiarine Holly's, 
 " |4 winter, 5 in summer, old church 
 
 Class of men and women at 3 mile stone met by Wm. Valleau Wednes- 
 day evening 
 
 22 
 
 18 
 29 
 
 29 
 
 29 
 
 14 
 18 
 
 27 
 
 25 
 29 
 33 
 22 
 21 
 23 
 35 
 45 
 31 
 31 
 30 
 
 33 
 
 12 
 
 23 
 579 
 
 * Ki'oin Book i, B, pp. 56, 57. 
 
 } Erased and Moses West written over 
 
 t Erased and Elias Vauderlip written over. 
 § Erased and Valleau written over.
 
 Appendix ^. 
 
 465 
 
 COLORED CLASSES. 
 
 Days of 
 
 Meeting. 
 
 Sunday. 
 
 Leaders' Names. 
 
 J no. D;ivis. 
 
 Coin's Warner.. 
 Joseph Rice 
 
 ....'Robert A. Cuddy 
 
 " Elias Vanderlip* 
 
 Monday.... G. Courtney +.. . 
 
 Sex. 
 
 Female. 
 
 Time and Place of Meeting. 
 
 Evening, old church, in the sum- 
 mer, new church 
 
 At his school-house in the morn- 
 ing 
 
 Preaching house in the afternoon 
 Old church in the evening 
 
 Total 31 Feb., 1793. 
 
 Total Aug. 34, 1?93, whites 6.39 
 
 " blacks 154 
 
 T,,ta\ "SS 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 16 
 34 
 33 
 35 
 
 143 
 
 728 
 
 APPENDIX O. 
 
 LIST OF THE CLA.SSES, LEADERS' NAMES, AND WHEN 
 THEY MEET, TAKEN SEPTEMBER 8, 1802, BY THOMAS 
 MORRELL. X 
 
 There are forty-.six classes (No. 35 being repeated), and as at tlie 
 preceding Conference 937 members were reported tliis will give an 
 average of ratlier more tlian twenty to a class. All, with two excep- 
 tions, were exclusively either male or female. Both of these were at 
 the two-mile stone, and have the same leader— Yark. Besides these 
 there were, of the whites, 13 composed of men and 23 of women; of 
 colored, 4 of men and 7 of women — in both cases nearly twice as many 
 female as male classes. Five leaders have each two classes. About 
 one third of them also meet at private houses, and only five were held 
 in the evening. Twenty-four met on Sunday; one at 6 A. M. and 
 three at 7 A. M. 
 
 WHITE CLASSES. 
 
 Days of 
 Meeting. 
 
 Sunday. 
 
 Leaders' 
 
 Names. 
 
 Sex. 
 
 Van Wyck. . Male. 
 
 Cooper I " 
 
 Davis Female 
 
 Time and Place op Meeting. 
 
 Gilman§. 
 Hick 
 
 Male. 
 
 * Erased and Paul Hick 
 
 * From Book ii, pp. 2, 3. 
 
 Old church, 7 o'clock, morning. 
 
 His work-shop, Bowerv, 9 o'clock, morning. 
 
 Corner of Fayette & Henry Street, 9 o'clock, 
 
 morning. 
 Bowery school-house, 9 o'clock, mornmg. 
 I Division Street, 9 o'clock, morning. 
 
 t Erased and Israel Disoaway written over. 
 § Erased and Redstone written over.
 
 466 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 o 
 
 Days of 
 
 Leaders' 
 
 Sex. 
 
 Time and Place of Meeting. 
 
 z 
 
 Meeting. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sunday. .... 
 
 Praul 
 
 Male. 
 
 At Bro. Jaquish's, 9 o'clock. 
 
 7. 
 
 
 Mead 
 
 *^ 
 
 At Bro. Lion's, 9 o'clock. 
 
 8 
 
 " 
 
 Ketchum... 
 
 " 
 
 S'orth Church, 9 o'clock. 
 
 9 
 
 " 
 
 Henry 
 
 " 
 
 Bowery school, noon. 
 
 10 
 11 
 
 .. 
 
 Jeffery*.... 
 Russell 
 
 .. 
 
 Bowery Church, noon. 
 John Street Church, noon. 
 
 13 
 
 " 
 
 Elsworth . . 
 
 *' 
 
 North Church, noon. 
 
 13 
 
 " 
 
 Carpenter. . 
 
 " 
 
 John Street Church, 4 o'clock, afternoon. 
 
 14 
 
 " . • ■ 
 
 VarK 
 
 
 2 mile stone. 
 
 15 
 
 " 
 
 Praul 
 
 Female. 
 
 Bowerv Church, 4 o'clock. 
 
 16 
 
 " 
 
 Lion.. 
 
 " 
 
 Second Street, at Forrest's, 1 o'clock. 
 
 17 
 
 Monday 
 
 Cooper 
 
 Women 
 
 Bro. Lvons, Fisher Street, 3 o'clock. 
 
 18 
 
 " 
 
 Dugalls 
 
 ^' 
 
 Pump Street, 4 o'clock. 
 
 19 
 
 " 
 
 Smiths 
 
 '* 
 
 Old church, 4 o'clock. 
 
 30 
 
 " 
 
 Barney t . . . 
 
 
 North Church, 3 o'clock. 
 
 ?.1 
 
 " 
 
 Hick 
 
 " 
 
 Davis's, 3 o'clock. 
 
 22 
 
 " 
 
 Sayres 
 
 " 
 
 No. 5 Barclay Street. 
 
 23 
 
 Tuesday 
 
 Stllwell 
 
 *' 
 
 Hanuau Street. Price's, 3 o'clock. 
 
 ?4 
 
 " 
 
 Fowler 
 
 ^* 
 
 Bowerv Church, 4 o'clock. 
 
 25 
 
 " 
 
 Browerst... 
 
 " 
 
 Old church, 3 o'clock. 
 
 26 
 
 Wednesday. 
 
 Arcularius.. 
 
 
 Old church, 4 o'clock. 
 
 W 
 
 '• 
 
 Knight 
 
 " 
 
 North Church, 5 o'clock. 
 
 28 
 
 " 
 
 Stagg 
 
 " 
 
 No. 91 Harman Street, 4 o'clock. 
 
 «t 
 
 " 
 
 Bonsall 
 
 " 
 
 Old church, 3 o'clock. 
 
 30 
 
 " 
 
 Dawson — 
 
 " 
 
 Bowerv Church, 3 o'clock. 
 
 31 
 
 Thursday . . 
 
 Gilman's... 
 
 " 
 
 North Church, 2 o'clock. 
 
 3? 
 
 '> 
 
 Mead's 
 
 " 
 
 Bowerv Church, 4 o'clock. 
 
 :is 
 
 " 
 
 Preacher's . 
 
 " 
 
 OW church, 3 o'clock. 
 
 34 
 
 Friday 
 
 Marsh 
 
 " 
 
 Old church, evening, after preaching. 
 
 35 
 
 
 Vark 
 
 Both. 
 
 Meets at church 2 mile stone, evening. 
 
 3.") Sunday Sipkins. . . 
 
 36 " Polntiers. 
 
 Thompsons. 
 Cooks 
 
 Collins . 
 
 Miller. 
 Scott. . 
 i Marsh. 
 
 43,Tuesday. . . . Matthison . . 
 
 44i " Parks 
 
 45 Thursday . ■ iBarney §•. . 
 
 COLORED CLASSES. 
 
 Men. Old church, 6 o'clock, morning. 
 
 Peter Williams, 7 o'clock, morning. 
 " African Church, 7 o'clock, morning. 
 Women Evans, near African Church, 4 o'clock, 
 I afternoon. 
 " iSchool-house, No. 13 Barclay Street, 4 
 
 o'clock, afternoon. 
 " lAfiican Church, 4 o'clock, afternoon. 
 Men. ^African Church, noon. 
 Women jNo. 45 Ann Street, Dinah Forbes, 4 o'clock, 
 1 afternoon. 
 " lOld church, evening. 
 " Bowery Church, evening. 
 " 'old church, evening. 
 
 APPENDIX P. 
 
 OFFICIAL MEMBERS. 
 This list of class-leaders seems to have been made in the fall of 1812, 
 and is in Book viii, latter part. Those marked thus * have been 
 
 * Erased and Shepherd written over. 
 i Erased and Merceln written over. 
 
 t Erased and Jefferies written over. 
 § Erased and Myers written over.
 
 Appendix P. 
 
 467 
 
 crossed off, and if a new name is substituted it is given here in brack- 
 ets, after tlie original: 
 
 Abraham Russel, 
 John Davies, 
 Samuel Sears,* 
 [Wm. Barton,] 
 Thomas Carpenter, 
 Robert Tollree,* 
 Cornelius Polhemus, 
 Philip Arcularius, 
 William Mead,* 
 James Shepherd, 
 Charles Gilman, 
 Israel Disosway,* 
 Abram Hart, 
 Paul Hick, 
 Samuel Elsworth, 
 Joseph Smith, 
 David Renney,* 
 John Shaw, 
 Joseph Graham, 
 Samuel Stilwell, 
 Peter Parks, 
 Chancey Carter, 
 John Westfield, 
 Edward Sturma'n, 
 James Donaldson, 
 George Taylor, 
 Abraham Knapp, 
 Abraham Coddington, 
 
 George Inness,* 
 George Philips, 
 Simeon Price, 
 John Inness,* 
 David Crawford, 
 Nathaniel Tucker,* 
 John C. Totten, 
 Jacob Bolmore, 
 Benjamin Farrington, 
 Christian Bourdett,* 
 Safety Magee, 
 Edward Hopper,* 
 Aaron Baldwin, 
 Gilbert Coutant, 
 John Vander Pool, 
 Stephen Dando, 
 Peter Westerfield, 
 John Bartine, 
 David Woolley, 
 Weat Munson, 
 Laban Clark,* 
 [G. W. Pittman,] 
 Peter Crosthwaite,* 
 James N. Hyde, 
 Peter Cokeleet, 
 Ralpii Hoyt, 
 James Collins, 
 Tliomas GrifEcn,* 
 
 George Pine,* 
 Thomas Eames, 
 Natiianiel Coit, 
 John M. Shatsel.* 
 Joshua Marsden.* 
 Eliphalet Wheeler, 
 Andrew Wheeler, 
 William Evins, 
 R. Mathison, 
 James Demarest, 
 
 Wiley, 
 
 James Shepherd,* 
 
 Paradise. 
 
 James Oystou, 
 Thos. Pitts. 
 
 J. P. Morris, 
 S. Goodrich, 
 G. Van Cott, 
 Martin, 
 
 Bakewell, 
 
 A. McDougall, 
 Wm. Collins, 
 
 Sutton, 
 
 Thos. Whitlock, 
 Wm. Carter.* 
 
 [• Hawley,] 
 
 H. Stilps, 
 
 John B. Buckmaster, 
 Wm. Carter, 
 Nath'l C. Hart. 
 
 Joseph Piggiit, William Mosemau. 
 
 Sauuiel Ho[)piug, Lancaster S. Burliuc 
 
 There are also, in Book x. page 2, etc., a list of trustees, local 
 preachers, and exhorters ; in Book xiii, A, a list of class-leaders 
 (about one hundred) without date, but from internal evidence prior to 
 the Stilwellite secession ; on page 15 of the same book a list of local 
 preachers in 1820, and page 16 a list of stewards. 
 
 On page 17 we have a register of the names of the clas.s-leadors 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York, A. D. 1820. 
 
 "Leaders' meetmg, either in sections or general, on the second Mon- 
 day evening every mouth.
 
 468 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 " In leaders' raeeting, 1. Stewards receive the class-money. 2. Wlio 
 among the probationers may be admitted (more particularly in tlje 
 sectional leaders' meeting). 3. Inquire into the state of the classes, 
 absentees^ etc. 4. State of the leaders' minds and manner of meeting 
 class. No debating, nor any vote taken except when there may be an 
 application for license to exhort. Preacher gives advice. So I under- 
 stand Disciphne. Aaron Hunt." 
 
 A list of class-leaders which follows seems to liave been made out 
 shortly after the Stilwellite secession. In the same book also are 
 rolls of the Quarterly Conference for 1824, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, and 
 1831, this last being the latest in which the whole city was in one 
 circuit. 
 
 APPENDIX Q. 
 
 METHODIST WORSHIP IN NEW YORK CITY SIXTY-FTYE 
 YEARS AGO. < 
 
 Methodism has not changed as to doctrine; her discipline and 
 usages remain substantially the same; and yet there is sufficient dif- 
 ference in the aspect and services of a worshiping congregation to 
 give interest to a description of them as they were some sixty-five 
 years ago. Let us suppose it about tlie year 1825. The engravings 
 of John Street and Duane Street churches will give an idea of what 
 a Methodist meeting-house looked like then. They were perfectly 
 plain, perhaps a httle gloomy in aspect, by reason of the dark-colored 
 stucco with which their stone walls were coated. At least this was 
 the case with the four larger ones, namely, John Street, Forsyth 
 Street, Duane Street, and Allen Street; Bowery Yillage (now 
 Seventh Street) and Greenwich Yillage (now Bedford Street) were 
 small frame buildings. The interior walls were wliitevvushed, but 
 kept neat by the frequent use of lime and brush. The wood- 
 work of the pulpit and gallery fronts and sujiporting columns was 
 also white. The seats were slate-colored or drab, or in some cases 
 a dark green with chocolate or mahogany-colored trimmings on the 
 top.* Tlie floor was imcarpeted, sometimes sanded; on the aliar 
 and pulpit stairs there was generally a plain carpet. Light was fur- 
 nished by lamps in which sperm oil was burned. In the altar were 
 two settees, usually wooden-seated, and a few chairs, and a plain 
 
 * In John Street the trimmings were of mahogany, the material being a 
 donation.
 
 Appendix Q. 469 
 
 table, perhaps of mahogany or dierry,* as were also the allar-rail and 
 book-board. In most cases the pulpit was high, resting on one pillar, 
 and was reached by a flight of steps generally on one side only; it 
 was also small, giving but little room for any but the officiating minister. 
 A tall eight-sified goblet, with three sides removed, will give a good 
 idea of its appearance. In some cases there was a sounding-board 
 over the pulpit, looking like a great extinguisher, but with a flat sur- 
 face beneath.f The book-board was without a cushion, and on it 
 rested a Bible and hymn-book, neitlier of them gilt-edged. The win- 
 dows were generally furnished with green outside blinds, and in 
 some cases on the men's side there were between them rows of pegs 
 on which hats couid be hung. A clock was attached to the gallery 
 opposite the pulpit, and behind it sat the choir, the most of whom 
 were members of the society. 
 
 The Discipline of the Church at that time contained the following 
 question and answer: "Is there any exception to the rule, 'Let the 
 men and women sit apart ? ' There is no exception. Let tliem sit apart 
 in all our churches." The middle aisle, if there was one, i<v a par- 
 tition half-way between the two aisles, was a dividing line over which 
 neither sex dared to trespass. If in tlie course of the services a man 
 ignorantly or intentionally seated himself on the women's side the 
 sexton or one of the trustees would go to him even in the middle of 
 the sermon and ask him to go to his proper place. The women's 
 side would frequently be crowded, while there were vacant seats 
 among the men, but the rule must not be relaxed. In the writer's 
 earliest recollection of the old Duane Street Church two or three of the 
 front seats on the male side were for some time occupied by women, 
 and he supposed that this had been permitted to relieve the over- 
 crowding of the ladies, until one day he heard from the pulpft a notice 
 that the practice must cease, and the sheep of the feminine gender 
 return to their own part of the fold. Husband and wife could walk 
 together to the church, but must then separate, enter at different 
 doors, get seats perhaps in distant parts of the house, and be seriously 
 annoyed in finding each other at the close of the services, especially 
 in the evening. This rule of separation was carried so far that in at 
 least one case the door-yard in front was divided by a fence, and 
 
 * The first coramunlon-table with a marble top in any Methodist church in 
 tbe city was seen at the dedication of the house in Greene Street. It was a 
 Kift, but was a "stone of stumbling and rock of offense " to some. 
 
