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 19
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
cellent foundations laid by Mr. Raynes, he brought the choir to a high state of perfection, and this, with his or- gan recitals, placed the music at St. Paul's in the lead so far as Steubenville was concerned. He also organized a choral society, which did some good work. Choral serv- ices were also held at the County Infirmary and- Y. M. C. A. building.
When the vested choir was organized no definite plan of recreation was provided, as is usual in such cases. The boys were allowed to play in the churchyard, and when the weather was bad to a limited extent in the parish house. In 1893 a day's excursion was taken to the woods near Adena, and in August, 1894, some funds having been collected, a ten days' camp on Brown's Island was held under the supervision of the rector. Service was held in the grove on Sunday, which attracted a congre- gation from the city and the surrounding country.
In November Prof. Corbett, receiving a call to St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, at a salary of $1,200 per an- num, resigned, and was succeeded on December 9 by Charles N. Parker, of Toronto, Canada, at a salary of $400 per annum and a sleeping room in the parish house. Mr. Parker also took charge of the choral society, which he conducted during the winter. He was a superior 'cello player as well as an organist, and gave a number of high class concerts during his residence in Steubenville. An excellent musician, but possessing a somewhat nervous temperament, he resigned on May 15, and the manage- ment of the choir was turned over to J. B. Doyle, who remained in charge with some brief intervals for about sixteen years. John Potter was engaged as organist at $3 per week, attending the Friday evening rehearsals, Sundays and special services. In lieu of camping recrea- tions the choir boys were taken to the woods on July 4, and on an excursion to Pittsburgh in the fall, with extra
-
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THE VESTED CHOIR.
trips when good work was performed, which practice was continued until 1911, when the Pittsburgh trips were dropped.
Early in 1895 Charles Dougherty presented to the choir a brass processional cross, still in use, as a memorial to his mother, which has since been enriched by the addi- tion of a valuable amethyst, the gift of Mrs. F. S. Max- well. The crucifers have been George Wilcoxon, John Peterson, Charles Peterson, Maurice Peterson, Albert Schick, Reese Lewis, Percy S. Harris and Frank Roberts. The musical standard was sustained during the summer, and when Rev. G. W. Hinkle visited the parish on St. Michael and All Angels' Day, 1895, full choral Eucharist and Evensong were sung.
On Sunday, February 2, 1896, William J. Fox, a former member of the choir, with Charles B. Thompson, George W. Snyder and Sherman Massingham, compos- ing the Schubert Club, of Pittsburgh, visited St. Paul's, and aided the local choir in giving delightful musical services both morning and evening. Mr. Fox also vis- ited here the following Easter, and sang Rodney's "Res- urrection" in the evening. In fact, it became the custom whenever the former choristers returned to the city to naturally take their old places in the choir. The last vis- itor of this kind was John Odbert, now a successful singer and choirmaster at Salamanca, N. Y. John Schnorren- berg, with violin, also assisted with the music on Easter Day, and he, with A. M. Burns, subsequently rendered excellent volunteer aid in this direction.
The choir boys had their second camp on Brown's Island from July 10 to 24, 1896, having an enjoyable period, although hampered somewhat by rains and high river, necessitating skiff ferriage between the island and Ohio shore instead of the stepping stones two years be- fore.
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About May 1 of that year Prof. Sydney Trick ar- rived from England and was engaged as organist and director at $20 per month and room in parish house, to be $25 after September 1. He remained until the cen- tennial celebration of the parish, on Sunday, October 11. The musical service for the morning has already been given. In the evening there was full choral service with Stainer's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in E flat.
On May 30 the choir furnished the music for the evening exercises of the G. A. R. in the Grand opera house.
Mr. Trick left to become organist at Christ M. E. Church, Pittsburgh, and matters were restored to their former condition until the latter part of January, when a Mr. Lund, of England, was engaged temporarily for a few weeks.
L. J. Emory, of New York, was engaged about De- cember 1, and served until April, 1898, when he resigned to accept a position in Eastern Pennsylvania, after which he moved to Duluth, Minn., where he engaged in busi- ness. He made warm friends in the choir and parish, and during the winter directed a rendition of Gaul's "Holy City" for the benefit of the King's Daughters' Circle.
Early in June J. D. Martin, originally of England, but who had served in old St. Peter's, Philadelphia, and other prominent parishes, was engaged to succeed Mr. Emory. Mr. Martin was acquainted with most English contemporary composers, was very industrious in scale work, and his ideas and practice on tone quality were of the best. He did not succeed, however, in building up the choir to any extent, and when he resigned the last of November to accept a position with the Church of the Good Shepherd, Boston, but nine choristers were regis- tered, and the attendance at rehearsals dropped down to
ST. PAUL'S CHOIR, 1897, SHOWING VOCALION.
