USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Centennial annals of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N.Y., 1817-1917 > Part 8
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G. A. R., the Browning Club, and the Men's Club and the Men's Bible Class of St. Luke's. The fol- lowing is the memorial in full adopted by the Roch- ester Ministerial Association :
The Rochester Ministerial Association would place on record the sorrow of its members in the death of their late associate, the Rev. Rob Roy Converse, D. D., Rector of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, and their affectionate appreciation of his worth.
His distinguished appearance was the true mark of a distinction of spirit which we all felt. The grace and charm of his manner, which made even casual acquaint- ances feel that he was their friend, was the unaffected expression of a heart always overflowing with kindness. A voice of unusual depth and sweetness added power to whatever he said. The extraordinary scope of his read- ing, grasped by a tenacious memory and reduced to order by a thoughtful mind, placed him, for breadth and excel- lence of culture in a class quite by himself among his brethren in the city pastorate. The affection and respect with which he was regarded, not only by the members of his congregation, but by a great host beside, and the deep and general mourning caused by his death, are the best testimony to the genuineness of his piety and to the worth of his service as a Christian minister.
To his bereaved family and congregation this asso- ciation begs to offer its heartfelt sympathy.
W. R. Taylor, W. A. R. Goodwin,
Committee.
The minute placed upon its records by the Vestry of St. Luke's may fitly close these tributes of affection and esteem :
It is eighteen years and more since Dr. Rob Roy Con- verse assumed the rectorship of St. Luke's parish. He
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came to us in the fullness of his manhood, his nature sweet with sympathy for all, his character formed by trials and victories won, his strong intelligence disciplined by pro- found study, his mind stored with learning, and his heart animated by a simple faith and a great love for his fellow men. On us he lavished his affections and ever sought by word and deed to reveal to our understanding the true ideals of life and to our hearts the message of his Master. He had at his command a rare gift of expression, a wealth of information and an understanding of human weakness that enabled him to reach the depths of those with whom he came in contact. As our rector he ministered unto us in our sorrows and perplexities with unfailing kindness and faithfulness. As a gentleman he was never wanting in courtesy and kindliness. As a scholar he won high recognition. And as a man he won our friendship and admiration. We mourn his loss and are sensible of the debt we owe him.
The Rev. Harry Idle, as Curate under Dr. Con- verse, had so commended himself by his zeal and efficiency to the Vestry and congregation that he was at once placed in temporary charge of the parish with an increased salary. He had awakened much interest among the younger members of the parish, had gathered a large men's Bible class which he personally conducted, and had attracted a clearly marked increase in the Sunday evening congrega- tion.
In casting about for a successor to Dr. Converse the Vestry's serious consideration early centered in the Rev. Samuel Tyler of the Church of the Ad- vent, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati. Two of the clergy who had previously served St. Luke's and were acquainted with its needs, united in strongly rec-
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ommending his election. In spite of their misgiv- ings as to whether he would leave his well equipped and prosperous parish, an invitation was extended and he visited Rochester, thoroughly investigated the conditions, met many of the people, and preached February 13th. Before he left the city he was made to realize how earnestly the people wanted him and longed for his acceptance of the call.
When the news that Mr. Tyler had been called to Rochester reached Cincinnati, immediate pres- sure was brought to bear upon him not to leave that city in which he had made such an enviable four- teen-year record. Not only did the pressure come from within the parish he had served so faithfully, but from the clergy of all names and members of the Social Workers' Club, of which he was the president. Not only had he broadened out the sphere of influence of the Church of which he was the Rector, but he had borne a leading part in phil- anthropic and social endeavor in the city and dio- cese. He had been president of the local Evan- gelical Alliance and of its successor, The Federa- tion of Churches. As one of the denominational clergy phrased the general feeling, " It would be a calamity to lose a clergyman whose work is con- ducted always on such broad social lines."
That St. Luke's Church was a downtown church, however, did not discourage him. He felt it could be made the centre of a most important work, and he relied upon the assurances which he received on every hand that the Church would loy-
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ally stand by him in the work he outlined and to which he would devote himself. So he accepted the call, March 19th, to enter on his duties June 1st.
