USA > New York > New York City > History of St. Stephen's parish in the city of New York, 1805-1905 > Part 9
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As already stated, the Church of the Advent, West Forty-sixth Street, was purchased by the corporation of St. Stephen's Parish in 1873; of which Church Mr. Hart was then rector; and in accordance with the new arrangement he became associate rector of St. Stephen's (Dr. Price being rector), and so remained for two years.
In accordance with the invitation extended by the Vestry on October 31st, 1875, after the withdrawal of Dr. Price, Mr. Hart became the rector.
The Rev. Professor Randall C. Hall, D. D., was for many years associated with the Rev. Mr. Hart as As- sistant Minister, and to him we are indebted for infor- mation concerning the eighth rector of St. Stephen's Church.
He speaks of the Rev. Mr. Hart as a gentleman of
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the old school, tall in stature and dignified in appear- ance. In writing his sermons which were all carefully prepared, he would take a thirty-two page copy-book, the most common kind in those days, and write a ser- mon till it reached the middle; he would then turn the book over and begin the next sermon at the other end, and continue till it met the previous sermon. Few men ever took more pains with their sermons than he. The language was carefully chosen. The sentences flowed on one after another, with a rhythm closely resembling that of blank verse; and this resemblance to poetry was heightened by choice of images, figures, and allusions, reminding one especially of classic poetry. His allu- sions were usually so veiled that they called for a scholar to detect them, and even then demanded close attention. Nor did he put off the writing of sermons till Saturday night. He devoted Monday and Tuesday morning to their composition, and the rest of the week he would turn his thoughts to some more remote sermon to be preached perhaps a month later.
Though not a college graduate, Mr. Hart had taken the regular college course of study under private tutors, his father having feared to expose him to the tempta- tions encountered in a public institution. His scholar- ship was of the highest order and embraced an immense variety of subjects. Though not honored with a de- gree, few even of those so honored among his contem- poraries had attained his standard, especially in litera- ture, whether English or foreign.
In divine service, when his strength permitted, he would read the lessons ; and he read them well, showing, often, that he had given them considerable study.
138 HISTORY OF ST. STEPHEN'S PARISH.
Few speakers were more careful and correct about the pronunciation of words. Even a scholar listening. to his reading might hear what would be to him a new pronunciation of a very familiar word; but on consult- ing Walker, Mr. Hart's authority, he would find Mr. Hart always correct.
Mr. Hart late in life married Miss Mary Whiting, a daughter of the late Judge Whiting, a most happy choice, a woman of great wealth, generosity and spir- ituality, and an immense help in his parish work. One who had listened to his preaching for many years could soon detect in his sermons the effect of her influence. They were not more polished and refined (an almost im- possibility), but they became more practical, held bet- ter the attention of his hearers, and showed the contaci of mind with mind. Few rectors ever did more for the poor of the parish than he did, particularly after his marriage, in consequence of the deep sympathy, the great wealth and the large generosity of Mrs. Hart.
During the last few years of his life, Mr. Hart lived in retirement, known to but few of his brethren in the ministry. At the time of his death but few of the clergy realized what an important work for the Church he had done many years before, when he was editor of the Church Book Society at No. 762 Broadway. This position he long held and filled with great care and con- scientiousness. Everything published had to pass under his searching scrutiny, and nothing could go out, of whose English or orthodoxy he did not approve.
By resolution, April 24th, 1876, the Vestry of St. Stephen's established a sinking fund to pay off the
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mortgage of $17,000.00 on the Church property held by the Bowery Savings Bank; and the sum of twenty- five dollars donated by a class in the Sunday school for that purpose was made the beginning of said sinking fund, and the first deposit made therefor in the Seamen's Savings Bank.
In 1882 it was learned that the property No. 19 Warren Street had been sold for taxes by the city, and it would require $31,000.00 to cover the amount due and secure title. A loan of $36,000.00 was authorized by the Vestry, to redeem the property and pay other parish indebtedness. The two lots Nos. 19 and 21 War- ren Street were given as security.
On November 16th, 1881, the Vestry passed a reso- lution authorizing the rector to sell the old Communion service, and also the bell, which had been loaned to the French Church in West Twenty-second Street at the time the Chrystie Street property was sold, and the old St. Stephen's Church demolished. These articles were sold in order to pay bills incurred in repairing the church edifice in West Forty-sixth Street. Also to aid the parish to meet current expenses, Trinity Church bought back for $1,200 a small portion of the lot No. 125 Greenwich Street, ten feet in width, which it had given to St. Stephen's in 1805.
