USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 6
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THE REV. JAMES CLEMENT SHARP 1897-1904
The Rev. James Clement Sharp graduated from Harvard in 1894, and the Theological School in 1897. He was in Christ Church from 1897 to 1904. He became Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Waban (Newton) Mass., in 1905. Later he was Rector of the parish in Rockport, Mass., and in 1923 became Rector of St. Barnabas' Church, Falmouth, Mass. In 1909 he published a notable biography: "John Cotton Brooks." His many friends in Christ Church learned with sorrow of his death, Oct. 13, 1926, at the age of fifty-seven years.
THE REV. EDMUND JAMES CLEVELAND 1905-1906
The Rev. Edmund James Cleveland was at Christ Church from 1905-1906, St. Paul's Church, Peabody 1906-1908 and from 1908 has been rector at Christ Church, Westerly, R. I. During the war he served as chaplain of the 142nd Inf. in 1918 and as Sen. Chaplain of the 36th Div., A. E. F. from 1918 to July, 1919.
THE REV. DONALD NELSON ALEXANDER 1906-1915
At the time of the breakdown in the health of the Rev. John Cotton Brooks in 1906, the Rev. Donald Nelson Alexander was called to assist him and to take charge of the parish while Mr. Brooks should go abroad for a rest. Mr. Brooks did not return from this trip. Mr. Alexander remained as minister-in-charge, which position he held three times during the nine years of his faithful work among his friends, the parishioners of Christ Church. During the Rev. Dr. Slattery's rectorship he filled the position of assistant, remaining on after Dr. Slattery's resig- nation, again assuming the position of assistant at the request of the vestry when the Rev. William Austin Smith became rector.
The Rev. Donald N. Alexander, Minister-in-charge Jan. 1907-Dec. 1907 May 1910-Oct. 1911 May 1915-Nov. 1915
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The Rev. Mr. Alexander will always have the gratitude of the parishioners for his devoted work for boys. Many a young man of today attributes his loyalty to the Church to the hold on him during the early years of his youth maintained through the efforts of this successful leader of boys. Mr. Alexander remained in the parish so long and acted in the capacity of minister-in- charge so acceptably that parishioners of this city still think of him as having been a true pastor.
Since 1915 he has been rector of St. Mark's Church in Leo- minster, Mass., and of St. John's Church in Worcester, Mass., which position he still holds as successor to the Rev. Walton S. Danker who gave his life when chaplain in the world war.
THE REV. ALFRED DeFOREST SNIVELY
1908-1910; 1913-1915
During the interim between the periods when the Rev. Alfred DeForest Snively was assistant, first, under the Rev. Dr. Slat- tery, secondly, under the Rev. Wm. Austin Smith, he was occupied in missionary work in Wyoming. While he was in Christ Church much of his time was occupied in conducting the mission of St. John's at the North End. After leaving Christ Church the second time he became Rector of St. Philip's Church, Easthampton, Mass., and is now engaged as Diocesan Missionary of Western Massachusetts. During the war, 1917- 1919 he served in France as a first lieutenant of the United States Infantry, with the 301st Ammunition Train, 76th Divi- sion. Upon his return he resumed his work in the diocese. He is now minister-in-charge of Grace Church, Chicopee, Massachusetts.
THE REV. HUGH WALLACE SMITH 1910-1911
The Rev. Hugh Wallace Smith, who is now rector of Trinity Church, Melrose, graduated from Berkeley Divinity School in 1909. He was in Christ Church 1910-1911, leaving to become curate of St. John's Church, Stamford, Conn.
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THE REV. WALTER HANDLEY 1915-1916
The Rev. Walter Handley, who was assistant minister while the Rev. Mr. Alexander was minister-in-charge, devoted the greater part of his time to the mission of the Good Shep- herd in West Springfield. At the time of the war he desired to become a chaplain in the British Army, being a subject of Great Britain. As there was no need of more chaplains at the time, he enlisted as a private soldier. As second lieutenant of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, he was killed in action Palm Sunday, March 24, 1918. When the news of his death reached Springfield a Memorial service was held in Christ Church.
