Home / Bolton, Robert Jr. A History of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. I. New York: Alexander S. Gould, 1848. / Passage

A History of the County of Westchester, Vol. I

Bolton, Robert Jr. A History of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. I. New York: Alexander S. Gould, 1848. 270 words

to add '• Sonvenez vous les pauvres," remember yc the poor. Upon which, every person old and yonng, on going out of church, dropped a copper into the box.^ The money collected in this manner was divided the next morning among the poor who came regularly to receive their allowance at nine o'clock in the consistory room. At that early period, a large loaf of bread could be purchased for four coppers, so that this money supplied the indigent for one week. It is a well known fact, that the French Huguenots always made it a matter of conscience to support their own poor, and the scripture remark has more than once been applied to them. " Yet have I not seen the righ'eous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." The French clergy were derived frciQ Geneva, and greatly distinguished for their learning. Governor Burnet, of New York, the son of Bishop Burnet, was much cenr sured for his partiality to them, but being well educated^ he knew how to appreciate their merits. The Huguenots were very care^ ful in the domestic education of their children. In the common sitting room of most houses, the mantel piece was finished with Dutch tiles, containing chiefly the history of the New Testament; and the Parables."^

They were taught to learn the subject by these tiles on Sunday evenings, for at that period Sunday evening services were not common ; other denominations first introduced them. The consequence has been that domestic instruction has declined, a method by which the children of earlier days derived more benefit, than by being carried to evening churches.''^