USA > Kansas > Atchison County > Atchison > The story of a Kansas parish : being a compilation from the records and a partial survey of the work and some of the workers of Trinity Church, Atchison, Kansas, from 1857 to 1911 > Part 3
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Very truly, IV .S. Cain.
The work in St. Andrew's begun by Dr. Leon- ard was continued by him every Sunday afternoon, with a Friday evening service and instruction, the attendance averaging forty at a service.
In November, 1885, Mr. Leonard organized a Sunday School in connection with the Mission with an initial attendance of twenty-two scholars, five teachers and four visitors. In this work, some of his assistants were Mr. W. S. Cain. Miss Fox, niece of Mrs. A. P. Kimball, Miss Collett and her sister, Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Smart, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Woodhouse, and other equally loyal. In October, 1886, an industrial school was
The Rt. Reverend Elisha S. Thomas, Second Bishop of Kansas
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instituted with Mrs. Henry Amelung as directress, and eighty-eight scholars were enrolled.
All these activities were housed in a rented hall, but the energy of the Rector and the help of cer- tain people in the parish gave the work an appear- ance of stability, which later appeared in the Chapel here pictured, and built during the incumbency of Mr. Leonard's successor.
In May, 1886, the Diocese elected Dr. Elisha S. Thomas as an assistant Bishop to Bishop Vail. Dr. Thomas came to Kansas from Minnesota and be- gan an effective Episcopate which unfortunately, was cut short by his untimely death nine years af- ter his consecration.
December 15, 1887 the Vestry was called together to consider the question of a successor, he having been chosen by the House of Bishops to the then Bishopric of Utah and Nevada. This well deserved promotion for Mr. Leonard was a sad blow to the parish hopes ; but the Vestry wished him God speed, the people did their share in presenting him with the robes and other insignia of his approaching Epis- copal office, and the townsfolk on all sides united in sending him from his Parish with every expres- sion of loyal love and friendly interest ; and in Jan- uary, 1888, after six and a fraction years of devoted and disinterested service, this best of pastors and friends started on the work of Episcopal oversight, to which he gave himself so unreservedly that an overtaxed strength succumbed to fatal fever, and the Shepherd Bishop went to his reward.
In October, 1888.
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THE REV. FRANCIS K. BROOKE
Rector of St. Peter's Church, St. Louis, having yielded to the insistent persuasions of our Vestry- men, came to Atchison and began his pastoral lab- ors. Then continued a season of quiet but sub- stantial growth. The Rectory was enlarged and a steam plant put in and the Rectory property was improved by a stone retaining wall made necessary by grading and paving T street. It is interesting to note that the noise question even then perplexed the Vestry and Rector, for we read that a committee of the two wardens and Mr. E. L. Kellogg inter- viewed Mr. Rathburn in regard to the noise made by trains during the morning service but were unable to obtain any redress.
In 1889, Bishop Vail, full of years and honors, departed this life, and Bishop Thomas became the Diocesan of Kansas. During the interval between Bishop Leonard's removal and Mr. Brooke's com- ing, Mr. J. F. Woodhouse had asked the Vestry of the parish to appoint a committee to secure a lot on which to erect a chapel for the use of St. An- drew's Mission. In September, 1890, the building committee from St. Andrew's submitted plans for a new chapel building to cost in the neighborhood of $1500 to $2000, and the Vestry authorized the Rector and the committee to go ahead and build. Mr. J. M. Lee offered a lot to be mortgaged so that no church property need be encumbered in the rais- ing of funds, and his offer was accepted. Under Mr. Brooke $900 was raised in the parish, and $500
The Rev. Francis K. Brooke, Tenth Rector of Trinity Parish and made Bishop of Oklahoma in 1893
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borrowed from the American Church Building Fund, and the erection of what is now St. Andrew's Chapel, was duly begun.
In 1891 we note the progress of events, in the resolution that the Rector be authorized to prepare and submit to the congregation a scheme for doing away with the present system of pew rentals, and the advocating of raising all monies for church ex- penses by free will offerings or by a pledge sys- tem.
