USA > New York > Columbia County > Hudson > Centennial of Christ Church, Hudson, New York : 1802-1902 > Part 2
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Rev. Messrs. Stebbins, Andrews, Cairns, Pardee, Babbit, Tuttle and Watson.
Mr. Stebbins resigned January 1st, 1832. The Rev. Edward Andrews was elected Rector January 31st, 1832, at a salary of five hundred and fifty dollars annually and the use of the rectory. The following curious agreement was made between the Rector and the Vestry :
" In the event that either party becomes dissatis- " fied, dissolution shall take place after six months " notice of same, which must be done in writing, and " to determine this will require the voice of the
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" Rector on one part and a majority of all the War- " dens and Vestrymen on the other."
Mr. Andrews resigned in August, 1833.
The Rev. William D. Cairns was elected Rector September 14th, 1833, at a salary of seven hundred and fifty dollars annually. Mr. Cairns resigned Sep- tember, 1834.
At a meeting of the Vestry held on October 22nd, 1834, it was resolved to offer the Rectorship to the Rev. John Dorodney, of the Diocese of Connecticut, with a salary of six hundred and fifty dollars, but at the following meeting a letter was read from Mr. Dorodney declining the Rectorship, whereupon the Vestry held the call open and appointed a com- mittee to communicate with Mr. Dorodney in person. Mr. Dorodney must have declined the call for the second time, for at a meeting held November 25th, 1834, it was unanimously resolved to offer the Rec- torship to Rev. Mr. Pardee, at a salary of $750, and in case he refused, to Rev. Mr. Robertson, of New York, at a salary of $600 with use of the "parson- age." Mr. Pardee accepted and at once commenced his work here.
On the 23d of July, 1836, a committee was appointed to raise $600 to be expended in improving and paint- ing the Church. Many little repairs had been neg- lected for a long time, and with the usual result, for it was found that the necessary repairs would cost $1,500, instead of $600. To raise this sum the Vestry did a thing, in those days not unusual, which they
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Christ Church Parish
regretted for a long time-they put a mortgage on the rectory. The same objection to mortgaging church property existed then that exists to-day; when once the mortgage is placed on the property, there seems to be a growing disinclination to cancel it.
The repairs at this time on the Church alone amounted to $2,100, while on the rectory they amounted to $78.
Notwithstanding all this expenditure, it was deemed advisable to raise the Rector's salary from $750 to $800. The wisdom of this proceeding is questionable under the circumstances, which opinion is sustained by the Vestry itself, which afterwards re- duced the salary to its original figure.
Notwithstanding the large reduction in the Rector's salary, the financial condition of the Parish continued to be so far from satisfactory that a meeting of the Vestry was convened, April 23d, 1839, for "careful and serious consideration of parochial affairs," which meeting resulted in what proved to be a most happy solution of the difficulty, Mr. Cyrus Curtiss being appointed "a committee on ways and means so far as the liabilities of this Church were concerned." A position most liberally interpreted by Mr. Curtiss, as it was said, that during the ensuing ten years in which he remained the sole member of that commit- tee, "the Vestry never sat to discuss a way, nor lacked means to attain an end."
In October of this year the Parish met with a severe loss in the death of its Senior Warden, Mr.
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RT. REV. WILLIAM CROSWELL DOANE, D. D., LL. D.
Hudson, New York
James Mellen, who for fifteen years was a member of its Vestry, and one most deeply interested in its spiritual and temporal welfare.
In the following year, 1840, the Parish sustained another loss in the resignation of Mr. Pardee, who, as the old record says, was "called to a higher and more responsible station." Mr. Pardee came to Hudson from Wilmington, Del. He was about thirty years of age, tall, dignified and graceful in manner, a pulpit orator of great eloquence and force, whose sermons made a deep impression upon all who heard them. In the Sunday School work he was especially successful, having a great love for children and a happy gift of attracting them to him. Special and careful instruction was given to the teachers of the school at their regular monthly meetings, in the lessons to be taught by them, and in addition he organized a Bible class which was largely attended.
During this Rectorship of nearly six years, peace, harmony and kind feeling uniformly prevailed. The register for this period records the baptism of eighty- seven persons, thirty-nine presented to the Bishop for confirmation, thirty-eight couples united in matri- mony and seventy-six persons committed to the grave.
