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THE CHURCH OF THE ADVENT
BOSTON
1844-1944
THE
CHURCH
OF
THE
ADVENT,
BOSTON
1844
1944
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01233 6613
GC 974.402 B65PAR
0
In. B. Goodrich: 44
THE WORD
WAS
MADE
FLESH
AND
DWELT
AMONG
Us
COPYRIGHT, 1944, BY THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
IN these pages is told the interesting story of the One Hundred Years of the Church of the Advent. A parish is not a building or an institution, but a continuous flow of life from the world of space and time into Eternity. We thank God for the good example of thousands of men and women who in their generation have served their Master in the fellowship of this Church. As the present Bishop of the Diocese, I am deeply grateful for all that the Rector and people of the Church of the Advent do in so many and varied ways, for the community, the Diocese and the Church at large. My affectionate good wishes go with you in the new century, with the prayer that God will bless your every endeavor.
HENRY KNOX SHERRILL Bishop of Massachusetts
iii
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Foreword
T HE approach of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Church of the Advent, and the plans be- ing made for the proper celebration of that event, demanded that the history of the first century of the life of the parish be recorded and permanently preserved in printed form.
Miss Ann Maria Mitchell, a devoted communicant of the Church of the Advent and the appointed Historian of the Parish, prior to her death in 1942 had assembled much val- uable material relating to the parish from its earliest days, which has been most helpful in the compilation of this work.
After Miss Mitchell's death Professor Samuel Eliot Morison, the eminent historian and a member of the Advent corporation, was elected to succeed Miss Mitchell; but almost immediately thereafter he was called to the National Service as Historian of Naval Operations during the war. In 1943 the undersigned was appointed Assistant Historian of the Parish, and undertook to fulfill the duties of the posi- tion during Commander Morison's absence. When later it became obvious that the publication of the History should be coincident with the celebration of the anniversary in December, 1944, and that Commander Morison would be completely preoccupied with the duties of his position in the United States Navy, it became necessary to forego the anticipated revision of the manuscript by the Historian, and to take immediate steps for its publication.
Fortunately the records both of the corporation and of the vestry were found to be intact and complete from the beginning. Much information has been obtained from them, and from other sources. Special acknowledgment is due and is gratefully tendered to the Senior Warden, Mr. Wil- liam K. Richardson, a faithful and devoted member of the corporation for fifty-four years, and to other members of
V
vi
FOREWORD
the corporation and of the parish, for advice and helpful suggestions; to Mr. Charles E. Bacon, of the corporation, for invaluable assistance in publication; to Mr. Joseph H. Hunting, long the Parish Verger, for important historic data ; and finally, but not least, to the Reverend Rector, Fr. Hale, for his constant interest and encouragement.
The fiftieth anniversary of the first public service of the Parish of the Advent was commemorated on December 1, 1894, when the present church building was consecrated. At that time was published a Sketch of the History of the Parish of the Advent in the City of Boston, covering the years 1844-1894, and dedicated "to the memory of the Reverend William Croswell, D.D., the first Rector of the Parish of the Advent, by whose exertions under Divine guidance the foundations were laid upon which his succes- sors have built and to whom all who receive the ministra- tions of the Church of the Advent owe a lasting debt of gratitude."
The first portion of the Sketch, and probably the major part of it, was written by the late Edward Fitch Oliver, M.D. Dr. Oliver died in 1893; he had been closely asso- ciated with the life of the parish almost from its foundation. The Sketch sets forth with such accuracy, sympathetic devotion, and completeness of record the important features of the life of the parish during those fifty years that it is fitting that it be incorporated in great part in this present volume.
To this review of the first fifty years as written by Dr. Oliver and completed by Mr. George O. G. Coale, have occa- sionally been added [in brackets] such further information or comment, derived from the parish records and other sources, as may be pertinent and of interest or value.
WALLACE GOODRICH
Contents
PAGE
THE BEGINNINGS OF A PARISH .
1
THE HISTORY OF THE PARISH .
6
THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS 105
THE LAITY OF THE PARISH 117
THE MUSIC OF THE ADVENT .
123
THE PARISH HOUSE . 1
. 143
THE PARISH LIBRARY
. 149
THE ENDOWMENT FUND .
