USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > Golden anniversary exercises, historical record and manual of the Second Congregational church, Rockford, Illinois. November 7, 1849. November 7, 1899 > Part 13
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The sum total of all monies, contributions of both Foreign and Home Missionary Societies is $24,608.57. But there is another gain which can- not be computed in dollars and cents. This is admirably expressed by one of the presidents of the Foreign Missionary Society, who is vitally inter-
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ested in both home and foreign work, when she writes: "I think the two missionary societies have developed the women of our church more than any other one instrumentality.
Aid Society and Social Union .- As " no well regulated " church is with- out its Sewing Society, that venerable progenitor of the unnumbered women's clubs of to-day, so we cannot remember when we were without one. Its beginnings are prehistoric. The earliest mothers of Rockford used to meet to sew for benevolent objects. When there came the sepa- ration from the parent church, there was also transferred the Sewing So- ciety, which in all the years from then till now has been one of the most efficient adjuncts of church work.
May I be pardoned if I recur for a moment to those " good old times," those dear old times, for there are still a few with us who remember them. Then there was no church parlor, no hall for meeting, so each home in turn was opened to receive us. Sometimes the capacity of the house was very limited but the hospitality always unbounded. The afternoon would be spent in sewing for some definite object, in friendly converse, with perhaps the reading of some missionary magazine, and our hearts would be thrilled with the life story of some devoted worker in the still farther west than ours ; and, as ever before and ever since, one part of " woman's work in the church " as out of it, has been to minister to " the brethren " so the close of the afternoon brought us to the preparing of the supper, to which gath- ered the said brethren, and at which they acquitted themselves like -well, like men. That supper was not ordered on just such lines as the supper of to-day. The inevitable salad was absent, and as to ice cream,-why, the wildest flight of imagination would not have suggested it. That was re- served for Rockford's state occasions. But the first essential to a feast was never lacking-in those strenuous early days " good digestion did wait on appetite." After the discussion of the supper came the discussion of the " burning topics of the hour "-the new bridge, the new railroad, the possibilities of the then almost unused water power, and Rockford's pride, the Female Seminary, now Rockford College. Those occasions were club, reception, party and sometimes musicale all in one.
Would that the early Rockford mothers could have seen in prohetic vision the environments of our present Aid Society and Social Union ; our cheerful rooms for sewing with their work closets, swift sewing machines and piano ; our beautiful dining hall, capable of seating four hundred per- sons at once, with its dainty table belongings and perfect culinary service, all provided by this same sewing society.
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As the years went on it took to itself " a local habitation and a name," -- its name, "The Home Missionary and Social Union," and its place of meeting Congregational Hall. Shortly after the formation of our distin- tively home missionary organization, it was re-christened the Church Aid and Social Union. Its work has always been of such a multiform nature that its books, especially those of its earlier years, could not be kept with the exactness of those organizations engaged in one line of work, but it has lent a helping hand to most of the benevolent objects of our own town, sel- dom refusing any call for assistance from abroad which was within its legit- imate scope of work. Scores of humble Home Missionary homes in the bleak mountains, or the still more desolate prairies of the west, have been gladdened by the boxes and barrels full of necessaries and comforts sent out by this society. And, in the fateful years of the early 60's when our country in its hour of supremest peril called for its men, the women of this society became an aid to the great beneficent Sanitary Commission, and so remained till the necessity ceased. The trustees of our church can tes- tify how cheering to them have been the funds passed over to them from our Church Aid and Social Union. The high water mark in its annual money contributions was when in 1896, the amount was over $1,100.00, and for several previous years it ranged from $700.00 to $900.00 and over. Among its earlier presidents were Mesdames Almira White, Seymour Bronson, M. P. Kinney, W. A. Dickerman, Julia E. Clemens and Evans Blake, and among its later ones, Mesdames Woodbury, Clinton Helm, W. A. Talcott, G. M. Blake, R. C. Rowland, T. G. Pierpont, Katharine Keeler, P. R. Wood, Emily Earl, W. C. Taft, Henry N. Starr, John Barnes and Miss Anna Beattie.
What Mrs. Chandler Starr, has done for our church music in the ยท last quarter of a century another paper " Our Church Choir," will tell.
