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 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
At the Easter election, 1853, Thomas P. Fogg suc- ceeded Mr. Browning, deceased. The parish was now aiding a candidate for the ministry at Gambier at a cost of $100 per year, and arrearages of the rector's salary amounting to $300 were liquidated. By the energetic efforts of the women a sweet-toned organ was purchased from the firm of Hall & Labach for about $1,000, and
102
THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
the smaller instrument, which had done duty since the building of the church in 1833, was sold to a Moravian congregation in Tuscarawas County for $100. This, like its predecessors, being the only public pipe organ in the town, naturally attracted a great deal of attention. It was a four octave, single manual instrument of nine registers or speaking stops, viz .: Stop diapason, open diapason, principal treble and bass, trumpet, flute, twelfth, fifteenth, and sub-bass with octave and a half of pedals. One principal was afterwards extended clear through, the other being connected with a tremolo. There was a pedal coupler to keyboard, and foot lever for throwing on or off the trumpet, twelfth and fifteenth, the pipes except the sub-bass being inclosed in a swell box. The case was gothic dark wood with gilt pipes and quite ornamental. A legacy of $200 at this time allowed the extension of the choir gallery across the full width of the church, giving ample space for a large body of singers. In fact, St. Paul's had now one of the best equipped plants in the middle west, the most churchly edifice in the city, and was fully up to the times.
Almost if not quite from the organization of the parish the music had been in charge of Miss Rebecca Wells, afterwards Mrs. Philander Chase and Mrs. Morse. She' probably used her own little melodeon in the Acad- emy, and when the original organ was installed in the new church it was placed in her hands. Later she trained her daughter, Miss Mary Chase, to be her successor when her health should fail, and, having fainted one day while at the keyboard, Miss Chase took her place, which she held until after the purchase of the new organ in 1853. Of course, all pipe organs were pumped by hand in those days, and many years after Miss Chase had a call from Hon. Edwin M. Stanton and Prof. Eli Tappan,
103
THE OXFORD MOVEMENT.
who recalled the fact that they were among her original organ blowers.
On December 26, 1853, a class of twenty-two was confirmed, and the year closed under most encouraging auspices. Some small clouds were gathering, but as yet they were scarcely visible. One person was confirmed at St. John's.
In the early days of this country the primitive An- glo-Saxon idea of God's Acre, with the parish church in its midst, and the remains of the faithful departed placed about it, awaiting the final resurrection, was generally carried out. The old parishes along the Atlantic coast stretching north and south from Jamestown bear silent witness to the wish so beautifully expressed by Bishop Coxe :
And all round the church was a churchyard, With beautiful clumps of trees, The churchyard cross was planted On a hillock-like Calvary's.
A quaint little roof o'er the gateway, Where the funerals paused with the bier!
When the priest came forth with his surplice, He began the service here.
* * *
And there. I mused till the bell tolled, And thought, with the soul in bliss, The best of good things for the body Were to sleep in a spot like this.
But the exigencies of city life, together with the im- possibility of securing sufficient land, compelled a change in this respect. When Steubenville was laid out in 1797 Bezaleel Wells donated two lots 120x180 feet at the
104
THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
northwest corner of Fourth and South streets for a grave- yard, which continued in general use until 1831, when its crowded condition necessitated a new arrangement. At this time the St. Paul's congregation was contemplat- ing the erection of a new church, and as it was impossi- ble to secure sufficient ground for a graveyard at the site of the proposed edifice it was necessary to look elsewhere. Accordingly, on April 2, 1831, the Vestry purchased from James Ross for the nominal sum of one dollar a tract fronting 160 feet on Fourth street extension below Slack, and running 316 feet through to Fifth street, to be used for burial purposes. Other organizations purchased ad- joining tracts, and for the ensuing twenty-five years all the land between Fourth and Fifth streets, below the present public library property, was the town cemetery. The ground was not held in common, but each organization had its particular section, subject to its own control. This property was then outside the corporation limits, but was afterwards included in the city, and during the early fif- ties it became apparent that additional burial space would be necessary. Accordingly, at a meeting of the Vestry held on the evening of November 23, 1853, a committee consisting of Dr. J. Andrews, A. L. Frazer, A. J. Beatty, E. T. Tappan and Thomas Means was appointed "on be- half of this church to meet and confer with committees from the several Protestant churches of this city for the purpose of establishing a new cemetery outside of the city limits." As a result of this meeting a tract of fifty acres was selected from the Huscroft farm on Market street extension, and on February 25, following, a corporation was formed under the name of the Union Cemetery As- sociation. While the organization was purely secular and not under the control of any religious body, churches were invited to become stockholders, as several of them did. St. Paul's taking fifty shares. The capital was
105
THE OXFORD MOVEMENT.
