USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > Records of proceedings, etc., in the parish of St. James' Church, Greenfield, from the first formation of the society, September 24th, A. D. 1812 > Part 7
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In 1884 the society was invited to assume one half the expense of the church music for that year, which undoubtedly it did.
About this time it became a fixed habit of the Vestry to appoint each year four ushers for the church ser- vices and a superintendent for the Sunday School, a custom which might well be continued. In 1886 con- sent was given to the erection of a small addition to the chapel by the Aid Society, which desired to make room for a kitchen department. The year following, Dr. Frank D. Beals was given a vote of thanks "for his faithful and highly valued services in the choir during the past year," and shortly after, these young men were chosen to receive such honor as the parish could give-Messrs. Leslie B. Boutwell, Philip R. Richards and Frederick Wolfskiel of the choir, and Messrs. F. E. Pierce, F. R. Hollister, F. P. Forbes and C. H. Keith, the ushers. It was also urged that proper notice of the church services be posted in public places; and the thanks of the parish were given to Edward H. Hollister "for his earnest and successful efforts in training and directing a boy choir." Finally the Rector was voted an additional two hundred dollars as a small return for his unusually devoted work. The parish fairly outdid itself in appreciation and gen- erosity.
In 1887 a committee was appointed "to aid and co- operate with the Rector in preparing for a celebration on the 11th day of June next of the 75th anniversary the establishment of the parish." The time of
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was chosen as being the anniversary of the death of the first Rector of the parish, Dr. Strong. The ap- pointments were as follows :- "Hon. James S. Grinnell, Hon. Chester C. Conant, Mr. Joseph H. Hollister, Mr. Charles R. Lowell, Mr. Hasburgh Zabriskie, Miss Har- riet R. Stone, Miss Emily Haven, Mrs. Charles R. Field, Mrs. Anna Judah, Mrs. Jane Bird and Mrs. Isabella Russell."
The celebration took place on the day appointed. The clergy and laiety of the Convocation of Springfield were invited and came out in goodly number. The ser- vice began at 11.30 a. m., and consisted of Morning Prayer and the Holy Communion. The historical ad- dress was made by the Rector, the Rev. Mr. Finch. "Im- mediately after the services a collation was served by the women of the church, in the chapel, to which all who had been present at the service were invited. After the dainty viands, which had been bountifully provided, had had their share of attention, the Rector called the gath- ering to order and after a brief speech introduced the Rev. Floyd Tompkins, Rector of Christ Church, Hartford, as the representative of the parish which did the most towards the founding of St. James', Greenfield. Mr. Tompkins spoke very happily of the relations of the Christ Church of seventy-five years ago with St. James', and of the missionary spirit and labor of Bishop Chase, the Rector of Christ Church.
Rev. John C. Brooks was then called upon to speak for Christ Church, Springfield, one of the first churches in whose early start Dr. Strong assisted. After ac- knowledging the indebtedness of his parish to Greenfield, he spoke very feelingly of his personal relations with Mr. Finch, and of the affection and respect entertained for him by all of the Clergy of the Convocation. He called the Reverend Chairman to account for his omis- sion in the historical address of the morning, to speak
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of his own services in the parish, and paid a warm tribute to his many years' work in Greenfield, which was heartily applauded by Mr. Finch's parishioners. The chairman then referred to the planting of St. John's church in Ashfield by the Rev. Dr. Strong, and asked Moses Cook, Esq., Senior Warden of the parish, to reply. Mr. Cook spoke feelingly and appropriately of the debt of St. John's to Dr. Strong, and of his own affection for that venerated clergyman. The Hon. Chester C. Conant was then invited to speak for St. James' itself, which he did briefly and forcibly."
We have drawn largely on the address of Mr. Finch, delivered at this time, for the frame work of this sketch of the history of the parish, so it need not be given here.
In 1890 the church was shingled at a cost of more than four hundred dollars, and a water motor was put in, thus doing away with that time honored institution, and also that despair of organists, "the organ boy."
