USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Little Rock > The annals of Christ church parish of Little Rock, Arkansas, from A. D. 1839 to A. D. 1899 > Part 20
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The Guild is as "busy as a bee-hive;" it is making a suc- cess of the Little Rock Churchman, and is preparing to do a larger work than ever, of which many will hear very soon. No work in the parish has borne better fruit than that of the Young Ladies' Guild.
The Ladies' Aid Society paid off the debt for the kneel- ing stools, about $150, and finished and shipped "the box" for the missionary in Texas. We verily believe the prepara- tion of that box did our ladies as much good as the contents of the box will do the missionary and his family.
The choir is constantly improving. Our music on Easter day was most appropriate and edifying. We have never heard music in Church that so thoroughly fulfilled the purpose of Church music-to lift up the heart in gratitude to God. The show feature was severely absent. Of the 800 or 900 souls that crowded the Church, we hope not one came to be entertained.
The organist at the first service held in the new Church on Easter day, 1887, was Professor Brebegh. The choir was composed of Miss Marve Rumbough, Miss Bessie Can- trell, Miss Sophie Field (Mrs. Andrew Hunter), Miss Susie Carroll, sopranos; Miss Hallie Jabine (Mrs. Sayle), Miss Georgie Woodruff and Miss Nannie Field, altos; Messrs. George Martin, D. H. Cantrell and Dunbar Pope, tenors ; Messrs. Henry Maxwell, and Otey Clark, bassos.
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We congratulate the parish upon the re-election of the Vestry on Easter Monday. It is evident that the congrega- tion is practically unanimous in the opinion that the affairs of the parish are in good hands. Certainly it is a good spec- tacle-a Vestry of eleven devout Christians, exemplary citi- zens, and everyone the warm, personal friend of the Rector. Happy is the parish and happy is the Rector thus situated.
By far the most successful sociable we have yet had was that of the 19th. We never saw a large company (there were about 100 present) seem to enjoy rational and wholesome pleasure more thoroughly. When these sociables were pro- posed some predicted their failure. "Who ever heard," some said, "of a Church sociable not intended for raising money ?" Others remarked, "The idea of a party without either danc- ing or refreshments !" Well, strange things do happen.
St. Andrew's Brotherhood is steadily growing in mem- bership and interest. The formation of another chapter of older young men is talked of. This society meets every Tuesday night in the parish office. A passage of Scripture is studied, a portion of some literary work is read and dis- cussed, and then the members engage in conversation about the work of the society-that is, inducing young men to come to Church. There is no cant, no humbug, no axe-grinding about the Brotherhood.
The Sunday School festival on Easter evening was pro- nounced a success. There were nearly 400 children. When the Mission Sunday Schools marched in, 150 strong, there was some surprise and much joy amongst some of the old folks, who "didn't know that this work amounted to much."
As each class came up and planted its banner and pre- sented its offerings, all felt that this work had been blessed. Each banner had a letter on it, these letters, when placed, making the sentence, "Children of God, being children of the resurrection."
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The Rector is very grateful to the officers and teachers for their faithful year's work.
The building of those Chapels is now in order. We think we know the names of the two men who are going to give us lots to build them on.
MARCH, 1888.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW.
The society known as the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, is making rapid advances in the increase of its numbers and in the good work accomplished. This is an organization of young men in the Church for the purpose of inducing young men to attend Church, and for the mutual improvement of the mem- bers. The assistant minister of Christ Church proposes to organize a "chapter" of this society in Little Rock. We heartily commend the movement.
THE VESTRY ELECTION.
On Easter Monday, April 2, the annual election for Vestrymen of Christ Church will be held. The present efficient Vestry ought to be re-elected. They are all good men and faithful to their trust. There is perfect harmony between all the members of the Vestry and the Rector. Mutual confi- dence and mutual support have characterized every meeting and every act, and as a consequence the parish has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, temporal and spiritual.
The income of the parish since this Vestry came into office last Easter Monday has been $5,087. This does not include $1,125 paid by the Ladies' Aid Society for the carpet, about $400 raised by the Young Ladies' Guild, about $50 con- tributed by the Missionary Society, and the Sunday School offerings, amounting to over $200. The Easter offerings will add several thousand dollars to the year's income. Of the
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$5,087 already received, parish expenses consumed $3,557; the balance, $1,530, was expended on the Church edifice and grounds, the interest on the debt.
