USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > The Garrison Church; sketches of the history of St. Thomas' Parish, Garrison Forest, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1742-1852 > Part 7
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As indicating one of the contentions of that year the resolution appears on the minutes, "That this Vestry approve of the course of Dr. Johns in preaching in the Eutaw Street (Methodist) Church and that our delegates be and are hereby instructed to support him therein." The second volume of Vestry proceedings closes April 1, 1854, with the resolution that "the
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thanks of this Vestry be presented to Dr. Thomas Walker for the beautiful step which he has purchased and cansed to be laid at the front door of the church."
The new record book opens January 1, 1855, and the first entry, evidently proceeding from a physician, (Dr. Councilman) reads as follows: "As the venerable old stove which has so long occupied a situation in the aisle shows decided symptoms of decrepitude and old age ; and, besides the numerous cracks in its plate and sides, has already parted with its diaphragm, it becomes necessary to provide a substitute, Thomas Cradock is appointed to make the necessary inquiries as to a coal stove."
September 21, 1858, there is a minute of the death of Richard H. Owen which records "with gratitude the lively and deep interest our deceased associate ever manifested for the prosperity of this Church," and enlogizes "the many social and Christian virtues which endeared him to us." In the register of burials there is this entry : "Died in Baltimore, at his nephew's, R. F. Maynard, on the eighteenth of September, 1858, R. H. Owen, in the eighty-second year of his age. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Thomas', on the twentieth, by the Rector of this church. He was a devoted member and communicant of St. Thomas' for more than forty-five years and for many years an active and efficient vestryman, warden and treasurer of the same, and also a devoted friend of the Rector. (Signed) W. F. Lockwood." He was delegate to the Diocesan
Dr. James ff. Maynard. 107
Convention continuously from 1844 to 1858. Mr. Owen lived at "Plinhimmon," about a mile west of where MeDonogh School is now located. He was a bachelor and his two sisters lived with him. One of these sisters was a widow, Mrs. Maynard, whose hus- band had died when her son, Richard F. Maynard, (whose name will appear again) was only two years old. Mr. Owen is still remembered ( 1898) for his courteous manners as well as for his gentleness and goodness.
The next entry outside the routine of elections and treasurer's reports is the minute on August 12, 1861, of the death (June 8, 1861) of Dr. James F. Maynard, "a firm and efficient friend of the Church." The Rec- tor in his record speaks of him as "a man of intelli- gence, of pions education, a great and most valuable friend of the Rector." His kind disposition toward the Church was faithfully carried out by his brother and executor, Mr. Richard F. Maynard, who succeeded hin as a member of the Vestry. The much-needed vestry- room was built as a memorial of him. One thousand dollars was also presented from his estate, "the interest of which was to be expended for keeping in order the church grounds." The legacy of four thousand dollars was also received from the same estate "the interest thereof to be appropriated to the support of indigent students at the Alexandria Theological Seminary" and the Vestry was empowered by Act of Legislature, 1868, to accept the trust for this purpose. Dr. Maynard in this way made for himself a most enduring memorial
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in the parish ; and for more than thirty years the interest of this fund has supported one student cach year at the seminary, and there are many men in the ministry of the Church now who were enabled to pursue their necessary studies by this beneficent gift; and the good work goes on. There have been few legacies to Church work in this parish, and Dr. Maynard's is the largest.
This chapter seems chiefly occupied with the record of death, and one honored name must be added. Mr. Edward D. Lyon died February S, 1865. He was a communicant, a member of the Vestry for about twenty years, the treasurer for six years, and delegate to the Convention for about the same time.
At a meeting in June, 1869, it was determined to colleet money to repair the church. These repairs were quite extensive, and cost, according to an entry, April 10, 1871, 53,049. This ineluded the replacing of the picturesque old hip-roof by a sharp-pitched roof, which changed the appearance of the exterior of the church. If the architect's plan of a tower had been carried out, the proportions and lines would have been better, but this was not accomplished. On September 7. 1873, the Rector appointed a committee to decide the most suitable way of spending a sum of money given for the improvement of the church. It was decided to more "thoroughly warm and ventilate the church ; to build a carriage-shed ; and also to estimate the cost of building a buttressed tower as shown in the original
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ST. THOMAS' RICTORY.
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The Pipe Organ.
drawing for repairing the church ; also the cost of the latter with a gallery."
