USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > All Saints church, Worcester, Massachusetts ; a centennial history, 1835-1935 > Part 11
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A communication from Bishop Davies:
"I am distressed beyond words at the news of the burning of All Saints. I had many tender associations with the Church and everything in it. But, as All Saints emerged from the Pearl Street fire stronger than ever, so I hope it will be again. You have a lot of able men and women to hold up your hands. Please count on me for any and every help in my power to give. And please express to our people my deep distress, my sympathy, my love, and my belief that by God's help we shall build together a still nobler Church to His glory.' "
The Altar Guild (Mrs. W. Irving Clark, president) ar- ranged a fitting sanctuary on the stage of Horticultural Hall. The cross taken from the crushed and broken altar of the Church was used on the first Sunday after the fire just as it was found, bent and blackened by the flames. It was repaired the next week, and was almost the only object taken from the burned edifice which could be used again.
The processional cross, a memorial gift, had been rescued by Mr. Bostock, the sexton, during the burning of the Church. At the first services in Horticultural Hall the cross was borne as usual by the crucifer in the processional with the full choir, for which vestments had been procured hastily by Mrs. Armitage, choir mother-borrowing from Trinity Church in Boston, and elsewhere. A piano was used by Mr. Webber, the organist.
Prayer books, hymnals, and alms basins were supplied by Trinity Church, St. Paul's Cathedral of Boston, and by St. John's of Worcester.
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At the first service, which packed Horticultural Hall, a Te Deum was sung as an expression of gratitude to God for His many favors, and thankfulness that the Parishioners were worshiping together in so satisfactory a place with every necessary perquisite for full services.
Not a link was broken in the chain of organization for the Church School. Deaconess Coe and Miss Scudds worked unceasingly and made complete arrangements for the transfer of the entire school to sessions in Horticultural Hall. The full teaching staff stood by, and overlooked incon- veniences. From the senior class to the kindergarten, the School children sensed the extent of the catastrophe and cooperated with the teachers in a most satisfactory and intelligent manner.
The city-wide expressions of abounding sympathy from everyone, friends and strangers alike, were evidence of the position which All Saints has long occupied in the commun- ity. All organization meetings were held on schedule time in various churches, halls, and other meeting places, and, in spite of countless handicaps, the Church's work went on in its steady and wonted routine.
The annual Parish meeting took place on January 25, in Union Church Parish House. In addition to the regular business meeting, gifts were announced of almost unbeliev- able generosity: a memorial chancel (the cost not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars) offered by Mrs. Charles G. Washburn in memory of Mr. Washburn (for forty-four years a devoted warden and vestryman of the Parish); Mrs. Wil- liam E. Rice's offer to replace the organ, which had originally been given by Mrs. Rice, and Mr. Rice's children and grandchildren, in memory of William Ellis Rice, for forty- eight years a vestryman; Eben Francis Thompson gener- ously announced his desire to replace the St. Francis stained glass window which he had given in memory of his parents.
In offering to present the memorial chancel Mrs. Wash- burn wrote:
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""'Noble souls through dust and heat Rise from disaster and defeat The stronger.
""'And conscious still of the divine Within them, lie on earth supine No longer.'
"This quotation was found among my husband's intimate papers. It expresses, I am sure, the feeling of the Parish- ioners of All Saints today and their determination to rebuild our Church with the least possible delay.
"In rebuilding we must face the fact that the perfected whole we have lost was the result of many years of sacrifice. The Church of 1932 was very different from the original building of 1875, enriched as it was by many beautiful memories. The Parish can and will rebuild. Individuals must replace the memorials.
"For many years All Saints Parish was one of my hus- band's major interests, to which he gave much time and thought. Desiring to carry on for him as best I can, I should like to assume the responsibility for the restoration of the Chancel. This I will do in his Memory if it meets with the approval of the Parish, pledging for that purpose whatever sum may be necessary up to one hundred thousand dollars.
Sincerely yours,
CAROLINE SLATER WASHBURN
January 25, 1932."
Within a week of the fire, Miss Eugenia Tiffany died, on January 28, a lifelong and devoted member of the Parish, indefatigable in her zeal and devotion to the work of the Church. Among her generous benefactions was the Hannah K. Tiffany Memorial Scholarship, through our Missionary Society to one of our missions in Liberia, as a memorial to her mother; in memory of members of her family, the beautiful oak doors and paneling of the sacristy when remodeled; and the beautiful altar cross of solid bronze with extra heavy gold plating. This cross, badly damaged by the fire, was perfectly restored, and has since always been in use on the high altar.
