USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The parish of the Advent in the city of Boston, a history of one hundred years, 1844-1944 > Part 10
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In 1904 Dr. van Allen asked that a committee be ap- pointed to take into consideration the matter of a Parish House. The committee continued without definite action being taken, until in 1918 it was finally consolidated with the Committee on Fabric. In the meantime, in 1915, two rooms over the rector's room in the church building had
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been completed and furnished to serve as guild rooms, as a memorial to the late Mary A. Hemenway.
Hope for the provision of an adequate parish house, so essential to the work and social activity of a parish like the Advent, was never abandoned; and in 1937 the Guild
LANCET WINDOWS
of St. Francis Xavier gave the sum of twelve hundred dol- lars to constitute the nucleus of a Parish House fund. It was not until the summer of 1941, however, that the project could be realized. At this time the offer by Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Harlow (parishioners of the Advent who had moved out of town) of the equity in the house adjoining the church, at 135 Mount Vernon Street, together with the tender of a memorial gift of ten thousand dollars on con- dition of the completion of the project within a specified period, provided the incentive for a determined effort to accomplish the much desired result. Mr. Walter H. Kil-
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ham, representing the firm of Kilham, Hopkins, and Gree- ley, architects, was consulted, and plans were drawn pro- viding for extensive alterations both to the old parish house and to the Mount Vernon Street residence, and for their connection by means of a two story passage behind the apse of the church. The plans submitted were admirable, but the expense of their execution was deemed to be too great. The plans were thereupon modified, and subscriptions were invited from the members of the parish. The amount neces- sary to supplement the memorial gift already offered was raised, and on December 21, 1941, the new Parish House was dedicated by the rector.
Now, for the first time, the parish was in possession of facilities really adequate for its work apart from the services of the Church. In the old building the new Parish Hall, two stories in height and dedicated to the memory of Frederick S. Moseley, with its balcony has a seating capacity of about two hundred persons; with its removable stage and well- equipped kitchen it is in constant use. Breakfast is served every Sunday after the early masses, and here the adult classes in religion are held, not to mention the Red Cross Group and many others who find it both pleasant and attrac- tive for various kinds of meetings. On the second floor the choir enjoys a spacious room for rehearsals and for vest- ing, and the acolytes have their own room, a memorial to the late Robert T. Walker, which provides facilities for the care of choir and acolytes vestments. On the same floor the former Guild room has been tastefully re-furnished, and now is known as All Souls Room: a memorial to all those in whose memory gifts, either of money or of material objects were made to the Parish House fund or for furnishings of the house. The names of those thus commemorated, with the names of the donors, are inscribed in a beautiful "Book of Remembrance," the gift of Lawrence Coolidge in mem- ory of his father, late clerk of the parish. This book was ex-
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ecuted by the Merrymount Press, of which Daniel Berkeley Updike was founder and president. A member of the cor- poration, he gave the Book his personal attention, one of the last services he was able to render to the parish before his death.
Leading into the passage from the Brimmer Street to the Mount Vernon Street house is the office of the Director of Religious Education.
In the Mount Vernon Street house a large room in the basement is given over to the Junior Department of the Church School. The two Guild rooms on the first floor, a memorial to Jessie Fremont Beale, are adapted for meetings of guilds or small groups, a kitchenette serving one of them. The second floor provides the rector with a large and com- fortable study, with a connecting room for the parish secretary ; while the third floor offers suitable space for two curates and the parish visitor.
The rector's former study on the third floor of the Brim- mer Street wing has been converted into a game room for the boys ; at times it is used as a sewing-room.
The history of the Parish of the Advent would be in- complete without acknowledgement of the service rendered by those who have occupied the position of Verger. This service has not been confined to the maintenance of the church's property and care for the comfort of its parish- ioners and of strangers attending the services; it has ex- tended to assistance willingly given to the rector and his staff whenever required, while the Verger probably has stored in his mind many incidents in the life of the parish during his term of office.
