USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > North Haven > A chronicle of two hundred years of St. John's Church > Part 5
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At the annual meeting in March 1875 it became obvious that expenses were running above income. It was voted: "That the Wardens and Vestry confer with the Rector with reference to taking up a collection once a month for inci- dental expenses of the Parish - not to conflict with the or- dinary collections. " At a special meeting in May it was voted to raise $300. by subscription to defray the current expenses of the parish incurred prior to the last annual meeting. This subscription list is still available. At the annual meeting of 1876 a resolution was passed: "That we tax ourselves ten mills on our valuation to pay current expenses, and to wipe out indebtedness of Parish, and a copy of the resolution be mailed to every member of Par- ish. " In 1875-6-7- the Sunday School Superintendent was chosen at the annual meeting. Then on December 8th, 1876
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Mr. Whitcombe presented his resignation to be effective February 1st, 1877.
We have been following the organization, growth, his- tory of St. John's as shown by the parish records, sup- ported by facts from other sources. The records give us much information; - lists of officers and clergy, sources of income, and the expenditure of same, changes in busi- ness procedure, in church services and ritual, changes in music, in buildings, the special contributions of the ladies' organizations, but there is nothing to show the time and money spent by the men to carry out the business written into the records. There is nothing to show how the ladies obtained the money they contributed; how they made stock- ings and sold them for fifty cents a pair, vests for 33 cents each, pants for 50 cents, a military suit for $3. or a bed- quilt at from $6. to $12.12 1/2. Nothing, except an item on 'Pierpont's' bill "oyster crackers, " to indicate the many oyster suppers put on at the homes of the different par- ishioners. No record of how many kegs of oysters came from Fair Haven. Chocolate, vanilla or lemon extract, as an occasional item on "Pierpont's" bill indicated the gal- lons of ice cream made by the ladies. The milk and eggs were usually collected as donations from some of the farm- ers. One day, though, the ladies met with one farmer who was much displeased about something, and greeted their request with a roar that he wouldn't give a thing. Perhaps that was the day Pierpont's bill carried an item of 31 eggs. There is nothing recorded about the basket suppers, where the baskets were auctioned off to the highest bidders, and each winner had the lady who packed the basket as his sup- per companion. And there were the suppers where, as an additional incentive, each person who bought a supper re- ceived a dish (plate, cup and saucer) to take home. Cook- ies and candy, two other items appearing occasionally on Pierpont's bill, give just a faint hint of the Christmas en- tertainments and other socials held in the rectory attic, and later in Stiles Hall (located east of the tracks and on the north side of Broadway, where tracks and Broadway meet). No mention of the choir rehearsals held in the dif- ferent homes, the dedication of the singers, or of the social
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hours with their abundant spread.
All of these things were a part of the everyday life of the parish. Some of them made money to be sure, but all worked for God through friendliness and goodwill.
On February 1st, 1877 the parish had no rector. The first supply clergyman was the Rev. Mr. Griswold, and an immediate attempt was made to hire him for one year. This attempt failed, and for several months more the par- ish was without a rector. At the annual meeting the ves- trymen were given authority to reassess seats if neces- sary, and it was also voted that "seats are not to be sold for less than assessment. " Further one half of the rent was to be paid in thirty days, the balance in six months. The committee was instructed to go and hear The Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald. No action resulted from this. Finally on July 22d, 1877 a call was extended to The Rev. John Cole- man to become rector of St. John's. In his reply accept- ing the call, Mr. Coleman set the starting date for the rec- torship as August 19th, 1877. When he arrived here he also assumed charge of St. Andrew's Church in Northford. His salary here was $800. and in Northford $300. , making a total of $1100.
