USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, N.Y. : 1817 to 1888 > Part 31
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At Easter, April 10, 1887, Plogsted's Te Deum was given. There was an excellent quartette and chorus choir, Joseph Mischka conduct- ing, and Mrs. Crosby Adams at the organ. The solos in the Te Deum were sung by Mrs. William N. McCready, soprano ; Mrs. A. S. Fred- ericks, contralto ; Hobart Weed, tenor ; and Edward C. Walker, bass. F. C. M. Lautz was the baritone soloist. The boy choir sang carols at the offertory, and repeated them at the choral Even-song in the after- noon. The first Shelton memorial windows were unveiled.
In May, 1887, it was proposed in the vestry meeting to have the vested chancel choir at the Sunday morning services ; but it was decided not to do so. Three thousand dollars were appropriated for the music for the ensuing year.
The work of the two choirs at St. Paul's made heavy demands upon the time of the organist, and, with the increased number of services, Mr. Mischka found that it would be impossible for him to give proper attention to the music at the church without resigning some of his other musical work. He did not feel justified in doing this, and there-
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fore, in November, 1887, he tendered his resignation as organist of St. Paul's, to take effect at any time before Easter when his successor should be secured. Mr. Mischka's resignation was much regretted, not only because of his musical ability but also on account of his uni- form courtesy and his consideration for others. He continued to play until February 12, 1888, at which time Charles S. Carter became organ- ist and director at St. Paul's, Mr. Mischka becoming, at that time, organist at the Delaware Avenue Methodist Church, where he still is.
April 1, 1888, Easter Day, there was an early choral celebration of the Holy Communion, Morning Prayer at 10.30, and choral Even-song at 4.00 P. M .- with Evening Prayer at 7.30 P. M. Mr. Carter was the organist, and John Lund directed, with an orchestra of ten pieces. The music was " of an unusually high order." Mrs. Fredericks sang Holden's Resurrection, with exquisite violin obligato, and F. C. M. Lautz sang Gilchrist's The Alleluia. The anthem Christ our Passover, with full chorus, and solos by Mrs. McCready and Edward C. Walker, " was a magnificent finale." April 7, 1888, John Lund was engaged at St. Paul's to take charge of the choir.
After Easter (April 1), 1888, Miss Gertrude L. Sears became the leading soprano at St. Paul's, and Mrs. Fredericks, the leading con- tralto, resigned.
April 25, 1888, the Rev. Dr. Brown resigned his rectorship of St. Paul's, to take effect on the first of the following June, in order to become the rector of St. Thomas's Church, New York City.
On Thursday, May 10, 1888, Ascension Day, St. Paul's Church was destroyed by fire. The congregation afterwards worshipped at the Temple Beth Zion (the Jewish synagogue, at that time on Niagara Street, where the Masonic Temple now stands), during the rebuilding of the church edifice.
On the Sunday following the fire, May 14, 1888, the services were held at the Temple Beth Zion, but the chimes of the ruined church, themselves uninjured, pealed out, calling the people to worship. Dr. Brown conducted the choral Even-song. May 27, 1888, Mr. Carter
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The Music, 1817-1903. 35I
resigned as organist, and Miss Marie McConnell took his place, with John Lund as director. The choral vesper services were discontinued after June 17, 1888, in Temple Beth Zion. Miss Gertrude L. Sears was soprano until February 14, 1889. Miss A. M. Gates sang in August, 1888 ; also, P. G. Lapey, Mrs. Hancock Rice, Miss Eckart, and others.
The Easter services, April 21, 1889, were held in the basement of the church, then in process of reconstruction after the fire. There was a large congregation. Under Mr. Lund's able direction "the music by the boy choir was of a high order of excellence," but no especial effects were attempted. Miss McConnell was organist. Mr. Lund continued at St. Paul's until October, 1889.
In September, 1889, Samuel J. Gilbert was appointed organist and choir-master, being the first to hold that position in the restored church. His father was W. B. Gilbert, organist of Trinity Chapel, New York City. Miss McConnell continued at St. Paul's until April, 1890.