 + The pulpit of the second John Street Church, however, was lower, largei-, 
 and had no sounding-board.
 
 470 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 under the end gallery a liigh partition prevented all comrauntcation 
 between the sexes. The seats in the corners on each side of the pul- 
 pit being generally occupied by aged and prominent members who 
 responded pretty heartily to the services, these were known as the 
 "Amen" corners. The congregations were generally large, benches 
 being often needed in the aisles, and the pulpit stairs and altar filled, 
 and the kneeling-board around the altar occupied by cliildren. 
 
 The Metliodists of that day were plain in apparel. Many of the 
 men, especially the older ones, wore straight coats and white cravats 
 wiihout any knot in front. What were called Quaker or coal-scuttle 
 bonnets, made of drab or black silk or satin, were the head-gear of 
 the older si.-ters; llie younger wore plain straw or other material, of 
 simple shape, and without flower or featlier or bow or any ribbon 
 except what was necessary for ties. Simple neatness was tlic gen- 
 eral rule. 
 
 There were three sermons oo tlie Lord's day, at 10:30 A. M., at 
 3 P. M., and in the evening at 6:.'50 in the winter, 7:30 in the summer, 
 and 7 in the fall and spring The afternoon congresations were at 
 least as large as any. Sunday-school met at 9 A. M. and l::-!0 P. il.. 
 and the children occupied the galleries with their teachers at Ijotli the 
 morning and afternoon services, i.nkss especially excused at tlic 
 request of their parents. Week-evening services were half an hour 
 later than those of Sunday, varying also with the season. Tliesc? 
 were a prayer-meeting, generally on Wednesday evening, a sermon or 
 lecture on some otner evening, differing in the different churches, and 
 class-meetings on most of the other evenings. 
 
 As the hour of worship approached the people began to pour in, 
 bringing their hymn-books with them, as they had no private pews in 
 which to "leave them. Every member bowed the head for a few 
 moments in silent prayer. Just before the time of beginning, the 
 Sundaj'-school could be heard tramping up the gallery stairs, of 
 course not as quietly as might be. The chorister took his place, 
 perhaps first leaning over the front of the gallery to compare his 
 watch with the clock, and, if he thought the latter incorrect, setting 
 it to the right moment. Not unfrequently a hymn or set piece 
 would be sung by the choir while the congregaii..n was gatliering. 
 If a new preacher was to occupy the pulpit, especially if he wore 
 one the people were pleased with, he was likely to be greeted 
 as he entered with the verses beginning, '■Welcome, welcome! 
 blessed servant," etc. After kneeling in the pulpit he arose and 
 selected the hvmns and lessons. The hymn was announced by the
 
 AiTiiNDix Q. 471 
 
 page, not the number, as all the books, however varying in size, 
 were paged alike; even some spurious or unofficial editions, though 
 introducing some additional hymns, vi^ere arranged so that the first 
 lines would fall on the same page, as in tiie authorized collection. 
 The hymn having been read, the congregation rose, and under the 
 leadership of the choir began the service of praise. No instrument 
 was used ; even a tuning-fork in the hands of the chorister had to be 
 handled quietly. Tiie iiymus were apt to be of a triumphant, joyous 
 tone, such as, " Come, ye that love the Lord," "How happy are they," 
 " Arise, my soul, arise," " for a thousand tongues, to sing," etc. The 
 tunes were of the same class. Majesty, Lenox, Norihfield, etc. The 
 music might not please the ear of a scientific critic, but as worship 
 it was hearty, and Methodist singing was an attraction in those days. 
 Sometimes there was a balk in starting, and two or three efforts 
 might be made before all went on smoothly, and the pitch might 
 not be exactly correct, but serious embarrassment did not often 
 occur. No list of hymns had been given to the choir, and they and 
 tlic congregation did not know what was to be sung until the 
 preacher announced it. That all might be able to join, and as some 
 liad no books, it was the practice to line the hymns, sometimes 
 even to that extent as to divide the verses, the preacher reading 
 two lines, and, when tlie congregation had sung tiiem, reading two 
 more. This practice is still continued in tlie Southern States, espe- 
 cially among tlie colored people, and also in England. At the time, 
 liowever, of whicli we are now speaking it was customary to read 
 only the first two lines of each verse in the opening and closing 
 hymn ; the second was not lined, and the congregation remahied 
 seated while it was sung. The last two lines of a liymn were 
 generally repeated, and when the tune required such a repetition 
 these lines would be sung four times or more. The prayer that 
 followed would be earnest, importunate, and expressed in words an<l 
 tones which implied faith that it would be answered. Unless it wa.s 
 exceedingly^ spiritless it was responded to with loud ameus, and 
 perhaps with shouts of gladness. The people bowed their lieads 
 while it was oiiered, and many of them knelt on the floor. The Script- 
 ure lessons followed, another hymn was sung, the congregation sit- 
 ting, and then tiie sermon began. 
 
 The idea that Methodist preaching in those days was of an 
 exceedingly hortatory character, though in some respects correct, 
 must be received with much allowance. Very solid doctrinal ser- 
 mons were often preached, in which Scripture was largely quoted, 
 
 n
 
 472 A History of Methodism ix New Yokk City. 
 
 witli frequent reference to chapter and verse. Many were of a po- 
 leniical or controversial tone. Calvinism in its unadulterated form 
 was still taught in many pulpits, and the minds of the people were 
 ofteji bewildered and their spiritual welfare periled by questions 
 eonceruing decrees, foreknowledge, election, and reprobation and 
 perseverance. Old Methodists enjoyed it when their preachers gave 
 these errors a shrewd and hearty blow, and shouted almost as much 
 over the defeat of John Calvin as over the conversion of souls, 
 because they believed the one would prepare the way for the other. 
 Still, a sermon that was enjoyable and profitable then would be 
 about as well received now. There were more uneducated men in 
 tlie ministry tlien, but there were many wlio would compare favor- 
 ably with the best of our day. 
 
 Generally the attention of the hearers was at least as close and 
 respectful as now, but there were some interruptions to which our 
 congregations at present are not liable. Children of all ages were 
 brought to church ; little ones but a few months old not un frequently, 
 and sometimes the crying of a strong-lunged babe would almost drown 
 the voice of the preaclier and seriously disturb the attention ol the 
 audiei ce. Older children would be restless, and father or mother or 
 broiher or sister would take them out and wait in the lobby until the 
 services were over. Some mischievous boy in tlie gallery would, 
 perhaps accidentally, though as likely as not intentionally, drop a 
 penny or a marble which would roll down from step to step, dis- 
 tinctly heard in every part of the house. Human nature in the 
 young was the same then as now, and Sunday-school teachers or 
 sextons had to reprove and jjerhaps pull the ears of some talkative 
 or giggling boy or girl. The fainting of some person in the congre- 
 gation was a more frequent occurrence; crowded houses and perhaps 
 not as good ventilation being the cause. Sometimes, loo, as was the 
 case in earlier days, Satan, in the person of some of his children, 
 came also when the sons of God were gathered together and tried to 
 annoy them. But generally the sermon flowed on without interrup- 
 tion to its close. And that close was not reached as soon then. A 
 sermon only half an hour long, except in the evening, wlien a prayer- 
 meeting was to be held, was a rarity. Three fourths of an hour was 
 the usual time, and it was more likely to exceed than fall short of 
 that. Sometimes an exhortation would follow the sermon, and the 
 morning congregation not be dismissed until half past twelve. 
 
 Tlio sermon was not followed immediately by a prayer, as now. 
 The coFection was taken, during which the choir generally sang a
 
 Appendix Q, 4 73 
 
 piece of their own selection, tlie notices were given, another hymn 
 was sung, the congregation ytanding, and a praj-er, frequently of 
 some length, followed, closed with the benediction while all were on 
 their knees. This order of exercises was invariable: the time had 
 not yet come when each congregation did that which was right in 
 its own eyes. 
 
 Tiie evening sermon, at least in the winter, when the hour of opening 
 was earlier, was generally followed by a prayer-meeting. Sometimes 
 the congregation would be regularly dismissed, so that all wJio wished 
 could retire, but more frequently a hymn was started, and while it 
 was sung the brethren came into the altar, seekers were invited for- 
 ward, and it was a disappointment if there were no conversions. 
 
 At the foot of Duane Street, on the North River, stood the hay- 
 scales, and in their neighborhood was the house of fire-engine 
 No. 1, known among school-boys as -'Old Hayseed." Almost in- 
 variably as soon as tlie prayer-meeting in the Duane Street Churcii 
 had got fairly started an alarm of fire would be raised, and " Old 
 Hayseed " would be rattled past the door at an imusually rapid pace 
 and with extra shouting by the company. In a few moments she 
 would return in the same style. There was no fire, but the Meth- 
 odist meeting must be disturbed. 
 
 Class-meetings were held in the basement or at private houses on 
 week evenings or afternoons and at various hours on Sunday. These 
 were generally either all male or all female. Sometimes, especially in the 
 summer, prayer-meetings were held at five or six o'clock in the morning 
 on the Lord's day, and in some cases on week-days. The old custom 
 of preaching at five o'clock in the morning, so strenuously maintained 
 by Wesley, had fallen into disuse, but was occasionally practiced. " 
 
 In seasons of great excitement prayer-meetings would be in prog- 
 ress at the same time in different parts of the house, circles liaving 
 gathered about two or three or more seekers. This was the usual 
 custom before the practice of inviting to the altar was introduced, 
 and, though generally abandoned, was sometimes renewed in seasons 
 of extraordinary interest. Watch-nights were usually held in all tlie 
 churches, and were expected to be services of unusual solemnity. 
 Sometimes they were kept up all night, the exercises being at the 
 church until after twelve o'clock, when thej' were frequently ad- 
 journed to a private house. 
 
 On Christmas eve, after midnight, some of the choirs would ser- 
 enade the preachers and other official and favorite members of tlie 
 church.
 
 474 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 APPENDIX R. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM ACCOUNTS OF STEWARDS, 1827 TO 1831. 
 
 The estimating committee in 1827 were Tliomas Roby, John C. 
 Totten, Xathaniel Jarvis, James B. Oakley, Thomas Fairweatlier, and 
 Robert Matliison. Their report was, for 
 
 Thomas Burch $800 
 
 Nicholas Wiiite 750 
 
 Robert Seney 580 
 
 Julius Field 550 
 
 John J. Matthias 510 
 
 Noah Levings 550 
 
 Rev. L. Clark, P. E 239 
 
 $3,979 
 During each of the following years there is generally an increase 
 in the estimates. 
 
 We get glimpses also of the old system under wliich our fathers 
 worked. Then the Discipline provided that each preacher should re- 
 ceive what was called quarteragp, amounting to $100 for himself, the 
 same amount for his wife, $16 for each child under seven years of 
 age, and $24 for each over seven and under fourteen. This left to 
 the estimating committee only the duty of fixing the amount to be 
 paid for the table expenses of the family. The committee of 1828 
 resolved that the weekly allowance for each preacher for board be 
 two dollars and fifty cents, and the same for his wife; for each 
 child under seven years of age eighty cents, and each over seven 
 and imder fourteen one dollar. It was also resolved that forty-eight 
 weeks should constitute the year (the General Conference had met 
 that year, thus throwing the New York Conference about four weeks 
 later than usual). So, taking the case of one of the preachers for that 
 year, we have : 
 
 Siilary. Board. Total. 
 
 Rev. and wife $200 00 $240 00 $440 00 
 
 4 children under 7 years 64 00 153 60 217 60 
 
 1 cliild over 7 and under 14 24 00 48 00 72 00 
 
 Allowance for wood .... .... 60 00 
 
 Miscellaneous expenses .... .... 90 40 
 
 $880 00 
 This was the largest allowance for that year; the lowest was $525, 
 to a preacher who had no children. 
 
 Tiie receipts were by quarterly and class collections. The quar-
 
 Appendix R. 
 
 475 
 
 terly cullections varied from about $340 to $5:50 ; once they were 
 only' $21G, but only half the churches re|>orced. John Street was 
 generally the largest contributor, once paying in more than $140, 
 but Allen, Forsj'tii, and Duane followed closely, and sometimes Allen 
 Street stood tirst. The class collections varied from $150 to $440 a 
 month, and the different churches gave in about the same proportion 
 as in the quarterly collection. The income for 1S27-8 was: 
 
 Class collections $2,989 00 
 
 Quarterly collections 1,675 G7 
 
 Total $4,G64 67 
 
 In 1828-9 the income was: 
 
 Class collections $2,849 99 
 
 Quarterly collections 1,751 06 
 
 Total $4.G01 05 
 
 In 1829-30 we have a printed report, a copy of which is given. 
 There is no report for 1830-1. 
 
 Report of the Stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 FROM JuxE, 1829, TO May, 1830, inclusive: 
 
 Class Cullections. 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 
 Ocloljer 
 
 November 
 
 December 
 
 Januarv 
 
 Febrnary 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 Quarterly Collections. 
 
 July $259 43 
 
 October 481 50 
 
 January 410 69 
 
 April 456 54 
 
 $257 
 
 44 
 
 304 
 
 21 
 
 269 
 
 47 
 
 240 
 
 43 
 
 307 
 
 06 
 
 321 
 
 39 
 
 369 
 
 16 
 
 307 
 
 29 
 
 288 
 
 14 
 
 291 
 
 84 
 
 384 
 
 44 
 
 $3,339 
 
 87 
 
 - 1,708 
 
 16 
 
 $5,048 
 
 03 
 
 PAYIIENTS 
 
 Rev. Samuel Luckoy. 
 
 " Coles Carpenter. 
 
 " Jesse Hunt 
 
 " Ileman Bangs. . 
 
 " George Coles. . . 
 
 " Samuel D. Fergu 
 son 
 
 " D. Ostrander, P.E 
 Preachers' expenses 
 
 attending Conference 
 
 and moving to the 
 
 city 
 
 Stationer}-, including 
 
 class-books 
 
 Furniture, etc. . . . 
 Counterfeit bill . . , 
 
 852 
 
 80 
 
 836 
 
 00 
 
 699 
 
 60 
 
 889 
 
 20 
 
 709 
 
 60 
 
 520 
 
 00 
 
 3i;j 
 
 00 
 
 87 99 
 
 36 
 
 61 
 
 63 
 
 95 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 $5,011 75 
 
 Balance to new ac- 
 count 
 
 36 28 
 
 ,048 03 
 
 Errors excepted. 
 
 JoHX C. TOTTEN, Treasurer.
 
 476 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 APPENDIX S. 
 
 THE PREACHERS' MEETING. 
 
