USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 5
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Mr. Smith's interests outside his own Parish were keen and varied. He was instrumental in promoting the District Nurse Association, of which he was an enthusiastic charter member. He worked whole heartedly for the success of the local branch of the Massachusetts Federation of Churches, and was its first president. "I remember very well Mr. Smith's addresses," said Dr. Neil McPherson, speaking of the meetings of this branch, "they were so beautifully worded, and their appeals for true affiliation were so strong and convincing." Mr. Smith also, did much to further the work and interest of a home for feeble-minded children at Belchertown.
But his zealous, ambitious spirit was housed in too frail a body to carry on the many duties of so large a parish, and to the great regret of all who knew him, he was forced to resign May, 1915. Mr. Smith's high sense of duty, unselfishness, and love for his people, his work, his church, is touchingly shown in a letter to his parishioners at that time. He wrote: "For many years, my physicians have warned that the work is far beyond my strength. So long, however, as the matter remained purely personal, the decision (to resign) could be postponed. But during the past winter it became increasingly clear to me, that it was no longer solely a problem concerning my own wel- fare. It would soon become a question of sacrificing the best
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interests of Christ Church. This made the decision imperative."
After a season of complete rest, Mr. Smith assumed the editorship of The Churchman. In recognition of his success in this field the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge conferred upon him the honorary degree of D. D.
On September 27, 1922, Dr. Smith succumbed to the disease, from which he had been a patient sufferer, for over twenty-five years. A simple funeral service was held in Grace Church, New York.
Through the pages of The Churchman, and leading news- papers, high tribute was paid to his strong personality, his missionary spirit, his scholarly attainments, and many other fine characteristics of this many-sided great man,-by clergymen of his own and other churches, by nurses, physicians, The Churchman staff, laymen, scholars, and many in humble walks of life. Dr. Slattery said of his dear friend, Dr. Smith: "In a letter which he wrote me when he thought the end was near, to be opened after the mystery we call death, he said:
'You know the controversial spirit that has come out in my Churchman work is not really me. I have never preached that way. I really am a pastor.
I think it might help some young fellows who break down early in their ministry to know that twenty years ago a London specialist advised me to give up the active ministry. I took St. Paul's, Milwaukee, instead. My ministry has probably been just as useful as it would have been had I had strong health. It has been a disappointment to refuse some of the places that have been offered to me, but I think it has been for the best.'
Somewhere today, I believe, the Lord God is telling this man that he has fought a good fight and has gained a great victory."
In the early part of 1925, Bishop Slattery wrote a sympath- etic and revealing biographical sketch of Dr. William Austin Smith as a prelude to certain sermons and articles published in the Atlantic Monthly, that Dr. Smith wished so grouped and published after his death, primarily for his children.
THE REV. JOHN MOORE McGANN
1915-
The Rev. John Moore McGann was born at Bellefonte, Penn., the son of the Rev. Byron McGann and Mary Elizabeth McGann. He was graduated from Trinity College with the degree of A. B. in 1894, and from the Episcopal Theological School with the degree of B. D. in 1897. He was made deacon by Bishop Whitaker in 1897, and ordained priest by Bishop Potter, the following year. His first parish was the Church of the Holy Spirit at Boston. Then from 1905-1908 he served as rector of St. Paul's Church at Erie, Penn. From there he went to St. Paul's Church, Columbus, Ohio, and then became rector of Trinity Church, Chicago (1911-1915), from which parish he came to Springfield.
Mr. F. Vernon Losee has recently come to Christ Church (1927) as Assistant Minister. His immediate predecessors were the Rev. Edmund R. Laine, who became Dean of St. Luke Cathedral, Portland, Maine, the Rev. William E. Soule who served for about two years, and the Rev. Benjamin L. Ramsey, who as Associate Minister won the love and respect of all the Parish, and whose resignation to accept a call to St. Peter's Church, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey was accepted with sincere regret. After a service of five and one half years he carried to his new field, "the unqualified appreciation of Christ Church and the grateful affection of his Rector."
During Mr. McGann's rectorship Mrs. Annie H. Brown resigned the office of director of religious education to become assistant to the Educational Secretary of the Diocese of Mass- achusetts. During this period she also served as Director of Religious Education in the Church of Our Savior at Longwood.