The restored St. Paul's was finished and ready for occupancy late in December, 1889, and on January 3, 1890, the new edifice was for- mally reopened and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. No organ was placed in the west gallery, as formerly. The new chancel organ was a Hook & Hastings, and was tuned to French pitch. The quartette and mixed chorus choir were not continued after the restored church was used, the musical part of all the services being rendered by a full, vested, chancel choir of men and boys.
In the rebuilding of the church special provision was made for the accommodation of a vested choir, the chancel was widened and made considerably deeper, and divided into choir and sanctuary, the choir portion having seats and stalls for the singers. The processional cross, carried by the crucifer in the procession of the vested choir, was first used in St. Paul's under the rector, the Rev. Henry A. Adams, at Easter, 1890. On April 6, 1890, the first Easter in the restored church, the morning service and choral Even-song were both attended
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History of St. Paul's Church.
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by very large congregations. The music was by the vested choir under the direction of the organist, Samuel J. Gilbert. Hobart Weed and Edward C. Walker both sang in the vested choir after the restora- tion of the church.
At Easter, 1891, the music for the Holy Communion service in E flat was written by the organist, Samuel J. Gilbert, especially for St. Paul's choir, and was sung on this occasion for the first time.
About this time the solo singing of Thornton Smith, one of the boy sopranos, was much praised. Mr. Gilbert was organist at St. Paul's from September, 1889, until Easter, 1892, when he was followed by E. Wesley Pyne, who served about ten months, and left early in 1893. In July, 1892, the Rev. J. A. Regester became the rector. Andrew T. Webster became organist and choir-master February 1, 1893, and has filled the position most acceptably from that date to the present. The records of the choir, carefully kept by Mr. Webster from 1893, have been of much assistance in preparing the latter portion of this account of the music.
The music committee in 1891 consisted of Edmund Hayes, A. J. Barnard, James R. Smith and Sheldon T. Viele ; Hobart Weed resigned in May, 1891, but was again on the committee in January, 1892 ; in April, 1892, Edward C. Walker was added.
In 1893 the choir consisted of twenty-three boys and fourteen men ; . the three crucifers were, Guy C. Boughton, George Messer, and N. Orsini de Bock. In the autumn of 1893, Miss Harriet Welch (now Mrs. B. F. Spire) was engaged as solo soprano and continued as such until April 5, 1896. Miss Ada Prentice (now Mrs. Davidson) was con- tralto for a short time during the winter of 1893.
In 1894, there were twenty-eight boys and twelve men, “and in addition to this regular vested choir, for the sake of variety in the music, we have the services of Miss Welch, soprano ; " and, beginning December 7, 1894, Miss Clara Russell (now Mrs. Carlton White) was contralto, and sang until November 30, 1896. At Easter, 1894, the Communion service was Gounod's St. Cecilia in D, complete. The
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THE RESTORED ST. PAUL'S. Interior, showing chancel and vested choir.
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The Music, 1817-1903. 353
women of the choir sang in the chancel, but did not enter in the pro- cessional.
October 4, 1895, E. E. Tanner was engaged as bass singer in the quartette, and sang until April 23, 1899.
In 1895, the choir was substantially the same, and in 1896 there were twelve men and thirty boys ; Mrs. William Boughton was engaged to take Mrs. Spire's place as soprano, April 10, 1896, and sang until April 18, 1897.
January 31, 1896, Frederick Elliott became the tenor, singing until September 30, 1896. " During last winter (1896) and again this season (1897) our organist, Andrew T. Webster, has, in addition to his many regular duties in connection with the services and training of the choir, given an organ recital every Sunday evening for half an hour before the service. Many avail themselves of the privilege thus afforded." These recitals have been continued to the present time (1903).
About 1896, further changes in the basement of the church were made for the better accommodation of the vested choir.
The music committee in 1896 consisted of Hobart Weed, Edmund Hayes, James R. Smith, Sheldon T. Viele and Philip S. Smith. The same committee served in 1897, 1898 and 1899.
