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 14
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Charles Gallagher and George A. Maxwell suc- ceeded Messrs. Jordan and White at the Easter election in 1887. A substantial reduction was made in the debt at Easter, but the Vestry minutes at this period and for some time after are chiefly a record of pew regulations and efforts to make both ends meet.
Bishop Whitehead, of Pittsburgh, visited the parish on Good Friday evening, March 30, 1888, and con- firmed twenty-four. At the ensuing Easter election George P. Harden succeeded J. HI. Timberlake on the Vestry. The rector's salary was again increased to $1,800, dating back from January 1.
The health of Bishop Bedell had become such as to necessitate the election of an assistant, and a special con- vention was called for that purpose at Cleveland in the spring of 1888. Messrs. Gallagher and Timberlake at- tended this convention, which was carried on amidst con- siderable confusion, resulting in the apparent election of Rev. William F. Nichols, of St. Jude's Church, Philadel- phia. This, however, was pronounced irregular, and the matter went over until fall, when another special con- vention confirmed Dr. Nichols's election. He declined, however, and the regular convention held at Toledo on May 15, 1889, elected Rev. William A. Leonard, of St. John's Church, Washington, who was consecrated on
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October 12, becoming the one hundred and fifty-first Bishop of the American Church, and the fourth Bishop of Ohio. He practically took full charge of the diocese at once, as Bishop Bedell was now incapacitated for further service, and the diocese soon began to feel the infusion of new life and energy. Not an extremist in either doctrine or ritual, none was firmer in sustaining the essentials of the faith, and dignity in worship was not only allowed but encouraged. In fact, the whole situa- tion, not only in Ohio, but over the country generally, had been gradually changing from what it had been a few years before. Methods and actions, for which faithful priests had been persecuted and churches boycotted (if that term may be permitted), were becoming the usual and ordinary course of procedure. It was realized that they were not the property of any particular party or faction, but of the Church generally, and, except in a few isolated instances, had ceased to excite any particular at- tention or comment. Better than all was the feeling that the Church, like the Nation, was broad enough and strong enough to tolerate differences of opinion and prac- tice so long as the foundations were preserved intact. This condition freed Bishop Leonard from some of the difficulties of his predecessors, enabling him to energet- ically pursue the work of building up the Church in waste places. An able preacher, a cultured gentleman, a good executive, and withal an earnest Christian, he made a most favorable impression from the start, an impression which lapse of time has strengthened, and given to the diocese a lengthened period of harmony and steady growth.
The newly organized Church of the Ascension in Pittsburgh, having invited Mr. Grange to become its first rector, that gentleman, on March 2, 1889, presented his resignation to the Vestry of St. Paul's, to take effect on
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May 1 following, which was accepted with expressions of regret. On March 26 Rt. Rev. Boyd Vincent, the re- cently consecrated Assistant Bishop of Southern Ohio, visited the parish and confirmed a class of twenty-four.
Previous to his departure for his new field a recep- tion was tendered Mr. Grange at the residence of Charles Gallagher, where he was presented with a purse of gold. During his administration at Ascension parish the orig- inal frame building was replaced by a handsome stone church and parish house, and the congregation, self-sup- porting from the start, became one of the strongest in the city. A few years ago Mr. Grange's health compelled him to give up active work, and he now lives a quiet life at Bellevue, one of the suburbs of Pittsburgh.
The Vestry on March 30 extended a call to Rev. Charles D. Williams, of Fernbank, a suburb of Cincin- nati, to become rector at a salary of $1,600 a year and rectory. The call was accepted, and the new rector took charge in June. Mr. Williams was a son-in-law of Rev. Dr. Benedict, rector of St. Paul's Church, Cincinnati. He had been educated in the Gambier institutions, and had already attracted attention not only as a student, but a forcible preacher, whose sermons were of a character not calculated to induce somnolence. Independent in his views and energetic in his work, he soon began to make his influence felt not only within the parish, but beyond its boundaries.
