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ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF
Trinity Church
UTICA, N. Y.
F
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01275 2041
GENEALOGY 974.702 UT30NH
₱
SEN
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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TRINITY CHURCH, UTICA, N. Y.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
-OF-
Trinity Church,
UTICA, N. Y.
EDITED BY
REV. JOHN R. HARDING.
UTICA, N. Y .: . PRESS OF THOMAS J. GRIFFITHS, 131 GENESEE STREET. 1898.
PREFACE.
The papers, addresses and letters herein given are printed in full just as they were presented at the time. The article, "The Choirs of Old Trinity," was not read during the centennial, but kindly contributed since then by Mr. John Burt of New York, a former Utican and organist of Trinity Church.
The roll of Rectors, Wardens and Vestrymen, was compiled in 1887 by Mr. D. Walter Perkins of Trinity Parish, and re- printed here as a valuable addition to this history.
It was also thought appropriate in thus recording the story of One Hundred Years, to say something here about the cen- tennial as a whole, which article is the last in the book.
'The illustrations of the building, and the portraits of the founder and several rectors, will undoubtedly lend an interest. The only regret is that a diligent search has failed to secure any photograph of the first three rectors, Rev. Jonathan Judd, Rev. Amos Glover Baldwin, and Rev. Henry M. Shaw. Our gratitude is extended to all those who in these papers, ad- dresses and letters, thus willingly and freely contributed their interest and time, as a work of love. Due credit should be given also for the able assistance rendered the editor, by his colleagues on the centennial committee, Mr. William M. Storrs, and Mr. George M. Weaver, the Wardens of the par- ish.
We trust that this little volume in being a permanent re- minder of the loyalty and good deeds of an honored past, may also be for all its readers an inspiration for the future. With this wish it it respectfully dedicated to all of Old Trinity's sons and daughters, past, present and to come.
JOHN R. HARDING.
Trinity Rectory, Utica, N. Y.,
All Saints Day, 1898.
CONTENTS.
Page
Arthur, Mrs. Elizabeth P., Letter from
79
Arthur, Rev. John, Letters read by 72 Bagg, Dr. Moses M., Paper by 94
Brown, Mrs. Elizabeth, Letter from 72
Burt, Mr. John, Paper by I3I
Centennial Exercises, An Account of the. I48
Centennial Exercises, Programme of the. 7
Central New York, Diocese of IO
Chase, Rt. Rev. Philander, LL.D .. Recollections of 88
Chase, Rev. Dudley, Retired Chaplain, U. S. A., Address by 88
Choirs The, of Old Trinity I3I
Congratulation, Addresses of IO
Harding, Rev. John R., Paper by II6
Historical Society, The Oneida County, 19
Hubbard, Mr. Robert J., Letter from.
85 IO
Laymen of Trinity Church, Some Prominent
96
Maxon, Rev. William D., Address by 57
Miller, Miss Blandina D., Paper by 96
Mohawk Valley, Early Church History of the Lower, .. 2I
Olmsted, Rev. Charles T,, S. T. D., Address by, I4
Paris Hill, St. Paul's Church, II
Pastors of Utica
I6
Peas, Mrs Elizabeth C., Letter from 83
Pendleton, Rev. J. Philip B., D. D., Paper by 2I
Huntington, Rt. Rev. Frederick Dan, L.L.D., Address by Kinney, Hon. Thomas E., Address by I8
Perkins, Mr. D. Walter, Article by 136
Proctor, Mr. Thomas R., Address by 19 Rectors Trinity's, The Work and Characteristics of II6
Rectors, Wardens and Vestrymen, Roll of I36
Reminiscence, Letters of 72 Sister Parishes of Utica, 14
Spiritual Needs of Our Age, The Church's Adaptability to
the 57
Storrs, Mr. William M. Chairman,
Trinity Church, Recollections of 94
7
Utica, The City of 18
Weaver, Mr. George M., Paper read by 94
Wicks, Rev. John B., Address by II
Services and Addresses.
MR. WILLIAM M. STORRS, Senior Warden Trinity Church, Chairman.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15th.
7:30 P. M., Processional. Hymn 520. Creed, Versicles and Prayers. Addresses of Congratulation. For the Diocese of Central New York, Rt. Rev. F. D.Huntington, L. L. D .;
. For St. Paul's Church, Paris Hill, The Rev. John B. Wicks;
For the Sister Parishes of Utica, The Rev. Charles T. Olmsted, S. T. D.
