USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Centennial annals of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N.Y., 1817-1917 > Part 5
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As a contribution to the Semi-Centennial Cele- bration of Rochester as a city, Mayor Parsons re- quested the clergy to preach appropriate sermons June 8, 1884. The Rector of St. Luke's responded with a sketch of the religious growth of the city from 15 church organizations in 1834 to 70 at the present time, from the text, " Except the Lord keep, the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
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The noonday Lenten Services were inaugurated this year with special reference to the convenience of business men and others, various speakers being provided, which noonday service as an institution has, with some exceptions, been since maintained.
The bronze memorial tablet commemorative of Col. Nathaniel Rochester, one of the founders of this city, and the first Warden of St. Luke's, which now adorns the rear wall south of the chancel, was erected by John H. Rochester and other members of the family, permission therefor having been granted by the Vestry, Oct. 1, 1884.
An ordination of exceptional interest was that of Edward P. Hart to the Diaconate by Bishop Coxe, Dec. 27, 1884. He was emphatically a son of St. Luke's, and became at once on ordination its assistant minister, a position which he retained until June, 1888, when his Rectorship of St. Mark's de- manded all his time and energy. As a lay-reader he had been appointed, June 1, 1884, to the care of St. Mark's Mission, which had had a precarious existence for some years, since services were first held in the neighborhood by the Rev. Albert Wood, and which was now located in a room on Channing St. and Concord Ave. The first essential to its permanent establishment and growth was a suitable Church building, and this the Dean of Rochester determined it should have forthwith. The people of St. Luke's responded generously and so did friends in other parishes, and as prompt action was desirable on the eve of Winter, the Dean and the
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Missionary, in the former's buggy, started Nov. 14, 1884, to find a lot. That on the corner of Channing and Hollister Streets was selected, the owner sought and found, a contract for the purchase drawn up by Dr. Anstice on the spot and executed by the owner and himself as a check passed, and in the afternoon of the same day a gang of men were dig- ging out a cellar for the structure which had been previously planned. The new Church, 34 x 64, with a recess chancel and vestry room, was occupied for services within two months, and by Aug. 15, was completely paid for, and the property deeded to the Diocesan Trustees, and on Dec. 16, 1885, was consecrated by Bishop Coxe. Its total cost was $5,437.41, of which $3,778.58 was given by St. Luke's Church and Sunday School, Mr. M. F. Rey- nolds contributing $2,000. St. Mark's was built for Mr. Hart by those who knew and loved him, and his whole ministry was exercised therein with utmost faithfulness till he was called to rest from his labors, May 16, 1917.
Some former parishioners of St. Luke's and others, living in Scottsville, being desirous of form- ing a Church organization, the Rev. Dr. Anstice, as Dean of Rochester, presided at an enthusiastic meeting in St. Joseph's Hall, Jan. 12, 1885, at which Grace Church was incorporated under most encour- aging auspices, and on the following June 25, he laid the corner-stone of what was to be an attract - ive stone edifice for this young and vigorous parish.
The two lots on Exchange St. in the rear of
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the rectory, which had been purchased by the Vestry in the first year of Dr. Anstice's Rectorship, for $2,400, were authorized, Aug. 8, 1885, to be sold, and on Dec. 17 the Rector reported that a sale had been effected to A. G. Yates for $7,500, and the purchase money applied to discharge the encum- brances on the rectory property, which had thus been reduced to $500, which balance was liquidated in the following Spring, so that there was at this time no encumbrance of any kind upon any of the Church property, the original debt on the Church edifice, contracted to extinguish the leasehold rights of pewholders and other purposes having been ex- tinguished in 1874.
A fifteen-day Mission was arranged for, to be- gin on the second Sunday in Lent, 1886. It was to be on Churchly lines, the city clergy generally were sympathetic toward it, and the Bishop, in per- sonal attendance at one of the meetings, attested in touching words his approval. The preparatory work, so indispensable to the success of any " Mission," was thoroughly organized and extended over many weeks, during which constant prayers were offered, and more than 18,000 invitations and leaflets were distributed by willing helpers, from house to house in the Third and Eighth wards. An atmosphere of expectancy of rich spiritual blessing pervaded the entire parish. The Missioner was an experienced one, the Rev. F. H. Du Vernet of Ontario, who is now Archbishop of the Province of British Co-
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lumbia, whose fervency, ability and methods left large and lasting spiritual results.