The room in the Griesinger block was given up this summer, and in the fall a larger one was rented in the Floto building on the west side of Fourth street, above Market, for general parish purposes. The remainder of the parish indebtedness was extinguished the following Faster, and the rector was able to announce that they "owed no man anything except to love one another." Mr. Beatty was succeeded on the Vestry by S. C. Gill,
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and Alfred Day was convention delegate in 1890. At that time the reports gave 240 communicants and 95 Sunday School scholars, with 18 teachers. St. James's, 18 communicants. At an episcipal visitation on May 4 twenty-five were confirmed.
Shortly after Mr. Williams became rector his brother-in-law, Cleveland K. Benedict, of Cincinnati, a candidate for holy orders, became a member of his fam- ily and pursued his studies under his direction. Mr. Benedict had graduated at Kenyon College in 1887, and was ordained deacon in St. Paul's Church, Cincinnati, on September 21, 1890. Remaining here as assistant at St. Paul's, he took charge of St. James's, Cross Creek, and other work in this vicinity until June, 1892.
During the Bishop's visitation in May, 1890, a serv- ice was held at Toronto, for which the M. E. Church was kindly tendered. The rector and a volunteer choir attended from St. Paul's, and the building was crowded. 'The rendition of the chants was left pretty much to the visitors, but when it came to the familiar hymns, the vol- ume of sound was inspiring. The establishment of a mission was discussed, but nothing was done at that time.
Two principal topics occupied the attention of the Vestry and congregation during summer of 1890: plac- ing of dormer windows in the roof of the church, in or- der to secure better light and ventilation, and the erection of a chapel or parish building, the necessity of which was obvious. The first project was dropped after placing some ventilating slats in the chancel ceiling and side reg- isters in the wainscotting. The women of the parish had kept the idea of an additional building in view for over a decade, but as soon as they had accumulated a respectable nest egg it was always needed for other pur- poses, first to build the church tower, and then to supply deficits in current expenses, which bid fair to become
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ST. PAUL'S PARISH HOUSE.
ST. PAUL 'S CHAPEL
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chronic. Not discouraged, however, they kept steadily at work, and during Thanksgiving week of this year, gave a very successful "Kirmess," which added $1,000 to their fund. Miss Mary Bustard, a revered communi- cant, at her death bequeathed $500 to the same object. Correspondence with Mr. Hewitt, the architect of the church, resulted in the preparation of plans for a stone building, which were laid before the Vestry at its meet- ing on February 12, 1891. They provided for a three- story structure with basement, the ground floor to be de- voted to Sunday School, choir room and general pur- poses, the second floor to a hospital, and the third to sex- ton's and other rooms. The estimated cost was $20,000, which was considered greater than the financial condi- tion would warrant, besides the responsibility of general hospital work, which the parish was hardly in position to assume. Accordingly it was resolved to eliminate the second story plans, and bring the proposed third story to the second floor. With some other minor alterations this plan was adopted. A committee on subscriptions having already been appointed, the Vestry received bids for the work and on July 22 authorized the making of a con- tract with Robert Hyde and Floto Bros. for the erection of the structure, to be completed by Christmas, 1891. It was then figured that the cost of the building, exclusive of heating, plumbing and furnishing, would not exceed $11,000, but, as will be seen, the aggregate was increased and the time of completion extended.
Bishop Leonard made his third visitation to St. Paul's on June 14, confirming a class of eighteen, a re- ception having been tendered hin at the rectory the pre- vious evening: He visited St. James's in the afternoon, and preached to a large congregation at St. Paul's in the evening.
