USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Memorial volume and history of St. Mark's parish, Minneapolis, Minn. > 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 | Part 6
There has also been provided a cooking class under an expert instructor, for the older girls. The school is always opened with religious exercises and the sing- ing of hymns. During the year the children have memorized the Commandments. The closing exercises of the season were held on Saturday, April 11th, when the children were presented with a beautifully printed card containing the Ten Commandments, through the kindness of Mr. Otto W. Miller, they received their
72
Memorial Volume
prizes, were delightful entertained with stories told by Miss Stella L. Wood, and sang a number of songs from Mother Goose in which they had been trained by Mrs. Haupt.
ST. MARK'S INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. ORGANIZATION.
Directress Mrs. A. W. Abbott Assistant Miss Louise Higgins Teachers
Mrs. Thomas Brown
Miss Anne Wells
Miss Mary Martin
Mrs. L. F. Clarke
Mrs. J. A. Gould
Mrs. G. S. Pierce
Mrs. Asa Wilcox
Miss Emma J. Smith
Mrs. Frederick Paine
Substitutes
Miss Florence Gibson
Mrs. Fox
Mrs. Ploughman
Miss Gilloy
Teacher in Singing
Mrs. C. E. Haupt
Teacher for German Class Miss Schrepel
Number of scholars enrolled, 166
Largest number present, 112
Smallest number present, 85
Miss Kate Welles
Miss Katherine Carle
Mrs. H. L. Renne
Mrs. E. Barnhart
Mrs. A. E. Clerihew
Mrs. C. H. Crouse
Mrs. J. B. Phelps
73
Saint Mark's Parish
FINANCIAL REPORT OF ST. MARK'S INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
From November 1, 1907, to March 1, 1908.
Receipts.
C. E. Haupt (Circle Fund) $35.00
Mrs. Dunham
1.00
Mrs. H. S. Abbott
1.00
General Reeve
5.00
Mrs. C. M. Harrington
25.00
Mrs. R. B. Langdon
5.00
General Reeve
10.00
Pennies
4.22
C. E. Haupt (Circle Fund)
15.00
Mrs. Vanderlip
25.00
Pennies
6.09
$132.31
Expenditures.
Mrs. Schrepel for 22 lessons. $66.00
L. S. Donaldson & Co., merchandise. 16.74
J. W. Thomas & Co., merchandise 2.20
Mrs. Siever, laundry. 2.00
Dayton's Dry Goods Co., merchandise .54
New England Furniture Co., table.
4.50
Dayton's Dry Goods Co., merchandise 2.45
L. S. Donaldson & Co., merchandise
11.61
John A. Schlener & Co., books.
4.00
L. S. Donaldson & Co., merchandise 4.04
John A. Schlener & Co. .85
L. S. Donaldson & Co.
3.75
J. W. Thomas & Co.
1.40
L. S. Donaldson & Co. 3.67
J. W. Thomas & Co. 1.50
$125.25
$7.06
Respectfully submitted, HELEN G. ABBOTT.
74
Memorial Volume
THE KINDERGARTEN.
During the summer of 1904, it became possible through the generosity of Mrs. Henry T. Welles to separate a portion of the Parish House from the main hall, by means of rolling partitions, thus forming a convenient kindergarten room and Miss Kate J. Welles gave six hundred dollars to guarantee the support of the Kindergarten for the first year. Miss Margaret Baxter was secured as kindergartner and a beginning made on Tuesday, September 6th, 1904.