In response to the desire of Church people in Charlotte for services and a Church building, the Rector of St. Luke's, June 11, 1886, purchased the old Rink on the corner of Broadway and Stutson St., for $262.50, and secured an option to purchase the land on which it stood, for $1,500. The build- ing was immediately fitted up for services, which were held Sunday afternoons from Trinity Sunday, the city clergy and others officiating. He also broke ground for a new edifice, Oct. 18, 1891, the old building having been removed to the south side of the lot, and on Feb. 28, 1892, as Dean of Rochester, he formally opened the new building, which had been named St. George's, in connection with a meeting of Convocation. The new Church cost $2,540, of which the Charlotte people contributed $972.15, and $1,000 of the balance was raised by the personal efforts of Mr. William J. Ashley, who, with the Dean and Missionary, constituted the Building Committee.
Our neighbor, Mr. Yates, having inadvertently extended the cornice of a new bay-window over the rectory line, approached the Rector with a view to purchasing one foot of land along the line of division. When $200 was named as a proper price, the intending purchaser asked the Rector if he thought land on Fitzhugh St. was worth as much as that by the front foot. He promptly answered, " No, but this is a retail transaction, coal by the
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single ton brings more than by the carload." Our neighbor got the land, and the Vestry put the $200 into the Special Church Fund.
The condition of the Church edifice in the Spring of 1887 demanded the attention of the Vestry, and at a meeting held June 16, it was resolved " that a new Church be built in place of the present build- ing." It was also proposed to purchase the adjoin- ing warehouse " to meet the increasing demand for church accommodations." The committee to negoti- ate with the owner, however, reported that "the price he demanded far exceeded the limit which the Vestry entertained of its value." It was finally decided to raise sufficient funds to put the building in complete repair and to install electric lights, and in December the Rector reported for the committee in charge "that $4,725.14 had been deposited to the credit of the Special Church Fund, and that after all bills for repairs to the Church and rectory had been paid, there would remain a surplus of $1,035.48, to be drawn upon for future repairs."
The working force of the Church was augment- ed in January, 1887, by the coming of Miss Frances F. Kellogg, a former resident of Rochester, who had been engaged for some years past in Church work in and near New York. Her services proving acceptable and efficient, she was admitted to the sacred Order of Deaconesses by Bishop Coxe, May 26, 1888, being the first to be "ordered " in this city.
In the formation and work of the Rochester
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Branch of the Evangelical Alliance, which was or- ganized Jan. 2, 1888, a leading part devolved upon the Rector of St. Luke's. He was chairman of the committee on organization and drafted the Consti- tution and By-Laws. Upon his election as Secre- tary of the Alliance, he arranged the detailed plans and prepared the blanks for the religious house to house visitation of the city, which was successfully prosecuted in February, 1888, and also received and tabulated the returns for publication. From these it appeared that 22,447 families and 7,373 in- dividuals not thus included had been visited, and their religious preferences were indicated upon cards and the total recorded in the minute book of the Alliance, and the names classified and handed over to the clergy of the respective religious bodies for identification and " following up." This record book of the proceedings of the Alliance, which con- tains also its Constitution, By-Laws and the signa- tures of all the clergy and lay members of that period, is preserved in the archives of the Rochester Historical Society. Men and women of St. Luke's took an active part in the work as supervisors or visitors, and meetings of the executive committee were usually held in the Guild Room of St. Luke's.
The Rev. James A. Skinner, who had been act- ing as lay-reader for the last five months, was or- dered Deacon by Bishop Coxe in St. Luke's, Oct. 22, 1888, and ordained priest, Sept. 21, 1889, con- tinuing in the parish as assistant minister until May 15, 1890.
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It had been the custom of the Rector since the establishment of the Guild to secure a preacher of note for the annual public Advent service, and in December of this year the scholarly and eloquent Bishop F. D. Huntington, D. D., of Central New York, honored the parish by his presence as the preacher of the Guild sermon.