Easter, 1892, was memorable, for on that day, a gift of $400 to extinguish the debt on the Rectory was made anonymously. It is not surprising to learn at this date, that the anonymous giver was that ever good friend of the parish, Mrs. A. G. Otis. With this gift the mortgage on the Rectory prop- erty was released and satisfied, and the church stood clear of debt. All the societies were more than busy in their various ways but the sewing school under Mrs. Brooke and Mrs. Haskell, was at this time the most flourishing one ever had in the parish. All this steady work had not gone on un- observed by the General Church, and when the Gen- eral Convention of 1892 met, it chose for its first Bishop of the newly opened territory of Oklahoma, the Rector of Trinity Church, Atchison, and Bish- op Brooke, in January, 1893, was sent from us to head the Church's forces into a new country.
Chicago sent us our next rector,
THE REV. JOHN HENRY HOPKINS
Who came to us from St. James' Church, whence
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had sprung the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. Full of youth, and ardent love for his kind, and accom- panied by a wife of more than ordinary accom- plishments, these two people of God threw them- selves into the parish work with absolute and en- tire devotion. The results were immediately appar- ent. Young people, both men and women, were attracted to the work; hearty services were held in the parish church and St. Andrew's Chapel ; all the Guilds were flourishing ; a parish library started by Bishop Leonard was developed and enlarged; the Brotherhood of St. Andrew enlisted the best blood of the parish ; a Mission Sunday School was start- ed south of town, to which the town teachers drove, and where Mr. Hopkins preached every Sunday af- ternoon; a large chorus choir was organized and trained by Mr. Hopkins, himself an accomplished or- ganist ; everything parochial was "humming"; all that was needed was a "hive;" and in February, 1894, the "hive" took to itself a form of reality in the vote of thanks tendered Mr. E. L. Kellogg for his donation of $100 to Mr. Hopkins for the com- mencement of a Parish House Fund.
In May of that same year, Messrs. Giddings, Yale and Wills, with the Rector, were appointed a committee to secure plans, specifications and esti- mates for the building of a Parish House to adjoin the church. In September, 1894, the Vestry hav- ing in hand $1200, about half of the estimated cost of building the Parish House, the ground was broken and the following spring the construction of our present Guild Hall was begun by contractor O. W.
The Rev. John Henry Hopkins
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Uhrich. It was opened for use in 1905, and the parish meeting for that year was held there amid great rejoicings.
Then like a bolt from the blue came the notice of Mr. Hopkins' resignation and the parish lamented and felt most keenly the loss of their brilliant Rector and his most efficient wife. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins left in July, 1895, and in the fall of that year came as Rector
THE REV. JOHN E. SULGER
big, blonde, jolly, breathing the atmosphere of the great Wyoming country where he had been laboring as a general missionary. Mr. Sulger and his charm- ing young wife soon found their way into the peo- ple's hearts and in July, 1896, under the Rector's ef- forts Trinity Church Guild had the church beauti- fully decorated, while the Daughters of the King paid for recarpeting the aisles and chancel of the church. In March, 1895, the learned and laborious second Bishop of Kansas passed to his reward, and in September of that year the Dean of the Cathe- dral at Topeka, the Very Reverend Frank R. Mills- paugh was consecrated third Bishop of Kansas.
During the summer of 1896 the parish at Terre Haute, Indiana, became vacant, and in casting about for a new rector came to Atchison and claimed her new Rector. He accepted the call, and the Rector- ship was again vacant.
In October, 1896, on the recommendation of Bishop Doane, of Albany, the Vestry extended a call to
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THE REV. JOHN HENRY MOLINEUX
of Whitehall, New York, and in November of that year Mr. Molineux began his labors. His coming marked a completion in the transition period begun under Mr. Hopkins. The quartette choir had given way to the chorus choir; more attention was given to the care for and adornment of the altar; the Brotherhood idea had worked so well that Robert H. Mize, a son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Mize, of- fered himself for work in the ministry of the church. The debt on the parish house was paid off, and the church opened daily for private prayer. In October of 1897, the Rev. Mr. Barnes of Beloit, Kansas, ac- cepted an offer to come and work as assistant and choir master. A surpliced boy and men choir was introduced and made fine progress. The ritual of the Altar was elaborated and enriched. Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Morris gave the Eucharistic Lights in memory of their son, Richard Hunt Morris. Under Miss Constance Ingalls, a flourishing Altar Guild worked most enthusiastically, and a beautiful reredos supplanted the colored dossal curtains. Ves- per Lights were given, and elaborately embroidered silk Eucharistic vestments were made and placed in a commodious and handsome vestment case.
