USA > New York > Chenango County > Norwich > The First Congregational Church, Norwich, N.Y., program of the rededication services, Oct. 10, 17, 24, 1909 > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 03020 6194
Gc 974.702 N83f The First Congregational Church, Norwich, N. Y. ...
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https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00unse
Souvenir
rogram
The First Congregational Church October 10, 17, 24, 1909
NORWICH NEW YORK
1
The First Congregational Church
Norwich, N. Y.
+
Program
of the
Rededication Services October 10, 17, 24 1909
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF 1909
Our Church Home -- The Dedication.
MORNING SERVICE, OCT. 10, 1908
Prelude-Sonata IV
. Mendelssohn
Allegro Con Brio
Andante Religioso
Allegretto
Invocation- (Congregation Seated)
Our Lords Prayer-(Minister and Congregation)
Jubilate Deo, Hymnal No. 510-(Congregation Standing) Responsive Reading, Selection 45-(Congregation Standing) Gloria Patri-(Congregation Standing) Millard
The morning Lesson-John 15:1-17.
Anthem-Te Deum in F Kotzschmar
Prayer
Response-"Hear Our Prayer" (Choir) ___ arr from Gounod Hymn No. 274 "My Jesus I Love Thee" Notices.
Offertory-"Quartette, O Sweetly Breath the Lyres Above"
Chopin-Shelley Prayer of Dedication.
Hymn No. 201-"Break Thou the Bread of Life, Dear Lord to Me"
Communion Hymn No. 203 "Jesus Calls us o're the Tumult"
Prayer and Benediction-(Congregation Seated)
Postlude -- Thence in A. Vor. III-V Hesse
EVENING SERVICE, OCT. 10, 1909
Prelude-Allegretto, B. Minor Guilmant
Invocation-(Congregation Seated)
Our Lord's Prayer-(Minister and Congregation)
Hymn No. 177
"I Love Thy Kingdom Lord"
RESPONSIVE READING.
Minister-How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
People-My Soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Minister-Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young
People-Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Minister-Blessed are they that dwell in the house: they will be still praising thee.
People-Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in whose heart are the ways of them.
Minister-Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
People-They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God
Minister-O Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.
People-Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine annointed.
Minister-For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
People-For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory:
Minister-No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
People-O Lord of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Minister-I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
People-Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Minister-Jerusalem is [builded as a city that is compact together; whither the tribes go up. the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
People-For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Minister-Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
People-Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Minister-They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.
People-As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever.
. Minister-The Lord hoth done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
People-Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south,
Minister-They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
People-He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Minister -Glory be to the Father, and to the son; and to the Holy Ghost.
Gloria Patri Millard.
The Scripture Lesson, Ezra 3:8-13; Ephesians 5:10-18.
"Not Unto Us O Lord" Seymour-Smith
Prayer.
Response-Hear Our Prayer arr from Gounod
Bass Solo-What Must it be to be There
Smart
EDWARD L. NASH
Offertory and Prayer of Dedication. Hymn No. 173 "The Church's One Foundation" Address-Presenting the church to the Trustees by J. BENNETT TURNER-Chairman of the Building Committee.
Response on behalf of the Trustees EDWARD S. MOORE
The Silent Sea
Neidlinger
Address REV. PAUL RILEY ALLEN
OUR CONSECRATION HYMN
My life, my love, I give to thee, Thou Lamb of God, who died for me; O may I ever faithful be, My Savior and my God!
CHORUS I'll live for Thee, I'll live for Thee. And O how glad my soul should be, That Thou didst give Thy self tor me, My savior and my God.
I now believe Thou dost receive. For Thou hast died that I might live; And now henceforth I'll trust in Thee, My Savior and my God. CHO. O Thou who died on Calvary To save my soul and made me free; I consecrate my life to Thee, My Savior and my God. CHO.
Prayer and Benediction (Congregation Seated) Postlude-Alleluia Theod. Dubois
The Bible School Day.