Offerings at evening service had not been cus- tomary in St. Luke's, but the Vestry in February, 1889, directed an offertory to be instituted at the evening services, the proceeds to be credited to the Special Church Fund.
The Centennial of the Inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States was observed in accordance with the recom- mendation of the Bishop by a joint-service of all the city parishes at noon in St. Luke's. The Church was handsomely decorated with flowers and flags, Buck's Festival Te Deum was sung, all the city clergy were present and the Rector of St. Luke's delivered a patriotic address.
The Vestry, March 24, 1890, took the following action :
This vestry at their first meeting after the lamented death of the late Joseph A. Eastman places on record their high appreciation of his services to the church and the sense of loss which through his demise they have sus- tained. Mr. Eastman had been identified with St. Luke's Church from the time of taking up his residence in this city in 1835 and always manifested the deepest interest in whatever concerned its welfare. He served as vestryman at different periods for eighteen years until increasing
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infirmities led him to decline re-election, and acted as clerk most efficiently from 1857 to 1861 and from 1879 to 1886. He was a constant attendant upon the services of the church and at the time of his death, at the age of 84 years, was the oldest male communicant. He was ever loyal to the church and to its rector and his genial presence and helpful influence will long be missed in the congregation.
OUR CHURCH WORK was revived in February, 1890. Its valedictory was uttered in December, 1879, when, yielding to the wishes of those who desired that its prestige might contribute to the success of the proposed weekly Diocesan organ, it gracefully submitted to a merging of its identity with The Orbit. But now The Kalendar, The Church Kalen- dar and its successor, The Gospel Messenger, having ceased to exist, it gladdened its old friends by its re- appearance, the Bishop giving his cordial approval. In November, 1893, however, the Rochester editors, so long identified with it, devolved their responsi- bility upon two of the Buffalo brethren with the heartiest good-will " and in the hope that the clergy and laity of the See City will hold the Diocesan Paper in higher appreciation, now that it is pub- lished in their own midst." The Bishop accompa- nied the announcement of the transfer with the signed statement :
The Bishop's earnest thanks are due to the Reverend Drs. Anstice and Doty, whose efforts in sustaining the paper heretofore have been far more laborious and re- sponsible than is generally understood. Unpretending in form and aiming only at practical utility, OUR CHURCH WORK has kept the Deaneries linked together, in inter- course one with another, promoting common endeavors
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and tending to a realization of our conjoint duties and privileges in a fellowship of Faith.
The handsome brass lecturn which adorns the chancel was first used on Easter Day, 1890. It is a memorial of Vincent Matthews, a pioneer of Rochester in 1821 and for 15 years, prior to his death in 1846, a Vestryman or Warden of this Church. It was the gift of his four grandchildren, of whom the Rochester representative is Mrs. Ar- thur Robinson. On this Easter Day there were 195 communicants at the early Celebration and 335 at the second, and at the Choral Evening Service of the Sunday School there were 1,200 adults and chil- dren in the Church.
An earnest effort had been made by Rev. Arthur Sloan, then Rector of St. John's, to carry on some missionary work in North-East Rochester. The Rector of St. Luke's, on his resumption of the office of Dean of the Convocation in 1889, deemed this field worthy of immediate attention, and by general consent assumed direction of the enterprise. He organized the Mission Sept. 23, 1890, securing on the spot an adequate subscription for support of services. The funds for the erection of a chapel 30 x 50, with chancel and vestry room addition, upon the lot selected on the corner of Garson and Webster Aves., were to be solicited from Church people generally on an appeal signed by the Bishop and the Dean. The chapel was completed and for- mally opened Dec. 14, 1890, one-half the cost of
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which had been contributed by members of St. Luke's.
As a means of further enlisting the co-operation of the young people of the parish " in mutual help- fulness in personal religion and organized effort in the service of God," the Rector in the Winter of 1890 organized an eleventh chapter of the Guild to be known as " The Sons and Daughters of the King." The weekly meetings were to be of a re- ligious character and seven committees were to do and direct the practical work. Occasional social gatherings were to be arranged for on other evenings.
