USA > New York > History of the Church of Zion and St. Timothy of New York 1797-1894 > Part 9
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Him to whose worship and glory this House is consecrated. It testifies that in this, as in other things, we wish, and we mean, to keep God's commands. It is, therefore, where we have placed it, a religious symbol ; and though one or two, I understand, have taken offence at it, as if it were a political banner, I trust that what I have now said will suffice to show that it is linked with our very hopes of heaven ; since he who doeth the will of our Father who is in heaven, can alone expect to enter that blest abode, and His will is, that we be subject to, and resist not, the powers that be. The Flag at the base of our spire is, in our present condition, as truly an emblem of our religion as the Cross upon its summit. Therefore, it flies there with my full consent, and with the consent of the lay authorities of the Parish. Therefore, we gather under its folds, by the same title by which we assemble beneath the Banner of the Son of God. There- fore, we pray that it may float over the whole land, the sign of subjection, not alone to the power of man, but, chiefly and above all, to the supreme ordinance of the Most High.
In the spring of 1861, the peal of bells, remarkable for purity of tone and harmony, was hung in the vacant belfry under the graceful spire.
There is an episode that is somewhat interesting in this connection. In or about 1846, these bells were on board a sailing vessel, bound from New York to a southern port. The vessel was stranded, during a gale, shortly after the
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voyage began. The cargo was recovered and sold with the exception of the bells. By order of the master of the vessel these were stored in a warehouse, the lessee of which hap- pened to be, in 1861, a member of Zion parish. Upon hear- ing that the Vestry were about to purchase a peal of bells, he offered the use of these three bells until a lawful claimant appeared. They were recast with additional metal, and hoisted into the tower, where for thirty years they have given forth their clear and musical sound, under the skilful handling of Richard Steele, the assistant sexton since 1856.
" One hastening to business in those days from the upper part of the city, about the third hour of the day, would hear bell after bell calling to prayer. Zion Church begins, and the low tone from Holy Innocents Chapel echoes back the call. The sound is lost in the distance, to be replaced by the triple chime of Trinity Chapel. The deep tone from the Church of the Holy Communion sounds on the wind to the Annunciation. If one turns aside to the right he may catch the sound of St. Luke's bell, and but for the swelling roar of business he might begin to catch from far down town Old Trinity's chiming summons to prayer."
In 1863, the Rector's committee on "decorations and improvements," composed of Messrs. Joseph Sands, Gerard B. De Peyster, Thomas B. Peck, and Eugene Schiefflin, un- dertook extensive alterations. These embraced the con- struction of an organ chamber north of the chancel by enlarging arches on two sides, the purchasing of a new organ, and the building of a vestry-room south of the
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chancel connecting with the chapel or Sunday-school room. The desirableness of the proposed scheme, which transferred the organ to its proper place, thus relieving the large west window and gallery, and adding to the light and accommodation of the edifice, met not only with the ap- proval of the Vestry, but also with the very general and liberal response of the congregation.
When the organ was removed from the gallery, seats were arranged there for the accommodation of the children of the Protestant Episcopal Orphans' Home and Asylum, who had hitherto occupied the seats in front of the pews.
The parish had now reached a point in its progress when a more liberal development of policy was necessary to in- sure the continuance of its growth, and the increase of its strength. Thus far it had proceeded on what might be called an hereditary policy, a policy into which it naturally grew under the entirely different circumstances of its former position.
The Rector concluded the before-mentioned exhortation to his Vestry by indicating where some of the principal de- ficiencies lay, and by saying that in his belief there was no congregation in the city which, as a body, surpassed that of Zion in cultivated intelligence. The Vestry was thus incited to action, which resulted in a considerable advance in the rent from pews. This sum supplied the means requisite for a decided improvement in the character of the church music, besides securing the services of a permanent, instead of an occasional assistant minister.
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During the following year, 1864, upon the solicitation of the Rector, the fee of the land opposite the church building, leased in 1856 to Henry Coggill, was offered for sale. The Rector, in a communication to the Vestry upon this subject, said : "For myself I shall be glad when the last cent of property outside of the church and its appendages is gone. We shall then rest where alone a parish can rest with safety, on our own zeal and energy."
