USA > Illinois > Cook County > Oak Park > Thirty years of Grace Church, Oak Park : the same being a brief record of its life and work, illustrated with portraits and such historical views as were obtainable > Part 3
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HENRY D. PIERCE Vestryman, 1898-1902
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HENRY REED PEBBLES Vestryman, 1898-1900
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what these organizations have done-the one for the building and the other for the lot; and secondly, as a prophecy of what will be expected of the Guild and the Club in the future. The turning of the sod was accompanied by a prayer offered by the Rector, asking a blessing on the work and the workers. The 'Church's One Foundation' was sung. A large number of people were present. The work has certainly begun in the spirit of sunshine and in the sunshine of the Spirit. We all trust it shall be carried on to completion in the same way."
The building was occupied in the early winter for the first time, but so far as can be learned, with no special order of service.
The following year gave evidence of increased growth and interest; and with a reorganization of the St. Katherine's Guild after years of silence. Mrs. George Sharp was made President and the Guild was intended to occupy that large body of young women in the Parish who were not then engaged in Parish work.
Charles L. Chenoweth resigned as Clerk after years of faithful and efficient service; and the Vestry as its testimonial sent him a set of engrossed resolutions, speaking their appreciation. D. K. Creighton was elected in his stead.
During the winter active steps were taken to raise money for the Building Fund and among other means suggested was a series of lectures, to be given under the auspices of the Men's Club, of which Harry B. Noyes was then President.
Bishop McLaren at this time, owing to the infirmities of age and increased jurisdiction, called a special con- vention of the Diocese, to be held January 9, 1900, for the purpose of electing a Coadjutor Bishop for Chi- cago. This convention afterwards proved to be of great interest to the Parish, and for the good of the
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Diocese. The Rector of Grace Church was elected by unanimous vote, a feature we believe unique in the history of the American Church, i. c., for a Diocesan clergyman to be elected unanimously the Bishop Coadjutor of that Diocese. The Rector tendered his resignation of the Parish February 7, 1900, and was duly consecrated in Grace Church, Chicago, on the feast of Saint Matthias, 1900. The following Bishops and Priests assisted :
Presiding Bishop and Consecrator: The Right Rev- erend the Bishop of Chicago.
Co-Consecrators: The Right Reverend the Bishop of Western Michigan; the Right Reverend the Bishop of Springfield.
Preacher: The Right Reverend the Bishop of Fond du Lac.
Presenting Bishops : The Right Reverend the Bishop of North Dakota; the Right Reverend the Bishop of Iowa.
Attending Presbyters: The Reverend Clinton Locke, D. D., Dean of the Northeastern Deanery, Chicago; the Reverend William Ashley Read, Rural Dean and Rector of Almonte, Diocese of Ottawa, Canada.
Deputy Registrar: The Reverend Ernest M. Stires, Rector of Grace Church, Chicago.
Masters of Ceremonies : The Reverend Luther Pardee, Dean of the Cathedral, Chicago; the Reverend Peter Clark Wolcott, Rector of Trinity Church, High- land Park.
A farewell reception was given by the Parish to Bishop and Mrs. Anderson, February 26th. Many tokens of affection and appreciation were given to them and suitable resolutions were presented. It is to be regretted that the wording of these resolutions was not inscribed upon the Parish records; and cannot, therefore, be here given. Bishop Anderson was a potent force for good in the Parish, the congregation
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JOHN SUTCLIFFE Architect
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GRACE CHURCH First Stage, 1898-1901
and the entire community during the term of his Rec- torate covering eight and one-half years.
The Vestry immediately began the search for a new Rector and was busily engaged in that task during the entire summer, but that did not exclude the effort to raise $5,000, as an Easter offering, towards the build- ing fund.
In September, 1900, T. S. Rattle, Hiram Coombs, H. J. Ullmann and Arthur Gustorf were sent to San- dusky, Ohio, upon a visit of seeing, hearing and in- vestigating the Reverend Ernest V. Shayler, Rector of Calvary Church. They returned with a report and after his election October 29th, an official call was extended. Mr. Shayler visited the Parish in Novem- ber, held a conference with the Vestry and Bishop and afterwards accepted the call to work. He was duly instituted as Rector according to the Prayer Book Office of Institution by the Bishop Coadjutor upon the Sunday after Christmas Day, December 30, 1900. A reception for the welcome of the Rector and Mrs. Shayler was held immediately after their arrival in the Masonic Temple.
