USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume III > Part 2
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* By an old statute (in existence after the Revolution) each householder was required to have at least one Bible. Numerous families were to have "a considerable number of Bibles," besides suitable orthodox catechisms and other books of practical godliness. (See Bronson, p. 319.) The Connecticut Bible society was organized in 1809; the American Bible society in 1816.
567
THE CHURCHES IN THE MODERN ERA.
Young Men's Christian association; then the Waterbury Industrial school, the Waterbury Bible society and the Women's Christian Temperance union. The list includes the King's Daughters, the Directors of Christian Visitation and Charity, the Waterbury Union of Christian Endeavor societies, the Boys' club, the Hospital Aid society, the Young Women's Friendly league, the Boys' Brigade and the Associated Charities. Of the societies in this group devoted to philanthropy and reform an account is given in a subsequent section of our history; the societies whose work is chiefly religious are included in the present chapter.
Another way in which the co-operation of the churches has been manifested has been in the erection of union chapels in dif- ferent parts of the town. Brief accounts of these chapels are also given.
THE WATERBURY SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
This organization flourished for ten years, from 1853 to 1863. It embraced the Sunday schools of the two Congregational, the Bap- tist and the Methodist churches, and two or three mission or union schools which were in operation during part of that period. Its meetings were held bi-monthly and sometimes monthly, at the sev- eral churches in rotation, usually on Sunday afternoons. Their object was to furnish opportunity for united worship, for the presentation of reports from the several schools, and for reaching parents, teachers and scholars by instructive addresses. They were generally presided over by a layman. The addresses were sometimes made by talented speakers from abroad, among whom were the Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, a noted western missionary, Peter Sinclair, the founder of the "Band of Hope" in Scotland, the Rev. Dr. H. Clay Trumbull and President Franklin Carter.
In 1856-57 the union raised $300 for the support of a missionary of the American Sunday school union at the west, and at various times contributed liberally to Children's Aid societies and other philanthropies. In 1857 a systematic visitation of the city and town was made, under the auspices of the union, resulting in the addition of over a hundred to the membership of the schools.
In 1853 the combined membership of the four Sunday schools represented in the union was reported as 637; in 1857 it had increased to 1113, and in 1863 it was 1155. In 1857 the union included, in addition to the churches already mentioned, a " mission school held in engine house No. 2, and the new Sunday school at Waterville." (The secretary at that time estimated that there
568
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
were 400 children of Protestant families, between the ages of four and sixteen, who attended no Sunday school.)
The union served a good purpose in stirring up the Sunday schools to a healthful emulation, in instructing parents and others in the best methods of training the young religiously, and in inter- esting children and youth in the study of the Bible. It proved useful in promoting unity in Christian work and in giving expres- sion to the larger interdenominational fraternity which had then begun to prevail.
The successive presidents were as follows:
Charles Benedict, 1853; Green Kendrick, 1854-55; J. S. Mitchell, 1856; Nelson Hall, 1857; A. F. Abbott, 1858; W. S. Pickett, 1859 and 1862; G. W. Benedict, 1860; E. A. Lum, 1861; E. L. Bronson, 1863.
The last years of the union were the years of our civil war. On one of the last pages of its book of records appears an entry which will to a large extent account for the discontinuance of the meet- ings, and of the union as an organization: "Such has been the excitement in our city in behalf of our country that the interests of the Sunday school union have been in a great measure laid aside or lost sight of."
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
Not long after the religious revival of 1857-58 a few young men, actuated by a desire to do special Christian work of an inter- denominational character, met from week to week to hold prayer- meetings in a room in Lang's building. Early in 1858, they began to agitate the question of organizing a Young Men's Christian asso- ciation, and a preliminary meeting was held with that object in view on April 16. L. G. Fowler was chosen chairman, and E. D. Griggs, sec- retary, and a resolution was adopted " that it is expedient to organize a Young Men's Christian association in this city." A committee, of which L. S. Davis was chairman, was appointed to draft a consti- tution and the organization was completed, May 5, 1858, by the election of the following officers:
President, L. G. Fowler; vice presidents, James McWhinnie, S. C. Rice; sec- retary, A. F. Abbott; treasurer, H. A. Lyman.