152
PARISH ORGANIZATIONS . 156 .
STAFF AND OFFICERS OF THE PARISH
. 182
GIFTS AND MEMORIALS
· 193
INDEX
209
vii
THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON
»
THE NAVE AND CHAPELS
The Beginnings of a Parish
(From a Paper read before the Men's Guild of the Church of the Advent December 31, 1925, by George O. G. Coale, son of a founder of the Parish and a member of the Cor- poration since 1878)
T HE organization of the Parish of the Advent in 1844 grew out of the yearning of certain earnest people for something more expressive of their religion than the services they found established in the parishes of the city of Boston. Before touching on the details of the con- ception of the parish, it seems well to dwell for a few moments, in a very sketchy way, on the conditions in the Church which gave rise to the desire for a new and dif- ferent parish.
"Our Mother Church of England was being awakened to a knowledge of her birthright by Keble, Pusey and their friends, comparatively few in number but zealous in their desire to stress their membership in the Holy Catholic Church, and to assert and teach her age-old doctrines as true and helpful to the soul. The Church of England had been overridden by the State, which appointed her bishops and leading dignitaries and seems to have been very care- ful, in those days at least, to see that they were men of sound 'Protestant' views. This naturally made some theo- logians and others very restive; and the Rev. John Keble with a group of his fellow-workers sought to emphasize in their teaching those distinctive doctrines upon which, in the early days of the Church, proper emphasis had been laid, and which had been largely lost sight of in the Reformation. Their opponents fought vigorously for the maintenance of
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THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT
things as they were. But though those opponents were able unfortunately to point out that in some cases the new, or rather revived teaching had led to secession to the Roman Church, they had to meet the learning and reasoning of men who had no such tendency and had not been permanently affected by the atmosphere of the Reformation, having gone back in their studies to the writings of the Apostolic Fathers of the Church and their successors.
"The lives of the men who were leading the new move- ment were above reproach. They were saintly, humble- minded teachers, at Oxford or in the pulpit, teaching noth- ing new, but restating and defining doctrines well known to the deeper students of Church history, which had faded from the common view, or been obscured by the violent anti-Roman prejudices of the day.
"The Rev. Dr. Pusey, one of this group, appears not to have been fully in sympathy with the others until after the issue of the Tracts for the Times had begun in 1833. He then became interested and a close student of the pre- Reformation teaching, and by 1835 his real life-work began. In that year he preached a sermon on The Holy Eucharist, a Comfort to the Penitent. For this he was suspended by the authorities of the University of Oxford for three years from the function of preaching. On reading this sermon now, one is struck with the likeness of its teaching to that with which we are all familiar, and to which we now sub- scribe. Both he and Keble were able students of theology, simple almost to austerity in their private life and habits, gentle and kindly to all sorts and conditions of men.
"Keble was born in 1792-eight years before Dr. Pusey -and, when under nineteen years of age, held the most coveted honor in Oxford, a fellowship in Oriel College. In 1831 he was made Professor of Poetry at Oxford. Two years later he preached a sermon before the University which his friend, Dr. Newman, another of the group, is
3
THE BEGINNINGS OF A PARISH
stated to have said 'initiated the Oxford Movement.' He had graduated with higher honors than, with one exception, had ever been attained in the University. He became his father's assistant as curate in his birthplace, the Parish of Fairford in Hampshire, not a position which gave his ad- versaries much opportunity to persecute him. It was not sufficiently prominent.
"His Christian Year was first published anonymously, and its authorship only gradually leaked out. It ran through one hundred and fifty-eight editions within forty-five years after its first publication in 1827. It was recognized imme- diately as pervaded with a remarkable tone of religious feeling; at once deep, pure and tender. Later, he had a parish at Hursley which gave the name to the tune we associate with his hymn 'Sun of my Soul.'
"Such were typical leaders of the Oxford or Tractarian Movement who were revivifying the Church of England, striving to bring back after long years of apathy and per- verted views, her memory of her rightful heritage, and by the Grace of God leading her again to a knowledge of those blessings to which she was entitled.