Mr. Pardee's growing reputation rapidly increased for the next few years, but his health became impaired, and on the eve of his departure for Europe, in hopes of restored strength, he died, October 10th, 1857. The Rev. Dr. Shaw, in his centennial sermon at Lanesborough, Mass., says of him : "Popular as a
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preacher, and highly respected for his moral and in- tellectual attainments, his early death was widely lamented."
The Rev. Pierre Keller Babbit, of the Diocese of New Jersey, became Rector on July 31st, 1840, with a salary of $650, together with the free use and en- joyment of the rectory. Two things of note in the history of the Parish at this time were, the purchase, by the Vestry in the fall of this same year, of an organ at a cost of $800, the same now in use in the present Sunday School room, and the presentation, to the Vestry, for the Parish, in 1846, of a "deed of gift"' of the brick building standing on the Church lot, and already in use as a Chapel and Sunday School room. This building was erected by Mr. Curtiss at a cost of $1,685, and was given by him, as a "means to advance the spiritual interests of the Church in this place."
Mr. Babbit's rectorship was a short one of but four years. During that time he did much, in a wise and judicious manner, to improve the churchmanship of the Parish, and by his zealous and faithful labors many were added to its communion. By him one hundred and eighty-five were baptized and fifty-eight presented for confirmation. He gave much time to Parish visiting, was popular with all his people, par- ticularly with the younger portion, by whom he was greatly beloved. The interest in Sunday School work, which had received a fresh impetus in the Rev. Mr. Pardee's time, was sustained by him, and was in-
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creased by the work started at the time and which has been greatly prospered, the establishing of a Sunday School upon the Academy Hill. Much of the success of this work is due to Mr. Frank Punder- son, a member of the Vestry, who was its first Superintendent, and who gave careful training, un- remitting attention, and zealous efforts "for nearly twenty years," and to Mrs. Esther Cookson, who hospitably opened her doors to the school, and with noble self-sacrifice and devotion gave herself, her time and her means to the work upon the "Hill." Among the early pupils of the school were the Rt. Rev. Edward Atwill, of West Missouri, and Rev. Fenwick M. Cookson, Rector of the Church of the Messiah, Glen Falls in this Diocese.
In 1844 Mr. Babbit resigned and the Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle was chosen as his successor.
The rectorship of the Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, which began Dec. 1st, 1844, was marked by ardent mission- ary zeal and energy on the part of the Rector, inciting the congregation to larger works of love for Christ and his Church. Untiring in the fulfillment of his parochial duties, with unremitting care search- ing out the sick and poor within his cure, and minis- tering both to their spiritual and bodily needs, he still found time for much work outside the limits of this Parish. The Rev. Mr. Hooper says of him : "His missionary spirit caused him to hold service in the waste places in the county, and during a vacancy at Van Deusenville, Berkshire Co., Mass., he fre-
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quently took the long drive to that village to preach the word and break the Bread of Life to the little flock of Christ there. The first services held in the village of Chatham, in this century, were by him. There were two or three earnest Church families in that hamlet, who received gladly the ministrations that the busy Rector of Hudson could give them. Finding at Stockport in a factory recently established, English operatives, he went there regularly for service and finally, through the liberality of the pro- prietor of the factory, secured the building and conse- cration of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, which is to-day a power for great good in the com- munity."
Mr. Tuttle was deeply interested in the education of the young, believing that true culture was only to be attained by the harmonious education of the whole being, moral, intellectual and spiritual and no instruc- tion truly thorough, where the two-fold preparation for our part in this life and in that of the world to come, is daily severed. With this end in view he established a Parish school which soon ranked with the best in the city. Wishing to put the best instruc- tion within the reach of those of limited means, only a nominal charge was made of from $1.50 to $2.50 per term of twelve weeks. Several ladies of the Parish gave their services as teachers. Starting as a small day school with thirty pupils, it soon enlarged its borders ; accommodations were provided for board- ing scholars and instructors provided for advanced
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classes, the number of pupils reaching seventy. The school was continued for eight years, when circum- stances compelled its closure.