The Vestry, April 27, 1891, resolved "that a reception be held and some token presented by the parish to Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Anstice, in commem- oration of the 25th anniversary of his Rectorship and the 25th anniversary of their marriage, and that Mr. Brackett and five Vestrymen to be named by him be constituted a committee to make arrange- ments for carrying out the purposes of the fore- going resolution." How well the plans were exe- cuted may be best told from current newspaper reports :
A memorable event in the Church history of Rochester was the completion of twenty-five years of labor in St. Luke's Church by the Rev. Dr. Anstice, and the deep interest felt in the event by his own loving and loyal parishioners has been shared by the clergy and people of other parishes and his legion friends in the community at large.
On Sunday, from a pulpit tastefully adorned with flowers and plants, he preached his anniversary sermon
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from the text, "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee,"-which sermon having been reported fully or in part in all our daily papers, here only calls for the remark that the succinct sketch of the parish history and the development of the parochial activities was heard with deepest interest, while his allusions to his per- sonal relations to his people touched many a heart-chord, moistened many an eye, and doubtless will cement and deepen ties which had been close before.
The festivities on Wednesday began with a celebra- tion by the junior members of the Sunday-school in the guild building.
In the evening the elegant apartments known as Powers Hall and Art Galleries were well filled by some 550 of the parishioners and some invited guests from among the clerical friends of the rector, representing other religious bodies, beside Bishop Coxe and all his city clergy. It was a brilliant assemblage in beautiful surrounding and brimming over with good will.
The Rev. Dr. Anstice and his wife received the guests in the front of a tastefully-arranged platform, flanked by two immense cloisonné vases and underneath a canopy edged with four large silver bells. At half-past eight the music ceased and the rector and his wife being seated on the platform, Col. James Brackett called the assembly to order and introduced Hon. Alfred Ely, who stepped for- ward and addressed Dr. Anstice substantially as follows :
"I rise to perform one of the most pleasing duties of my life. The most important epochs in the careers of men often pass unmarked. That this may not be the case in the present instance this large assemblage of your friends has gathered to bear witness. Twenty-five years ago you were called to the rectorship of this church. Your predecessors were men of piety and learning, whose words were music in our ears, whose memories are cherished among us. You succeeded to the pulpit which they adorned and have filled it with equal distinction. Your
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pastorate of this church has been marked by active work and remarkable progress. Your care over every interest of the church has never slackened. By pastoral admonition your parishioners have been led to constant effort in the widening field of religious endeavor. Missions have been established and carefully nurtured by you. Since you have been here the elders one by one have passed away. The young take their places. The flock remains undiminished, for the church has steadily increased in numbers and influ- ence. All the secular offices of this parish have had your constant oversight. You deserve high praise, and on behalf of your church I present you with these testimonials of our esteem. When these bags of coin are scattered o'er the earth may they continue to bless him who gives and him that takes."
During the closing sentences of this portion of the address eight bags, each filled with 100 silver dollars, made their appearance on a table from an adjoining room. The unique form of the gift caused much amusement. At the same time a silver tea-set was brought forward and, in presenting this, Mr. Ely said :
" In acknowledgment of what is justly due to the be- loved lady who has been your helpmeet I have another duty to perform. Before you came here you were wise enough to select a companion, to whom is due in large measure your success at St. Luke's. The church, in acknowledgment of the worth of Mrs. Anstice, desires to present an inadequate testimonial of our affection for her."
Dr. Anstice replied brieny, speaking for himself and wife. He said in substance :
"My dear parishioners and friends, I feel somewhat dazed in the face of this presentation in respect both of the manner and the substance of it. What a splendid suc- cess my friend Mr. Ely would have made had he turned his talents into the field of fiction. I cannot recognize myself in the picture he has painted, and, if I did, I should be wise at once to do as did the party mentioned by St.
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James, who, having beheld himself in the glass, straight- way forgot what manner of man he was. I heartily reciprocate the love which has prompted all the kind words and thoughtful acts which you have done and spoken. These challenge greater effort on my part to labor for your good. This gathering is unique and in execution of a happy thought. Never before have all the people of St. Luke's met so delightfully upon a common social platform ; I trust it may be the beginning of truer social union. We have always been free from bickerings and strife, and have enjoyed the blessings of perfect harmony and peace. I realize to-night what it is to be in the hands of one's friends, and it is a very pleasant experience. I thank you for your presence here and for your handsome gifts, both for myself and also for my helpmeet, who adorns and beautifies my life."