THE REV. JOHN WALLACE SUTER, JR. 1916-1918
The important work of the Rev. John Wallace Suter, Jr., while he was associated with the Rev. John Moore McGann in his work in Christ Church, was the supervising of the Church School. He completed the reconstruction of the Church School by introducing the system of Christian Nurture Series, one course of which he had previously compiled. After his work here he became rector of Christ Church, Hyde Park, Mass. Later he was Diocesan Educational Secretary of the Diocese of Massachusetts, and lecturer on Religious Education of the Episcopal Theological School at Cambridge, Mass. At the present time Mr. Suter is Executive Secretary of the Depart- ment of Religious Education in the National Council, New York.
THE REV. EDMOND RANDOLPH LAINE, JR. 1918-1921
The Rev. Edmond Randolph Laine, Jr. came from very suc- cessful work in Ludlow to Christ Church to be associated with the Rev. Mr. McGann. During the world war he was chap- lain of the 58th Infantry in France, where he did praise-worthy
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work in his intimate relations with the men in the trenches and in the army of occupation. He is remembered for his strong personality and for the thoroughness and zeal with which he performed his work. His call to a larger field was not a surprise to those who knew him. He left Christ Church in 1921 to become Dean of St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland, Maine. In 1926, he became rector of St. Paul's Church in Stockbridge, Mass., and minister-in-charge of St. George's Mis- sion in South Lee, Mass.
THE REV. BENJAMIN LOUIS RAMSAY 1921-1926
The Rev. Benjamin Louis Ramsay, while associated with the Rev. Mr. McGann, was director of the Church School. His interest in children and young people was further shown by the fact that he was a member of the Diocesan Board of Religious Education, as well as by the fact that he was very successful in his connection with the Young Peoples' Fellowship. He re- signed from his work in Christ Church in June, 1926 to become Rector of St. Peter's Church, Mountain Lakes, N. J.
THE REV. WILLIAM EMERY SOULE 1921-1923
The Rev. William Emery Soule gave a portion of his time to the work of Christ Church. He was the successful editor of "The Chronicle". The remainder of his time was divided between the supervision of the missions of the Church of the Good Shepherd, West Springfield and St. Andrew's Mission, Longmeadow.
Mr. Soule resigned in 1923, but is still active in the work of the parish. His musical ability has been helpful to Christ Church during the summer when he plays the organ in addition to conducting the service and preaching.
His services are often called upon throughout the diocese.
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THE REV. FRANKLIN VERNON LOSEE 1926-
The Rev. Franklin Vernon Losee, who became assistant minister Nov. 5, 1926, came from St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N. Y., where he has been Assistant Minister since 1924. He is a graduate of Hobart College, Teacher's College of Columbia University and the Union Theological Seminary. Mr. Losee is director of the Church School.
CHRIST CHURCH BOYS WHO BECAME CANDIDATES FOR HOLY ORDERS
THE REV. HAROLD SCHNIEWIND
The Rev. Harold Schniewind was made deacon in 1907 by Bishop Vinton. He was ordained priest by Bishop Morrison in December 1907. He was rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, Chicago, at the time of his death in 1917. Mrs. Schniewind, the mother of this clergyman, was a very successful kindergarten teacher in the Springfield Public Schools. She was Principal of Christ Church Kindergarten at one time. Later the family moved to St. Peter's Parish and began attend- ing services there.
THE REV. PAUL S. ATKINS
The Rev. Paul S. Atkins was a graduate of Central High School in 1902, and of Philadelphia Divinity School in 1917. He was made deacon in 1916 and ordained priest in 1917 by Bishop Rhinelander. He is now rector of St. John's Church, York, Pa. Mr. Atkins is a lecturer and the author of the University Extension Bulletin (1917). He has one brother, Mr. Clarence J. Atkins, and two sisters, Miss Marion Atkins and Mrs. Frank Sauer, now living in Springfield.
THE REV. RAYMOND H. KENDRICK
The Rev. Raymond H. Kendrick was made deacon by Bishop Davies in 1913. The Rev. William Austin Smith preached the ordination sermon. He was ordained priest in Albany in 1914, by Bishop Nelson. Mr. Kendrick has been curate of St. Peter's Church, Albany, New York, 1913-1918, and rector of St. Martin's Church, New Bedford, 1915-1918. He was Civilian
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Chaplain of the United States Debarkation Hospital, New York City in 1918; then rector of St. Peter's Church, Jamaica Plains, 1919-1922. From 1922 he has been rector of St. Paul's Church, North Andover.
He is the son of the late revered Senior Warden of Christ Church, Mr. Edmund P. Kendrick. Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick were conscientiously and closely identified with Christ Church since the rectorship of Dr. McKnight.