 As soon as tliere were two or more preacliers stationed in the city 
 they would naturally meet occasionally for consultation. These meet- 
 ings no doubt gradually became regular, but it is not likely that at lirst 
 any records were kept. But there are still in existence the minutes 
 of an association of the stationed and local preachers "for conversa- 
 tion and mutual improvement on moral and religious subjects." These 
 began January 22, 1817, and the association consisted at first of the fol- 
 lowing preachers: Daniel Ostrander, Joshua Soule, William Thacher, 
 Luman Andrus, Arnold Scholefield, Thomas Mason, Joel Ketchnm, 
 Mitchell B. Bull, Jonathan Lyon, John Hih, Jesse Merritt, James Collins, 
 M. H. Smith, Ebenezer Washburn, Samuel Merwin, Benjamin Griffen, 
 Jolin Daulton, aSTathan Banes, Sf^th Crowell, Samuel Howe, Nicholas 
 Morris, Jr., John Boyd, Joseph Santford, Horace Bartlett, Aaron 
 Hunt, William (properly Billy) Hibbard, Tobias Spicer. The names 
 of Laban Clark, Thomas Thorp, Humphrey Humphries, and Freeborn 
 Garrettson were added later. The meetings were held on Wednes- 
 day evening, at the parsonage in Forsyth Street, and a chairman and 
 secretary were elected at each meeting. The last record is dated 
 August 18, 1819. With the exception of some action as to the hour 
 of closing evening services and in regard to the Wesleyan Seminary 
 the proceedings seem to have been altogether of a literary character. 
 It is probable, therefore, that the meetings for church matters were 
 still held, most likely on Saturday mornings. 
 
 Two small books contain the minutes of these business meetings 
 from July 3, 1824, until the division of the city into two circuits, and 
 those of the East Circuit until May 1.3, 1837. The sessions were 
 held on Saturday at 9 A. M., generally at the house of the preacher 
 in charge, and were attended only by tlie traveling preachers of the 
 city, with occasional visitors. A copy of the order of business 
 will give the best view of their character: 1. Probationers received. 
 2. "Transfers. 3. Received by Certificate. 4. Removed by Cer- 
 tificate. 5. Deaths. 6. Vacant classes. 7. Disorderly persons and 
 complaints. 8. Notices. 9. Appointments. 10. Withdrawn. 11. Ex- 
 pulsions. 12. Classes met. Slight changes in the order, etc., were 
 made from time to time, but the programme was substantially 
 the snme.
 
 Appendix S. 477 
 
 A few extracts from the record will illustrate the Methodism of 
 the day. 
 
 The first meeting was at the parsonage in Forsyth Street, on Satur- 
 day, July 3, 1824. There were present, Peter P. Sandford (in charge), 
 P. Rice, T. Mason, J. B. Stratten, E. Brown (S. Buslinell, sick) ; also 
 L. Clark, P. E. T. Mason was elected secretary. The following order 
 of service in public worship was agreed oil. Morning. 1. Lesson from 
 the Old Testament. 2. Singing and prayer. 3. Lesson from the New- 
 Testament. 4. Sing a few verses. 5. Preach. 6. Sing. 7. Pray and 
 pronounce the benediction. The Lord's Prayer to be used uniformly 
 in the morning service. The lessons may be omitted on sacramental 
 occasions. Afternoon same as the morning, omitting the second lesson 
 and the Lord's Prayer (if you choose). Evening the same, omitting 
 lessons and Lord's Prayer. At the meeting of July 10 it was " agreed 
 tliat it is not expedient in general to preach funeral sermons, and 
 when they are preached to be done by the preacher in his regular 
 course, except in some special cases," etc. On June 3, 1826, this 
 resolution was renewed, and it was also "agreed that baptisms be 
 attended to uniformly in the afternoon, before preaching, and that it 
 is inexpedient to baptize infants without a certificate." * And on 
 January 30, 1830, it was resolved to preach no funeral sermons 
 except for aged oSicial members and aged matrons. On Feburary 
 27, 1830, the meeting disapproved of holding sessions of Sunday- 
 schools during the hours of public service. f In the minutes of 
 August 28, 1830, S. D. Ferguson, the secretary, has writien opposite 
 the names of S. Luckey, S. Merwin, and H. Bangs, " gone to college." 
 They were probably attending some meeting in repard to the "Wes- 
 leyan University at Middletown. On January 8, 1830, D. Ayrts, E. J. 
 Moore, and J. L. Phelps proposed a plan for raising funds for tiie 
 superannuated preachers, etc. 
 
 As an illustration of the close rein kept on the preachers it Wbs 
 resolved at the meeting of September 10, 1831, " chat Rev. C. Prindlo 
 be permitted to attend a four-days' meeting this week on New 
 Rochelle circuit, and that if Brother Washburn supplies his appoini- 
 ments in tlie city he be permitted also to spend the Sabbath on said 
 circuit. Carried unanimously. Resolved, also, that Rev. S. Landon be 
 and is hereby authorized to accompany the presiding elder to Long 
 Island next Sabbath, provided he gets his appointments filled in the 
 city satisfactorily. Carried unanimously." In preparing for the dedi- 
 cation of the second Forsyth Street Church, in 1833, the board of 
 * See p. 193. + See p. 208.
 
 478 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 trustees took measures to invite certain preachers to ofBciate, which 
 led the preachers' meeting to vote that tliey had " transcended tlieir 
 powers, and that the preacliers feel it tlieir duty not to accede to tht-u- 
 arrangements."— Minutes of September 21, 1833. When, in 1832, 
 the city was divided into two circuits, of course two meetings were 
 held, and when, a few years after, the churches became .separate 
 charges, a general meeting, but altogether of an unofficial character, 
 was recommenced. The stationed preachers of the city met on Satur- 
 day, as before, for consultation, exchanges were arranged and notices 
 distributed, and essays and debates introduced, as in the meetings 
 begun in 1817. Finally the day was changed to Monday, preachers 
 from other places admitted, and the meeting gradually assumed its 
 present character. It is now "composed of such traveling preachers 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church and such local preachers having 
 charge as may live in New York ciiy or vicinity, and shall sign the 
 article of organizaiion," etc. Its officers are selected from the New 
 York, New York East, and Newark Conferences alternately. 
 
 APPENDIX T. 
 
 PRINTED PLANS OF APPOINTMENTS. 
 
 What was the date of the first printed plan we cannot ascertain, 
 but the first of those given below must have been one of the earliest, 
 and the other is certainly the last for the united city. The copy of the 
 first IS found pasted on the inside of the cover of the book numbered 
 10, and is signed Daniel Ostrander, August 31, 1816. It includes 
 only seven Sundays, the last being a repetition of the first, and begin- 
 ning another round, as is shown by certain figures at the bottom of 
 the table, which it has not been thouglit necessary to print. Nor are 
 all tlie churches given. Two were thought sufiicient. There are six 
 on the plan, namely, John Street, Second (Forsyth) Street, Fourth 
 (Allen) Street, Two Mile Stone (Seventh Street), Greenwich (Bed- 
 ford Sireet), and Duane Street. There were five stationed preachers, 
 and the three additional sermons were by the book agents, Sonic 
 and Mason, and J. Lyon, a located preacher. Other local preachers 
 were no doubt called into service when the stationed preachers were 
 filling the outside appointments mentioned in the second note, or 
 were unwell.
 
 Appendix T. 
 
 4^9 
 
 
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 ■<^ rt o lO (u
 
 480 A PIisTORY OF Mkthodism IN New York City. 
 
 Tlie other (for wliich the writer is indebted to D. T. Macfarlau, Ksq., 
 of Yonkers N. Y.) is headed •' A plan of appointments for the preacli- 
 ers on the New York Circuit, from May, 1831, to June, 1832. Hours 
 of service at half past ten o'clock in the morning and tliree o'clock 
 in the afternoon ; in the evening at half past six o'clock until the 
 1st of March; thence to the 1st of April, at seven o'clock; and 
 thereafter at half past seven o'clock. Week-day evenings always 
 half an hour later than the Sabbath." Two months only are given as 
 sufficient to show its character: 
 
 Months. 
 
 John Street. 
 
 Forsyth Street. 
 
 Willett Street. 
 
 Allen Street. 
 
 Bowery Village * . 
 
 Greenwich Village +. 
 Broadway Hallt 
 
 Duane Street 
 
 Upper Greenwich §. 
 
 Manhattan Island. . 
 
 or 
 Second Street 
 
 House of Refuge. 
 
 — 
 
 
 June. 
 
 
 
 July 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 ' 
 
 M. 
 
 7 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 A. 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 E. 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 M. 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 A. 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 E. 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 M. 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 A. 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 E. 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 M. 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 G 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 A. 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 E. 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 25 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 M. 
 
 a 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 A. 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 (5 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 E. 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 M. 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
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 3 
 
 4 
 
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 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
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 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
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 10 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
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 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
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 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
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 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
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 3 
 
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 6 
 
 7 
 
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 19 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 E. 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 M. 
 
 1 
 
 !22 
 
 13 
 
 26 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 
 4 
 
 21 
 
 A. 
 
 28 
 
 24 
 
 2x 
 
 21 
 
 24 
 
 28 
 
 16 
 
 26 
 
 E. 
 
 24 
 
 16 
 
 
 22 
 
 3 
 
 25 
 
 19 
 
 22 
 
 M. 
 
 21 
 
 8 
 
 24 
 
 14 
 
 
 21 
 
 28 
 
 23 
 
 A. 
 
 18 
 
 26 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 
 9x 
 
 26 
 
 24 
 
 10 
 
 E. 
 
 27 
 
 20 
 
 29 
 
 28 
 
 20 
 
 22 
 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 M. 
 
 14 
 
 27 
 
 18 
 
 17 
 
 26 
 
 13 
 
 25 
 
 
 A. 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 .. 
 
 
 2 
 
 * Now Seventh Street. 
 
 * Afterward Greene street, now Asbury. 
 
 t Now Bedford Street. 
 § Now Eighteenth Street.
 
 Appendix T. 
 
 481 
 
 In the right-haud margin is the list of the preachers, traveling and 
 local, given below, with their numbers as on the plan. The homes of 
 the traveling preachers only are printed here. The work of the local 
 preachers was mainly in the outskirts. A little study of the figures 
 will show that the various planets revolve in regular orbits and at 
 stated periods : 
 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 
 H. 
 
 12. 
 13. 
 
 D. Ostrunder, P. E. 
 S. Merwin, 1 2 Forsyth Street. 
 L. Pease, 216 Duane Street. 
 S. Martindale, Bowery, 4 doors 
 
 above Vauxhall Garden. 
 B. Goodsell, Willett Street. 
 S. Laridon, 38 Bayard Street. 
 J. Clark, 43 Jolin Street. 
 
 B. Sillick, 130 Allen Street. 
 
 C. Prindle, 69 Bedford Street. 
 N. Bangs, 48 Rivington Street. 
 J. Emorj^, corner ot Bank and 
 
 Washington Streets. 
 B. Waugh, 14 Hamersley 
 
 Street. 
 W. Phoebus. 
 M. H. Smith. 
 
 ,, 81 
 
 Amos Street. 
 
 14. 
 
 N. U. Tompkins. 
 
 15. 
 
 P. Craiidall. 
 
 16. 
 
 J. CoUard. 
 
 17. 
 
 W. Manning. 
 
 18. 
 
 A. Piggott. 
 
 19. 
 
 Doctor T. S. Barrett. 
 
 20. 
 
 W. Burnet. 
 
 21. 
 
 N. Whitehead. 
 
 22. 
 
 J. G. Kent. 
 
 23. 
 
 Rice Roof. 
 
 24. 
 
 M. Stan dish. 
 
 25. 
 
 Doctor D. il. Reese. 
 
 26. 
 
 W. Lomas. 
 
 27. 
 
 R. Anderson. 
 
 28. 
 
 F. D. Macfarl;in, Jr. 
 
 29. 
 
 A. Cuninglnm. 
 
 Week-evening preaching: Tuesday evenings at Duane and Allen 
 Streets; Thursday evenings at Forsytli Street and Greenwich; Fri- 
 day evenings at John Street, Willett Street, Bowery Village, and 
 Broad wa}' Hall. 
 
 Sacrament in all our churches (except Upper Greenwich and Man- 
 hattan Island) on the second Sabbatli of each month. 
 
 Quarterly collection on the first Sabbatli in Julj', October, January, 
 and April. 
 
 Preparatory meeting of the stewards and leaders belonging to tJie 
 several churclxes on the first Monday evening of each month. 
 
 Leaders' meeting on the second Monday evening of each month. 
 
 X stands for sacrament at Upper Greenwich and Manhattan Island. 
 Baptism on the afternoon of the first Sabbath of each month. 
 
 ( Printed and sold by J. C. Totten, No. 9 Bowery.)
 
 482 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 APPENDIX U. 
 
 LOVE-FEAST TICKETS, ETC. 
 
 Were a Methodist of the early part of the century to visit the 
 church at this day he would perceive many changes, but none, per- 
 haps, that vi^ould seem of so serious a character as in the matter of 
 class-meetings, love-feasts, and band-meetings. These last were, it is 
 true, falling out of use, and the section of the Discipline which treated 
 of them was taken out in 1 856 ; but sixty-five years ago they were still 
 in existence. They were composed of " two.or three or four true be- 
 lievers, who have confidence in each other," and "all must be men, or 
 all women, and all married, or all unmarried." Tlieir meetings were to 
 be seasons of most thorough confession and closest Christian fellow- 
 ship.* They were never obligatory on the members, and were gen- 
 erally regarded as means to be used by those who were especially 
 zealous for the highest religious experience. But attendance on 
 cla«s-meeting was a necessary condition of membership, and tlie 
 names of those who neglected this were soon removed from the 
 record. As a testimonial of their faithfulness in this respect they re- 
 ceived tickets once a quarter, without which they could not gain ad- 
 mission to the love-feasts. Of these tickets Dr.Wakeley gives a num- 
 ber oi facsimiles, some of which are here reproduced, with additions. 
 
 The first we give is found on page 195 of Dr. "Wakeley's Lost 
 Chapters, etc., and is written : 
 
 October 1, 1769. 
 P.salm cxlvii, 1 1. 
 
 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear 
 him : in those that hope in his mercy. 
 
 Hannah Dean, 75. 
 Rdbt. Williams. K York. 
 
 The signature in Dr. Wakeley's book is a facsimile. The Hannah 
 Dean to whom it was given became Mrs. Paul Hick. Dr. Wakeley 
 (p. 195) says " the tradition in Mr. Hick's family is that these figures 
 (75) represent the number of members in society at that date." Is it 
 not more likely that the tickets were numbered, partly to prevent im- 
 position, as some might get up counterfeits to gain access to a Meth- 
 odist love-feast? On page 415, however, we have a printed ticket, 
 which is dated a month earlier. Shortly after Mr. Boardnoan came 
 * See Discipline previous to 1856.
 
 Appendix U. 483 
 
 tickets were printed (see Old Book, March 31, 1770), and tlie next is 
 probably one of these and is one of the first surviving of a series which 
 
 !y »;«»:« »;«»!«>x<»K<»x< »x<»:<<»x<»;« »:«»:«»!«»x<i^ 
 
 -K May, '74. ?? 
 
 ■^ . . ^ 
 
 y>. Believe iii the Lord your God, so shall you ^ 
 
 ^ be established ; believe his Projohets, so ^ 
 
 ^ shall ye prosper. ^ 
 
 ^ 3 Chro. XX : 20. U ^ 
 
 ^ HannaJi Dean. s5 
 
 •i»!«»K<»:« >xo);«»;«»:« »;«»;« ^>x<»;«»x< »:^c»;«»:<^ % 
 
 continued almns-t unchanged for more tlian seventh' years. Some time 
 between May, '74, and April 10, 1775, Hannali Dean became Hannah 
 Hick; but the Scripture moito on her ticket of tlie last date is Xlie 
 same. In 1785, we are told, the style of tlie t'ckets was changed; 
 tliej' bore the name of the seasons (spring, summer, etc.) instead of 
 the months. This continued until 1 793 ; then they varied for a few 
 years, and then returned to the use of the seasons. The two given 
 below are of this period — they boar the name of Rebecca Burling, the 
 
 cj AUTUMX, 1800. % 
 
 
 March, 1794 
 Xow is the accepted time 
 
 2Cor.vi,2. ^ I "°™"^' 
 
 f& g But joy Cometh in the 
 
 ^ Psalm XXX, 5. 
 