In May, 1888, a lease, to run twenty-one years, of No. 125 Greenwich Street, was made with the Western Electric Company, containing a provision for three renewals of twenty-one years each to be executed in due course.
There were many indications that the parish was not
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prospering. The location of the Church was found to be undesirable; the character of the neighborhood had changed; pew rents were falling off ; and the rector was too far advanced in years to prosecute vigorously the kind of work required in that locality. A change of some kind seemed inevitable.
The parish of the Holy Trinity, Harlem (in 122nd Street), had built a large and handsome stone church some years before, but it had a heavy mortgage resting upon it. It was in great need of money. A proposition was made to the vestry of St. Stephen's to unite the two parishes, and to make the Rev. Mr. Hart rector emeritus on a salary of $2500.00. This proposition met with opposition from some of the vestry, but was greatly desired by the rector.
With this project of consolidation in view, at a meet- ing of the Vestry of St. Stephen's Church, February 6th, 1890, the rector offered the following resolutions : "Whereas, It is proposed to unite the parish of the Holy Trinity, Lenox Avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-second Street, the Rev. I. Newton Stanger, D. D., Rector, with St. Stephen's Parish, West Forty- sixth Street, the Rev. A. B. Hart, Rector ; Therefore, Resolved, That we accept the proposition to unite these two parishes under the one name,-the Church of St. Stephen, New York City."
The Rector then read a letter of resignation of his office, as follows :
"With great sorrow after many years of happy as- sociation with my vestry and parishioners, I hereby resign the Rectorship of St. Stephen's Church, New
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York City, with the condition annexed that the Rev. Dr. Stanger be elected to succeed me in the Rectorship. "A. B. HART."
He also offered the following resolution :
"That the Rev. Dr. I. Newton Stanger be and he is hereby chosen to be Rector of St. Stephen's Church, New York City, the resignation of the present Rector, the Rev. Mr. Hart, to take effect at Easter, or so soon as Dr. Stanger may be prepared to enter on the dis- charge of his duties as Rector of the united parishes. Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed by the Rector to co-operate with a Committee from Holy Trinity Church, Lenox Avenue, and to adopt the re- quisite legal measure for consummating the union of the two parishes. Resolved, That this Committee be au- thorized to sell the Church building of St. Stephen's, West 46th Street, and to pay off the mortgages on the church and on its secular property, the action of the committee to be finally approved by the Rector."
These resolutions were adopted by the following vote : Ayes, Messrs. Cock, Linen, Mooney and Weeks ; nays, Messrs. Blackhurst, Fleming and Maclaury, the rector voting aye.
This action of the vestry created great dissatisfac- tion. The matter was not consummated before the annual election of the year following took place, and the majority of the congregation expressed their disap- proval by then electing a new vestry composed of men who were known to be opposed to consolidation.
On March 30th, 1891, Monday in Easter week, the
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following gentlemen were elected officers of the parish : Wardens, Messrs. Blackhurst and Fleming; Vestrymen, Messrs. Maclaury, Watson, Schroeder, Warren, Robin- son, Woodruff Smith, Theodore Smith, and William J. Smith.
This Vestry, on May 9th, passed the following resolu- tion, unanimously repudiating the action of the Vestry on February 6th, 1890, which had, by a vote of five to three (the rector voting aye), authorized the consoli- dation of St. Stephen's Parish, and the parish of Holy Trinity, Harlem.
"Resolved, That all action or pretended action, and any resolution, or pretended resolution, of the Vestry of this Church, had or attempted, or claimed to be had, on February 6th, 1890, or subsequent thereto, for the consolidation of this Church with Holy Trinity Church of Harlem, be, and the same hereby are, repudiated and rescinded, as null, void and of no effect; and that any and all surviving committee or committees, if any, appointed to aid in such consolidation, are hereby dis- charged, and all their acts, or pretended acts, dis- affirmed and repudiated as null and void."