THE REV. SUMNER JEROME BROWN
The Rev. Sumner Jerome Brown was born in Springfield, October 26, 1899. He was graduated from the Central High School in 1914, from Amherst College in 1918, and from the Episcopal Theological School in 1925. He was made deacon by Bishop Slattery in St. John's Chapel, Cambridge, being a candidate from the Church of Our Savior, Longwood. He was ordained priest by Bishop William P. Remington at St. Peter's Church, La Grande, Oregon. His year and one half in the ministry have been spent as missionary-in-charge of St. John's Church, Prairie City, and St. Thomas Church, Canyon City, Oregon. On September 9, 1925 he was married to Miss Eunice Helena Clark of Springfield. Mr. Brown is the son of Mrs. Annie H. Brown, who was a conscientious and faithful member of the Clerical Staff of Christ Church for about eight years.
GEORGE TAYLOR
George Taylor was born in Hazardville, November 9, 1903. He was a choir boy and a member of the Church School of Christ Church. He was graduated at the Central High School and at Springfield College, and then taught in the Public Schools here. He is now studying for the ministry at Yale Divinity School.
I
Colonel Roswell Lee
CHRIST CHURCH AND THE ARMY AND SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Colonel Roswell Lee was appointed Superintendent of the United States Armory in Springfield in 1815. He had rendered distinguished service, first as Major and afterwards as Lieut .- Colonel, during the war of 1812-15 with England and was a man of fine character, genial and companionable. The Armory in those days was relatively of much greater importance in the community and Colonel Lee soon took a prominent and influ- ential position. Local histories mention his presiding at numer- ous dinners of political and local importance and speak of him as "the perfect toast-master."
Elsewhere in this work his efforts to improve the condition of his workmen is mentioned; under his administration the character of the armorers improved, "they became inventors, were even elected to the Legislature and filled a large place in Springfield ;" many also followed Lee's example and became interested in his establishment of the "Chapel on Armory Hill," the organization in 1821 of Christ Church and attended the services held in a room in one of the office buildings of the Armory.
At that time the village of Springfield had a population of about 3000, (men, women and children) and the Armory rec- ords show that 287 men were employed there in November 1821 with a monthly pay roll of $8,383. As many of the em- ployees undoubtedly had families, we can assume that 20% or possibly 25% of the people in Springfield were supported by the cash disbursed by the government authorities. There was then no other industrial establishment of equal magnitude in the town.
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When through Colonel Lee's efforts Christ Church was or- ganized in 1821, he was selected as senior warden and of the seven vestrymen six were employed at the Armory including Adonijah Foot, the Master Armorer, Diah Allin, a foreman who later became senior warden, and one long prominently connected with the Church, Major Goodsell. Though the original Christ Church endured only a few years, Lee's influ- ence and interest continued while he remained at the Armory and until his death there in 1833. The altar in the present church edifice bears the inscription: "In loving memory of Colonel Roswell Lee, who first established Episcopal service in this city."
In 1838 Henry W. Lee, son of Colonel Roswell Lee, came back to Springfield, as is told in the account of his ministry elsewhere in this work. As a boy and until early manhood he had resided with his father within the Armory grounds and knew well many of its more influential employees, some of whom were chosen as wardens and vestrymen at the reorgan- ization of the parish in November of that year. The two wardens were Diah Allin, then the Master Armorer and Samuel McNary, also an Armorer. To the latter an aisle window in the present church edifice is a memorial. Of the vestrymen also five belonged to the Armory including a brother (William W. Lee) of Bishop Lee who was also Parish Clerk and some years later Treasurer of the Church and finally a warden. The earlier records contain frequent mention of Diah Allin, the senior warden and the Armory's Master Armorer, and of his successor as warden, Major Goodsell, also of the Armory, whom Dr. Slattery in his Seventy Year Anniversary sermon in Christ Church speaks of as "for twenty-seven years a tower of strength to the Church."
In 1839 when efforts were being taken to secure land and erect a church building, the committee of seven chosen at a Parish meeting was headed by Major Goodsell and among his associates were three others from the Armory. Goodsell was also the largest individual subscriber.
Courtesy of The National Encyclopedia of American Biography.
Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt
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For twenty years after the Church's re-establishment in 1838 the Armory had a representative as a Warden and until 1894 also one or more among the list of the vestry, but not until 1909 when the then commanding officer was elected to the vestry was the Armory so recognized again.
