USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of the Parish of the Holy Apostles, Philadelphia : 1868-1918 > Part 11
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To this Dr. Appleton replied :-
"I have received the call of the wardens and vestry- men of your church to be associate rector of the Holy Apostles. I accept the call with the earnest desire of being of service to your congregation, to your excellent rector, and to the Lord and Master whom we all love."
The Chapel of the Mediator is therefore in a way both mother and daughter of the Parish of the Holy Apostles.
Second. In the latter part of May, 1905, the accounting warden of the Church of the Holy Apostles, Mr. George C. Thomas, was ap- proached by a member of the vestry of the Church of the Mediator, Mr. Joseph A. Perkins,
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with a tentative proposition for the union of the two parishes.
Mr. George C. Thomas asked the rector of Holy Apostles, the Rev. Nathaniel S. Thomas, to have a conference with the vestry of the Church of the Mediator. The rector reported to the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles that the statement and proposal of the vestry of the Church of the Mediator was substantially as follows :-
"The vestry of the Church of the Mediator have been thwarted in their efforts to locate in West Phila- delphia, and are now looking about to unite with some parish or mission. Several have been suggested. Holy Apostles seems to be the logical parish with which to unite. It was founded partly by the Mediator. The rector emeritus, who was so long rector of the Church of the Mediator, is now associate rector of Holy Apostles, and the larger part of the former members of the Mediator are now identified with Holy Apostles. If Holy Apostles will agree to perpetuate the name of the Church of the Mediator in some building commensu- rate with the dignity and tradition of the Church of the Mediator, we have no doubt that the vestry of the Mediator will be glad to transfer all its property and responsibilities to the vestry of Holy Apostles, thus con- summating in a most satisfactory way the task which had hitherto proved difficult of fulfilment."
Third. On June 1, 1905, the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles agreed to take over all property and funds of the Church of the
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Mediator (less $3,000, which was to be paid to the rector of the Church of the Mediator). The Church of the Holy Apostles agreed to erect a church building to be used for public services and to bear the name of the Church of the Mediator.
Fourth. On June 7th the vestry of the Church of the Mediator accepted the proposition of the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles, subject to the approval of the Bishop and Stand- ing Committee of the diocese.
Fifth. The approval of the Bishop and Standing Committee having been obtained, the transfer of the property took place July 18th. At the same time this was done the place of the vestrymen of the Church of the Mediator was filled, upon their resignation, by the members of the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles, who thus became vestrymen of both churches. This was done in order that there might be a legal body to represent and receive legacies left to the Church of the Mediator. The vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles is to this day also the vestry of the Church of the Mediator.
Sixth. In the meantime the rector of the Church of the Reconciliation at Fifty-first and Spruce Streets had been approached with a view of ascertaining whether the vestry of that church would entertain a similar proposition,
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looking toward union with the Church of the Holy Apostles. The rector of the Church of the Reconciliation, the Rev. H. McKnight Moore, being favorably impressed with the idea, the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles, on June 25, 1906, passed a resolution asking the Church of the Reconciliation to turn over its property and funds to the Church of the Holy Apostles, the latter agreeing to erect in West Philadelphia a suitable building to be named the Chapel of the Mediator, and a parish plant, and to give the Church of the Reconciliation repre- sentation upon the vestry of the church.
Seventh. The vestry of the Church of the Reconciliation agreed, on June 26, 1906, to transfer its property and funds to the Church of the Holy Apostles, under the conditions laid down by the latter.
Eighth. On September 12, 1906, the trans- fer of the Church of the Reconciliation property to the Church of the Holy Apostles was formally made.
Ninth. On October 2, 1906, Mr. George C. Thomas notified the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles that he had bought three lots to the west of the Church of the Reconciliation, to be added to the property already possessed.
Tenth. The Rev. H. McKnight Moore was formally elected vicar of the Chapel of the Medi-
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ator on October 10, 1906, although he had been steadily in charge of the work.
Eleventh. On October 28, 1907, the corner- stone of the parish-house of the Chapel of the Mediator was laid by Bishop Coadjutor Mackay- Smith, Dr. Appleton preaching the sermon. This building is fifty by one hundred and ten feet inside, and one of the finest parish-houses in the city. It was opened for use on Palm Sunday, April 12, 1908. At both morning and evening services about a thousand persons were present. Mr. George C. Thomas, who had given gener- ously of his means to help the new chapel, was present at the opening services, and in the after- noon made an address to the Sunday-school, dur- ing which he referred to the appropriateness to the occasion of the anthem, "Send out thy light and thy truth," sung in the morning, and sug- gested that the Sunday-school take the words as their motto.