Largely through the individual efforts of Miss Katherine Cosgrove, a piano was bought for use in the Guild Hall; Miss Cosgrove also gave a large brass vase for flowers for the Altar, in addition to two others given by Mr. William S. Cain. In Jan- uary, 1898, the chancel of the church was changed
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to admit the placing of stalls for the boy choir who sang their first public service Easter of that year. A processional cross was given by Miss Maybelle Bayley in memory of her father.
For a long time there had been in use a beau- tiful Altar cross given by his father in memory of Charles Morris Styles. In 1899 the old chancel furniture was placed by the Vestry at the disposal of Rev. Robert Mize, who had become head of St. John's School, Salina, after a successful year of work at Hiawatha, Kansas. Later, in place of the old lecturn and reading desk, were installed a fine brass lecturn in memory of Mr. John W. Cain, Sr., and a beautiful brass pulpit in memory of Mr. and Mrs. William Otis. It was at the suggestion of Bishop Millspaugh that the Rector, in 1900, gave his attention to the problem of serving the spirit- tal needs of some black churchfolk resident in the city. An effort was made to establish services for them in St. Andrew's, but it proved abortive and later was abandoned and the Chapel closed.
December, 1900, brought Mr. Molineux's ad- ministration to an end, and the Vestry again began to look for another leader. That leader proved to be
THE REV. WILLIAM R. CROSS
Of Hinsdale, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Cross, with their two sons, came to Atchison in April, 1901. It was impossible but that the many changes wrought under the preceding regime should not have the approval of all who cared for and loved the Church, and Mr. Cross will ever be remembered
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as one who, under God, was able to show that ritual and religion went hand in hand, and to ce- ment into friendly union in the parish life those whose view points had greatly differed on the cere- monial worship of our Blessed Lord. During Mr. Cross' rectorate, the parish, through the Vestry consented to the cession of the western part of the Diocese of Kansas to the General Convention, as Missionary Territory, and this was later done, and two-thirds of the state is now under the missionary care of the Bishop of Salina.
In February, 1902, St. Andrew's was reopened by Mr. Cross, who succeeded in interesting Mr. William Cain and Mr. William Jones to care for the Sunday School, while he himself cared for the services. From that day to this the Sunday School has gone on ; and that it still continues, is now due to the devotion of two former pupils, Miss Bessie Nicholson and Miss Nellie Avlor.
Mr. Cross also undertook to establish a mis- sion for a negro congregation, and for six months rented a hall at Tenth and Commercial streets, but the local colored members of the church moved from town, and the effort was abandoned.
In 1902, the Parish entertained the Diocesan Convention. In August of that year the church was struck by lightning and the bell tower and slate roof were damaged; it is a matter of regret to some that the defacing brick chimney which spoils the looks of the church, was not also de- stroved at the same time.
The Rev. John E. Sulger, Twelfth Rector of Trinity Parish
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In September of that year St. Andrew's Mis- sion and the parish lost a good friend and a zealous worker in the death of Mr. John F. Woodhouse. Mrs. R. A. Park, also a builder of and early worker in the church, entered into rest during Mr. Cross' rectorate.
Meanwhile the Altar Guild continued to work for the beautifying of the sanctuary. The altar was made longer and higher ; a new credence table was given by Miss Cosgrove and a beautiful ciborium by Miss Frances Foote, and crystal and silver cruets in memory of Mrs. Constance Ingalls Shick ; and a most exquisitely jewelled Chalice and Paten of silver gilt and enamel. This truly beautiful memorial gift came to the parish anonymously, and the time to mention by name the giver has not yet eventuated. Meanwhile the parish uses this magnificent service on all high festivals. A de- scription is given under the list of memorial gifts.
In the summer of 1904, Mr. Cross accepted a call to Evansville, Indiana, and the Vestry this time turned their faces northward and, in Omaha, found and called
THE REV. FRANCIS S. WHITE
who came to be the fifteenth Rector of the par- ish, and began his work in November of that year. Mr. White accepted the call on the condi- tion that all efforts to raise money for the support of the parish should be along the lines of offer- ings and pledges. All fairs, sales and pay-socials were abandoned by the Guilds, and monthly sub-
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THE STORY OF A KANSAS PARISH
scriptions were solicited by the Vestry and met with general acceptance.
