USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 7
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Wilcox Grand Army post in their march (from the armory). The body was borne up the centre aisle by six soldiers, preceded by Rector Brooks," while a detachment of soldiers stood as guard outside the church. After the services, in the pro- cession following the cortege to the railroad station, from whence the body was taken to West Point for burial, were a detach- ment of police, Colt's band, the Peabody Guard, and repre- sentatives of all other military organizations in the city, while Mr. Brooks, Dr. Bowles the post surgeon, and prominent civil- ians rode in carriages. "Then came Col. Benton's white horse saddled and led by a soldier." Col. Benton's chapeau and sword were also prominently displayed. "But not the sword, the chapeau, the riderless horse, the unhearsed coffin or the long line of carriages touched the hearts of the onlookers so much as the sight of the whole body of armorers," following, on foot, the body of their beloved and deeply mourned Com- mandant.
Further research revealed the name of another great soldier who attended Christ Church, Major George Washington Whistler. Although in the world at large he was overshadow- ed by the fame of his son, the great painter, Major Whistler's achievements in his own field were of the highest order. When he was at West Point, the country was more concerned with railroad building than with fighting, so members of the army were in great demand as civil engineers. Major Whistler resigned his commission in 1833, and gave himself wholly to that profession. He was one who helped trace the north west boundary between Lake Superior and the Lake of the Woods; he was a civil engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; he directed the construction of the Boston and Providence Railroad; the Canton viaduct near Boston was built under his supervision. He lived in Springfield and attended Christ Church from 1840 to 1842, while constructing the Great West- ern Railroad, (Boston and Albany.) From Springfield Major Whistler went to Russia to build the St. Petersburg and Mos- cow Railroad, "and died while doing so. His body was sent
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home on a Russian warship in a metal casket and interred in Stonington (Connecticut) Cemetery beside others of his family."
A picture of Major Whistler hangs on the walls of the City Library .- S. H. F.
CHRIST CHURCH AND THE WORLD WAR
The United States entered the World War April 6, 1917. From that date until the signing of the Armistice, the flags of the Allies and a Service Flag were hung at the rear of the nave. A beautiful National flag was carried in the procession each Sunday and one verse of "America" was sung before the congregation was seated. Before America entered the war the women of the Parish under the auspices of Christ Church Guild worked for the Belgian Relief Association in the Parish House, and there, when, like kindred organizations, the Guild became an auxiliary of the Red Cross, all the manifold hospital supplies were made. After the Armistice sewing was continued for the refugees of the devastated areas.
Among the examples of splendid patriotism exhibited as a family that of Col. Paul J. Norton is noteworthy, for he and his two sons, Lieut. Howard C. Norton and Lieut. John H. Norton gave distinguished service overseas. On the Roll of Honor were the names of five women, Catherine Blunt, Anne Chapin, Louise H. Gutberlet, Louise Chandler Newell and Elizabeth M. Spratt. The gold star men were Stuart Arthur Craig, Donald Earle Dunbar, the Reverend Walter Handley, Cyril A. Hitchcock, John Henry Norton, Hubert Cooper.
Mrs. Henry K. Baker was one who might well have been represented by a gold star, for in spite of many home, church, and social duties when the war broke out she threw herself whole-heartedly into Red Cross work until pneumonia claimed her as its victim. Her abounding, kindly humor, her self- effacing charities, her discerning sympathy, her strong faith- born of deep personal griefs-place her in the list of those whom church, community and family rise up and call blessed.
Bishop Davies, Mr. McGann, and Mr. Laine each holds an
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honorable record of war service. Bishop Davies sailed for France Sept. 18, 1918 on a special mission for the Y. M. C. A. He had no special title in France, was simply called "Bishop". He served along the front from the Argonne to Bar-le-duc, visited the 104th Infantry, and other regiments, evacuation hos- pitals, base hospitals, and opened a canteen at Verdun. With permission of the church authorities he celebrated Holy Com- munion twice at the Cathedral of Verdun. He held services in the Y. M. C. A. huts, barracks, aviation camps and preached to the German prisoners at St. Pierre-de-Corps. Later he held services in Paris and London. He returned to New York Dec. 17, 1918.
