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 22
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At the end of five years the lease of the chapel was renewed, and the building was occupied by the congregation of Trinity parish until May, 1884. At the annual meeting of 1883 (December 14), in anticipation of the speedy completion of the new Trinity church, the society voted to sell its entire property, and N. D. Granniss, who had been clerk and treasurer since 1873, was appointed agent for that purpose. No purchaser appearing, the chapel was rented to the newly organized St. Anne's parish (see page 766) and was used by the French-speaking Roman Catholics until the close of 1888. On May 8, 1889, Mr. Granniss was instructed to execute and deliver a deed of the property to Louis D. and Edward L.
* In March 1876, Mr. Elliott transferred his jewelry business to the store on the corner of East Main street and Exchange place. He continued the business in Waterbury about eight years (with H. F. Bassett as a partner during part of that time), and afterwards in Lawrence, Mass., and Manchester, N. H. After awhile he returned to the ministry, and was connected with "Liberal Christian " societies at Jackson, Mich., Janesville, Wis., and Hinsdale, Ill. Two of his three children-Ralph Foster and Louis-were born in Waterbury.
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Griggs, by whom the building was afterward reconstructed and fitted up for stores.
At the same meeting it was voted that after the just debts and liabilities of the society were paid the balance should be placed in the hands of the trustees of the Connecticut Universalist Conven- tion, who should regard it as a trust fund and expend its income for denominational uses. The condition, however, was attached that if the Waterbury Universalist society should be resuscitated or another society of the same denomination organized in the town as its successor, the trustees of the Convention should pay over the principal of the fund to that society for its legitimate uses, pro- vided that the society had been "formed and admitted to fellow- ship in the State Convention of Universalists of Connecticut." In accordance with this vote the sum of $16,400 was paid over by Mr. Granniss to the Rev. J. H. Chapin, D. D., president of the State Convention.
At a final meeting, held January 11, 1890, the action of N. D. Granniss as agent of the society was ratified, and he was directed to act as the custodian of all books and papers belonging to the Universalist society of Waterbury.
THE SECOND ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
In 1843 a preacher named Bachelor, who had formerly been a Baptist minister, came to Waterbury, proclaiming the doctrine of the speedy return of Christ to the earth. It was a time when much interest was taken in the subject, but no organization was estab- lished. Ten years later two Adventist preachers, Edwin Burnham and F. H. Berech, held a series of meetings in Hotchkiss hall (now Irving hall) in behalf of the new faith, and they were followed by Miles Grant; but again without permanent result in the way of organization. Soon after 1855 Dr. S. B. Munn, who was then a firm believer in the Adventist doctrines, came to Waterbury to reside. He proclaimed the Adventist faith with much vigor, and through his efforts a church was organized. It did not, however, become permanently established, and after a time disappeared.
According to the list given on page 565, the Second Advent church of Waterbury dates from 1869. An organization was ac- complished in that year, and the church grew for a time, but new doctrines crept in, and a division resulted. The present church goes back to 1881 as the year of its establishment, but it had no regular pastor until 1883. At that time G. L. Teeple of Westfield, Mass.,
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was called to the pastorate, and held the position for a year, but was compelled to resign on account of ill health. In 1885 he was succeeded by L. F. Baker of Philadelphia, who became pastor of a society numbering eight- een members. On Decem- ber 20 of that year, it was recorded, "five Second Ad- ventists were baptized in the Naugatuck river." Mr. Baker was succeded by the Rev. Cornelius Pike, who still holds the office of pas- tor.
Until 1886 the meetings of the society were held in a hall on Abbott avenue. On October 3 of that year the chapel on Cherry street was dedicated. Under Mr. Baker's ministry the mem- bership of the church in- creased to 125 and that of the Sunday school to 100. The present membership of the church is 153, and SECOND ADVENT CHURCH, CHERRY STREET. of the Sunday school 130. The elders of the church are Thomas Fitzsimons and Samuel Bonney; the deacons Reuben Palmer and Theodore Patchen; the deaconesses Mrs. K. H. Simons and Mrs. Mary Mallory.