Slightly more than one hundred years after Colonel Roswell Lee, of the Armory, completed his service as the first warden one of his successors' as Commandant (Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt) was elected Warden. Only these two officers of the Armory have served on the Vestry though nearly all the Com- mandants since 1841 to the present date have been churchmen and with many of the assistant officers and their families have attended Christ Church and have worked for its development.
Of these must be mentioned Gen. James W. Ripley, Com- mandant from 1841 to 1854, who was particularly interested in the effort inaugurated in 1851 to enlarge and improve the Church and the Church property and gave generously to that object. The rose windows in the north and south transepts are memorials to him.
Colonel J. G. Benton, who was Commandant from 1866 to 1881, with his family participated in many of the Church's activities and showed in numerous ways his earnest church- manship. Dr. Slattery in his Seventy Year Anniversary Sermon says of him: "Benton, another of the true soldiers presiding at the United States Armory, to whom from the beginning to this day, the parish owes a lasting debt." There is in the Parish House a memorial window to Colonel Benton.
Generals Buffington, Mordecai, Phipps, and Colonel Thales L. Ames later Commandants, whose service covered a period of about thirty years, all followed in their predecessors' foot- steps, were faithful attendants of Christ Church and with their families joined in the work of the Parish.
The successor of General Phipps at the Armory was Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt. At that time Dr. Slattery had recently come as our rector and was manifesting great interest in the improvement of the Church property, including a complete
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renovation of the Church building. No plans or drawings of the Church could be found and the building was measured and plans and specifications for new floors, altered heating system and new painting and decorating prepared under direction of the Commandant in the Armory drafting room and by Armory workmen out of government hours. By that time Colonel Blunt had been at the Parish meeting in January 1909, elected to the Vestry and appointed a member of the Property Committee. Of the committee's work Dr. Slattery stated in the Christ Church Chronicle: "We owe much to the Property Committee, espe- cially to Colonel Blunt, who has given all the work his constant supervision and care." Its cost was about $6,000.00.
Two other devoted workers in Christ Church that the Army, if not the Springfield Armory, can claim as its own were Gen- eral James Barnes and Major Homer G. Gilmore. General Barnes graduated from West Point in 1829 and after some years of military service resigned, settled in Springfield and became a distinguished civil engineer. When the civil war broke out he returned to service, attained high rank and was severely wounded. His wife was particularly prominent and influential in Springfield in organizing and prosecuting the home duties incident to war that only women can successfully conduct. General Barnes served for six years as a Vestryman ; one of the chancel windows is a memorial of him.
Major Gilmore is spoken of fully elsewhere in this work but his name cannot be omitted from this summary of the connec- tion of the Armory and the Army with Christ Church. He answered President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, rose in rank from Private to Major, served with marked distinction, was severely wounded and returning to his home in Springfield was later elected a member of Christ Church Vestry, so continu- ing for twenty-two years until his death. One of the clearstory windows is a memorial to him.
Christ Church's Honor Roll for the World War contains one hundred and nine names of men and five of women, members of this parish, who, leaving their usual avocations and answer-
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ing their country's call, served in the Army, in the Navy, and in various civil capacities in France and in this Country. In add- ition very many others of the parish who remained at home rendered effective aid, working with Springfield's different organizations making and sending abroad articles for the soldiers that the government did not supply or in various ways adding to the comfort of the men in the camps in this country or in their journeys to the embarkation ports.
After the war the Church gave to each of those on its honor roll an engraved certificate of service signed by the rector and the senior warden, and in 1923 Colonel Blunt presented a hand- some bronze tablet in honor of all members of the parish who had answered their Country's call in the World War. This tablet is thirty-one inches high by thirty-eight inches wide, is of statuary bronze and is placed on the inside west wall of the Church, to the north of the' main entrance where it is in plain view of all as they leave the building. It bears the fol- lowing inscription :
For God And Country This tablet is erected in honor of the members of this parish who answered their Country's Call in the World War 1917 - 1919 and In Memory Of the following men who died that liberty might live
Hubert Cooper Stuart Arthur Craig
Donald Earl Dunbar
Walter Handley
Cyril A. Hitchcock John Henry Norton
In his letter presenting the tablet Colonel Blunt gave the fol- lowing brief statement of the services of these six men.
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HUBERT COOPER :
Born in Springfield, Mass., attended Christ Church School, was a member of the choir.
