USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > Steubenville > The church in eastern Ohio; a history with special reference to the parishes of St. Paul's, Steubenville, St. James's, Cross Creek and St. Stephen's, Steubenville > Part 10
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Possibly the writer of that story had never heard of
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the Steubenville parish, and certainly knew nothing of its history. Yet, after allowing the usual latitude accord- ed to writers of fiction, the foundation for the narrative might have been laid in this parish of St. Paul's. For several years previous to 1860 there had been some fric- tion between the rector and a portion of the congrega- tion, which may have been partly due to the former's un- compromising position on certain matters, but this could not be considered serious, although it no doubt to a cer- tain extent hampered the temporal growth of the parish. After that date, however, the situation became very much aggravated. Among the recent accessions to the Church was a family from one of the local religious societies, at least one member of which had been very active, espe- cially in Sunday School work, but concerning whose character there was a decided difference of opinion. This individual was appointed by the rector as superintendent of the Sunday school. Even had there been no personal objection to the character of the newcomer, his manners and methods were so foreign to the ways of the Church, and his persistency in forcing them on the people were so objectionable, that vigorous protests followed. These became so decided that he was compelled to give up charge of the Sunday School, but remained a member of the congregation and trusted friend of the guileless rec- tor and his family, which condition tended to widen the breach already existing. Matters continued in this con- dition until October, 1864, when Bishop Bedell, while on a visitation to the parish, was called into consultation with the Vestry, all the members being present except Messrs. Wells and Andrews. According to the minutes Dr. Mitchell on behalf of the Vestry "made a concise statement of the condition of this parish, in its connec- tion with our Rector, Dr. Morse, setting forth that the parish is not flourishing under his care, but fast going to
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decay ; that there is great dissatisfaction with Dr. M. on the part of a large portion of the members of the parish, and that there is no ground for hope that this dissatisfac- tion will ever grow less whilst the parish stands con- nected with Dr. Morse as its rector."
Dr. Bedell promised to lay the statement before Bishop Mellvaine on the latter's arrival home from a trip to Europe. On December 8 following Bishop McIlvaine, having received a memorandum of this meet- ing from Dr. Bedell, wrote to the Vestry stating that before he could take any action it would be necessary to have an authorized written statement from the Vestry as to the situation. Accordingly, under date of Decem- ber 12, the following was prepared and sent to the Bishop :
We, as Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, con- sider it our duty to call your attention to the condition of this parish. It is evident to us and to the congregation at large that the temporal condition of affairs is very unsatisfactory. There is a feeling of antagonism between the Rector and his people that will soon reduce [the parish] so that it will not be self- sustaining, even to raise the very small salary paid the present Rector. Many members of the congregation have said that un- less a change is made they will withdraw; others adhere reluc- tantly, while some who are anxious to attend the services of the Church withhold their support until matters are put on a different footing. There is a sufficient number of Episcopalians in this place, some by birth and education. others from prefer- ence for the Church, to build up, under favorable auspices, a large and flourishing congregation.
When we consider the advanced age and long services, but poorly compensated, of our venerable Rector. it is with pain we make this statement. We present it as a very imperfect view of the state of affairs in our church, and with filial confi- dence and regard, ask your fatherly confidence and advice. On our part as a church and congregation we are conscious of many faults, but feel the conviction that we will never grow any better under the care and management of our present Rec- tor. We therefore believe his connection with us should en- tirely cease. Signed, J. Mitchell, Junior Warden; S. F. Scull. William Day, James Means, A. J. Beatty, Joseph Beatty, James H. Blinn, John Bustard.
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Mr. Andrews being absent from the city, and Mr. Wells, being a brother-in-law of Dr. Morse, did not sign the letter. The Junior Warden, in transmitting the let- ter, adds :
In drawing up this paper we intentionally avoided the man- ing of specific charges against our venerable Rector, because, in the first place, none that we could make, separately considered, are of great magnitude, and in the second place, whatever his faults, most of them are directly referable to his well-known mental aberration.