Mr. Coleman's first move was to discontinue the Sun- day afternoon services completely, and to institute regu- lar Sunday evening services instead. The Sunday after- noons were reserved for the services in Northford. The first recorded organization of the ladies of the parish was called the Sewing Society, and was organized some- where around 1825 to 1830. In 1842 this had become The Benevolent Society. In 1843 there is record of The Ladies Association of St. John's Church, but this title does not ap- pear again. A short time later the parish records speak of the Ladies Society, and by 1869 it was the Parish Aid Society. Now there is no way to determine just when or where one group (or name) stopped and the next began, and there may have been two overlapping societies. Final- ly on October 11th, 1877 "The Ladies Guild" was organ- ized, numbering during its first year 28 members. It has continued ever since, but in 1959 is known as the After- noon Guild. Mr. Coleman was very energetic. He made an
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attempt to clear up the accumulated indebtedness. He in- troduced the practice of the celebration of Holy Commun- ion on all Holy Days and Saint's Days, also every Wednes- day and Friday. He started a parish paper called "The Record. " "By the offerings of the Sunday School a black walnut prayer desk, no longer facing the people, and a chan- cel chair were placed in the chancel, and the old histori- cal prayer desk disappeared from the south side of the chancel and was destroyed. During his rectorship an al- tar book rest was provided for the altar, altar clothes, linen, etc. ; altar vases, and a credence shelf, a memorial of Mrs. Jane Goodyear, who died March 21st. " Mr. Cole- man put up an alms-chest in the vestibule of the church, and started a drive for a 'Silver Communion Service. '
Many of these accomplishments were intended for, and actually proved to be of benefit to the parish. The manner in which the changes were made and the attitude of Mr. Coleman in his personal contacts with his parish- ioners were such that by late 1878 most of them were de- sirous that Mr. Coleman should resign, a gesture he had no intention of making. To demonstrate the seriousness of the situation it is necessary to quote verbatim atleast part of what transpired. At a special meeting held on Feb- ruary 22d, 1879, presided over by Mr. Coleman, the follow- ing was presented: "Resolved: That we request our Vestry to invite our Rector to resign the Rectorship of St. John's Parish to take effect at the next Easter." This resolution was balloted on and was carried by a vote of 19 yes to 5 no. Mr. Coleman's reply was that he did not intend doing any such thing, - nor did he. At the annual meeting on Easter Monday, April 14th, 1879, Mr. Coleman presiding, another resolution was presented: "Resolved: That we in- struct the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's Parish, North Haven, Ct. , to inform the Rev. John Coleman that we do not wish him to remain with us as Minister or Rector of said Parish and that we shall not agree to pay him any stated 'Salary' from Easter Sunday, April 13th, 1879. " This resolution was carried by a vote of 21 yes to 6 no. Still Mr. Coleman did not resign and at a special meeting on June 18th, he opened the meeting with an address in
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which he stated "he should expect full pay, etc. , and should collect by law if not paid. " The resolution offered this time requested the vestry to represent to the Bishop the condition of the parish, and request him to take action. This was passed by unanimous vote. No immediate solu- tion developed and so on July 10th at another special meet- ing presided over by Mr. Coleman another resolution was presented: "That the Wardens and Vestry be a committee to refer to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese the difference between the Rector and the Parish touching the resignation of the former, according to etc. ". This reso- lution was also passed unanimously. This situation led to considerable correspondence between Mr. Coleman and the bishop on one hand, and various members of the par- ish and the bishop on the other. Eventually a way was found to solve the problems, and when the next special meeting was called on October 15th, Mr. Coleman was no longer here, and Stephen Gilbert was chosen to act as chairman. Mr. Thorpe sums up the deplorable situation in these words "The parish on his departure in October 1879 was less united than at any previous time in its his- tory, and the indebtedness was much increased. "
Through all these years the parish was acting under the legal status of the old Episcopal Society in which a man joined or left the legal organization as he saw fit. None had been enrolled after 1852. In 1879 this legal mem- bership was down to five (Ezra Stiles, Evelyn Blakeslee, Levi Bigelow, David Blakeslee, and Joshua G. Bailey). In 1877 the Legislature legalized the organization of Epis- copal Parishes in accordance with canons of the church, - the general system in operation in 1959; there having, of course, been some changes in the canons between 1877 and 1959. Up to 1879 St. John's Church had not made the change in organization.
We arrive at a special meeting on December 16th, 1879. The only vote, and a most important one, recorded at this meeting was: "That we extend a call to The Rev. Mr. Lusk of Unionville to be Rector at a salary of $800. a year and the use of the Rectory. "
The year's end found the parish heavily in debt and
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in an extreme state of disunity. We can envision the chaos which existed and clearly imagine the loyal par - ishioners' anxiety for the future of St. John's.