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THE VESTED CHOIR. 239
four. Mrs. A. M. Burns was engaged as organist, at $2 per Sunday, and the writer having gone south during January, at the first rehearsal after his return on Febru- ary 8, but one boy was present. The choir had, however, touched low water mark, and conditions began to im- prove, though rather slowly. It was fully a year before the choir could be said to be anywhere near its normal condition, and even then there was considerable room for improvement.
Mrs. Burns being compelled to resign the latter part of 1899 on account of ill health, Miss Julia Clark was ap- pointed to play the organ in her place for some months, when Mrs. Burns resumed.
Faithful attendance and hard work on the part of the boys finally brought the choir up to something like its pristine efficiency, and when the rector was invited to deliver the baccalaureate sermon to the High School graduates on the evening of June 17, 1900, it was con- cluded to make an effort to hold a service worthy of the occasion. Arrangements were made for an orchestra of five pieces to support the vocalion, and the writer entered into correspondence with Prof. Paris R. Myers, then or- ganist and choirmaster of St. Matthew's, Wheeling, for the loan of three of his boys to reinforce the choir, espe- cially to provide the alto part, which is the bete noir of American choirmasters, and will continue to be until it is taken by an adequate supply of counter tenors. There being no service at St. Matthew's that evening, Mr. Myers generously offered to come to Steubenville, play the organ on that evening, and bring with him as many boys as desired. Twelve arrived, and with a choir of twenty-four boys and eight men there was a strong force, and the Steubenville boys were highly commended by Mr. Myers for their precision and purity of tone. The service was full choral, the hymns "Ancient of Days," "The
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Spacious Firmament" and "God of All Being" making a mighty chorus. "Open the Gates of the Temple," sung by Master Alan Goodwin, of Wheeling, was the offertory anthem, and solos were also rendered by Messrs. Nichols and Quimby. A portion of St. Paul's choir attended the baccalaureate in St. Matthew's the next year, and an in- timacy followed between the two choirs which was very agreeable and profitable, at least to the Steubenville end.
During the following summer and fall extensive al- terations were made in the chancel of St. Matthew's Church, including the installation of a large double pneu- matic organ. The old organ, which was placed in the church on its completion in 1868 at a cost of $4,800, was an excellent instrument from the celebrated Jardine fac- tory, but considerably out of repair. It was offered for sale at $500, and, believing this to be an exceptional bar- gain, a member of St. Paul's congregation proposed to the Vestry to purchase the organ and place it in the church, the Vestry and congregation to provide a suita- ble recess on the north side of the chancel, and proceeds front the sale of the vocalion to be applied to rebuilding the instrument. The proposition was accepted, and dur- ing the winter the north chancel wall was removed, con- verting the sacristy into an organ chamber, a change be- ing made in the roof to secure additional height. The vocalion was sold to St. Matthew's Church for $250, suf- ficient to pay the cost of placing the organ, and the ex- pense of reconstruction, securing water supply, etc., was about $350. As some $750 had been raised for this pur- pose, there was a surplus of over $400, which was given to the Women's Society and applied on the parish debt. John Malone, of Pittsburgh, who had purchased the old pipe organ several years previously for $50 and rebuilt it for a Methodist society, was the rebuilder of this organ. A portion of the instrument was ready by Good Friday,
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THE VESTED CHOIR.
and the whole organ was brought into use for the first time on Easter Day, April 7, 1901. It was a most joyful festival. Four choral services were sung that day, in- cluding the Sunday School gathering in the afternoon, with large congregations at all. In the evening Mr. Myers presided at the organ, and gave a recital at the close of the service, delighting everybody with the new acquisition, of which a brief description may be given here. It is a two-manual instrument extending from C C C in the bass to G G G in the treble, with a pedal bass of two octaves. It contains about 1,200 pipes, reached by 21 speaking "stops," divided as follows : Swell organ-trumpet, cornet, flageolet, principal, gedacht, dia- pason bass, open diapason, keraulophon, bourdon. Great -piccolo, nazard (12th and 15th), principal, flute, melo- dia, stop diapason bass, vox celeste, clariana, open dia- pason 16 feet, double diapason. Pedal-Open diapason, stop diapason. In addition the mechanical accessories consist of pedal to swell, pedal to great, coupler, tremolo and foot swell, 26 in all. It is the largest organ in the city, and in quality of tone is excelled by none. In fact, it is superior to most of the modern organs in this respect, and should it be found desirable at any time to introduce further instrumental accessories, it is to be hoped that the integrity of this instrument may be preserved. In 1905 a two-octave set of chimes was hung in the organ at a cost of about $200, but they have never been con- nected with the keyboard in a manner to render satisfac- tory service, which no doubt will be done sometime in the future.