Then began the movement for a continuation of building for at the first Vestry meeting at which the new Rector presided, it was resolved that it is the sense of this meeting that conditions justify the con- tinuation of the erection of the Church building at a cost not to exceed $25,000.
"Recognizing the universal desire for further prog- ress in the erection of our Parish home apparent in the congregation, and having reason to believe that sufficient funds to justify another step forward can be made available during the coming summer, your Building Committee has given careful consideration to the plans and specifications and certain proposals for the completion of additional work thereunder, and beg to submit the following as their unanimous report
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and recommendation: We are of opinion that far the best plan is to raise all the exterior walls to level of top of aisle walls, faced with buff Bedford stone, tooled and backed up with common brick, standard shape; in accordance with memorandum of preliminary speci- fications, at a cost of $23,500." (Which resolution was adopted at a subsequent meeting.)
The lot upon which stood the Forest Avenue Church was then sold to James C. Rogers and Mary C. Rogers, his wife, for the sum of $5,000, but the purchase was of the ground only, as the material of the old was to be used in the brick walls of the new building. The memorial windows were to be safely stored, and ulti- mately to be used in a chapel adjoining the future new Church. It is worthy of comment to say that it was impossible to discover any trace of the box deposited in the corner stone placed there a quarter of a century before, for, when the building was torn down, not a trace was found of any of its contents.
Now the congregation was without a place of wor- ship, but Kenilworth Hall (now, 1909, the Military Club) was secured for a period of six months, from May 1, 1901. New work was begun at once upon the building. The cut stone was brought and placed upon the ground. The furniture, organ and pews were car- ried to Kenilworth Hall, and Bishops McLaren and Anderson having promised their presence, the corner stone was laid Sunday, June 2, 1901.
Aside from being such an important event in the lives of our own people, so also was it in the lives of the whole community, many prominent people attending from the various congregations in Oak Park. Assist- ing the Bishops were a number of Priests from the neighboring Churches, the Reverend J. A. Carr, J. Messer, H. L. Cawthorne, W. B. Hamilton, E. A. Lar- rabee and E. J. Randall. The choir of over 150 voices consisted of, besides our own, St. Luke's, St. Barna-
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1
THE REVEREND ERNEST VINCENT SHAYLER Fourth Rector, 1900 to the present time
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STELLA J. REYNOLDS Choir Mother, 1900 to present time
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bas', St. Martin's, Calvary, the Cathedral and the Holy Communion, Maywood.
Within the stone was placed a Bible, a Book of Con- mon Prayer, Hymnal, photographs of the Right Rev- erend W. E. McLaren, Bishop Anderson, Reverend Ernest V. Shayler, Christ Church, Harlem, Grace Church on Forest Avenue, present building, cut of the finished Church, constitution of the Church, officers of the Diocese, copy of the "Living Church," copies of the local papers, list of subscribers to the building fund, history of the Church, list of officers of the same, members of the choir, the Sunday School, names of members of all parochial societies and names of the builders of the Church.
The corner stone was inscribed thus: "Ad Gloriam Dei, Grace Church, 1879-1901"; the first date being that of the organization of the Mission, the second that of the laying of the stone.
Before the corner stone was laid the vigilant Build- ing Committee of Hiram Coombs, Thomas Rattle, J. P. Sharp and A. W. Giles caused this action to be taken :
"That all interior furnishings and fittings of what- ever character shall be in harmony with the design of the Church edifice; and that such designs shall be made by our architect, subject to the approval of the Vestry. This shall be held to apply to cover all memo- rials and gifts, which shall be of designs to be ap- proved by the Rector and Vestry."
During the use of Kenilworth Hall as a place of worship, the publication of the monthly Parish paper, called Grace Church Items, was resumed, the publica- tion having been suspended for a few years. Its ap- pearance was just in time, for it was just prior to the opening of the second stage of the Church building.
Waiting for the future completion of the Church for dedication services, and because of the inability of our Bishops to be present, arrangements were made for
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special opening services of the following character on Sunday, November 10, 1901.
At the early celebration the Right Reverend Bishop White, of Michigan City, said prayers of benediction over the Altar and its ornaments and the other memo- rial gifts, and the Rector was celebrant at the Euchar- ist. The Church was well filled at 10:30 with a congre- gation which by any possibility could not have found admission into the ordinary church. The enlarged choir, which shows constant improvement under Mr. Barradell's direction, rendered the service in a capable manner, and Bishop White preached a grand sermon from the text, "Surely God Is In This Place." The children were out in full force at their service at 3:30 in the afternoon. They met in the choir room and Guild room and, preceded by the choir, entered the Church singing "Onward, Christian Soldiers."
