USA > New York > Tompkins County > Ithaca > History of the First Presbyterian church of Ithaca, New York, during one hundred years : the anniversary exercises, January twenty-first to twenty-fourth, 1904 > Part 10
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* Col. Ebenezer Thayer, born in Williamstown, Mass., 1788, came to Ithaca in Dec. 1818, when "there were forty-two buildings there." "At the first 4th of July celebration, 1809, Col. Thayer fired the first gun, Dr. Lewis Beers of Danby being President of the Day, David Wood- cock the Orator, and Rev. Gerrit Mandeville the Chaplain. Next day, the frame of the Ithaca Hotel was raised for Luther Geer." Col. Thayer states that the first marriage in Ithaca oc- curred Sept. 10th, 1810, when he and Miss Martha McNeal Eager were married by Rev. Gerrit Mandeville. Miss Eager was born at Goshen, N. Y., and came here with her father, Capt. John Eager, in July, 1808; he was the first silversmith in Ithaca.
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MUSIC AND MUSICIANS
years," states that Col. Thayer was " the second chorister of the Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, and the first in the new Methodist Church, and later in the Baptist Church in the same place." We wish he had told who was the first chorister.
Dr. Wisner, who may be properly termed the father of this Church, seems to have had the same idea of music as Addison, who said :
" Music, among those who were styled the chosen people, was a religious art. The songs of Zion, which we have reason to believe were in high repute among the courts of the eastern monarch, were nothing else but psalms and pieces of poetry that adored or celebrated the Supreme Being. The greatest conqueror in this holy nation, after the manner of the old Grecian lyrics, did not only compose the words of his divine odes, but generally set them to music him- self. After which, his works, 'tho' they were consecrated to the tabernacle, became the national entertainment as well as the devotion of his people."
It is said of Dr. Wisner that he was very musical and particularly enjoyed chanting. Many of the anthems and psalms which were sung in his day by the choir were in chant form. In the early days the choir-master probably gave the pitch with his tuning fork and the hymns were chanted or sung.
The earliest instrument to be used was a inelodeon; it was played by Augusta Herrick, daughter of Deacon Herrick ; as she died in 1836, it must have been in use several years before that date. Miss Herrick was a great favorite among her mates ; her early death was much mourned by them ; at her funeral the choir sang : "Sister, thou art mild and lovely, gentle as the summer breeze."
"Deacon " Rollo lead one of the early choirs, and also conducted a sing- ing school in the village. A little later the Dix family came here; they all were famous singers. One of them, who sang soprano in our choir, after- wards went as a Missionary to Oregon. (See page 31.)
One of the records of the Church in Dr. Wisner's time contains this para- graph : "The choir leaders, Dix and Chambers, were paid certain sums for which they agreed to teach the singers outside of the Church work." It is assumed that they had what was termed a singing school to train the singers in the rudiments of music.
In the first church, built in 1816, it is learned that the following persons sang in the choir about the year 1840 during the pastorate of Dr. Wisner :
Mrs. Benjamin Halsey, Soprano.
Mrs. Deacon Leonard, Alto.
Miss Eliza Selover (Mrs. J. S. Tichenor), Soprano.
Mr. Joshua S. Lee, Basso.
Mr. John Dix (leader), Tenor.
Mr. Deacon Leonard, Basso.
Mr. Jerome Chambers (leader later on).
About the year 1845 the following seem to have constituted the choir in the same pastorate :
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Mrs. Samuel Stoddard, Soprano.
Mr. Samuel Stoddard, Tenor.
Mrs. Sarah Robbins. Soprano.
Mr. Julius Ackley, Basso.
Mrs. Joseph S. Tichenor, Soprano.
Mr. Joseph S. Tichenor, Basso.
Miss Carrie Dix, Alto.
Miss Susan Wells, Alto.
Dr. Edward Dunning, Basso.
No other facts of interest have come to the notice of the writer before the occupancy of the second church edifice which was built in 1853. At that time the choir consisted of the following :
Miss Amelia Wilgus (Mrs. Edward Esty), Soprano.
Miss Lucy Sage, Alto. Mr. Orson Kimball, Tenor.