In the earlier years the duties of verger-or sexton- were undertaken by no less a personage than one of the wardens ; but it is not to be wondered at that after a time he found the burden of attending to the opening and closing of
THE WINDOW IN THE NORTH AISLE
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the church for services twice daily to be too great. About 1852 Hugh Taylor was appointed Verger, and held the po- sition for nearly forty years. Upon his resignation in 1891 the corporation passed a resolution warmly commending him for his long and faithful service.
Hugh Taylor's successor was F. H. Lewis, who was suc- ceeded in 1897 by Isaac Griffis. In 1903 Joseph H. Hunting, who had entered the service of the parish in 1892, suc- ceeded to the office, which he still holds. In the spring of 1943 a testimonial reception was tendered by the parish to Mr. and Mrs. Hunting, recognizing his association of fifty years with the parish. At this reception, which was largely attended, the rector presided; testimonial speeches were made by the wardens and others, and Professor Edward Kennard Rand presented to Mr. Hunting gifts expressing the esteem of the many donors for him, and their apprecia- tion of his long and faithful service to the parish.
The Parish Library
In 1939, when it became known that a Parish Library was in the making, and gifts of books would be welcome, they poured in from parishioners and friends, in lots from a few up to two hundred. The small collection with which the library started has now grown to 1500 volumes, of which 90 are reference books.
During the first three years the supply of new books was almost entirely dependent on gifts, which are still the chief source of supply, the small budget allowed by the parish being needed for supplies and equipment.
Recently there has been received from the late Cornelia Russell Wright, a devoted parishioner, a bequest of five hundred dollars, the income of which will be used for new books. Knowing her interest in the Library, Miss Wright's family and a few friends gave a sum of money in her mem- ory, for immediate use. A cousin of Miss Wright's, Miss May Mellus of Brookline, has given an attractive book plate for the Memorial Collection.
The Library is installed in Hunnewell Chapel, opening out of the church, and was dedicated March 3, 1940. At that time new lighting fixtures were provided from a be- quest of Miss Ann Wentworth Smart, and a memorial tab- let was given by her life long friend, Miss Lulu Eames. In connection with the dedication the Superior of the Order of the Holy Cross, the Reverend Alan Whittemore, D.D., spoke and introduced Miss Vida Scudder, who read from her forthcoming biography of Father Huntington, the founder of the order.
This is a theological library, with special emphasis on Anglo-Catholic literature. This includes good material on the Oxford Movement, Catholic classics, mysticism and vo-
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THE PRAYER SHRINE The Statue of Christ the King
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THE PARISH LIBRARY
cation. The collection also includes books on the Christian social order, science and religion, faith and practice, music and architecture as well as religious biography, fiction, poetry, and drama of a religious nature. The Reference Collection is still small and inadequate, but includes a few good dictionaries and commentaries, various versions of the Bible and Prayer Book, writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, and material on some general subjects. In addition to the books there is an interesting collection of pamphlets, both for reference and for sale. The leading Church peri- odicals may be read in the Library, and also the publications of various religious orders, Church societies and institu- tions.
Because of war time fuel shortage the library at present is open but twice a week and on Sunday. In addition to parishioners, people living at a distance may take out books by parcel post, as is done regularly.
The Library is in charge of a parishioner who is a trained volunteer librarian of experience.
The Endowment Fund
Early in his rectorate Fr. Frisby made an earnest appeal for substantial additions to the sum which already had been subscribed or bequeathed, and which constituted the nu- cleus of a permanent Endowment Fund.
By April, 1901, this Fund amounted to about twenty-one thousand dollars. At that time the corporation voted that the treasurer of the parish should pay over to the Trus- tees of Donations of the Protestant Episcopal Church all sums hitherto or hereafter received as "contributions to or for the Endowment Fund of this Parish"; this fund to be held by the Trustees as a distinct fund to be designated as "The Endowment Fund of the Parish of the Advent," and invested in income-bearing securities.
