USA > New York > Chenango County > Norwich > History of the first one hundred years of the First Congregational Church, Norwich, New York, 1814-1914 > Part 15
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REV. CLARK CHESTER OTIS.
After the retirement of Mr. Upton April 30, the usual committee on pastor was elected and the cam- paign for a new pastor was set going. Candidates galore were heard in the pulpit and one of them, Rev. J. A. Biddle, was given a call, which was " declined with thanks." After several others came and went, Mr. Scoville happened in town one Sunday and preached in the evening; and one Sunday Rev. H. P. V. Bogue, son of Rev. Horace P. Bogue, a pastor of this church in 1830-33, was invited and preached one Sun- day. He lived in Avon, N. Y, In some way the name of Rev. Clark C. Otis, financial secretary of the American Missionary Society, of New York, became known to the committee. Near this time Joseph H. Latham went to New York on business and called on Mr. Otis in the rooms of the society. He brought back a very good report. About that time letters were received from Mr. Upton and Mr. Scoville recommending Mr. Otis, so the committee invited him to come up for a Sunday and preach. He came December 23, 1888. The impres- sion was so favorable that a call was sent him Decem- ber 26; his acceptance was reecived December 31, and he was in Norwich January 4, and ready to take up his work January 6. He went to Stamford, Conn., Monday, January 28, for his family and goods. They were here February 1, and on February 5, a reception was given them in the church parlors, at which time there was a very large attendance. He was certainly "a hustler."
Through the efforts of Mr. Otis, Rev. Charles H. Yatman, evanglist, was secured in the fall of 1889,
REV. CLARK CHESTER OTIS. The Fifteenth Pastor of First Congregational Church, Norwich, N. Y., 1889-1890.
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was a union of the three churches and the meetings were continued until December 23. There were many conversions. Thirty-four came into the Congrega- tional church by the first week in May. Sunday, No- vember 23, 1890, Mr. Otis read his resignation and said he had received a call to the pasorate of the First Congregational Church of Springfield, Ill. It was accepted November 27. Sunday evening, Novem- ber 30, there was held a union meeting as a farewell to Mr. Otis. Rev. T. G. Cass, of the Baptist Church; Rev. E. B. Olmstead of the Methodist Church; Rev. A. J. VanCleft also of the Methodist Church, all took part in the services. Mr. Otis preached a farewell sermon. The next day, Monday, the Young People's Association gave a reception for Mr. Otis and family and presented him with $25.00, to be used in the purchase of a souvenir. December 2 they left for Springfield.
Mr. Otis was a man of great energy, a good ser- monizer and an eloquent speaker. When Prof. Henry Drumond's "Natural Law in the Spiritual World " came out, Mr. Otis preached a series of sermons in sermons in explanation of the book, taking a chapter as a text for each sermon. They were intensely interesting and instructive; and many flashes of eloquence shot out from the thought of the speaker. Some of these flashes came out, Mr. Otis preached a series of Sunday evening meeting talks.
Mr. Otis' father was a Congregational minister. His name was Norman L. Otis and his mother's name was Elizabeth (Morgan) Otis. The son was born March 6, 1856, in Vermontville, Mich., so he was a "Michigander." He was converted in 1871, in Hub- bardston, Mich., and he early decided to become a clergyman. He entered the preparatory department of Olivet College in 1872 and the college proper in 1875. Took first rhetorical prize June 20, 1878, and
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graduated in 1879. His home was then in Crystal, Mich. Entered Theological Seminary at Oberlin the same year, where he spent a year, and two years in Yale Divinity School. Graduated in 1882 and was or- dained by a council, August 3, in Orange, Conn. He preached his first sermon in July, 1880, at Mackinaw, Mich.
December 27, 1881, he married Mary Amelia Reed, daughter of John and Olive Reed, in Olivet, Mich. John Reed was a farmer. Mr. Otis was made financial secretary of the Home Missionary Society Septem- ber 17, 1887. He said he " was married to Congrega- tional Church in Norwich, January 1, 1889." He got a divorce too soon I have always thought.
He came east in the summer of 1886 to raise money for Puget Sound Academy. He secured an en- dowment of $10,000.00; and for purchase of building and forty acres of laid, $5,000.00. The building had been built for a sanitarium, but the owner failed. It is at Coupeville, on Whidby Island, Puget Sound. The people bought the site and Mr. Otis raised the money and got the school started with sixty pupils- all in nine months.
