USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Wethersfield > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 37
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 37
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 37
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From 1867 to 1875 inclusive, Professor Russell was one of the board of directors of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, and was the secretary of that Society 1868 to 1872. In 1868, he resigned the rectorship of St. Stephen's Church, Ridgefield, and became Associate Rector of St. John's Church, Waterbury, with the Rev. J. L. Clark. Here he remained for seven years. He was called to the rectorship of St. Margaret's Diocesan School for Girls July 23, 1875, and resigned his position in St. John's Church on the first of October following. He was also elected the same year as one of the trustees of St. Margaret's School, and still holds the position of Rector and of trustee, although for the last few years he has resided at Grand Rapids, Mich. In 1871, he was elected by the Diocesan Convention as supplemental deputy to the next General Convention. He was also elected one of the committee on rules of order.
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In 1872 he was one of the Trustees of the Berkeley Divinity School, and the following years until 1886, when he resigned. In the Diocesan Convention of 1875, he was appointed one of the committee on Christian Education. Also in 1885. In addi- tion to his duties at St. Margaret's School, he officiated regu- larly on Sunday mornings in 1875, at St. Paul's Chapel in Waterville, and most of the time thereafter until 1880. When Trinity Church, Waterbury, was organized in May, 1877, the Rev. F. T. Russell was invited to take charge of the parish and he did so until a Rector was elected later in that year, and thereafter he assisted the Rector of Trinity Church until 1881.
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IN NEW BRITAIN.
From 1882 to 1900, he often assisted the Rector at St. John's Church. During the vacancy in the rectorship of St. John's Church, 1883-4, he was acting Rector of the parish.
In the Journal of Convention 1901, the Rev. Francis Thayer Russell, D.D., is in the list of presbyters as "Rector of St. Margaret's School (1875); Assistant in Trinity Church, Waterbury; and instructor in Reading the Church Services and Delivery of Sermons in the General Theological Seminary, New York, (1885.)" During the academic year he frequently assisted the Rector of St. Stephen's Church in New York City. In 1903, he resigned his position at the General Theological Seminary and removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., but still retained the rectorship of St. Margaret's School, which he visits twice a year. In addition to Professor Russell's duties at St. Margaret's School he reported in the Journal of Conven- tion, 1905, that he "has officiated constantly in clerical duties every Lord's Day, and has also attended to educational work at Akeley Hall, the Diocesan School for Girls at Grand Haven, Michigan, and at Howe Military School for Boys at Lima, the Diocesan School for the Diocese of Michigan City." In 1906 he reports the same service for every Lord's Day and "other special services at the pro-cathedral, St. Mark's Church, Grand Rapids, Mich."
The honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred on the Rev. F. T. Russell by Trinity College 1857, and that of Doctor of Sacred Theology by Hobart College, 1894. Professor Rus- sell has generally been engaged in educational and parochial work, but it has always been in connection with educational institutions of the Church. He was connected as an instruc- tor with the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, for about forty years, St. Margaret's School for Girls, Waterbury, for thirty-one years, the General Theological Seminary, New York, for twenty-three years, Trinity College, Hartford, for twenty years and other various institutions for a lesser number of years. His various publications have been mostly in the line of educational work for the Church. One of his best known works is "The Use of the Voice in Reading and Speaking; a Manual for Clergymen and Candidates for Holy Orders," which was published at New York 1883, and a second edition
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was published in 1894. Numerous references to Professor Russell may be found in Anderson's History of Waterbury, 1896.
The Rev. Francis T. Russell has been an ever active minister of Christ for fifty-two years. He has been in the ministry longer than any other minister of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, with the single exception of the Rev. Thomas J. Davis, who was a minister for nearly fifty-five years. The Rev. Mr. Russell is the only Rector of St. Mark's that the people here have had the pleasure of listening to, fifty-one years after his first service in this parish.
REV. LEONIDAS BRADLEY BALDWIN.
Leonidas Bradley, a son of Joseph Breed and Cynthia Eliza (Bradley,) Baldwin, was born at New Haven, Conn., March 5, 1834; married at Middletown, Conn., June 8, 1863, Annie Mary, daughter of William Dorson and Betsey Ann (Wyse,) Willard, of Middletown, Conn. Mr. L. B. Baldwin received his preliminary education at the Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, Conn. He was graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, in the class of 1860. His theological training was completed at the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Conn., in 1863. L. B. Baldwin, B.A., was recommended by the Standing Com- mittee of this Diocese, Oct. II, 1860, as a candidate for holy orders. In 1861, he was officiating as lay reader at St. Mat- thew's Church, East Plymouth, and his report of that parish is in the Journal of Convention, 1861. On May 19, 1863, he was recommended by the Standing Committee for the office of a deacon and was made deacon by the Rt. Rev. John Williams, D.D., at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown, Conn., May 27, 1863.
