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 8
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On the 7th of June the Vestry voted to purchase of Mr. Samuel D. Conant what was then known as the "Stevens property," but in reality the old parsonage and lot formerly in the possession of Dr. Strong, the first Rector. Mr. Conant with wise foresight had bought the property to protect the church, and it proved to be one of the best things ever done for the parish. The pur- chase was made possible through a legacy left by Nancy M. Hovey and the generosity of two friends of the parish, Messrs. W. Scott Keith and George L. Jewett, together with subscriptions made by other church people.
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This same year Mr. Keith also generously contributed some extraordinary repairs to the church, including a new and very fine roof.
On the 9th of July, 1908, a committee was appointed to look into the matter of developing the new property with the idea of some time erecting thereon a suitable parish building. In January, 1909, the Vestry recom- mended that a committee be chosen to bring in plans for such development. This committee went directly to work, consulted Mr. Robert T. Walker, an architect in Boston, and formerly a member of this parish, and brought before the Vestry and also the next parish meeting held in April, definite plans for building and improvement. A great deal of interest was created, and on the 30th of June the Vestry voted that the committee previously appointed, consisting of Mr. Charles H. Keith, Col. Frederick E. Pierce and Mr. Albert T. Hall be authorized and in- structed to move the "Stevens House" and the "Guild House" in accordance with plans drawn by Mr. Walker. On the 15th of September this same committee was auth- orized to go on with the plan of improving the church property and to take such steps as might be necessary to raise the funds with which to pay for the same, not to exceed $15,000.
On Sunday, October 31st, 1909, the corner stone of the new Parish Building was laid, and a year later, Novem- ber 2nd, 1910, the Buildings were dedicated by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Alexander H. Vinton, D. D.
This in brief is the history of the erection of a very beautiful and useful working plant, the result of long years of hope and thought and planning. Enough could not be said of the devoted labors of those interested in the work. To the Building Committee, and particularly to Mr. Charles H. Keith, its chairman, and to Mr. Robert T. Walker, the architect, the parish owes a very great debt of gratitude. And what shall we say of those who
7-SUNDAY ALISIUL.CUA
PRESENT CHURCH INTERIOR
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out of generous hearts and open hands gave what they could to make the venture possible. Their names and their pictures are not here, but every one is known to Him in whose great name the work went forward.
The death of Bishop Vinton, in January, 1911, was a sad blow to the new Diocese. Honored far and wide, and greatly loved by those who knew him, he earned and deserved the rest God has given him.
The Rt. Rev. Thomas Frederick Davies, D. D., con- secrated in October, 1911, promises to be a worthy suc- cessor in the office of Chief Pastor.
In September, 1911, the parish lost its Senior Warden, Mr. Charles R. Lowell, for nearly forty years in office. The parish has recorded its deep regard for him, its ap- preciation of his worth as a man, of his bearing as an officer in the Church, and of his character as a Christian soldier and gentleman.
At the parish meeting in January, 1912, the Rector was authorized to appoint a committee looking toward the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the parish on September 24th. The appointments were as follows :-- Mr. Samuel D. Conant, Mr. Charles H. Keith, Mr. Frank H. Reed, Mr. Edward H. Hollister, Mrs. John D. Pierce, Mrs. Kate F. Beals, Mrs. Frank H. Reed, Miss Alice Eldredge. It is expected that a Memorial Service will be held on the Sunday preceding the Anniversary, at which the preacher will be the Rt. Rev. Edward M. Parker, D. D., Bishop Co-adjutor of New Hampshire, and grandson of Dr. Alpheus F. Stone, one of the five original founders of the parish.
And this brings us to the end of this present record. We cannot do better than to close this little history in the words of Mr. Finch spoken at the Seventy-fifth An- niversary.
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"Gifts and bequests in money, endowments and mem- orials are associated with many honored names that grace the pages of our parish registers, while the un- written record which is alone known where the right- eous are kept in everlasting remembrance, would show, could it be revealed, words of encouragement, hearty co-operation and generous deeds, which through the years have given an impulse to and made possible whatever has been accomplished in the Master's cause. Though dead, these saintly persons yet speak, and their works do follow them."