In Orange, Conn., he was pastor from July, 1881, to September, 1883. While he was there the church prospered greatly and there were many conversions. He was installed there August 3, 1882. Rev. H. W. Teller (later pastor in Sherburne, N. Y.) gave the charge to the pastor. Resigned July 1, 1883. Resig- nation accepted July 22. Preached farewell sermon Tuesday, August 19, and the first of the week fol- lowing he left for the west. His wife had gone to Michigan a while before. September 17, 1883, he entered Home Missionary work in Washington Ter- ritory and was stationed at Seattle, and was super- intendent of Western Washington. In July, 1883, he was a delegate from Orange, Conn., to the Home Mis-
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sionary meeting at Saratoga. He raised the last $2,000.00 for Whidby Island school about Christmas, went home about the middle of January, 1887, and organized the church of Whiby Island, at Coupeville with sixteen members. Was appointed General Mis- sionary of the United States and general financial sec- retary, with headquarters in New York.
The following incident better illustrates a very strong feature of Mr. Otis' character than any words I could speak. It also shows what an influence a very trivial incident often has in shaping a person's future life. He was always ready and anxious to do what- ever he could to be of help to some body; and was alert and aways ready to do something worth while.
When he was in Yale Seminary, New Haven, at the breakfast table one Sunday morning he overheard one of the students with whom he was not acquainted, asking one and another of his fellow students to take his place at such a Congregational Sunday school where he had engaged to take a class for that day only, but would not be able to attend. As it hap- pened no one of those to whom he spoke was able to go. After breakfast Mr. Otis introduced himself and said that he noticed that he had trouble to get anyone to take his place and said that he would go if it was agreeable to him. The young man, much pleased, ac- cepted the offer. Mr. Otis went to the church at the time, taught the class, was chosen permanent teacher and became thus a regular attendant of the church and a worker in it though he did not unite with it. The pastor of this church was Rev. H. W. Teller, who was pastor of the Congregational Church in Sher- burne about the time Mr. Otis was in Norwich; and who just before Mr. Otis came to this church, preached in this pulpit one Sunday as a candidate. As a result of all this, Mr. Otis was one day asked to go to Orange, Conn., the following Sunday and preach. He went
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and was soon after called to the pastorate of the church. He had not yet finished his course in the semi- nary, but he accepted the call with the understanding that he should finish his course of study. This he did, serving the church the while. Soon after he began work in Orange, a revival began in the church and many were converted and came into the church. As a result of his work there he was written to by the American Home Missionary Society on the subject of entering the mission field. He attended the convention at Saratoga and while there accepted the appointment to Washington Territory related above.
REV. WILLIAM HENRY SCUDDER.
Mr. Otis had gone and as had been the case so many times since 1879, the church was up against a vacant pastorate; but this time was remarkable for, almost at once, the man we were after loomed up in Boston within a month. Mr. Otis left December 2, 1890. The committee on pastor was appointed Decem- ber 4. Mr. Scoville came December 26, for a wedding and went home. Somebody had heard about Rev. William H. Scudder, of the famous Scudder mission- ary family. He and his family were in Boston, having just come east from the Pacific coast. He was en- gaged to preach in this pulpit for a Sunday, January 13, but, later, on account of the week of prayer he was invited to remain for the week and take charge of the meetings. He consented and came January 5. The service he rendered was so satisfactory that he was called to the pastorate and accepted at once, arriving with his family-his wife and five small children-Jan- uary 21, and took up quarters at the American Hotel.
January 15 the church voted to pay a debt of $1,650.00 and buy or build a parsonage very soon. February 11 Mrs. Scudder gave birth to a daughter, which was named Mary Hedley. It was the sixth
REV. WILLIAM HENRY SCUDDER. The Sixteenth Pastor of First Congregational Church, Norwich, N. Y., 1891-1896.