January 10, 1897, occurred the deeply-deplored and untimely death of Edward C. Walker, who had been for so many years a member of the earlier choirs, and connected with the musical matters of the church, and a member of many of the music committees. (See page 217.)
January 12, 1897, J. F. Thomas succeeded Mr. Elliott as tenor, singing until April 10, 1898.
February 28, 1897, the evening of Quinquagesima Sunday, the cantata of The Holy City, by Alfred R. Gaul, was sung in the church, under Mr. Webster's direction, with Miss M. Agatha Bennett at the organ. On this occasion the vested choir was assisted by a volunteer chorus of about forty mixed voices. To accommodate these extra singers, seats, arranged like those of the vested choir, were placed in
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History of St. Paul's Church.
the nave immediately in front of the choir portion of the chancel. There were, in all, about eighty voices, and the organ alone was used to accompany the singers. The music was very impressively and rev- erently sung.
On April 11, 1897, the evening of Palm Sunday, the cantata of The Crucifixion, by Sir John Stainer, was sung in the church, under Mr. Webster's direction, with Henry S. Hendy at the organ. The vested choir was assisted, as before, by a volunteer chorus.
December 1, 1899, Miss Katheleen Howard became the contralto soloist, and sang until November 3, 1901.
December 31, 1899, A Christmas Cantata, by Pearce, was sung in the church, Mr. Webster conducting, Miss Bennett at the organ, and a mixed chorus assisting as before. This cantata was repeated the fol- lowing Sunday evening.
March 16, 1900, Miss Julia Agnes O'Connor became the solo soprano, still retaining the position. Two sopranos, Miss O'Connor and Miss Mildred D. Graham, and two contraltos, Miss Howard and Miss Gertrude A. Cashmore, sang in 1900 ; and in 1901 Miss Harriet Bis- sell and Miss Louise Scheer were also added to the choir. These ladies are a regular part of the vested choir, and enter in the proces- sional. They wear small black caps, and a special dress, which resem- bles the vestments worn by the other members of the choir.
In January, 1900, the music committee consisted of Hobart Weed, Edmund Hayes and James R. Smith. In May, 1900, the vestry resolved : "That a vote of thanks be extended to Mr. Philip S. Smith, for the efficient services rendered by him during the past year, as a member of the music committee."
The same committee as that in 1900 served also in 1901 and in 1902. In 1900, Herbert Newton sang bass in the quartette.
April 1, 1900, the evening of Passion Sunday, the cantata of The Crucifixion was repeated.
At Easter, 1901, Edward M. Sicard sang bass, the rest of the quar- tette being as before. The choir was assisted by the 74th Regiment
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The Music, 1817-1903.
band. The "Year Book " says : "The marked improvement in the music, through the strengthening of the choir by the addition of women's voices, has been made possible by the generosity of several gentlemen of the parish."
April 14, 1901, the evening of Low Sunday, the cantata of The Resurrection, by Manney, was rendered, the mixed chorus assisting the vested choir, as before ; Mr. Webster conducting, and Miss Bennett at the organ. From February 1 to May 26, 1901, Milnor Travis, harpist, was engaged. May 24, 1901, Carl D. Stephan became the tenor, suc- ceeding Mr. Hicks, and sang until April 30, 1902.
March 23, 1902, the evening of Palm Sunday, the cantata of The Crucifixion was repeated.
At Easter, March 30, 1902, the music at St. Paul's was highly com- mended. The solo work covered a wider range than usual, Miss O'Connor singing in the Gounod Mass the two tenor solos in the Sanctus, as well as the soprano solo in the Gloria. Miss Eleanor M. Dambmann came from New York to take the position of contralto in the quartette. Carl D. Stephan sang the tenor solo in the Te Deum, and Mr. Mitchell substituted for Mr. Radenovitz, who was ill. Mrs. George D. Morgan sang several solos in the Jubilate and also the offertory anthem, with violin obligato, kindly giving her services. A. T. Webster's carol, "The Day of Resurrection," was sung. Dudley Buck's festival Te Deum was given, and the Communion service was Gounod's Messe Solennelle, "St. Cecilia."