MORNING SERVICE, OCT. 17, 1909
Graduation Exercises of the Bible School and promotion of Kindergarten, Primary and Junior Scholars.
Incidental Music.
Prelude-In the Morning Grieg
Postlude-Theme in F. Guilmant
EVENING SERVICE, OCT. 17, 1909
An address by the Pastor to the Officers and Teachers of the Bible School on 'The aim of the Bible School and the Teacher's Ideal'
Incidental Music.
Prelude-The Answer
Wostenholme
We Give Immortal Praise Schncker
Hear Our Prayer Molineux
Baritone Solo-"Babylon" Howell
HARRY B. DAINELS
Postlude-Grande Choeur
Guilmant
Missionary Dap -- Our Dedication to Missions.
MORNING SERVICE OCT. 24, 1909
The Church, and Her Contribution to the Corporate Interests of the World Life. - - REV. PAUL RILEY ALLEN Incidental Music.
Prelude-Fiat Lux
Theod Dubois
Gloria Patri
Greatorex
Festival Te Deum E Flat Buck
The Seven-fold Amen Stainer
Tenor Solo-Thine Earthly Sabbaths Bradsky
LEWIS H. BURNSIDE
Pilgrim's Chorus-"Tannhauser" arr. by Liszt
EVENING SERVICE, OCT. 24, 1909
Home Missions-An address by REV. CHARLES W. SHELDON D. D. of New City, New York State Secretary of Home Mission Work.
Incidental Music
Prelude in D. Flat. op. 28 Chopin
Blessed are they-(Sepulchre to Throne) Shepard
Father O Hear Us Handel
Quartette-From Every Earthly Pleasure
Liszt-Shelley
Postlude-March Pontificale
De La Tombelle
FIRST CHURCH, BUILT IN 1818
INTERIOR BEFORE REPAIRS OF 1909
INTERIOR AFTER REPAIRS OF 1909
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BRICK CHURCH, BUILT IN 1861
Historical.
HE first church building of this society was of wood, erected in 1818-19. It was totally destroyed by fire in 1858. The second building was of brick, erected in 1861-62, and still stands, being the eastern third of the present struc- ture. In 1873-74 an addition twice its size, also of brick, was joined to it on the west, constituting the present edifice, within whose walls three buildings the size of the first church could be set.
It is entirely true to say that this building, as a whole, is a monument and a memorial to Rev. Samuel Scoville, who was for more than eighteen years pastor of the church, and who was loved and revered by all the people of the village. The building operations of 1861-62, although begun before he be- came pastor, were then lagging, but received fresh impetus when he threw himself into the project, and hurried it on to completion. The same enthusiasm on his part began and carried to completion the addition of 1873-74.
His dominant idea was that a church building should be for the good of the whole community and for that reason it must be large enough for the whole community who would naturally wish to attend whatever exercises might be given in it. When this building was finished, nearly one half the the total inhabitants of the village could have been gotten within its walls. It fulfilled its mission, for many of the best orators and musicians of America have been heard from its platform. They could not have been secured had not such an audience room been available, capable of holding the crowds by which the entertainments could be made finan - cially successful.
The whole building is 1243 feet long by 77 feet wide. The audience room, before the recent changes, was 84 feet long by 60 feet wide. The recent changes have reduced the length about 12 feet. The heighth of the ceiling is about 30 feet.
The walls and ceilings were left lime-finished after the building operations of 1873-74 and remained for several years without decorations. They have been twice re-decorated and some minor changes have been made from time to time in the various rooms, but until the recent repairs the whole build- ing has remained substantially as it was when dedicated Jan- uary 1, 1875.
When the first brick church was built the pulpit was in the south alcove and the organ and choir in the north alcove. Later the organ was moved to the south alcove and subse- quently to the southwest corner of the church, near the pul- pit, where it remained until the repairs of 1874, when it was set up in the south alcove.
In the spring of 1874, through the efforts of Mrs. Nettie Mitchell and Mrs. Gertrude L. D. Johnson, $750 was raised and a piano purchased for use in the Sunday School and prayer meetings. The same instrument, a Chickering con- cert grand, still serves for that purpose.
