USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > The history of Saint Luke's Church, Marietta, Ohio > Part 19
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We thought it beautiful when first we entered it, but now it has new and associated beauty. Every stone and timber holds some precious secret. Memory touches a spring, and the inner-life history of each stands out. Under the fading frescoes are memories that can never fade. From every panel come up associations that gild and glorify the smoke-
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL SERMON.
stained walls. In the hearts ideal its ceilings are enameled with beauty of holiness, inlaid with the jewels of the Lord. It> tablets are transpar- encies, and the spirit as a lamp within them, illumines the letters of grace. Here we have heard the voice of the Lord, and seen His goings in His sanctuary. Here we have sat entranced, and seen the Apoca- lypse, and wondered if this could be akin to Paradise. Here Jesus bas come in and supped with us and we with Him. Here fathers have seen their children taken into Christ's arms; and wives have seen their hus- bands bending low their hearts and heads to receive the benediction of the Saviour .. Three. born of the Spirit here, have ministered at this chancel, distributing here the elements which themselves first received here; two of them handing the sacramental cup to the mothers that gave them birth, one of them to a mother now translated. Yes, the church is new, and yet it is old-new by the current calendar; old in associations that reach back over much of the spiritual life all. and over all the spiritual life of many; the birth-place of the Spirit to not a few, the spiritual nursery to more, the spiritual home to all. Were the build- ing gone, it would still abide in the memory, in the associations, in the annals of the soul's history. Would that every one who helped to build and adorn it were himself a living stone in the mystic temple, and that every one who joins in its responses and its songs, were a voice in the orchestra of the saved.
The history of this parish reaches through a period of fifty years. Only one who signed its "Article of Parochial Association" survives, of its first vestry not one is living. Of those participating in its first com- munion all are gone. The children born since then are gray. The be- ginuings of its history are almost coincident with the beginnings of the old Diocese. Since its organization it has passed under the oversight of four bishops. One, the prince of pioneers, laying the foundations of dioceses in two great States, and organizing and building in each institu- tions, that continue to mould young minds and fill the ranks of the ministry; another, the Apostolic man of his generation, the acknowl- edged leader under Christ of the Evangelical hosts; the third, though now not in jurisdiction over us, yet lives, wearing with grace the mantle that fell from the second : the fourth, coming in the fulness of the bles- sing of the Gospel of Christ, gives promise and pledge of true Apostle- ship.
In this same period this Parish has had seven rectorships, tilled by six different ministers, five of whom remain and one is not. Of the five living, the first is in Greensboro, North Carolina; the second is in St. John's, Fredericton. Canada ; the third is in Davidsonville, Maryland ; the fourth is in Cresco, Iowa; the fifth, after a quarter of a century in your midst, is still with you, identified with one half of your history. his spiritual life woven into the web of your lives. unconsciously chang- ing their patterns and their hues. He has gone to your firesides as one of the household, heard your joys and griefs and hopes and fears, been taken into your confidences as far as mortals should be. laid baptismal hands on your children, said over the forms of your loved ones the words of the Resurrection and the Life, and in the dormitory of your sleepers laid his own sleeping one.
In this half-century of the Parish there have been 281 baptisms, 189 confirmations, 145 marriages, 186 burials, and in all 351 communieants, of whom only s7 now commune with ns. Of the rest some are absent from the body at home with the Lord; a very few have gone back to , the fellowship of the world; the others vet living and faithful, are scattered over the globe, trusting, toiling, waiting. Three are minister-
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL SERMON.
ing to others the Gospel here ministered to them. In this time you have built two churches, each endeared in our spiritual experiences and associations; and two parsonages, both sacred to your minister as the birthplaces of his children, the second doubly saered with the memories of a loved one translated.
