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 11
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Removal of the general offices of the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad, then a part of the P., C. & C. R. R., to Pittsburgh, in 1869, necessitated the resignation of Mr. Scull as organist and choir director, a position which he had held for ten years. His salary had been fixed at $100 per year, but as the parish seemed to be in straitened circumstances during most of this period, he generously gave his services without compensation, occa- sionally, with the choir, visiting St. John's, West Vir- ginia, and St. James's. He was a composer of religious as well as secular music, and his compositions, although possibly not up to the severe Anglican type of the present day, were melodious and inspiring. W. H. McDonald, Miss M. Riley (afterwards Mrs. A. S. Doyle), Misses Sarah Kelly, Kate Doty and Lizzie Brosi, all singers of
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more than local reputation, rendered the services under his direction. He died in Pittsburgh on March 21, 1896, remembering his Ohio associations by a bequest of $2,000 to diocesan missions.
Mr. Scull was succeeded by R. Mason Jackson, a young musician of exceptional promise, who held that position until the autumn of 1871, when he went East, and in 1873 sailed for Europe to complete his musical education. Miss Brosi sailed on the same vessel with the same object. The romantic story of Mr. Jackson's position, afterwards obtained at the Court of Wurtem- berg, is familiar to many.
The parish in 1869 reported 100 communicants and 110 Sunday School scholars, with 15 teachers. The pews were declared free at evening service. Edward Reynolds was added to St. James's Vestry.
Early in the year negotiations were begun for the purchase of a large tract with a two-story brick house thereon, at the corner of Slack street and Linden avenue, belonging to Gen. John S. Mason. The sale was finally consummated on December 18 for $4,000. The lot fronted 240 feet on Slack street and 188 on Linden ave- nue, with 16712 feet at the rear. It was intended to be the rectory, but Dr. Hull did not care to reside in it, and the following spring the property was platted into eight lots under the name of St. Paul's Church Addition, which were gradually sold at prices aggregating $7,081.
Robert Mears died on January 22, 1869, leaving a legacy of $5,000 to St. Paul's, to be invested by the Ves- try, the income to be used towards the support of the rector, for which promissory notes of Thomas Mears were accepted the following year.
The Sunday School was removed this year to the nave of the church, the infant department remaining in the basement under charge of Mrs. Hull. Communi-
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cants, 100; Sunday School scholars, 110, with 15 teach- ers. Sixteen persons were confirmed by Bishop Bedell on October 24, and the Bishop visited St. James's the next day.
An incident of the year was a visit from Rev. Mr. Laverty, who was gathering an infant congregation at Canton, Ohio, for which he received contributions aggre- gating something over $100. A similar contribution was made not many months after to the German mission in Cleveland.
Vacancies caused by the removal of James Means and S. F. Scull to Pittsburgh were filled in 1870 by the election of Alexander Doyle and E. F. Andrews. Dr. Mitchell died on April 26, and William Day was ap- pointed Junior Warden, and William A. Walden, Ves- tryman. A. J. Beatty was the convention delegate, and James Brownlee was appointed sexton. Communicants, 105; Sunday School scholars, 130, with 12 teachers.
About this time a special effort was made to place Ascension parish, Wellsville, on a permanent foundation. The parish had been organized on September 5, 1863, but had maintained a precarious existence with a rented room for a place of worship. With enlargement of the railway shops and the coming of John Thomas, C. & P. R. R. Division Superintendent, who made Wellsville his home and headquarters, the congregation was enconr- aged to purchase a lot in the lower part of the town and begin the erection of a neat frame church. Mr. Thomas acted as lay reader, and under his management an ex- cursion from Steubenville and intermediate points to Cleveland was carried out in the summer of 1870. There was a good attendance from the start, and towards noon two long trains rolled into Cleveland, carrying over 1,000 excursionists. The net proceeds were over $2,000, which. with funds raised from other sources, enabled the
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church to be consecrated on October 2. Recently the semi-centennial of the parish was celebrated with inter- esting ceremonies.
The resignation of Mr. Coleman left St. James's without a rector, and the few services held appear to have been in private houses.
Bishop Bedell visited St. Paul's on October 2, and confirmed 12, making 34 confirmations under Dr. Hull's administration. Seven were confirmed at St. James's, two having been confirmed at a previous date.