"This movement, which began only a few years before the founding of our parish, became known in this country and was a matter of great concern, especially in New Eng- land, which had been largely settled by Puritans and the descendants of those who were responsible for the extrava- gances of the Reformation. Here they figured mainly as Congregationalists who as individuals claimed the right to choose and ordain the ministers of their congregations and consistently threw off all form and ceremonial in their services. Neither in England nor in this country did the Puritan atmosphere fail to have its influence. As a rule, those who were of Church ancestry and upbringing did stay within her fold with a loyalty which must have been Heaven-sent-although very often without much under-
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THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT
standing of her true nature; but the violent condemnation, even ridicule, of anything that one might call worshipping by outward acts, anything that magnified the emotional side of worship as against the alleged purely intellectual, and recognition of the supernatural in religion-all this affected the thought and the actions of the unenlightened, the timid and the lukewarm, of whom, alas! there are many in all groups of Christians. Our churches were closed from Sunday to Sunday, and, as places for private devotion, were unknown. Communion service came not oftener than once a month, at noon! Saints days were ignored. The music was made at stated times in the service by four paid singers, more as diversifications than as acts of worship. Responses were inaudible. Children were taught practically nothing about their Church, nor were they as a rule ex- amined in the catechism 'openly in the Church' as required by the rubric. Parishes were supported by pew rents and the poor were not made welcome. These things, and others that seem strange for people with the Prayer Book in their hands, were so, hereabouts, even in the '60's and much later; but the seed had been sown for better things-and with that sowing we have now to deal.
"The story of the conception of our parish is best told in the language of a statement prepared and signed many years ago by a man who in his search for the Truth first suggested the formation of this parish-strangely enough up to that time not a Churchman but a Congregationalist. Dr. Richard H. Salter was a thoughtful man living in a thoughtful and religious atmosphere.
"In 1894, at the fiftieth anniversary, there was published a Sketch of the parish. The portion relating to its early history was written by Dr. F. E. Oliver, at that time a member of the Corporation, but associated with the parish from its foundation and for some years a member of its first choir, a volunteer quartette made up of members of
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THE BEGINNINGS OF A PARISH
the congregation. Having known Dr. Salter for many years, he secured from him in 1890 a statement which was written and dated by his wife and signed by him, a portion of which was printed in the Sketch."
With Dr. Salter's statement, which was dated May, 1890, begins the history of the Parish of the Advent recorded in the following pages.
The History of the Parish 1844-1851
O NE evening, late in the autumn of 1843, a gentleman then living in Bowdoin Street, dissatisfied with the condition of the Congregational body of which he had long been a member, and who had been drawn to consider the claims of the Episcopal Church, conceived the idea of form- ing a new Church parish in the city of Boston. In his own words: "Being discontented with my religious position, my thoughts had turned in the direction of the Episcopal Church. I was, however, a close guardian of these thoughts and of the plans and ideas they suggested" until the evening above mentioned, when "I went into the office of a friend and neighbor,* and, finding him alone, said rather abruptly, 'Doctor, what should you think of forming a new Episcopal church?' He looked surprised, and had no ready reply. I then said to him that I wanted to talk with him about mat- ters relating to the Episcopal Church. He was at once a cordial and interested listener. I told him frankly I had for a long time been thinking deeply on the subject. I had hitherto spoken to no one, and I spoke now because circum- stances were such that I wished to change my present posi- tion. I had tried the Episcopal churches of Boston, and found them, as conducted, little or no better than the Con- gregational. I did not like them. They had the Prayer- book, but hardly its spirit; and they did not follow its principles. The doctor here replied, 'I agree with you.' I added: 'I have come to talk with you on this matter. You are an Episcopalian, and will understand me, and will know
* Dr. William Edward Coale.
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THE YEARS 1844-1851
whether it would be possible to get together a sufficient number of Churchmen to support a new church.'"
A few days later the two gentlemen above mentioned, with two others, met to discuss the proposed plan, which was that a church be formed in the spirit and according to the principles of the Book of Common Prayer,-a church supported by the free-will offerings of the worshippers, with free seats, where rich and poor might meet alike, with- out distinction, for worship; and where provision should be made for daily as well as weekly services. It was sug- gested that Dr. George C. Shattuck might be interested in the movement, and would perhaps be willing, should he like the plan, to assist it financially. These gentlemen continued to meet and discuss the proposed plan; and Dr. Shattuck, having been consulted, joined with them, and showed much interest in the undertaking.
