USA > New York > Oneida County > Utica > One hundred years of Trinity Church : Utica, New York > Part 10
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room of Christ Church, and a marble monument in the church commemorates his good deeds as shepherd of the flock.
On January 25, 1836, the Rev. Pierre Alexis Proal accepted the charge of the parish, and served until May 5, 1857, when he resigned on account of feeble health. His was the longest rectorship, 21 years and 3 months. The parish register shows during that time 559 baptisms, and 298 confirmations, the largest number of communicants being 158. The old chapel, which formerly stood on the east side of the church, facing Broad Street, was built in 1836; in 1851 the entire building being then in a somewhat dilapidated condition was thorough- ly repaired and repainted, and the present windows put in. At that time also the entire seating arrangement of the church was changed, the old pews in the centre and on the sides giv- 'ing place to the present plan.
This did away with the private ownership of the pews, which had continued from the building of the church, and which at last crippled very materially the parish finances. Dr. Proal and the vestry of those days deserve the gratitude of the parish for removing such an incubus.
Dr. Proal was born in 1796 at Newark, N. J., of French descent. He studied for the ministry under Bishop Hobart, and was ordained deacon by him in the French Church, Du St. Esprit, New York, September 18, 1818, and priest in Trinity Church, Lansingburgh, July 13, 1820. He was in charge of St. John's Church, Johnstown, from 1819 to 1821, when he was called to St. George's Church, Schenectady. Here he remained 15 years, until he came to this parish in 1836. While in Schenectady he also held for a time the chair of French language in Union College that city. Bishop Onderdonk in his convention address of 1836, speaks in the highest terms of his ministry in St. George's parish.
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While rector of Trinity Church he was Secretary of the Diocese of Western New York, a delegate to the general convention, and prominent in the general institutions of the church. He was also a trustee of Hamilton College. Dr. Proal was scholarly, eloquent as a preacher, and well known for his intelligent and beautiful rendering of the church serv- ices. He was very strong in his convictions, and determined in enforcing them, but withal, a man who left a deep impress upon his congregation and diocese.
Following Dr. Proal, and next to his, the longest rector- ship in our parish history comes the name of the Rev. Samuel Hanson Coxe, S. T. D. He was born at Mendham, New Jer- sey, on November 13, 1819, being the second son of the Rev. S. H. Coxe, D. D., a prominent Presbyterian clergyman of New York City. He was graduated in 1839 at the University of the City of New York, and in 1843 at the General Theo- logical Seminary. He was ordained deacon that same year in St. Stephen's Church, New York, and soon after was placed in charge of Bethesda Church, Saratoga Springs. Here in 1844 he was ordained to the priesthood, and went soon after to St. Peter's Church, Auburn. He next served the parishes in Cazenovia and Oxford, N. Y., in both of which, churches were built during his rectorship. He was also in Connecticut a short while. He began his ministry in Trinity Church, Au- gust 1, 1857, and continued here over 20 years until Novem- ber 1, 1877. There were 365 baptisms and 250 confirmations in those years, and about 225 communicants at his departure.
The present rectory was built in 1860, and the present or- gan in 1861. The older portion of the parish house situated on First Street, and long known as the chapel, was built and dedicated in 1876. The debt of the parish was also materially reduced during his rectorship. Dr. Coxe's last regular minis- trations were at St. Paul's parish, Kinderhook, N. Y. After
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IO years of duty there he retired from active work, and re- turned to this city, where he spent the remaining six years of his life, preaching at intervals, and assisting occasionally in the services of this church, which he never ceased to love. He died on Wednesday, January 16, 1895, at his residence in this city, and was buried from this church on the following Friday, the very large congregation present testifying their love for his memory. While he was rector here the number of parishes in this city increased from three to five, and many of the older church people here now in this and our several sister churches, received their early instruction from him in Old Trinity. They have recently memorialized their affection for him and Mrs. Coxe in the bronze tablet on the wall at the west of the chancel.
In 1866 he received the degree of S. T. D. from Columbia College, New York. In 1868 at the primary convention of this diocese held in this church, he was prominent in arrang- ing for the division, and was chairman of the committee to se- lect the name of the new diocese, Central New York. He was also an active member and secretary of the standing com- mittee until his removal to Kinderhook. Dr. Coxe's life as a pastor and preacher was one of marked sincerity and purity. It was truly said at his death by one who had known him many years, "I have never known a more blameless life." He was essentially simple and unambitious, and cared very little for posthumous fame.