Hymn 672.
For the Pastors of Utica,
The Rev. Thomas J. Brown, D. D.
For the City of Utica, Hon. Thomas E. Kinney, Mayor.
For the Oneida County Historical Society, Mr. Thomas R. Proctor. Benediction-Recessional Hymn 516.
9:00 In Trinity Parish House.
Reception by the Parish, to the Bishop, Clergy and Laitv of the Diocese and vicinity. THURSDAY, JUNE 16th.
9:30 A. M .- Holy Communion.
Processional Hymn 445.
Hymn 197.
Offerings for the Missions of the Diocese
Communion Hymn 225.
Nunc Dimittis.
11:00 A. M .- Hymn 491. Prayers. Paper.
"The Early History of the Church in the Lower Mohawk Valley," by the Rev. J. Philip B. Pendleton, D. D., Rector, St. George's Church, Schenectady, N. Y.
Hymn 485.
Paper,
"The Church's Adaptability to the Spiritual Needs of Our Age," by the Rev. Wm. D. Maxon, D. D., Rector, Calvary Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Benediction-Recessional, Hymn 253.
1:00 P. M. Luncheon in Trinity Parish House.
3:00 P. M. Hymn 487. Prayers.
Letters of Reminiscence from former Parishioners of Trinity Church, read by Rev. John Arthur, Rector St. John's Church, Oneida.
Letters by Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Elizabeth P. Arthur, Utica; Mrs. Isabella C. Peas, Mohawk; Mr. Robert J. Hubbard, Cazenovia. Hymn 179.
Address.
"Some Recollections of the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, LL.D., First Bishop of Ohio and Illinois," by his son, The Rev. Dudley Chase, Retired Chaplain, U. S. A., Philadelphia, Pa.
Paper-by Dr. Moses M. Bagg, Utica.
Prayer-Benediction.
Recessional, Hymn 51I.
7:30 P. M. Processional. Hymn 187.
Creed, Versicles and Prayers.
Hymn 584.
"Some Prominent Laymen of Trinity Church," written by Miss Blandina D. Miller, Utica, and read by Mr. George M. Weaver, Junior Warden, Trinity Church.
Paper,
"The Work and Characteristics of Trinity's Rectors," by Rev. John R. Harding.
Doxology,
"Praise God from whom all Blessings flow." Prayers-Benediction.
Recessional. 580.
1798
1898
INTERIOR OF TRINITY CHURCH, At the time of the Centennial.
ADDRESSES OF CONGRATULATION.
For the Diocese of Central New York.
RT. REV. FREDERICK DAN HUNTINGTON, L. L. D.
"You must know that I am here simply because I could not stay away," he said, "and that is my greeting to you. We are gathered as churchmen and churchwomen, and not only as members and friends of Old Trinity. The beginning and growth of old Trinity mark the beginning and growth of the community to which we belong, and we belong to the kingdom of God on the earth. It makes us feel as if we would like to take each other by the hand. A well-known Englishman says that the power of any great people depends on continuing and completing the work of its ancestors. He says that if we look over the history of nations one can always date the decline from the time they ceased to have reverence in the heart for, and faith in those before and above them. That is the secret of continued prosperity. When the people begin to neglect or under-rate the labors of their ancestors, they begin to decline. How true that is of civil, ecclesiastical, State and Church growth! If men only remember what true greatness is; if they will only remember that character consti- tutes national grandeur, or grandeur of the church; if this is the spirit of the American land and nation, we shall fufill the promise of the old prophet who said "The life of the true is the life of my people, for they are the chosen of the
1
IO
One Hundred Years of
Lord and shall eat of the fruit of their doings, and not labor in vain, and they shall prosper."
That is the precise condition of the strength and prosperity with any people and the people of any parish. Reverence is the root; reverence for God and God's ordinances; reverence for the past, for law, for authority. It is found as nowhere else in this church of the Apostles, and so you and I attend the centennial of Trinity with gratitude and joy.