St. Mark's Kindergarten was opened the first Mon- day in September, 1904. The attendance was small at first until it became thoroughly understood that it was free and open to all. Many personal calls were made and the meaning and intention of the Kinder- garten explained. There were some who needed to be convinced that it was not too much trouble to get the children ready in the morning-as it seemed much easier to turn them out to run the streets unwashed and uncombed and these were the children who needed most to be reached. On the whole, however, the op- portunity was eagerly grasped and appreciated. The enrollment has averaged about thirty, with an attend- ance that has varied with weather and health condi- tions. The children reached have been mostly from the streets and alleys of the down-town district. Some have come from middle-class homes while we had a few tuition children who were glad to come because it was the nearest kindergarten. There have been many others who have had to be clothed in order to make it possible for them to come, as for instance, the small boy who came one morning when the frost was
75
Saint Mark's Parish
heavy on the sidewalks in his bare feet, because he had no shoes, and the little girl who came one bitter cold morning with her dress frozen stiff, her mother hav- ing washed her only dress had not given it time to dry, and many other cases of this kind. It was soon found that in order to help the children we must begin with the mothers. The Mother's Club has been an important part of the work. The club was organized in January, 1905. There were about fifteen present at the first meeting and the attendance has been near that number except on special occasions. We have met monthly and have tried to make the meeting help- ful in a general way ; we have had speakers on subjects of interest to all mothers-Miss Stella Wood and Miss Nettie Waite on subjects pertaining to the home training of children. Dr. Anna Hurd on "First Aid to the Injured," Judge John Day Smith on "The Juvenile Court," etc. Mrs. Grace Graham is now president of the club and we are confident that much good work will be done under her leadership. The assistants for the Kindergarten have been chosen from the Senior class of the Normal Training School. Miss Jessie Angst, the first year ; Miss Ruth Northrup, the second year; Miss Leila Brown, the third year; and Miss Bertha Lyon, this last year, have done their part to help the work along. We feel that the new field will open up larger opportunities for work and hope for great things in the new building in the fall.
MARGARET BAXTER, Director.
76
Memorial Volume
The Girl's Build
The Girls' Guild was organized in 1903, by Mrs. Hoppock, and a group of girls of from ten to fifteen years. These girls sewed for different church charities and visited the Sheltering Arms.
In 1904, Mrs. Carrington assisted Mrs. Hoppock and the same work was carried on on a larger scale. There was more social life and a gymnasium class was started in connection with the Guild.
In 1905, the Guild was made a working branch of the Junion Auxiliary with Miss Wilkinson as Direct- ress, Miss Carle as Vice Directress. The Guild sewed for home and foreign missions as directed by the State Secretary and studied foreign missions.
As working branch of the Junior Auxiliary the Guild has continued through 1906-7 and 1907-8, carry- ing on the same lines of work. The meetings have been held once a week with a social meeting once a month. In addition to the mission work, Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes have been sent to poor families discovered by the personal effort of members of the Guild. The membership has been small, but the mem- bers very faithful and hard working.
In 1906-7, Miss Carle was Directress, Mrs. Carring- to, Vice Directress. In 1907-8, Alma Haupt succeeded Mrs. Carrington as Vice Directress.
77
Saint Mark's Parish
St. Ursula's Build
St. Ursula's Guild was organized in the fall of 1907, for the purpose of bringing into closer relationship with each other and the Church, the young girls of the Parish. It is at present composed entirely of mem- bers of the Bible Class and the younger teachers, but any young lady connected with the Sunday School is eligible. There are twenty-one members, most of whom are charter members. During the year of its existence the Guild has raised through entertainments and dues seventy-six dollars and ninety-three cents and looks forward to increased activity the coming year. The officers are:
Directress-Mrs. C. H. Crouse.
Vice-Directress-Miss Ethel Shippam.
Secretary-Miss Violet Hills. Treasurer-Miss Marie Tombler.
Members.
Beth Benedict Mrs. Crouse
Cordelia Swinburne Fannie Schibsby
Ellen Forsberg Ruth Forsberg Marian Gould Violet Hills Audrey Homan
Ethel Shippam
Maude Smith
Susie Seaman
Marie Tombler
Alice Tombler
Kathleen Nimmo Grace Power Faith Power Grace Robinson
Gladys Tombler
Frances Wilbur
Helen Wilcox
Marion Whipps.