"And were I to essay the task, however delightful it might be, as with St. Paul of old, time would fail me to tell of our Gideons, Baraks, Samsons and Jepthas of the laiety of the past, who through faith wrought right- eousness. They were indeed attached to the ancient creeds and primitive Church order; and to illustrate how ardent the attachment was, let me recall the fact that one of the fathers of this parish, whose sons in their de- votion to the Church proved themselves to be his worthy successors, was in the habit of taking his children at the proper time after birth all the way to Middletown, Con- necticut, to have them duly baptized. Of this sort were the people who long years ago laid the foundations of this parish. They suffered reproach and even persecution that this grand old Church of the ages, with its creed and liturgy, might be thoroughly planted here. In its behalf they labored; for it they denied themselves; it is consecrated by their prayers and tears. The heritage has come down to us. Let us faithfully guard it, and by our devotion strive to prove ourselves its worthy posses- sors. And to this end as we kneel at our common Altar and remember the faithful departed, clergy and laiety alike, let us pray God to give us His grace that we may follow them in all virtuous and godly living. Let us strive with their faith and zeal to make our Church a
THE REV. JOHN B. WHITEMAN. RECTOR 1907.
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minister of good to all who need, so that at the last with the great onward-moving host who have preceded us, and who, we are told, cannot be made perfect without us, we may hear from the Master Himself those gracious words, 'I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; naked, and ye clothed me; sick and in prison, and ye visited me. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my bretheren, ye have done unto me'."
ADDENDA.
BISHOPS OF THE DIOCESE.
DIOCESE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
The Right Reverend Edward Best, D. D. 1797-1803. The Right Reverend Samuel Parker, D. D. 1804-1804. The Right Reverend Alexander Viets Griswold, D. D. 1811-1843.
The Right Reverend Manton Eastburn, D. D., LL. D. 1842-1872.
The Right Reverend Benjamin Henry Paddock, D. D. 1873-1891.
The Right Reverend Phillips Brooks, D. D. 1891-1893. The Right Reverend William Lawrence, D. D., LL. D., D. C. L. 1893-1902.
DIOCESE OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. The Right Reverend Alexander Hamilton Vinton, D. D., LL. D. 1902-1911. The Right Reverend Thomas Frederick Davies, D. D. 1911
OFFICERS OF THE PARISH FROM ITS FOUNDATION.
RECTORS.
The Rev. Titus Strong, D. D. 1814-1855
The Rev. William Flint, M. D. 1855-1859
The Rev. S. Russell Jones, 1859-1863. The Rev. Peter Voorhees Finch, 1864-1871 The Rev. Julius H. Waterbury, 1872-1874 The Rev. Samuel Hollingsworth, S. T. D. 1875-1879
The Rev. Peter Voorhees Finch, 1879-1901 The Rev. Sydney H. Treat, 1902-1903
The Rev. Henry R. Wadleigh, 1903-1907 The Rev. John B. Whiteman, 1907-
WARDENS.
Thomas Chapman
Oliver Sage
Alpheus F. Stone
Richard E. Newcomb
Richard E. Field
John J. Pierce
J. H. Hollister Simeon Phillips
William Keith
Charles R. Lowell
Samuel D. Conant
Charles H. Keith
VESTRYMEN.
John Stone John E. Hall Chester Gunn
Samuel Pierce
Daniel Clay Alexander Morgan Rodolphus Dickinson Nathan Draper
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Andrew Adams
William T. Clement
David Willard
Elijah Coleman
Moses Andrews
Asher Newton
John Mason
Samuel Pickett, Jr.
G. B. Alverson
Hart Leavitt
George Adams
Lyman Kendall
Samuel Hinsdale, Jr.