Bishop Coxe was the next speaker, and he said in substance :
"For many years Dr. Anstice has been the dean of the convocation of Rochester, and in this position has been to me a valued assistant. In the administration and organ- ization of churches my reverend friend has always been most active. In all the work of Church extension in Roch- ester he has been distinguished. The growth of the Church in this city has been remarkable, a constant growth, largely to be attributed to the devotion, the self-sacrifice of my reverend brother. To him a large portion of the credit is due. Twenty-five years in the patient prosecution of any life work is a thing to be regarded with emotion. And if it has been crowned with success he may be sure that his people have been devoted to him. Where the pastor and people work together I always see prosperity. As your rector has said, this is a unique occasion. It is a glorious occasion. I wish your rector and his wife many years of continued usefulness to this parisli, and many years of happiness to you."
The Rev. Dr. W. D. Doty next presented a congratula-
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tory minute in behalf of the Deanery of Rochester "to voice the feeling of the Deanery in reference to an event as important as it is rare, and to the unflagging zeal and energy of our reverend brother and the excellent organ- izing ability which has been conspicuous in our missionary operations."
The Rev. Dr. Nelson Millard, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, made the last address, speaking for the clergy and community in general :
"Having been invited by the wardens and vestrymen of St. Luke's Church to bring their honored rector to-night such greetings as I think the clergy of Rochester in pro- portion as they know him, and our citizens generally, in proportion as they are acquainted with him, would bring, I feel that I do not misrepresent their sentiments, when I speak of him as a man, manly, frank, open-hearted, too generous by nature to use any methods unworthy or mean, with a natural and easy self respect that is far better than any stiff and labored dignity; as an unmistakable leader without being a pope, energetic and forceful without assumption or imperiousness, of plenary influence without being dictatorial, as a friend to be relied on and standing straightest when leaned upon heaviest; as a preacher able, clear, instructive, knowing how to marry perspicuous thought to lucid language and enshrine golden wisdom in fitting words; as a pastor devoted, untiring, affectionate, with unlimited friendship for but no fear of his people, affable without obsequiousness, independent without arro- gance; and withal a marvel of executive facility and rapidity of accomplishment; as a thorough-going Church- man without being a bigot, too broad not to be in sym- pathetic touch with all Christians of every name, too catholic to have his interest cribbed, cabined, and confined within any one ecclesiastical pale; loving his own Church much, but Christ's great cause in the world more. Some such words I think the clergy of our city and its inhabi- tants generally would have me speak of Dr. Anstice at
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the end of these twenty-five years. And what years they have been! Nearly four times seven of them, and none of them Pharoah's lean kine, but all fat and well favored in their abundant results. This record of fruitful and faithful service is one of which any minister might be proud, and over which I doubt not the Master has pro- nounced His divine and priceless 'well done'."
At the close of the address, an elegant supper was served from an immense round table decorated in pink tints and with a mound of magnificent hydrangeas sur- rounded by roses, thus closing a memorable and unique commemoration.
During the Summer of 1891, repairs were effect- ed, amounting to $2,212.16, the whole of which ex- pense was defrayed by the balance on hand in the Church Repair Fund, a church collection and a few personal subscriptions.
In May, 1892, the Vestry placed this tribute on their records :
In the lamented death of the Hon. Alfred Ely, May 18, 1892, this church has sustained a serious loss. Identi- fied with the congregation at an early period, he was con- firmed and became a communicant in 1839, and at the time of his death his name stood first among the male communicants upon the parish register. He served as a member of the vestry from 1854 to 1859, and from 1883 to the present, and was clerk of the corporation from 1884 until a few years since. He also repeatedly represented the church in the Diocesan Council and took a very active interest in its debates and proceedings. Mr. Ely's devotion to the church was constant and hearty. He was a thought- ful worshiper and an appreciative listener. He was ever loyal to the church and its minister, and painstakingly and cheerfully discharged whatever duty was assigned to him to do. His fidelity and zeal in the promotion of the church's interests, his generous consideration of others, and
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