USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > St. Michael's Parish, Litchfield, Connecticut, 1745-1954; a biography of a parish and of many who have served it > Part 9
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1 Bostwick, A Life with Men and Books.
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of the Churchman from 1847 to 1850; he was founder of the American Advocate of Peace, which became the organ of the American Peace Society; he was for several years political editor of the New York Times. He died on March 9, 1884, at Newburgh, New York. Bishop Williams, in speaking of him at the Diocesan Convention following his death, said he was a man who served his church by his pen as well as by pastoral labors, that he had the courage of his convictions and never shrank from saying what he believed duty called on him to say, and that "in the field of gen- eral letters his work has borne fruit that is lasting for good."
The Rev. Mr. Wilkins was born at Utica, New York, Novem- ber 26, 1847. He was apparently privately educated until he en- tered Berkeley Divinity School from which he was graduated in 1871. He was ordered deacon by Bishop Williams at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown, on May 31, 1871, and shortly afterwards was given charge of St. Paul's, Windsor Locks, and Calvary Church, Suffield. On July 7, 1872, he was advanced to the priesthood by Bishop Williams at St. Paul's Church, and there- after was rector of the churches in Windsor Locks and Suffield, coming to Litchfield from there in 1874. After leaving St. Mi- chael's he was rector of Christ Church, Guilford, rector of Trin- ity Church, Newtown, and assistant minister at St. Luke's, New York, and other New York churches. He was for a short time rector of Trinity Church, Wilmington, Delaware. His last active charge was St. Luke's, Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where he was from 1910 to 1919. Following this he lived in East Orange, but was canonically resident in the diocese of New York. He died August II, 1926, at Upper Montclair, New Jersey, at the home of a sister. He is buried in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.
Mr. Wilkins was a great-grandson of Isabella, sister of Gouver- neur Morris of Morrisania, who married the Rev. Isaac Wilkins in 1778. The younger Wilkins was well liked in Litchfield. Un- married, socially charming, a lover of horses, he was at the same
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time very acceptable as pastor and priest. The only former rector of St. Michael's living at the time of the dedication of the present church, he was present and took part in that ceremony.
Mr. Bissell was born at Clinton, New York, August 30, 1842. He was graduated from Hamilton College in 1863, and received from that college in 1898 the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theol- ogy. He was educated for the law at the Albany Law School. Though brought up a Presbyterian, while living in Hartford he united with the Episcopal Church, studied for the ministry, was ordained deacon in Trinity Church, Hartford, on December 27, 1881, and priest in St. John's, Waterbury, on May 29, 1884. St. Michael's was his first parish. After leaving Litchfield, he was rec- tor of Trinity Church, Oxford, in Philadelphia, for eight years. Following this he returned to Litchfield, where he resided until his death on November 4, 1912. His funeral was from St. Michael's, but interment was at Clinton. An able man, he was equipped with a fine mind and was a speaker of exceptional ability.
XI 1893-1916 THE SECOND RECTORATE OF STORRS O. SEYMOUR
THE REV. DR. SEYMOUR resumed his office of rector of St. Michael's on Sunday, April 16, 1893. On that Sunday there was used for the first time the oak and brass pulpit which had been placed in the church by Mrs. Edward W. Seymour in memory of her husband. In July of the same year a memorial window, designed by Mrs. E. N. Vanderpoel, niece of Mrs. Seymour, was placed in the church by a few of Mr. Seymour's relatives and friends. It is in St. Michael's Chapel in the present church, and now bears the name of Mrs. Mary F. Seymour as well as that of her husband.
At about this time an anonymous gift of oak sedilia was made through R. Geisler, ecclesiastical furnisher, and the black walnut sedilia, lectern, and prayer desk which had been in use were placed in the chapel.
On April 11, 1894, a high wind from the east blew the steeple off the church, and as it fell the point of the steeple pierced the soft wet ground several feet. There it stood for about ten minutes until it finally swayed slowly toward the church, breaking one pane of glass as it came against it. In the winter of 1886 Mr. F. R. Starr had reported to the vestry that he had felt it advisable, as a result of some severe gales, to have the steeple examined. He had presented a letter from Mr. Leonard Stone stating that this had been done and that after tightening some loose nuts the spire was in good
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condition. This can not have been a thorough job, for now, on ex- amination, it was found that the steeple had never been properly bolted down and that most of the old wooden stays had become rotten. Under the circumstances it is perhaps miraculous that the spire had remained as long as it had. It was never replaced.