Its object, as set forth in its constitution, was "the improvement of the spiritual and social condition of its members and of all other young men who can be brought under its influence," and it was the duty of the members "to seek out young men residing in Water- bury and endeavor to bring them under moral and religious influ- ence," and "to watch over the spiritual welfare of one another."
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THE CHURCHES IN THE MODERN ERA.
During the first year of the association, weekly prayer meetings were held in Lang's building, and so far as appears from the earlier records this constituted its entire work at that time. But in 1860 it broadened its range of effort and added to the other the conduct of evangelistic services in the outlying districts, the procuring of homes in Christian families for young men coming to the city, and introducing them to the churches of their choice. During the win- ter of 1861, the social work began to be made more prominent, and lectures were also given by such men as J. B. Gough, Wendell Phil- lips and H. W. Beecher. When the civil war broke out and many members of the association enlisted, the work began to languish, and it was with much difficulty that the organization was main- tained. But the association had the honor of being one of the few in America represented in the formation of the "Christian commis- sion," G. W. Beach and L. S. Davis being the delegates sent to the conference which organized it.
Immediately after the close of the war associational work was taken up anew, and early in 1867 began to be prosecuted with vigor. In February, 1868, the following report was sent to the Interna- tional committee:
This association barely survived the war, but within a year it has exhibited unusual vigor, and has been more successful than at any previous period of its exist- ence. It stands higher in the estimation of the community than ever before. This has been accomplished by vigorous exertion upon the part of members. We have sustained prayer meetings at Oakville, and Hopeville, and have lately commenced labors at Waterville. During a part of the summer we held outdoor meetings, and shall probably adopt the same course next summer. *
During this year the membership grew so rapidly that new and commodious rooms were secured in Abbott's building. With the expense incurred in furnishing the rooms and the increased rent the financial question became formidable and at length assumed such proportions that in 1873 it was decided that the rooms must be given up. The records show that in June, 1874, the association met in the lecture room of the Baptist church. As might have been expected, the work again languished, and from 1874 to 1876, almost nothing was done, save to hold meetings at Oakville and occasionally in other outlying districts. The last public appearance of the asso- ciation was in the summer of 1877 at a picnic at High Rock grove, given by G. W. Beach. In August of the same year it was voted to give to the "Reform club" of that period the money in the treas- ury ($22.94), the settees, the melodeon, the stove and the singing books. The Waterbury American of August 28, in speaking of the
* It is worthy of notice that chapels have been erected at the different points mentioned in this report.
570
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
association, said: "It accomplished a good work in its day . . . and turned over to one of the churches the Oakville mission."
This condition of things continued for about six years. Although the old organization had never been formally disbanded, nothing in the line of association work was accomplished or even attempted. But in September, 1883, a new beginning was made. E. A. Lawrence, then State secretary for Connecticut, under the direction of the International and State committees, visited Water- bury for the purpose of reorganizing the association. It seemed a difficult matter at first, but on September 18-a mass meeting to arouse public interest having meantime been held at the First church-an organization was effected. Officers were elected the following week, F. J. Kingsbury being chosen president. A can- vass was made for funds to prosecute the work for the first year, and the sum of $2000 was speedily raised. In October J. H. Good- hue was called to become general secretary, and in January, 1884, two rooms were rented on the third floor of Lampson's block, and active work was begun. The frequent receptions, the Sunday afternoon meetings, the educational classes and the occasional entertainments soon demonstrated the need of larger accommoda- tions. To supply this need, a small room adjoining the two rooms already occupied and a hall in the fourth story were secured.
At the annual meeting in October, 1884, D. F. Maltby was elected president. The second year of any organization is usually a trying one, and the experience of the association was no excep- tion to the rule. The financial burden pressed heavily, and before the end of the year Mr. Goodhue resigned his position. He was succeeded early in 1885 by W. W. Ranney, who remained in office only eleven months. It was painfully apparent that the association was suffering from the frequent changes in its management. But in 1886 F. L. Willis, an experienced secretary from Plainfield, N. J., was appointed, and an aggressive position was at once assumed. The work in the different departments began to develop. The hall in the fourth story was fitted up for a gymnasium and A. A. Black- man took this in charge. Under his supervision it advanced so rapidly that as early as 1889 it became impossible to accommodate all the young men who sought admission to this department. But the need for more commodious quarters was not confined to the gymnasium alone. The educational work was handicapped by lack of room; there was no convenient place for committee meet- ings; the parlor was resorted to for Sunday services, and the small room used for teaching was used also as a dressing room for the gymnasium.
