USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Half-century history of the Farmington Avenue Congregational Church > Part 4
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After the close of his pastorate here, Dr. Gage spent some time abroad and then returned to a useful and acceptable service of four years in Worcester, Springfield, and Winsted, during which he was often welcomed in his old home. He burned his candle too diligently. At last it flickered and on the 31st of May, 1889, it went out. On the shoulders of the young men of the church he was borne as a victor, into the sanctu- ary he had loved, and amid the eulogies of his people he was laid to rest in the silent "city of our kings."
The present pastor was installed on the 6th of May, 1885,* and such events of his pastorate as may
* The program was as follows : Anthem, Gloria in Excelsis ; Reading of Minutes, Rev. H. B. Roberts, Scribe; Gloria Patri; Introductory Prayer, Rev. N. J. Burton, D. D., Moderator ; Reading of Scriptures, Rev.
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interest any future historian will be found in the church records and scrap-books.
Many of the most vivid recollections of past events in the history of the Pearl Street Church concern the Sunday-School, and these are more than can be written. Throughout the first seventeen years of its history, this school was directly under the care of the Pearl Street Sunday-School Teachers' Association, which held its first school December 19, 1852, and on the evening following adopted its constitution. In this organization the teachers elected the officers. The church assumed control by a vote of December 9th, 1869, at the request of the Teachers' Association, and has since administered its affairs. The first superin- cendent was Deacon Turner .* At the first session 67 scholars and 28 teachers were gathered, and the aver- age for the year was 88. The infant school was not formed until March 20, 1853. The school then met at 9.30 A. M., and so continued to February 5, 1882, ex- cepting during an interval from December 31, 1854, to April 29, 1855, when it was held in the afternoon. The Bible was at first the only text book and they sang from the Village Hymns. Collections were taken each Sunday for missionary causes, as ever since. What funds were needed for the school's maintenance Lewellyn Pratt, D. D .; Hymn; Sermon, Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, D. D .; Prayer of Installation, Rev. G. L. Walker, D. D .; Ave Maria; Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. Graham Taylor ; Charge to Pastor, Rev. Wm. DeLoss Love, D. D .; Address to the People, Rev. E. P. Parker, D. D .; Doxology ; Benediction by the Pastor.
* The following have served the Sunday-School as Superintendents : W.W. Turner, 1852-4 ; Charles P. Welles, 1854-7; Joseph E. Cone, 1857-60, 1869-70; S. C. Brownell, 1860-1; Nathaniel Shipman, 1861-4; Rev. J.L.Jenkins, 1864-5; C. M. Talcott, 1865-9, 1870-2; C. R. Burt, 1872-6; W. R. Warner, 1876-9; C. H. Prentice, 1879-91 ; Jay F. Ripley, 1891-96 ; W. F. Jones, Act- ing Supt., June, 1895, to Jan., 1896; David Calhoun, 1896 to date.
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were furnished by the Ecclesiastical Society. Thus the library, which was generally used, was purchased and replenished. They had none of the modern Sun- day school appliances, unless we except Dr. Beadle's little collection of oriental figures for Bible illustration which was used in 1857 and specimens of which linger hereabouts like headless dolls. The interesting details of that early Sunday-School were recorded with care in the annual report of the superintendent. It ap- pears from a summary of the attendance that the aver- age rose to 195 in 1858, and to 245 in 1871, where it remained with some weather variations for many years, the highest average being 272 in 1879. Noth- ing is more evident than the effect of the revivals of 1858 and 1878 on the Sunday-School. The Sunday evening Young People's Meeting grew out of the Sun- day-School prayer meeting which was early estab- lished. It passed under the care of the Christian En- deavor Society in 1886. Teachers' meetings were started by Deacon Turner in 1853, and they have been contemporary with the more prosperous periods of the school. Some of our members have done unusual ser- vice in the Sunday-School. Mr. Charles H. Prentice served as superintendent twelve years. The services of Mrs. Adaline M. Browne as assistant superintendent from 1869 to 1875 will long be remembered. Her successor, Mrs. Matilda S. Burt, continued in the ser- vice for twenty-two years and was reluctantly released in 1897. Mr. Edward B. Cook was elected Secretary and Treasurer in 1876, and has served to the present time. The Primary Department had various super- intendents until 1870, among whom were Mrs. Olcott Allen and Mrs. Henry T. Sperry. It was then placed