Bishop McIlvaine did not reply to the foregoing communication, but sent a copy of the same to Dr. Morse, who read it to the congregation a few Sundays later, followed by the statement that if a majority of the pewholders and communicants desired his resignation he would not stand in the way of another and better man. A subsequent standing vote taken after service was prac- tically unanimous in favor of the rector, most of the op- position, however, being absent.
The next move was by the Vestry on February 25, 1865, sending to the rector a communication declaring it to be the intention of that body soon after Faster to seek for and call another rector, adding: "In consideration of your age and long services in this church, a number of individuals of the congregation have obligated them- selves to pay you the sum of $250 as an annuity to re- tire upon."
No reply was made to this, but at the Easter elec- tion two tickets were placed in the field. The existing Vestry was re-elected by a vote of 37 to 18, E. F. An- drews taking the place of Martin Andrews.
The Vestry met on April 21, and sent a letter to Dr. Morse, reiterating the former determination to call a new rector as soon as practicable, expressing the highest regard for past services and exalted character, and re
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newing the offer of a $250 pension for life. They would also be pleased to have him as an honored guest, either to officiate or attend service, and a pew would be reserved for himself and family.
No reply was received to this letter, and on April 24 a committee was appointed to wait on Dr. Morse, and invite him to officiate on the following Sunday, the de- clared reason for the invitation being that there was a vacancy in the rectorship of the church. Mr. Morse did officiate the following Sunday, April 30, but during the service took occasion to repudiate the idea that there was any vacancy, saying, "I wish the congregation and Vestry to distinctly understand that I am the rector of this church, and that no man can occupy that desk or that pulpit (pointing) without my permission. This is my church, and that is my pulpit, and here I will preach as long as my present health continues, and when that fails I will choose an assistant, and I wish the Vestry to know that the sum they pay me will not be sufficient for two."
However abrupt this statement may seem, there was no doubt but that it was legally correct. By the com- mon law both in England and America, a rector once properly placed in charge of a parish could only be ejected after charges made and sustained, either of im- morality or inability to perform the functions of his of- fice. On the organization of the American Church a canon had been adopted providing that in case of irre- concilable differences between a rector and his parish that relation could be dissolved, but this canon had been re- pealed, a fact of which the Bishop reminded the Vestry. The latter body, however, took the radical course of or- dering the church edifice closed, and when the rector and members of the congregation proceeded there the follow- ing Sunday, they found the doors locked. Without re-
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sorting to legal action or physical force they proceeded to the rectory on South High street, where services were held on that and the four Sundays following. Bishop McIlvaine, learning of these proceedings, wrote as fol- lows :
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I am very desirous of avoiding the necessity of bringing the unhappy state of things between the Vestry of St. Pauls and Dr. Morse to an issue before the Convention. As a matter of law, there can be no doubt as to the view that would be taken of it by that body. But cannot the case be otherwise dis- posed of? I suggest the following-namely-that seeing iny consent to the dismission is not given the Vestry withdraw their act to that effect, and signify the same to Dr. Morse, the church being opened to his occupancy. On my hearing offi- cially of that I will write him to advise his resignation on the terms the Vestry have offered. Until the dismission is with- drawn, I could not advise him to resign, nor could he consent to it.
In accordance with the suggestions of the Bishop, at a Vestry meeting held on June 5 the action of dis- missal was rescinded, and a notification directed to Dr. Morse that the church was again opened to his occu- pancy, where he officiated the following Sunday, July 11.
The forty-eighth Diocesan Convention was held at Marietta on June 6-8, St. Paul's being represented by Jantes Means, S. F. Scull and E. F. Andrews. A canon was adopted providing for an arbitration court with power to take cognizance of irreconcilable differences be- tween a rector and his parish, part to be selected by said rector and antagonistic vestry, and the remainder by the court itself, power being given to dissolve such relation- ship if found expedient. This canon remained in force for several years, when it was superseded by a similar canon of the General Convention, and thus becoming ob- solete, it was repealed. An interesting question might have been raised as to whether this canon could be legally made applicable to causes arising before its adoption, but
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this was avoided by Dr. Morse on July 10 sending his resignation to the Bishop, and afterwards to the Vestry, to take effect on October 10 following. He announced his intention of organizing another parish, but by advice of the Bishop the matter was dropped, and he con- tinued to officiate until the middle of September, when it was announced that the church would be closed for re- pairs.