CONGREGATION OF THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
The religious body known as the Catholic Apostolic church began to hold services in Waterbury in the autumn of 1870. The movement toward the establishment of a permanent organization was originated by lectures delivered by the Rev. W. W. Andrews of Wethersfield, and talks at private houses on the constitution of the church and the second coming of the Lord by the Rev. S. J. Andrews of Hartford. After a time the little company of those who received the Catholic Apostolic teaching (that the apostolic gifts and ministries had been restored) felt themselves strong enough to rent a hall and establish regular services therein, and such ser- vices have been continued until the present time. Meetings were
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held in what is now Bolan's hall, in Irving hall, and in rooms of the "American " building ever since that building was erected. The congregation was at first a dependency of Hartford, under the min- istry of the Rev. S. J. Andrews, but in 1893 it became connected with the Catholic Apostolic church in New York city, under the ministry of the Rev. S. R. Rintoul. An official position in the local body was held by Robert R. Smith until his death, and Superin- tendent M. S. Crosby has also been officially connected with it. Members of other churches who have become identified with the · organization in Waterbury still retain their connection, nominally at least, with these churches. At the rooms in the "American " building a eucharistic service is held every Sunday morning, and evening prayer every Sunday afternoon.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The first Germans who made Waterbury their place of residence came here about 1855, attracted by opportunities for skilled labor in the brass mills of the city. They were an intelligent and industri- ous people, but with few exceptions had to work hard for their daily bread, and for some years did not feel strong or rich enough to support public worship in their own language. The religious needs of German Roman Catholics were met to some extent by the ministrations of the Catholic priesthood, but the German Protes- tants found it difficult to identify themselves fully with any of the English-speaking churches. A considerable number became con- nected with St. John's parish, and a few with the First and Second Congregational churches, but the majority were practically desti- tute of religious instruction and public worship. Even those who constituted the rationalistic element in the German population con- trasted their deprivation of religious services with what they had been accustomed to in the fatherland.
Attempts were made to establish public worship for Protestant Germans as early as 1864. A Lutheran clergyman came to Water- bury to do missionary work, and resided here for a time; but his habits were such as to weaken the confidence of the community in him, and his enterprise was abandoned. Another attempt was made between 1865 and 1870, and a little company of prominent Germans sought to enlist the Protestant pastors in the work; but the minister whom they engaged remained with them but a short time. Because of the general lack of interest in organized religion on the part of the Germans themselves, it was difficult to secure a pecuniary basis upon which a German church could be established.
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An attempt to do something for the German Protestants of Waterbury was made again in 1881, by the Rev. L. H. Schneider of Hartford. But the enterprise which proved successful had a Con- gregational origin. In 1886 the directors of the Missionary society of Connecticut, representing the Congregational churches, decided to place a missionary in the field who should labor among the Ger- mans of the state. They appointed to this work the Rev. Edmund F. A. Hantel-a Lutheran clergyman who found no difficulty in working under Congregational auspices-and after a time assigned to him Waterbury as his chief field. Mr. Hantel came here to reside, labored as a pastor among the Germans of the city, and con- ducted religious services regularly in the conference room of the First church. Hymn-books and other requisites were provided for the congregation from First church funds, and Mr. Hantel and leading men in his flock considered seriously the question of organ- izing a German Congregational church. The missionary's report of work for 1888 showed that he had conducted twenty-five meet- ings in Waterbury during the year (a large part of his time having been devoted to other places), that the aggregate attendance had been 1749, and the amount of the contributions $56.38. He added : "The mission is in an encouraging condition, and we hope much good may result from our meetings."
Mr. Hantel's term of service with the Congregationalists expired toward the end of 1890, and when the time came for organizing a German Protestant church, it seemed best that it should be estab- lished under Lutheran rather than Congregational auspices. An organization was accomplished in May, 1890. On Sunday, May 25, the first confirmation took place, twelve persons receiving the rite from Mr. Hantel. On May 28 a meeting was held at which the society voted to become a Lutheran church, and in October follow- ing-the conference room of the First church proving to be too small for them-they leased of J. S. Elton the house on Leaven- worth street which was formerly the rectory of St. John's parish, and fitted up the lower story for a chapel and the second story for the pastor's residence. The chapel was dedicated to the worship of God on December 4, 1890, and on Sunday, December 7, the first service was held in it. A Ladies' Aid society was soon started and a choir was established. The church was formally organized in February, 1891.