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under the wise guidance of Miss Martha P. Clark. Miss Harriett Rowell succeeded her in 1874, and she has continued most faithfully,- the superintendent to 1 890 and assistant since, being the senior officer in the school. In 1886 Mrs. Charlotte H. Ripley began the instruction of the Chinese. This work has grown in- to the Chinese Sunday-School, which has met ever since on Sunday afternoon. There is no higher testi- monial in the Church of Christ than can be given to a faithful Sunday-School teacher. Many have turned back with gratitude to those who taught them in the Pearl Street Church, to the classes which were gath- ered in early time by Deacons Turner, Welles, Eld- redge and others. How much hard work has been put into this Sunday-School service! There is a long row of picnics to recall, the first of which was held June 28, 1856, in "Gillette's Grove," now divided by Forest street. Does any one remember the ride in hacks at that time, " one mile out into the country," the "cornet band," and the bouquets presented to
Superintendents Turner and Welles ? There were others afterwards at Bolton, Fenwick, Tariffville, and Congomond Lake. The Sunday-School concerts were held for years monthly on Sunday evenings - how much of labor they must have necessitated ! It makes one ache to run through the series of Christmas fes- tivals. Some are living who attended and may recall the memorable one in 1865, when a large sum was ex- pended in presents for the scholars. As the treasurer on that occasion is dead, we may record the fact that his accounts have lately been audited and the same have been found to be correct, with an unexpended balance of $3.65 safely stowed away among his vouchers
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in the shape of a three-dollar bill on the Hartford Bank and four war "shin-plasters."
Here it is proper to record the gratitude of the Sunday-School to Mr. Edwin G. Ripley, who in 1863 by his will established the Ripley Fund, the income "to be expended for the benefit of the Sabbath- School." This legacy has prospered and has relieved the society and school of many burdens during the years. The donor's benignant face looks down upon the school from his picture, the gift of Mrs. Ripley in 1892, and many " call him blessed." In 1859, also, Dea- con Albert W. Butler established by his testamentary gift of one thousand dollars - one-half to be expended and the other half held in trust-the Teachers' Library, known commonly as the Butler Library in his honor. Another of our founders, Mr. Lawson C. Ives, be- queathed to other generations in 1867 the Widows' Home, on Windsor Avenue, which is under the con- trol of our Prudential Committee, as a board of trus- tees, and has been a continuous and admired charity. Such legacies, wisely and inexpensively administered as they usually are by churches, are a perpetual memo- rial. Many parishes have been strengthened in an enduring usefulness by funds for parsonages, church music, care of grounds and sanctuary, or similar ends, which may not so directly appeal to others than the sustaining pillars of a church.
The oldest religious service of the church is the Weekly Prayer Meeting, which was established by the Ecclesiastical Society, Friday evening, March 19, 1852, seven months before the church was formed. It was then held in the office of the Society for Savings in Pratt Street. After the church was organized this was
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transferred to its care. For some years meetings were held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and the latter has continued to the present time. They used Nettleton's Village Hymns as in the Sunday- School. The Sunday services began at 10.45 A. M. and 2.45 P. M. In 1882, the latter was changed to the evening. The Communion Service was held the first Sunday of February, and alternate months in the afternoon until 1864. It was then removed to the close of the morning service, and since 1894 it has been on the first Sunday of January and alternate months. The order of service was very simple in the earliest days, there being no organ or instrument of any kind. The hymns were selected from the " Psalms and Hymns" issued by the General Association of Connecticut, and the tunes were familiar ones. The anthems were such as could then be found in the New Carmina Sacra, with occasional selections from the " Golden Lyre," "Cantica Laudis," or "The Halle- lujah." The "Book of Praise," also prepared under the authority of the General Association, supplanted the " Psalms and Hymns " in 1869, and was thereafter in use for thirty years.
