USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Christ church, Hartford, Volume I > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
"At a Vestry meeting, April 7, 1890, the following letter was read by the Rector :
" To the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of Christ Church,
"GENTLEMEN, - To express the interest I feel in the important mis- sionary work at the 'Open Hearth,' I should be glad to give the sum of
141
REPORT ON FUNDS.
six thousand dollars to furthering that work, or similar work in the parish should this be discontinued.
" The only condition I would make is, that the principal of the fund be always maintained as a trust, and kept distinct from the other funds of the parish, and that the Treasurer shall, in his annual report, state how it is invested and the manner in which the income has been ex- pended. Upon notification that you will accept this trust, I will cause the amount to be paid to the Treasurer.
"LUCY M. GOODWIN. "HARTFORD, April 5, 1890."
" Voted, that the Wardens and Vestry do accept the trust as proposed in the above letter, and that the Rector be requested to notify Mrs. Goodwin of their action. William L. Matson and Edw. M. Bunce were appointed Trustees of the fund. On motion of George Ellis, L'oted, that the letter of Mrs. Goodwin be ordered on file, and spread on the minutes of this meeting."
This fund is invested in the Bonds of the Ohio & Chesa- peake Railroad, bearing five per cent. interest, and the in- come is paid by the Treasurer of the Parish to Mr. George Bodge, the Treasurer of the "Open Hearth " corporation.
MARY JEANNETTE KENEY FUND.
This Fund was created by Mrs. Mary J. Keney, the wife of the late Walter Keney, both born in Hartford, and always resident in the same. She was for a long time a communi- cant and devoted attendant at public worship, and was per- fectly satisfied with the ideas, forms, and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The "novelties which have disturbed the peace " of so many of our members obtained no sympathy from her. She delighted in the Church as it was in the early days, and looked upon changes and innovations with no favorable eye. With remarkable good sense and even temperament, she and her husband both kept their attendance at the old Church, were liberal in their contribu- tions, faithful in their duties, with malice towards none and charity for all. Her remembrance of the Parish so gener- ously is a sufficient evidence of the love which she enter- tained for it.
142
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
"At the annual meeting of the Parish of Christ Church, held April 3, 1893, a letter from James J. Goodwin, being a declaration of trust of the Mary Jeannette Keney Fund, was read by the Clerk and was ordered to be copied on the Records of the Parish, and due notice of their action to be certified to him."
DECLARATIONS.
"To the Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of Christ Church Corpor- ation, GENTLEMEN: -
" I hereby notify you that I hold as Trustee, the sum of Thirty Thou- sand dollars ($30,000), the sum being the gift of the late Mrs. Mary Jean- nette Keney to me in trust for the benefit of Christ Church upon the following terms and conditions, viz .: I am to invest and reinvest said sum from time to time, as circumstances may require, according to my own judgment and discretion, as a separate and distinct trust fund, known and called the ' Mary Jeannette Keney Fund,' and to pay the net income and profits thereof to the treasurer for the time being of said Christ Church Corporation on the first Monday of April, in each and every year; and said income when so received by said treasurer is to be used and appropriated by said Corporation for the support and main- tenance of publie worship in said Church and Parish, according to the established forms and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for no other purpose whatever.
" I am to hold said funds as such trustee, without bonds or surety, and am to nominate and appoint my own successors in said trust, and in case of disability or absence to employ my own agent or attorney for the transaction of any business connected with said trust. I hereby request that this declaration of trust may be copied in the records of said corpor- ation, and the fact duly certified to me.
"Very Respf., "JAMES J. GOODWIN, Trustee of " the ' MARY JEANNETTE KENEY FUND.'
" HARTFORD,
" March 15, 1893."
"At the adjourned annual meeting held April 10, 1893, it was
" Voted, That the Rector, Senior Warden, and Dr. G. W. Russell be appointed a committee to convey to Mr. James J. Goodwin the thanks of the Parish for the gift of the fund known as the 'Mary Jeannette Keney Fund,' and that the same be entered upon the records of the Parish."
It will be noticed that the management of this Fund is in the hands of Mr. Goodwin, and whoever he may appoint as his successor. This relieves the Parish of any care for it, save such as would naturally come from an unforeseen in-
143
REPORT ON FUNDS.
competency of the trustee in the future. And it is well to note also, for our own guidance, that the income from this Fund "is to be used and appropriated by said corporation for the support and maintenance of public worship in said Church and Parish, according to the established forms and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for no other purpose whatever."