Dr. Morse retired to his home, and thereafter his familiar figure was not seen either in the church, to whose congregation he had ministered for forty-six years, or on the streets where he was known to every man, woman and child. Whether the strain of the pre- ceding months had affected him or not, it is certain that with its relaxation a collapse had come. He gradually became weaker, and, attended by his devoted wife and daughter, on February 15 following, he peacefully en- tered Paradise.
It is not necessary to analyze Dr. Morse's character at length. Possessed of the vigorous mentality so marked in his uncle, Bishop Chase, he attacked evil wher- ever he found it. Like his Master he had no compro- mise to make with sin in any form, while always consid- erate of the sinner, especially the sinner of the street, even if he was hard on the sinner in the Church. Intem- perance, slavery, profane swearing, and every crying evil of the day were denounced in unsparing terms, no matter to whom his anathemas appeared applicable. We have already referred to his charitable disposition, and the story of the policeman who discovered him one dark night trundling a wheelbarrow load of coal to a poor widow deserves to be held in everlasting remembrance
for no other reason than to demonstrate that there are those in these latter days entitled to canonization as well as in the time of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, whose
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good deeds, especially the act of surreptitiously dropping a purse of gold into a poor man's house, have immortal- ized him in the familiar character of Santa Claus. While engaged in some local historical work the present writer had occasion to consult a book of notes kept by a pioneer Presbyterian, Mr. Sherrard, previously mentioned. It was filled with facts illustrating the shortcomings as well as the virtues of his contemporaries, clerical and lay. Nearly everybody had some flaw, but there was one person who was always spoken of with unqualified respect, and that was Father Morse. It might be putting the matter too strongly to claim that for saint- liness of character extending over so long a period he had no equal in this community, certainly he had no su- perior. Without criticising any who considered that they had a serious duty to perform, the wish may be expressed that some arrangement could have been made by which the "good old man," as he was called by a local paper, could have passed to his rest as rector of the parish.
The remains of Dr. Morse were taken to Gambier and interred by his widow and stepdaughter, who there- after made their home at that place. Mrs. Morse died on February 26, 1873, and a plain monument erected by her and her daughter marks the resting place of this pio- neer priest and saint of the household of God.
CHAPTER X.
NEW RECTORS.
Rev. Charles Gillette Called-Rapid Progress of the Parish- Alterations in Interior-Unexpected Resignation-A Land Purchase-Rectorship of Rev. Hull-Choir and Vestry Changes.
The Vestry of St. Paul's on November 20, 1865, extended a call to Rev. Charles Gillette, D.D., of Austin, Texas, to become rector. Dr. Gillette was born in Granby, Conn., in 1813, and was graduated from Trin- ity College in 1838. Soon after he became one of the professors in the Virginia High School, near Alexandria, Va., and subsequently a student in the theological sem- inary. He was admitted deacon in 1842 in Christ Church, Alexandria, by Bishop Meade, and in October following was advanced to the priesthood. Texas at that time was a foreign land to us. Several years before its annexation to the United States, he foresaw its future destiny, and felt its vast importance as missionary ground. He laid the matter before the Foreign Com- mittee of the Board of Missions, saying: "Here am I; send me," and on October 11, 1842, he received a com- mission for his work. He established himself at Hous- ton, Texas, and served there and in adjacent regions un- til the close of 1851. During the ensuing years he had charge of the Diocesan School and St. Paul's College, in which he labored to give an impulse to the cause of Christian education. In 1856 he accepted the director- ship of St. David's Church, Austin, in which place he continued to reside until 1865. During this long period he had always been one of the leading men in the dio- cese He was a member of the Standing Committee and
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a delegate to the General Convention from its organiza- tion, and was active and prominent in devising and ex- ecuting plans for the extension of the Church by mis- sionary and educational enterprises. During the Civil War Mr. Gillette remained loyal to the Union, and on declining to read prayers for the success of the Confed- eracy, he was deprived of his parish. He and his family were consequently in straitened circumstances, which might have reached destitution had it not been for the
kindness of friends. As soon as practicable after the cessation of hostilities he came north, and at the sugges- tion of Bishop Bedell came to Steubenville, and was the guest of A. J. Beatty at the latter's home, corner of Slack and Fifth streets. 'The Vestry proceeded there in a body, and presented the call in person. It provided for a sal- ary of $100 per month and boarding until the arrival of the rector's wife and children, who were still in Texas, and after that $1,000 per annum and a furnished house free. The call was not accepted immediately, but Mr. Gillette proposed taking temporary charge until he and the people should become better acquainted and the future outlook of the parish indicated. The increased expenses necessitated an immediate advance in pew rents, which, on the whole, was cheerfully accepted. There was a marked improvement in attendance upon the Church services, and on January 31 Mr. Gillette formally ac- cepted the rectorship. He left shortly after for his fam- ily, and was absent during the month of February. In the meantime a brick residence on the northeast corner of Fifth and Adams streets was rented for a rectory, and about $900, which had been raised by the women, was devoted to furnishing the same, which, with numerous individual gifts provided the house completely from attic to cellar.