The selling of these five lots had the approval of the Hon. Murray Hoffman, and the consent of a majority of the corporators. Mr. Theodore Edgerton was the pur- chaser at $48,000. That site is now the residence of Mr. Theodore A. Havemeyer, who has extensively altered and enlarged the dwelling erected by Mr. Coggill. The pro- ceeds from this sale were applied toward the building of the rectory and the payment of the mortgage debt on the church.
In October, 1866, Mr. Alfred W. Fraser was appointed sexton. He has always shown ability in the discharge of the varied and often trying duties of his office, which he held until the period of the union of this Parish with that of St. Timothy.
The building of the rectory was not however commenced until 1867, by reason of the high price of labor and building material, incident to the premium on gold caused by the Civil War. Mr. Emlen T. Littell was chosen architect. The building, 25 x 63 feet, is in architectural harmony with the church which it adjoins, and is built of graystone
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resembling in color the rock used in the church building. The cost was about $25,000. It recedes from the front line about thirty-six feet, so as not to interfere with the light of the church. The interior arrangements are very comfortable, commodious, and cheerful; the building is lighted on all four sides, has parlor, library, and dining-room on first floor, and seven bedrooms on second and third floors. It was furnished and ready for occupancy during the autumn of 1868. The sombre willows within the railing gave the church and rectory a very quaint appearance.
In August, 1863, occurred the resignation of the Rev. Matthias E. Willing, Rector of the Church of the Atone- ment, which had been adopted as a mission chapel by Zion Church. The Vestry of the Church of the Atone- ment, in accepting the resignation, recognized the fact that all the funds necessary for the existence of the parish had been supplied by the parent church, and did not therefore think it expedient longer to retain the form of Church, an informal but practical dissolution took place. a parish. After conference with the Rector of Zion The mission was thenceforth known as Zion Chapel, thus giving it solidity and permanence. For the maintenance of this chapel annual offertories were made at the church, and were always adequate to its needs. The Rev. Mr. Willing was for many years thereafter identified with the New York City Mission Society. He died March 2, 1891, in his seventy-seventh year.
The first curate appointed was the Rev. Albert U. Stan-
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ley, then recently ordained, who remained in charge labor- ing with great fidelity and success, until he resigned in May, 1864, to accept a call from a parish in Connecticut.
The Rev. W. G. French, now the venerable patriarch of the New York City Mission Society, was in charge for about five months. He resigned in September of the same year.
The Rev. John Boyle commenced his services soon after- wards under a temporary appointment. In May, 1865, he was chosen curate. During his curacy a large hall, on Third Avenue, between 38th and 39th Streets, was leased. This was known as Gethsemane Hall, and afforded much larger and more attractive accommodations.
The Rev. James Murray became the curate in September, 1867, resigning January 1, 1869.
The Rev. James Murray's resignation was very reluc- tantly accepted by the Vestry, as he was highly esteemed and beloved by his people.
He went to the charge of All Saints Memorial Church in the Highlands of New Jersey. There he toiled, as he toiled with us, in season and out of season, too arduously for his delicate and sensitive frame. When he could endure no longer, he came home to his father's house to die. A me- morial service was held in Zion Church Sunday evening, February 4, 1872, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Southgate preaching from the text, "Thy brother shall rise again." An extract from the sermon is here copied, as showing a character worthy of portrayal.
" James Murray was a rare man, in several respects. In
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intellect, he was superior to the common order of humanity. In mental culture, few men, of his age, surpassed him. In scholarship, he was precise and careful. His sermons, for one so young, were models of good writing; terse, clear, unambitious English. They were, as was his nature, unaffected, plain, direct, and sincere.
" His heart was a loving heart, to those who knew him well. But, it took time to appreciate it; for, he had no strong demonstration : show, of all kinds, was most alien to his spirit.