Mrs. H. K. Kimball, Soprano,
Mr. Samuel Stoddard, Tenor.
Miss Harriet Williams, Soprano.
Mr. Charles F. Blood, Basso.
Miss Julia Nichols, Alto.
Mr. Merritt Wood, Basso.
Mrs. Lucy Dunning, Alto.
Mrs. Caroline Wood, Alto.
Dr. Edward Dunning, Basso.
Of these, Mrs. Wood and Miss Harriet Williams are still residents of Ithaca. This choir sang in the pastorate of Rev. Wm. McHarg.
Up to this time, either from lack of funds or from a natural objection to the use of instruments in connection with the music of the Church, there seems to have been no instrument other than a melodeon or a tuning fork used, so far as can be ascertained. Macaulay says of one of his characters : " He defended the use of instrumental music in public on the ground that the tones of the organ had a power to counteract the influence of devils." About the year 1862 a movement was made to secure a pipe organ and on October 15, 1862, a pipe organ costing $1,200, purchased from Mr. Garret House, of Buffalo, N. Y., was placed in the church. The original subscrip- tion list for that organ is now on exhibition in the chapel. That organ was used for about twenty-five years when it was replaced by a larger one by the same maker, during the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Stryker, the original organ having been sold to the Aurora Street Methodist Church of this city where it is still being used. It was noted for the exceptional sweetness and purity of its tone. Soon after the installation of the new organ, Recitals were given by Mr. George Washburn Morgan of Grace Church, N. Y. city, Mr. James Hiller of London, England, and Prof. I. V. Flagler of Auburn, N. Y.
In the early sixties the choir was largely under the direction of the Hon. Edward S. Esty, who for more than twenty years served as organist and took a great interest in the music of the Church. During most of this time Mrs. Helen S. Granger acted as soprano soloist and directress, or as organist and soprano combined. (Mrs. Granger was the daughter of Mrs. Benjamin Halsey who twenty years before had been a soprano singer in the choir.) Mrs. Granger was from twenty to twenty-five years the inspiring and direct-
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ing force of the music of the Church. The choir from 1860 to 1865 seems to have been composed of the following persons :
Mrs. Helen Granger, Soprano. Mr. Charles B. Curtis, Tenor.
Mrs. S. P. Sherwood, Soprano.
Mr. Jas. H. Tichenor, Tenor.
Mrs. Jos. Esty, jr., Alto. Mr. Chas. F. Blood, Basso.
Mrs. Ossian G. Howard, Alto.
Hon. Edward S. Esty, Organist.
Mr. Curtis also played the French horn during some of the festival occasions.
This was during the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Torrey. Of these Mrs. Granger, Mrs. Sherwood, Mrs. Jos. Esty, jr., and Mr. Curtis are still living.
So far as can be learned during the ten years from 1865 to 1875 the music was furnished principally by the persons above mentioned, with some others, under the direction of Hon. Edward S. Esty who acted as organist, or of Mrs. Helen S. Granger as soprano and directress of the choir.
About the year 1873, David D. Wilson, a member of the Church and a teacher of music in the village, had charge of the Sunday School singing, and during this time Palmer's Sunday School Book was used, in which will be found some very amusing hymns.
In 1873 congregational singing was adopted under Rev. Dr. White who had strongly advocated it, and on November 13, 1873, the records of the Trustees contain a resolution referring to the Hon. E. S. Esty " coming back to take charge of the organ music." He continued in charge until April 1876.
After trying congregational singing for a time a choir was organized with Mrs. Granger as organist and the following members :
Miss Sarah E. Schaeffer, Soprano. Miss Belle Leonard, Soprano. Mrs. Jos. Esty, jr., Alto.
Mr. R. H. Treman, Tenor. Mr. E. C. Tichenor, Tenor.
Mr. F. M. Bush, Tenor. Mr. W. E. Lape, Basso.
all of whom were connected with the Church or Sunday School, Mr. Lape being a student in Cornell University.
About 1876, Dr. F. S. Howe had charge of the Sunday School music and introduced a musical service, held at 3:00 P. M. Sunday afternoon, which was very largely attended by the young people and was thoroughly enjoyed, as Dr. Howe was a competent leader and associated with him several instru- mental players ; the names of some of whom are as follows :
Dr. F. S. Howe, Violin. Mr. Wm. King, Flute.