One of the features of this service was the adminis- tration of Holy Baptism to eight little ones, Richard Sidney Crampton being the first recipient of that Sac- rament.
After the Rector had delivered a short address to the children they presented their offerings toward the new pulpit, which is a gift of the Sunday School to the Church. Nearly $150 was brought in by the children. The services of the day closed with Choral Evensong at 7:30. A large congregation had gathered, too, for this service, the fourth great service of a great day. The Rev. T. D. Phillips read the lessons, the Rector sung the service, and Rev. Frank Du Moulin, Rector of St. Peter's, preached an eloquent and helpful ser- mon. The decorations of the Church by Mr. Baldwin and the Sanctuary Committee were artistic and beauti- ful and contributed largely to the beauty of holiness.
Many beautiful gifts for the adornment of the Church and for use in the services had been given. An Altar Cross and two vases, as a memorial of Ernest
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GRACE CHURCH Laying the Corner Stone, June 2, 1901
GRACE CHURCH Second Stage, 1901-1905
D. Updike, formerly a chorister; two vases as a thank offering for the Confirmation of Laurence Chenoweth; a Processional Cross as a thank offering from Hiram Coombs; a Litany desk in memory of Catherine A. Bishop, widow of a clergyman who had conducted the first services of the Church in this vicinity; a Litany book in memory of H. H. Hunt; a communicant rail, the gift of W. G. Barfield; a Morocco lecturn Bible by Miss E. Harriet Richards in memory of her mother; an Altar service book in memory of Lillian Tristram Sharp, and an exquisitely wrought frontal and super- frontal for the Altar, the gift of two hundred Parish- ioners. In addition to these gifts there were added later a massive and majestic lecturn, in memory of Ashley C. Rogers, it being the gift of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James C. Rogers; the handsomely carved pulpit, the gift of the Sunday School; a solid silver chalice and paten, in memory of Martha S. Worth- ington and a pyx and chalice spoon, thank offerings for the baptism of the four Whitelaw children. The beautiful choir stalls were added later and paid for out of the Parish Treasury. Grateful mention should be made of the gift of the Vestryman, H. D. Pierce. The three marble steps at the entering of the chancel were his donation.
This is perhaps a fitting place to speak of the musi- cal features of the services, as relating to choir and organ. At the first service held in Harlem school house there was of course no choir and also no instru- ment. Dr. Bishop announced the hymn, "A charge to keep I have," but no one in the congregation had the ability to "start" the tune. After a few minutes of dead and embarrassing silence the Priest said, "Well, if we cannot sing we can pray," and pray they did. When the Forest Avenne Church was opened a quartet consisting of Mrs. H. H. Hunt, Mrs. Charles Seabury and Messrs. Giles and Roney led the music. Then fol-
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lowed, as we have recited heretofore, the boys' and men's choir, without vestments and later with them, said choir having an earnest but varied existence. At the opening of the new Church (second stage) W. K. Barradell having been in charge for about a year, the music had vastly improved, but with the advent of a new organist to serve with him, Ralph W. Ermeling, and with an organ of great value installed, there was promise of still greater accomplishment. These two men have faithfully and efficiently served until this day, and the choir, although always composed entirely of volunteers (and they mainly communicants), has acquired an enviable position in the front rank of Chicago Church choirs. It is extremely doubtful if any choir hereabouts holds a record equal to ours, as during the Lenten season, 1909, it rendered a different oratorio every Sunday evening; oratorios of the stand- ard of Mercadante's "Seven Words from the Cross" and Gaul's "Passion of our Lord."
No sooner had the Church been opened but the need was manifested for a larger Parish house. The little room from Forest Avenue had been transferred, but was much too small, and a commodious addition, with kitchen attached, was erected at a cost of more than $2,000. Organizations began to enlarge in numbers and usefulness. The Parochial Guild grew by leaps and bounds, the Auxiliary thrived, the St. Katherine's developed not so rapidly but just as surely. The Men's Club upon new lines under its efficient President, Fred- erick W. Maynard, soon enrolled one hundred and fifty men and with succeeding and successful Presi- dents up to W. T. Payne (1909) enrols about three hundred members.