At the Easter-Monday meeting of the Vestry in 1874 Mr. Samuel M. Shoemaker offered to give a pipe organ, which was gratefully accepted, and a committee appointed to build "an addition to the church on the left of the chancel to contain the new instrument." By the "left of the chancel" the Vestry intended the north side and a room corresponding to the vestryroom on the south side was accordingly built. These rooms disappeared in the improvements of 1890 when the transepts were built and the chancel enlarged.
The gift of the sweet-toned organ was a beautiful gift and has from that time until the present greatly helped the services in the old church.
CHAPTER XVI.
ST. MARK'S-ON-THE-HILL.
AY 31, 1874, marks the first movement in the Vestry toward the recognition of the work which had begun in the neighbor- hood of Pikesville, and which afterward developed into the Church of St. Mark's-on-the-Hill. A committee was appointed on motion of Mr. C. Mor- ton Stewart, consisting of Messrs. Cradock, Rogers, Maynard, Wood and Harrison "to raise funds to build or provide a chapel at Pikesville, which chapel, its man- agement and affairs, shall be under the sole and exclu- sive control of the Vestry of St. Thomas' Parish ; that evening service may be held there throughout the year and morning service at such seasons as may be deemed advisable by the Rector of St. Thomas' Parish ; also, that an assistant be provided whose duty it shall be to assist at divine worship at St. Thomas' Church every Sunday morning and to conduct the services at Pikes- ville in the evening." Mr. Stewart was added to the committee.
A week later the committee reported : " First, That the Rector's salary be increased to SS50." (The
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The Church Lane Macadamised.
average salary for several years had not exceeded $650.) "Second, That until the purchase or erection of a chapel be completed ; or until an Assistant Rector be chosen, it is deemed inexpedient to raise the question of the salary of said assistant."
The next Sunday, June 14th, the committee ap- pointed to negotiate the purchase of the Methodist chapel at Pikesville reported that the owner estimated its valne at $4,200, a price which they considered too high.
On Sunday, June 21st, the committee again reported and were directed to accept the terms. Mr. Chas. K. Harrison was authorized to open books of subscription to raise the required amount. The Vestry records do not show the result of all this effort, nor the names of the subscribers, nor the fact that at this time and for several years there were assistant ministers appointed.
Easter Monday, April 2, 1877, Messrs. Cradock and Maynard, who had been previously appointed as a committee " to raise money and construct a turnpike from the Reisterstown Road to the Garrison Church," reported "the total subscriptions in cash and labor for that purpose to be $1,661.30, and the total amount ex- pended to date $1,636.06, leaving a balance of $25.24," which the committee was ordered to use when necessary in repairing the road. The value of this improvement cannot be too highly appreciated. Up to this time there were often days in the winter and early spring when the church was almost inaccessible on account of the wretched roads.
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It was probably this year that the parish school- house was built, though there is nothing in the records to show it. The first notice of it is the minute, Octo- ber 1, 1878, that " The claim of Hopkins and Marshall ($406.10) for repairs done to schoolhouse in conse- quence of storm was read to the Vestry. Claim denied on ground that the work had not been well done origi- nally, and that said repairs were done without sanction of the Vestry."
The suit of the builders resulted in a judgment against the church in 1882 for about $525, and was paid out of a legacy of Mr. Cardiff Tagart.
In January, 1879, the Rev. W. Strother Jones was invited to become the assistant to the Rector, and on April 1, 1879, he was regularly elected the assistant minister at a salary of $Soo a year. At a meeting of the Vestry, October 10, 18So, Mr. Charles Morton Stewart " spoke of the offer of Mr. John N. Carroll to give a bell in case a tower was erected, and reported favorable progress toward obtaining the funds necessary to build it. The cost was estimated at $1,700 and he had $1,250 in hand. The proposition to build this tower had been previously accepted, and the matter was left in Mr. Stewart's hands."
April 3, 1883, there is the following minute : "The Rev. William F. Lockwood, for many years Rector of this church, died after a lingering illness at the rectory, on the first inst., and was buried in his family lot this evening ; a number of clergymen officiating and a large
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tu. Strother Jones.
concourse of people being present." Immediately after the service a meeting of the Vestry took place in the church, and resolutions of sympathy with the bereaved family were adopted, and the use of the rectory tendered them for the ensuing year.