Miss Tiffany and Miss Sarah B. Hopkins were the organ-
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izers of the Worcester Branch of the Girls' Friendly Society, in 1892; a large proportion of its members came from Miss Tiffany's Bible Class at All Saints.
When the office of deaconess was created she was one of the first to recognize the importance of the work to be done, and one of the first to assist in its maintenance.
"Her loyalty to the Parish, and her devotion to its Mis- sions, her kindness to all, made her a true daughter of the Church."
Miss Tiffany's will provided that "eventually All Saints Church will receive $30,000 for the Endowment Fund of the Church."
The Building Committee chose as architects for the new Church Messrs. Frohman, Robb, and Little, of Boston (architects for the National Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, in Washington).
The E. J. Cross Company was chosen as builder. It was estimated that the new edifice would cost approximately $300,000, and would not differ greatly from the old Church in exterior appearance. The Building Committee comprised : George A. Gaskill, George Sumner Barton, Paul B. Morgan, Reginald Washburn, Herbert W. Estabrook, Albert W. Rice, Harry C. Midgley, Chandler Bullock, and the rector.
Many memorials in the old Church were generously replaced by the original donors.
On Easter Day at Horticultural Hall the services were largely attended. Seven hundred and twenty-five persons received Holy Communion, and the total attendance at all services was 1,358. The Easter Offering was $2,122. At the Church School Festival Service at 4:30 there were eight hundred present.
" 'Huntington Hall,' so called, has been rebuilt, and was first used for worship on All Saints Day, 1932, and for the present will be called 'All Saints Chapel,' where all services will be held till the opening of the new church for worship. The seating capacity will be about 350."
On Sunday, November 20, Bishop Davies preached at the eleven o'clock service, and afterwards laid the cornerstone
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of the new Church, at the northwest corner on the Pleasant Street side.
Conducted by the crucifer, Robert Bigelow, the choir led the processional, followed by the rector, associate minister, Bishop Davies, the wardens (Mr. George A. Gaskill and Mr. George Sumner Barton), and members of the vestry, who marched from the chapel, immediately after the Morning Service to the Pleasant Street side, where the new stone was laid. Members of the congregation and many visitors filled the street, and stood in silence while a simple service was read by the bishop. Workmen set the stone into its place, in perfect silence, and after a hymn had been sung by the choir, the group returned to the Church.
The cornerstone contained:
Copies of newspapers reporting the Church fire, Jan- uary 20, 1932
Copy of Mr. Lever's sermon the following Sunday
Complete chronological list of all the officers of All Saints Church from 1835 to 1932, including rectors, assistants, wardens, vestry, clerks and treasurers
Photographs of the inside and outside of the old Church A list of the members of the staff as of 1932 List of all presidents of organizations in 1932 List of chairmen of committees and leaders Copy of the Book of Common Prayer
Copy of the Report of the Building Committee of the old Church, in 1875, written by C. M. Bent Copy of the Parish leaflet
A complete list of all the memorials and special gifts made to All Saints Church from 1877 to 1932
At this same service, after the bishop's sermon, Mr. Lever announced that the new sacristy, which was nearing com- pletion, was given to the Parish in memory of Miss Sarah Bennett Hopkins, by Elizabeth P. Hopkins Aiken, her sister, of New York; Erastus Hopkins, her brother, of Carmel, California; and William S. B. Hopkins, her brother, of Worcester, who was the principal donor, for twenty-six years a member of the vestry and for fourteen years its clerk.
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Early in December, the rector suddenly resigned "as of January 1, 1933"; the vestry designated Reverend Joseph Rogers, associate minister since December, 1931, as minister in charge. Under trying circumstances he carried on for practically a full year, with dignity, efficiency and devotion, winning the lasting gratitude of the whole Parish.
At the annual Parish meeting for 1933 a budget of $46,000 was adopted. The meeting appointed Admiral Earle as chairman of a Campaign Committee to raise funds to complete the new Church.
Mr. Charles A. Bostock, sexton during almost twenty years, and a musician of unusual skill, took charge of the choir rehearsals at the middle of January, and played the organ for most of the Sunday services and on many other occasions, until September 1. As a proof of his devotion and loyalty to the Church, he carried on through the busy season of Lent and Easter with no compensation, and earned the appreciation and gratitude of the Parish thereby.