The Journal of Convention for 1864 shows that he had been transferred to the Diocese of New Hampshire. He was pres- ent at the Diocesan Convention, New Hampshire, in 1864, and the address of the Right Rev. Carleton Chase, Bishop of that Diocese, says: that on July 23, 1863, "I accepted a Letter Dimissory from the Ecclesiastical Authority of Connecticut, in favor of the Rev. Leonidas Bradley Baldwin, to whom, being a deacon, I gave a license to preach the Gospel. From
REV. LEONIDAS BRADLEY BALDWIN.
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IN NEW BRITAIN.
that time to the present, Mr. Baldwin has officiated as Minister in charge and Rector elect at Nashua." Mr. Baldwin's report of St. Luke's Parish, Nashua, shows that his connection with the parish began July 1, 1863. At this Convention he was appointed the "Preacher of the Missionary Sermon."
Bishop Chase's address to the Diocesan Convention of New Hampshire for 1865 says, "Our last Convention was holden in Trinity Church, Claremont, on the 25th of May last, (1864.) After Morning Prayer I ordained to the Priesthood the Rev. L. B. Baldwin who was presented by the Rev. Dr. Hubbard." The same address under date of Sept. 17, (1864,) says: "About this date I received with surprise and regret letters from the Rev. L. B. Baldwin and the Wardens of St. Luke's Church, Nashua, informing me of his resignation of the Rectorship of that Church and its acceptance." On Sept. 26, 1864, the Bishop gave Mr. Baldwin a Letter Dimissory to the Diocese of Connecticut. He came to this Diocese to take the rectorship of St. Mark's Parish, New Britain, and entered upon the duties of that office Oct. 1, 1864. Here he continued until Aug. 1, 1870 as before noted, about which latter time he became Rector of St. James' Church at Birmingham, Conn. He was present at every Diocesan Convention of this Diocese but one from 1865 until 1880, at which latter date he had been transferred to the Diocese of Massachusetts, into which he was received Dec. 17, 1879.
The Rev. Mr. Baldwin was present at the Diocesan Conven- tion of Massachusetts, 1880, and every year thereafter until 1887, when he had been transferred to the Diocese of New Hampshire. He read the Litany at the Massachusetts Conven- tion, 1880, and his report of the parish of St. Mark's Church, Boston, shows that he assumed charge of that Church in November, 1879. At the Diocesan Convention of 1882, Mr. Baldwin made application for the admission into Union with the Diocese of St. Mark's Church, Boston. At the 1886 Con- vention Mr. Baldwin was appointed one of the Committee on the Admission of New Parishes.
About the last of September, 1886, the Rev. L. B. Baldwin became the Rector of St. James' Church, Keene, N. H. and held that office until 1892. He read part of the Evening Prayer
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at the Diocesan Convention of New Hampshire in 1887; was one of the committee on the Admission of New Parishes 1888; on Christian Education 1890; and on Canons and other busi- ness 1891.
In 1892, he was transferred to the Diocese of Easton, Mary- land, where he remained until 1904, when he was obliged to retire from active work on account of ill health. In 1904 he removed to New Haven, Conn., where he and his wife now reside. The portrait used in this work was first used in the "Portrait and Biographical Record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland" 1898. Mr. Baldwin is still remembered and revered by many in New Britain as one of our oldest living Rectors. His last pastorate of twelve years at Easton, Md. was terminated only for the want of physical strength to serve them longer. He has had only four rectorships since he left New Britain, and three of them have been longer than was his rectorship here.
REV. JOHN CAVARLY MIDDLETON, S.T.D.
John Cavarly, a son of Nathaniel and Abbie Hempstead (Crocker,) Middleton, was born at New London, Conn., Jan. 9, 1833, died at Glen Cove, L. I., July 7, 1888, married April 23, 1863, Annie Elise, daughter of William and Mary Jane Ander- son, born Dec. 8, 1836, died March 20, 1864. His early school- ing was at New London and later he attended the Williston Seminary at Easthampton, Mass., to prepare for college. He was graduated at Yale College in 1859. His theological studies were completed at the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Conn. In the Journal of Convention 1860, Diocese of Con- necticut, the Standing Committee report that John C. Middle- ton, A.B., Yale College, was recommended on June 29, 1859, to the Bishop as a candidate for holy orders.