The financial success of the parish is largely due to the efficiency of the treasurer, Major John D. Adams.
If the congregation want this Vestry to serve another year they ought to come out Easter Monday and say so. We give the names of the Vestry below :
R. H. Parham, Jr. W. W. Smith. John D. Adams.
Dr. W. A. Cantrell.
R. L. Goodrich.
Dr. L. R. Stark.
R. J. Polk.
G. S. Brack.
C. H. Dolbeer.
F. D. Clark.
J. H. Haney.
"HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE."
The parish owes a debt of gratitude to Major John D. Adams and Mr. R. L. Goodrich for liberal contributions to objects outside the regular expenses of the parish. Their offerings are always made with the characteristic modesty of gentlemen. No parade, no trumpeting, no bargaining for adulation and advertisement.
The Rectory rapidly approaches completion ; the Rector expects to move into it the 1st of October. In the next num- ber of the Churchman we shall give a description of the house.
The parish is under obligations to Major R. H. Parham for his faithful services as lay reader, especially during the Rector's vacation. Only an experienced clergyman knows how to appreciate a character like Major Parham's.
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
MAY, 1888.
The assistant minister of Christ Church, Rev. John E. H. Galbraith, has organized a chapter of St. Andrew's Brotherhood. The study of the Bible, mutual improvement, and a Christian influence amongst young men are the objects of this society. Most commendable.
AUGUST, 1888.
CHRIST CHURCH, LITTLE ROCK.
An assistant minister has been called, but has not yet accepted. It will be hard to fill Mr. Galbraith's place.
The sociables and the meetings of the Ladies' Aid Society and St. Andrew's Brotherhood are suspended until October, but the Missionary Society, the Vestry, the Guild, and Chan- cel Society are like Tennyson's brook.
The basement of the Church being finished, was occupied by the Parish Sunday School for the first time on the 22d of July. There is one large comfortable room opening into the cosy parish office, which will be used for the infant class. These rooms are a solid improvement upon the old Chapel.
During the past few weeks there has been quite an exodus of Christ Church people to the mountains and the sea shore. The attendance at the services has consequently fallen off. The largest congregation in July numbered only about four hundred.
The construction of the Rectory is going forward satis- factorily. When completed it will be one of the most com- modious and pleasant residences in the city.
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ST. PAUL'S MISSION.
Our West End Mission has now a local habitation, as well as a name. The building once used by the Disciples of Christ (commonly called Campbellites) as a house of worship has been bought and is now St. Paul's Mission Chapel. The title of the property is vested in the Vestry of Christ Church, but will be conveyed to the future Vestry of St. Paul's when the mission becomes a parish, which evolution the Rector and Vestry will cordially encourage. The situation of this chapel is admirably adapted for the work it is designed to do. It is removed about as far as possible from any other house of worship, and begins its work on this spot with a good nucleus carried there from the old temporary quarters of the mission. Those quarters had been a barroom-one of those "terrors to the neighborhood"-it now becomes a drug store. So we have converted this building as well, we trust, as some of those who came to our ministrations.
SEPTEMBER, 1889.
THE ARKANSAS CHURCHMAN.
The anniversary of the beginning of a minister's work seems to be a favorite time for review of the past. The present Rector of Christ Church took charge of the parish September 1, 1886. During these three years the Church edifice has been finished, the Sunday School room made ready for use, and the Rectory constructed; 113 persons have been baptized, and 120 have been confirmed; the net increase of communicants is 228, the average congregation has trebled, and the offerings have amounted to over $35,000. The parish is united, active and growing.
How different the outcome of these three years of the "new regime" has been from what was predicted by some people who did not know that the Episcopal Church taught religion.
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What a storm was raised when the new Rector did away with the fantastic show business in the choir, put a stop to suppers, lotteries and fandangoes as means of raising money for the Church, and preached the necessity of piety in Church members. Many people predicted that "if the Rector went on with these novelties he would soon be preaching to empty pews, and have no salary."
Thank God, that horrid nightmare of irreligion in Christ Church is past. No one now speaks of this parish as a "social club for Sunday amusement."
ARKANSAS CHURCHMAN.
OCTOBER, 1888.
The hour for the meetings of the Guild, the Ladies' Aid Society and the Sunday School Officers and Teachers, is changed from 5 p. m. to 4:30 p. m., and the meetings of the Chancel Society from 4:30 p. m. to 4 p. m. See list of meetings.