5%
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1800
V
1880-1923
As the year 1880 began, it found St. John's Parish in a badly divided state, and heavily in debt. The situation was certainly far from promising. There was however a new force to be considered, for on January 1st, 1880 there came from Unionville, Conn. , The Rev. William Lusk, Jr. (the Jr. was dropped in later years), to begin a Rectorship of nineteen years, the longest term in the his- tory of the Parish. Mr. Lusk brought to North Haven with him, his wife Clara B. Holcomb Lusk, a relative of The Rev. Origen Holcomb who had officiated in St. John's in 1820, and his daughter Harriet. Mr. Lusk was descended from a long line of Presbyterians. His father was a min- ister of this faith and Mr. Lusk was educated and started his career as a Presbyterian pastor. After a short time he was converted to the Episcopacy and was ordained dea- con in 1865 and priest in 1867. He came into the Diocese of Connecticut from the Diocese of Albany, N. Y. , in 1876.
When Mr. Lusk came to St. John's he found recorded; 76 families, 128 communicants, 9 Sunday School teachers and 62 scholars. When he paused during the 15th year of his rectorship, to look back to see what had been accom- plished, he found there had been 61 baptisms and 76 con- firmations. He also found that the number of families had increased to 95, and the communicants to 195; the Sunday School teachers and officers to 12 and the schol- ars to 128 with the total number of persons connected with the congregation being 300. He also noted that the parish was out of debt, having paid in full the accumulated indebtedness.
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As we study the records it is interesting to note how the growth of the parish brought new and increased re- sponsibilities, and how, correspondingly, new methods were needed to take care of them. For example, when a bequest first established a trust fund, it was necessary to appoint a trustee. As other funds came into being, more trustees were appointed. Then the Sunday School, at its beginning a small, rather insignificant group not generally consid- ered of much importance, grew to the point where it was considered necessary to appoint or elect the superinten- dent at the annual parish meeting, as was done in 1880.
The future was to reveal continued growth which led to a self-sustaining organization, which had its own treasury, held its own annual meeting, and elected its own officers. Returning to 1880 we find that the financial affairs of the parish had grown to such an extent that it was necessary to appoint an auditor, and the first auditor appointed was O. Sherwood Todd.
We have noted that the parish debt was paid off. The record shows Mr. Elias Pierpont as a leader in this movement, for there is mentioned a vote of thanks to him for his gift of a large sum of money for this debt. The amount is not noted. Another leader whose efforts in this cause received mention, was the parish treasur- er, Mr. R. T. Linsley.
At the 1882 annual meeting an interesting vote was passed. It begins by giving the vestry considerable lati- tude, but ends very specifically. We quote: "That it be left with the vestry to hire organist and sexton, also to do any other work which they thought best, to use their own judgement in paying for same, also see that the Sexton swept the Church thoroughly as often as once every month. "
In 1884 the parish received another bequest. It came from Mrs. Eunice Stiles Brooks, once of North Haven, who until the time of her death had been living in the town of Morris, Otsego County, New York. The amount of the be- quest was $1000. , the interest was to be used in the pay- ment of current expenses of the parish.
In 1882 the parish was reorganized in accordance with the law passed in 1877, and the Canons of the Diocese.
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This was the Parish Corporation system much the same as we have in 1959, All male members of the parish were eligible for membership in the new parish corporation. This was something new, and many people did not under- stand, or were afraid of, the duties and responsibilities of the members of the official corporation, and refused to join. For a few years, the membership was very limited. However a few names were added each year until even- tually a fair representation was attained.
From 1885 through 1896 ushes were elected at the annual meeting; at first two and later four. In 1897 the Brotherhood of St. Andrew (reported as gradually form- ing in 1895, must have completed organization in 1896) was asked to take care of this matter.
In 1886 the parish lost two active workers through the deaths of Mrs. Sarah J. Stiles and Miss Harriet Pier- pont. Mrs. Stiles left a bequest of $1000. with the speci- fied proviso that Pew #56 be set aside as a free pew. Miss Pierpont left the parish the sum of $100. , and the Board of Missions of the Episcopal Church the sum of $694.
The afternoon services, starting at 1:30 o'clock, had been a traditional service from the origin of St. John's. As we have previously mentioned, it was discontinued during the rectorship of The Rev. Mr. Coleman. Mr. Lusk re- vived this service but with the continual decline in atten- dance, the time came when it again seemed wise to dis- continue it, and substitute an evening service. In speaking of this evening service Mr. Lusk says: "it has since con- tinued with gradually increasing success, although not by any means so well attended, or of the same value as the morning service. "
For many years the vestry consisted of three men, but in 1889 it was voted to increase the number to five. For several years it fluctuated between five and six, fin- ally settled at six for a considerable period.