The Bishop's address to the Diocesan Convention of Rhode Island 1861 says: "On the festival of St. Matthew's, Sept. 21, (1860,) I admitted Mr. J. C. Middleton to the Holy Order of Deacon, in Grace Church, Providence. The candidate was presented by the Rev. Mr. Henshaw." He began his ministry as the assistant of the Rev. Abram Newkirk Littlejohn, then Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, N. Y.,
REV. JOHN CAVARLY MIDDLETON, S.T.D.
IN NEW BRITAIN. 455
but afterwards the Bishop of Long Island. He remained with the future Bishop for three years, when he removed in the spring of 1863, to Stonington, Conn., leaving behind him strong traces of his character and influence that remained with Bishop Little- john through life. The address of the Right Rev. John Wil- liams, Assistant Bishop, to the Diocesan Convention of Con- necticut in 1862, says: "I also ordained the Rev. John C. Middleton to the Priesthood, at the request of the Bishop of Rhode Island, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, L. I. on the 2d day of March 1862." In the spring of 1863, he was received into the Diocese from the Diocese of New York and was the Rector of Calvary Church at Stonington. In 1864, he was holding weekly services at Mystic Bridge in addition to his services at Stonington. In the Diocesan Convention of 1867 he was one of the committee on that part of the Bishop's address which referred to the work of Church Extension, and this address shows that the cornerstone of the chapel of the Holy Cross, in Calvary Parish, Stonington, had been laid by the Rev. John C. Middleton. He was on the board of directors of the Missionary Society from 1869 to 1871 inclusive. In 1870 the thanks of the Diocesan Convention were voted to him for his sermon before the Missionary Society. He entered upon the rectorship of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, on April 16, 1871, and served until Sept. 9, 1874, as narrated in the previous pages. He was then transferred to the Diocese of Long Island, and became the Rector of St. Paul's Parish at Glen Cove, L. I.
One who was admitted into the Church at Glen Cove, through Dr. Middleton, and later came into the ministry through him, is now the Rector of the Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, N. J. He has published a paper called the "Rector's Scrap Book" and one issue was in loving memory of the Rev. John C. Middleton, S.T.D. It was designed to illustrate some of the teachings of Dr. Middleton, as well as to bring together a few of his hymns and carols. It was from this "Scrap Book" that we took the two carols which Mr. Middleton com- posed while in New Britain, and which appear in the preced- ing pages. This memorial, without the hymns and carols, has been published in "The Lion" of St. Mark's Parish. The Rev. J. H. Townsend, in the "Scrap Book," says of Dr. Middleton :---
.
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"He was a pioneer in the restoration of a practical belief in the 'Communion of Saints,' in the 'Free and Open Church' Movement, in the 'Vested Choir' Movement, in organized Guild Work, and in certain departments of Sunday School Work. He was the friend of old and young, rich and poor. His invin- cible spirit exemplified his motto, 'Fortis in Arduis.' The beautiful Parish Church that he built at Glen Cove, L. I. expresses his ideal as far as possible, and remains an enduring monument to his faith and zeal."
The following is from the funeral discourse delivered by Bishop Littlejohn at the Church in Glen Cove as published in the "Scrap Book":
"In the gifts and aptitudes of a Parish Priest, he was remark- able. As nearly as any one I have ever known, he realized George Herbert's ideal of the country Parson. It was his aim in all things pertaining to his office and work 'to do that which Christ did, and after His manner, both for doctrine and life.' He knew the sheep of his fold and he was known of them. He could call the very lambs of his fold by their names. He tended, taught, cared for them, loved them after the example of the Great Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. He fed them out of the Word of Life and in the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood with a free and full, yet painstaking and discriminating hand; nor did he ever shear the sheep whom he had not fed. Who could have been more watchful-who more prompt and brave in keeping up the lawful fences around his cure and in keeping off the wolf-whether in the shape of religious error, or of secular pleasure, or worldly vanities, or of spiritual indifference and torpor. Such were his methods as an instructor and guide of souls, that no one could be long in his Parish, without gaining some knowledge of the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, of the laws of the Church's Constitution and Discipline and Worship, of History, so far as it served to illustrate the Church's traditions and usages, and of Christian morality in its bearing on conduct and char- acter in the every-day affairs of life. As a teacher, clear, sys- tematic, simple, patient, tireless, he never left anyone in doubt as to his meaning-he never stopped with half truths-he never allowed any one to take away from sermon, or lecture, or
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IN NEW BRITAIN.
familiar instruction, patches and scraps of Bible truth and Church doctrine. Slowly, but surely, little by little, day after day, he pressed home the message he was commissioned to deliver, until I am bold to say, it must be the fault, the grievous fault of this Parish, if in all needful Christian knowledge, it is inferior to any and not superior to most congregations in the Diocese. He had, moreover, a rare faculty for keeping the Parish busy in good works, and such good works as helped to widen its sympathies, increase its zeal, and enlarge its knowl- edge of the needs of the Diocese and of the whole Church throughout the world."