Twelfth. The Rev. H. McKnight Moore re- signed as vicar of the Chapel of the Mediator on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1914.
Thirteenth. On February 10, 1915, the Rev. Phillips Endecott Osgood, rector of the Church of Our Saviour, Roslindale, Massachu- setts, was elected vicar.
Fourteenth. In the autumn of 1914 the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles de-
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PARISH HOUSE, CHAPEL OF THE MEDIATOR
cided definitely to go forward with the erection of the new chapel, to which they were commit- ted by the terms of the union with the Church of the Reconciliation. It was further decided to make the new chapel a memorial to the late George Clifford Thomas, the great benefactor of the parish and the most munificent and widely known layman of his day.
The church at large was appealed to for funds, and from all over the land and from across many seas the contributions came in, ac- companied by words of warm praise of the life of him in praising whom the contributors praised themselves.
It has been said that it is the most success- ful public memorial of a generation or more. But, even so, it has required large generosity on the part of Mr. Thomas's wife and family to make possible a memorial so fine and costly as the one planned. Their gifts to his memorial have answered that fine generosity of spirit which was his.
Mr. Walter H. Thomas, a nephew of Mr. Thomas, was selected as architect.
At the time of the laying of the corner- stone, the vicar of the Chapel of the Mediator said in the parish paper :-
"The rector of the parish, without whom this memorial would not have been actual, gives to us our vista with a generosity of spirit and entirety of conse-
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cration beyond computation on his own part. To cre- ate such a structure and the room for such a corporate life as ours within the whole great parish is to give us a gift we shall only begin fully to appreciate when his present vision comes true in the days ahead. None can know this, of course, as deeply as the vicar himself, who must realize how unusual is such soul-measure. Our rector has really brought us into a new level of life together, and the cornerstone of the new spiritual structure is of his placing.
"To Mrs. Thomas, whose greatest gift is the un- failing contribution of her husband's memory and spirit, our happy gratefulness spontaneously goes out. She is making this memorial not only a building of unique beauty, but endowed with the association of the life by whose name we receive the presence! We shall indeed be sluggish of heart if we do not find ourselves "clothed upon" by her gift of a realized companionship with the invisible, through the name and presence of Mr. Thomas.
"Mr. Walter Thomas, the architect, into whose work for us goes so much of love and personal associa- tion, is a nephew of Mr. Thomas. To have an architect who possesses both the skill to create such a dignified and noble building, and at the same time the personal relationship, is indeed good fortune."
IV THE MEMORIAL CHAPEL
In July, 1916, the vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles let the contract for the new George C. Thomas Memorial at a stipulated cost of $133,000.
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REV. PHILLIPS E. OSGOOD
The architect describes it as follows :-
"The architectural conception of the building has been primarily an earnest desire to treasure the ideals and traditions of the Anglican Church which were so wonderfully expressed by those master minds in the development of the so-called English perpendicular- ideals and traditions which our Church has so pecul- iarly, not only the opportunity, but more especially the obligation of safeguarding. Then, with due regard for the past, the effort has been made not only to make the conception live and be achæologically correct, but also to meet sufficiently, though not with exaggeration, the practical requirements of a practical people.
"Such an attempt toward a happy blending of the past and present must ever be our endeavor if our Church architecture of to-day is in any way to regain that former mastery which has temporarily slipped from her grasp."
The new chapel will be an unusual and not- able edifice with many details that will be unique. The outside stone is from Chestnut Hill, near Mr. Thomas's suburban home, Grey- stock. The great central tower, rising one hun- dred and thirty-five feet above the street, is placed above the choir, and not, as usual, above the front pews. This obviates two heavy sup- porting piers in the midst of the congregation, and gives to the choir and sanctuary a depth of vista that cannot but be most impressive. There are thus two "chancel arches"; the choir arch
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and the sanctuary arch. The choir will be low and spacious. In the sanctuary several steps higher there will be the memorial altar and reredos of white limestone. In the center of the reredos will be a large figure of Thorwaldsen's Christ, a statue of which used continually to stand on Mr. Thomas's desk as his favorite con- ception of the Christ. Behind the reredos will be the great east window as a noble halo about the altar and its surroundings. Baptism and Holy Communion are the two sacraments. The font should therefore be emphasized as well as the Lord's Table. Accordingly in the center aisle, where the entrance aisle reaches it, the font will be placed high on a stepped platform that it may answer by its position to the altar at the chancel end.