The following letter addressed to the Vestry of St. Luke's under date June 2, 1916, was received, signed by all the members of the Vestry of the Church of the Advent, Cincinnati :
GENTLEMEN :
We, the members of the Vestry of the Church of the Advent, Cincinnati, Ohio, wish to extend our congratula- tions to the Vestry of St Luke's Church upon your good fortune in securing the Rev. Samuel Tyler for your Rector.
As a tribute to Mr. Tyler's self-sacrificing service our wish is that his success in this new field will be as great as in the parish of the Church of Advent.
Assuring you that the loss of the Church of the Advent is the gain of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, we are,
Sincerely yours,
The Vestry at once proceeded to put the rectory in perfect order at an expense of $985.12 for the occupancy of the Rector and his family, who arrived in the city at the end of May.
In his first sermon as Rector, June 4, 1916, Mr. Tyler stressed the mission of the Church first to the individual, then to society, and in summing up he said :
Believing as I do in the community-wide interest of the Christian church, an individual church situated in the midst of a community as is St. Luke's, makes an especial appeal to me. A downtown church, so called, has peculiar difficulties-there can be no doubt about that-but we are bound to believe that when in such a position as St. Luke's, it has also peculiar advantages-the advantage, for in-
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stance, of being able to witness for this wide-reaching, inclusive religion of which we have been speaking, in the very citadel of the city's life, in the very heart of the varied interests and activities of men.
In regard to the other branches of the Church in this community and my relation to them, I shall hope to make this relation one of sympathy and active co-operation in the common work of the Master in Rochester. One of the great evils in the present religious situation, as I see it, is the waste and weakness resulting from the hopelessly divided condition of the Christian church, and any help which I can give to overcoming this waste and weakness I shall give most gladly.
An informal reception to the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler was tendered, June 22d, in the parish house, at which the Vestry and the Rev. Harry Idle, who had most acceptably served the parish in the in- terim, introduced the guests, and the cordiality of the welcome to the new Rector and his wife left nothing to be desired.
In August the Vestry directed that the choir be brought down from the organ loft, be vested and located on the north side of the chancel. The change, which went into effect October 1st, largely increased interest in the choir itself and added life and excellence to the musical part of the services. Meanwhile during the Summer the organ had been rebuilt at a stipulated price of $3,300.
In October the Vestry took steps to arrange for an " Every Member Canvass " of the congregation, and January 4th unanimously passed a resolution " That beginning with Feb. 1, 1917, the pews in St. Luke's Church shall be free and an effort be
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made to get the pew-owners to surrender their title of ownership."
When Rev. Mr. Tyler accepted the call, it was understood with the Vestry that the pews would be made free as soon as practicable. The occasion of the " Every Member Canvass," conducted on Sun- day, January 14th, seemed a propitious time to present the matter of the change from rented pews to the congregation. Accordingly the canvass was made and the voluntary subscriptions of the parish- ioners asked on the basis of the new system. The results were most gratifying. The people loyally supported the new policy of the Rector and Vestry, even though in some cases it meant the giving up of the associations of a lifetime, and a budget 50% in advance of the budget of the preceding year was pledged. The itemized results as reported were for Parish Expenses, $10,575; for Missions and Benev- olences, $1,400. The financial system of the Church was practically reorganized. The use of the duplex envelope system was extended, and the weekly offer- ing for some special object was done away with- all special Sunday offerings (excepting Easter) being cared for through the envelope system.
To make practical his plans for Social Service, the Rector, with the concurrence of the Vestry, asked four men to serve as a Social Service Com- mittee, whose duty it should be to make a careful study of the social responsibility of the Church as it is presented to St. Luke's parish, and to advise with the Rector as to a Social Service Programme
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for the parish. C. Schuyler Davis was appointed chairman of the committee, the other members be- ing P. Howard Converse, Beekman C. Little and 'Frederick T. Pierson. In connection with develop- ing the social work of the parish, an important event of the year was the formation of a com- mittee of some 17 members of the parish, both men and women, under the name of the Committee on Family Rehabilitation. Through the kindness of the Social Service Department of the Third Presby- terian Church, Mr. Henry T. Noyes, who had had large experience in connection with similar work in the Third Church, presided over the work of the committee. He was aided by Miss Elsie V. Jones, the Social Service Secretary of the Third Church. A careful study was made of several families in need of assistance of various kinds, and through " friendly visitors," taken from the membership of the committee, the needed aid was, as far as possible, given. Such social work as that represented by the Committee on Family Rehabilitation is funda- mental in character, and the formation of this com- mittee was designed to be the beginning of regular work conducted by St. Luke's along this line.