The character of this new enterprise may be judged from the earnest desire of its originators for a wider dissemina- tion of Catholic truth and the opening of the way for its more frequent hearing by all sorts and conditions of men through the establishment of a church having free seats. Moreover, they hoped for a stricter adherence on the part of the clergy and laity alike to the principles which form the basis of our Holy Religion.
Before many months had elapsed the plan assumed a definite shape. On the 10th of September, 1844, a meeting of several gentlemen interested in the project was held in the Sunday-school room of Grace Church, at which the whole subject was discussed; and it was finally agreed that a request, signed by seven qualified voters,* should be made for the call of a legal meeting for the purposes of organiza- tion. Accordingly, a warrant was issued by John Codman,
* The signers were Charles P. Gordon, Robert M. Copeland, Rich- ard H. Dana, Jr., Theodore Metcalf, Dr. W. E. Coale, Dr. Richard H. Salter, and Charles R. Bond.
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THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT
Esq .; and four days later, on the 14th of September, a meeting was held at the house of Dr. George C. Shattuck, on Cambridge Street, and an organization effected. At this meeting, at which twelve members were present, committees were appointed to prepare a constitution and to procure a place of worship. At a subsequent meeting held on the 24th of September a constitution was reported and adopted, the object of the organization, as set forth in the first arti- cle, being "to secure to a portion of the city of Boston the ministrations of the Holy Catholic Church ; and more espe- cially to secure the same to the poor and needy in a manner free from unnecessary expense and all ungracious circum- stances." In the second article it was provided that the corporation should consist of the rector of the parish, ex officio, the assistant rector,-should there be one,-and the following persons and their successors: William Foster Otis, Robert M. Copeland, Richard H. Salter, T. M. J. Dehon, William E. Coale, John Codman, Richard H. Dana, Richard H. Dana, Jr., Robert Farley, George C. Shattuck, Jr., William J. Dale, Theodore Metcalf, Charles R. Bond, Charles P. Gordon, Henry Burroughs, Thomas D. Morris, J. H. Adams, Jr., I. C. Bates and Theron Metcalf; and it was also provided that the corporation should consist of not less than twelve nor more than twenty members, and should fill all vacancies in its number. At this meeting it was also reported that a place of worship could be had at the corner of Lowell and Causeway Streets in a building then being erected.1 As it was understood that this hall could not be completed in time for the first service, which was to take place on the first Sunday in Advent, a room was leased through the agency of Mr. John P. Tarbell, from Mr. Trull, in a building numbered 13 Merrimac Street, until the hall was ready for use.
1 [The rental asked, $500, per annum, was at first considered ex- orbitant ; but on November 6, 1844, it was reported that the lease had been signed.]
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THE YEARS 1844-1851
The most important question, after all, was who should lead the new parish as its rector. Until this meeting the matter was not formally discussed. Many who were inter- ested in the movement had known the Rev. William Cros-
DOCTOR CROSWELL
well, formerly rector of Christ Church, Boston; and, when his name was suggested, he was at once unanimously chosen to be the rector of the church to be called the "Church of the Blessed Advent." Mr. Croswell was the son of the Rev. Dr. Harry Croswell, rector of Trinity Church, New Haven. Soon after his ordination he had accepted the assistant rec- torship of Christ Church in Boston; and on the resignation
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THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT
of the rector, not long after, in May, 1829, he was called to the rectorship, and entered upon his duties on the 31st of that month, as he expressed it, "in weakness, and in fear and in much trembling." For eleven years he remained at Christ Church, resigning in the summer of 1840, to the great regret of his many parishioners. He had already accepted the rectorship of St. Peter's, Auburn, N. Y .; and there he continued until his call to Boston, a period of four
. years. His previous career in Boston had brought him many friends ; for he was a man of the highest culture, and of a deeply religious nature. He was firm in his belief, but genial and courteous, with all those qualities which distin- guish a Christian gentleman. Certainly, as it proved, no one could have been selected better fitted for the position he was called upon to fill.