The chapel will be flooded with light. A scheme of windows is proposed which will be unique. Mr. Thomas's enthusiasm for missions suggests it. The various aisle windows will symbolize the various extensions of the Church's life through its sense of mission. The chancel windows will, of course, suggest the Mediating Christ.
In such a noble building the "family of God at the Mediator" will gather in increasing num- bers; and from the chapel and parish building will go forth a steadily stronger power of influ-
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ence-by-service in the community, the diocese and the Church at large. For the Chapel of the Mediator has an unparalleled opportunity. And it will try to meet it-in the Mediator's name.
On Sunday afternoon, October 29, 1916, at four o'clock, Bishop Suffragan Garland laid the corner-stone of the new chapel, assisted by the clergy of the parish. The combined choirs of the parish led the singing. Many of the clergy of the diocese were present and vested. A great throng of people, orderly and reverent, wit- nessed and took part in the ceremony.
Bishop Garland, who had known and been associated in Church work with Mr. Thomas for many years, spoke of his parish and diocesan interests, and of his genius in Sunday-school work, which found expression first in his own Sunday-school at the Church of the Holy Apos- tles, and then in the Sunday-school Association of the diocese, and reaching further still, in- spired the Joint Diocesan Sunday-school work, which has as its legitimate outgrowth the Gen- eral Board of Religious Education.
The sermon of the occasion was preached by the Rt. Rev. Charles H. Brent, D.D., of the Phil- ippines, an intimate and prized friend, the text being St. Mark xiv : 9. Bishop Brent dwelt chiefly upon two aspects of Mr. Thomas' life:
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First, his love of the child, and second, his world- wide vision.
The closing words of his sermon are an epitome of the life of the whole parish and fit- tingly bring this history to an end-
"A great responsibility is laid upon this chapel, two things it must always stand for; it must always stand for the little children. It must give its purest effort to those who are to be the pillars of the Church to-morrow. And again, it must never be sectional or provincial in its sympathies. It must be missionary in character and in activities. And as we lay to-day this corner stone in the name of God, we look forward a few months, and we see by anticipation the stately edifice that will be reared upon this foundation, and that edifice will always represent that which I have tried to place before you. It will represent the intense devotion of the layman to the Lord God, and it will represent God's love and man's love for the children, and God's pur- pose and man's purpose to evangelize the whole of God's world."
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Memorials, Legacies and Gifts
MEMORIALS.
MEMORIAL AND OTHER GIFTS TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES.
1868
Frame Building for church and Sunday-school services. Gift of Mr. John Rice.
Communion Service. Gift of Mr. James E. Caldwell.
Shades for the church building. Gift of Mr. Benjamin Green.
1872 The sum of $5,000. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas toward the erection of a Sunday-school building.
1874
The sum of $65,000. This was subscribed be- tween 1868 and 1874 by friends of the parish, $50,000 mostly from the Church of the Holy Trinity. The remainder by the members of the parish, offerings and special efforts of the Sunday- school and from entertainments.
1878 The decorations of the chancel of the church. Gift of the Rev. Phillips Brooks, rector of Holy Trinity Church.
1879
The sum of $700. Proceeds of a special col- lection at Holy Trinity Church.
1880 The sum of $750. Contributed by friends of the Rev. Charles D. Cooper, towards the purchase of a new organ.
1881 The frescoing of the Sunday-school and Bible Class rooms. Gift of Mr. Abraham H. Ritter.
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1882
The painting of a new fence. Gift of Mr. A. Rankin.
The sum of $1,000. Gift of Mrs. Thomas H. Powers for a church carpet.
Embroidered cover for the Communion Table. Gift of Elizabeth D. Alsop.
1883
The sum of $750 per year to pay the salary of an assistant for the rector, The Rev. Charles D. Cooper. Gift of Mrs. Thomas H. Powers.
The sum of $12,160, subscribed to extinguish the ground rent, and make possible the consecra- tion of the church. Five thousand dollars of this amount was given by Mrs. Thomas H. Powers.
A memorial of consecration, containing sig- natures of the clergy who were present. Gift of Mr. Robert A. Kyle.
1887
Two memorial windows in the chancel, in memory of the teachers and scholars who passed away between 1868 and 1887. Provided by the memorial offerings of the Sunday-school.
The sum of $500 given annually towards the salary of the choirmaster. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Two memorial windows in the chancel in memory of his daughter, Bessie Moorhead Thomas, and of his father, John W. Thomas. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Two memorial windows in the chancel in memory of his wife, Sarah B. Chapman and of his daughters, Hannah F. and Sarah H. Chapman. Gift of Mr. William R. Chapman.