In the "common task" of parish duties he was not only faithful but joyful. He had a strong sense of humor, his habit of punning, giving him and his friends many a hearty laugh. He was devoted to books and nature, and always greatly enjoyed his annual outing among the trout streams of the Adirondacks. One who was an examining chaplain with him in this diocese has said of him, that he was often struck
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with his knowledge of the deep things of his profession, and his exceptionally fine memory of classical and historical quotations. His knowledge and love of English poetry was unusual, and he could quote freely from Milton, Scott, Byron, and the English classics generally, while Shakespeare was constantly in his thoughts. Like his eminent brother, Right Rev. A. Cleveland Coxe, he has left behind a number of poems, both sacred and patriotic, some of which are pre- served in the pages of our recent parish paper. Among his literary works were three lectures delivered in Utica some years ago, on "Talleyrand," "York and Lancaster," and "English Poetry," also a series of five lectures on the history of Trinity Parish.
The more modern life of the parish began with the Rev. Charles H. Gardner, who following the Rev. Dr. Coxe on January II, 1878, held the rectorship until November 1, 1886. By this time the neighborhood of Old Trinity had changed very much in character from the palmy days of Dr. Proal and Dr. Coxe, in fact we had then became "a downtown" parish, and had not only lost many of the old families, but were too far away to receive any marked impetus from the uptown growth.
It was well that the Rev. Mr. Gardner was young and vigorous, and apparently capable of unlimited exertion. One of the first acts of his ministry was to change the seats from rented pews to the free church system, which plan has been retained ever since.
The vigor of his rectorship is shown in the unusual number of baptisms and confirmations, much larger than at any other equal time in our history. Of the former there were 453, and of the latter 255, the last report showing 340 communicants.
On September 7, 1881, occurred the seventy-fifth anniver- sary of the consecration of this church, which was fittingly
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celebrated under Mr. Gardner's direction. He was noted as an organizer, and endeavored to enlist the interest of every individual in some parish agency.
The young men's society of that day was a strong force here, as was also his parish paper, "The Earnest Workers." The industrial school and the kindergarten did excellent work.
He fostered also St. Paul's Mission in Deerfield, which still remains under the pastoral care of this parish. Mr. Gardner's activities were not confined to Trinity Church, but made themselves felt in the convocation, and in the diocese at large. The parish of the Holy Cross in this city owes much of its early progress to his faithful work there.
His fine physical manhood, his ever cordial and genial manners, his open hearted sympathies for all sorts and con- ditions of men, attracted to him many friends in this com- munity, both inside and outside the parish. He was chaplain of the Utica Citizen's Corps, and loved to have them here in a body at this church. It has been said of him that "His service was not the less effective among men, or less ac- cordant with the purposes of God because it was active rather than studious, lying on the lines of practical usefulness, rather than of speculative research." From all I have heard of him through friends and parishioners, no other words could ex- press more exactly the position which he held among the rectors of this parish.
From my own vantage ground I feel that we owe very much to just that vigorous, sympathetic earnestness which at that time the parish most needed. Many changes have taken place since his resignation in 1886, and we are much more of a "down-town" church to-day than then, but surely we of to-day should bless God that he sent to Trinity just when he did, such a man as Charles H. Gardner. Mr. Gard-
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ner was born at Long Hill, Connecticut, January 23, 1850, the second son of the Rev. Henry V. Gardner. He left Trin- ity College, Connecticut, in his senior year, and entered Nashotah Seminary, where his theologial education was com- pleted.
He was ordained deacon in St. James Church, Syracuse, June 8, 1873, and priest in Calvary Church, Utica, June 18, 1874. His first work was the charge of St. John's Church, Clayville, and Christ Church, Bridgewater. On November I, 1874, he accepted the rectorship of Trinity Church, Fayette- ville, this diocese, where he remained until called here in 1878.
He went from here in 1886 to Omaha, Nebraska, as Dean of Trinity Cathedral, which important work he served until his sudden and untimely decease on August 8, 1896. In Omaha and Nebraska he was loved and honored. Besides being Dean of the Cathedral, he was President of the Stand- ing Committee, Examining Chaplain, and Deputy to the General Convention.
The same qualifications he exhibited while rector here developed in that larger field to their greatest extent, and the parish, the press, and the people of Omaha all united in bear- ing testimony to his remarkable usefulness as a clergyman and as a citizen.
On April 24, 1887, the Rev. William D. Maxon, D. D., began his ministry here as the successor to the Rev. Mr. Gardner. After a rectorship of seven years, he resigned on April 8, 1894, to accept the strong parish of Calvary Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There were 124 baptisms and 118 confirmations while he was here.