The directions are so specific, and are so plain, that no rea- sonable misapplication of the fund can ever properly occur. It is only by that latitudinary construction in interpretation, which brings infinite trouble in the administration of civil as well as religious affairs, that disturbance is likely to occur. When men come to follow the spirit and the letter of the law, the subjects of complaint will be greatly diminished, and our respect for law itself will be greatly increased. It is becoming in churchmen, who stand for so much that is fixed by divine command, and enacted by civil authority, to allow of no common cause to interfere in a just administra- tion of trusts.
The first payment under this Fund was made in October last, and the Fund consists of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Ist mtg. Consols, 7 per cent., $10,000 ; New York & New England Ist mtg. bond, 6 per cent., $5,000 ; Col., Hocking Valley & Toledo R. R., 6 per cent., $5,000 ; 126 shares Chi- cago & Rock Island R. R., about $8,000 ; cash uninvested, about $2,000.
Mrs. Keney was the daughter of James and Eunice (Roberts) Goodwin. She was born Dec. 6, 1813, and died Feb. 7, 1893. She was married to Walter Keney June 3, 1840.
ROGERS SCHOLARSHIP IN TRINITY COLLEGE.
This was established by the late J. Smyth Rogers, M.D., for several years professor of chemistry in Washington [Trinity] College. He resided when here at the present No. 159 Farmington Avenue, on the southeast corner of the same and Sigourney Street. He is well and favorably re-
144
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
membered by some of our older residents. After the resig- nation of his professorship he returned to New York, where he died many years since. The original sum of the Fund was four hundred dollars, which was afterwards increased to five hundred and fifty by the Trustees of the College.
The history of this Fund is given as follows, taken from the records of the parish :
"At a meeting of the Trustees of Washington [Trinity] College, July 31, 1839 :
"Whereas, a claim upon the College by the late Professor of Chem- istry, Dr. J. Smyth Rogers, for compensation for various articles employed in the Laboratory during his connexion with the College, and provided by himself, the value of which articles is estimated by him at the sum of four hundred dollars ; and whereas it has been proposed by him to remit the said claim on condition that the interest on said sum shall be annually appropriated towards the maintenance of a Scholar- ship ; therefore
" Voted, that a Scholarship be hereby founded towards the support of which there shall be annually paid by the College, in tuition, the legal interest of the sum of four hundred dollars ; and that the right of nomi- nation to said Scholarship be vested with the Rector, for the time being, of Christ Church, Hartford."
This Fund was increased by the following action of the Trustees of the College, at a meeting held October 6, 1845 :
"Resolved, That in consideration of the subscriptions from the parish of Christ Church, Hartford, towards the erection of the new building, the Scholarship heretofore partially founded by Dr. J. S. Rogers, and to which the Rector of said Church has the right of nomination, be estab- lished as a Scholarship of five hundred and fifty dollars."
An inquiry of the President of the College concerning these scholarships was replied to as follows :
" As no appointment was made by the Patrons, the obligation of the College has been recognized by assigning them (until such time as the Christ Church authorities give other orders), the first [J. Smyth Rogers] to Frederick MacDonald Goddard of the Sophomore class, son of a clergyman of Windsor, Vt., and the second [Burhans] to Horton Gregory Ide, a member of the senior class from Boston, Mass."
It is suggested that, as the right of nomination to the J. Smyth Rogers Scholarship vests in the Rector of Christ
145
REPORT ON FUNDS.
Church, the candidate should be first mentioned to him ; and to the Rector and Wardens in the Burhans Scholarship. If there were no candidates from our own Parish, the wishes of the College authorities would doubtless be readily ac- ceded to.
BURHANS SCHOLARSHIP IN TRINITY COLLEGE.