"Resolved, That all the acts of the gentlemen now composing the Vestry of this Church, done for the pur- pose of defeating the attempt to consolidate it with Holy Trinity Church of Harlem be approved, ratified and confirmed, and adopted, as the proper acts of this cor- poration, and as having been done in its interests and for its welfare, and that the Church hold such gentle- men protected and harmless from any and all expenses,
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costs, or damages in any wise growing out of their acts or actions."
In consequence of this action of the new vestry law suits were brought by the Church of the Holy Trinity, to compel the consummation of the agreement ; and long and expensive litigation resulted, but without accom- plishing the result desired.
In May, 1891, the Rector was taken ill and unable to officiate for several months thereafter. The Vestry made an appeal to Bishop Potter for advice in these trying circumstances, which he gladly gave, and sent them as a supply the Rev. Isaac S. Hartley, D. D., who later was invited by the Vestry to "occupy the pulpit in place of the rector."
Dr. Hartley was born in New York City September 26th, 1830, graduated from New York University in 1852, and from the Andover Theological Seminary, Massachusetts. For twenty years he was a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. Having abandoned that communion he studied for Holy Orders, and was or- dained deacon in Grace Church, New York, December 21, 1890, by Bishop Potter. On May 28, 1891, he re- ceived Priests' Orders from Bishop Potter in St. George's Church, Newburgh, and served as "acting rector" of St. Stephen's Church from June, 1891, to 'January, 1892. He left New York to accept the rector- ship of St. James' Church, Great Barrington, Mass., and died there, July 3rd, 1899, whilst rector of the parish.
Owing to his ill health and to dissatisfaction at the failure of his plans to have St. Stephen's Parish con-
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solidated with the Church of the Holy Trinity, Harlem, Mr. Hart did not officiate in the Church for eighteen months, and had neglected his pastoral duties.
It seeming to be an impossibility to reconcile the rector to the decision of the Vestry, which repudiated the proposed consolidation of the two churches, and Mr. Hart being eighty-two years of age, a formal request for his resignation of the rectorship of St. Stephen's Church was made by the Vestry. This having been re- fused, the Vestry appealed to the Standing Committee of the Diocese, asking its intervention. The Standing Committee had no power to act in the matter; and the Vestry requested three clergymen of the diocese to act as a committee to advise them what course should be pursued to bring about the severance of the ties binding rector and people; and also in their behalf to present the condition of affairs in the parish to the Bishop of the Diocese. This committee consisted of the Rev. Dr. Tuttle, rector of St. Luke's Church; Rev. Dr. Brown, of St. Thomas' Church, and Rev. Dr. Donald, of the Church of the Ascension.
Later, a settlement between rector and people was ac- complished; and the Rev. Mr. Hart offered to resign upon certain conditions. A payment of $1,800.00 was made to him by the Vestry, in recognition of past ser- vices ; and his resignation was tendered, and accepted, on January 21st, 1892.
Charles Russell Treat.
The Rinth Rector : Reb. Charles R. Creat.
1892-1899.
COMMITTEE of the Vestry (Messrs. Fleming, Watson and Robinson), which had been ap- pointed to select and nominate a new rector, recommended for that office the Rev. Charles R. Treat, rector of the Church of the Archangel, New York. He was duly elected and entered upon the duties of his office in the Spring of 1892.
Charles Russell Treat, the ninth rector of the Parish, was born in Newark, N. J., October 2nd, 1842, and was an honor man of Williams' College, and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, graduating in the class of 1863. For five years he occupied the chair of Elo- cution at his Alma Mater. He was a good linguist, speaking fluently French and German, and in addition to the daily demands of parish life, he found time to pursue his studies in Hebrew, Greek and Latin.
Having been brought under the influence of the Con- gregational Society, he studied for the ministry of that Church, and was graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1869. On December 23rd, 1882, he was ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church by Bishop Williams, of Connecticut, and received Priest's Orders August 2, 1883, at the hands of the Bishop of Rhode Island.
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He was in charge of St. Peter's Church-by-the-Sea, Narragansett Pier, in 1883, and later became curate in St. John's Church, Stamford, Conn. In 1883, and again in 1887, he was curate at St. Thomas' Church New York City. From 1883 to 1887, Mr. Treat was rector of the Church of the Redeemer, Brooklyn, L. I., and from 1888 to 1892, was rector of the Church of the Archangel, New York.
