Trinity church Claremont, N.H, Part 2

Author: Trinity Church (Claremont, N.H.)
Publication date: 1943
Publisher: [Claremont, N.H.] : [Trinity Church]
Number of Pages: 108


USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Claremont > Trinity church Claremont, N.H > Part 2


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I know the Bishop thinks now with holy pleasure of Fair- view and S. Dunstan's, as he wears the golden token, and re- members that bright Christmas day.


Perhaps you might like to ask what sort of preaching does Mr. Earnest give us? Well, he. don't like to hear us talk about preaching at all, but says "Come to Church and say your prayers." But I know lawyer Brown told him not long since, "Mr. Earnest, I don't agree with all of your opinions in the pul- pit," and our Rector said, "I haven't any opinions. I didn't make the Bible or Prayer Book." So you see that he preaches only what the Church has put in his mouth as the truth, not to please the lawyer or the doctor if they should chance to be a little "liberal" or shaky in their theology.


Something like that he told the Baptist preacher last win- ter when a certain family thought they must have two ministers


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to bury their poor dead boy. "Brother Earnest, what part will


you take in the solemn services?" "Oh," said our Rector, very


before I was born. I will read the Burial Service of the Prayer pleasantly, "my part was all laid out and prepared for me long


Book and will leave the rest for you." The modest Baptist


Brother very wisely did not do any "rest" but took a Prayer


Book and joined in heart in our sublime and comforting ritual


them into it or a regular choral service that the Rector and the good old congregational singing instead of seeming to push er place near the chancel so as rather to lead the people into the organ moved from behind the congregation up to its prop- the Church enlarged to accommodate a hundred new people; thing, even if you can't stop to print about how we have had Dunstan's again. But you must let me just tell you about one and you won't care to know anything about Fairview and S. for the Christian dead. But perhaps I am writing too much,


young choir have tried once or twice, which the Bishop pro-


nounced when he heard it last Christmas night, "just right," or the public catechisings which frequently occur instead of an


afternoon sermon, but which some of our not very prayerful


without a bell about long enough, and bad enough was it on evening-and that is a new bell. S. Dunstan's people did and our pleasant Bible classes at the parsonage of a Friday worshipers itching for sermons all the time call a real "sell,"


Sundays to be bustled into Church by that miserable steamboat bell in the tin-topped belfry of the old townhouse, which be- sides ringing for all of the congregations of the village on Sun- dav, also rang furiously for every strolling lecturer on Spiritu-


when holy Lent came, how one would look up to that fair picked up the boys' quarters through the week. But, oh dear, alism, or a few broken down actors or negro minstrels that


for us alone the call to prayers. Mr. Earnest hadn't the heart tower on S. Dunstan's and wish that a bell was there to ring


"Small" property for a comfortable parsonage all within eigh- followed his advice to enlarge the Church and had obtained the to say much about it now that the parishioners had so promptly


teen months, for he knew the carpenter's bill was not quite all paid up, and so he waited patiently for the right time to come.


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Trinity Church, Claremont


But this summer two pious communicants of our parish, broth- ers, and both straightforward churchmen ("high" and "low" the people here neither know nor care much about) with a will to do and to give, just said to themselves, "S. Dunstan's shall have a bell." God had given them the means and they knew how to use it. They were a little cunning withal, for they wanted to have the bell ring out from the steeple before the Rector should know anything about it. But when the hoisting tackle was on, and the rope straightened out for all hands to pull, there was Mr. Earnest with the rest pulling with all his might, and isn't it a beauty! One of Meneely's best and cast with the holy cross and donors' names upon it. How sweet and mellow its tones. Not another bell like it for many miles, and how pleased the Rector and his wife looked last Com- munion Sunday, when in counting over the offertory funds after they had come from Church he showed her Meneely's re- ceipt which he found among the dirty scrip, for one bell war- ranted for one year $- and carefully folded with it this note which he let me read :- "For religious and Church uses only, we give and appropriate to the purposes and for the bene- fit of S. Dunstan's Church, Fairview, forever, the bell and fix- tures as per bill of E. A. and G. R. Meneely accompanying. This we do for the glory of God, in grateful acknowledgment of His continual mercies to us and our families, but especially for temporal prosperity during the past year. Herbert Jones, Nathan Jones." There, was not that noble? When the little Joneses of both families, and they are not a few, come into Church, we look upon them as blessed of His who rewardeth the well doer, blessed in having fathers who know from whom all good things do come. Fairview's people were rather as- tonished at such a queer freak of the brothers Jones, but we know they loved to do just what they did and if they had not been "converted" in the opinion of our Methodist friends, they did show forth the faith that worketh by love. And did you notice, if his excellency the President shall next week appoint Jeff Davis or Fred Douglass for his new Secretary of State, S. Dunstan's will neither ring nor toll in consequence, as some meeting-house bells will be likely to do, but only it can be