 Rebtkah Burling. W ^ Eehecca Burling. 
 
 wife of the well-known and highly -honored Lancaster S. Burling. That 
 of Hannah Hick in 1801 varies a little in appearance from those before. 
 
 C. AUTUMN, 1801. 2 
 
 Salvation is of the Lord. % 
 
 Jonah ii. 9. ^ 
 
 Hannali Hick. S 
 
 After some years it became customary for citiier the leader or 
 preacher to sign the ticket.* Some time before 1824 a different sys- 
 * See Wakeley's liost Ctuipters, pp. 420-432.
 
 484 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 tem of dating was introduced. Instead of the seasons it was 1st qr., 
 2nd qr., etc., these quarters being, not of the civil, but the Conference 
 year, as will be seen on the next ticket. This is of the 3rd qr., Jan., 
 
 4.<-«> <—> <♦*> <«-»> <— > <— > <— > <— > <«-> <— > <— > <•*> <♦*> <— > <«->^ 
 
 t i 
 
 y Elisa Seaman. Y 
 
 t t 
 
 X The light of the body is the eye; if therefore X 
 
 •* thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full -5' 
 I of light. Matt, vi, 22. | 
 
 I 3 Qr., Jan., 18-42. | 
 
 I B. Griffen. % 
 
 4.<«-.> <«-►> <♦«> <♦♦> <•♦> <«-►> <♦♦> <«-►> <♦♦> <«-►> <♦♦> <♦♦> <♦♦> <♦♦> <»*>4. 
 
 1842, and is among the last of the old form. In July of the same year 
 it appeared as here given, and since then has undergone no change. 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 c® 
 
 Eliza Seaman, ilemher. 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 FOUNDED A. D. 1784. 
 
 ^ QUARTERLY TICKET, JULY, 1842. 
 
 <^ B. Griffen, Minister. 
 
 ^ He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in seven 
 °g there shall no evil touch thee. — Job v, 19. 
 
 °f) Though troubles assail, and dangers affright, 
 
 °f) Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite, 
 
 °% Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, 
 
 '^ The promise assures us, the Lord will provide. 
 
 The regulations as to love- feasts were very strict. They were held 
 quarterly and with closed doors. Any person not a member might 
 secure admission once or twice by getting a permit from tlie preacher 
 in charge. At a stated time fifteen or twenty minutes after the 
 lioiir of opening (or after the bread and water had been distributed) 
 the doors were closed, and even leaders or preachers coming then 
 were liable to be excluded. This was to prevent the meeting being 
 disturbed by late comers. 
 
 It was the custom with some to break off little crumbs of tlie bread
 
 Appendix U. 485 
 
 and pass them to those sitting near, and receive the same in ex- 
 change. This practice had nothing to recommend it, and was some- 
 times repnlsive, especially when a good sister's fingers bore traces of 
 the suuff she liad been using. 
 
 APPENDIX V. 
 
 SEXTONS. 
 
 The first sexton of John Street Church of whom we have any 
 record was John Murphey. Some time before July, 1770, he re- 
 ceived £1 12s. "for taking care of the house." The second was 
 Belthazer Creamer, to whom a payment was made before November 
 26, 1770. It is said he was a kind of police officer or constable.* 
 Two receipts from him are in the " Old Book," the signatures to 
 which are in a good, bold business hand. From them it appears that 
 he received £18 5s. yearly. As late as January 28, 1779, we have 
 an entry, " To cash paid Creamer for Jiis Negro's attendance as sex- 
 ton for three months and three weeks, £2 10s. 8d" f 
 
 Robert Duncan was afterward sexton, but whether immediately 
 after Creamer or while Peter "Williams was absent during the war :}: is 
 not clear. The name of Duncan does not occur in the accounts in 
 the '• Old Book," but that may be because there is no full record of 
 items of expenditure from May, 1774, to May, 1778. Then, under 
 date of May 15, we have, "To cash paid Peter the sexton from class 
 collections April 13, 1776, £?, lOs.g Mr. Dunciin was a native of 
 England, where he married Elizabeth Thomson. Both of them were 
 members of the Weslej'-an Society. They emigrated to this country 
 before the Revolutionary War, were wrecked on their passage near 
 Nova Scotia, and after much difficulty reached New York. The 
 society in John Street, having been frequently imposed upon by per- 
 
 * Sihoi't Uixtoricnl Account, p. 6. 
 
 + In the interval Peter Williams, of whom we shall speak presently, acted as 
 sexton a part of the time. Perhaps he is the one referred to in Creamer's last 
 receipt, and was afterward sold to Mr. Aymar. During part of the Revolu- 
 tionary War he lived near New Brunswick, N. J., with the Durham family, his 
 wife being their servant, having come with them from St. Christopher's. Mr. 
 Aymar's nnnie does not appear in C(mnection with that of Peter until June 10, 
 1783, when the trustees bought him for forty pounds ; but of that hereafter. 
 
 i Wakeley's Lo.sf Chapters, p. 430. Short Hb^torical Accmmt, p. 6. 
 
 § If this was Peter Williams it would indicate that he was sexton until the 
 spring of 1776.
 
 486 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 sons from the other side of the Atlantic, were shy of them at tirst ; 
 but after they presented their certificates gave them a cordial wel- 
 come. Willie sexton he resided in the parsonage. He was a poor 
 man, but exceedingly useful, and so much respected for his deep 
 piety that those who wished instruction in spiritual things would often 
 say, "Come, let us go and see Robert." During the war, so great 
 was their confidence in his honesty, many Methodist families in- 
 trusted to him their valuables, which he placed in the vaults among 
 the coffins, where they were kept safely. He died of bilious fever, 
 near the close of the war, at the old parsonage. As he passed away 
 he shouted, '• Victory 1 victory ! Glory to God ! I have gained the 
 victory at last ! " Samuel Spraggs and John Mann, the two preach- 
 ers, who were both with him, immediately began to sing, " Rejoice, 
 for a brother deceased," etc. 
 
 Mrs. Duncan was an excellent singer, as was also her daughter 
 Elizabeth. Elizabeth's sweet voice, attractive person, and amiable 
 spirit, won the heart of Abraham Wilson, Jr., whose father, a 
 wealthy business man, wished him to marry a young lady of property 
 and position in society. The father did not oppose, and found that 
 his son had a good wife. Abraham Wilson, Jr., died in Norualk, 
 Conn., and his widow, at the age of eighty-six, in Xew Jersey. 
 Their oldest daughter married Jonathan Griffith, who was for a long 
 time a member of the Methodist church at Elizabethtown, N. J. 
 His son is the Rev. Edward M. Griffith, and a daughter is the wife of 
 Rev Francis Asbury Morrell, son of Rev. Thomas Morrell, both of 
 the Newark Conference. Who immediately succeeded Duncan is not 
 known. There are two entries in the " Old Book " of payments to 
 " Joseph, the sexton," dated August 7, 1778, and March 17, 1779, and 
 after that for a year the record is simpl}^ "Paid sexton,'" etc. ; but 
 on April 17, 1780, we read, "Cash paid Peter, 4.v." Then we have 
 payments " to sexton," interspersed with two to " Richard, sexton," 
 until November 20, 1782. In the following June the purchase of 
 Peter Williams was made, and for some time there are no records of 
 payments for sextons' services. Peter had become the property of 
 the Church, and as such it was entitled to his services, but as ilie 
 amount paid by him does not quite reach forty pounds, it is likely 
 the diff"erence was credited to him for his labor. He made his last 
 payment for his freedom on November 4, 1785. Two more entries 
 follow, the last of which is June 15, 1787, "Paid Peter Williams in 
 full for last j-ear's service, £1 1 2.s. Ofi." There are two more payments 
 to liim, it is true, but these are for "Schuyler, the sexton," and then
 
 Ari'ENDix V. 487 
 
 Peter's name disappears from the accoiiut of payments for sexton's 
 services ; but on the opposite page, where money received is entered, 
 we luive credits to him for burial fees as late as August, 1795, and the 
 records of the '-Old Book " close witli September of that year. 
 
 Of " Joseph " and " Richard '' we can learn notliing. The custom 
 prevalent then of using only one name for colored people gives ground 
 for supposing that they were of that race. If so, however worthy 
 they may have been, their fame is eclipsed by that of their fellow- 
 African, wiio shines so brightly, that he is generally regarded as 
 pre-eminently the sexton of old John Street Clnn-ch. 
 
 Peter WiUiams, we are told, "was sexton for a time during the 
 early and latter part of the War of the Revolution." * It is his like- 
 ness which is seen in the middle door of tlie old church, as shown in 
 the large colored engraving. Dr. Wakeley gives a portrait of him 
 from a pauiting that was in tlie keeping of his adopted daughter, and 
 is said to be by a Frencliman from St. Domingo. He was short and 
 stont, and vvben, in liis later years, tlie loss of his hair had left his 
 iiead as smooth as a glass ball, he wore a wig. f 
 
 He was born in New York city of pure African parentage. Tlieir 
 owner was of the Boorite family, and lived in Beekman Street 
 Peter's parents occupied part of the building in whicli the cow was 
 kept, and, m speaking of his birth, he used to say, " I was born in as 
 liumble a place as my Master." He had seven sisters and two broth- 
 ers, and was the only Metlicdist among them. He was converted 
 when Embury and Webb were preaching in the rigging-loft, and his 
 adopted daugliter said to Dr. Wakeley, " He always thought Captain 
 Wet)b was something wonderful. When they talked of great preach- 
 ers Captain Webb was always brought on to the carpet." His wi^e, 
 Mary Durham, a native of St. Christopher's, one of the West India 
 islands, was two years older than lie. It is said she " was beautiful, full 
 of good sense, and distinguished for consistent piety." Tliey were a 
 happy couple. Peter's master (at least during the latter part of his 
 servitude) was James Aymar, a tobacconist, who taught him the 
 business. Mr. Aymar was a loyalist, and after the war was obliged 
 to leave the country. Peter then worked for the father of the late Dr. 
 Milledollar, who was also a tobacconist, but afterward began business 
 fur himself.:!: His store was in Liberty Street, and being lionest and 
 
 * Wakeley's Lost Chapters, p. 429. If so, Duncan's term of service must 
 liave occupied the interval. t Ihid., p. 448. 
 
 i Dr. Francis says he was a rival of " the famous hi>u3e of the Lorillards."- 
 Old Neil Forfr, p. 150.
 
 488 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 courteous he did a good business, and fioally owned his house and 
 store and considerable other property. "Pig-tail'' and '"nigger- 
 heads " were the titles of certain kinds of tobacco, and it is said that 
 in buying the latter he never asked for it by that name, but called it 
 " them things." He could neither read nor write, but Molly could 
 read a little. His son kept his accounts. " He was proverbial for 
 his good nature ; liis black face shone all over witli kindness. He 
 was a cheerful and liberal giver, and was especially interested in the 
 welfare of his own race, aided in the churches tlu-y built, and in 1801 
 laid with his own liands the corner- stone of Zion's Church at the 
 corner of Leonard and Church Streets." 
 
 For seven years Peter and Molly lived in the old parsonage and 
 took care of tiie preachers, most of whom were single men. Molly's 
 name appears also in the " Old Book " iu connection with wages re- 
 ceived by her. Her account was distinct from his, and she received 
 her money in one amount at the close of the year. She was lady-like 
 and intelligent and a model of neatness. The late Mrs. Mason says: 
 "Brother Williams would, on special occasions, when a number of 
 preachers were in the city, invite a company of ministers and their 
 wives to dine or take tea at his humble dwelling. I was sometimes 
 a guest on such occasions. The table, spread with taste, would be 
 bouniifnlly covered with specimens of his wife Molly's culinary art 
 in viands and confectionery which might challenge competition with 
 the best cooks. Molly was famed for making excellent pies and 
 cakes. With patriarchal hospitality they would stand and wait on their 
 guests, pleased to see them enjoy their repast." It is said that " at 
 a certain time Bishop Asbury and a number of preachers came to 
 dine at Peter's house. Peter went bowing into the parlor, paying his 
 respects to his guests, and began to count them, pointing with his 
 finger. He began with the bishop, and counted eleven, and then 
 made a long pause before one who had left the Methodist for another 
 Church. Then he said, ' Eleven — and you ' (another pause). ' A 
 Judas, T suppose you would say,' rephed the deserter. ' As you 
 please, Mr. L.,' said Peter; 'I did not say it. But you had better re- 
 turn to your mother, the Methodist Episcopal Church.' " As any one 
 familiar with old New York Methodism will readily surmise, this was 
 Dr. Thomas Lyell, Pilmoor's successor in the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in Ann Street. Mr. Lyell had sufiScient good sense and good 
 temper to appreciate the humor of the incident. 
 
 Perhaps, too. Dr. Lyell thought he had the better of Peter when 
 Peter junior left the Methodists and became a member of his church
 
 Appendix V. 489 
 
 in Ann street. Young Peter was an only child, amiable and intelli- 
 gent. His talents gained the esteem of Bisiiop Hobart, and aller be- 
 ing eniploj-ed for a time as a lay reader lie was ordained a minister 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church and became pastor of St. Philip's, 
 a colored congregation, in Center Street. He was very useful, and 
 much beloved by his people and his brethren ni the ministry. Ke 
 died October 18, 1840, alter only two hours' illness. His congrega- 
 tion afterward purchased the Methodist church edifice in Mulberry 
 Street and took possession of it in May, 1857. Since then it has re- 
 moved to IGl West 25lh street. 
 
 It seems probable from what has already been stated that Peter's 
 services as sexton ceased, at least for a time, about 1787.* He proba- 
 bl}'-, however, continued to act as undertaker, and he and Peier Parks 
 no doubt clothed mo.st of the old Methodists in their last r. bes aiid 
 committed them to their final resting-place. 
 
 And at last the time came when he and his good wife needed the 
 same offices for themselves. Molly was two years oldir than her 
 husband, and died in 1821, two years before him. She was buried 
 in the north-east corner of the old ground connected with the For- 
 syth Street Church. The Rev. Tobias Spicer and tiie Rev. Tliumas 
 Lyell, the Episcopal clergymen referred to above, officiated. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1823, Peter died of paralysis, and as burials were no longer 
 permitted in the Forsyth Street church-yard he was laid in the bury, 
 ing-ground of St. John's Episcopal Chiu-ch. His funeral sermon was 
 preached in John Street Church by Dr. William Phoebus. 
 
 As already stated, Peter was born in slavery, and his master being 
 a loyalist and compelled to leave the country after the war. ho was 
 liable to be sold into hands that might not be agreeable to him. To 
 save him from this, and to enable him to obtain his freedom, the 
 trustees of the John Street Church, acting no doubt on the wishes of 
 the church, bought him for forty pounds. This was on June 1 0, 1 783. 
 Some two weeks before (May 27) Peter, in anticipation, probably, of 
 tlie purchase, placed in their hands his watch, valued at five pounds.f 
 From that date onward we find entries of payments from time to 
 time, the sums varying from two to five pound.s, until under date of 
 February 17, 1786, we read: "By cash received of Peter Williams in 
 
 * C. R. Disosway, Esq., says, in a note to the writer : " Peter Williams did 
 not acl as sexton of John Street at any time during the current century. How 
 late he served during the last century I cannot say." 
 