At this time the regular quartette was : Miss O'Connor, soprano ; Miss Dambmann, contralto; Carl D. Stephan, tenor ; and Simon Radenovitz, bass; Andrew T. Webster, organist and choir-master. The orchestra was under the direction of Frank Kuhn, and was placed in the north transept just outside the chancel, occupying the same position as the choir from 1851 to 1863. All of the singers were vested, and occupied places in the choir portion of the chancel, and all took part in the processional and recessional.
" Usually, during the winter, one or more of the Sunday evening
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History of St. Paul's Church.
services are converted into special musical services. On the evening of Quinquagesima Sunday, February 9, 1902, the choir had the assist- ance of the 'Harmonie' Ladies' Quartette, and Mr. Lapey, bass. They were placed in the loft, at the west end of the nave, and sang ' List the cherubic host,' from Gaul's Holy City. Mrs. Spire also sang a solo. At the offertory, the antiphonal effect of Miss O'Connor's short solo sentences and the answering chancel choir was very beautiful."
The late Charles M. Cashmore entered the choir some time in 1892, and soon after became librarian, retaining that post until his death, February 1, 1902. His services were invaluable. The vested choir is a paid one throughout, with the exception of the men singers, six of whom only are paid, and the remainder give their services.
It is noteworthy that almost all of the singers are members of the church. In the services, as conducted since the restoration of the edifice, the vested choir enters in procession from the basement or crypt, by the broad stairway, in the northeast corner of the church, in what is known as "the chapel." They pass through the north transept to the choir seats in the chancel, singing the processional hymn, and preceded by the crucifer. On the special festivals of the church, the procession passes through the north aisle to the main ves- tibule and thence through the center aisle to the chancel. At the end of the recessional the choir is dismissed in the crypt after a short prayer by the rector.
May 1, 1902, the vested choir quartette, as constitued at the pres- ent time, is : Miss O'Connor, soprano ; Miss Dambmann, contralto ; Frederick Hicks, tenor ; and, temporarily, J. Clark Milsom, bass, one of the singers of the choir. Mr. Milsom will be remembered as a boy soprano soloist, in the vested choir, in the '80's, under Mr. Mischka.
June, 1902, W. J. Mitchell became the solo bass singer at St. Paul's. February 22, 1903, The Holy City was repeated. At Easter (April 12th) 1903, the choir had the assistance of Madame Brazzi, contralto, Mrs. G. D. Morgan, soprano, and an orchestra under Henry M. Marcus. A. T. Webster was organist and choir-master.
historical notes, 1817=1903.
St. Paul's Church. historical Outline, 1817=1903.
1817. February 10th. - St. Paul's Parish organized and incorporated. (Population of Buffalo in 1817 about 1,500. ) Rev. Samuel Johnston, missionary. (De- cember 30, 1813, Buffalo had been burned by the British. )
1817. Rev. William A. Clark, missionary and first rector (to April 7, 1820).
1819. May 20th. - Lot 42 given by Joseph Ellicott, as agent for the Holland Land Co., on condition that a church be built. (See facsimile of Mr. Ellicott's letter, in this volume. )
1819. June 24th .- Corner stone of frame church edifice laid (Masonic ceremonies). (Rev. William A. Clark, rector. )
1820. May .- Rev. Deodatus Babcock, second rector (to 1824).
1820. June 14th .- Deed to Lot 42 given by Holland Land Co.
1821. February 25th. - Frame church edifice consecrated by the Bishop of New York, Bishop Hobart.
1821.
(Summer. ) -The first bell hung in the tower.
1825.
March 30th. - Rev. Addison Searle, third rector (to December 31, 1828).
1825.
October 26th. - Opening of the Erie Canal.
1827.
January 23d. - Glebe lot (or "Gospel lot ") given to St. Paul's by Holland Land Co .- 100 acres about five miles from Buffalo, on Military Road.