57I
THE CHURCHES IN THE MODERN ERA.
At length, as the usefulness and the high character of the asso- ciation came to be more fully appreciated and its legitimate claims recognized, the conviction became settled in the minds of the officers that nothing but a building of its own would be adequate to meet its needs. There was one man who was so impressed with this that he was prompted to definite action, and on November 7, 1889, the friends of the association were greatly rejoiced to learn that H. W. Scovill had volunteered to give to the association a lot on North Main street, valued at $10,000, for a site for a building, provided that $40,000, with which to erect the building, could be
---
BUILDING OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
raised before January 1, 1891. A committee of citizens was appointed, the city was canvassed, and on December 31, 1890, it was announced that subscriptions amounting to $40,822 had been received, making Mr. Scovill's offer available. The property was deeded to the association, and a building committee was appointed, consisting of L. J. Atwood, president of the association, H. L. Wade, H. W. Scovill, J. R. Smith, F. B. Rice, W. E. Fulton, I. A. Spencer, A. A. Blackman, E. O. Goss and F. S. Chase. It soon became apparent that the lot on North Main steeet was not large enough for such a building as a growing organization in a growing city demanded, and with Mr. Scovill's consent the lot was sold, and
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
a part of the Philo Brown place on West Main street purchased on May 19, 1891.
In October Mr. Willis, who had been secretary of the associa- tion for five years, resigned to accept a call to become State secre- tary of Alabama. He was succeeded in January, 1892, by E. N. Folsom, secretary of the St. Johnsbury (Vt.) association. Plan- ning for the new building necessarily engrossed to a large extent the attention of the officers, yet the work at the rooms was carried on with tolerably satisfactory results. The plans for the building were completed by the architect (W. E. Griggs), and accepted by the committee, March 22, 1892. The contracts were awarded to J. W. Gaffney & Co. and W. M. Hurlburt, and the corner stone was laid July 4, on which occasion Cephas Brainerd, Esq., of New York, chairman of the International committee of the Young Men's Christian associations, delivered the address, and on Sunday, May 28, 1893, farewell services were held in the old rooms. The com- plete occupancy of the new building was celebrated by a "harvest festival," October 2 to 7, under the management of the ladies' com- mittee of the association. In order to make full use of the enlarged advantages to be offered by the new gymnasium, Thomas D. Knowles, who had been for several years a volunteer instructor, was appointed physical director of the association, and had begun his work in this capacity on November 1, 1892.
The membership of the association, July 1, 1895, is about 375, besides 175 "sustaining members " or patrons. The officers for 1895 are as follows :
President, G. W. Beach.
Vice-Presidents, J. N. Webb, H. W. Scovill, John Littlejohn.
Treasurer, E. J. Steer.
Recording Secretary, A. D. Smith.
Directors: Earl Smith, Glover Hastings, F. S. Chase; F. B. Hoadley, G. H. Benham, C. S. Chapman; L. J. Atwood, A. A. Blackman, J. S. Gailey.
General Secretary, E. N. Folsom; Assistant Secretary, E. P. Conklin. Physical Director, T. D. Knowles.
The presidents of the association from 1858 to the present time have been as follows:
L. G. Fowler, E. D. Griggs, G. W. Beach, L. S. Davis, J. S. Ruscoe, D. L. Smith, R. B. Gwillim, G. H. Cowell, W. H. Camp.
F. J. Kingsbury, D. F. Maltby, I. A. Spencer, L. J. Atwood, G. W. Beach.
Mr. Davis was twice elected president. Mr. Beach has held the office at four different times .*
* An interesting account of the methods and work of the Young Men's Christian association of Water- bury was published in 1894 in a pamphlet of twenty pages, entitled " Outside and Inside: Eight Chapters of Autobiography," supposed to have been written by Secretary Folsom.