The records of the next few years are given over very largely to telling of the passing of votes of thanks to the various helpers and benefactors of the parish. Mrs. Isabella Russsell, who had given the walk in front of the church, and St. James' Guild, which had provided a grand piano for the chapel, came in for their share of gratitude; also the Hon. John E. Russell, a generous con- tributor, and J. P. S. Otterson and C. C. Conant, lay readers, received each in turn an expression of thank- fulness.
In 1893 the Easter offering amounted to $563., a great relief to the treasury.
In 1891 the parish, in common with the whole Diocese, was called upon to mourn the death of Bishop Paddock, for seventeen years faithful chief pastor. Two years later, in 1893, the church was again draped in mourning, this time for the Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks, D. D. The minute on the Vestry Book expressed the feeling of the
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Church not only in Greenfield but throughout the land: "In the death of the Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks, Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts, we feel a personal as well as a general loss. A Christian of enlarged views, while earnest and devoted as a representative clergyman of the Episcopal Church, his broad and generous nature took in the whole brotherhood of man, and his death, though gain to him, is a loss to the whole Christian world.
His power, great as it was in the pulpit, was not bounded by the limits of his Church, nor by the num- ber of his congregation; his daily walks and his conver- sation were a continual lesson displayed everywhere, as well among those in the lower walks of life as those who control the business of cities.
His earnestness, his gentle ways, the sweetness of his disposition always assured him the attention of those whom he addressed, and seemed in their minds a convic- tion of his sincerity and the truthfulness of his reasoning.
No form of language which we could use would be more fitting than the simple expressive words of St. Paul. "The Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, given to hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doc- trine, both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers." Titus 1: 7-9. All of which he was."
In May, 1896, this memorial of Charles R. Field, for long years an honored and faithful member and officer of the parish, was recorded :-
"The Wardens and Vestry of the Protestant Episcopal Parish of St. James' Church, Greenfield, at this their first meeting since the death of their late associate, Charles R. Field, desire to place on record their sense of the grave loss which this parish and community have suffered in his departure.
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They recall with gratitude his many years of devout attendance upon the services of the Church; his unflag- ging interest in all that concerned it; the never failing soundness of judgment which he brought to the conduct of the affairs of both parish and vestry; his loyalty not alone to his belief, but to his Rector and Bishop. His courteous thoughtfulness for the feelings of his fellow men, his readiness to consider other's views and opinions, his kindly greetings to his friends, his sympathy for all who were in distress, his charity and generosity to all who were deserving, will never be forgotten by those who knew him.
We thank the Giver of all good for the years of in- timacy with our friend that have been vouchsafed us, and we pray that his example may be to us a lasting one, an incentive to each and every one to do his utmost for Christ and His Church."
In this year also a sitting in the church was assigned to Mr. Benjamin F. Popkins "in grateful recognition of his long services in the choir of the church."
In 1896 the parish appointed a committee to endeavor to influence the young men to more regularly attend the services of the church, a task which was judged to be too large for any committee. In April of the next year a determined effort was made to reduce the parish indebtedness which amounted at that time to $5160. A committee consisting of S. D. Conant, C. R. Lowell, C. H. Keith, G. A. Kimball, Mrs. F. D. Beals, Mrs. C. C. Conant and Mrs. Robert Abercrombie resolutely grappled with the problem, and within two weeks made a report in writing. Three thousand dollars were to be raised immediately by subscription, the Aid Society hav- ing promised to contribute one third of this sum. With such a spirit abroad in the parish it is little won- der that we find no record of failure, and therefore take for granted the raising of the entire amount.
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In 1898 the gratitude of the parish was given to Miss Elsie R. Beals and Mrs. Brooks for their great assistance in the music of the Church and Sunday School.
In August of this same year a new organ was placed in the church, largely due to the interest and hard work of the organist, Mr. E. H. Hollister. According to the records, some ten people interested in the parish, to- gether with the ever helpful Aid Society, contributed funds for this purpose. It would be difficult to find a sweeter toned or more generally satisfactory instrument. Mr. Finch in his address at the dedication spoke of the old organ and its organists, Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, Musc. Doc. Oxon., Wendell T. Davis, Henry and Gilbert Wilson, Mrs. Charles R. Field, Mr. Harrington and Mr. Hollister.