As to the cost of the new Church, $238,000 was received on insurance, through the skillful agency of Mr. E. J. Cross, from an inventory assiduously compiled by the Parish secre- tary. The total cost of the new fabric, up to September, 1935, was about $342,000, exclusive of the monumental gifts of chancel and organ, as well as all the other loving memorials with which the church fabric has already been enriched.
In his circular letter to the Parish, in regard to the financial campaign for completing the Church, Admiral Earle made this appeal (in part):
"The contracts have been recently let for Mrs. Wash- burn's Memorial in the Chancel and for Mrs. Rice's Memo- rial Organ. These cannot be installed until the church is heated, and we therefore must have our first campaign early in September to raise $30,000 so that the heating and the temporary lighting can be installed together with the per- manent floor. After this first campaign, it is expected we can worship in the new Church early in the coming year.
"To raise this $30,000 demands of each of us sacrificial giving. It is a real challenge, and if we love our Church and
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really desire its completion to a point where we can worship before the beautiful new Memorial altar, we should deprive ourselves of something to allow this great and good work to go on.
"'This is a difficult task, but we have faith in the future of All Saints Church, and loyalty and generosity of its members."
In spite of Admiral Earle's untiring labors as head of this drive, the campaign dragged, for several reasons: we had no settled rector to inspire our efforts, and had suffered much spiritual distress since Bishop Hobson's departure, more than three years ago; the financial depression had been wearing us down for almost four years, and was now at its nadir; the season of early middle September found many good givers still away from town, and nearly everybody feeling poor after vacation. At any rate, the campaign failed to reach its goal, netting $21,800.
A hand illuminated Litany Book has been given to the Church by Eben Francis Thompson and his son and daughter-the Reverend Harold H. R. Thompson and Mrs. James Howe Colton-in memory of Mary Luvanne Thomp- son. (Miss Beatrix Holmes, engrosser, of London, executed this beautiful piece of work.)
In the course of the summer, after a most careful canvass of the field, a call was fortunately extended to Reverend Richard Greeley Preston, at Grace Church, Newton, to become our rector. On December 3 (the same date that Dr. Huntington arrived in 1862) he began his ministry among us, and very shortly thereafter, won by his earnest- ness, frankness, and fine Christian character, we of All Saints, like storm tossed mariners, gliding into a peaceful haven, began to sigh with content and thank God for our returning state of spiritual security. May these two happy years prove but the foretaste of many still in store, under the same successful rectorate. And may the Dove of Epis- copacy, for at least many years to come, brood over some other Parish.
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RICHARD G. PRESTON Rector 1933-
A grateful tribute should here be offered to the long line of ardent young curates whose youthful enthusiasm, opti- mism and charm of personality have brought gladness to many a sad heart, and contributed largely to the develop- ment of the Parish.
At about this time, the Parish was grieved to learn of the resignation of Deaconess Coe, after nearly twenty years of most devoted service. Of her important work and high Christian character, Mr. Preston wrote thus feelingly in the leaflet:
"I do want to say just a word in reference to the severance at this time of Deaconess Coe's official connection with All Saints. I can readily appreciate the ties which Deaconess Coe has established in her nineteen years' work in this Par- ish, and the debt of gratitude which many feel that they owe to her untiring devotion. She has labored unceasingly in the work of the Church School and has given her best to the program of Religious Education in the Parish. The comfort and cheer which she has brought to many homes will long be remembered, and should be a constant incentive in the lives which she has touched during her ministry in this place. That the Vestry shares my feeling is evident by the following action taken at its last meeting: 'The Vestry desires to express to Deaconess Elizabeth H. Coe in behalf of it, and the members of the Parish, their grateful appreciation for her faithful and devoted service to the Parish for many years.' It was voted to continue her salary for six months in recog- nition of her long and devoted service."
As joy and sorrow must mingle in most of our earthly happenings, so was this month of December, even at the blessed Christmastide, saddened for us all by the departure, after lingering illnesses, of two of the most devoted women of our Parish: Mrs. Leonard P. Kinnicutt on December 28, and Mrs. George A. Gaskill on the day following. Both were lifelong members of the Parish, for which they had worked loyally and unceasingly. Mrs. Kinnicutt, in addi- tion to many important material gifts, including $25,000 to the Endowment Fund, had been long affiliated with the Altar Guild, and has left as legacies of her skillful industry many beautiful examples of exquisite embroidery. Mrs.
