Memorial volume and history of St. Mark's parish, Minneapolis, Minn., Part 1

Author: Haupt, Charles Edgar. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: [Minneapolis : Miller-Davis Printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 192


USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Memorial volume and history of St. Mark's parish, Minneapolis, Minn. > Part 1


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.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6


MEMORIAL HISTORY ST. MARK'S PARISH MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 1868-1908


GEN


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY


3 1833 01958 3043


Gc 977.602 M66HA HAUPT, CHARLES EDGAR. MEMORIAL VOLUME AND HISTORY OF ST. MARK'S PARISH MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.


PROPOSED ST. MARK'S CHURCH


MAY 1 4 1924


MEMORIAL VOLUME and HISTORY


OF


Saint Mark's Parish


Minneapolis, Minn.


EDITED BY CHARLES EDGAR HAUPT


OF -JESUS CHRIST ER-DAY SAINTS


68416


PAX EVAN GELIR STA


MAR CE


9776579 K2 W


PUBLISHED ON THE OCCASION OF THE REMOVAL FROM SIXTH STREET TO OAK GROVE STREET 1908


DATE MICROFILM SEP 1 8 1978 7


:ANO.


10 CATALOGUE NO. XLIB7-102 # 1165


Allen County Pellic Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana


Foreword


A Parish is an enlarged family, a portion of the house- hold of God. He would be scarcely human who did not feel some sense of pride in the family name and took no pains to preserve the family tree. But who can boast of higher lineage than those in whose veins flows the blood of the King of Kings, and who know themselves to be the children of God? May we not well trace the stream of our ancestry and emphasize the blood relationship which makes all the members of the parish of one kin? As brothers and sisters we should know each other as inti- mately as possible. Here conventionality should give way to a genuine affection. For just forty years the corporate life of St. Mark's has continued with ever increasing as- piration. It is inevitable that, in such a parish, scattered as it is over the entire city, the various members cannot come into close touch with each other, and a measure of estrangement will be found; but it should be the constant effort of all the members to break down the walls of sepa- ration, to realize and exalt the brotherhood of the fol- lowers of Christ, and of the members of this one house- hold of faith.


We appeal to you, dear friends, to make this Parish warm with genuine friendship, and, even at personal sacrifice, to welcome strangers and greet with cordiality those who are already members.


A Parish is a complicated organism intended to fur- nish a place for the activities of all sorts of persons, what- ever be their ability or their circumstances, their age or sex. There is danger of over organization but there can be no corporate life without it. Machinery is indispen-


4


Memorial Volume


sable, but let us never forget that machinery is utterly useless unless the spirit of the living creature be in the wheels. It is not sufficient for a man or woman to con- tribute a dole to the support of the Church, and not add the wealth of their own personality. No work brings richer reward to the individual nor greater blessing to society than that which we call church work. St. Mark's made a noble beginning when the original builders of the church presented it without debt for the worship of God at the opening service. Surely we who enjoy the fruit of their labors will not be content to lower their standard. This volume is published to commemorate their noble deeds, as a memorial of the past, and also for the information of those who would be glad to undertake some form of church work if they could find the place where they could work effectively. Every member of the parish who reads this book is asked to identify him- self or herself with the work in that form which is most congenial.


May God, the Holy Spirit, guide the plans and admin- istration of the Parish with His divine wisdom, to His greater glory and the blessing of its members, and may He give to each of you such success as seemeth to Him good on earth, and the blessedness of serving Him in heaven.


C. EDGAR HAUPT.


G. HEATHCOTE HILLS.


REV. MARCUS L. OLOS FIRST PASTOR OF SAINT MARK'S MISSION


5


Saint Mark's Parish


Clergy, Officers and Committees


Associate Rectors.


REV. C. EDGAR HAUPT, 2647 Lake of the Isles Boulevard. Telephone: N. W., So. 957.


