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 13
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Prominent on the east wall on either side of the chancel are two life-size figures in oil, painted by E. F. Andrews, the well-known artist. They represent St. John the Baptist and St. Paul, respectively, and are the joint gift of Mr. Andrews and James Means. On the west wall is a mural tablet in memory of Dr. John Andrews.
The church is lighted by eleven double lancet win-
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
dows on the sides, three in chancel with quartrefoil, two wide lancets and twelve-foot rose window in west end, and two lighting respectively the sacristy and baptistery. The chancel windows represent scenes in the life of St. Paul, his conversion, preaching on Mars Hill, and the trial before Agrippa. In the medallions above are a pair of crossed swords, Agnus Dei over the altar, and the Holy Spirit represented by a dove. The first mentioned window is a memorial to A. J. Beatty and wife, the cen- tral one to Rev. Intrepid Morse, and the third to Hon. Joseph Means and wife. The southwest window is a copy of Thorwaldsen's "Night," representing the flight of an angel over a sleeping city with the figure of a little child in its arms, and is a memorial to Emma Glenn, lit- tle daughter of James Means. This window has a some- what curious history. Bishop Leonard visited the parish on Sunday, morning, May 29, 1892. The number of communicants was large, and in addition to the regular communion silver there was used a private set given by Misses Annie and Sarah S. Scull as a memorial to the former's mother. This was inadvertently left in the sac- risty, the present organ chamber, and the clergy with others went that afternoon to St. James's, Cross Creek. There was no evening service, and during the night the window last above described was broken, and a thief en- tered the church, and carried off the communion set, which was never recovered. It was replaced by a similar memo- rial set from the Harden family. The window was injured beyond repair, and was replaced by the present one. The other west lancet reproduces Holman Hunt's celebrated painting. "The Light of the World," the original of which is in the chapel of Keble College, Oxford, with a replica in St. Paul's Cathedral, London. It is a memorial to James Means, Sr., and wife. In the centre of the rose
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A GREAT STEP FORWARD.
window is a head of St. Paul, from Raphael, and the tower entrance is lighted by a mosaic lancet with I. H. S. at the top. Two of the double side lancets are filled with full length figures of the four evangelists, and are memo- rials to Joseph and Elizabeth Beatty, Sr., George Beatty, Jane Beatty, Jane and Sarah Spencer. All of these win- dows were placed in position before the church was con- secrated. They were promptly followed by others, the first being the centre double lancet on the south side as a memorial to John B. and Sarah Doyle by her son and grandson. The figures were taken from steel engravings in an old Prayer Book, the first representing Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, underneath being the words, "Thy Will Be Done." The other has the words, "Christus Resurrexit" beneath the Roman soldiers and the rising Saviour. Above are the crown of thorns and crossed keys. The next was near the front entrance and was a memorial to Charles B. Doty and his sister, Mrs. B. Leonard Doty Johnson. A figure of Faith with cross graces the first lancet, and Hope with anchor the second. East of the south porch are two lancets to Alexander and Jane Lowry Doyle, the first with St. Paul resting on his sword, and the second the Good Shepherd bearing a lamb in His arms. West of the south entrance. the double lancets of beautiful opalescent glass represent the Angel of the Resurrection, in which the features of Mrs. James Means, to whom it is a memorial, are idealized, and the other the Saviour in the garden on the first Easter morn- ing. On the north side are two memorials, the first to John O. Russell and his wife (subsequently Mrs. Cros- key), showing the shepherds and angels on the first Christmas morning, and Rock of Ages. The second is to John P. Means and wife, one lancet showing St. John Baptist, with the banner of the cross, and the other a Madonna, The baptistery contains a pretty window,
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memorial to Mrs. Mary W. Barclay. It has a figure of the Christ Child after the Della Robbia Bambino, with the word "Jesus" above, and "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" below. Beneath is a shield with a kneeling angel after Fra Angelica. Alms basins were given by Miss Myers's Sunday School class.
The original plans of the church contemplated the possibility of tiled aisles, but carpet covers the aisles as well as the pew spaces. Manufactured gas was first used for artificial lighting by means of four coronas of eigh- teen burners each and sixteen four-light brackets from the walls, giving 138 jets in all. Subsequently natural gas was substituted, and later electricity in the chancel, which will no doubt finally be extended throughout the building. The original heating apparatus consisted of four large stoves in the basement, with flues at each end and some extra ones in the side walls for emergency. These were replaced in 1912 by a steam heating plant.
