The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-15
The Great Community of Brooklyn.

The Great Community Of Brooklyn
A difference in the tone and character
of the population of Brooklyn as CON-
pared with Manhattan's is suggested by
the continuous publication by the Edglt
newspaper Of that borough Of pamphlet
collections Of sermons preached in the
churches of Brooklyn. The last PAM
phlet, just printed, contains more than
forty of these sermons by clergymen OF
all denominations.
As the publication would hardly be
kept up unless there was sufficient
demand for that sort Of literature to
make its issue profitable, the fair infer
ence is that the absorbing interest in
pulpit sermons which used to distin-
guish the "City of Churches" continues
undiminished In the days of HENRY
WARD BEEcHER, of DR.. SToRRs and
DR.. TALMAGE the Brooklyn pulpit was
famous throughout the Union, and
multitudes of strangers visited Brook
Ign solely for the purpose Of hearing
those men preach
The town then was almost without
any other public entertainments, and it's
general tone was rather provincial-at
least somewhat Puritanical. A man
who crossed the East River from New
York passed into wholly different
moral and social atmosphere. Rela-
lively to the present Brooklyn it was a
small community, very simple in its
organization. 1t was spoken of as a
sleeping place for New Workers. Its
mercantile establishments, now great
and imposing, were then fewsand rela-
lively insignificant. governments and
it's manner of life partook somewhat Of
a village character. Modesty, sobriety
and monotony prevailed.
That was only generation ago.
Since 1850 the population of Brooklyn
has increased by more than a million.
1t is now, next to New York and Chicago,
the most populous community in this
country, for we assume that the late
State enumeration found there more
people than are in Philadelphia. In
Europe, only in London, Paris, Berlin
and Vienna are there more people. An
estimate of the late State census gives
Brooklyn gain in inhabitants during
the last five years Of toward a quarter
of a million, number little less than its
entire population in 1850 and five times
it's population twenty years before.
Brooklyn was once distinguished as a
nd NJ
munity. Now less than quarter Of its
population are natives of native par
entage, and the Roman Catholic Church
membership is more than twice the
Protestant. Its Jewish population, too,
has increased largely since 1900, and must
be now about two hundred thousand.
Brooklyn has become a cosmopolitan
community as respects it's Inhabitants.
They are made up of every considerable
race element in the world. Meantime it
has become more and more a self-suf-
ficent community. The time was when
it was subsidiary to New York Now
it looks after itself. Handsome theaters
provide its people with the entertain
ment which they used to cross the East
River to seek at night. Its great de-
partment stores vie with those Of Man
haitian as marts of trade. Finally, it
provides liquid refreshment in very much
the same ratio to population as Man.
haitian. In 1908 there were 1924 liquor
licenses in Manhattan; in Brooklyn,
3, 1903. The present population of Man.
haitian is estimated at more than two
of Brooklyn about fourteen
thousand.
Great as have been these changes,
radical as has been the social transfor-
nation in Brooklyn, the volume Of SER
mons to which we have referred seems
to indicate that still it's pulpits retain
their old hold on the public interest;
and, we may add, the sermons printed
demonstrate that the Brooklyn pulpit
preserves its distinction for moral,
spiritual and intellectual elevation.
That Brooklyn also contains an espe-
,ially large number of inhabitants in
crested in religious controversy is
iaily proved to US by many letters on re-
igious subjects, believing and critical, |
which we rece We from citizens OF that