REV. G. HEATHCOTE HILLS, 2721 Lake of the Isles Boulevard. Telephone: N. W., So. 1460.


Wardens.


Mr. Llewellyn Christian Mr. C. M. Harrington Vestrymen, 1907-8.


Geo. H. Christian, Hector Baxter, H. S. Abbott, C. H. Childs, V. H. Van Slyke, H. McI. Morton, Wm. Passmore, W. S. Dwinnell, D. M. Baldwin, Jr. At the Easter meeting, 1908, Mr. George H. Christian re- tired from the vestry and Mr. J. B. Robinson was elected. Clerk-Dr. H. W. Cook 1002 W. Franklin


Treasurer-Mrs. J. M. Outram 2209 Aldrich Ave. S.


Organist-Mr. Gordon Graham 217 W. 24th St.


Parish Visitor-Miss Edith M. Pye 519 Oak Grove St. Sexton-Nathan Hawkins.


Office hours of the clergy daily 10 to 11. Parish House Telephone Nic. 1760.


COMMITTEES, 1908-9.


Committees of the Vestry Appointed for the Current Year:


Finance-H. S. Abbott, chairman; C. H. Childs, W. M. Passmore.


Church Property-L. Christian, chairman; C. M. Harring- ton, D. M. Baldwin, Jr., J. B. Robinson.


Music-Rev. G. H. Hills, chairman; H. Mcl. Morton; D. M. Baldwin, W. S. Dwinnell.


Trust Funds-Hector Baxter, chairman; C. H. Childs, V. H. Van Slyke, J. B. Robinson.


Ushering-C. H. Childs, chairman; H. S. Abbott, Hector Baxter, V. H. Van Slyke.


6


Memorial Volume


To Represent the Vestry on the Board of Managers of the Wells Memorial-C. E. Haupt, Hector Baxter, C. H. Childs, V. H. Van Slyke, D. M. Baldwin.


Building Committee for the Church-The Clergy, C. M. Harrington, chairman; W. S. Dwinnell, George H. Christian, H. McI. Morton, C. T. Jaffray.


Building Committee for the Institutional Plant-The Clergy, W. S. Dwinnell, Hector Baxter, V. H. Van Slyke, C. H. Childs.


Parish House Committee-Mrs. C. M. Harrington, Mrs. Llewellyn Christian, Mrs. Hector Baxter, Mrs. C. H. Childs, Mrs. W. S. Dwinnell, Mrs. Geo. E. Higgins.


Organizations


SUNDAY SCHOOL.


Lay Superintendent-Mr. Hector Baxter.


Secretaries-Messrs. Wilson L. Gould and Charles Alcock. Treasurer-Mr. Stevens Crouse.


JUNIOR AUXILARY OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


Meets on the Third Sunday of each Month, 10:30 a. m. Secretary-Miss Marie Tombler.


Treasurer-Mr. Roy Shippam.


CHOIR.


Organist and Choirmaster-Mr. Gordon Graham, F. G. O. Rehearsals-Boys', Mondays, 4 to 5 p. m .; Saturdays, 9 to 10 a. m. Full Choir, Fridays, 7:30 to 9 p. m.


ALTAR GUILD.


Meets on the First Wednesday of each Month, 10 a. m. President-Mrs. A. W. Abbott. Vice-President-Miss C. J. Welles. Secretary-Mrs. G. P. Case.


Treasurer-Miss Elsie Stone.


7


Saint Mark's Parish


LADIES' AID AND WOMAN'S AUXILIARY.


Meets on Fridays, at 10:30 a. m. President-Mrs. S. B. Meader. Vice-President-Mrs. C. F. Clark. Secretary and Treasurer-Mrs. P. L. Norris.


DAUGHTERS OF THE KING.


Meets on Fridays, at 4:00 p. m. Directress-Miss Mabel Wilkinson.