As already related, the pews in the old church had been declared free several years before its demolition. The arrangement had not proved entirely satisfactory from a financial standpoint, probably more because of business depression and lack of energy in pushing the system rather than from any inherent fault in the system itself. With the opening of the new church it was de- cided to continue the pledge and envelope plan, but to allow the subscribers to select their pews according to the size of their subscription, in other words, the highest sub- scriber was allowed to liave first choice, others following in order to the lowest. Within a few days practically every seat in the church was taken, with a yearly income of $2,500 pledged for current expenses, the highest point then reached in the history of the parish.
Among the minor actions the Vestry prescribed that all kneeling stool covers should be the same color as the
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carpet, and pewholders should be allowed to procure book racks of a certain size and form, only one, however, was placed. Also that all new windows should contain a ven- tilating louvre.
At the forthcoming convention Mr. Pitts was made a member of the committee to which was referred that portion of the Bishop's address relating to missions. St. Paul's reported 162 communicants, and St. James's 36. Mr. Pitts had looked after this parish as well as St. John's, Brooke County, during vacancies. Joseph Beatty was lay delegate. The Bishop in his annual address re- ferred to new St. Paul's as "a dream in stone. Its ex- terior, especially the tower and spire, stone to the top, can hardly be surpassed for beauty of proportion, design and finish."
CHAPTER XII.
PATHS OF PROGRESS.
Resignation of Dr. Pitts-Purchase of Lot-Rev. R. W. Grange Becomes Rector-New Communion Set-Early Easter Services-Diocesan Convention-Financial Matters -- New Bishop Chosen-Mr. Grange Succeeded by Rev. C. D. Wil- liams-Parish House Built-Weekly Communion-Vested Choir-Mr. Williams Resigns-Rectory Sold.
At a meeting of the Vestry held on July 28, a com- munication was received from the rector, tendering his resignation, to take effect on November 15, 1880, for the same reason that had influenced him to offer it in 1877, namely that the health of his family required re- moval to a milder climate. After considering the mat- ter for a week the Vestry accepted the resignation, and adopted the following minute :
In accepting the resignation of Rev. Thomas D. Pitts as rector of this parish, which office he has filled for more than eight years past, we do so with the deepest regret at the neces- sity which compels a severance of the relations which have so long and pleasantly existed between us as pastor and people. We desire here to record an expression of our esteem for him as a Christian gentleman, a Catholic Churchman and a parish priest. We heartily commend him to whatever people among whom his lot may be cast as worthy of their fullest confidence, and wheresoever he may go he will carry with him our heart- felt wishes and fervent prayers for his general welfare.
Mr. Pitts's last service as rector was held on Thanks- giving Day, November 26, and during that week a fare- well reception was tendered him at the residence of Mrs. Mary K. Means on Washington street, where he was presented with a purse of $250 in gold. He and his family spent the winter in Florida, and he afterwards accepted a charge at Wilmington, N. C. Subsequently
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he conducted Trinity Hall at Washington, Pa., a pre- paratory school for boys, for several years, occasionally visiting his old parish, where he was always warmly wel- comed. He afterwards removed to Pittsburgh, where he engaged in secular business, although not formally retiring from the ministry. His friends noticed a change in his manner, the cause of which was not revealed until after his death, which occurred during convulsions on May 18, 1891. An autopsy revealed what was pro- nounced the strangest case known, to medical science. The deceased had a veritable thorn in his brain. When his skull was opened a bony plate was discovered, two inches in length, three-quarters of an inch in width, and having a very rough surface. It occupied part of the membraneous partition between the two hemispheres of the brain, and to its pressure was due the intense suffer- ing caused to the deceased. The examining surgeons were unable to determine the source of this bony growth, but it was probably caused by an accident, of which they were not aware. When a boy Mr. Pitts suffered a broken nose from a fall down stairs, and the bones, in their en- deavor to unite, doubtless started a growth which did not reach the brain imtil his later years. He was buried from old Calvary Church in his priestly vestments, with the prayer from earnest friends that after this life's suf- ferings his soul might rest in peace. It is not putting the matter too strongly to say that next after the venera- ble Dr. Morse no rector of St. Paul's had a stronger hold on the affections of his parishioners, or brought the par- ish to a more marked position in the community.