Our little Parish is alone in a remote corner of the Diocese, almost unknown to the other Parishes, but known to God, as near to Him as they. To and from it angels of grace, in ministries of grace, have been ascending and descending on the Son of Man, and the pure in heart have seen God. The Spirit abides here, taking the things of Christ and showing them unto us; souls have gone hence to His presence; other souls, born again, have taken their places; some we have nursed for other ministries, some we have nursed for the skies.
And must I now over all these tender memories throw a shade of sadness? Must the skeleton sit at our feast? The thought of the lost casts a shadow on the saved. The Church that is the savor of life is also the savor of death. The unbelieving dead-Where are they ? The believing one sleeps in Jesus: the unbeliever lies in a grave that opens not in the resurrection. Over the body of the saint we chant, "He rests from his labors"; but, oh, the funeral of a dead soul! Shrouded and coffined in the second death, the Angel of mourning lays him in the abyss of night, where there is no Christ, no hope, no dream of morning ; but only the blackness of darkness, and the worm that never dies, only the fellowship of the lost.
Brother in Adam, be our brother in Christ. He died ; why will you die ? The Friend of sinners calls you to His fellowship: we, saved sinners, call you to our communion. Let me record below, and the angel record on high, "Another soul saved to-day"; and let this soul be yours.
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- CHAPTER V.
PARISH ORGANIZATIONS.
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Serve the Lord with gladness.
Psalm 100, 2.
All labour for their wages: like a stream Life hastens onward ; and for good or ill, Each day adds to the store, though as a dream It hurries by. ( plant in me the will, Quicken, exalt, refine,-my bosom fill With earnest diligence, whate'er I do! Life swells the onward river,-nought is still; O may no earthly taint within it flow To meet that hidden sea, the everlasting Now. -THE BAPTISTERY.
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THE CHOIR.
RAISE is one of the principal ele- ments of the Church's Public Wor- ship, but in new country churches it is often performed with much labor and little musical excellence and when there is no organ to as- sist. attempts are sometimes almost ludicrous, when, for example, some one tries to sing a short metre hymn to a long metre tune, or pitches it so high that he can not finish the second line. When we think of the labor so often vainly spent in attempting to produce a little har- mony on earth, we long to bathe our tired souls in the sweet melodies of heaven. While feeble churches in a new country have to struggle for a bare existence, but little time and attention can be given to perfecting the musical parts of the serv- ice, but as they become stronger and more wealthy, and the taste of the people is cultivated, the type of music and choir advances and improves until it culminates in the surpliced choir and the choral service, which has proved itself to be the most conducive to a reverent and hearty worship, where there is wealth and talent sufficient to its proper support.
In the early days of St. Luke's, Arius Nye was leader in the sing- ing, and in his absence his son. Arius Spencer, performed the office of
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THE CHOIR.
chorister. When the church was built, Mr. Nye had his seat near the chancel and when a chant or hymn was to be sung he would step for- ward to the chancel-rail and with an unerring voice lead the congrega- tion. He was very correct and rarely, if ever, failed to strike the right pitch. But very little anthem music was ventured on in the early days. Mr. Nye continued to sing after a choir was organized, and on one occa- sion an anthem was attempted which was somewhat beyond their abil- ity to sing. Mr. Nye took the principal part and when in the midst of it, being, like the chorister in Irving's Christmas, wrapt up in his own melody, he did not notice that the other voices dropped out one by one, and that he alone finished the anthem. He afterwards remarked, "We got through with that in very good style."
Miss Isabella Greene was one whom they relied on in Judge Nye's absence, and Miss Anne Clark. was among the early singers.
In September, 1833, the Rector and Vestry took some action in re- gard to an organ for the church, and three years later a subscription was started for the purchase of one, but it was not until about 1843 that - an organ was placed in the church. The Rev. Mr. Tolford was then Rector, and Mr. Charles J. Sheppard from Wheeling was in town, who, being a man of musical ability, was consulted in regard to what was the best organ to buy. He recommended the Jardine organ but instead it was decided to purchase one from Koehnke of Cincinnati for $500, which was done. This was the first organ in Marietta and attracted many to the church.