A complete list of those who have contributed to public worship in the various choirs of the Pearl Street Church has been found to be impossible. These services, however, have been valuable and are remembered with gratitude. The first choir was com- posed of volunteers, among whom were Messrs. Turner, Welch, Talcott, Dodd, and Case, with Misses Robinson, Turner, Stebbins, and others. They were without the assistance of any instrument, and then sang no anthem in the service. In the autumn of
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1853, the music was put under the care of Mr. Pliny Jewell, who increased the choir to a chorus, introduced the singing of anthems, and continued in charge until 1856, when the organ was purchased. Mrs. F. A. Tomlinson and Miss H. Penniman were solo singers during this period. The organ was played for the greater part of two years by Dr. S. L. G. Crane. He was succeeded in 1858 by Mr. W. J. Babcock, who was choirmaster to March 1, 1869. Mrs. E. A. Baker, who had begun her engagement in 1857, was the soprano until 1864, when she was succeeded by Miss Louisa A. Campbell. The contralto was Miss Henrietta W. Loomis, who sang in the quartette from 1858 to 1869, and for a time thereafter in the chorus. The tenor from 1858 to 1867 was Mr. John A. Kelley, and he was followed by Mr. F. A. White. The bass was sung by Mr. D. S. Babcock, Mr. W. F. Hardy, Mr. Charles F. Jones, and Mr. DeW. C. Pond successively. When Mr. Babcock resigned the charge in 1869, Mr. B. F. Leavens was the organist for one year. The music was then again put into the hands of Mr. Jewell, who continued for five years to conduct a chorus of about thirty voices, among whom were many now living. He concluded his services, with the thanks of the Society, on Easter day of 1875, when Miss Annie Louise Cary took part in the worship. Mr. Geo. F. LeJeune, since well-known as an organist in New York, played the organ for two years during Mr. Jewell's term of service. Mr. Geo. W. Steele then began an engagement October 1, 1873, and after Mr. Jewell's resignation he became choirmaster, continuing until April 1, 1879. In this position he was then succeeded by Prof. Irving Emerson, who re-
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PULPIT -PEARL STREET CHURCH -EASTER, 1887
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mained to April 1, 1883. After one year, during which the music was in charge of Mr. C. W. Hunting- ton, the society made an engagement April 1, 1884, with Mr. Geo. H. Mitchell, whose services were con- tinued for eight years. There were then five voices known as the " Mitchell Quintette." The present organist and choirmaster, Mr. Benjamin W. Loveland, assumed charge April 1, 1892. Among the many singers of these ever changing choirs, some are so well remembered as to need no mention and we would not attempt a roll of all, lest we might omit those who are best remembered. The history of the Pearl Street Church covers a period during which great changes were made in church music. At first there was a prejudice in some minds against the use of any in- strument, and one who was then Chairman of the Society's committee, has informed us that a melodeon was in early days "smuggled " into the edifice. The change in sentiment, however, was so rapid and radical, that the employment of a quartette choir found its earliest advocates in this congregation. So the years have passed, and music with them has come to an honored place in religious worship. Many who have sung in these choirs have joined the celestial chorus, but their song remains the theme of men.
The Pearl Street Church was often the place chosen for meetings of public interest, on account of its central location. It may be that some persons will be assisted in recalling by-gone years by the mention of a few special occasions: The Hartford Ministers' meet- ing was for some years held in its parlors, beginning March 6, 1871. In the spring of 1877, Joseph Cook delivered in its auditorium his lecture on " Does Death
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End All?" which at the time awakened great inter- est and drew an immense crowd. The noon-day meetings during the revival of 1878 were held there. A union service of prayer for the recovery of Presi- dent Garfield was conducted there September 13, 1881, and a memorial service on the 26th of that month. The Grand Army of the Republic, on Sunday evening, May 31, 1885, observed there a special service and the pastor preached a memorial sermon which is in print. The Hartford City Guard also attended such services there, June 24, 1888, June 19, 1892, and June 12, 1898. There are indeed few years in its history when meet- ings of conferences, Sunday-School associations and missionary organizations have not been held within its walls, and the programs of many such have been preserved in the church archives.
In this review of the history of the Pearl Street Church, nothing is more conspicuously evident to the historian than that there have always been benevolent men who have carried the financial burdens, raised debts, made up deficiencies and bravely borne the heat and labor of the day in the support of public worship. In ancient Israel the Jew was entitled to an honorable declaration from the priest that he had done his best to fulfill the divine command of the tithes. So now at this eventful epoch of the church's history we make this declaration in behalf of many - without name, yet not without honor and a reward.