Work on the parish house progressed sufficiently to
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permit the laying of the cornerstone on Wednesday after- noon, September 23. At 5 o'clock a procession led by members of the Sunday School moved out the west door of the church, singing "The Church's One Foundation," and including the following clergy: Rev. Messrs. James II. Young, of Dennison; C. K. Benedict and Charles D. Williams, Steubenville; Charles O'Meara, Martins Ferry; Rt. Rev. William A. Leonard, Bishop of the diocese. Arriving at the southeast corner of the building, Mr. Williams conducted the opening service of invocation, with Lord's Prayer, Collects, "Direct Us, O Lord," and for the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul and All saints' Day, and 101st Psalm. The Bishop led in the Apostles' Creed, versicles and succeeding collects. Mr. Benedict then presented to the rector, Mr. Williams, a copper ves- sel containing copies of the Holy Bible, Book of Common Prayer, coins of the current year, journal of the previous Diocesan Convention, list of bishops of the diocese and rectors of St. Paul's since its organization, Wardens and Vestry, communicants and Sunday School scholars of the parish. Mr. Williams placed the vessel in the recep- tacle provided for it, when Bishop Leonard, Contractor Ilyde and Mastermason Floto placed the stone in posi- tion. It was declared laid in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and the Bishop in his address emphasized the fact that the mission of the Church was hearty, aggressive work in the Master's service and for the good of the community. The object of this building was to furnish a centre at which plans of work could be laid out, and from which the work itself should proceed. He congratulated the parish on its past work and future prospects. The service concluded with prayers and benediction and the singing of Hymn No. 282 as a recessional, while the Bishop and Clergy re- turned to the church. The stone is 36x24x18 inches in
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size, and bears the inscription, "St. Paul's Parish House, A. D. 1891." Two person were confirmed at this visita- tion.
The new structure was sufficiently advanced by Eas- ter, 1892, to allow its use for some purposes, but it was not completed and furnished until the following May. On the 29th of that month the Bishop visited the parish in the morning and confirmed a class of 29, and cele- brated the Holy Eucharist. In the afternoon, he, with Messrs. Williams and Benedict, visited St. James's par- ish, and it was that night the burglary related on page 156 occurred.
Exercises connected with the blessing of the parish honse began at 11 o'clock the next day, when the vested choir of twenty-six voices preceded the Bishop and clergy from the church, singing the processional hymn. As each room was entered it was blessed by the Bishop, end- ing in the main apartment on the ground floor. The Bishop congratulated the people of St. Paul's on the com- pletion of one of the finest and most substantial parish houses in the diocese. He referred in eulogistic terms to the work that had been done, and reminded the congre- gation of what might be expected with its increased facilities.
He then introduced Rev. R. W. Grange, of the Ascension, Pittsburgh, who spoke of his happy associa- tions as former rector of St. Paul's. Referring to the hard work which the erection of this building involved, he called special attention to the part taken by the women of the parish, to whom most of the credit was due. Al- most before the Vestry were aware of the movement the ladies had $1,300 in a fund for the new building, which they loaned to the board at its urgent request to pay for other expenditures. Notwithstanding this, they perse- vered until the building stands to-day a monument to their
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efforts. Mr. Grange enlivened his remarks by some amusing anecdotes, but the serious side was that the new building added to the responsibility of the congregation; the communicants of St. Paul's had more talents, and more results would be expected from them than hereto- fore, the facilities were better, and better work would be expected. He glowingly praised the beautiful and sub- stantial building, remarking that he was delighted beyond measure to be present on this auspicious occasion, and he was grateful to the rector for this opportunity to speak with his old parishioners.
Prayers were offered by the Bishop, the creed was recited, Hymn 450, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." was sung, and the benediction pronounced. Im- mediately after the close of the service an elaborate luncheon was served by the women in the new building, which was attended by the visiting clergy, the Vestry, and most of the city ministers. Interesting after-dinner speeches were made, and the affair was a most enjoyable termination to an interesting function.
As previously stated, the building is constructed of native sandstone, similar to the church, with which it is connected by a corridor 2212 feet in length by 8 inches in width, the outside dimensions of the structure proper being 50x74 feet. It is two stories high with basement and mansard roof. The first floor contains a large apartment 35x70 feet 8 inches, mainly for Sunday School purposes, but which can be subdivided by sliding doors into three sections. The nothern one, 19x35, has been used as a choir room during the week; the central part, 35x32 feet 8 inches, for general Sunday School and other purposes, and the southern section, 19x35, was later converted into a chapel for early commumions and weck-day services. Entrance from Adams street is through a tiled porch into the cor-
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ridor, leading from which on the opposite side is a spa- cious hallway, also used by the Sunday School as a library, in the rear of which was a pantry and kitchen. A broad oak stairway leads to the second story, in the rear of which are three rooms for the sexton's occupancy. In front are the rector's apartments, study, bedroom and bathroom, and women's sewing room, with a storage room in the centre. The interior woodwork is yellow pine, with frosted windows in the Sunday School room and cathedral glass in the corridor. Seats were pro- vided by the girls' guild of the parish, and a lectern and chair were presented by Mrs. M. K. Means in memory of her deceased daughter, Mary.