The Trustees of Donations were organized by a special act of the Legislature in 1810. The Board now has a mem- bership of about fifty Trustees, and is in charge of a very large number of funds belonging to the various parishes of the diocese. Nine Trustees, all well-known members of the Episcopal Church and men of experience in financial af- fairs, constitute the Board of Managers. An annual account of the Advent fund is rendered to the parish, and the net income of the fund is paid over to the parish treasurer. No part of the principal is ever to be paid over unless in some extraordinary emergency, such as a disaster to the church building by fire; but never for ordinary expenses.
The Endowment Fund has now grown to a point where the present annual income amounts to about sixteen thou- sand dollars. This income is indispensable toward the mani- fold expenses of a city parish, such as taxes, lighting and heating, insurance, maintenance of the fabric, which have
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to be met regularly ; and without this income other activities and obligations would be seriously crippled.
AN IMMORTALITY OF USEFULNESS
When one of the foremost philanthropists of this nation decided to use his wealth in the service of God and human- ity, he engaged an able man to make a careful study of the various ways by which men had made their money useful. In due course this report was made, and it included this recommendation of endowments :
"Money given for endowments tends to perpetuate the usefulness of the donor through all time. His gift con- fers upon him an immortality of usefulness. Through it he becomes a permanent prop of civilization, an ever liv- ing force in human progress."
This is true; for endowment funds properly invested and administered by trustees of integrity are the most stable things which the human mind has yet devised. Banks may go, but their trust funds remain. Governments may change, but properly administered endowments persist. As has been pointed out, "The funds given to Oxford well nigh a thou- sand years ago are still treasured unto a life beyond life. The students of Harvard are now living under the bene- fits derived from foundations made three hundred years ago."
Fortunate and happy is the person who is associated with a well-founded institution to which he or she is bound by ties of affection and loyal devotion, and into whose care he or she can give endowment funds for perpetual custody. Such an institution is the Church of the Advent.
It is very important that our Endowment Fund should be increased, for two reasons :
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1. The return from investments tends steadily to dimin- ish. Unless the Fund is largely increased we face a considerable diminution of income from this Fund in the near future.
2. Families or individuals who have been liberal contrib- utors to the support of the parish die or move to other cities, and it is not easy to fill their places.
The increase of the Endowment Fund may come from two sources :
1. The Easter Offering. For many years it has been the custom in the parish to devote the special offering at Easter to the increase of the Endowment Fund.
2. Bequests to the Fund. It is earnestly hoped that all who can will contribute to the Endowment Fund a sum sufficient to yield in interest at least the amount of their annual subscription to the support of the parish. Such contributions can be made either at the present time, or by bequest in a will, as is recommended by the rubric in the Prayer Book (page 320) : "The Minister is ordered, from time to time, to advise the People, whilst they are in good health, to make wills arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, and, when of ability, to leave Bequests for religious and charitable uses."
Thus those of us who are conscious of having received much from the Giver of all good gifts through this par- ish may express gratitude in such a way that long years after we have passed from the earthly scene, we may have a happy sense of still sharing in the blessed service to God às He lives in the Parish of the Advent; having assisted in insuring its continued witness to God and its usefulness to generations yet unborn.
As a thank-offering to God, it is hoped that the one hun-
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dredth anniversary of the founding of our beloved parish may be marked by the substantial increase in the Endow- ment Fund which is so vitally important to the future of the parish.
A suitable legal form of bequest is the following :
"I hereby give and bequeath to the Parish of the Advent in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, the sum of dollars to be added to its Endowment Fund."
Parish Organizations
It was one of the avowed aims of the founders of the Parish of the Advent especially to secure the ministrations of the Church "to the poor and needy, in a manner free from unnecessary expense and all ungracious circum- stances." The successive locations of the parish rendered the church accessible to all residing in the north-eastern sec- tion of the city, to many of whom the material as well as the spiritual assistance afforded by the parish and its clergy were welcome.
With the advent of the Cowley Fathers in 1870 this work increased materially, both within and without the parish.