 + This watch was either boiiRht back or presented to him again. It was in 
 the hiinds of his adopted daughter after his dt-ath.— Wakeley's Lrat Vlian- 
 tcrs, p. 468.
 
 490 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 full of all demands on the 4tli of November, 1785, £5 7s.'' The 
 amount footed up comes to £35 7s; but perhaps a part was paid in 
 services, of which no account was entered. And yet, strange lo tell, 
 not till eleven years after was his emancipation paper executed. This 
 paper, whicli Dr. Wakeley found in tlie possession of his adopted 
 daugiiter, is given by him in Lost Chapters, pp. 463, etc. Noe.xplaua- 
 tion or defense of this transaction is needed. It was a purchase of 
 slave property such as John Wesley would never have censured, 
 and if Methodists had never bought nor held slaves under any other 
 circumstances the Church would never have been rent asunder by 
 the question.* 
 
 But we must go back some thirty-five years and follow the succes- 
 sion of other sextons. Between March 21, 1786, and Fanuary 12, 
 1787, we have payments to Joshua. John, and J. Slidel, or Slydell, 
 which look as if they were for sextons' services. The correct name is 
 piobably Joshua, as we find it so in the list of Abraham Russell's class 
 in 1787. f On April 2, 1787, the name of Schuyler appears. His 
 first name, as we afterward find, was Bernard. His salary was 
 twenty pounds a year, and he received regular quarterly payments 
 until, under the date of March 29, 1790, we read: "Cash paid 
 Schuyler's widow for sexton's salary to 1 April, 1790, £2.0s. Oc?." 
 
 In the latter part of 1789 the church in Second (now Forsyth) 
 Street was completed, and henceforth when we read of payments for 
 sextons' services we mny not always be able to tell which church is 
 referred to. As far as can be ascertained Thomas Holdrop served 
 John Street from July 1, 1791, to July 1, 1792, for fifteen pounds a 
 year. He was followed by James Ryley (or Riley), whose salary was 
 the s;inie, and he was in ofBce when the accounts of the "Old Book " 
 ended, six years and three months after. From that time we have 
 no definite information as to the sextons of John Street, except that 
 we find in one of the old books a scrap of paper, on which is a re- 
 ceipt from Isaac Collard to James Smith, dated December 1, 1811, in- 
 cluding, among other items, $12 50 for "the en re of John Street 
 meeting-house for three months." % James Thompson, whose name 
 first appears in the "Old Book" July 17, 1790, served, it is most 
 likely, in the new church (Forsyth Sireet) for ten pounds a year. The 
 
 *The larger part of the material of tbis sketch Is derived from Wakeley's 
 Lost Chapters, pp. 426-479. In no part of that volume has Dr. W. rendered a 
 greater service to those interested In the history of New York Methodism than 
 here. tBook 1 .A, p. VS. 
 
 $C. R. Disnsway. F,sf|., says, in a note to the writer, that Mr. Collard is the 
 only .sexton he remembers.
 
 Appendix V, 491 
 
 last payment to liim is recorded April 7, 1791. Peter Parks probably 
 followed him, and was sexton of Forsyth Street when the records of 
 the "Old Book" close.* 
 
 A few words here as to early Methodist burial-places. There were 
 vaults under the first John Street Church; there was a burial-ground 
 connected with the Forsyth Street Church, and in it a number of 
 vaults ;f and there were vaults and a grave-yard also at Bedford Street 
 and at Duane Street. Afterward ground was purchased at the corner 
 of First Street aud Second Avenue, where many were interred. At 
 the Eighteenth Street Churcli a number of excellent vaults were 
 built, and when the church at Harlem (now St. Jame.s) stood on its old 
 site, where now Lexington Avenue crosses 125lh Street, there were 
 vaults in the rear of it. Greene Street had a burial-ground in 36th 
 Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues (Nos. 333 and 335). 
 There were vaults also in tlie rear of the Sullivan Street Church. 
 There was also a cemetery at Williamsburg, now Brooklyn, Eastern 
 District. 
 
 APPENDIX W. 
 
 SINGING AND CHORISTERS. 
 
 SiXGixG has always occupied a prominent place in the worship of 
 Methodist congregations. Making but little use of any thing like a 
 liturgy, this was the only part of the services in which the people 
 could unite vocally, and they made good use of the privilege, singing 
 "lustily and of good courage." Philip Embury was, we are told, an 
 excellent singer, and he soon had the assistance of three musicians 
 belonging to the Sixteenth regiment of British troops, then stationed 
 in the barracks. Their names were James Hodge, Addison Low, 
 and John Buckley. J But good voices and glad hearts, thought essen- 
 tial in "making melody to the Lord," were not all that was neces- 
 sary. The need of some training in the science of music was soon 
 felt, and accordingly we find in the " Old Book," under date of April 
 24, 1*770, this entry "To cash pd. Mr. Doughty, for instructing in 
 singing, £2 6s." 
 
 * This is the man whose testimony is piven in Appendix A, p. 412, and of whom 
 the incident of the two boys at the love-feast is related, p. 140. C. R. Disosway, 
 Esq., in a letter to the writer, says he thinks he was a man of considerable 
 property. 
 
 t A record of burials there is In the hands of the trustees of that church. 
 
 * Testimony of Peter Parks, p. 23.
 
 492 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 From that time, however, we have n ithing on this subject for more 
 than thirt}' yetirs. Tlie venerable Daniel Ayres, who was so long 
 the leader of the choir in John Street, says : * " My first recollections 
 of the singing were in 1803, when tlie precentor led from the altar. 
 I believe his name was Flanagan, who tauglit the school attached to 
 the church, f One Sunday afternoon he appealed to the preacher to 
 desire tlie people to follow the leading voice. The leading men after- 
 ward met in the altar after service to practice ps-almody. Among 
 them I remember Stephen Daudo, Charles Marsh, Joseph Cooper, 
 David Wilson, etc. The music dragged. In May, 1806, on a beautiful 
 Sabbath morning, a gentleman first appeared in the class of good old 
 David Renny. His dress of tine drab cloth and a fine presence were 
 unique. At tiie leader's request he made the closing prayer ; his music- 
 al voice and choice words attracted my notice as unusual. This was 
 Mr. James Evans, from Manchester, England ; one of the best singers I 
 ever heard, and to my surprise then he could read any music at sight. 
 He formed a choir at once of such material as he could find, soon 
 oroducing an improved style of music, taking possession of the little 
 front gallery. In 1808 lie published David's Companion, by authority 
 of the General Conference — a good book, of which a second edition 
 was issued in 1817. This was used until the publication of tlie 
 Methodist Harmonist, in 1822.:|: Mr. Evans left to sing at Ziou's Prot- 
 estant Episcopal Church, and died at Richmond, Ya. 
 
 David Wilson succeeded Mr. Evans. He was a good singer and a 
 happy Cliristian; but was soon called to his reward. § 
 
 Daniel Ayres followed in 1809, and continued until 1839. Under 
 his charge tlie choir was celebrated for its excellent music. There 
 are some yet living who can recall it with great pleasure. The most 
 of the choir were members of the church. They bought their own 
 music and provided a place to praciice. No instruments were per- 
 mitted. In these, as well as some other respects, the contrast with 
 the present time is marked. 
 
 The leading female singer in John Street for many years was Miss 
 
 ♦Letter to the author, and article in ChriMian Advocate, vol. xli. p. 249. 
 
 tXtiis was probably Christopher Flanagan, a converted papist, who came to 
 this country before the Revolution. He was a local preacher, and in October 
 23, 1793, was paid sixteen shillings for " assisting in preaching." He died in 
 ]805. 
 
 i The compilers of the HarmonM were John M. Smith, Daniel Ayres, John 
 D Myers, and G. P. Disosway. See its preface. 
 
 S His widow died in 18.56. A daughter, their only child, became the wife of 
 Mark Stephenson, M.D.
 
 Appendix W. 493 
 
 Hannah Baldwin. She was born in 1758, and at the age of twenty 
 montns beciinie bhnd from small-pox. Awakened under the preach- 
 ing of Joseph Pilmoor, she joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
 tlie age of fifteen j-ears, and was a member for sixty-flve years. She 
 was an excellent singer, and knew all the hymns. She was of a very 
 cheerful, happy spiriD. She wore a plain bonnet, and, it is said, never 
 put it on without facing a looking-glass.* Her relatives were Kpisco- 
 palians, and wished her to be buried in their ground, but she told 
 them, "When I united with the Methodists I said. This people shall 
 be my people, and their God my God; where they die will 1 die, and 
 with them will I be buried." She died in 1837, and her funeral serv- 
 ices were held in the Greene Street Church, a sermon beiug preached 
 by Rev. D. Ostrander.f 
 
 As to the singing in the other churches, Mr. Ayres says: "I 
 remember good Simeon Price and Joseph Johnson, leading from the 
 altar in Forsyth and Allen Streets." ^ 
 
 It is said that a choir was first formed in Forsyth Street in 1817. 
 Robert Smiirc was the first leader, and among his successors were 
 William Hendricks, Ralph Hoyt (afterward an Episcopal clergyman), 
 Tliomas Harley, and Richard Sliarp. 
 
 For many years George Higgins was the leader in Duane Street. 
 His voice was one of tlie most powerful the writer ever heard, and 
 yet at times exceedingly soft and musical. It was well adapted to 
 camp meetings. 
 
 APPENDIX X. 
 
 METHODIST BOOK CONCERN. 
 
 In the Miiuites of 1789 John Dickins, the preacher stationed in 
 Philadelphia, is also appointed book sfeward, and he had charge of 
 the publishing business from that time until his death, in 1798. In 
 1796 Ezekiel Cooper was appointed, and the business was continued 
 in Philadelphia until 1804. Its removal from there seems to have 
 
 * C. R. Disosway, Methodist, vol. xlii, p. 35.5. 
 
 i- Christian Advocate, vol. xii, p. Si. The writer has a list of the John 
 Street choir, furnished by the late Daniel Ayres. 
 
 $0f the latter it is related that a slip of paper having been put Into his seat, 
 on which were the lines, 
 
 " Sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow. 
 Sometimes too high, sometimes too low," 
 he never would lead any more.
 
 494 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 been the result of a desire to keep Mr. Cooi)er in charge, and an un- 
 wilUngness to have any preacher remahi in one place beyond the 
 usual term. The Philadelphia Conference of 1803 voted to remove 
 it to Baltimore, but to this Mr. Cooper objected, and at the General 
 Conference of 1 804 New York was fixed upon as its place.* No 
 ground can be discovered for the statement of Dr. Aikinson {Centen- 
 nial History of Methodism, p. 321) that in the General Conference of 
 that year (1804) "Baltimore and New York were competitors for the 
 Concern ; " at least they were not in the sense of putting in any claims 
 for it. Indeed, " It is very evident, if Philadelpliia parted with the 
 Book Concern without regret. New York held no jubilee of welcome 
 on its arrival. So far as it appears it came unsought." 
 
 But there has been some uncertainty as to the various locations in 
 which tiie business has been carried on in New York, and to settle 
 this question, if possible, the volumes of the New York Directory iiave 
 lieen examined. These were found in the library of the New York 
 Historical Society, and they furnish a line of testimony almost perfect, 
 corroborated also by the catalogues on the last pages of several old 
 vohnnes published at the time. The conclusions are as follows : In 
 1804, when the removal to New York took place, E. Cooper and J. 
 Wilson were tlie agents or book stewards, as they were then called. 
 (In the Minutes of 1805-6 Mr. Cooper is also appointed to Brooklyn 
 and Mr. Wilson to New York, and in 1807 Mr. Cooper is set down 
 at New York and Mr. Wilson at Brooklyn. In 1808 the General 
 Conference relieved the agents from all pastoral duty, and also limited 
 the total term of their service to eight years.) It is said that the 
 business was first established in a small room in Gold Street, and this 
 is probably correct, although no testimory to that effect is to be 
 found in the Directory. But in 1805 the Directory reads: "Meth- 
 odist Book Store, 249 Pearl Street;" and there it seems to liave 
 remained until 1808 or 1809. In 1808 Wilson became senior agent 
 and D. Hitt assistant, and from 1809 to 1816 the Directory locates 
 the store in Church Street. (Numbers vary, however; they are 139, 
 168, 192, owing probably to a change in the numbering of the 
 street, as both 139 and 192 are said in the catalogues to be at the 
 corner of Wiiite Street. Now 192).f 
 
 * Liiqht on Enrlfi 3Ietho(li!fm, p. 279, etc. 
 
 + Rev. D. Devinne gives tlie following account of a visit to the place at this 
 
 pp;io>1 He says it was a plain two-story house with no vestiere of a shop. He 
 
 usei1 the brass knocker on the door .several times, and at last a very lordly- 
 
 • looking frentleman appeared at the head of the stairs. He was dressed in 
 
 ancient costume, short breeches, white stockings, white vest, black coal, and
 
 Appendix: X. 495 
 
 Mr. Wilson died in 1810, and Mr. Hitt was sole agent until the 
 General Coaference of 1812, when Thomas Ware was made assistant. 
 Tliey were succeeded at the General Conference of 1816 by Joshua 
 Suule and Thomas Mason, and not long after the business was 
 removed to 41 John Street, where it occupied two lower rooms. This 
 house was afterward the residence of Francis Hall, Esq. (See Chris- 
 tian Advocate, October 11, 1833.) The Directory of 1817 gives no light 
 on the matter, but m 1818 it is 41 John Street. In 1820 N. Bangs 
 became senior agent, with Thomas Mason as assistant, and in 1821 we 
 tind the business in Chatham Square. (The number is sometimes 5 and 
 sometimes 2 ; 5 is probably correct.) In 1823 and 1824, however, it is 
 55 Fulton Street. In 1824 John Emory became assistant. Up to thia 
 date the Concern had no printing-office, their work being done by 
 various parties — for example, John C. Totten, J. J. Harper, Myers & 
 Smith, and Abraham Paul. A bindery, however, had been opened in 
 1822 in the basement of the Wesleyan Seminary building, on the west 
 side of Crosby Street, between Howard and Grand Streets. In Sep- 
 temljer 20, 1824, printing was begun, and shortly after the seminary 
 building was purchased. This was a substantial brick building, 65 by 
 40, standing a little back from the line of the street. In 1827, more 
 room being needed, a new front was put up, without removing the 
 original front wall, thus giving additional space thirteen feet wide. 
 (These later items are from an article in the Youth^s Instructor of 
 October, 1828.) 
 
 In 1833 the building 200 Mulberry Street was occupied. Tliis was 
 burned in Feburary, 1836, but immediately rebuilt, and has just been 
 sold and vacated (January, 1890). Tiie property at 805 Broadway 
 was purchased in 1869, but occupied only as a store and offices. The 
 new building, Fifth Avenue, corner of Twentieth Street, was occupied 
 in the close of 1889. 
 
 APPENDIX Y. 
 
 MEMBERSHIP IN NEW YORK CITY. 
 
 Down to 1838 the total membership has already been givrn for 
 each year; after tliat the number in cacli Church is to be found in its 
 
 hair combed very artistically. Without saying: a word he came down the stairs, 
 pas^sed into another room, where the books were piled up on the floor, and 
 handed me one book. I pave him a silver dollar and he gave me si.x cents 
 chaiifje. It was D. Hitt. " I tried," says Mr. Devinne, " to make small talk, 
 but it would not run."— r?ie McthodM, vol. xvi, p. 343.
 