Just at the beginning of the history of this parish there was a transition period. Utica ceased to be simply an old fort, and became what it was to be. We have some traces of that strange time, but it shows this, that its growth was two-fold, from the missionary force outside and the inherent powers inside. Here comes the late Philander Chase, missionary, one hundred years ago, and finds a few scattered families, who know the Prayer Book and the Apostles Creed, and could say, "Our father which is in heaven." He looked them up and drew them together. There were lay readers who after his departure read the service. So it went on for five years, and then another missionary came, and it was three years more before there was anything like a church or a sanctuary. In the general convention of 1795 there were eight clergymen and sixteen laymen, constituting the convention. Utica was the frontier. It was twenty years before there was the Diocese of Ohio or Western New York. The law of growth attains in both conditions, the civil and the ecclesiastical. They had reverent faith in their hearts, and so deep and sincere was it that it triumphed over everything. The future has been the fu- ture which is now the past, which you are enjoying to-night. You look about and see what Utica is. You will agree that the Church has been the unpretending but steadfast witness to the unseen world, and the evidence of its reality. To-day according to the directory of the city there are fifty-three relig-
II
Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
ious societies, about one for every thousand people. We are sorry that they are not worshiping in the same church. We wish that all said the Apostles Creed. We wish they were all enjoying what we enjoy, and believe what we believe. We are glad and grateful for what God has given us. But those deviations in worship and ordinance do not separate Christian hearts, and so we have this for congratulation. We speak one name above all. We open the pages of the same Bible. It is a common heritage that we have. May we not say that if all have been quite consistent in the confessions of faith that would have been something nearer to the grand unity of the Christian faith. That marks the duty of the future. You are under double obligations to bring forth the truth of God's goodness to you. The remembrance of the past should be a stimulus to the future, and all pleasant and bright things recalled are a motive and an appeal. This puts us under bonds of obedience. The better days are to be repeated. There have been men here since I came thirty years ago who were worthy successors to the old pioneers. They were your guardians."
For St. Paul's Church, Paris Hill, N. Y.
REV. JOHN B. WICKS.
St. Paul's Church, Paris Hill, one hundred and one years young, sends greeting to Trinity Church, Utica, one hundred years young. You have been busy an entire century building a temple, and now as you put the cap-stone in place, we join our shoutings with yours, "Grace, grace, unto it."
The temple you have shaped is not a building of wood and stone that passes away, but a house of character that liveth ever more and more.
I recall many of the men and women, the living stones of this building. Among your rectors it has been my privilege
I 2
One Hundred Years of
and pleasure to know more or less intimately, Drs. Proal and Coxe, Messrs. Gardner and Harding.
In my boyhood days Dr. Proal was frequently at Paris Hill in exchange with the rector there. My father's farm-house was his stopping place, and memory holds the scene as the good Doctor sat in the home circle making it glad with the words of wit and wisdom. It seems but yesterday, though fifty years have passed that the thrifty house-wife brought in the refreshing beverage, brewed from the very nectar of the honey-metheglin the farmers called it. I can see the glass. held lovingly in the good man's hand while he quoted,
"Her home brewed ale she made so good The sexton came and proved it,
The rector thought it not amiss, And harvest men all loved it."
In the old parish on the Hill, as here, the Doctor illustrated by word and deed a very genial, sweet, pure gospel.
Dr. Coxe was his successor, and I knew him more intimate- ly. In the Doctor's study I passed my examination for Deacon's orders. The Doctor's final question on that occa- sion was, "Please repeat the last two verses of the Old Testa- ment?" I began, hesitated and stopped. The Doctor assayed to help me, but only partially succeeded, so that together we but imperfectly completed the quotation. I have always felt that it was the good man's generous way of letting me out of the dilemma easily. His ready wit was proverbial.
The next day after the fence was removed from about old Trinity, Dr. Goodrich called upon the rector, and told him how much he admired the improvement, and expressed the wish that they might get the fence about Calvary Church taken away. Dr. Coxe replied: "Why, you can do it easily, preach a sermon, take the text, 'Sincere and without offense.'" The Doctor was every inch a Christian minister, and adorned
13
Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
his holy office with a grace and dignity that could not be ex- celled.
The Rev. Charles Gardner who followed Dr. Coxe in the rectorship, came to you in the strength of his early manhood. a generous, brave, true worker, how easily he won all our hearts. But yesterday he entered upon life eternal, and his "works follow him."
Personally Dr. Maxon, Mr. Gardner's successor, has not been in the circle of my friends known and loved. His praise however, is in all the churches, as his wise precepts and ex- ample find place in all your hearts.