On Sunday, September 16, St. John's Mission was re- opened in the new quarters, on the corner of Tenth and Welch streets. The following Sunday there were seven teachers and forty-five pupils present; and a most cheering interest was manifested.
Mr. E. M. Humphreys has become assistant to the Rec- tor of Christ Church. Mr. Humphreys is a Sewanee man, and was a postulant for holy orders in the Diocese of Tennes- see, but has been transferred to this Diocese, and hopes soon to be ordained .* Our young brother gives promise of great usefulness in the mission work, of which he has already taken vigorous hold. The man who fills John Galbraith's place has no sinecure.
*Mr. Humphreys' health compelled him to resign the office. He died not long after.
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The Rector wishes to express his grateful appreciation of the consideration and liberality of the Vestry in the con- struction of the new Rectory. They have faithfully carried out the loving wishes of the congregation. Particular thanks are due the building committee-Major J. D. Adams, Mr. C. H. Dolbeer, and Captain J. H. Haney-and more espe- cially Captain Haney, who has given his time and skill to the planning and supervision of the work.
The Sociables will hereafter be held on the same night upon which the Missionary Society meets.
Allusion to the gratuitous services of Captain J. H. Haney, in the building of the new Rectory, recalls the testi- mony of the building committee of the Church edifice in these words :
"Mr. J. H. Haney for five years has superintended the work on the building; seen that everything was done in accordance with contract and specifications; rendering ser- vices that have certainly lessened the cost of the building 10 per cent with a faithfulness and love of the work which it would be impossible to hire."
Captain Haney has given to the Church during the past seven years at least $5,000 worth of services as civil engineer and architect, which is more than any one cash contribution to our Church buildings, and in ratio to his financial ability, ten times as much as anyone else has given.
The most beautiful feature of all of Captain Haney's valuable service is the fact that it has all been rendered with the utmost modesty and delicacy, as if it were all quite a matter of course and called for no praise.
Christ Church, Little Rock, has now a home for its Rector, the new Rectory being completed. The outside ap- pearance is quaint and unpretentious, giving very little idea of the beautiful and commodious interior. Passing a wide
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gallery, running the whole length of the front, one enters through a heavy panelled door, the reception room, which is lighted by two windows of ground glass, bordered with tinted cathedral glass, and separated from the stairway hall by an arch supported by corbels.
To the right is the beautiful drawing-room, having double sliding doors opening from the reception-room, and likewise into the study, which comes next. The study is a room to suggest sermons on Paradise; the door opening from the hall intimates that it is meant to be easily accessible. Behind the study is the pretty guest room, which the Rector hopes to have frequently occupied. Beyond this point the house widens, and the hall, turning to the right, runs between the elegantly finished dining-room and a large, well-lighted chamber, behind which is the bathroom, with hot and cold water attachments. Across a back hall are two more com- fortable bedrooms, surrounded by wide latticed galleries, upon which the dining-room also opens, and connecting with storeroom, kitchen and servants' room, below which are rooms for fuel. Returning to the main hall, we ascend by an artis- tic stairway to the second floor. Here we find two pleasant rooms, well lighted and ventilated. A china closet, a linen closet, and numerous wardrobes complete this model par- sonage.
Here is a general quotation from the Diocesan paper called The Diocese of Arkansas, edited by Rev. Mr. Degen, Rector of St. John's Church, Fort Smith, Ark., 1888 :
CHRISTMAS IN ARKANSAS.