At first an arrangement was made among several ladies to play the organ week about by turns, Mrs. Creel commencing, then Mrs. Jack- son, Miss Frances Nye and others.
Afterwards Mr. C. J. Sheppard was engaged as organist and he held that position for several years, including some time in the new church. Mr. Wyllys Hall and Mrs. Stephens were also organists.
The following are the names of persons who sang in the choir after the organ was put in the church. Mr. G. M. Reed, who sang a good tenor, was a leader for a time.
Miss Ann Clark, Soprano.
Mr. A. S. Nye, Tenor.
" Virginia Nye,
Dudley S. Nye, Bass.
" Francis Nye,
William S. Nye,
" Harriet Nye, "
Geo. H. Richards,
" Eveline Sullivan, "
" Geo. W. Dodge,
" Caroline S. Greene, "
" Elizabeth Ward, "
" Julia Sheppard, Alto.
" Eunice Hall, Soprano.
" Henrietta Ward, "
Harriet Ward,
" Eunice Anderson, "
" Mary Anderson, "
" Susan Dodge,
" Chas. B. Hall,
Tenor. Bass.
D. B. Anderson, Tenor.
" Eli H. Pinkerton,
" Thomas Williams,
" Edward W. Buell, Bass.
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THE CHOIR.
The organ did not last more than four or five years; some of the pipes being made of soft lead, got out of shape and became useless. It was sold to Dr. Bahrenburg for about forty dollars and the case is now used as the front to a prescription desk. The pinnacles, as relies, now adorn the book cases of the writer. This organ had but two stops.
A new organ of Jardine's make was purchased for $600, and is now used in St. Luke's church. It has six stops and a swell-Open and Stop Diapason, Principal Treble and Bass, Dulciana and Fifteenth-a fine toned instrument of sufficient size for the church.
The organists in the new church have been : Mr. Sheppard, Miss Caddie Butler, Miss Margaret Mathews, Miss Clara Wheeler, Miss Lillie Putnam, Miss Alice B. Waters. Others have assisted at times.
Wainwright's Church Musie was the first book of music used in the church; Mr. Nye used it before the choir was organized. Then came the Psalmodist, the Psaltery, the Church Choir, Cantus Ecclesiae, Great- orex, Common Praise and the Church Hymmal. The Prayer Book Psalms and Hymns are still used. The Book attached to Hutchins' Hymnal is used for the chants.
It would be impossible to give a complete list of persons who have sung in the choir, but the following are some of the more prominent names since the new church was built. Mr. C. B. Hall has been leader of the choir for more than thirty years.
Mrs. Emma Cadwallader, Mr. Samuel Fell, Mrs. C. B. Wells, Mr. C. G. Fell,
Miss Clara Van Zandt, (Mrs. Bosworth) Mr. Matthew Hodkinson,
Miss Sadie Hodkinson, ( Mrs. McGee)
Judge Oldham,
Mrs. E. Loomis,
Mr. J. D. Herron,
Miss Gussie Cadwallader,
Mr. L. G. Sheppard,
Miss Mary Ramsey,
Mr. Wm. Regnier,
Miss Mary Whiffing,
Mr. Kestermeier,
Miss Kate Rhodes (Mrs. Bunn)
Mrs. C. P. Bartlett,
Miss Emma Curtis,
Mrs. Davies,
Mr. George Davies,
Mrs. N. C. Hodkinson,
Mr. Wilson Waters,
Miss Caddie Eggleston,
Miss Elizabeth Anderson,
Miss Edith Rhodes,
Mrs. Bassett Cadwallader,
Mr. Amor Sharp,
Mr. S. D. Dutton,
Mr. E. F. Wells,
Mr. George M. Cooke, Mr. C. W. Rhodes.