 496 A HisTOKY OF Methodism in New York City. 
 
 history. This table gives the sum for each year, and marks the in- 
 crease or decrease. It includes all nationalities, and probationers 
 as well as full members, as only in this way could the progress of 
 the Church be shown. The annexed district is not counted. If we 
 pass at all beyond the limits of Manhattan Island it might be said, 
 not improperly, that the statistics of New York city Methodism 
 should be made up from the whole region within a radius of Gfty 
 miles from the old John Street Church. 
 
 The task of preparing this table has been a difBcult one, partly be- 
 cause of the frequent indistinctness of the figures in the printed 
 Minutes. From that and other causes also there may be some errors, 
 but it is believed to be suEBciently correct for all practical purposes. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 NUMBER. 
 
 INC. OB 
 
 DEC. 
 
 PATB 
 
 NUMBER. 
 
 INC. OR DEC. 
 
 1773 
 
 180 
 
 
 . 
 
 1810 
 
 2,200 
 
 Increase 
 
 200 
 
 1774 
 
 222 
 
 Tncrea.se 
 
 42 
 
 1811 
 
 2,454 
 
 " 
 
 254 
 
 1775 
 
 200 
 
 Decrease 
 
 22 
 
 1812 
 
 2,594 
 
 " 
 
 140 
 
 1776- 
 
 132 
 
 u 
 
 68 
 
 1S13 
 
 2,478 
 
 Decrease 
 
 116 
 
 177V 
 
 96 
 
 " 
 
 36 
 
 1814 
 
 2,563 
 
 Increase 
 
 85 
 
 1778 to 1783 no 
 
 reports. 
 
 
 1815 
 
 2,443 
 
 Decrease 
 
 120 
 
 1784 
 
 60 
 
 Decrease 
 
 36 
 
 1816 
 
 2,572 
 
 Increase 
 
 129 
 
 1785 
 
 no report. 
 
 
 
 1817 
 
 2,853 
 
 " 
 
 281 
 
 1786 
 
 203 
 
 Increase 
 
 143 
 
 1818 
 
 3,158 
 
 i< 
 
 305 
 
 1787 
 
 275 
 
 It 
 
 72 
 
 1819 
 
 3,180 
 
 ti 
 
 22 
 
 1788 
 
 330 
 
 " 
 
 55 
 
 1820 
 
 3,218 
 
 i> 
 
 38 
 
 1789 
 
 360 
 
 11 
 
 30 
 
 1821 
 
 2,155 
 
 *Decrease 1,063 
 
 nno 
 
 024 
 
 " 
 
 264 
 
 1822 
 
 2,437 
 
 Increase 
 
 282 
 
 1791 
 
 636 
 
 " 
 
 12 
 
 1823 
 
 2.706 
 
 " 
 
 269 
 
 1792 
 
 641 
 
 " 
 
 5 
 
 1824 
 
 2.539 
 
 Decrease 
 
 167 
 
 17 93 
 
 793 
 
 " 
 
 152 
 
 1825 
 
 2,623 
 
 Increase 
 
 84 
 
 1794 
 
 710 
 
 Decrease 
 
 83 
 
 1826 
 
 2,930 
 
 " 
 
 307 
 
 1795 
 
 755 
 
 Increase 
 
 45 
 
 1827 
 
 3,289 
 
 " 
 
 359 
 
 1796 
 
 786 
 
 " 
 
 31 
 
 1828 
 
 3,477 
 
 " 
 
 188 
 
 1797 
 
 881 
 
 u 
 
 95 
 
 1829 
 
 3,839 
 
 '• 
 
 362 
 
 1798 
 
 900 
 
 " 
 
 19 
 
 1830 
 
 3,955 
 
 " 
 
 116 
 
 1799 
 
 818 
 
 Decrease 
 
 82 
 
 1831 
 
 5,021 
 
 " 
 
 1,066 
 
 1800 
 
 776 
 
 " 
 
 42 
 
 1832 
 
 5,433 
 
 " 
 
 412 
 
 1801 
 
 835 
 
 Increase 
 
 59 
 
 1833 
 
 5.224 
 
 Decrease 
 
 209 
 
 1802 
 
 937 
 
 " 
 
 102 
 
 1834 
 
 5^249 
 
 Increase 
 
 25 
 
 1803 
 
 995 
 
 " 
 
 58 
 
 1835 
 
 5,287 
 
 " 
 
 38 
 
 1804 
 
 1,018 
 
 " 
 
 23 
 
 1836 
 
 5,493 
 
 11 
 
 206 
 
 1805 
 
 940 
 
 Decrease 
 
 78 
 
 1837 
 
 5,703 
 
 " 
 
 210 
 
 1806 
 
 1,056 
 
 Increase 
 
 116 
 
 1838 
 
 5,533 
 
 Decrease 
 
 170 
 
 1807 
 
 1 .463 
 
 " 
 
 407 
 
 1839 
 
 6,156 
 
 Increase 
 
 623 
 
 1808 
 
 1,754 
 
 II 
 
 291 
 
 1840 
 
 6,413 
 
 " 
 
 257 
 
 1809 
 
 2,000 
 
 " 
 
 246 
 
 1841 
 
 6,722 
 
 II 
 
 309 
 
 * Due to the Stilvvelllte secession, etc.
 
 Appendix Y. 
 
 497 
 
 DATE. 
 
 NUMBER. 
 
 INC. OR DEC. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 NUMBER. 
 
 INC. OR DEC 
 
 
 184-2 
 
 7,775 
 
 Increase 
 
 1,053 
 
 1867 
 
 11,504 
 
 Increase 
 
 111 
 
 J843 
 
 9,780 
 
 " 
 
 2,005 
 
 1868 
 
 11,958 
 
 " 
 
 454 
 
 1844 
 
 9,478 
 
 Decrease 
 
 302 
 
 1869 
 
 12,626 
 
 " 
 
 668 
 
 1845 
 
 9,571 
 
 lucrease 
 
 93 
 
 1870 
 
 12,546 
 
 Decrease 
 
 80 
 
 1846 
 
 9,495 
 
 Decrease 
 
 76 
 
 1871 
 
 12,443 
 
 " 
 
 103 
 
 1847 
 
 9,326 
 
 " 
 
 169 
 
 1872 
 
 13,012 
 
 Increase 
 
 569 
 
 1848 
 
 9.348 
 
 Increase 
 
 22 
 
 1873 
 
 12,808 
 
 Decrease 
 
 204 
 
 1849 
 
 8,953 
 
 *Decrease 
 
 395 
 
 1874 
 
 12,855 
 
 Increase 
 
 47 
 
 1850 
 
 8,948 
 
 II 
 
 5 
 
 1875 
 
 12,441 
 
 Decrease 
 
 414 
 
 1851 
 
 9,307 
 
 Increase 
 
 359 
 
 1876 
 
 12,354 
 
 " 
 
 87 
 
 1852 
 
 9,103 
 
 Decrease 
 
 204 
 
 1877 
 
 12,078 
 
 " 
 
 276 
 
 1853 
 
 9,322 
 
 Increase 
 
 219 
 
 1878 
 
 12,140 
 
 Increase 
 
 62 
 
 1854 
 
 8,956 
 
 Decrease 
 
 366 
 
 1879 
 
 12,881 
 
 " 
 
 741 
 
 1855 
 
 8,439 
 
 " 
 
 517 
 
 1880 
 
 13,160 
 
 11 
 
 279 
 
 1856 
 
 8,606 
 
 Increase 
 
 167 
 
 1881 
 
 13,200 
 
 ii 
 
 40 
 
 1857 
 
 8,550 
 
 Decrease 
 
 56 
 
 1882 
 
 13,583 
 
 11 
 
 383 
 
 1858 
 
 10,699 
 
 Increase 
 
 2,149 
 
 1883 
 
 13,541 
 
 Decrease 
 
 42 
 
 1859 
 
 10,816 
 
 " 
 
 117 
 
 1884 
 
 13,667 
 
 Increase 
 
 126 
 
 1860 
 
 11,426 
 
 " 
 
 610 
 
 1885 
 
 13,828 
 
 " 
 
 161 
 
 1861 
 
 11,739 
 
 " 
 
 313 
 
 1886 
 
 1.3,783 
 
 Decrease 
 
 4.') 
 
 1862 
 
 11,036 
 
 Decrease 
 
 703 
 
 18S7 
 
 13.378 
 
 " 
 
 405 
 
 1863 
 
 11.111 
 
 Increase 
 
 75 
 
 1888 
 
 13.814 
 
 Increase 
 
 436 
 
 1864 
 
 lu.405 
 
 Decrease 
 
 706 
 
 1889 
 
 13.927 
 
 " 
 
 113 
 
 1865 
 
 10,337 
 
 " 
 
 68 
 
 1890 
 
 13,707 
 
 Decrease 
 
 220 
 
 1866 
 
 11,393 
 
 Increase 
 
 1,056 
 
 
 
 
 
 APPENDIX Z. 
 
 CHURCH DEBT. 
 
 There is so much irregnlarity in the system of making: up the re- 
 ports of debt that it has often been difficult to ascertain the precise 
 amount. The following table, however, is believed to be substan- 
 tially correct, and contains all that has been found: 
 
 1772 £11 O.s. Od. 
 
 1802 2.487 3s. 2d. 
 
 1803 2,380 8'?. 8d. 
 
 1818 117,000 00 
 
 1819 27,438 27 Increase $10,438 27 
 
 1820 32,558 53 " 5,120 26 
 
 1821 33,749 55 " 1,19102 
 
 1822 35,446 66 " 1.697 11 
 
 * No report from the German work this y ar. 
 the decrease at least 300. 
 
 This would have dimlui.shed
 
 498 A History of Methodism in New York City. 
 
 182H $36,398 29 Increase $95163 
 
 1824 :i6,106 11 Decrease 292 18 
 
 1825 35,657 39 " 448 72 
 
 1826 31,883 00 " 3,774 39 
 
 1827 36,441 44 Increase 4.558 44 
 
 1828 ;.... 32,506 68 Decrease 3,934 76 
 
 1829 36,237 11 Increase 3.73ii 43 
 
 1830 34.707 11 Decrease 1,530 00 
 
 1831..., 37,657 11 Increase 2,950 00 
 
 1882 67.339 11 " 29,682 00 
 
 1833 78,773 67 •' 11,434 56 
 
 1834 89,798 67 " 1 1,025 00 
 
 — besides a mortgage of $5,000 on the biirying-grouud at Williams- 
 burg.
 
 NDEX. 
 
 Aobott, Benjamin, 115. 
 
 Atldiess of Coiifereuce to Pre^ideut 
 Wasliington, J 03. 
 
 Addresses of reliKious bodies to Presi- 
 dent Washinfftoii, idi. 
 
 African Church, Zlon's, 156. 
 
 Alanson Church, 337. 
 
 Allen Street Church 181,273,294; Me- 
 morial Cluirch, 291; revival, 252 
 
 Altar, inviting to, 170; rail in John 
 Street, 85. 
 
 America, when the Palatines came, 9. 
 
 Anderson, Cornelia, 8.<; Mr.s., 4i/. 
 
 Andrus, Luman, 174. 
 
 Apiiointments, Plans of, 478. 
 
 A )thorpe. Mr., 427. 
 
 Asbiir.v, Bishop, 55-.57, 58, 59; ap- 
 pointed assistant, 61 ; to New York, 
 6); a true American, 459; bill for 
 horse keeping, 176 : controversy with 
 Lupton and Newton. 01. 04, 09; in 
 New York, 81, 82, ,S9, '.»2, 95, 101, 102, 
 113, 118, 1^1, 124, 120, r.)H, ]3:t, 141, 
 14-., 147, 150, 151, 100, 102, 103, 106, 
 167,169, 175, 176, 178, 185, 190,200; 
 on heresy and schism, 138 ; reguiat- 
 inir the New York Society, 59. 
 
 Asbury Church, 313 ; churches, 332, 
 3:33 ; Society, 332. 
 
 Ashgrove, 49. 
 
 Ashton, Thomas, 45, 49, 162 (note). 
 
 Assistance Society— Minutes of. Pref- 
 ace, viii ; organized, 175. 
 
 Attorney Street ; Colored Mission, 
 372; Wesley Chapel, 361. 
 
 Authorities, Preface, iv. 
 
 Auclirauty, Rev. Samuel, 428. 
 
 Avenue A Mission, 339. 
 
 Axtell, Mr., 438. 
 
 Aymar, James, 485 (note), 487. 
 
 Ayres, Daniel, 493. 
 
 Baldwin, Hannah, 492. 
 
 Bangs, Heman, 233 ; sermon at Allen 
 
 Street, 256 ; Nathan, 182. 
 Bank Street, 355. 
 Banyar, Mr. (Goldsbrowl, 442. 
 Baptism, First recorded, Preface, vi 
 
 (note). 
 Baptisms, certificates required, and 
 
 other rules in regard t.i, 193, 477. 
 Barclay, Rev. H., 28; Mrs. Mary, 28, 
 
 436. 
 
 Bard. Dr., 43 '. 
 
 Barracks Street. 17. 
 
 Battery Park, 405. 
 
 Beauchamp, William, 14^, 
 
 Bedford Street, 178, 293. 
 
 Beekman, Garrett, 431 ; Hill, 352 ; 
 
 House, 3.52 (note) ; James, 431. 
 Bell, Mrs., 433; Thomas, 34, 433 ; letter 
 
 of, 453. 
 Bend, Grove, 438. 
 Bethany Chapel, 3T5. 
 Bininger, Abraham, 434; Kate, 434. 
 BishDp, Truman, 169. 
 Black Harry, 92, 108. 
 Blatrbiirne, William, 186. 
 Bleecker, John, 1.37 (note). 
 BIODiuiML'-diile M. E. Cluirch, 308; Mis- 
 sion, 358. 
 Boardman. Richard, 43, 47, 66 ; returns 
 
 to England, 60 ; subsequent history, 
 
 67 (note). 
 Boehm, Henry, 37 (note), 4.59. 
 Book Concern, 166, 493 ; corner-stone 
 
 of building in Mulberry Street, 273 ; 
 
 purchase of site in Mulberry Street, 
 
 313 (note). 
 Books, Preachers cot to publish, 46 ; 
 
 quoted, Prefsice, iv, etc. 
 Bowden, Elizabeth, 448; John, 448. 
 Bowery Church, 285 ; village, 153, 291. 
 Boys at love-feast, 140 (note). 
 Brewery, Old, 403. 
 Brick iri the church, 3.59 (note). 
 Brinkley, Thomas, 448. 
 Broadway Hall, 261, 313; Mission, 358. 
 Broome Street Colored Mission, 372. 
 Brown, Ebenezer, 238. 
 Brtish, Jacob, 114 (note), 136 (note). 
 Buck, Valentine, sermon at Willett 
 
 Street, 298. 
 Burch, Thomas, 247. 
 Burial-grounds, 491 ; not advisable 
 
 near churches, IHl mote). 
 Bushnell, Samuel, 238. 
 
 Calvary Church, 37.5. 
 
 Camp-ineeting Committee, Minutes of, 
 
 Preface, viii. 
 Cannon Street, 301. 
 Card-party, 10. 
 Carpenter, Coles, 2.50 ; Thomas, der.th 
 
 of, 241. 
 Casner. See Gassnar.
 
 500 
 
 Indkx. 
 
 Centenary Church (Morrisania),381. 
 
 Centiiil Cliurrh, 3,21. 
 
 Centri' stivct Mission. 402. 
 