"But his work and influence whatever they were in his Parish, were not confined to it. While in charge of this cure, he never forgot that he was a Priest of the whole Church, and that he had duties to the Body of Christ wherever it was. No narrow, selfish parochialism, no local ties or obligations, ever hedged in his sympathies or cramped his labors. His heart was as large as the Church, and he strove to make the hearts of his people as large as his own. When we find, therefore, what offices he filled-what services he performed outside his Parish, it is only what we might expect from him as a wise, able, well-furnished Priest of the Church. He was one of the Standing Committee on Sunday School instruction in these five contiguous Dioceses. He personally prepared, every month, the scheme of instruction for nearly 100,000 children. He was Chairman of the Standing Committee on Christian Education in the Diocese of Long Island. He was a Corporator and Trustee of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, with the grave and responsible task superadded, of an active supervision of the Cathedral Schools; and finally, in November last, he was nominated by his Bishop, Archdeacon of Queens County, and the affectionate and spontaneous confirmation of the Bishop's choice by the Clergy of Queens, evinced, as nothing else could, the strong hold he had on the confidence and love of his brethren."
"Our departed brother has gone from us, his career on earth is ended, and this is the record of his character and work. It speaks for itself. Eulogy can add nothing to it. My words are of little account, except as they serve to express our sense
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of the common loss, and to unburden our hearts of their grief. A true man has been taken from this community, a loving and devoted head from this Parish, and from the household that has long sojourned in its parsonage, and a most exemplary and faithful Priest from the Church of God. O well beloved and departed brother, faithful unto death, thou hast entered into the joy of the Lord, and the Crown of Life is already on thy brow, casting its heavenly halo back on us in our sorrow and our tears. We thank God for thy work, thy example, thy char- acter ; and we pray that we may so spend the residue of our days, that we may be allowed to join thee the other side of the Dark Valley, and taste with thee the joys of Paradise, the powers of an endless life. The great miracle of Christ hath been wrought in thee. Thou art not dead, but asleep; for they can- not die who have realized their oneness with the risen life of their risen and ascended King."
REV. JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM, M.D., D.D.
John Hetherington, a son of Thomas and Anne Nimmo Drumm, was born in Dublin, Ireland, May 2, 1827, died at Bristol, Pa., March 5, 1879. He was brought up by his uncle, Dr. W. J. M. Lynn of Armagh, Ireland. He studied for a physician in Ireland and while there was graduated from a medi- cal college. He then came to America and was graduated from the New York Medical College in 1852, and soon after began the practice of medicine at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, where he was in successful practice for about five years. Here he married his first wife, who several years after died of consump- tion. Shortly after her death he decided to give up the prac- tice of medicine to enter the ministry. He was ordained a deacon by the Right Rev. Dr. Binney, Bishop of Nova Scotia, Dec. 17, 1857. He was the minister at Lunenburg, 1857-58 and at Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, 1858-59.
On May 12, 1859 he was received into the Diocese of Penn- sylvania from Nova Scotia, and became the minister in charge of St. James' Church, at Dundaff, Pa. He was married in the family homestead at Dundaff, on Feb. 7, 1860, to Miss Jeanie Graham, by the Rev. Thomas Drumm, a brother of the groom,
REV. JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM. M.D., D.D.
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IN NEW BRITAIN.
Mrs. J. H. Drumm now resides at Philadelphia, Pa. In 1861, he resigned at Dundaff and became Chaplain of the 52nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. He also acted as assistant surgeon. He was compelled to leave the army on account of ill health. On Feb. 1, 1863, he was minister in charge of St. James' Church, at Bristol, Pa., and on Feb. 20, 1863, was ordained to the priesthood, in that church, by the Right Rev. William B. Stevens, at the first visit of Bishop Stevens to that Church. Here he remained until he was called to New Britain in 1875. It was at Bristol that the Rev. Dr. Drumm wrote his famous work entitled "Vox Ecclesia, or the Doctrine of the Protestant Episcopal Church on Apostolic Suc- cession," which was published at Philadelphia by Smith, English & Co., 1866, an octavo volume of 516 pages. He also wrote at Bristol the letters entitled "The Cummins Controversy" on the question of "whether the Church of England ever admitted to Parishes under its jurisdiction, ministers who had not received Episcopal ordination." This was an octavo pamphlet of 31 pages. After these publications, the Rev. J. H. Drumm had the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred on him by Hobart College.