Thus ended the longest rectorate of St. Thomas' Parish, extending over thirty years. Mr. Lockwood was highly beloved and respected, and was an excellent preacher. His stipend was insufficient, and it was necessary for him to keep a school, by which he sup- ported and educated his children. For nearly ten years before his death his health was not equal to the per- formance of all his parochial work, and the Vestry pro- vided an assistant. Among those who served the Church in this capacity were : Rev. William A. Alrich, now Reetor of St. George's Parish, Spesutia, Md .; Rev. Charles C. Randolph, now Rector of Botetourt Parish, Virginia, and Rev. W. Strother Jones, who, on his death, was chosen Rector.
Mr. Jones is a grandson of Chief Justice Marshall, and was born on the estate "Oak Hill," of the Chief Justice, in Fauquier County, Va., in 1853. He was educated at Winchester, and pursued his collegiate studies at Washington and Lee University, and took the theological course at the seminary near Alexandria. He was ordained by Bishop Whittle as Deacon in 1876, and as priest in 1877. His first parish was Emmanuel, Casaanova, Fauquier County, Va., from which parish he came to Garrison Forest.
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The records of 1884 show the beginning of the movement for enlarging of the church. There were various propositions, but nothing was done, and the death of Mr. Samuel M. Shoemaker, June 1, 1884, whose liberality and deep interest had been an inspiration of progress, prevented the early consummation of this pur- pose. Mr. Samuel Moor Shoemaker was born June 28, 1821, at Bayon La Foruche, La. He was baptized in this parish, as the records show, in 1823, by Rev. Mr. Austin. The record reads, "Samuel Moor, born June 28, 1821, son of Samuel E. and Sally Shoemaker ; baptized September 14, 1823, by Mr. Austin."
Mr. Shoemaker was educated at Lafayette College. December 28, 1853, he married Angusta Chambers, daughter of Judge John B. Eccleston of Kent County, Md. He engaged in the transportation business, and when Mr. Adams and his associates extended their business as far as Philadelphia they found the "Sanford & Shoemaker Express" running between that point and Baltimore. A combination was made and "Adams Co.'s Express" was formed, which was afterwards made the "Adams Express Co." Mr. Shoemaker was, from the beginning, one of the most active members of the Board of Managers, and for a number of years Vice President of the company.
He was a vestryman of the parish from 1870-'73 and from ISSo-'S4.
In the record of deaths the Rector at that time made the entry, "Mr. Shoemaker was a sincere
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ADr. Jones Resigns. 115
Christian. For several years he had been a com- minicant and an active vestryman."
Another useful and honored vestryman, Mr. Alexander Riddell, died January 2, 1885.
The Vestry this year, 1885, undertook to provide for the better heating of the church in winter by dig- ging a small cellar in which a furnace was placed.
For the first time in the history of the parish the Bishop (the Rt. Rev. Wm. Paret) was present at a meet- ing of the Vestry, January 14, 1886, and spoke of the insufficiency of the Rector's stipend and it was there- upon resolved to increase it by the sum of $200, making it $1,000, beginning March Ist. The Vestry records for several years show nothing of general interest.
September 14, 1888, the Rev. W. Strother Jones resigned as Rector and the Vestry expressed "their regret at the severance of the pleasant relations which had existed between him and them for the past eight years."
The Vestry proceedings cannot be taken as any fair indication of the faithful work of Mr. Jones. The baptisms and confirmations are a better index of his labors, and the parish school which he started for poor children, and the growth of the Sunday School tell the story of his earnest efforts.
His ministry in this parish, both as the assistant minister and as Rector, was marked with energy and faithfulness. Upon resigning St. Thomas' Parish he became the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Fairfield,
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Con., where he remained until 1896, whence he was called to St. Michael's Church, Trenton, N. J., where he is now Rector (1898). He received the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity, 1894, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.
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CHAPTER XVIL.
HOBART SMITH.
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HE PARISH remained vacant two months. November 17, ISSS, the Rev. Hobart Smith, Rector of Henshaw Memorial Church, Baltimore, was elected Rector. He accepted, to begin his duties Christmas Day.
On February 6, 1889, a committee was appointed to take into consideration the enlarging of the church building. On March 12th, the committee made a report submitting a plan for the enlargement of the church, and for the restoration of the roof, "hipped, in the style of the age in which the church was built." It also proposed the addition of a tower; and "the changing of pews so as to give a middle aisle six feet wide and two side aisles two feet, four inches wide." The Rector objected to the change of the aisle as removing one of the marked colonial features of the church ; and as there were other objections, no decision was reached. The Rector was authorized to have a brass tablet placed in the chancel to the memory of the Rectors who died in the parish, which tablet was pro- vided by the generosity of one of the Vestry, Mr.