The Rev. John M. McGann
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In September 1926, she resigned this work, and is now "paro- chial director of religious education in St. Paul's Church, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia." Mrs. Effie H. Fisk has been a faithful member of the staff since April 1, 1919. Quiet and unassuming, she has proved hard-working and efficient, tried and true. Honorable mention ought to be made of the Parish Visitor, Miss Josephine Blackfan, who came as a voluntary, unpaid worker during the rectorate of Dr. Slattery, and con- tinues, on a nominal salary. Three rectors have known her unswerving loyalty, her conscientiousness and her industry. She gives her time and strength unreservedly, and her devotion to her charges commands the respect of the entire Parish.
There are two non-parochial Episcopal clergymen now, because of ill health, living in Springfield who regularly attend Christ Church, the Rev. Norman Burnham, and the Rev. Jay F. Ullery. They occasionally assist at the services.
Christ Church has the great honor of numbering among its members, one missionary, Mrs. Elliot Thomson, a woman of rare sweetness and gentle spiritual strength, who spent over forty years in active service in China. With the exception of one visit to that far-away land, she has lived in Springfield since her husband's death in 1917. Archdeacon Elliot Thom- son spent one year's vacation in Springfield, during Dr. Slat- tery's rectorship, and when his health permitted, assisted in the conduct of the services.
The Churchman in 1922, voicing its grateful appreciation of generous contributions then made by Mrs. Thomson to St. Luke's Hospital, St. Mary's Hall, St. Elizabeth's Hospital and All Saints, Shanghai, said: "Archdeacon Thomson went to China in 1859 and for nearly sixty years was one of the church's most faithful representatives Those were the days when the China Mission almost failed. It was Archdeacon Thom- son alone who prevented failing It was Arch- deacon Thomson who in the latter sixties conceived the plan of establishing St. Luke's Hospital and carried his vision through to a fine reality."
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Harold Manley, a Christ Church boy, of whom it is justly proud, went in 1922, to Liberia, and spent about three years there. He wrote of his work. "The Holy Cross Episcopal monastery of West Park, New York, has set out to establish a mission in the central part of Liberia, and my part of the work will be to superintend the construction of their mission houses, churches, schools, etc." His companions were "the first and only Christian workers in this part of the world."
Within a few years, Christ Church has numbered among her communicants, two centenarians. The late Mr. Isaac Wood, who died as the result of an automobile accident, celebrated his 100th birthday at the Parish House in 1919. He possessed unusual strength for his years, walked the streets unattended, and went to church until a few weeks before his death, regular- ly. Mrs. Eliza Marshall, a charming, active, mentally alert old lady died on December 10, 1926 at the great age of 103 years and six months. Save at the last she was able to attend church at intervals. It is most interesting to note that Mrs. Marshall, when a young girl, while living in the West, was confirmed by Bishop Henry W. Lee at Keosauqua, Iowa. When her husband died, over sixty years ago, she returned to New England. About fifty of those years, Mrs. Marshall has lived in Springfield.
Although at the time of her death, Mrs. Marshall was the oldest member, Mrs. R. F. Hawkins has been a communicant of Christ Church the greatest number of continuous years. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins were confirmed during Dr. McKnight's rectorship.
From 1923 to 1926 Christ Church lost, by death, three ward- ens: In 1923 Messrs. Edmund P. Kendrick and Henry H. Skinner, and in 1926, Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt. As a mem- orial, at the Annual Meeting, January 14, 1924, Mr. Henry Morgan said in part:
"Mr. Kendrick was probably the best known and most highly respected person in the parish, having served it for forty-four years as Clerk, Vestryman, and Warden. For many years
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also he was delegate to the Diocesan Convention both of the old diocese and the new, and a member, of the Standing Com- mittee of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts from its be- ginning. He had been Mayor of Springfield and for many years was a highly esteemed member of the Hampden County Bar, enjoying the respect of the whole community. His legal knowledge helped him to guide the affairs of the parish and his counsel and advice were gladly followed. He was a just and good man and in any history of Christ Church the name of Edmund P. Kendrick will hold a high place."
"Mr. Skinner after twenty-nine years as a Vestryman, was chosen Warden when Mr. Kendrick declined re-election last January, but less than four months later his services as warden were terminated by his untimely death.
A highly successful man of business he had acquired large means and was discriminately generous in his use of them a member of the parish from his earliest childhood, he knew Christ Church thoroughly. A great reader, the Angli- can Church interested him beyond any study above all her music
For many years he was a delegate to the diocesan convention both of the old diocese and the new, and for several years a delegate from the diocese of Western Massachusetts to the General Convention all of which involved a considerable sacri- fice of time to a man with his wide business interests He will be greatly missed in the Vestry and by the entire parish."