78
Memorial Volume
St. Mark's Boys Club
Shortly after his acceptance of the rectorship of St. Mark's Parish in 1892, the Rev. H. P. Nichols sug- gested to the St. Marks Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew that it take up the project of establishing a Club for boys, who, by reason of their employment or their residence in the down-town districts surround- ing St. Marks Church, seemed in need of helpful in- fluences. Preparatory to the opening of the Club simi- lar institutions in New York and elsewhere were stud- ied as working models and various committees were appointed to undertake the preparations for the open- ing of the Club and for carrying it on when established.
The first quarters of the Club were in rooms situated under the Parish House. One large room was used as a combination gymnasium and playroom, while a smaller room was fitted up as a reading and game room; and in an adjoining space a small shower-bath was installed. Within the first year of the Club's life, further space was added for the manual training work. Here for several years the Club work was carried on by such men as Charles W. and George R. Folds, Dr. T. E. Weeks, C. M. Carpenter, George R. Lewis, C. H. Childs and others, with Mr. Nichols always ready with helpful and encouraging suggestions. Numeri- cally speaking the Club was successful from the open- ing evening; indeed, it soon became necessary to limit the number of members in order to accommodate those who seemed to derive the most benefit from the Club. Strenuous times were experienced by some of the first
RT. REV. SAMUEL COOK EDSALL, D. D. RECTOR 1903-1907
79
Saint Mark's Parish
workers until their supremacy was established and "the Western Avenue gang" learned that it could neither "rule nor ruin."
A small membership fee was always charged, with an additional fee for certain class work. In addition to the opportunity for physical work in the gymnasium, classes were started in reading, writing, spelling, and, later, in bookkeeping. Shortly after the Club was started the students of the Shattuck School presented it with an outfit of tools and benches for use in manual training work and to the last this feature of the Club work drew most strongly. The number of classes was constantly increased until during the winter of 1900-1, ten classes a week were conducted.
In the fall of 1896, at the opening of the club year, larger quarters were furnished in the old rectory, a portion of which had been remodeled and redecorated during the summer for the use of the older boys. This was not only necessary but an act of wisdom, as it served to hold to the club during the most formative period of their lives, a class of boys, then verging on manhood who are today hard working, clean fellows. Were it not for this influence their lives might have found a less worthy outlet.
During the vacation period of the summer of 1899, the club suffered severely through the removal from Minneapolis of the Rev. Mr. Nichols and the Messrs. Folds and C. M. Carpenter. In the meantime there had come into the work Messrs. W. B. Tuttle, C. G. Ireys, Francis Campbell, Carl Schroeder, the writer, and others, whose period of work was more or less brief. Notwithstanding the loss of the workers men- tioned, in the summer of 1899, the work was given a
80
Memorial Volume
new impetus by the building of the "Gym" in the space between the rectory and the parish house and the re- modeling and opening up for club purposes of the hitherto unused portion of the rectory. The basement rooms under the parish house with the exception of an enlarged bath-room were abandoned at this time. A large and rapid increase in membership resulted from these changes and it was found necessary to classify the membership more particularly and to fur- ther limit the number of evenings per week on which the boys could attend.
By this time some of the older members of the Club had become available as helpers in the work and credit for some of the Club's success should accrue to young men like Henry Bloom, Carl Schroeder, and Louis Munnich, who rendered most valuable assistance for several years. Through their intimate acquaintance with the boys and their circumstances, they were often able to offer suggestions that were most helpful to the workers in charge.
During the last four years of its life the superintend- ent in active charge of the club was Mr. (now Dr.) E. J. Stimpson. Inasmuch as the writer was, during this period, the chairman of the committee in charge of the Boy's Club work, he has no hesitancy in saying that without Dr. Stimpson the problem of keeping the Club going would have been very difficult of solu- tion ; certainly he contributed largely to what success there was in the solution. It was partially owing to the inability to find a satisfactory successor for Dr. Stimpson that the Club work was ultimately dropped.
Without access to the records it is impossible to state accurately the total number of boys who at-
81
Saint Mark's Parish
tended the Club, but memory recalls that during sev- eral years the membership averaged one hundred or more per month and during these years the Club was used by over three hundred different boys each year. That its influence was not the same in all cases goes without saying. In their infinite variety it was not to be expected that the same results would be obtained with all the boys. During several years a system of home visitations was carried on in the endeavor to learn more of the actual conditions and needs of the boys who applied for membership. Valuable informa- tion was thus gained but an insufficient working force often made it impossible to make the most of such in- formation.