Mr. Wm. Blakeslee, Clarionet.
Miss Alice Blakeslee, Double Bass. Mr. Blakeslee, Sr., Trombone. Mr. Solomon Grant, Cornet.
About the year 1877 Mr. Edwin C. Tichenor, son of James H. Tichenor, a former choir member, had charge of the Sunday School music and led the
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
singing in the Wednesday evening prayer-meetings. It is interesting to note that his father and his grand-mother, whose maiden name was Miss Eliza Selover, also his grand-fathers, Joshua Lee and Joseph S. Tichenor, were members of the choir in the earlier years of the Church.
The music in 1877-78 was furnished by a choir of male voices composed of the following :
Mr. E. C. Tichenor, Second Tenor. Mr. R. H. Treman, Second Tenor. Dr. Andrews, Second Bass.
Mr. John Wilson, First Tenor.
Mr. W. H. Storms, Second Bass.
Mr. W. D. Halsey, First Tenor. Mr. W. F. Major, First Tenor. Mr. Ward Hodson, First Bass.
This music was carried on for several months under the direction of Mrs. Granger as organist and proved very satisfactory, until the spring of 1878, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Stryker, who favored placing the choir behind the pulpit, which led to the abandonment of the male choir and the installation of a new organ back of the pulpit, and congregational singing led by Mr. Grant's cornet. Mr. R. H. Treman acted as precentor for some months, and, although the congregational singing, under the leadership of the cornet, proved to be quite successful, it was finally abandoned. About the year 1883 the following choir was organized :
Miss Lois Hanford (Mrs. Dann), Soprano. Mr. Robert H. Treman, Tenor. Miss Georgia Beach (Mrs. L. C. Perry), Alto. Mr. W. H. Storms, Basso. Miss Jean L. Halsey, Organist.
This choir continued for a few years with slight change during the latter part of the pastorate of Dr. Stryker and the beginning of that of Dr. Fiske.
From 1885 to 1888 the choir was composed of
Miss Lois Hanford ( Mrs. Dann), Soprano. Mr. R. H. Treman, Tenor. Mrs. R. H. Treman, Alto. Mr. W. H. Storms, Basso. Miss Louise Storms, Alto. Miss Jean L. Halsey, Organist.
In 1889 the records show the choir to be composed of
Mrs. Samuel H. Wilcox (Mrs. John L. Morris, Soprano. Mr. Clarence H. Esty, Basso.
Mrs. Rosamond Field ( Mrs. Clarence H. Esty), Alto.
Mr. Hollis E. Dann, Tenor.
This was during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Fiske and the choir arrange- ments were made each year, with slight changes from time to time. From 1890-92
Miss Lois Hanford ( Mrs. Dann), Soprano. Miss Phillips, Alto.
Mr. H. E. Dann, Tenor. Mr. C. W. Old, Basso.
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And in 1892-93
Mrs. H. E. Dann, Soprano.
Miss Florence Doyle, Alto.
Mr. H. E. Dann, Tenor. Mr. F. H. Parkhurst, Basso.
About 1893 the choir was composed of a double quartette, sometimes increased, the following persons singing during that time :
Mrs. H. E. Dann, Soprano.
Mr. H. E. Dann, Tenor.
Miss Casterline, Soprano.
Dr. J. B. Howe, Tenor.
Miss Doyle (Mrs. Merz), Contralto.
Mr. F. H. Parkhurst, Basso.
Miss Lou Williams, Contralto.
Mr. Crehore, Basso.
Miss Sullivan, Contralto.
Mr. C. E. Treman, Basso.
Later, from 1895 to 1900, the choir changed from time to time, the fol- lowing persons singing a portion of the time :
Miss Lucy I. Marsh, Soprano. Mrs. F. A. Mangang, Soprano.
Miss Mary Bott ( Mrs. C. E. Treman), Soprano.
Mr. E. C. Tichenor, Tenor and Choir- master.
Mr. E. B. Hoagland, Basso.
Mr. F. B. DeLano. Baritone.
Miss Florence Doyle (Mrs. August Merz), Contralto.