At a meeting of the Trustees of Trinity College, July 19, 1855, the following resolution was adopted :
" Whereas, the Rev. Daniel Burhans, D. D., has made a bequest to the College as follows :
" 'I give and bequeath to the Trustees of Washington College, and to tlieir successors forever for the benefit of the Scholarship Society in Hartford, the sum of five hundred dollars to be invested upon interest with good mortgage security upon real estate until it shall amount to the sum of one thousand dollars, unless the said Trustees shall previously add thereto such sum permanently invested as shall make the said amount of one thousand dollars, and said fund to remain under the con- trol of said Trustees and their successors in said office forever under the following conditions. Said Trustees and their successors shall appro- priate the interest accruing from said fund of $1,000 as they shall deem expedient, to such candidates as shall be nominated from time to time by the Rector and Wardens of Christ Church, Hartford, and their successors forever for aiding in the education of such candidate for orders in said Washington College.' Therefore
"Resolved, That the trust be accepted, and the Treasurer be author- ized to invest the fund accordingly." -- Extracted from the Records of Trinity College, Book I, page 125, by Charles f. Hoadly, Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
July 31, 1865.
HARTFORD HOSPITAL.
" HARTFORD, May 7, 1859.
"To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church -
" The late Miles A. Tuttle, having made a bequest to the Hartford Hospital, to be appropriated in such a manner as I might direct ; and the Directors of the Hospital, having accepted the bequest with the con- ditions prescribed, the agreement of the Hospital is enclosed and pre- sented to you for your acceptance and preservation.
" The object is to furnish suitable accommodations for any sick per- sons in the Parish, whom the Rector may designate ; but if none are
IO
146
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
found in the Parish, the Rector may use his discretion in recommending others.
Very respectfully, GURDON W. RUSSELL."
" HARTFORD, April 12, 1859. "To the Treasurer of the Hartford Hospital -
" Whereas, The late Miles A. Tuttle of Hartford, having bequeathed to the Hartford Hospital the sum of one thousand dollars, 'to be expended for the benefit of said institution, as Dr. G. W. Russell shall direct,' and the executors having this day paid to the Treasurer of said Hospital the sum of one thousand dollars, now I, Gurdon W. Russell, request that the said sum shall be invested and secured by a mortgage upon real estate, in the town of Hartford, valued at least at double the amount loaned, and the income thereof to be appropriated for the support of such patients as the Rector of Christ Church, in the town of Hartford, may direct and approve according to the form of agreement submitted herewith.
GURDON W. RUSSELL."
" Whereas, Miles A. Tuttle, late of Hartford, devised in his last will and testament to the Hartford Hospital, the use and improvement of one thousand dollars, to be appropriated under the direction of Dr. G. W. Russell.
"And, whereas, the Executors on the estate of the said Miles A Tuttle have this day paid to the said Hartford Hospital the said sum of one thousand dollars, and the said G. W. Russell has requested that the said sum of one thousand dollars be put at interest and secured by mort- gage upon real estate in the town of Hartford, valued at least double the amount loaned thereon, the income thereof to be appropriated for the payment of the expenses in said Hospital in such manner and for such patients as the Rector of Christ Church, in said Hartford, for the time being, shall direct. Now, therefore, the said Hartford Hospital hereby agree to and with the executors of said last will and testament, that they will keep said sum of one thousand dollars invested as a permanent fund secured by mortgage upon real estate in the town of Hartford, valued at least double the amount loaned, and that they will appropriate the income thereof for the expenses, in such manner and for such patients as the Rector of Christ Church, in said Hartford, shall direct and approve.
"At a meeting of the Directors of the Hartford Hospital, held on the 18th day of April, 1859, it was -
"Voted, That the bequest of one thousand dollars from the late Miles A. Tuttle be accepted on the terms specified by Dr. G. W. Russell, and in accordance with the foregoing agreement with his executors.
Attest, F. A. BROWN, Secretary."
147
REPORT ON FUNDS.
Upon inquiry it was ascertained that the income of the Fund had been appropriated on several occasions, for the benefit of persons recommended by the Rector of the Parish. But the one thousand dollars had not been invested as a distinct and separate Fund, nor had any special account been kept of the same, nor had any mortgage been recorded. It was promised, however, that it should be strictly attended to, as soon as a suitable mortgage could be procured.
A BRIEF STATEMENT
OF THE
FUNDS OF CHRIST CHURCH.
I. The Episcopal Church Fund. Created 1807. Amount, $8,500. Now invested in the church building. Managed by the Wardens and Vestry, as Trustees of the same. Not in active operation.
2. Chauncey Fund, 1850, $550. Managed by the Treas- urer of the Parish ; interest to be paid on Easter Monday to the Rector of the Parish for the benefit of poor communi- cants.
3. Flower Fund, 1866, $1,500. Managed by Rector and Wardens; to be invested "in good interest or dividend- paying securities or property "; income for care of lot in Spring Grove Cemetery, and for poor widows and orphans of the parish.