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child born to them. The family had moved from the hotel to the Isaac Newton house in Hayes street, which happened to be vacant. The church then, more than ever saw the need of a parsonage, but, although the vote to buy or build had been taken a month be- fore, practically nothing had been done; and it took two years more to accomplish it. February 20, 1892, the trustees bought of the estate of Elizur H. Prindle his late residence, 56 West Main street, for $5,000.00. Rather extensive repairs were made and some changes, so that it was not until into the summer of 1892 that the family moved in and got to living there. The Dr. Mitchell bequest of $1,000.00 was used in this purchase.
As time went on two boys were ushered into the pastor's family, making eight children, all of them young; but to the parents there were none too many. They were perfectly willing to endure any sacrifice they were compelled to endure for them. It was not long ,as we shall see, when a terrible emphasis came upon the other side of the beautiful picture.
At the suggestion of Mr. Scudder a Men's Sunday Evening Club was organized about May 1, 1894. Its object was the re-vivifying of the Sunday evening services. There were some fifty or sixty men of the church and society who signed the roster and entered into the scheme with great enthusiasm. There were seven committees of five members each. The first service arranged for was held Sunday evening, May 6, 1894, which was a success. They had an elaborate program of responsive readings, hymns and anthems and other music by the choir. These entertainments went all right for a few times; but the pace was too strong. They could not keep it up, and the enthusi- asm soon began to wane. Then came the eightieth anniversary. This was something which the Club could enthuse over and it was a success. A decade
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service was arranged. Eight persons, each giving the history of one decade, was very enjoyable. Mr. Sco- ville was present and gave an address, and a talk by Dr. Taylor; and all the sessions interspersed with music by the choir led by Mrs. Mitchell, with several solos, closing with the solo by E. L. Nash, " O What Must it be to be There," and a course of ice cream and cake-done by the men of the church-it shows what they can do when they really set out. But the fact remains that the enthusiasm don't last when it calls for contiued effort. It is stick-to-ativ-ness that counts in any effort and especially in the church.
In July, 1895, Mrs. Scudder and the oldest son went on a visit to Boston for a few weeks, leaving Mr. Scudder and the other children and the maid to care for the home. One evening, on the 24th, came a most distressing casualty. It had been a pleasant day and the windows and doors were all open to the cooling evening breeze. The children were all in bed, when there came from the next door a request that Mr. Scudder would get a doctor for their little child who was sick. They knew that they would not call in vain, for the minister was always more than glad to help anyone who was in distress; so leaving his own in the care of the young woman, he started out, expecting to be away but a few minutes. He had trouble in finding a doctor. Before he had finished his search the fire alarm rung. He soon found a doctor and hurried home to find the house burning at the rear. He assayed to enter, but the rooms were full of smoke, but he called for help and groped his way up stairs fol- lowel by several men. Each one took a child and went down. The father examined all the beds and found no one, and the men said they had all been taken down. Once down it was a little while before he could get the children together to see who they were. Then it was found that two were missing. By that time
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the firemen had driven the fire back to the back part of the house and himself and others hurried up to the room and for a while could find nothing; but further search revealed Mary under the bed next to the wall smothered and Clarice was in a clothes press in the hall alive, but unconscious, and she died before morn- ing. They were all given shelter for the night. In the morning what had been saved was taken to the Gibson house across the street and temporary accom- modations made. Mrs. Scudder and the son returned that day. They knew nothing of the fire until they were nearing Norwich. A house was found in Fair street into which they moved and started a home anew. The two little ones had their funeral in the church and were taken to Staten Island and buried July 27 in the family plot of Mrs. Scudder's father, John H. Hedley. Rev. Isaac Pierson, of Hamilton, officiated.
Much of the belongings of the family were ruined, but none of the other children were injured in any way. No one seems to know what was the cause of the explosion. There was no fire in the house at all, except in the range, and that was very low. The maid said that about 9 o'clock there was an explosion in the kitchen range and in an instant the house was on fire. The back part of the house was badly injured, but not beyond repair. The front was injured only by smoke and water. There was some hitch about the insurance, which was not adjusted for something like a year, so that Mr. Scudder did not return to it. I think it was not finished when he left.
March 22, 1896, the pastor told the committee that he had a letter from Philip Armour of Chicago, in- viting him to take part in a free excursion from Chi- cago to the Pacific Slope and return, to take about four to six weeks. He had arranged for pulpit supply and the weekly prayer meeting. The committee read-
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ily gave its consent and he left March 25. He returned May 29 and reported a very enjoyable trip.