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Gaskill with her splendid enthusiasm and a courageous optimism maintained till the end, despite the inroads of insidious disease, carried on, in the third generation, the highest family traditions of devoted service.
On February 10, 1934, Miss Anna L. Nichols, faithful and devoted Parish Librarian during many years, was called to her great reward. Her labors of love were unceasing, and especially the priceless set of morocco-bound scrapbooks, occupying a full shelf, and dating back to the very begin- nings of our Parish history, is a permanent tribute to the constancy of her devotion.
Easter Day of 1934 brought spiritual comfort to the Parish, as celebrating the opening of the new church for public worship. Crowded congregations thronged all the services, and a splendid offering of $10,500 was devoted to the church building fund. The noble gifts of Mrs. Wash- burn's memorial chancel, windows and choir stalls, and Mrs. Rice's magnificent organ, rendered these services churchly and adequate, as they could not possibly have been without their munificence. At this place should be grate- fully mentioned also the stately memorial chapel dedicated to the memory of Miss Emma Sophia Taylor, by Forrest W. Taylor. The six cathedral pillars of the nave, the hand- somely carved oak pulpit, the lectern (this latter the gift of the Wednesday Club) and the ornamental hymnboards, all bear witness to the affectionate generosity of devoted friends, individual or collective. The pulpit, whose panels contain figures of Phillips Brooks, Dr. Huntington and Dr. Vinton, has been presented by Mrs. John Clarke Dewey, in memory of her husband. For a full catalog of priceless memorials, representing the affectionate devotion of hosts of loyal friends, we must regretfully refer the reader to the Book of Memorials.
In November, two beautiful stained glass windows were set in position in the north aisle of the nave: the eastern one (toward Irving Street) depicting St. Martin of Tours, is given by his family in memory of Gurdon Taft Williams, son of Dr. and Mrs. Frederick H. Williams; the other, (toward
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/1/1
THE PRESENT CHANCEL (1935)
the chancel) represents St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi, and is the gift of Mrs. Harriet Tyler Verry, in memory of Dora Persis Tyler.
The carvings of the reredos (of Caen stone superior in texture and general quality) are not only of rare beauty, but are also remarkable for their symbolism and homiletic value. This perfection of the graver's art was executed in Italy, under the direction of Messrs. Lualdi of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to whom was awarded the general contract for the erection of this priceless memorial. It is forty-two feet in height and comprises some sixty tons of carved stone.
The three large central panels of the reredos depict the Nativity, the Crucifixion, and the Ascension of Our Lord; at the immediate right are the figures of the evangelists, St. Luke and St. John; above them, the tableau "Restoring the Sight to the Blind," surmounted by the adoring Angel Raphael. At the left of the central panels are the comple- mentary figures of the other two evangelists, St. Matthew and St. Mark; above, "The Raising of Lazarus," with the adoring Angel Gabriel at the summit. Eighteen of the major saints of the Church, including the eleven apostles (St. Paul supplying the place of Judas Iscariot) occupy the outer positions on both sides.
The sudden death of our loyal senior vestryman, George Tufts Dewey, on June 5, 1934, came as a great shock to the Parish, as wholly unexpected. This is the tribute offered by his fellow vestrymen:
"In the death of Mr. George Tufts Dewey, in his seventy- sixth year, All Saints Parish lost a member whose active devotion to it extended over a period of time not enjoyed by many. He was one of the few remaining parishioners who attended the old Church on Pearl Street as well as the two churches which succeeded it. Brought up in this Parish, he had a profound knowledge of its history, and knew intimately the many Clergymen who had served the Parish with distinction and honor.
"He was a Vestryman continually for over forty-six years. He was faithful in attending the meetings of the Vestry, conservative in his views, kindly and fair in his judgments, helpful in his suggestions, and conscious of the
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obligations of his office. His interest in the Church was not limited to the activities of the Parish, but extended to the Diocese, to the Conventions of which he was often sent as one of our delegates.
"The Wardens and Vestry feel a sense of personal loss, and with the Parish, will miss the service which he so will- ingly, generously and unostentatiously rendered."
On the evening of All Saints Day, 1934, the United Festival Service was again celebrated, after only two years' lapse, following the fire. The full choirs of our six Episcopal churches conspired to render the occasion supremely impres- sive, the sermon being preached by our own rector. The now time-honored anthem "Souls of the Righteous," by T. Tertius Noble, rendered a capella by the united Choirs, brought lively emotion to the hearts of many.