Sunday, June 9, 1901, was another notable day in the history of the choir as well as the parish. As related elsewhere, Rev. William A. Grier was ordained to the priesthood in the morning, the Communion office being Morley and Tours, and the anthem, "Praise the Lord, O
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Jerusalem," with Messrs. Nichols and Geisinger soloists. At Evensong the entire St. Matthew's choir was present with their organist, Mr. Myers, the combined choir mak- ing a chorus of sixty voices, and the procession stretching the entire length of the church from the chancel to the parish house. A temporary platform extended in front of the chancel arch to accommodate the singers, and the Steubenville Gazette the next day stated that "the music was probably the finest ever heard in a Steubenville church." 'T'he Steubenville choir chanted the Psalter, and the Wheeling choir sang Stainer's "I Am Alpha and Omega" for the anthem. The service was intoned by Mr. Grier, and after the service Mr. Myers gave a short organ recital.
Prof. H. W. Matlack was secured as organist dur- ing the summer of 1902 and was a most valuable acces- sion not only in the way of accompanying the choir, but in his recitals before and after service. Miss Connelly, now Mrs. Roy Foster, gave a fine rendition of "The Prodigal Son." Mr. Matlack was succeeded on Septem- ber 1 by Miss Bessie Shane.
An organ recital was given by Prof. Myers on the evening of October 31, assisted by Madame Cleary, a celebrated New York contralto. The singer was suffer- ing from a severe cold, which detracted from that part of the performance, but this was more than offset by the classical selections rendered by Mr. Myers.
The dedication of the chancel enlargement and new organ at Wheeling was made the occasion of a series of festival services in which portions of the Steubenville choir assisted, including such productions as Jordan's Te Deum and Jubilate, Mann's Magnificat and Nunc Dimit- tis, Mendelssohn's "Be Not Afraid," and Handel's Halle- lujah Chorus. On St. Stephen's Day (December 26),
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THE VESTED CHOIR.
the choir visited East Liverpool and participated in the opening services of new St. Stephen's Church.
It was now the regular thing to sing six anthems each Sunday, including the canticles and offertory. The following programme for the month of June, 1902, omit- ting the hymns, will give an idea of the musical standard :
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. HOLY COMMUNION.
Communion Office Maunder
Offertory, "O Saving Victim" Tours
Ablutions, Nunc Dimittis. Barnby
EVENSONG.
Praeces and Responses Tallis
Psalms 93, 97, 150. Cathedral Psalter
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Garrett
Creed and Versicles .. .Tallis
Offertory, "The Radiant Morn" Woodward
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. MATINS.
Venite Day 8
Te Deum and Jubilate. Tours
Offertory, "Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem" Hall
EVENSONG.
Processional Hymn 491
Praeces and Responses. Tallis
Psalter, Selection XVIII. Cathedral Psalter
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Stainer
Creed and Versicles. Tallis
Offertory, "O Taste and See" . Goss
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. MATINS. -
Venite
. Day 15
Te Deum and Jubilate. Bridgewater
Hymn before Sermon .. .385
Offertory, "Cujus Animam" Rossini
EVENSONG.
Praeces and Responses
. Tallis
Psalter, Selection XIX ..
Cathedral Psalter
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis King Hall Creed and Versicles. Tallis
Hymn before Sermon. 401
Offertory, "Be Not Afraid"
Mendelssohn
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. MATINS.
Processional Hymn 507
Venite Day 22
Te Deum Jackson
Jubilate
Garrett
Offertory, "The Lord is Exalted" West
EVENSONG.
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Bunnett
Offertory, "Holy Art Thou" Handel
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. MATINS.
Venite Day 29
Te Deum and Jubilate. Jordan
Offertory, "And the Glory of the Lord" Handel
EVENSONG.
Praeces and Responses Tallis
Psalter, Selection XX Cathedral Psalter
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Mann
Creed and Versicles ..