In 1905, the need of a chapel for daily ser- vices and the further need of a special room for the work of Miss Cora Cain, a most proficient primary superintendent, led the Vestry to con- tract for the building of an addition 28x30 to the east end of the Parish House or Guild Hall. The money to pay for this was raised by subscription and the Easter offering. In 3 this addition there is now a fine, well-lighted primary room, with kindergarten furnishings and a chapel dedicated to St. Mary, the Virgin. This chapel is used for daily morning services through- out the year, and for most all other services where a large congregation is not expected. The Altar and rail are a memorial to Miss Besse Pennell. The Altar cross and vases to Mrs. Ruth Browne Hulings, and her daughter, Ruth Hulings. The Eucharistic lights are a memorial to Mrs. C. B. Beitzel. The Altar desk is a memorial to Mr. Hermance, given by his sister, Mrs. R. F. Clarke. The Altar Service Book is given by Mrs. J. J. Ingalls, in memory of two of her grandsons. Over the Altar hangs a beautiful painted tapestry copy of Boticelli's Madonna and Child, given by Mrs. W. F. Donald and Mrs. W. P. Byram. The organ in the chapel was given by Mrs. J. M. Cain. The pews were put in by Trinity Church Guild. In fact, it is purposed to make every part of the chapel ever speak of a loving and thankful re- membrance of those who are gone before.
A
The Rev. John Henry Molineux, and the First Vested Choir
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And the church itself is speaking more and more of those who have lived and loved and worked within its walls. The twin windows over the entrance doors are the gift of Mrs. Mary F. DeForest, a long time member and benefactor not only of Trinity Parish, but of the Church in the Diocese as well. An exquisite Tiffany win- dow entitled "The Angel of Praise," was given by Mrs. Charles J. Drury in memory of her hus- band, a Vestryman of the parish. The Women's Guild built the "Good Shepherd" window to the memory of Bishop Leonard, and installed it in 1906. Mrs. J. J. Ingalls has had placed in the church a copy in glass of Holman Hunt's "Light of the World," which fills the window space near where she sits and will ever speak its message to all who view it. A lovely window of Madonna and Child preserves to memory the sainted life of Mrs. E. A. Mize, who found rest to her soul on Good Friday, 1898. The Bakewell and the Styles windows and the Dean window keep fresh in our minds the names and memories of those into whose labors we have entered. Next to the organ is another window of "Christ Blessing Little Children." which was given by the parents of some whose little hands had but touched our heart strings and then left us quivering with longing and with love.
Is it not a beautiful custom thus to surround ourseives with these mementos or memorials of the loved workers in the Master's Vineyard? How much more sacred to us comes to be the place
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where storied glass and lettered bronze, and chis- eled marble speak to us of those who in their day made glorious the garment of a good life. For this reason we are glad to have the new Altar rail in memory of Mrs. R. B. Morris and the bronze tablet to Mrs. Park and her sister, Mrs. Kellogg.
St. Andrew's Chapel, too has seen some changes during the past seven years. St. An- drew's Guild consists of from twelve to fourteen women who, with a revenue raised by the unso- licited sale of aprons and other articles made on demand, have completely changed the interior of the chapel. The platform has been extended across the end of the church, and seats erected for a vested choir. New pews have been built to take the place of benches, a new carpet has been laid in the sanctuary and center aisle. The roof has been re-shingled, a new furnace installed, a new organ purchased, and all taxes kept paid by the efforts of this band of women, aided from time to time by gifts 6 from friends afar and near. The Altar Guild has built a new credence shelf, and erected a reredos for the Altar. Miss Cora Cain has given a beautiful solid silver Paten and Chalice in memory of her brother, and Mrs. Mary Holbert has given two crystal and silver cruets in memory of her hus- band and her parents. And it is purposed to give a silver ciborium in memory of Roy Saggs, ever faithful scholar, choir boy, worshipper, who met an accidental death in this summer of 19II.
-
The Rev. W. R. Cross Fourteenth Rector of Trinity Parish
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In fact, death has marked these years with peculiar emphasis. Space would prevent the men- tion of all whom we have lost awhile; but who could forbear mentioning here Mrs. R. B. Morris, Mrs. Elizabeth Briggs, Mrs. C. B. Beitzel, dear Miss Mary Brown, Mr. Smart, Mr. John Price and Mr. Blish, as especially known and loved be- cause of their labors and who have fallen asleep during this rectorate. And it is with especial gratitude to God that the parish now looks on the Blish Memorial Altar and window as speak- ing fitly of him who has gone, and of her who thus perpetuates his spirit, along with her own devotion to their common Lord.