In November, 1899, occurred the death of the Hon. Chester C. Conant, for many years a Vestryman and Superintendent of the Sunday School. A strong and active churchman, Judge Conant gave of his best to further the interests of the parish.
In January 1900, the Aid Society was given permis- sion to wire the church for electricity, which was forth- with done.
In April 1901 word came to the parish of the serious illness of Mr. Finch in New York. An accident in the late winter had left him in a state of weakness, and he had started for the South hoping to recuperate, but he got no farther than the home of his son in New York. The Vestry sent him at once a message of sympathy, urging him to take as much time for rest and recovery as might be needful. But on the 3rd of May Mr. Finch died. The tribute of the parish to his memory is worth giving here because it was the immediate expression of affection springing from full hearts.
"The members of the parish of St. James' Church, in annual meeting held by adjournment on the evening of
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the day of the burial (May 6th) of their late beloved Rector, Reverend Peter Voorhees Finch, while unable to fully express their sense of grief and loss, and their appreciation of the real worth of their pastor, unite in the following thought:
The hand of God has taken from us in His good time one who was our Rector during thirty of the last thirty- eight years, and under whose ministry most of us be- came members of this parish. While the world has lost a good man, while the Diocese is the poorer in the death of a faithful presbyter and beloved counsellor, while the town will long miss a worthy and most public-spirited citizen, we, his parishioners, mourn in him our instruc- tor in the faith, our companion in our joys, our tender comforter in our sorrows, our unselfish, kind and thought- ful friend at all times.
The Rev. Mr. Finch was a man of sunny temperament and generous heart; in him a mind of the first order, developed by a liberal education and varied experience, kept active by constant reading and by association with his fellow men, made him to the last a man abreast of the age in which he lived.
Both his heart and mind entered into the composition of every sermon or address, and enabled him to touch with power the intellect or feelings of every auditor. While sound in the faith of the Church he was tolerant of the views of others; not disposed to value non-essen- tials or matters of ritual merely, he believed in and loved the established forms of the Church, and aimed in his administration of its services to be of no party, but simply a good Churchman, and such he was.
As pastor and friend he came closest to the hearts of his people. He baptized the children, and he loved them from that day forward; and the children loved him.
He joined the young in matrimony, and his genial smile and voice are a pleasant memory of many a wed- ding feast.
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When sickness or death entered our families his ever present while ever unobtrusive interest, sympathy and consolation smoothed the way for the sufferer, and helped to uphold the grief stricken. There is no one of us who has not some personal recollection of him, known to no one else, that will be ever cherished. Each one of us recalls his unvarying cheerfulness and cordiality. His life, not only as a clergyman, but as a man, a citizen, a neighbor, a Christian gentleman, has been and will continue an example to be followed.
His activities were many. He believed in "mens sana in corpore sano." He loved nature. He was fond of exercise and sport. He enjoyed the society of his fellow men. His work as a priest of God was ever first in his mind and was never neglected. But he found time for much else. Of his prominence in affairs outside the church it is not for us to speak in detail, but we were proud of it and of him.
We have parted for the last time with a most able, discreet, devoted and beloved Rector. We shall rever- ence his memory as a sacred recollection while we live. He died as he would have wished, with his full armour on, in the active discharge of his duties as a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, "having the testimony of a good conscience; in the communion of the Catholic Church; in the confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope; in favor with God, and in perfect charity with the world." We commend his spirit to Almighty God, who gave it, and we pray that we may so follow his good example that at the last day we may be united with him in the mansions of our Father."
These resolutions were adopted by unanimous, silent, rising vote.
Bishop Lawrence in his address on the day of the funeral drew a true picture of Mr. Finch:
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"As I think of the life of Mr. Finch I am impressed first with his sincerity. He always showed his real self. He was transparent, always rang true. Whenever you asked him a question, placed a problem before him, you realized that you were before a man. His keen sense of humor and his conscience detested anything like un- reality, hypocrisy or meanness. He was strong at every point. There was in him that toughness of fibre coupled with the grace of character that remind one of those beautiful elms of your town. There are those that are strong but do not command love.