On Sunday, June 23, 1895, the chancel window representing St. Michael the Archangel was displayed to the congregation. This window was given by the Misses Latimer, of Brooklyn, in mem- ory of their great aunts, the Misses Caroline and Celeste Parmelee, who had been lifelong worshipers in St. Michael's, devoted to its interests and to its services. The window is over the altar in St. Michael's Chapel in the present church.
November 5, 1895, was the 150th anniversary of the meeting of the thirteen heads of families at Captain Jacob Griswold's house, constituting the beginning of the Episcopal Church in Litchfield. The anniversary was celebrated at St. Michael's on the following Sunday, November 10. Morning Prayer was read from the folio Prayer Book which had been presented in 1803 by Ephraim Kirby. The lessons were read by Thomas F. Davies, Jr., a student at the General Theological Seminary. The son of Bishop Davies of Michigan, he was a direct descendant of John Davies, the founder of St. Michael's, and a great-grandson of the brother of the Rev. Thomas Davies. The lessons were read from a new Cambridge Bible which had just been given to the Parish by two sisters, Mrs. Cyrus S. Curtis and Mrs. Phebe Lake, in memory of their mother, Elizabeth Sheldon Peck, great-granddaughter of the Hon. Elisha Sheldon of Litchfield, and niece, several times re- moved, of the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin. A letter from Bishop Wil- liams, who was unable to be present at the service, was read. He said in part:
The contrast between the then of 150 years ago, and the now is most striking. And one thought comes to me constantly in connexion with these anniversaries,-the permanency of the Parishes. Go back 150 years, and think of all the changes that have come in the world with
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its dynasties, its nations, its wars, its advances, and then remember that in all those years as they piled themselves up in human history, the same worship, the same teaching, pastoral charge, parochial min- istrations have gone on here in a quiet constant round of duty, and what a view is presented to us! How many have been received into the Church of God by baptism, how many have come to receive the "laying on of hands," how many have knelt in the Holy Eucharist, how many cries of penitent sorrow have gone up to the ears of God, how many have had the peace of the Comforter sent to them, over how many have the blessed words that tell of victory over death and the grave been spoken! It were easy to go on with thoughts like these, but each will have them, I am sure, in mind. Thankful then for all the past, rejoicing in the present, hopeful for the future, let us all say in our hearts and with our lips "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us but unto Thy Name be the praise." "The Lord God be with us as he was with our Fathers."
Dr. Seymour preached an historical sermon on a text from the 44th Psalm: "We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what thou has done in their time of old." Appropriate hymns were sung, among them
O God of Battle, by whose hand Thy people still are fed; Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led.
The Litchfield Enquirer of November 14 printed Dr. Seymour's sermon in full, and in an editorial spoke of the large congregation present, the many interesting features of the service, the handsome floral decorations presented and arranged by Edward A. Plumb (a direct descendant of two of the original founders of St. Michael's), and concluded with the words: "It was an occasion long to be remembered by those fortunate enough to be present."
In the autumn of 1895 the church was the recipient of gifts which came in an unusual way. On December 13, 1894, Mrs. Julia Louise Tallmadge, wife of Frederick S. Tallmadge of New York, died. Her body, brought to Litchfield for burial, was placed in St. Michael's Chapel. In digging her grave it was found necessary
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to blast out rock, and for that reason the burial was postponed for several days. This incident excited in Mr. Tallmadge an interest in the chapel, and the following year, as a memorial to his wife, he gave it a chancel, memorial window, an altar, communion silver, and altar hangings. Later he added a wood ceiling and cushions for the chapel benches.
At a meeting of the vestry on April 19, 1897, it was voted
that we express to Mrs. T. S. Sedgwick and her sons our grateful sense of their kindness in establishing the memorial to Miss Bessie Sedgwick, who at the time of her death was so active and useful a member of our Sunday school. The fragrance of the flowers each recurring Easter will remind us of the brightness and beauty of character which were so marked in her whose early departure we so sincerely mourn.