In October of this year 1911, there was blessed the Altar which is here pictured, with the window which is above it. The following descrip- tion may be helpful to those who can not see the original.
"A beautiful marble altar, presented to Trinity Episcopal church by Mrs. D. P. Blish, in loving memory of her husband, D. P. Blish, has been in- stalled. Its beauty and simplicity are striking. It is of Italian Carrara marble, taken from the Nero quarries, which date from the time of Nero. In quality it is very white, having few veins to mar its purity. The mensa, which is the shelf-like projection across the front, is 7 feet long and 30 inches wide, with a thickness of 2 inches, and is one solid piece of marble. It rests on a simple 5-inch moulding, which, in turn, is supported by
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four columns, the capitals of which are exquisite, being carved exceptionally deep and beautiful. The palleotto, or middle panel on the lower part of the Altar, is also one solid piece of carved mar- ble, with an Agnus Dei resting on the book with seven seals spoken of in the Revelation. 6 The Altar rests on the predella, upon which the priest stands while celebrating communion, and is the largest single piece of marble in the Altar, being 7 feet long and 3 feet wide. On top of the Altar, and filling the lower part of the niche, are two re-tables, finished at each end with carved sup- ports for the Eucharistic lights, and broken at the center by a finely sculptured tabernacle, on top of
which rests the cross. The door of the tabernacle forms a pleasing contrast to the white Altar, being of bronze, cast in one piece, and having on it the outline of the cross and the chalice in high relief. Above the tabernacle arises the figure of the Christ. It is 5 feet high, and carved out of one piece. The folds of the robe are wonderful in their deep cutting, and the face of the Christ is calm and very dignified. The hands are extended in a graceful attitude of blessing. At the epistle end of the Altar, the following inscription is cut : "To the glory of God, and in memory of David Parsh- all Blish, 1836-1907, thirty-years warden of this parish : 'He that eatest of this bread shall live
forever." This altar is a distinct addition to the works of art in Atchison. In time the window at the back of the altar will be replaced with stained glass. The old altar has been presented by
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this parish to Bethany College at Topeka and will be erected in the chapel of the school."
In 1907 the Rector was married in his Parish Church to Miss Caroline Mize, daughter of Mr. E. A. Mize and their home life has ever since been made beautiful by the kindly offices of affection- ate parishioners. The rectory has had a fine new porch added to the front, and new furnaces were built both in the rectory and church. The walls of the Church and Guild Hall have been redecor- ated and pictures for the latter have been given by the Primary Class, Mrs. C. J. Drury and Mrs. J. J. Ingalls.
The Vested Choir, the Trinity Church Guild, the Woman's Auxiliary, the Altar Guild, all have made good records for work and giving through these years. Before the city undertook the teach- ing of Domestic Science in its schools there was for three years a flourishing sewing school of more than one hundred children under the patron- age of Mrs. C. J. Drury and presided over in turn by Mrs. Sheffield Ingalls and Miss Florence Fox, assisted by a noble corps of teachers.
From time to time social meetings are held for the development of friendly intercourse. The boys of the choir have established a summer camp and enjoyed its privileges for ten days out of every summer since 1905. A Junior Auxiliary has been at work for two years under the direction of the best missionary this parish ever had, Miss Sarah Wal- ton, of the College Preparatory school.
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The Sunday Schools have developed some faithful children. Robert Kimball has only missed one Sunday in the past seven years. Bartholow and Virginia Park, DeLaskie Miller, Cly and Flor- ence Nicholson and Theodora Witt have almost as good a record, while the school stands second to none in point of faithful teachers whose names are written in another place. In parish, Diocese and General Church we have maintained the high standards set for us in days gone by. And best of all, we have wakened more and more to the fact that we are part of the great Catholic Church of God seeking to save that which knows Him not. "Missions" means more than ever it did before and our increased offerings show we have awak- ened to at least a partial sense of our duty to make "the knowledge of God cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." We are on the verge of a great day. We have had an honorable past, but the future lies before us big with promise, and the cheering note of hopefulness is that our children are in touch with the movement, and are doing their part; and not only the chil- dren but their elders, too. And here it is only right to say that many a name should be mention- ed here, had we the space, as we have the mind to do it, of those whose labors for this Parish and its welfare have been ceaseless, and at a cost of much personal sacrifice. To adequately write the history of this parish would be a task similar to that of justly writing the history of any Civil war conflict-the officers of the line are most often in
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