C. Devens, Jr. Thomas W. Ripley F. S. Tuckerman J. H. Hollister
Erastus Clark
H. G. Parker James S. Grinnell
Joel Parker
Simeon Phillips
Isaac Newton, Jr.
Henry B. Clapp
Richard E. Field
Jonathan Bird
Samuel Wrisley
James Avery
David Bachelor
John L. Tucker
Henry Chapman
Charles R. Field
Joseph Severance
George Pierce, Jr.
John W. Bancroft
John Russell Joshua Thornily
William W. Draper
Chester C. Conant
David Allen
H. D. Mirick
Onesimus Nash
Frederick Clapp
Lemuel H. Long L. M. Amsden
B. W. Houghton
Chas. K. Grennell
J. J. Pierce Scott Keith
Geo. W. Munson J. B. Prentiss Henry W. Clapp Lucius Dickinson Josiah Whitney
John D. Pierce Charles Keith Austin De Wolfe
George Willard
Edward Graves Isaac Miles
E. D. Merriam Charles R. Lowell
Edwin Eaton William Keith
A. P. Megrath Leonard Jones Wendell T. Davis
Jesse Andrews William Wilson
Arza Bardwell
David Long
James R. Long
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W. H. Samson Moses P. Bascom Thomas V. Hall
Charles Thompson F. Leon Stebbins Charles P. Pierce William A. Forbes S. P. Breck
George A. Kimball
Charles Richmond
G. Willard Platt Dana Malone
Frank J. Pratt, Jr.
Charles H. Keith
John G. Yetter
Frederick H. Ulrich Frederick E. Pierce J. Walker Clark Samuel D. Conant Albert T. Hall William Blake Allen Edward H. Hollister Benjamin W. Porter Archibald D. Flower
Frank P. Forbes
Clarence Strecker
Frank H. Reed
CLERKS.
Alpheus F. Stone
David Willard
Hart Leavitt
Henry Chapman
William W. Draper
Frederick L. Greene
George W. Forbes
John M. Hackley
TREASURERS.
John E. Hall
Thomas Chapman
Lyman Kendall
John W. Bancroft
John J. Pierce
C. K. Grennell
William W. Draper
L. M. Amsden
Calvin Grennell
J. B. Prentiss I. S. Lyons
Jesse Andrews
John Mason Leonard S. Jones
Henry Chapman
J. C. Andrews
C. K. Grennell George Pierce, Jr.
G. Willard Platt
A. P. Megrath
C. Ellis Draper G. F. Thompson
A. P. Megrath Lemuel Long
Edward P. Graves
PARISH BUILDINGS
The house on the right now occupied by the Sexton is the original rectory.
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Charles Keith G. Willard Platt F. L. Greene Frederick E. Pierce Charles H. Keith
William B. Keith
Samuel D. Conant Frank P. Forbes
Benjamin W. Porter Albert B. Allen
ASSESSORS:
Lyman Kendall
Hart Leavitt
Samuel Pierce
Alexander Morgan
B. W. Houghton George A. Allen W. H. Samson C. D. Potter
John Mason
Thomas B. Hall
Nathan Draper
Irving B. Houghton
Isaac Newton, Jr.
George A. Kimball
Henry Chapman
Austin DeWolfe
A. P. Megrath
Charles E. Lyons
William Wilson
H. D. Stevens
George Adams
C. Richmond
R. E. Field
W. A. Forbes
David Long William Keith
E. D. Merriam John D. Pierce
G. B. Alverson
Nathaniel T. Houghton
T. W. Ripley
John H. Amidon
Edward P. Graves
Henry A. Potter, Jr.
Quintus Allen
Charles H. Keith
J. P. S. Otterson
James S. Grinnell
S. D. Conant
George Field J. L. Tucker
F. E. Pierce
Henry B. Clapp
F. P. Forbes
Charles R. Field
J. M. Hackley
John Sawin George Pierce, Jr.
John G. Strecker
Silas Phillips
F. P. Stimson
W. W. Draper
W. C. Conant
Samuel Boylston
C. R. Lowell
William H. Strong
A. T. Hall
F. H. Ulrich
THE FIRST CONFIRMATION CLASS.