During the years immediately preceding and following Dr. Seymour's return to St. Michael's, the matter of finances was a troublesome one for the vestry. Many of the most generous mem- bers of the congregation had died. In view of this situation, a vote passed at a vestry meeting on May 1, 1899, was particularly deli- cate and significant:
It was voted that the Rector, Rev. S. O. Seymour, C. R. Duffie, Jr., Treasurer, and Charles E. Wilson, Vestryman, be a Finance Com- mittee to equalize and harmonize the receipts and expenditures of the Parish for the coming year, with power to borrow any sum necessary for temporary use.
In July, 1901, it was voted to have acetylene gas installed in the church and chapel, and a committee was appointed for this pur- pose. At the meeting at which this was taken up it was also voted that Dr. Seymour be authorized to secure a supply for the pulpit, at the parish's expense, during his absence as a diocesan deputy to the General Convention in San Francisco the following October.
In February, 1904, a minute relating to John Wolcott Wheeler, who had died on February 6, was ordered spread upon the parish records. Mr. Wheeler had been clerk of the parish from 1891 to 1899, when he became vestryman, in which office he remained
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until his death. The minute referred to "his courageous industry, his integrity, and the unfailing loyalty that put his name on the muster-roll of our nation, and made him a good citizen of our town and an honor to our church."
In the summer of 1906 Mrs. Edward W. Seymour had the chapel repaired at her own expense. The vestry voted appreciation of her generosity, both for the material thing done, and for her example "reminding us that as our faith is, so also its outward home should be, a sweet refuge for the troubled, a rest for the weary."
In November of that year the Senior Warden, Mr. Plumb, died. At a special meeting the vestry adopted the following resolution:
It has seemed good to our Heavenly Father to remove our friend and brother, the Senior Warden of this Parish, Mr. John L. Plumb, from the labors and services of the Church Militant, and to call him to his rest in Paradise: Therefore we, the Vestry of St. Michael's Parish of Litchfield, would put upon our minutes our high appreciation of our brother's character and labors. For over half a century he has been a devoted member of our Parish; for fourteen years he has served as Warden; he was honorable and faithful in all the relations of life; and while we mourn our loss we give thanks for his good example. We extend to his wife and children our sincere sympathy in their affliction.
In May, 1908, the vestry of St. Michael's received a bequest of $966.84 by the will of Miss Frances M. Lord for the benefit of Indian children. It was voted that the fund be kept by the parish clerk as trustee, subject to the order of the wardens and vestry.
A new organ, presented by Mrs. Edward W. Seymour, in mem- ory of her husband, was used on Easter Sunday, 1911, for the first time. Acknowledging the gift of the new organ, the vestry voted at a special meeting
to gratefully accept this gift and here record that we prize it not alone as a beautiful instrument of music, but still more as a lovely token of the sympathy, the devotion and the generous loyalty of her who gave it and him whom it commemorates. Through it they
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will help to express the noblest sentiments of religion, and its strong, sweet notes will proclaim to us and to our entire community their simple, glorious faith, "Peace upon Earth to men of good-will, And glory to God in the highest still."
At the same meeting it was voted to establish a fund for the erec- tion of a new church building, to take the place of the building then in use when it should become unfit for further occupancy. Several persons had expressed a willingness to contribute to such a fund, provided it was invested and kept intact until the necessary amount was accumulated. The vestry voted to agree to these con- ditions. Also in May of 1911, Dr. Seymour received a letter from the president of St. Michael's Guild, Mrs. Hinsdale, extending to Mr. Ralph P. Smith, the parish treasurer, the thanks of the ladies of the Guild for his constant attention to repairs and improvements in the church, and for his own personal assistance which resulted in satisfaction to all. Dr. Seymour made this letter a part of the parish records.
On June 20th of that year Dr. and Mrs. Seymour celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by a reception at the rectory to which friends came from far and near, bringing with them many gifts. Two years later, on June 26, 1913, Mrs. Seymour died. On Ascension Day, 1914, the anniversary of the last service Mrs. Seymour had been able to attend in the church, a beautiful win- dow presented in her memory by the ladies of the parish and other friends was dedicated by Bishop Brewster. It is in the baptistry of the present church, in a place which appears to have been planned especially for it.