" He was charitable, more than any other man I have ever known. He could not suspect or distrust. And, in conse- quence, he sometimes trusted to his injury. He was not made altogether for the world that is; and, therefore, it may be the better that he is early taken away from it. A more simple, childlike spirit never lived. In a year and-a-half of most familiar intercourse, I never heard him say one hard word of any other.
"And, this was the effect, not only of his charity, but of his modesty. For, he had none, absolutely none, of that self- assertion out of which suspicious thoughts and rough speeches most largely grow. He had, indeed, hardly enough of self in him, for his necessary protection, in such a world as ours. He suffered severely, in one period of his Ministry, because he would not defend himself against wrong. He always preferred to suffer, rather than to resent. And yet, he was delicate and sensitive, to the last degree: and his sensitiveness, working silently within him, helped to wear
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out his young life. He died because he was an exotic in an unfriendly clime ; a plant too tender to live.
" As a workman, he could hardly be excelled. Wholly free from bluster and display, never advertising himself, never asking attention to his work, he was diligent, in season and out of season ; of slender frame, yet never wearied in well- doing ; often going beyond his strength, never falling short of it; performing the humblest toil most gladly, because no one saw him performing it. He entered into the smallest details of missionary work, when he was with us in Zion, with patient assiduity and with minute attention.
"Always cheerful, always hopeful, he lingered in the thought that he might yet give himself to the life of a Missionary in the West. But, his Lord had a better thought for him. He called him to his reward ; too early for the Church, in our human seeming ; but, most gladly, (as his dying words confess), most gladly for himself. He was content to die; and, at last, he wished to die; believ- ing, as he surely did, that, by dying, he would be with his Saviour Christ, which would be far better. He died, as he had lived, in humble trust in Him Who was, in his eyes, the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.
"He has gone away from us. But, the separation is not final. We shall see him again. He will not return to us, but, we shall go to him. We loved him well, when he was with us; and, in that better world, we trust and believe, our old friendship for him will be renewed, under brighter auspices, and with purer souls.
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"Then will fully appear the uses of earth's discipline. And, I am sure, there is no one who knew and loved Murray here, who will not be glad to meet him again : no one who will not expect, out of his high gifts and culture, to see most precious fruits maturing, through Eternity, to the glory of God. For myself, I may say, that I have never known a man more worthy to be loved; none whom I loved better ; none with whom I would more gladly walk in the golden street of the Celestial City."
The Rev. Mr. Murray was succeeded by the Rev. J. Rad- cliffe Davenport, D.D., who, having volunteered his services without compensation, remained in charge for the year 1869, when, for reasons which will hereafter appear, Zion Chapel was discontinued.
The large Sunday-school had, during the continuance of the chapel, the valuable services, as teachers, of several can- didates for the holy ministry who, while prosecuting their course of studies at the General Theological Seminary, usually attended the services of Zion Church. The rec- ords of the parish refer with gratitude to the efficient and faithful services of these and other co-workers, but especially to the ability and energy of Mr. George L. Jewett, who for many years was the Sunday-school superintendent. The fact was recognized that to him were due the marked growth and success of this important seminary of the church.
During the brief period since Bishop Southgate became its Rector, Zion had developed into a strong and active parish, whose influence was constantly widening within a
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region that had become one of the wealthiest in the city, if not the most so. This promising condition of the field wherein Zion had for a decade successfully labored under less favorable and different circumstances, attracted other Epis- copal churches to enter within its parochial boundaries. The Church of the Incarnation, then in Madison Avenue corner 28th Street, secured a site only three blocks removed from Zion in the same avenue, and built a large church in 1864. Within the same year the Church of the Holy Trinity was organized, and erected its first edifice on the large plot of land in the same avenue, but four blocks northward of Zion Church. This was consecrated the fol- lowing year. These movements were projected without either the consent or knowledge of Zion Church, and with- out regard to its canonical rights.