Mr. McGann was chaplain of the 20th. Mass. Infantry for two years, with rank of Captain (1918-1920). He was sent over-seas with the Y. M. C. A. as special preacher. He visited many parts of France on the Front, and back of the lines from Aug. 1918 to Jan. 1919. He also spoke in English camps and churches in Aug. 1918. Mr. McGann was very ill with the dread influenza, while in Paris. He was' taken on shipboard, and his recovery was not complete until many weeks after his return. Mr. McGann later through sermons, lectures, and in- formal talks made very clear to his parishioners the undaunted spirit of France, the heroism of individual soldiers, and the spiritual forces at work in camp and field.
Mr. Laine sailed for France Sept. 18, 1918, on a special mis- sion for the Y. M. C. A. He was called into service Aug. 1, 1918 commissioned First Lieut. and Chaplain, and ordered over- seas. He was in action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive until the signing of the Armistice. He was with the Army of Oc- cupation as Senior Chaplain and Morale Officer of the Amer- ican Garrison. He was relieved of active duty, Aug. 6, 1919 and was immediately commissioned a chaplain with the rank of First Lieutenant of the Officers Reserve Corps of the United States Army.
Dr. George W. Lay, who came from St. Mary's, Raleigh, N. C., conscientiously and devotedly filled the office of minister-in
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charge during the absence of Mr. McGann and Mr. Laine. He was in Springfield while the terrible scourge of influenza was raging . Many speak, often, of his sympathy and kindness during those awful days. When news of the Armistice reached Springfield all the city celebrated the joyful news, with every noise-making device human ingenuity could contrive. While pandemonium reigned supreme on all the principal streets, Dr. Lay conducted a simple, uplifting service of Thanksgiving in Christ Church. The press commented on the beauty and ap- propriateness of the reverent attitude of this little band of worshippers and their leader .- S. H. F.
MUSIC IN OUR PARISH
Just as the body of the church signifies the church militant, while the chancel, that of the church triumphant, so the choir which comes between, presents to us the church expectant. It is usually cut from the nave by the rood screen or chancel arch and is elevated above it by several steps. It is the place set apart for those who lead in the worship. As Morning and Evening Prayer are conducted from the choir, they are known as Choir Offices. When the services of Christ Church were held at the Armory, there was an organ in use there, but it was so badly damaged in the fire of 1824 that it was never used afterwards. This organ was played by Mr. Stevens. The singing was led by Mr. John Kirkham.
When it came time to buy an organ for the State Street church, one was bought from St. John's Church, Providence, which had been built for them by E. and G. G. Hook in 1833. It was bought by Christ Church sometime in the 50's, and was a two manual organ with tracker action. The Ladies' Society raised $687.50, a large sum in those days, toward the payment of this organ, with a promise of more, if it were needed. This instrument was not a great success, and one of our former organists remembers vividly, crawling inside during the read- ing of the lessons, and with a tallow candle to give him light, fixing something that had gone wrong. In the State Street Church it stood first in the rear gallery-from which it was moved to the nave of the church under the crossing at the right of the chancel. This organ was inoved to the present edifice, but was replaced, through the efforts of Henry Chapin, by a Steere and Turner, three manual instrument. This was a great improvement over the old one-and was used until 1911, when it in turn gave place to the present organ, plans and
Christ Church Choir, Easter 1921
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specifications for which were drawn up by the present organist, Mr. Thomas Moxon. Some of the stops in the old organ were revoiced and used in the new, which has fifty-nine stops and four manuals. There are 2733 pipes and about twenty-five miles of insulated copper wire used in the construction of the instrument. An electric generator furnishes the current for the action. One of the outstanding features is its diapasons which are considered by visiting organists and organ builders to be equal to those of the finest organs of England or the Continent. Its thirty-two foot diapason on the pedal organ is worthy of mention as it gives great stability and depth of tone. The aim of the specifications was to make this instrument similar to the best of those of the English Cathedrals, and the builders succeeded in their work. The organ in the Parish House was the gift of Mary J. Baldwin in loving memory of her husband, James A. Baldwin, for many years a warden of Chrish Church.
The choir stalls and the rich crimson carpet laid between them were the gift of Mr. Henry H. Skinner. The stalls are from a design by Mr. Edwin J. Parlett.