573
THE CHURCHES IN THE MODERN ERA.
THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY.
With the larger opportunities opened by the new building the scope of the work that could be done in and for the association by women was materially broadened. The ladies' committee was dis- solved and a Women's Auxiliary organized December 11, 1893. The object of the auxiliary, as set forth in its constitution, was "to co-operate in the work of the association and to assist in the furtherance of its work, subject to the supervision of the board of directors of said association." The first work of the auxiliary was furnishing the dormitories in the new building, at an expense of $1000. The membership is 150 and is increasing. The officers (1895) are:
President, Mrs. D. F. Webster.
Secretary, Mrs. J. T. Smith.
Treasurer, Mrs. E. W. Shannon.
Board of Directors: three ladies from each Protestant church of the city.
THE DIRECTORS OF CHRISTIAN VISITATION AND CHARITY.
In the winter of 1888-89 a movement was begun, in which the Rev. Joseph Anderson, D. D., took the lead, to secure the appoint- ment of a city missionary, who should labor under the auspices of all the Protestant churches of the town. The enterprise did not succeed, but the fact that it failed chiefly through lack of funds led to the establishment of a closely allied work upon a somewhat peculiar basis. In December, 1890, Dr. Anderson, received from an unknown person, through one of his fellow citizens, who also pre- ferred to remain unknown except to him, a letter in which it was proposed to place in his hands the sum of $1000 annually for five years, to be used for missionary and charitable purposes; the only condition being that the Protestant churches of the city should by their contributions co-operate in the work to be carried on. Dr. Anderson reported the offer which had been made, to the pastors of the several churches. A meeting of the pastors and lay repre- sentatives was held, and arrangements were made for the organiza- tion of a board of direction and the appointment of a superintendent of visitation and charity. The Rev. Horace G. Hoadley was appointed, and began his work on May 1, 1891. The organization was completed and a plan of work adopted, June 5.
The new society consisted of the pastors of the Protestant churches of the city and a lay delegate from each of them. The
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
name adopted was " Directors of Christian Visitation and Charity." F. J. Kingsbury was made president, W. H. Camp, secretary, and Dr. Anderson, treasurer. These, with the Rev. R. W. Micou and A. J. Shipley, constituted the executive committee. According to the "plan of work " agreed upon, the duties of the superintendent were as follows:
To receive and investigate applications for aid and secure it for the worthy; to visit families neglectful of public worship and children habitually absent from Sunday school and endeavor to bring them into closer relations with the churches and Sunday schools of their choice; to enlist church members in this work of benevolent and missionary visitation; to recognize other organizations in the same field, to confer with clergymen of all denominations and with public officials; to visit the police court, jail and almshouse, and to establish a central office for the reception and distribution of clothing and other things for the relief of the worthy sick and poor.
As the name indicates, the work of the organization has been twofold-a work of charity and a work of Christian visitation. In both departments the main effort has been to develop a personal interest on the part of visitors in those needing aid or guidance. In the religious branch of the work the " home department " of the Sunday school has been made use of as a means of bringing about friendly relations. At one time such a department was established in eight of the churches, with ninety visitors and a total member- ship of 350. The members promised to study the Sunday school lesson of the week; the visitors agreed to call at the homes of the members once a quarter. The nature of the charitable work may be illustrated by a classified record of the cases to which attention was given during the year ending December 1, 1892:
Cases accounted worthy of continuous relief, 8. worthy of temporary aid, 25. in need of work rather than alms, 27.
Cases not worthy of relief : because having relatives able to provide for them, 2. because of vicious habits, 41.
Placed in an institution, I.
Committed to the care of churches, 3.
Handed over to the police, I.
Assisted through aid procured from the town authorities, 5. through aid procured from churches or societies, 34.
through aid procured from individuals, 22.
Number aided by loans, 8.
Number for whom employment was secured, 39.
Applicants whose own resources were adequately developed, 2.
Number removed to new situations or placed under the care of relatives, 10. Estimated number brought to self-maintenance, 2.