Joseph Beatty and William Day were the conven- tion delegates in 1871, where the Bishop delivered the usual warnings against ritualism, with the usual effect.
Dr. Hull having received a call to Christ Church, Montpelier, Vt., on May 15 tendered his resignation to the Vestry of St. Paul's, to take effect on Whitsunday following, the 28th. This was accepted with best wishes and commendation to his new field of labor. It being necessary that the Sunday School should have a super- intendent, Mr. Day was elected to that office, with W. R. Drake in charge of the primary department. Dr. Hull died a few years since.
Rev. J. W. Cowpland, of Eastern Virginia, had come to Brooke County to take charge of the parishes there, to which he added that of St. James's, on May 21, 1870. He was very far from what might be called an "advanced" Churchman, but it was manifest to him, when not a surplice was used in public worship, that there was a decadence that called for a remedy, and his restoration of the surplice in his three parishes has al- ready been related.
CHAPTER XI.
A GREAT STEP FORWARD.
Rev. Thoma's D. Pitts Becomes Rector-Eloquent Preacher and Attractive Personality-Purchase of Rectory-Movement to Build a New Church Consummated-Last Services in the Old Building-Cornerstone Laying-Imposing Consecration Services-Description of the Structure.
On November 20, 1871, St. Paul's Vestry extended a call to Rev. Thomas D. Pitts, then acting as professor of English literature in Racine College, Wis., to become rector of St. Paul's. Mr. Pitts came to Steubenville and officiated on the following Advent Sunday, when he made ¿. most excellent impression both as a reader and preacher. Having returned the call to the Vestry, it was promptly renewed at a salary of $1,800 and accepted, he beginning his administrations here on Sunday, March 3, 1872, which event marked a decided forward movement in the parish. Mr. Pitts was a native of Baltimore, descended from an old Maryland family, was about 29 years of age, and possessed of a round, full voice and graceful mien. He was educated at St. James's College under Dr. J. B. Kerfoot, afterwards Bishop of Pittsburgh, and passed through the theological seminary at Nashotah, Wis. After his ordination he became assistant to Dr. Mahan, lector of St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, one of the ablest theologians of the American Church. From there he went to Racine College, accepting the chair of English literature under Dr. James De Koven, who was Warden of the institution. While at Racine he married Miss Canfield, an accomplished young lady, and daughter of General Canfield, a prominent officer in the Civil War. At his first service here the new rector announced weekly
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REV. CHARLES GILLETTE.
REV. R W. GRANGE.
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REV. ANDREW HULL.
INTE REN. CHARLES D. WILLIAMS
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communion during the remaining Sundays of the Lenten season, and this was kept up throughout his rectorship during both Lent and Advent. When Mr. Pitts was or- dained priest at St. Paul's, Baltimore, the women of that parish presented him with a beautifully embroidered linen alb and chasuble, which he continued to use at all cele- brations of the Holy Eucharist, this being possibly the first parish in Ohio to restore the ancient vestments of the Church of England, as well as the ecclesiastical East- ward position. The attendance at services, which had considerably fallen off, increased very decidedly, chancel decorations the following Easter were exceptionally bright, and everybody felt encouraged. Bishop Bedell visited the parish on June 9, and confirmed 28.
At the Easter election Joseph B. Doyle succeeded Mr. Walden on the Vestry, and was elected Secretary, holding that position, with an interval, until 1904. Messrs. Blinn and Joseph Beatty were convention delegates, and Rev. John Long, priest in charge at Wellsville, had been holding services at Irondale in the northern part of the county with some encouragement.
It being necessary that the rector and his family should have a place to live, A. J. Beatty offered a lot on South Fifth street, on which had been erected a modern two-story frame dwelling, for $7,000. The lot had a street frontage of 110 feet 8 inches, with a depth of 130% feet. Funds for the purchase were to come from the $5,000 Mears legacy, the $1,000 Andrews legacy, and surplus from sale of the Slack street property. The Ves- try approved this arrangement, and the property was occupied the latter part of the year, but owing to delay in details, the deed was not made until February 9, 1874. The rent of the rectory was fixed at $300 per annum, making the salary of the rector $1,500 net.