Tallis
Offertory, "Unfold Ye Portals'
Gounod
Mr. Myers, happening in at Evensong on the even- ing of the 15th, presided at the organ, and congratulated the choir on its work, especially the rendition of the an- them, "Be Not Afraid." During this season Mr. Jen- kins, a New York tenor, also visited the choir and sang Rossini's "Cujus Animam" as well as the solo in the "In- flammatus." When the "York State Folks" Dramatic Company visited the city, which occurred in two or three successive seasons, St. Paul's choir boys were always in demand to sing "Calvary" in the church scene.
Misses Grace Dawson and Grace Nelson were or- ganists during parts of the next two years. Mr. Foster, who became rector in 1904, was a superior musician, and took charge of the choir during the absence of the writer, in 1907, among other things presenting Stainer's "Crucir fixion" during Lent.
Mr. Myers resigned his Wheeling charge the latter part of 1904, and pending a permanent settlement agreed
JOHN ODBERT.
CHARLES SPECHT, JR.
PERCY S. HARRIS,
(. BARLES QUIMBY,
SOME EARLY CHOIR BOYS.
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THE VESTED CHOIR.
to come to Steubenville at a salary of $40 per month and room in the parish house. It is needless to say that his work here was appreciated, the Christmas and Easter celebrations being especially marked. In addition to the ordinary Church work, his organ recitals on Sunday- afternoons were a popular feature. Quite a number of cantatas were given, including the "Holy City," "Gallia," "Ruth" and "Crucifixion." "The offerings at these re- citals were generously devoted to procuring new vest- ments for the choir. On May 1 he resigned to go to Grace Church, Sterling, Ill, which had a short time pre- vious called Rev. E. Weary, of East Liverpool, to the rectorship. He left carrying with him testimonials of esteem from members of the congregation and best wishes. Subsequently he removed to Evansville, Ind.
As already noted, the midnight Eucharist on Chris- mas Eve was inaugurated in 1904, and the feast of the Nativity falling on Sunday, the following services in- cluded Sunday School with Advent mission offering at 9:30 A. M., Choral Communion and sermon at 10:45, carol service at Gill hospital at 3 P. M., organ recital at 4, and Choral Evensong and sermon at 7:30. Maunder's office was sung at the midnight service, Stainer in F at 10:45, and Mann's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in the evening. The proper psalms were 89, 110 and 132, and the anthems Sullivan's "Hark, What Mean Those Holy Voices," and Andrews's "Let Us Now Go." To say that there was a lot of tired choristers that night is putting it very mildly, but there was no grumbling, possibly because the boys were too sleepy to protest. The Procession of the Palms, now a regular feature, was introduced in 1905, and before Mr. Foster's departure the Litany was sung regularly on Rogation Sunday.
After Mr. Myers's resignation the organ was sup- plied by Miss Robertson until November, the instrument
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
was rebuilt, and she was succeeded by Mrs. J. H. An- drews, followed by E. M. Fisher, who played until Janu- ary 22, 1911, except an interval by Mrs. Andrews and a few weeks by Miss Gill. During this period J. Boynton Wilson performed good service as member of the choir and also presided at the organ at intervals. He is now one of the leading organists of Washington City, and has charge of the instrument at the Church of the Ascension. Mr. Fisher also rendered efficient help as counter-tenor.
By invitation of Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Gaillaird, of New Cumberland, W. Va., the rector and choir on the evening of September 18, 1905, went to that town, where a confirmation service was held by Bishop Gravitt in the Methodist place of worship. The building was crowded, and Mr. Foster presided at the organ, Robert Sherratt acting as crucifier. This was the last time the choir sang at any service outside the city, or, in fact, at any place outside the church except at hospital and funeral services.
The choir reached its highest enrollment in May, 1896, with twenty-six boys registered. In June, 1909, there were twenty-two enrolled with several probationers, the number at rehearsal reaching twenty-eight. In autumn of this year the singing of introits according to the Prayer Book of 1549 was taken up, which was excep- tional in the American Church.
On January 22, 1911, James W. Jelly was appointed choirmaster and organist at $500 per year, who in Au- gust, 1912, was succeeded by Charles A. Nicholson, of Fort Smith, Ark., formerly of Durham, England, at $50 per month. Mr. Nicholson proved a very skillful organ- ist, and the recitals given by him on Sunday afternoons have been well attended.
On July 11, 1911, a communication was received by the Vestry from James Means proposing to replace the temporary choir seats by black walnut stalls as a thank
THE VESTED CHOIR. 247
offering upon his recovery from illness. The proposition was thankfully accepted, and the stalls placed at a cost of $400. The chancel was extended forward to provide additional room needed, new marble steps constructed, and the altar rail brought forward to its original position at cost of an additional $400. Since the origin of the choir three members have entered the priesthood, and one is preparing for Holy Orders.