Mr. Kephart,
Mr. H. B. Nye,
Mr. R. B. Putnam,
Mr. T. E. Butler,
The choir has generally consisted of a quartette and two or three extra voices. In the fall of 1882 a double choir was formed with a quar- tette for the Decani and the same for the Cantoris, and antiphonal sing- ing introduced, but several of the voices leaving and moving out of town, it was necessarily given up for a time.
In the early days of the Church in America, the singing was con- fined almost altogether to Sternhold and Hopkins' curious version of
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THE CHOIR.
the Psalms in metre. In later days the improved version of Tate and Brady was used.
There was very little chanting done in the United States until about seventy or seventy-five years ago, and Bishop White mentions the re- markable change which has taken place in the metrical singing. When he was a young man, in England, and even fifteen years later, there was no metrical singing except from the above mentioned sources. "In this country it was the same, except on Christmas Day and on Easter Sunday, when there were two hymns now appropriate to those days."
"There were no Hymns in the early years. Nor were there any in use in the Church by recognized authority until about 176. At that time, in connection with the revision of the Prayer Book. twenty-five Hymns were introduced-two for Christmas, two for Good Friday, two for Easter, three for Whitsunday, three for Holy_Conununion, two for New Year, and one for funerals; all of which, with but one exception- that for Good Friday-"From whence these direful omens sound," &e .. are still in our Hymnal." (Hist. of St. George's Ch., Hempstead, L. I. ; - In 1789 in connection with the present Prayer Book, "the Palms in metre, and twenty-seven hymns, the foundation of our late hymnal, were also set forth." 5
In 1808 it was resolved "to add thirty hynms to the present number contained in the Prayer Book, provided that a Rubric be annexed there- to, directing that a certain portion, or portions, of the Palms of David. in metre, be sung at every celebration of divine service."
The author has a Prayer Book printed in IsIs, the year of the or- ganization of the Diocese of Ohio, which has the whole Book of Psalms in metre, by Tate and Brady, and twenty seven Hymns with a ratifica- tion dated 1789, and thirty additional Hymns set forth in Iss.
In 1826 two hymns were stricken out and 157 added.
In 1832 the Selections of Psalms in metre with the 212; Hymns . were set forth with the ratification.
In 1865 65 Additional Hymns were added to the collection, making the number 277.
In 1868 the Bishops were allowed to license the use in their respect- ive Dioceses, until the next General Convention, of "Hymns for Church and Home", and "Hymns Ancient and Modern", with some exceptions in the latter collection.
In 1871 the Hymnal was put forth and revised in 1974. In 150 the evangelical hymns as they stand in the English Prayer Book-the Mag- nificat, the Nunc Dimittis, and the Benedictus-were added to the Hymnal.
The hymn sung at the opening of the church in 1:34 was composed by N. P. Willis. See page 75.
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
St. Luke's Sunday School was organized on the evening of Friday in Easter week, 1832, at the house of the Misses Stone. See page 28.
It is not known what services the Rev. Mr. Robinson rendered in the capacity of Superintendent. He did not remain long in Marietta. The school was held first in Library Hall, on Front street, where the Church services were conducted, before the church was built.
Mr. Delafield was active in the work of organizing and carrying on the school : in getting scholars into the school. He went to the parents and asked them to send their children. He wrote to Mr. McFarland, who lived up the Muskingum and asked if he would not let his children come. He was for a long time Superintendent of the school, contin- uing to act as such during the Rev. Mr. Wheat's rectorship, though Mr. Wheat always took an active interest in the school and was always present when the school was in session. He was a most pleasant and attractive man to all (as we may judge from the life size portrait he has recently presented to the Parish,) and he was particularly so to the children and did many things to please them. It is related how on one occasion, perhaps a Christmas festival, he took a little girl whose con- duct had been meritorious and stood her on the chancel rail, and put a wreath of evergreen on her head and thus held her up to the emulation of the school, at the same time impressing upon them some good lesson. He placed John Thomas Wheat, Jr., in the same position one time to have him speak his piece.