It seems superfluous to dwell upon woman's work in our Sunday School, especially in its junior and infant departments, for who can con- ceive what they would be without the great, brooding, mother heart of woman to love and guide and discipline the young immortals.
A year has seldom or never passed in which some beloved name has not been dropped from our roll, to be inscribed on the white marbles of our cemetery, leaving for our inheritance and inspiration the record of a life faithful and beautiful in Christian beneficence. But as the workers one by one fold their hands, their tasks accomplished, their rewards entered into, others come forward to take their places, for woman's work in the church must always continue a potent factor in helping to save mankind.
Hist. Rec. 17.
OUR CHURCH CHOIR.
WRITTEN FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BY MRS. CLARA G. SANFORD.
M USIC, the gift of God to man, has cheered the human heart for many ages. Even animals have felt its power, and, for the time being, have forgotten the greed of the stomach to listen to the vibrations of a violin, manipulated by the skillful but trembling fingers of their intended victim ; their wolfish ears fascinated by the sweet strains, and their wolfish designs deferred. This was brute nature giving recogni- tion to the creative power of harmony.
Saul, when the evil spirit was on him :
" Stood as erect as that ten'-pole. botli armis stretched out wide, On the great cross-support in the center, that goes to each side: He relaxed not a muscle, but hung there as, caught in his pangs, And waiting his change, the king-serpent all heavily langs, Far away from his kind, in the pine, till deliverance conie With the spring time."
From such evil possessions Saul was refreshed, and made well by the melody of David's harp,
What is this power ? How does it work ?
Scientific experiment has made recently some suggestive discoveries regarding the power of music which fascinates us by its possibilities. An instrument called an eidophone has an elastic membrane stretched over a receiver, to which a tube is connected, by means of which the voice is in- troduced into the receiver. A thin paste is spread on the drum of the re- ceiver, and then a singer sings a pure, well-sustained note into the tube. The paste records the action of the voice. A good singer will turn the drum and find a daisy, a pansy, branches of beautiful sea weeds, sea shells, minature trees, or serpent-like spirals portrayed on the disk according to the key given and the strength and purity of tone used.
Does not this give a new significance to the assertion of the Psalmist, " By the word of the Lord were the heavens made ; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. . . . . For he spake and it was done."
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INTERIOR. SHOWING ORGAN AND DECORATIONS FOR THE JUBILEE.
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What further discoveries may be made regarding tonal power we can- not tell, but enough has been revealed to excite our reverence and admira- tion for true harmony ; enough to give an added meaning to the declara- tion, " The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy," when creation was accomplished. From that day to this man- kind has tried to express thanksgiving and praise to the Deity through music. On the bringing home of the ark, David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding by lifting up the voice with joy." And at the dedication of Solomon's temple, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren and all the Levites who were singers, dressed themselves in white, and. with their cymbals, psalteries and harps, stood by the altar, with 110 priests, who sounded trumpets. The Chron- icler says : " It came even to pass, as the trumpters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord."
In October, 1849, when our little band of forty-seven formed a new church, feeling that their service would be incomplete without music, they called for their singing Levites, and among those who responded were Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Dickerman, Miss Eunice Brown (afterward Mrs. G. W. Lyon), Miss Lephe Danforth, Messrs. Asher Miller, Solon Town, Fred. Pix- ley, Michael Burns, G. A. Sanford and Mrs. Elizabeth Sanford. Not all to be classed as singing birds, perhaps, but we must remember, youth- ful blood then flushed their cheeks, their eyes kindled with hope, and the musical requirements of those bygone days were not as exacting as they now are. For leader, Mr. M. G. Haskell came forward, not with cymbal, psaltery or harp-only a tuning-fork in his hand, but it answered all pur- poses for that earnest chorus choir. They were not entirely without instru- mental expression, however, for it is said that Mr. Houghton used to bring from the farm his big viol, and play for them as opportunity offered.