In the work of the Boy's Club, as in other work of similar character, many were attracted by the very apparent righteousness of the work and the opportu- nity for charitable and reformative help. It proved to be another instance where "many were called but few were chosen." The best workers came with no pre- conceived ideas beyond the desire and willingness to turn their heart and hand to whatsoever offered. The boys were rude, dirty, ignorant and in some cases vicious. The latter class were weeded out after a fair trial. The assistance of women as helpers was sought in the endeavor to overcome the rudeness of others. Many ladies responded and among those who rendered most successful assistance were Miss Agnes Harrison, Miss Hardenberg, the Misses Christian, Miss Moore, the Misses Caplin and Miss Higgins. Miss Harrison, Miss Jessie Caplin and Miss Moore for several years conducted very successful classes in wood-carving, natural science, and reading.
82
Memorial Volume
In our bath-rooms we endeavored to give opportu- nity to wash off some of the dirt and to install some sense of pride, and in many cases were successful. The "Gym" and the play-rooms served as a means of working off the excessive animal spirits, which must otherwise have found vent to the discomfort of the public in general and the police officers in particular.
No review of the work of the St. Marks Club would be complete if it did not make mention of the financial backing afforded by such members of St. Marks Par- ish as Messrs. George H. Christian, F. W. Foreman, C. M. Harrington and H. C. Clark. The confidence they displayed in those who were doing the actual work by their constant readiness to afford financial support, cheered in many an hour that otherwise would have been very discouraging.
Those who worked in St. Marks Boy's Club will re- call their experience with mingled feelings of satis- faction and regret. None of us felt that the Club did everything that it might have done. On the other hand there was in each of us some feeling that our work had not been in vain. Of the necessity for such a work there was and can be no question. As in all such efforts there were the "faithful few" upon whom the management could always rely, but removals from the city, changes in business or social circumstances made constant inroads upon these. After the newness had worn off the attraction grew less, and more and more difficulty was experienced in getting helpers until during the last year of the Club life but two or three, aside from the paid help, could be depended upon. The strain on men and women who had done a day's work before coming to the Club for the even-
83
Saint Mark's Parish
ing and the inroads upon the time of these few, to- gether with the loss of interest evidenced by the less- ening of volunteers made it seem the part of wisdom that others should be given an opportunity to take up the work. With the close of the Club year of 1901-2, the committee in charge tendered their resig- nations to the Brotherhood in the hope that in new hands the Club work might be taken up with more vigor. The Club was not re-opened.
No one who worked in and for St. Marks Boy's Club and who caught the spirit of the men who instituted it failed to derive a benefit therefrom. The work had its joys, its lighter and amusing side as well as its difficulties. Though we could not always see it at the time there was compensation for the effort, the thought and the weariness, in the eagerness with which the boys looked forward in the fall to the re-opening of the Club, in the greetings on the street and in the not infrequent requests for advice in times of doubt or trouble.
The St. Marks Boys' Club marked a step in the de- velopment toward the Christ-like life. Its influence on helper and helped can never wholly pass away and sometime St. Marks will again awaken to the oppor- tunity before it and will profit by the experience of former years.
EDWIN C. GARRIGUES.
84
Memorial Volume
The Men's Club
The Men's Club, of St. Mark's Church, has a mem- bership which is extensive and non-sectarian. Any man of good habits is eligible-whether he be a Churchman or not. According to its constitution the object of the Men's Club is to unite the men of the Parish for their mutual benefit, to advise and assist the Vestry in all matters connected with the Parish, to direct the carrying on of different lines of institutional work and to assist in the moral and civil betterment of the community.