In this account of Dr. Seymour's rectorate more attention has been given to events which took place in the parish than to the rector's achievements. The record of spiritual development at St. Michael's during this period should have attention. Dr. Seymour's reports to the Bishop year after year showed a fairly stationary parish population. The number of those lost from removal and death was roughly canceled by new members. The number of
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families rose from 85 in 1894-to 105 in 1915; of individuals, there were between 250 and 300; the number of communicants dropped from 161 in 1894 to 127 in 1915. The Sunday school dropped very much, from 60 at the beginning of his rectorate to 30 in 1915. This is more easily understood when it is remembered that though Dr. Seymour was approaching his eightieth birthday, he had carried on the varied and heavy duties of the parish without clerical assist- ance.
He had, however, able assistance from some of his parishioners, notably the women of St. Michael's. From the beginning of the Woman's Auxiliary in the Diocese, St. Michael's gave it enthusi- astic support. Dr. Seymour reported many times that boxes had been sent from the parish-one year seven boxes, valued at $469, another year boxes estimated at $524. St. Michael's Guild was an indefatigable and efficient group of women which had taken re- sponsibility for the rectory and for many of the repairs and im- provements in the church and chapel. In 1911 Dr. Seymour re- ported that the Guild had spent $800 on improvements on the interior of the church. This organization was famous for its quilts, which were offered at sales and made on order. Mrs. Hinsdale was the moving spirit of much of this work, work that can not be too highly praised. But Mrs. Seymour was the Guild's founder. Orig- inally the ladies of the church went from house to house in the village with "guild baskets," as they were called, which contained articles they had made at home. From the proceeds of their sales came the funds used for the repairs and improvements for which they were responsible. Later church sales took the place of house- to-house solicitation.
Dr. Seymour was prominent in diocesan affairs. A member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese from 1876, he became its president in 1896. He was Examining Chaplain from 1887, and a deputy to the General Convention for nine years, besides serving on many committees. Besides his duties in connection with his parish and the Diocese, he was active in civic affairs.
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Of his long rectorate, including the period from 1879 to 1883, many amusing stories have been told, both by himself and by members of his parish. Some of his favorite stories center around a sexton who was apparently a law unto himself, since Dr. Seymour said he felt he should include in the announcement of a service "God and Solomon willing!" However, when Solomon resigned his office the following notice appeared in the town paper:
A RESIGNATION
Having been your Sexton for fifteen years, the 20th of May, 1880, hoping you will get some one more faithful and trustworthy than I have been, I respectfully resign, with pleasant memories of, and many thanks for, your Kindness to me and my family during my service.
Most Respectfully
his SOLOMON X ROWE mark
This long threatened bereavement has at last actually befallen St. Michael's. No doubt there are others who will sweep, dust, and ring the bell, as efficiently as Solomon, and who may possibly build as hot fires, but we never expect to see another as witty a sexton of St. Michael's as he who has held that office for half a generation past.
Another memory of a communicant of long standing is of two ladies from North Street who attended Sunday evening services with great regularity, carrying a lantern to light their way along the unlighted streets! A pleasant custom was that of the young peoples' gathering to decorate the church for Christmas; the results of their work were renowned. A 6:00 o'clock (A.M.) service was a feature of the Easter observance, at which the full choir was expected to be present. Many more stories could be told by those looking back upon the period of Dr. Seymour's rectorate with af- fection and nostalgia. All point to the gracious administration of the services and ministerial functions performed by the rector, and to the activity and ability of his greatly loved wife.
On February 15, 1916, the following letter was submitted to the church officers:
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To the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Michael's Church, Gentlemen,
Being fully persuaded that I have reached an age at which I can not serve the interests of our Parish as they ought to be served, I hereby tender my resignation as Rector to take effect at Easter, April 23d.
In my Rectorships here this Parish has had very nearly half of my ministry of fifty-five years. It is with the strongest feeling of regret that I realize that active service in the ministry is no longer my privilege, yet with devout thankfulness I recognize the fact that it has been prolonged beyond the ordinary length of such service. The last twenty-three years of my life have been given to you, hap- pily and willingly given. I fully appreciate your forbearance of my imperfect efforts and my infirmities.