$10,000, divided into 1,000 shares of $10 each. The original stockholders, both corporate and individual, or their assigns, had the first choice of lots up to the price of their stock, which then ceased to possess any intrinsic value, as the entire income of the Association, whether from sales of lots or otherwise, has been devoted to the care of the grounds, necessary enlargements and improve- ment, and in late years towards a permanent endowment fund. The property now includes about 250 acres, whose beauty are the admiration of all visitors.
The grounds were opened by a general picnic on July 4, 1854, and on the 15th the first board of trustees was chosen, Dr. Andrews representing St. Paul's, who was succeeded by James H. Blinn, and the present writer since 1872. In order to dispose of the South Fourth street property it was necessary to obtain a quitclaim from the Ross estate, which was given by William H. Denny, administrator de bonis non of James Ross, on January 5, 1854, for one dollar. Availing itself itself of its privilege as a corporate stockholder, St. Paul's Church selected lot No. 3 section acre for such of its members as desired to use the same, and at once proceeded to put it in proper shape for use, although the deed does not appear to have been executed until April 30, 1857. John D. Slack, who was landscape gardener for the cemetery, plotted the tract into fifty-six lots with a semi-circular driveway, and individual or free ground at each end. A large lot was reserved for the needs of the rector's fam- ily in which are buried young sons of Rev. Charles Gil- lette and M. W. Burt. It was resolved that no burials should be made in the "Old Cemetery" after January 1, 1856, and individuals at once began removing members of their families to the new tract. When this had been done as far as possible, the parish took up the bodies of all who could be found and removed them also. On May
106
THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
22, 1867, the Fourth street tract was sold to Robert Mears for $1,400, and the following year the city Board of Education secured from the Wells heirs as a gift their quitclaim to the lots on the corner of Fourth and South streets, whereon the Grant school building was erected. Practically all the lots in the Church Acre have been sold, and possibly the majority of the present parish have bur- ial places in the general cemetery.
Mr. Wells having declined re-election to the Vestry in 1855, Alexander J. Beatty was chosen in his place. J. H. Veirs attended convention. The rector's arrear- ages were reported at $211, and a committee was ap- pointed on the subject. Twelve persons were confirmed on April 29, and for several years a marked diminution is reported, although the communicants numbered 156, the highest figure yet attained; Sunday School scholars, 100. On November 23, Jeremiah Marion was appointed sexton to succeed Elijah Steel, at $26 per annum and house, he to furnish his own brooms and brushes. Mr. Hollis held his last service at St. James's on March 4, and six country parishes in the neighborhood were va- cant, with the result that the members were falling off to other religious bodies.
Vacancies in the Vestry through the death of James Means and removal of A. L. Frazer to Cincinnati were filled by the election of Martin Andrews and William Day in 1856. A. Cunningham represented St. James's in convention.
Miss Lizzie Johnston and later a Mrs. Stout con- ducted a week-day school in the basement of the church, and about November 1 a fire occurred, doing some dam- age, whereupon the Vestry decided to rent the basement no more for this purpose. The rector looked after St. James's, and made an earnest appeal for missionaries. The communicant list of St. James's had fallen to 45.
107
THE OXFORD MOVEMENT.
Rev. Charles W. Fearnes came in August, 1856, to look after the suburban parishes, and in October took charge of St. James's. In this he was assisted by Rev. Edmund Christian, who had lately returned from the West Indies and located in Brooke County, Va. On September 21 the Bishop confirmed four persons in St. Paul's, and nine at St. James's, after an interval of six and one-half years.
-
The Vestry elected in 1857 besides the Wardens, Messrs. Veirs and Bustard, was composed of Dr. J. Mitchell, A. J. Beatty, Martin Andrews, F. A. Wells, James Means, Jr., James H. Blinn, Matthew Watson and David Orth, who was succeeded next year by William Spear. On April 22 the resolution prohibiting the use of the basement for a week-day school was suspended until October 1, and Miss Sophia Presley allowed the same at $2 per month. The pew rents were increased in order that the rector might be paid $500 per year, the highest being rated at $20, and the lowest $2 each. The full number of pews outside of free reservations was 88. Three were confirmed on October 11. A visitation was made to St. James's, but none was confirmed. During this month Mr. Christian took charge of St. James's and East Liverpool.