The inevitable consequence of this undue multiplication of churches soon appeared in the withdrawal from Zion of many parishioners to join one or the other of these new, large, and otherwise attractive churches. To overcome this tendency the Vestry felt constrained to employ methods more competitive than churchly in character. An organist and a quartette choir, conspicuous for rendering the most elaborate and ornate music in any Anglican church, were engaged. Their efforts proved successful in point of draw- ing audiences so large as to make awkward any ingress to one's pew. All the pews were rented, and there were numer- ous applicants for such as were surrendered. While it can- not be denied that the temporal interests of the parish were
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thereby promoted, its spiritual welfare was, in the judgment of the Rector and many others, imperilled. These trying circumstances continued for two years, until 1868, when a change in the character of the music became a necessity. The Vestry on March 5th, by the casting vote of the Chair, resolved to place the appointment of an organist and choir where, by church ordinance, power over them belonged, and where by precedent in this parish it had (excepting the last engagement) always been placed. By virtue of this author- ity, the Rector concluded an arrangement for a vested choir of men and boys out of regard for, as he believed, the inter- ests of the parish, both spiritual and temporal.
Upon the execution of this contract, a petition numer- ously signed by parishioners was received by the Vestry, wherein it was stated that the petitioners, "having learned that a change in the choir from a quartette to one of men and boys is contemplated, would respectfully request that the present style of music be continued." The contract having been executed prior thereto, was observed in- violate. This radical change (with all the then apprehen- sions of ritualistic practices) aroused much dissatisfaction among the admirers of the retiring choir, which feeling culminated in a closely contested election for Wardens and Vestrymen, Easter Monday, April 15th, when seventy-six votes were received.
The regular ticket having been elected, many families thereupon severed their connection with the parish, as if their relation thereto was no more than that of patrons.
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At this election some votes, chiefly of members of Zion Chapel, were challenged, and their legality was contested in the Supreme Court. The decision of the trial judge sus- tained the validity of the votes. Appeal was taken, and the decision was affirmed by the full bench. The Vestry, doubt- ing the equitable right of these votes, changed the legal status of the chapel in its relation to the parish church (Act April 23, 1867).
The parish at this juncture suffering a loss of nearly half of its parishioners, and a corresponding falling off in its revenue, was compelled, after exhausting all other ways and means, to mortgage its church building and land to meet current expenses, and to discontinue Zion Chapel with its large Sunday-school, though the latter was endeared to many of the workers in the parish.
We gratefully record the fact that not long afterward the Church of the Holy Trinity assumed the lease of Gethse- mane Hall in Third Avenue, and maintained a chapel and a flourishing Sunday-school, which was attended by many of the scholars from Zion Chapel.
Thus the parish lingered between life and death until September, 1872, when the Rector tendered his resignation. In the letter announcing that decision several expedients to restore the parish were suggested by the Rector for the consideration of the Vestry. From among them we extract the following, as prophetic.
The Rector dwelt at length upon the future welfare of the parish, recognizing its present condition as one justify-
RT. REV. HORATIO SOUTHGATE, D.D. I45
ing much concern. " My belief is that Zion cannot rise under any regular system of administration without changing her location. The truth is that the region around us has become overcrowded with churches and the disproportion- ate increase still goes on. I believe that she soon will be compelled to do it. As population is advancing northward, here she can only keep up an existence of rivalry in a field which does not need her. I think such a course is unworthy of her and must soon terminate."
To which communication the following reply was made :
" To the Rt. Rev. Horatio Southgate, D.D.,
" Rt. Rev. and Dear Sir :
" The Vestry in accepting your resignation to take effect on the first day of September next, cannot, without doing injustice to their feelings, and, to those of the parishioners they represent, permit your pastoral relations to terminate without an expression of sincere regret, and of testimony to your long and faithful pastorate.
" Although there are few of the present members of your Vestry who were parishioners of Zion at the time you assumed the charge of the parish, still, there are amongst its members some who are not unmindful of the unpromis- ing condition of the work when you accepted the relations which it is now your purpose to sever. Beginning with a small nucleus, gradually under your faithful, persistent, and earnest effort, you gathered a united, consistent, and devoted IO
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flock, who thoroughly appreciated the worth of mind and character of the Pastor.