Mr. Finch had those old school manners and those graces of courtesy that made him the friend of every man. In his church relations there was that beautiful simplicity of character, the simplicity of a child, which we are com- manded to cultivate. He could no more restrain his sense of humor than he could his sense of indignation at wrong. So he went through life, bearing with him the simple gospel of Jesus, a true and beautiful Christian. As pastor of this church he had the rare compliment of being called back for a second period of service, and he met the severest test when he came back to a people whose memory was touched by the idealism of their re- membrance of him. He was not merely a pastor, he was also a patriot, and responded to the call to take the position where he could be most effective in the war. A chaplain's place is supposed to be in the rear, but Mr. Finch was wherever he was needed, even if that was on the firing line. It is little wonder then that he held the complete confidence of his comrades. As a citizen, you know better than I can tell you, how devoted he was in his life in this town, with what zeal he served you in the interests of the public schools. These flowers from the children show what they thought of him. And now with the inspiration of his life let us ever joyfully go on with our work, emulating in so far as we are able that fine character that belonged to Mr. Finch."
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Perhaps the best tribute of all is to be found on the tablet erected in the Chancel of the Church in 1902.
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In memory of Peter Voorhees Finch Rector of this parish from 1864 to 1871 and from 1879 to 1901.
He was a just and humble man full of charity: a loyal patriot in war and peace: a good citizen. As a pastor, he cared for his flock with tender- ness and devotion.
The people loved him.
He was born March 19th, 1835. Ordained Priest July 3rd, 1860. Chaplain of the 16th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, 1863. He died May 3rd, 1901.
THE REV. SIDNEY HUBBELL TREAT RECTOR 1902-03.
RECENT HISTORY.
The last decade of parish life and activity can be passed over in comparatively short order. It begins in 1901 with the division of the Diocese of Massachusetts, brought about in the General Convention of that year. The Diocese of Western Massachusetts, in which this parish is located, was created and set apart. The parish voted against the division, but it had to come. New re- sponsibilities were put upon the church people resident in the western part of the state, but the steady advance of the Church, and the marks of increasing strength plainly evident point to the wisdom of the division. To the Primary Convention held on November 19th went Messrs. Samuel D. Conant, Frederick L. Greene and Charles R. Lowell.
The next day November 20th, the parish voted to call the Rev. Sidney Hubbell Treat of Stockbridge, Massa- chusetts as Mr. Finch's successor. Mr. Treat, a grad- uate of Columbia University and the Episcopal Theologi- cal School in Cambridge, had for three years been as- sistant to Dr. Arthur Lawrence, the Rector of Stock- bridge, with special charge of the mission work in South Lee. No better choice could have been made. Mr. Treat came to the parish in 1902 fitted by nature and by training to worthily succeed the good men who had preceded him, and to carry the work forward. Like Dr. Strong and Mr. Finch, his interest was not bounded by his parish. He entered at once into the life of the town. He spent himself freely for the betterment of the community. With the young people in particular he
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was amazingly successful. He presented one of the largest confirmation classes in the history of the parish; he put new life into the services of the Church; he made over the music; instituting the vested choir. Eager for work, enthusiastic, longing to make himself helpful and useful, perhaps he over-estimated the strength of his body. At any rate, it held out for only a little more than a year. He died in January, 1903. But his spirit still lives. The people cannot forget him. They still talk of him. No one ever received from them such ready response or such hearty appreciation as did he. Almost everything that has come to pass in the way of parochial development in the last ten years can be traced back to his influence. Again we find in the records perhaps the best tribute to his memory. At the parish meeting held April 13th, 1903, this minute was solemnly adopted.
"On the first Sunday of January, 1902, Rev. Sid- ney Hubbell Treat began his duties as Rector of this parish.
This was his first independent pastorate, and he at once entered upon the work with his whole strength and acquainted himself fully with all the needs of the parish.