The Boston Children's Hospital, which was founded in 1869, was first managed by Mrs. John Tyler, a member of the Advent Parish who during the Civil War had rendered services which evoked a special vote of acknowledgment and thanks from the State Legislature. In 1871 the direction of the Hospital was taken over by one of the Sisters of St. Margaret, Sister Theresa, who with Mother Alice had come to Boston from England at the instance of Fr. Grafton.
About this time the development of educational facilities became a feature of the work of the Advent parish. In 1873 other Sisters came from England, and the American Branch of the English Mother House of the Sisterhood (founded in 1855 by the Rev. John M. Neale) was estab- lished. In 1875 two of them, Mother Louisa Mary and Sister Jessie, under Fr. Grafton's direction founded St. Mar- garet's School for Girls at number five Chestnut Street, which became the leading Episcopal school for young women in Massachusetts. Fr. Grafton was its Chaplain. The School closed in 1888.
In 1874 St. John's School for Boys, at sixty-nine Pinck-
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ney Street, was established by Fr. Grafton as a home for the choir-boys of the Advent, who received their general education in the Boston public schools. About 1875 St. John's School developed into a real choir school, one of the first in this country. Scholarships were offered, and there were both day- and boarding-pupils; as in the English choir schools, the boys were given an adequate secondary education in the school, where they continued their training for the church choir. At a somewhat later time St. John's School at- tained the status of a college preparatory school; the ap- pointment of the headmaster remained in Fr. Grafton's hands. It may be assumed that the relation of the school to the Parish of the Advent ceased when the new church on Brimmer Street was occu- pied.
Meanwhile the Sisters of St. Margaret had charge of the society for the relief of the poor in the Advent parish, whom they constantly visited. They taught in the Sunday School, and had charge of the infant department.
With the occupancy of the Brimmer Street church it is probable that some of the institutional work which had been carried on in Bowdoin Street was left to be admin- istered by the clergy remaining there, for which they and their new parish, designated as the Mission Church of St.
-
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John the Evangelist, were especially fitted. This does not imply, however, that after the removal to Brimmer Street there was any slackening of effort in the Parish of the Ad- vent; rather was it henceforth to be devoted more definitely to interests of the parish itself, as indeed the location of the new church rendered almost inevitable.
The following account of the work of the present organi- zations of the parish will show the wide range of their ac- tivities, which by no means are alone confined to the benefit of the parish.
THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The objective of all work in religious education at the Church of the Advent is to help all who take part in it to enter more fully into the knowledge and love and service of God. The center is the Altar and the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The work is organized around small groups, meeting specialized needs, and covering all ages from infancy to advanced maturity. The name of the infant child is entered on the Cradle Roll as soon as he has received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and suggestions are offered for his early training as "a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven." When he is three or four years old, he is welcomed into the Church School. This meets in two sections. The larger part meets at 10 A.M., and is staffed by a group of men and women who are themselves able, intelligent, consecrated Christians and Catholics. The second section meets at 11 A.M., and these classes also have a group of fine teachers. The children who come at 10 also attend the 11 o'clock Mass, with their parents or teachers. Those who come at 11 receive instruc- tion for three-quarters of an hour, and then go to the church for the last part of the Mass. For those children who
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PARISH ORGANIZATIONS
live at a distance, and who can seldom or never actually attend the sessions of the Church School, there is the "By- Mail" department, with teachers who send material and in- struct by mail. The membership of this section is rapidly growing, and already stretches, geographically, across the continent to California. The boys who join the choir or St. Vincent's Guild are given special instruction by one of the priests. The girls of high school age enter the Junior Altar Guild, with its regular meetings for instruction and work. The Young People's Fellowship, meeting weekly on Sunday evenings, carries out a fourfold program of study, worship, fellowship, and service, and binds together the young people between the ages of 15 and 25. Several members of the Fellowship have adopted the rule of life of the Servants of Christ the King.