At the request of Trinity Church, Bellaire, the seats
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in the main portion of the basement were presented to that parish, and subsequently the church pulpit, which was replaced by a lectern corresponding to the prayer desk.
While the project of a new church edifice was still in abeyance, the matter had not been entirely lost sight of, and at a meeting of the Vestry held on June 25 tlie rector was authorized to prepare pledges with the object of accumulating a fund for a new building.
The sudden death of Hon. Joseph Means on July 1 was a severe blow to the parish, and an extensive river excursion planned for Independence Day was abandoned.
John Griffith, an employe of the P., C. & St. L. Ry. at Gould's Station, died in the early part of 1872, leaving his property, valued at $1,000, to St. Paul's. Cost of administration, especially attorney fees, cut this down to about $750, which was subsequently turned into the building fund.
After the departure of R. M. Jackson, the latter part of 1871, J. B. Doyle, who had charge of the Sunday School music, and under whose administration the Hutchins Sunday School hymnal was introduced, ren- dered some volunteer service at the organ. On the in- stallation of the new rector, Prof. J. W. Schofield was appointed organist and choir director at $300 per year. The new church hymnal having been adopted at this time, the "Tucker" musical hymnal was procured for the choir. During the summer a new cabinet (Gerish) organ was purchased for the Sunday School, which is still in use for choir rehearsals, and subsequently an Estey organ for the primary department, which was in use for various pur- poses until quite recently.
Pledges for the building fund for the first year amounted to $1,888.75, and at a meeting of the Vestry held on January 8, 1873, A. J. Beatty was created treas-
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urer of this fund, to which was ordered to be added any surplus that might accrue in the rectory fund.
A marked event in the history of the diocese was the death of Bishop McIlvaine, which occurred at Florence, Italy, on March 12, 1873. The remains were brought home via England, where they received distinguished honors, as well as on their arrival at New York, inter- ment being finally made at Cincinnati. That Bishop McIlvaine was a man of more than ordinary ability and strong personality could not be gainsaid. Aristocratic in his appearance and manner, he attracted attention wherever he went. Much of his later years was spent in England, where, as an able preacher, he ahvays received a warm welcome. But these traits were not always to the advantage of the Church in his diocese, and hard it was for any clergyman with whom he differed on point of doctrine or ritual. With the new life that was stirring the Church on both sides of the Atlantic he was not only out of sympathy, but regarded the so-called Oxford movement as the essence of all evil, which should be stamped out by every means at hand. His "Evidences of Christianity" was a standard publication, and his schol- arly essays were universally recognized, even under such titles as "No Priest, No Altar; No Sacrifice But Christ," and "Reasons for Refusing to Consecrate a Church Hav- ing An Altar."
Bishop Bedell, who now succeeded to the charge of the entire diocese, belonged to the same school of Church- manship as Dr. McIlvaine, but with a radical difference in temperament. In a letter the following year he depre- cates excess of ritual, but the persecution of parish priests who kept within the rubrics of the Prayer Book and the canons was at an end. With a gentleness of disposition that sought for peace, an 'artistic taste that could recog- nize the beautiful whether in form, color or sound, a
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melodious voice that almost made anthems of his prayers and sermons, and withal a polished Christian gentleman in the highest sense of the word, Bishop Bedell was al- ways welcome whether as an official visitor or otherwise. He lived to become a part of the movement which had been so discredited, and to march in procession with pleas- ure and satisfaction with the vested choir of his own. cathedral to the beautiful marble altar now in the chapel of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland.
The vacancy in the Vestry, caused by the death of Mr. Means, was filled by William R. Drake, and F. A. Wells, Joseph Beatty and James II. Blinn attended the convention of 1873. On Easter Day the Sunday School sang full choral Evensong, including the Psalter, and during the year about $700 was added to the building fund through the pledges. About this time the question of procuring another site for the proposed new church came up, and a committee was appointed which subse- quently reported adversely to any change.
Mr. Pitts's fluency of speech and excellent command of English naturally made him popular as an orator, and early in his rectorship he was invited to deliver the ad- dress at the High School commencement exercises, then held in what was known as Gray & Garrett's hall. Like all his efforts, this was a finished and scholarly produc- tion, based on the well-known stanza from Tennyson's "In Memoriam :"
I held it truth with him who sings To one clear harp in divers tones. That men may rise on stepping stones Of their dead selves to higher things.