4. Adams Fund, 1872, $10,000. Managed by Wardens and Rector; "the income to be distributed among the worthy and deserving poor people of the Parish." The Fund is now impaired, and the income can only be used by adding it to the principal until this is made good.
5. Mary Goodwin Fund, 1881, $5,000. Managed by the " Trustees of Donations and Bequests for Church Purposes " of this Diocese ; the income paid to the Parish for "cleaning, heating, and lighting" the Chapel and Parish building. Income, April 1, 1893. $248.64.
6. Charles H. Northam Fund, 1882, $10,000. Managed by the Security Company as Trustee, to be "invested in loans secured by mortgage upon improved and unincum- bered real estate "; the net income to be paid to the Treas-
149
REPORT ON FUNDS.
urer of the Parish, "for the support and maintenance of public worship in said Parish." Income, April 1, 1893, $500.
7. Susan R. Northam Fund, 1882, $10,000. Under the same Trustee, and for the same purpose as specified by her husband, as above. Income, April 1, 1893, $500.
8. Grace Tuttle Fund, 1883, $400. Managed by the Treasurer of the Parish ; the income for the benefit of the Sunday-school. Interest, $16.
9. Open Hearth Fund, 1890, $6,000. William L. Matson and Edward M. Bunce, Trustees. The income is paid by the Treasurer of the Parish to the Treasurer of the Open Hearth corporation. Interest, $300.
10. Mary Jeannette Keney Fund, 1893, $30,000. Managed by James J. Goodwin as Trustee, or his successor, as he may appoint ; the net income to be paid to the Treasurer of the Parish, "to be used for the support and maintenance of public worship " in the same.
In addition to the above, certain sums have been given from time to time for various purposes connected with the Parish. Some of these were donations or bequests not strictly in the nature of funds, but have occasionally been considered as such, the principal being retained or only partly expended.
Mary S. Merrill gave by her will three hundred dollars to the Sunday-school, as follows :
" I give and bequeath to the Wardens of the Parish of Christ Church of this city, exclusively for the use and benefit of the Sunday-school of said Parish, the sum of three hundred dollars."
She was the daughter of George and Martha (Nevins) Merrill. Was born March 21, 1792, and died August 30, 1882. Her parents died when she was young, and she was brought up in the family of Samuel Ledlie. She was a most devoted churchwoman, faithful in all her duties, extremely fond of children, and for twenty years was actively engaged in the Sewing-school.
150
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
It is supposed that the legacy was expended long since, as there is no record of any portion of it remaining.
Brownell Memorial Fund. From offertory, Dec. 23, 1879. Now amounts to $143.06. Is deposited in State Savings Bank, Gurdon W. Russell, Trustee.
Frances Heywood, by will of August 12, 1864, gave five hundred dollars to the poor of the Parish :
" To the poor of the Parish of Christ Church, in the city of Hartford, I give the sum of five hundred dollars, to be distributed according to the direction of the Rector of Christ Church."
This sum is now deposited, on interest, in the Security Company, and the income, $30 per annum, is devoted to the support of the poor women belonging to the Mothers' meet- ings.
Miss Heywood, daughter of Peter and Frances Ann (Beresford) Heywood, was born in Berbice, September 21, 1810, and came to this country with her mother. She died October 21, 1881.
There is now on deposit, in the State Savings Bank, the the sum of $100, given by Mrs. Charlotte Rudder, the income of which is used for the Ladies' Benevolent Society. Mrs. John D. Tucker is the Treasurer.
L. B. Goodman, a worthy member of the Parish, and for a long time one of its Wardens, gave, February 25, 1891, two hundred dollars as a Fund, the income of the same to be de- voted to the insurance of the memorial paintings on the west wall of the church. This sum is deposited in the State Savings Bank, and the income is expended by the Treasurer for the purpose designated.
Miss Thomasin A. Beresford gave $25 to the Ladies' Benevolent Society, for which the income is used. It is deposited in the Society for Savings, and Mrs. Tucker is the Treasurer. Miss Beresford was active in the charitable works of the parish, of very pleasant manners, sociable and kind. She was the daughter of Dr. John Beresford, was born in Barbadoes, April 17, 1801, and died August 19, 1857.
15I
REPORT ON FUNDS.