June 14, Children's Day, after the notices, he read his resignation of the pastorate to take effect July 19. He had been called to Tacoma, Wash. The resigna- tion was accepted and resolutions of respect and tender regard were passed. Friday evening, July 17, 1896, a farewell reception was given in the church parlors with remarks by citizens of all denominations. Music and light refreshments were given. At Mr. Scud- der's request, Communion was held Sunday, July 19, and eight persons united with the church. Before church he met all those who had come into the church during his pastorate and exhorted them to faithful- ness and courage. Ninety-five persons had thus come. The Sunday school listened to a talk instead of the lesson; and then he stood at the door and took the hands of all.
The evening was a union farewell service. He preached and the other ministers gave short talks. Tuesday the family left for Buffalo. From there they went by steamer through the lakes to Duluth and by rail to Tacoma. Monday night they stayed with Dea- con C. H. Stanton. As they came down North Broad street in the morning to take the train, as they were opposite the Johnson home, Mr. Scudder ran across the street and into the house and looking all about said: " This was the first house I was in in Norwich and now it will be the last "-and with a pleasant "good-bye " he was gone. Many were at the D., L. & W. train to say farewell.
Dr. John Scudder, who sailed from New York with his wife in 1819, for India, was the first medical mis- sionary sent to the heathen from America. The family became very famous as foreign missionaries and even to this day have several representatives in that branch of missions. Jared Waterbury Scudder and his wife,
CHOIR OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 1897.
(Left to right, back row.) John A. Hellriegel, Dane M. Crombie, Mrs. W. J. McCaw, Mrs. Geo. G. Marr, Miss Waite, R. D. Eaton, C. S. Norris, N. P. Bonney, H. B. Daniels. (Middle row.) Miss Nellie Smith, John H. Croll, Miss Annie Hewitt, Miss Phoebe Ruckteshler, E. L. Nash, Miss Hunt, C. B. Chapman, Miss Fannie L. Makepeace, Miss Lillie M. Ruckteshler, F. J. Fairchild. (Front row.) Miss Georgie Dimmick, Miss Clara Schorn, Mrs. C. B. Chapman, Mrs. Nettie C Mitchell M .~ Nash, Mrs. R. D. Eaton, Miss Fannie C. Mabonnann M. ₸
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Julia (Goodwin) Scudder, went as missionaries to Vellore, a considerable town in about the center of the Madras Presidency district, near the east coast of India, in 1855, and into the Arcot Mission in Vellore and became the parents of William Henry Scudder, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Vellore, February 10, 1858, and was baptized. When he was in his tenth year (1867) he was brought to America, from Madras, and was given a home with Mrs. Thomas C. Doremas, in New York city, who had a great deal to do with his education. He was also much of the time with his uncle, Rev. Henry Martin Scudder, D. D., in Brooklyn, who he says, gave him his " enthus- iasm for the ministry, and my conception of preach- ing." When he was not quite thirteen he was con- verted in Passaic, N. J. He must have been attending school and had made good progress, for he entered New York University in 1874, when he was sixteen; and was there two years, when he changed to Rutgers, New Brunswick, N. J., in 1876; from which he grad- uated in 1878 and entered Long Island Medical school. In September, 1879, he entered the Reformed Dutch Theological Institute, at New Brunswick, N. J., from which he graduated May 18, 1882. He was also in the College of Physicians and Surgeons 1891-2 and was ordained June 2, in New Durham, N. J., by the Classis of Bergen. His first sermon was preached in " The North Dutch Church," Fulton street, New York city, August 22, 1880. His text was Ps. 1:1. In 1878-9 he was a tutor in Brooklyn.
September 27, 1882, he married Miss Mary Battin Hedley, daughter of John Henry and Annie (Sturges) Hedley. Mr. Hedley was a lawyer. They were married in St. John's Episcopal Church, Clifton, Staten Island, N. Y. She was born August 21, 1859, and baptized in 1860, in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Stapleton, S. I., N. Y.