During Mr. Tuttle's rectorship daily services were held in the Chapel, and with a short interruption this practice was continued for many years. At his insti- gation, the Vestry passed a resolution, "that weekly offering should be received on the morning of every Lord's Day," and soon afterward offerings were made at evening service also, a part of the prescribed worship of the Church of which the congregation had hitherto been deprived.
By the will of Miss Nellis Bruck the Parish re- ceived its first bequest, amounting to $517, of which $100 was to go to the Sunday school. Wishing to pay off as much as possible of the mortgage on the rectory, the entire sum, with about $200 additional raised by subscription, was applied to this purpose, the Vestry agreeing to pay the Sunday School seven per cent. annually until such a time as the debt should be cancelled. We have never heard of this being done. Another bequest, received at this time, was the gift of an old colored woman, Flora Pixley, who owned and lived on a piece of property adjoining the rectory and which she deeded to the Parish, with the understanding that she was to have the use of the house during the remaining years of her life, the taxes and insurance to be paid for her. In 1849 the Parish received from Mr. Cyrus Curtiss the silver Communion Service now in use. Soon afterwards a
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use was found for the old service, which together with a baptismal bowl, was loaned to the church peo- ple of Kinderhook, and was most gratefully accepted by them.
About this time, the first expressions of the grow- ing dissatisfaction of the people respecting the situ- ation of the Church were heard and brought into prominence by the offer of the Roman Catholics to purchase the Church, Chapel, etc., but the price offered was so low that the Vestry were reluctantly obliged to decline it, and again needful repairs were made to the Church building, the expense however being fully met by subscription.
Mr. Tuttle's impaired health compelled his resigna- tion in June, 1850, much to the surprise and grief of his devoted people. He was urged to take a vacation of three months, but after much consideration and the advice of his physician, he was forced to request the acceptation of his resignation, and in the summer he became Rector of St. Luke's, New York City, his abundant and successful labors being too well known to need mention here.
On July 10th, 1850, the Rev. Wm. Watson, of Plymouth, Conn., was unanimously elected Rector, and soon afterwards entered upon his duties. The history of the Parish during this rectorship is princi- pally to be found in the erection, in a more central part of the city, of a new, more commodious, and more churchly building for the worship of Almighty God.
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REV. WILLIAM WATSON.
Hudson, New York
After two years of earnest, conscientious labor, the new Rector, finding the old building too small to ac- commodate the congregation, the situation bad for the future growth of the Parish, urged the Vestry to take action in this matter, though what this work was to be, he, at that time, had little idea, as he did not consider the Parish competent to undertake more than the erection of a commodious and attractive wooden structure, to cost about $7,000.
The first official action was taken in the matter at a memorable meeting of the Vestry held April 29th, 1852, when Mr. Monell presented a resolution to the effect that, "Whereas, God in His good providence, had planted a branch of His Church in this place, a trust which imposed upon us the duty of celebrating its worship to the best of our power and in as widely influential a manner as possible, and as some immedi- ate action is due and was necessary, a committee should be appointed to inquire into the advisedness of enlarging and repairing the old building, or of selling the old and building a new one." The Rector, with Messrs. Sprague, Monell and Punderson, were ap- pointed such committee, and at a subsequent meeting reported, that in addition to the unfavorable location, at least $3,000 would be needed to enlarge and repair the old building. Deeming that inexpedient, they had carefully considered the several lots suitable for the purpose, and advised buying and building where the present Church stands. That nothing might be done hastily or unadvisedly, many meetings and
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much time was given to the further consideration of this subject.
The Rector, in an impressive sermon preached at this time, reminded his people that though "the means might seem to be wanting, He who by His providence has commanded us to go forward, is heard saying : The silver and the gold is mine, and the hearts of those that hold it are in my hand!" and bade them remember the zeal and devotion shown and the sacrifices made by the Parish in building the old Church. The influence of this sermon was felt at the next meeting of the Vestry held Nov. 8th, when a motion to repair the old Church was lost, and one to purchase lots upon which to build a new one, was carried. Two committees were appointed, one to pur- chase the lots, the other to raise money by subscrip- tion to pay for them. On Dec. 15th a general assembly of the Parish was called, the second in its history, the action of the Vestry laid before the people, and their consent and co-operation asked. The re- sponse was cordial and hearty.