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The Garrison Church.
Charles Morton Stewart, and placed in position on Easter-Day.
About this time the new part of the churchyard was laid off in lots marked by stone posts; a hedge of arbor vitae was planted, and the prices of lots fixed.
On January 20, 1890, at a meeting of the Vestry it was decided to accept the majority report of the com- mittee, which provided for the adding of a transept and chancel at the cast end of the church; and the same committee was authorized to obtain plans from Messrs. Wyatt and Nolting, Architects; and also to solicit subscriptions to the amount of $4,000 from the con- gregation.
March 17th, the committee (consisting of Mr. William Checkley Shaw, Mr. R. F. Maynard, and Mr. S. M. Shoemaker) reported the estimates of cost and the amount subscribed. The lowest estimate was $5,909.50, and the subscriptions amounted to $2,740.00.
March 24th the Vestry met again and the follow- ing letter was received .- "Baltimore, March 20, 1890. To the Vestry of St. Thomas' Church, Gentlemen- Since the agitation of the extension of St. Thomas' Church commenced, I have determined to request your body to allow me the privilege of paying the amount named by the contractor for the work. My object is to accomplish a long cherished desire-to erect a fitting memorial to my family, to which I owe so much, and of which I am the sole survivor. This offer I know is amenable to the imputation of selfishness, but
Mr. Tagart's Generous Gift. 119
will, I hope, be deemed by you laudable in the motive. It will enable me to possess the consciousness of aiding you in supplying more seating room for the poor, but worthy, residents free of any charge, which has caused our Rector and yourselves so much anxiety. I would in this connection be glad to know that you would assign one free pew to the matron and faculty of MeDonogh Institute. Very truly, your friend, S. H. Tagart."
This offer was gratefully accepted, and Mr. Thomas Cradock and Mr. R. F. Maynard were appointed with the Rector to signify to Mr. Tagart the appreciation of his generous gift. "The Building Committee was then authorized to contract with Mr. John Cowan."
On Easter Monday (April 6, 1890,) it was decided on the recommendation of the builder to put a cellar under the entire new part of the church at a cost of $467; also to have water introdneed into the rectory and necessary repairs made. In view of these and other im. provements subscribers were asked not to withdraw sub- scriptions made previously to Mr. Tagart's generous offer.
Mr. John N. Carroll, of "the Caves," offered to donate a bell, which was accepted.
The total cost of the church improvement
was . $8,162 07
The amount expended on the rectory was 778 16
Total cost of improvements SS.940 23
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The. Garrison Church
This was covered by subscriptions, a list of which will be found in the appendix.
On October ist the Church was formally re-opened for divine worship by the Rt. Rev. Win. Paret, Bishop of Maryland. The clergy present were Rev. A. J. Rich, Dean of the Convocation ; Rev. Hobart Smith, the Rector of the church ; Rev. J. H. Eccleston. D. D., who preached the sermon ; Revs. Hall Harrison, Geo. A. Leakin, Frederick Gibson, A. P. Stryker, A. T. Pin- dell, Edward P. Gray, Geo. K. Warner, Robert H. Paine, Edw. H. Ingle, J. H. Logie, W. H. H. Powers, Duncan McCulloch, R. A. Mayo, Edw. T. Lawrence, Charles Ganss, Alex. M. Rich and Mason Stryker.
Mr. Charles Morton Stewart, on behalf the Vestry, made an address. A large congregation was present. After the service an abundant collation was served.
September 3, 1891, Mr. Samuel H. Tagart asked the permission of the Vestry to place in the chance] three stained glass windows as a memorial to his wife (Sarah Mifflin Large), which permission was granted. The windows were designed and executed by Mr. John La Farge, of New York, and are of opalescent glass. The theme is the Ascension. They were placed in the church by the following Easter Day, but Mr. Tagart did not live to see them. He died March 19, 1892, aged eighty-one years. He was buried in the churchyard- the last of all his family-Monday, March 21st.
Mr. Tagart was born about two miles north of the church in 1811. He was educated at the Garrison
mnun
THE GARRISON CHURCH, ISHI.
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One hundred and Fittieth Anniversary.