A part of an Appreciation of Colonel Blunt also written by Mr. Morgan (1926) reads:
"The son and grandson of soldiers he was an officer of dis- tinction attached to the Ordnance Department of the U. S. Armory. In 1907 he was appointed Commandant of the Arsenal in Springfield. The connection of the Armory with this parish was a favorite topic with the Colonel, as will be shown when the revised issue of the parish history appears
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Of distinguished appearance 'every inch a soldier', Colonel Blunt was a marked man in any community As chairman of the Park Commission on the City Planning Board and not least as President of the Springfield Hospital But it is as Vestryman, Warden, and Treasurer of this parish that we are particularly concerned. Elected Vestryman in 1908 he was regular in attendance at meetings and took from the first a leading part for his wise counsel and sound judgment were immediately apparent Endowed with a gift for finance his unremitting devotion to this essential part of church work will be sorely missed In 1923 he was elected Warden Soldier Citizen, Churchman, Colonel Blunt's departure leaves behind him none but gracious memories
Lack of space forbids the naming of all the other faithful Christ Church members who have died since 1915, save three well known throughout the parish. Mr. Elisha Gunn, a mem- ber of a family loyal to the church almost from its beginning, died in 1926. "The simplicity and exquisite courtesy of an earlier day combined with great goodness to produce in him a character of singular loveliness." Mrs. Timothy M. Granger will be long remembered for her rich endowment of Church loyalty and missionary zeal. Mr. Frederick W. Rosenberg, Vestryman, Chairman of the Property Committee, and having for his particular duty the church ushering, also died in 1926. He was highly esteemed by his fellow vestrymen for his companionable traits and for his business ability.
The most noticeable changes in the church fabric since Mr. McGann assumed charge are the making over of the south transept into a chapel, the building of new choir stalls, and the placing of a litany desk at the head of the Main Aisle. It is planned to redecorate the interior of the Church in the Spring, and to start re-building the tower which, in 1876, had to be taken down because of weak building stone then used in its construction.
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The number of acolytes was increased during Mr. McGann's rectorship, and all the pews in the church were declared free. The latter change is a far cry from William Pynchon's day, when a person was fined, if he did not occupy the seat to which he was assigned.
The Sunday School was reorganized and re-named, The Church School. Mrs. Thomas Moxon was the first Director of Religious Education. It was in no small measure due to her splendid work and trained leadership during the difficult tran- sition period, that this organization, which had contributed in inestimable measure to the spiritual growth of the parish, adopted successfully modern methods of study and adminis- tration.
A great national movement, the Nation Wide Campaign, with its every member canvass, and a great international horror, the World War, changed in great measure, the routine life of Christ Church, throughout the first years of Mr. Mc- Gann's rectorship. The part taken by our Bishop, our Rector, Assistant Minister and parishioners in the war is told in detail in another part of this work.
Easter Day, 1917, was memorable in the history of Christ Church. A record congregation was in attendance. The vestibule of both Church and Parish House, the sacristy, and the aisles were crowded with worshipers. There were about 1200-1300 persons present. During the sermon Mr. McGann asked the congregation to take a forward step and to abstain from the beverage use of alcohol during the period of the war. There was a moment's pause and then the entire assemblage rose to its feet and so pledged themselves. This was one of the few congregations in our Communion that made such a pledge and the event was given the widest publicity by the church and secular press. Mr. McGann received some hun- dreds of letters commending this action.
That Christ Church might have the first-hand knowledge, help, and inspiration derived from the personalities of well- known exponents of modern religious thought in the Church,
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Mr. McGann planned three missions within the last few years, a healing mission conducted by James Moore Hickson, in 1919, and a preaching mission conducted by Mr. McGann's personal friend, the Rev. Dr. George Craig Stewart, in 1920. In 1925 came the third missioner, from Albany, "Bishop Oldham, force- ful and alert now a commanding figure in the Church, our ambassador last year to the pulpits of the great cathedrals of England, the author of the poster "America First" which hangs today in almost every village in the land, whose mission in Christ Church, Springfield, will long be remembered."
In the spring of 1926, Mr. McGann arranged for an occa- sion unprecedented in the history of the parish and of the city. We give the account of it published in The Pastoral Staff in January, 1927.