Dr. Mitchell represented St. Paul's in the conven- tion of 1858, and J. Cunningham, St. James's. The for- mer parish reported daily service and sermon during Holy Week.
The growth of the diocese in population naturally increased the work of the Bishop, although the building of railroads at least to all the leading cities of the state had made the transportation problem very different from what it was in the days of Bishop Chase, or even of Bishop McIlvaine's earlier period. The practice of divid- ing states into two or more dioceses had not then be-
108
THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
come general, and so Bishop McIlvaine, by reason of his increased labors, advancing years and impaired health, asked for an assistant. Accordingly, at the convention of 1859, Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, rector of the Church of the Ascension, New York, was elected Assistant Bishop. He was consecrated on October 13 of that year, and subsequently took up his residence at Gambier, where he built himself a beautiful home on the college grounds. He intended the house to become the residence of the college president at his ( the Bishop's) death, but it was decided to be too far frons the students for that purpose, so it continues to be the summer home of the Bishop of Ohio. He and his wife also built the present parish church and college chapel at Gambier, equipping it with organ, chimes, etc., complete.
At the Easter election, 1859, F. A. Wells was elected Senior Warden, Dr. Mitchell, Junior Warden (and Secretary), and Martin Andrews, James Means, James H. Blinn, Eli T. Tappan, A. J. Beatty, David L. Orth, R. L. Moodey, and Thomas Means, Vestrymen. Samuel McKee had previously been appointed sexton to succeed Mr. Marion.
Miss Mary Chase, who had succeeded her mother as organist, had resigned that position, and for a year or more dependence was placed on volunteer service, among those serving in that capacity being Prof. R. C. Haw- kins. Spencer F. Scull, a native of Somerset, Pa., had come to Steubenville to enter the ticket department of the S. & I. Railroad, who was an accomplished musician, and on May 7, 1859, a contract was made with him to take charge of the organ and choir at a salary of $100 per annum. An arrangement was made with the rector fix- ing his salary at $500 per annum, instead of depending on the uncertain results of pew rents, which had recently been the practice.
109
THE OXFORD MOVEMENT.
Church repairs being needed, the ever busy women again put their shoulders to the wheel, and early in the year held a festival which raised $300 for that purpose. This amount was subsequently doubled, and a general overhauling took place with material alterations in the chancel. The old three-decker arrangement was swept away, a new pulpit placed on the north side of the chan- cel with reading and prayer desk on the south, and the altar in the centre. The side door to the vestry room , was closed, and the central door brought down to the level of the chancel floor. Above it was placed a six-foot circular window of stained glass containing a central cross with the letters I. H. S. The spandrils of the side windows were filled with painted glass in ecclesiastical designs, such as Agnus Dei, chalice, Bible, etc. Above the chancel window in large gilt letters were the words : "Glory to God in the Highest," and below on each side and over the main doorway were suitable Scripture texts. A permanent font of carved wood was placed directly in front of the chancel rail, and the windows, which con- tained ordinary glass, were frosted. The whole was a marked step forward in church decoration. Bishop Mellvaine visited the parish on October 2 and confirmed eleven.
Andrew Bustard was elected Senior Warden, and F. A. Wells, Junior Warden, on April 8, 1860, with Dr. Mitchell, A. J. Beatty, Martin Andrews, James Means, William Day, John Blackburn, Alexander Doyle and J. H. Blinn, Vestrymen. Bishop Bedell made his first visitation at St. James's on April 18, where he con- firmed seven persons, and preached at Steubenville in the evening. The next day he went to St. John's, East Springfield, where there had been scarcely a service for four years, and then to St. Clairsville, where there had been an interregnum of five years. James Cunningham
110
THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
represented St. James's in the convention, where the bur- den of the Bishops' addresses was diminution in the num- ber of clergy and the resulting lamentable condition of weak parishes. St. James's at this time reported 54 communicants, and St. Paul's, 130, with an average at- tendance at service of 250; Sunday School scholars, 157, with 22 teachers. A new heating apparatus was placed in the basement.