The history in the parish register of St. James' Church at Bristol, Pa., pays a fine tribute to the memory of the Rev. Dr. Drumm. His library contained over three thousand volumes.
He went from New Britain to San Saba, Texas, as mis- sionary, in hopes of regaining his health, but after the fall of 1877, he was unable to perform services with any regularity. He left Texas in March, 1878, and returned to Bristol, Pa., where a service of thirteen years had endeared him to the people, and where he could spend his last days among friends. He died March 5, and was buried in the Church cemetery, March 8, 1879, in a spot that he had chosen for himself.
The Bishop's address to the Diocesan Convention of Con- necticut, 1879, says : "Dr. Drumm was with us for only a little time, but long enough to win profound respect for his learning and devotion. His memory will live not alone in the lives of those to whom he ministered, but in those labors of his pen which have instructed and will instruct so many of the Church's children."
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REV. WILLIAM EDWARD SNOWDEN.
William Edward, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (McFad- den,) Snowden, of County Armagh, Ireland, was born at Elizabethport, N. J., Aug. 8, 1817; died at Cornwall, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1888; married at Edenton, N. C., by the Rev. Samuel I. Johnston, D.D., on Aug. 1, 1842, to Harriet Augusta, daughter of Joseph Harvey and Sarah (Creecy,) Skinner, who was born at Harvey's Neck, Perquimans County, N. C., Feb. 8, 1822, and died at Cornwall, N. Y., 1885. Mr. Snowden's grand- father was from the North of England, although he settled in Ireland. His mother, Elizabeth McFadden, was of Scotch descent. Being left a widow with four small children, she settled in New York, and there raised and trained her children for high positions in life. One son, William Edward, the sub- ject of this sketch, became a minister, the two other sons became doctors of note, and the only daughter married a minister.
Mr. Snowden received his early education at Trinity School, New York, and was graduated from Columbia College, 1838. In the summer of that year he visited Egypt and upon return- ing in the fall entered the General Theological Seminary at New York. Failing in health, he was ordered South by his physicians in the fall of 1839. He became chaplain to the family of Mrs. Joseph H. Skinner and tutor to her sons, and it was thus that he became acquainted with her daughter Har- riet, whom he afterwards married. He was made deacon by the Right Rev. Levi Silliman Ives, Bishop of North Carolina, on June 6, 1841, in St. Paul's Church at Edenton, N. C. and ordained to the priesthood by the same Bishop on May 22, 1842, in St. Stephen's Church, Oxford, N. C.
He served as Missionary in Beaufort County, N. C., 1841- 1844, having charge of Trinity Church, Beaufort; St. Thomas, Bath ; St. John's, Durham Creek, and Zion Chapel. He was Rector of St. Peter's Church, Washington, N. C., 1844-1848, Holy Trinity Church, Hertford, N. C., 1848-1867, having charge also of the mission at Galesville and other places near Hertford. He was next the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Beau- fort, N. C., 1867-1872, when he was transferred to the Diocese
REV. WILLIAM EDWARD SNOWDEN.
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IN NEW BRITAIN.
of Maryland and called to the rectorship of Christ Church, Rock Spring, Harford County. In 1872, he had charge of Emmanuel Church at Bel Air, in connection with the Church at Rock Spring. He relinquished these charges in 1875 and became Rector of St. Andrew's Church at Walden, Orange County, N. Y., from which place he was called to St. Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and began his duties there on April 10, 1877. Here he remained until May 1, 1880, and was transferred from the Diocese of Connecticut to the Diocese of New York. He was made Rector of St. John's Church, Canterbury, Orange County, New York and missionary at Corn- wall, where he remained until he died, Nov. 5, 1888.
He was seriously ill with pneumonia in 1884 and shortly after his good wife died. From "that time up to the closing hours of his life they have been hours of affliction. Gradually he became blind and gradually his health failed, but with all he had continued his pastoral duties, conducting the services at St. John's besides those at St. John's Chapel and a service once a month at the W. C. T. U. mission at West Cornwall."
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