Vice-Directress-Miss Grace Caplin. Secretary-Miss Violet Hills. Treasurer-Mrs. W. F. Jewett.


ST. HILDA'S GUILD.


Meets on Fridays, at 10:30 a. m. President-Mrs. W. S. Dwinnell. Vice-President-Miss Isabella Ross. Secretary and Treasurer-Mrs. C. H. Childs.


THE MEN'S CLUB.


Meets on the Second Tuesday of each Month. President-Mr. Clarence H. Childs. Vice-President-Mr. William Passmore. Secretary-Dr. A. E. Alther.


Treasurer-Mr. V. H. VanSlyke.


YOUNG MEN'S CLUB AND BIBLE CLASS.


Meets every Sunday, at 9:45 a. m., and on the Second Thurs- day of each Month, at 8 p. m. President-Mr. G. Lindsey McKewen. Vice-President-Mr. George Shepherd. Secretary-Mr. Roy Shippam. Treasurer-Mr. Fred H. Robinson.


8


Memorial Volume


KINDERGARTEN. Daily from 9 to 12 in the morning. Directress-Miss Margaret Baxter. Assistant-Miss Cecil Cobb.


MOTHERS' CLUB.


Meets on the First and Third Wednesdays of each Month, at 3:00 p. m. President-Mrs. J. W. Taylor.


Secretary-Mrs. George McKewen.


Treasurer-Mrs. L. P. Sawyer.


BUSINESS WOMAN'S GUILD.


Meets on the First and Third Wednesdays of each Month, at 6:30 p. m. Directress-Mrs. Vrooman-Woods.


Vice-Directress-Miss Emma J. Smith.


Secretary-Miss Dora Bacheller.


Treasurer-Miss Lutie Reade.


INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.


Meets every Saturday from 10 to 12 in the Morning. Directress-Mrs. A. W. Abbott. Vice-Directress-Miss Louise Higgins.


BOYS' CLUB.


Meets every Tuesday and Thursday, at 7:30 p. m. Director-Mr. Arthur Zacke.


GIRLS' CLUB.


Meets every Monday Afternoon, at 4 p. m. Directress-Miss Katherine Carle. Vice-Directress-Miss Alma C. Haupt. Recording Secretary-Miss Katherine Dwinnell.


Corresponding Secretary-Miss Beatrice Hawksett.


9


Saint Mark's Parish


ST. URSULA'S GUILD.


Meets on the First and Third Tuesdays of each Month, at 3 p. m. Directress-Mrs. C. H. Crouse.


Vice-Directress-Miss Beatrice Hills.


Secretary-Miss Ethel Shippam.


Treasurer .- Miss Grace Robinson.


YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY.


President-Mr. Geo. W. Terry.


Vice-President-Miss L. E. Miller.


Secretary-Miss Florence Gibson.


Treasurer-Mr. Roy Shippam.


SERVICES.


Sundays-


Holy Communion, 9 a. m., except first Sunday of the month.


First Sunday in the month Holy Communion, at 11:00 a. m.


Second and fourth Sundays of the month, Morning Prayer, Ante-Communion and Sermon, 11:00 a. m.


Third and fifth Sunday of the month, Morning Prayer, Litany and Sermon, 11:00 a. m. Sunday School, 9:45 a. m.


Evensong and address, 7:45 p. m.


Fridays-


Morning Prayer and Litany, 10:00 a. m. Saints' Days-


Holy Communion, 10:00 a. m.


During Lent --


Daily noon service, 12:05 to 12:30.


Wednesdays-Evening Prayer and Address, 7:45. Fridays-Evening Prayer and Address, 4:30 p. m. Ash Wednesday-Service and Sermon, 10:30. Evening Prayer and Address, 7:45 p. m.


10


Memorial Volume


Good Friday-Service and Sermon, 10:30. Special devo- tions with meditation, 12:00 m. to 3:00 p. m.


Easter Even-Sacrament of baptism, 4:30 p. m.


