USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Sketch of the history of the Parish of the Advent in the city of Boston 1844-1894 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
78
by somewhat differing methods striving to do its duty in that position in which it had been placed by a Higher Power.
It goes without saying that such a change in relations could not have been brought about without misunderstand- ings and much feeling, and this feeling seemed for a time to be almost incurable; but in a few years scarcely any trace of it remained. To-day it is a thing of the past, neither thought of nor regarded by those who were con- cerned in it.
This urgent necessity for the immediate use of the church under such unforeseen circumstances embarrassed the build- ing committee seriously, and the placing of a mortgage seemed to be the only possible solution of the difficulty. The present scheme of construction had to be enlarged somewhat to provide accommodations for all the parish work. Not only did the church building require to be fin- ished, but it was necessary to have a proper place for the Sunday-school, the choir, and the various guilds. Thus the parish had incurred necessary expenses which were not con- templated when the contracts for the church building were made. However, with the generous gifts of certain wor- shippers and with the help of a comparatively small mort- gage, the parish was so placed that its engagements with the contractors were met; and on December 1, 1883, the construction account of the building was closed, and before the beginning of the new year the final report was received from the building committee, and it and the furnishing committee were discharged.
As the personnel of the congregation had changed mate- rially, a misunderstanding arose as to the position of the corporation, probably growing somewhat out of the changed
i
79
condition of affairs and the divided sympathies of its mem- bers. Why was it, it was asked, that these few men were allowed to elect the wardens and vestry, to elect the rector, to appropriate money, and do other things, such as in many churches are done by the whole body of worshippers ? This spirit of inquiry became more and more eager ; and finally, early in 1886, a number of the communicants asked for the right to name candidates to fill vacancies in the corporation. There could be only one answer to their request, and that a denial.
The corporation had existed for forty years and more as a board of trustees organized for the purpose of receiving money and holding property to carry on the worship of the Holy Catholic Church according to the doctrine and disci- pline of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country. For this purpose these trustees had received money, and had used it to the best of their ability, with the understanding that it should never be diverted in any way, and, as trustees, their only safeguard was to maintain such a rule with regard to perpetuating their body that at no time could their trust ever be violated or endangered. It was not with them a question whether the system which was adopted at the or- ganization of the parish was the correct system: it was enough that it had been adopted, and that as so constituted the administration of a great trust had come into their hands. Certainly, in the early years of the parish, its uncompro- mising course had been due to the steadfast purpose of the members of this body, whose opinions could not be neu- tralized by the enforced addition to their number of per- sons who might not work in sympathy with the principles which they were pledged to perpetuate. It was no good reason for a change that for the present the horizon seemed
80
clear ; for perhaps the battle might have to be fought over again in the distant future, though on a different ground. Hence the integrity of the position must be maintained.
In April, 1888, the rector placed his resignation in the hands of the corporation, asking that it be accepted as soon as his successor should be ready to enter upon his duties. His rectorship had been the longest in the history of the parish, sixteen years ; and the corporation were glad to acknowledge, in parting with him, his valuable aid in building the new church, his liberal contributions therefor, and the great good which had been the result of his rector- ship.
A great change had been wrought from the quiet ser- vice in the Congregational meeting-house in Bowdoin Street, which the Society of St. John the Evangelist found when its members first came to Boston in 1870, to the ornate service in the beautiful church on Brimmer Street. But this was merely the outward and visible sign of the inward change that had gone on, and had made all this pos- sible. The form was a small matter. The substance was the thing of real importance. The Catholic teaching had been implanted, and the sacraments of the Church were understood as never before; and their influence had spread, not only through this congregation, but also through that other body which had succeeded to the tenure of the Bow- doin Street property. The planting of the seed from which two large congregations had grown, where only one had existed,- certainly, this was something to be thankful for. Moreover, from that second congregation had sprung a mis- sion, the first of its kind in this part of the country, which was to carry the teachings of the Church to the col- ored people of the city in a manner especially acceptable to
8 I
them, and was also to minister in some degree to their temporal advancement as well. This was also made pos- sible only by the organization of the work during Father Grafton's connection with the parish.
If it seemed advisable to go into detail, much might be said of the help which the parish has had from various priests who have assisted from time to time in its work, and of the many missions held, both by its own clergy and by those who, weary with their routine in England, sought rest in doing good in America. But this is of too recent date to need special mention now. These men have all left their mark, and the parish will always be the better for their min- istrations.
No final step was taken toward the election of a new in- cumbent until October, 1888, when the present rector was unanimously elected to his office; and on Advent Sunday, December 1, 1888, he entered upon his duties.
Much had to be done. The troubles of the past few years had necessarily left their mark upon the parish. The church building, while in condition to use, was yet unfinished : and in the interim between the former rector's resignation and the arrival of the new rector the congregation had become somewhat disorganized.
Nothing more need be said about the work of the past six years than that the congregation is thoroughly united. and has increased in numbers; that the parish church is en- tirely finished, save as it may be beautified from time to time by additional bits of carving and other ornamentation : that it is becoming the home of many beautiful things set apart to the glory of God and in memory of those who. having finished this life, do now rest from their labors, that the parish has a rectory convenient and easily accessible to
82
the church ; that its debts are paid, its mortgage discharged ; and that, by its example, it is aiding and encouraging those who, in a less advantageous position, are striving to maintain Catholic truth. Its inner life can no more be appreciated by the ordinary observer than that of any other parish, but its influence for good in this community cannot be questioned. Not only has it introduced a more reverent worship in our churches, but it stands to-day a bulwark for the faith once delivered to the saints against the insidious encroachments of heresy and unbelief. Indeed, the time may be near at hand when every faithful Churchman in this diocese, what- ever his views as to methods of worship, will fervently thank God for the foundations laid by that little band of devout men a half-century ago.