Prof. Schofield having retired from charge of the choir, Miss Dwight was appointed organist, who, with the assistance of Miss Putnam, held that position for
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about two years, when Miss Sarah Kells succeeded until after the building of the new church. On November 2 fourteen were confirmed, and two at St. James's.
Charles Gallagher succeeded Mr. Andrews on the Vestry in 1874, and the convention delegates were Wil- liam Day and J. B. Doyle. The important matter before that body, which met at Gambier, was the division of the diocese, which had now become a necessity. Several propositions were before the convention, one of which was to divide the northern half of the state into two dio- ceses with Cleveland and Toledo as the see cities, the southern half to be a third diocese. Offers were made to endow each of the northern dioceses to the extent of $25,000. but this plan failed to carry, and the convention settled down to an east and west line dividing the state into two nearly equal parts. The first proposition was to locate Jefferson County in the southern diocese, which would have placed Steubenville 270 miles from the see city (Cincinnati), and the arrangement was objectiona- ble in other respects. At the protest of the St. Paul's delegation this was remedied, and the line dividing the two dioceses was drawn along the southern boundary of the counties of Jefferson, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Coshoc- ton, Knox, Morrow, Marion, Union, Logan, Shelby, Auglaize and Mercer. The northern section retained the old name, the other adopting the title of Southern Ohio. Bishop Bedell announced that in the future his official residence would be in Cleveland, where Trinity Church subsequently became the diocesan cathedral. Gambier is geographically in the northern diocese, but the southern diocese until recently retained an equal con- trol in the institutions located there.
Robert Spear, who died on July 25, bequeathed $500 to the building fund in addition to a Northern Pa-
A GREAT STEP FORWARD. 139
cific Railway $500 bond previously donated. On Decem- ber 29, twenty-one were confirmed.
On March 10, 1875, the rector and Vestry made an important change in the manner of raising revenue for current expenses by adopting what was known as the pledge and envelope system of weekly contributions, and declaring the pews free. The new plan went into opera- tion on April 1 following, the members of the congrega- tion generally retaining their former seats. As this in- terfered with a similar arrangement in regard to the building fund, and the dull times following the panic of 1873 beginning to have their effect, additional pledges for the latter fund were abandoned for the time being. Joseph Beatty and William Day attended convention. Communicants reported, 148; Sunday School scholars, 175, with 14 teachers. Encouraging reports were made from St. James's, where Rev. J. W. Cowpland was doing efficient work.
A. J. Beatty was struck by a locomotive in October, from which his death subsequently resulted, and on De- cember 7 James Means was appointed to fill his place on the Vestry, and Charles Gallagher was afterwards ap- pointed treasurer of the building fund.
Mr. Cowpland gave up St. James's Church on June 15, 1875, after a successful rectorship of over five years, and was subsequently stationed at Ward, Pa. He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Rambo, of Bellaire, and subse- quently by Rev. James Hillyar, of Dennison. The dis- tance at which these clergymen resided from their charge was a great hindrance to any efficient pastoral work. Mr. Brewster took charge in 1880, but remained only a short time. Afterwards services were rendered some- what irregularly by Mr. Grange, the rector of St. Paul's.
On April 23, 1876, a class of twenty-six was con- firmed at St. Paul's, and on July 4 a centennial service
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
was held in the early morning, William H. McDonald and others composing the choir. The Bishop visited Eastern Ohio again in the fall, confirming one at St. Paul's on November 3, and one at St. James's the next day. Later the rector delivered a lecture on "Florida,". with Miss Lizzie Brosi as vocalist, at which quite a sum was realized for repairs to the rectory: The women also provided funds for new vestments and organ repairs. Subsequently the matter of moving the organ and choir from the gallery to the side of the chancel was considered, but after some weeks experimenting and consideration it was decided to make no change for the present.
At the Easter election, 1877, William Dougherty succeeded Mr. Drake on the Vestry, and he, with Joseph Beatty, attended the convention that and the following year. The treasurer of the building fund reported the face value of assets in his possession at $7,875.07. Pledges for parish support showed a decrease, and an effort was made to remedy this. There was a confirma- tion class of seventeen on April 15, and communicants reported to convention numbered 183, the highest figure yet reached.