Easter Day-


Holy Communion, 7:00 a. m .; full choir. Administration of the Apostolic rite of Confirmation and Holy Communion, 9:00 a. m. Morning Prayer, Sermon and Holy Com- munion, 11:00 a. m. Children's Easter festival, 7:00 p. m. Ascension Day-


Holy Communion, 11:00 a. m. Festival service, 7:45 p. m.


Holy baptism on the third Sunday, of each month at the close of morning service and at other times by appointment.


Holy Communion administered to the sick and persons shut in by request at any time.


Strangers are invited to identify themselves with the Parish and to hand their names and addresses to any of the ushers, or to the clergy.


Persons in sickness or distress are asked to notify the clergy promptly. "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him and the prayer of faith shall save the sick."


LLEWELLYN CHRISTIAN


CHARLES M. HARRINGTON


THE WARDENS


11


Saint Mark's Parish


history


The first church in what is now Minneapolis was founded under the auspices of the "Associate Mission of Minnesota." The first service was held Sunday, July 7th, 1850. The cornerstone of the original church of Holy Trinity was laid by Rev. Dr. Breck, October 30th, 1850, Father Gear, chaplain at Fort Snelling, making the ad- dress. The Parish was formally organized on Easter Monday, 1852, the first priest in charge being the Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson.


October 1st, 1852, Jacob Sheril Chamberlain took charge of the parish, and in the fall of 1856, D. B. Knick- erbacker was sent out to assist him.


Mrs. Katharine Sargent Olds writes from Silver Spring, Maryland, under date of September 8th, 1908: "Yes, my husband was the same Rev. Mark L. Olds who was an assistant to Dr. KNickerbacker. They were like David and Jonathan, and are together now in the Para- dise of God. The first meeting of persons desiring to have a church on the Minneapolis side of the river was held in our parlor, and five or six were present. Then the Rev. D. B.KNickerbacker was called and officiated at Holy Trinity Church, St. Anthony, until the church was built which Mr. Olds named 'Gethsemane.' After that he entered the ministry and became assistant to Mr. Knickerbacker, and started services in North Minneapo- lis."


Saint Mark's church dates back to 1858, when, at the solicitation of the Rev. D. B.KNickerbacker, Captain J. C. Reno gave a lot at the corner of Washington and Twenty-third avenues north and secured contributions of


12


Memorial Volume


lumber, nails and glass for the erection of a free church.


One day when the Rev. Doctor KNickerbacker, Mr. Mark L. Olds, who was to have charge of the mission, and Mr. Reno, were looking over the lot and discussing a name for the mission, the Rev. Doctor turned to Mr. Olds, and patting him on the back said: "Let us call it St. Mark's." The suggestion was at once adopted so that the parish not only perpetuates the name of the great evangelist, but also commemorates its first pastor.


Rev. Mark L. Olds was born in Circleville, Ohio, in 1828, studied law with his uncle, Chauncy Olds, of Columbus, who was register of the land office in Minne- sota in 1852, was baptized and confirmed in Holy Trin- ity Church, St. Anthony, Minn., and was ordained a deacon by Bishop Kemper in 1859, and a priest by Bishop Whipple, in 1861. He was a missionary for one year in Minnesota valley, as assistant to Dr. Knickerbacker, afterward Bishop of Indiana, became rector of St. Luke's Church, Hastings, was rector of Trinity Church, Tren- ton, N. J., in 1864. He became rector of Washington Parish, Washington, D. C., in 1865, and died September 18, 1868.


A small wooden church was erected on the lot and for a few years tried to gather a congregation, but either North Minneapolis did not grow as rapidly as had been hoped, or else the settlers there were not of a devotional nature, for, a few years later, it was deemed best to move the building to another locality. On a certain after- noon the Rev. Dr. Knickerbacker was interrupted in a lenten service by the wild gesticulations of a man standing in his vestry and trying to attract his attention. On going to see what was wanted he was told, "The church has arrived and we want to know where you want it put."