He gave the Sunday school a prominent place in the services at the laying of the corner stone and the exercises at the opening of the old church, for on both occasions they led the procession from the Library Hall, which was then used as a church.
In the early days the Sunday school assembled in the church as there was no Sunday school room. The hour for meeting was nine in the morning. The morning service was at a later hour, as we have it now, Evening Prayer was in the afternoon, and Mr. Wheat's Bible class in the evening.
This Bible class held its first meeting December 7th, 1834, and the following persons were members:
Mary De Neale Wolfe, Isabella Greene, Sarah Roe, Julia Clarke,
A. S. Nye, Dudley Nye, Ralph Swearingen, George Swearingen, Isaac Jones, Mr. Peebles.
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Miss Clarke was a teacher in the Parochial Week Day School under Mr. Wheat. Miss Swearingen was a Sunday teacher in the Library Hall.
In 1833 there were reported to be 40 catechumens in the parish.
In 1834 there were the same number.
In June, July and August, 1835, the record shows the following names of scholars and teachers :
FEMALE DEPARTMENT.
Ist Class -- Mary Fairbrother,
Elizabeth Bohl,
Barbara Bohl,
Mary Peters, Barbara Peters, Elizabeth Hopp,
Teacher-Miss Stone.
2nd Class-Susanna Dodge, Mary E. Buell,
Frances R. Nye, Salina P. Wheat, Susan W. Buell,
J. C. H. Willard, Jane Jones, Teacher-Miss Wolfe.
MALE DEPARTMENT.
Ist Class-H. Anderson,
C. B. Hall, W. S. Nye, A. V. Swearingen, Daniel Simmer. Teacher-D. H. Buell.
2nd Class-Edward Roe,
Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, Oliver Dodge, John Hall,
C. E. Swearingen,
Geo. Nye,
Geo. W. Todd,
Daniel Gilbert, James Gilbert,
Teacher-Professor Bell.
3d Class-E. B. Swearingen,
D. B. Anderson, Peter Hartwig,
J. Swearingen, Geo. W. Dodge,
Shadrach Jones, Wm. Gilbert, John Thomas Wheat, Jr.
Teacher-D. S. Nye.
Other names which are on the register are
Joseph H. Buell, Frances M. Ward, John Peters, Thomas Miller,
Kathline
Henry Hartwig, D. G. Mathews.
Mr. Wheat kept a record of the Sunday Catechetical Exercises and on September 1, 1835, prizes were awarded to
Barbara Bohl, Augustus V. Swearingen, Chatham R. Wheat, Eli B. Swearingen.
Salina P. Wheat, Caroline S. Greene,
At a later period, probably the next quarter, (as the year was thus divided) prizes were awarded to Wm. S. Nye, Danl. Gilbert, J. Thos. Wheat, Jr.
Mary Fairbrother,
Theodosia Muncy,
Frances R. Nye,
Salina P. Wlreat.
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3d Class-Theodosia Muncy, Caroline Greene, Julia Sheppard, Charlotte Gilbert, Teacher-Miss Cowpland.