During the summer of 1880 the family of William Giles, occupying the south half of lot No. 208 adjoining the parish property on the north, offered to sell the same to the church for the sum of $2,500. The desirability of acquiring the property was evident both as a matter of
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protection to the exisiting structure, and to allow room for future expansion. As the congregation had been re- sponding to quite heavy demands for sometime previous, it was deemed best not to make any additional call at this time, but to appropriate $500 accumulated in other funds, and to incur a temporary indebtedness of $2,000, the interest on which could be met from the rental of a small storeroom and dwelling then on the lot. The ar- rangement was finally consummated, and the deed made on October 20. About half the debt was lifted a couple of years later, and the remainder in 1890. The wisdom of the purchase has been abundantly vindicated, as well as perseverance in holding it under later adverse cir- cumstances.
Some changes being necessary in the choir, an ar- rangement was made with George E. Sharpe and James W. Gill to take charge of the music at a cost of $275 per annuni, to take effect on September 1. Miss Ella Young was appointed organist, and the arrangement finally grew into a double quartette choir, the whole expense being about $600 per year.
About the same time that a new structure was pro- jected for St. Paul's, a similar enterprise was carried out in St. Stephen's parish, East Liverpool, the little frame building which had served that congregation for many years being replaced by a neat brick edifice capable of seating between 300 and 400 persons. Several contri- butions to this work had been made by Steubenville Churchmen, and the new house of worship was now completed, but without furnishing of any kind, if a debt be excepted. It will be remembered that when old St. Paul's was razed, among the furniture reserved were the pews, chancel chairs, font and gas fixtures. These were still in storage, with a fragment of the old altar, not hav- ing been utilized in the new church. Rev. Philip McKim,
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PATIIS OF PROGRESS.
rector of St. Stephen's, made application for these arti- cles, which was granted. They were taken to East Liv- erpool and duly installed as intended, where they re- mained until the night of January 27, 1900, when the church and its contents were entirely destroyed by fire.
After the acceptance of Mr. Pitts's resignation no time was lost by the Vestry in looking about for a new rector, and matters had so far advanced that on Septent- ber 1 a call was extended to Rev. Robert W. Grange, of St. Paul's Church, Columbus, at a salary of $1,600 and rectory. This call was accepted, and Mr. Grange began his work here on Advent Sunday, November 28. Mr. Grange was a graduate of the Nashotah Seminary, and was a classmate of Mr. Pitts, although somewhat older. He was possessed of a pleasing voice and social qualities, which made him very popular. On March 27 following the salary was advanced to $1,800.
One of the last projects inaugurated by Mr. Pitts previous to his departure was the procuring of a new communion service of sterling silver. This was now carried out with such expedition that the new service was procured and ready for the following Faster. Not only money but articles of silver were contributed to be worked into the service, which consisted of flagon, two chalices and paten, the first from the congregation gen- erally, the chalices gold lined and set with jewels from the Doty and Means families, and the paten gold faced as a memorial from Mrs. M. A. Timberlake. The old set was presented to Trinity Church, Bellaire.
Considerable money was spent in repairing and im- proving the rectory this winter, the rector and wife mean- while having hotel quarters. The first funeral in the new church was that of Miss Mary K. Means on March 20, 1881.
Mrs. Jane Averick, who died in May, 1880, be-
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queathed $100 to the Sunday School, which was re- ceived about March 1 of the following year.
The practice of having service early on Easter morn- ing was inaugurated in 1881 with a volunteer choir and a large congregation. Hymns and collects made up the service, with a brief address, but in after years it con- sisted of choral celebration of the Holy Communion, which has become the leading service of the festival. W. H. Harden succeeded Mr. Barclay on the Vestry, and the sexton's salary was fixed at $10 per month.
During the winter the chancel was decorated through the liberality of James Means, the background being blue with red trimmings, and ornamented with the monogram I. H. S., and fleur de lis in gilt. This encour- aged a movement for decorating the nave, which was done after Easter. An ivy vine ornamented the chancel arch, and two large crosses with streamers relieved the west wall. The general tint was terra cotta, relieved at the windows and arches by ornamentation and sentences.