Referring to the St. Katherine's Guild and its bene- ficial activities, it has given our splendid organ to the Parish, an organ which from a standard of power, size and tone has no equal in Oak Park. Through the
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H. O. WILKINSON Vestryman, 1904-1907 Clerk, 1902-1907
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FREDERICK WALLACE MAYNARD Vestryman, 1903-1908 President Men's Club, 1901-1903
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courtesy of the organist, R. W. Ermeling, we append the following brief history and specifications of the organ :
"The organ was built by the Hook & Hastings Com- pany of Boston, for Grace Church, Chicago, in 1869, and cost $8,000. There are 27 speaking stops and 11 mechanical appliances such as couplers and combina- tion pedals. The stops of the organ are divided into four different departments.
GREAT ORGAN. SWELL ORGAN.
Bourdon 16 ft.
Open Diapason 8 ft.
Open Diapason 8 ft.
Stopped Diapason 8 ft.
Stopped Diapason 8 ft.
Keraulophon 8 ft.
Octave 4 ft.
Octave
4 ft.
Flute Harminique 4 ft.
Flauto Traverso 4 ft.
Twelfth 2 ft.
Violina
4 ft.
Fifteenth 2 ft.
Fifteenth 2 ft.
Mixture 3 ranks
Oboe
8 ft.
Trumpet 8 ft.
SOLO ORGAN
PEDAL ORGAN.
Geigen Principal 8 ft. Open Diapason 16 ft.
Melodia 8 ft.
Bourdon 16 ft:
Dulciana
8 ft.
Violincello
8 ft."
Fugara
4 ft.
Flute d'Amour
4 ft.
Picolo
2 ft.
Clarinet 8 ft.
The first wedding in the new building was that of Harry S. Conner and Florence W. Giles, and the first burial was that of Samuel D. Attridge, a Vestryman of exemplary life and conspicuous service.
At the annual meeting in 1902, James C. Rogers and E. E. Morrell were elected to the Vestry, and J. E. Tristram was made Treasurer of the Parish.
After a winter in the new building, the heating sys- tem having proved inadequate, it was decided to in- stall a system of hot water heat, furnished by a local
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corporation. As this would entail an expenditure of at least $1,500 and the Parish had been for many years at a great expense, a novel idea of selling shares, at three dollars each, was suggested by the Rector. The shares were all quickly disposed of and the Church would henceforth, by day and night, be always com- fortable and ready for use. By the autumn of 1902 this had been completed.
The new Church with its nave walls erected showed more clearly than ever the wisdom of earlier efforts to acquire some additional ground upon the west, and it was imperative that this be done at once, even if earlier efforts had failed. The Vestry took hold of this dilemma and after much negotiation received the following communication from the agent of the prop- ertv :
"I hereby agree to transfer the property known as 321 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois, being 82.5 feet frontage on Lake Street with a depth corresponding to the depth of the Episcopal Church lot, on the east, subject to an encumbrance of $8,500 due in July, 1907, at 5% interest, and subject to taxes and assessments, levied after the year 1902. In exchange for the south- east corner of Euclid Avenue and Ontario Street, sub- ject only to the last two installments for improving Euclid Avenue and to taxes and assessments, levied after the year 1902: Provided, That in case the north line of my lot on Lake Street falls north of the south line of the barns and sheds on said lot, that the grantee will move said barns and sheds north, past the north line of the property, to be conveyed without expense to me."'
This being received, a Parish meeting was then called to take official action. The following from the records tells in brief the story of consideration :
"A certain resolution looking to the purchase of the property on the west of the Church lot for $15,500
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THE REVEREND WILLIAM BREWSTER STOSKOPF First Curate, 1903-1904
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GRACE CHURCH Present Structure, Erected 1905
was introduced by T. S. Rattle, who moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Hiram Coombs.
"After discussion, it was moved by H. J. Ullmann that action on this resolution be deferred for one week, and that when this meeting adjourns it be to Monday, April 20, 1903, at 8 P. M .; and that this resolution be the special order of business for that meeting. This motion was carried.
"On motion of Mr. Ullmann the resolution was re- ferred to Mr. Ritchie, for the addition of a clause, referring to the use of Euclid Avenue lot, as proposed in resolution; and that the resolution, as amended, be read from the chancel on Sunday next.
"An adjourned Parish meeting was held on the evening of April 20th, called to order at 8:35 P. M., the Rector in the chair, opening the meeting with prayer.
"The Chair stated the business of the meeting to be the consideration of the resolution for purchase of lot on the west of the Church lot, as per resolution of meeting of April 13, 1903.
"After discussion of resolution it was resolved to take no definite action upon resolution, at this meeting, owing to the absence of H. J. Ullmann.