In July, 1890, Mr. Hantel was succeeded by the Rev. E. J. Richter of Herkimer, N. Y. Mr. Richter was a thorough theologian and a good speaker, and the parish prospered under his ministry. His pastorate terminated, however, on November 1, 1891, and he was
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succeeded by the Rev. Wilhelm Jentsch, a much younger man. Mr. Jentsch was quick to appreciate the needs of the parish, and although new to America readily adapted himself to American methods and manners. While laboring to organize congregations in other fields (at Terryville in January, 1892, and at Naugatuck in November, 1893), he gave his chief efforts to the development of his Waterbury parish and especially to the erection of a church. In the spring of 1893, at Mr. Jentsch's suggestion, an "appeal " was drawn up by Dr. Joseph Anderson, and signed by all the Protestant pastors of the city, expressing appreciation of the effort the Germans were making and bespeaking for them the active cooperation of their fellow citizens. The following statements were embraced in it:
There are now five or six thousand Germans in Waterbury, at least one-half of whom are Protestants. Attempts have been made at different times to establish a Protestant church among them, but heretofore without success. The present enterprise-represented by Pastor Jentsch and others-is on a better footing than any previous one, and is far more promising. It is of course very desirable that these fellow-citizens of ours should be provided with the ordinances of religion and with preaching in their own language, and that Christian work among them should be placed on a permanent basis. They have secured a good building lot, and are planning to erect a church which will meet their wants for some time to come. This, however, can hardly be done unless they receive aid from other churches.
The aid received from other churches was not great, but Mr. Jentsch and his people persevered and made sacrifices, and the erection of a church was begun in November, 1893, upon the lot that had been purchased on Spencer avenue. On Sunday, April 22, 1894, the cor- ner-stone was laid by Mr. Jentsch, as- sisted by the architect, Ru- dolph W. Zed- litz, in the pres- thịt rị. ence of a large assemblage of people. On July 30, the congre- gation bade farewell to the THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, SPENCER AVENUE. Leavenworth street chapel with special services, and opened the basement of the new building for public worship, and on Septem-
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ber 23 the completed edifice was dedicated to God's service. The ceremony of dedication was conducted by Mr. Jentsch, and the chief address was made by the Rev. C. R. Tappert of Meriden. Ser- vices were also held in the afternoon and evening, and one of the speakers was the Rev. E. J. Richter, who had become pastor at Greenfield, Mass.
The church stands on the corner of Spencer and Phoenix avenues, with the main entrance on Spencer avenue and the entrance to the parsonage on Phoenix avenue. There are side galleries, and there is an organ gallery across the rear. The altar is of solid oak. In the centre of the reredos is a painting of Christ in an attitude of supplication-a copy by Hugo A. Possner of one of the Hoffman pictures. The altar was a gift from Mrs. Martin Hellmann, and the communion service and baptismal basin were presented by Christopher Strobel. The font was presented by two ladies whose names were not made known. The architect's designs were based upon sketches prepared by Mr. Jentsch.
The membership of the church is steadily increasing and the parish becoming more thoroughly organized; so that the problem of permanently establishing Protestant worship among the Ger- mans of Waterbury may be regarded as solved.
THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Swedish emigration to America has been very extensive and has been going on for half a century. The settlement of Swedes in the New England states is of much more recent date than their immigration into the far west. So far as known, the first Swedish family that settled in Waterbury was that of Joseph Johnson, who came in 1872, and are now residents of Thomaston. After that date a Swedish family came from time to time, and the Swedish element in the population gradually increased until its presence in the community was easily recognized. Very few Swedes, however, were seen in the churches of the city. Their ignorance of the English language constituted a barrier which could not easily be surmounted, and the Lutheran church with which a large majority of the Swedish people are connected had no existence in Waterbury. The "evangelical" section, moreover, was divided between the Baptists and the Congregationalists, and neither of these divisions was strong enough to support public worship nor numerous enough to constitute a respectable congre- gation.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
The earliest attempts to establish religious societies for Water- bury Swedes were made under Congregational auspices. The Rev. C. J. Erixon, a Swedish missionary of the state society, began visiting Waterbury and holding occasional services in the confer- ence room of the First church in 1884. He was succeeded in 1888 by the Rev. C. E. Poole, minister of a Swedish church at Collins- ville, who developed among the Swedes of the Waldenstromian type a considerable interest in the question of a church organiza- tion. In the meantime the Lutheran Swedes had been occasionally visited by Lutheran preachers-among them N. G. Johnson and Fritz Jacobson, Ph. D., of the Yale Divinity school-and Lutheran services had been held in St. John's chapel. The Baptists also held services from time to time in the lecture room of the First Baptist church. It was evident that these various groups of Swedish Christians, even if merged in one, would hardly be strong enough to sustain public worship, and an earnest effort was made by the Rev. Dr. Anderson to secure the cooperation of the Congregation- alists and Lutherans in a union enterprise. A service was held in the conference room of the First church, in which both parties were represented, but the discussion which took place was fruitless of good results. Ere long, however, the services conducted by the Congregational missionaries were discontinued, and the field was left open to the Lutherans .*
A Swedish Lutheran society was organized in Waterbury on December 28, 1890, with the purpose in view of establishing a Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church in full connection with the Augustana synod. On December 30, 1891, the church was formally organized, and in the following February it was received into the New York conference. In 1893 the Rev. W. P. Anderson, a Swede of American birth and a graduate of the Augustana college at Rock Island, Ill., came to Waterbury as the first pastor of the church. He immediately went to work to secure the erection of a church edifice, and succeeded so well that everything was ready for the laying of the corner-stone by October 15. Among those who took part in the services on that occasion were the Rev. Dr. Edmund Rowland of St. John's church, and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Anderson of the First church. The church was occupied during the winter, and the pastor was installed in January, 1894. The cost of the lot on Cherry street was $6800, and the cost of the building
* On February 21, 1886, with the purpose of reinforcing the Rev. Mr. Erixon's work, a Swedish mission was opened, in the conference room of the First church, by Miss M. W. G. Burgess, who was then serving as the "parish missionary" of the church. Services were held on Sunday afternoons, with an average attendance of thirty. Miss Burgess also conducted an evening school for Swedes, on Wednesday evenings, at which there was an attendance of from fifteen to twenty-five.
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about $7000. In November, 1894, Mr. Anderson reported the mem- bership of the church at 200 and the debt of the society at $10,000, and at the same time estimated the Swedish population to be from four to six hundred. Until the erection of the new church, ser- vices were held in St. John's chapel and in the conference room of the First church. The Hart- ford district, comprising more than twenty Swedish Lutheran congregations, at a meeting in May, 1894, adopted resolutions con- veying thanks to St. John's parish and the First Congregational society for the use of their rooms and for their kindness toward the struggling Swedish mis- sion.
On May 17, 1895, the Rev. W. P. Anderson left Waterbury to become pas- tor of the Swedish Lu- theran congregation in South Manchester, and was succeeded, a month later, by the Rev. J. D. ·Danielson. Mr. Danielson Tiana graduated at Lindsborg college, Kansas, and at the Augustana Theological SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, CHERRY STREET. seminary. He was ordained at Chicago, June 9, 1895. The Swedish society is at present making an effort to raise funds for the com- pletion of the church edifice.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
A branch of the Salvation Army was established in Waterbury in 1892. The old skating rink, on the corner of Bank and Grand streets, was converted into a " barracks," and the first meeting was
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held there on May 21 of that year. A band of street "roughs" entered the building and broke up the meeting, treating the officers in charge with much brutality. The Salvationists persevered, how- ever, in spite of this discouraging beginning, and the pioneer work- ers, Adjutant and Mrs. Sammis, having made a good record, were succeeded in June by Captain and Mrs. Connett, to whose untiring efforts the firm foundation on which the Salvation Army now stands is largely due. Captain and Mrs. Connett visited England on furlough in May, 1893, and were succeeded in the command of the Waterbury corps by Captain John Yorke. After two years of successful service in Waterbury, Captain Yorke was transferred, in April, 1895, to South Manchester, and was succeeded by Captain and Mrs. W. F. Jenkins of Corps No. I, of New York city.