"The glorious Feast of the Nativity was celebrated in all the parishes and missions of the Diocese with even more than usual care and elaborate preparations." * * *
"At Christ Church, Little Rock, the usual Sunday ser- vices were held, the Chancel being appropriately dressed. The Sunday School festival was held in the Chapel on the Feast of the Holy Innocents. We clip the following account of it from the Arkansas Life :
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"At the Chapel of Christ Church last Wednesday, at 6 p. m. there was a threefold feast presented for eye, ear and palate. A large number of spectators with the children and teachers were seated in the part of the room near the entrance. An open space beyond was reserved for games, and at the extreme end on a low platform were arranged four tables ex- tending the entire width of the room, from north to south. These tables were tastefully laid out with dainty napery, china and glass, and bountifully supplied with cakes, jellies, creams, fruits and nuts. The happy faces, the sheen of light on the crimson carpet and the warmth aroused a pleasant sen- sation among the assembly. The exercises opened with a Christmas hymn, Miss Harrell presiding at the organ, after which the Rev. Mr. Galbraith, superintendent, made a happy extempore address. The Rector, the Rev. Mr. Carnahan, then read a poem from the Rev. Phillips Brooks, sent to him by an absent teacher. The classes were called in order by the Rector and conducted to the tables for the feast, the infant classes first who afforded a charming picture as their cherub faces appeared just above the surface of the tables. A staff of teachers, Miss Georgie Woodruff, Miss Merrick, Misses Matthews, Misses Carroll, Misses Field, and Mrs. Hayman, served in dainty white aprons, supplying 150 children with a delicious supper. After these were all satisfied the adults
were invited by the Rector to partake. Afterwards "the
basketsfull" were set aside to be distributed to the sick and destitute the next day. Games followed, and, though there was an exuberance of glee, there was no breach of decorum. At 9 o'clock all dispersed, feeling that the festival had been no misnomer, but a joyful anniversary to all in attendance."
JANUARY, 1889. DIOCESAN NEWS.
CHRIST CHURCH, LITTLE ROCK.
Christmas and Christmas week were filled with joy and brightness in this parish. The service on Christmas morning -19-
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'was well attended by devout worshippers, attracted not by advertisements, nor by shows, nor by any shifty vanities, but by the manifest desire to worship God and hear His word preached.
Thursday the children of the three Sunday Schools had their festival in the basement of the Church, and they had a ยท "grand time."
On Friday St. John's Mission had their Christmas tree, which proved to be wonderfully fruitful of presents, sweet- meats and delight.
St. Paul's Mission Sunday School had their festival on Saturday, and matched St. John's in all manner of innocent pleasure for the children.
The Rev. Mr. Galbraith and the devoted officers and teachers of the three schools deserve much praise for their faithful labors in these nurseries of the Church.
Besides the parish and mission work, Mr. Carnahan and Mr. Galbraith laid the foundation for a Church school for boys, called Christ Church Academy, January, 1889, corner of Fifth and Scott streets. Prepares boys for college or business. Rev. Wallace Carnahan, principal; Rev. J. E. H. Galbraith, teacher of Latin and Greek; Mr. Palin Saxby, teacher of English and the sciences. The school work begun by the Rev. Mr. Galbraith last September is now to be en- larged and strengthened. The purpose is to build up an academic institution in Little Rock upon the model of the Episcopal High School at Alexandria, Va., which Professor L. M. Blackford has made so famous. Tuition, $15 per quarter (three calendar months). For admission apply at the Rectory, No. 509 Scott street, Little Rock, Ark.
ARKANSAS CHURCHMAN.
APRIL, 1889.
Apropos of the offerings on Easter day being devoted to the Church debt, a few words of explanation may not be amiss.
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especially as efforts seem to have been made to misrepresent the facts. We understand that it has been intimated by ene- mies of the parish that the present Vestry are not good financiers-that the revenue of the parish is not equal to the expenses, and that the parish is getting deeper into debt. The simple facts are these: The revenue of the parish not only covers the regular expenses of the parish, including the mis- sion work of St. Paul's and St. John's Chapels, but pays the interest on the old debt-over $400 a year-and $700 a year on the building association loan, which was negotiated to con- struct the Rectory ; an arrangement which stopped the pay- ment of $600 a year for Rectory rent. So we see that so far from the revenue of the parish falling short of its expenses, the revenue meets the regular expenses, the interest on the old debt and is paying for the Rectory.