The next year St. Paul's reported 132 communi- cants, and St. James's, 58. Mr. Christian revived the services at East Springfield, and Bishop Bedell held his first confirmation at St. Paul's on March 24, with a class of twelve, and at St. James's on April 19, with a class of seven. William R. Lloyd succeeded Mr. Blackburn on the St. Paul's Vestry, and Dr. Mitchell attended con- vention. Armstrong Maley was elected on St. James's Vestry.
Early in 1861 Rev. William K. Rogers came here, a deacon from Circleville, Ohio, and was made assistant rector at St. Paul's, with duties as missionary in the neighborhood. He resuscitated St. Stephen's Church at East Liverpool, where service was also rendered by Rev. Mr. Mackay. On October 24 Bishop Bedell preached at East Springfield, and on the 27th at Bellaire, Mr. Rogers reading prayers, being the first service of the Church ever held there. On the 28th he was at Steubenville, and on the 29th preached at St. James's, and confirmed one. Mr. Christian had resigned that charge and returned to his work among the negroes in British Guiana.
In his subsequent convention address Bishop Bedell refers to this visit, and speaks of "Rev. Mr. Morse, the venerable rector, having been more than forty years in charge of the parish, entered heartily into the plan of the Diocesan Missionary Committee to make his parish a missionary centre. He has shared the labors of his
111
THE OXFORD MOVEMENT.
missionary assistant, Mr. Rogers, and enabled us to inaintain services regularly both in East Liverpool, Bel- laire, etc. He was pleased to find two new and very successful parish mission Sunday schools among the op- eratives of Steubenville." One of these schools was lo- cated in what was known as the Jeffersonville district, afterwards the sixth ward, and the other in the school- house on the present site of the Lincoln building. The latter was conducted for a year or two, and the other with one break of continuity until the summer of 1868. The site is now covered by the La Belle Iron Works.
At the election in 1862 Mr. Wells, in place of An- drew Bustard, deceased, was made Senior Warden, and Dr. Mitchell, Junior Warden, John Bustard being added to the Vestry, the same being re-elected the next year. In May the round window in the west end of the church was broken by a stone, and a new one inserted. John Underwood, A. Cunningham and William White repre- sented St. James's in convention. Bishop Bedell com- mended the work of Mr. Rogers during the past year, and recommended him for the priesthood. He was or- dained at Mt. Vernon during the session of the conven- tion on June 26. Mr. Rogers remained in Steubenville but a short time longer, having married Miss Mary Andrews, and removed to Columbus. He afterwards re- tired from the ministry and engaged in other pursuits, being private secretary to President R. B. Hayes during the latter's tenure of office. He died at Columbus in November, 1893, and his remains were brought to Steu- benville for burial on December 1.
During 1862 two deacons were sent as missionaries into these parts, being Henry A. Lewis, who had special charge of St. James's, and James H. Lee having St. John's, Brooke County, Va. The Civil War, then rag- ing, had cut off Western Virginia from the rest of the
112
THE CHURCH IN EASTERN OHIO.
Diocese, and the Ohio Valley parishes were looked after from this side of the river so far as circumstances per- mitted.
On April 22, 1863, Bishop McIlvaine visited St. Paul's and confirmed ten persons, also holding confirma- tion in St. John's, Brooke County. Jolin Cunningham and Robert Henderson represented St. James's in con- vention.
On June 10 was held the first ordination service in St Paul's. Rev. Messrs. Lee and Lewis were advanced to the priesthood by Bishop Bedell, the candidates being presented by Dr. Morse, and Rev. A. T. M. Murphy, of Salem and New Lisbon; Rev. Mackay, of Pennsylvania, and Rev. Thomas G. Addison, of St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling, joining in the laying on of hands. Mr. Lewis was a young man of more than average talent, but within a couple of years death called him home. Mr. Lee was called to a western parish, and at this writing is still re- siding at Manhattan, Kansas. On June 11, 1863, Bishop Bedell confirmed 10 at St. James's.
It is scarcely necessary to state that during the dark days of the Civil War both rector and people were in- tensely loyal to the Government, and prayer and fast days were religiously observed, as well as thanksgiving when occasion permitted. The tower bell rang out jubi- lee when the first Atlantic cable was completed, and again when Union victories were announced. Soldiers at the front were remembered in a practical manner as indi- cated by the following sample acknowledgment :
Cincinnati, December 9. 1863.