 Charity Scliool, 112, 15:3. 
 
 Chase, Henry, a43. 
 
 Chave, John, (30. 444. 
 
 Chelsea Church, 327. 
 
 Cherry Street, 336. 
 
 Chew, Thomas S., 87 (note). 
 
 Children, Conversion of several, 168 ; 
 
 instruction of, 90. 
 Chinese Mission, 401. 
 Choirs introduced. 188. 
 Cholera in 18:32, 2tj9. 
 Choristers, 491. 
 
 Christinas Conference, 1784, 83. 
 Church extension work, 408; feasts 
 observed, 132; Home, 40ti; of the 
 Saviour, 368. 
 Circuit divided, 266. 
 Clark, John, 135, 263; Laban, 187; 
 
 Captain Thomas. 437. 
 Clarkson, David, 433. 
 Class, First, 22; leader, ambitious, 
 226; leaders in 1793, 464; in 1795, 
 132; in 1802, 465. See also Official 
 Members. 
 Cloud, Robert, 91, 106. 
 Coate, Michael, 150. 
 Cochran, Samuel, 194. 
 Coke, Thomas, 82, 85, 95, 103, 123 ; and 
 the address to President Washing- 
 ton, 463. 
 Coles, George, 251; sermon on read- 
 ing, 299. 
 CoUard, Isaac, 490. 
 
 Colored mission, 372; orphan asylum, 
 3.56 ; people, nrst reported separately, 
 91 (note). 
 Communion, preparation for in John 
 
 Street, 84 ; table bought, t)6. 
 Conference, first, 65 ; first in New York, 
 101; Christmas, 82; General, first 
 delegated, 1!:)0; intervals between 
 Irregular, 108, 118; Thatcher's ac- 
 count of, 147 (note). 
 Conferences, select at first, 240 (note). 
 Cook, Cornelius, 98 ; estate of, Preface, 
 
 vii ; Mr., 442 ; Phineas. 192. 
 Cooper, Ezekiel, 87, 88, 122, 128 ; ser- 
 mon to Deists, 131. 
 Coppers, Surplus, 95. 
 Cornell, Whitehead, 430; Memorial 
 
 Church, 366. 
 Courtland, Gose, 429. 
 Courtney, Mrs.. 430. 
 Covel, James, 227, 229. 
 Crawford, Joseph, 173. 
 Creamer, Belthazar, 485. 
 Crommeline, Mr., 440. 
 Crook, John, 428. 
 Crossfleld, Mrs. (Nancy), 436. 
 Crowell, Selh, 170, 227. 
 Crugar, John, 427; Haris. 42.. 
 Cushions in John Street Church, Com- 
 plaint of, 241 (note). 
 Cuyler, Henry, 439. 
 
 David's Companion, 492. 
 
 Davis. Caiitain. 432. 
 
 Di'aidiK'ss Home. 407. 
 
 Debt, Table of, 497 ; as apportioned to 
 
 the cliurches of the West Circuit, 27u. 
 Deeds, 28, 53, 414, 416, 419. 
 De Groot, Mrs. Joanna, 179 (note). 
 Deists, Cooper's sermon to, 131. 
 Delancy, James. 110, 426 ; Oliver, 426. 
 Dempster, James, 69; John. 70. 
 Depeyster, Frederick, 442 : legacy, 163, 
 
 442. 
 Desbrosses, Elias, 440. 
 Deverick, Mrs., 22 (note), 432. 
 Devinne, D., 203, 243. 
 Dickins, John, 79 ; Asbury's sermon at 
 
 ordination of, 92. 
 Disturbine worship, 74, 75. 
 Division of circuit. 2()6 ; property, 274. 
 Dorcas Societv, 250 (note). 
 Doughty, Mr. 491. 
 Dow, Lorenzo, 227. 
 Drummond, Thomas, 199, 
 Dry Dock, 3:38. 
 Du'ane, James, 440 ; Church, 288; Street, 
 
 143, 288. 
 Duncan, Elizabeth, 486 ; Robert, 48) : 
 
 Thomas, 447. 
 Durbin, John P., sermon in Allen 
 
 Street, 255. 
 
 East 82d Street, 373. 
 
 Eiist 86th i-treet, 274, 309. 
 
 East 118th Street, a50. 
 
 East 111th Street, :308 ; 109th Street, 368 ; 
 110th Street, 368; 113th Street, 368. 
 
 Ebert, Philip, 447 
 
 Edmonds, Samuel, 34. 
 
 Eighteenth Street, 260, 318; has old 
 charter, 319. 
 
 Eleventh Street, a39. 
 
 Ellison, Thomas, 438. 
 
 Emanuel Church (colored). 373. 
 
 Embury Bible, 454; David, 48, 436; 
 Kate, 434; original name of, 411 
 (note) ; Peter, 4.34 ; Philip, birth and 
 conversion, 6; embarkation, 8; ar- 
 rival in New York, 14 ; first sermon 
 in New York, 18 ; house of, 17 ; not 
 a subscriber, 34; land purchase of, 
 456 ; concordance presented t s Pref- 
 ace, V ; removal frotn New York, 48; 
 subsequent history of and death, 49 ; 
 grave of, 50; Mrs., Christian name 
 of, 7 (note* ; after his death, 50. 
 
 Emery, Nathan, 198. 
 Emory, Bishop. 411. 
 Evans, James, 492. 
 
 E.xhorters in 1811 and 1812, 190. (See 
 also Official Members.) 
 
 Fanaticism, reproved by A. Hunt, 169. 
 Faivwcll te.xts by T. Morrill, 119, 125. 
 Farriiigton, Townscnd H.,:359. 
 Fast on account of yellow lever, 12o. 
 Fnugnre, Lewis, 448. 
 Ferguson, S. D., 258
 
 IXDEX. 
 
 501 
 
 Ferris. Ira, 2(il. 
 
 Field, Julius, -Mb. 
 
 Fiuaucial system in 1820, 211: orig- 
 
 iually t'dugre^^ational, 215. 
 Fiftieth Street (Lexluglou Ave.). 341 ; 
 
 ilieekuian Hill), 3.52. 
 Fiftv-tlftli Street (German), 395. 
 Fiftv-sixth Street, 378. 
 Firiy-thiicl sti-eet, 347. 
 First cliuri'li, plan of, 26; cost of, 3.5; 
 
 list of members, 99. 
 First Methodist books printed in Amer- 
 ica, 45. 
 First Methodist Episcopal Centennial 
 
 Church in New York city, 278. 
 First Methodist Episcopal Church, 278. 
 First missionaries from England, 43. 
 First preacher's wife in New York, 81. 
 First Wesleyan chapel (Central), 321. 
 Fisk, Wilbur, sermon in Allen Street, 
 
 253. 
 Fitzgerald, Aunt Annie and Uncle 
 
 Billy, 317. 
 Five Points Mission, 402. 
 Flanagan, Christopher, 492. 
 Forbes, Joseph, 29. 
 Fordham, 383. 
 Forsyth Street, 285; building of first 
 
 church, 104, 109 ; second church. 
 
 270; preachers for dedication of 
 
 second church, 477. 
 Fortieth Street (German), 392. 
 Ffirty-Orst Street (43d Street), 308 ; 
 
 (St. Luke's), 365. 
 Forty-fourth Street, 347. 
 Forty-third Street, 308. 
 Foster, Thomas, 97 (note). 
 Four-days' meetings, 253. 
 Fourth Street (Allen Street), 294; 
 
 (Washington Square), 330. 
 Franklin Street, 361. 
 Free Tabernacle, 346. 
 Frtnich Mission, 399. 
 Fruit after many days, 34 (note). 
 Funeral sermons, 477. 
 Furniture, .51, 146, 460. 
 
 Garrettson, F., 99 ; death of, 249. 
 
 (Jasner, John, 34,443. 
 
 Gii-ssnar, Peter, 443 (note). 
 
 (ieorge. Bishop, in New York, 249. 
 
 German churches: Blinn Memorial, 
 397; Bloomingdale, 392; Fifty-fifth 
 Street (St. Paul's), 395; Fortieth 
 Street, 392; Harlem, 396; Melrose, 
 394; Miscellaneotis, 397; 1.58th 
 Street, 394 ; 156th Street, 394 ; 114th 
 Street, 396; Port Mission, 397; St. 
 Paul's, 395; Second Street. 391; 
 Thirty-si.xth Street, 392 ; West Side 
 Mission, 397. 
 
 " (iod Save the King," sung by soldiers 
 and congregation, 74. 
 
 G' Men Hill, 27 ; battle of, 443. 
 
 (ioodsell, Buel, 200; sermon in Allen 
 Street, 2.55. 
 
 Grace Church, 370. 
 
 Graham, Mr., 429. 
 Gieen, Lemuel, 122. 
 Greene Street, 261, 26.5, 313; Bible- 
 class, 316. 
 (ireenwich Village, 178, 293. 
 (jiiiii, David, 4M. 
 
 (irouud at John Street leased, 199. 
 Guier, Philip, 4. 
 
 Hagerty, John, 87. 
 Haggadorn, John, 140 (note), 
 llamersly, Andrew, 441. 
 Hammett, William, 118. 
 Harlem, 305 ; Mission, 260, 300. 
 Harlev, Thomas, 493. 
 Hebard, E.. 214. 
 Hecht (Haight), Captain, 43:3. 
 Heck or Hick, 409 ; Mrs., and the card- 
 players, 16; home of. In Ireland, 
 
 413 ; grave of, 414. 
 Hedding Mission, 342. 
 Hendricks, Williatn, 493. 
 Heresy, Bishop Asbury on, 138. 
 Hessians worshiping in John Street, 
 
 73. 
 Ifibbard, Billy, 210. 
 Hick, Jacob, 15; Jonathan P., 21 
 
 (note) ; Paul, and Mrs. P., graves of, 
 
 414. 
 Hickson, Woolman, 97, 98. 
 Higains, George, 493. 
 Holdrop, Thomas, 490. 
 Holiness, Errors in regard to, taught, 
 
 244. 
 Home for the aged, 406 ; Mission, Jane 
 
 Street, 333; St. Christopher's, 407. 
 Hope Church, 377. 
 Hosier, Henry. 92, 108. 
 Howe, Samuel, 203. 
 Hoyt, Ralph, 493. 
 Hudson Church, 143, 288. 
 Huget, Benjamin, 426. 
 Hunt, Aaron, 167, 224 ; Jesse. 2.51. 
 Hutchinson, Aaron, 127; Ann, 128; 
 
 Robert, 128; Sarah, 160; Sylvester, 
 
 127. 
 Hymns used about 1766, 19. 
 
 Incorporation, Proposed changes in, 
 
 218, 220. 
 Inglis, Rev. Charles, 438. 
 Instrumental music opposed, 299. 
 Italian Mission, 401. 
 
 Jane Street, 333. 
 
 Janes Church, .347. 
 
 Jarvis, James, 424; death of, 69. 
 
 Jauncey, James, 429. 
 
 Jessop, William, 117. 
 
 Jewe'-t, William, 242. 
 
 John Street — first church, plan of, 
 20, 27; subscription paper for, 29; 
 subscribers to, 30, 422; the flr.st In 
 America, 36: described, 37, 38 ; ded- 
 icated, 41; preparing for communion, 
 84 ; new seats proposed, 137 ; old 
 material of, 310, 312 (aote) ; Second
 
 502 
 
 Index. 
 
 Church, 203; Tliird Church, 278, 
 379 ; escaped burning, 278 ; contro- 
 versy as to sale of, 2S1 ; altar, 85 ; 
 clock, 284 ; coniinuniou vessels, 285; 
 monuments, 285. 
 
 Johnston, David, 412. 
 
 Jones, Thomas, 441. 
 
 Keith, William, 177. 
 Kendall, David, 127. 
 Kennady, John, sermon at dedication 
 of Second Allen Street Church, 182. 
 King-sbr:dge, 380. 
 Ki'jp's Bay, 344. 
 Kissara, Dr., 440. 
 
 Ladles' Home Missionary Society, 338, 
 
 392, 408. 
 Laight, Edward, 431. 
 Lambert, Jeremiah, 80. 
 Land bought in 1785, 8:5; bought in 
 
 1786, 90; leased to Michael Moore, 
 
 199. 
 Land on, S., 262. 
 Leaders' meetings— form of business. 
 
 407; minutes. Preface, viii, 185; 
 
 paper presented to, in 1813, 195. 
 Leake, John, 444. 
 
 Lease of ground in John Street, 414. 
 Lee, Jesse, 152; appointed to New 
 
 York, 1799, 151 (note) ; conversion, 
 
 45; Wilson, 131. - 
 Levinss, Noah, 248. 
 Lexington Avenue, 341. 
 List of members, 99. 
 Lispenard, Mrs., 4;33, 438. 
 Livingston, Peter, 431 ; Philip, 431 ; 
 
 Robert 11.. 431. 
 Local preachers in 1795, 132 (note) ; in 
 
 179G, 140 (note) ; in 1800, 1.53; in 1811 
 
 or 1812, 190 (note) ; on West Circuit, 
 
 1831, 271 (note). 
 Lottery ticket, .52. 
 Love-feast, at Conference of 1.90, 115 ; 
 
 1791, 116; last in first John Street 
 
 Church, and first in second, 203 
 
 (note) ; .strict regulations as to, 484 ; 
 
 tickets, 482 : two boys at (note), 140. 
 Low, Isaac, 437. 
 
 Loyalists ? Were the Methodists, 457. 
 Luckey, Samuel, 258; sermon in Allen 
 
 Street, 25fl. 
 Ludlow, Carey, 44) ; Gabriel, 441 ; Mr., 
 
 441; William, 441. 
 Lupton, William. 61, 64, 69, 422 ; grunt, 
 
 423 (note); motto, 424; Mrs., needle- 
 work of, 424 (note). 
 Lyell, Thomas. 488. 
 Lynch, William, 90. 
 Lynson, Ab., 439. 
 
 Madison Avenue, 373 ; Street Mission, 
 
 337 ; and Catheriue Street, 335. 
 MaBlt, John N., 252 (note). 
 Manhattan Island, 316. 
 Manhattanville Mission, 301, 37'). 
 Maun, James, 120 ; John, .53, 7(i. 
 
 Marcliinton, Philip, 78. 
 
 Mai-garet, 432. 
 
 Mariners' Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 :336. 
 
 Marriages, First recorded, Preface, vi 
 (note). 
 
 Married preacher. First In New York, 
 81. 
 
 Marsden, Josh.ua, 159, 197. 
 
 Martindale, Stephen, 236. 
 
 Marslin, John, 438; Nathaniel, 438; 
 Thomas, 438. 
 
 Mason, Thomas, 240. 
 
 Matthews, David, 437. 
 
 Matthias, John B., 248; John J., 248. 
 
 McC:(imbs, Laurence, 126. 
 
 McClasky, John, 149. 
 
 McEvers. Char.es, 437 ; widow (James), 
 437. 
 
 McKennis, British agent, 130. 
 
 Members, earliest lists of. Preface, vi ; 
 in Seventh Street, 154 (note) : lists 
 of, 99 (note), 106 (note), 120 (note*, 
 132; received 1791,130; 1804, 167; 
 1807, 171 ; 1808, 174; 1809, 176; 1810, 
 178; 1811, 185; 1812, 191; 1813, 193; 
 1816, 201. 
 
 Membership, Table of, 495. 
 
 Merrick, John, 106. 
 
 Merwin, Samuel, 165; sermon in Allen 
 Street, 254. 
 