How much this choir knew of overtones and half tones, of minor scales and major scales it would be hard to say, but a singing school taught by Mr. William Silsby in the old wooden court house was the great social excitement of the week eagerly looked forward to by all the participants. So great was its attraction that it drew attendants who never since have been known to utter a tuneful note. On the singing school roster appeared the name of one of our leading legal lights, one whose torch flames from the very pinnacle of the temple of justice. Has he hid his musical talent under a bushel all these years, or does his tuneful candle grow faint and
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yellow beside the brighter professional light? Ah, there must have been nightingales in that school that would tempt even an eagle to essay singing.
A rehearsal in the country offered occasional rival attractions to the singing school. A rattling lumber wagon jolted the merry party to their destination ; and if the stumps, which always lie in wait for victims on new roads, upset the crew, it proved but the spice of adventure needed to com- plete a happy outing.
Their music was not found in hymn books and on trifling sheets, but in good, solid, thick singing books, in which Duke Street, Old Hundred, Hamburg, Brattle Street and other well-seasoned tunes jostled frisky an- thems that chased wildly after truant lines. Up and down the gamut the bass close on the heels of the alto-the tenor and the soprano-no, treble- playing battledore and shuttlecock with the first syllable of some unfortunate word ; the pursued in turn becoming the pursuer, till at last, all ended hap- pily, like a well-regulated story.
Yes, there were hymn books as early as the Rev. Joseph Emerson's time ; a copy of the " Songs of Zion," bearing his name on the fly-leaf, is still extant, every tune of which has rolled in the musical stream of church life until it has become a well-rounded crystal, prized by all singers. As early as 1856 " The Plymouth Collection " was introduced, but probably not for general use in the congregation.
There are no records of the various choirs, or their leaders. We know that Mr. James Dame was one of the early choristers, and also Mr. E. G. Ricker. During the Rev. Joseph Emerson's pastorate, George Emer- son, a brother of Daniel Emerson, acted as leader of the choir. He was from a musical family. He sang a fine tenor, played the violin, and in addition to his church work conducted a large and successful singing school.
That the church were interested in and desired good music is evi- denced by the following resolution offered by T. D. Robertson, January 4, 1858 :
" Resolved, That the trustees take such action in relation to the music of the church as shall tend to promote congregational singing."
Now, if there has been one thing more than another, os which the Second Congregational Church of Rockford has been a perfect unit, it has been to agree in their disagreements. The position of the congregation during singing had been for some time a disturbing question. The minis- ter was in possession of the west end of the church and the choir of the east end. If the congregation faced the singers, it turned its back on the
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pulpit and the minister. This was regularly done three times during every service by all the congregation, with the exception of one family, who, while the choir sang, persistently stood their ground and faced the minister and all the people that sat in front of them. It was not an easy thing to do but behold the result! The congregation began, one by one, to face about, and the audience stood all sorts of ways until finally those facing the singers were in the minority; but it was a very stubborn minority who were exceed- ingly fond of." facing the music," and hoped to turn the tide back to their way of thinking. This led to action on the part of the church, and Monday. January 3, 1859, it was,
" Resolved, that on Sabbath morning, four weeks from yesterday, (no week-day consideration for this important question, you see) this subject, (the position to be adopted during the time of singing), be proposed to the whole congregation, including women and children."
That momentous day came, and the decision was put off one veek more, but on " Sabbath, February 6, the vote was taken by the balloting of the whole congregation, and it was decided that there should be no change -that is, that they should face the pulpit during the time of singing." Thus did a little leaven leaven the whole lump.
Our little church seems to have had no instrument other than bass viols and violins, played by their owners, until 1862, when we find the chor- ister, Mr. H. D. Plant, allowed $100 on his subscription to the church " for the melodeon in the gallery,"
Neither does the position of chorister seem to have brought aught but honor to the holder thereof, for in 1863 a resolution is passed by the church, thanking Mr. Webb for his services as leader of the choir, and giving him " free use of the pew occupied by his family as long as he continues to lead the choir."
A good story-so good it found its way into the editor's drawer of Har- per's Magazine-is told of Mr. Webb, who led the choir when Mr. Derby was organist. A Rev. Mr. Grimes had filled the pulpit, and had given the people a longer sermon than they were used to hearing, but finally it came to an end, and Mr. Derby began playing for the postlude " Auld Lang Syne," with variations. Plucking him by the sleeve, Mr. Webb exclaimed:
" Why, you must stop that! Do you know, man, what you are playing? "
"Yes, I'm playing 'Auld Lang Syne.'" .