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One Hundredth Anniversary


sounded for religious and church uses, and never to please or spite any political party. That is settled, thank God, for so the Rector and Wardens have accepted the holy gift. I ought to say the Joneses would feel hurt if you supposed they were the only parishioners of S. Dunstan's who worked and gave for the needs of the church. Of course I can't stop to tell about all, but if you could see Mr. Rigley, our Senior Warden, giving weeks and weeks of his time right out of pressing busi- ness when the Church seemed to need just such a man for a certain responsibility, or Mr. Selden, the Junior Warden, who is not backward in his zeal or his most kind and assiduous at- tentions to the Rector, as well as other noble men giving their time and means to the cause of Christ, to say nothing of the faithful Christian women of the Parish, who are organized as the Rector's Auxiliary, you would believe me that while we humbly thank God for it, S. Dunstan's people are not all the stiff and dead formalists that our poor ignorant brethren of the sects about us are made to half believe by those who ought to know better. Nor is Fairview the only place where just such good deeds would come in good time to help on the Church and Gospel of Christ. Do you know, Messrs. Editors, we will wait and see if some other Churchmen, either in or out of S. Dunstan's parish, will not be guided by the same blessed Spirit to do according to their several ability. For God loveth a cheerful giver, and He will not forget your works and labor that proceedeth of love .- GILBERT.


September 19, 1866.


On October 1, 1885, the Parish began a new period in its life history when the Rev. James Brainard Goodrich became Rector, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., May 10, 1840; and died in Cairo, Egypt, on March 22, 1913. A graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and of Berkley Divinity School at Middletown, Conn., deacon in 1869 and priest on June 28, 1870. He married Ida Powell of Hartford, Conn., in 1871, and went to his first parish in Nashua, N. H., where he spent the years of 1871-1876. From 1876-1880 he was in Lancaster, N. H., and while there built churches in Bethle-


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Trinity Church, Claremont


hem and Littleton. From 1880-1886 he resided in Windsor, Conn., and was in charge of the Church there, and in 1885 he moved to Claremont, N. H., where he was in charge of Trinity Church and built the summer Chapel of S. James' at Burke- haven, N. H., on Lake Suna- pee. In 1899 he was called to be Rector of All Saints' Church, Littleton, N. H., until his retirement in 1905. During those years, seven children were born to them, Mary, Alice, Edward, Isabel- la, Amy, and two who died in infancy. His daughter Isabella became wife of Rt. THE REV. JAMES BRAINARD GOODRICH Rev. Edward Melville Park- er. Mrs. Goodrich died in 1900 and in 1901 Mr. Goodrich married in Cambridge, Mass., Mrs. Caroline T. W. Rice of New York, who survived him. Mr. Goodrich will be re- membered as a saintly Rector whose gentle guiding hand never failed his people.


The Rev. Lucius Waterman, D.D., author and churchman, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 29, 1851. He was a graduate of Trinity College in 1871. Three years later he received his M.A. degree. In 1892 he was given degree of Doctor of Divinity. His literary works include "Post Apostolic Period," "Traditions of the Eucharistic Body and Blood of Christ." He was Rector of Trinity from 1899-1902. He was also Rector of S. Luke's Church, Charlestown, N. H. Established a Church in Laconia, N. H., known as S. James' Church, and he presented the church edifice and the lot upon which it now stands to the parish. He married Abbey J. Cate of Tilton, N. H., in 1884. A son, Henry, survives.


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One Hundredth Anniversary


THE REV. LUCIUS WATERMAN, D.D.


He was also Rector of S. Thomas' Church, Hanover, N. H., which was his last charge. He died on July 26, 1923.


Dr. Waterman wrought a loving work here. His beautiful liturgical services and his strong Sunday School influenced some of his young men to enter the ministry, and his sermons were a course in Sacred Studies and commentary. He was a fine musician. Above all his scholarship, widely recog- nized, wrought its fair lustre. Before a new rector was called, the Reverend Herbert Cone held services.


William Edwin Patterson was born in St. Armond, East Quebec, on April 2, 1872, son of Joseph and Selena (LaFrenia) Patterson. He was graduated from Bishop's College, Lenox- ville, Quebec, in 1897, obtaining his A.B. in Theology in 1899. He was ordained Deacon, July 2, 1899, in S. Paul's Church, Concord, by Bishop Niles, and ordained Priest by the same in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua.