 Methodism, origin of in England, 1 ; 
 favored by lories, 73 ; in New York 
 in 1800, 152 ; in 1821, seen through 
 foreign eyes, 238. 
 
 Methodist worship, described, 408 ; dis- 
 turbed, 74, 75. 
 
 Methodists before Embury, 3 (note). 
 
 Middleton, Dr., 439. 
 
 Mission House, 296. 
 
 Moral, Mr.. 4;». 
 
 Moravians, 43.5. 
 
 Moore, Thomas, 440. 
 
 Moriartv, John, 98; Peter. 98. 
 
 Morrell, Thomas, 105, 119, 125 ; fare- 
 well texts, 1791, 119; 179,3, 125. 
 
 Morris, Nicholas, 211. 
 
 Morrisania, 381. 
 
 Mott Avenue, 389. 
 
 Mountany, Ab., 431. 
 
 Mourning in churches disapproved, 
 257. 
 
 Mulberry Street, 323. 
 
 Munson, Wait, questions by, 195. 
 
 Mm-phey, John, 485. 
 
 Newton, Henry, 61, 429 ; Mary, 430. 
 
 New York, early history of, 9 ; in 1760, 
 10; map of, in 1760, 10; Methodism 
 as seen through foreign eyes In 1824, 
 238 
 
 Ninth Street, .338. 
 
 Nichols, Andrew, 140. 
 
 Nizer, Rev. Mr., 434. 
 
 Norfolk Street. 332. 
 
 Norris, David, 34. 
 
 North Church, 288.
 
 Index. 
 
 503 
 
 North River Church, 288. 
 North New York, 385 ; Mission (St. 
 Stephen's), 380. 
 
 Official members in 1795. 132 (note) ; in 
 1790, Iryj(note); in 1811, 190 (note) ; 
 in 1812, 46(5 ; in 1820, 167. 
 
 Osrilvie, Rev. John, 428. 
 
 Old Book described. Preface, iv ; last 
 records in, 13.5 (note). 
 
 Old Brewery, 403. 
 
 Old records. Preface, v. 
 
 One Hundred and Fifty-second Street, 
 3t)2. 
 
 One Hundred and Fourteenth Street, 
 (German), 396. 
 
 One Hundred and Fourth Street, 370. 
 
 One Hundred and Ninth Street, 368. 
 
 One Hundred and Twenty-fllth Street, 
 376. 
 
 One Hundred and Twenty-third Street, 
 375. 
 
 Ostrander, Daniel, 158 ; and instru- 
 mental music in Willett Street, 299 ; 
 sermon in Allen Street, 255 ; in Wil- 
 lett Street, 299 (note). 
 
 Palatines, in Germany, 3 ; in Ireland, 
 4 ; in N. Y., 15 ; receive Methodism, 
 4, 5 (note) ; Wesley's visit to, 5, 6, 8 : 
 embark, 8 ; arrive, 14 ; speaking Ger- 
 man, 15 (note) ; second party arrive, 
 15. 
 
 Paper allowed to preachers, 47 (note). 
 
 Park Avenue, 274, 309. 
 
 Parks, Peter, account of origin of 
 Methodism, 22 ; sexton, 491. 
 
 Pastor, asked for, 35. 
 
 Pastoral visiting, Asbury's idea of, 130. 
 
 Pearson, Joseph, 429. 
 
 Pease, Lewis, 260 ; sermon in Allen 
 Street, 256. 
 
 Peck, Phineas, 174. 
 
 Perry Street, 355. 
 
 Peters, James, 431. 
 
 Pewed churches. First, 271, 321. 
 
 Philadelphia, contribution to the New 
 York Church,. 35. 
 
 Phoebus, William, 106; death of, 365. 
 
 Pilmoor, Joseph, 44, 53; returns 
 to England, 66; subsequent his- 
 tory, 67. 
 
 Plans of appointments, 478. 
 
 Police needed, 76. 
 
 Political preaching, 131. 
 
 Posthumous influence, 24. 
 
 Prayer-meetings, plans and leaders, 
 188. 
 
 Preachers, appointment and support in 
 1813, 195; described bv Marsden in 
 1802, 159; during Revolution, 76; 
 "gone to college," 177; house, 461; 
 meeting, 476 ; salary and duties, 47 ; 
 to lead classes, 192; under close rein, 
 477. 
 
 Presiding elder, first in New York, 87. 
 
 Prindle, Cyrus, 264. i 
 
 Prisoners, Visiting, 130. 
 Probationers, admission to classes and 
 
 love-feasts, 189. 
 Promiscuous seating, 276. 
 Property, division of, 27'4; of church 
 
 in 1829, 259; some in John Street 
 
 leased, 199. 
 Pulpit and altar in lecture-room at 
 
 John Street, 85 (note). 
 Purdy, Jonathan, 256. 
 
 Quarterly Conference, Rolls of, In 
 1834, 2(3, 29, 31, 468. 
 
 Queries by Asbury, 59. 
 
 Questions presented to leaders' meet- 
 ing, 195. 
 
 Rachel, 432. 
 
 Handle, Captain, 438. 
 
 Rankin, Thomas, 62-64. 
 
 Read, C. Joseph, 438. 
 
 Reading, Sermon on, by G. Coles, 299. 
 
 Records, First, of baptisms and mar- 
 riages. Preface, v, vii, viii. 
 
 Reece, Rev. R., view of New York 
 Methodism in 1824, 238. 
 
 Regulations for New York Church, 47, 
 59. 
 
 Remsen, Peter, 442. 
 
 Revival at Allen Street, 252; at Willett 
 Street 298. 
 
 Revivals, 79, 113, 137, 141, 168, 175, 214. 
 
 Revolution, Church in New York dur- 
 ing, 72. 
 
 Rhinelander, Benjamin, 432; Mr., 432; 
 William, 432. 
 
 Rice, Phineas, 194. 
 
 Richardson, Marvin, 199. 
 
 Ridge Street, 372. 
 
 Rigging-loft, 25. 
 
 Riley, James, 490. 
 
 Ritzman, Rudolph, 440. 
 
 Riverdale, 380. 
 
 Rivington Street, 361. 
 
 Roberts, George, 136. 
 
 Robertson, John, 184. 
 
 Rodda, Martin. 69, 70. 
 
 Rogers, Evan, 125. 
 
 Rose Hill. 302. 
 
 Ross, William, 233. 
 
 Ruff, Daniel. 70. 
 
 Rum provided for workman, 429. 
 
 Rutgers, Anthony, 439. 
 
 Sacramental vessels at John Street, 
 
 285. 
 St. Andrew's, 358. 
 St. Christopher's Home, 407. 
 St. James, 305. 
 St. John's, 347. 
 St. Luke's, .365. 
 St. Miirk's, 371. 
 St. Paul's, 323; German, 395. 
 St. Stepli^Mi's, 380. 
 Salary of Hrst preachers, 47. 
 Sandford, Peter P., 184. 
 Sands, Stephen, 447.
 
 504 
 
 Index. 
 
 Sargent, T. F., 149. 
 
 Sause, Richard, 83, 78, 426 ; appointed 
 leader, 69. 
 
 Schism, Bishop Asbury on, 139. 
 
 ScholeQeld, A., 201. 
 
 School proposed, 202. 
 
 Schuyler, Bernard, 486, 490 ; Samuel, 
 444. 
 
 Seaman, Richard, 264. 
 
 Sears, Isaac, 442. 
 
 Seating, new plan of, 268 ; promiscu- 
 ous, 276. 
 
 Sebring, Isaac, 430. 
 
 Second Avenue, 350. 
 
 Second Church, 285. 
 
 Second Street (Forsyth Street), 285. 
 
 Second Street, present church, 257, 265, 
 270, 316. 
 
 Second Weslevan Chapel, 323. 
 
 Selby, Samuel, 431. 
 
 Seney, Robert, 245. 
 
 Sermon, Embury's first, 18. 
 
 Services, early, 47 ; in 1794, 129 ; order 
 of in 1824, 477. 
 
 Seventeenth Street, 342. 
 
 Seventh Street, 153; dedicated, 274, 
 291. 
 
 Seventy-flrst, 358. 
 
 Seventy-sixth, 366. 
 
 Sextons, 485. 
 
 Shadford, George, 62, 03, 66, 67. 
 
 Sharp, Richard, 493. 
 
 Shoemaker's ground, 27. 
 
 Short sermon by G. Coles, 252 (note). 
 
 Sillick, Bradley, 263. 
 
 Singers to sit together, 188. 
 
 Singing, first teacher, 51 ; and choris- 
 ters, 491. 
 
 Sixteenth Street Mission, 342. 
 
 Sixty-eighth Street, 358. 
 
 Sixtv-first Street, 358. 
 
 Sixty-seventh Street, 358. 
 
 Slidel, J., 490. 
 
 Smart, Robert, 493. 
 
 Smith, Daniel, 124 ; Eben, 176 ; Hazael, 
 1T2; James M., 184; Joseph, 38 
 (note). 
 
 Snethen, Nicholas, 164. 
 
 Soldiers disturbing worship, 74, 75. 
 
 Soule, Joshua, 213. 
 
 South Harlem, 368. 
 
 Southwell, John, 33. 
 
 South Yonkers, 380. 
 
 Spicer, T., 210. 
 
 Spraggs, S., 76, 77. 
 
 Sproson, John, 111, 135 (note). 
 
 Stagg, Abraham, 316. 
 
 Stapel, Mrs., 446 (note). 
 
 Staples, John, 445; John, Jr., 446; 
 
 Thomas, 446. 
 Statistics, 495. 
 Stead, Henry. 241. 
 Stebbins, Cyrus, 146, 161. 
 Steward, First, 60. 
 
 Stewards, in 1795, 132 (note) ; 1796, 140 
 (note); accoimts of, from 1827-31, 
 474 ; appointment of, 1819, 217. 
 
 Stilwell, Samuel, 226 ; William M., 227, 
 230, 231. 
 
 Stilwellite secession, 215. 
 
 Stimets, Christopher, 426. 
 
 Straiten, J. B., 237. 
 
 Strawbridge, Robert, 37 ; Chapel and 
 John Street, 36. 
 
 Strebeck, George, 122. 
 
 Stuyvesant, Nicholas, 439. 
 
 Subscribers to first church, 30, 422. 
 
 Subscription paper for first church, 29. 
 
 Sullivan Street, 330. 
 
 Summerfleld, John, 234. 
 
 Sunday service book, 83. 
 
 Sunday-schools, not to instruct those 
 who attend day-schools, nor during 
 hours of public service, 208. 
 
 Superannuated preachers, Plan for re- 
 lief of, 190. 
 
 Swedish Church, 398. 
 
 Talbot, Samuel Q., 97, 98. 
 
 Taylor, Thomas (T. T.), 35, 436 ; letter 
 to Wesley, 448. 
 
 Ten Eyek, Mary, 438. 
 
 Tenth Avenue Mission, 354. 
 
 Thacher, William, 112, 147, 164. 
 
 Thirtieth Street, 327. 
 
 Thirtv-llfth Street, 354. 
 
 Tliirtv-fourtii Street, 345. 
 
 Tliirty-seventh Street, 344. 
 
 Thomas, Samuel, 174. 
 
 Thompson and Selby, 431. 
 
 Thompson, James, 490. 
 
 Thorp, Thomas, 208. 
 
 Tomkins Street, 361. 
 
 Tories? Were the early Methodists, 
 4.57. 
 
 Totten, Joseph, 135. 
 
 Tract Society, Wesleyan Female, 203 
 (note). 
 
 Treasurers from 1769-96, 135 (note). 
 
 Tremont, 383. 
 
 Trials, church. Records of, 190. 
 
 Trlgler, Mrs., 460. 
 
 Trinity Church (34th Street), 345; 
 (118th Street) ffiO. 
 
 Trustees in 1773, 68 ; 1782, 78 ; 1783, 
 78; 178.5, 86; 1795, 131; 1796, 140 
 (note); 1798, 144; 1811 or 1812, 190; 
 1816, 201 ; 1819, Preface, ix ; 1S20, 211 ; 
 July, 1820, 232; 1821, 232; 1822, 236; 
 1823, 237 ; 1824, 238; 1825, 241 ; 1826, 
 244; 1827, 247; 1828, 250; 1829,2.57 
 (note) ; 1830, 260 ; 1831, 261 ; 183^, 
 265 ; 1833, 270 (note) ; 18:34, 271 ; ex- 
 cited election, 1795, 131; minutes. 
 Preface, ix ; number increased, 257 ; 
 stewards of 211. 
 
 Tucker, Thomas, 442. 
 
 Tunes, Old, 19. 
 
 Tunnell, John, 91. 
 
 Twentieth Street, 318. 
 
 Twenty-fourth Street (Chelsea), 327; 
 (second church), 348. 
 
 Twenty-seventh Street, 302. 
 
 Two niile stone, 15.5, 291,
 
 Index. 
 
 505 
 
 Universalism in the New York Society, 
 
 137, 138. 
 Upper Greenwicb, 318. 
 Upper Morrisania (Tremont), 383. 
 Ustick, VVilUam, 43;i. 
 
 Van Schaiek, Peter, 436. 
 Van V'leek, Henry, 433. 
 Van Wyck, Tbeodore, 441. 
 Vardell (Vandrill), Mr., 440. 
 Verplanek, (V'erpleck), 441. ' 
 Vestry Street, 271, 321. 
 
 Waldron, Richard, 444. 
 
 AValgrove, Samuel, 179. 
 
 Walton, Thomas, 439. 
 
 War of 1814, 300. 
 
 Ward, Francis, 173. 
 
 Ware, Thomas, 1*3. 
 
 Washburn, Ebenezer, 201. 
 
 Washington, Address to President, 103, 
 463. 
 
 Washington Heights, 362. 
 
 Washington Square, 330. 
 
 Watts, John, 439. 
 
 Webb, Captain, 23, 24, 62, 433, 487. 
 
 Wells, Joshua, 142. 
 
 Welsh Mission, 400. 
 
 Wesley's contribution to the chapel, 
 35; visits to the Palatines, 5, 6, 8. 
 
 Wesley Chapel (John Street;, 36 (Attor- 
 ney Street), 361. 
 
 Wesleyan Seminary, 207 (note). 
 
 West Farms, 387 ; and West Chester, 
 
 action of preachers' meeting in 1825 
 
 as to, 387. 
 West Harlem (Calvary), 375. 
 Whatcoat, Richard, 83, 119. 
 Wheeler, Eliphalet, 144 (note). 
 White, Charles, 23, 425; Henry, 440; 
 
 Nicholas, 245. 
 Whiteflelrt, George, proposed as bishop, 
 
 2 (note). 
 Wickham, Lawyer, 443. 
 Willett Street, 296. 
 Williams, Charles, 439 ; Molly, 485, 488 ; 
 
 Peter, 485, 486, 487; emancipation 
 
 of, 489; Peter, Jr., 488; Robert, 44. 
 Willis, Henry, 97. 
 Williston, Ralph, 163. 
 Wilson, David, 492 ; John, 161. " 
 
 Wine for preachei-s, 51. 
 Witter, Thomas, 438. 
 Woodlawn, 387. 
 Woodstock, 390. 
 Workheart, George and Eva, 110, 111, 
 
 (note). 
 Worship, Methodist, about 1825, 468. 
 Wright, Richard, 57. 
 
 Yates (or Yeats), 442. 
 Yearbry, Joseph, 63. 
 Yellow fever in New York, 118, 136, 
 
 141, 145 (note), 168. 
 Yorkville, 309, dedication of, 274. 
 Youngs, J., 343.
 
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