"On motion of T. S. Rattle and unanimously car- ried it was resolved that when this meeting adjourn, it be to some future date subject to notice by the Chair- man.
"At the next adjourned meeting the following reso- lution was carried :
"WHEREAS, It is for the best interests of the Parish of Grace Church, Oak Park, and of the Rector, War- dens and Vestry of Grace Church, Oak Park, corpora- tion, to purchase the premises west of the Lake Street lot now owned by said corporation and occupied by it with its present House of Worship, said property so to be purchased fronting south on Lake Street
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for a distance of eighty-four feet, more or less, and being commonly known as the League Hotel property ; and,
"'WHEREAS, It is for the best interests of said Parish and corporation to use and convey in part payment for the premises so to be purchased, the lot or parcel of land belonging to said corporation fronting west one hundred feet more or less on Euclid Avenue, Oak Park, and known as the 'Euclid Avenue Lot';
"RESOLVED, That the Vestry is hereby authorized to purchase, for said Parish and corporation, the said 'League Hotel' property with all improvements, at al price not to exceed $15,500 upon such terms as said Vestry may determine, and to convey in part payment of the price thereof the said Euclid Avenue lot at an estimated value of not less than $7,500, provided such use can legally be made of the said Euclid Avenue lot, or its proceeds."
Questions of securing additional property having thus been disposed of we can now turn to the develop- ment of the work in other ways.
With the entering into the new Church came in- creasing congregations; and the Rector was in urgent need of clerical assistance. It was decided that a Curate be called to assist in the work, and after con- ference with the Bishop the Rev. William Brewster Stoskopf was elected. He was graduated at Yale and from the General Theological Seminary in New York, and entered upon his work in June, 1903, immediately following his ordination at the Cathedral of Chicago.
It was now nearly a quarter of a century since the founding of the Mission and even though a second worker had been added to the rank of the clergy, death was soon to intervene in the ranks of the laity, and Robert S. Worthington, a pioneer, Treasurer, Junior and Senior Warden, was called away to the rest of Paradise, after a lingering illness.
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FRANK WRIGHT THOMAS Vestryman, 1904-1907, 1908 to present time
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"LEAGUE HOTEL" PROPERTY
GRACE CHURCH, NOVEMBER, 1909
In Memoriam Robert S. Worthington. Born 1830. Died 1903.
"The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Grace Church, Oak Park, desire to place on record a slight testimonial of their esteem and appreciation of the life of their fellow townsman and fellow Churchman, re- cently called to the rest that remaineth for the people of God.
For more than a quarter of a century Robert Worth- ington has been a power for righteousness in Oak Park. For many years he was its leading citizen through the possession of a noble character and high ability. His natural modesty compelled him to shrink from leadership, to which he was called by the voice of his fellows and the needs of the community.
His culture was a pleasing virtue, and his educa- tional attainments were most comprehensive. The love of poetry, existent in his soul, preserved in him the atmosphere of perpetual youth. His strict integrity, manifested in the avenues of trade and commerce, made for honesty and honor.
His love for his fellows impelled him to the broadest humanitarianism, and his love for God and His Church developed him into the rare and noble Christian gen- tleman that he was.
Mr. Worthington was no sentimental emotionalist in religion. His scholarly ability and sweet reason- ableness compelled him to acknowledge the "faith once for all delivered to the Saints," and to practice it in his daily life.
From its inception, as a struggling Mission, he was an untiring worker in Grace Church, giving largely of his means and abundantly of his loving labors; and
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the knowledge of its eminently successful career was a keen source of pleasure to him in his declining years.
Surely it was no element of chance that he received his last communion on the Feast of the Lord's Resur- rection, last Easter Day, when with firm voice, and firmer faith, he repeated the Creed of the Christian Church of all the Centuries; nor that he passed into the nearer presence of God within a few hours of the Church's commemoration of the Ascension of his Lord.
While our hearts throb with sincerest sympathy for her to whom he was ever a true helpmeet, a rich treas- ure and a loyal husband, as well as for others bound to him by the loving ties of relationship, we thank God for his life and thank God for his death and pray that he, with all those departed this life in the faith and fear of God's Holy Name, may have his perfect consummation and bliss, throughout all eternity."
The rank of official workers was then further weak- ened by the resignation from the Vestry of H. J. UNI- mann. He had been a worker in the first vested choir, served upon the Vestry for years not only as a mem- ber, but as its Treasurer and also upon the Building Committee. He tendered further services as lay super- intendent of the Sunday School. His valuable efforts were not to pass by unappreciated, as the following record tells :
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