He was Rector of the Church of Our Saviour, Milford, 1899 to 1903. He became Rector of Trinity Church in Sep- tember, 1903, and of Union Church on April 17, 1904.


Rev. W. E. Patterson had for assistants: Rev. Ora W. Craig, Rev. Thaddeus W. Harris, Rev. Lawrence Amor, Rev. Albert E. Bowles, Rev. Austin H. Reed.


Mr. Patterson began mission services in Newport. The crowning of his work there, built by one of his parishioners, was the beautiful Church of the Epiphany.


Mr. Patterson had a strong influence upon boys and young men. Many young people got initial direction from him. Deep


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Trinity Church, Claremont


religious zeal and insight, a gift for organization and di- rection, especially in educa- tion of young people, unusu- al executive ability, a genius for friendship and giving help, these are among the traits that made him the be- loved Pastor and Priest.


In 1913, a parish house was built adjoining the back of the Church and the north side of the Chapel. It con- tains a ladies' parlor, and kitchen, and a stage opening into the Chapel.


He resigned the rector- ship of Trinity and Union Churches September 23, THE REV. WM. EDWIN PATTERSON 1917, to become Rector of S. Saviour's Church, Bar Harbor, Me. On October 11, 1917, Mr. Patterson married Maud D. Hunt. He remained Rector of S. Saviour's Church until the time of his death on June 1, 1941.


Need of religious education on Mount Desert Island, Maine, was first sensed by the Rev. William E. Patterson while Rector at Saint Saviour's Church. At first as a pioneer, he was not able to get the support of the many Churches on the Island. He began having classes in his own parish Church for boys and girls of all ages after school hours. The pastors and par- ents in the town realized the great results in this work, and petitioned the town that "weekday or released time for re- ligious education" might become a reality on Mount Desert Island at Bar Harbor, Maine. William Patterson was the first chairman of the Board of Weekday Released Time for religious education on Mount Desert Island. Since his death in June, 1941, there has been given to S. Saviour's Church, a fund to continue the work he fostered, and that was a most important step in the education of modern youth.


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One Hundredth Anniversary


TRIBUTE TO THE REV. WILLIAM E. PATTERSON


"Since a year ago we have lost by death a faithful servant of God, the Reverend William E. Patterson, faithful pastor, able educator, inspirer and friend of youth, for many years Rector of Saint Saviour's Church, Bar Harbor, Maine." (From the Bishop's Address in Diocese of Maine, in Portland, Me., May 19, 1942.)


After Rev. W. E. Patterson resigned and before a new Rector was chosen, services were held by Rev. F. S. Beattie, Rev. Loren Webster, Bishop Parker, Rev. George Huntington and Rev. Howard Ingham. On November 18, 1917, the Rev. George Huntington became Rector of Trinity and Union Churches.


Rev. George Huntington was born in Lake George, N. Y., August 12, 1862, a son of Rev. Henry S. Huntington and Ge- neva (Crosby ) Huntington.


REV. GEORGE HUNTINGTON, Rector


He attended the DeLane Divin- ity School. He was ordained a Deacon in 1902, Priest in 1904, by Bishop Walker of Western New York. He was Rector S. James' Church, Ham- mondsport, N. Y., 1902-05; Assistant Rector S. Paul's Church, Buffalo, N. Y., 1905- 06; Rector in Charge S. Paul's Chapel (Trinity Par- ish), New York, 1906-07; Rector Grace Cathedral, In- dianapolis, Ind., 1907-09; Rector Trinity Church, Niles, Michigan, 1909-16; Asso- ciate Rector S. Luke's Church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1916-17; Rector Trinity and Union Churches, Claremont, No- vember 18, 1917-July, 1926.


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Trinity Church, Claremont


On September 22, 1908, Rev. George Huntington mar- ried Elizabeth Ray. Mr. Huntington devoted himself to His Master's service. Among young people and the Sunday School he and Mrs. Huntington did notable work. Illness came in his last year. He resigned in July, 1926, and was later placed on the retired clergy list.


(From July to September 1st, the services were held by different clergymen.)


Rev. Leland Grover Chase was born in East Fairfield, Vt., May 15, 1886, a son of Isaac Newton and Inez Laura (Hull) Chase. He attended Brigham Academy, Bakersfield, Vt., University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.


On June 27, 1917, Rev. Leland Chase married Agnes Vi- ola Mitchell. Their children are Leland G., Jr., Agnes Viola, and Richard John.