13


Saint Mark's Parish


He closed his service as quickly as possible and went to the corner of Hennepin avenue and Fourth streets (the site of the present Kasota building) and found that the church had been raised, placed on sleds and drawn by twelve yoke of oxen from its former site. It was placed on the lot (which had been presented by Franklin Steele and H. T. Welles), facing Fourth street, and there stood as St. Marks' for several years.


On the twenty-second of April, 1868, a meeting was held at the chapel for the purpose of organizing the Parish. Due notice having been given and the consent of the ecclesiastical authorities secured, an organization was effected. The charter members were: H. T. Welles, W. T. Lee, F. M. Hardenburgh, W. P. Westfall, J. K. Rodgers, W. H. Lee, Jas. L. Spink, Wells Gardner, John Paul, Geo. F. Bolles, C. M. Hathaway, James Murison, Wm. T. Brown, W. H. McCollom, J. Lamour, A. Smith, J. F. Harrison, C. F. McCollom, J. C. Hall and James Rose. Mr. Wm. T. Lee was elected senior warden and Mr. H. T. Welles, junior warden. The following gentle- ment were elected vestrymen: Messrs. J. Paul, W. P. Westfall, C. M. Hardenburgh, W. H. Brown, J. W. Gardner, Geo. F. Bolles, J. Murison and A. Smith. Mr. G. F. Bolles became the first secretary and Mr. W. P. Westfall, the first treasurer. The new Parish became duly incorporated on June 19th, 1868.


At first the Rev. E. S. Thomas came from Faribault to minister to the spiritual needs of the Parish, but declined a call to become its rector and, later, the services were supplied by the Rev. Professors Manney and Buel. Mean- while a call had been extended to, and accepted by, the Rev. E. A. Bradley, of Wiscasset, Maine, who began his ministry on St. Mark's Day, 1869.


14


Memorial Volume


"At the first meeting of the vestry, after Mr. Bradley became rector, the Parish adopted the envelope system, for the purpose of meeting the current parochial expenses. At this meeting also, a committee consisting of Rev. E. A. Bradley, Messrs. W. T. Lee and H. T. Welles was ap- pointed, with instructions to procure from a competent architect, plans and specifications for a new church build- ing to seat five hundred persons. The committee pro- cured the services of Mr. Dudley, a well known architect of New York, and the wisdom of their selection is amply shown in the very handsome and substantial church edi- fice of St. Mark's." A lot was purchased at a cost of $3,000, the cornerstone was laid on St. Mark's Day, April 25th, 1870, and the building was completed so as to be occupied for the first time on Christmas Day, 1870. In part payment the builder, Mr. George McMullin, took the lot on Fourth street upon which the old church stood, and the building was again removed, this time to Fourth avenue south and Nineteenth street, where it was known as All Saints chapel, and used until the erection of the brick church now occupied by that parish. Mr. Bradley designed the chancel furniture himself and super- tended the carving.


"At the opening service of St. Mark's church on Christ- mas Day, 1870, the entire indebtedness incurred in build- ing, amounting to $7,000, was cancelled by the day's offerings, of which the junior warden, Mr. H. T. Welles, had promised one-half."


The Rev. Mr. Bradley discontinued his rectorship on the first day of October, 1870, and the Rev. E. S. Thomas, invited a second time to the rectorship, accepted the same and entered upon his duties on that date.


St. Mark's church was consecrated on Thursday, Sep-


REV. EDWARD A. BRADLEY, D. D. FIRST RECTOR 1869-1870


15


Saint Mark's Parish


tember 21st, 1871, with elaborate ceremonial by the bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. H. B. Whipple, D. D. The pil- lars in the auditorium were wreathed with autumn leaves and a profusion of flowers covered the altar. "There were present beside the bishop, Rev. E. S. Thomas, rector, Rev. Drs. McMasters and Richey, Rev. D. B. Nickerbacker, Rev. Messrs. Riley, Livermore, Crump, Chase, Powell, Seabreese, Wilcoxen, Williams, the venerable Father Gear, and others."