The inaugural meeting of the club was held in the Parish House of old St. Mark's on Sixth Street on the evening of March 4, 1904, Mr. Hector Baxter and Mr. C. W. Childs being chosen for the respective offi- ces of the President and Secretary pro tem. From that time on the meetings have been regularly held on the second Tuesday of each month from October until May inclusively. At first these meetings were held in the Parish House and took the form of an informal smoker, at which the problems of the Parish were open to discussion. Towards the end of the year the place of meeting was changed to some down town café or tea-room. These meetings were preceeded by a six o'clock dinner, after which some gentlemen of local or national fame gave an address on some chosen subject of interest to the club and community in general. These meetings are usually very well attended.
In institutional work the Men's Club is a very active agent having numerous committees to look after the special branches of this line of work.
.
HECTOR BAXTER
OTTO W. MILLER
HOWARD Mcl. MORTON
CLARENCE H. CHILDS
PRESIDENTS OF THE MENS CLUB
85
Saint Mark's Parish
Among these committees are :
1. Committee on Church Publications and Prop- erty.
2. Committee on Boys' Club and Industrial School.
3. Committee on Men's Club Room and Entertain- ment.
4. Committee on Gymnasium.
5. Committee on Free Dispensary.
6. Committee on Ushering.
7. Committee on Visiting and Membership.
8. Committee on Music.
9. Executive Committee.
10. Finance Committee.
The Men's Club of St. Mark's Church has been es- pecially fortunate in its officers, all of whom have been men of marked executive ability who have untiringly put forth every effort to make the association the suc- cess it is today. Sometimes they have struggled against great odds, but be it said to their credit that they never for a moment faltered or thought of turn- ing back after having once begun the task.
From the first meeting in 1904 up to this present year, the men who have served as officers of St. Mark's Men's Club are as follows :
First Officers, March 7, 1904, to October 11, 1904.
Hector Baxter, President.
John R. Vanderlip, Vice-President.
William A. Lochren, Treasurer.
William P. Christian, Secretary.
Officers, October 11, 1904, to October 30, 1905. Otto W. Miller, President.
Dr. H. Mcl. Morton, Vice-President.
Thomas L. Brown, Treasurer.
William P. Christian, Secretary.
86
Memorial Volume
Officers, October 30, 1905, to September 25, 1906.
Otto W. Miller, President.
Prof. W. W. Folwell, Vice-President.
William H. Keller, Treasurer.
William P. Christian, Secretary.
Officers 1907.
Dr. H. McI. Morton, President.
W. S. Dwinnell, Vice-President.
V. H. Van Slyke, Treasurer.
Dr. Murray, Secretary.
Officers 1908.
C. H. Childs, President.
Wm. Passmore, Vice-President.
V. H. Van Slyke, Treasurer.
Dr. A. E. Alther, Secretary.
The following members have been selected to rep- resent the Men's Club on the Board of Managers of the Wells Memorial: Messrs. O. W. Miller, E. O. Hawk- sett, Doctor H. W. Cook and Mr. C. H. Childs. A. E. ALTHER, Secretary.
87
Saint Mark's Parish
The Mother's Club
This society was inaugurated by the Rev. H. P. Nichols in the fall of 1898. The primary object was to bring the mothers of the children who attended the Sunday School in closer touch with the parochial life of St. Marks.
In October, 1893, the first meeting was called, and Mrs. T. W. Woodbridge, wife of Professor Wood- bridge, of the University of Minnesota, now of Co- lumbia College, New York, was chosen by Rev. Nichols as its first president. It was a happy appointment- for she at once won the love and confidence of every member; and for four years-until their removal to New York in 1902-gave her time and talent to the welfare of the club. She is now its Honorary Presi- dent.
The work of the club is varied. Addresses from time to time are given by the Rector, helpful talks from physicians and others on the care of children, and pleasant social gatherings at different homes.
For the first few years time was spent in various kinds of sewing for the Sheltering Arms, and in mak- ing articles for a sale. In 1901, a bed was placed in the Sheltering Arms to be maintained by the Club.
In December, 1904, a little girl by the name of Laura Williams, 9 years of age, an inmate of Sheltering Arms, was taken by the Club to provide for, that is, to furnish her with necessary clothing and to look after her in a general way.