Many faithful members of the parish played the organs of the early days. Among these were Miss Fannie Day, Miss Clara Safford, and Miss Augusta Allen, a niece of the first Junior Warden. Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Kendrick also played the harmonium for Sunday School in the basement of the old State Street Church. A list of the organists of the church is a remarkably short one considering the length of time which has elapsed since the first organist received one hundred and fifty dollars a year, while the boy who blew the organ was amply paid with six. The list, as nearly as can be given, in order, begins with Albert Allin; then came Richard Eastcott, an Englishman, trained in the Royal College of Music in London, a man skilled in playing the piano and violin as well as the organ. He was a member of the orchestra which played at Queen Victoria's Coronation. He was followed by Mrs. H. J. Hart, William B. Rogers and Mrs. Crawford, who was a con-
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cert pianist. After the boy choir was started, a man was need- ed who understood the training of boys' voices. Louis Coenen was the first to undertake the new work. He was a gifted musician and some of the manuscripts of his original compo- sitions are in our music library today. Mr. Coenen was a vio- linist as well as an organist and he played first violin in Gil- more's Orchestra which played in Boston at the Peace Jubilee after the Civil War. He was followed by Henry Cox, an Eng- lishman, then Charles Chapin, who for many years after he left Christ Church was the organist of North Congregational Church in this city. We come next to J. Gilbert Wilson. Many will remember how many years he faithfully served the parish. Shortly after his death, the Rev. John Cotton Brooks preached a sermon, Dec. 23, 1888, in which he says, referring to Mr. Wilson :- "And not alone the pews but the chancel also is full of risen life for me on this memorial day, as I feel behind me-still the form of one who led our hearts and voices upward in thanksgiving, J. G. Wilson, our patient, faithful organist who today is joining, after his weary journey of earth- ly pain and work, in the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. As I have met him on that long round of his work-day duties, many times he has said to me, 'I shall never see it, the new organ will never come for me.' O, but he does see it even at this moment, and I can almost feel that he shares in our praises here."
Mr. Wilson was followed by Henry G. Chapin, a brother of Charles Chapin. Both of these men were skilled musicians and Christ Church owes much to them. Then came Charles Wilson, a son of J. Gilbert Wilson, who was organist for nine- teen (19) years. There was great regret in the parish when he was obliged, through the pressure of other duties, to resign his position as organist. Mrs. Frank Monroe, who acted as faithful and efficient substitute during this period, was followed by Miss Irene Dickinson as organist and Mr. John Ahern direc- tor of music in the public schools of the city, as choir master and then Mr. Frederick Hall. Mr. Thomas Moxon, who came
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to Christ Church in 1911, is an Englishman and English trained, having studied under Dr. Cuthbert Harris of London, also at the London College for Choristers and at the Royal Academy of Music. When he resigned in 1923 to take charge of the music of Trinity Church, Lenox, the work was taken over by an old choir boy and pupil of his, Mr. Lucius Harris, who was then the organist of Hope Congregational Church in this city.
The boy choir of Christ Church was organized May 24, 1870, by the Rev. Dr. Burgess. At that time there were no boy choirs in New England outside of Boston, and Springfield was thus the first inland city in this section to institute the custom.
Mr. Henry H. Skinner was a member of the first boy choir, and he remembers how eagerly the boys gathered at the Parish House on the night of organization. Indeed so anxious were they to begin the new work that some of them did not want to wait for the doors to be opened but they crawled in at the win- dows. In that first group of boys were Charles L. Chapin, Leo- pold Lobsitz, Henry H. Skinner, J. G. Lutz, Joseph S. Read, Frank Lyon, Paul Knapp, Herman C. Miller, Roswell C. Tay- lor, Fred J. Knappe, William H. Hancox and George R. Yer- rall.
Many interesting customs were started by the new choir, not the least interesting being that of serenading. They carried with them on these trips little folding English lanterns in which candles were burned. On one occasion, June 28, 1871, shortly after Mr. Coenen's marriage the boys serenaded the bridal pair at their home. The late Mr. Skinner had his copy of the three songs sung, written in his very clear but childish hand, just as he carried it many years ago on this memorable occasion. One of the songs, an "Ode to Louis Coenen," was written by the rector, the Rev. Dr. Burgess. The boys were drilled by Mrs. Wm. Gunn.
