A Methodist Ghost

In the mid-1880s, Lawrence was "an aristocratic quarter of recent creation" near Far Rockaway, Queens (now in Nassau County). It is presently part of the Town of Hempstead. Lawrence is often called the "First Hamptons" - it boasted a seafront hotel and many mansions, some of which dated back to the 18th century. The "recent creation" refers more to its reputation as a newly-discovered haunt of wealthy New Yorkers Naturally the Eagle, back in Brooklyn, was delighted to make fun of the elite Lawrence residents.

In December 1885, there was an alleged ghost at Lawrence's Methodist Episcopal Church. The Lawrence residents went out to watch its antics nearly every night. As its fame spread, they were joined by people from neighboring communities. The ghost tended to fade away and disappear into the church cemetery, but it spent most of its time in the steeple and on the church roof.

Several people said that it was the ghost of a deceased church sexton, but it had acrobatic qualities, too. Not only did it sometimes ring the bell, but it "flit[ted] about the belfry in the most nimble fashion" and "play[ed] hide and seek in the lattice work of the bell room." Then it would get on the slanted part of the roof and dance. On one Saturday night, it rang the bell, skipped around the belfry (while changing in size) then flattened itself on the roof, before ending up by running up and down the steeple, finally perching on top. It then vanished "in the direction of the graveyard."

People who had traveled to see the ghost often "declare[d] that the specter has followed them home and hung around their residences for hours, like one trying to revive a broken friendship."

One elderly Irish gentleman offered to do a little detective work, since everyone else was too scared to approach the church. He requested a candle blessed by a Catholic priest before commencing. One was obtained at Far Rockaway but some unknown authority (the police or possibly the Methodist minister) said that he couldn't go inside with the "heretical taper." Eventually, the ghostly sexton seems to have gone away - perhaps it followed one of the spectators home to Far Rockaway, to try and make friends there.

If so, it had some competition already there. Another ghost had been spotted at Far Rockaway, in November 1885. It was a far different sort of ghost than the dancing sexton, though.

Tomorrow, the story of the beachcombing ghost of Far Rockaway...

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Image of Lawrence Methodist Church from Lawrence Cemetery Restoration Project

SOURCES

"Many Ghosts," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan. 31, 1886, p. 15.
"A Lively Ghost," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Dec. 7, 1885, p. 6.

Lawrence Methodist Church at the Society for the Preservation of LI Antiquities
Lawrence Methodist Church at Lawrence Cemetery Restoration Project