" No you are not, you are playing ' Old Grimes,' and this minister's name is Grimes."
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Not without some dissenting voices had the choirs held sway. Twice at least had the question of precentor come up for discussion. In 1876 the adherents to the choir won, but the trustees were directed " to employ a good choir, who will instruct the congregation in singing." Again, in 1877, it was proposed to substitute a precentor, and again the church stood by the choir. The subject of the music was left for " the trustees to dis- pose of, as in their discretion will be for the best interest and good of the church and society."
A pipe organ had come to add dignity and expense to the church music. D. N. Hood, the Rockford Jubal-" father of all such as handle the harp and organ "-was installed as organist. Of all the organists who follow him-L. B. Starkweather, M. M. Derby, Mrs. Bush-Temple, Miss Ella Emerson, Miss Clara Stratton, Mrs. Nettie Hood Emerson, Hiram Hall, Mrs. Ella Jacoby Hall, Mrs. F. P. Woodbury and Mrs. Chandler Starr-those who have manipulated the organ nine-tenths of the time have been pupils of Mr. Hood. The dates show that Mrs. Starr has played for us more than half the years since the purchase of our first pipe organ -- very nearly half of the whole fifty years.
In time we find the chorus choir supplanted by a quartet, for Mr, Hood was a Chenaniah also, " he instructed about the song because he was skillful." He brought this choir to a degree of excellence before unknown in Rockford.
But the organ still occupied the east end of the gallery, and the sing- ers sang into the rafters of the original ceiling-a handsome ceiling but un- acoustic-and at the backs of the congregation. It was not inspiring nor conducive to good singing. Therefore, September 25, 1871, it was de- cided to build back of the pulpit an alcove for the organ and choir.
Twice at least after the introduction of the more metropolitan quar- tet did we resort to volunteer choirs. One was led by J. C. Mayberry and the other by J. W. Hepburn. The pews were depleted to fill the organ loft ; but most of the volunteers, not being full-blooded canaries, soon flut- tered back to their nests ; first making the church willing to pay again for a choir.
Do you remember an entertainment given in the old lecture room in Masonic Hall when Deacon Dickerman, Deacon Blakeman, Mr. Sanford and Mr. Sabin were billed for a quartet ? Dressed in old-style dickies, stocks, fobs, waistcoats and coats, these four gentlemen appeared on the platform, each holding an ancient singing book, and apparently putting his .
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whole soul into singing the music set for them, while in fact the Weber quartet, concealed behind the curtain, did the singing. They were enthu- siastically cheered. The curtain was drawn and the Weber quartet sang the encore in full view of the people-the figureheads occupying front seats. The next day a lady who was here at an early day-I won't give her name; you can tell her by her blushes-said :
" Didn't those old gentlemen sing splendidly last night ? I've always said we had just as good singing in the old times as we have now, and this proves it."
It would not be possible for me to speak of all the various choirs from Mr. Hood's first quartet to our present good choir, who have sung for us the songs of Zion. The one which served us longest in the old stone church was composed of Mrs. Woodbury, alto ; Mrs. Bertie Locke Smith, soprano; Alfred Barker, bass, and Dr. M. L. Hanaford, tenor. Following soon after this was F. D. Emerson's choir, Mr. Emerson, bass ; Mrs. Addie St. John Farnham, soprano ; Mrs. Elliott West, alto, and Horace Wellington, tenor. Mr. Hollenbeck, whose wonderful voice we all remember, sang for us from time to time, but his business interfered with his filling a regular position in the choir for any great length of time.
Still another choir that we recall with pleasure, and shall always con- nect with the first years in our new church, had Mrs. W. H. Fitch, soprano; Mrs. Daisy Force Scott, alto ; William Atkinson and others on the bass, and Myron Barnes, tenor. This choir was first under the leadership of Mrs. Starr, and afterward Mr. Barnes, took charge of it.