"When the choir was founded there were formulated certain rules for management of the boys. It is said to have been a fortunate feature of the new institutions, especially in this case, because Dr. Burgess was not a disciplinarian by nature. The
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rules were strictly adhered to. They provided for a fine of fifteen cents for absence, ten cents for tardiness and fixed the pay of the boys at twenty cents a service with fifty cents extra at the end of the month if none of the rules had been broken during that time."
Surplices were not worn until 1883. For a period between 1873 and the early 80's the boy choir was given up and a quartet employed. During this period Mr. Edward Morris was for a time the tenor and Miss Lucy Shumway (Mrs. Charles Chapin) soprano. At the Consecration of the Rev. Dr. Bur- gess May 15, 1878, a newspaper report states that the "music was in part a repetition of the Easter program, including a Venite and Te Deum, written for Christ Church choir by Edward Morris, the tenor of the quartet. Miss Shumway sang an exquisite sacred song of Wilhelm Coenen while Mrs. King- sley sang Mendelssohn's 'O Rest in the Lord.' "
The first Choir Festival held in New England took place in Trinity Church, Boston, shortly after it was completed. The boy choir of Christ Church was invited to go and take its part in the service. This was a great occasion and much work and care was put into the preparation.
There have been about three hundred and fifty names on the roll of the choir during the last twenty-five years. About 1883 we find among others, the following names: Geo. Allen, James Anderson, George Barton, Arthur Bowen, Thurland Chatta- way, Charles Frazer, George Goodrich, Fred Harwood, Philip Haynes, Rudolph Lerch, Edward Meade, Burt McDonald, Frank Norton, Charles Norton, George Raynor, Harry Ross, Lesseps Robson, Frank E. Stacy, Fred Stacy, Thomas Spellman, Joseph Spellman, William Mellews, George Wellman and Charles Wilson.
Among the present vestrymen who were once choir boys are Stedman Craig and William Parks. The late Henry H. Skinner, for many years a vestryman of Christ Church and whose many records and memories of early days, helped to make possible this history was an old choir boy. At his death it became
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known that he had left the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars to Christ Church the income of which was to be used prefer- ably toward the music. Every organist found in Henry Skin- ner an ally whose interest and care for the Music of the Church never wavered. The Rev. Paul Atkins was once a choir boy in Christ Church. Timothy Dale, once a soloist of Christ Church, later won prominence on the stage with Keith and Poli circuits. He later went into musical comedy where he sang leading roles. T. Henry Coote, tenor, also became a star in comic opera, while Lambert Murphy, a member of the Metro- politan Opera Company, was an old Christ Church choir boy. While yet members of the choir, Wilson Bly, Clifford Weake, Ronald Winder, Frederick Bull, Edward Schmidt and Charles Cushman, on account of their fine soprano voices were chosen to become members of the famous Grace Church Choir in New York.
Several attempts have been made to organize a Choir Alumni Association. There seems to have been such an organization as early as 1889-for one record tells us that in August of that year the choir spent the month on a three-hundred-acre farm at Watch Hill, R. I., where several officers of the Sunday School joined them. On June 6, 1913, about one hundred and fifty former members of the choir held a reunion and banquet in the Parish House. They marched in procession from the upper floor to the dining room singing a song composed for the occa- sion. Mr. Frank E. Stacy had prepared a song sheet. Topical songs were sung-and there were selections by the Hosmer Male Quartet, and by the men's quartet, then singing in Christ Church, Messrs. Hunt, Ellis, Hosmer and Cox. There were solos by Earl Hosmer, Mr. Wilkins, Walter Gray, Willard Sistare and Donald Murray. Many historical facts were brought to mind by this reunion.
While Mr. Alexander was minister-in-charge of our parish, it was suggested that a Girls' Choir, to sing at the afternoon Lenten services, be formed. As all of the singers in that early choir were members of Christ Church Guild, it was called the
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"Guild Choir," but it was later enlarged to take in more women and then the name was changed to "Girls' Choir." Mrs. Frank Monroe, who was assistant organist of the church at that time, became the leader and organist for this choir. The vestments were given by Mrs. H. K. Baker and by members of the Guild, and they were made by the Guild.
During the rectorship of the Rev. Wm. Austin Smith a custom was inaugurated which met with a hearty response. On the Wednesday evening in Holy Week all former members of the choir, from elderly men to lads, were invited to come back to take part in the service, which consisted of the well known hymns these men had sung as boys in the chancel.