Many of the laboring class in Waterbury had cause to be grateful to the Salvation Army for the wood yard established by them during the "hard times" of 1893-94. The use of a lot on the corner of Field and Meadow streets was given to Captain Yorke, and a suf- ficient amount was donated by the charitable people of the town, in money, lumber and tools, to make the opening of a wood yard feasi- ble. When it was thus established, able-bodied men and boys who were unable to find work were there given employment, and repaid for their labor in orders for fuel and food.
On the occasion of General William Booth's visit to Waterbury- October 29, 1894-a reception was tendered him in which the citi- zens very generally united. Crowded meetings were held at the Jacques auditorium, and a eulogistic address of welcome was pre- sented, signed by almost all the Protestant clergymen of the city.
WATERBURY SPIRITUALISTS.
From an early period in the history of Spiritualism-that is, between 1840 and 1850-there have been persons in Waterbury who accepted the spiritualistic faith and believed in the genuineness of the manifestations. There has been no regular organization at any time, on the plan of the churches, but societies have been formed for the purpose of giving series of lectures. Courses of lectures were given, a number of years ago, in Gothic hall and Way's hall and afterwards on Elm street, and men who are now prominent in the community and others who have died were regu- lar attendants and apparently believers. The expenses were met by the contributions of a few, but collections were sometimes taken, and, as a proof that all who attended were not Spiritualists,
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buttons were frequently found in the hat. At the time when these lectures were given it was estimated that there were about 300 believers in Waterbury, but from the nature of the case it is impos- sible to obtain correct figures. A leading Spiritualist, who has fur- nished these facts, says :
There are many in the city, regular attendants at the churches, who although not Spiritualists by name are so by partial belief. There are many investigators, but they do not care to be known as such. Some say, "I am satisfied in regard to the truth of the doctrine; but why should I injure my business by advocating it?" Peo- ple are the same now as of old, when a certain person went to Jesus " by night, for fear of the Jews.".
. There are no Spiritualist meetings held just now, but for a few years past an occasional lecture has been given by Mrs. Brigham.
HEBREW RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
Before 1872 the Hebrews of Waterbury attended religious ser- vices in New Haven or in other places where synagogues exist. In 1872 a Hebrew rabbi held services in Way's hall on the Jewish new year's day and the "day of atonement." In 1873 and 1874 the ser- vices were held in Gothic hall and Giles' hall; in 1875 and 1876 in Lampson's hall, and in 1877, 1878 and 1879 in Pfaff's hall (now the American hotel). Since 1880 religious services have been held in Johnson's hall. These services are held only on the Jewish new year's day and the day of atonement. But some of the resident Hebrews hold services every Friday night and Saturday morning in their room in Bronson's hall, and besides these days they scrupu- lously observe the principal feasts and holy days, according to the orthodox rites of the Hebrew religion.
In 1876 the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent association was formed, consisting of thirteen members. The first president was Mrs. Maier Kaiser, and the first secretary Mrs. Philip Pollak. The first Hebrew Sunday school was organized in 1880, and opened with about twenty-five scholars. Maier Kaiser was the first superintend- ent; the first teachers were Miss M. Friesleben, M. D. Rindskopf and Isidore Chase. For several years past, Isidore Chase has been the superintendent. The school meets every Sunday in Johnson's hall, and there are thirty-four scholars in attendance.
SYNAGOGUES OF ORTHODOX JEWS.
Of the thousands of Jewish families that have of late years been driven from Russia by the intolerance and cruelty of the Rus- sian government, about a hundred settled in Waterbury. They
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are "orthodox" in their religious beliefs and constitute a distinct section of the Hebrew community.
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