1827.
Rev. Wm. Shelton of Connecticut preached in St. Paul's, as guest of the rec- tor, the Rev. Addison Searle.
1828. The frame church enlarged.
1829. January 17th .- Rev. Reverard Kearney, fourth rector (to June, 1829).
1829. September 13th .- Rev. Wm. Shelton preached his first sermon as fifth rector of St. Paul's. He arrived in Buffalo September 11th, on his thirty-first birthday.
357
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History of St. Paul's Church.
1830.
September 30th .- Death of Bishop John Henry Hobart, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.
1831. 1832. 1832.
Side galleries built in frame church edifice.
Cholera raged in Buffalo, and again in 1834.
Buffalo incorporated as a city ; population 10,000.
1833.
Basement Sunday School room finished.
1839.
May 9th .- Consecration of Rev. Dr. William Heathcote DeLancey as first Bishop of Western New York.
1844.
June Ioth. - Lot on Pearl Street bought for rectory.
1844. Vestry sold Glebe lot for $1, 500.
1845.
1847.
April 7th. - Marriage of Dr. Shelton and Mrs. Lucretia Stanley Grosvenor. Rectory finished.
1848.
Subscriptions for the new stone church started.
1849.
September 3d. - Excavations for foundations of new stone church begun. Most of foundation laid by December 1, 1849 ; the frame edifice being still in use. Cholera again in Buffalo.
1850.
Frame church edifice sold, removed from the lot in April. Last service in frame church March 17, 1850.
1850.
March 17 to April 21, 1851 .- St. Paul's congregation worshipped in Clinton Hall on Washington Street.
1850. June 12th. - Corner stone of new stone church edifice laid by Bishop DeLancey. 1851. October 22d. - New stone church consecrated by Bishop DeLancey. Novem- ber 2, 1851, Dr. Shelton's first sermon in the new edifice.
1854. Receiving vault built (in church edifice). Cholera again in Buffalo.
1854-1856. Basement Sunday School room, porches, stone steps, and main tower built.
I856. The nine bells of the chime placed in main tower, and rung for the first time on Christmas Eve.
1857.
The tenth bell added to the chime, and the chiming apparatus placed in the tower. The gallery over the chapel on the north side of the church removed ; the glass partition, separating the lower part of the chapel beneath the gallery from the body of the church, had been removed (1856).
1865.
1863. Fall. - Organ moved from over vestry room, at north of chancel, to west gallery of nave. In fall of 1866 the former organ chamber was refitted as a room for meetings of building committee. In 1877 a chancel organ was placed there. January 4th. - Rev. Dr. Arthur Cleveland Coxe consecrated Assistant Bishop of Western New York.
I865. April 5th .- Death of Bishop DeLancey, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. Bishop Coxe became the second Bishop of Western New York.
359
Historical Notes, 1817-1903.
1867. August 18th to November 17th. - The new, carved, black walnut stalls, reredos and bishop's chair put in place in the chancel. Font moved from in front of chancel to east end of the chapel. Walls of church decorated.
1870. August 6th .- The main spire finished, and the gilded cross put in place. 1871. October 2d .- The spire of the small tower on Church Street finished. (In this tower has hung, since 1851, the old bell of the frame church, bought in 1821, and recast about 1826.)
1873. May .- The stone crosses, finials, etc., finished (thus completing the edifice).
1876.
January and February .- The Sunday School room in basement refitted as a chapel, with altar placed against north wall.
1879. September IIth .- The fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Shelton's rectorate, and his eighty-first birthday. (The semi-centennial services were held on Sunday, September 14th. )
188 I. January IIth. - Resignation of Dr. Shelton as rector of St. Paul's. Made honorary rector.
1882. May 7th. - Rev. John W. Brown, D. D., sixth rector (to June 1, 1888).
1882. September 6th. - Death of Mrs. Shelton.
1883.
February 6th .- Death of Rev. Edward Ingersoll, D. D., aged seventy-two years. (Rector Emeritus of Trinity Church, Buffalo. )
1883. 1883.