During Mr. Smith's rectorship was revived the Christmas Eve Carol Service which has become a permanent feature of Christmas-tide. Mr. Brooks started the Christmas Eve Carol Services. Then Congregation and Choir joined in singing the carols. This service held in the dimly-lighted, fir-scented church is a fit ushering in of the Holy Season. It was at a carol service on Christmas Eve, 1880, that Phillips Brooks' "O Little Town of Bethlehem" was sung for the first time in Christ Church. He had sent a copy to his brother, the Rev. John Cotton Brooks. Now a carol service would hardly be com- plete without the singing of that much loved carol. On the Christmas Eves of 1914 and 1915, our boys sang carols on the Auditorium steps at the Municipal Christmas celebration. For the two years 1921, 1922 the choir which then numbered thirty- five men and boys gave a concert in the Municipal Audi- torium, the object being to raise money to send the boys to camp for two weeks during the summer. This fund has also helped to send boys and girls from the Church School, who have attained a high rank in their studies, to camp. The concert programs have been divided into two sections, one secular, con- sisting of old French and English part songs and modern choruses; and the other arranged to give example of the best type of church music of the English, French and Russian schools. It is interesting to note that the critic in the "Spring-
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field Republican" said of the last concert held in April, 1922 :- "The sixty choristers, conducted by Thomas Moxon, sing with purity of tone and with admirable precision, and it was gen- erally felt by those who heard them last evening that their work may fairly be put beside that of the Paulist Choristers, whose visits to this city have been so much enjoyed."
In 1926 the Rev. Mr. Soule started a girls' choir from mem- bers of the church school.
During the past ten years the church has acquired a very valuable library of church music, the composers included being Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn; the old and modern writers of music for the English Church; the modern Russian composers, as well as those men of today who are giving of their best to uphold the highest traditions of church music. This represents approximately five hundred different anthems and service set- tings. The collection of Christmas carols contains some very rare compositions. The library is classified, catalogued and ar- ranged with great thoroughness.
One cannot leave the choir without telling of the faithful work of two women of the parish who served as choir mothers for many years. When the boy choir was started the vest- ments were cut out and made by Mrs. George Parsons. In this she was aided by her daughter, Miss Ella F. Parsons whose connection with the choir, had, at the time of her death, lasted nearly forty years. It is fitting here to speak of Mrs. E. E. Grieves, who was also associated in this work as choir mother for over thirty years, missing very few services at which the choir sang, during that long time. Several generations of boys grew to love and respect these loyal women. For a time Mrs. Stedman Craig and Mrs. Charles Chadwick aided Mrs. Grieves in her work. After they resigned Mrs. Franklin H. Slater was chosen to take their place. If, as we are taught to believe, the early training of a child counts for much in his later life, do not the years spent in the choir, give our boys, aside from the musical training, which is invaluable, a start in regular church attendance, and a groundwork in churchmanship which has a steadying influence in their mature years ?- L. M.
THE MEMORIAL WINDOWS
It is the purpose of this chapter to decribe our memorial win- dows. An ancient custom is retained by the bestowal of a gift which honors the memory of a loved one and at the same time attempts to increase the beauty of God's House.
Beauty for its own sake has ever been considered by the Holy Catholic Church as one of the Christian virtues. By the ritual- istic communions beauty has, too, always been deemed an aid to worship. Men have felt that "they can worship God more easily and more sincerely in surroundings of beauty. Beauty may be considered as a symbol of the character of God as well as a symbol of the aim and ideal for the characters of men." In attempting to make their House of God beautiful, the build- ers of Christ Church were following an ancient tradition. They could not produce a church building comparable to the wonder- ful cathedrals of Europe with their architecture and stained- glass windows dating back to the middle ages. But the best which could be obtained was always secured for Christ Church. Hence we find here several types of stained-glass windows, representative of each of the stages of the recent progress of this very ancient art.
We do not know when stained-glass was first made, but it has been traced back as far as the time of the ancient Egypt- ians. Neither do we know much about its introduction into Europe during the middle ages. But we do know a little about its manufacture after it had reached the stage of its greatest development. It was made by mixing different ingredients, including sand and certain metals and minerals, in a melting pot. This mixture, while in a molten state, was spread and worked into a cylindrical form, then, as it became harder, it was split and rolled. Pieces of the different colors selected
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