It was decided by the Vestry to appropriate $10,000 for the purpose of building Church, chapel and rectory, $8,000 to be in hand before the work was begun. The soliciting committee having raised the desired amount, on Dec. 5th, 1853, a building committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Silas Sprague, Peter G. Coffin and Robert B. Monell. To this committee were added Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, Lovett R. Mellen, Chas. C. Alger and Frank Punder-
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Hudson, New York
son. The idea of building chapel and rectory at this time was soon abandoned. Many were the visits to New York ; many the plans received and rejected be- fore that of Mr. Wm. G. Harrison, of New York, was accepted. Starting with the idea of building a Church to cost $7,000, they eventually built a Church that cost, exclusive of furniture, about $33,000.
The ground for the new building was broken in the fall of 1854, the corner-stone laid with impressive ceremonies in October, and with the usual trials and tribulations incident to such work, the building went steadily forward to its completion, free from debt, some three years later. One of the many discourage- ments met with was the falling of the spire during a heavy gale in the fall of 1855, the damage done to the Church alone amounting to $300. Many encour- agements were also met with. The former Rector, Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, with Messrs. Ambrose L. Jor- dan and Cyrus Curtiss, of New York, kindly under- took to raise the $1,700 needed to glaze the windows in nave and clearstory. The chancel windows were given as memorials of Bishops Wainwright and Ho- bart, the Rev. Messrs. Stebbins, Bedell and Tuttle, former Rectors of the Parish, the Rector giving one in memory of Mrs. Watson, who had died during his residence here. Trinity Church, New York, gener- ously gave a grant of $5,000, which was raised to $7,500 after the falling of the spire. The ladies of the Parish raised in addition to their other offerings,
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many hundreds towards the furnishing of the Church. But chiefly are we indebted for our beautiful Church to the great good sense, courage and perseverance of the Rector, the cordial, intelligent co-operation of the Vestry, and the willingness of the people to give amounts equal to ten per cent. of their individual taxable property.
The organ, bell and "communion table" were re- moved from the old Church to the new one, where the latter was placed under the new Altar and remained there until 1891, when it was removed to its present place in the Sacristy. It was presented to the Parish by the Misses Burch.
The last service was held in the old Church on Sun- day afternoon, October 18th, 1857, when an impres- sive and eloquent sermon was preached by the Rector from the text : "Arise ye and depart, for this is not your rest."-Micah II : 10.
The first service in the new Church was that of Consecration upon Tuesday, October 20th, 1857. There were present twenty-five of the clergy beside the Provisional Bishop and a very large congregation. The music was of a very high order. The proces- sional psalm was read responsively by the Bishop and clergy. The Rev. Dr. Pilkin, Rector of St. Peter's, Albany, read the instrument of donation. The sen- tence of consecration was read by the Rev. A. T. Twing, Rector of Trinity Church, Lansingburgh. Morning Prayer was said by the Rev. Isaac H.
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Tuttle, of Saint Luke's, New York City, and the Rev. P. Teller Babbit, former Rectors.
The Provisional Bishop commenced the communion office, the Epistle being read by the Rev. Mr. Breck, and the Gospel by the Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, Rec- tor of the Church of the Ascension, New York City, son of a former Rector. The sermon was preached by the Right Rev. Dr. Potter, the Provisional Bishop, from the 122d Psalm, the 4th to 7th verses, in which he congratulated the Rector and people upon the work brought to such noble completion. The Rev. Harry Croswell, who had been expected to preach, was prevented, to the great regret of his former pa- rishioners. In the evening a class of seventeen was confirmed, the Rev. Mr. Breck preaching.
The old Church was sold in 1858 to the Wesleyan Methodist Society for $600 and the building on Union street adjoining St. John's Hall. The chapel and rectory were sold in 1860, and the building on Union street fitted for the daily service and the use of the Sunday School. In 1859 Mr. Watson asked for leave of absence for six months, which was granted, and the time afterwards extended on request. During his absence Rev. Mr. Morrill had charge of the Parish. On March 2, 1862, Mr. Watson resigned the charge of the Parish to become special agent of the Church Book Society.