The choir has a history co-extensive with the present build- ing. Three months after the dedication services, at the very urgent desire and request of Mr. Scoville, Mrs. Nettie Mitchell, who had been organist for at least twenty years, with but few interruptions, took up the task of forming a chorus choir. She selected from the congregation about twenty-five young people and began practice. This choir first sang at a church service Sunday morning, April 4, 1875, and continues to the present time. There have been many changes in the person- nel, but four of the original members still sing in it.
Mrs. Mitchell remained as organist and chorister until about six years ago when sickness made it impossible for her to continue. S e had been organist for nearly fifty years and chorister for twenty-eight years. She was succeeded by Mrs. C. B. Chapman who served as organist and chorister until May, 1904, when Mrs. B. W. Stover was engaged as choris- ter and Miss Mary Eugenia Lewis as organist. In 1907 Mrs. Stover left Norwich and Miss Lewis became organist and chorister and continues as such.
In the winter of 1881 the Young Peoples' Association be- gan an effort to raise funds for a new organ By January, 1884, the fund had grown to $550. This was increased to $4,250 by the sale of stock, a bequest of $1,000 under the will of David Maydole, which the trustees turned over to the organ fund and by the generous contribution of Mr. Cyrus B. Martin and others. The order was placed in February and the organ was in place and ready for use May 24, 1884. It was built by Johnson & Son, Westfield, Mass., the head of the firm making a personal contribution of $100.
As the church building is a monument to Mr. Scoville, so is the organ a monument to Mrs. Mitchell, and while it is true that the church would have had a building to worship in and an organ to assist in its worship, had neither of these people been connected with it, it is also true that neither building or organ would have been built with anywhere near the present capacity had not the personality and energy of these two per- sons entered into the construction of them. The church, therefore, owes to them a debt of gratitude which cannot be measured in money value.
To the late Isaac S. Newton the church also owes a great debt of gratitude for the thorough and substantial construc- tion of this building. He was chairman of the building com- mittee and although a very busy man, took great interest in
the work and gave a great deal of time looking after the de- tails of construction.
Parsonage History.
Although the church had a settled pastor from 1819, ex- cept for a few short intervals, it did not own a parsonage un- til 1852. In the winter of that year Col. Ezra Hewitt, acting for the church, purchased of the late Ralph Johnson, his resi- dence now at 271 North Broad street. During the pastoraie of Rev. Edward Taylor, D. D. who maintained his residence in Binghamton throughout his pastorate, the parsonage was sold for $4,500, the proceeds being applied on the debt of $9,000 which had been hanging over the church since the building operations of 1874.
In 1891 the present parsonage, formerly the residence of the late Hon. E. H. Prindle, was purchased. In Julv 1895 it was damaged by a fire in which two young children of the pastor, Rev. W. H. Scudder, lost their lives. It was immediately repaired and has been occupied by subsequent pastors.
Repairs of 1909.
The repairs just completed were begun June 1, 1909, after a careful consideration of plans and after a financial campaign in which about $9.000 was raised. The pulpit has been moved from the south to the east side of the chuch, the windows in the east wall have been closed and two addi- tional windows built in the south wall. The doors between the auditorium and Sunday school room have been moved from the back to the front of the gallery and a partition of sliding doors built from east to west through the Sunday school room so that another separate class room is provided.
The ceilings have been redecorated, the wood work stained a Flemish oak to match the new pews, an entirely new lighting and steam heating system installed and the church re- carpeted throughout. The main entrance is at the west door into a roomy vestibule opening into the auditorium. The pews are arranged into three banks of double pews with two wall and two center aisles. The lighting system provides for the use of gas and electricity separately or jointly. The alcove on the north side of the church has been transformed into a room for the pastor.
On the second floor partitions have been changed to pro- vide more commodious and more convenient cloak rooms, a larger kitchen and a linen closet. Outside the wood work has been repainted, the stone work cleaned and new steps and sidewalk built.