"Thus Zion continued for many years increasing in power and usefulness under your untiring zeal, until within the field which she alone occupied, there were erected several large Churches, thus depleting her strength and diminishing her influence.
" The consequent impoverished condition of the Parish has for some time past deeply exercised both yourself and Vestry, and has prompted you after mature reflection to tender your resignation. Under the circumstances we can well imagine and fully appreciate the conflict in your mind of your sense of duty to the parish.
"The severance of the connection of Pastor and People cannot but awaken deep emotion, and naturally provokes a retrospect of the long, agreeable, and, may we not trust profitable, associations. Memory lingers upon our many official meetings, in which were always shown your unwaver- ing love and confidence for all that concerns our Zion, even amidst the threatening clouds which at times darkened her future. The same trustful spirit presided and pervaded our councils.
"Of your sacerdotal relations, words from laymen, seem too feeble to approach even their consideration, when the subject of our thought is one elevated to the highest rank in the Master's service. Still we offer our feeble tribute, in the hope that poor as may be our words, they may convey
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to you the assurance of our high esteem for you in all the relations associated with your office.
" We can hardly express how highly we have valued the performance of all your ministration amongst us, your readi- ness of thought and expression, suitable to the clearness and excellency of the Holy Word, the earnestness and direct- ness which characterized your instructions and admonitions, the encouragement and effort with which you led Zion into missionary work, these and other thoughts which illumine our recollections of your Pastoral associations and intercourse, will we trust long be cherished by the members of Zion.
"In anticipation of the period fixed by yourself for your withdrawal from us, we offer our earnest prayer that in your future labors in the Master's work you may have continued to you that measure of health and strength which has hitherto been vouchsafed to you."
During the rectorate of Bishop Southgate he was assisted by the Rev. Edwin Benjamin Russell in 1865, Rev. Walton W. Battershall 1866-67, Rev. Robert Evans Dennison 1868, Rev. Edward Southgate 1870.
An interval of one year elapsed before a successor to Bishop Southgate was elected. During that period services were regularly held by the Rev. William A. Holbrook and Rev. Curtis T. Woodruff. The latter always cherished pleasing recollections of his early association with this parish. There he was confirmed, married, ordained to Holy
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Orders, and preached his first sermon. He died February, 1887, his funeral taking place at Zion Church.
Bishop Southgate lived for many years a very quiet and retired life at Astoria, Long Island, suffered more or less, was seldom able to attend church. He died April 12, 1894, in his eighty-second year. The funeral services were held at the Church of the Redeemer, Astoria, on Monday, April 16th, and were attended by a large number of the clergy and laity. The Right Rev. A. N. Littlejohn, D.D., LL.D., of Long Island, the Right Rev. Henry C. Potter, D.D., LL.D., of New York, the Right Rev. Leighton Coleman, S.T.D., LL.D., of Delaware, the Right Rev. Frederick Courtney, D.D., of Nova Scotia, the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix, the Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Haskins, and the Rev. Dr. Edmund D. Cooper, Rector of the parish, occupied seats in the chancel.
The other vested clergymen sat in the front pews on the north side of the nave; among them were the Rev. Dr. Cornelius Duffie, the Rev. Dr. Henry Lubeck, the Rev. Joshua Kimber, the Rev. James Hoyt Smith, the Rev. A. Vallete Clarkson, the Rev. Mr. Kuehn, the Rev. Edward H. C. Goodwin, the Rev. C. M. Belden, the Rev. Joseph W. Hill, and the Rev. W. H. Weeks. The service was a very impressive one. The bishops and clergy, preceded by the choir, met the body at the door of the church, the opening sentences being recited by the Bishop of Nova Scotia. The lesson was read by the Bishop of New York, the Nicene Creed was recited by the Bishop of Long Island. The
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Bishop of Delaware made the address, and paid a most glowing tribute to the memory of the departed prelate, reviewing his self-denying and successful Oriental mission. The burial was in the family plot, Kensico Cemetery, where the committal service was read ; the Bishop of Delaware, the Rev. Dr. Cooper, and the choir of the Church of the Redeemer accompanying the body to the cemetery.
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