"On Advent Sunday, November 28th, at 11 A. M., all the Churches in and about Springfield, Massachusetts, combined in a most impressive service at the Springfield Municipal Audi- torium, at which the Presiding Bishop of the Church, the Rt. Rev. John Gardner Murray, D. D., was the preacher.
The day was formally opened by early celebrations of the Holy Communion in every Church. Thereafter each Church was conspicuously locked, and notices posted on the doors advising any who might come to go to the Auditorium.
All the arrangements of the stage, the temporary pulpit, the beautiful altar with its office lights and profusion of flowers, the seats of the choir arranged on either side, facing the congregation, were designed and executed by a noted architect of the city, Mr. Edwin J. Parlett.
Nine vested choirs with their crucifers and acolytes headed an impressive procession of 150. Clergy and Bishops, with crucifers and acolytes followed. Processional hymns were exultingly sung while all found their places on the stage.
The service itself was an evangelical modification of Morn- ing Prayer The number present was estimated at 4000."
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For about two weeks, in February 1927, Mr. McGann shared with Bishop Perry the Bishops' Crusade in Vermont, during . which time an effort was made to visit each church and mis- sion, in that state. Mr. McGann said of this work:
"As you know, I enjoyed greatly my crusading experiences in Vermont. Inevitably one always gets more than one gives in such spiritual campaigning. We seem to come to close grips with reality. Naturally the preaching was simple and direct. The prayers no less so It recalled the months of my service overseas when worship and preaching were dis- tinctly informal " ·
Plans for an endowment fund were launched by Mr. McGann on December 18, 1924. Its outline permits anyone to give sums large or small at any time. So far $3,060.00 has been contri- buted. Two legacies, one from Mr. H. H. Skinner of $25,000 and one from Colonel Blunt of $20,000 with $20,000 given in trust by Mrs. William C. Simons as a memorial to her brother Mr. Elisha Gunn, have added substantially to Christ Church funds, in the past three years.
"At a Parish meeting held April 29, 1926 Article IV was amended making the number of vestrymen fifteen instead of nine. This was approved by the Bishop and Standing Com- mittee May 18, 1926."
No more felicitous tribute could be paid to Mr. McGann than to give a summary of the outstanding achievements of his rectorate-at present the second longest in the history of the parish. Such a summary includes an admirable war record ; three inspiring missions conducted by eminent men of the church ; the arranging for the union service at the Auditorium; substantial contributions to the Endowment Fund, a project which the Rector has called "the ideal of his ministry." At the close of the year 1926, for "the first time in the history of Christ Church the missionary apportionment, $9,222, was paid in full, and by a resolution of the Vestry, it was accepted as a part of our budget for the future."
Mr. McGann was appointed deputy to the General Conven-
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tion at Detroit in 1919, at Portland, Oregon in 1922, and at New Orleans in 1926. He was placed by the General Convention on the important Concordat Commission, whose members-as a parishioner and delegate to the Conventions stated-hold him in the highest regard. He is one of the examining chaplains and a member of the standing committee of the diocese.
When the second edition of our parish history is issued, a tower will have been added to our structure, and the church interior redecorated. The cost of this is met in its entirety by the accumulations of the Baldwin funds, and a legacy from Mrs. Adeline C. Jones. A detailed account of these appear elsewhere. It must be remembered that the tower funds are not available for any other purposes than that for which they are now expended. The total is in the neighborhood of $40, 300. The tower will be 75 feet high, of square Norman con- struction, with a machicolated parapet. There will be at least one room available for office or Church School purposes.
The redecorated interior will add greatly to the attractive- ness of the church, and sometime in November, when the tower is completed, there will be a solemn service of dedica- tion conducted by the Bishop of the diocese. This improvement and the things that go with it mark an advance step in the life of our parish.
Mr McGann is a forceful and eloquent extempore preacher, and as a late warden told the writer, "He is regarded by the general church as a very able preacher and pastor." Those under his charge number 1213 confirmed and 1785 baptized persons, a vast multitude compared with the small group of armorers and the few village families who held Springfield's first Episcopal services in the Chapel on Armory Hill, one hundred and ten years ago .- S. H. F.
ASSISTANT MINISTERS
Christ Church Parish grew to such size that when the Rev- erend Alexander Burgess, D. D., became rector, it was neces- sary to call an assistant to share the work. Sometimes there have been two clergymen to aid the rector, as the work in the parish increased. Mention may be made of some of these earnest men, many of whom have become well-known through their writings, their rectorships, or other services to their fellow-men.