In 1887 it was voted to increase the rector's salary from $800. to $900. , and in 1889 it was again raised, this time to $1000.
During the period from 1887 to 1898 there are num- erous things that we think should be mentioned. The
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practice of renting pews did not bring in nearly enough money to cover the operating expenses of the parish. The amount fluctuated greatly from year to year, and we are told that the largest amount of rental received in any one year was $780. , - not even enough to pay the rector's salary. In 1888 this method was dropped and the system of pledges was adopted. As this pledge system called for weekly payments, it necessitated the inauguration of the method of taking up a collection at every Sunday service, and not just one Sunday a month.
The Ladies Guild again came forward and recushioned and recarpeted the church, installed a furnace in the rec- tory, and took care of its needed repairs and improve- ments. In 1885 they started the plan of making contribu- tions to The Woman's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions. In 1889 a society called "The King's Daughers" was or- ganized. This society gave the church two brass vases and the brass cross still in use on the Altar. They also, like most church organizations, did much other good work which was never written into the records. No documents have appeared to tell how long this group was in opera- tion, or who and how many belonged to it. However, from the names inscribed on the cross they gave, it is evident that it was a group of girls whose ages might have run from seven to eighteen. The name "King's Daughters" was one that was more commonly identified with a wom- an's organization in the Congregational Church, and con- sequently there was some opposition to its use in connec- tion with an Episcopal girls' group. The situation was further complicated when, in 1892, a local chapter of a National Episcopal women's organization known as The Daughters of the King, was organized. This brought into active operation at the same time, two groups with very similar names. In view of this situation it became advis- able to discontinue the King's Daughters, and an educated guess would place the date at around 1897 or 1898.
The Chapter of the Daughters of the King was formed by a group of 24 women, who were admitted at a public service in the church. This was not a money raising group, but rather an organization to assist the rector in the work
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in the church .. It was responsible for much of the work that in 1959 is done by the Altar Guild. For many years the Chapter at St. John's was very active, and was of great assistance to the rector. Two of our people became officers in the Diocesan Chapter, - Mrs. Esther Rice as president, and Miss Anna L. Goodyear as secretary. The chapter has never officially disbanded, but at some time in the 1940's it became inactive.
In 1889 the date of the annual parish meeting was changed from Easter Monday to the Monday after the last Sunday in March. In 1890 a fund was established to be known as the "Organ Fund, " and H. F. Potter was appoint- ed as Trustee, and in 1891 another fund was created to be known as "Improvement of St. John's Church Fund, " and the trustee was E. H. Pardee. Also in 1891 Mr. Lusk was empowered to sell a stove and a melodeon. There is noth- ing to show the price they brought, or to whom they were sold. In 1889 a sterling silver Communion Service was purchased at the cost of $250. It consisted of a flagon, in memory of Mrs. Eunice Stiles Brooks; two chalices, one in memory of Rufus Pierpont and Daniel Hobart Pierpont, the other in memory of Isaac C. Stiles; a paten, purchased by the general offerings of the members of the congrega- tion; and an oak chest.