In carrying out this part of the program of religious edu- cation, the Church School Faculty is of tremendous impor- tance. This group of men and women meets monthly for discussion and study, and for prayer in the Lady Chapel, followed the next Sunday by a corporate Communion.
The Department of Religious Education feels a special responsibility for the large numbers of student nurses and college students in the nearby hospitals and colleges. Spe- cial meetings are planned for nurses, and invitations sent for various parish activities. The Advent College Group, made up of women students from seven nearby colleges, meets monthly for fellowship and discussion.
The Adult Class in Religion meets before the late Mass on Sundays. It is led by distinguished professors and doc- tors, as well as by members of the parish staff. It is at- tended by students, visitors, members of other churches, people new in the parish, parents of the children, and by the regular communicants; for all there are new ideas and added strength and inspiration. During the winter of 1943-44, well over two hundred people registered in some
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ALTAR OF THE LADY CHAPEL
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PARISH ORGANIZATIONS
section of this class; sometimes as many as 125 attended a single session.
The Rector and Staff meet with the Council for Reli- . gious Education, which is made up of men and women representing all groups in the parish, to evaluate the work and to plan for the future of it. In this way the program is made by the members of the parish themselves, and is adapted year by year to meet the changing needs.
In the season of 1943-44 almost four hundred people took part in this program of religious education. It is far from the old "Sunday School" idea. It is rather a parish activity for all people, of all ages and groups, having as its goal the development of Christian worship, Christian fel- lowship, and Christian living. The inspiration, the center, and the end sought are at the Altar, in the blessing, the strength, and the power for Christian living given by the Presence of our Lord.
The Director of Religious Education is Miss Erna Blaydow.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S FELLOWSHIP
When Fr. Hale came to the Advent in November, 1937, one of the first activities to which he gave attention was the Young People's Fellowship. Assisted by Mrs. Hale, his in- terest resulted in the formation of a large group. The young people met in the rectory Sundays after Evensong, often taxing its capacity. With the assistance of the Rev. George R. Metcalf of the staff, they continued to meet in the rec- tory until the completion of Moseley Hall in 1941. At this time the Rev. David W. Norton, Jr., directed their activities.
In the fall of 1943 the young people's group became for- mally affiliated with the Young People's Fellowship of the National Church and the United Movement of the Church's Youth. Following in large part the national group's plan of organization and program it limited its membership to those
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between the ages of 15 and 25. At the present time, although many members are in the Service, the group continues with · a constructive program of worship, study, fellowship and service.
The president of the Young People's Fellowship is Mr. Alf P. Christoffersen, with Fr. Blynn as chaplain, assisted by Miss Blaydow.
THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
The Church of the Advent branch of the Woman's Auxiliary to the National Council Incorporated is an or- ganized group of women of the parish who are particularly interested in missions. Not only are they of assistance to the rector in parish work, but they also help in mission work of the community, the diocese, the nation, and the world. The program for the year is planned to carry out a definite part in the Church's work in all these five fields of service.
The Woman's Auxiliary, together with other woman's work of the Church of the Advent, stems from the Parish Guild, the first records of which appear in Fr. Grafton's Parish Almanac for the Year of Grace, 1874. The founders of the Parish of the Advent in 1844 had in view "not a Church for their own needs alone. The Church was to be a Mission Church." In the third year of his rectorship Fr. Grafton sets forth the aims of the Parish Guild by saying "All the ladies of the Parish who can give any time or labor to Church work are requested to enroll themselves as members of the Guild. The rules of the Guild require that each member shall be engaged in some one work as- signed to her, pay a small monthly assessment, and recite a prayer daily. The Mother Louisa Mary of St. Margaret's Sisterhood is Superior of the Guild and assigns and directs the work. The work is divided into four departments: (1) District and hospital visiting, mothers' meetings for the
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poor, sewing classes for girls, cottage lectures; (2) Relief of the poor, making of garments, etc .; (3) Teaching in the Sunday Schools, copying papers, sale of tracts and books of devotion, which may be obtained in the Guild Room; and (4) The providing of vestments and care of the Altar."
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