Many very interesting and helpful programs are pre- pared during each year.
88
Memorial Volume
During the past year the Club enjoyed a call from the Rev. H. P. Nichols-its founder-and an afternoon with Mrs. Geo. Whipple, née Weidensee, who was Deaconess of St. Marks before taking up Missionary work in Porto Rico.
The present officers are Mrs. L. Sawyer, President ; and Mrs. McKewin, Secretary ; with a membership of twenty-one.
Respectfully submitted, MRS. G. E. McKEWIN, Secretary and Treasurer.
LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE MOTHERS' CLUB OF ST. MARK'S CHURCH.
Mrs. S. J. Austin
Mrs. J. Parslow
Mrs. J. Bathurst, Vice .- Pres.'
Mrs. H. H. Poole
Mrs. C. V. Bell
Mrs. A. A. Prall
Miss A. Cleveland
Mrs. L. Sawyer, Pres.
Mrs. F. W. Constant
Mrs. Schrader
Mrs. Harrison
Miss E. Smith
Mrs. L. A. Hellier
Mrs. J. W. Taylor
Mrs. E. J. Merrill
Mrs. Tillotson
Mrs. A. B. Watson
Mrs. G. E. McKewin, Sec .- Treas.
Mrs. Whitmarsh
Mrs. Palmatier
Mrs. C. H. Wilbur
Honorary Members.
Mrs. F. J. E. Woodbridge Mrs. C. E. Haupt
Miss Kate Welles
.
REV. CHARLES EDGAR HAUPT ASSOCIATE RECTOR 1907
89
Saint Mark's Parish
The Doung Men's Club
The Young Men's Club of St. Marks Church was organized in April, 1907. Rev. C. E. Haupt called a meeting of the members of his Bible Class, and pro- posed to them an organization which would bring them into closer touch with one another, and with their church. The idea was enthusiastically taken up. Offi- cers were elected, and the first meetings were held with great success.
The purposes of the organization, as set forth in the original constitution and by-laws, are to unite in a closer study of the Holy Bible, to promote the atmos- phere of fellowship among the young men of the Church, and to endeavor to enlarge the number of members of the Bible Class.
The meetings of the summer months were like the struggling attempts of a new-born babe to exist in the rough harsh world. Most of the fellows were out of town or busy. But the meetings were rigidly held at the regular times, and the spark of enthusiasm was successfully carried over until the fall. Then the club was reorganized, and went thru the winter with a flourishing existence.
President-Lindsey McKewen. Vice-President-George M. Shepard. Secretary-Treasurer-Roy Shippam.
Wilson Gould Fred Robinson Geo. W. Terry Stevens Crouse C. Harlow Pratt Robert Pratt
Arthur Hillstrom Harry Shippam Horace T. McCord Ian Robertson
Robert J. Marsh Leroy Erickson
90
Memorial Volume
The Business Women's Guild of St. Mark's Church
The Business Women's Guild of St. Marks Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, was organized in November, 1907, for the purpose of "promoting acquaintance and helpful fellowship among the business women of the city ; and to associate them for such Church or benevo- lent work as may from time to time be decided upon." Charter members numbered fifteen but each successive meeting has brought its new members until at the time of this report there is an enrollment of 30 wo- men representing almost every phase of business life. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday even- ing of each month, preceded by a luncheon, for which each member pays in advance in order to provide for the following one. The first meeting of the month is devoted entirely to business and the second chiefly to sociability and instructive entertainment, contrib- uted by the members. Dues for active members are 10 cents per month and for honorary members, $5.00 per year. No initiation fee is charged, thus the ex- pense keeps no one away who would otherwise join. There are no restrictions on membership, "The doors of the Business Women's Guild being open to every working woman." There have been many pleasant meetings during the winter months, sometimes mem- bers tied comforters while listening to a paper pre- pared by one member, and at other times enjoying a delightful program arranged for by the Entertainment Committee. We have made an encouraging beginning and we hope to be able in the near future to employ
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.