The Altar Guild (a band of most devoted women whose sweet ministrations require their presence in the preparation for all the services, however early, of Holy Communion) has presented as a votive offering for the new church an exquisite hand-wrought solid silver cover for the piscina, or basin used for washing the chalice after the celebration of the Sacrament; this churchly offering is a gift to the Sarah Bennett Hopkins memorial sacristy. As a part of their semiannual thank offering, following the fire of 1932, five stoles and many pieces of beautiful linen, including surplices, were fashioned by loving hands to replace those lost in the burning of the Church.
Equally constant and loyal is the consecrated work of the Women's Auxiliary (formerly the Missionary Society), the Wednesday Club, and several other organizations of women, engaged steadily and effectively in furthering the Master's work.
At the annual Parish meeting in January, 1935, the by- laws of the Parish were amended to introduce the system of rotation in the service of vestrymen (the wardens, clerk, and treasurer being exempt from its operation). In accord- ance with this plan, four vestrymen were elected for one, two, and three years respectively, all being ineligible for immediate reëlection.
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At this annual meeting the resignation of Harry C. Midg- ley as treasurer, after fourteen years of faithful service, was accepted with due regret. The rector commented feelingly on this severance of duty.
As a result of the every-member-canvass of 1934, ably conducted by Mr. Washburn and Mr. Armstrong on the lines of a Golden Rule campaign, the current parochial funds were materially increased, and the way prepared for putting the Parish finances on a more stable basis than for many years previous.
The Church School Commencement on June 2 showed an an enrollment of 601 pupils, with 75 officers and teachers. A new plan for the division of recitation periods has the advantage of requiring, on certain Sundays, the attendance of the Senior Department at the regular eleven o'clock service.
And now, as we laity of All Saints Parish stand together almost on the threshold of our first Centennial, let it be borne in mind (with all due and reverential respect for our beloved bishop and rector) that, just as this history is written by laymen and primarily for the laity of this Parish, so is it that, first of all for the Glory of God, and next, for the spirit- ual comfort of all of us laypeople, our present beautiful fabric, already, after less than two years' occupancy, en- riched by many affectionate memorials, has actually been reared. Bishops may come and rectors may go, but the rank and file of old All Saints goes marching on forever! Just as it is for the listeners alone that a concert singer trills, an orator weaves his spell, and a preacher exhorts to Heaven, so is it for the people of the Parish that this proud and noble fabric of the third All Saints has risen phoenix- like, from the ashes of the second; for us the glorious new organ peals out its notes of majesty, the gleaming windows shine, and the rich oak carving glows; so that we who love and revere All Saints know well how true is the inspired motto of the medieval saints: Via crucis via lucis! Truly the way of the Cross is the path of Light!
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APPENDIX
LIST OF RECTORS OR MISSIONARIES
THOMAS HUBBARD VAIL
1835
Missionary
FERNANDO CORTEZ PUTNAM
1842
Missionary
HENRY BLACKALLER
1843
Missionary
GEORGE THOMAS CHAPMAN
1844-46
Rector
GEORGE HENRY CLARK
1846-49
Rector
NATHANIEL TUCKER BENT
1849-52
Rector
ARCHIBALD M. MORRISON
1853-56
Rector
WILLIAM H. BROOKS
1856-58
Minister in Charge
EDGAR W. HAGER
1859-62
Rector
WILLIAM REED HUNTINGTON
1862-83
Rector
LAWRENCE HENRY SCHWAB
1884
Minister in Charge
ALEXANDER HAMILTON VINTON
1884-1902
Rector
L. W. SALTONSTALL
1902
Minister in Charge
FREDERICK W. BAILEY
1902
Minister in Charge
THOMAS FREDERICK DAVIES
1903-11
Rector
CHARLES LANCASTER SHORT
1911-12, 20-21
Minister in Charge
LEWIS GOUVENEUR MORRIS
1912-20
Rector
HENRY WISE HOBSON
1921-30
Rector
LEONARD BEELEY RASMUSSON
1930-31
Minister in Charge
ALLEN WILLIAMS CLARK
1931
Rector
JOHN HOWARD LEVER
1931-32
Minister in Charge, and Rector
JOSEPH ROGERS
1933
Minister in Charge
RICHARD GREELEY PRESTON
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