The sum of $7,500 to build additions to the Sunday-school buildings. Five thousand dollars contributed by Mr. George C. Thomas and $500 by
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each of the following :- Mrs. Thomas H. Powers and Messrs. A. J. Drexel, G. W. Childs, Lemuel Coffin and Alexander Brown.
A Baptismal Font, afterwards presented to St. John's Church, Northern Liberties. Gift of Mr. Charles Gibbons.
1888
A Silver Communion Set and fireproof safe, in commemoration of his seventy-fifth birthday. Gift of the rector, Rev. Chas. D. Cooper.
A Memorial Baptistery, in memory of the wife of the Rector, Gertrude S. Cooper. Provided by the memorial offerings of the Sunday-school and personal friends.
A pipe organ in the Sunday-school. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1888
Three hundred dollars. First legacy for En- dowment Fund. Gift of Catharine Merrick.
1889 The painting of the doors and windows of the church. Gift of Mr. William M. Runk.
1889 A memorial window in memory of Abraham H. Ritter, "a much lamented vestryman and teacher in the Sunday-school." Gift of the Broth- erhood of St. Andrew.
1890
Enlargement of the vestry room or sacristy. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
A brass tablet in the room of Bible Class "B," Rev. Wm. S. Neill, teacher, in memory of Thomas Wil- son. Gift of his classmates.
1890
A memorial window in memory of her son, William McElroy, "a scholar and afterwards a most faithful teacher." Gift of his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth P. McElroy.
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A Primary Department classroom, in memory of their daughter, Bessie M. Thomas. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Thomas.
Two memorial windows in memory of the teachers and scholars of the Sunday-school, en- tered into rest Easter, 1888 to 1890. Provided by the memorial offerings of the Sunday-school.
A guild-house for Sunday-school and guild work. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1891
A memorial window in remembrance of her parents, George R. and Eunice M. Longstreth. Gift of Mrs. Theodore M. Reger.
A memorial window in memory of their son, Frederick W. Ward, Jr. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Ward.
A pulpit, lamp and chancel rail, in loving com- memoration of the ordination at Geneva, N. Y., on March 7, 1841, of Charles DeKay Cooper, rector of this Parish. Gift of the congregations and Sunday-schools of the Church of the Holy Apostles and Memorial Chapel of Holy Com- munion and personal friends.
1893
A brass book-rest, in memory of his wife, Harriet E. Ward. Gift of Mr. Frederick W. Ward. A guild-house, in memory of the Right Rev. Phillips Brooks, late Bishop of Massachusetts. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
A vestibule light. Gift of Messrs. George W. Shaw & Co.
1893 One thousand dollars in memory of his daugh- ter, Annie Bell Connelly. Gift of Mr. James Con- nelly.
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Two thousand two hundred dollars. Gift of a member of the Vestry to the Endowment Fund.
Three hundred ninety-three dollars and three cents. Commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the rectorship of Dr. Cooper. Gift of the con- gregation.
1894. A brass book-rest, in memory of his parents. Gift of Rev. Rowland W. Mott.
A full set of Communion Linen. Gift of anonymous donors.
1895 The bread for the Holy Communion, in mem- ory of her sister. Gift for many years of Miss Mary R. Hastings.
A chapter room, fitted up for the Brother- hood of St. Andrew. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1896 An Altar Book, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Sophia Kezia Thomas. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
A glass box case of statuettes of the Saviour and the Apostles. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas. A Baptismal Font. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Wainscoting, tile floor, etc., in the chancel of the church, in memory of officers, teachers and scholars of the Sunday-school who entered into rest from Easter, 1890, to Easter, 1893. Gift of the Teachers' Association.
1896 One hundred and fifty dollars to the Endow- ment Fund and the residue of her estate to the Church. Legacy of Mrs. Ann Kitchen.
1898 Uniforms and equipment of the Charles D. Cooper Battalion. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
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A set of silk flags to the Charles D. Cooper Battalion. Gift of Mrs. George C. Thomas.
1898 House and lot, 2038 Christian Street, to the Vestry. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Thomas. 1899 House and lot, 2038 Christian street, to the vestry. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Thomas. Tiling of the aisles of the church. Gift of Mrs. George C. Thomas.
Towards the purchase of a rectory, $1,000. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Four thousand dollars. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Thomas.
1899 Six thousand dollars and $5,000 in securities. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1900 Dormer windows in Sunday-school. Gift of Mr. Thomas Mecouch.