The total cost of the work, including all furnishings and also including some repairs to the walls and roof, the neces- sity of which was discovered after the work of remodelling was begun, will be about $10,000.
The Building Committee was composed of J. B. Turner, chairman; M. M. Blakeley, vice-chairman; W. H. Field, treasurer, R. C. Stoter, Mr. F. J. Tuttle, Mrs. R. C. Chap- man, Mrs. C. H. Latham, Mrs. E. L. Nash, Mrs. M. E. Gray and the Trustees.
Officiarp.
Minister-Rev. Paul Riley Allen. Clerk-Mr. L. M. Donaldson. Treasurer-Mr. T. D. Miller. Treasurer, Envelope fund-Mr. Otis A. Tompson. Treasurer, Benevolent Fund-Mr. W. J. McCaw.
Trustees-
W. P. Chapman T. D. Miller R. D. Eaton E. S. Moore
S. A. Jones
Deacons- -
W. P. Chapman
Geo. W. Nagle
C. R. Johnson
W. J. McCaw
Chas. A. Burr
Geo. H. Graves
T. E. Wands Nelson F. Willey
Deaconesses- Mrs. Sallie A. McCaw Mrs. Maria E. Eaton
Prudential Committee-The pastor, Clerk, Deacons, Sunday School Supt. and F. J. Fairchild, R. C. Chapman, F. J. Tuttle.
The Bible School.
Superintendent-M. E. Gray. 1st. Ass't-E. S. Moore. 2nd. Ass't-F. J. Tuttle. Lady Ass't-Mrs. M. E. Gray.
Superintendent, Junior Dep't-Mrs. George Waters. Ass't Superntendent-Miss Latham Superintendent, Primary Dep't-Miss Willey. Ass't Superintendent-Miss Fettis.
Superintendent, Kindergarten-Miss Graves. Ass't Superintendent-Miss Stofer.
Pianist, Kindergarten-Miss Ruckteshler.
Superintendent, Home Dep't-Mrs. John Van Clef+ Treasurer-Miss Skillman
Secretary-Mrs. R. C. Chapman.
Librarian-F. J. Fairchild.
Pianist-Miss Yale.
Ass't Pianist-Miss Nash.
The King's Daughters.
The Loyal Workers' Circle- Leader-Mrs. L. B. Southworth. Ass't Leader-Mrs. John Van Cleft. Secretary-Mrs. P. R. Allen. Treasurer-Mrs. Bell. The Loving Kindness Circle- Leader-Miss Abby Beals. Vice Leader-Miss Orcilla Fettis. Secretary-Miss Belle Gucker. Treasurer-Miss Edna Nash.
The Womans' Missionary Society.
President-Mrs. R. A. Barber. Vice President, Home Branch-Mrs. Paul R. Allen. Vice President, Foreign Branch-Mrs. T. E. Wands. Secretary, Home Branch-Miss Sarah Chapman. Secretary, Foreign Branch-Mrs. R. C. Stofer. Treasurer, Home Branch-Mrs. G. W. Rice. Treasurer, Foreign Branch-Mrs. M. M. Blakeley.
The Woman's Working Association. President-Mrs. Charles H. Latham. Vice President-Mrs. James Chambers. Secretary-Mrs. Arthur Norton. Treasurer-Mrs. E. L. Nash.
The Scoville Brotherhood.
President-Otis A. Tompson. Vice President-Reed Turner. Secretary-Guy Stowell. Treasurer-Arthur Graves®
The Mens' Brotherhood.
President-Mr. J. B. Turner. Vice President --- Mr. J. F. Windolph. Secretary and Treasurer-Mr. Robert F. Hart.
Organist and Director of Music-Miss Mary E. Lewis.
Chairmen of Ushers, Morning-Mr. M. M. Blakeley. Evening-Mr. Leroy Duran.
Sexton-Henry K. Mandeville.
HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
MAY 97
Bound -To-Please®
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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