While the estimated cost of the parish house was $11,000, its completion and furnishing, with other items, brought it close to $13,000, the final report of the treas- urer on March 26, 1894, showing a total expenditure of $12,748.39, with an indebtedness at that time of $4,- 610.37, which was not entirely extinguished until twenty years after the completion of the building.
At the Easter election of 1891-2 Charles Gallagher and John P. Means were elected Wardens, William M. Beall being the new member in place of Mr. Archer, de- ceased. John Bishop was chosen in place of J. B. Doyle, declined. Mr. Gallagher was convention delegate in 1891, and Mr. Beall in 1892. Mr. Benedict was in charge of St. James's, reporting 11 communicants; St. Paul's reported 254 communicants and 100 Sunday School scholars, with 15 teachers.
Early in 1892 it became apparent that the pew rental plan inaugurated after the consecration of the new church in 1880 could no longer be depended on to meet current expenses of the parish, and the Vestry, after some weeks' careful consideration, decided to return to the free pew and pledge system, beginning with Easter.
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A circular was issued to the parishioners, the first two paragraphs explaining the reasons for the change as fol- lows :
For some reasons, chiefly because of the inefficient and unsystematic plan heretofore in use, the income of the church for several years past has been steadily declining. . Experience has shown a regular annual decrease ever since the adoption of the present method. The existence of this state of affairs, and a prospect of a continual deficit, renders it absolutely neces- sary to make an immediate change from the present inefficient system. And your Vestry have unanimously decided to adopt for the coming year-beginning at Easter-the system now in successful use by many of the leading churches, and at one time by this parish, known as the free-pew or weekly offering plan.
The proposed arrangement, which went into force at the time proposed without objection, has been carried on ever since with some minor alterations, and may now be regarded as the settled policy of the parish.
Mr. Benedict was advanced to the priesthood by Bishop Vincent in Christ Church, Cincinnati, on June 12, 1.892, and became assistant at Christ Church, Glendale, assuming the rectorship in October, 1894. In Novem- ber, 1910, he was chosen Dean of the theological depart- ment of the University of the South, which position he still holds, having been awarded the degree of D.D. by Kenyon College in June, 1911.
While the building of the parish house was in progress, the sexton's family occupied the frame dwelling north of the church, the front room being used for parish pur- poses, but they afterwards using the quarters assigned them in parish house, it and the other buildings on that lot were rerented. The church spire was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in the month of June, but the damage, which was not serious, was repaired by the in- surance companies. The church interior was renovated this summer, services being held in the parish house.
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The inauguration of the vested choir on Easter, 1892, is related elsewhere. Early weekly celebration of Holy Communion was also established about this time.
Francis A. Wells, who had been Senior Warden for many years, died on April 2, 1892, and William Day, a former Vestryman and Junior Warden, on November 19, same year.
Arthur C. Thomson, candidate for Holy Orders, succeeded Mr. Benedict as assistant, holding services at St. James's, and St. John's, Brooke County, and he in the fall by Rev. T. A. Waterman in deacon's orders, who remained a few months. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Stafford, who had charge in 1893 during a va- cancy in the rectorship, and subsequently located at Cleveland, N. Y. He recently retired from active work on account of advanced years and physical infirmities. Mr. Thomson is rector of Trinity Church, Ports- mouth, Va.
Miss Hale in September applied for permission to conduct a kindergarten in the parish house, which was granted on condition that she receive eight free pupils. The missionary zeal of the parish at this time was very marked, upwards of $600 per year being raised through what was known as the "Systematic Offering," which was applied to the assistant and missionary, who had his headquarters in the parish house.
Mr. Williams having received a call to be Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, on December 23 sent his resignation as rector of St. Paul's to the Vestry, to take effect the following February. It is needless to say that the resignation was reluctantly accepted, but the call to Cleveland was recognized as a decided advancement. He became the same active force at Cleveland that he had been at Steubenville, and it was during his administration that the magnificent new cathedral was built. Before
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the cathedral was completed he was elected Bishop of Michigan, and consecrated in St. Paul's Church, Cleve- land, on February 7, 1906. His home is now Detroit, where he has built a fine cathedral:
For some time the sale of the rectory property was under consideration, on account of the expense of keep- ing it up, and on March 27 the Vestry authorized its sale to Wilson McKee for $3,700, the purchaser to assume the assessments for certain street improvements. This was carried out and deed executed on June 6, 1893. The sum of $200 was used for general purposes, leaving $3,500 for investment.