Enlargement of old robing room and organ. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1901
Organization and support of a Mandolin and Guitar Club. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Brass Baptismal Ewer, in memory of their son, Thomas H. Gilbert. Gift of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Gilbert.
Cooper Battalion Hall and Gymnasium. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1901 One thousand four hundred ten dollars and forty-six cents. Legacy of Miss Elizabeth Thomp- son.
1902 Stone Cross upon northern roof ridge. Gift of Mr. Thomas Mecouch.
American flag for outside Cooper Battalion
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Hall and Gymnasium. Gift of Rev. Charles D. Cooper, D. D.
Tower to the honor of George C. Thomas. Gift of the congregation.
Tablet with inscription on tower. Gift of Charles D. Cooper Battalion.
Two "Rogers Groups" found in Rev. Charles D. Cooper's effects, also a fine portrait of Dr. Cooper, presented to Cooper Battalion Hall and Gymnasium. Gift of Mr. Louis Krumhaar.
1902
Eight thousand dollars to the Endowment Fund. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Two thousand five hundred dollars for the poor of the Church of the Holy Apostles. Legacy of Rev. Charles D. Cooper, D. D.
House and lot at 2245 League Street. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Chapman.
1903
Richard Newton Memorial Building, in mem- ory of Richard Newton, some time rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Gymnasium for Girls. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
A set of colors to the Charles D. Cooper Bat- talion. Gift of Mrs. George C. Thomas.
1904
The services of a trained nurse for the parish. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
An auxiliary organ in the Chantry, in mem- ory of his cousin, Miss Annie Louise Warwick. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Memorial tablets for former rectors, Rev. Chas. D. Cooper, D. D., and the Rev. Henry S. Getz. Gift of the vestry.
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A hall clock, in memory of her mother, Mrs. Sarah Gallard Brooks. Gift of Mrs. Sarah B. Saull.
A drum found at Yorktown, 1781. Presented to the late Colonel Jesse E. Payton, of Haddonfield, N. J., who presented it to Mr. Samuel Wanamaker, who presented it to Captain Jerome S. Cross, who presented it to Cooper Battalion.
1904 Thirty thousand dollars. Endowment Richard Newton Memorial Sunday-school Building. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1905 Communion Chalice, in memory of her daugh- ter, Ellie J. Scott. Gift of Mrs. Eleanor Scott.
Communion Chalice, in memory of her sister, Annie Louise Warwick. Gift of Miss Mary A. Warwick.
A reredos and a copy of "The Last Supper," by Leonard Da Vinci, placed in the Chantry. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
Communion Paten, in memory of their teach- er, Annie Louise Warwick. Gift of Bible Class "M."
Oil portrait of Rev. Charles D. Cooper. Gift of Mrs. Henrietta B. Archambault.
1905 Memorial window in memory of Mrs. Anna Maria (Patterson) Lingo. Gift of her husband, John Lingo.
1906 A copy of "The Thunder Storm," by Dr. John H. Rhoads. Gift of Mrs. Nellie W. Truax.
A portrait of Henry W. Longfellow. Gift of Mr. Charles Sessler to the Sunday-school.
A copy of the Declaration of Independence. Gift of Mr. A. Howard Ritter to the Sunday- school.
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1906 Five hundred dollars. Legacy of Isabella Culbertson.
1907 A silver Alms Basin, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. Samuel E. Appleton, D. D., Associate Rector, May 29th, 1857. Gift of the vestry, congregation and Sunday-school.
1908 An addition to the organ of the Sunday- school. Gift of Mr. George C. Thomas.
1908 Two hundred dollars. Legacy of Harriett Olivier.
1909 A silk American flag and standard to the Cooper Battalion. Gift of Mrs. George C. Thomas.
A brass tablet, a memorial to deceased mem- bers. Gift of Bible Class "R," Mr. George W. Jacobs, Teacher.
Certain articles enumerated in the will of the Rev. Samuel E. Appleton, D. D. Large photo- graph of Bishop Brooks, Record Book of Preach- ers, Private Parish Register, Private Revolution- ary Prayer Book, Prayer Book of 1892, King Ed- ward VII Prayer Book, set of Convention Jour- nals 1857 to date, Loving Cup and Vase presented by the Church of the Holy Apostles, Loving Cup and Vase presented by the Church of the Media- tor and a water color painting of the Church of the Mediator.
Litany Book and Altar Book of Service as a memorial of his consecration. Gift of Rt. Rev. Nathaniel S. Thomas, D. D.
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