Enlisted in the spring of 1917. Was in training at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, went to France with his Company in December 1917, and was killed in action July 15, 1918 at the second Battle of the Marne. He is buried in France.
STUART ARTHUR CRAIG:
Born in Springfield, Mass., February 21, 1892. Was baptized and confirmed in Christ Church and attended Christ Church School. Enlisted in Springfield, Mass., July 5, 1917 in the Medical Enlisted Reserve Corps, United States Army. Served at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont as a member of Training Company A, Medical Enlisted Reserve Corps until discharged for disability (valvular disease of the heart) August 17, 1917.
Died at Springfield, Mass., October 10, 1918.
DONALD EARL DUNBAR :
Born in Springfield, Mass., August 1, 1892. Was bap- tized in Christ Church and attended Christ Church School.
Graduated from Harvard College 1913, and from the Harvard Law School 1917, then attended the first Platts- burg camp, was there commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry and ordered to the 76th Division at Camp Devens, being later transferred to the 101st Infantry, 26th Division, and sailed for France September 7, 1917.
He was with Company L of that regiment during most of his training period in France, and on June 15, 1918 was promoted to 1st Lieut., and soon thereafter made Battalion Adjutant, remaining so until the regiment moved into the line, when he rejoined Company L, serving with them until his death.
With the regiment he moved to the Chateau-Thierry District and participated in the repulse of the German attack of July 15. Five days later (July 20, 1918) the
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company joined in an attack on the German position in the second battle of the Marne. On leaving cover they met with a terrific machine gun fire, and Lieut. Dunbar while walking before his men looking after their shelter and alignment, and forgetful of all but their existence and efficiency was almost immediately killed.
WALTER HANDLEY :
The Rev. Walter Handley was assistant minister at Christ Church from June 1915 to June 1916. A native of Great Britain, he desired to become a chaplain in the British Army, but no vacancy then existing he enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was promoted a Second Lieu- tenant and was killed in action March 24, 1918.
CYRIL A. HITCHCOCK:
Born at Kobe, Japan, Nov. 1, 1893. Was confirmed while attending St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hamp- shire. Resided in Springfield and was associated with Christ Church until 1913.
Joined the British Army in April 1915, was attached to the 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry and was killed in action at Ypres, April 21, 1916.
JOHN HENRY NORTON :
Born at West Springfield, Mass., April 15, 1897, but resided in Springfield after 1910. Attended the Technical High School and Christ Church School and was a member of Christ Church Choir.
Graduated from the U. S. Military Academy Aug. 30, 1917, and served in the 47th Infantry as 2nd Lieutenant and 1st Lieutenant at various training camps in the United States until accompanying his Company to France in May 1918, where he was assigned to command of his Company, led it into action at Chateau-Thierry and was wounded at the River Ouroq, August 6, 1918. He rejoined his regi- ment in October, was promoted Captain in November and
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appointed Regimental Adjutant, but contracting pneumonia died November 21, 1918, at Toul, France.
He was awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross "For extraordinary heroism in action at Sergy, France, July 29-30, 1918. When the company on the left of his own had fallen back, leaving a gap through which the enemy was approaching for a counter attack, Capt. Norton, with the remnants of two squads, formed an automatic- rifle post and successfully covered the withdrawal of the remainder of his command to a stronger line of resistance. Though his small group was almost annihilated by hostile fire, he held his position until the arrival of reinforcements, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy."
The dedication of this tablet on Sunday, November 11, 1923 in the presence of a crowded congregation was a most impres- sive ceremony. The clergy (Mr. McGann, Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Soule) preceded by crucifer carrying the processional cross and followed by another bearing the processional flag and then by the entire vested choir marched at the conclusion of the sermon from the chancel to the vicinity of the tablet at the rear of the church to which also the entire congregation turned. The prayers for those who had laid down their lives and for all who had served their country and the beautiful singing of the choir generally joined in by the congregation completed the tribute by the parish to its representatives in the War.
Each Armistice Sunday since that day these services, some- what abridged, are repeated keeping alive the memory of our dead. [Springfield, 1926. S. E. B.]
Since the writing of the foregoing very valuable paper, a cherished scrapbook has yielded a clipping from the Spring- field Republican, describing the public funeral of Colonel James G. Benton held, with military escort, in Christ Church, in 1881. "Springfield has witnessed few such pageants ยท At 9:30 o'clock Colt's band led the military companies and the
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