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Mr. Scudder was a quiet man both in life and in preaching. He seldom spoke in a loud voice even in the pulpit. His sermons were well thought out and clothed in good and often in beautiful language and always written and read; but he could speak extempor- aneously if required to do so. I remember at a Thurs- day evening meeting he was explaining the Sunday school lesson. In it was the phrase " God is a Spirit." He gave the clearest, most comprehensive and most beautiful explanation of that statement that I ever heard. His face and his whole frame seemed to glow with the comprehension of the full meaning of the words.
He had great admiration for Mrs. Mitchell, both as a friend and as an organist, and for her musical abil- ity. He had been an organist himself-while in col- lege-and so knew of the labor and close application required to gain proficiency. Near the close of his pastorate, in a sermon in which he was telling how much help he had received from this and that or- ganization in the church; he spoke particularly of the choir, saying that it had always been faithful, " led by the genius at the organ."
He went from here to Tacoma; and from there to Park Avenue Congregational Church of Berkeley, Cal., of which he was pastor from 1891 to 1896. He had two or three pastorates in the neighborhood of San Francisco and died about a year or so ago.
REV. EDWIN JUDSON KLOCK.
Again we were pastor hunting; but there was one thing in our favor-it had taken five years and a half to come-the longest pastorate since Mr. Scoville by about six months. What the matter was with the church neither the Prudential Committee nor the pas- tors seemed to be able to diagnose. The dismal fact remained in evidence-plainly.
REV. EDWIN JUDSON KLOCK. The Seventeenth Pastor of First Congregational Church, Norwich, N. Y., 1896-1900.
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July 23, Mr. Upton suddenly appeared in town and visited at Deacon Chapman's. He had come from Weiser, Idaho, where he was president of a Prepara- tory school. He was at the prayer meeting, and told us of his work, which was 3,000 miles from Norwich. He left next day.
A committee was appointed to look up a pastor. Soon after a letter was received by the clerk from Rev. Edwin J. Klock, pastor of the Congregational Church of Niagara Falls, stating frankly that the climate at that city did not agree with his wife, so they were com- pelled to leave and go to some dryer location, and asked a hearing in the near future. The clerk turned the letter over to the committee. After a little investiga- tion, Mr. Norris and Mr. D. R. Hall were sent to Niag- ara Falls for over Sunday, to hear and make inquiries about Mr. Kock. They returned with a very favorable report and Mr. Klock was invited to spend two Sun- days and the week between with us. This he did, with the result that he was given a call, which was accepted and he began his pastorate November 1, 1896. He and his wife arrived in Norwich October 27, and were taken directly to the parsonage, which had been thor- oughly repaired during the summer. Their goods had come a day or two before and had been taken to the parsonage. A committee of ladies and gentlemen had arranged them as far as they could, so there was a place for them to exist until such time as they could settle finally. The clerk and wife were there to receive them and show them around. In a few days they gave notice that they would be glad to see all who would call.
At the annual meeting, after very thorough discus- sion by the Prudential Committee. two extra deacons were elected, increasing the board from six to eight, and the terms made for four years instead of three; two to be elected each year. A board of deaconesses
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was also formed to consist of four members, one to be elected each year. Their duties were to assist the pas- tor in visitation and benevolent work in the church, To secure rotation in office one was elected to serve four years; one to serve three years; one for two years, and one for one year. At the " sale of pews " at auction, which followed, there were two pews sold at a small premium. This was the last sale of that kind so far and it is hoped that it will remain the last for all time. Free pews is the ideal; and voluntary contributions.
In February, 1897, the Prudential Committee be- gan the inspection of the roll of members. This was very carefully and thoroughly done and several changes were made in the polity of the church. A new Manual was printed, which was, in many respects the most complete of any that the church had ever put out; and in this the influence of the pastor was manifest. As one reads, he realizes that a great deal is said in a very small space-hardly a superfluous word. Of course all the committee had a hand in it; but the pas- tor revised all the manuscripts before the printer had them. Besides that, all the members whose addresses we knew, were written to and kindly urged to remember the church; and those in town were invited and urged to return to the church.
June 6, 1897, the new Manual was given out to all who cared to take them. A weekly calendar for Sun- day services was begun January 2, 1898; and is still used.
The annual meeting of State Association of Con- gregational Churches and Ministers assembled in the church May 17. The same association had assembled in the same place 25 years before, when Mr. Scoville was pastor. He came at this time and remained through the session. He had never transferred his membership, so took part in the discussions and voted
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