The list of subscribers to the building fund was as fol- lows :


H. T. Welles. $7,000.00


W. T. Lee. 5,000.00


W. P. Westfall 2,525.00


W. H. Lee


1,500.00


C. M. Hardenberg


1,500.00


R. B. Langdon.


1,400.00


Weston Merritt


1,000.00


Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Spink 525.00


W. H. Eldred 500.00


W. T. Brown 200.00


John Paul 250.00


T. A. Murphy 250.00


Richard Martin 450.00


H. B. Hancock 200.00


R. J. Mendenhall 200.00


J. O. Simmons 200.00


F. S. Reese 300.00


Rev. E. G. Gear 250.00


J. K. Rogers 225.00


S. J. Austin 100.00


J. R. Dayton 100.00


Wm. Tomlinson 100.00


16


Memorial Volume


A. H. Linton 100.00


Albie Smith


100.00


W. D. Washburne 100.00


W. W. McNair


100.00


W. W. Eastman


100.00


Edward Martin


100.00


George McMullen


100.00


D. C. Shepard


100.00


B. S. Bull


100.00


Washington Yale


100.00


E. H. Davie


150.00


George C. Hatheway


50.00


L. Fletcher


75.00


John Lewis


50.00


Alex Dole


50.00


J. C. Hall


25.00


Wm. Moore


50.00


E. R. Pearce


25.00


George F. Smith


25.00


C. T. McNamara


25.00


Alex. Tyler 25.00


S. P. Snyder


50.00


J. Welles Gardiner


50.00


E. L. Pierce


25.00


G. A. Camp


50.00


G. F. Bolles


25.00


Christmas offerings


400.00


Ladies' Aid (chancel)


400.00


Ladies' (reredos)


75.00


Prayer desk, etc 40.00


The Weavers 40.00


Total for church edifice.


$27,105.00


17


Saint Mark's Parish


Church lot 3,000.00


Rectory lot 2,500.00


Memorial windows 1,000.00


Church furnishings


2,150.00


Three-manual organ


5,600.00


Parish school house


650.00


$42,005.00


During the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Thomas the organ was secured, at a cost of $5,600, largely through the efforts of Mrs. R. B. Langdon, Mr. D. C. Shepherd being the largest contributor.


Mrs. Wm. T. Lee and Mr. H. T. Welles purchased the lot adjoining the church for the sum of $2,500, and presented it to the parish and a rectory was built on it in the year 1873, at a cost of $7,000. A handsome font was also added to the furnishings of the church which was made by a woman sculptor, Mrs. Piesley, a poor widow. She went to Chicago and selected the white marble for its construction, giving her work and charg- ing only for her expenses.


The Rev. Br. Bradley went from St. Marks to Indian- apolis, Ind., and finally became vicar of St. Agnes chapel of Trinity Parish, New York, which position he held at the time of his death. It was said of him that each Parish which he left had a stone church built during his incumbency.


The Rev. Mr. Thomas was rector of the parish for a little over four years, resigning in January, 1875. In 1876 he was called to St. Paul's church, St. Paul, and while there was the choice of the clergy of the diocese for assistant bishop, the laity failing to concur in his election. He was subsequently consecrated assistant


18


Memorial Volume


bishop of Kansas on May 4th, 1887, and on the death of Bishop Vail, became bishop of the diocese. He died March 9, 1895.