During this period Mr. Tichenor played the harp and 'cello, as the occa- sion demanded, and Miss Lena G. Marsh the violin. Miss Halsey was organist.
While the new church was being erected services were held in the Lyce- um, and, as can be appreciated, the music was conducted under many disad- vantages. 'The choir sang in the orchestra pit on a slightly raised platform. Its music proved very satisfactory. The persons composing the choir at that time were :
Mrs. A. B. Trowbridge, Soprano. Mrs. W. C. Baker, Soprano.
Miss Mary Bott (Mrs. C. E. Treman, ) Soprano. Miss Minnie Smith, Alto. Miss Kate Wool, Alto.
Mr. A. B. Trowbridge, Tenor. Mr. W. E. Mott, Tenor.
Mr. F. B. DeLano, Basso.
Mr. Edward Smith, Basso, Mr. E. C. Tichenor, Director.
This was during the pastorate of Mr. Fitschen, this choir continuing until services were begun in the new church.
A new pipe organ was the gift of Mrs. Elias Treman, in memory of her husband. It was built by the Austin Organ Co., of Hartford, Conn. It has three manuals, thirty-seven stops, and the action is electric. It was opened by a brilliant Recital given by Mr. Edwin H. Lemare, Organist of St. Mar- garet's, Westminster, England, Oct. 14, 1901.
At the opening of the new church Mr. H. E. Dann was given entire
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
charge of the choir, and a chorus choir of about forty voices organized under his leadership has proved to be most successful in rendering the Church music. The names of a number of those forming this choir from time to time are herewith given.
ORGANISTS.
Miss Jean Halsey. Mrs. George H. Gould. Mr. Geo. Goldsmith Daland.
DIRECTOR-Mr. Hollis E. Dann.
SOPRANOS.
Miss Louise Beaman.
Miss A. Winifred Fuller.
Miss Sarah Schaeffer.
Mrs. E. D. Button1.
Miss Bertha Holmes.
Miss Lulu G. Seaman.
Miss Jennie Cook.
Miss Blanche Ireland.
Mrs. Joseph Utter.
Miss Lelah V. Corbin.
Miss Susie C. Keegan.
Miss Cora Van Natten.
Mrs. H. E. Dann.
Miss Faynetta Markell.
Miss Charlotte Van Natten.
Mrs. Eric Dudley. Miss Helen E. Finch.
Mrs. H. L. Norwood.
Miss Mary C. Wood.
Miss Blanche Roe.
ALTOS.
Miss Mabel Clare Almy.
Miss Zoe Fulton.
Miss Elizabeth Meeker.
Miss Bertha Boice.
Miss Celia Gensburg.
Miss Esther A. Mintz.
Miss Etta Conover.
Miss Anna E. Graham.
Miss Minnie B. Pace.
Miss Bessie Cook.
Miss Blanche Hardee.
Miss Kathleen Pearson.
Miss Grace Dayton. Mrs. G. G. Daland.
Miss Jennie F. Illston.
Miss Margaret F. Sumner.
Miss Katherine Wool.
TENORS.
Mr. E. D. Button.
Mr. W. D. Gray.
Mr. J. N. Smith.
Mr. Jerome B. Chase.
Mr. J. H. Middleton.
Mr. Morgan B. Smith.
Mr. E. A. Denton.
Mr. Frederic A. Mills.
Mr. J. V. Taylor.
Mr. Paul Farling.
Mr. B. E. Sanford.
Mr. W. R. Wheeler.
Mr. R. C. Fenner.
Mr. Frederick Schmerle.
Mr. D. S. Whitcomb.
Mr. W. S. Finlay.
Mr. Courtney A. Squier.
BASSES.
Mr. E. G. Ackart.
Mr. Louis A. Fuertes.
Mr. C. W. Hyde.
Mr. N. D. Becker.
Mr. F. D. Fuller.
Mr. Leon Patrick.
Mr. Ralph B. Day.
Mr. Maurice S. Ham.
Mr. W. F. Pond.
Mr. F. B. DeLano.
Mr. C. W. Haefner.
Mr. Merle Putney.
Mr. B. C. Dennison.
Mr. Edward Holmes.
Mr. E. A. Steele.