As to the debt, let it be remembered that when the present Vestry came into office Easter Monday, 1887, there was sup- posed to be a debt of $7,000 on the Church, i. e., a mortgage debt of $4,000, drawing 10 per cent interest, and floating debts amounting to $3,000. The new Vestry at once took up that amount with a new loan at 8 per cent interest. No sooner had they done so than bills began to pour in that had not been taken account of, because there was no record of them ; which unexpected bills amounted to nearly $2,000. In May, 1888, an installment of the new loan-$1,000-fell due. The Easter offerings, amounting to $2,400, was used to pay that installnent, and the balance was used together with a part of the parish revenue to pay off the aforementioned unex- pected bills, namely, $2,000. The loan negotiated to build the Rectory proved to be insufficient by nearly $1,000, and finishing the basement for the Sunday School cost nearly $1,000; this amount, about $2,000, was borrowed on short time, and is to be paid the 1st of May ; at that time another installment of the 8 per cent loan falls due-$2,000-so that the amount we ought to raise from the Easter offerings this year is $4,000. Every dollar that has been borrowed by the present Vestry has substantial improvements to show for it, or receipts for payment of parish debts contracted before the
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present Vestry came into office. If the whole debt were paid, including the Rectory loan, the present annual revenue of the parish (exclusive of Easter offerings), would exceed its ex- penses by more than $1,000. The administration of the present Vestry has been characterized by diligence, wisdom and integrity. The Rector, Vestry and congregation are in perfect harmony, and the parish is enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
MR. CARNAHAN'S VIEWS ON HIGH AND LOW CHURCH.
ARKANSAS CHURCHMAN, APRIL, 1889.
Perhaps there is no question relating to the Church that clergymen are asked more frequently than this: " What is the difference between High Church and Low Church views ?" and occasionally the inquiry extends to "Broad Church."
It is no wonder that the average layman has hazy notions about these different shades of Churchmanship, for some of their theological guides use these terms very loosely. The names of the different schools of thought in the Church ought to be accurately descriptive ; loose nomenclature is at once a cause and a sign of loose thinking.
It is admitted by the great body of our clergy and edu- cated laity that there is a place in the Church for three pretty distinct schools of thought, with innumerable intermediate shades of opinion ; and we believe that it is also the conviction of most Churchmen that there is an extreme wing of each of these ecclesiastical parties that has not a legitimate place in our Church.
The essential difference between the old-fashioned High Churchman and the loyal Low Churchman can be marked by emphasizing different parts of the same statement of the truth.
The regular Low Churchman (who prefers to be called Evangelical Churchman ) accepts all that the protestant High Churchman claims as essential, but would lay his emphasis
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upon the necessity of a truly converted heart and the import- ance of a personal relation of the individual soul to God; he would also lay stress upon justification by faith, as the great central doctrine of religion.
The High Churchman proper, would accept all this that the Low Churchman makes so much of, but he would empha- size the value of the sacraments as means of grace; and set a higher value upon the Apostolic ministry than his Low Church brother.
The orthodox Broad Churchman accepts all that both the High Churchman and the Low Churchman hold; though he does not emphasize any of it, but seeks to strengthen Chris- tianity by the aid of science and philosophy. He is very lenient to all heterodoxy, and dogmatic about nothing.
Now, we repeat, that the great body of Churchmen, cleric and lay, readily acknowledge that these are legitimate differ- ences of opinion that Episcopalians may hold ; being different aspects of the same truth ; concerning which men may differ, and yet be all loval Churchmen. But there is, as already said, an ultra wing of each of these schools of thought. The extreme Broad Churchman eliminates entirely the super- natural from religion; in a word, he is a rationalist. The ultra Low Churchmen nearly all followed the late Bishop Cummins into his little schism; the very few that are left in our Church differ in no particular, in doctrine or practice, from the Cumminsites. The ultra Low Churchman thinks there are "Romanizing germs" in the Prayer Book; the con- servative Low Churchman considers the Prayer Book the "bul- wark of protestantism." The ultra High Churchmen, com- monly called Ritualists, affect the name of "Catholic Church- men," or "Advanced Churchmen," which is lucus a non lucendo, for this faction is the most un-Catholic and the most reactionary of all Churchmen. If we were an authority in philology we should call them Romoids.
The Ritualists (to use their commonest designation) be- lieve in private confession to a priest, in order to personal, judicial absolution, which they say is necessary for the edify- ing reception of the Holy Communion, and for the production
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of a highly spiritual life. They teach a theory of the Lord's Supper which is distinguishable from the Roman doc- trine of transubstantiation only by expert metaphysicians ; indeed, some Ritualists candidly accept that doctrine fully. They call the Holy Communion "Mass," claiming that the officiating "Priest" offers a real sacrifice in that sacrament. They have requiem masses for the repose of souls, they believe in prayers for the dead. Some few Ritualists believe in the celibacy of the clergy (without practicing it). Indeed most of them seem to accept every doctrine of the Church of Rome except the "Immaculate conception" of the Virgin Mary, and the Infallibility of the Pope, whose "rightful supremacy," however, they sweetly concede, to the great amusement of Romanists.
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