In connection with the last two choirs, and under the training of the three leaders, Mr. Emerson, Mrs. Starr and Mr. Barnes, there has been a large and well drilled chorus choir, which has added much to the effective- ness of the singing, particularly in connection with the vesper service. We must not overlook the good work done by Mr. Fitzgerald, both as a tenor singer, and as leader of an orchestra that played for us several months.
Not only have the choirs undergone endless changes in all these fifty years, but many good singers besides those already mentioned have made a name for themselves in our church. Among them we recall Messrs. Solomon Lane, Charles Swain, H. H. Waldo, who sang alto until he was twenty-six years old and taught singing schools in the neighboring villages ; D. L. Emerson, O. F. Barbour, Porter Emerson, Frank Stratton, John Miller, the elder Wellington (a veritable war horse of song, always eager for the fray) ; A. C. Gray, W. H. Fitch, Shedd Porter, Charles Sindlinger,
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William Heinrich, Winthrop Ingersoll, John Oberg, Geo. Gookin and Charles Olson ; Mesdames Charles Swain, Bush-Temple, Bartlett, A. C. Burpee, Bowdoin Ticknor, Walton, Frank Fitch Dean, Mary Talcott Pet- tibone, E. H. Thomas, Isa Mears Kimball, A. C. Gray, Lizzie Churchill Meyers, Mary Chaney Clark, Alice Berry Southworth, Winthrop Ingersoll, and Baldwin ; the Misses Anna Weary, Clara Stratton, Minnie L. Burpee, Anna Marsh, Ella Emerson, Mary Emerson, Ella Richards, Sadie Wil- liams, Corinne Rider and many, many others of singing men and singing women. Some of these still make melody here on earth, while others have joined the choir invisible, and are singing the song of the Lamb.
To what purpose is all this song ? Aside from expression of thanks- giving and praise, have we gained aught by this expenditure of breath and money ? May we not hope that this harmony, which is typical of perfec- tion, has had a reflex action on our characters, molding us toward that unity of being which shall ultimately find its completeness in love-that love for God and man that kindles the divine spark within us, and develops the more than human, the more than earthly love of which we are capable?
W. A. DICKERMAN, CHARTER MEMBER AND DEACON FOR 46 YEARS.
MEMORIAL
FOR
DEACON W. A. DICKERMAN.
"WRITTEN FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BY W. A. TALCOTT.
T HE entrance upon the future life of Deacon W. A. Dickerman, which occurred on July 19, 1899, removed from our midst one of our oldest and most beloved citizens.
He was a charter member of the Second Congregational Church, and served on one of the committees that was active in the organization of the church fifty years ago. Shortly after the church was organized he was elected deacon, and filled that office continuously until the close of his earthly life.
He possessed such a gentle spirit, and was so full of earnest devotion to the teachings and example of his Divine Master, that he naturally took an active part in all church work. He taught a large class of young men in the Sunday school, with great success. He was a leader and wise counselor in every department of church work.
The members of the Second Congregational Church and Society mourn the loss of such a co-worker, and this feeling is shared by the entire community.
A unique example of his Christ like spirit is found in his life long habit of calling upon the sick and afflicted, which he did on Sabbath afternoons, always receiving a hearty welcome, and always speaking the right word, or reading from his well-worn bible the right selection, to bring new courage and hope to those in need of divine and human love and sympathy. While heaven is richer for his presence there, this world will always be the better for his having lived and worked here so long.
Hist. Rec. 18.
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To his devoted wife, and loving children and grandchildren, we would extend our affectionate sympathy.
It is given to but few men to so order their lives as to accomplish so much good for the community in which they live, as did our friend and brother, Deacon W. A. Dickerman. Had he lived to take part in this fif- tieth anniversary celebration, to receive our personal congratulations on his long and honored services to the church, he would not only have contrib- uted much to its enjoyment, but from his rich store of personal recollections, covering as they did the birth and practically the entire life of the Second Congregational Church, his paper would have been of inestimable value.
Though outwardly absent, we can but feel that in a high spiritual sense he is still with us, for the consecration and fidelity which he has built into the very structure of this church throughout the first fifty years of its his- tory will remain its priceless and perennial heritage forever.
To him has already come the welcome word of the Master: "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH.
WRITTEN FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BY MRS. RALPH EMERSON.
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