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THE CHURCHES IN THE MODERN ERA.
In the summer of 1892 a station of the "Penny Provident Fund" of the city of New York was established, with eight sub- stations for receiving and paying deposits. The aim was to encourage savings, even in very small amounts. The number of depositors went up to 700 (nearly all of them children), with about $300 on deposit.
In the autumn of 1892 Loomis G. Day was employed as assistant superintendent, with reference to conducting a broom-shop. This was established in the spring of 1893 as a work-test and as furnish- ing an opportunity to men out of work for temporary self-support. It did not, however, fulfil these purposes, and was discontinued in the autumn of 1893 .*
On December 1, 1893, Mr. Hoadley resigned the office of super- intendent, and took charge of the bureau of supplies established about that time to meet the wants of those who had been thrown out of employment and brought into deep poverty through the hard times. The office of the Directors was closed for the winter, but was reopened in February, 1894, on the appointment of E. M. Dickinson to the position which Mr. Hoadley had left vacant. In May following, plans for the organization of the "United Char- ities" of Waterbury were completed, a central office was estab- lished at 15 Leavenworth street, and the expense of sustaining this until January 1, 1896, was assumed by the Directors of Chris- tian Visitation and Charity. Mr. Dickinson was elected secretary of the new organization, and placed in charge of the office.
The executive committee for 1895 is constituted as follows: F. J. Kingsbury, president; Dr. Joseph Anderson, treasurer; the Rev. F. D. Buckley, secretary; G. S. Eldridge, A. J. Shipley.
THE REV. H. G. HOADLEY.
Horace George Hoadley, son of Philemon and Amelia (). (Hub- bard) Hoadley, was born in New Haven September 23, 1861. He prepared for college at the Hopkins Grammar school, and grad- uated at Yale in the class of 1883. After a year spent in business, he entered the Yale Divinity school and graduated there in 1887. He was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in East Canaan, April 3, 1888, and while settled there took a deep interest in developing the "home department " of the Sunday school. After a pastorate of three years and a half, he left East Canaan, to pursue a special course of study in sociology at Johns Hopkins university.
* Mr. Day resigned in 1893, removed with his family to Manshield, O., and was there ordamed to the ministry, with a view to becoming a chaplain in the regular army.
576
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
As already related, Mr. Hoadley was appointed superintendent of Christian Visitation and Charity in this city, May 1, 1891, and held the position until December 1, 1893, and during the winter of 1893-94 was manager of a relief fund for the supply of destitute families. In 1894 and 1895 he pursued special studies in mechan- ical engineering at Cornell university, and in July, 1895, entered the employ of Brown & Sharp, at Providence, R. I.
On September 22, 1887, Mr. Hoadley married Helen Lillie, daughter of George Anderson of Cleveland, O. They have no children.
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR UNION.
Before 1888, Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor had been established in several of the Waterbury churches. On July 26 of that year a federation of these societies and of others in the vicinity was formed, to which the name "Waterbury Christian Endeavor Union" was given. A special impulse was communi- cated to the new organization by the presence in Waterbury of the state convention of Christian Endeavor societies in October follow- ing. Quarterly meetings have been held from the first, at which the attendance has sometimes been large, and addresses have been made by clergymen of the city and by speakers from out of town. The aim of the union is to bring the young people of the various societies of Christian Endeavor into closer fellowship and to edu- cate them in methods of Christian work. The seventh annual meet- ing of the union was held at the new house of worship of the Second Congregational church on June 27, 1895-the evening fol- lowing the dedication day-and was one of much interest.
Another modern organization, bearing a resemblance, in its rela- tions to the Protestant churches, to the societies of Christian En- deavor, is the Boys' BRIGADE. A Waterbury " battalion," consisting of the six Waterbury companies, was organized in 1894, which at the end of that year numbered 278 members.
THE MILL PLAIN CHAPEL.
In the autumn of 1882 the idea was conceived among the resi- dents of the Sawmill Plain school district of building a chapel as a place for neighborhood worship and a union Sunday school. It may have been suggested by a series of Sunday afternoon meetings under the auspices of the Second Congregational church, held in the school-house which formerly stood at the fork of the Wolcott
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