The irresistible fate of the years swept away the fathers of this parish which was founded with such promise. Death gathered its own, one after another -in 1854, John L. Boswell; in 1858, Albert W. Butler ; in 1859, James M. Bunce ; in 1861, Sherman Board-
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man ; in 1862, David F. Robinson and Edwin G. Rip- ley; in 1865, Stephen Spencer; in 1867, Lawson C. Ives ; in 1870, H. K. W. Welch; in 1872, Eliphalet A. Bulkeley and Olcott Allen ; in 1876, Charles P. Welles, Sheldon P. Thacher, and Leonard T. Welles ; in 1882, Thomas Smith and John B. Eldredge ; in 1883, Burgis P. Starr; in 1887, David B. Moseley, George W. Root, and William W. Turner; in 1890, George M. Welch ; in 1891, Chauncey Howard ; in 1896, John B. Corning ; and in 1897, Nelson Hollister. A similar roll might be made of many who have been most useful in the church. A few of those who set out on the journey half a century ago remain among the living, but the vast majority have passed from the earthly to the heavenly sanctuary. The founders were as wise as any in their day, but they did not forsee the changes which a half-century would bring in the city where they lived. It would have been impossible to secure the support which the enterprise received from the southern section of the town had the edifice been located on Asylum Street as some proposed, and the Church would not have fared any better, though such action would have affected, doubtless, the fortunes of other churches. The Pearl Street Church has fulfilled its mission faithfully and well in a most difficult field. No one who may have admired its edifice with the famous spire, has a right to think that those who have enjoyed so much within its walls have not feelings as tender toward the house their fathers built as others. Those who may not join in its pilgrimage will be cher- ished with affection, and the Church will hope to light a fire on another hearthstone where they may commune with the spirits who have hovered near the old home.
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In the very words with which the fathers, by the voice of the sainted Deacon Turner, declared their purpose when the corner-stone of the Pearl Street Church was laid, their sons would proclaim the motive for its removal: "The desire that all might be supplied with the means of grace and the hope that more might be induced to attend upon them by the opening of a new church." If there is a higher and broader principle which a Christian Church can plead in the discharge of its obligations to the community and God we do not know what it can be. We can say as they did who then bade the mother church farewell: " We have, by the leadings of Providence been brought to consider seriously our own responsibility and duty in this matter." We can assure ourselves that their motive is ours, and we are loyal to their spirit in re- moving the vine which they first planted. As we turn from a sanctuary which was never dearer to our souls, we can repeat the words they blotted with tears: " The call of duty should ever be allowed to prevail over the pleadings of the heart. That call seems to come to us in the language of the prophet, ' Arise ye, and depart, for this is not your rest.'" We would fain hope, too, that we have some distant kinship with that spirit which animated the Pilgrim Fathers, whose " great hope and inward zeal was that they might lay some good foundation for advancing the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ, yea, though they should be but even as stepping stones unto others for the perform- ing of so great a work." So we, like them, lift up our eyes to the heavens, our dearest country, and quiet our souls in peace.
FARMINGTON AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
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THE FARMINGTON AVENUE CONGREGA- TIONAL CHURCH.
On the evening of March 20, 1897, a meeting of the Prudential Committee of the Pearl Street Congrega- tional Church was held in the church parlors. It had been called to consider a matter of great moment in the future of the Church, and all the members of that committee were present. The subject before them is briefly stated in their unanimous vote, " That it is the sense of this meeting that the Pearl Street Church be removed to the western part of the city on or near Farmington Avenue."