When Rev. Mr. Treat entered upon his new field of labor, St. Stephen's had been without the services of a rector for the space of twenty months. The new in- cumbent had a difficult work in hand to gather the scat- tered members, many of whom had gone to other churches, or moved from the neighborhood; and to unite different factions, which always arise under like condi- tions. The church building was not attractive, the audi- torium being on the second floor, with Sunday-school rooms in the basement. In the neighborhood were mod- ernly constructed and more churchly edifices, which of- fered attractions of music and ritual. But Mr. Treat threw himself heart and soul into the work, and soon had a united congregation and a harmonious vestry to sup- port him. Yet, after earnest and faithful labors for five years, all were convinced that a change to another lo- cality would be advantageous, if it could be accom- plished.
In the summer of 1893, the interior of the building was re-decorated, a centre aisle constructed, the church carpeted throughout, new pews added, the organ moved to the side gallery, and new stained glass windows put in. The cost of this improvement was $3,700.00. The
.
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Ladies' Guild of the Parish contributed $800.00 "to- wards the beautifying of the Church"; and voted to raise $1,000.00 during the coming year, to be devoted to the Church Improvement Fund. The pulpit formerly in use in this Church was presented to Trinity Church, Fishkill, N. Y.
In October, 1893, Mr. Charles E. Fleming, Senior Warden, offered the Vestry an illuminated window to be placed in the north wall of the Church, in memory of his mother. The offer was accepted and the window placed in the chancel wall, and formally presented to "The Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Stephen, for all time."
On December 14th, 1894, the Vestry accepted and ordered spread on the minutes the following communi- cation from Mr. Fleming, as "a modification of the pre . sentation on October 6th, 1893, of a memorial window in the chancel of the Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Stephen (now located in West Forty-sixth Street), by Chas. E. Fleming, a Warden ; that said presentation is subject to the condition that this memorial window shall remain in the Chancel of St. Stephen's, so long as the Church remains in its present location."
It was learned that a chapel built in 1880, in West Sixty-ninth Street, by the Church of the Transfigura- tion, could probably be bought. The location was a de- sirable one; and with a church already built it was be- lieved that St. Stephen's parish could at once enter upon work in a new field with good promise of success. The neighborhood was being built up with large apart- ment houses, and the increase in population was con- sequently very considerable.
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The change of location from Forty-sixth Street was therefore seriously considered.
On April 3rd, 1897, at a meeting of the Vestry the following resolution was offered by Mr. F. S. Robinson : "Resolved, That St. Stephen's Church be removed from its present location to the site now occupied by the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Sixty-ninth Street."
The vote was as follows: Ayes, Sutherland G. Tay- lor, F. S. Robinson, George W. Quintard, James A. Robinson, Jno. D. Fouquet. Nays, W. J. Smith, Dr. W. S. Watson, C. E. Fleming, Woodruff Smith. (W. W. Warren not voting.) Mr. Fleming's vote was quali- fied by his not having sufficient information about the above to vote Aye. The resolution was declared car- ried.
On Easter Monday, 1897, two members of the former Vestry retired, and two others were elected, Messrs. Sea- grist and MacCoy. At a meeting of the Vestry on April 23rd, the following preamble and resolutions were offered by Mr. Sutherland G. Taylor, seconded by Mr. James MacCoy and unanimously carried.
Whereas, The Chapel of the Transfiguration on West 69th Street has been placed at our disposal, and
Whereas, It has been deemed expedient to secure a new site for St. Stephen's Church, be it
Resolved, That the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Stephen's Church respectfully request the Stand- ing Committee of the Diocese to grant permission for the removal of St. Stephen's Church to the site of the said Chapel of the Transfiguration.
A committee to consider the plan and scope of the contemplated removal of this Church was appointed,
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consisting of Messrs. W. W. Warren, Fred S. Robinson and James A. Robinson.
On September 22nd, 1897, the following resolution offered by Mr. Sutherland G. Taylor, was passed:
"Whereas, The said Church property on West 69th Street has been purchased, and alterations made by Mr. Geo. W. Quintard, who consents and agrees to sell and transfer the same to St. Stephen's Parish as per agreement accepted by the Rector and Vestry April 3, 1897, be it therefore
"Resolved, That the Vestry of this Church hereby agree and do agree to sell the Parish Church now lo- cated at No. 571/2 West Forty-sixth Street, and that the proceeds of such sale shall be applied to the purchase of the said church property on the south side of West Sixty-ninth Street."