Although in the written history of this Parish Mr. Watson will chiefly be known as "the builder," in the hearts of his people he is known as "the self-sac-
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rificing Priest, the poor man's friend." Earnest, energetic and methodical, with indomitable will and perseverance, thorough in his care for the little things committed to his charge, he found nothing too great, nothing too small, to be done in the service of his Lord and Master. His teaching was simple, direct and thorough. The duty of reverence in and for the House of God and its service, was strongly impressed upon his people. The daily service was continued, the Sunday Schools increased in numbers and influence, and the Parish School maintained its efficiency until 1855, when it was deemed best to dis- continue it. He had a well planned system of Parish visiting which was faithfully carried out, and in which he was assisted by an able staff of district vis- itors. In his devotion to the sick and poor he was remarkably self-forgetful, frequently in cases of illness preceding the physician of the body, and often in cases of need performing himself the duties which seemed needful. He himself tells us, that during his rectorship he held divine service on no less than five thousand occasions, during which he held forth the Word of Life two thousand times.
That the people were not allowed to be forgetful of their duties without the Parish, we learn from the fact that during the time the Church was in process of erection, the offerings for outside objects averaged about $500 a year, an increase over the offerings of other years.
Besides the great loss sustained by the Parish in
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Hudson, New York
the resignation of its Rector, the loss of four of its loyal and devoted Vestrymen was severely felt. The Junior Warden, Mr. Silas Sprague, removed from the city in 1858, and in the same year Mr. Peter G. Coffin was removed by death. In 1860 death claimed Messrs. Frank Punderson, for thirty-seven years a member of the Vestry, and Ichabod Rogers, a Ves- tryman for thirty-five years, during twenty-five of which he held the office of Senior Warden.
In June, 1862, the Rev. George F. Seymour, then Rector of St. Mary's, Manhattanville, N. Y., was called to, and accepted the Rectorship of this Parish, and entered upon his duties the first of October. "His brilliant scholarship, earnest manner and win- ning eloquence filled the Church at every service. As a pastor he was faithful and careful, and one for whom every member of his flock cherished a warm affection."
The plan of building a Chapel on the Church grounds was earnestly forwarded by him, committees were appointed to solicit contributions and to procure plans and specifications. The necessary funds being secured, the work of building was carried quickly forward and the walls of the Chapel raised and en- closed during the year of 1863.
He was greatly interested in the work on Academy Hill, giving much time and attention to its develop- ment, cheering and encouraging the hearts of the faithful workers there, and on October 12th, 1863, had the pleasure of presenting on their behalf to the
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Vestry a deed of a lot on Academy Hill for the pur- pose of erecting a Chapel there. This lot was subse- quently changed for the one on which All Saints Church now stands. To the great sorrow of his pa- rishioners, Mr. Seymour felt obliged to resign the charge of this Parish after a brief rectorship of barely one year, his resignation taking effect on October 3d, 1863. In the busy life of usefulness and honor that he has since led as Dean of the General Theological Seminary and Bishop of Springfield, he has always kept a warm interest in this Parish and his former parishioners here.
After an interval of six months, the Rev. William Ross Johnson became Rector of the Parish May 1st, 1864. He was a scholar of excellent attainments, a preacher of great power and eloquence, and as Parish Priest earnest and diligent in the performance of the duties of his position. The Parish was prospering greatly under his ministrations when, under the pres- sure of many exciting causes, his mind became affected and he was obliged to resign his charge Nov. 10th, 1869. During Mr. Johnson's rectorship all Parish indebtedness was liquidated and the finances placed upon a sound basis, the Chapel was completed at a cost of about $4,000, and sufficient funds collected to buy the house on the corner of Warren and Second streets to be used as a rectory until such a time as the Parish should be able to build on the Church lot. In 1869 a new organ being deemed a necessity, measures were taken to raise the required amount
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and the organ now in use in the Church contracted for at the cost of $3,550-$500 being allowed for the old instrument. The needful changes were made in the gallery and the organ put in position in the spring of the following year.
The work on the "Hill" went steadily forward during these years. The Chapel which had been talked of during Mr. Watson's time now became a necessity.
The Rev. Francis Harrison, Rector of Claverack, was appointed Mr. Johnson's assistant in 1864, and under his charge the preparation for building went on with much encouragement.
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