Over three years had elapsed since there had been a confirmation service in St. Paul's when, on December 6, 1881, Rt. Rev. George W. Peterkin, Bishop of West Vir- ginia, visited the parish, Bishop Bedell being in Europe. A class of fifty-one was confirmed, the largest in the his- tory of the parish up to that time. In addition, there were nineteen others not then ready, who were confirmed by Bishop Bedell on February 19 following. He called the combined class of seventy to the altar rail and deliv- ered a special address.
John P. Means was elected Vestryman at Easter.
In response to an invitation previously extended, the Diocesan Convention met for the second time in St. Paul's on June 6, 1882. There was a good attendance, but the business was mostly of a routine nature. Joseph Beatty, James Means and William Dougherty were the
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delegates from St. Paul's, and John White, John Under- wood and Alexander Cunningham from St. James's. Messrs. Dougherty and Means were appointed members of the finance committee, and among the resolutions adopted was one congratulating the people of St. Paul's on the completion of their beautiful new church, whose walls were already beginning to be covered by a growth of Japan ivy (ampelopsis vetchii), the first planted in the city. Mr. Grange reported as caring for St. James's Church and St. John's, Brooke County, the former hav- ing twenty-nine communicants. The convention remained in session two days, the evening of the first day being devoted to a missionary meeting, with addresses by Rev. William Bodine, of Gambier; Rev. William P. Morgan, of Trinity Church, Cleveland, and others.
At a meeting of the Vestry on July 1 the engage- ment of Miss Sarah Marion as organist for a year at $150 salary, and J. W. Stewart as choir director at the sanie amount, was approved. The music of the Sunday School was in charge of J. B. Doyle, the rector being superintendent. The opening service was choral, being condensed from the Prayer Book of 1549, and received the approval of Dr. George W. Hodges, now dean of the Cambridge theological seminary, who, while rector of Calvary Church, Pittsburgh, spent a Sunday at St. Paul's. The commuicants at this time numbered 210, and Sunday School scholars 176, with 21 teachers.
The Easter election in 1883 resulted in the choice of F. A. Wells, Senior Warden; William Day, Jr. War- den ; James Means, William Dougherty, C. B. Doty, John P. Means, Joseph B. Doyle, J. M. Barclay, Charles Gal- lagher, George A. Maxwell, Vestrymen. Messrs. Beatty and Dougherty attended convention. On May 20 Rt. Rev. C. E. Penick, who had been Bishop of South Africa, visited the parish and confirmed a class of twenty-three.
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
Miss Marion was re-engaged as organist on July 1 at a salary of $175 a year.
On September 26, 1883, Miss Agnes Underwood and Joseph B. Nicholson were married in St. James's Church, that being the only marriage service ever held in that building. The ceremony was conducted by Rer. J. W. Cowpland, the former rector, who came from OM Point Comfort for that purpose.
Bishop Bedell made a visitation on April 27, 1884, and confirmed a class of twenty-three, including one from St. James's.
'The financial condition of the parish at this time be- gan to create some anxiety, and at a meeting of the Ves- try held January 3, 1885, a committee consisting of Messrs. Doty, Gallagher and Doyle was appointed to make an examination and report the following Saturday night. As a result of their investigation they presented the following to the Vestry :
Your committee respectfully reports that the income of this parish from pew rentals for the year ending Easter, 1884, was $1.906.95; from delinquents, $72.80; offertory, $244.71; total, $2,224.46. This represents the income available for general ex- penses. While the income for that year may have fallen be- low the average. we believe that $2,100 per annum from pew rentals and $250 from the offertory is the extreme limit which can safely be relied upon, making a total of $2,350, which, from figures given below, would appear to be in excess of rather than beneath the actual cash receipts.
The annual current expenses of the parish as nearly as can be ascertained are as follows: Rector's salary. $1.800; organist and blower. $200; sexton, $140; gas and fuel, $250; insurance, $75; taxes, $72.25; convention, $160; interest, $42; contingencies, $200; total. $2,949.25; annual deficit, $599.25.
The parish is the possessor of a piece of property on the north side of the church which yields an annual income of $220. against which there is an annual charge of $159.31 for interest and taxes, leaving $60.69 for repairs, insurance and contin gencies.