The Church building in West Forty-sixth Street was subsequently leased temporarily, from June, 1897, to January, 1898, to Rev. Chas. H. Eaton for use by the congregation of the Church of the Divine Paternity, at a monthly rental of $200.00.
The text of the agreement entered into between Mr. George W. Quintard and the corporation of St. Stephen's Parish, is as follows :
"Know all men by these presents: That Geo. W. Quintard, of the City, County and State of New York, for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to him in hand paid, by St. Stephen's Church, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, does hereby promise to and agree with St. Stephen's Church in the city of New York, that he will suffer and allow it to use and occupy the premises known as the Chapel of the Trans-
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figuration in 69th Street between Columbus and Amster- dam Avenues in the city of New York, as a place of worship, and for other purposes of said Church, with- out payment to him or his heirs, executors, and ad- ministrators of any rent or other charges, except as hereinafter mentioned, for the term of two (2) years from the first day of October, 1897.
And he further promises and agrees to convey said premises to said St. Stephen's Church, free and clear from all encumbrances, at any time during said term, upon request of said Church, upon payment to him of the sum of Eighty-five Thousand Dollars and interest on said sum from the date of his acquiring the prop- erty to the date of his conveying the same to said Church, to be computed at the rate of five per centum per annum; and, also, all the taxes, assessments, water rates and other charges thereupon, and all insurance thereon paid by him.
And St. Stephen's Church agrees to occupy said premises for the above purposes only.
And further agrees that if at any time during said term it becomes able so to do it will thereafter pay to said George W. Quintard all sums paid by him for taxes, assessments, Croton water rates, insurance and other charges upon said premises, and also interest upon the sum of Eighty-five Thousand Dollars at five per cent. per annum, or so much of said sum as it may be able to pay.
In Witness whereof the parties hereto have here- unto set their hands and seals this 21st day of September, 1897.
Witness :
GEO. W. QUINTARD. [SEAL. ]
JOHN YARD.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. STEPHEN'S,
CHAS. R. TREAT, Rector.
Witness : FRANCIS K. SEAGRIST, Clerk. [SEAL. ] SUTHERLAND G. TAYLOR.
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A protest was filed with the Standing Committee against the removal of St. Stephen's congregation to the chapel in Sixty-ninth Street, because of the nearness of Christ Church, and of the Church of All Angels. This delayed the consent of the Standing Committee until the matter between the parishes could be satis- factorily arranged.
As already stated the building in West Sixty-ninth Street had been purchased and its use offered to St. Stephen's, and accepted. The vestry had decided to make the move, and on the third day of October, 1897, the first service was held in the new parish Church, West Sixty-ninth Street.
In December, 1897, the Rev. Sidney Hubbell Treat, son of the rector, was appointed assistant minister of St. Stephen's Church, and so continued until June, 1898. Like his father he was an honor man at Williams' Col- lege and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. At the time of his death, which occurred January 29th, 1903, in the thirty-second year of his age, he was rector of St. James' Church, Greenfield, Mass.
In January, 1898, by resolution of the vestry, the rector, Messrs. Taylor and MacCoy were appointed a committee to adjust the matter of difference between St. Stephen's Church and the authorities of the diocese.
In the Fall of 1898, the Vestry voted to sell the Church in West Forty-sixth Street, for the sum of seventy thousand dollars.
Mr. Wm. H. Davis, the organ builder, made an agree- ment with the Finance Committee to take the organ in the Forty-sixth Street Church in payment for improve-
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ments and repairs to be made on the organ in the Sixty- ninth Street Church.
The services at St. Stephen's under Mr. Treat's rec- torship were of a devotional and impressive character. The musical selections were elaborate, and rendered by a quartette choir under the direction of Mrs. Ada F. Taylor (who for ten years was the voluntary organist of the Church). The monthly musical services were a prominent feature, and the Young Men's Club and Sunday school were in a flourishing condition.
Mr. Treat died October 3rd, 1899. His funeral took place from St. Stephen's Church, on Friday, October 6th. The Rev. Dr. Peters, of St. Michael's Church, conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Brown, of St. Thomas', Dr. Lubeck, Dr. Parker Morgan ; the Rev. George Pratt, the Rev. George W. Ferguson, of Ossining, and the Rev. William Holden, of Northport.
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