In laying down my official connection with St. Michael's Parish, I desire to put on record the strong love which I have for it and its people, and in asking you to accept my resignation, it is with the earnest prayer that from my successor may come far better service, and that the love of God may abound in your hearts. It is with more than the ordinary meaning of the words that I sign myself,
Affectionately yours
Storrs O. Seymour
A meeting of the First Episcopal Society was called to consider the resignation, and a committee on resolutions appointed by St. Michael's vestry submitted appropriate resolutions expressing sin- cere regret at Dr. Seymour's decision. The resolutions were adopted, and the title of Rector Emeritus was conferred on him. At a special meeting of the vestry held on May 8, Mr. Trumbull, Parish Treasurer, offered resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, that the Rector Emeritus be given the use of the "Bron- son house" free of rent, repairs, and taxes, and that a fund be es- tablished in the Litchfield Savings Society to be known as the "Rector Emeritus Fund," from which to pay Dr. Seymour a monthly stipend as well as taxes on the house, and such repairs as might become necessary. The Bronson house stood near the street on the southwest corner of the church property. It had come into
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the hands of the parish in 1906 by a warranty deed from Dr. Sey- mour.
Thus the last years of this greatly loved rector were spent in close proximity to the church, and his benign and kindly presence continued to be a benediction to the community.
XII 1916-1935 THE FOURTH CHURCH WILLIAM J. BREWSTER
THE REV. WILLIAM JOSEPH BREWSTER was called to succeed Dr. Seymour, and on Sunday, July 2, 1916, assumed charge of St. Michael's. In preparation for Mr. Brewster and his family St. Michael's Guild had completely refinished the rectory, papering and painting it throughout, adding a new bathroom, and stocking the pantry with provisions. It was an auspicious preliminary.
Soon after Mr. Brewster took charge he started a new Parish Register with an entire revision of the list of families and com- municants; the revision showed 172 communicants, instead of 127. A committee was appointed to take under consideration some of the church property to which little attention had been given, and reported promptly that the barn at the rectory was in bad condi- tion, but could be made useful; that the church sheds were in de- plorable condition, but that the parish had no direct control over them since they were subject to private ownership; and that it was feasible to enlarge the vestry room. The committee was continued and from time to time reported attempts to accomplish something, but little progress. This was fortunate for before long certain parts of the assignment were taken care of by circumstances unfore- seen.
At a vestry meeting in March, 1917, the newly established Church Pension Fund came up for discussion. The treasurer of the
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parish was authorized to pay over to the treasurer of the Fund Committee the necessary monthly payments to assure the support of aged and disabled clergy, and the families of deceased clergy- men, this to be done, however, only if and when the Church Pen- sion Fund completed the necessary reserve fund of $5,000,000.
At the first parish meeting after Mr. Brewster became rector, held in May, 1917, some of the interesting reports were those of the treasurer, which showed a balance on hand, of the treasurer of the Woman's Auxiliary, Mrs. W. H. Sanford, which stated that boxes of an estimated value of $738.93 had been sent to the mission field, and of the treasurer of the Altar Guild Flower Fund, Mrs. Antoinette Cahill. Mr. Brewster reported 400 calls made, 158 serv- ices conducted, 68 celebrations of the Holy Communion, 18 bap- tisms, 8 confirmations, 13 burials, 4 communicants transferred, 20 received by transfer, 176 communicants. Most of the calls had been made on foot, so an automobile was presented to him by the parish. This was a great convenience. To the scandal of some it was named Michael, and commonly referred to as "Mike."
On May 21, 1917, Mrs. Edward W. Seymour died. She had been a generous friend of St. Michael's, and in her will left it $5,000.
At a vestry meeting in October of that year the treasurer re- ported that after Dr. Seymour had been given a check from the Rector Emeritus Fund on June 1, he had not only declined to ac- cept further amounts from the fund, but had added to the remain- ing amount enough to pay the balance of a mortgage on the Bron- . son house, making it free of encumbrance. In 1917 also the parish received the valuable piece of property on the Green willed to it by Mrs. O. S. Weller in 1875, subject to a life interest, and shortly afterward sold it to Miss Edith D. Kingsbury, a summer member of St. Michael's, for $7,000.
Following the declaration of war on Germany in 1917 a num- ber of young men and women went into service from St. Mi- chael's. Following is the Honor List:
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