Walter Keney in 1885, gave one thousand dollars for the in- troduction of electric lights in the church. Of this sum there remains unexpended two hundred and fifty dollars, which is now in the Treasurer's hands. Some time before his death, Mr. Keney gave permission that a portion of his gift might be used for other parochial expenses.
Mr. Keney was the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Turner) Keney, and was born July 10, 1808, and died January 21, 1889.
Few men have lived more industrious, prudent, and hon- orable lives than Mr. Keney. To his quiet disposition, great evenness of temper, and sound judgment, was added alto- gether more of a firmness of opinion than many would sus- pect. A violent opposition to the views of another was no part of his nature, so he did not make himself offensive by his contradictions or bring reproach by his silence. Those who knew him well were often astonished by his ready recol- lection of what he had read and the aptness of the quotations which he made. He was singularly attentive to his friends, keenly enjoying their society and mindful of their inter- ests; his sympathy was kindly manifested in all their trials and afflictions; his pleasure was increased by their success and prosperity. While he was an active benefactor to the Parish, he could look beyond its borders for his gifts. His generous nature found refuge in his kindly help to the poor and afflicted, and to the furtherance of all objects for good. Few have lived more useful lives in our, town, or have afforded a better example to young men.
The Committee would respectfully report that the follow- ing votes be passed by the Vestry:
I. That the several Trustees of the Funds belonging to the Parish shall keep an accurate account of the same, in a book devoted to each trust, which shall be passed over to their successors with an entry of all receipts and expendi- tures for the year, and that they shall report the same, together with a statement of the investments of the separate Funds, to the annual meeting of the Parish, and that the
152
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
same shall be furnished to the Treasurer of the Parish to be incorporated, as far as may be necessary, in his report, that it may be known what the actual receipts and expenses have been for the current year for all parochial purposes.
2. That the Treasurer shall keep an exact and separate account of each Fund, of which he is a Trustee, showing the receipts and expenses of the same for the year ending with his annual report, together with the investments of each Fund and the non-payment of any interest of the same, if such there should be, and that the several reports provided for in the first vote be appended to his own report; and, after being duly audited and accepted, this general report shall be placed upon the records of the Parish.
3. That two auditors shall annually be appointed who shall examine the accounts of the several Trustees and the accounts of the Treasurer, together with the investment of the several Funds, and certify to the same, which shall be presented to the annual Parish meeting.
4. That this report be printed under the direction of the committee, and that a sufficient number of the same be safely preserved, and that the Clerk of the Parish be directed to furnish a copy to each Trustee when entering upon his trust.
5. That for the purpose of obtaining a full knowledge of all moneys raised in the Parish, aside from those especially belonging to the Rector, it is directed that an account of the same shall be reported, as soon as possible, in writing to the Treasurer, who shall state the same in his annual re- port.
The vote appointing the committee contemplated the in- dexing of the Parish records, the extracting of all votes of importance, and an abstract of the Trust funds of the Parish, The first of these is a matter of so much labor and time that we did not feel able to undertake it. It needs the service of of some one specially skilled in this work, who should be paid for his labor; we therefore suggest the postponement of it for the present. That part of the resolution which directs "the abstracting of all votes of importance " may be undertaken
153
REPORT ON FUNDS.
at another time. The "abstract of the Trust Funds" has been extended into a lengthy history of the same, which in- volves to a certain extent a history of the Parish. It is hoped that this has been done faithfully and that the minute- ness will not be considered as painful or unnecessary. The parishioners ought to know and have a right to know all about the property which has been put into their hands, all about the management of the different trusts, and it is their duty to see that all the conditions attached to them are truly executed. The lapse of time and the frequent change in offices leads to a forgetfulness of obligations, which we do not desire to call inexcusable, but are checks to the liberality of the living and unjust to the good intent of the dead. All the care and the watchfulness which is due to our moneyed cor- porations is equally due-yes more due -to the trusts of our religious societies.
We recommend that this report be printed and that a copy of the résumé, in the latter part of it, be furnished to all who are officially connected with the parish.
GURDON W. RUSSELL, WILLIAM L. MATSON, JOHN M. TAYLOR, H. H. HOLLISTER,
Committee.
HARTFORD, January 2, 1894.
08 At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry, held Jan- uary 7, 1894, the Report of the Committee, the reading of which had occupied several evenings, was accepted, together with the accompanying resolutions, and ordered to be printed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.