At a meeting of the Vestry on September 5 a letter from the rector was read, tendering his resignation to take effect on December 1 following, for the reason that the health of his family compelled him to spend the win- ter in the South. No action was taken at that time, but after a personal conference the resignation was accepted on the 19th. On October 3, a petition was presented, signed by numerous members of the congregation, asking that the previous action be reconsidered, and that leave of absence be granted the rector for such time as he de- sired, and that some person be engaged to conduct serv- ices in his absence. The vote was reconsidered and the resignation withdrawn. Rev. George May, of Frostburg.
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A GREAT STEP FORWARD.
Md., visited the parish the following Sunday, but no per- manent arrangement was made with him. On Novem- ber 7 the Vestry formally declined to accept the resigna- tion, and granted the rector leave of absence without sal- ary for six months, beginning December 1. This was accepted, and arrangement made with Rev. A. J. Brock- way, of the diocese of Albany, now of Pierrepont Manor, N. Y., to take charge of the parish at $20 per week. The rector also proposed that on his return his salary be fixed at $25 per week, which was done. In compliance with the canon a minimum payment of 10 cents per week reg- ularly for the preceding six months was subsequently fixed as a qualification for voting at parish elections.
As has been related, the parish of St. Paul's was in- corporated in 1825. However, the record of the original incorporation could not be found, and, as the building of a new church was in prospect, with possibility of legal questions growing out of contracts, etc., it was decided as a precautionary measure to reincorporate. Under an act of the legislature this was done on Easter Monday, April 22, 1878, the Articles of Association being signed by Joseph B. Doyle, Charles Gallagher, William Dough- erty, J. M. Brownlee, J. M. Barclay and J. B. Wells. Several years ago the original record of incorporation was found in the Probate Court, so the action in 1878 may be regarded as superfluous.
The salary of the organist was fixed on May 1 at $125 she to furnish the blower at her own expense. Building fund assets were reported at $8,454.75. Joseph Beatty and William Dougherty attended convention. Four were confirmed on October 28, and the Central Convocation met here the next day.
Early in 1878 the matter of repairs to the church edifice coming up, the question arose whether it was ad- visable to spend any more money on the old building or
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make a decided move towards erecting a new structure more suited to the needs of the congregation. While the country was still suffering from business depression, making it difficult to raise a large fund, yet the cost of labor and material was exceptionally low, and the con- clusion was reached that now was the time to take a defi- nite step forward. At a meeting of the Vestry held on July 11, the rector read some letters in reference to plans for a new building, and George W. Hewitt, architect, of Philadelphia, was requested to furnish a pencil sketch of said building, to seat 500 people, and cost about $15,- 000. The sketch shortly after arrived, and in the main was approved, with some material changes. Instead of a wooden spire as originally proposed, one of stone was substituted, the chancel terminating in an apse instead of being square, black walnut adopted instead of pine for wainscotting, marble steps and tiling for chancel instead of wood, with other minor changes.
On September 11, the rector and Messrs. Dougherty, Day, Doyle, Doty and Means were appointed a commit- tee to solicit funds, which two weeks later reported $5.374 subscribed, with more in prospect. As this with assets already in hand made a fund of $15,000, it was decided to go ahead with the work. Another month was consumed in securing working plans, etc., when proposals were asked for constructing the completed building ex- cept the stained glass windows, heating apparatus, plumb- ing and gas fixtures, chancel and entrance tiling. The contractor was also to raze the old church, using there- from such material as should be acceptable, reserving to the congregation all the furniture, including pews, organ, bell, gas pipe and fixtures, heating apparatus, chancel window and stained glass emblems.
The contract was awarded on November 7 to Rob- ert Hyde for $15,637, and a building committee ap-
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pointed consisting of Mesrs. Dougherty, Means and Doty, to supervise the work. The contractor was to be given possession of the church lot on March 1 following, and the new building to be completed by November 1, 1879. The firm of Archer, Boal & Co. became sub-contractors for the stone work, and Barthold Bros. the plastering, making the somewhat unusual record of all the principal contracting parties being members of the parish. The outside material was to be native sandstone, and by ar- rangement between the contracting parties temporary sheds were erected, and work of stone cutting began at once and continued throughout the winter.
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