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The prize presented to Roberdeau Wheat was a silk banner, painted by Mr. Sullivan for the Sunday school, of which Mrs. Wheat speaks in a letter recently received by Mr. C. B. Hall. She says "it was awarded to our son Roberdeau, who bore it on some parade. We still have the banner hung over our son's portrait with this inscription, 'In God is our Hope and our Salvation.' "
Mrs. Wheat tells "some incidents in the life of our dear son, who bore so oft St. Luke's Banner, which he ever prized. A blind negro who belonged to the sexton of the cemetery at Nashville ( Mr. Wheat went to Tennessee from Marietta was my son's protege for many years. He first knew him meeting at funerals, where he had learned our Buri- al Service, and many hymns, which the poor lad sang beautifully. Rob once dressed him in a suit of boys' clothes, the first poor Dan ever had on, took him into the grave-yard atter he had washed, to dress him for Church, for Dan had only worn a long shirt, made of a blanket in win- ter, linen in summer. Our son had promised to take him to Church to hear the organ, which Dan longed for. So after getting a private spot in the cemetery, he dressed him in a suit of his own clothes (they were about the same age. With the consent of Dan's master Rob took hin on his horse behind him and brought him to town. It was on Sunday morning, we were at family prayers when Rob brought Dan, when our other servants always came and to the amazement of all Dan was quite at home, for in the Gloria and Lord's Prayer he responded aloud, which he was often known to do at funerals. When taken to Church the sex- ton had to hold him, the poor negro was so elated at the sound of the organ and words he had learned by heart.
Rob had told him when he was a man, he intended to buy him and bring him home with him. This was to Dan his only thought all day long, but on one occasion son found him reciting the Burial service and singing "I would not live alway", at a grocery near the cemetery, for a julep, son told him he would never buy him. When he told him he would never buy him after finding him at such a place reciting and singing hynms, Dan never went there again, and thus assured, my dear son brought Dan again to Church. My daughter was organist and Dan's seat was near her. To quiet him in his ecstacies when any famil- iar hymn was sung, she would put her hand on his head or speak soft- ly to him. This lasted for several years. When I had saved enough of wedding fees, I got my husband's consent to gratify our son and we bought Dan, bringing him home with us. But my husband was unwil- ling to own a slave, as his father had made free all of his many years before, when he was about our son's age. So as Dr. was one of the Blind Asylum officers, we placed him there, allowing Dan to come home every Sunday, but he would steal off to come home, and our son taught him to saw wood. He could also carry the market basket and often went to market alone, as our butcher knew him and would give him his order in his covered basket. Once Dan raised the cry of "Rogue" when a friend of ours had lifted the lid and put in a turkey as a present to me. He thought some one was robbing his basket.
And now I must tell you of this poor blind negro's baptism and confirmation. My son led him to the chancel and Dr. Wheat baptized a true penitent. Bishop Otey, who had conversed with Dan at our house, said, "Brother Wheat, who has prepared this poor blind negro ?" "Our son Roberdeau, who loves him almost as much as Dan loves his master." Our son Leonodas Polk, much younger than his brother would lead Dan to the chancel rail on Communion days, where he knelt last
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
of all, and when the Gloria in Excelsis was sung. Dan's voice was like a trumpet in perfect accord. As he held the chancel rail after rising from his knees, strangers would fill the aisles to see the sight of a poor negro seeming to lead the grand Gloria. An article appeared in a lead- ing Church paper in New York giving a tull account of one occasion, by a northern gentlemen who witnessed it. I am glad to tell you this as my son ever loved his Marietta home, often wishing to return. He was only nine years old when we left.
Dan died before the war and said to me-"Missus, I shall be first to meet you when you gits to heaven."
Mr. Buell was a teacher and also Superintendent of the School, and in these positions he must have been most efficient.
In 1835 the School had 40 scholars.
In 1836 there were 50 scholars and 4 teachers.
In 1837 and 1838 the Rev. Mr. Haensel, Rector of-the Parish, super- intended the School. In 1837 there were 28 scholars and 6 teachers and in 1838, 43 scholars. Mr. Haensel was a German and brought into the Sunday school a number of Germans. He had a class of German men.
There were numerons German and Danish families in the Church in Mr. Wheat's time, and they continued during Mr. Haensel's rector- ship, and until they had a church of their own (they bought the old St. Luke's when the new church was built ). Mr. Haensel was very attract- ive to the Germans and they speak of him now with affectionate re- membrance.
He had a pleasing way with the children, and in the Parish school, when he saw a boy idling, he would have the scholars sing a song about the Lazy Boy.
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