The present commodious and very useful Parish House was built in 1893, affording room for all parish activities. As we have the pleasure of Dr. Maxon's presence with us to- day, and of hearing from him, it would not perhaps be in keeping for me to write of him as of those who can no longer
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speak for themselves. He is honored and loved in Trinity Church and in Utica, and his presence in this church never fails to bring out a large and interested congregation. His scholarship, his marked ability as a writer and preacher, and his powers as an organizer have in his present large and im- portant work every opportunity of further development. We welcome him here to-day, and wish for him in his present and future work continued blessings.
Dr. Maxon was born in Schenectady, N. Y., and was graduated from Union College of that city in 1878, from which, in 1884, he received the degree of M. A., and in 1894 that of D. D. His theological studies were pursued at the General Theological Seminary, and at Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Connecticut, from the latter of which he graduated in 1881. He was ordered Deacon on June 25, 1881, and Priest May 21, 1882, in St. George's Church, Schenectady, by Right Rev. William Croswell Doane of Al- bany. He was missionary at Fonda, New York, from June to September, 1881; was rector's assistant in St. George's, Schenectady, from November, 1881, to April, 1882; was act- ing professor of Logic and Rhetoric in Union College from September, 1882, to January, 1883; he became rector of Grace Church, Waterford, New York, May, 1883, and was there until his call to this parish. He has published the following books in pamphlet forms. In 1892, "The Passion Play at Oberammergau;" in 1895, "Confirmation, Some Plain Ques- tions and Answers;" also "Messages of Christmas, Good Friday and Easter;" in 1896, "Calvary Church Papers;" and in 1898, "Beyond the Grave."
Thus ends, my friends, the long story of one hundred years down to the present rectorship, which began August 19, 1894. This can be more fittingly told at the next centennial. May the good deeds to which we have listened to-day, be an inspiration to us in our generation to "go and do likewise."
13I
Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
THE CHOIRS OF "OLD TRINITY."
BY JOHN BURT, JR., NEW YORK CITY, A FORMER ORGANIST OF TRINITY CHURCH, AND BY THE REV. J. R. HARDING.
My first acquaintance with Trinity Church was during the rectorate of the Rev. Dr. Proal, and this acquaintance contin- ued through the periods of service of the Rev. Dr. Coxe and the Rev. Mr. Gardner. It was after the alterations had been made in the interior of the church in the early fifties, when the more modern style of pews replaced the old fashioned wood- en boxes so to speak, that the services at this church became distinguished at home and abroad for the high excellence of its famous choir, which came into existence during the incum- bency of Dr. Joseph Sieboth as organist. Dr. Sieboth was a born musician, and as an organist had no superior in the Uni- ted States. It detracts nothing from the merit and worth justly accorded to that distinguished pulpit orator, the Rev. Dr. Coxe, to say that much of the popularity of Trinity Church, Utica, during that period of her history was due to the services of this eminent organist and musician, and the al- most incomparable choir which he had trained, and as com- pletely controlled as ever musicians or singers were under the baton of their leader. The music of the church was the very red letter of its service, and he or she who did not enter the church full fifteen minutes before the commencement of the service had no chance for a seat on the main floor of the sanctuary, and was frequently obliged to remain a standing listener to the delightful music of this famous choir, and the preaching of this eloquent rector from the rear aisles in the gallery, even if he were fortunate enough to get even so desirable a place. There are hundreds if not thousands, now living in Utica who often journeyed to old Trinity on Sunday evenings in years gone by to hear Dr. Sieboth "play the or-
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gan," and Miss Kate Lloyd, Miss Fannie Green, Mrs. Spruce, Mrs. Shapley, Williamson Spruce, Dr. C. B. Foster and Ed- ward Kunkely "do the singing." Those surely were not the days of "congregational singing," and there was but one voice below stairs that ever presumed to take any part in the mu- sical service, and the dear old saint, whom many will recall by this slight reference, while really meaning no harm, cer- tainly did no good, and as he has long since been gathered to his fathers, we will pass the incident by. How shall we speak of the solos, duets, trios, anl quartettes rendered by these delightful singers? They were simply grand, to use a comprehensive and well understood term, and I am inclined to think that it may be possible that even more went away at the close of the service charmed by what they had heard from the north rather than from the south end of the church. I do not think many members of the present Choir of the church know of the fame of these their predecessors, and it won't hurt them any to say so.
The fame of this choir spread not only throughout Central New York, but was known and praised as far west as Buf- falo, and as far east as New York.