He interested himself especially in the Sunday School, and continued to have it in charge until the time of his death.
He made it his first duty to visit the sick and the afflicted and those who were unable to attend the Church services, and his visitations to them were repeated as frequently as the proper discharge of his duties would permit. He encouraged them with words of cheer and comfort, and did much to lighten their burdens. He singled out the poor and extended to them the hand of loving sympathy. He gathered the young men of the parish about him, and brought them together at the
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church, and mingled freely with them in a social way, encouraging them to become attached to the church and at all times seeking their Lord, and by constant interest in their welfare and efforts in their behalf, endeared himself to them by the most firm, tender and lasting ties of friendship.
He inspired the young women with zeal in their work, and assisted and encouraged them in their efforts to beautify the church and in their care of the Chancel and Altar.
Of musical ability and refined musical taste and pos- sessed of a fine voice, he early set himself to the task of organizing and putting in operation a vested choir. This was ere long accomplished and its success was instant and assured. The music, as rendered by this choir, has now become a fixed and established part of the services of the church, and to him and his efforts in that behalf, the parish is indebted for the introduction of this important change in the musical part of the Church services.
He was thoroughly consecrated to his work and a faithful priest in the Church, and the large class so soon presented by him to the Bishop for confirmation attests the efficiency of his labors and his untiring efforts for the up-building of the Church, and the spread of the King- dom of Christ in the world.
The material interests of the parish received his thoughtful consideration and among the last of his pub- lic utterances in the Church, the financial condition of the parish was brought directly to the attention of the people with the hope that he trusted would soon be realized.
His frank and cordial manner, his companionable nature, and his deep, earnest sympathy with the afflicted and distressed, enabled this Church to at once enter upon a season of prosperity under his care and guidance.
As a citizen of the town he was ever ready to join
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and assist in every good work, and in his conduct and his association with his fellow men he set an example worthy to be followed, and ever evinced a spirit of the broadest catholicity.
He was dearly beloved by the people of the parish, and the numerous friendships he formed were permanent and lasting.
He was a man of great force; his sermons indicated careful preparation and thought, and he was a preacher of marked ability.
On January 29, 1903, in the midst of his labors, at the age of 31, after a brief illness of a few hours, he entered into life.
Be it therefore resolved,
That we recognized in our late beloved Rector a man of ability of a high order, and a faithful Priest in the Church, thoroughly consecrated to his work, and singu- larly devoted to the interests of the parish.
That he was untiring in his efforts for the up-building of this parish and for the material and spiritual well- being of all his parishioners.
That the results of his work among us will be lasting and permanent, and that in his spirit of self-sacrifice and efforts to comfort the sorrowing and relieve the distress of the afflicted, we recognize a singular devotion to the cause of the Master.
That in his death this parish has sustained a great loss, and as individuals, this loss is felt to be personal to us all."
In 1902 Mr. Frederick L. Greene received the thanks of the parish "for his efficient services as clerk during the past twenty-one years."
At a special meeting held in March, 1903, the Rev.
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Henry Rawle Wadleigh of New York City was elected Rector. Mr. Wadleigh accepted and took up the difficult task of succeeding Mr. Treat on the 15th of May. For nearly four years he served the parish well, establishing a new and high standard of music, not only in the church but in the town, strengthening the organized life of the parish, and putting it on a firm and substantial foundation. Mr. Wadleigh resigned on the 30th of January, 1907, very greatly to the regret of the parish, in order to accept the Rectorship of the American Church at Munich, Germany.
In May, 1905 the Vestry passed a minute in apprecia- tion of Simeon Phillips for more than forty years a Warden of the parish, recognizing in him "the spirit of complete devotion to the welfare of the church, and of unswerving fidelity to every interest of this parish. * As a citizen of this community his life was above reproach and his true Christian character appeared in all his walks. He loved the services of the Church as few men have loved them, and was one of her most faithful mem- bers and firmest supporters."
On the 15th of April, 1907 the parish voted to call the Rev. John Bartlett Whiteman of Germantown, Phila- delphia as Rector. He began his work on the 16th of June following.
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