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHANGES AND TROUBLES.
Rev. H. LeF. Grabau Called-Advanced Views of New Rector- Toronto Mission-Convocation-Ordination-Dissatisfaction -Exciting Parish Election-Chapel Furnished-Rector Re- signs-Rev. G. W. Hinkle Succeeds-Efforts for Harmony- Centennial Celebration.
There was some delay in securing a new rector, but on March 8 a call was extended to Rev. H. LeF. Grabau, of Oswego, N. Y., at a salary of $1,600 per annum and rectory. Mr. Grabau visited the parish and conducted services ten days later, also meeting with the Vestry, which body agreed to allow $100 to cover removal ex- penses. In his sermon the rector-elect gave what was then considered quite pronounced views as to his position on doctrine and ritual so that there should be no misunderstanding as to his course should he accept the call In order to avoid any embarrassment or misun- derstanding, he returned the call to the Vestry, by whom it was unanimously renewed on March 27. This was ac- cepted, the new rector taking charge early in May. It was necessary to rent a building for rectory, and the property of Hon. R. G. Richards, corner Franklin and Fifth streets, was secured for that purpose.
John P. Means was the convention delegate this year, the opening Evensong being conducted by Dean Williams and Mr. Grabau. The Bishop in his address mentioned Edwin B. Redhead, later rector of St. Steph- en's, as a candidate for holy orders. Mr. Grabau also took charge of St. James's, Cross Creek, and St. John's, West Virginia, and on July 1, Rev. C. P. Cogswell, in deacon's orders, who had been located at Wellsville, at-
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tended to these parishes, also becoming assistant at St. Paul's on May 1 following.
With the coming of the new rector parish activ- ities were greatly increased. Mr. Grabau was very positive in his ideas, and quite as positive in enforc- ing them, which latter trait led to results not then fore- seen. He boldly declared that the fact of the parish hav- ing followed certain usages for a long period of years was no reason for continuing them if they were wrong, a proposition incontrovertible in itself, but sometimes dif- ficult to put into practice when confronted by blank walls of conservatism. As has already been indicated the time had now passed when a priest or parish (outside of a few remote districts) was in danger of persecution by eccle- siastical authority, because of some difference of opinion over vestments or some minor points of ritual, in fact, it was now generally recognized that most of the so-called "novelties" were simply restoration of the practices of the ancient Church of England, and were now gradually becoming the ordinary use of her American daughter, without any regard whatever to the preaching or prac- tices of the Roman Communion. The fact that injudi- cious partisans sometimes in these as in other instances used more zeal than discretion in no way militated against the general principle. Although St. Paul's was not in advance of the general movement, it was not alto- gether out of the procession, but under former rectors had been making steady if not rapid progress. When the present church was built, correct ecclesiastically as well as graceful architecturally, there was some inquiry as to why the chancel was so large, with the prompt re- sponse that we were building for the future. When the Bishop casually remarked to the rector that he hoped to see in the new building not a marble altar but an old fashioned table, the latter replied "That while we were
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glad to be able to say with St. Paul that we had an altar, yet on account of our financial condition we were com- pelled for the present to be content with a wooden one." That was probably the last suggestion against an altar in Ohio, and when one now surveys the massive block in the diocesan cathedral with its magnificent reredos, the eucharistic lights and the attending servers, the progress · made can be at least imperfectly realized. Under the rec- torship of Mr. Williams, the vested choir had become a fixed institution, and the weekly communion part of the ordinary Sunday services. Choral services had been used for years in the Sunday School and at the early Easter celebrations, but had not become the accepted use for Sunday services generally. So far as ritual service went, what was now proposed was largely an extension of what was already in use to a certain degree, and the enriched Prayer Book, which had shortly before been adopted by the Church, accentuated some things which otherwise might not have attracted serious attention.
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