He was ordained a Congregational minister at East Fair- field, Vt., June 19, 1919. While in the Congregational Church, he held parishes in East Braintree and Wilder, Vt., and West Lebanon, N. H. He was chaplain at the Vermont State Prison eighteen months before he came to Claremont in 1926.


He was ordained dea- con June 7th, 1926, by Bish- op Dallas in S. Thomas' Church, Hanover, N. H. He was ordained Priest by Bish- op Dallas December 31, 1926, in the Chapel of the Holy Angels, Concord, N. H.


On September 1, 1926, Rev. Leland Chase became Rector of Trinity and Union Churches.


THE REV. LELAND G. CHASE 1926-1932


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Mr. Chase received national recognition for his spiritual work among the prisoners.


He was a member of the Bishop's Council and became priest in charge of the Church of the Epiphany, Newport, with his other duties.


On May 2, 1932, the Reverend Leland Chase died. His last official act as priest was at the Service of Confirmation by Bishop Dallas at the Rectory on March 8, 1932, when three men were confirmed. His last sermon, on Easter Day, was of "life eternal."


Funeral services conducted by Bishop Dallas and partici- pated in by the clergy of the Diocese were held in Trinity Church, May 4, following the Celebration of the Eucharist. He was buried near his native village, Bishop Dallas holding that last service.


The following editorial from the Claremont Daily Eagle is testimony of the position he held in the hearts of that com- munity:


Everyone who knew the Reverend Leland G. Chase at all senses in his death a personal loss, the passing of a friend who possessed in abundance the qualities of complete understand- ing, sympathy and genuine interest in his fellow men. Here in Claremont, in Lebanon, and in the neighboring towns of Ver- mont, where he held pastorates, the news of his death will shock and grieve many who knew and loved him. And throughout the country, a scattered band of men who went out from prison walls at Windsor, some to a regenerated living and others to sink back to the underworld, will learn of his death with an honest sorrow. To them in their darkest days he was a friend of the friendless; one who knew their faults and their frailities and yet believed in them. To him they turned for advice and material assistance when the prison gates opened and set them free. To him they returned when an unfriendly world made the going too hard. And he never failed them. The little he had he was ready to share with them; his purse, and his home and his heart were always open to these unfortunates who


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became his charges during the period of his service as chaplain at the Vermont State Prison.


Mr. Chase was possessed of a delightful sense of humor, and we shall like to remember a Sunday morning not so long ago, when after service, he drew us to one side and said with a chuckle: "I wonder what the reactions of my congregation would have been this morning had they known that one of the two young men sitting in my pew during service was headlined in the newspapers throughout the East some years ago as the Boy Bandit, and the other man equally prominent in the press as a notorious criminal? They are going straight now and are paying me a visit." We wondered then, and we wonder now, whether the influence of the former prison chaplain wasn't the big factor in that "going straight."


Who can measure the influence for good that Mr. Chase exercised on the many other lives with which he came in con- tact during a singularly useful, but all too brief career of un- selfish, truly Christian service?


To those who knew him, Father Chase was not merely a Christian, but, if the expression is permissible, an accomplished Christian. He had a child's confidence in his Father's love, and positive conviction in the Church's position. He had a reason for the hope that was in him. He had faced difficul- ties, and thought out problems, weighed and compared con- flicting views of religious thought.


TRIBUTE TO THE REV. LELAND GROVER CHASE


The Reverend Leland Grover Chase, Rector of Trinity Church, Claremont, and Union Church, West Claremont. He came into the ministry of this church six years ago. With hu- mility, carefulness, and sensitiveness to the souls of his people, these six years brought blessings upon the Diocese. (From Bishop Dallas' list of the departed this life since the last Con- vention, May 10, 1932, Diocesan Convention held in S. John the Baptist, Sanbornville, N. H.)


One of the spiritual highlights in the Rectorship of the Rev. Leland Chase was the Bishop's Crusade held on February


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11-18, 1928. The outstand- ing leader was Bishop Hugh Burleson of South Dakota, and the Rev. Mr. Cook of North Carolina.


Romeo Chamberlain Gould became Rector of Trinity and Union Churches August 1, 1932; he was born in Hanover, N. H., June 12, 1873. He graduated from Pomona College, Cal., with an A.B. in 1899, and from the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Mass., in 1901-02. He was ordained . Deacon by Joseph H. John- son, Bishop of Los Angeles THE REV. ROMEO C. GOULD, Rector in 1903; and Priest by Edwin Lines, Bishop of Newark, N. J., in 1904. He married Florence Currier of Hanover, N. H., on October 15, 1904.