For him who breaks the bread of life to you to-day, the Rev. John R. Harding,I have only words of warm praise. Long may he minister in the old parish, and find the joy of his heart in Trinity's men and women, epistles of God known and read of all men. Several of your Laity I have known and loved for many years. I read their names on the tablets here, and across all the canvass of your parish life -Collins, Comstock, Shearman, Storrs, Weaver, Seymour and others. The inci- dents are many which rise and linger lovingly in memory's house as I repeat their names. How clear is the perspective of an interview in the Deerfield home with that man of God, Horatio Seymour. I called upon him while I was engaged in the Indian work, and he responded to my interest in this wide field with a glowing word picture of the greatness of the Iroquois nation that occupied the hills and vales of Central New York. I remember he took down a large map of the State, and finding no other place to put it he spread it upon the floor, then got down on his hands and knees, and pointed out the strong points in the tribal location. Instinctively I re- member I assumed the same position he did, feeling that my attitude at heart should be as humble as his. Of the other good and true men and women of your parish I should like to speak in detail, but lack of time forbids. They were loyal
14
One Hundred Years of
workers in this historic vineyard, now gone to their reward, while you have entered into their labors. As I began so I conclude, "All hail, Trinity Parish, Utica, one hundred years young."
For the Sister Parishes of Utica. REV. CHARLES T. OLMSTED, S. T. D.
I come this evening to bring the congratulations of those whom the authorities of this Parish, with courteous modesty, designate as the "Sister Parishes." But we have been in the habit of regarding Old Trinity as the "Mother Parish," and ourselves as her offspring. No doubt a girl, when she gets to be sixty years old, may well begin to feel that she has reached the point when she can be looked upon as her (mother's sister; but it will generally be found that the old lady herself still considers her a child, and does not approve of her getting very far away from her leading strings. How- ever, that may be in this case, whether as sisters, or as daugh- ters and grand-daughters, we come to-night with hearts full of good will and love for Trinity Church, and offer her our most sincere congratulation on the attainment of one hun- dred years of life. We congratulate her on the wonderful vigor which she has shown through all the decades of the century. I confess I have often thought with admiration of the remarkable strength manifested by this Parish sixty years ago, when she was able to send off to Genesee Street, above the canal, a self-supporting colony, which became the Parish of Grace Church, and still to keep on her way here on the old spot just as if nothing had happened. And we congratu- late her that she has succeeded in "holding the fort" here in the place where she first began-Old Fort Schuyler, which originally gave its location to the village of Utica, and stood but a little way to the east of this church, is now gone. Not
15
Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
one stone or brick of its structure now rests upon another, and the site is marked only by two or three guns recently placed there. But Trinity Church, which began its work right here a century ago, still remains here, and has not yielded to the bewitching temptation to move up-town, which in so many other cities in this land has caused the older par- ishes to leave their original sites, whence the wealthy popula- tion disappeared, and to go off to greener pastures in some other neighborhood.
But the thought which is uppermost in my mind to-night in connection with this subject, is the proper relation of par- ishes to one another. A parish is simply a contrivance for the more convenient prosecution of the work of the church. We are all engaged in that same work, which is the winning of souls to Christ, and the promotion of the glory of God; and our parish is that part of the whole church in which we are called to do that work. The relation of one parish to an- other, then, should certainly be that of entire sympathy and good will. The idea that, because one parish has a hand- somer church, or a finer organ, or a larger number of per- sons confirmed each year, another parish should therefore be jealous or envious of it, is very absurd. We know that such feelings are in our human nature, and that they have been al- lowed sometimes to manifest themselves, and even to predom- inate in the working of the parochial system; but certainly they are unworthy of Christian people, and ought not to pre- vail among us. And it is not the least of our causes for con- gratulation, on this auspicious occasion, that the parishes in Utica can be truly said to be in that happy condition, in which they mutually love and respect each other, and are willing to (work, each in its own sphere for its own success, and also to co-operate in harmony and good will for the promotion of the best interests of the church at large. There is not one of us that does not rejoice in Old Trinity's success, and regard-
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One Hundred Years of
ing her strength in the past we cordially unite in saying "Semper vigeat."
The Pastors of Utica. REV. THOMAS J. BROWN, D. D.