Another new departure was the employment of a Parish Secretary (who should be the Rector's stenographer), and the establishment of an office in the parish house, in which will center many of the details of parish administration, especially in con- nection with the parish records. Miss Mary E. Rogers, who had grown up in the parish, was ap-
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pointed the first Secretary and is doing efficient work.
It had been planned by the Vestry to ask the Easter offerings for re-decorating the Church and parish house in anticipation of the Centennial Cele- bration, but at the urgent suggestion of the Rec- tor, those offerings were devoted to the War Suf- ferers in foreign lands, and the people generously responded with $1,178.52.
A contract was later made for the proposed re- decoration to cost $982.
On July 1st, denominated by President Wilson as Patriotic Sunday, a very handsome silk flag of the United States, with a bronze standard, was ded- icated for use in the Church in memory of the last Rector. It was the gift of Mrs. Converse.
That a Centennial Celebration of the Incorpo- ration of St. Luke's Church should be duly observed was determined by the Vestry in November, 1916, and a committee was appointed to make preliminary arrangements. Further action was taken later, the Rev. Dr. Anstice was requested to prepare a cen- tennial history of the parish, and the Rector author- ized to designate special committees. It was decided, however, to begin the actual Celebration on St. Luke's Day, as a date more convenient, for the members of the parish and all interested, than in midsummer, but to have these "Centennial Annals " go to press in advance of that date, the little book completing the history of the centen- nium to July 14, 1917.
Aftermord and Outlook
St. Luke's has had an highly honorable past and its record is now history. During the first half of ยท its century, its ministers had, one and all, upheld the "Evangelic Truth and Apostolic Order," and in their faithful ministries been blessed by ample fruitage from the good seed sown. They in their generation, by the standard and the methods of those times, wrought well and wisely in the edifi- cation of the Church.
With the dawning of the second half of the centennium we celebrate, there was a marked tran- sition from the old order to a new. With the radical renovation of the old-time structure came enlarged conceptions of Christian privilege and duty and renewed spiritual life. New forces were at work. Within the first three years, two hundred and six of the people came forward to receive the Rite of Confirmation. There was a disposition to be organ- ized for Christian work of divers kinds and willing- ness to be taught how to do it and be led. The spirit of co-operation was developed and activities on many lines were multiplied. The Sunday School took on new life and interest, with a growing attendance of the children and young people. Lent was indeed a time of spiritual refreshing to the large numbers who delighted in frequent and hearty services. The missionary spirit, in its sympathies
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and contributions, found fuller expression in the city field and to the farthest outreach of the mis- sionary horizon. And much of all this blessed im- petus gained in the former years of this latter semi- centennium, has left its impress on the work and spirit of the parish.
In entering on the second century of its exist- ence, under conditions differing from those obtain- ing at an earlier day, a distinct mission opens up before it with wide usefulness in sight, as with new methods and a new leader well equipped with high ideals and ripe experience, bent on achieving here in this community some larger realization of the Church's mission to the world in the social uplift of humanity, this venerable parish, with its charac- teristic loyalty and responsiveness to leadership, will make itself a mighty power for good. God grant it for the sake of Him who taught His Church to follow His example and His precept as He said " The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
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Bingraphiral Natires
OF THE
Bertura
FRANCIS HIGGINS CUMING
First Rector of St. Luke's, was born in New Haven, Conn., Oct. 28, 1799; pursued his preparatory and theological studies under the Rev. Dr. John C. Rudd, at Elizabeth, N. J .; was ordained Deacon by Bishop Croes, in St. John's, Elizabeth, in 1819, and advanced to the Priesthood by Bishop Hobart in St. Luke's, Rochester, in February, 1821. His earlier ministry was exercised at Binghamton, N, Y., whence he removed to Rochester, Dec. 1, 1820, re- maining here eight years and four months, until April 1, 1829. He was then successively Rector of Christ Church, Reading, and St. Mark's, Le Roy, being one year in each place. Removing to New York, he became Secretary, Agent and Editor of the General Protestant-Episcopal Sunday School Union, which he resigned in 1836 to assume the Rectorship of the newly-organized Calvary Church in that city. His degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred by Columbia College. He became Rector of St. Andrew's, Ann Arbor, in October, 1839, and after a four years' ministry accepted charge of St. Mark's Church, Grand Rapids, where he labored
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for eighteen years, resigning Sept. 13, 1861. Before resigning his charge, however, he became Chaplain of the 3rd Reg. Mich. Infantry, May 13, 1861 ; which duty he discharged until March 19, 1862, when, broken in health, he returned to his family and died Aug. 26, 1862.