It appears from the minutes of the Vestry that on September, 1, 1883, the treasurer presented a statement showing the parish indebtedness to be about $3.500. There was after- wards raised by special subscription $1,123.50, and proceeds of
PATHS OF PROGRESS. 167
"Cinderella" entertainment, $50, or $1,173.50 in addition to the ordinary income. Of this about $311 was paid for a special grading and curbing assessment. The balance, $862, was ap- plied towards the reduction of this debt or to current expenses. Notwithstanding this extraordinary income, the indebtedness has been largely increased, it standing on January 1 last about as follows: Bills payable, $2,550; bills rendered, $1,211.35; coal (estimated), $40; organ blower, $8.75; F. A. Hare, $7.39; con- vention, $160; insurance, $75; taxes, $40; total, $4,092.39.
Thus instead of the indebtedness being reduced $862 as it would have been had the ordinary income been equal to the expenditures, it is increased by about $600, making a deficiency between the receipts and disbursements in sixteen months of over $1,400. It is more than likely that the usual payment of back pew rentals made at the end of the fiscal year, together with the collection of some long-standing delinquencies, will make a material reduction in this deficiency. Your committee, however, are of opinion that the annual expenditures of the parish are in excess of the annual income by not less than $500 to $600, and that unless some measures are speedily taken to remedy this state of affairs the most disastrous consequences will ensue.
The committee was continued with instructions to recommend a plan for bringing the income and expendi- tures to an equality if possible. In pursuance of this, on January 31 were presented the following recommenda- tions, which were adopted to take effect on April 1:
1. That the salary of the rector be fixed at $1,600 per an- num, payable monthly. 2. That the salary of the organist be fixed at $150 per annum, payable quarterly 3. That the rector be requested to discontinue week-night services except during Advent and Lent. This with the reduction already made in the sexton's salary ($2 per month), makes a total reduction of about $300. There is still a deficit, but if the convention assessment can be raised outside of the ordinary income and economy exer- cised in other directions, the committee believe that by collect- ing pew subscriptions more closely the income and expenses may be equalized.
Richard Humes was appointed sexton.
Bishop Bedell visited the parish on June 14, and confirmed ten. Communicants reported, 239; Sunday School scholars, 190, with 20 teachers. Part of the
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
financial troubles were tided over by borrowing money from the women's society, they having started a fund for the erection of a chapel or parish house.
For some months, beginning in 1884, the small building on lot No. 208 was devoted to a parish library for which quite liberal contributions of books were made, and the lower floor to a reading room, which was open every evennig. It was also used for meetings of the women's society and for other purposes. Not fulfilling expectations in this respect, and the income from the same being needed, the reading room was closed and the building was rerented. Subsequently a room was secured on the second floor of the Griesinger block, a short dis- tance north of the church, primarily for a young men's club, but it was also convenient for the women's society and for rehearsals for the boys who sang at the early Easter services, and occasionally at Evensong, the nucleus of the future vested choir. Misses Riley and Lindsay conducted there a parochial kindergarten, and Miss S. S. Scull and others on Saturdays an industrial school, which for several years was one of the most important of the parish activities. . At this time an application was made to the rector by parties living on the east side of the river to conduct a Sunday School at Hunter's school- house, a short distance above Fairy Glen, and to hold oc- casional services. The request was complied with, and dur- ing the summer a very interesting work was carried on. It ceased in Autumn, and was not again renewed.
Quite a change was made in the personnel of the Vestry in 1886, those elected that year being James Means, Senior Warden; William Archer, Junior War- den ; J. W. Jordan, Dr. A. A. Elliott, Ross White, E. Y. Dougherty, R. J. Beatty, J. H. Timberlake, Alfred Day. Harry L. Doty. Repairs on the church amounting to $55 were made this spring, and about $155 spent on the
RT. REV. GREGORY T. BEDELL.
FANS
RT. REV. WILLIAM A. LEONARD.
PATHS OF PROGRESS 169
rectory. The indebtedness on the lot purchase was re- duced $100, being $35 from the Church Acre fund, $50 bequest of Elizabeth Wilson, and $15 from rentals. Natural gas was introduced into the church for heating, and the next spring for lighting by argand burners. On December 12 the Bishop visited St. Paul's both morning and evening, and confirmed nine persons. He was as- sisted at Evensong by Rev. Mr. Wirgman, of Wheeling, who conducted services at St. James's every other Sun- day.
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