The immediate circumstances which led to this action need not be stated in detail. There had been a feeling among the more thoughtful members for some years that the Church was not greatly needed where it had long stood, and so many of its families were then living in the western section of the city that a removal was naturally suggested. The unusual number of deaths which had occurred among its strong supporters had been recently brought to mind by the loss of Deacons Nelson Hollister and John B. Corning. It is also true that the failure of a project to unite the Park and Pearl Street Churches had a con- siderable influence in many ways. This proposition
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had been most courteously made by the Park Church in October, 1895. The negotiations were fairly and wisely carried forward on both sides, and the union seemed to be in the interest of both churches as well as the religious welfare of the community ; but it did not receive the expected support from the Pearl Street Church. The natural result was renewed considera- tion of the future. On the other hand it had long been evident that a Congregational Church was needed in the western section of the city, and the site finally selected had been often pointed out as desirable for such a purpose. It was thought by some that the Pearl Street Church could make this removal better than any other and that such a course would be bene- ficial to other churches and the city. The determin- ing motive, however, was finally proven in the time of decision to be a high consideration of duty to the Church, the cause, and Christ, which alone was suffi- cient to command the personal sacrifices involved in the venture. It should be remembered by their child- ren in future years, that had not the fathers been such men the removal would never have been accomplished, though the living may not care to have this record made by their pastor. Indeed, it may also be said that had not this spirit pervaded the congregation, attached with a remarkable affection to their Church, the early fortunes of the Farmington Avenue Church would have been different. There was a strong confidence among them that, if they would remove westward, the people living in that section of the city would show their appreciation by coming to the support of the new church. In this they have not been disap- pointed.
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At the above-mentioned meeting of the Prudential Committee of the Pearl Street Church it was known that the feeling was almost if not quite unanimous in favor of the proposed action. The chairman of the Society's committee was then Deacon William P. Williams, who entered with sincere convictions and deep interest into the project. A canvass had been made of the congregation, which was begun on the 13th of March and was so far completed on the 17th instant that two individuals secured on that date a re- fusal of the site now occupied by the Church in case it should be wanted. This was the situation when the above vote was taken. It was also then voted, "That the Society Committee be requested to investigate as to a suitable location, size, and price of the same and the feasibility of selling our present property, and give the result of their investigation at a future meet- ing of this committee, with their opinion as to the pro- priety of calling a Society meeting."
The first person outside of the congregation who was consulted in regard to the removal was the honored pastor of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, the Rev. Joseph H. Twichell. His personal courtesy in the matter was deeply appreciated, as also the "hearty approval " of the plan "unanimously ex- pressed " by those of their church committee who were present at a meeting on the 25th of March. Similar expressions of encouragement were received from prominent members of other churches in the western portion of the city and elsewhere.
The Society's Committee made a favorable report to the Prudential Committee of the Church on the Ist of April, and it was thereupon voted to request said
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Committee to call a meeting of the Society to consider and act upon the proposition, this being deemed the proper course to pursue. This meeting was held on the Ioth instant. The question before it was " The advisability of moving the church edifice to some local- ity in the western part of the city, provided the prop- erty owned by the Society could be advantageously disposed of." After some discussion this was decided in the affirmative, and the following gentlemen were appointed with full power to act on behalf of the Society in the business: William P. Williams, Jona- than B. Bunce, Leverett Brainard, Henry H. Goodwin, and Charles R. Burt. The Prudential Committee were also requested to acquaint the church with this action, which was done on the 22d of April, the same being ratified by their unanimous vote.
The plan which was at first suggested was to tear down and rebuild the Pearl Street Church on a new location. This was then thought to be practicable at a cost less than half the value of the lot upon which it stood. The members of the congregation were greatly attached to this edifice, which was well adapted to church purposes, and its spire was so well known as a landmark in the city that they were reluctant to have it destroyed. After the most careful consideration, however, this plan was abandoned. Although the edifice was substantially built of stone, it was only faced with finished brown stone on three sides, the north side being concealed from view. Moreover, it was built for a lot of peculiar shape, to which it was best suited, and would not appear to such good ad- vantage elsewhere. The probable expense also greatly exceeded the first estimate. These and other consid-
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erations led the committee to favor the building of a new church, which should be adapted to the needs of modern church life, and this opinion was finally agreed to, though it involved more than was at first antici- pated.
The special committee of the Society entered into an agreement with the Connecticut Mutual Life Insur- ance Company on the 26th of June for the sale of the Pearl Street Church property, the price being $125,- 000. The bell, organ, pulpit, and all other personal property were reserved. One feature of this agree- ment was especially advantageous to the project - the provision that the church should retain the use of its house of worship until July Ist, 1898. As the new edifice was scarcely begun at this date, it became necessary to secure an extension of this privilege for one year. This was a convenience much appreciated by the congregation during a very trying interval, and without it they might have become disheartened and scattered.
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