During the rectorship of the Rev. E. S. Thomas, the Parish school was reopened with two teachers, a teacher of English and a teacher of music, and a schoolhouse was built at an expense of $650. The number of families in- creased from eighty to one hundred; the number of com- municants from 127 to 155, and the weekly offerings for current expenses from $20 to $32. The usual attendance upon the public services were nearly doubled. The choir in those days consisted of Julius H. Clark, organist ; J. Kearney Rogers, precentor; E. H. Guerney, R. P. Olm- stead and N. P. S. Thomas. The Sunday school was organized with G. F. Bolles and reorganized with Francis Suydam Kuse superintendent, and numbered sixty chil- dren.


At a meeting of the vestry, held at the residence of Mr. W. P. Westfall, on the 22nd day of March, 1875, a call was extended to the Rev. Sidney Corbett, D. D., of Quincy, Ill., who accepted and became rector of the Parish in June of the same year. He held the office until Janu- ary 4th, 1880. During his pastorate some of the parish- ioners became dissatisfied and a new Parish, St. Paul's, was organized.


The then vacant Parish was supplied for a time by the Rev. W. W. Raymond, and on March 6th a call was ex- tended to the Rev. Malon Norris Gilbert, of Helena, Mont. Upon his declination, the Rev. T. B. Wells, D.D., was elected rector, and entered upon his long and success- ful rectorate on October 17th, 1880. Under his adminis- tration the parish so increased that notwithstanding the number of families who withdrew to form the Parish


19


Saint Mark's Parish


of St. Pauls, additional accommodations were found necessary, and two transepts were added to the Church building to provide for the congregation. This en- largement was completed in 1884 at a cost of about $7,- 500. The Parish grew strong within and without. Missionary activities were abundantly maintained. The offerings for ten years were $172,385.00 of which $15,499.55 were for missionary purposes. In 1883 an industrial school was started by Mrs. Wells for the children of the poorer classes which has been carried on until the present time, and has been the means of doing much good to the many girls who have attended. "A Parish Building was begun, determining St. Marks to be a down town Church for years to come." But its completion Doctor Wells was not destined to see. After eleven years of faithful service, broken in health, he sought recuperation in a sea voyage across the Pacific, but failing to derive the expected benefit he turned his face homeward from Japan and expired on the fifth day out from Yokohama. He was buried from St. Mark's Church on August 4th, 1891. The last official act of Doctor Wells was to attend a meeting of the Ves- try, and place in the hands of the wardens the plans and subscription list of the proposed parish house, which was completed as the T. B. Wells Memorial Building, at a cost of $7,117.15, and was formally opened by Bishop Whipple, on May 14th, 1892.


In the fall of 1891 a call was extended to the Rev. Harry P. Nichols of the Diocese of Connecticut, who accepted and entered on the rectorship of the Parish on February 14th, 1892. Under his vigorous administra- tion the Parish building became the center of many diversified activities, including the Industrial School,


20


Memorial Volume


Missionary Society, Boys' Club, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Mothers' Club, etc. The Sunday School at- tained the summit of its prosperity, presenting offer- ings for the work of the Board of Missions at Easter which were the surprise and honor of the Diocese. For the enlargement of this down-town work the Rev. C. H. Remington was called as assistant minister on April 22nd, 1894. During the summer of 1895, in prep- aration for the entertainment of the General Conven- tion, the roof of the church was reshingled, the in- terior handsomely redecorated from designs by Mr. F. S. Bradstreet, a new window put into the chancel, electric light installed and extensive improvements made in the Parish Building ; the total cost being about $2,100.


The Rev. Mr. Remington, after two years of devoted service, resigned at Easter, 1896, and became Rector of St. Marks Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Thereupon the Rev. C. L. Wells, Professor of History at the Uni- versity of Minnesota, took up his work in part during the years 1896-7, until called away to New Orleans.


During the year 1896 the old rectory, no longer suit- able for residence by reason of the changed conditions, Sixth Street having become the patrol limit, and crowded with saloons, was moved to the rear, fitted up for the Boys' Club, and a business block erected on Sixth Street as a future endownment of the Parish, at a cost of $10,603.27.




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.