Many other details of choir work might be given, but that would extend this chapter to an inordinate length. The boys who were members of the organization in its beginning and faithful members during their adolescent period, are now as a rule not only worthy members of the Church they then served, but active members of society and doing their part as honored citizens. No doubt they, with the writer, look back to days of pleasant memories, and although the clouds were sometimes dark, yet the sunshine never failed to succeed them.
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CHAPTER XVII.
ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH.
Organization of the New Parish-Chapel Leased-Mr. Cowling First Rector-Purchase of Rectory Property-Mr. Gaylord Called-St. James's Centennial-New Church Edifice-Mr. Red- head's Rectorship-Parish House Built-Vested Choir-Mr. Bissell Called.
The proceedings relative to the withdrawal of about one-third the membership of St. Paul's Church, and pre- liminary steps towards the formation of a new parish, have already been related in Chapter XIV. Those pre- liminaries having been disposed of and episcopal consent having been given for such action, a meeting of the peti- tioners was held at the residence of George E. Sharpe, on North Seventh street, on September 24, 1896, and sub- sequently at the residence of Alexander Lee on North street on October 5, at which the new parish organized under the name of St. Stephen's by the election of Charles Gallagher and W. H. Garrett, Wardens, and. A. A. Elliott, W. M. Beall, George A. Maxwell and John Cald- well, Vestrymen. Mr. Beal was made secretary, and Dr. Elliott treasurer.
A committee was appointed to lease the Presbyterian mission chapel, corner of Franklin and Sixth streets, which was done at a cost of $20 per month, and the build- ing suitably equipped. Here services were held during the fall and winter by Profs. Davies, and Streibert, of Gammbier, and others.
On March 11 a call was extended to Rev. E. W. Cowling, of Madison, Va., to become rector at a salary of $1.000 per annum. A Sunday School was organized
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ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH.
on March 30, with an enrollment of thirty-three scholars and eight teachers.
Mr. Cowling accepted the call, and took charge on May 1, 1897, occupying the property at 252 North Fourth street. The parish was admitted to union with convention on May 12. It then reported sixty-six com- municants and thirty-two Sunday School scholars, with eight teachers. An active girls' guild and missionary society were formed, and the rectors of St. Stephen's have since ministered at St. James's. A small reed organ was installed with Miss Mary Spencer as organist, and Miss Laura Mclaughlin, leading soprano. Later Mrs. Cald- well was made choir leader, and an Estey chapel organ was purchased at a cost of $64.
Bishop Leonard made his first visitation to St. Stephen's on December 9, confirming a class of six, and visiting St. James's parish the same day.
On May 2, 1898, the Vestry purchased from R. J. Thompson part of lot No. 9 in Erwin's sub-division of Dike & Wilson's Addition to Steubenville, on the north- east corner of Fifth and Logan streets, fronting 109 feet on Fifth street and 791% on Logan, with a nine-foot right of way extending east from. Fifth. The two-story brick dwelling thereon was used as a rectory until removed for the new church. The parish not having been incorpor- ated, the title was placed in the members of the Vestry as trustees. The cost of the property was $3,000, of which $1,400 was paid by cash subscriptions, the remain- ing indebtedness of $1,600 being extinguished in May, 1899.
S. Coe Boyd was engaged as organist on August 29, 1898, and Miss Mary Reid as choir leader. -
Rt. Rev. A. R. Graves, Bishop of Western Nebraska, visited the parish on February 5, 1899, and confirmed seven.
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
At the Easter election James M. Reynolds was chosen Vestryman in place of Mr. Caldwell, deceased. At this meeting it was resolved to take up the matter of erecting a church building on the lot lately purchased. Charles Gallagher and J. W. Jordan were convention del- egates. : The parish report gave eighty-two communi- cants and fifty-two Sunday School scholars, with ten teachers.
A mission was conducted from February 12 to 19, 1900, by Rev. Mr. Matthews, a graduate of Oxford Uni- versity, and a thorough Bible scholar. The attendance taxed the capacity of the building.
Rev. E. W. Cowling at a meeting of the Vestry held on February 26, 1900, tendered his resignation, to take effect the following Easter, his health rendering this step necessary. The resignation was accepted with unfeigned regret, as Mr. Cowling was not only an able preacher and good pastor, but an excellent type of a Virginia gentle- man. During his residence in Steubenville he made many friends outside as well as inside his parish, and was highly esteemed in the community. He accepted a call to Wick- liffe parish, Clarke County, Va., and from there to Berk- ley, a suburb of Norfolk.
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