Mr. C. W. Dowd.
Mr. Elmer Hook.
Mr. R. L. Stone.
Mr. Eric Dudley.
Mr. R. L. Hutton.
Mr. Walter Sweet.
Miss Halsey was continued as organist, but during one year her work was divided with Mrs. George H. Gould and Miss Halsey was given a vacation of three months. During the present season Mr. George G. Daland, of the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, and Miss Halsey are acting as organists for the
Miss Norma Minton.
Mrs. F. D. Whiting.
Miss E. S. Ingersoll.
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Church services, the Sunday School work and in connection with the Friday afternoon Musicales, which are free to everyone and are continued from about the middle of November until April. These Musicales have been very successful. Most of those participating donate their services; a large number of them are members of our own Church. The purpose is to make use of the organ for the benefit of those who enjoy music.
The chorus choir, under the direction of Mr. Dann, has rendered with great success, the sacred cantatas, Dudley Buck's Christ the Victor, Dr. John Stainer's The Daughter of Jairus, and Alfred R. Gaul's The Holy City. This form of Church music has given great satisfaction to large and delighted congregations.
The writer desires to state that he has been unable to secure the names of all those who have been members of the choirs, but so far as the facts gath- ered are concerned, they show that those who have given the longest service and have participated the most actively in the music of the church are Mr. John Dix, Hon. E. S. Esty, Mrs. Jos. Esty, jr., Mrs. Helen Granger, General C. F. Blood, Mr. Edwin C. Tichenor, Mr. R. H. Treman, Miss Jean L. Halsey, Mrs. H. E. Dann and Prof. H. E. Dann. Praise, however, should be given to all those who have donated their services, and the writer regrets that he has been obliged to leave out the names of a large number who have taken part in this work, but whose names have not been recorded.
EDWIN C. TICHENOR.
history of the Sunday School
PART ONE
THE "SABBATH SCHOOL " UNDER ITS FIRST CONSTITUTION .- FROM ORGAN- IZATION TO THE ELECTION OF MR. GEORGE MCCHAIN AS SUPERIN- TENDENT.
1826-1855.
While the Sunday School movement originated with Robert Raikes in 1783, it was not until about 1816 that there was in the United States any extensive organization of Sunday Schools for religious instruction. The American Sunday School Union was founded in 1824.
"The Ithaca Sabbath School " was organized in April, 1826, at a meeting held for that purpose in the Presbyterian church. It was evidently the inten- tion at the outset, to make it a union School ; for the constitution makes no reference to the Presbyterian Church, and states as the object of the society, " to secure the exertions of persons of every religious denomination in the institution of Sabbath Schools."
We learn from the report of the managers, presented at the first annual meeting, that frequent attempts had theretofore been made under favorable auspices to establish Sabbath Schools in Ithaca ; but that, for various causes, the Schools that had been so organized " had been suffered to dwindle and die."
The sessions of the Sabbath School were first held at the "Academy."* The first annual meeting, November 9, 1826, was held at the court house, at which time and place there was a public examination of scholars on the first six chapters of Matthew, t followed by reading of the reports, adoption of reso-
* The place of meeting when mentioned is called the "Academy " until May 27th, 1827, under which date the record states "School Assembled at the New Lancastrian School Room ;" on July 22nd, "at the Academy ;" on July 29th " at the Lancastrian School Room ;" on August 5th "at the Academy alias the Lancastrian School Room ;" on August 12th " at the Lancastrian Room." The natural inference is, that there was a room in the Academy called the Lancastrian School Room, rather than that sessions were held at what was known as the Lancasterian School, which was on Mill Street at the corner of Geneva. Mr. Peter VanHouter, the only member of the School at that time, now surviving, cannot remember anything about the Sunday School, or even that he attended it. He does remember attending the Lancasterian School, and thinks that at the same time there was a building standing on the site of the old Academy now occu- pied by the High School.
t The records state that on the Sunday preceding, in preparation for this examination, "up- wards of seventy scholars presented themselves," both morning and afternoon, for a review of their lessons.