Received of Miss Mary Chase for the United States Chris tian Commission one box of hospital stores valued at $60. the contribution of St. Paul's Church Sabbath (?) school, Steuben-
113
THE OXFORD MOVEMENT.
ville, Ohio. We have this day forwarded the box to Nashville. It contains a most admirably selected stock of such stores as we need. In behalf of the soldiers we return thanks. Yours truly,
J. M. MASLEY, Secretary.
There was no material change in communicants this year, but the Sunday School scholars are reported at 250 with 21 teachers. This doubtless included the two mis- sion schools. It may be remarked here that the practice of a Sunday School Christmas treat was a feature of St. Paul's almost, if not quite, from the origin of the school. None was given to any other Sunday School in the town, in fact, Christmas, outside of Churchmen and Romanists, was completely ignored as a religious festival, as were also the other great feasts of the Church. But at St. Paul's it was always a busy period. Volunteers with teams visited the woods fully a week before, returning with loads of hemlock, pine and laurel, which men, women and children fashioned into forms for decorating the house of God. Passing beneath the choir gallery into the church was like walking through a forest, to be further greeted by masses of festoons, churchly emblems and Scripture texts. Our modern churches with their permanent ornamentation do not lend themselves readily to this character of decoration, but the feeling of those who can look backward to the earlier days is that while we have gained much we have lost somthing which brought to the Christmas services an enthusiasm and a feeling which we would have fain retained.
At the Easter election, 1864, S. F. Scull and Joseph Beatty succeeded Alexander Doyle and W. R. Lloyd .. Both Bishops at the convention this year condemned the practice of so-called union services with other religious bodies, especially on Thanksgiving day.
CHAPTER IX.
A PERIOD OF TRIAL.
New St. James's Church Consecrated-Troubles at St. Paul's- Disagreements With the Rector-Consultations With the Bishops-The Church Closed and Reopened-Resignation of Dr. Morse-Illness and Death.
Difficulties had arisen in the Steubenville parish, af- fecting attendance at the services, but the Sunday School had been kept in a flourishing condition, chiefly through lay administration, Mr. McKee and Mr. Day had con- ducted the opening services for sometime previous, the rector always arriving in time for closing instruction, especially in the catechism, and the proficiency of the school in this respect has never been excelled, if equalled. Miss Chase had charge of the infant department, and one Thomas Scott, a new accession, was placed in charge as superintendent. His activity was beyond question, but differences soon arose which terminated in his resigna- tion and also that of Miss Chase. . J. R. Vanzant was made superintendent, with Mrs. E. S. Wood in charge of the infant school. A melodeon was procured to aid the singing, and 200 scholars were reported, with 20 teachers.
On October 26, 1864, Bishop Bedell consecrated a new frame church edifice for St. James's parish, which took the place of the previous brick structure, which had become unsafe. This was the third edifice erected by the parish since its organization, and is still standing. The main structure is 40x30 feet with vestry and robing room 20x10 at east end; windows early English. The Vestry at this time consisted of Alexander Cunningham and Robert Henderson, Wardens; Armstrong Maley, John
115
A PERIOD OF TRIAL.
and James Underwood, John Elliott, and William and John White. On the evening of the 30th seven were confirmed at St. Paul's, Rev. Messrs. Morse, Matthew M. Gilbert and Lewis taking part in the services.
In one of the popular magazines is a tale by 'Thomas Nelson Page, entitled "The Shepherd Who Watched by Night," which relates in that writer's fasci- nating style the story of a pastor who gave the best years of his life to his parish in a small town. Rejecting more eligible offers because he considered it his duty to remain with his original flock, the years rolled on. Children were baptized, confirmed and married, and their children went through the same process, and the burial service was read over the remains of those who had been the associates of his youth. Charitable to a fault, giving himself up to the consideration of others, be they ever so lowly and degraded, youthful energy gave way to age, and the eloquence which had drawn large congregations in former days now failed to attract. True, the old priest faithfully continued to do his Master's work. A sick call was never refused, and his charity was such that he was called "the old preacher who took in all the tramps." If character alone could attract the multitude, then his little church would never have held the crowds who flocked to its portals. But, alas, this was not the case. Instead of large congregations empty pews greeted the old rector. While a few clung to the church of their ancestors, the "madding crowd" sought the new orators in the denomi- national chapels, until it seemed only a question of time when there would not be left a sufficient number to keep the organization alive. The situation is broken to the old rector, who makes up his mind to retire, when what Miss Proctor calls "the beautiful angel, Death," sum- moned him home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.