Forest Academy, and studied law at Staunton, Va., under General Baldwin. He was a successful lawyer, and was associated with Mr. I. Nevitt Steele. Mr. Steele early gained a high reputation in pleading. Mr. Tagart was equally successful in securing public confidence, and was greatly sought as trustee and executor for large estates. In all the trusts committed to him there was never a blemish on his integrity. Mr. Tagart was one of the first trustees of the MeDonogh Fund, and for many years, and to the day of his death, the president of the Board, and it was through his watchfulness and pru- dence that the endowment was increased. He be- queathed to the MeDonogh School nearly two hundred thousand dollars.
In his later years he was deeply interested in the old parish church, under the shadow of which he had been born and where all his family were buried. He became a communicant in ISSI and was elected vestryman on Easter Monday, 1884. His interest was unfailing and he would drive every Sunday from the city, even in winter weather, and be punctually in his seat at the be- giuning of the service.
Mr. George N. Moale was elected to the Vestry to succeed Mr. Tagart.
October 15, 1892, the parish celebrated the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Act of Assem- bly by which it was incorporated. Addresses were made by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Wistar Morris, Bishop of Oregon ; Rev. J. E. Grammer, D. D., of Baltimore,
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and others. The Rector read a sketch of the history of the parish. There was a large congregation present and great interest manifested.
One important matter has been omitted from the minutes of the Vestry. The chancel had been for- nished by the liberality of Mrs. S. M. Shoemaker. The communion table, designed by Messrs. Wyatt & Nolting, made of stone, a beautifully carved prayer- stall and a handsome carpet, were her gift. Mrs. Fred- erick W. Brune gave most careful thought to the entire work of suitably furnishing the chancel. A carved credence table was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Brooks. A white marble font, beautifully designed and executed, was the gift of Mrs. Wm. Fell Johnson.
There is a little more to record in the succeeding years, up to the date of this publication, but the quiet growth of interest and the steady progress toward the fulfilment of its duty as a parish church. The classes presented to the Bishop have not been large but they have included some of the older men, who for years had served the Church, and also some of the young men ready to serve it now. The contributions to parochial and mission work have largely increased, and the old church holds her place in the progress of the day. Fifty years from now these records, which seem nim- portant because recent, will be studied with an interest equal to that with which we have followed those of fifty years ago.
Dr. Ethan Allen closed his record with a comparative
INTERIOR GARRISON CHURCH, 1893.
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Growth of the Parish.
view of the parish, taking the dates 1770 and 1852. This view showed an increase of the number of churches, or chapels, from one to nine, but a decrease of communicants in all these churches, compared with the number in St. Thomas' Church alone in 1770; but Dr. Allen found some comfort by making another com- parison between 1852 and 1814 when, after the years of desolation, "there was one church, one chapel in ruins, and it is not known that there were any com- municants ;" and he fondly anticipated great growth in the forty years to come, since there were so many more clergy and places of worship. This dream has been realized.
Within the limits of St. Thomas' Parish as consti- tuted in 1742 there are now seven parishes or organized congregations, with ten churches and chapels, 656 com- municants, raising and appropriating $10,371.95 last year ( 1897) for parish, diocesan and general benevolences. There was a total number of services in these churches last year of 1,774; the Holy Communion was cele- brated publicly 586 times. In the appendix will be found a tabular statement in which it will appear that the old parish led all the others within its ancient bounds in the amount raised for parochial uses and also in moneys appropriated to diocesan and general mis- sionary purposes.
This period of the parish history closes, as the other periods have closed, with the memorial of useful and honored lives.
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Died, July 16, 1896. Thomas Cradock, aged ser- enty-seven years.
Died January 14, 1897, Richard F. Maynard, aged eighty-one years.
The Vestry minute on the death of Mr. Cradock is as follows :
"Resolved, That we bear record to the fidelity of Thomas Cradock in his double capacity as senior war- den and vestryman ; to his never-failing interest in the duties of his position ; to his patience and generosity as a Christian ; and to his honor as a gentleman."
The minute on the death of Mr. Maynard is as follows :
"The Rector and Vestry of St. Thomas' Parish hereby place on record the testimonial of their love and esteem for their late colleague, Richard F. Maynard. Elected vestryman August 12, 1861, treasurer March 8, 1865, and warden subsequently, he held all these offices continuously to the day of his death, and performed their duties with a love for the Church and a conscientions carefulness and faithfulness long to be remembered. Strong in his convictions, fearless and outspoken in their support, he had the unusual grace to retain the affection of those with whom he differed. His purity and high sense of honor, his absolute integrity and faithfulness commended his life always to all true men."
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