October IIth. - Death of Dr. Shelton, aged eighty-five years, one month.
Sunday School room in basement much enlarged to east and north, altar moved to east end, and broad flight of stairs placed in northeast corner of room, leading to church. Rooms for vested choir also built in basement.
1885. Use of receiving vault for the dead, in basement of church edifice, given up. (The entrance to this vault was from Pearl Street only, the door being that immediately north of the entrance to basement Sunday School room. )
1887. December. The rector reported to the vestry that he had instituted regular daily services at St. Paul's, September Ist. (These services have been con- tinued to the present time, 1903. )
1888. April 25th .- Resignation of Rev. Dr. Brown as rector (to take effect June I, 1888).
1888. May 10th (Ascension Day) .- St. Paul's Church destroyed by fire.
1888. May 13th .- St. Paul's congregation worshipped in Temple Beth Zion, Niagara Street, given for their use, and continued to do so until Easter, 1889.
1888. June Ist .- Rev. John Huske, minister-in-charge (to May 11, 1889).
1889. April 21st. - Easter services held in the basement Sunday School room, or "Crypt Chapel " of the church, which was used until the reopening of the church, January 3, 1890.
1 889. May to October .- Rev. G. Mott Williams, minister-in-charge.
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History of St. Paul's Church.
1889. October 15th .- Rev. Henry A. Adams, seventh rector (to March I, 1892).
1890.
January 3d .- Service of Hallowing and Reconciling the restored church edi-
fice, by Bishop Coxe. Evening of same day - Service in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Bishop Coxe's episcopate, held in St. Paul's. March Ist. - Resignation of Rev. Mr. Adams as rector.
1892.
1892.
March Ist to April 30th. - Rev. Arthur J. Fidler, minister-in-charge.
1892. July 5th .- Rev. J. A. Regester began his work as eighth rector. He preached his first sermon in St. Paul's on Sunday, July 10th.
1895.
March. - Rectory, No. 61 Johnson's Park, purchased.
1896.
July 20th .- Death of Bishop Coxe, aged seventy-eight years.
1896.
December 23d. - Enthronization of the Rt. Rev. William David Walker as
third Bishop of Western New York. (Bishop Walker had been consecrated Missionary Bishop of North Dakota, December 20, 1883. )
1896.
The old Parish House, formerly Dr. Shelton's Rectory, No. 128 Pearl Street, demolished, and the new Parish House built on the site.
1897.
February 25th. - New Parish House opened.
1902.
February 10th .- Eighty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the Parish of St. Paul's. (Population of Buffalo in 1902 about 400,000. )
I902. July .- Tenth anniversary of the rectorate of the Rev. Dr. Regester.
1902. July .- Deed of the small triangles of land, at east and southwest corners of the church lot, presented to St. Paul's by Farmers Loan and Trust Company of New York.
The Seal of the Corporation.
St.Paul' Church, Buffalo®
The Seal of the church was chosen at a meeting of the vestry, held April 23, 1821, at which it was : " Resolved, That the church adopt as its common seal a marble eight-sided cone, whereon is engraved the let- ters 'St. Paul's Church, Buffalo.'" (Page 21.)
Historical Notes, 1817-1903. 361
This description seems to require a few words of explanation. The original die was used for making impressions in wax only, and the device was engraved on the lower surface of a small piece of marble, the upper part of this piece of marble being cut into the shape of the " eight-sided cone," or pyramid, described in the resolution. This pyramid formed a handle merely, and was no part of the device of the seal itself. The present seal is the same as the original one, but is engraved in a metal die, and used in a press to emboss paper, as is now customary.
The legal name of the corporation is "St. Paul's Church in Buffalo."
The First Roman Catholic Mass in Buffalo.
The following reference to St. Paul's Parish will be found at page 2II, " Missions in Western New York and Church History of the Dio- cese of Buffalo," by Rt. Rev. John Timon, D. D., first Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Buffalo, published in 1862 :
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