HENRY JOHN WHITEHOUSE
Was born in New York City, Aug. 19, 1803, grad- uated from Columbia College in 1821, and from the General Theological Seminary in 1824; was or- dained Deacon by Bishop John Croes, of New Jersey, in 1824, and Priest by Bishop William White, of Pennsylvania, in 1827. For two years thereafter, he was Rector of Christ Church, Read- ing, Pa., from which place he came to Rochester, Dec. 6, 1829. At the commencement of Geneva College in 1834, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. His highly prosperous Rector- ship in St. Luke's, of fourteen years and five months, was terminated May 5, 1844, when he as- sumed the charge of St. Thomas' Church, New York, which position he retained until elected As- sistant Bishop of Illinois, to which high office he was consecrated in St. George's Church, Nov. 20, 1851, (a solemnity witnessed by the lad who as his successor in St. Luke's is the present Rector). On the death of Bishop Chase he became Diocesan of
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Illinois, Sept. 20, 1852. He attended the Lambeth Conference in 1867, and was highly honored as the preacher at its opening service. The University of Oxford bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and the University of Cambridge that of Doctor of Laws. His death occurred on the 10th of August, 1874.
THOMAS CLAPP PITKIN
Was born at Farmington, Conn., in 1816; gradu- ated at Yale College in 1836, and from the General Theological Seminary in 1839; was ordained Dea- con in the same year by Bishop Brownell, and Priest, in 1840, by Bishop Kemper. His first clerical duty was as a Missionary in Lawrenceburgh, Ind. After one year's service, he accepted the Rectorship of Christ Church, Louisville, Ky., where he resided three years, until he removed to Rochester, in July, 1844. On his resignation of St. Luke's, in July, 1847, he became associated with the Rev. Dr. Cros- well, in the Rectorship of Trinity Church, New Haven, Conn. Upon the election of the Rev. Dr. H. Potter to the Bishopric of New York, in No- vember, 1854, Dr. Pitkin succeeded him as Rector of St. Peter's, Albany, which position he held about eight years. He was made Doctor of Divinity by Hamilton College, and later received the same de- gree from Trinity College, Hartford. Returning home in 1862, from a journey in the East, he en-
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tered upon temporary duty in St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, which finally grew into a permanent rela- tion lasting five or six years. His next position was that of Rector of St. Paul's, Detroit, which church he held between nine and ten years. Since that time he has resided in Detroit, doing clerical duty con- stantly, but having no parochial charge, until his death in that city, May 11, 1887.
HENRY WASHINGTON LEE
Was born in Hampden, Conn., July 29, 1815. His boyhood was passed in Springfield, Mass., where his father, Col. Roswell Lee, was superintendent of the U. S. Armory. His later education was acquired at the Westfield Academy, and at the age of eighteen he taught school in New Bedford. After ordination by Bishop Griswold, in 1838, he became. Rector of Christ Church, Springfield, which he resigned to accept St. Luke's, Rochester, where he remained seven years from January, 1848, to January, 1855. His election and consecration as Bishop of Iowa took place before he resigned his labors in Roches- ter, for he was consecrated Bishop among his lov- ing parishioners on the 18th of October, 1854. In his new field, he laid foundations deep and broad and the prosperity of Iowa is largely due to his wise provisions for the future. Griswold College, which he founded in 1860, the Episcopal endow-
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ment and residence, the beautiful Grace Cathedral, are lasting monuments to the wisdom, self-sacrifice and zeal of Iowa's first Bishop. He was a member of the Lambeth Conference and received the degree of LL. D. from Cambridge University. His epis- copate of twenty years ended by his decease in Davenport, Sept. 26, 1874.