THE REV. JOHN LIGHTNER EGBERT 1874-1875
The Rev. John Lightner Egbert who was a curate in 1874- 1875, during the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. Burgess, received his education at Kenyon College, Gambia, Ohio. He studied law, but later attended the General Theological Seminary in New York and took up the work of the ministry. He married Miss Ellen Watkinson Adams, a daughter of Dr. Nathan Adams a prominent member of Christ Church. From Spring- field he went to Bainbridge, N. Y., and then to Vineland, N. J., where he spent four years. Coming back to Massachusetts he was rector of Churches in Lynn and Marblehead. He died in 1905.
THE REV. ALFRED EVAN JOHNSON
The Reverend Alfred Evan Johnson was educated at Brown University, taking his B. A. degree in 1871, his M. A. in 1874, and his S. T. B. in 1876. He was curate at Christ Church and in charge of the Mission of the Good Shepherd in West Springfield in 1876-1877. From Springfield he went as curate
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to St. Ann's, Lowell. At present he is Honorary Assistant at All Saints' Memorial Church, Providence, R. I.
THE REV. DANIEL DULANY ADDISON 1886-1888
The Rev. Daniel Dulany Addison, who was an assistant in Christ Church from 1886-1888, leaving to go to Beverly, Mass., is now rector at All Saints', Brookline where he went in 1894. He married Miss Julia Gibbs, a niece of Mrs. John Cotton Brooks. In 1904 he was made Knight Commander, Order Afri- can Redemption, by the Republic of Liberia. He is the author of several books, "Lucy Larcom: Life, Letters and Diary," 1892, "Life of Bishop Bass," 1897, "The Clergy in American Life and Letters," 1900 and "The Episcopalians," 1904. He is now reg- istrar of the Diocese of Massachusetts.
THE REV. NEWTON BLACK
The Rev. Newton Black, who was curate in Christ Church during the rectorship of the Rev. John Cotton Brooks, is now rector of the Church of the Ascension, Cambridge, Mass. He will be remembered for the splendid work with boys which he carried on while rector of Grace Church, Chicopee. He has also been rector of Christ Church, Needham Heights, Mass.
THE REV. WM. EDWARD HAYES 1889-1892
The Rev. Wm. Edward Hayes, who took his B. A. (1887) at Hobart and graduated from the Episcopal Theological School in 1891, was assistant at Christ Church from 1889-1892. He is now canon at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.
THE REV. EDWARD LINCOLN ATKINSON 1893-1895
The Rev. Edward Lincoln Atkinson was born in Reading, Mass., May 23, 1865. He and his twin brother Fred both grad- uated from the Bridgewater Normal school. He taught for a
The Rt. Rev. James DeW. Perry, Jr., D. D.
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short time until the brothers in 1887 entered Lawrence Scientific School and were enrolled as Seniors at Harvard in 1889. In 1890 Edward entered the Episcopal Theological School at Cam- bridge. During his last year there he was called to be the as- sistant of the Rev. John Cotton Brooks at Christ Church. For the rest of the year he came to Springfield nearly every Sunday to give what help he could as layman. As soon as his work at Cambridge was over he came to Springfield where his work with boys and young men will long be remembered. His twin brother became principal of the Springfield High School in 1894; so the two were here together. In 1895 he went to the Church of the Ascension in Boston, where he did much in building up the Parish and its work. Death came by drowning in Boot Pond on August 1, 1902, where he had gone to visit the boys' camp maintained there by Emmanuel Church. This camp was in charge of one of his old Springfield boys, Allen Rice, now a physician in Springfield. Mr. Atkinson was mourned by all who had come in contact with him, for he was a friend of all. There is a tablet to his memory in Christ Church.
THE RT. REV. JAMES DeWOLF PERRY, JR. 1895-1897
The Rt. Rev. James DeWolf Perry, Jr., Bishop of Rhode Is- land since 1911, was born in Germantown, Pa., in 1871. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and at Harvard, tak- ing degrees at each, and later at the Theological School. He came to Christ Church in 1895 as deacon, but very soon after was ordained priest in order that he might become minister in charge during the absence of the Rev. John Cotton Brooks. His effective work in Christ Church, where he stayed until 1897, will long be remembered. From Springfield he went to Fitch- burg as rector of Christ Church and from there to St. Paul's Church, New Haven, Conn., where he remained until he was consecrated Bishop.
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