Further mention on the same subject may find interest in the following narration of events succeeding. With the sever- ing of Dr. Sieboth's connection with the music at Trinity, there was for a season a lack of interest in the matter of pro- viding a choir of the high order of the one which left behind it many delightful memories, and the liberal allowance for providing a choir suitable to the services of the church was very materially curtailed. Mr. W. H. Bull succeeded to the organ stool, and with him was a choir drawn from the young ladies of the church and Sunday School, quite a numerous body, but lacking in the necessary parts sustained by male voices. To enumerate all of the members who did their best under the circumtances to give emphasis to the musical por-
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Trinity Church, Utica, N. Y.
tion of the church is beyond my ability, but the names of Misses Bush, Colling, Woodruff, Seward, Perkins, Dunn and Hawthorne are well within my recollection, and against this ar- ray of soprano and alto, some twenty in number, the sub- scriber's effort at a bass part was almost if not entirely lost in the volume of sweet sound produced by this very numerous female choir.
But the church was ere long to have a change in choirs. The necessity for it was apparent, and with the consent of the Vestry a sum was raised among the members of the congrega- tion, among them Ex-Governor Seymour, Selden Collins, Miles C. Comstock, Joseph A. Shearman, Charles W. Hut- chinson, John G. Marklove, Thomas W. Seward, A. L. Wood- ruff, all now deceased, and several others equally interested in restoring the music to its former excellent standing, to pro- vide a soprano and contralto of merit. Miss Gertrude Leach (now Mrs. Thomas F. Clarke), Miss Emily Paine, Wil- liamson Spruce and George J. Buchanan for a number of years formed a quartett choir which became well known in and about Utica and Central New York, and most effectively ren- dered the musical portion of the service. With this choir I became associated as organist at the commencement of its period of service, but not to remain for any great length of time. I was succeeded by Mr. Geo. W. Rockwell, and he in turn by his brother William, both well equipped for the posi- tion. Miss Payne remained until her death, and Miss Mary Willard succeeded her as contralto, and remained a member for four or five years, to be followed by Miss Lillian Leach, Miss Sophie Hedges (now Mrs. Dr. Haberer) became organist after the retirement of Mr. William Rockwell, and filled the position most acceptably for a number of years. This choir served, with the changes mentioned, or a few of them, for a period of about twelve years, Mr. Charles Spencer taking Mr. Buchanan's place as basso, after a service by the former con-
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tinued successively and successfully for nine years. Mr. Spen- cer was the master spirit of this choir, and it goes without say- ing that anything that he undertook in a musical way was a sure success from the beginning, as was evidenced by his lead- ership of the Utica Mendelsohn Club in its brightest and best days.
I have not with me more recent data, but I well remember that there were at times present in the choir singers deserving of more than a passing notice, and among them I may mention Mrs. Cleveland (a sister-in-law of the Ex-President, I believe), Miss Kittie Foster, Miss Lottie McLane, Misses Maggie and Annie German, Miss Phebe Lloyd and Miss Eaton, all of whom were at one time or another connected with the church choir, with the possible exception of Mrs. Cleveland, and among the gentlemen who have assisted, notably are Mr. John S. Hunt, who died in the early years of the War of the Rebel- lion, Mr. Ferdinand H. Dunkinson for twenty-seven years the great basso of Trinity Church New York City; Mr. Clinton M. Ball, a very delightful tenor, afterwards of the First Pres- byterian Church choir for a number of years; Mr. Frank M. O'Neil, Mr. Geo. W. Shepard, well known to all lovers of good music, and some others who are entitled to equal mention, but whose names unfortunately have escaped me at this writing.
Other organists of the Church following Mrs. Haberer have been Mr. George Owens, Mr. A. L. Barnes, Mr. De Henn- berg, Mr. Perley Dunn Aldrich, Mr. George Beechwood, and the present incumbent, Mr. H. G. Carpenter. Some of the singers from time to time, under these several organists last mentioned, have been Miss Ada Read, Miss Lillie Arthur, Mr. J. H. Hodgkinson, Mr. Frank Nightingale, Mr. L. D. Tour- tellot, Miss Dygert, Miss Norton, Mr. and Miss Cushing, Mr. Thomas Colling, Miss H. Louise Dunn, now Mrs. Hugh Crocker, Miss Kate Waters, now Mrs. W. S. Crocker, Miss Harriett Brayton, Miss Son, Miss Lizzie Reichert, Mr. G. W.