BENJAMIN WATSON
Was born in Philadelphia, October 14, 1817; grad- uated from Trinity College, Hartford, in 1838, and from the General Theological Seminary in 1841; was ordained Deacon in June of the same year by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, and Priest in February, 1842, in Grace Church in the same city, of which latter Church he had temporary charge during six months of his earlier ministry. He was married January 26, 1842. His first Rectorship was that of Zion Church, New- port, R. I., dating from June, 1842; which parish he resigned to accept a call to St. Luke's, Rochester, and entered upon the duties of his new position April 20, 1855. After a Rectorship of four years and three months, ending August 7, 1859, he ac- cepted a call to the Church of the Atonement, Phil- adelphia, which Rectorship he resigned in February, 1892, was elected Rector Emeritus and continued for ten months in charge of the services. He re-
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ceived the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Chicago, in 1863, became a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese in 1870, from 1890 was its President, and for many years was Dean of the North-West Convocation. He was one of the original Board of Overseers of the Philadelphia Divinity School, and the next to the last surviving member of that board. His lamented death occurred August 9, 1899.
ROBERT BETHELL CLAXTON
Was born in Philadelphia, November 6, 1814. At the age of thirteen, his father, who had been a pros- perous merchant, having suffered reverses, Robert entered the publishing house of Eliakim Little, in which establishment, and later, in another book- store, he spent six years. He was confirmed in St. Paul's Church under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Tyng in 1833, and resolved to devote himself at once to sacred studies. He entered the Sophomore class in Yale College, August, 1835, having supported him- self meanwhile by assisting Rev. Dr. P. Van Pelt, then Secretary of the Dom. and For. Miss. Soc., and graduated in 1838. In May of the same year, he had been admitted a Candidate for Orders in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and in September entered the middle class of the Alexandria Semin- ary, from which he graduated in 1840; was ordained
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Deacon, July 19th, by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk, and Priest in the subsequent December. He ac- cepted duty in St. Stephen's Church, Wilkesbarre, Pa., September 4, 1840; which position he resigned in 1846, in view of his wife's ill-health, and removed to Westchester, Pa., and later to Madison, Indiana, where he gathered a considerable congregation and erected a Church edifice. His honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, was received from the Univer- sity of Indiana. In December, 1852, he was elected Rector of St. Paul's, Cleveland, Ohio, and min- istered in that Church from May, 1853, to May, 1859. He became Rector of St. Luke's, December 1, 1859, and after an incumbency of five years and ten months, removed to his native city in October, 1865, to discharge the duties of Professor of Homi- letics and Pastoral Care in the Philadelphia Divinity School. In the Fall of 1873, he resigned his profes- sorial chair and accepted the Rectorship of St. Andrew's Church, West Philadelphia, which posi- tion he filled with marked success until his death, May 24, 1882.
HENRY ANSTICE
Was born in New York City, October 7, 1841, and baptised by the Rev. James Milnor, D. D., in old St. George's Church, in Beekman Street; was con- firmed in St. John's Church, Yonkers, July 11, 1858; entered Williams' College, Mass., August 2,
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1859, and graduated August 6, 1862; became a candidate for Orders in the Diocese of New York October 30, and after a year's study at Andover Theological Seminary, pending the more complete organization of the Philadelphia Divinity School, entered the latter institution September 17, 1863, and after having served a term "at the front " in the service of the Christian Commission and acted as Chaplain of Camp William Penn at Chelten Hills on Sundays during the Winter of 1864-5, graduated therefrom June 22, 1865; was ordained Deacon in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, New York City, July 2, and Priest in St. Paul's Church, Flat- bush, November 21, of the same year, by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter; assumed temporary charge of St. Barnabas' Church, Irvington-on-Hudson, September 10, 1865; received a call to the Church of the Advent, San Francisco, in March, 1866, which he declined, to accept the Rectorship of St. Luke's, Rochester, and entered upon the duties of that position May 13, 1866; was married on the 30th of the same month, in St. Barnabas' Church, Irvington, by the Bishop of New York; on the 30th of June, 1875, received the honorary degree of Doc- tor of Divinity from the University of Rochester ; was Financial and Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Board of Western New York, 1870-79; Dean of Rochester, 1882-85 and 1889-95; Secre- tary of the Missionary Council from its first organ- ization in Philadelphia to its discontinuance by the General Convention in 1904. In the Spring of 1897
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