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lutions and election of officers. Thereafter the annual meeting was held at the "Academy " until and including the year 1829. On November 11, 1830, the annual meeting was held, for the first time, at the " Presbyterian Meet- ing House." On November 8, 1832, and thereafter, it was held at the " Ses- sion House." The records of twenty-four out of the thirty annual meetings which should have been held during the period included in the first part of this history, and in many cases the reports presented, are carefully tran- scribed and preserved.
At the beginning, the School held a double session each Sunday, com- inencing at 9 o'clock, with an adjourned session at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After about three months' trial, the second session was discontinued .*
If not existing at the time of the organization of this School, a Methodist School was soon after established ;; for under date of July 4, 1826, we find this entry :
"The children of this Sabbath School united with the Methodist School children, with whom they proceeded in procession to the Presbyterian church, at which place a sermon peculiarly adapted to the day was delivered by the Rev. William Wisner to an overflowing house. After the services the children of both Schools formed in line in the Park and were addressed by Mr. Horace Hunt, superintendent, who commended them for good conduct, and then dismissed them."
This day became historic. Such an observance of the national holiday had not before been known in Ithaca. It furnishes an apt illustration of the manner in which that heroic pioneer, Dr. Wisner, was carrying on his aggres- sive and winning fight for godliness in a place that liad been noted for its wickedness.
In 1827, the scholars of the various Schools of the village, about four hun- dred in number, assembled at the Presbyterian Meeting House to attend the anniversary of the Tompkins County Sabbath School Society.
* The last mention of a regular second session is found under date of July 23, 1826, as follows : "Three o'clock P. M. school assembled, and after receiving their premiums were very feelingly addressed by Ebenezer Jenkins, teacher. Closed with prayer. B. S. Halsey, Sec'y."
+ There must have been a Baptist Sunday School at about the same time, for opposite the name of Sylvester Hunt in a list of the "Names of teachers who have been or are teachers in the Ithaca Sabbath School," apparently prepared in 1826, is written the words, probably added later, "Baptist School." The last mention of Mr. Hunt as a teacher in the Ithaca Sabbath School is under date of January 21st, 1827. The Baptist Church of this city was organized in October, 1826.
į The " Western Museum and Belles-Lettres Repository," a periodical published at Ithaca, under date of June 13, 1827, contains the following :
"According to previous notice the Tompkins County Sabbath School Society and the Tomp- kins County Bible Society celebrated their anniversaries at the Presbyterian Meeting-house, in this village, on Saturday last.
"The Sabbath School Society convened at 10 o'clock A. M. The scholars of the several Schools
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The Sabbath School had been organized with an enrollment of fifty scholars, which increased to a total of one hundred fifty-two before the end of November. The average attendance for the first season was eighty-six. With some fluctuation it gradually increased until 1837 when the total aver- age was one hundred eighty-three (one hundred fifty scholars, and thirty- three teachers), a maximum not reached again until 1880. It declined to one hundred six in 1851, rising again to one hundred thirty in the year pre- ceding the election of Mr. McChain. (See Appendix " B.") About eighty new scholars on the average were admitted each year. Making due allow- ance for the large fluctuation in population, it is evident that the visiting committee found it less difficult to secure new pupils, than to retain them in the School in regular attendance.
Many of the teachers were not members of the Church, and were evidently regarded as " in a lost condition," for we find in a list of the teachers of 1826, opposite the names of three of them, the words " Expressed hope in Christ ;" while in the annual report for that year, the managers say, " Five teachers and eight scholars attached to this School give pleasing evidence that they have passed from death unto life." In 1827, the duties of teachers as well as scholars were strictly and specifically defined. Among other things it was provided, "Teachers must consider themselves as pledged to serve for thir- teen weeks in succession, and engage to be punctual in attendance at the
in the village, about 400 in number, assembled at the above place. It was a most interesting sight. Owing to the lowering appearance of the weather, the friends of the institution who reside in the country were prevented from attending. And we cannot avoid saying that only a few, comparatively speaking, of those who profess an interest and a friendship for Sabbath Schools, and who reside within a mile of the Meeting-house, were present. Considering, how- ever, the fact that it was our first anniversary, we may safely say that the proceedings were peculiarly interesting. The following was the order of the arrangements :
I. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Wisner.
2. Singing-A select hymn by Tappan.
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