Presented September 4th, 1814.
Mrs. Charlotte Chapman
Mary Chapman
Elizabeth Chapman Henry Chapman
Mr. Nathan Draper
Mrs. Hannah Draper
Eliza Draper
Hannah Draper
Charlotte Draper Julia Draper William Whiting Draper Dr. Alpheus F. Stone
Mrs. Harriet Stone
Rowena Russell Mr. John E. Hall
Mrs. Elizabeth Hall
Mrs. Martha Jones
Sally Barber Mrs. Lucinda Clay
Roxana Smead
Mr. William Grennell
Mrs. Lucy Grennell
Polly Grennell Calvin Grennell
Elizabeth D. Grennell Fanny Grennell
Mrs. Polly Sage
Mary M. Sage George R. Sage
Dorothy Sage Mr. Asher Newton
Mrs. Chloe Newton
Mrs. Almeda Phelps
Mr. Moses Andrews
Mrs. Elizabeth Andrews Loura Munson
Mary Greene, of Boston Phebe Pierce
Mrs. Anna Bishop, of Northampton
Mr. Elijah Alvord Anna Alvord Mr. Levi Stiles
Mr. Andrew Adams
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THE SECOND CONFIRMATION CLASS. Presented May 25th, 1815.
Elijah Calmon
Theodosia Hitchcock
Mary Newcomb
Chloe Newton, 2nd
John Simonds,
Charlotte Chapman, 2nd
of Winchendon
Rodolphus Dickinson
David Griffin
Nancy Dickinson
Eben Alexander
Enoch Dole
George T. Chapman
Sarah Alvord
Alice Chapman
Roxana Stiles
Anna Joyce
Nancy Andrews
Stephen Beach, of Arlington Fanny Jewett, of Guilford
Lyman Kendal
Caroline Proctor
DONORS TO THE PERMANENT ENDOW- MENT FUND OF THE PARISH.
Charles K. Grennell
Anna C. Clapp
Isaac Miles
Harriet R. Stone
Edward P. Graves
Silas Phillips
Emeline Clapp
Eliza P. Forbes
Henrietta Clapp
Simeon Phillips
Elizabeth Draper
Nancy M. Hovey
Cornelia W. Brown
Emily H. Conant
MEMORIALS IN THE CHURCH.
IN MEMORY OF
Altar, Reredos and Chancel Rail,
Candle Sticks,
Service Book,
Marble Tablet, The Rev. Titus Strong, D. D.
Brass Tablet, The Rev. P. Voorhees Finch Lectern, Theodore D. Judah Reading Desk, Henry W. Clapp Clergy Stall, - Henry F. Miles Annie T. Lowell Charles R. Lowell
Clergy Stal!, Prayer Book, -
Hymn Board, Mary I. Conant Window, Oliver Sage and Polly Denio Processional Cross, The Rev. Sidney H. Treat
Lectern Bible, John P. Haven and Emily Draper Bronze Tablet, - - -
Chester C. Conant Sarah B. Howard
Font, - -
Gift of Mrs. H. W. Clapp Litany Desk, -
- Thank Offering
Henry Wilson Elsie R. B. Pierce Moses Bascom
CORNER OF THE CLOISTER SHOWING ORIGINAL RECTORY
MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH HOUSE.
Windows, (Guild House) In memory of H. W. Clapp.
Photographs of Mr. Finch and Mr. Treat.
Fire Place in Parish Hall.
In memory of the Rev. Julius H. Waterbury.
Fire Place and Chimney Piece in Parish Rooms.
In memory of Emily Haven Conant.
Corner Seat In memory of Elsie R. B. Pierce
The Cloister was built in memory of Chester Cook Conant and Sarah Howard, his wife.
The Land upon which the Parish Buildings stand is in part a memorial to the generosity of Nancy M. Hovey.
HECKMAN
BINDERY, INC. Bound-To-Please®
MAR 01
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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