Certain repairs to the church being necessary, at this
HIGLORY TO
HIGHEST
OLD ST. PAUL'S, INTERIOR, IST9.
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GRAVES OF MR MORSE AND WINE GAMBLER
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time, it was decided to make a change in the arrange- ment of the pews. The old seats were lowered, doors removed, and the central and two side blocks, separated by two aisles, were replaced by a middle aisle with a double block of pews on each side, and side aisles next the wall. By a little crowding some extra seats were obtained, affording a needed increase in capacity, which was now about 450. The lighting system was also changed. In the centre was suspended a magnificent thirty-light chandelier costing $350, the gift of Robert Mears, and from each of the four corners of the ceiling hung a six-light pendant. 'The edifice was repainted, windows improved by casing, and other necessary repairs made, the whole, with the rectory furnishing, costing about $2,700. The auction sale of pews at the reopen- ing paid for recarpeting the aisles.
Improvements were also made in the Sunday School room, the old pew doors being utilized for seat ends, and a new service book ( Hollister's) with chants and tunes being introduced. Messrs. Wells and Andrews attended convention this year.
Mr. Gillette at this day would be regarded as a very conservative Churchman, but, although no radical changes were made in the services, yet progress was in the air. The music under Mr. Scull was rendered effi- ciently, and the services were well attended. As a mat- ter of convenience the bell was rung at the commence- ment of the service, the black preaching gown was dis- carded, and monthly communion was established, in ad- dition to the celebrations on high festivals. Bishop McIlvaine visited St. Paul's for the last time on Septem- ber 30, when he confirmed twenty-one persons. He and Mr. Gillette also visited the new St. James's Church.
The deaths of Messrs. Lewis and Gilbert left the country parishes vacant, and on November 1, Rev. Well-
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ington E. Webb took charge of the Brooke County churches along with St. James's. Wellsburg had been without pastoral charge for sometime, and the church edifice was apparently deserted, with broken windows and other evidence of neglect. As previously stated, Mr .. Webb gathered the remnants of the congregation to- gether, restored the small but good-toned pipe organ, and revived regular services.
Joseph Beatty, Joseph Means and James Means at- tended the convention of 1867. Although excess of rit- ual had not become evident throughout Ohio, yet the episcopal thunders against it were by no means lessened. The Cleveland Convocation presented a petition asking for a division of the diocese, but this was not to come for several years. There was an evident pruning of dead matter from the St. Paul's communicant list, as only 97 were reported, with 150 Sunday School scholars and 18 teachers. St. James's reported 48 communicants.
During this year there was considerable agitation in reference to building a new church edifice or enlarg- ing the old one, and drawings were made on behalf of both' propositions. Building of a rectory was also dis- cussed, but the high prices of labor and material induced delay, when an event occurred which summarily post- poned all these projects.