At a meeting of the parish held on St. Luke's Day a letter was read from the rector-elect, accepting the rector- ship of the parish; and at the same meeting Mr. Richard H. Dana, Sr., accepted the office of senior warden, and Mr. Charles P. Gordon was elected junior warden. Soon it was announced that a contract had been made for the hall on the corner of Lowell and Causeway Streets, so that the preparations were now nearly completed for the open- ing services.
Ten years had now elapsed since the commencement of the Catholic revival in the Anglican Church; and it was natural that in the establishment of a new parish on a strictly churchly basis, with free seats for rich and poor alike, and dependent for its support upon the voluntary offerings of the worshippers, the influence of that move- ment, both in its ritual and teaching, should be felt and recognized. With a corporation self-perpetuating, and hence independent of the fluctuations and uncertainties to which most parishes, with their ever-changing congrega- tions are always open, a more Catholic standard than that
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THE YEARS 1844-1851
to which the Church in Massachusetts had been accustomed hitherto could be more easily maintained. The time seemed to have come to throw off the shackles that had bound her for so many years to Puritan tradition, and to reaffirm, by a more distinctive teaching and ritual, the Catholic doctrines always held by the Anglican Church. Such was the desire both of the parish and its rector.
A few days before the opening services of the new parish the following printed card had been circulated, notifying the public of the character of the proposed enterprise :-
THE CHURCH OF THE ADVENT
Has been recently organized and incorporated with a view to se- cure to the inhabitants of the north-western portion of the City of Boston 2 the ministrations of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and more especially to secure the same to the poor and needy, in a manner free from unnecessary expense and all ungracious, cir- cumstances.
A convenient place of worship is about to be provided in the building now in course of erection on the corner of Lowell and Causeway Streets.
Until this building is completed, temporary arrangements have been made for holding divine service in an "upper room" at No. 13 Merrimac Street, within a few doors of Causeway Street, to com- mence on Advent Sunday, the first day in December.
The sittings will be free to all. Permanent seats, however, will be appropriated to those who signify their intention to become constant occupants.
The Church will be supported, as all churches were formerly wont to be, by the voluntary oblations of the worshippers. In accordance with the precepts of God's word, and the order of His
[The Episcopal churches in Boston were Christ Church, in Salem Street (1723) ; Trinity Church, Summer Street (1734) ; St. Paul's, Tremont Street (1820), and Grace Church, Temple Street (1830). The latter parish was dissolved and the church building sold in 1865 to the Methodist Episcopal congregation who had been worshipping in a church on North Russell Street since 1827. The Church of the Messiah was organized in 1843, but services were held in a hall on the corner of Washington and Common Streets until 1848, when the parish moved to Florence Street.]
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THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT
Church, opportunity will be afforded for each individual, whether young or old, to "offer his gift upon the Altar" in that part of divine service which is called "the offertory." "Everyman ac- cording as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of neces- sity, for God loveth a cheerful giver."
A prominent object, in addition to the usual offices of worship, will be the thorough catechetical training of the children in the principles and practice of Christ's religion, as set forth in the Book of Common, Prayer.
The Co-operation of all who are disposed to take a part in this good work is respectfully and earnestly solicited.
For further information, apply to the rector, the Rev. W. Cros- well, 7 Crescent Place, or to either of the following gentlemen : R. H. Dana, Senior Warden; C. P. Gordon, Junior Warden; R. M. Copeland, Theodore Metcalf, T. J. M. Dehon, T. D. Morris, W. E. Coale, R. H. Dana, Jr., R. H. Salter, C. R. Bond, Vestry- men.
The Rector will hold himself in readiness to attend to any of the duties of his calling, public or private; especially those con- nected with the offices for the Visitation and Communion of the Sick, the Burial of the Dead, &c.
In accordance with this announcement, on the first Sun- day in Advent, which occurred on the first day of December, 1844, the first services of the new parish were held at 13 Merrimac Street; and although the day was "rather unpro- pitious without," as Dr. Croswell expressed it in a letter to his father, "the King's daughter was all glorious within." "Our loft," he adds, "was crowded all day and evening with a congregation that seemed much gratified and most hopeful for the future of the new parish." In a letter written a week later he writes that "our loft is full to overflowing. Yesterday afternoon troops of people went away for scar- city of room, and many remained standing during the whole service. Some sat round the footsteps of the Altar. At present we have three services a day." So in this plain and humble apartment the services continued, the congregation
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