He was Rector All Saints', Leonia, N. J .; Rector S. Mary's, Ridgefield Park, N. J .; Curate Trinity Church, Water- town, N. Y .; Chaplain in the Naval Reserve Force; Rector Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y .; Rector Grace Church, Glendora, Cal .; Rector Trinity Church until January 31, 1936.


Mr. Gould did much for the music of Trinity Church and in encouraging its young people in group religious services, as well as in directing them in performance of good music and of plays. He founded and directed the first Parish weekly chron- icle, "The Trinity Trumpet." He was priest-in-charge of the Church of the Epiphany at Newport. He was zealous in his parish duties and in training acolytes.


The Rev. Robert H. Dunn, a native of Freeport, Ill., graduated from Princeton University in 1919 and from Union Theological Seminary in 1922. Entering the Congregational ministry, he served as pastor of the Congregational Church at


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Lancaster from 1922 to 1926 and later was pastor of the Maple- wood, N. J., Church. Taking orders in the Episcopal Church he became priest at S. John Baptist Church at Sanbornville, N. H., and was in charge of missionary work throughout Car- roll County. He served in the Diocese as Chairman of the Commission on Religious Education, and on the Diocesan Ex- ecutive Council. A trained musician, Rev. Robert Dunn di- rected several oratorios including The Messiah given at San- bornville. He was past president of the Rotary Club at San- bornville.


As Rector of Trinity, Rev. R. H. Dunn was very active in the Community Orchestra Movement begun by Father Gould. He was also a member of the Claremont Rotary Club and Sec- retary of the Claremont Cooperative Concert Association. He organized the men's group known as "The Steeple Club," whose purpose it is to raise funds for the replacement of our church steeple which fell in the hurricane on September 21, 1938.


He directed the Choir while here and unified the women's work of the parish under one head known as the "Wom- en's Auxiliary." Father Dunn reorganized the Y. P. F. work for high school students and also the Trinity Acolytes for boys serving at the Altar.


He served as Rector of Trinity Church from Febru- ary 1, 1936, to February 1, 1942. He was in charge of the Church of the Epiphany, Newport.


Mr. Dunn, with a wide missionary experience in New Hampshire, brought closer by his experience, en- thusiasm and knowledge those widening influences in a parish's life.


THE REV. ROBERT H. DUNN


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One Hundredth Anniversary


During the time before calling our new Rector, the Rev. W. M. Hotchkiss, the Rev. Henry S. Steele of Boston and the Rev. Louis Reed, Rector of S. Luke's Church, Charlestown, N. H., graciously carried on the parish work and services.


THE REV. WALTER HOTCHKISS


Our present Rector is the Reverend Walter Malcolm Hotchkiss. He took office on Trinity Sunday, May 31, 1942. He was born in Fall River, Mass., on September 9, 1906, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Hotchkiss. While working in the public library in Boston he attended Boston University and two sessions of the Harvard summer school. He next


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went to Nashotah House, a theological seminary in Wiscon- sin, and later to Greeley State Teachers College in Greeley, Colo., from which he received his B.A. degree in 1934, and his Sacred Theology degree in 1935.


Ordered a Deacon in 1936, he was ordained into the Priesthood in conformity with the second step in the Episcopal ministry on June 11, 1937, and was given charge of S. An- drew's Church at Fort Lupton, Colo., during his student days, and from 1937 to 1939 was curate at the Mission Church of the Transfiguration at Evergreen, Colorado.


Much of his work while in these Western parishes was done among mountain people at five mission stations amid the famous "gold and silver cities" of Idaho Springs, Central City, and Georgetown. While at Evergreen he studied church mu- sic under Canon Douglas, who is responsible for the present Episcopal hymn book; there he learned how to direct choir music and plan musical programs for church services.


In August, 1939, Mr. Hotchkiss returned east, going to Portland, Me., where he was curate in S. Luke's Cathedral un- til May, 1940. He originated a new type of young people's work there and aided in youth programs for the city of Port- land which included children of all denominations. He was next called to Eastport, Me., when the Bishop of Maine decided that with the development of the Passamaquoddy Dam, more church work should be accomplished there. This made him Rector of the most eastern Episcopal parish in the United States, Christ Church, where he served from May, 1940, to May, 1942. In addition to church duties he was also connected with the NYA vocational guidance school at Quoddy, Maine.


First sermon by Rev. Mr. Hotchkiss in Claremont was preached on May 31, 1942. He lives with his father and mother at 3 Bond Street. In addition to Claremont, he min- isters at the Church of the Epiphany in Newport every week and in New London every other week to Episcopal students and townspeople at Colby Junior College.




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