Pursuant to a call by the rector, the Vestry met on the evening of October 21, when a letter was read from Mr. Gillette, tendering his resignation, to take effect on the 30th, only nine days distant. He had been elected Secretary and General Agent of the Commission of the Church's Home Missions to Colored People, with head- quarters in New York, and felt impelled by the call of dtity to accept the same. To most of the congregation the news came like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. The parish had become practically united under Mr. Gil-
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lette's wise leadership, and had a bright future in pros- pect. Being an able preacher and possessing excellent social qualities, the new rector had won the esteem and affection of the congregation, and a change seemed most unfortunate just as affairs were apparently settling down in a satisfactory manner. But there was no help for it, and Mr. Gillette and family in a few days removed to Brooklyn, N. Y. Within sixteen months of his removal to his new home Mr. Gillette was summoned by death. About March 1, 1869, he paid a visit to Rev. George A. Leakin, rector of Trinity Church, Baltimore, for whom he was to preach on the 7th. On Saturday morning, the 6th, he started out in a snowstorm to visit some friends, and stepped into the lobby of Wilson Hotel to examine a city directory. The book was handed him, and just as he was proceeding to open it he sank to the floor and immediately expired from heart failure. His remains were taken to Brooklyn for interment.
A class of twenty for confirmation had been pre- pared by Mr. Gillette before his resignation, and this class was confirmed by Bishop Bedell on the evening of November 3, including three from St. James's.
'The Vestry immediately took steps towards secur- ing a rector, but some months were to elapse before that was accomplished.
Dr. John Andrews died on October 4, 1866, leaving $1,000. to be invested by the Vestry, the interest there- from to be applied to the relief of the poor of the parish. At a meeting of the Vestry, held April 4, 1868, it appear- ing that a long time might elapse before certain lands were sold, out of which said legacy could be realized, an offer of the executors to pay said legacy by two notes and drafts on James Wallace was accepted. It was also resolved that when said paper was lifted the proceeds be invested in a lot purchased from A. J. Beatty for rectory
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purposes, that said fund be a lien on said lot, and that collections be taken sufficient to bring $80 per year (afterwards reduced to $40), and applied to the relief of the parish poor.
Mr. Andrews having gone to Europe, Joseph Means was elected Vestryman in his place in 1868, and Messrs. Blinti and Wells attended convention.
As we have before intimated the excess of ritual in Ohio had not heretofore been so marked as to attract very serious attention, but Bishop McIlvaine had at last a concrete case before him, and proceeded solemnly to inform the convention that he had learned of certain do- ings in a parish, consisting of the following :
At the opening of the Morning and Evening Prayer a pro- cession consisting of some fifteen boys and some men, all vested in surplices, is formed, which, entering the church at the front door, proceeds, singing as it advances, up the middle aisle, till it reaches the seats or stalls (so called) before the chancel, where the members of the procession find their appointed seats, the congregation being expected to stand until those choristers are seated, when the rector begins the sentences, etc.
While the convention doubtless listened to this de- scription with interest, it does not seem to have created any special alarm, as the committee to which the subject was referred reported adversely to the adoption of any canon to suppress surpliced choirs. That was the last of the matter so far as legislation was concerned, but the Bishop did not relax his opposition, which made matters so unpleasant for the rector of St. Paul's Church, Colum- bus, where the offending services were held, that he resigned and removed to Fort Wayne, Ind. The choir was discontinued, but afterwards revived under more favorable auspices.
Mr. Webb having resigned at St. James's on Novem- ber 1, 1867, Rev. Thomas K. Coleman was appointed, on December 20, 1868, who reported to the next year's
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convention : "Children, but no baptisms; youth, but no confirmations ; number of communicants, 25; no articles of association, no vestry elections or meetings, neither font, lectern nor communion table, offertory plates, sur- plice or gown; will resign in Autumn."
Efforts were made during the summer to secure a rector for. St. Paul's, but nothing was accomplished until September 2, when a call was extended to Rev. Andrew Hull, D.D., of Elmira, N. Y., who accepted, and took charge about a month later. Dr. Hull was a scholarly gentleman of the old school, somewhat advanced in years, a sound Churchman, but could hardly be called progres- Five. He had one son and a newly married wife. The rented rectory had been given up and the furniture stored, so the rector and his wife located in apartments, a portion of the time at Mrs. J. Zimmerman's residence on North High street, and later at Mrs. E. Wood's resi- dence, "The Grove." Bishop Bedell visited the parish on November 26 and confirmed six persons, among them the rector's wife.
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