Laus Deo.
RECTORS OF THE PARISH OF THE ADVENT.
Rev. WILLIAM CROSWELL, D.D. Elected 1844; died 1851. Rt. Rev. HORATIO SOUTHGATE, D.D. Elected 1852; resigned 1858. Rev. JAMES A. BOLLES, D.D. Elected 1859; resigned 1870. Rev. CHARLES C. GRAFTON. Elected 1872 ; resigned 1588. Rev. WILLIAM B. FRISBY. Elected IS88.
OFFICERS OF THE PARISH IN PAST YEARS.
SENIOR WARDENS.
Elected.
RICHARD H. DANA, SEN. .
1844
THERON METCALF
1848
WILLIAM FOSTER OTIS
1855
JOHN P. TARBELL
1857
GEORGE C. SHATTUCK .
1858
F. E. OLIVER .
1891
ROBERT CODMAN
1893
JUNIOR WARDENS.
Elected.
CHARLES P. GORDON
1844
GEORGE C. SHATTUCK
1855
WILLIAM EDWARD COALE 1858
EDWARD N. PERKINS
1865
HORATIO BIGELOW
1883
F. E. OLIVER
1885
ROBERT CODMAN
1891
FRANCIS W. HUNNEWELL
1893
TREASURERS.
Elected.
CHARLES R. BOND
1844
WILLIAM EDWARD COALE
1846
RICHARD H. SALTER 1849
JOHN P. TARBELL
1852
FREDERICK H. STIMPSON 1857
CHARLES K. COBB 1872
CHARLES H. JOY .
1872
THOMAS NELSON . 1882
GEORGE P. GARDNER
1891
85
CLERKS.
Elected.
CHARLES R. BOND
1844
ANDREW OLIVER
1846
HENRY M. PARKER
1550
N. AUSTIN PARKS
F. E. OLIVER
1863
WILLIAM H. C. COPELAND
186;
PAST MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION.
* JOSEPH H. ADAMS, . 1844
* ISAAC C. BATES, . 1844
* CHARLES R. BOND, 1844
* HENRY BURROUGHS, 1844
* WILLIAM E. COALE, 1844
* JOHN CODMAN, . 1844
* R. MCCLEARY COPELAND,
1844
* WILLIAM J. DALE, . 1844
* RICHARD H. DANA, SEN., . 1844
* RICHARD H. DANA, JR., 1844
* T. M. J. DEHON, . 1844
* ROBERT FARLEY, . 1844
* CHARLES P. GORDON, 1844
* THEODORE METCALF, 1844
* THERON METCALF, . 1844
* THOMAS D. MORRIS, 1844
* WILLIAM FOSTER OTIS, 1844
* RICHARD H. SALTER, 1844
* GEORGE C. SHATTUCK, . 1844
* ALEXANDER WOOD, . 1844
ANDREW OLIVER, 1848
* HENRY M. PARKER, 1848
* JOHN P. TARBELL, 1848
* F. E. OLIVER, . 1849
* N. AUSTIN PARKS, 1849
* JOSEPH BURNETT, 1850
* S. BENTON THOMPSON, 1851
* PETER WAINWRIGHT, 1852
87
* DANIEL CHAMBERLIN, . 1853
* HENRY T. PARKER, . 1853
SAMUEL ELIOT, . 1854
GEORGE W. PEARSON, IS54
* HORATIO BIGELOW, . 1856
CAUSTEN BROWNE, 1856
* FREDERICK H. STIMPSON, 1856
* CHARLES F. SHIMMIN, 1857
* WILLIAM E. TOWNSEND, . 1858
* FREDERICK S. AINSWORTH, 1860
WILLIAM S. EATON, 1860
EDWARD N. PERKINS, . 1861
* ISAAC F. REDFIELD, 1861
* THERON J. DALE, 1867
* CHARLES H. JOY, 1868
* GEORGE FISHER, . 1870
CHARLES P. GARDINER, 1870
* CHARLES K. COBB, . 1871
* HENRY C. HUTCHINS, . 1874
* JOHN H. STURGIS, 1874
* COL. T. T. S. LAIDLEY, 1878
JOSHUA M. SEARS, 1888
SAMUEL RITCHIE, 1889
OFFICERS OF THE PARISH. 1894.
RECTOR. REV. WILLIAM B. FRISBY.
CURATES.
Rev. GEORGE F. DANIELS. Rev. ARTHUR CHASE.
WARDENS.
ROBERT CODMAN. FRANCIS W. HUNNEWELL.
VESTRYMEN.
* JOHN P. TARBELL. WILLIAM H. C. COPELAND. THOMAS NELSON. STEPHEN C. DREW.
GEORGE P. GARDNER. GEORGE O. G. COALE.
FRANCIS V. PARKER. CHARLES H. DREW.
HAROLD B. WARDWELL.
TREASURER. GEORGE P. GARDNER.
CLERK. WILLIAM H. C. COPELAND.
* Died May 7, 1894.
MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION.
DEC. 1, 1894.
Elected
WILLIAM H. C. COPELAND, .
1865
ROBERT CODMAN,
1873
GEORGE O. G. COALE,
1878
THOMAS NELSON, 1878
FRANCIS V. PARKER, ISSI
FRANCIS W. HUNNEWELL,
1959
JOSEPH S. BIGELOW, 1889
STEPHEN C. DREW, . 1880
FRANCIS I. AMORY, . 1800
GEORGE P. GARDNER, .
WILLIAM K. RICHARDSON, 1.500
JOSEPH G. MINOT, 189:
ERVING WINSLOW,
1574
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.