During the years 1892-93 there were many meetings from which emerged a series of votes that, taken in se- quence, are quite interesting. At the annual meeting in March 1892 the vestry was instructed to report at the next meeting regarding such improvements to the church as might be desirable and probable cost of same. April 18th: a committee of members of parish to be appointed to solicit subscriptions to the amount of $1600 to complete the sum of $5000. for church improvements. May 2d: Committee report accepted and committee continued. Building committee appointed and instructed not to make contracts in excess of the amount of subscriptions in hand. Mr. Lusk authorized to procure plans for church improvements, said plans not to cost more than two per- cent. May 16th: Voted to rescind action of May 2d regard- ing plans for improvements and architect's compensation,
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- then voted to leave the matter with the building commit- tee. Annual meeting March 27th, 1893: Building Committee appointed in 1892 be discharged; I. L. Stiles be authorized to purchase 50 ft. of land south of church; Committee (on subscriptions for funds) of 1892 be authorized to solicit subscriptions for a new church. April 13th; I. L. Stiles re- ported that 50 ft. of land, south of the south line of the church and running east to east end of horse sheds, could be purchased for $300. The vestry was authorized to erect a new church, - the site; the plans; and the materials left to the discretion of the vestry; (At a vestry meeting held May 4th, 1893, the vestry voted to build on the site of the old church, a new church of brick with stone trimmings), but the cost not to exceed $15,000. The vestry was fur- ther instructed to make suitable arrangements for public worship while the new church was building; Subscriptions for new church to become due on January 1st, 1894. Those who wished could take up to five years to pay, by paying interest at the rate of 6% annually. May 4th: Vestry au- thorized to borrow $325. to purchase the 50 ft. of land. Vestry authorized to borrow for church building purposes an amount not to exceed the amount of pledges. Any sub- scription paid before January 1st, 1894 could be discount- ed the interest on the same from the time of payment to that date. July 6th: voted "To rescind action of last par- ish meeting relating to building new church. " Voted "To rescind action of last parish meeting relating to bor- rowing money. " Voted the appointment of a committee to make settlement with the architect for church plans ordered in 1892.
A special meeting in July 1893 authorized the build- ing of the verandah on the front of the Rectory and the making of all necessary repairs. It also authorized the subscription of funds to pay the cost of this work. The cost, as reported in March 1894, totalled $482.19; the money collected $367.19 and $115. was taken from the Church Improvement Fund to complete the payment.
On October 26th, 1892 the death of George Mason, another staunch supporter of St. John's, occurred. Mr. Lusk says of him, "for about 60 years he was connected
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actively, and as a contributor with the congregation of St. John's Church, and always, during that time indicated a great deal of interest in the financial prosperity of the parish, saying, sometime before his death, that he would remember St. John's Church, and that 'the Episcopal Church should not go down for want of money. " He lived up to this statement in full measure for at his death he left a large bequest to the parish. Mr. Lusk lists the value as $9500. , subject to the life use of his two sisters.
In 1895 St. John's lost another active worker in the death of Isaac L. Stiles, the Senior Warden. He also left a bequest to St. John's in the amount of $5000. In 1909-1910 this fund was used in the building of the parish house.
At a vestry meeting on February 14th, 1895 the vestry authorized its music committee to supply music for the coming year. Then two more votes were passed that gave the committee definite instructions:
The first - "That we do not have a quartette choir."
Second - "That the committee procure Mr. F. H. Stiles, if possible, to play the church organ and select and train a boy choir for the coming year --. "
In March 1895 the parish meeting instructed the ves- try to sell the organ "if they can get a suitable price for it. " They couldn't, so the organ remained in service for several years more. On September 26th a special meet- ing authorized the vestry "to borrow --- such a sum of money as may be necessary to properly heat and light the church and rectory -- not to exceed $1,100. " This vote was rescinded at the annual meeting on March 30th, 1896, and a new vote was passed authorizing the borrowing of $2000. to pay for the heat and light, and also "to take up outstanding notes and pay current expenses. " This meet- ing also passed two other interesting votes: First: "To allow Joseph Pierpont to sell three stoves now in New Ha- ven for $25. Second: "That Joseph Pierpont be authorized to sell the hot air furnace now in rectory, for not less than $35. This last vote was rescinded at a meeting held on April 8th, and the price was reduced to $25.
The vestry appointed F. L. Stiles to make the neces- sary contracts to install steam heat in church and rectory.
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The installation was made at a cost of $900. plus archi- tect fees of $100. The furnace was placed in the rectory, and pipes were laid underground to carry the steam to the church. The vestry also authorized Joseph Pierpont to rearrange the lighting in the church as he saw fit.
In 1890 the choir screen (constructed from the old chancel railing of 1859) was removed from the arch, and the choir was brought out into the nave in front of the or- gan, facing north. Mr. Lusk says, "This was done at an expense of $128. and the place of the stove was thus taken for the choir enclosure which was a great improvement in its woodwork and finish over the previous choir screen. " With the inception of the boys' choir in 1895 more chan- ges were necessary. Choir stalls were bought and in- stalled in the chancel, Either at that time or a short time later, the choir enclosure of 1890 was removed and a curtain was purchased to hang across the lower part of the arch.
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