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Payne, Mr. William L. Bowes, Mrs. Cole, Mr. William Gur- ley, Mr. Malcolm Francis, Mr. C. S. Crandall, Mr. C. R. Miz- ner, Miss Leona Robbins, Mrs. G. A. Rogers, Mr. A. J. Brom- ley, Mr. Norman L. West, Mrs. Norman L. West, nee Miss Rena Shirley; Mrs. Mary O'Connor, Mr. John A. Hughes, Mr. John P. Williams, Mr. Fred. S. Black, Mr. Frank Willis, Mr. M. C. Wright, Mr. Owen Pugh, Miss Grace Munson, Miss Cloyes, Miss Katharine Smith, Mr. Harry E. Hyde, Mr. Griffith Evans, Mr. Dana Benjamin, Mr. George Irle, Miss Bertha Deane, Miss Grace Clarke, Miss Allie Clarke, Miss Florence Hurley, Miss Elizabeth Brothers, Miss Lewis, Miss Goodrich, Miss Jennie Owston, Miss Pritchard, Mr. Sidney Matthews, Mr. W. E. Jones, Mr. Arthur Schrader, Mr. George M. Weaver, Jr., Miss Sarah Gardner, Mr. George W. Miller, Mr. John Walton, Mr. Charles Wenzel, Miss Mary E. McNeil, Mr. H. Lee Austin, Miss Gertrude Sink, Miss Elizabeth Ballou, Miss Maud Willis, Miss Jessie Sheets.
During the summer of 1896 the necessary changes were made in the church for the introduction of a mixed vested choir. The organ was brought down stairs from its old loca- tion over the front door, and placed on the east side of the chancel. The first service rendered by the new choir was on the seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, September 27th, 1896. The change proved an acceptable one from the beginning, and under Mr. Carpenter's direction has already completed two years of successful work.
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THE ROLL OF RECTORS, WARDENS, AND VES- TRYMEN FROM THE PERMANENT ORGANI- ZATION OF THE PARISH IN 1804 DOWN TO 1898.
COPIED AND COMPILED FROM THE RECORDS OF THE PAR- ISH, BY MR. D. WALTER PERKINS, UTICA, N. Y., IN 1887,
AND COMPLETED TO 1898, BY THE REV. J. R. HARDING.
The following list gives order of succession of the Rectors, Wardens and Vestrymen, from the date of the incorporation of the church to the present time.
The Rectors of Trinity Church have been:
I, Rev. Jonathan Judd, from 1804, until latter part of 1806.
2, Rev. Amos G. Baldwin, from September 22, 1807, until May 12, 1818.
3, Rev. Henry M. Shaw, from August 23, 1819, until May 22, 182I.
4, Rev. Henry Anthon, from May 29, 1821, until January 19, 1829.
5, Rev. Benjamin Dorr, from May 15, 1829, until October 6, 1835.
6, Rev. Pierre Alexis Proal, from January 25, 1836, until May 5, 1857.
7, Rev. S. Hanson Coxe, from August 1, 1857, until No- vember 1, 1877.
8, Rev. Charles H. Gardner, from January II, 1878, until November 1, 1886.
9, Rev. William D. Maxon, from April 24, 1887, until April 8, 1894.
IO, Rev. John Ravenscroft Harding, from August 19, 1894. The Church Wardens have been:
Abraham M. Walton, elected August 14, 1804. Served un- til April 15, 1805; Nathan Williams, elected August 14, 1804, served until April 7, 1806. The original two.
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Benjamin Walker, elected April 15, 1805. Served until April 7, 1806.
Francis A. Bloodgood, elected April 7, 1806. Served until April 3, 1809.
William Inman, elected April 7, 1806. Served until March 30, 1807.
Nathan Williams, elected March 30, 1807. Served until April 18, 1808.
Samuel Hooker, elected April 18, 1808. Served until April 3, 1809.
Nathan Williams, elected April 3, 1809. Served until April 18, 1831.
William Inman, elected April 3, 1809. Served until April 15, 1810.
Samuel Hooker, elected April 15, 1810. Served until April 3, 1826.
James Cochran, elected April 3, 1826. Served until April 16, 1827.
Rudolph Snyder, elected April 16, 1827. Served until April II, 1831.
Thomas H. Hubbard, elected April II, 1831. Served until April 11, 1831.
Rudolph Snyder, elected May 2, 1831. Served until April
3, 1833.
Nathan Williams, elected May 2, 1831. Served until April 20, 1835.
Thomas H. Hubbard, elected April 8, 1833. Served until April 20, 1835.
Elisha Wells, elected April 20, 1835. Served until April I, 1839.
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