The woman in the parable when she had found the piece of silver she had lost, and the shepherd too on recovering his lost sheep called together their friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me." What a natural impulse of a generous heart that is? The touch of nature that makes us akin to that shepherd and that woman is in their words "Rejoice with me." Our Lord himself would have his chosen friends with him, not only in the darkness and sorrow of Gethsemane, but in the bright clouds and transcendent glory of the Mount of Transfiguration. Whatever the occasion of our joy, unless we be churls, we seek to share it, we call together our friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me." And gladly friends and neighbors respond to the invitation. If any mis- fortune had befallen this parish, if your greatly esteemed rec- tor were taken from you, or your buildings destroyed by fire, every congregation in the city would be prompt to offer its sympathy and assistance. How gladly then should we all join in the congratulations and happiness of this hour.
I little thought when I came to you on the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of your Church's consecra- tion on the same errand that brings me here to- night that it should be my happy lot at the end of seventeen years again to congratulate you. Then I knew of you by the hearing of the ear; now I know you by witness- ing during this time the earnestness and fidelity with which you have continued to build upon the firm foundation laid so many years ago, by making the uninterrupted growth and prosperity which you have enjoyed, and by the pleasant personal relations which it has been my privilege to have with
17
Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
all your rectors and many of their parishioners. I am better fitted for my task, therefore, than I was seventeen years ago.
It is a very simple task, however, as well as very pleasant task, and one that may be quickly discharged. I bring to you, dear brethren of Trinity parish, and to you, sir, the rector, the sincere and hearty congratulation of all the churches and ministers about you in whose behalf I may be permitted to speak. We congratulate you on your past, on the place you have won for yourselves and maintained through so many years in the brotherhood of churches. You are proud of your history. But so are we proud of your history, for your his- tory is a part of the history of Christ's kingdom in this corner of the world. No man liveth to himself; no church liveth to itself. The weal of us all is wrapped up in the history of each. For a hundred years Trinity parish has been a joy and a bless- ing to this whole community. We congratulate you on your past.
We congratulate you on your present, on the good degree of prosperity you are now enjoying, on the many fields of use- fulness in which you are engaged, on your love for your church and the spirit of earnest and hearty co-operation which animates you. Not living in the past, not content with attain- ment already made, believing that a church a century old should be still in its youth, you are recognizing present op- portunity for adding to laurels already won, and giving your- selves to the improvement of this your day and opportunity. In all this you have our earnest sympathy. We congratulate you on your present.
We congratulate you on your future-that is, on the bright prospect before you as you enter upon the second century of your history. To the whole church of the living God the future is ever bright with the promise of increasing glory and ultimate triumphs. Neither in the past nor in the present is to be found its perfect work. Not yet do we see all things sub-
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One Hundred Years of
ject to the sway of our Lord Christ. But we shall see it, or the word of the Lord faileth evermore. And each church and each Christian may, by the grace of God, contribute to and be cheered by the assurance of this final triumph. "Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, we press on." Trinity parish need not be, and will not be, in the days to come, second to any in all that constitutes genuine success. It may not excel in num- bers; that signifies little. Not in wealth; that signifies less. It may not have advantages of location or ample and well ap- pointed buildings. Yet in devotion, in true spiritual life, in service for our common Master, in likeness to Him in the ends sought and the manner of seeking them, it may still hold on its way, blessed of God and honored of all men.
Accept, then, our congratulations and sincere wishes that all grace and blessing may be and abide with you. In behalf of my brethren in the ministry and the churches to which they minister I will now say
"Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity, Within thy palaces. For my brethren And companions' sakes, I will say, Peace be within thee."
The City of Utica. HON. THOMAS E. KINNEY, MAYOR
It is altogether fitting and proper that the City of Utica on this occasion should acknowledge the great debt of grati- tude she owes to Trinity Church for her century of prayer and noble example in our midst, elevating our people and making them better Christians and citizens. If the tree is known by its fruit, and the church by its members, then this humble, un- pretentious structure has some claim to renown, for at least two of the mighty in the land worshiped in this temple. One was nominated and thought worthy by a great party of the
19
Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
country to grace the Presidential chair, first held by the fa- ther of his country. The other refused the chief justiceship of the United States. Yes, the brothers-in-law, Seymour and Conkling, were members of this church, and another brother- in-law, Rev. Dr. Coxe, expounded the gospel to them in this edifice. The fame of this church, however, does not rest on the shoulders of any two men, however great, but on the thousands of its humble worshipers who have here found that comfort and solace promised to all who are heavy laden, who seek gospel relief in the proper spirit.
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